Tailgate Parties......are you ready?

.....of course you are. Between Weight Watchers, and I you should be set ....if you have been listening.

Fall weekends are usually filled with food, festivities and fun - not to mention football.
Fans, you can have a great time at a tailgate party without fumbling your diet.

•Have a small snack before going to a tailgate party. Going to a party hungry often results in overeating.
•Stick to a strategy for eating. Don't let your eating be dictated by the pace of the game.
•Use a plate for even the smallest snack. You'll eat less.
•Moderate your alcohol intake. Alcohol causes blood sugar to drop, which leads to hunger.
Hosts, serve your fellow fans fresh vegetables with low-fat dip, fruit kabobs, popcorn, pretzels with mustard dip, baked tortilla chips and salsa, whole-grain breads and a variety of lean meats for sandwiches.
You'll score points with your guests and help guarantee your tailgate get-together will be a hit right up until the final whistle.



CHRISPY CHICKEN STRIPS
www.weight-watchers-points-plus-recipes.com
2 points plus for 2
Ingredients:

1 cup egg beaters
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp pepper
2 tsps sea salt
3 breasts, bone and skin removed chicken breasts
1/4 cup ground almonds
4 tbsps ground flaxseed
1/4 cup oat bran cereal
1/2 cup wheat germ

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 °F (200 °C). Spray cooking sheet with cooking spray.

2. Cut chicken into small strips. Add egg beaters to a medium bowl and then add chicken to the egg beaters. Let chicken sit for 15 minutes.

3. Add dry ingredients to a large Ziploc bag.

4. Place chicken into Ziploc and shake. If need more coating add more wheat germ, flaxseed, and/or oat bran. You can also sprinkle a little extra wheat germ onto the chicken after you put it on the baking sheet for more coating if desired.

5. Put the chicken on the baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or till chicken is done.

Makes 10 Servings (2 Chicken Strips Per Serving)

Nutritional Info Per Serving: Calories 89; Total Fat 3.2g; Cholesterol 24mg;
Sodium 276mg; Total Carbohydrate 3.63g; Fiber 1.2g; Protein 11.62g

Crockpot Southwestern Beans
www.weight-watchers-points-plus-recipes.com

Points Plus+ 5 Per Serving
Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups canned vegetable broth
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 oz) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup dry lentils
1 (14 1/2 oz) can diced tomatoes & green chiles
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves



Directions:

1. Stir the broth, chili powder, cumin, black beans, garbanzo, cannellini beans and lentils
into a 3 1/2 quart slow cooker.

2. Cover and and cook on LOW 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours. Stir the tomatoes and green chiles into the slow cooker. Cover and cook for 1 more hour or until the beans are tender. Sprinkle with the cilantro.

Yield: 8 Servings Serving Size = 1 Cup

Weight Watchers Points Plus+ = 5 Per Serving

Nutritional Information:
Calories 216, Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Carbs 38 g, Fiber 14 g, Protein 13 g

What success would you have if you followed all 9 of the good health guidelines everyday?

When following plan, there are some fundamental food choices essential for good health and nutrition. Weight Watchers covers these in its Good Health Guidelines and includes the daily recommendation to:

•Include at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables (9 if you weight more than 350 pounds).

•Have at least 2 servings of milk; 3 if you are a nursing mom, a teenager, are over 50 or weigh more than 250 pounds.

•Drink at least 6 glasses of nonalcoholic drinks.

•Get a serving or two of a protein-rich food.

•Take a multiple vitamin-mineral supplement.

•Limit added sugars, sodium and alcohol.

•Have 2 teaspoons of healthy oil, including olive, canola, sunflower, safflower, or flaxseed.

•Choose whole-grain foods whenever possible.

•Aim to get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity.

Where would you be????? I don't expect perfection....but people, this IS doable.
Maybe just try a couple for a week or two. Then add in a couple more. Before you know it, you will have a new healthy lifestyle. I can honestly say, this IS how I eat and live. Not 100% perfect. But, I do follow these to make me a better me, a healthy me.....for goodness sake, I feel so much better than when I ate "crap". All that processed food. Fried. Yucky stuff!

So, lets get going, make this month "IT" the month we get our act together, start taking care of us!

The Good Health Guidelines can help you give your body all the nutrients it needs.

Fruits & Veggies
Aim To Eat: 5 Servings per day
(9 if you weight more than 350 pounds)
Why? So you're sure you're getting enough fiber and all the other vitamins and minerals found in plants.
What That Looks Like: 1 cup per serving for leafy greens, 1/2 cup per serving for others

Lean Protein
Most people get enough protein in their diets. Research has shown, however, that some people don't
Aim To Eat: 1 to 2 servings per day of cooked meat, fish, or poultry, each between 2 and 3 oz. Vegetarians, take note: The following also count as 1 oz each: one egg, 1/2 cup cooked dry beans
Why? To stay satisfied and to obtain necessary amino acids, iron, zinc, and other nutrients

Non-Fat & Low-Fat Dairy
Note that non-fat options are Weight Watchers Power Foods and better for weight loss.
Aim To Eat: 2 servings per day (3 if you're a nursing mom or a teenager; or if you're over 50; or if you weight more than 250 pounds)
Why? For calcium, vitamin D, zinc, phosphorus, and other essential vitamin and minerals
What That Look Like: 1 cup milk or calcium-fortified soy milk; lattes (12 oz) and cappuccinos (16 oz); Weight Watchers Smoothies; 1 cup yougurt or pudding; cheeses, including cottage (2 cups)., hard or semisoft (1 1/2 oz), and ricotta (1/2 cup)
Whole grains
Aim To Eat: Whenever possible instead of refined, white grains
Why? Whole grains are rich with nutrients, including fiber, fruits & veggies, non-fats & low-fat dairy, whole grains, lean protein

Liquids
Aim To: aim to drink at lease 6 glasses of nonalcoholic drinks per day
What Counts: Milk, juice, seltzer, diet soft drinks, even coffee and tea.
But the best choice is water .



My new "Sin"....this makes me feel Naughty!
Blueberry Smoothy
2 points plus
1 cup frozen blueberries (any fruit)
1/2 cup h2o
1 (6 oz) container low fat vanilla or fruit flavored (match fruit w/ yogurt)
Honey, optional
ice(not too many because berries are froze) yummy!

DIRECTIONS

1. In a blender, place blueberries, water and yogurt. Cover and blend on high speed about 1 minute or until smooth. Sweeten to taste with honey if desired. 2. Pour into 2 glasses and serve immediately. Makes 2 Servings (Serving Size: 1 Cup)

Goodbye....and Hello.....

JULIE~~

Goodbye.......
A tough thing to say. We said goodbye to our leader, cheerleader, coach,mentor, friend~ Julie Swartz this last weekend. She has made a wise decision to leave the Saturday morning class to be able to "attend ball games and tend" to her family! She will be missed......terribly. We will all realize this very soon I am sure. Her new replacement Chris will be a fresh new start for some, maybe just what they need! Good luck Julie, and good luck to you Chris!

Hello........
We kicked off the LOSE FOR GOOD campaign (4th annual).
Thinking about losing weight this fall? Give Weight Watchers a try from Aug. 30 to Oct. 17 during their inaugural Lose for Good campaign. You will not only be helping yourself but countless others in the fight against hunger. Members are encouraged to bring canned and packaged food to meetings which will then be donated.

So.....Goodbye...and Hello
Fresh starts....lets start over, lets get that great feeling when you start something and you are so gung ho.....you know that "on fire" feeling....oh yeah...your smiling, I can see it! Lets do it! We will....together! Lets make September a NEW START!!!! Don't wait for the new year......do it now~ just imagine where you can be at the end of the year!

We also married off one of our daughters this weekend!! Great weekend! Congrats to Eric and Terin Hewitt!

I will increase my exercise....I will keep you updated!

Here are the muffins we had for Julies going away party....Enjoy!

Zucchini Muffins



2 points plus

Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup nonfat milk
2 egg whites
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 cup grated zucchini

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease muffin tins lightly with oil or spray with a non-stick cooking spray.
2.Combine whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt and ground cinnamon, mix thoroughly.
3.Mix the milk, slightly beaten egg whites, oil, honey and shredded zucchini together. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir until just barely moistened. Batter should be lumpy. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full with batter.
4.Bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.








PUMPKIN MUFFIN



2Points Plus

3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup applesauce
2 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup water
1 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp powdered ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.Grease a muffin tin.
3.In a large mixing bowl, mix together honey, applesauce and eggs.
4.Add pumpkin, vanilla and water.
5.In a medium sized bowl, whisk together flour, oatmeal, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, powdered ginger and ground cloves.
6.Combine dry ingredients with the wet. Stir until just blended.
7.Fill each muffin tin 3/4 full.
8.Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Makes 18 regular sized muffins or 3 dozen mini muffins.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Weight Watchers Old-Fashioned Blueberry Muffins
Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries or frozen blueberries, unthawed
1/2 cup butter
1 cup milk
2 large egg whites
1 1/2 teaspoons orange zest
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup truvia
3/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
3. In a small saucepan, combine the milk, butter, orange zest and vanilla extract.
4. Stir over medium heat until the butter melts; cool until the mixture is warm to touch; beat in the eggs.
5. Sift the flour, baking powder, truvia and salt into a large bowl.
6. Add the milk mixture and stir just until blended; fold in the blueberries.
7. Divide the batter equally among the prepared muffin cups.
8. Bake the muffins for about 15-20 minutes (until golden and the tester comes out clean).

how to pick up....and start over

You lost weight. You feel like one of the contestants on the biggest loser. But, before you know it, the Honeymoon season with your new body is quickly fading and you start to think a little extra here and there won't undo my progress. Slowly but surely you start falling back into some old behaviors and those jeans you really like all of sudden won't button up anymore. The depression and disappointment slowly starts to creep in. Then it hits you. You've stopped exercising and your eating is out of control. You get on the scale and there it is. You've gained all the weight back. Before you start tossing confetti at your pity party, understand that this type of setback is crucial to overcoming your battle with the bulge. What seems to be a major setback can be a real opportunity to get it right the next time and beat lose weight before it becomes a vicious cycle.

We have all been there.....some of us a few more times than what we would like to admit!! Have you heard OR said.... "oh I have screwed up so bad, I can never get my act together again"......to that I say....B.S. It is never too late to start over.....did you hear me? START OVER. Something I really recommend if you are having issues with weight loss.....start at the beginning. Do not just pick up and think you will get going on the "right " path again. You must make adjustments or those sneaky little habits come inching back in....you know they will, don't fool yourself. Get back to basics.....my motto on SOOOO many things. SLOW DOWN AND SIMPLIFY. Isn't that a wonderful set of 4 words. AND they have so much meaning to me. At the death of my granddaughter 4 years ago, I decided that is what I would do from this point on. This is why I am here, why I lost the weight, why I do this blog, why I have literally slowed down to enjoy my life. So, slow down, read your material from week one again. Simplify= get rid of the extras.....those empty calorie crap we put in our bodies....yes I said we, I do it too. :) Do you remember that feeling of getting on the scale and the scale number is down? OH YEAH, I do.... I love that feeling....that is what I think of when I want to stray!



Healthy Banana-Oatmeal-Craisin Muffins


Ww Points Plus = 4

http://www.food.com




3 bananas, very ripe
1/2 cup Splenda sugar substitute
3 tablespoons egg whites
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rolled oat
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup craisins
1/4 cup toasted wheat germ (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Spray muffin pan with non-stick baking spray.Add Splenda to the mashed bananas.Blend in the egg whites and the applesauce.Mix together the dry ingredients - baking soda, baking powder, flours, oats and salt.Add to moist mixture.Toss in the craisins and wheat germ, if using.Add to mixture to muffin pan.Bake for 20 minutes at 350

Where do you want your weight on Labor Day??

.......?????you have 5 weeks to get there~and a lot can happen in 5 weeks!

We can blame our weight on EVERYTHING and EVERYONE!!!!!!!!
Wow , you need to stop looking to others for your excuses, satisfaction, including food. Here is how you start. Go for a walk, if that is too easy try holding dumbbells, or some form of weight, while doing it. Also try doing 10-20 push-ups everyday, after, before or during the walk. Even girl push-ups will do. :) This small amount of exercise will be tough at first but will become easier, do it everyday.
Stop listening to the buzz in our culture about diets, fads and quick fixes ~~
With Weight Watchers~ there are no forbidden foods, I have had to retrain myself how to uncover all the hidden rules I've had about eating and exercise and how to eat and exercise freely is inside me and you. We all do know the secret.......keep moving people! Move more than you like to eat! {or at least try!}I have asked you this...well, a lot. "where do you want to be in_____ weeks?"....we are here....if you want to look smokin' HOT at Labor day. NOW IS "GO TIME!!!!"

AND, just in case you are wondering, this approach really does work! I eat my meals mindfully now, exercise so that I feel stress relief and refreshed ......and I'm not having to work so hard to maintain what seems to be my natural weight. It is awesome and I feel great! Do not get me wrong....this will be a fight~ everyday! I do struggle but Weight Watchers is THE WAY!! MY goal was not to simply change my view of food, weight and exercise but to help me find a balanced and healthy lifestyle....this I have finally done. I took myself for granted. NO MORE!!!!

I am allowing myself to feel my inner strength and embrace my accomplishments and I am allowing myself to feel happiness and fulfillment. Writing is fulfillment for me now, more than food ever was. Having friendships is more fulfilling to me now than food ever was .
I no longer allow setbacks to overcome me and crush my happiness like in the past. I face my mistakes, I find solutions and then I move on.

FOR THE OTHER TIMES I HAVE LOST MY 100'S OF POUNDS~ I HAD CHANGED MY BODY WITHOUT CHANGING MY MIND! NO MORE!!!!

Life is too short to worry about gaining an ounce or skipping an exercise day. I just make sure that the next day, I am back on track! My inner strength is radiating and I am acting with more conviction and I am more positive about reaching/maintaining a Healthy Weight.

I have lost 145 Pounds!
What if I would never of thought...."where do I want to be in ______?"
I shutter the thought!

xxoo to you all~~~ we WILL do this!

Good luck....you CAN and WIll do it!!!!!!~ and remember you are strong inside so make small step everyday, you'll get there!

This is kind of ...well..."NAUGHTY" tasting....but it is not!

Cheesy Brunch Bake
:

Non stick cooking spray
2 (4 oz) cans buttermilk biscuits
3 (8 oz) cartons egg substitute
7 oz Canadian bacon, chopped
1 cup shredded reduced fat Cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup finely chopped onions
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:

1. Arrange biscuits in a 13 by 9 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and pour over biscuits.

3. Bake, uncovered at 350° 30 to 35 minutes or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean.

Makes 12 Servings (Serving Size = 1 Biscuit Section)

Nutrition Information:
Calories 160, Fat 5 g, Cholesterol 20 mg, Carbs 13 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 15 g
Points Plus+ 4 Per Serving

Weight-Watchers-Recipes.

Put forth the extra effort~ A Weight Loss Plateau

Weight Watchers Skinny Chicken Gyros
Points: 4 Weight Watchers PointsPlus
Servings: 4
Serving Size: 4 oz of gyro meat
Nutritional Info: 160 calories, 1.7 g of fat, .4 g of carbohydrates, .4 g of fiber, 27 g of protein

Ingredients
1 lb extra lean ground chicken (5-7% fat)
1/4 white onion
1/2 tbsp marjoram
1/2 tbsp ground rosemary
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp fresh black ground pepper

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. In a food processor, pulse together the onion and garlic until they form a paste. Remove from the food processor and press into a paper towel or cheesecloth to remove excess water.

3. Combine the ground chicken, marjoram, rosemary, onion and garlic mixture, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.

4. Form into a small meatloaf and bake on a sheet pan for 50-60 minutes until cooked through. Slice very thinly and enjoy!




A Weight Loss Plateau

If you have ever felt frustrated by a stubborn scale in spite of your efforts to shed extra pounds, you're not alone. Many people who begin a weight loss regimen may see impressive results at first, only to experience a weight loss plateau after a few weeks.

If you feel like your rate of weight loss has slowed despite your sticking to your plan, take a closer look at your eating and exercise routine. The following list may help you to pinpoint where you are a star, and where you may be falling short in your efforts.

•Keep a food diary. Write down everything you eat and drink for one week. Be sure to note what the food was, how much you ate, where you ate, and your level of hunger (on a scale of 1-10). Look for extra snacks, "tiny tastes", and larger than usual portions to see if you may be eating more calories than you think.

Remember that one pound of fat equals 3500 calories. In order to lose weight, you have to make sure that you are burning more calories than you are consuming; put more simply, "calories in" should be less than "calories out". Roughly one pound per week is considered a safe rate of weight loss, as this will promote fat loss rather than water or lean muscle tissue. In order to lose weight, you need to create a caloric deficit of about 500 calories per day. Ideally, you should do this through a combination exercise (about 250 calories) and eating less (about 250 calories).

Use your food diary to ask yourself questions such as "How much food do I actually eat? How often do I eat when I am not hungry? What is my mood when I eat? If you find that you are eating when you are not hungry, or in response to emotions (such as anxiety, boredom or stress), then this may be an area to work on in your eating habits.


•Don't skip meals. Many dieters sabotage their efforts by thinking that if they "save calories" in the morning they will get a jump start on weight loss. That thinking couldn't be farther from the truth. Research shows that breakfast eaters tend to be thinner and have a lower disease risk than those who shun the first meal of the day. Skipping breakfast can set you up to ravenous later on, and you will be much less likely to reach for healthy choices if you are reeling from hunger.

For a winning breakfast, try to have something that's high in whole grains, moderate in protein and low in fat, such as a piece of whole grain toast with a tablespoon of peanut butter and a glass of skim milk, or a low fat yogurt sprinkled with granola and fresh fruit. For those non-conventional risers, a bowl of noodle soup or a turkey pita are also winning starts.


•Check your exercise plan. What's your exercise strategy? A combination of strength training and cardio is the best way to burn calories and boost metabolic rate. Strength training exercise such as weight lifting has been shown to increase lean muscle tissue, which is a great way to keep your metabolism humming as you age.

If you haven't changed your routine in awhile (say, you've been walking about 30 minutes per for 5 years), then it may well be that your body has gotten "used" to using those muscles in that way; try to vary your routine to use other muscles.

•What's your body comp? The scale can be misleading when it comes to weight, because muscle weighs more than fat. So while you many not see any change in the scale, you are still losing fat and building muscle. The good news, though, is that muscle is a much leaner tissue than fat, so that you will still lose inches, you just won't see a dip in the scale. If you belong to a gym, have a fitness professional check your body fat percentage for you, or try to attend a local health fair where they are offering this service.


•Do you really need to lose? If all that stands between you and eternal happiness is "those last 5 pounds", then you may need to reevaluate. From a health standpoint, a difference of 5 pounds or so off of your target weight probably isn't going to make a whole lot of difference. What are your genetics like? Look at your siblings and blood relatives to see what sort of genes you may have. Consider what's the lowest weight you've been able to comfortably maintain, and also consider what's a realistic weight for you at this point. Even if you have managed to drop that last five pounds, but feel cranky and hungry when you get there, it may well be that your body feels better at a slightly higher weight than you would like.

You deserve to lose weight!! You can do this!

We can do this...lets stay positive.

To me it does get hard in the summer to lose weight, stay on track, etc. I don't know if it is the heat ( for which in this heat I really don't give a darn), summer parties,longer days....I don't know I just know I really hate this feeling. The ,I just ....can't....(sigh)...... Well, I can....I will....I must~must be our attitude to succeed! You DO DESERVE IT! Get an extra glass of water, set down , lets talk about it. Just keep in the back of your mind(because I do...DAILY) "where will you be in 3 months???6 weeks.....2 weeks???" More the question~ "where do you WANT to be?" It is never to late to make ME a priority! ME a MUST on my TO DO list!!!!
Until you can change your psychology and shift the way that you think about your health, you'll never be able to really change.

And, for many people, over-eating is an addiction. Perhaps food has become a way of changing a dis empowering state for you, providing comfort or variety when you need it. Yet, as you've probably already discovered for yourself, this pattern is a downward spiral. Even if emotional eating helps you in the moment, it ends up causing you even more pain and frustration in the long-run.

Thus, in order to really lose weight and make the change last, you have to be willing to create a new lifestyle and identity around your physical well-being. You need to change your behaviors, as well as your mindset, at its core. And, you need a conditioning process that will change your behavior long-term.

Embrace a new beginning.
Take back the reins of your life and start to anticipate a whole new way of being and feeling about the world around you. You can do this. You can have the body that you desire. You can experience the freedom and confidence that comes with having a vital and energetic core. You can feel alive again.

You are not your past.

Weight-Watchers-Recipes.

Baked Crab Rangoon
Ingredients:

1/8 tsp garlic salt
1/8 tsp Worcestershire sauce
14 won ton wrappers
1 small green onion
4 oz imitation crab
3 oz cream cheese

Directions:


In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, garlic salt and Worcestershire sauce until smooth.

Stir in crab and onion.
Place 2 teaspoonfuls in the center of each won ton wrapper.

Moisten edges with water; bring corners to center over filling and press edges together to seal.

Place on a baking sheet coated with non-stick cooking spray.
Lightly spray won tons with nonstick cooking spray.
Bake at 425 °F (210 °C) for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Makes 14 Crab Rangoon (2 Per Serving)

Nutritional Info Per Serving: Calories 94; Total Fat 2.29g; Cholesterol 12mg;
Sodium 147mg; Potassium 40mg; Carbs 12.03g; Fiber 0g; Protein 5.76g

Hot....sweat is our friend!!!!

......again....we could use every excuse in the book. Yes, it is hot....get over it. Think about flippin' January if you have to.
Ok I admit it......I never sweat. Instead, a light film of glistening moisture begins to cover my skin as my workout progresses from the warm-up to a more intense stage......until this morning.........sweatin' is exactly what I was doing as(ok this is gross and graphic) I was walking this morning it was dripping down the middle of the "tatas" and the small of my back! But, I lived through it....I actually liked it! I do sweat from time to time, but I had a mini heat stroke once, that is all it took to ruin me from the heat. I work out very early to USUALLY avoid getting too over heated.
Just get out and work at it....work at exercise, work at a new lifestyle,work at new recipes, work at making YOU a better you! As I have blogged before, you don't want to look back in 1 year and say...."hmmmm where COULD I have been if I would of stuck it out?" hell, 6 months....no....1 month...... the changes in just one month can change your mindset completely! I actually knew with in a couple of weeks of starting W.W. that this was it! I felt empowered....in charge....I liked myself!....I never thought I would say that...I like myself! Wow! Look what a lifestyle change with the help of Weight Watchers has done for me....EVERYTHING!!!
Ok I do understand if you don't want to get out in the heat...I WILL NOT judge you!!!
~Be realistic: Keep yourself motivated by simply giving yourself a break. If you miss a day of exercise, try not to obsess over the missed opportunity to burn calories. Instead, get back out there and sweat after a good day’s rest tomorrow!!!! Do not wait too long though....remember where will you be in.....?????
Love you all who are my readers...had a great day of compliments yesterday! YOU INSPIRE ME!!!!!! You are why I am here! xxoo el

The exact nutritional and Weight Watchers POINTS values will depend on what type of pasta you use ? regular, whole wheat or low carb. I recommend using nutritious whole wheat pasta for the taste and health benefits, though the low carb pastas are delicious and healthy, too.


Penne Pasta Salad

Serves 6 ~ 8 Points plus
1 12-ounce box of low carb or whole wheat penne pasta
1 cup diced tomatoes ? use Roma and/or yellow tomatoes
1 cup of cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
8 ounces mozzarella, diced
1/4 cup of fresh basil, chopped fine
1/2 cup no fat Italian salad dressing


Directions:



Cook penne as directed until the pasta is al dente (firm but cooked through) ? about 13-15 minutes.
Prepare a large bowl or pan with ice water ? enough to cover the cooked pasta.
Drain the pasta and immediately submerge it in the ice water to stop the cooking process. If necessary, change out the water or add more ice to cool down the noodles.
Chop tomatoes, mozzarella and basil and place in a large serving bowl.
Add cooled noodles.
Cover with Italian dressing and toss to coat.
Chill salad in refrigerator until it?s time to serve.
Toss salad once more before serving.

Calories 326
Calories from Fat 80
Total Fat 8.9g
Saturated Fat 4.9g
Cholesterol 21mg
Sodium 498mg
Total Carbohydrates 45.6g
Dietary Fiber 6.7g
Sugars 3.0g
Protein 19.5g
Vitamin A 14%
Vitamin C 11%
Calcium 31%
Iron 17%

how you think affects how you behave.......

....and how you think is completly within your control.

Once you've learned to view yourself compassionately as a priority, it's time to evaluate those things that you truly believe about yourself. It has been said that if you want to know the state of your belief system, just look around you and you'll see that which you believe in. Or, at least it's a start.

*Do I believe I can be successful with losing and then maintaining my ideal healthy weight?
What beliefs do I have about myself when it comes to food, dieting, and my self-care?
*Do I believe that I have the ability and conviction to do what I know in my heart to be true to transform the quality of my life and become the person of my dreams?

Unless you decide to take a look and truly examine your beliefs, you are most likely going to recreate the same old patterns and behaviors in your life. For example, you may believe that sugar has some power over you. You're always giving in to your craving for it, yet you want to change that behavior. How do you think that inner belief about sugar is going to affect your efforts? Doesn't it leave you feeling fairly powerless? Doesn't that belief translate into a long-term relationship with sugar that is less than inspiring? When we believe something, we behave in a way that plays out that belief, even if the belief is something we do not want to experience. You behave based on your beliefs whether you like it or not. So if you want to change a behavior - to transform a relationship with food, exercise, or life - you need to change your belief about it first.

Your beliefs are a window to your world and shape your experience either positively or negatively. They act as a filter for the world around you. Everything is affected either positively or negatively through your beliefs.When it comes to diet programs, you may believe that all weight loss diets are destined to eventually fail you, or that you will eventually fail on the program.

Instead, be open to new beliefs about yourself and your ability to succeed. Your mind and your beliefs about yourself are going to be the difference in your truly experiencing long-term success and life fulfillment.

Think about the fact that if you are doing just a diet and you're not dealing with your belief system, then when you reach your goal of X amount of pounds lost, you still will not have changed your lifestyle and you will not see yourself as someone who has truly created change. Will you experience long-term success, peace, and happiness with this approach? Not a chance. But through weight loss plans, you have the opportunity to transform your body, your mind, and your life - together at once.With a little faith in yourself, together with the a great plan backing you up, you can reshape your mind so that it can take you and your body anywhere you want to go.

Points Plus+ 8 Per Serving
3 Meat Barbecued Burgers

2 tbsp soft bread crumbs
2 tsp refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed
1/4 tsp barbecue seasoning or barbecue spice
8 oz raw ground chicken
1 lb uncooked ground turkey breast
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
6 slices turkey bacon
1/3 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese,
(optional)
6 whole wheat English muffins, split and toasted
2 tbsp bias-sliced green onion

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Directions
1. In a medium size bowl, combine bread crumbs, egg product and barbecue seasoning.
Add chicken; mix well. Shape chicken mixture into six 1/4 inch thick patties.
2. In another medium size bowl, combine turkey, garlic powder and pepper. Shape mixture
into six 1/2 inch thick patties. Place chicken patties on top of turkey patties. Shape the edges of the turkey patties up the sides of the chicken patties, pinching the patties together to seal.
Wrap a bacon slice around each patty and secure with a wooden toothpick.
3. For a charcoal grill; grill patties on lightly greased rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium hot coals for 14 to 18 minutes or until an instant read thermometer inserted into the side of each patty registers 165° F. turning once halfway through grilling.

Drink an extra glass of water today






It's amazing how many benefits of water there are for your health.
But really, it shouldn't really come as a surprise. After all, our bodies are made up of about 70% water.
Water is involved in every single life process that takes place in your body - digestion, circulation, transportation of nutrients, and the elimination of wastes.
Water helps to maintain the acid - alkaline balance in your body. And it supplies your body with the trace elements it needs.
•Drinking a big glass of water whenever you feel hungry and before a meal or snack fills the stomach briefly and makes you feel fuller and stop eating sooner.
•Breaking down body fat and body muscle during weight loss produces wastes that must be eliminated through the kidneys. Drinking enough water is important to keep the kidneys functioning to remove these wastes.
•Replacing water with soda, diet soda, coffee, tea, or alcohol won't work as well - especially if the beverage produces a diuretic effect. (alcohol actually, produces dehydration). If you don't like the taste of plain water, try putting lemon, lime or an orange slice in your glass.
•It cleanses the insides of your body.
•It can help to lessen the pain and burning of heartburn.
•It can help you maintain a healthy weight.
•It can help you to feel more energetic.
•One of the major benefits of water is that it can help relieve constipation. Try drinking two glasses of warm water first thing in the morning. That will help to clean out your colon and promote a bowel movement.
•Drinking enough water can also help to protect you against colon and bladder cancers.


Did you know that your body can only live for about 3 days without water?

It's puzzling to me that even though water drinking is so important, most people only get enough water just to survive, but not to thrive and reach optimum health!

If you don't drink enough water every single day, you may be in a state of chronic dehydration without even realizing it! You are missing out on the benefits of water.

Not getting enough water puts a lot of unnecessary stress on your body. It also plays a role in the development of many serious health problems:
If you don't drink enough water, your body will be forced to get rid of its wastes in a much more concentrated form. This may leave you with some unwanted symptoms such as body odor, strong smelling dark-colored urine, and bad breath. Not very pleasant!
You may start to experience headaches, and fainting spells.
You may find yourself always feeling exhausted and worn out.
If your body does not get enough water, your blood will thicken. This can increase your chances of having a stroke. It can also damage your heart.
Chronic dehydration speeds up the aging process. Think about what happens to a grape when the water is removed. It turns into a wrinkled up raisin.
Raisins may be yummy and good for you, but I'm sure you don't want your skin looking like that!

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries (Weight Watchers)

2 lbs large sweet potatoes, scrubbed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Change Measurements: US Metric

Directions:
Prep Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 40 mins
1 Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2 Half the potatoes, then cut into 1/2 inch wedges.
3 Toss with oil, salt and pepper in medium bowl.
4 Arrange the potatoes in a single layer on a nonstick baking sheet.
5 Bake, turning once, until browned and crisp, about 35 minutes.


Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/crispy-sweet-potato-fries-weight-watchers-215655#ixzz1SHqFCAwI