One Year Anniversary with Weight Watchers

This past Wednesday was my one year anniversary with Weight Watchers. I wanted to celebrate, so Jon suggested that we go out for dinner. I thought it was funny that we would be celebrating my weight loss by eating more food :). We went around in circle and ultimately we could not agree on what we wanted to do to celebrate. I told Jon that dinner at home would be fine. I came home from work at 5pm and to my surprise to Jon had prepared everything we needed to cook Chinese food!! He is the best!! We cooked the Chinese food, which took a while. It was so worth it though. Anytime that I get to spend with Jon makes me happy and this was not exception. The food was great!! After dinner we watch an episode of CSI and then later the World Series. It was the perfect celebration dinner/evening.

At the beginning of November I am going to get my wedding ring resized and I am so excited. My fingers have thinned out so much that I am now wearing my ring on my middle finger. I cannot believe how much has changed in just one year. I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to be on a program like Weight Watchers. The journey is not over, but just beginning. I have never lived life as a healthy individual and I am so excited to start!

French Toast

French Toast

Ingredients
1/3 cup fat-free skim milk
1 egg
2 egg whites
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp table salt
cooking spray
4 slices Low-Cal bread

Instructions
In a wide, shallow bowl, beat together milk, egg, egg whites, vanilla and salt.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Dip bread, one piece at a time, into egg mixture; turn to coat both sides. Cook bread in a single layer, flipping once, until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.

Yields 2 pieces French toast per serving.

5 pointsplus+, 3 points

For Recipe Review, click here.

Crockpot BBQ Chicken

Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Source, "nyattitude"

Ingredients
1 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 cup canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground red pepper

Instructions
Place all ingredients except chicken in a crock pot. Stir until mixed. Add the chicken, coat well with the sauce.
Cover and cook on high 3-4 hours or low 7-8 hours until chicken in fully cooked.
Remove chicken and place it in a bowl. Shred each piece using 2 forks. Return chicken to the crock put, mix well with the sauce.

Serves 4; POINTS 5

NOTES : Per serving (1/2 cup): 149 cal, 1g fat, 0.5 fiber

Healthy Guidelines Part 2

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on October 27, 2009.

We finished up our good healthy guidelines.

Here is a quick review:

Liquids
The Guideline – 6 8-oz Glasses per day
What Counts – All liquids – except alcoholic beverages – best choice is still water
Why they're important – Keep you hydrated. Needed for temperature regulation & proper function of body cells, tissues and organs
Best Tips for getting them: use mix ins…there are tons of varieties at the stores to choose from, always carry a water bottle with you- keep spares at work and in your car

Healthy Oils
The Guideline – 2 tsp. per day
What Counts – Olive, canola, safflower, sunflower, or flaxseed. Avoid saturated & Trans fats
Why they're important. – Contain vitamin E & essential fatty acids. May help lower risk for heart disease & stroke. Essential for proper body & brain function. Help absorption of A, D, E, & K.

Vitamin Mineral Supplement
The Guideline –1 per day
What Counts – any supplement that contains no more than 100% of RDA for vitamins & minerals
Why they're important. - Ensures that your nutritional needs are covered and helps to keep your metabolism functioning properly
Best Tip: Try a children’s vitamin to find one that is gentler to your stomach. They have popsicles, gumballs, gummies, suckers, oh and you can’t forget the Flintstones

Activity
The Guideline – At least 30 minutes a day most days of the week
What Counts – All activity counts, including gardening & housework
Why they're important- Keeps you healthy & fit while you lose. Helps keep weight off once you’ve lost it. Helps prevent the excess skin flab that people get when they lose weight without exercising
Best tips: Start slow & build up. Mix it up. Find something that makes you happy and you have fun doing.

Sugar & Alcohol
The Guidelines: Limit your intake – Women no more than 1 alcoholic beverage a day – men no more than 2
What counts: Desserts, cakes, cookies, candy, sweetened beverages & alcohol
Why it’s important – Sugar & alcoholic beverages contain empty calories with few or no nutrients

GHG for liquids, oils, vitamins, activity & sugar can help you make healthier choices as you lose weight, AND helps you work toward shaping & overall healthy lifestyle that supports long-term weight maintenance. Knowledge & Strategies you gained today and last week can help you LIVE the guidelines.

Really try to focus on upping your intake of the GHG’s. If you’re getting in 3 now try to get in 4 this next week. If you are already a master of the GHG’s (by the way you rock) keep up the practice and remember how much of an impact it is having on your health.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala
By: Good Housekeeping

Ingredients
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tsp ginger root, grated, peeled
1 clove garlic clove, crushed with press
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes, from 15 oz can
1/2 cup fat-free half-and-half or light cream
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped, plus additional for garnish
2 Tbsp curry paste
1 1/4 pounds cooked chicken fillet, cut into 1-inch chunks

Instructions
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil on medium 1 minute. Add onion and cook 6 minutes, stirring frequently. Add ginger, garlic, and curry paste; cook 3 minutes longer.

Add chicken, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and cook 2 minutes or until no longer pink on the outside, stirring occasionally. Add tomato; cover and cook 3 to 4 minutes longer or until chicken just loses its pink color throughout.

Uncover and stir in half-and-half and cilantro. Spoon rice into 4 shallow bowls; top with chicken mixture and garnish with chopped cilantro.

Serve with rice.

Serves: 4; POINTS: 6 (rice not included)

Top 10 Signs You're a Trick or Treating Weight Watcher

So I thought that this was funny and just had to share it with all of you.

In the spirit of Halloween...
From Dotti's Newletter

Top 10 Signs You're a Trick or Treating Weight Watcher

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 journal taped to it.

Healthy Guidelines Part 1

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on October 20, 2009.

This week in the meeting we talked about how important our Good Healthy Guidelines are. We focused on the 4 GHG’s that are filling foods or green diamond foods. Remember Weight Watchers has you covered!

When you follow the MOMENTUM plan you are meeting many of your body’s needs when you get in your Good Healthy Guidelines. So here is a brief summary of benefits and rules.

Fruits and Vegetables

The Guideline: 5 a day (9 if you weigh over 350 pounds)
What Counts: all fruits and vegetables, and 100% juice
What’s a serving: 1 cup of leafy greens; ½ cup of most others
Why it is important: Rich source of vitamins and minerals, including antioxidants and helps reduce the risk of disease.
Member tip: Add spinach to your morning smoothies. You can’t taste it and it helps you sneak in an extra serving of veggies! Use v8 as the base for your soups….instant veggie servings!

Milk Products

The Guideline: 2 a day (3 if you’re nursing, a teen, over 50 or weigh over 250 pounds)
What Counts & What’s a serving: Milk or calcium fortified soy (1 cup), lattes (12 oz), cappuccinos (16 oz), WW smoothies, cottage cheese (2 cups), hard and semisoft cheese (1 ½ oz), ricotta (1/2 cup), and yogurt of pudding (1 cup)
Why it is important: Calcium and protein, zinc, potassium, phosphorous, riboflavin and added vitamin D. Strengthens bones, protects against colon cancer, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis.
Remember that it usually takes around 2 pts before you reach a FULL serving of dairy.

Lean Protein

The Guideline: 1-2 servings a day
What Counts: lean meats, skinless poultry, fish, beans, soy products, and lentils
What’s a serving: 1-2oz lean meats poultry/fish, 1 egg, ½ cup legumes
Why it is important: Provides essential amino acids that your body cannot produce on its own. These are needed to repair and build body tissue.

Whole Grains

The Guideline: substitute and choose whenever possible
What Counts: whole grain cereal, breads, pasta, rice or grains
What’s a serving: this varies- check you’re A-Z food list in your pocket guide- for many it is 1 cup
Why it is important: Packed with nutrients including fiber and is much more filling.

GHG can help you meet some of your body’s health needs by guiding you to healthier choices as you lose weight. Most GHG are also filling foods so they help keep you satisfied longer. The habit of eating GHG will serve you well for the long term

Here is that mnemonic to help you remember the Good Health Guidelines:
Oh (oil)
My (Milk)
Goodness (grains)
Look (liquids)
A (alcohol/added sugar)
Very (Vitamin)
Fabulous ( five fruits/veggies)
Awesome (Activity)
Program (Protein)