Worth the Weight

IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!!!

2010-12-06T18:06:00.000-05:00

WW INFO UPDATES!!!!! CHECK IT OUT!!!

Here's a link to the updates for the Complete Food Companion, Dining Out Guide and Pocket Guide!! (Special thanks to WW Member, Jannell, for sending me this link!!!)

www.weightwatchers.com/productinfo

www.weightwatchers.com/images/1033/dynamic/GCMSImages/ListCorrections.v3.pdf

ALSO... if you LOVED the recipes in this year's WW Weekly Magazines... here's a link to all the PointsPlus Values for those recipes!

www.weightwatchers.com/weeklyrecipes

IT's HERE!!! Introducing PointsPlus!!

2010-12-06T16:42:00.003-05:00

With all the preparing for the new PointsPlus Program, I haven't been updating my blog as often as I had hoped. I apologize!

So... here are LOTS of updates and things to read (AND WATCH)!!!

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta breaks down the new Weight Watchers PointsPlus™ system on his blog.
http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/29/weight-watchers-overhauls-point-system/

WebMD weighs in on PointsPlus...
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/weight-watchers-diet

LOTS of great reviews about WW's new PointsPlus Program!
http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/food/diet-nutrition/2010-11-29-weightwatchers29_ST_N.htm

Weight Watchers Announces the new PointsPlus program!

2010-12-06T16:42:00.000-05:00

Cocoa Loco Krispymallow Treats

2010-11-22T22:20:00.002-05:00

WW member, Kim, made the Cocoa Loco Krispymallow Treats and was kind enough to share one with me. YUMMY!!!

PER SERVING (1 treat, about 3" X 2.5"): 122 calories, 2.75g fat, 99mg sodium, 25.5g carbs, 3.5g fiber, 12g sugars, 1.5g protein -- POINTS® value 2*

HELLO, delicious! The second we tasted Chocolate Cheerios, we KNEW we had to make marshmallow-infused squares with the stuff. Adding Reese's Pieces and M&M's was just a stroke of genius...

Ingredients:3 tbsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel & Brown)
3 cups mini marshmallows
3 cups Chocolate Cheerios cereal
3 cups puffed wheat cereal
1 1/2 cups Fiber One bran cereal (original)
One 1.53-oz. package Reese's Pieces candy, lightly crushed
One 1.69-oz. package Milk Chocolate M&M's candy, lightly crushed

Directions:
Spray a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. (Despite use of the pan, you won't actually be baking.) Set aside.

Place butter in a large pot/saucepan on the stove, and set heat to low. Once butter has melted, add marshmallows and stir until those are completely melted as well. (This may take a while, but it's worth it!) Remove from heat, add all three cereals, and stir gently until thoroughly coated.

Using a spatula sprayed with nonstick spray, press mixture evenly into the baking pan. If needed, lay a sheet of wax paper flat over the mixture, and press until the surface is even; then remove. Sprinkle both types of crushed candy evenly over the top, and press down with the spatula. Let cool completely.

Cut into 15 pieces (each about 3 inches by 2 1/2 inches) and EAT!

MAKES 15 SERVINGS

Truth or Myth - Metabolism Quiz

2010-11-07T22:26:00.002-05:00

If I don’t eat, mybody will go into “starvation mode”. – MYTH

There is no such thing as “starvation mode”. We encouragemembers to eat their daily POINTS target because:

Create a calorie deficit for a healthy rate of weight loss.
Ensure that members have sufficient POINTS values for a healthy, well-balanced diet for good health.
Assure that members have sufficient POINTS values to eat well and feel full. If members eat less than their daily POINTS target, it can lead to deprivation, and we know that can lead them to give up. Losing weight in a healthy way is all about sustainability, not quick fixes.

My metabolism is slowbecause I’m older. - TRUTH

- Weight gain is a common occurrence as people get olderbecause the body’s metabolism slows as we age.

- As a person ages, the number of calories they burn on adaily basis goes down. The reason: after age 45, the average individual losesaround 10% of their muscle mass per decade. This equates to losing aboutone-third to one-half a pound of muscle each year – and often gaining that muchin body fat. Because muscle mass burns a lot of calories compared to fat, thetotal number of calories needed by the body goes down.

- ALSO… typically, as a person ages, he/she is generallyless physically active

I’m not losing weight because I’mexercising and building muscle. – MYTH

- Some people eat more when they start to exercise, whichcan slow weight loss. There’s a psychological relaxation: “Hey, I worked out, Ican have that extra serving of food.” Members also tend to over-estimateActivity POINTS.

- Some research shows that people become less active intheir daily routine when they add exercise. This too may be some sort ofpsychological compensation. “I worked out, so I can sit on the couch all day.”

- Some people assume that they gain muscle and this makesthem heavier too. Unless you are lifting heavy weights, it’s unlikely thatyou’re gaining muscle weight. Even then it might take 6 months to gain a coupleof pounds.

I’m not losing weightbecause I eat too much at night. – MYTH

- It doesn’t matter what time you eat: Your body burnscalories 24 hours a day. Although your metabolism does slow down at night, itdoesn’t slow down enough to make a difference. It’s the number of calories youtake in over the course of a week, not the time of day you eat, thatcontributes to weight gain or loss.

You have to eat breakfast to start up yourmetabolism. – MYTH

- Eating breakfast is like filling up a gas tank. Whenyou wake up in the morning, your body is low on fuel, like a car running onempty. A morning meal can kick-start your engine by giving your body energy.

- Non-breakfast eaters fall prey to impulse snacking andthe BLTs of Life (Bites, Licks and Tastes!) which leads to increased calories.

I can increase my metabolism through myfood choices. – MYTH

- Food has very little impact on metabolism other than ifyou eat too much you will gain fat mass which does not burn many caloriescompared to lean muscle mass.

My metabolism loves aZumba class. - TRUTH

- Two ways to boost metabolism:

#1. Increase body’s lean musclemass (because muscle burns more calories than fat, even at rest)

#2. Speeding up your heart rate (toburn more calories)

Pumpkin Fluff

2010-10-22T20:09:00.002-04:00

Yummy Fall Treat!!

15oz can pumpkin

1 small box sugar freevanilla instant pudding mix

1 c. skim milk

1- 8 oz. fat free Cool Whip

2 tsp. pumpkin spice

Using a mixer, blend pumpkinw/ mix and milk!

Divide into 6 servings = 3 POINTS per serving

Divide 8 servings= 2 POINTS per serving

LFG Campaign encourages members to lose for others

2010-10-18T23:05:00.001-04:00

WeightWatchers “Lose for Good” Campaign Encourages Members to Lose for Others

Local North OlmstedResident loses 150 pounds, donates 150 pounds of food to Cleveland Foodbank

100+ Weight Watchers Members and theirfamilies set to “5K/10K Walk for Others” This Sunday, October 24 in Strongsvilleto benefit ClevelandFoodbank

CLEVELAND, Ohio --- For the past two years, Weight Watchers membershave shown that they can improve their health while helping those in need. InSeptember, the company launched its third annual Lose For Good campaign, aninitiative that fights hunger both locally and globally by increasing awarenessof this important issue and helping to provide access to healthy food for thosein need.

Locally,Weight Watchers members throughout the Greater Cleveland area have beenparticipating in the Lose for Good Campaign in two ways: by losing weight andthrough food drives.

Duringthe seven week campaign (September 5^th through October 23^rd),for each pound of weight that members lose, Weight Watchers will donate up to$1 million to two national hunger fighting organizations. The campaign hasallowed members to not only lose the weight for good to help their own healthefforts, but also to lose the weight to help others who are in need of food.

WeightWatchers members have also been participating in food drives locally to benefitthe Cleveland Foodbank. Many members have donated food in the amount of weightthat they have lost. During last year’s campaign, over 6,000 pounds of food wasdonated through local Weight Watchers meetings to the Cleveland Foodbank.

Onelocal North Olmstedresident, Rose Perry, has lost more than 150 pounds through the Weight Watchersprogram. In honor of her significant weight loss achievement, she will bedonating 150 pounds of food to the Cleveland Foodbank. Perry’s “Success Wall”will be displayed at the Weight Watchers Centerin North Olmstedbeginning this Saturday, October 23 when she makes her final donation tocomplete her total.

Tocelebrate the conclusion of the Lose for Good campaign, local Weight Watchers memberswill be using activity to support those less fortunate. This Sunday, October 24at 2pm at Bonnie Park in Strongsville,WW Leader Stephanie Mueller will host a “5K& 10K Walk for Others” to benefit the Cleveland Foodbank. WW Members,along with their family, friends and pets are encouraged to attend and supportthe Lose for Good campaign. Participants are asked to bring a non-perishablefood item to be donated to the Cleveland Foodbank. Mueller hosted a 5K Walk inJune as part of Weight Watchers “Walk-It Challenge”. Over 100 people attendedthe event, many of whom would never have considered taking the challenge ofcompleting a 5K without the encouragement from their fellow Weight Watchersmeeting members.

Mediarepresentatives are welcome to attend the “5K/10K Walk for Others” this comingSunday. There will be a pre-walk/run warm-up beginning at 1:45pm. The walk/runwill begin at 2:00pm. Representatives from the Cleveland Foodbank will be onhand to accept the donations from the event participants as part of the Losefor Good campaign.

Ifmedia would like to visit the Weight Watchers North Olmsted Centerto view Rose Perry’s “Success Wall”, they are encouraged to contact StephanieMueller to schedule a day/time. Stephanie Mueller can be reached at(440.879.8727 or stephanie@wwleader.com)for details.

NationalLose for Good Campaign Details

BetweenSeptember 5th and October 23rd, as Weight Watchers members and Onlinesubscribers lose weight and participate in other activities, the company willdonate up to $1 million to two leading hunger fighting organizations–Share OurStrength and Action Against Hunger. Through Lose For Good, Weight Watchers hasdonated more than $2 million to its charitable partners, and its members havedonated over 3.5 million pounds of food to food banks nationwide.

"Almostone in four children in Americafaces hunger and will endure lifelong consequences as a result of havinglimited access to nutritious foods," said Billy Shore,Founder and Executive Director of Share Our Strength. "Weight Watchers isan important ally in our fight to make sure no child in America growsup hungry. We're thankful for their dedication to our mission and the generoussupport they provide through the Lose For Good campaign."

"TheLose For Good campaign provides important support for our work to end hungeraround the world," said Nan Dale, Executive Director of Action AgainstHunger's U.S.headquarters. "As Americans strive to make healthier choices at home, thiscampaign offers a novel way for participants to help themselves while alsohelping save children suffering from life-threatening malnutrition."

AcademyAward-winning actress and Grammy Award-winning recording artist Jennifer Hudsonis joining the effort and will take part in media appearances, as well as starin a national TV spot that encourages Americans to get healthy and give back.In September, Hudson will visit a New York City school aspart of the campaign to help educate families on how to prepare healthy, lowcost meals, while spreading the message that increasing access to healthy foodis an important step in fighting both hunger and obesity.

"Iam so proud to be a part of Lose For Good which encourages people to gethealthy, something I've learned to do with the help of Weight Watchers, whileat the same time giving back to those in need," explained Hudson."There are kids in our own country and abroad who are growing up hungry,and as a mom, this breaks my heart. That's why I'm so happy to be involved inthis campaign, where weight loss success can help others - it's a win foreveryone!"

"Obesityand hunger have become two sides of the same coin in many economically depressedareas, and I'm proud that through Lose For Good, Weight Watchers, its membersand its partners can have a positive impact reversing this troublingsituation," said David Kirchhoff, President and CEO Weight WatchersInternational, Inc.

Thereare many ways to get involved and spread the message of Lose For Good:

Visit the Lose For Good website: www.weightwatchers.com/loseforgood
Success Walls: Online subscribers and Community users will be encouraged to build "Success Walls" constructed of collected food that represent their weight loss. They can then donate the food on or around October 23 (Donation Day) via an official Weight Watchers Meetup at a food bank or food drive by visiting www.meetup.com/weightwatchers.
Lose For Good Tab on the Weight Watchers Facebook page: Visit www.facebook.com/weightwatchers for updated information and videos
Action Tuesdays: On six Tuesdays during the campaign, Weight Watchers eTools subscribers and Weight Watchers Online subscribers will be invited to participate in specific tasks, and for each task, Weight Watchers will donate $1 to Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger (up to $5,000 per Tuesday as part of the larger corporate donation)
Lose-A-Palooza: A one-day social media event taking place on September 14th that will help further spread the Lose For Good message. Weight Watchers will donate $1 to Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger for every accepted mention or acknowledgment of "Lose For Good" made on September 14th through blogs, Twitter, Facebook and check-ins via foursquare (up to $60,000 as part of the larger corporate donation)
Member Local Food Drives: Select Weight Watchers meeting locations will be holding local food drives throughout the duration of the campaign where members can donate food that will be given to local food banks

About Weight Watchers International,Inc.

WeightWatchers International, Inc. is the world's leading provider of weightmanagement services, operating globally through a network of Company-owned andfranchise operations. Weight Watchers holds almost 50,000 meetings each weekwhere members receive group support and learn about healthy eating patterns,behavior modification and physical activity. WeightWatchers.com providesinnovative, subscription weight management products over the Internet and isthe leading Internet-based weight management provider in the world. Inaddition, Weight Watchers offers a wide range of products, publications andprograms for those interested in weight loss and weight control.

Cleveland Foodbank

TheCleveland Foodbank supplies a majority of the food used in local hot mealsites, shelters, and food pantries. In addition, we provide food to child carecenters, group homes, and programs for the elderly. The Foodbank works closelywith other Northeast Ohio hunger relieforganizations, providing food and nonfood products to hunger centersadministered by the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland, the Catholic Hungerand Shelter Network, and the Salvation Army, among others.

About Share Our Strength

ShareOur Strength(R), a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America byconnecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, activelives. Through its No Kid Hungry Campaign(TM)--a national effort to endchildhood hunger in America by 2015--Share Our Strength ensures children inneed are enrolled in effective federal nutrition programs, invests in communityorganizations fighting hunger, teaches families how to cook healthy meals on abudget, and builds public-private partnerships to end hunger, both nationallyand at the state level. Working closely with the culinary industry and relyingon the strength of its volunteers, Share Our Strength hosts innovative culinaryfundraising events and develops pioneering cause marketing campaigns thatsupport No Kid Hungry. Visit Strength.org to get involved in the No Kid HungryCampaign.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger | ACF International is a global humanitarian organization committed toending world hunger. Recognized as a leader in the fight against malnutrition,ACF works to save the lives of malnourished children while providingcommunities with sustainable access to safe water and long-term solutions tohunger. With 30 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, naturaldisaster, and chronic food insecurity, ACF runs life-saving programs in some 40countries benefiting 5 million people each year.

Slow Cooker Lasagna

2010-10-13T21:52:00.000-04:00

POINTS® Value: 8
Servings: 6
Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 360 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

No need to cook the noodles first or stay home while it bakes. Just let it sit a few minutes before serving so it can firm up a bit.

Ingredients


	1 pound(s) uncooked lean ground beef (with 7% fat)
	1 small onion(s), chopped
	1 medium garlic clove(s), minced
	28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
	15 oz canned tomato sauce
	1 tsp table salt
	1 tsp dried oregano
	1/2 tsp dried basil
	1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
	1 cup(s) part-skim ricotta cheese
	1 1/2 cup(s) part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
	6 item(s) dry lasagna noodles, no-cook
	1/2 cup(s) shredded Parmesan cheese, strong-flavored like Romano or Parmigiano Reggiano

Instructions

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef, onion and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, oregano, basil and red pepper flakes; simmer 5 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together ricotta cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Spoon 1/3 of beef mixture into a 5-quart slow cooker. Break 3 lasagna sheets in half and arrange over beef mixture; top with half of ricotta mixture. Repeat with another layer and finish with remaining 1/3 of beef mixture.
Cover slow cooker and cook on low setting for 4 to 6 hours. Remove cover; turn off heat and season to taste, if desired.
In a small bowl, combine remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese; sprinkle over beef mixture. Cover and set aside until cheese melts and lasagna firms up, about 10 minutes. Yields 1/6th of dish per serving.

Notes

To boost your vegetable intake, add a can of zucchini in tomato sauce to the meat mixture. You can also add 2 cups of sliced shiitake mushrooms to the beef mixture.

Apple Cider Crisp... just in time for fall!

2010-09-28T15:20:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com...

WW's Apple Cider Crisp is so delicious and easy to make, it’s sure to be your new favorite fall dessert. And at 4 POINTS® values, you can enjoy it without the guilt!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/index.aspx?recipeId=129041

Do you like COFFEE? Here's a list of Coffee MUST-HAVES!

2010-09-27T22:11:00.000-04:00

Coffee at home = a better idea than coffee out. For so many reasons. Here are my top "ate" at-home coffee necessities...

1. Instant coffee
No need to get fancy here. Instant coffee is good if you want to make an iced coffee FAST — and also make blended coffee drinks. Folgers is great, and Tasters Choice’s French Vanilla is really great.

2. No-calorie sweetener packets
I still prefer Splenda, but Truvia is a great alternative for people looking for more natural options. Splenda does have those fancy flavored packets out there that are specifically flavored for a good cup of coffee.

3. Cocoa powder
It’s multi-purpose in so many ways, but a little cocoa powder in your coffee goes a long way... and without adding many calories! Also, a can of the stuff is cheap and will last a very long time.

4. Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze
I'm obsessed with this milk swap. If you can’t find it, light vanilla soymilk is a good substitute. But this really is the best option, taste and calorie-wise. Plus, since it’s shelf-stable, you can buy a bunch at a time so you’ve always got a new carton when the one in your fridge is empty.

5. Sugar Free or Fat Free Coffee-Mate Powdered Creamers
In plain and flavored, just a teaspoon or so adds a lot of creaminess to your drinks. BTW, the Sugar Free French Vanilla is the one I use most often at the HG HQ, but they’re all great.

6. Fat Free Reddi-Wip
If you feel like getting really decadent with your at-home latte, this 5-calories-per-serving, creamy, fat-free whip is the way to dress it up. This way, you get the coffeehouse fanciness without the extra calories and fat — or the long lines.

7. Torani Sugar Free Syrups
Using this no-calorie stuff is hands down the best way to flavor your coffee drinks. Look for your favorite flavors at Cost Plus World Market, or order online at torani.com.

8. Good ice, bendy straws and a great blender
Yeah, I know the last one is actually three things. But they're all super-important. Enjoy!
Where will Hungry Girl go next week? Check back Monday to find out!

More About Hungry Girl
Learn how Hungry Girl came to be — and more!

Hungry Girl, aka Lisa Lillien, distributes her tips, tricks and takes on new food products through her daily emails and Web site. Check out www.Hungry-Girl.com.

Quinoa and Tomato Salad

2010-09-27T22:09:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com...

YUMMY Recipe! Click on the link below. If you try it, let me know how you like it!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/index.aspx?recipeid=142331

Navigating the vending machine... it's possible!

2010-09-27T22:06:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com...

You're hungry and glued to your desk. What are your best options for a satisfying snack?

If you find yourself stuck at work with a deadline, an energy slump and no food source other than the vending machine, take heart: Your office vending machine could contain a couple of items that will slay your hunger and notch up your energy level — without undermining your daily POINTS® Target.

Keep in mind that snacks high in protein and fiber will deliver the longest-lasting energy return. But be careful with products labeled "whole grain," says Alan Lee, a registered dietician at Greyston Health Services in Yonkers, NY. They are often a source of fiber — but not always.

And even though the word "healthy" may appear on a package, there is no regulated measure of genuinely healthy ingredients necessary for the manufacturer to put it there.

Read the label to be sure that the product truly has a good amount of protein or fiber or less fat than typical packaged snacks. And use the POINTS calculator to find out exactly what you're eating.

Here are some smart choices for satisfying your hunger, according to Lee. And as a reminder that not everything from a vending is a good choice, we've also included snacks you'd be wise to pass up.

Smart picks

Cereal bars
They were intended for breakfast, but whole-grain cereal or granola bars will fuel you anytime. One typical cereal bar has a POINTS value of 3.

Trail mix
A combination of nuts and dried fruits, such as raisins, delivers protein and fiber. But be sure to avoid versions mixed with candies such as chocolate or banana chips. A 1/4 cup of trail mix has a POINTS value of 4.

Energy bar
If you have hours to go before you can enjoy a real meal, choose one of the big guns: an energy bar. An average energy bar has a POINTS value of 4 to 5.

Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a fiber-rich breakfast or snack choice. A single serving of apples and cinnamon instant oatmeal contains 130 calories for a POINTS value of 2.

Poor picks

Frosted pastries
Not even kids should pop these in the toaster. One frosted toaster pastry packs a POINTS value of 9.

Reese's peanut butter cups
It's obvious that a chocolate bar won't provide lasting energy, but some might think that adding the nutrients and protein in peanut butter might help the mix. For a POINTS value of 6 for just two, though, it's pure candy.

Potato chips
Most chips are fried, which boosts their POINTS values skyward (one serving has a POINTS value of about 4). Of course, you could be lucky enough to run across a vending machine stocking baked chips, which have a POINTS value of 2, with far less fat.

Snackwells Cookie Sandwiches
With 1 or 2 POINTS values per cookie, these won't ruin your daily standing, but they are heavily sweetened and won't do much for real hunger. Bottom line: "They're not very filling," says Lee.

Pretzels
So maybe this isn't a worst choice. What should be noted, however, is that this snack is often thought to be a safe vending machine mainstay at a POINTS value of 2 (for 1 oz of pretzels). But they've got little fiber, so soon you'll be taking a trip back for another snack. "They're super salty tasting," says Lee, "but offer little satisfaction."

The best course of action is to plan for those energy dips and long hours by bringing in fresh fruit, low-fat cheese and yogurt.

Need the perfect dish to compliment your entree... look no further!

2010-09-27T22:03:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com...

WW has paired five fabulous dinner ideas with five delicious (and really easy to make) sides. So for Zero POINTS values you can add taste, variety and balance to any meal.

Click on the link below to learn more...

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=77801&sc=3022

The Skinny on Ice Cream

2010-08-02T21:05:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com...

If you’ve been avoiding ice cream, we’ve got good news: There are many satisfying ways to enjoy this warm-weather favorite that won’t derail your weight-loss efforts. Here’s a must-have guide for summer ice cream runs.

Come on, who doesn’t scream for ice cream? The more you know about this treat, the easier it is to make good choices.

What's the difference between light and reduced-fat ice cream? Is sherbert better than sorbet? Our guide will demystify these frozen treats and more.

Freezer Facts

Don’t allow your ice cream to soften and re-freeze repeatedly. That’s where those unpleasant ice crystals come from.

Store it in the main part of your freezer, never on the door — the temperature fluctuates too widely there.

Keep the lid tightly closed, and never put ice cream near uncovered foods, as odors can penetrate easily.

Ice cream
The one-size-fits-all term of old now has several sub-categories, with varying degrees of waistline-friendliness. The rich, decadent flavor of superpremium ice cream comes from an abundance of milkfat (at least 14 percent) and very little added air — and density means more calories.

Premium is a step down from there (11- to 15-percent milkfat, and a bit more air), but still packs plenty of POINTS® values. Both varieties tend to come in more unusual, “gourmet” flavors. Regular contains at least 10-percent milkfat, and has even more air than premium. Compare nutrition facts labels — you’ll be surprised by how well some regular ice cream fits into the program. Reduced Fat contains at least 25-percent less fat than its regular counterpart. Light and low-fat has less than 30 percent of calories from fat or no more than 3 grams of fat in a half-cup serving. Non-fat has less than 0.5 grams of fat. That said, always check the nutrition facts: the “light” variety of a superpremium brand may have more POINTS values than the “regular” from another brand.

A few words about milkfat: Because the amount of air pumped into different brands varies so greatly, the percentage of milkfat doesn’t correspond precisely to the number of fat grams per serving. For example, if a superpremium vanilla has 16-percent milkfat and 12 fat grams per serving, the regular might have 10-percent milkfat and 7 grams of fat in a serving, and the light could have 4-percent milkfat and 4 fat grams. That’s why it’s so important to calculate the POINTS values for each specific brand you try.

Slow-churned, cold-churned or double-churned
Three names for the same thing, this is a revolution in reduced-calorie ice cream production, a new process that disperses the tiny globules of milk fat more thoroughly. The basic recipe — and the milkfat content — is the same as other low- and reduced-fat ice creams, but the technique used to make it creates the illusion of richness. These products can offer the satisfaction of premium ice cream with far less fat and calories. There are a few brands on the market now that have a POINTS value of only 3 per serving, but still feel indulgent. Note that “no sugar added” doesn’t always equal a big difference in calories (or POINTS value).

Soft serve
Surprise! Those sweet swirls are almost always reduced-fat — most recipes call for only 3- to 6-percent milkfat. Plus its soft texture comes from churned-in air, which yields fewer calories by volume. Frozen custard is not the same as soft serve — it’s got added egg yolks, plus a higher percentage of milkfat.

Gelato
Similar in texture to soft serve but with a much more intense flavor, gelato can be an occasional treat. It usually has more milk than cream, meaning a lower fat count than regular ice cream, but with much less air — so there are more calories in less volume. Stick to small servings.

Frozen yogurt
With a taste and calorie count that’s similar to light ice cream, this is usually a good choice — but don’t forget to read the nutrition facts! Some frozen yogurts have a higher POINTS value per serving than slow-churned ice cream.

Non-dairy frozen desserts
If you’re a vegan, lactose intolerant or watching your cholesterol, you can still enjoy a creamy treat. Frozen desserts based on soy or rice are plan-friendly — relatively low in calories and fat — and, while they may not taste exactly like the real thing, they’re a whole lot better than nothing.

Sherbet and sorbet
Sherbet has less milkfat and more sugar than low-fat ice cream, and its POINTS value is relatively low. Sorbet has no dairy in it at all, so it’s usually fat-free — but the high sugar content means that it may have just as many calories as some ice creams. But texturally it’s entirely different: more icy and refreshing, but less decadent.

Snack Attack Quiz - What kind of snacker are YOU?

2010-07-26T22:01:00.002-04:00

Take this quiz to learn how you cope with Snack Attacks.

1. Your favorite snack:
a. makes you feel guilty.
b. is a candy bar and a diet drink.
c. requires an extra workout.
d. gives you a lot of pleasure.
e. is a fruit or a vegetable.

2. When choosing your snack, you:
a. look around to see who's watching you sneak a donut.
b. use artificial sweetener in your coffee to make up for the donut.
c. substitute breakfast for your late-morning donut.
d. happily eat your donut in front of your coworkers.
e. skip the donut for a celery stick.

3. You have to bring snacks to the Super Bowl party. You:
a. tell everyone you used fat-free sour cream in the Mexican dip.
b. bring chocolate-covered strawberries.
c. run an extra mile for every potato skin you serve.
d. bring the hot cheese and sausage dip with chips.
e. bring the vegetable tray and low fat ranch dip.

4. You are bored and there's nothing on TV. You:
a. defrost the candy bar hidden in the freezer.
b. fix sugarless hot chocolate and load it with marshmallows.
c. make a bowl of ice cream and chocolate syrup and then jump rope for 30 minutes.
d. break open a bag of potato chips and eat the whole bag.
e. slice an apple and top it with fat-free yogurt.

If you chose mostly A's, you are a "Conflicted Snacker."
You feel guilty about snacking and try to when you can.

If you chose mostly B's, you are a "Contradictory Snacker,"
and will attempt to balance an unhealthy snack with a healthy one.

If you chose mostly C's, you are a "Disciplinary Snacker"
and you punish yourself for snacking by skipping a meal or adding an extra work out.

If you chose mostly D's, you are a "Shameless Snacker"
and figure the heck with diets, bring on the snacks.

If you chose mostly E's, you are a "Healthy Snacker"
and more than likely progressing to your goal!

15 Tips for Breaking through a Plateau

2010-07-26T21:52:00.000-04:00

"Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal."

1. JOURNAL, JOURNAL, JOURNAL:
This is one of the most powerful tools you have to help you stay on track or in this case get back on track. Your journal keeps you accountable and makes you aware of the coices you are making. It can help you see where you are may be going over in points for the day. It helps you make sure you are getting in all your Good Healthy Guidelines. Use your journal as a detective tool: Did you have a good week? Look over it at the end of the week and see what you think contributed to that success. Had a not so good week? Again, look over your journal to see what little changes need to be made. Look at last week's journal for clues too, sometimes it takes a full week before the effects of a not so good week shows up.

2. FOLLOW THE GOOD HEALTHY GUIDELINES :
Look at your food choices, are you eating a wide variety of foods? Remember, your body needs nutrients from lots of different sources and if you're eating the same things all the time or too much of one type of food, you're probably not getting the proper nutrition your body needs. Take a look at your food choices, sometimes we have the attitude that as long as our points are met at the end of the day we're doing good, but if we focus on meeting the Good Healthy Guidelines we'll see that we still need to make some small adjustments to ensure we're spending our points in a way that keeps our bodies healthy.

3. WEIGH AND MEASURE PORTIONS:
Have you put the measuring cups away? Too many times our portions get bigger without us realizing it, using measuring cups and spoons and weighing out our portions can give us a better idea if our portions have suddenly grown bigger than we're counting. Remember, portion size does matter.

4. READ LABELS CAREFULLY:
Are you counting your points right for the product that you're eating? If you're eating a bigger serving size than the one listed on the label you're eating more points than you calculated.

5. REMEMBER, ZERO TIMES ZERO IS NOT ALWAYS ZERO:
If you're eating one serving of fat free sugar free gelatin for 10 calories, okay, that's zero points, but if you're now eating 4 servings plus 2 tbsp of fat free whipped topping, you've got yourself one point! Beware of those hidden extras where we multiply portions, and beware of BLT's: Bites, Licks, and Tastes that never seem to get counted on any journal. These add up.

6. TOO MANY REFINED CARBS?:
Are you eating too many sources of simple and refined carbs, the stuff that's heavily processed and no longer looks like its natural food source. Think of it as the difference between whole grain bread and processed white bread, brown rice vs. white rice, popcorn cakes vs. corn on the cob. Try to include more of the natural sources of carbs in your diet stuff like beans, yams, potatoes, brown rice, whole wheat couscous. This is not to say you can't have any refined carbs, just try to limit the amount of them if you're having trouble

7. NOT ENOUGH FAT?:
Okay, this sounds counterintuitive, but according to the Good Healthy Guidelines and for good nutrition you should be adding in about 2-3 points of a healthy fat per day. Please go back to Week One and make sure you are getting in those HEALTHY OILS! Our bodies need enough fat in order to properly function. The Healthy Oils contain an essential fatty acid: linoleic acid, that our body can't produce on its own. That fat is needed for proper metabolic and digestive function. Fat provides essential nutrients our bodies need, it transports fat soluble vitamins that our bodies need, it is needed for proper digestion and metabolic function, it helps us keep fuller longer, keeps our hair and skin nice, and is crucial for proper gallbladder function. If you're on a super low fat diet you can develop gallstones that are no fun and super painful.

8. DRINK HALF YOUR BODY WEIGHT IN WATER EACH DAY:
According to Barbara Levine, R.D., Ph.D., the Director of the Nutrition Information Center at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and reported in the June issue of Weight Watchers magazine, she says that overweight people need more water than the typical 8 cups a day rule. "Overweight people tend to need more water, because fat cells hold more water than other fat cells in the body. To determine the number of ounces of water you need per day, divide your weight by two. For example, a person who weighs 140 pounds should consume 70 ounces, or about 9 cups. Of course, this is an estimate. The best way to gauge whether you are getting enough water is to monitor the color of your urine. If you're drinking enough, it should be the color of pale straw. If it is a deeper yellow, you're not getting enough fluids" (page 16, June 1999). Lots of times we misinterpret thirst for hunger, try water first, wait 20 minutes, real hunger will not go away.

9. MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING FIVE SERVINGS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES PER DAY:
Eating the zero point veggies can often help us to fill up so that we're not eating the other higher points foods instead. If you're hungry, try non-starchy veggies first. Lots of members make the Garden Vegetable Soup recipe in the Week 1 booklet and eat a bowl of that before dinner to fill up a bit so that you can get full on the smaller portions you'll be serving yourself. Try a glass of V8 Fusion before a meal during the summer when soup sounds too hot. Variety is good here too, try a new fruit or veggie this week to expand your repertoire.

10. INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OR INTENSITY OF YOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:
Are you exercising? If not, know that you'll be much more successful at losing the weight and keeping it off if you are also physically active. Find something that you enjoy doing and just do it! Start with a five minute walk out of your door, look at your watch after five minutes start heading back, just like that you've done 10 minutes! Next week start adding in a couple of extra minutes, try walking for 7 minutes out of your door, and 7 minutes back, you've now done 14 minutes. Keep adding until you're up to at least 10 minutes out and 10 minutes back. If you're already active, are you exercising at enough intensity? If you can easily carry on a conversation while exercising (you should be able to speak, but it should take a bit of effort) you're not challenging your body enough. Your body becomes really efficient at adjusting to the amount of physical activity you're doing, so you regularly have to adjust either the intensity of your workouts or the frequency in order to continue to reap the maximum benefit from physical activity. Try strength training in order to build lean muscle tissue. As we get older we lose lean muscle tissue which depresses your metabolism in addition severely restrictive diets where we eat too few calories can cause us to lose weight but lots of it is lean muscle which also depresses our metabolism. If we build muscle tissue this can help us to reverse that process and to make us trimmer and stronger.

11. MOVE THE MEALS AROUND:
Do you always have your biggest meal at dinner? Try eating your biggest meal for lunch or even for breakfast, with smaller meals for the remaining meals. If you regularly eat most of your points at one meal your body converts the rest of the food into stored energy...fat...so that if you balance your points out throughout the day better you can actually give your metabolism a boost by keeping it revving throughout the day instead of only one spike at dinner. Food actually helps to boost our metabolism, that's why it's important never to skip meals. There's a saying that you could help losing weight. to lose weight by eating breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. This gives us the majority of our points early in the day when our bodies can use them because we're active instead of right before bed if we eat them at dinner.

12. TRY VARYING YOUR NUMBER OF POINTS:
Do you always eat at a certain number of points per day? Your body gets very efficient at predicting its intake and adjusts itself accordingly. Keep it guessing. Try mixing up the number of points you have...low one day, middle the next, back to low, then high end of your points. Special note: If you're very active never eat at the low end of your points, always eat middle to high end of your points and take those extra exercise points if you need them...let your hunger be your guide.

13. TAKE YOUR MEASUREMENTS AND LOOK FOR OTHER NON-SCALE SIGNS OF PROGRESS:
Often even when the scale isn't moving, we're still improving our health and our bodies which will show up in other ways other than the scale. Have your measurements gone down? How are your clothes fitting? Can you climb a flight of stairs without being winded? Has your cholesterol gone down? Can you walk now for 20 minutes when before you were huffing and puffing at 5 minutes? How do you feel?

14. ARE YOU ON AN ATTITUDE PLATEAU?:
Are you just tired of feeling like you're going to be doing this forever? Does that translate into that right now your desire to lose weight is equal to your desire for freedom from counting and having to think about points and healthy food choices? If so, then that mental attitude might be the culprit in that you're following a more relaxed adherence to the program but you think you're still doing it to the letter. Remind yourself of why you started this process, look at how far you've come. Is your goal still the same? Is it that you're scared of success, are okay with how you look right now, have you become complacent? Ask yourself these kind of questions honestly. If you're tired of the weight loss routine or have become complacent, try spicing up your food plan by trying more interesting meals and snacks, adding new foods, trying new recipes or new restaurants. Set new goals, setting a new goal can continue to challenge yourself.

15. CONSIDER MAINTENANCE:
A plateau that lasts a long time can be the practice to show you that you can maintain your weight. Sustaining weight loss is a challenge in itself. Consider doing the maintenance process so as to take a break from weight loss. Taking a break from weight loss and focusing on keeping the weight off can be the best thing to do, especially if a vacation or stressful situation is what is keeping you from continuing on your weight loss journey.

“Life's up and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals - Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want"

Good news! It's OK to eat chocolate!

2010-07-26T21:45:00.003-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com

Chocolate can be part of a healthy diet. The key is knowing how to work it in without overdoing it. Here's how.

There's a reason that chocolate—that smooth, sweet indulgence—inspires gotta-have-it cravings, perhaps more than any other food: It's actually good for you. In case you hadn't heard, a battery of recent studies has given the green light to chocolate lovers everywhere.

"It's actually good for your heart and also good for your blood pressure," says Valentine Yanchou Njike, MD, MPH, of the Yale Griffin Prevention Research Center, who has researched cocoa's effect on blood vessel function. Researchers have also found that phytochemicals in cocoa, which is used to make chocolate, may improve blood vessel function, slow blood clotting, improve insulin resistance and have protective effects against cancer. And even though the labels say chocolate contains saturated fat, it's actually the kind of fat (called stearic acid) that has little effect on your cholesterol levels.

But experts warn against celebrating this good news with morning, noon and night chocolate bar binges. The dark delicacy still packs a hefty number of calories per ounce from its fat and sugar content. And as Karen Collins, MS, RD, nutrition advisor to the American Institute for Cancer Research, points out, "We have a wide range of food—vegetable, fruits, whole grains, beans—that provides thousands of phytochemicals, and so our heart and our cancer health does not depend on eating chocolate. If you load up on chocolate for the phytochemicals, then that's going to send your weight up."

The bottom line is that you don't have to beat yourself up for craving chocolate if you enjoy it in moderation. Here are six tips for getting a guilt-free chocolate fix.

1. Keep it pure.
"If you want chocolate, have chocolate, don't have chocolate cake," says Collins. "You'll get the intense chocolate flavor, and you won't be getting the extra calories and unhealthy fats."

2. Choose wisely.
While chocolate may have some health benefits, it should still be eaten as a treat. "It's not a substitute for fruits and vegetables; it's a substitute for other discretionary calories," says Collins. So when snacking, should you pick chocolate over a pear? Probably not. How about chocolate instead of potato chips? Yes, indeed!

3. Eat what you like.
The darker the chocolate, the more phytochemicals (and usually less sugar) it contains. Its flavor is also more intense than milk chocolate. But if you don't like the bitterness of dark chocolate, don't think it's your only option, says Collins. "If what you really like is the milk chocolate, then have what you like, because you're eating this for pleasure."

4. Think bite-size.
It usually just takes a little bit of chocolate to curb a craving. That's why Collins suggests buying chocolate in small portions. "Don't buy the larger size because the unit pricing is better…you won't stop. It's human nature," she says.

5. Get a liquid fix.
Hot cocoa is another way to enjoy chocolate. Make your own low-POINTS® value version with cocoa, skim milk or water and a sugar substitute. Look for "natural" cocoa, not "Dutch-processed." The processing significantly diminishes its phytochemical content, says Collins.

6. Savor it.
If you really love chocolate, slow down and enjoy it instead of gobbling it down on the go. This way, says Collins, "You will get so much enjoyment out of a small amount that you won't need to eat a bagful."

Super Sandwich Makers

2010-07-26T21:35:00.004-04:00

Check out these "bread" options... (Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com)

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=78131&sc=3022

Start Over

2010-07-21T22:33:00.002-04:00

If you've started out in pursuit of your goal
And you've really tried with your heart and soul,
But somehow things got out of control.....Start Over.

When you have tried your best to do what you should
And you thought this time that you surely would,
But once again, you didn't do good...Start Over.

When the road to success seemed much too long
And each temptation was oh so strong
And once again you gave in to wrong....Start Over

To start again means a victory's been won
And starting over again means a race well run
And starting over again proves it CAN be done
So don't just sit there....Start Over!

Puzzle Pieces

2010-07-21T22:31:00.001-04:00

Poem that I used to close the Truths, Testimonials and Triumphs event at WW North Olmsted. Unfortunately, I cannot take credit for authoring this masterpiece... Enjoy!

EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE, I LEARNED FROM A JIGSAW PUZZLE

•Don't force a fit. If something is meant to be, it will come together naturally.

•When things aren't going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return.

•Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.

•Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece.

•The creator of the puzzle gave you the picture as a guidebook. Refer to the creator’s guidebook often.

•Don't be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising.

•Take time to celebrate your successes (even little ones).

•Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can't be rushed.

•When you finally reach the last piece, don’t be sad. Rejoice in the masterpiece you’ve made.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

2010-07-12T16:55:00.005-04:00

One of my favorite Hungry Girl recipes...

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

One box of Brownie Mix

2 cups of canned pure pumpkin

2 tbsp reduced-fat peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine pumpkin w/brownie mix in a large bowl and stir until smooth (batter will be very thick, but don’t add anything else!)

Spray a square baking pan (9” x 9”) with nonstick spray and pour in the mixture. Spoon peanut butter on top and use a knife to swirl it around the top of the batter. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes. (The batter will remain very thick and fudgy, and it should look undercooked.) Allow to cool.

Cover pan with foil and place pan in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Cut into 36 squares.

36 Servings = 2 POINTS per serving

(If you use super-low in fat and high fiber brownie mix, the POINTS will vary.)

Zero POINTS Vegetable Soups

2010-07-12T16:47:00.001-04:00

Special thanks to WW member, Jenny, at WW North Olmsted for bringing this WeightWatchers.com article to my attention!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=47881&sc=3026

Portion Control

2010-07-02T21:43:00.002-04:00

Great article I found about Portion Size...

http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthtool-portion-size-plate

Celebrate the 4th!

2010-07-02T21:42:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com....

Independence Day is one of the most anticipated days of summer. This is no restrained, small-scale celebration. It’s all about excess: food, fun, and, of course, fireworks.

Just because you want to go all-out for fun, though, doesn't mean you have to literally go for broke. We're all still being careful about money, and we're all trying to eat healthier, too. But you can still celebrate the day with all the festive glory it deserves. Even if your plans are last-minute, invite some people over. Fire up the grill. Entertaining friends doesn’t have to be an expensive or gut-busting experience. Here’s how to do the food on the cheap and the décor even cheaper with crafty DIY ideas. You can still get your red, white and blue on without shelling out too much green.

Read more about staying on plan for the 4th!
http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=75981

Weight Watchers Oatmeal Pancakes

2010-06-23T07:43:00.000-04:00

How fun is this??

You can make pancakes out of WW Oatmeal (found in meeting rooms and on sale for $5.00 this week)!!

Ingredients = 1 cup Weight Watchers Oatmeal & ½ cup egg beaters (or 3 egg whites)

In a bowl, mix ingredients. Spray non-stick skillet/pan. Pour mix into pan to make 1 big pancake or 2 medium pancakes.

Makes: 1 serving/POINTS value per serving: 3

Summer Sabotage

2010-06-21T22:43:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com...

Summer isn't always an easy time to lose weight. We'll show you how to keep this "light" season from getting heavy. Appetite tends to decrease as the temperature rises, so losing weight this summer should be no problem, right? Not necessarily. Between barbecues, weddings, visits and vacations, this time of year can actually be a weight-loss minefield.

Food is often the focus of our summer entertaining, and it's easy to lose sight of how much you're consuming. When you're at a party, before you pick up a plate, scan your options, suggests Susie Klein, MS, RD. "Think about what you really want, then get a plate and follow through on those choices."

Size does matter, so keep portion control in mind, says Ellie Krieger, MS, RD. And while you may be tempted to take a vacation from sensible eating while you're enjoying time off, Krieger advises that you merely loosen up rather than abandon your diet plan altogether. "When you're on vacation, allow yourself a little treat." Here are five more strategies for staying on track all season.

Guest work
When invited for to a barbecue or picnic, contribute a chopped vegetable salad or some other healthful dish. That way you'll know there's at least one item on the menu that's low in calories.

Sit down
Rather than grazing throughout the party, get a plate, take small amounts of the food you want, sit down and enjoy it. Calories mount up, one nibble at a time, if you're hanging out at the buffet table mindlessly eating as much finger food as you want.

Get moving
After eating, leave the table — and the temptation — and do something active. Take a walk on the beach, play catch with the kids, start a volleyball or softball game, toss a Frisbee® or football. Take the focus off food while you burn your meal away.

Deceptive drinks
On a hot day it's easy to down glass after glass of lemonade or punch, but unless you've made it yourself and know for sure, be aware that it's probably loaded with sugar. Summer favorites such as smoothies and frozen margaritas can also be highly caloric. The best way to quench your thirst is with water. Make it flavorful by adding slices of orange, lemon or lime.

Treat yourself
Delectable doesn't have to be decadent. Indulge with lobster (spare the butter) and other seafood. Corn grilled in the husk is flavorful without added calories from butter. And it wouldn't be summer without watermelon. It's fun to eat, loaded with nutrients and low in calories.

Portion Primer

2010-06-21T22:39:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com...

You know that 3 ounces of steak is a healthy portion, but do you know what 3 ounces looks like? Can you tell at a glance how much a half a cup of potato salad is, or a cup of pasta? Here's your pictorial guide to portion sizes for your favorite foods. Look up foods by category or browse them all to find familiar visual cues to what a portion looks like. You'll be a master of portions in no time.

Check out the portion sizes guide!

Stephanie's 5K Walk Photos

2010-06-14T21:48:00.000-04:00

I thought I saw each and every one of my WW members on Sunday that participated, but looking through the photos I noticed people who I didn't realize were there. If I missed any names on the photo captions, please let me know. I tried my best to remember everyone.

Enjoy the photos!

(If you have any that you would like me to add, please email them to me at stephanie@wwleader.com)

2010-06-13T23:13:00.000-04:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who participated and made this 5K Walk possible! I won't list names for fear of missing anyone... but, you know who you are! Your help meant the world to me!

More than 70 WW Members and 30+ family members and friends (along with a dozen four-legged friends) attended the 5K Walk today.

You are all truly amazing! Each and every one of you inspires and motivates me every day! I feel truly blessed to have the best-est job in the world and the best-est WW members/friends!

More photos to come... I'm creating an online photo album for everyone to view and/or purchase photos. (If you have any that you would like me to add, please email them to me at stephanie@wwleader.com)

What to Eat at the Ballpark

2010-06-11T11:04:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com

We compare 10 popular concession-stand grabs — and see which hit home runs. At Milwaukee's Miller Park they're serving soy burgers, and at New York's Citi Field you can get anything from fresh fish to pulled pork.

Sports arenas have heard the cry for more nutritious food options and stepped up to the plate. But when your friend is eating a foot-long hot dog in the seat next to you, having a salad just won't cut it.

"It's silly to tell people not to have a hot dog at a ball game," says David Grotto, RD, LDN, and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Go ahead and eat those foods, but go in with a game plan."

Here's how the players on the menu score:

Smart picks

Cracker Jacks
The song doesn't tell you to buy peanuts and Cracker Jacks for nothing. An 8 oz. box of Cracker Jack runs 4.5 POINTS® values and contains protein-packed nuts, making it one of the smarter options if you're craving something sweet.

Grilled chicken sandwich
For a change of pace, swap your burger for a grilled chicken sandwich. An average grilled chicken sandwich will only cost you 7 POINTS values. Hamburgers without garnishes can run you anywhere from 9 to 13 POINTS values.

Hot dog
A regular hot dog with mustard is 8 POINTS values. Yellow mustard is a better topping choice than sugar-laden relish or ketchup. Sauerkraut has 0 POINTS values per serving, says Grotto.

Nachos
A 4-ounce serving of six to eight nachos will cost you 9 POINTS values; substitute salsa for the cheese and you'll tip the scales down to 7.

Roasted peanuts
Raw and roasted peanuts, with or without shells, are both a filling and vitamin-packed snack. But don't go overboard; at 11 POINTS values for half a cup of dry roasted unsalted peanuts you don't want to start mindlessly crunching. "A big bag of peanuts is meant for sharing," says Grotto. "Stick with just a few handfuls."

Once-in-a-while choices

Soft pretzel
At 5.5 POINTS values for the 5-ounce, supersize soft pretzel, you may as well go for a hot dog. "There aren't a whole lot of nutrients in the pretzels," says Grotto, pointing out that the lack of nutrients and fiber put it as a once-in-a-while choice.

Popcorn
Although popcorn is generally a good snack choice — 5 cups of 94% fat-free microwaved popcorn is only 1 POINTS value — stadium popcorn is the enemy in disguise, says Grotto. "When people think popcorn, they think of a light snack, but even if you opt for plain concession-stand popcorn, it has been popped in oil that is filled with 'bad cholesterol'-raising trans-fats."

French fries
You know they're no smart pick, but you might be surprised at just how costly they can be. A 6-ounce bag of fries can use up to 11 POINTS values.

Chicken tenders
"Remember that tenders are just fried chicken," says Grotto. They may look little, but a three-piece box of Nathan's Chicken Tenders is 13 POINTS values.

Chicken Caesar wrap
Seems like a healthy choice? Think again. At 16 POINTS values, the fatty dressing and cheese in a 6-inch Caesar wrap makes it an expensive grab. If choices are limited and the alternatives are worse, cut it in half and share it.

The Skinny on Yogurt

2010-06-09T17:04:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com...

From fat-free to flavored to kefir, here’s how to buy, store and cook with this healthy, delicious and versatile favorite from the dairy case.

At the supermarket, we all know where the yogurt is, but do we knowwhat it is? It’s supposed to be good for us, but what’s the best way toget all that nutrition into our diets?

By definition
Briefly put, yogurt is a fermented milk product that most likely originatedin Asia — although the first written records put it in Turkey around 1070A.D. Today, it is made from any milk: cow, goat, sheep, yak, mare,water buffalo or camel, to name the most popular worldwide.

What’s important, what’s not?
Look for yogurts with active, live cultures — in other words, “good” or“friendly” bacterial colonies that haven’t been killed off by pasteurization.These beneficial cultures are sometimes called “probiotics.” They mayaid human digestion, help our immune systems and can be used forstomach problems like diarrhea, but more research is needed in thisarea. Avoid yogurts with added starches, gelatins or tapioca. Yogurtshould be naturally thickened from the fermentation process.

How is it made?
Almost all modern yogurt is made with a bacteria starter from anotheryogurt batch. Like sourdough, it’s a process that has roots far in the pastas starters keep getting cultivated from batch to batch. The bacteria eatthe naturally-occurring sugar — that is, the lactose. They then producelactic acid which clots the milk protein to give yogurt its creamy texture.Yogurt’s ensuing acidity keeps bad bacteria at bay. Yogurt can often bekept for up to two months, sealed, in a cold refrigerator.

What’s bifidus?
There are two important bacteria used to make yogurt: streptococcusthermophilus and lactobacillus bulgaricus. In the U.S., yogurt mustcontain both to be called “yogurt.”
Other bacteria are often added for better taste, texture or health. Theseinclude lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus (which promotes digestivehealth) and lactobacillus casei (which can enhance the immune system).

What is Greek yogurt?
Basically, it’s strained yogurt, much thicker than most other varieties andusually made from sheep’s milk. The yogurt has been passed through acheesecloth, linen cloth or other fabric, removing much of the liquid —that is, the whey. To make your own: line a colander with cheesecloth orpaper towels. Add the yogurt, then set it over a bowl in the sink for acouple hours. Discard the liquid in the bowl; the resulting yogurt will behigher in protein and lower in lactose.

THE FACTS...

Cooking with yogurt
Baking is the easiest way to use yogurt.Substitute plain yogurt for half the liquid(like milk or juice) in recipes for cakes,waffles, pancakes or muffins. In general,yogurt works best in cakey baked goods;it requires more complex chemistry ifsubstituted in cookies and crusts.

Yogurt is a fine substitute for sour creamon baked potatoes, in creamy soups,salad dressings and as the base for dips.

Or use yogurt instead of cream or coconut milk to enrich a sauce, soup orstew. It may make the sauce more tart than intended, so seasonings mayneed to be adjusted.

One warning: Yogurt will “break” over the heat (that is, break down into awatery liquid and thick threads). To avoid this, make sure the yogurt is atroom temperature, do not let it boil over the heat, and stir 1 teaspooncornstarch into it before using. Goat and sheep yogurt tend to be the moststable in cooking.

Can frozen yogurt make any healthclaims?
Yes — but only if the label specifically says that thefrozen yogurt contains active bacterial cultures. Heatkills the bacteria — and some frozen yogurts are madeby heating the mixture before freezing it, thus killing offthe good stuff in yogurt.

Yogurt *POINTS*® Values at a Glance
Fat-free plain yogurt: 1/2 cup = 1 *POINTS* value
Fat-free fruit-flavored yogurt: 1/2 cup = 2 *POINTS* values
Low-fat plain yogurt: 1/2 cup = 1 1/2 *POINTS* values
Low-fat fruit-flavored yogurt: 1/2 cup = 2 1/2 *POINTS* values
Whole-milk yogurt: 1/2 cup = 2 *POINTS* values
Soy yogurt: 1/2 cup = 2 *POINTS* values
Fat-free frozen yogurt: 1/2 cup = 2 *POINTS* values
Low-fat frozen yogurt: 1/2 cup = 3 *POINTS* values

The Healthy, Stealthy Full-Plate Fakeout

2010-06-09T17:00:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com

Sometimes, all you want is a big ol’ plate of food. How do you scratch that itch, and stay on Plan? Weight Watchers staffers share their own insider secrets.

Often, it’s simply about perception; finding tricky ways to make yourself think you're eating more than you are. It’s not just about eating from smaller plates — though that’s a great tip in itself. No; it’s about different ways of looking at the meals you cook, and how you combine the ingredients, and serve them. Or eating something similar to an old-time favorite that’s less friendly in the POINTS® values realm. (Who hasn’t tried spaghetti squash instead of actual spaghetti?

Weight Watchers editors and other staff all have their own tips and tricks for the full-plate fakeout. Read them, steal their ideas, and then share your own on the Portion Control Message Board thread.
Leslie Fink, MS, RD, recipes editor, is the person who came up with the idea for this article in the first place. “I thought about it this morning when I accidentally sandwiched my PB and J. I'd much rather eat it open-faced because it looks like more. Another thing I do often is to roast myself a whole pint of cherry tomatoes because the almost no POINTS value volume feels so comforting to me. I can eat so much and still lose weight.”

Jenn Coonce, director, product management (who always brings fruit to our internal meetings), has some tricks of her own: “Putting anything on top of a salad (such as frozen dinners); adding vegetables to pasta sauce; adding blueberries or strawberries to cereal; and adding salsa to food. For drinks, I love calorie-free seltzer mixed with a little fruit juice like orange or peach.”

Make the most of veggiesCauliflower sparked off a conversation, starting with Liz Josefsberg, Weight Watchers HQ’s resident Leader:

“I live on cauliflower soup in the winter. I simply boil two whole heads of cauliflower florets in chicken broth with an onion and some garlic until it breaks apart and makes a hearty, stew-like concoction. I eat a huge bowl of it for little to no POINTS values!”

Theresa DiMasi, VP, content, weighed in: “Speaking of cauliflower, I boil it and then mash with a bit of yogurt. It tastes almost like potatoes. I also love roasting cauliflower with a mist of olive oil, parsley, salt and pepper, but that’s not really faking it…”

Over on the design team, Beth Herbert, Associate Creative Director, is full of tips: “I usually have bite-size Shredded Wheat or Frosted Mini-Wheats for breakfast. Eating them (sans milk) one by one, by hand, makes the bowl last longer, giving me more time to fill up,” she shares. “I also slice apples and pears instead of just biting them whole. It always looks like more food when cut up. Come to think of it, that can be true of anything — veggies, meat, etc.”

As for me, (Elly Trickett McNerney, managing editor), rather than make a sandwich, I like to arrange all the ingredients on a plate with a lot of lettuce so I feel like I’m looking at a full meal, and I eat more slowly. Just imagine a plate containing all these goodies: A whole wheat pita, split in half and toasted, then cut into triangles; 2 ounces of smoked salmon; 2 Tbsp low-fat cream cheese; 1 tomato, sliced; some red onion; capers; a lemon wedge; and a pile of arugula with 1 tsp olive oil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. It looks so much more plentiful than if you’d just made a pita sandwich, and it takes three times as long to eat, assembling each wedge.

Change your environmentFrom Rebecca Turner, a writer sitting two desks away, her first tip is brilliant in its simplicity: “A smaller fork or spoon!” More poetically: “Eating in the dark… I had a children’s book I loved as a kid where the family had an electrical outage, and one of the kids said, ‘I love eating in the dark… it makes it taste like more.’ So, candlelight, fancy place-settings, all help. For me, sitting on the couch watching TV leads me to eat more.”
Rebecca also likes to split her meals up. “Something about having several smaller courses at a meal feels like more.”

Two final tips from Rebecca: “I also use frozen fruit in salad dressing; just mashed-up raspberries or blackberries, etc., with balsamic vinegar and tiny bit of oil. It makes it go a long way as it’s thicker than a bottled dressing.” And a great tip she got from The New York Times: “More sauce, less pasta. I read a Mark Bittman column a while ago in which he suggested this. The sauce is sometimes the most flavorful, delicious part, and if you have a lower POINTS value sauce, having more can balance out the pasta.”

Amanda Genge, a freelance writer and regular contributor, learned a lesson from her kids: “Anything cut up into small pieces looks like way more than it is (I discovered this cutting up food for my kids). My best secret is roasted potatoes — I cut them pretty small (an inch or so wide, and pretty thin) and roast in a small amount of oil to make little delicious bites that take up half my plate, when I've only served myself the equivalent of half a potato.”

Kim Cassidy, a designer who works with Beth, says, “When it comes to dessert, which is usually chocolate, I try to make sure I eat slowly. By microwaving my VitaTops deep chocolate that I usually eat after lunch, it enables me to thoroughly enjoy it, like one of those molten cakes — very satisfying.”

And finally, a soda trick from our editorial production coordinator, Kristina Lucarelli: “I don’t like diet soda, but the real stuff (as well as high-sugar drinks like OJ) gobbles up too many POINTS values. If I’m really in the mood, though, I’ll fill a big glass full of ice and just pour myself a small amount. I’ve got a huge glass full of my favorite beverage — for next to no POINTS values!”

Trouble fitting in breakfast?

2010-05-26T22:29:00.000-04:00

Check out Mr. Breakfast's Top 10 Tips to MAKE TIME FOR BREAKFAST!

http://www.mrbreakfast.com/article.asp?articleid=30

Everyday Way to Get Moving!

2010-05-26T22:26:00.000-04:00

Find out how everyday activities can jump-start your exercise routine.

It’s a common misconception that physical activity requires going to the gym, or buying expensive exercise equipment for your home. But the fact is there are many enjoyable everyday activities  from gardening to walking your dog  that can help you reach your fitness goals.

Karen Miller-Kovach, MS, RD, Chief Scientist at Weight Watchers International, says the amount of everyday activity recommended by Weight Watchers depends on your goals. The table below outlines Miller-Kovach's suggested duration of everyday activities done at a moderate intensity level with respect to an individual's goals.

And while you may be surprised that the recommendation is higher for keeping weight off than it is for losing weight, several research studies have found this to be true. Why? Most likely there are two reasons: People are willing to reduce food intake to a greater extent during active weight loss than for the long term, and once people "get into" activity and feel the benefits, they choose to do more.

It's important to remember that to have an impact, this activity should be done in addition to your usual routine on most days of the week.

Read more... http://signup.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=48811&sc=3039

How's Your Fitness Vocabulary?

2010-05-26T22:24:00.001-04:00

Not sure what the difference is between your hip flexor or your hamstring? Weight Watchers has simplified some common fitness terms and phrases. Check out this article!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=26111

What Kind of Egg are you?

2010-05-24T07:50:00.003-04:00

Are you a HARD-BOILED EGG?

- Always on the straight and narrow

- Hard on yourself

- Perfectionist

- Guilt-ridden

- Be careful or you may CRACK!

Are you a SCRAMBLED EGG?

- Can’t keep track of POINTS

- Forget to come to meetings

- Too much trouble to weigh and measure food

- Can’t be bothered with keeping a journal

Are you a SOFT BOILED EGG?

- Wishy-washy

- On again/off again

- Always making EGG-SCUSES

Are you a DEVILED EGG?

- Always try to beat the system

- Fast the day before your meeting

- Wear lighter clothes to weigh in

Are you SUNNY SIDE UP?

- Happy with yourself and your progress

- Content with Weight Watchers Momentum

- Positive thinker

Whatever kind of EGG you are – HARD BOILED, SCRAMBLED, SOFT BOILED, DEVILED, or SUNNY SIDE UP,
please remember… Each & Every one of you is EGG-STRA special to me!

I'm on Facebook... are you??

2010-05-19T07:11:00.000-04:00

Due to friendly requests from my Thursday night Rocky River members, I have created a Facebook page!

In addition to my blog/website, I'm pleased to provide my members with an open forum to share their ideas, challenges and inspirations. Visit often! (And please, tell your friends!)

Check out the box in the right column to "like" my Facebook page!

5K Walk Registration

2010-05-16T21:35:00.002-04:00

Don't forget to register for the 5K walk...
http://5kwalk.blogspot.com/2010/04/5k-walk-registration.html

LAST WEEK TO ORDER T-SHIRTS!!

2010-05-16T21:30:00.003-04:00

If you are going to order t-shirts, you have until May 21...

Show Your Team Spirit

Purchase your official Weight Watchers Walk-It Challenge T-shirt and customize the back. Add to the excitement of Weight Watchers® Walk-It Day by ordering and wearing your own official Weight Watchers Walk-It Challenge T-shirt!

http://weightwatchers.transfermagic.com/

Shift into Change...

2010-05-01T22:18:00.000-04:00

Having

Bite
Involves
Thinking

Changing from the Inside Out

2010-04-28T20:10:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com

Think changing how you eat and exercise is all you need to do to lose weight? Think again. The biggest change you need to make is on the inside.

Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows it's as much a matter of the heart and mind as of the mouth and stomach. How you think and feel about your weight issues, and about yourself, has a strong impact on your ability to lose weight and keep it off. Most of us have learned this the hard way. But we've also learned how difficult it can sometimes be to change how we think and feel.

Unfortunately, many of us regard our own thoughts and feelings as "things that happen to us." For example, "Today I feel guilty" (or happy or blue or motivated — fill in the blank). That's just the way it is, right? Wrong. It's more helpful for us to think of our thoughts and feelings as "internal behaviors," which we can control and adapt to meet our needs. Just as we can develop more positive external behaviors to support our weight loss (taking smaller portions, walking more), it's also possible to develop more positive internal behaviors (thinking "I can" instead of "I can't").

In fact, not only is it possible, but unless we change on the inside, our newly formed eating and exercise behaviors most likely won't last for long.

So where do I start?
The first step is understanding the five different levels at which we are able to change the way we think and act.¹ We'll start with the easiest-to-change, most superficial level, and move on to the deepest, most difficult level within us.

Environment. Where and when our behavior takes place.
"It's difficult for me to lose weight with my hectic job and schedule. I'm on the road and eating in fast food restaurants all the time."
Behavior. What we do. The specific actions we take in our environment.
"I don't know what to eat or what exercises I should do to lose weight and become more fit."
Capabilities. How we guide our behaviors. The broader abilities and strategies we use in life.
"I am not capable of losing my weight and keeping it off."
Beliefs. Why we do what we do. The ideas and values we think are true.
"I do not deserve to be thin and attractive."
Identity. Who we are. Our basic sense of self, which is tied to our mission in life.
"I am a fat person."

And how do I use my Tools for Living?
So it's easy to see: If, deep down, you still think of yourself as a "fat person," it's going to be difficult to make and sustain the behavior changes necessary to keep weight off for good. The good news is that we can make positive changes at the deeper levels, with our beliefs and identity. You might start by familiarizing yourself with Weight Watchers powerful set of strategies, Tools for Living. Each tool is designed for a specific kind of challenge related to your thoughts and feelings.

One tool, for example, Empowering Beliefs, will help you strengthen your belief that losing weight is worth it, that you can do it and that you deserve to be healthy and feel good. And Anchoring is a powerful technique for tapping your inner resources to help you achieve what you want. Need more determination, for example? Anchoring will enable you to find the will that already exists within you.

Paying attention to your deeper levels of change can pay off big. Combining your "inside" behaviors — thoughts and feelings — with your new, healthier "outside" behaviors will help you not only lose that weight, but, more importantly, keep it off.

Walk-It Challenge

2010-04-26T09:10:00.004-04:00

Take the Weight Watchers 2nd Annual Walk-It Challenge!

Weight Watchers is challenging its members to train for a 5K Walk.

Are you thinking... 5K??? I can't walk a 5K!!!

Well, yes you can! 5K is actually 3.1 miles or approximately 12 times around a track... not so bad!

The official WW Walk-It Day is Sunday, June 6th. You're encouraged to find a 5K taking place in the area or map your own 5K. (Go to www.weightwatchers.com/walkit for more information!)

Since WW isn't sponsoring an "official" 5K for members in the Cleveland area, the members of my 17 weekly meetings have decided to gather together to complete a 5K Walk. (This 5K is not sponsored by Weight Watchers.)

I have created a website for the 5K Walk. (http://5KWalk.blogspot.com). Please visit the website for details about the walk and how to RSVP.

Please contact me via email (stephanie@wwleader.com) with any questions!

HAPPY WALKING!!!!

See Who You Are Becoming

2010-04-26T08:36:00.000-04:00

Weight loss is a journey
A trip with ups and downs
If you monitor your habits
You’ll lose those excess pounds.

First you have to track-it
Write down everything you eat
Get outside and Walk-It
Set a goal then move your feet.

Monitor your feelings
Keep bites and licks in check
Hunger’s in your tummy
Cravings start above your neck.

None of us is perfect
Stay strong when you plateau
See who you are becoming
Your confidence will grow.

Take charge of all your habits
Don’t let setbacks rule your day
Celebrate successes
Those pounds will melt away.

-WW Leader, Pam

Dreamy PB Chocolate Ravioli Puffs

2010-03-29T10:59:00.003-04:00

Courtesy of Hungry Girl (www.hungry-girl.com) Don't these sound yummy???? These might be a little complex for me... I tend to make very simple things!

Dreamy PB Chocolate Ravioli Puffs

PER SERVING (4 "ravioli puffs"): 157 calories, 4.5g fat, 242mg sodium, 25g carbs, 1.5g fiber, 2g sugars, 5g protein -- POINTS® value 3*

Ingredients:
2 Mousse Temptations by Jell-O snack cups, Dark Chocolate Decadence or Chocolate Indulgence
2 tbsp. reduced-fat creamy peanut butter, room temperature
16 small square wonton wrappers (often stocked near the tofu in thefridge section of the market)
1/4 cup Fat Free Reddi-wip, divided
Optional: powdered sugar

Directions:
To make the filling, gently swirl together mousse and peanut butter ina bowl -- don't over-stir, but make sure PB is evenly distributed. Setaside.

Set out a wide plastic container (or a few mid-sized ones), and makesure you've got room in your freezer.

Lay two wonton wrappers flat on a clean, dry surface. Spoon a littleless than 1 tbsp. filling into the center of each wrapper. Moisten allfour edges of each wrapper by dabbing your fingers in water and goingover the edges smoothly. Fold the bottom left corner of each wrapper tomeet the top right corner, forming a triangle and enclosing thefilling. Using your fingers or the prongs of a fork, press firmly onthe edges to seal.

Repeat with all remaining wrappers and filling, placing each ravioloflat in the container(s). (Yup, that's really the singular form of"ravioli!") Freeze for 1 hour.

Bring a large skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat.Working in batches, place frozen ravioli flat in the skillet, evenlyspaced, and cook for 2 - 3 minutes, until slightly puffy. Flipcarefully and cook for an additional 1 - 2 minutes (no longer). Don'tflip them again, as the filling may ooze out!

Allow to cool slightly. If you like, sprinkle with a small amount ofpowdered sugar. Then top each serving with a tbsp. of Reddi-wip andenjoy!

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

Crock-Pot Cinna-Apples 'n Oats

2010-03-29T10:51:00.003-04:00

Courtesy of Hungry Girl (www.hungry-girl.com) --- I haven't made this but it sounds WONDERFUL!!

Crock-Pot Cinna-Apples 'n Oats

PER SERVING (1 heaping cup): 249 calories, 4.5g fat, 320mg sodium, 52g carbs, 7.5g fiber, 26g sugars, 4.5g protein -- POINTS® value 5*

Ingredients:
8 cups chopped Fuji apples (about 6 apples)
2 tbsp. brown sugar (not packed), divided
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, divided
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup light vanilla soymilk
1/3 cup sugar-free pancake syrup
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix apples with 1 tbsp. brown sugar and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Stir to coat apples well. Transfer to the crock pot.

Inthe empty bowl, combine oats, soymilk, 1 tbsp. brown sugar, 1 tsp.cinnamon, syrup, and salt. (All remaining ingredients except butter.)Add 1 cup water and mix well.

Add oat mixture to the crock pot, and gently stir. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 7 hours.

Add butter and mix well. (Do NOT forget this step. Stick a Post-it to your timer if you have to!) Serve and enjoy!

MAKES 5 SERVINGS

Create your Weight Loss Resume

2010-03-22T15:55:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com

Puttingtogether a résumé is the first step when you're applying for a job. Youcan use the same principle in your weight-loss journey.

Grab a pen and paper then read, think about and answer the questionsbelow. This process can help you formulate your weight-loss résumé.

Objective: What are your weight-loss goals? What Winning Outcomes have you set for yourself? Are you trying to reach your 5-percent target, drop a pants size or achieve your goal weight?

Education: What have you learned since joining WeightWatchers that's helping you accomplish your objective? It could besocial strategies from meeting topics, smart shopping tips or even the Tools for Living .

Experience: What were your past weight-loss experiences like?If they weren't successful long-term, what did you learn from thoseexperiences?

Skills: What weight-loss skills have you acquired? Have you become a healthy cook or a dedicated exerciser?

Interests: What new interests have you discovered sincelosing weight? Did you learn a new sport, try a fitness class, takedancing lessons?

References/Community Involvement: Who is part of your weight-loss support system? Does being involved in meetings room discussions or chatting on the Message Boards keep you on track?

Accomplishments/Honors/Awards: What have you accomplished inyour life that that proves you have what it takes to be successful?Acknowledge your perseverance and dedication to weight loss.

Focus on your strengths this week and carry your résumé with you. Refer to it when faced with challenges.

Spaghetti with Asparagus

2010-03-22T14:57:00.000-04:00

(Special thanks to WW Member, June, for providing the recipe)

7 POINTS per serving (1 1/4 cup per serving)

Ingredients
- 3/4 lb. whole wheat spaghetti
- 1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 shallots, sliced
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup cottage cheese with roasted red pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper

- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray rimmed baking sheet with olive oil nonstick spray.
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, mix asparagus, shallots and 1/4 tsp salt on baking sheet; spray with olive oil nonstick spray. Roast until asparagus is tender, about 15 minutes, stirring once halfway through roasting time.
- Drain spaghetti, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Return spaghetti to pot; stir in cooking liquid, vegetables, Parmesan, cottage cheese, remaining 1/4 tsp salt, and pepper until blended.

Mandarin Delight

2010-03-22T14:52:00.001-04:00

(Special thanks to Diane from WW Parma for providing the recipe.)

1 POINTS per cup

Ingredients
- 1 package Sugar-Free Orange Jell-O
- 1 package Sugar-Free/Fat-Free Vanilla Instant Pudding
- 1 8oz. container Fat-Free Cool Whip
- 1 small can Mandarin Oranges

Prepare Jell-O using 1 cup hot water. Drain Mandarin Oranges and retain juice. Add water to juice to make one cup and add to Jell-O mixture. Mix well and let sit for 5 minutes. Slowly pour in dry pudding mix and stir well. Wait 5 minutes, then fold in Cool Whip. Pour mixture into 8x8 pan and drop in orange slices throughout. Cover with clear wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours or more. Enjoy!

Snickers Pie

2010-03-22T14:38:00.000-04:00

(Special thanks to Peg from WW North Olmsted)

3 POINTS per serving (8 servings)

Ingredients
- 1 pint vanilla non-fat frozen yogurt, softened
- 2 Tbsp chunky peanut butter
- 1/2 package sugar-free chocolate pudding mix
- 1/2 cup non-dairy topping (Cool Whip)
- 1 tsp chocolate syrup (Walden Farms)

Soften non-fat frozen yogurt in microwave for 1 minute on high. In a large bowl, combine frozen yogurt, chunky peanut butter, pudding mix and non-dairy topping. Mix well and pout into 8" pie tin. Freeze until set. Before serving, drizzle chocolate syrup over entire pie in swirl motion.

Spinach-Cheese Frittata

2010-03-22T14:32:00.000-04:00

3 POINTS per serving

Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 2 egg whites
- 1 cup chopped spinach
- 2 Tbsp chopped scallion
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese

Coat 12-inch oven-proof skillet with 1 spray cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Pour egg mixture into skillet. Cook until partially set, 5 minutes. Sprinkle on cheese. Bake in 400 degrees oven 5 minutes. Remove; let stand 1 minute; cut into 8 wedges.

Yields 2 wedges per serving.

Ten Commandments of Weight Loss (according to Dr. Oz)

2010-03-22T14:29:00.000-04:00

(Special Thanks to Joanne from WW North Olmsted for writing these down from Dr. Oz's TV program...)

1. Don't wear or keep your "fat" clothes.
2. Don't wear pants that stretch.
3. Don't eat meat that walks on 4 legs more than once a week.
4. Don't graze or browse in search of "prey" (in fridge or cupboard -- have food prepared)
5. Don't eat more than 2 hours before bedtime.
6. Don't pile food more than 1 inch high or 2 inches from the edge of your plate.
7. Don't chew food less than 20 times per bite (digestion begins with chewing)
8. Don't covet thy neighbor's plate (extra calories!!)
9. Don't carry small bills (temptation to buy food from vending machines!)
10. Don't eat while standing or in car (have prepared meal and sitdown to eat)

"Irish" Weight Loss Saying

2010-03-21T17:08:00.001-04:00

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been;

(celebrate your success)

the foresight to know where you're going;

(goals and wining outcomes)

and the insight to know when you're going too far.

(portion control)

Easy Cake!

2010-03-19T17:12:00.000-04:00

Here's a YUMMY cake that's only 1 POINT per serving!

Ingredients
- One box Angel Food Cake
- One box any flavor cake mix
- 3 TBSP water

- Mix the Angel Food Cake mix and the other flavor cake mix in a ziploc bag or plastic container.
- Take 1/3 cup of the mixture and place in small bowl - must be microwave safe bowl. (cereal box or large soup/coffee mug works well)
- Add 3 TBSP water and mix.
- Put bowl in microwave for 1 minute.
- ENJOY!

Chicken Poem

2010-03-08T20:11:00.002-05:00

Chicken in the crockpot;
Chicken in the Wok;
or Crunchy coated in the oven sometimes hits the spot!

In casseroles or chunky salads;
Or Stir Fried over rice.
Any way you fix it-
Chicken will suffice.

Grilled chicken;
Baked chicken;
Three times in a row.
This could cause our weight-loss to surely slow.

Just remember …TOO MUCH of the same
Will cause ‘Boredom’ to set in
So why not “Spice your menu UP”

And give it a NEW SPIN!

Add Spice to Your Recipe for Success

2010-03-08T20:10:00.003-05:00

Tired of ‘taters? Tired of rice?
Seasoned couscous is quite nice.

Bored with salads? Bored with greens?
Add some filling pinto beans.

Sick of chicken? Sick of fish?
Spices can improve your dish.

Avoid pasta? Avoid meats?
Try a savory soup with beets.

Boring diets do not last.
Change it up and lose weight fast!

Same ol’, same ol’, makes you tired
Shake it up and get inspired.

Dijon-Dill Chicken and Noodles Recipe

2010-02-17T06:50:00.004-05:00

POINTS® Value: 4
Servings: 2

Ingredients

4 oz boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into thin bite-size strips
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
1 can (18.5 oz) Progresso® Light vegetable and noodle soup
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/2 cup uncooked wide egg noodles (1 1/2 oz)
2 cups fresh broccoli florets
1 oz fat-free cream cheese

Instructions

Placea 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken andonion; cook, stirring constantly, until onion is tender and chickenjust begins to brown, about 4-6 minutes.
Stir in soup, mustard and dill weed. Increase heat tohigh and bring to a boil. Stir in noodles; return to a boil. Reduceheat to medium; cover and cook stirring occasionally, for 6 minutes.
Add broccoli; cook, uncovered, stirring frequently, until broccoli iscrisp-tender, about 3 to 4 minutes longer. Remove from heat and stir incream cheese until well blended. Yields about 1½ cups per serving.

Weight Watchers Supermarket Foods

2010-02-17T06:49:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had trouble locating Weight Watchers food products? Now you can search for the nearest retailer. Just enter your ZIP Code to see where to buy the products you'd like to enjoy!

http://www.wwproductlocator.com/

Celebrate Valentine's Day

2010-02-08T08:40:00.001-05:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com

Loved up, or single andproud — we’ve got the tips and strategies you need for surviving whenall around you is covered in chocolate.

Whetheryou’re a diehard romantic, or have written Valentine’s Day off ascommercial cheesiness, the fact is that chocolate and heavy dinners arethe reality for many of us. Here’s a roundup of some of our bestarticles and tips for surviving the week — and for taking some time tolove yourself too. We’ve got dinners for two and chocolate for one;partners’ yoga and check-me-out belly dancing. Whatever your situation is this week, we’ve got you covered.

Click below for more Valentine's Day tips...

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=49231&sc=3022

Awesome North Olmsted Members

2010-02-07T18:13:00.001-05:00

I want to send HUGE BRAVOS to all my FABULOUS Saturday morning members at WW North Olmsted who ventured out into the terrible snow to weigh-in!

What a complete surprise to see so many of you there in the early morning hours... along with all the piles of snow!

You truly are AMAZING!!! And, you certainly brightened my day which didn't start off so well with my icy treacherous drive from Strongsville!

I feel very blessed to have such wonderful members in ALL meetings! You make my job such an incredible joy!!

Chili Party Dip

2010-02-01T20:44:00.001-05:00

POINTS® Value: 1

Servings: 10

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Serve with baked tortilla chips or jicama sticks.

Ingredients

15 oz canned turkey chili without beans

8 oz fat-free cream cheese

4 oz canned jalapeno peppers

1 small onion, finely chopped

1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until cheese melts, about 10 minutes. Yields about 1/4 cup per serving.

Hot Fiesta Dip

2010-02-01T20:43:00.001-05:00

POINTS® Value: 1

Servings: 10

Preparation Time: 4 minutes

Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Serve this dip with baked tortilla chips.

Ingredients

10 oz frozen corn kernels

1 ½ cups salsa (any jar salsa)

3 ¾ cups Weight Watchers Reduced Fat Mexican-style Cheese

2 Tbsp scallions, chopped

Directions

Microwave frozen corn according to package directions; drain.
Combine corn and salsa in a microwave-safe, 9-inch pie plate; cover and microwave on high power until bubbly, about 2 minutes.
Sprinkle cheese over corn mixture; cover and let stand until cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with scallions and serve. Yields about 1/4 cup per serving.

Super Bowl Survival Tips: Game planning for a big loss (on the scale)

2010-02-01T19:57:00.001-05:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com

Just because the footballseason’s grand finale is upon us doesn’t mean our eating habits andclothing sizes have to match those of beefy linemen. These tips willhelp you enjoy your Super Bowl shindig, by taking the pig out of yourpigskin party.

Pregame prep
Before entering your buddies' house, give yourself a mental pep talkand then "stick with your plan," advises Jay Fleming, a Weight Watchersleader who's maintained a 65-pound loss for four years.* "Ask yourselfwhy you are at the game. Is it to eat or is it to watch the game?"

New game plan
You can still enjoy some football fare: a chicken wing or two, somechips and dip, a slice of pizza and a cold one. Just don't overindulge— eat and drink reasonably, keep track of what you chow down on, andsave your weekly POINTS® Allowance for game day.

"If you're working at getting rid of your beer belly, remember that,'If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've alwaysgot,'" Fleming says. "So if you pig out at that tailgate party orduring the game, you'll get that beer belly just like in the past."

Know your opponent
Forget the game for a sec. At the party, your foe is all that grub onthe counter. It most likely isn’t low calorie or fat free, either. Keepin mind, a plain hot dog on a roll can pack 8 POINTS values. Two medium slices of thin crust pepperoni pizza have about 12 POINTS values. A serving of nacho chips and mystery cheese can be laden with around 9 POINTSvalues and more fat grams than points both teams will score. If you'restill jonesing for football food, try minimizing the damage. Eating thedog minus the bun will save about 3 POINTS values. Have only 1 slice of pizza and you’ll cut 6 POINTS values.

Walk it off
Consider parking a few blocks from the party or heading outside for awalk instead of watching for the next wardrobe malfunction at halftime(that’s what DVRs are for anyway).

Improve your bench
Try fitting in a few exercises – push-ups or Pilates – wheneverpossible, Anderson suggests. Drop and do 20 push-ups or a few Pilateshundreds during commercial breaks. Or put a couple of bucks in a potfor the winner of a game-long challenge with your friends. You can alsomake friendly competitive wagers using crunches instead of money. Everytime your team scores, fans on the opposite side have to hit the deckfor 20 and vice versa.

Stay in motion
During breaks in the action, get off your seat – but not to visit thefood table. "Try to do anything that can make you active. The activitycounts just as much as eating right," Anderson says. "If you get activeduring a football game, you'll eat less."

Try staying on your feet for an entire series, and switch betweendoing push-ups, stretches, crunches or squats during breaks. Do "secretsquats" by pushing yourself out of a low-rider chair over and over.Here's a good stretch for your back and legs: sit up straight against acouch, extend your legs and hold as long as you can.

You could even practice different TD celebration dances. This, ofcourse, is best done alone – unless you have no shame or don'tembarrass easily.

If you follow these tips, your new fleet-footed celebration moves might be used to commemorate a losing season on the scale.

--------------------------------------------------------

Good substitutions

"Make Better Food Choices"

Tomake that easier, prepare and bring healthier items such as:

grilled chicken sandwiches
fruit cups
a veggie tray
shrimp with cocktail sauce,
baked chips
light beer
fat-free pretzels
turkey brats
bags of low-fat microwavable popcorn.

Not all to be eaten at the same time, of course.

Super Bowl Party Idea

2010-02-01T19:53:00.001-05:00

Easy Solution to a Super-Common Dilemma

"Help! A bunch of people are coming to my house for a Super Bowl party and I don't have time to cook for all of them and I don't want them to hate me for serving diet food but I don't want to be stuck with greasy pizza and wings either and what if some of them are vegetarians and..."

BREATHE. The quick and easy fix for a party meal: SUBS. Subway has just unveiled its new Fresh Fit Platter, loaded with Veggie Delite, Black Forest Ham, Turkey Breast, Subway Club, and Turkey Breast & Black Forest Ham sandwiches. There's plenty of meat and bread to satisfy huge appetites and, if ordered on wheat, each 4-inch sub will have at least 3g fiber and only about 150 - 215 calories and 1.5 - 3.5g fat (POINTS® value 3 - 4*). Just make sure they don't add cheese. One platter serves 5 - 9 people (15 mini subs), so plan accordingly. And check out last week's survival guide for some added fun. It's gonna be OK.

2010-01-14T21:55:00.004-05:00

If you nibble it, scribble it.

If you bite it, write it.

If you drink it, ink it.

If you snack it, track it.

If you steal it, reveal it.

If you sneak it, leak it.

If you chose it, disclose it.

If you hog it, log it.

If you grab it, blab it.

If you indulge it, divulge it.

If you imbibe it, inscribe it.

If you ingest it, you guessed it!

Twas the night before Christmas...

2009-12-28T10:41:00.000-05:00

Twas the night before Christmas and,
What thoughts did it bring?
My mind said to me,
Why not have a big fling?

There were pies in the oven,
Sugared nuts in the jar.
There were snacks for the party,
And booze in the bar.

No! I'll resist the temptation,
I will keep a strong head.
I'll not eat a bite!
And I climbed into bed.

When out of my stomach,
There came such a roar,
I sprang from the bed,
Landing flat on the floor.

Away to the kitchen
I flew like a flash.
Tore open the fridge,
To do something RASH!

A light from within,
Gave off such a glow
To the objects of food,
Laid on trays there below.

I was going to grab
An odd goodie or two
When into my mind
Came my promise to you.

Before I could have
Any snack food to eat
I must put on my coat
And get out on my feet.

I got into my coat,
My warm gloves and shoes
Determined to walk
For the goodies I'd choose.

The moon on the breast
Of the new-fallen snow
And on houses and trees
Gave a sparkle and glow.

As I walked down the street
My mind did recall
The words that we'd spoken
At the Weight Watchers hall.

Of meetings through which
I ambitiously sat
For words of encouragement
To help shed this "fluff".

I spoke not a word
When my walk was done.
I felt so renewed.
I knew I had won.

I walked past the kitchen
Without turning my head.
I smiled in the mirror
As I headed for bed.

And I said to myself
As I turned out the light
"With my mind, will and body,
I have fought the good fight!"

16 Ways to Have a Healthy Holiday Season

2009-12-14T22:37:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com...

Here's a holiday list you shouldn't miss: 16 super-easy, almost effortless ways to be healthier in the busy weeks ahead.

Hopingto shed some pounds during the holidays? No matter how motivated youare, this is a difficult season to make drastic changes to yourroutine. With all the lists you're making and checking twice, youbarely have time to breathe, let alone challenge yourself with a newweight-loss or fitness plan.

But that doesn't mean the holidays have to be an unhealthy time. Infact, it's important to keep long-term health goals in mind, even ifthere's no time yet to really start on them.

If you ignore those goals altogether, says Karen Miller-Kovach, MS,RD, chief scientific officer for Weight Watchers International, theymay be much harder to address—mentally and physically—in the new year."The 10 pounds you wanted to lose by Thanksgiving may seem like a hill,but if you overdo it in December, the 18 pounds you'll face on Jan. 1will feel like a mountain," says Miller-Kovach.

Have a healthy holiday!
Even in the hectic weeks ahead, you can make small adjustments thatwill make it easier for you to tackle your weight-loss goals in the newyear. The first step toward a healthful holiday season is simple andeffective: Don't use the season as an excuse to splurge. The second isto always be on the lookout for ways to fit healthy behaviors into yourlife.

1. Always eat a healthy dinner before you go to a holiday party.

2. Bring healthy foods to potlucks.

3. At appetizer tables, choose two or three of your favorites and put themon a small plate or, better yet, a napkin. Then, walk away. When you'redone with your food, throw away the napkin or take your plate to thekitchen. Avoid large plates.

4. At a buffet, cover most of your plate with vegetables and fruits. Thenfind room for smaller portions of the high-calorie main dishes.

5. Watch out for times when you feel guilty for overeating. Just becauseyou slipped up at lunch isn't license to overindulge all day. Remember:One meal is one meal. One day is one day.

6. On the nights you decide to have a drink, limit yourself to one or two.And don't indulge every night, says Fink. Also, choose wisely—a gin andtonic has 155 calories for 7.5 fl oz, while the same size frozenstrawberry daiquiri has a whopping 450 calories.

7. If you are drinking, alternate alcoholic beverages with nonalcoholic,calorie-free drinks such as like flavored seltzer. Or, choose winespritzers, which are half wine and half seltzer.

8. Drink extra water to help flush out the excess sodium you consume during rich meals.

9. No matter how busy you get, make time for a healthy breakfast. Eating a morning meal will help control cravings later on.

10. If baked goods are your holiday weakness, consider hosting a cookieparty: Ask every guest to bring one batch of his or her favoritecookies, plus the recipe, and share. This way, you and your family geta variety without having to bake loads. (For extra credit, challengeyour guests to bring low-fat or low-calorie cookies.)

11. Store healthy snacks at the front of your fridge and pantry, and go for them before you treat yourself to the splurge stuff.

12. Just say "no" to packaged holiday candies and cakes! So what if they'rered and green or blue and white—with all the homemade goodies hangingaround, you don't need them.

13. Streamline your grocery shopping with lists of the ingredients you'llneed for a week's worth of quick, easy meals. This way, you won't belimited to last-minute convenience and fast foods during those nightswhen you're dashing around.

14. Online shopping is a great time saver, but it means you lose out on themall walking that usually goes with shopping. Make it up by figuringout exactly how much time you saved (say, 15 minutes per gift), thenincrease your cardio by that much for the week.

15. On heavy-eating weeks, add some strength training to your routine.Building muscle will help your body continue to burn calories while atrest.

16. Add health-related gifts to your wish list this year—they could help make for a slimmer, healthier new year.

Stress...

2009-12-14T07:46:00.002-05:00

Stress is the trash of modern life -- we all generate it, but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life.

~ Danzae Pace, writer

WW Recipe Swap

2009-12-10T16:36:00.002-05:00

Check out WeightWatchers.com's Recipe Swap!

http://w ww.weightwatchers.com/community/rcp/index.aspx

Look for new holiday recipes or even add your own!

Up for a Challenge???

2009-12-10T16:35:00.000-05:00

Looking to successfully manage your weight loss efforts this holiday season?

Need a challenge to keep you on your toes?

Check out WeightWatchers.com's "Don't Quit Now Challenge"!

http://community.weightwatchers.com/Challenges/ChallengePage.aspx?sid=1539523

Email me at stephanie@wwleader.com and let me know your progress!

De-Stress Your Holidays

2009-12-10T16:30:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com...

Here's how to turn holiday havoc around so it doesn't get you down.

"Thefour sources of stress during the holidays are fantasies, family, foodand finances," says Mark Gorkin, a psychotherapist and public speakerwho goes by the moniker "Stress Doc." "The temptation is to want itall," he says. People often get so caught up in the eating, drinking,partying and shopping, he adds, "that there is no time for spiritualreflection and quiet nurturing."

So nurture your sanity this holiday season with these nine tips from Gorkin:

1. Just say "no"
Be realistic about howmany parties you can actually attend. Remember that saying yes to everyinvitation could result in burnout. Also, going to tons of partiespresents more challenges to your diet than you might want.

2. Stay in your groove
Carve out time foryourself — and greedily guard it. If you have an exercise routine, suchas walking every other day, keep that as your anchor, and try to makeholiday chores and events revolve around your exercise schedule, notthe other way around.

3. Take baby steps
It's easy to feeloverwhelmed by the enormity of holiday tasks, like sending out 114holiday cards. Certain tasks are more doable when broken into chunks.For example, you could purchase the cards a month before Christmas orHanukkah and write a few at a time over the next several weeks. Then,address all the envelopes. If you have kids, why not enlist them tostuff envelopes and put on the stamps?

4. Appoint a "designated nagger"
Giveyour partner or a close friend permission to nag you when you startworrying too much. Have your "designated nagger" tell you to slow downand take a deep breath as soon as you begin worrying too much aboutovereating, not exercising enough or finding the perfect gift foreveryone down to your boss's cat.

5. Have a big holiday draw
Sit down withyour family early in the holiday season and discuss the sources ofstress and conflict that always seem to rear up this time of year. Thendistribute crayons and paper, and have everyone draw pictures of your"family stress image" — a big ogre wearing a Santa hat or a giantpresent exploding like a firecracker, for example. "This is a great wayto get out your frustration in a positive way," says Gorkin.

6. Revel in the scent of solitude
Light alavender-scented candle in your bathroom and take a hot bath, or usesome lavender-scented bath oil. A study on aromatherapy reported in theInternational Journal of Neurosciencesstated that the scent of lavender helped adult test subjects feel morerelaxed and perform mental calculations more accurately than did otherscents.

7. Walk it out
Take a nice long walk and focus on smelling the crisp winter air or watching snow falling for a form of meditation.

8. Immerse yourself in music
Listen to atape of holiday songs, or make your own recording by dubbing a set ofyour favorite tunes onto a cassette tape, CD or MP3.

9. Stroll down memory lane
Fill a hatboxor shoe box with objects that are important to you, such as yourchild's first tooth, family photos, postcards, love letters orinspirational poems or quotes. Whenever stress looms, take out your boxand enjoy the warm feelings your mementos inspire.

Twas the night of Thanksgiving

2009-11-22T14:27:00.002-05:00

Twas the night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn’t sleep
I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned….the dark meat and white
But I fought the temptation with all of my might.

Tossing and turning with anticipation
The thought of a snack became infatuation.

So I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door
And gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up Turkey and buttered potatoes,
Pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling so plump and so round,
‘Till all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky
Mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie.

But I managed to yell as I soared past the trees…..
Somebody get me to Weight Watchers, Please!

May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes ‘n gravy have nary a lump,
May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs!

Turkey Day Forecast

2009-11-22T14:26:00.003-05:00

Turkeys will thaw in the morning, then warm in the oven to an afternoon high near 190 F.

The kitchen will turn hot and humid, and if you bother the cook, be ready for a severe squall or cold shoulder.

During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates.

Mashed potatoes will drift across one side while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other. Please pass the gravy.

A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway.

During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34 F in the refrigerator.

Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established.

Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late in the day. We expect a warming trend where soup develops.

By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the bone.

Holiday Favorites "Lightened Up"

2009-11-17T09:12:00.001-05:00

Green Bean Casserole
Serves: 6 - 2 POINTS per serving

2 (9 ounce) bags frozen green beans, thawed, or 2 (15 ounce) cans no salt added green beans, drained
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can Campbell's HEALTHY REQUEST Cream of Mushroom Soup
3/4 cup skim milk
1 (3.5 ounce) can Real Baked Onion Pieces, divided
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce (optional - note these are high sodium products)

In a 1 1/2-quart casserole, mix all ingredients except 1/2 can of the Real Baked Onion Pieces.
Bake uncovered 30 minutes at 350 degrees F or until hot; stir. Top with remaining 1/2 can of Real Baked Onion Pieces. Bake an additional 5 minutes.

Crustless Pumpkin Pie
6 Servings – 1 POINT per serving

3/4 cup(s) Egg Beaters Egg Beaters
12 oz fat-free evaporated milk
3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp table salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
15 oz canned pumpkin
2/3 cup(s) McNeil Nutritionals SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener

Combine all ingredients and beat until smooth. Pour in a 9" pie pan sprayed with Pam. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes.
Then at 325 for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.

NO CRUST PUMPKIN PIE
Entire pie is 6 POINTS

15oz. can of pumpkin
1/2c egg beaters
1 1/2 c. skim milk
3/4 c. splenda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pie spice

Mix and pour in Sprayed pie dish. Bake at 400 for 15 min., then at 375 for 45 min.

Self-Crust Pumpkin Pie
8 servings - 2 POINTS per serving

In large bowl combine 2 large egg whites with 2 cups canned pumpkin.
Add:
l cup nonfat dry milk
2/3 cup sugar
l tsp. cinnamon
l/2 tsp ginger
l/4 tsp nutmeg
l/4 cup flour

Slowly stir in l cup water. Mix well, pour into prepared 9" pie plate. Bake at 350 for 45-55 min (until knife inserted in center comes out clean).

Apple Pie
8 servings - 4 POINTS per serving

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp sugar
3 Tbsp reduced-calorie margarine, chilled and cut up
2 Tbsp water, or more if necessary
4 medium apple(s), McIntosh, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/3 cup uncooked old fashioned oats
5 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp reduced-calorie margarine, melted

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.

2. To make the crust, combine 1 cup of flour and 2 teaspoons of sugar in a large bowl or food processor. Add 3 tablespoons of chilled margarine and process (or mix together with your fingers if you do not have a food processor) until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, and process or mix until a manageable dough forms. Press dough into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Pinch the edges to form a decorative rim; set aside.

3. To make the filling, combine apples, 1/4 cup of sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon in a large bowl; toss to coat apples. Arrange mixture in prepared piecrust.

4. To make the topping, combine oats, 5 tablespoons of flour, 2 tablespoons of sugar and melted margarine in a small bowl; sprinkle over apples.

5. Bake until apples are tender and crumb topping is golden brown, about 45 to 50 minutes. Allow to cool for 30 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.

DREAMY CHEESECAKE
16 servings – 3 POINTS per serving

2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese
15 oz. Light cream cheese, softened
8 TBSP. Splenda or other sweetener to = 8 TBSP.
1 cup egg substitute
1/4 cup reduced-calorie tub margarine, melted
1 TBSP. all-purpose flour
3 TBSP. cornstarch
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
juice of ½ lemon
2 cups non-fat sour cream

Using low speed of mixer, combine ricotta, cream cheese, and sweetener. Slowly pour in egg substitute. Beat until no yellow streaks appear. Add remaining ingredients, except sour cream. Mix until just combined. Fold in sour cream. Pour into 10" ungreased spring-form pan. Place in COLD oven. Turn oven to 325 degrees. Bake 1 hour. Turn oven off. Leave cake in oven 2 hours. DO NOT open door during baking or cooling time. Remove cake from oven. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Remove side of pan. Garnish with fruit, if desired.

EggNog Smoothie
2 Servings – 2 POINTS per serving (2 servings=5 pts.)

Regular eggnog = 8.5 pts for 1 cup

Ingredients
1 packet Weight Watchers Smoothie Drink Mix French Vanilla
1 cup fat-free skim milk
1/2 cup Egg Beaters Egg Beaters
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp imitation rum extract,

Add 6-8 ice cubes. Mix all together in a blender. Garnish with nutmeg. Makes approximately two, one cup servings.

Sauteed String Beans with Almonds
8 Servings – 1 POINT per serving

1/2 cup(s) slivered almonds
2 tsp olive oil
3 medium garlic clove(s), minced
8 cup(s) green snap beans, fresh, trimmed, or thawed if frozen
1/2 cup(s) canned chicken broth, or vegetable broth
1/2 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste

Place almonds in a large dry skillet and place pan over medium heat. Cook until nuts are golden brown, shaking pan frequently, about 2 to 4 minutes. Remove nuts from pan; set aside. Heat oil in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook , stirring, 1 minute. Add string beans and sauté 1 minute. Add broth to pan; cover and steam until string beans are crisp-tender, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper; stir to coat. Remove from heat; stir in toasted almonds. Yields about 3/4 cup per serving.

Candied Sweet Potatoes
4 Servings – 3 POINTS per serving

2 large sweet potato(es), about 2 lbs, peeled, halved lengthwise and cut crosswise into 2-inch thick pieces
1/4 cup(s) orange juice
2 Tbsp packed light brown sugar
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp reduced-calorie margarine, melted
1/2 tsp table salt

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Place sweet potatoes in a large saucepan and pour in enough water to cover potatoes. Set pan over high heat and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer 10 minutes, until potatoes are fork-tender. Drain potatoes and arrange them in a single layer in bottom of a shallow baking dish. Whisk together juice, sugar, syrup, margarine and salt; pour mixture over sweet potatoes.

Bake for 30 minutes, then stir to coat potatoes with liquid and bake for 15 minutes more, until sauce is thick and bubbly. Stir once again before serving. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes
4 servings – 3 POINTS per serving

8 small uncooked red potato(es), peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
4 medium garlic clove(s), peeled
1/4 cup(s) fat-free sour cream
1/4 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
2 Tbsp chives, fresh, minced
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste

Combine potatoes and garlic in a large saucepan and pour in enough water to cover; set pan over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat slightly and boil until potatoes are fork tender, about 8 minutes; drain water from saucepan. Add sour cream, milk and chives to pan; mix until combined. Mash mixture with a potato masher until smooth (or leave some lumps if desired); season to taste with salt and pepper. Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.

Cranberry Orange Relish
8 servings – 2 POINTS per serving

12 oz cranberries, fresh
1 medium orange(s), navel, washed, unpeeled and cut into chunks*
1 cup(s) sugar
1 piece(s) ginger root, fresh, peeled, about 1-inch, chopped
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Put cranberries, orange, sugar, ginger and cinnamon in a food processor; pulse until finely chopped. Scrape into a serving bowl (or a plastic container if making ahead). Cover and refrigerate until serving. Yields about 1/3 cup per serving.

*NOTES: *If the flavor from using the entire orange peel is too strong for you, add some fresh orange zest instead, and then remove the white pith before cutting the orange into chunks. If you want to give the relish a different spin, add chopped cilantro or mint and minced jalapeno pepper. Also, some or all of the sugar can be substituted with Splenda (could affect POINTS values). You can make this relish up to 5 days ahead. This recipe is great as a spread for leftover turkey sandwiches or as an accompaniment to roast pork or chicken.

Stuffing with Sage and Chives
8 Servings – 2 POINTS per serving

1 spray(s) cooking spray
12 slice(s) whole-wheat bread, or white bread, preferably day-old, cubed*
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp light butter
1 cup(s) onion(s), diced
3 medium celery, stalks, diced
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp dried sage
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
2 cup(s) canned chicken broth
2 Tbsp chives, fresh, chopped

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a 4-quart shallow baking dish with cooking spray.

Arrange bread cubes on a large ungreased baking sheet in a single layer (use 2 baking sheets if there’s not enough room). Bake until lightly toasted, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove bread from oven and set aside; leave oven set to 350ºF.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil and butter together for 1 to 2 minutes. Add onion and celery; sauté until soft, about 3 minutes. Add thyme, sage, salt and pepper; stir to coat. Cook until herbs are fragrant, about 1 minute.

Transfer onion mixture to a large mixing bowl. Add bread, broth and chives; toss to combine. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish and cover with foil; bake 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until top is golden brown, 15 minutes more. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

*NOTES: *Leave the bread bag open and somewhat uncovered for 1 to 2 days (at room temperature) before making the recipe.

You can make this stuffing in advance and bake it just before serving. The stuffing will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed.

Feel free to substitute your favorite bread, such as whole grain, sourdough or a light variety (could affect POINTS values).

For added flavor, you can also add about 1 cup of diced Granny Smith or McIntosh apples to the stuffing (could affect POINTS values).

Pecan Tartlets
12 Servings – 3 POINTS per serving

2 spray(s) cooking spray
3 large egg(s)
1/8 tsp table salt
1 Tbsp butter, melted
1/3 cup(s) dark corn syrup
2/3 cup(s) dark brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup(s) chopped pecans
24 half pecan halves

Preheat oven to 450ºF. Place twelve 3-ounce ramekins in a shallow baking pan or on a rimmed cookie sheet for easy handling; coat ramekins with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, beat eggs with salt. Add melted butter, corn syrup, sugar and vanilla; beat well. Blend in chopped pecans and then spoon batter half way up ramekins; gently place 2 pecan halves on top of each ramekin.

Bake for about 17 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF and bake until a knife or toothpick inserted in center of a ramekin comes out clean, about 15 to 20 minutes more. Remove from oven and allow to cool; serve in ramekins with a spoon, either warm or cold. Yields 1 per serving.

Key Lime Pie

2009-11-16T07:19:00.002-05:00

Makes 8 Servings. 1 Serving = 4 POINTS

- 1/4 Cup Water

- 1 package (4-serving size) sugar-free lime-flavor gelatin

- 2 containers (6 oz.) fat-free key lime pie yogurt

- 1 tub (8 oz.) frozen reduced-fat non-dairy whipped topping, thawed

- 1 Graham Cracker Reduced Fat Pie Crust

#1. Heat water in microwave or stove top until boiling. Whisk with gelatin until dissolved.

#2. In large bowl, whisk together gelatin mixture and yogurt. (One yogurt at a time)

#3. Fold in whipped topping.

#4. Carefully spread in crust. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or until set. Enjoy!!

*** If you don't like Key Lime, try other flavor combinations... strawberry banana yogurt and strawberry jello. Or, orange creamsicle yogurt and orange jello!

Pumpkin Mousse (YUMMY!!!)

2009-11-04T20:23:00.003-05:00

Makes 7 (½-cup) servings)

½ Cup = 1 pt.

1 can (15 oz.) of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1 box (4 serving size) sugar free, fat free instant vanilla or butterscotch pudding mix

1 ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 8-oz. fat-free Cool Whip

Thoroughly combine the first three ingredients; then fold in Cool Whip. Chill thoroughly.

(You could put the mousse in a reduced-fat graham cracker crust. Remember to add the points for the crust! And, I wonder how this would taste frozen...)

Taco Soup

2009-11-04T20:18:00.001-05:00

POINTS: 6 (2 cups)

1 ½ lbs cooked lean ground beef (with 7% or less fat)
1 – 14 oz. can of corn (drained – use Mexican-style w/peppers for added flavor)
1 – 14 oz. can of pinto beans (drained)
1 – 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes (do not drain - could use diced tomatoes w/jalapeños for extra flavor)
1 – 1 oz. packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing (powder)
1 or 2 – 1 oz. packet of taco seasoning (I use one regular and ½ hot)

1 onion (chopped)

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion until meat is browned, about 10 minutes; drain off fat. In a crock pot/slow cooker, combine beef, onion, corn, tomatoes, beans, ranch and taco seasonings and mix. Add water to thin. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve with low-fat tortilla chips. (Chips will add Points to the recipe.) Yields about 2 cups per serving.

Top 10 Ways to Know You're a Weight Watcher at Halloween

2009-11-04T20:08:00.002-05:00

10. You know how many door knocks it takes to earn an Activity POINT.

9. You're the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a pedometer and a POINTS finder.

8. You ask each house if they mind if you step on their scale - just to compare.

7. You ask to trade candy corn for the real stuff.

6. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you yell out the # of POINTS.

5. Your costume has a handy water bottle holder so you can meet your water requirements for the day.

4. You ask to use the bathroom every 3rd house because of #5.

3. At the end of the night, you sort your candy by POINT value.

2. You ask for high fiber candy only.

1. Your goodie bag has a half filled out weekly journal taped to it.

9 Good Health Guidelines

2009-11-04T20:06:00.003-05:00

Here's a poem to help you remember the 9 Good Health Guidelines!

Nine IS Fine!

Keep your focus on the nine
I guarantee that you’ll feel fine.

Fruits and vegetables, leafy or raw
At least five servings is the law.

Pudding, yogurt, or even cheese
Helps you get your dairy needs.

Choose whole-wheat pasta and brown rice too.
The processed versions should be very few.

2 teaspoons of oil are a daily must
Safflower and olive are types you can trust.

Cakes and cookies may be a special treat
But you must limit the amount you eat.

Soy products, beans and meat that’s lean
Keep you satisfied and provide protein.

Let green diamonds be what you choose
These are the foods that help you lose.

6 glasses of liquid is the amount that’s right
Anything will be okay, even Crystal Light.

Move 30 minutes most every day
Make it fun, it’ll be more like play.

A multivitamin you should take
It’s for your health for goodness sake.

Fit these all in day-to-day
Soon you’ll be hearing yourself say,
“I feel great and I’m looking divine
Because I’ve included my daily nine.”

by WW Leader, Roberta Brenick

Healthy Oils

2009-11-04T20:03:00.002-05:00

Having difficulty getting in the two teaspoons of Healthy Oils from the Good Health Guidelines? Here are 27 ways...

Healthy Oils = Olive, Canola, Sunflower, Safflower, Flaxseed (2 tsp per day)

1. The only one that has a taste is Olive, so the others can be put into a smoothie, oatmeal, etc.

2. Fry an egg sandwich

3. Stir fry veggies

4. Add to pasta while cooking

5. Add to canned green beans (Cracker Barrel does it!)

6. Fried potatoes! Buy frozen hash browns where the ingredients say "potatoes" only

7. Pour a teaspoon of flaxseed oil on a baked potato or other veggies. It has a
nutty flavor.

8. Rub a teaspoon of olive oil on chicken or fish before baking. No more dried out chicken.

9. Grill cheese sandwich by putting a teaspoon of olive oil in a skillet, put in your bread & cheese sandwich, grill one side and then add another teaspoon of oil and grill the other side.

10. Mix 2 tsp olive oil, 2 tsp red wine vinegar and package of Splenda-great salad dressing.

11. Blend it into mashed potatoes- it may take a little longer than adding butter.

12. Add the oil to the water when making rice.

13. Drizzle over roasted veggies in the oven

14. Drizzle olive oil over a Smart One Pizza. It tastes like pizza from a restaurant!

15. Drizzle on sliced tomatoes with a little Italian seasoning

16. Mix olive oil, Italian seasoning and garlic salt, then dip your light wheat bread in it.

17. Sauté spinach in olive oil

18. Add 2 tsp to fat free Italian dressing for your salad

19. Spread on bread, sprinkle garlic powder and toast in toaster oven

20. Drizzle it over popcorn

21. Add to a serving of the Garden Vegetable soup

22. Add to plain non-fat yogurt (great for core planners)

23. Cook egg whites in it

24. Another salad dressing: 2 tsp canola oil, vinegar (rice is good), dash of
celery salt

25. Spread on corn on the cob

26. Add 2 tsp of oil to a bowl and grind some fresh pepper into it. Dip bread into it - like the starters you get at some Italian restaurants...

27. Add oil to the outside of a baked potato and bake in the oven.

10 Shopping Tips for Families

2009-09-24T05:53:00.000-04:00

(Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com)

Tips for stocking a healthy pantry that keep supermarket trips — and grocery bills — to a minimum. With a family, it can be a neverending challenge to keep the fridge full without emptying your wallet. Fortunately, we've devised these 10 great tactics for stress-free shopping.

1. Plan ahead
Use a calendar or your POINTS Tracker to plan family menus in advance. Note which days you have 20 minutes to get dinner on the table and which days allow for a little more time. Devising a system will allow you to schedule more balanced meals because you can see at a glance how often you're serving vegetables vs. potatoes, beef vs. fish, or convenience foods vs. home cooking.

2. Cook from recipes
Consider them your planning guides. Everything's there in a ready-made list: oregano, olive oil, bread crumbs, canned tomatoes. What's more, making a shopping list directly from a recipe means you'll have no last-minute "oops-we're-out-of-something" emergencies, and no time-wasting trips to the store when you'd rather be eating dinner.

3. Shop while the kids are busy
Shopping is faster if you go alone. Plan grocery store forays when the kids are in school or at music lessons, or have your spouse mind them while you shop.

4. Shop on a full stomach
If you shop when you're hungry, you're subject to spur-of-the-moment cravings and impulse buys. To manage the lifestyle you want, shop after lunch or dinner.

5. Savings are under your nose
Most stores stock expensive brands at eye level; look on the highest and lowest shelves for lower-cost generics and in-store specials. Also, give yourself a moment to peruse the in-store flyer with its unadvertised specials.

6. Use coupons judiciously
Be honest with yourself and cut only the coupons you need. Saving 50 cents on jelly isn't any good if you weren't going to buy jelly in the first place. And save those coupons for when they really count; for your store's double or triple coupon days.

7. Buying in bulk doesn't mean automatic savings
Dry goods and some convenience products are good bets for bulk-buying: Paper products, cleaning products, flour, sugar, vinegars, peanut butter and grains. Never buy oils (which go rancid), spices (which lose flavor) or perishables in bulk. A 10-pound box of apricots won't have saved you anything when you throw half of it away.

8. Produce: Fresh vs. Frozen
Some fruits and vegetables are fine frozen; others don't translate well. Here's a guide for each:

Buy Fresh	Consider Buying Frozen
Cucumbers	Beans/peas
Ears of corn	Bell pepper strips
Greens	Broccoli
Lettuce	Carrots
Radishes	Cauliflower
Zucchini/summer squash	Chopped onions
Apples/pears	Corn kernels
Bananas	Winter squash puree
Citrus	Berries
Pineapple	Peaches/apricots

9. Buy meat and fish once a month
Take advantage of discounts on meat and fish, and freeze ahead for the month. Wrap the pieces individually and tightly in plastic wrap, then bundle them in batches by meal in freezer bags or aluminum foil. Label each with the contents and date. For safety's sake, always thaw these in the refrigerator, never on the counter.

10. Keep a cooler in your car
On a hot day, just getting your food home from the store can considerably reduce its shelf-life. A cooler in the trunk will help keep your dairy products cold, your meat and fish fresh, and your ice cream frozen.

Gauging the Risk Factor

2009-09-21T09:18:00.002-04:00

Last week, we talked about Gauging the Risk Factor! Have you ever told yourself... "Hey Self, I am only going to have one of these cookies or one of these chips!" And, then you ended up finishing off the entire bag?

Did you determine what your Red, Yellow and Green Light Foods are?

Red Light Foods - Foods that signal STOP! (One bite or taste can trigger a lack of self-control resulting in excessive overeating.)

Yellow Light Foods - Foods that require CAUTION! (You can control them in some situations but not others. A red light food can potentially become a yellow light food.)

Green Light Foods - Foods that signal GO! (Moderate portions are satisfying. You can stay in control while eating them in most situations.)

High-risk foods - those foods that can cause you to lose control and overeat - can lead to lapses, posing dangers to your weight-loss efforts. When you recognize your own high-risk foods, you can figure out how to handle them for long-term weight control. Realizing how certain foods affect you and identifying strategies for managing different foods in different situations are important steps for you to take!

Learn from experience when trying to control Red and Yellow Light Foods. Think about substitutes that you can have for these foods --- lower in points values, something similar in taste (crunchy, salty, sweet).

Also, manage your environment. If you don't buy it or have it, you can't eat it. Find ways to control where you store your Red and Yellow Light Foods so that they're not easily accessible.

And finally, ask for help! Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Asking for help shows that you are determined to make your weight loss journey successful. Find someone at home, a co-worker, a friend, or a relative that you can turn to when you need assistance. Attending your weekly WW meeting can also provide support. You'll be surrounded by people who are experiencing the same challenges and victories are you!

Do you like potato chips??

2009-09-18T11:08:00.000-04:00

During my WW meeting this morning, one of my members, Nikki, shared a recipe for Microwave Potato Chips (see below). Apparently, she's shared this recipe with another WW Leader whose members have created a "challenge" of ways to change and enhance the recipe.

So... I challenge YOU to try the recipe and make it your own!

Send me your crazy creations! I'll post them on my blog!

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Microwave Potato Chips

You don't need a deep fryer to make crispy potato chips. We toss thinly sliced potatoes with just a touch of olive oil, pop them in the microwave and voilÃ ! Crispy, crunchy homemade potato chips with 8 grams less fat per serving than regular chips.

4 servings, 12-14 chips each | Active Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

· 1 1/3 pounds Yukon Gold or red potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed

· 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

· 1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation

1. Slice potatoes into thin (1/8-inch) rounds. Toss the slices in a medium bowl with oil and salt to coat evenly.

2. Coat a large microwave-proof plate with cooking spray. Arrange some potato slices in a single layer on the plate. Microwave, uncovered, on High until some slices start to brown, 2 to 3 minutes (depending on potato thickness and microwave power). Turn the slices over and continue microwaving until they start to crisp and brown around the edges, 2 to 4 minutes more. Check frequently and rearrange slices as needed to prevent scorching. Transfer the chips to another plate and allow to cool completely. (They will crisp more as they cool.) Repeat with the remaining potato slices.

Tips & Notes

· Make Ahead Tip: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

What's your reason?

2009-09-16T14:22:00.005-04:00

No matter what your reason, you can find
success with Weight Watchers®

Lose-A-Palooza Day!!!!

2009-09-15T05:10:00.002-04:00

Hooray!!! Today is Lose-A-Palooza Day!!!

http://www.loseapalooza.com/

Lose-A-Palooza Day is a one-day online social networking event to help raise awareness for Weight Watchers Lose for Good Campaign!

For every accepted mention or acknowledgment of “Lose For Good” made on September 15 via blogs, Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, Weight Watchers will make an additional donation - up to $25,000* - for just one day of social media activity. This donation is on top of the $1 million** Weight Watchers is hoping to donate to Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger as part of the 2009 Lose For Good campaign!

Please comment on this blog post (using the link below this message) about Lose For Good! Every comment relating to “Lose For Good” helps Weight Watchers donate $1! You just need to type the words "Lose for Good!"

Thanks for your support!

On Plan, On Budget

2009-09-14T22:03:00.000-04:00

Certainly, a trip through the drive through is often cheaper than a veggie-filled stir-fry. But you don't need to blow your budget to see results on the scale.

Here are 10 ways to cut food costs and three delicious meals for 4 that clock in under $20 each.

Sure, you can get a lot of fast food for a couple of bucks — much more food than at most salad bars. "But down the road, you're going to pay for it," says Nelda Mercer, RD, a registered dietician in Ann Arbor, MI. Too many meal deals can jeapordize your health and your kids' long-term eating habits, she explains.

But healthy eating doesn't have to put you in the poor house. "The key is planning," says Mercer, who offers up some smart ways to save at the supermarket. Plus, we give you three great meals for four that'll pad your wallet; not your waistline.

10 Smart Saving Tips

1. Limit impulse purchases.
"Go to the store with a shopping list," says Mercer. And stick to it.
2. Buy in season.
Blueberries are a cheap treat come summer but practically an investment once it's fall. Consider growing some of your own produce as well.
3. Use coupons.
Sign up for your supermarket's shopper discount card, too.
4. Purchase sale items in bulk.
"Use the same main ingredient and dress it up differently," Mercer suggests. Turn ground beef into chili, burritos and a topping for baked potatoes. Plus, freeze some beef for the weeks to come.
5. Buy generic.
Follow this rule except when you know a certain brand is of higher quality. A major national brand of sliced Swiss cheese recently sold for $4.49 per half pound versus $3.49 for the store brand (priced on shoprite.com).
6. Think whole foods.
"The more processed foods you buy, the higher the price," Mercer says. Even a banana in pricey New York City only costs a quarter whereas a small candy bar costs at least 75 cents.
7. Do it from scratch.
"You're paying more for convenience," says Mercer. So grate your own cheese and shred your own lettuce.
8. Shift those proportions.
Use pricey meats as an accent; not the main event. For instance, skip the pork chops and cook up a pork stir-fry.
9. Load up on beans.
Meat is expensive, says Mercer. A pound of 85% lean ground beef purchased on shoprite.com costs $3.69. A 1-pound can of black beans? A mere 50 cents.
10. Shop at wholesale food stores.
Some examples include Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's and more. Make sure you know prices, though, to guarantee a savings.

Three Meals for Four Under $20 Each (priced on shoprite.com)*

MEAL 1
Italian Salad
Combine chopped Romaine lettuce, sliced tomato and red onion, and diced cucumber in a large bowl. Toss with light Italian dressing.
Fresh Tomato and Mozzarella Pizza
Spread a prepared pizza crust (such as a thin Boboli) with canned tomato sauce; sprinkle with dried herbs to taste. Cover with shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese and layer with thin tomato slices. Sprinkle with freshly chopped basil and bake according to pizza crust directions.
Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
A bite-size version of a classic.

Get recipe

Money-Saving Tips: Buy a whole head of Romaine and clean and chop it yourself; buy a block of cheese and grate it at home; purchase inexpensive canned tomato sauce and flavor it with your own herbs and spices.

MEAL 2
Turkey Enchilada Pie
A Mexican specialty loaded with seasoned lean ground turkey, fresh tomatoes and cheese.

Get recipe

Canned Fat-Free Refried Beans
Heat according to package directions.
Fruit Salad
Combine fruit such as sliced, seedless grapes; chopped strawberries; and cantaloupe cubes in a medium bowl.
Money-Saving Tips: Load up on non-perishable staple sale items like canned beans; buy seasonal fruit and do the prep work yourself; purchase store-brand ground turkey breast; minimize food waste by buying fillings to make wrap sandwiches with the extra tortillas from the enchilada pie.

MEAL 3
Spicy Pork Stir-fry
A sizzling spin on a Chinese staple thanks to chili oil and red pepper flakes.

Get recipe

Brown Rice
Cook according to package directions without added oil or butter.
Fortune Cookies
Money-Saving Tips: Buy larger bags of non-perishable items like rice since they are usually cheaper per ounce than smaller boxes; opt for less expensive store brand items that will be incorporated into the stir-fry such as marmalade and vinegar.
*Does not include the cost of staple pantry items like salt, pepper, flour, sugar, cornstarch, cooking spray, oil, vinegar, dried herbs and spices. Prices may vary depending on season and geographic area.

Battle of the Beers!

2009-09-14T12:57:00.000-04:00

Now that so many people are counting calories, beer-makers are in a full-on brawl to see who comes out with the lowest-calorie brew. MGD 64 is everywhere, with TV commercials showing people just how tiny an amount of other bar drinks they'd get for the same 64 calories... and it's a huge success.

But NOW the Anheuser-Busch folks have released their rebuttal -- a beer with a mere 55 calories.

Whoa! Select 55 is currently being tested in fifteen metro areas -- Tampa, San Diego, Dallas, and Green Bay are among them. The company plans to expand to even more test markets this fall and is hopeful a national release is on the way. Game on!

And, could 44-calorie beer be far behind? Or, maybe even 0 calories?!?!?

FREE Kashi Cereal Sample

2009-09-14T12:54:00.002-04:00

Free food! Yes, FREE FOOD!

While supplies last, get a free sample of one of Kashi's yummy cereals.

Choose from Honey Sunshine, Heart to Heart Oat Flakes & Wild Blueberry Clusters, and GOLEAN Crunch! Honey Almond Flax.

Or throw caution to the wind and click on "I can't decide. Surprise me!"

DO IT before they're all gone!

Dining Out Do's & Don'ts

2009-09-11T22:08:00.001-04:00

Afraid dinner out will ruin your diet before you even start your entrée? These 10 do's and don'ts will help.

10 Tips for Dining Out

Some people trying to lose weight steer clear of restaurants to avoid the large portion sizes, bottomless bread baskets and all those high-calorie entries. But shunning restaurants altogether isn't a realistic approach to weight loss — and it's unnecessary.

You can eat out and lose weight. Start with this list of tips to help you navigate the menu options at your favorite fast-food joints and sit-down restaurants.

Lose for Good

2009-09-10T00:55:00.000-04:00

I started this blog when I became a WW Leader in May of this year. Obviously, I haven't done much with it yet.

I look forward to adding to this blog and making it a place for members to come and learn tips about staying on plan; focusing on their goal; experiencing new products; and sharing ideas and thoughts through comments!

There's a lot of work to be done... but, it must start somewhere!

So, I decided this is the perfect time with the kick-off to Weight Watchers 2nd Annual Lose for Good Campaign!

For the 2nd year in a row, Weight Watchers is teaming up with its meeting members, Online subscribers, as well as local communities, sponsors and charitable partners Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger, to fight hunger and promote healthy living.

As members lose from 8/30/09 - 10/17/09, Weight Watchers will donate up to $1 Million to help children and families in need.

Losing even 5 percent of your body weight can bring real rewards, like lower cholesterol and reduced blood pressure. Plus, our members will be helping the fight against hunger!

If you're already a member, GREAT! If not, get in on the good! Become a meetings member or Online subscriber today. (www.weightwatchers.com)

Check out the Lose for Good video with Jenny McCarthy!

Lose for Good Kick-off at Cleveland Foodbank

2009-09-09T23:13:00.001-04:00

WW Staff and Members gathered together to Kick-off the 2009 Lose for Good Campaign at the Cleveland Foodbank (www.clevelandfoodbank.org).

Locally, all WW Centers and Meeting locations are asking its members to bring in food to be donated to the Cleveland Foodbank. The food can represent weight lost during the campaign or total weight lost.

It's a win-win situation for everyone!

Together, the WW Staff and Members lost over 800 pounds! We piled 800+ pounds of food on a table to show exactly what that weight in food looks like.

WW Staff and Members also received a tour of the facility! (AMAZING!!) And, volunteered by packing boxes for two hours.

Worth the Weight

IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!!!

WW INFO UPDATES!!!!! CHECK IT OUT!!!

Here's a link to the updates for the Complete Food Companion, Dining Out Guide and Pocket Guide!! (Special thanks to WW Member, Jannell, for sending me this link!!!)

www.weightwatchers.com/productinfo

www.weightwatchers.com/images/1033/dynamic/GCMSImages/ListCorrections.v3.pdf

ALSO... if you LOVED the recipes in this year's WW Weekly Magazines... here's a link to all the PointsPlus Values for those recipes!

www.weightwatchers.com/weeklyrecipes

IT's HERE!!! Introducing PointsPlus!!

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta breaks down the new Weight Watchers PointsPlus™ system on his blog.http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/29/weight-watchers-overhauls-point-system/

WebMD weighs in on PointsPlus...http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/weight-watchers-diet

LOTS of great reviews about WW's new PointsPlus Program!http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/food/diet-nutrition/2010-11-29-weightwatchers29_ST_N.htm

Weight Watchers Announces the new PointsPlus program!

Cocoa Loco Krispymallow Treats

Truth or Myth - Metabolism Quiz

Pumpkin Fluff

LFG Campaign encourages members to lose for others

About Share Our Strength

About Action Against Hunger

Slow Cooker Lasagna

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Apple Cider Crisp... just in time for fall!

WW's Apple Cider Crisp is so delicious and easy to make, it’s sure to be your new favorite fall dessert. And at 4 POINTS® values, you can enjoy it without the guilt!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/index.aspx?recipeId=129041

Do you like COFFEE? Here's a list of Coffee MUST-HAVES!

Quinoa and Tomato Salad

Navigating the vending machine... it's possible!

Need the perfect dish to compliment your entree... look no further!

The Skinny on Ice Cream

Freezer Facts

Snack Attack Quiz - What kind of snacker are YOU?

15 Tips for Breaking through a Plateau

Good news! It's OK to eat chocolate!

Super Sandwich Makers

Start Over

Puzzle Pieces

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

Zero POINTS Vegetable Soups

Portion Control

Celebrate the 4th!

Weight Watchers Oatmeal Pancakes

Summer Sabotage

Portion Primer

Stephanie's 5K Walk Photos

What to Eat at the Ballpark

The Skinny on Yogurt

The Healthy, Stealthy Full-Plate Fakeout

Trouble fitting in breakfast?

Everyday Way to Get Moving!

How's Your Fitness Vocabulary?

What Kind of Egg are you?

I'm on Facebook... are you??

5K Walk Registration

LAST WEEK TO ORDER T-SHIRTS!!

Show Your Team Spirit

Shift into Change...

Changing from the Inside Out

Walk-It Challenge

See Who You Are Becoming

Dreamy PB Chocolate Ravioli Puffs

Crock-Pot Cinna-Apples 'n Oats

Create your Weight Loss Resume

Spaghetti with Asparagus

Mandarin Delight

Snickers Pie

Spinach-Cheese Frittata

Ten Commandments of Weight Loss (according to Dr. Oz)

"Irish" Weight Loss Saying

Easy Cake!

Chicken Poem

Add Spice to Your Recipe for Success

Dijon-Dill Chicken and Noodles Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

Weight Watchers Supermarket Foods

Celebrate Valentine's Day

Awesome North Olmsted Members

Chili Party Dip

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta breaks down the new Weight Watchers PointsPlus™ system on his blog.
http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/29/weight-watchers-overhauls-point-system/

WebMD weighs in on PointsPlus...
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/weight-watchers-diet

LOTS of great reviews about WW's new PointsPlus Program!
http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/food/diet-nutrition/2010-11-29-weightwatchers29_ST_N.htm