MIDWEEK MINUTES June 14, 2014

Midweek Minutes
June 14, 2014
Hello, Winners!
Happy Father's Day weekend to you all! It's all about Dad, Granddad, and the menfolk. Celebrate with them! Have you planned some healthy Father's Day foods? We know the men in our lives can benefit from healthy eating too. Father's Day seems to traditionally be a "grilling" holiday, so take advantage of some of the great veggies to grill...and make the day about Dad and not about food anyway, right?  If you're eating out, remember your "safe plate."

In between the "official holidays"...there are still so many eating out occasions in the summer, including vacations.  Did you know that while many people think that summer is a time for healthier eating, it really can be a worse eating time than the holiday season?  People go on vacations, have reunions, attend ballgames, and on and on. Routines are relaxed or changed, and that can create havoc with our program if we let it.

Are you putting your weight loss efforts on hold this summer because you think you have too many "special occasions" for eating out?  Have you skipped too many meetings because you think you can do this journey on your own, or you aren’t near a WW location? Bravo to you. I can't.  I need to go to the meetings.  Do you?  I’ve had workshops for school for the last two weeks, with one more to go...and I had to think ahead about how I wanted my food day to go.  Do you?  My routine has changed from school year to summer, and I have to rethink how to manage it all and still work my weight loss journey.  Are you?

I shall leave you with this thought.  You decide what you want out of your summer, your life and your health.  Weight Watchers can help.  You just have to want it...do you want it?  I do.  Hope to see you at your meeting this week! --Zig



Member Milestones

Total losses
SUPERIOR: –16.4 LBS.
HASTINGS: –22.7 LBS.

10 lb. star
Pam H. ( H )

35 lb. star
Crystal M. ( H )

40 lb. star
Amy S. ( H )

BIGGEST LOSER
Shirley G. ( S )
Kim S. ( H )



Losing For His Family

Derrick lost weight on a prior Weight Watchers program and on the PointsPlus® program.

Derrick, a husband and father of two, was nearly 300 pounds when he decided to Subscribe to Weight Watchers Online. Now he can’t believe he didn’t do it sooner.
The ‘a-ha’ moment In September 2010 I was under care of 3 doctors. When I went to see my cardiologist, I’d weighed in at more than 300 pounds. He said, “That’s it. We’re done. We’re not having these discussions anymore. You’re killing yourself. You need to lose weight.”

I’d lost a little bit of the weight on my own but was still really heavy. My wife was trying to lose a little bit of weight herself and said, “Let’s do Weight Watchers Online.” She thought it would be easy for us to track on our computers and phones. We also are pretty private people so we didn’t think meetings were for us. So we both subscribed and went out and bought a scale.

Not packing a lunch

I eat out for lunch every day. It’s not like me to pack a lunchbox, so I was skeptical that the Plan would work. But Weight Watchers Online taught me how I could still eat out as long as I was making smarter choices and using portion control. The biggest thing for me was not having to give up any of the foods I love. If I want Chinese food, I can have it. But I’ll get egg drop soup instead of an eggroll. If I want pizza, I can have it. I just won’t have five slices like I used to. Or we’ll get whole wheat crust or we’ll top it with loads of veggies.

Using eTools and the app I think Weight Watchers Online can easily fit in to anyone’s lifestyle. You can plug things in on your desktop at lunch or I can just use my iPhone. If I go out to dinner or if I’m at a friend’s house, I can just pull out my phone to see what the best choices would be.

If I’m using the app in the grocery store to calculate PointsPlus values, guys walking past me don’t know what I’m doing. They assume I’m texting. I didn’t really tell people I was using Weight Watchers Online until they started to notice the weight coming off. At first I was constantly looking up the PointsPlus values of food, but after a while it becomes second nature. And now my appetite is so much smaller than it was.

Slowly exercising

Before I subscribed to Weight Watchers Online, I considered golf exercise. You can be 400 pounds and play golf. And then I’d go off and have a glass of wine or a beer. I never put two and two together that you can actually eat a lot more if you start burning more calories. For the first few months I didn’t really exercise. To be honest, I kind of thought I was going to have a heart attack if I did. But once I started shedding some pounds I slowly started to walk and then jog. Today I run about 5 days a week.

Losing for the kids

I have two daughters and I want to be around for them. There are people around us dying from obesity-related conditions and I don’t want to be dead. I have a lot to live for. As they were growing up I remember they’d want to toss the softball around, but I wasn’t up for it.

The new Derrick Now my wife can’t keep up with me! She’ll say, “I don’t think you were this energetic 20 years ago!” I had lost the desire to be active. I was miserable without knowing I was miserable. Now I can’t stop moving. If I have downtime at work I’ll be doing dips and stretches.

And I’ve been loving going shopping. Right off the rack. I used to say, “I’m never getting into a size Large shirt. I’d always worn XL or XXL. Now some Larges are too big on me. I’m buying $250 jeans. I never would have thought I’d do something like that. But when you look good in your clothes, you’re happy to spend money on them. I restocked my whole closet and threw out all of my old clothes. It was like closing a door on that part of my life. I’m never going back there. Now it feels good to walk by a mirror. I look good and healthy.


ON SALE NOW!
 
  

MORE Sales!
Magazines—$1 off
Cookbooks—25% off
Discounted Products
Strawberry Delight Oatmeal (SKU 50033) – formerly $5.95, now $4.95
Kettle Corn Popcorn Crisps (SKU 11466) – formerly $4.95, now $3.50
Hazelnut Latte Smoothie (SKU 21035) – formerly $7.50, now $4.95
Lemon Chicken & Couscous (SKU 50034) – formerly $5.95, now $3.95
Cheesy Scrambled Eggs (SKU 50037) – formerly $5.95, now $3.95
Butter Pecan Granola Chips (SKU 30110) – formerly $4.95, now $3.95

Vacation Renovation

How to come back with great memories — and no regrets!
The very things that make vacations so wonderful — a relaxing vibe, beautiful new surroundings, feeling pampered — are often the same reasons some members say they fall off track. Toss in buffet breakfasts, tempting local delicacies, and lounging poolside with frozen cocktails and a steamy book, and maintaining the balance between restraint and indulgence becomes even harder! You'll discover in your meeting this week that with a little planning and preparation it doesn't have to be.
With Weight Watchers, you have 24/7 access to the tools that help you stay in control, you also have the flexibility to choose the best way to tap into that power when and where you need it. So you can go on holiday — anywhere — and easily bring Routines, like eat breakfast every day, that make staying on Plan a heck of a lot easier. If you want to check in while away, find a meeting near your destination. And really, who wants to work on their vacay? Download the Weight Watchers Mobile App for iOS and Android to make staying on Plan a cinch — so you can focus on two things: fun and sun.
What’s your vacation strategy?
Before you hit the road, hop a plane or board a cruise, take a little time to think about your vacation strategy. Would you be happy maintaining your weight or even gaining a pound or two? Or do you want to lose? Think about your last vacation. Is there anything you'd do differently? At your meeting this week, you'll share and discover tips and tricks for setting realistic expectations and meeting your goals.
Ideas to help you get started:
  1. Get real! This might not be the best time to focus on losing weight — and that’s OK! Decide whether you want to maintain or even allow yourself the flexibility to gain a little. Just make sure you're comfortable with your decision and you have a plan for getting back on track (if you need one).
  2. Take a break from tracking. Let's be honest — a strong margarita and a beautiful sunset can sink the best intentions. So why not give the Simply Filling technique a try? Instead of tracking PointsPlus® values you'll eat mostly Weight Watchers Power Foodsand use your weekly PointsPlus Allowance for “extras.”
  3. Pack a few Plan essentials. Stow a few small items that won't weigh you down, like your ActiveLink® monitor, a jump rope, workout clothes or activewear, and nonperishable Plan-friendly snacks. Also ask your Leader about Weight Watchers fitness DVDs and portable equipment sold in meeting rooms.
  4. Schedule active adventures. With a little research you can probably find many fun fitness opportunities. For example, you can earn activity PointsPlus values and explore your surroundings while on walking tours, hikes, and bike rides. Plan to hang out at the pool or beach? Call the concierge ahead of time to find out what type of water sports are available — like kayaking, volleyball and snorkeling (and which activities are included in your package).
  5. Book accommodations with a kitchen. Resorts with all-you-can-eat meal plans might seem like a bargain, but the temptation to maximize your value could easily lead to overeating and drinking. If you have the option, consider booking accommodations that have at least a basic kitchenette so you'll have more control over what you eat. And you'll probably end up with more PointsPlus values to play with for those times you choose to eat out.

Caught my eye on etools!  This must be new!




We are having a 12 week Ace Your Summer Challenge, to encourage you to attend your meetings through the summer and keep you on track.  Every week you attend you will receive a Bravo sticker for a booklet we give you.  At the end of every month, June, July, August, when you've got 4 stickers for that month, there is a discount on specific products.  But, better than that, at the end of the summer, when you have 10 of 12 stickers, you will receive a special charm, in the shape of a sun; only available for this Ace Your Summer Challenge.

It IS summer...and the summer WILL go by whether or not you are working the program...time does that, you know.  Will YOU invest time in becoming the BEST YOU that you can be, or will the summer just fly by?  See you at your meeting this and every week this summer!!!


Our Favorite Healthy Hotels

Lose weight on vacation? Why not? These hotels and resorts offer programs and perks that will leave you feeling blissfully relaxed and pampered – and maybe even a few pounds lighter.
Staying on Plan during your regularly-scheduled life is one thing – keeping your commitment to activity and healthy eating while on vacation can be quite another. There are so many excuses to leave your healthy habits at home: You want to try the local cuisine. You deserve to have a good time (and a few poolside cocktails). You don’t want to waste precious sightseeing time sweating in an outdated hotel gym.
Luckily, hotels and resorts across the country – and around the world – are making it incredibly easy for customers to unwind without completely undoing their eating and fitness lifestyle. We rounded up the most innovative programs and perks – choose the one that sounds best and then book your next guilt-free getaway!

Anywhere options:
These hotel chains have long boasted quality service and comfortable lodging. Now they’ve amped up their fitness offerings, as well.

Sheraton Hotels Too shy to find the hotel gym? Fit in a workout without leaving your room. Call up the front desk and order a complimentary “Workout in a bag” – which includes workout cards, a workout mat, foam rollers, a resistance band and a massage stick. Or access one of the 30-minute Video on Demand workouts developed by Core Performance at no charge.

Westin Hotels This chain has thought of everything. You can pre-book a room equipped with a treadmill, a stationary bike, dumbbells, fitness DVDs, resistance bands and stability balls. Outdoor types can join the “running concierge” on a complimentary guided jog through the city, along the beach or into rural landscapes. The runs are open to runners of all levels. Prefer to go solo? The hotel will provide a pocket-sized local running map so you can take off on your own. And just in case you forgot your workout gear, the hotel’s got you covered there, too: they’ve partnered with New Balance to lend athletic shoes (with disposable insoles) up to size 10.5 and fitness apparel from small to extra large to guests during their stay, at a fee. Let them know your shoe and clothing size, and your gear will be delivered to your room.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Book a stay at nearly any of their properties worldwide and you can pack a lighter bag: If you’re a loyalty club member (sign-up is free at www.fairmont.com/fpc), you get easy access to Adidas training gear including shorts, tees and sneakers. Can’t work out without your tunes? Borrow a pre-loaded Creative Zen mp3 player and get moving. Not a gym bunny? At most US properties, Fairmont offers free BMW bicycle cruisers for hotel guests who want to take to the road.

Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts Each of the nine resorts offers healthy menu items called Fit for You. Each menu option comes with impressive nutritional details and delicious names like Low Cholesterol Crunchy Grilled French Toast or Porcini-crusted New York Steak.

City-specific spots:
If your next vacation is in any of these locations, consider booking a stay at one of these fit-friendly establishments:
In Austin, TX: At Travaasa Austin Hotel you can tap into your inner cowgirl and take Mechanical Bull Fitness classes and two-step dancing classes, as well as sunrise and sunset horse rides.

In Maui: The Travaasa Hana (see breathtaking photo, top of page) offers Throw Net fishing, tai chi and martial arts conditioning classes.

In New York City: Stay at Le Parker Meridien and you can book time at the hotel’s basketball and racquetball courts. Their Gravity gym also offers a host of classes—from Zumba® to Gym Class, where you’ll be transported back to high school phys ed and work up a sweat by navigating obstacle courses and playing dodge ball!

At New York City's TRYP by Wyndham hotel, you can request one of two Fitness rooms outfitted with a treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike, an exercise mat, and mineral water to keep you hydrated.

In Las Vegas: Get skinny on the Strip! Discover your inner performance artist at The Bellagio by taking a JUKARI Fit to Flex class. Developed in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil and Reebok, this high-energy cardio workout uses a lightweight JUKARI Band to create flowing movement patterns that improve flexibility, balance, muscle endurance and coordination. And over at the ARIA, you can sign up for the Indoor Hike, which takes you through some of the most scenic and heart-rate-raising areas of the expansive CityCenter campus.

Riviera Nayarit, Mexico: Villa La Estancia has put a super healthy spin on traditional Mexican fare. Instead of greasy fried nachos topped with globs of cheese and refried beans, the five-star resort serves chips made of dehydrated tortillas topped with mashed sprouted black beans and macadamia “cheese” colored with zucchini blossom. Gourmet and good for you? There is no downside.

ON SALE IN THE MEETING ROOM NOW!
TWO MORE YUMMY RECIPES
                      

NEXT WEEK’S MEETING

Member Recipes

serves 8 ( 8 points +)
1 T. olive oil, divided
2 c thinly sliced yellow onion
¾ tsp. salt, divided
1 T. white wine vinegar
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 lbs. lean ( 93%) ground beef
½ c. shredded cheddar cheese
2 c. baby spinach leaves
4 hamburger buns ( 2 points, such as Healthy Life)
8 T. light mayonnaise

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tsp. oil; swirl to coat. Add onions and ¼ tsp salt.; cook 15 minutes or until golden brown. Add vinegar. Cook 1 minute, then remove from heat.

Combine garlic with beef. Form into 8 patties. Sprinkle patties with remaining salt.
Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tsp. oil. Cook burgers for 3 minutes on each side or until desired doneness. Top with shredded cheese. Cook 1 minute or until cheese melts.

Place ¼ c. spinach leaves on the bottom of each bun. Top with patty, then onions. Spread mayo on top half of bun and place on top of burgers.




Weight Watchers 1-4 Points Plus Drunk Chicken
6 Garlic Cloves,
Minced 1 Tablespoon Dried Italian Spices
Juice Of 2 Fresh Limes
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Salt And Pepper To Taste
1 Whole 3-4 Pound Chicken
1 Can Of Budweiser At Room Temperature
In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, Italian spices, lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper into a paste.
Remove the giblets from your chicken, rinse well and pat dry. Coat your entire chicken with the paste.
Cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Prepare your grill.
Open your can of Budweiser and make two more holes in the top; pour out half. Place your chicken on top of the beer can and carefully place it on the grill. Grill for 1-2 hours, adding charcoal to maintain the temperature until the internal temperature is 180 degrees. Remove from the grill and let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes.  
Makes The Following Weight Watcher Points Plus Servings:
Breast Meat Without Skin And No Bone, 3 Ounces Is 3 Points Plus
Breast Meat With Skin And No Bone, 3 Ounces Is 4 Points Plus
Drumstick, Without Skin And With Bone, 1 1/2 Ounces Is 1 Points Plus
Drumstick, With Skin And Bone, 1 1/2 Ounces Is 2 Points Plus
Jasmine, Jackie (2011-10-18). Weight Watcher Diva 0-5 Weight Watchers Points Plus Barbecue, Grilling & Smoker Recipes (Kindle Locations 307-313). My Weight Watcher Cookbooks Publishing. Kindle Edition.




Terriyaki Grilled Chicken
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts ( 4 oz. each)
3/4 c. pineapple juice ( I used the juice from a 20 oz. can of pineapples)
3/4 c. fat-free chicken broth
1/2 c. low sodium soy sauce

Place all ingredients in a large ziplock bag. Seal and turn to coat. Refrigerate several hours or overnight.
Spray a grill or grill pan with cooking spray. Cook until chicken is no longer pink.
6 sevings
PointsPlus® Value: 4




Weight Watchers 5 Points Plus Rubbed Rib-Eyes
1 Tablespoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Pepper
1 Tablespoon Dried Italian Seasoning Blend
1 Teaspoon Paprika
1 Garlic Clove, Minced
4 Bone-In Rib-Eye Steaks, Trimmed Of Fat 
In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, Italian seasonings, paprika and garlic, mix well.
Rub this blend on both sides of your rib-eye steaks. Let sit at room temperature 20 minutes. Prepare your grill.
Sear your steaks on the high heat section of your grill 3 minutes each side.
Move steaks to the outward side of your grill 2 minutes each side for perfect medium rare. 
4 Ounce Serving Is 5 Weight Watchers Points Plus.
Jasmine, Jackie (2011-10-18). Weight Watcher Diva 0-5 Weight Watchers Points Plus Barbecue, Grilling & Smoker Recipes (Kindle Locations 300-307). My Weight Watcher Cookbooks Publishing. Kindle Edition.




Ramen Noodle Cabbage Salad Light
Makes 6 large servings (approx 1 1/2 - 2 cups)
WW points+: 5

Ingredients:

1/2 head medium cabbage, shredded (or cole slaw mix)
1-2 tender celery stalks (pieces) sliced thinly
1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
4 green onions, sliced thinly
2 oz. sliced almonds
2-3 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
1 uncooked package chicken Ramen noodle mix (without the seasonings), crumbled

Dressing:
2 T sesame oil
1/8 cup rice vinegar
5 teas. baking sugar substitute (such as Splenda)
1 teas. low sodium soy sodium

Directions:
Mix cabbage, onions, carrots together in large bowl.
Make Dressing -  In separate small bowl mix oil, vinegar, soy sauce and sugar substitute. Stir and refrigerate.
1/2 hour before serving, add almonds, sesame seeds and crumbled dry Ramen noodles (without the seasoning packet) to salad and mix thoroughly.  Pour dressing mixture over salad and stir again.
Refrigerate 1/2 to 1 hour and serve
Note: The Ramen noodles will soften after a few hours, so leftovers won't have the crunch like the salad did when fresh, however, that doesn't stop anyone from finishing them off! 



Fetuccini Alfredo
1 small spaghetti squash (about 2 pounds)
1 Laughing Cow Light Herb and Garlic cheese
2-4 Tbsp crushed garlic
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray (to taste)
2 Tbsp light Parmesan cheese
4 4-oz cooked chicken breasts
4 c broccoli, steamed


1. Cut squash in half, lengthwise. 
2. Remove seeds with a spoon or fork. 
3. Wrap each half in plastic wrap and put both halves in microwave for 6-11 minutes, depending on size. 
4. Remove squash halves from microwave, let sit with wrap on for 1-2 minutes. 
5. Put Laughing Cow cheese in bottom of large bowls and smoosh it around. 
6. Scrape out insides of squash gently with a fork and put in bowl on top of cheese. 
7. Add garlic and stir ingredients well. 
8. While stirring, add butter spray to help blend ingredients. 
9. Slowly sprinkle Parmesan cheese and stir. 
10. Add cooked chicken breasts and steamed broccoli

Serves 4 (8 Points+ Plus)






Grilled Apples a la Mode
3 large, sweet apples
fat-free spray butter
cinnamon/Splenda® mix
1 cup light vanilla ice cream
4 tbsp fat-free whipped topping
Core apples, but leave skins on. Slice each apple into 5 thick slices.
Place on grill over medium flame. Spray the tops with spray butter and shake some cinnamon/Splenda® on top.
Grill about 5 minutes on each side until lightly golden brown and tender.
Flip and repeat butter and cinnamon/Splenda® on the other side, grilling an additional 5 minutes.
Serve 3-4 hot apple slices topped with ¼ cup of ice cream.
Add a dollop of whipped topping and sprinkle a little cinnamon/sugar mix on top for garnish.
Serves 4
Points Plus per serving: 4




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