MIDWEEK MINUTES June 21, 2014

Midweek Minutes
June 21, 2014
Hello, Winners!
It’s a couple of days until my birthday (it’s Monday, Superior members, come and say howdy...no cake, please!), and so I am doing some reflection. As you know, I love Maxine!  I can identify with her.  Yes, I drive a red car, I’m getting “up there” in years, and yes, I love my coffee!  I’m probably almost as blunt and grouchy as she is sometimes too, especially with the threat of storms almost every night!  Monday’s meeting was light in attendance.  When it isn’t threatening to storm, they probably have make-up ballgames out there!  I sure hope lots of people stop by and wish me a Happy Birthday! (HINT!)


I bet all of you reflect a bit around the time of your birthday.  I am ready to leave the last couple of years behind me and forge into the future, meaning that I want to get back to the best shape I can, and I want to do it for myself!  NO MORE EXCUSES!

I have been coasting.  Have you ever coasted?  I’ve been “maintaining and not gaining”, which isn’t always bad unless it makes you feel less confident and less in control.  Without boring you about the details, it was a really rough 2012-2013 school year.  I thought, what else?  Then, last summer, right after my birthday, I got some sort of infection that debilitated me for most of the summer, and it was all I could to do focus on those things I could do to keep functioning.  I needed to be in control of SOMETHING!  

When school started, I focused on school because I thought that was a positive thing to do...plus, I was just physically not feeling well.   As I normally do when things don’t go well, I focus on what I CAN CONTROL.  So, I worked really hard this past year to improve and update my teaching methods.  I feel pretty good about that, and I know that kept me going forward when I was feeling punk. 
That being said, it was just one of my excuses for coasting about my health and fitness. I was telling myself that I was doing the program as best as I could.  Not good enough.  Coasting was not working anymore.  I wasn’t feeling good about myself at all.  As I always say in my meetings, “It’s time to do something when my pants start feeling tight.”  Still, I coasted. The stupid things I did just to keep my weight in range so I was never over my goal weight...old, bad habits coming back slowly.

In April, I got this pinched nerve which makes my left arm hurt like crazy, and although chiropractor and massages are helping, it’s still there. Am I going to fold and have another pit party?  Is this just another excuse to coast some more?  NO!  Time to figure out what I want and what needs to happen for me to get there.  

So, I had a LONG talk with myself at the end of this school year.  All those things I hear myself as a Weight Watchers’ Leader say in the meetings, I need to apply to myself.  NO MORE EXCUSES!  I AM WORTH TAKING CARE OF MY SELF BETTER THAN JUST COASTING!  I WANT TO BE IN CONTROL of my health and fitness again.  I WANT TO MAKE NEW ROUTINES AND GET BACK TO FEELING STRONG AND CONFIDENT IN MYSELF AS A PERSON AND NOT JUST WITH MY JOB. 

As of this week, my teacher workshops are over for the summer (YAY!), and I have been working on myself for three weeks!  I decided that I don’t want to coast anymore.  I have now been officially tracking EVERY DAY on my iPhone!  It’s time to work the program in a NEW WAY.  I never fully used the app available to me until now, and I am loving it!  I get my butt out there and am walking in the mornings with my ACTIVE LINK, and it’s been humid and yucky, but I’m doing it! BABY STEPS! 

Can a Weight Watchers’ Leader admit that she tried “doing” the program her own way, but that doesn’t work?  Yes.  I am first and foremost just a person.  I have a weight problem.  It is manageable.  As a lovely lady said to me on Tuesday at my meeting where I am only another member, “You are human.”  Can I ever run out of steam and have to pick myself back up again?  Sure.

So, I may be getting older this coming week, but I am also determined to get better and stronger, one step at a time despite physical aches and pains!  Will you have a long talk with yourself this week, not because you want to get to a number on the scale but so that you can make choices that will put you back in control?  Will you join me this summer as we work together to dump those excuses and find out what we really want and how to get there?  I hope so!

See you in the meetings this week! –Older and hopefully wiser! --Zig
Let’s celebrate those Member Milestones!
Superior: –5.4 lbs.
Hastings: –10.6 lbs.

15 lb. star
Jan J. ( H )

16 week Award
Crystal M ( H )

AND RETURNING TO LIFETIME!
Connie S. ( S )
Do You BLT?
Don't let a bite here, a lick there, or "just a taste" sabotage your Plan.
Article By: Melissa Sperl
They're hardly noticeable. How much can they cost you, anyway? Well, a scoop or two of spinach dip, a couple of licks of an ice-cream cone, and a few gulps of sweet tea, and you're looking at 3 or 4 extra PointsPlus values. Maybe you didn't count them, but alas, they still add up. Here are some ways to beat the BLTs:

Keep away. You know "out of sight, out of mind"? Out of sight, out of mouth can also be true. If you're not preparing or eating a meal, don't hang out in the kitchen. At work, find a new route to the rest room that doesn't take you past the cafeteria. At parties, put a lot of distance between you and the buffet table. You get it: Get out.

Outsmart the hand-to-mouth impulse. When you have to be in the kitchen cooking, it's more of a challenge to avoid BLTs. Here's help – including ideas from other members like you.

Be mindful. It's those unconscious nibbles and bites that can do you in. So aim to become more aware whenever you are around food or drink that you're not even hungry for. Speaking of which:

Ask yourself: Is this worth it? This Routine comes in handy here! Be honest: How often were you glad you had a piece of office birthday cake or the last dregs of your kid's mac-n-cheese? Take a moment to imagine what it will taste like, how you'll feel when you've finished it, and whether you want to spend the PointsPlus values on it.

Do the math. What if you knew that that handful of candy added up to the same amount or even more PointsPlus values as seconds at dinner? Would you choose seconds instead? Or pass because you're not really hungry and it doesn't fit your budget?

If you do BLT, remember: "You bite it, you write it!" If that half a cupcake was worth it, great! If not, learn from the experience and move on.


 Sales!

and MORE Sales!
Magazines—$1 off
Cookbooks—25% off
Mini Bars—Regularly $7.50, now $4.95 thru 6/28
Crunchy Snacks—Regularly $4.95, now $3.95 thru 6/28
Smoothies—Regularly $7.50, now $4.95 thru 6/28
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

How to Make Your Cubicle Healthier
Can't stop snacking at work? Avoid weight-loss traps with these smart ideas.
Article By: Joe McGurk
The workplace is the perfect breeding ground for poor food choices. On any given day you're expected to dodge mindless snacking, office celebrations and stress-induced vending machine runs. Sometimes it can feel like the only way to stay on Plan is to hide under your desk and avoid your coworkers. (And that's no way to climb the corporate ladder.)
You can create a healthier office environment for yourself, says Milton Stokes, MPH, RD, a Connecticut-based registered dietitian and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. If you know what you're up against, you can arm yourself with the tools (mental and otherwise) to stay on track. Here's a list of the worst food pitfalls, and how to avoid them:
The food landmine. These nutritional tripwires appear in the form of a dish of chocolate kisses, a reappearing plate of doughnuts or bagels, or an ever-present box of leftover pizza. They seem harmless, but indulging in the office candy bowl can pack on the calories and ultimately cause a weight gain, according to research published by Brian Wansink, Cornell University food psychologist and author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think.
What to do: Stock your own stash. "Make sure you have healthy snacks on hand so you can avoid the temptation," says Stokes. Stokes suggests homemade trail mix tossed with a few nuts and dried fruits, or cookies such as gingersnaps, graham crackers or animal crackers.
The working lunch. If your calendar is filled with lunch meetings, you might be faced with an endless stream of take-out or catered lunches. Such meals often leave you with few healthy choices. A typical fast food lunch is often enough of a nutritional bomb to blow a person's PointsPlus® values allotment for an entire day.
What to do: Plan ahead to avoid the most fattening fare. You can eat with the pack, but keep your portion sizes small and order condiments on the side, using them sparingly. Stokes recommends snacking on something filling and nutritious beforehand to cut your hunger. Try a handful of almonds or a low-fat yogurt. Never show up to work without fueling first: People who skip breakfast are more likely to overdo it at lunch.
The pause that refreshes. Soft drinks and energy drinks can soak up your daily PointsPlus Target quickly. "Those are just empty, wasted calories being racked up," says Stokes.
What to do: Need a pick-me-up? Buy a sporty water bottle and keep it filled with H2O on your desk. "A glass of water and a quick munch on a high-fiber, whole-grain cereal bar with a fruit filling is much better than a sports or energy drink," says Stokes.
The vending machine. You can stand there and stare through the glass panel for an hour, but you'll be lucky to find one item in a vending machine that is worth its PointsPlus value.
What to do: Make sure you're never caught in an emergency "I need a snack" situation by keeping your desk stocked with healthy snacks (which are also better for your budget). If you must visit the vending machine, Stokes suggests looking for whole-wheat pretzels, whole-grain low-fat crackers or low-fat microwave popcorn.



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!!!
Stop that right now!!!

What are you looking around for? You know I'm talking to you. Yes, you - no,
not the guy behind you. I'm speaking to YOU. Look at me; quit pretending you
think I'm referring to someone else.


Now, just stop; it's for your own good. We both know it.
Yes, I know you're busy. You have so many responsibilities and commitments.
But that's not going to fly this time. We're all busy. We're all overloaded.
It's a matter of priorities, plain and simple. This time, make it work, OK?
Oh, more excuses? Well, welcome to Excuse Central pal; know 'em all. Got 'em
all right here. "Just a little bit won't hurt." "I deserve it; it's been a
tough week." How about this one: "When things settle down, I'll do it." I
don't mean to be rude or crude, but the only time things will totally settle
down is when six friends are carrying you away in a box.


Of course, there's always my favorite: "I can stop whenever I want." Yeah,
right. If you can stop anytime, why did you let it get so out of control?
Do you enjoy unending aches and pains? Isn't it just oodles of amusement
avoiding the dark side of the closet because you're afraid those unused
clothes "shrunk" since you last wore them? Are we having fun now?
And finally, the ultimate kick in the pants: that undisguised glance in
someone's eyes when she can't cloak how surprised she is by how large you've
become since she last saw you. Just makes you feel warm all over doesn't it?
Sure, sure, she covers it quickly; after all, she's not trying to be rude.
But for that moment - that one, brief, instantaneous, short-lived,
horrifyingly candid, flash - your sole desire is to drop through a hole in
the floor. Honestly, do you really want to deal with that again? How many
times will you avoid friends to prevent that from happening?


What's that? You DON'T like those feelings? Oh, good, we're making progress.
But you don't have the energy to change?
I hear you! But, how much energy does it take for the 24-hour discomfort in
your own skin? Or missing out on your kid's lives because you're too tired
to play? How much of your precious life-force do you waste feeling bad about
yourself every thinking moment of each and every day? Makes the effort more
worthwhile, doesn't it?
Ready to stop now? Good. I'm pleased for you.


Step one is stop talking to this cartoon; get out there, and take a walk.ScottQ@THINspiration.com


Weight Watchers Mobile App

is available for iPhones and Android phones...Hey, you don’t have to remember so much! 


The app keeps track of everything for you!







COOL OFF WITH THIS FUN RECIPE!



Watermelon Ice Pops
Ingredients
5 cups seedless watermelon pulp
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1 pint lime sherbet, softened
Instructions
1. Puree watermelon and sugar in batches in your blender or food processor until smooth and strain
into a medium bowl. Cover and freeze until puree is slightly slushy, but not quite solid, about 2 to 3
hours. Remove from freezer, stir well and add in chocolate chips.
2. Place twelve 5-ounce disposable cups in a shallow baking pan and spoon watermelon puree into
cups, leaving about a 1/2 inch left from the rim. Place pan in freezer for 2 hours, or until puree is
solid, but not rock hard.
3. Allow lime sherbet to soften a bit, then spread over top of each portion of watermelon puree so that
it comes up to the edge of the cup. Smooth sherbet with the back of a spoon and cover each cup
with plastic wrap. Cut a small slit in the center of each cup and insert a popsicle stick into each pop
so that it almost reaches the bottom of the cups. Freeze overnight (or until solid) and can be frozen
for up to two days.
4. Allow pops to sit at room temperature for about a minute, then gently pull out from the cups. Serve
and enjoy!
Nutritional Information
Serving Size: 1 ice pop • Calories: 78 • Fat: 1.4 g • Carbs: 16.5 g • Fiber: 0.3 g • Protein: 0.5 g • WW
Points+: 2 pts
Fight the Boredom Munchies
Prone to eating when you've got nothing to do? Here are 15 ways to keep busy.
Article By: Melissa Sperl
What makes you blow your diet? A big presentation at work? A fight with your hubby? Absolute boredom?

Whatever it is, you're not alone. According to Cynthia G. Last, PhD., author of The 5 Reasons We Overeat (Birch Lane Press), the trick to really understand your triggers.
Ask yourself what's wrong, and why you're using food to feel better. Talk to friends and family. And know that, as Last says, "Boredom that never feels like it goes away might be part of a depression." If you think that's the case for you, ask your doctor for help.
Another possibility, says Samantha Heller, RD, senior clinical nutritionist at the New York University Medical Center in New York City, is that overeating may be a sign of stress. You feel like you have so many things to do that you're avoiding all of them.
Whatever's the culprit, first understand your motivation, then come up with a plan. Try this:
First, analyze your pattern.

When does boredom eating become a problem for you? Mid-week? Evening? If you know when it's most likely to strike, you'll be better prepared for the battle.
Then come up with alternatives.

Plan what you'll do instead of eating the next time you're bored or stressed. "On an index card, make a list of alternate activities," says Last. "Have the list with you at all times so you can take it out when you need it."
Make sure your list is full of fulfilling things you like to do. Include a variety of things that will suit different moods and times of day. Be sure to add a few items that will help you toward your weight goal, too. Here are some ideas to get you started:
If you have 10 minutes…
  • Write down the foods you've eaten so far today.
  • Make a grocery list of healthy foods.
  • Schedule your next exercise session.
  • Write an email to a friend you haven't caught up with in awhile.
  • Shop online for a new fitness gadget.
If you have 30 minutes…
  • Go for a walk.
  • Look through past weeks in your Weight Tracker. Check out weeks that worked, and see if there's anything you did then that you can do again this week.
  • Check out the Message Boards in the WeightWatchers.com Community section.
  • Read a favorite book or relax with a magazine.
If you have an hour or more…
  • Look through healthy recipe ideas.
  • Clean out your closets. Throw away clothes that are now too big, or donate them to charity.
  • Go for a long bike ride.
  • Start a new project. Whether it's fixing something in your house, building a bookshelf or starting a garden.
  • Take your kids to the park.
  • Spend the afternoon at your local museum. This will get you out of the house and walking around, and what better way to get your mind off food than to absorb a little culture?

NEXT WEEK
Be A Summer Party Smarty!  No, not like Maxine, but
we’ll be talking about how to eat amazing summer party foods without sacrificing the Plan
Member Recipes

ZERO PointsPlus Birthday Cake!
1 box of angel food cake mix 
1 box of YOUR CHOICE OF CAKE MIX. 
** first box has to be angel food cake. 
Mix them together well in an ziplock bag or an air tight container. 

Now, here's the recipe.. it's literally as easy as 3-2-1... 
3 tablespoons of the blended cake mix. 
2 tablespoons of warm water. 
-mix in a microwave safe coffe cup- 
1 minute in the microwave. You end up with a light, delicious individual cake. I have one almost every night for my dessert. You can even top it off with a little bit of whip cream and a fruit of your choice. ENJOY




Egg White and Avocado Salad
10 hard boiled egg whites, diced
1 avocado, mashed
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp plain Greek yogurt
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup green onions
1/2 cup celery
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. pepper
Pinch of sea salt
2 slices uncured turkey bacon, chopped
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mash avocado and add in mustard, Greek yogurt and lemon juice, mixing until
smooth.
2. Stir in green onions, celery, paprika, salt and pepper and set aside.
3. Begin chopping the egg whites, discarding the yolks, and fold into the avocado mixture until
completely combined.
4. Add in the turkey bacon and serve on whole wheat bread with fresh arugula, enjoy!
Nutritional Information
Serving Size: 3/4 cup • Calories: 112 • Fat: 7.4 g • Carbs: 5.2 g • Fiber: 3.5 g • Protein: 14.1 g • WW
Points+: 3 pts
Southwestern Black Bean Salad
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 13 • Size: 1/2 cup • Weight Watcher Points+: 2 pt 
15.5 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
9 oz cooked corn, fresh or frozen (thawed if frozen)
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/3 cup red onion, chopped
1 scallion, chopped
1 1/2 - 2 limes, juice of
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp fresh minced cilantro (or more to taste)
salt and fresh pepper
1 medium hass avocado, diced
1 diced jalapeno (optional)

In a large bowl, combine beans, corn, tomato, onion, scallion, cilantro, salt and pepper.
Squeeze fresh lime juice to taste and stir in olive oil. Marinate in the refrigerator 30 minutes. 
Add avocado just before serving.

Makes about 6 1/2 cups.



Crust-less Zucchini Pie
Skinnytaste.com 
Servings: 6 • Serving Size: 1/6th • Points+: 3 pts
10 oz shredded zucchini, all liquid squeezed out
1/2 cup shallots, chopped
1/4 chopped fresh chives
1/2 cup part skim mozzarella
2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup white whole wheat flour (King Aurthur)
1 tsp baking powder
2/3 cup fat free milk
1 tsp olive oil
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp kosher salt
fresh cracked pepper to taste
cooking spray (I used my misto)

Preheat oven to 400°. Lightly spray a pie dish with cooking spray or your misto. Combine zucchini, shallots, chives, and mozzarella cheese in a bowl.
Sift flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. Add remaining ingredients to the bowl and blend well. Combine with zucchini mixture and pour it into the pie dish.
Top with parmesan cheese and bake 30-35 minutes or until knife comes out clean from the center. Let it stand at least 5 minutes before serving.
Makes 6-8 servings.






Skinny -barbecue-chicken-stuffed-pizza-melt
1/2 tablespoons red or yellow onions, diced
¼ cup cooked chicken, diced
1 tablespoon barbecue sauce
1 Orroweat Sandwich Thin or your favorite, see shopping tip
1 teaspoon reduced-fat butter or Smart Balance Light
1 teaspoon barbecue sauce
1 large slice of tomato, cut in half
¼ cup light mozzarella cheese, shredded

Instructions
1. Preheat Panini maker or George Foreman grill.
2. Add onions to a small plate or bowl. Cook in microwave for 1 minute to soften.
3. In another small bowl, mix together chicken and 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce.
4. Spread the outside of sandwich thin, both top and bottom, with ½ teaspoon of butter on each. Split open and spread the inside of the bottom slice with 1 teaspoon barbecue sauce. On top of sauce, spread chicken. Top with onions, tomato and cheese. Place remaining top piece of sandwich thin, butter side out.
5. Place in Panini maker or George Foreman grill and cook for 3-4 minutes until melted and golden brown. Remove with a spatula as the cheese oozes out a bit while cooking. I love it that way!
6. Eat with your hands or serve with a fork and knife.
Makes 1 serving. You can easily make as many as desired. 6 PP





Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Whipped Cream
Points: 6 weight watchers pointsplus for cupcake with frosting (5 without frosting)
Servings: 14
Serving Size: 1 cupcake

2 cups peeled and finely grated carrots
1 egg
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup applesauce
1/3 cup non fat Greek yogurt
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup crushed pineapple, well drained
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pumpkin pie spices(or a combination of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg)



Cream Cheese Whipped Cream
4 oz reduced fat cream cheese
4 oz light Cool Whip
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together carrots, egg, brown sugar, oil, applesauce, Greek yogurt, vanilla, raisins, pineapple, and coconut.
3. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spices.
4. Stir flour mixture into carrot mixture until well combined.
5. Fill each cupcake tin about 3/4 full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, for 25-28 minutes until cooked through.
6. For creamed cheese whipped cream, beat cream cheese until smooth and at room temperature. Whip in cool whip and powdered sugar.
7. Frost the cupcakes right before serving, Enjoy!


Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
Weight Watchers Recipe
10 item(s) cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookie(s)
8 Tbsp fat-free cream cheese
8 oz low fat cream cheese, tub-style
1 cup(s) sugar
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup(s) fat-free cottage cheese
2 tsp almond extract, or less to taste
6 large egg white(s)
3/4 cup(s) mini chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 325ºF.
Lightly coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Crush cookies and sprinkle cookie crumbs evenly over bottom of pan.
Using an electric mixer, beat together cream cheeses on lowest speed until well blended.
In a small bowl, combine sugar and flour. Add to cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth.
In a food processor or blender, purée cottage cheese until smooth. Add cottage cheese and almond extract to cream cheese mixture; beat until smooth. Add egg whites and beat until well blended. Stir in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.
Pour into springform pan; top with remaining chocolate chips and bake until cheesecake puffs and center is almost set, about 60 minutes.
Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely. Run a knife around sides to loosen and release pan sides. Cover and chill overnight. Cut into 12 slices and serve.

PointsPlus™ Value: 6
Servings: 12

 

This newsletter is in no way affiliated with Weight Watchers, Inc. It is simply a motivational tool that I offer to members who attend my Weight Watchers meetings and wish to receive it.

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