MIDWEEK MINUTES January 3, 2015

 
 
Midweek Minutes
January 3,  2015
 
Hello, Winners!
 
Out with the old and in with the new...and I hope that means a rise in the temperature.  My pipes froze for 3 days this week.  Not fun, but as I write this on New Year’s Day, maybe today will be the day that they thaw!  (P.S. yes they did).  If I need to go up to school and fill my 3-gallon jug again, it is what it is.  I just hope I don’t need to go take a shower in the girls’ locker room to start off the new year today, though! 
 
Saturday update:  It’s going to be cold again tonight, so I am letting those faucets run tonight! 
 
I am not losing hope that I can make it through the winter without frozen pipes, although it could happen again.  That’s the thing with our weight  journeys as well.  We don’t lose hope.  There is always a new day, a fresh start. If things don’t work out today, we can continue tomorrow.
 
I'm sure you have already seen tons of weight loss and diet commercials already.  You can take pills, eat processed food, and find some new gadget that melts fat away while you sleep, right? 
 
When you stop by the supermarket, you will notice all the low fat frozen dinners on sale.  America is ready for the "New Year's Diet" resolutions, but you know what?  YOU are already on the best plan around, which is even better in 2015!  Haven't been to a meeting lately to check it out?  Yes, I noticed that many members seemed to be absent these holiday weeks past.  That's the holidays for you. Well, now's your chance to start fresh!
 
Okay, so you will have to come to the meeting and step on the scale after the holidays.  That's okay.  I bet you didn't gain as much as you thought you did because you ARE living a lifestyle, not doing a diet!  I bet some of you will be pleasantly surprised that you stayed the same or even lost!  Can't wait to see you this week!  2015 is going to be great!  Remember this poem from last year?  Have you thought about your Winning Outcomes for 2015? 

IF I LOST 1 LB. EACH WEEK OF 2015
By Valentine's Day I'd be 7 lbs. lighter! I’m loving it!
By St. Patrick's Day I'd be 11 lbs. lighter!
With the luck o'the Irish I'll make my goal.
By Easter I'd be 13 lbs. lighter!
I'd be a cuter bunny.
By Memorial Day I'd be 23 lbs. lighter!
What a memory that would make!
By Flag Day I'd be 25 lbs. lighter!
I’d wave my flag proudly then.
By Independence Day I'd be 27 lbs. lighter!
That's quite a declaration of independence from overeating!
By Labor Day I'd be 36 lbs. lighter!
What a wonderful reward for all my hard work.
By Columbus Day I'd be 41 lbs. lighter!
What a joy to discover what I can do.
By Halloween I'd be 44 lbs. lighter!
I would know I had more than a ghost of a chance.
By Thanksgiving I'd be 47 lbs. lighter!
I'd have so much to be thankful for.
By Christmas Eve I'd be 51 lbs. lighter!
Talk about being merry.
By New Year's Eve I'd be 52 lbs. lighter!
It's not just a new year, It's a new ME!

Let's start the new year together this week at the meeting!
See you there! --Zig
P.S. I attached the January Calendar.

2015 New Year, New You Challenge

Welcome to 2015! Here's to a new year and a fresh resolve to set yourself up for long-term success. Hint: It's easier than you think.
Article By: Elly Trickett McNerney
With its cold weather and post-holiday anticlimax (not to mention uncomfortably snug pants), January is not the kindest month. Why, then, do so many of us also spend the first few weeks beating ourselves up about what we ate and drank in December? Right here and now, we are officially declaring the holidays Behind Us, and are ready to help you focus on your goals for 2015. Whether you’re new to Weight Watchers, or simply looking for help you recommitting or sticking to the Plan, we’ll help you succeed.

 Your goal might be a sizeable one, or it might be just a few pounds away. Whichever camp you fall into, contemplating a whole year stretched ahead of you can feel overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the next 12 months, take our Challenge to get a far more manageable set of activities, ideas and motivation. Read the articles over the next four weeks.

 By committing to the 2015 New Year, New You Challenge, you are vowing to look forward, not backward. Each week you’ll have a key task that will help you lead a healthier life and stay successful on Plan. None of the tasks is overly challenging or hard to achieve; rather, each one is designed to help you stay mindful of the choices you make, and to find new ways of traveling along the road of your weight-loss journey without getting bored and succumbing to a detour.

 Now you're ready to start tackling Week 1. Good luck!

2015 New Year, New You Challenge: Week 1

Welcome to 2015! Here's to a new year and a fresh resolve to set yourself up for long-term success. Hint: It's easier than you think.
Article By: Elly Trickett McNerney
 
With its cold weather and post-holiday anticlimax (not to mention uncomfortably snug pants), January is not the kindest month. Why, then, do so many of us also spend the first few weeks beating ourselves up about what we ate and drank in December? Right here and now, we are officially declaring the holidays Behind Us, and are ready to help you focus on your goals for 2015. Whether you’re new to Weight Watchers, or simply looking for help you recommitting or sticking to the Plan, we’ll help you succeed.
Your goal might be a sizeable one, or it might be just a few pounds away. Whichever camp you fall into, contemplating a whole year stretched ahead of you can feel overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the next 12 months, take our Challenge to get a far more manageable set of activities, ideas and motivation. Read the articles over the next four weeks.
Week 1

You have two tasks this week: Something you can do right away, and something that will help you in the long term. For both of these, we encourage you to embrace the opportunity to believe in yourself and feel confident that you can change the way you think about yourself and your goals.
To that end, the long-term task is to think outside the scale. Set a goal for yourself that will see you through the 4 weeks of this Challenge and beyond, that has nothing to do with the numbers on the scale or on your clothing labels. Write it down and put it somewhere you’ll see each morning. What is it that you want to feel at the end of the 4 weeks? And how do you want to build on this momentum as we go into spring and beyond?
Only you can answer these questions, but here are some prompts for you. Think about what your decision to be healthier will do for you: Being a great role model for your kids? Wearing clothes with confidence? Accepting social invitations you might have turned down before, knowing you’ll show up feeling great?
Chew something new

As for the simple task you can do right away: Try a brand-new food this week, one you’ve never tried before. Try to choose a whole food rather than a packaged one — a fruit, vegetable, protein or grain. To get ideas, check out our list of pantry staples that are a cut above the usual. For more shopping tips, subscribers can check out our shopping Spaces tool.
That's it for week 1. Come back next week to get your next task in the 2015 New Year, New You Challenge. Good luck!
 
 
 

What to Eat Tonight?

Meal-planning tactics to help you get dinner on the table fast.
Article By: Amanda Genge
 
We’ve all had those days (especially now!): jam-packed with events, commitments, errands — and that doesn't even cover the basic "me-time" stuff like bathing, eating, and, oh, yeah, sleeping! Who has time to fit it all in and cook healthy meals for the family? You do, with the help of the recipes and tips in your new What to Eat book, our cookbooks and thousands of Weight Watchers recipes. In your meeting and in the Weekly, you picked up strategies for meal planning, grocery shopping, prepping ingredients, and cooking. And here's more food for thought!

Meals: Revisited
If the phrase “making dinner” conjures up images of sweating over a hot stove or oven for hours, preparing some elaborate feast, you may need to rethink your definition of “meal.” It can be simple and satisfying, as our Starter Meals deliciously prove. And if you have a special meal preference — vegetarian meals, or gluten-free dishes, or lower-carb, you've got it. What if you hate to cook? You're covered as well. So you have an abundance of options. And no matter what you're making, these tips can help you streamline things even further.
  • Use store-bought convenience foods. Shredded cheese, pre-sliced vegetables (don't forget pre-chopped onions and jarred minced garlic), frozen fruit and pre-marinated meats (but check the PointsPlus® value) are a time-strapped cook’s best friend.
  • Double your dinners. Cook extra servings of building-block ingredients like chicken breasts, roasted vegetables, rice and pasta. Then refrigerate or freeze them until you're ready to use them for lunches and dinners later in the week.
  • Keep your fridge (and pantry) in order. Do a quick clean sweep at least once a week. Go through the shelves and drawers and purge old items. Move tempting foods to the back. (Out of sight, out of mind.) And bring healthier options front and center, as well as any foods that need to be used soon.
  • Use an online grocery service. No time to go to the supermarket? Then let the groceries come to you! Yes, you'll pay a little more. But for some people, the convenience is worth it. (Most sites save your shopping list for an even faster return visit.) Plus, you won't have to face aisle after aisle of temptations, and that can be worth the cost alone!
  • Join forces with your friends. Set up a monthly meal swap where each participant prepares one freezable recipe in bulk (enough for a family-size portion). Then you meet up, (so it’s social, too!) swap foods and go home with a pre-made meal ready for your freezer or dinner table. (Meal swaps can also be a fun and convenient way to try different cuisines.)
 
 
NEW FOR 2015!
 
Join for Free – 12/28/14 – 3/14/15 - The joining offer is good towards the Pay As You Go payment option.
 
There is no starter fee associated with Meetings + Essentials (Monthly Pass) at this time.
 
 
 
BAD WEATHER: If there will be a meeting cancellation due to SNOW, etc., please stay tuned to NTV or NBC NEBRASKA (KHAS-TV). I will call them to announce a meeting cancellation by 3 P.M. for Superior...and as early as I can (or the night before) for Hastings Saturday morning meetings. You can also log on to their websites where they have weather closings.
 
You can also call the Weight Watchers' 800 number to find out if we are having a meeting.
1-800-651-6000.
 
 
 
Holiday Pounds, Banished and Vanished!
 
Article By: Jennifer S. Lazarus
 
Don't dwell on your indiscretion if you ate and drank too much over the holidays. With a few simple changes, you can lose those holiday pounds in no time.
Feeling blue about overeating on a few occasions the past few weeks? It's time to jump back on the horse and gallop toward a new you! We've got some great ideas that will help you get back on track with your weight-loss plan.
 
Shovel, rake, or mow your way to a slimmer you
No matter what season it is, there's always some yard work to be done. Take advantage of a snowfall and tackle your driveway or sidewalk several times that day. In the spring and summer, grab a manual lawn mower and trim your lawn. In autumn, rake the leaves in your front yard. Remember to use your arms and legs as much as possible and not your lower back so you don't injure yourself.
 
Get rid of the holiday goodies
We all stock up on extra sweets and goodies over the holidays for guests. But get rid of them as soon as the holidays are over so they don't tempt you! If you don't want to throw them out, drop them off at your local food bank, or take them to work to share them around. How about a nice new year gift basket of sweets for your children's teachers or caretakers? (Obviously, only untouched, unopened packages apply.)
 
Map out your mealsSpend a few minutes each morning planning out your meals and snacks for the day. The key is to prepare for when hunger strikes. This way, you won't default for the chips, but will grab the crudités instead.
 
Turn the music up
When you're ready to clean up the holiday mess, turn on music and move your body! Add a few dance steps to your kitchen sweep or while vacuuming the carpets. When cleaning the bathroom, alternate among the bath/shower, sink and toilet, to make it more interesting and to keep yourself moving. Add some toning to your dance routine with lunges and squats.
 
Finish with fresh fruit
Instead of the sweetness of chocolate, or a heavy, high-calorie dessert, finish off your meal with fresh fruit. It's just as sweet, and guaranteed to satisfy.
 
Play outdoors as much as possible
Any time of year lends itself to outdoor activity, and not just the ordinary kind. Grab your kids and go inline skating. Take advantage of a snowfall and go sledding on the biggest hill in town. Or pick up a softball bat and some mits and start a game. Soon enough you'll be running around like a kid, having a great time while burning calories.
Skip the wine when you dineInstead of having a glass of wine with dinner, opt instead for mineral water with a splash of cranberry juice or grape juice for some sweetness. If you really enjoy a glass of wine in the evening, trying having one every other night, or treating yourself once or twice a week.
 
Work your water intake
Encourage yourself to drink your 6 to 8 glasses of water a day by buying yourself a refillable water bottle and keep it filled while at work or on the go. In no time, this will become second nature, and you'll feel fuller more often.
 
Fill up on fiber
Try adding more fiber-rich foods to your diet, like whole grains and leafy vegetables. Foods full of fiber tend to have fewer calories and keep you fuller longer. This is another easy way to get your recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. You'll probably even discover some fiber-rich foods you love!
 
Join the gym sensation
Throughout the year, gyms everywhere are offering promotions for memberships. Take a walk-through of your local gym and see if what they have interests you. You may like the classes they are offering, or you may feel inspired by all those working out around you. Remember, if you decide to join a gym, you can start off slowly and work your way up!
 
 
 
1/4 - 1/24 – Mini Bars are on sale for $4.95
 
 
 
12/21-1/31/15 – PointsPlus Pedometer on sale for $17.95 (originally $23.95)
 
• Counts your daily steps and total distance
• Accurately tracks your activity PointsPlus values earned
• Powered by digital motion sensor & step filter technology

 
WW Commercial discussed in USA TODAY article
Here's one way for a diet behemoth to get its end-of-the-year ad noticed: Make it about a woman's butt.

More specifically, make it about how one woman's butt changes in size and shape through the years.
That's what Weight Watchers, the weight-management specialist whose business has been hit in a rocky economy, has done. It will roll out a commercial this week dubbed "My Butt," about the visual evolution of one woman's backside from birth through middle age.

"This is a montage of one personal life," says Jason Kreher, creative director at Wieden+Kennedy, the ad agency behind the campaign. "It just happens to be filmed through the lens of her butt."

What it's not filmed through is the lens of celebrities. Those days appear to be over at Weight Watchers, says Lesya Lysyj, president of the company's North American operations. Good-bye Jessica Simpson. So long Jennifer Hudson. Bye-bye Charles Barkley. No more celebs in Weight Watchers commercials, which will now focus on the real diet problems of real people.

"A celebrity-only strategy is not something we'll do in the future," says Lysyj. Showing before-and-after photos of celebrities makes dieting look way too easy — and too unrealistic, she says. "From this point on, that's not a major part of our story."

January is when consumers who feel guilty about putting on holiday weight turn to commercial diet companies. Weight Watchers, for example, does about 40% of its business in the first quarter of the year, says Lysyj.

The company's latest move not only comes at a tough time for Weight Watchers, but at a time the broader $60 billion domestic diet industry is in decline. Consumers are increasingly turning away from diet soft drinks and cutting back on commercial diet offerings. Only 7% of Americans who want to lose weight try commercial weight-loss programs, Lysyj says.

Lysyj says Weight Watchers isn't nixing celebrities because they're ineffective or two expensive. It's because dieting is hard, and celebs tend to make it look too easy.
"We did not airbrush anything. We want it to look like real life," she says. "That's a very different approach than we've done before."

Of the four new ads — all focused on the difficulty of dieting — perhaps none is more controversial than the butt spot.

"This is my butt," the commercial begins, showing a woman's backside as she walks in her jeans. "My butt and I came into this world together."

The ad shows a montage of butt sequences from the woman working out at the gym, to dancing a slow dance with a young boyfriend who doesn't know where to place his hands — which slide awkwardly towards her backside.

One of the trickiest parts of this commercial: the casting. After all, it shows a woman's backside through the years. "Getting four people who look relatively consistent was a real challenge," says Lysyj. "Every backside does not look the same."

The casting, says Kreher, was exhaustive. Women were cast from jeans size 4 to 12, he says. "I never cast based on butt movement before. It was as unique a casting as we've ever done."

The ad, which will air nationally, ends with this line: "My relationship with my butt had nothing to do with my butt, and everything to do with my brain."

Brand guru Erika Napoletano loves the spot. "Butts get you from place to place, power your steps, let you lift kids up, hold 'em on your hip, and they offer padding when you finally get a moment to sit down," she says "If we're going to focus on something, let's make it something underappreciated but over-criticized. Find a way to celebrate your back 40."

But Weight Watchers has other plans for a possible, future male version of this ad. You guessed it: a guy and his gut.


 See the other new commercials on Youtube ...here’s the one called World of Food.   Newest Weight Watchers Commercials  If the links don’t work, just check out youtube or watch TV!
 
 
 
 NEXT WEEK’S MEETING
 
REALITY CHECK!
 
Join us for Portions 101
 
• The effect portioning can have on weight loss.
• Tips, tricks, and tools to help with accurate portioning.
• The difference between portions and servings and how to manage portions to
help your weight-loss efforts.
 
 
 
Member Recipes
 
 
 
Remember Weight Watchers 0-PP Cabbage Soup? Here it is!
 
Vegetable Broth, 6 cup 
Garlic, 4 clove 
Tomato Paste, 2 tbsp
Cabbage, fresh, 4 cup, chopped 
Onions, raw, 1 medium
Carrots, raw, 1 cup, chopped 
Green Beans (snap), 1 cup 
Zucchini, 1 cup, sliced 
1 can diced tomatoes
Basil, 1 tsp
Oregano, ground, 1 tsp
Salt, 1 tsp 
Pepper, black, 1 tsp 
 
1 Spray pot with non stick cooking spray saute onions carrots and garlic for 5 minutes.
2 Add broth, Tomato paste, cabbage, green beans, basil, oregano and Salt & Pepper to taste.
3 Simmer for a about 5-10 minutes until all vegetables are tender then add the zucchini and simmer for another 5 or so minutes.

Serving Size: 14 1-cup servings

Number of Servings: 14
 
 
 
 
Slow Cooker Savory Superfood Soup
Yields: 8 | Serving Size: 1 cup | Points Plus: 4
 
Ingredients
2 cups sliced carrots
1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 cup fresh or frozen green beans
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
Kosher or sea salt to taste
2 cups vegetable juice (I used R.W. Knudsen, Organic Very Veggie Juice, no sugar added)
2 cups vegetable broth, low ­sodium
 
Directions
Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker, cover and cook on low 6­8 hours, or until veggies are
tender. Add a tablespoon of reduced fat cheddar cheese, if desired.
NOTE: If you prefer a less subtle onion and garlic taste, saute onion in 1 tablespoon olive oil until
tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute 1 additional minute. Add to slow cooker along with
other ingredients.
To make this even more of a Superfood Soup, add 2 cups coarsely chopped kale the last 5 minutes
of cooking, or until wilted
 
 
 
 
Chocolate ­Hazelnut and Banana French Toast Sandwich
Yields: 4 servings | Serving Size: 1 french toast sandwich | Points Plus: 4 |
 
Directions
Cook French toast according to package directions. Spread 1 tablespoon chocolate-hazelnut spread on each of 4 slices French toast.
Top with banana and remaining toast slices.
 
 
 
 
 
Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
Servings: 6 | Points Plus: 7 |
 
Ingredients
1.5 ­ 2 pounds lean pork tenderloin
 
Marinade:
1 cup chicken broth, fat­free, low­sodium
1 tablespoon Dijonmustard
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon lite soy sauce, low sodium (optional Tamari or Bragg Liquid Amino)
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Kosher or sea salt to taste
Glaze: (optional)
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons lite soy sauce, or try BRAGG Liquid Aminos
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons ketchup (recipe for ketchup)
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
 
Directions
In a large mixing bowl combine all marinade ingredients. Trim away all visible fat from tenderloin and
discard. Cut tenderloin into 2” pieces and place in marinade, ensuring all sides are coated. Cover and
allow tenderloin to marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
Place tenderloin and marinade in slow cooker, cook on low 4­6 hours, or until it shreds easily with a
fork. Remove from the slow cooker and place on a serving platter.
To prepare glaze, add all ingredients to a small saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer
and cook about 5 minutes or until desired thickness. Pour glaze over tenderloin.
 
 
 
 
Waldorf Salad with Creamy Yogurt
Dressing
Yields: 6 servings | Serving Size: 1 cup salad |  Points Plus: 4 |
 
Ingredients
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, fat­ free
1 tablespoon pure honey
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 large organic apples, cored and sliced into small cubes
1 Asian pear, cored, peeled, and sliced into small cubes
1 cup red grapes, sliced in half vertically
1 stalk celery thinly sliced
1/3 cup walnut pieces
1 10 ounce bag spring greens, mesclun, or baby spinach
 
Directions
In a small bowl combine yogurt, honey, and lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Combine the remaining ingredients in a salad bowl, add yogurt dressing and toss to combine. Serve
immediately over greens or cover and refrigerate. This salad is best if eaten the same day prepared.
 
 
 
 
 
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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I also try to post the newsletter on our private FB page "Zig's Winners" and the Google Blog called Midweek Minutes  http://midweekminutes.blogspot.com/.
Find us on FB and ask to join our own private support group!
 

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