Wrap Up Week 45 - Vote Yes For Yourself!

Did you vote for yourself today?

What needs to happen for you to be the priority in your weight loss effort?

Did you delegate someone else to do the dishes after dinner, so you could go on a walk?

Maybe one of your children would love to learn how to cook and make a meal one day a week. Giving them a chance to explore who they are and will be, provides you opportunities for yourself.

The honey-do list can wait, until you've had time to get your exercise in or carve out a moment for yourself today.

Take care of yourself. That is more important than anything else I can think of!

Update!!!

LOSE FOR GOOD
Weight Watchers International received enough pounds lost by members to donate 1,000,000 to the two hunger agencies.
We need your food in house by Saturday November 8, 2008.

We will take this to our local food bank.

If you would prefer to do a monetary donation, we accept cash or check (pay to Bellingham Food Bank).

COMPUTER STATUS
We will be going live the week of November 8th. That will be the last week you will need to grab your "card" out of the file when checking in.

We ask for your patience during this transition. Some of us may seem dazed and confused.

Once we get enough practice, we will be lightening speed. This should be a good experience for you as it will make check in time go faster and you'll no longer have to search for your card.

The first week you will receive a bar code that is to be applied to your membership book. From that moment on we will only need to scan the bar code on your membership booklet to check you into the system.

Training Day - All Staff

No one was hurt during this exercise...yet!

Recipes - Crock Pot

By request I'm including two crockpot recipes. These are great ideas for this time of year when it gets dark early and we come home hungry; dinner will be ready.

These two recipes are from the now out of print - Best Eats Cookbook, Weight Watchers. This cookbook was created by recipes from members.

**Feel free to use Chicken Breast instead of Chicken Thighs in the following recipes**

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

1 lbs. Skinless boneless chicken thighs. Cut into 1 inch pieces
1 - 14 1/2 oz. can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
1 Cup sliced mushrooms
1 Green bell pepper sliced
1 Onion chopped
1 Garlic clove minced
1/4 Cup dry red wine or reduced sodium chicken broth
1 Tbs tomato paste
3/4 tsp dried oregano
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:

Place all the ingredients into a 5 - 6 quart slow cooker.
Cover and cook until vegetables are tender (5-6 hours high or 6-8 hours on low)

Serves 4 Prep time 15 minutes

Per serving - 1 cup = 4 points
Recipe is totally core

Slow Cooker Chicken Posole

1 lbs. skinless boneless chicken thighs cut into 1 inch pieces
1 - 14 1/2 oz. can hominy drained
1 - 14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 - 4 oz. can chopped green chiles
1 Cup frozen mixed vegetables - such as - onion, pepper, celery mixture
1 Cup reduced sodium chicken broth
1 Garlic clove minced
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 lime cut into 4 wedges

Directions:

Place all the ingredients, except lime, into 4 - 5 quart slow cooker.
Cook the vegetables until tender (4 -5 hours on high or 7 hours on low)
Serve with lime wedge
This can be made into a double batch and freeze the leftovers.

Serves 4 Prep time 15 minutes

Serving size 1 1/4 cup = 6 points
Recipe is totally core

Wrap Up Week 44

SATISFYING
What did you do this past week to physically or visually make your meals and snacks more satisfying?

Did you think about the low energy density foods? Like the 5 cups of 94% fat free microwave popcorn for 1 point or core choice?

TRICK OR TREAT?
How many points would you say you consumed off the list of candies I provided in this blog last week?

Were they your activity points or out of your thirty-five weekly points allowance?

Did you find the points for candy were worth it?

This Week: Get Out And Vote...Vote For Yourself

Remember you have one more day to postmark your ballot or place in the drop box at the county courthouse for this year's election.

Vote For Yourself....

It's all about taking care of yourself, so make some time for you.

How often do you vote for yourself? What keeps you from putting your needs first?

Let's talk about it this week!

Halloween Photos- By Request

Hey there,

It's Heather here.

Mom (Paula) said you'd like to see the photos of Oliver (Pirate) and Meg(wacky witch) she had taken at PetSmart.

Here goes

Meg can't stand to look at the camera, but I'd say Oliver looks pretty Orlando Bloom-ish...for a dog that is.

Have a great evening,

Heather

Preview- Week 45 - Making Meals And Snacks More Satisfying

Let's figure out how to stay on track for the long haul, for life.

This is a lifestyle, not a diet.

We need to create variety and excitement in the food we eat and our eating experiences; to make meals both physically and visually satisfying.

During the holidays we generally dress up our tables and meals to make them more festive and exciting. But why not make every meal an enjoyable event?

What are your meals saying? Am I worth it? Does this taste good? Is this really satisfying? Is this an enjoyable experience I've created?

What tools can I use at home to create a satisfying and enjoyable eating experience, but save time, money and know that I am serving myself the proper portions without guessing or pulling out measuring cups and scales.

Check out -Weight Watcher's Easy Measure



There are three stainless steel serving spoons. Each set comes with a Cup, half cup and quarter cup serving spoon for easy portion control.




Just...$20.00

See you this week!!!

Let's Talk!

Paula

Week 43 Wrap Up - What are you really hungry for?

Remember that there is always a positive intention behind every emotional eating experience. The key, though, is to FEEL THE FEELINGS NOT FEED THE FEELINGS.

Take a moment and ask yourself what you are really feeling, what is that hunger? Emotional or physical?

For instance...I'm standing in front of the refrigerator. How did I get here? Why am I here? I just ate lunch!

Answer: I'm bored, lonely, tired, etc...

Satisfy this feeling with: calling a friend, going for a walk, taking up a craft or hobby, etc..

Food Finds - Week 45 2008

I purchased two kinds of low point brownie mixes this week from Fred Meyer's.

No Pudge Fudge Brownie Mix and Kodiak Cakes Big Bear Brownies Mix.

Both companies gave great low point recipe suggestions on the box. Such as: using yogurt or apple sauce as a substitute for oil.

These packaged brownies were already great choices, but because of the substitutions, that just made it even better.

Due to their low point values (1-2 points per serving), it's now a matter of taste.



Some of you may prefer the taste of one over the other.



Or possibly neither....

Has anyone else come across a great brownie mix find?

Do you have your own low point brownie recipe you'd like to share with us?

Sweet Halloween Tips

I always feel like knowledge is power. Though you may not be dressing up for the occasion you can still feel like a superhero instead of a ghoul when it comes to your candy intake during the Halloween holiday.

First...

Halloween Tips
*Buy candy you do not like and give that out
*Bag up candy in small treat bags so it is not loose and more tempting
*Have a plan for leftover candy - bring to work - send to school - send to work with someone else
*Don't stay at home - go to the movies or go out
*Figure out a plan - look up how many points a favorite candy is and work it into your day as a treat

The following list will help you count the little bits in your kids' Halloween bag or the bags of candy you buy at the store for your Trick or Treat'rs:

HALLOWEEN CANDY POINTS

MORE candy listed in your 2008 Complete Food Companion, p. 247-260/E-Tools
3 Musketeers, 2 fun size bars 3 1/2
1000 Grand, 2 bars 4 1/2
Abazaba, mini, Each 1
ABC Fruit Chomps, 7 pieces 3
ANDES "Creme de Menth Thin Mint", 8 pieces 5 1/2
Animal Crackers, 11 crackers 3
Almond Joy, 2 snack size bars 4
America1s Original Bubble Gum, 4 pieces 1 1/2
Atomic Fireballs, Each 1
Baby Ruth, 2 fun size bars 4
Big Hunk, mini, Each 1
Bit-O-Honey, 6 pieces 4
Blow Pops, Each 1.5
Bubble Gum, super, 2 pieces 1
Butterfinger, 2 fun size bars 4
Butternut Mini Bar, .75 oz 2
Candy Corn, 22 pieces 3
Caramello, 2 snack size bars 4
Crispy Caramel Fudge Bar, snack size, Each bar 2
Caramel & Peanut Butter Crispy Bars, snack size, Each bar 2
Chocolate Toffee Crisp Bar, snack size, Each bar, 2
Crunchy Peanut Butter Bar, snack size, Each bar, 2
Double Bubble Gum, 2 pieces 1
Heath Bar, 5 snack size bars 6
Hershey's Bar (plain), 2 snack size bars 5
Hershey's (almonds), 2 snack size bars 5
Hershey Kisses, 8 pieces 5 - Hershey Kisses or Hugs, 3 pieces 2
Hershey Miniatures, 5 pieces 5
Hershey Tastations (any flavor), 3 pieces 1
Hershey Sweet Escapes 2
Hi C Juice Fillers, bag (5 candies) 2
Hot Tamales, Each snack box 1
Jolly Rancher, 3 pieces 1
Jolly Rancher Mini Stix, Each 1
Kit Kat, 3 (2 pc) snack bars 6 - Kit Kat, Each 2
Lemonheads, Each box 2
Life Saver Five Flavor Candy, 4 1.5
Life Saver Gummi Savers, 2 rolls 2.5
Life Saver Pops, Each 1
M & M (plain), Each fun size pack 2
M & M (peanut), Each fun size pack 2
M & M Crispy, Each pkg 5
Mars, 2 fun size bars 4
Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses, 6 pieces 3.5
Maynards Wine Gums, 1 roll (44 g), 3
Mike & Ikes, Each snack pkg 1
Milk Duds, 4 fun size boxes 4
Milky Way, 2 fun size bars 4
Milky Way Lite, minis, 5 pieces 3
Milky Way Lite, regular bar 3.5
Mounds, 2 snack size bars 4
Necco Wafers, Each roll 1
Nerds, Each box 1
Nestles PB Mallow, Each 3.5
Nestles Baby Ruth, Each 4.5
Nestle Crunch Fun Size, 4 bars 5
Now & Later, 3 mini bars 3
O'Henry, 2 fun size bars 5
Peter Pan Peanut Butter Cups, 4 pieces 6
Pumpkin Pop, Each sucker 1
Raisinettes, 3 snack size boxes 4
Red Hots, Each box 2
Reese's Crunchy Cookie Cups, 2 snacks 4
Reese's Miniature Peanut Butter Cups, 5 pieces 5
Reeses Peanut Butter Bites, 3 pkgs 5.5
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, 2 snack size 4
Reesesticks, 2 snack size 4
Skittles, 3 pkgs 4
Skittles (regular), 2 packs 3
Smarties, 3 rolls 1
Smuckers Fruit Fillers, Each bag (5 candies) 2
Snackwells Nut Clusters, Each piece 1
Snickers, 2 fun size bars 4
Snickers, minis (4 pieces) or 2 fun size bars 4
Spree Candies, 8 pieces 1
Spree Twist, 2 rolls 1.5
Starburst, 3 fun size pkgs 4
Starburst Fruit Chews, 8 chews 3.5
Sugar Babies, 2 snack size pouches 4.5
Sugar Daddy Pops, 3 3.5
Sweethearts (Necco), Each (1 1/8 oz box) 2.5
Sweet Tarts, 2 rolls 1
Tootsie Hot Chocolate Pops, Each 1.5
Three Muskateers, 2 fun size 4
Tootsie Roll, 2 snack bars 2
Tootsie Roll Midgees, 6 pieces 3.5
Tootsie Roll Pop, Each pop 1
Triple Chocolate Wafer Bar, snack size, Each bar, 2
Twix, (mini size) Each 1
Twix, Each snack size bar 2
Twix, Regular Size, Each (2) pack 7
Twizzlers Pull-n-Peel Cherry Candy, 3 pieces 2.5
Twizzlers Strawberry Twists, 4 twists 2.5
Werther's Original, 3 pieces 1
Whoppers Malted Milk Balls, 2 snack size pouches 5
Wonka Nerds Gumballs, Each 1
Wonka Shock Tarts Gumball, Each 1
Wrigleys Chewing Gum, 5 pieces 1
York Peppermint Patties, 3 patties 3

Have Fun!