Talking Turkey...

Hello all, from my new digs in Irving!

I had a really good week.  I had the blessing of having my mom and dad here for the week.  This is SUCH a blessing for me because they love dealing with the kids, and I am all for getting a break here and there.  I ended up creating a couple of really good meals during their visit, and I will share those with you a bit later on in the newsletter.  I shook whatever bug decided to bite me last week, and I am feeling MUCH MUCH better.  Don’t think it was the flu, but it was still yucky.  My dad ended up catching something similar while they were here, and he’s also feeling better.  I am still a bit tired though…but tired is definitely preferable to SORE!

Saturday, I did the Arbor Day Run, for the second time.  I had the pleasure of Adi’s company while doing this race.  Last year, the temperatures were in the 50’s, but this year was a completely different story.  I think when I left the house it was something like 38 degrees.  I had the whole thing planned, right down to my cute little green gloves.  I wore a running suit, so I was comfortable, but somewhere between the house and the race, I realized that I left the gloves at home.  BUMMER.  My hands were soooo cold.  The good thing was that about 1/3 of the way through the race, I really warmed up, so the cold hands weren’t that much of a problem!  I had fantastic company, as I said.  Adi---YOU ROCK.  We also met a mom and daughter doing the race as well.  That’s one of the things that I like about doing the 5K races—you always meet great people along the course.  Now the BEST part about this course? We could see where we were going without the aid of glowsticks, flashlights and reflective tape!  Still one of my favorite courses so far!

Well, as you know, offices moved to the Hidden Ridge location on Tuesday of this week.  Now I know why I can’t stand moving.  I really do travel light, but even so, I still managed to have 7 boxes of nothing to take with me to my new office.  How do we DO that??? In any case, I am pretty much settled in.  My badge works, and I can now park in the garage, and go about the building without having to buzz security each time I go in or out.  So nice!  I also calculated that I will be saving about 100 miles per week on the new car, and my toll bills will be cut in half (or eliminated completely if I avoid the toll roads).  Things will work out. They always do. 

This week, I was down another 1.2 pounds.  I am definitely on a downward trend again, and it feels great.  I found my new meeting location and didn’t get lost, and the group seems to be a good one.  Adi, my Richardson leader, recommended this meeting and said that I would be in good hands with Kelly, the leader here in Irving.  I guess things really DO tend to work out for the best.  I think this whole move is actually GIVING me motivation rather than sapping it!

This week, the meeting focused on—YOU GUESSED IT…Holiday eating and the strategies to help you remain on plan during those times of the year.

Your Thanksgiving Toolbox:

Staying in control and making healthy choices during holiday meals

Let’s Talk

• What are your must-have Thanksgiving Foods?
• What foods could you skip without feeling deprived?
• Which Filling Foods will you include?
• How much to you plan to eat? How often?
• How will you practice Mental Rehearsing to help you prepare?

This toolkit can help you organize and prepare for the day.  My answers were:

• Must haves for me are turkey, for sure.  Love it and look forward to it each year.  I also love the sweet potatoes
• I could skip rolls and dressing without feeling deprived
• Filling foods to incorporate…wow…there are so many.  Sweet potatoes, broccoli, and turkey are always incorporated into my holiday dining.  I make a broccoli casserole in the same vain as the traditional string bean casserole.  My version is made with the 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup and has about half the POINTS® than the traditional side.
• I plan to eat a normal breakfast that day, and treat the meal as I do any other.  I may also save my 35 extra POINTS® for any indulgences I may allow myself.  I also plan my meal in my e-Tools tracker before I sit down to dinner so that I have a ‘menu’ to follow, if you will.
• Mental Rehearsing, for me, is one of the most invaluable tools that we have in our arsenal.  You can put yourself into sticky situations and rehearse in your mind how you will act and what you will say in those. 

The Weight Watchers Weekly offered three strategies to help you during this time of the year.

Every family has its own holiday traditions but no matter how you celebrate, one thing’s for sure:  Meal routines go out the window.  When your regular eating pattern is disrupted, rely on your Weight Watchers program tools to stay on track.  The Filling Foods, Good Health Guidelines, and your weekly POINTS® Allowance to help you enjoy the holidays.

1. Focus on Filling Foods

Why?    So you have a good appetite (but aren’t ravenous) where your sit down to the holiday table, when you sit down to the holiday table, which will help you stay in control of your choices

How:     Eat regular meals; don’t skip or skimp to “save room” for a special-occasion meal (that’s where Strategy 3 comes in). If you do, you’re liable to be too hungry to put the brakes on what you eat; you might eat too much, too fast; or go for less-optimal choices.  Choose meals with a mix of Filling Foods; complex carbs like fruit, vegetables, whole grains; and protein, such as fat free cheese, lean meats, and fish.  They’ll deliver steady satisfaction.

2. Go for Good Health Guidelines

Why?    If there’s ever a time to be scrupulous about checking off those Good Health Guidelines boxes in your Tracker, this is it!  Doing so can help structure your day’s worth of eating and make it easier to skip over other, less-healthful options.  Then, you’re more likely to have eaten wisely and well at the end of the day.

How?    Plan ahead by filling in your Tracker with foods from the Good Health Guidelines before you eat.  Ideally, you can plan your entire menu for the day, but if that’s not possible, at least plan to, for example, drink a half-cup of fat-free milk at breakfast, bring a container of red-pepper strips to work for an afternoon snack, nosh on grapes as you prep for dinner.

3. Don’t Deprive Yourself

Why?    When you allow yourself treats, in moderation, the urge to stray off plan diminishes.  Lasting weight loss depends in part on being able to eat foods you love and to enjoy the occasions where food plays a central part.  In other words, when real life happens.

How?    You have two options: your weekly POINTS® Allowance and your activity POINTS® values.  For a big food event like Thanksgiving, you may want to reserve your entire weekly POINTS® Allowance, and stick to your target daily POINTS® Target the preceding days (employing Strategies 1 and 2 can make that easier). And earning activity POINTS® values will give you more to use on Thanksgiving. Just earn ‘em before you eat ‘em, and when in doubt, round down on the number earned.  Another holiday bonus of exercise: It gets you out of the house (and away from the kitchen), and helps improve your mood and lower stress.

Please ENJOY your holiday!!!  Today’s closing quote comes from the meeting room wall:

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey be plump

May your potatoes and gravy

Have nary a lump

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

-Anonymous

RECIPES

Elissa's Soon-to-be-Famous Chicken and Shrimp Stir Fry

As I said above, I wanted to share a couple of the wonderful dishes I concocted when my parents were here last week.  I always like to cook a few NICE dinners while they are here.  I told my mom about this incredible Asian market here in Carrollton (Super H Mart...) and how I billed it as the Central Market of Asian supermarkets.  I took them there this morning after we went for breakfast.  I knew they'd LOVE their selection and I knew I'd find some dinner inspiration here.

After roaming the aisles and scouring the produce section, and raiding the fresh fish section, this is what I came up with.  Enjoy...and because this is a stir-fry dish, feel free to make substitutions!  The best part is that this is such a healthy meal, and you can eat without guilt.  Please give this one a shot :)

Yield: 12 servings at a POINTS® Value of 7 (5 for approx 1 cup of stir-fry mixture and 2 for  ½ cup rice)

Prep Time: 10 minutes + chill time for marinating the chicken

Cook Time: 15 – 20 minutes

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

Protein:

1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks

1 pound shrimp, peeled, and deveined

Teriyaki sauce for marinating chicken; 1 gallon-sized zip-top plastic bag

Veggies:

1 large onion, cut into thin slices

1 bunch asparagus, fibrous ends removed, cut into 1" pieces

1 package fresh bamboo shoots, thinly sliced (or use 1 can of sliced bamboo shoots)

2 cups mung bean sprouts

6 heads baby bok choy, sliced into quarters (rinse well in a large bowl of cold water so that grit gets cleaned out)

1/2 pound oyster mushrooms

2 cups hot cooked brown jasmine rice

Stir-Fry Sauce:

1 cup water

1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp dark (Asian) sesame oil

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp ground red pepper (Cayenne)

1/4 freshly ground black pepper

1 (14 1/2 ounce) can fat free, less-sodium chicken broth

Instructions:

1. In a large zip top bag, place chicken and about 1/2 cup Teriyaki sauce. Seal bag and smoosh so that sauce and chicken are combined.  Marinate in refrigerator for at least an hour before you start the rest of the meal.

2. For sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the sauce ingredients listed above in the "stir-fry sauce section", stir with a whisk and set aside.

3. In a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat, place contents of zip top bag (both chicken and marinade) and cook until chicken is just done.  Drain, and set aside.  In same skillet, place a small amount of chicken broth and add shrimp.  Cover and steam over medium heat until shrimp are just done.  Set aside with chicken.

4.  In a very large nonstick skillet or wok, add about 1 teaspoon sesame oil and heat over medium high heat, until oil is smoking hot.  Add onion and cook until onions are translucent, about 5 - 7 minutes.  Add the asparagus pieces, cover, and cook until crisp-tender (about 10-12 minutes).  Uncover and add remaining veggies and stir-fry until veggies soften and bok-choy wilts and gets soft.

5. Add sauce to wok/skillet and bring to a boil over medium high heat.  Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens.  Serve over rice.

Pumpkin Yogurt Parfait

I stumbled across this new favorite of mine while reading the current issue of Weight Watchers Magazine.  This has become my new favorite go-to afternoon snack.  The possibilities are really endless here.  I made this with Greek yogurt earlier this week, and left off the wheat germ and nuts.  Still a great snack!

What I love about this snack is that it really keeps you satisfied through the afternoon.  The yogurt, if you use Greek, is high in protein, and pumpkin is rich in fiber. The combination is really fantastic and it tastes so good! 

Yield: 1 serving at a POINTS® Value of 2.5

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Level of Difficulty: INSANELY Easy

Ingredients:

1 (6-oz) cup nonfat vanilla yogurt OR [6 oz nonfat Greek yogurt (such as Fage Total), sweetened with Stevia and ½ tsp vanilla extract]

½ cup canned pure pumpkin

1 tbsp wheat germ

1 tbsp slivered almonds

Instructions:

Combine all in a medium bowl, and enjoy.

Pumpkin Pie with Graham-Cracker Crust

Cut down on fat with reduced-fat and fat-free ingredients; use egg whites instead of whole eggs.

Yield: 8 servings at a POINTS® Value of 3 per serving

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 65 minutes

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients:

3 oz reduced-fat cinnamon graham crackers, about 5 1/2 sheets  

1 Tbsp packed light brown sugar  

2 Tbsp butter, melted  

2 large egg white(s)  

1 large egg(s)  

1/2 cup(s) dark brown sugar  

1/4 tsp table salt  

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, or less to taste  

1 cup(s) canned pumpkin  

1/2 cup(s) fat-free evaporated milk  

1/4 cup(s) lite whipped topping   

Instructions:

Position rack in middle of oven. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Place graham crackers and light brown sugar in a food processor; process into crumbs (or smash into crumbs in a sealed plastic food bag with a rolling pin). Spoon crumbs into a small bowl; add melted butter and combine with fingers into a coarse meal. Distribute crumbs evenly on bottom and up sides of an ungreased 9-inch pie plate. Chill for 30 minutes before baking. Bake until crust starts to turn golden, about 8 to 10 minutes; remove from oven and let cool.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, using an electric mixer, whip egg whites until frothy; fold in egg, dark brown sugar, salt, pumpkin pie spice, canned pumpkin and evaporated milk. Beat pumpkin custard until smooth and pour into pie shell. Bake until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 45 to 55 minutes. Slice into 8 pieces, top each piece with 1/2 tablespoon of whipped topping and serve warm or at room temperature. Yields 1 slice per serving.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are wonderfully creamy when mashed and blended with fat-free Greek yogurt. It's a super-healthy side, loaded with vitamin A, beta-carotene and fiber.  Think beyond regular mashed potatoes and create a colorful addition to any dinner plate.

Yield: 8 (1/2 cup) servings at a POINTS® Value of 1 per serving

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 8 minutes

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

3 medium sweet potato(es), peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks (about 2 pounds)  

2 medium garlic clove(s), peeled  

1/2 cup(s) plain fat-free yogurt, Greek-variety recommended  

4 tsp sugar  

1/8 tsp table salt, or more to taste  

1/8 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste   

Instructions:

Place potatoes and garlic in a large saucepan; pour in enough water to cover potatoes. Set pan over high heat and bring to a boil; boil until potatoes are fork-tender, about 8 minutes.

Drain potatoes and garlic; transfer potatoes and garlic to a large bowl. Add yogurt and sugar to bowl; mash until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.

Metabolism and Other Things That Get You Going...

Hello all!

Well…it’s Friday, and it’s been a week.  I was hoping to get a run or two in with Coach Dwayne this week, but apparently mother nature had other plans.  Sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, I was slammed with a viral something or another that literally knocked me on my butt.  At first I thought it was the flu, but with the absence of a high fever, it probably wasn’t.  I was running a low-grade temp, and had chills, was tingly all over and for the capper? I felt like someone beat me up with a baseball bat.  I actually complained to Steve that our Tempur-Pedic mattress may need a pillow top.  He said I wasn’t making any sense, but my body actually HURT when I was lying in bed.  Not once did the thought enter my mind that I may be sick or something.  After all, stuff like this CAN’T happen during month-end close right?  WRONG!  I managed to survive the close process, but I also felt horrible.  I saw my GP on Wednesday afternoon, and she agreed that I had something, but didn’t prescribe me anything because there was nothing to treat.  Her words to me? Go home and continue taking good care of yourself.  I took this to mean that I should go home, put on the nightshirt and cow slipper-socks, make a cup of hot tea, and curl up on the couch with a pair of cats.  Couldn’t think of any better way to take care of myself than that! So, that’s what I did.  Even got a quick nap in.  Oh…did I mention that I DID get my deliverables turned in on time? Not that there was any doubt…

This morning, I actually felt a bit better, but I am still tired.  I took a day off to ensure that I feel better to face another week!  So glad to be among the ranks of the human again!  That little 72 hour bug was atrocious.

This week, I lost 2.4 pounds.  I have gotten rid of some baggage in my life that I so desperately needed to remove.  I think that I am both physically lighter AND mentally lighter as well.  I may have mentioned in a prior issuance that there was someone that had insisted on pointing out the fact that I am weak, self-absorbed, that no one really cares about this publication, and that they felt the need to contact her (instead of me) to let her know just how much of a joke I really am.  I am pleased to report that I have ended this toxic relationship, and I am doing great.  Believe me; no one needs that kind of stuff in their life.  No good for the blood pressure and no good for the person tiptoeing around wondering if what is posted or blogged about will start the next round of bashing and belittling.  Ugh!

I also decided that I am not going to let change get me down anymore.  Our department is officially moving to Irving from Richardson.  There are several high points to this move, including a somewhat closer commute (10-ish miles less each way) and the potential for greater visibility within the company…all good things.  The not-so-high-points? I will no longer have the comfort of the Monday noon meeting nor will I have the luxury of working out with Dwayne three times per week.  I know that they have a fitness center out there, and I will more than likely join the fitness center there.  Dwayne also said that he’s not leaving me high and dry either.  He will make sure that he provides me the workouts that I need so that I continue to succeed on my journey.  In addition, I am going to see if I can work out something with my supervisor where I may still be able to work with Dwayne for a couple of days a week.  Doesn’t hurt to ask! As I previously mentioned, the other not-so-high point is that I have to find another meeting.  Again, not life threatening, but I love my Monday group.  They ROCK!!!  I did, however,  find a Wednesday noon meeting that is pretty close to my new office provided that I can find it again! Irving tends to confuse me.

Tomorrow is the Arbor Day 2010 5K run.  I thought I may have more company along this run, but it appears that it’s only going to be Adi, my fearless Weight Watchers leader, and myself.  It’s all good, and I love this course.  Let’s just hope that they fixed the course so that the not-so-fast folks are not stopped at the light at Parker and Spring Creek again! We can only hope!

This week, the meeting topic dealt with metabolism.  What is metabolism, you may ask? The Webster’s definition is: the process by which your body burns calories for energy.  Below is a calorie-burning breakdown:

• 75% of calories burned go towards heart pumping and other vital organ functions
• 10% of calories burned go towards digestion
• 15% of calories burned go towards physical activity.

While everyone has a different rate of metabolism, it is possible to increase the rate by increasing physical activity, which will burn more calories, helping you shed weight faster. If such activity also increases strength, all the better: As you lose weight, it will help preserve lean muscle mass.  Once you reach goal, you can build muscle mass.  The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, even when you are doing nothing. 

Today’s closing quote comes from the meeting room wall:

Nothing will work unless you do.

-Maya Angelou, poet

RECIPES

Hash Brown Casserole with Bacon, Onions, and Cheese

I was looking for a lightened version of this amazing tried-and-true casserole that everyone makes.  Cooking Light had a great version.  My substitutions for this one: dried chives for the green onions (I had just run of scallions earlier in the week), Bac-O’s for the bacon (again…none in the house) and light sour cream for the fat free, because I don’t care for fat free products. I also didn’t chill this one overnight.  It came out fine.  I also made ½ servings, which was PLENTY for a side dish, so the POINTS® are cut in half.  Although, if you do decide to use this as a main dish, 6 POINTS® is not bad!

Though filling enough as a main dish, you can also serve smaller portions of this creamy, cheesy casserole as a tasty side to scrambled eggs. We enjoyed the way the Classic Melts cheese blend melted over the casserole; substitute cheddar cheese if you can't find this product.

Yield: 6 (1-cup) servings at POINTS® Value of 6 per serving

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 60 minutes + chill time

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

 6  bacon slices

 1  cup  chopped onion

 2  garlic cloves, minced

 1  (32-ounce) package frozen Southern-style hash brown potatoes

 1  cup  (4 ounces) preshredded Classic Melts Four Cheese blend, divided

 1/2  cup  chopped green onions

 1/2  cup  fat-free sour cream

 1/2  teaspoon  salt

 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper

 1  (10.75-ounce) can condensed 30% reduced-sodium, 98% fat-free cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

 Cooking spray

Preparation

Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, and crumble. Discard drippings in pan. Add 1 cup onion and garlic to pan; cook for 5 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Stir in the potatoes; cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Combine crumbled bacon, 1/4 cup cheese, green onions, sour cream, salt, pepper, and soup in a large bowl. Add potato mixture; toss gently to combine. Spoon mixture into an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese. Cover with foil coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Remove casserole from refrigerator; let stand at room temperature 15 minutes. Bake casserole, covered, at 350º for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 30 minutes or until bubbly around edges and cheese begins to brown.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 293 (31% from fat); Fat: 10g (sat 4.8g,mono 3.3g,poly 0.7g); Protein: 12.2g;  Carbohydrate: 41.4g; Fiber:  4.7g;  Cholesterol: 31mg; Iron: 0.2mg; Sodium: 720mg;  Calcium: 214mg

Trick or Treat: Allow for Indulgences!

Hello all!

I hope this week was a good one for you and yours.  I have to say that the week has been a bit long.  I have been looking for something inspirational to write about this week, and I was coming up a bit short.  I will talk about what I began doing once the weather began to change early this week.  I started running with Coach D again.  The first couple of days were not pretty at all.  Maybe ½ mile tops.  Yesterday I began to feel like myself again. My pedometer indicated that the run was just about a mile.   I felt great, but my calves were a bit tight after.  The goal next week is to go a bit further than we did on Thursday, and to take it a bit further on each successive run.  This is sort of like my own personal “From Couch to 5K Plan”…lol!!!  I really want to see if I can run a 5K.  In my mind, I can, but my feet have other plans!!! 

I already regaled you all last week with my tale of adventure, bravery and stupidity.  I swear to you all that every word was true, and as we sat and rehashed the events of that night, I am actually considering doing it again next year.  Things I learned though:

• Get trail running shoes. My regular running shoes are now trashed, and didn’t provide enough stability or traction
• Use a headlight on my hat.  Had one that Sonya was going to let me use, but I decided against it. Wrong!
• Karen suggested Gummy Bears for energy…LOL…loved that one
• More glowsticks.  Apparently these are the latest fashion craze when roaming aimlessly through the woods at night!

 I also signed up for another 5K coming up on November 6^th in Plano.  This is the Arbor Day run that I did last year.  I think I may even end up with another couple of people doing it with me!  I learned that it’s okay to do races alone.  I would prefer to have company, but I did enjoy the Central Market Thrill of the Grill Run back in May, and that was one I did alone.  You always manage find someone to pace yourself against, and you have some good alone time. 

We have the costumes picked out for the kiddos for Halloween.  This year, Morgan is a Skeleton Bride, and Adam is going as a cheetah.  Usually, Morgan ends up either getting sick or getting in trouble and ends up not going out at all for Halloween, so we shall see what happens between now and Sunday.

In other news, Adam had a special job in school this week.  He was the flag holder.  When asked what a flag holder does, he replied, “I hold the flag.”  Makes sense.  He also learned the pledge of allegiance.   This was his job at school for the week.  They also recited the Pledge of Allegiance.  This is how he ended up saying it:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United SNAKES of America...and to the public, for which it stands, one nation, under G-d...invisible...with liberty and justice for all. It was close...and very cute.

Speaking of cute, I actually had the privilege of attending his Halloween parade at his daycare this afternoon.  Below is the little cheetah in action. The second picture is Adam doing what he does best…EAT.  They decorated cupcakes with frosting and colored sprinkles.  He really had a good time this afternoon.  I am glad I had the opportunity to be there.

This week’s meeting topic dealt with allowing yourself the occasional indulgence, without going overboard. 

Some ideas to help you stay on plan:

• Indulge, in moderation.  One small candy bar is fine; three or four you might regret.
• Make sure you are hungry, not just tired or bored, when you head to the kitchen (H.A.L.T. = Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired…assess before you dive in!)
• Stay the course!  If you do snarf one too many pieces of candy corn, stop, track and move on.  Don’t ditch your plan the rest of the day.  That would be truly scary!

Here are some ideas on a few favorites that have low POINTS® Values:

1 regular Charm’s Blow Pop = 1 POINT®

2 Werther’s Original Hard Candies = 1 POINT®

4 small Tootsie Rolls = 1 POINT®

Some other ideas on how to handle this time of year.  The Weight Watchers Weekly offers these three options that you can choose from.

SAMPLE

Track your treats: If you want to enjoy something, go ahead—but decide ahead of time what you’ll eat and when, make sure you know how many POINTS® to allow for, and then stick with your plan.

Cash in your allowance – as in your weekly POINTS® Allowance. Again, make sure to mind what you munch by tracking it all

Indulge in moderation. Mini candy bars typically run about 2 POINTS®, so even if they’re small, they can tip you over your allowance if you’re not careful.

Sweat off your sweets – or at least walk them off – by upping your activity. For instance, a long walk or run might earn you the activity POINTS® you need to cover that mini candy bar.

Don’t hide the evidence.  Whatever you opt to eat, leave the wrapper in plain sight as a reminder.  That way you’ll be less tempted to have “just one more.”

SUBSTITUTE

Lay in plan-friendly goodies.  There are plenty of sweet-tooth-satisfiers to choose from, like sugar-free pudding or Jell-O cups, meringue cookies, and light hot chocolate.

Make light of some classics.  Love cupcakes and muffins? Use applesauce or pureed pumpkin in place of butter or oil.  Or stir berries or finely diced apples or pears into batter to add fiber (and drive down POINTS® values); frost baked treats with light whipped topping (tinted with a drop or two of food coloring) instead of icing.

Surf for treats with low POINTS® values. Go to WeightWatchers.com and search for such Halloween delights as “Chocolate Halloween Cupcakes,” “Cranberry Pumpkin Bars,” and “Popcorn Brittle”.

SKIP

Stay ahead of hunger. Up your usual quotient of Filling Foods so you’re not as tempted by sweets.

Avoid temptation. Don’t buy candy to hand out till the day of Halloween, or keep your supply at a friend’s house.

Keep your mouth busy.  Going out with the kids? Chew sugarless gum or bring along a thermos of low-cal hot chocolate to sip on.

Axe the extras.  Donate leftovers to a food pantry, have your partner take it to work, bring it in to your office (if you do that, put it out of sight, not near your desk).

Disappear!  If you don’t have kids or yours are beyond the trick-or-treating stage, make dinner plans with a friend for Halloween night: That way you won’t have to buy candy at all!

 “Halloween is the first car

on the candy train to Easter”

~ author unknown

 

RECIPES

Dark and Creamy Fudge

Enjoy this lusciously smooth treat for Halloween – the salt plays up the rich flavor

Yield: 32 servings at POINTS® Value of 2 per serving

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

10 oz. bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

1 (14 oz) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Pinch + scant 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt

Instructions:

Line 8-inch square baking pan with plastic wrap, leaving 2-inch overhang.  Smooth out any wrinkles.

Combine chocolate, condensed milk, vanilla, and pinch salt in large heavy saucepan.  Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium-low heat, until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth, about 5 minutes.  Transfer fudge to prepared pan; spread evenly with rubber spatula.  Let cool.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.

Uncover fudge; remove from pan by lifting edges of plastic wrap.  Invert fudge onto cutting board; discard plastic wrap.  Cut fudge into 8 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 8 pieces.  To serve, bring the fudge to room temperature.  Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/2 tsp. salt.  Yields 2 pieces per serving.

Oh, say can you see...the forest for the trees???

Hello all!

I want you guys to read the disclaimer/information for the race that we ended up doing on Saturday night.  Yes, you heard that correctly. S-A-TUR-DAY-NIGHT!  I know…what the heck was I thinking…

Los Chupacabras de DFW 10K Nighttime Trail Run

About This Event:

Start 9PM and Finish in the same spot on Oct 16 at Little Pete’s on Lake Grapevine. Runners will enjoy a well supported chip timed race through the woods and dirt trails of Murrel Park. There will be at least one water stop supplied with HEB Quench and Spring Water on trails marked with directional arrows and glowsticks. After finishing cool down at the finish area with cold beverages runners can mosey into Little Pete’s for burgers and beer. Salad and veggie option for those who desire it. This is a fun run so there will be no awards. If we are over 300 entrants, we will do a wave start with faster runners going out first.

The trail- this is not a run for beginners.  The trails are dark with many rocks and opportunities for falling, twisted ankles, scrapes, and bruises.  We will use glow sticks to mark the course but paying attention is critical.  This is much different than running on the road at night much less during the day.  You will need a good quality headlamp and/or flashlight(s).  If you plan to run fast be alert.  It is very easy to run through a well marked turn at night running slowly much less running a sub 7 min mile.  YOU MUST PAY ATTENTION OR YOU WILL RUN OFF COURSE

The disclaimer you read is an actual disclaimer.  We were insane enough to actually attempt this event on the 16th.

I have Brenda Lawson to thank for twisting our respective arms into doing this crazy event.  The way that this was described was a night time trail run, on a single-track mountain biking trail…lit by glow sticks, chalk and some reflective tape (and that was a stretch…).  Flashlights and headlamps were encouraged.  They should have said REQUIRED. 

We should have had an inkling of what we were in for when we were pulling into Murrell Park for this race.  We had to drive along a very narrow two-lane road…even my high-beams didn’t do much to dispel the darkness.  We almost missed the turn, and finally found where the race was being held.  Did I mention that there were no street lights of any kind out here? Kind of reminded me of the place that we used to go camping when I lived in Florida.  Just this deserted area.  This particular park, however, was out on a finger of Lake Grapevine.  Still…very black…anyway…we found a place to park, and proceeded to tell each other how crazy we are for even attempting this particular shenanigan.  You had to see how some of these people were dressed.  It was like they were going to do some extreme obstacle course or something…oh wait we were.  They had glo-sticks worn as bracelets, necklaces and/or anklets, headlights strapped to foreheads and/or hat bills, flashing  lights worn around the neck.  One guy even added antennas to his headlamp as a fashion statement.  Flashlights. Now fashion-forward.  Too funny!

We got there in time for the pre-race announcements and the PA system kept cutting out on the organizer.  He ended up having to speak loudly over the crowd.  If the shaky PA system wasn’t bad enough, the generator also ended up going out, so the lighting they erected also went dark.  Without a PA system, and a working mike, they needed someone to start everyone out to sing the Star Spangled Banner.  I guess the people they hired wouldn’t do it without a proper sound system or something…in any case, he was looking for volunteers and all of a sudden, I started belting out…Oh, Say Can You See….and proceeded to lead the motley-looking mob in singing our National Anthem.  Let’s put it this way…Mariah Carey I am not, but I also wasn’t Roseanne Barr.  I was actually applauded for my efforts.  LOL…it was pretty funny.  Okay…with the finishing up of the anthem, the guide bikers led us to the trail head, and bid us good luck.  Did I mention how DARK this was?  So, we make it to the trail (which was maybe 18 inches wide at its widest…) and almost immediately we were passed by the insane runners and we proceed to bring up the rear.  I honestly don’t know HOW the ones that decided to run did so without busting their butts on all the hazards on the trail.  The first 10-15 minutes of our conversations with each other was pitted with interjections of “Hole!, Ditch on your left…Rock! Root! Step Down…Step Up…Don’t go near there…and my favorite…CLIFF!!!”  No lie…I didn’t know HOW we were going to finish this thing.  Sonya thought ahead and brought a sports watch that she set to go off at 19 minutes so we could gauge our progress.  After about 30 minutes or so, I asked how we were doing, and she checked her watch and realized that it kept stopping.  Needless to say, we did hit our first mile, but it was done in 22 minutes.  We gave up any hopes of finishing in the allotted time, so we just trudged on and aimed to finish. Period.

The glow sticks and reflective trail tape were aplenty for the first mile or so, then it seemed like it was every runner…er…um…hiker…was for him or herself.  We took a couple of wrong turns, but managed to stay on the course.  I was convinced that someone played with the mile markers, because it took FOREVER to go from marker to marker.  We welcomed the hydration stations (although not once did we see the stated first aid kits--not that we needed them!).  We had no sense of direction, and after half way through the course, even if we wanted to turn around, we couldn’t because we had no earthly idea how to get back.  Did I mention how DARK and scary the trail was???  We did see some neat things, like a little screech owl, and heard footsteps of some wild beasties off somewhere to our left.  A chupacabra maybe? Who knew!  Sometime between mile 2 and mile 3 we came to what seemed like a cliff that was fairly steep and three of us actually went down on our tushies to avoid falling or slipping. This was pretty much par for the course.  Some of the time we used trees as support when going down a steep downslope.  Roots, rocks, ditches, steep inclines, steep downslopes, wooden rickety bridges, and the occasional pitter-patter of some animal feet…Oy!!!

Well…one of our walking buddies suggested that next year we take Geritol and wear compression socks and massaging shorts (whatever those may be…).  Not sure what that meant, but it was simply hysterical.  That late at night (we didn’t finish until well after 11:30…),  and as tired as we were? We laughed so hard at that one! We all ended up finishing dead last…so much so that by the time we got to the last hydration station, no one was there to man it! All the Gatorade and water you wanted.  We ended up finishing this seemingly endless hike through the nighttime wilderness in a respectable 2 ½ hours.  OMG!!! We were totally spent.  We were SO last, that the burger and beer fest we paid for as part of our race ticket was relegated to two sorry burger patties swimming in some sort of liquid and I think 3 bone dry chicken breasts, one bun and some salad scraps.

Karen is already talking about doing this next year.  I think she’s crazy.  We actually drove by the course today. I wanted to show my husband how crazy we were to do this thing in the first place.  It was even scary and desolate in the daytime.

This adventure, no matter how hard we thought it was, and how badly we all ached afterward, was probably just the thing I needed to get me out of my funk. 

I actually came up with another way to recommit myself (and hubby and another good friend) to our respective journeys.  I wrote up a pact, and printed it off on some official –looking stationery and it said basically this:

This agreement will certify that we:

Promise to recommit, with a newfound enthusiasm, to our goals of:

Losing weight

Exercising regularly

Tracking our food and beverage intake on a daily basis

We also commit to being there to support each other in our efforts, thus re-establishing our accountability to the plan and to each other.

We further agree to check in on each other to make sure that we are on track and are doing what we should be doing.

I signed it, my hubby signed it, and a really good friend of mine who is going through something similar also signed it.  We each have a copy to remind us of what we need to do, and we will keep each other motivated. 

As you all know, last week was pretty bad for me.  Just a fact, pure and simple.  Well, when my blog finally got auto-fed over to my Facebook page last week (I always post a link first, and the blog import lags somewhat behind), I was met by some very biting comments by someone I consider a friend. She proceeded to tell me to snap out of it, that I was so self-absorbed and that she never realized how weak I was. She went on to say that I needed constant validation and that I was not the person she knew back in the day.  Let me say this about that.  Facebook is one of the few outlets that I use as a form of release.  I blog, put out a weekly newsletter and I keep a journal.  These activities help me relieve stress and allow me to vent.  If you can’t vent to your friends, or rely on them to lift you up when you are down, who can you rely on?  I am not fishing for compliments, nor am I seeking validation for who I am or what I stand for.  I am not self-absorbed, and I am DEFINITELY not weak.  I had a bad week. That’s all it was. I am over it, and I have officially started that new chapter.  I do thank those of you who did comment on my blog and were there for me during that speed bump along the journey.  The kind words were very much appreciated and taken to heart.  The harsh comments were read and contemplated as well.  In the end, we live in a society of freedom of speech, so I guess I have to respect that.  I may not agree with it, but you have to respect it.  Moving on to other chapters…

Now…speaking of new chapters, Sunday was a doozie.  My son decided to do a stage-dive of sorts off of the foot stool and proceeded to land and his forehead hit the corner of the coffee table.  Blood everywhere. I tried to rush Steve to the ER, but got a bit flustered, forgot where my wallet was, couldn’t find my keys, and forgot how to start my car.  I ended up sitting in the back holding a compress to Adam's head while Steve drove us to the hospital.   I took the car back home and got Morgan taken care of for dinner.  He called when they were done.  Crash Bandicoot is shown below.  No stitches required--just some adhesive and some steri-strips.  He was totally fine.  When we got ready to check out, he was flirting with the nurses, trying to get them to turn on Netflix from their computers so he could watch Caillou.  It was too funny. 

Below is a picture that Steve snapped in the ER, after Adam was put back together again.  Gotta love those steri-strips.  Adam refused to let us cut the hospital bracelet off his little wrist this morning.  It was too funny. 

I was talking to my dad about this whole ordeal, and told him that I didn’t have any of the occupational hazards of owning a boy in my mommy handbook.  He told me that all boys need marks.  They are like badges of honor, he told me.  Adam is wearing his proudly--both the hospital bracelet and the gash!  Apparently raising boys is a learn as you go type thing!  Love my dad. Maybe we will start a new trend—Hospital Bandz…taking a clue from Silly Bandz…

And THAT was my weekend.  If that wasn’t a big enough jolt to the nervous system, I don’t know what is!  On to bigger (and DEFINITELY better) things!  Oh…after all that? I actually lost .8 this week!!!!  So, sometimes a shift of focus can help move you in a positive direction. 

The meeting topic this week dealt with successes and how we deal with them.  There is a great article on the Weight Watchers Website that deals with successes and how to celebrate.  If you have e-tools, check it out.  It's under 'meeting topic of the week' on the home page.

• Take a moment of silence to recognize your accomplishments
• Do a victory dance!
• Sing a little song…establish your theme song, if you will! This can also serve as an anchor!
• Give yourself a gold star – even we adults enjoy this simple pleasure.  It can be very encouraging to see a flurry of gold stars up on your fridge!
• Keep a ‘good things’ list.  Things that you are doing better now that you are achieving successes
• Share it with someone.  Just like we need venting for bad news or stress, success venting is good too!

This is what our Weight Watchers Weekly had to say…

Friends can have a huge influence on our behavior and attitudes.  If you nurture your relationships the right way, you’ll find they pay positive dividends by helping you make good choices, lose weight, and live more healthfully.

Where to turn for these valuable connections? Old friends who know you well. Co-workers who may have lost weight could be good role models.  Neighbors with whom you can schedule a joint workout or morning walk.  And last but not least: your meeting.  If you welcome a new member and share tips and advice, you’ll be paying it forward and helping you both succeed.

Also, group support can be especially valuable when you are going through a challenging time.  You can see how others overcame their obstacles and continued on their journey.  Meetings provide an excellent support system.  I love mine!

I leave you with an oldie, but a goodie…

 “Success is a journey, not a destination”

~ Ben Sweetland

PRODUCT DU JOUR

This is soooo exciting!  These guys just released an all-natural frozen breakfast sandwich that comes in at 2 POINTS® per sandwich.  They are 150 calories, 2 grams of fat and 7 grams of fiber per sandwich.  This is great for those times when you are on the run and need to grab something quick, yet nutritious.  Right now they are running a promotion that gets you $5 off your next Vita purchase online when you buy a box of the sandwiches.

RECIPES

15-Minute Vegetarian Chili

Stock up on canned beans, corn and tomatoes for super-fast, one-pot meals.

Yield: 4 servings at POINTS® Value of 6 per serving

Prep Time: 7 minutes

Cooking Time: 8 minutes

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

1 tsp canola oil  

1 medium garlic clove(s), minced  

14 1/2 oz stewed tomatoes  

15 oz canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained  

15 1/4 oz canned yellow corn, drained  

15 oz canned tomato sauce  

1 Tbsp chili powder  

1/2 tsp dried oregano  

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes  

1/4 cup(s) dehydrated onion flakes  

1/4 tsp black pepper  

4 Tbsp low-fat shredded cheddar cheese, sharp-variety 

Instructions:

Heat oil in a large, nonstick, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add garlic; cook, stirring frequently, until aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, beans, corn, tomato sauce, chili powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, onion and pepper; stir well.

Increase heat to high and bring chili to a boil; cook, stirring frequently, until chili is thick and flavors are concentrated, about 5 minutes. Spoon into serving bowls and sprinkle with cheese. Yields about 1 1/4 cups chili and 1 tablespoon cheese per serving.

Notes:
Use a heavy pot or the chili can burn easily. If it starts to stick to the pan, reduce the heat and stir constantly.