Don't Jump Out of the Boat

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on November 24, 2009.

I know this time of year is oh so hectic but just remember how important it is to stay in the boat! You haven’t worked all year long to lose weight….just to give it up now.

Over the last couple of weeks we have talked about how important it is to keep your goals in focus. We talked about trying to make new traditions by incorporating activity into your family holidays.

We practiced visualizing our plates and the food choices we are going to make on Thanksgiving day. Last night we talked about peer pressure from our friends and relatives. Some of these may sound familiar to you:
• “You already look so thin why are you trying to lose weight”
• “Just one bite won’t hurt you.”
• “But I made this especially for you…Just the way you like it!”
• “Now I can’t eat all this myself. Have some more.”
• “I know you packed your lunch but doesn’t Papacitas sound good?”

At least one of these phrases probably sounds familiar to you. Know that you will probably encounter someone over the holidays who might be trying to sabotage what you have worked so hard for. When this happens there are a couple of things to remember:
• Be assertive. - Make sure they understand how much it means to you and how important eating healthy is for you.
• Remember the helpful habits you have developed. - Remember all your techniques such as measuring out your food and being able to see some of the bottom of your plate.
• Positive Self Talk - Give yourself a peptalk…help yourself get through it. Remind your brain and tummy how many points are in each thing!
• Ask for Help! - If you truly think that you are not going to be able to control yourself over the holidays ask a family member for help. If it’s the “Oreo balls” on the counter that call to you, ask someone to keep them away. They are your family/friends and if you just ask them to be there for you they will.
• Practice to win! - Sit down and run through all the scenarios in your head. Where are you going to sit, what is on your plate, are you going back for seconds? Are you going to be active? Are you going to be a grazer?

Cranberry Apple Salad

Cranberry Apple Salad
By, Carolyn May

Ingredients
1 lb. fresh cranberries – chopped
2 apples – chopped
1 15-20 oz. can crushed pineapple – undrained
1 C. chopped celery
1 C. chopped pecans – (or to your liking)
1 boxes cherry jello (dry) – ( I use sugar free)
1 C. sugar – ( I use Splenda)

Instructions
Simply chop, dump, stir, and enjoy. This is much better made a couple of days ahead of time, but at least the night before. It will get juicier the longer it sits.

Thanksgiving Game Plan

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on November 17, 2009.

I hope that you are having an amazing week and are looking forward to this holiday season as much as I am. Remember Thanksgiving is just one day…with hard work and proper planning it doesn’t have to be a day of regret.

The Game Plan

Take some time before Thanksgiving to decide which foods you want to enjoy at your meal. It's important to do this before you sit down to eat.

Imagine yourself sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner. Visualize the spread and decide how you'll fill up your plate. Be sure to include your favorite items so that you don't feel deprived and overeat later. Make it a goal to be able to still see some of the bottom of your plate.

Here are some more tips for creating a strategy that will work.

Decide how much of a favorite food will satisfy you:
If you cannot conceive of eating just a small piece of Aunt Millie's famous pumpkin pie, cut out something else to account for the larger slice.

Select once-a-year foods:
Choose to eat dishes that are just served on Thanksgiving; avoid those that show up at every meal. After all, do you really want sweet potatoes topped with melted marshmallows plus an ordinary baked spud? Treat yourself with the dishes that are exclusively made for you on Thanksgiving.

Just say no:
Practice creative ways to say "no" in case you get pressured by others to take seconds (or thirds). Try moving or putting up the food after everyone is done eating. Cover the dishes with foil…this will help prevent you from going back and grazing.

There's always tomorrow:
If the meal is at your house, remember that there will be plenty of leftovers. If you won't be able to sleep knowing that there's half a pie in the kitchen, freeze leftovers immediately or give your guests doggie bags to take home. Invest in some of those cheap Tupperware containers so there won’t be any excuse for guests not to take home some leftovers.

Stop when you're full:
Push yourself away from the table when you've had enough. If you're not sitting within arm's length of the biscuits, you'll be less likely to overindulge. Really taste and enjoy your food. Be social eat slowly and talk with your family. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and really focus on the STOP REST AND ASSESS technique. Remember it takes approximately 20 min for your tummy to tell your brain that its full…..by that time you have probably already unbuttoned your pants!

All foods have benefits:
Many Thanksgiving foods are packed with nutrients. For example, pumpkin pie is loaded with vitamin A (important for proper vision) and beta-carotene (a potentially powerful antioxidant). Green bean casserole and stuffing contain lots of folic acid (a B vitamin linked to the prevention of birth defects and, possibly, heart disease). Don’t punish yourself for eating these foods.

Broaden your focus:
Make the holiday about more than just food. Focus on your friends and family and remember what you're thankful for, like wearing a smaller size, more comfortably crossing your legs or feeling more confident about yourself.

Chicken Tamale Casserole

Chicken Tamale Casserole
FROM: Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 2008

Ingredients
1 cup preshredded 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese, divided
1/3 cup fat-free milk
1/4 cup egg substitute
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
1 (8.5-ounce) box corn muffin mix (such as Martha White)
1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained
Cooking spray
1 (10-ounce) can red enchilada sauce (such as Old El Paso)
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. Combine 1/4 cup cheese and next 7 ingredients (through chiles) in a large bowl, stirring just until moist. Pour mixture into a 13 x 9–inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.

3. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until set. Pierce entire surface liberally with a fork; pour enchilada sauce over top. Top with chicken; sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until cheese melts. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Cut into 8 pieces; top each serving with 1 tablespoon sour cream.

Serves 6, Points 7

Lifetime

This is it the ultimate goal that I have been working towards over the last 13 months...Lifetime. This is what weight watchers calls it when you reach your goal and maintain your goal weight for 6 weeks. I did it!! I have graduate into my new life at my new weight. I still plan on attending my weight watchers meetings, but now I do not have to pay. God is so faithful!!

This is me this morning getting ready for the day.

Me and my big pants

Flowers from Janet, She is just amazing!! Aren't they pretty!!

This is me at my weigh-in!! I did it!! She's writing it down in my book. This is the last entry, because they gave me a new book now that I am lifetime!

This is at the end of my meeting, durning the time they give out awards. I received "the key to weight watchers". Linda decided to show off my big pants.

Picture time!! This is Anna and I. I would still be wearing those big pants if it wasn't for her. :) Thank you!

This is my friend Amanda. She is also my Tuesday weight watchers leader and 5K buddy. She brought me balloons and so much encouragement. Thank you!!

This is Karla and I. We are newer weight watchers buddies, but I look forward to the day that I can celebrate lifetime with her!!

This is Linda and I. Linda is my Monday weight watchers leader. If you need a recipe for anything this woman has it. She is such a great resource! Thank you for all of your support!!

This is me with my weight watchers leaders. Over the course of the 13 months I have been on weight watchers I actually had 5 leaders! These two are my favorite...don't tell.

My biggest supporter, my husband. I could not have done this without him. He gave my health and lifestyle to God in prayer long before I knew I needed help. Thank you for going to the source and the one that changes our hearts!!

Finally, me with the balloons Amanda gave me!!

Crockpot Cranberry Chicken

Crockpot Cranberry Chicken

Ingredients
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 cup cranberries, or frozen unthawed
1 1/2 pounds uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp packed light brown sugar
1 tsp mustard, dry
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch, blended with 2 T cold water

Instructions
In a 3 quart or larger electric slow cooker, combine onion, cranberries. Arrange chicken on top. In small bowl, mix catsup, sugar, mustard and vinegar and pour over chicken. Cover. Cook at low setting until chicken is very tender when pierced (5 1/2 to 6 1/2 hours)

Lift out chicken when done. Blend cornstarch mixture into cooking liquid. Increase cooker heat setting to high; cover and cook, stirring 2 or 3 times until sauce thickens (10 to 15 more minutes). Season to taste with salt, pour over chicken Makes 4 servings.

Serves: 4; POINTS: 5

Halloween and Fall Festival

What a fun weekend!! Saturday evening we had our annual Pumpkin Carving Costume Party!! You had to come up with a costume for under $10.00. It took Jon and I a very long time to decide what we were going to be for Halloween. You see I like to dress-up, but Jon does not. After suggesting about 50 different ideas, he finally agreed to dress up as Salt and Pepper (thanks Bobbi for the suggestion). We had so much fun at the party. We carved a mummy on a pumpkin and we tied for best pumpkin with another couple.

Then Sunday we welcomed in the month of Navember with the annual Fall Festival at the church. Sunday evening we were in charge of the Tic-Tac-Toe booth at Fall Festival. The kids had so much fun, more candy then they need. Some people even had trouble figuring out what we were supposed to be. It was great! I am already trying to come up with ideas of what we could be next year!