Tuesday Night Meeting Success

I lead my favorite meeting last night and it went really well! There were not as many people as normal, but that was okay. I was nervous about 5 minutes before the meeting was about to begin, but I tired not to let it show. The members were kind and encouraged me that I was doing a great job as a leader, which was so nice to hear!

I really think that this experience is worthy on being on my Bucket List as a dream that has come true! I am so glad that this was something I was able to accomplish.

Here are a few pictures from my meeting last night!! Sorry for the poor quality pictures, but I forgot my camera and took these with my phone.

The Tuesday night meeting room. Normally, I am over at that white table weighing in members.

This is the other half of our meeting room. That's the entrance.

This is where I stood up front, see my flip chart!

Mr. Potato Head made a special appearance at my meeting last night!

I am looking forward to leading this meeting again this Saturday at my own morning meeting!

Oh! Here are a few more pictures I wanted to share with you from this past weekend. This past Saturday I spent a good part of the afternoon preparing for my Weight Watchers meetings this week. Like I told you yesterday, I knew that I would be leading my favorite meeting on Tuesday evening and I wanted everything to be perfect.

Here are the flip charts I made. What do you think?

Flip #1

Flip #2

Flip #3

This is me after getting all of my flips done on Saturday.

Leading my Favorite Meeting for a Day

My Tuesday night buddies! This photo was taken at our first 5K in June 2009

The Weight Watchers meeting that I faithfully attended was on Tuesday night. Now that I work for Weight Watchers, I am a receptionist at that same Tuesday night meeting.

There are several reasons why I chose to work this meeting. First, I love working with my leader Amanda, she is the best! Second, it fit in my schedule nicely, because I have devoted Tuesday evenings to Weight Watchers for a few years now. Finally, I love the Tuesday evening Weight Watchers members. It is a joy to be able to continue to see my Weight Watchers friends on Tuesday evening. I have met so many great people at my Weight Watchers meeting. I love being able to continue to cheer them on as they try their best to reach their own weight loss goals. Some of these people remember what I looked like when I first started Weight Watchers and they are always willing to remind me about how far I have come.

Tonight, I am going to have the privileged of leading my very favorite Weight Watchers meeting!! You see, my leader Amanda is gone on vacation this week and she asked me to sub for her while she is gone. It took me no time at all to decide that I could not pass up to opportunity.

I am so excited!! It’s hard to believe that I have grown this much in the last few years. When I first started Weight Watchers it was hard to believe that I could lose 5 pounds, but God. The Lord has done some much more in me and through my weight loss than I ever expected. It’s so humbling.

Please pray for me and that I will not be too nervous leading this meeting.

Points vs. Pointsplus

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I became a Weight Watchers member in October 2008 and at that time I was following the points system. I feel in love with the Weight Watchers program and was faithful to count my points. I lost 90 pounds by following the Weight Watchers points system. Even after I reached my goal and Lifetime I continued to keep track of my points, so that I would be able to maintain my weight loss.

In November 2010, Weight Watchers launched its new pointsplus+ program. This was the biggest change that the company had made in years. At first, I was not excited about Weight Watchers rocking my boat. Why did we need to change everything when the points program had worked for me? I considered staying on the old plan and not switching to the new poinsplus plan. However, I had to trust Weight Watchers and believe them when they said that this plan was going to be better for me.

At first, I felt like I was a new member again, taking the time to calculate the pointsplus+ values of foods. I read over the new material several times to make sure I knew what I was doing! Weight Watchers did not change everything. You still have to weigh & measure your food, exercise portion control, track, be active, attend meetings, and remember to not deprive yourself. It took some time to get used to it, but I really like the new pointsplus+ plan.

I know that some of you have not switched over to the new pointsplus+ plan. I just want to lay out two changes that made all the difference for me.

A points value is made up of calories, fat, and fiber. Whereas, a pointsplus+ value is made up of the protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrates. The new pointsplus+ formula breaks down food into its macronutrients. Weight Watchers has taken into account the latest science and looked at how your body process the food that you eat. As a result, the new plan will natural nudge you to healthier food options, because they will most often have a lower pointsplus+ value.

Zero pointsplus+ values on all fruit and most vegetable. Could it get any better!? I have been on the new plan since November, but I am still so excited about this change! On the old plan it was hard for me to choose a banana for 2 points when there were so many other foods that I could eat that were 2 points or less. Now, I have no excuse for not getting in my daily fruits and vegetables. Just remember that you cannot combine both programs. If you want to try the new program, you have to jump all in. You cannot track your points and eat the fruit for free. That won’t work.

The pointsplus+ plan is working for me. However, the most important thing to remember is to follow a plan that works for you!!

Which Weight Watchers program are you following? How has that plan worked for you?

New Things I've Tried

{Fiber One 80 Calories Honey Squares Cereal}

Have you the new 80 calorie fiber one cereal? Its quite tasty just dry and 3/4 cup is 2 pointsplus+. This is a great on the go snack! Go here to print a coupon to save .75c on one box Fiber One 80 Calorie Cereal.

{Jensen Orchards, Chip Veggie}

I tried these chips several weeks ago at the Weight Watchers 5K this year. Click here to read more about the 5K. I am a huge fan of Veggie Straws, but if you are looking to change up your routine this is a great option for you. I really like the Veggie Chips a lot, because the chip is thick and crunchy! They would be great to pair with hummus or another low pointsplus+ dip.

{MiO Liquid}

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This past Saturday while leading my Weight Watchers meeting, one of my members told me about MiO Liquid. MiO Liquid is a water enhancer. This small egg like container makes 24, 8 ounce servings and doesn't need any refrigeration once opened. It's available in 5 different flavors and ran me around $3.28 a bottle. It is 0 pointsplus+ per serving! I bought one to keep in my purse, so that when I am out, I can add flavor to my water.

{Weight Watchers Ginger Snaps}

This is a new product for sale in the Weight Watchers meeting room. The Ginger Snaps are tasty and are like any other ginger snap, maybe even better. They are a nice, crunchy consistency, and an adequate portion size for a serving. The only thing is that there are only 3 bags per box and they are a limited edition. Make sure you buy them while you still can!

I hope that you have a great weekend and get a chance to try something new!

Recipe Review: Chicken and Rice

Chicken and Rice is a delicious staple in our home. I had never heard of this dish until I married my husband, Jon. My mother-in-law, Lisa was more than willing to pass on her wonderful Chicken and Rice recipe to me! I put it on my menu almost every month. It is also a great dish is you are taking food to a friend. I have had a few other Chicken and Rice recipes, but this one is my favorite! Enjoy!

Here are the ingredients

First, I always get my rice cooking in our rice cooker. It will cook while you do everything else and finish just in time to add it to the casserole.

Next, I make the soup mixture by combining both soups into a pan.

Then, I chop and add the onion to my soup mixture.

Next, I boil the chicken

and the broccoli in separate pots.

You should have four things going on at once, because the rice is in the rice cooker.

After the chicken has finished cooking, cut it up and put it in your 9 X 13 pan.

This is all my cut up chicken.

By this time, your rice should be done cooking.

Pour 2 cups of chicken broth (the water you boiled the chicken in) and add it to the soup mixture.

Stir until everything is mixed together.

Next, take your cooked rice and put it on top of the cooked chicken.

Then, pour your soup mixture over the rice.

Next, add your cooked broccoli.

Sprinkle cheese on top of layered casserole.

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

I always divide my casserole into 8 portions and put them into plastic containers. This is final product! Yummy!!

. . . . . . . . . .
Chicken and Rice
By, My Mother in Law

Ingredients
1 cup broccoli
1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup onion
16 oz fat-free chicken broth
1 can canned condensed fat free cream of chicken soup
1 can canned condensed fat free cream of mushroom soup
2 breasts uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 cup cooked white rice, cook rice

Instructions
Mix Cream of Mushroom, Cream of Chicken, and bolied chicken broth and bring to boil. Dice chicken after it has been boiled. Layer it on the bottom of a 9 X 13 casserole dish. Put rice over chicken. Pour soup mixture over rice and chicken. Add broccoli and onions. Mix all together to make sure the chicken broth has gotten everywhere. Top with cheese. Cooking Time: 20 min, Preheat Oven 350 degrees.

Servings: 8

PointsPlus+: 5
POINTS® Value: 5

Relieving the Pressure

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I have two blogs. The first blog I created several years ago is our personal/family blog, Newsham Flight Log, and now I also have my weight loss blog, Living a Changed Life. In the last year as I have begun to blog about my weight loss my passion for blogging has multiplied!! I love blogging!! I enjoy being able to write honest blog posts about my struggles with my weight, life, and more. I consider myself so blessed to have such incredible readers, like yourself. Thank you for your comments, emails, and encouragement that you provide me on a weekly basis. You make me want to blog even more!!

I want to be honest with you about something. I have incredibly high expectations for myself. As my passion for blogging has grown, so have my expectations. I expect myself to write a blog post for Living a Changed Life, Monday through Friday. I do my best to meet my expectations. However, having two blogs makes this very hard. There are days that I just put the same post on both blogs. Is that cheating? Probably. My life is busy and I do not want blogging to become something in my routine that I have to do.

Why am I telling you this? For several reasons, first, I expect myself to blog Monday through Friday and I tell myself that you do too. Second, I don’t want to disappoint you if you visit my blog and I have not posted anything new. Finally, I do not want you worrying about me, if you do not hear from me that day.

As of today, I am setting myself free from my own expectations to blog every day. When I blog I want to have the time to really share with you what is going on in my life. I would rather give you a few blogs posts a week that are good quality, instead of just posting something to fill up space that day. Don’t worry, if I have something to share everyday of the week I will share it. However, if you don’t hear from me on a particular day that week, it just means that life is busy and you should pray for me.

I hope my honesty does not offend anyone. I just do not want you thinking that I have become a slacker in my blogging efforts.

I want to invite you to visit my personal blog, because there might be days where that is my only blog post for the day.

Thanks for listening and letting me be honest with you about what is on my heart!!

Vacation Options

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Here is a great meeting summary to help you get back on plan after this weekend. This meeting summary is from my meeting on June 28, 2011.

Don't let a week-long vacation turn into a six-month-long vacation from weight-loss.

Watch out! There's a threat that can wreak havoc on your weight-loss plans. It's called Vacation Amnesia, and strikes when you take a break from work and forget about your weight-loss plans. The symptoms — abandonment of efforts, loss of motivation — can be contracted during any part of life, not just during vacation. They can creep into periods of stress, happiness, or even boredom. But they don't have to be fatal. Follow the 4-step "Avoid Vacation Amnesia" plan, and you'll come away from the scare still feeling good about the progress you're making toward your weight goals.

STEP 1: Choose Your Option
When you know that a difficult weight-loss situation (like a vacation) is approaching, choose whether you want to come out of it having lost weight, maintained the weight you've already lost, or having relaxed a little bit and maybe even gained. Knowing ahead of time what you want the outcome of your efforts to be will help you set up a plan of attack.

Option 1- go on vacation prepared to stay on plan completely earning and expecting a loss when you return

Option 2- for the most part stay on plan, but indulge in things that you normally wouldn’t by following the 80/20 rule; expect to somewhat maintain- ok with a slight gain or loss

Option 3- seriously its vacation my one chance to have a great time all year- completely go off plan eat whatever I want and COMPLETELY EXPECT A GAIN WHEN I GET BACK

*******the following option is not a good option*****

Select Option # 3 but get upset with what the scale says when I get back

STEP 2: Determine Strategies
Consider what aspects of your upcoming vacation might make it difficult for you to stick with the Winning Outcome you set during Step 1? How will you manage offers of food and snacks? How will you eat out in restaurants? Will you be able to get online where you're going? How will you exercise?

STEP 3: Gather the Necessary Tools
Before you go away, you may find it easier to make a list of the things you'll need to pack; things that will make it easier for you to stay on track. Besides your undies pack what you will need in order to help you stay on plan while you are away.

For example, what things will you need for your work-out? Do you have favorite healthy snacks that might be difficult to find where you're going? Are you prepared to track your PointsPlus™ values even while you're away from home, by logging in to Weight Watchers mobile, using our app, or a paper tracker? Did you remember to pack your calculator and your companion guides?

STEP 4: Make a Post-Vacation Commitment
Vacation Amnesia can often linger for days or weeks after the actual vacation. Some people can feel like they fell so far off track while they were away, they might as well just keep eating a lot and start up again later. Decide before you go that no matter what happens, you'll pick up your efforts again the day you get back. Remember regardless of what happens on the scale the week you get back, it’s just midsummer. This is the point where you decide do I want to get this weight off or not? Think of all the damage you can do between now and the time school starts back if you give up on what you have worked so hard to accomplish!

Remember to honor your Pledge of Thin-dependence. Cross whatever body part needs the most work and recite this pledge aloud recommitting yourself to your weight loss efforts:

I pledge allegiance

to myself

in quest of my weight goal

and to the healthiness

for which it stands.

One body—

Under control—

Indisputably—

with confidence and new clothes for fall.

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful 

4th of July weekend.