This week I actually used my no-weigh in pass, for the first time in the year and 3 months I have been back “On Plan” this go around (again, not another go around for me, this is my LAST time…). I had another crisis of motivation this week. I know I am doing everything right, but the spike I encountered after the Arbor Day Run has really been throwing me for a loop. I keep trying to remember the three keys to success that Coach Dwayne preaches…commitment, consistency and PATIENCE. I keep forgetting about the latter though.
I am enjoying the prospect of cooking Thanksgiving Dinner in my own house for the FIRST TIME since we moved to Texas Orlando
Thanksgiving for me is somewhat of a time for reflection and thinking about those things for which I am thankful. For me, I am truly thankful for my friends, my family, my health, and my job!
I am thankful for my friends and family because without them, I’d have no support system at all. Everyone has been so great in helping me achieve my goals and to lift me up when I faulter. I am thankful for my health, as my bloodwork is doing MUCH better than when I started with Weight Watchers and my overall state of well being is awesome. I feel better at 42 than I did at 32. I owe a debt of gratitude to both Weight Watchers and to Coach Dwayne for helping me keep on the path toward fitness and my ultimate weight goal! I guess I should be thankful to myself as well, for finally opening my eyes and realizing that something needed to be done. I realized over the last year and a quarter that you really do have to take care of yourself. We are given one body and one life. The most important thing we can do for ourselves is to take care of ourselves. What a precious gift health is.
We didn’t get here overnight, and we need to remember that we won’t get back to our goal weight overnight. I really need to make an effort to remember this and practice what I preach (sometimes I am bad in the patience department). I am human and I do slip up on occasion, but not once have Iost sight of what I need to do, or what I need to accomplish in order to get there. I remain focused on my efforts and want to be there for each of you so that if you need support, I can help! Trust me, we can ALL use a cheering section sometimes.
I enclosed three of my side dish recipes for you to use at your next Thanksgiving celebration or other holiday gathering. Wanted to show that eating healthfully doesn’t have to be boring!
In our meeting this week, we dealt with the emotional side of the holiday, or “Handling the Emotional Quotient”
> Be Assertive. Say no to seconds if you want!
> Practice the helpful habits (manage your environment, ask for help, etc…)
> Use positive self-talk
Week 3 of the 7-Day Challenge is to read something Weight Watchers for 10 minutes each day, and write down what you read. Bring back to the meeting. Examples include weekly materials, cookbooks, Weight Watchers Magazine, or even the Website.
I hope that each of you had a terrific Thanksgiving, and remember:
"Face your stuff….don’t stuff your face!"
-this was posted on the meeting room board! Loved this!
RECIPES:
Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Out of habit, every year I tend to just open a can of the jellied or whole-berry variety cranberry sauce. I really made an effort this year to look for healthful side dishes, and found this one on the Weight Watchers Website. I modified it to exclude the dried apricots, as I had none on hand.
Yield: 10 (1/4-cup) servings at a POINTS® Value of 1 Per Serving
Ingredients:
12 oz cranberries, fresh or frozen
½ cup dried apricot halves, chopped
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
½ cup water
¼ cup spreadable fruit, orange-flavor
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a medium pot. Cook over medium-high heat until cranberries have popped, about 10 minutes. Allow to cool and serve at room temperature. Yields about 1/4 cup per serving.
Lightened Broccoli Casserole
Yield: 6 servings at a POINTS® Value of 2 Per Serving (points verified on e-Tools)
Ingredients:
16 oz bag frozen broccoli cuts, thawed
1 can Campbell
½ cup French’s French Fried Onion Rings
Directions (not really rocket science here…it’s a snap!)
In a large bowl, combine broccoli and soup until mixed well. Sprinkle in onion rings and fold in. Spread mixture into 9” x 13” pan and smooth out top. Bake in 375 degree oven until heated through.
Candied Sweet Potatoes
This recipe was another great find, when faced with the calorie-laden side dish of Thanksgivings past. I wanted to keep the essence of the dish, yet find a calorie-friendly alternative. Again, Weight Watchers came through for me.
Yield: 4 (1 cup) servings at a POINTS® Value of 3 Per Serving
Ingredients:
2 large sweet potatoes, about 2 pounds, peeled, halved lengthwise and cut crosswise into 2-inch thick pieces
¼ cup orange juice
2 Tbsp packed light brown sugar
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp reduced-calorie margarine; melted
½ tsp table salt
Directions:
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.
