Happy New Year!

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,

Well, Christmas has come and gone--although, seriously, I keep thinking it's still a few days in the future. It seemed to come and go so quickly. I hope you all had a wonderful, memorable Christmas and that you're ready to embrace 2009!

By the way, it's Tuesday night and I'm going through "Weight Watchers" withdrawal. I'm definitely enjoying watching "The 31st Annual Kennedy Center Honors," but I have to admit I'm missing connecting with you. I felt a little bit lost tonight when I didn't get to see you. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing you next Tuesday night. Can you believe that it'll already be the 6th of January?

Hey, have you seen any of the new Weight Watchers commercials on television? I saw my first one tonight and I was very impressed! I can tell you one thing--hunger isn't going to win with ME either because I know how to conquer it now, and I will. Thank goodness we have the Momentum Plan. I love learning more and more about the importance of eating filling foods, making wise food choices, and tracking. I have every confidence that we're each going to WIN this battle.

How have you done during this holiday season? Have you struggled a bit, perhaps felt a little out of control, or have you stayed strong and expect to see great results when you weigh in next Tuesday night? Whatever your situation, I can't wait to get together and share, help each other, and watch the pounds melt away! We're going to reach goals, we're going to succeed, and we're going to win in 2009. It's OUR year.

Thank you to those of you who have kept in touch. I love hearing from you.

See you soon, my friends,

Debra

P.S. Joe, I can't exercise for less than 63 minutes, my friend! Thanks for the inspiration.

FUN stuff

Dear Weight Watchers Members,

I had a co-worker share an amazing website with me today. It's www.gmap-pedometer.com. It will help you track a course to walk and/or run, tell you whether it's uphill or downhill, and it'll tell you have far it is. It's absolutely amazing! You should check it out.

Also, Linda and Art Milliman (two of our dedicated Tuesday night members) recently returned from Africa and Linda has been sharing some of her photos with me. They are fantastic. Here's a few of them, just for fun!

I hope to chat with you a bit through the holidays. Until then, stay warm and happy.

Debra

Plan for Holiday Success--Part 1

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,

Highlights from this week's meeting: This meeting's topic was "Plan for Holiday Success—Part 1." We talked about all the things that have the potential to slow down our weight-loss efforts during this time of year. Several of you shared your challenges, which included things like office parties, family parties, neighborhood parties (SO many parties), treats at work, treats at home, baking gifts to give others (SO many treats), the colder late fall/early winter months that bring darker (and did I mention colder) mornings and evenings—making exercise a bit less convenient or inviting. We also have shopping, writing cards, decorating, gift-wrapping projects, stress, etc. So, is it possible to be successful when we each face so many obstacles? YES, it is. With the new Momentum plan, we can either “prepare and prevent” (which is likely the best strategy), or we can “repair and repent.”

The Weight Watchers’ four-way approach is extremely helpful to keep us on track:

1. Meet (attend your meetings)
2. Move (walk, run, squat, bend, stretch—anything you can do to move)
3. Eat (make healthy, wise choices)
4. Think (with regard to eating and movement, definitely take time to think about when, why, how much, how often, etc.)

We discussed our new “Book 2: Start Moving More” and were reminded that physical activity is a wonderful way to offset the extra calories and indulgences that creep in during the holidays. Remember—weight loss is simple: burn more calories than you consume. As I’m sure you know, one of the best ways to burn excess calories is to move more. I appreciated all the helpful suggestions and great ideas that were shared by many of you. I love our meetings when we get into a really great discussion, and this was definitely one of those great meetings! Thanks to all of you for your contribution—whether you share comments and/or feeling, or respectfully listen, you each play such a vital role in our meetings.

Next week's meeting topic: "Plan for Holiday Success—Part 2." Next week we’ll be exploring the other two great ways to ensure your success this season—how to eat smart and eat mindfully, no matter what challenges arise!

BRAVO drawing: This coming Tuesday (December 23) will be our last meeting of the year and we will be having our last “Bravo” drawing. Bring all your FULL Bravo cards to enter into our drawing (extra cards will increase your chances of winning). If you don't have a card yet, you'll receive one Tuesday night. Everyone will have a chance to win.

AWARDS! Our sincere congratulations to Emily for earning her 10% award—just in time to go visit her husband who is serving in the military. Emily’s husband doesn’t know that she joined Weight Watchers (she joined after he left). Emily was so hopeful that she’d earn her award by the time she got to see her husband, and she did it! I know I wasn’t the only one who shed tears of joy as she accepted her award and shared her story with us. Emily, we sincerely hope that you enjoy this time with your husband, and please thank him (from all of us) for the sacrifice he is making to keep us safe.

Also, beautiful Lauren successfully sailed through the six weeks of maintenance to become our newest LIFETIME MEMBER! Lauren, thank you so much for sharing your success tips with us—and for being such a great role model. You are indeed an inspiration to all of us and we look forward to continuing to see you at our meetings.

Motivational Thought: I found a great blog from “J. Success” with a post titled: “Use Obstacles as Motivation,” and thought it fight so nicely with our topic. Here’s what the author says:

Successful people realize that failure is an opportunity to learn and not an opportunity to give up. Successful people realize that obstacles are an opportunity to learn and not an opportunity to turn around. Successful people realize that all negative experiences are opportunities to learn new ways to succeed and not opportunities to throw in the towel and settle for what life gives them. Successful people take control of their lives and never give it back to circumstance, luck, and coincidence.

I wish you success each and every day!

Take care, my wonderful friends,

Debra

Burrrrrrr ...

Dear Weight Watchers Members,

It's COLD. And it's going to get colder. So, for someone like me (a lizard wannabe), who lives (and loves) to walk outside in the warmth of the day, when the sun is shining--and HOT, what recommendations do you have for alternate forms of activity? I know I'm not alone in this dilemma. Our beautiful Alex also expressed some concerns at our WW meeting on Tuesday. So, any ideas? Please share. Post your comments here. At the end of the blog, where you see the pencil, click there and share your comments. THANKS in advance.

I'll update the blog soon with information from our meeting last week. And don't forget, our last WW meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday, December 23--and we'll have our last "Bravo" contest.

Take care, and stay warm ...

Debra

Silly me!

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,

Apparently, I need to proofread my blogs (and e-mail messages) better before I finalize them! For those of you who are confused about the conflicting dates in the previous blog post, the last meeting of the year is Tuesday, December 23 (not December 16--tonight). Goodness. Sorry for the confusion.

Hope to see you in a few hours.

Debra

Introducing the Momentum Plan

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,

Highlights from this week's meeting: “Introducing the Momentum Plan.” During this week’s meeting, you were all introduced to the latest, greatest plan from Weight Watchers—“The Momentum Plan.” The more I read and study the new program information, the more I love it, and I’m confident you will, too. So, what do you think so far? Don’t you just love the new Pocket Guide? And what do you think of the program changes? I can’t wait to get your feedback on Tuesday night. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please write them down and we’ll discuss them at our meeting on Tuesday. I’m sure looking forward to hearing all about your first week on the new program. Wonderful new changes, wonderful new opportunities for success!

Next week's meeting topic: “Plan for Holiday Success – Part 1.” This coming week, we’ll continue our “sneak peek” at the 2009 Momentum Plan by exploring Book 2: Start Moving More, which is sure to get you on the right track for managing the holidays successfully. You won’t want to miss the first of our two-part plan for holiday success!

Our “Gold Medal” Book: I sent the following information by e-mail message to those members whose e-mail addresses I have, but I don’t have everyone’s addresses. So, I apologize for the duplication here. (If you've read the e-mail message, just skip down to the next heading.)

If you've been attending our Tuesday night meetings, you know that we've had a notebook that has been sent home each week with a different member who has written down a few thoughts about his or her struggles, successes, triumphs, etc. A couple of months ago, I mentioned that one of our generous members had offered to pay to have copies of the book made and shared with any member who is interested in having a copy. It's now time for those copies to be made, so we need to know how many copies to make.

We have a couple of options and I need to know which option, if any, you'd prefer.

1. Would you like to receive a hard (printed) copy of the notebook?

2. Would you prefer to have an e-mailed version of the notebook? If you choose this option, you'll need to be able to open a PDF file (you can then print the copy yourself or read the notebook on your computer).


3. If you do not want a copy of the notebook, don't do anything. That makes it easy, doesn't it?

I need to know ASAP--but absolutely no later than Tuesday, December 16--if you want a printed and/or e-mailed copy of the notebook. I'll be asking at the meeting on Tuesday night, too. The printed copies will be distributed at our last meeting of the year (Tuesday, December 23), so you'll need to be in attendance at that meeting or make other arrangements to get your copy.

Bravo Drawings: Finally, I have made a decision that, starting in January 2009, I’m going to discontinue our Bravo drawings. You will certainly continue to earn and receive Bravo stickers at our meetings—there just won’t be a drawing for “full cards.” I definitely believe that it’s very important for each of us to recognize when we’re being successful and to find ways to reward ourselves. However, I’ve recently become convinced that winning small little token prizes does little, if anything, to ensure success on the Weight Watchers program. I hope you won’t be terribly disappointed. So, during our last meeting of the year (Tuesday, Dec. 16) we will have our very last Bravo drawing!


Also, I personally feel that when we fill up our meeting time with too many things (drawings, etc.) then we miss out on the opportunity to have really great discussions, or we have to end the discussions too quickly so as to fit in other less-important “things.” I'm convinced that these small changes to our Tuesday meeting structure will help us all be even more successful!

Motivational Thought: Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. Og Mandino

Take care, my wonderful friends,


Debra

What (Gear) Do You Need to Move More?

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,

Highlights from this week's meeting: "What (Gear) Do You Need to Move More?"

What a fun meeting we had this week! Thank you so much for all your great comments and for your help in making our discussion so meaningful, so thought-provoking, and FUN. I’ve been thinking a lot this week about just how powerful our thoughts are, and how they have a great impact on how we conduct our lives. I don’t know about you, but I definitely prefer the thought: “I want to find time to play,” versus “I have to figure out how I’m going to make time for my work out.” One is such a positive, happy thought (WOW, I can take a break from my stressful life and do something good for my mind and body), while the other feels like a burden (Just one more “work” obligation to add to my otherwise busy life).

I hope that you’ve been able to find time to PLAY this week. I did, and it felt GREAT. I had the best time (seriously) walking on my treadmill this morning while I finished watching Season One of “Lipstick Jungle” on
www.hulu.com. Isn’t the Internet fantastic? I got so caught up in watching the show that I completely lost track of time and, before I knew it, I’d walked 75 minutes—and I truly enjoyed every minute (perfect “play” time). Have you given any thought to how you might make your "play" time more enjoyable? Perhaps it would help to if you were to purchase some new “toys” (exercise equipment) so that you could have more fun with your “play” (exercise). For example, a new pair of walking shoes, a new pedometer, a jump rope, hand weights, an exercise ball, a thigh master (you’re smiling, I know), a new “play” DVD, music CD, etc., might help you enjoy your play time more. What “gear” do you need to help YOU move more? I’m looking forward to hearing how you fit PLAY time in this week.

Next week's meeting topic:
I sent you an e-mail message a few days ago letting you know that you’ll soon be learning about Weight Watchers’ latest (and greatest) new program. The new program is being shared with members the week of December 7-13. If you’re unable to attend our meeting on Tuesday, I hope you’ll be able to get into a meeting another day/time (you won't want to miss getting this information as soon as possible).

AWARDS!
Tuesday night was a family celebration for Joe and Lauren (father and daughter). I’ve witnessed it over and over again that when friends and family members work together to accomplish something important and meaningful, there’s no more powerful support, and success is inevitable. Joe and Lauren both earned their 10% awards. In addition, Joe earned his 25 lbs. lost award (sorry for the delay in getting that to you, Joe)! Congratulations to both of you—and thank you so much for your comments. Those of us who attended our meeting will have a new appreciation for 59 minutes versus 63 minutes of activity (aka play)! I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought (several times this week) about the GREAT advice both Lauren and Joe shared. Also, congratulations to each of you who earned your first—or additional—5 lb. stars. You're doing fantastic!

Motivational Thought:
People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.

For those of you who may have temporarily lost your motivation, I'm excited for you to have a chance to find it again--and I'm confident that you'll find it at our meeting this week! I am really looking forward to telling you all about the exciting new program changes! You're going to LOVE the new program. The program just keeps getting better and better (just like YOU).

Take care, my wonderful friends,

Debra

WOW! Why Would You Offer Me That?

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,

Highlights from this week's meeting: This meeting's topic was titled "WOW! Why Would You Offer Me That?” and it focused on the weight-loss saboteurs we have in our lives. This is one of those topics that really hits home with most of us. Maybe your challenges come from:

• the people pushing “free samples” at the local Costco or Sam’s Club warehouses, or neighborhood grocery store, or
• the well-intentioned people bringing “treats” to work to share with co-workers, or
• Aunt Bette sharing her special apple pie that she made “just for you,” or
• the friend who talks you out of going to the gym, because she wants you to go to the movies with her instead!

No matter who is "tempting" or even "pushing" you to stop (or slow down) your weight-loss efforts (even if that person is sometimes YOU), there is help! I very much appreciated our meeting this week as we discussed the various ways we can ask for weight-loss help and support from our friends, co-workers, and family members. Many times, people in our lives truly want to help, but just don’t know how to go about giving us the help and support we need.

The first step in creating a supportive environment is to recognize food pushers and exercise saboteurs. Then we need to enlist the support of family, friends, and co-workers to help make our journey easier. I look forward to following up with you next week to hear about your successes (or discuss your struggles) in this area. Remember, we’re here to help each other through this journey.

Next week's meeting topic: "What (Gear) Do You Need to Move More?" I am very excited about this week’s meeting topic—it’s one of my favorites. Come next week to discover how new “toys” can increase the enjoyment of activity!

AWARDS! Congratulations to Art and Linda Milliman—for several things. As many of you know, Art and Linda just returned from a 3-week trip to Africa. Congratulations on fulfilling a life-long dream—and welcome home. We hope that, in the coming weeks/months, you’ll feel comfortable sharing with us some of the highlights of your trip. Also, we want to congratulate both of you for earning your “16-Week Stay & Succeed” awards. And, Linda, congratulations for your incredible weight-loss success—you’ve earned your 25-lb. award. You’re such an inspiration!
And, finally, congratulations to those of you who have earned 5-lb. stars (either your first, or additional)! Your continued progress is getting you closer and closer to your weight-loss goals. We’re all so proud of you.

Motivational Thought:
Finally, for those who have faced weight-loss struggles in the past, or perhaps are struggling now, or will likely hit a roadblock or two in the future (I think I’ve covered everyone here), I dedicate the following quote:

“Success doesn't mean the absence of failures; it means the attainment of ultimate objectives. It means winning the war, not every battle.” - Edward Bliss

I look forward to spending time with you on Tuesday. I adore you and truly enjoy our time together.

Take care, my wonderful friends,

Debra

Managing Special Occasions

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,

Highlights from this week's meeting. During our meeting, we talked about "Managing Special Occasions." Not only will we be celebrating Thanksgiving Day next week, but then there'll be Christmas and New Year's Day celebrations, birthdays, Valentine's Day, anniversaries, retirement parties, and so many other reasons to party--with FOOD, of course. What are your favorite ways to be successful during these events? Thank you so much for those of you who offered advice and suggestions. I'm personally going to use several of the ideas that were shared. For example, drink lots of water, wear tighter clothes, remember how great you're going to feel for being STRONG ("I can do hard things"), keep a mint or piece of gum in your mouth, carry around a small plate with fruits and veggies, decide BEFORE you eat something whether or not it's worth it (mentally rehearse what you'll do), plan to see some of your plate between the foods, and remember, most of all, that it's only ONE DAY. The problem many people get into is that they will do great on the holiday, because they're prepared for it, but they'll get thrown off the following days as they eat leftovers! Challenge yourself to know how you're going to manage the holiday event, and the days that follow.

Next week's meeting topic: "WOW! Why Would You Offer Me That?" I am really looking forward to this meeting. I am sure it'll be a great discussion. Sometimes we have people in our lives who--unintentional or not--sabotage our weight-loss efforts. Perhaps you know someone who is a food pusher, or who is an exercise saboteur. How do you handle these people and situations? At our meeting, you will learn how to develop strategies that will help you recognize unsupportive behaviors and either enlist weight-loss saboteurs' support or navigate around them.

Celebrations: Congratulations to each of you who earned 5-lb. stars this week. You are an inspiration to all of us. It's those small, consistent losses that bring about the big successes.

Motivational Quote: Remember, what you get by reaching your destination isn't nearly as important as what you become by reaching your goals--what you will become is the winner you were born to be! Zig Ziglar

Have a great weekend. I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday! And because I won't be "blogging" again until after next Thursday, I wish you all a very ...







Warmest regards,

Debra

Lessons from the Gridiron

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,

Highlights from this week's meeting: This meeting's topic was "Lessons from the Gridiron."
We talked about all the comparisons between football and weight loss. There are many! And some of the best motivational quotes have come from football coaches. For example, Tom Landry, former Dallas coach, says, “Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.” Weight loss is definitely a team effort. I love how we all understand each other, help each other, and learn from each other.

During our meeting, we walked through the “Anchoring” Tool for Living worksheet. Anchoring helps us tap into our internal resources (i.e., determination, sense of humor, patience, confidence, dedication, etc.) whenever we want/need those resources. We discussed how a gesture, object, word, phrase, song, mental image, etc., can be used as an anchor. We each selected a puzzle piece to use as an anchor. If you’ve ever successfully put a challenging puzzle together, you know how difficult they can be. Frequently, pieces look like an obvious fit (similar color, shape, etc.), when they aren’t. But with patience and persistence, some trial and error, the right pieces are found and the puzzle is successfully completed! So, perhaps you’ll use your puzzle piece to remind you that you have patience and CAN stick with your weight-loss plan!

Next week's meeting topic: "Managing Special Occasions."
Thanksgiving Day is rapidly approaching. You won’t want to miss attending your meeting this week (Nov. 16-23). We’ll be discussing strategies that will help you have a successful turkey day (and prepare you for the other many “food holidays” that are approaching).

AWARDS! Congratulations, Stephanie, for earning your “16 Week Stay & Succeed” award. And a big “high five” for those of you who earned a 5-lb. star this week!

Motivational Thought:
Keeping with our discussion about our internal resources, I really love this quote: “The greatest undiscovered resources in the world lie under our hats and stand in our shoes.” Kenneth Hildebran

Finally, it is with deep sadness that I share with you that our friend Tammie’s wonderful, sweet angel—her service dog, Leska—passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 12. Leska has attended many, many Weight Watchers meetings with Tammie over the years and I know many of us had grown very attached to her. She will definitely be missed. Tammie, our love, friendship, and support are with you during this very difficult time, and we are very sorry for your loss.

Take care, my wonderful friends,

Debra

Vote YES for Yourself!

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,


Highlights from this week's meeting:

This meeting's topic was "Vote ‘Yes’ for Yourself."

• How often do you “vote for yourself” (decide to make your needs a priority)?
• What happens to your weight-loss efforts when you “vote for” other peoples’ needs instead of your own?
• In terms of your weight-loss efforts, what does taking care of yourself look like?

The discussion we had during our meeting this week was inspiring—on many levels. I so appreciated the way many of you opened up and shared your innermost thoughts and feelings. For example, one member shared that she often feels resentful when she sacrifices her needs/wants/desires for the needs of others. Another member said that she gave and gave to a partner in a relationship, but her partner never reciprocated. She felt very hurt and unappreciated. How many of us have had similar feelings? What needs to happen for us to be able to better balance our needs with those of others?

Now that the presidential campaign has ended, let’s campaign for ourselves by electing to make our weight-loss efforts a priority, which ultimately means that everyone in our lives benefits!

Taking care of yourself means:

• Valuing your own needs
• Making time for the activities you love
• Finding the motivation to work toward your goals
• Learning to say “no,” and
• Saying goodbye to guilt.

What have you done this week to take care of YOU? I can't wait to hear all about it on Tuesday night.

Next week's meeting topic: "Lessons from the Gridiron."

Autumn isn’t just election time—it’s also football season. One way you can take care of yourself is by attending next week’s meeting where you’ll discover how to score a touchdown for the home team—YOU!

AWARDS! So many of you have been earning 5 lb. stars--and this week was no exception. Congratulations to the many of you who earned your first (or additional) stars this week. I am proud of you for your continued efforts that are bringing success!

Motivational Thought:
I read the following quote and thought to myself—WOW. This puts into perspective EXACTLY what we were talking about this week.

“At this very moment, you may be saying to yourself that you have any number of admirable qualities. You are a loyal friend, a caring person, someone who is smart, dependable, fun to be around. That's wonderful, and I'm happy for you, but let me ask you this: are you being any of those things to yourself?” ~Phillip C. McGraw

Finally, our fellow WW members, Linda and Art, are in Africa. Linda, your lifelong dream HAS come true. You're really there. Linda and Art, we look forward to your safe return and hope you'll be willing to share some of your experiences with us! We miss you both and wish you well in this incredible journey.

Take care, my wonderful friends,

Debra

Making Meals and Snacks More Satisfying

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,


It's a rainy, cold Sunday afternoon, but I feel cozy and warm as I sit at this computer to write to my dear WW friends! Plus, I'm feeling rested because I got an extra hour of sleep last night--and that's always a good thing! Did you use your "extra" hour to get more sleep?


Highlights from this week's meeting:
This meeting's topic was "Making Meals and Snacks More Satisfying." We had a wonderful discussion (thank you for all of you who shared thoughts/comments) about the things that create a satisfying meal. Some of the ways to make a meal/snack more satisfying are to improve the visual and/or physical satisfaction.




For example, visual appeal may occur when you:

• Use good dishes (treat yourself like "company").



• Remove clutter from your eating area and make your mealtime a peaceful, enjoyable experience.



• Eat from smaller plates/bowls (e.g., serve dinner on salad plates)



• Drink (even water) from your fancy glasses/goblets, and garnish with a twist of lemon/lime.



• Display many different colors (foods, tableware, cloth napkins).



• Treat yourself to flowers and candles on the table (leave no room for tempting serving bowls!)



• Put your snack serving on a nice plate--put the package away.



• Be creative with meal presentation ideas (solicit help from family members).



• Try new or unusual foods.



• Serve bigger portions of low energy dense foods (e.g., fruits and vegetables).



• Choose high-fiber snacks (popcorn, whole-wheat pretzels).



• Offer several courses, such as salad, then broth-based soup, entree, then follow-up with a healthy dessert, such as fresh fruit.

Physical appeal may occur when you:

• Choose foods that are filling because of the fiber, air or water content (low energy density).



• Incorporate the Good Health Guidelines that will add feelings of satisfaction/fullness, such as: fruits and vegetables, whole-grain foods, milk products, healthy oils, protein.



• Eat a balance of foods from different food groups, which adds to feelings of fullness. For example, instead of having whole-wheat toast for breakfast, top it with some reduced-fat peanut butter and half of a banana. Your breakfast may "stick to your ribs" longer.



• Chew more, drink less. Liquids often don't feel as satisfying as foods that require chewing.

Avoid unsatisfying meals and snacks. When you're not satisfied, you'll likely find yourself searching for more food to satisfy you, which may cause you to spend POINTS unnecessarily or cause you to eat extra portions.

Finally, we had our first BRAVO drawing. We had 17 winners (small gifts--a simple gesture to let you know that you ARE being successful, even when the results don't always show up on the scale). I will return the BRAVO cards to you that were turned in for our drawing so you can continue to collect BRAVO stickers on them or retain the full cards for future drawings, increasing your chances of winning. Congratulations to those of you who won.

Next week's meeting topic: "Vote 'Yes' for Yourself."
When you find ways to feel satisfied from meals and snacks, you are demonstrating your ability to care for yourself. During next week's meeting, we'll be discussing the Take Care of Yourself habit. You will want to attend the meeting to cast an important vote for YOURSELF!

AWARDS!
Congratulations to each of you who earned an award (or 5-lb. star) this week. Specifically, Kelly and Herbert (16-week "Stay & Succeed"), Candice Garfield (10%), and Lauren--YOU REACHED YOUR GOAL! Congratulations to each of you.

Recipe:

Linda--thanks for sharing the following Pan-Seared Chicken recipe. It sounds delicious!

PAN-SEARED CHICKEN WITH CITRUS-HERB GREMOLATA

Gremolata is a garnish usually made with parsley, grated lemon peel and garlic. This tarragon-orange version is simple, but incredibly flavorful. Try it on fish or shrimp, too.

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

¾ teaspoon coarse salt, divided

¼ teaspoon pepper

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley

1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

½ teaspoon minced garlic

Sprinkle chicken with ½ teaspoon of the salt and pepper. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Cook chicken 8 to 10 minutes or until browned and no longer pink in center, turning once. Combine all remaining ingredients, including remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, in small bowl; sprinkle over chicken.

4 servings. PER SERVING: 170 calories, 6 g total fat (1/5 g saturated fat), 26.5 g protein, .5 g carbohydrate, 75 mg cholesterol, 360 mg sodium, .5 g fiber.

Motivational Thought:

I recently heard the following quote (by Michael Jordan) and just loved it. I know some of us get so discouraged when we fail, but it's SO important to stick with the things we want to achieve. Never, never, NEVER give up. Michael Jordan says, "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Be sure to vote early so you'll be able to attend our meeting! I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday night.

Finally, our wonderful friends, Linda and Art, will be leaving next week for Africa. We're so excited for you and we'll look forward to hearing about your experience when you return. We hope you'll be able to attend Tuesday night so we can bid you farewell! Oh, and you'll want to chat with Nancy, one of our wonderful Tuesday night receptionists. She has been to Africa and will be returning there again soon (she'll be gone for a few months). I love the fact that WW brings people together who would've otherwise probably never met.


Take care, my wonderful friends,


Debra

What are you hungry for?

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,

First of all, I want to express my sincere thanks to each of you for the love and support you show each other. I know many of you are as concerned as I am about Tammie (one of our wonderful members) and her special guide dog, Leska (who always attends our meetings with Tammie). I have an update for you--and it's not good news. Tammie found out early this week that Leska has a fast-growing malignant tumor in her throat. Because of its location, it's probably inoperable. I have grown to absolutely love both Tammie and Leska--and I know you have, too. Tammie, our hearts go out to you during this painfully, difficult time.

I also want to thank you (again and again) for the respect you show each other during our meetings. Our meeting is a safe zone--a place where you can confidently share your feelings, your struggles, your successes, and know that we all understand and care! I have especially enjoyed the comments that have been written in our "Gold Medal" book. I can't wait to get my own personal copy of it so I can reread each and every entry! YOU inspire me--and each other. Thank you for being such amazingly wonderful role models.

Highlights from this week's meeting:

I definitely found this meeting to be extremely helpful. I know, from some of the comments that were shared, it's a topic that many (most) members relate to--and need help with. There was a time when I turned to food for ANY reason. That's why I laughed when I read the following poem (it sounded a little too familiar).

Who's Hungry by Judy Christiansen

I eat when I'm angry.
I eat when I'm sad.
I eat when I'm tired.
I eat when I'm glad.

I eat between meals.
I eat bedtime snacks.
I eat from fine china
Or from paper sacks.

I eat sitting down.
I eat on the run.
I eat when I read.
I eat just for fun.

I eat when I'm pressured.
I eat to relax.
I eat when it's time
To pay income tax.

I eat while I'm cooking.
I eat at mealtime.
Now this question you ask
(interrupting my rhyme)--

Do I eat when I'm hungry?
I really can't say . . .
I do not recall
Ever getting that way!

I hope you were able to complete your "Reframing" Tool for Living worksheet to figure out how, when facing emotional eating "situations," YOU can manage your feelings more appropriately. If you hear yourself saying things like, "I'm a stress eater," or "I'm an emotional eater," STOP! Don't give yourself permission to continue that type of behavior. Instead, you might say something like, "When I'm stressed, I like to ______ to help me relax." Fill in the blank with a solution (other than eating) that can really help you relieve stress (without creating other issues).

I'm so grateful to Weight Watchers for helping me make major changes with this part of my life! A bag of peanut M&Ms and/or Cheetos used to be my "solution" for almost everything. I'd eat peanut M&Ms and/or Cheetos to relieve stress (or so I thought), to provide comfort, for entertainment, etc. However, that behavior created many, many other issues/problems. When YOU recognize that you want to eat, but aren't physically hungry, be sure to ask yourself: "What am I really hungry for?"

Next week's meeting topic: "Making Meals and Snacks More Satisfying."

You won't want to miss our meeting this coming week. We'll be discussing how adding certain foods, colors and tableware to your meals and snacks can make them more physically and visually satisfying.

AWARDS!

So many of you earned 5-lb. stars this week. Others of you are SO close to getting another star. Just keep following the program. It REALLY works! We also had four wonderful women (Jan, Danielle, Daryl, and Grace) who earned their "16-week Stay & Succeed" awards. CONGRATULATIONS to each of you--you are definitely on your way to reaching your goals. Thank you all for being such great examples!

New members: We had five wonderful women join Weight Watchers on Tuesday evening and I can't wait for you to meet and get to know them--they're great! I'm personally looking forward to having them join our group.

Motivational Thought

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them." - George Bernard Shaw

Finally, we'll be having our first "BRAVO" drawing at our meeting this week. I'm looking forward to it--hope you are, too.

Have a great weekend. See you soon.

Debra

Explore. Dream. Discover!

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,

Wedding bells rang last Saturday, October 11, 2008, for two of our wonderful Tuesday night members, Shae and Kelly. And thank you, Lyddia (Shae's best friend and another of our wonderful members), for sharing this wonderful photo of the happy couple! Shae, you make an incredibly beautiful princess bride and, Kelly, you're definitely her handsome prince. Congratulations from all your friends at WW.

Some Highlights of This Week's Meeting. I loved this meeting topic. As is always the case, I learn so much from you during our meetings. We had some very "deep" thoughts shared and I'm certain I wasn't the only one who experienced some "ah-ha" moments. I appreciate so much how many of you open up in our meetings and discuss some of the ups and down of this journey. And thank you, too, for everyone for being so respectful and listening when comments are shared! You're an amazing group of people and I feel VERY lucky to know you and to spend each Tuesday night with you.

During our meeting, we spoke about how the weight-loss journey has many similarities to the journeys taken by "discoverers" of the past (i.e., Christopher Columbus, Thomas Edison, Tina Turner, etc.)--those amazing people who paved the way for us either by discovering things that have made our lives better, or showing us, by their examples, that we can do hard things! We talked about the importance of:

Defining a specific winning outcome

Initiating a plan

Seeking out resources and information

Considering (learning from) experiences

Opening ourselves up to the unknown

Visualizing the treasures or reward we will find

Examining and renewing our commitment (often)

Resolving to keep going (in the face of obstacles and disappointments)

What needs to happen for you to discover success this week?

Can taking any of these discover steps take you closer to your own "Discovery Day"?

Can you accomplish it with the help of something you heard in our meeting this week?

Will you do it?

Mark Twain wrote the following:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Next Week's Meeting Topic . . . What are you really hungry for?

Do you ever feel puzzled by a desire to eat--even though you've already had a good meal or snack? If so, you'll definitely want to attend next week's meeting to discover what you could really be hungry for, and how you can get "it" in better ways.

AWARDS

Several of you discovered that when you diligently follow the program, you find success! I am always so impressed with the number of 5-lb. stars that are given out each week. Congratulations to each of you who earned a star this week--or who made a "behavior" breakthrough that will eventually result in success on the scale. BRAVO!

Congratulations, Camilla Pucket, for earning your 16-Week Stay & Succeed award, and Grace Edwards--WOW--you've lost 25 lbs. Thank you for your excellent examples!

Recipes

I am hoping that some of you have some great Weight-Watchers friendly "Thanksgiving Day" recipes to share with us in the coming weeks. The holidays are rapidly approaching and we're all going to want to discover the many ways we can explore the holidays without gaining weight!

In the meantime, here's a great recipe I found on the Internet:

Swanson® Heart Healthy Chicken Sandwich

From: Campbell's Kitchen
Prep: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. nonfat plain yogurt

2 tbsp. light mayonnaise

1/3 cup chopped celery

2 tbsp. finely chopped onions

1 can (9.75 ounces) Swanson® Premium Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained

8 slices Pepperidge Farm® 100% Whole Wheat Thin Sliced Bread 8 slices tomatoes 4 lettuce leaves

Directions:
Stir the yogurt, mayonnaise, celery, onion and chicken in a medium bowl.
Divide the chicken mixture among 4 bread slices.
Top with the tomato, lettuce and remaining bread slices.

To make 2 sandwiches: Use 1 can (4.5 ounces) Swanson® Premium Chunk Chicken Breast, drained, 1/4 cup chopped celery and reduce all other ingredients by half. Prepare as directed above.

To make 1 sandwich: Use 1 can (3 ounces) Swanson® Premium Chunk Chicken Breast, drained, 2 teaspoons nonfat plain yogurt, 2 teaspoons light mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons chopped celery, 2 teaspoons finely chopped onion, 2 slices Pepperidge Farm® 100% Whole Wheat Thin Sliced Bread, 2 slices tomato and 1 lettuce leaf. Prepare as directed above.

Nutrition Information
Calories 232, Total Fat 6g, Saturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 28mg, Sodium 516mg, Total Carbohydrate 29g, Dietary Fiber 5g, Protein 15g, Vitamin A 19%DV, Vitamin C 14%DV, Calcium 8%DV, Iron 9%DV

Motivational Thought

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult. – Seneca

Have a great weekend! See you Tuesday.

Debra

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Good morning, wonderful Weight Watchers friends! (I'm thinking I'll just shorten this to "WWWF")

Thank you so much for another DELIGHTFUL meeting last night. I marvel at how close our group has grown. It is wonderful to see how much you care for each other and how close we're all becoming. I watched last night as as you interacted with each other in our "Build A Soup" activity and it just warmed my heart. Wasn't last night's meeting FUN? I love it when we can laugh and share. For those of you who have the information about the "soups" your group created, including the CLEVER names that you came up with for them, I would really appreciate it if you'd e-mail that information to me so we can add it to our blog! The soups all sounded DELICIOUS and I seriously think we should make them. If any of you have other great soup recipes, please send them to me, too. THANK YOU. I had requests from several of you who want the list of optional ingredients that were used last night, and I'll definitely add that list to our blog soon, too.

I have GREAT news! Our "Weight Walkers" t-shirts arrived this morning, so I will have them for you Saturday morning at Liberty Park. I will be at the park by 8:00 am and I will stay at the Weight Watchers booth (I believe the booth will be at the southeast corner of the park, close to 700 East) and will distribute the shirts there. If you didn't order one of our team shirts, and you want a t-shirt, the American Cancer Society will be selling dark blue shirts that you can purchase on Saturday. You don't need to buy a shirt to participate--and there's no registration fee. But, of course, the ACS will gratefully accept any donations you feel you can make to this very worthy cause. If you have ANY questions, please let me know. I received the following message from the ACS with the "details" you'll need.

* * * * * *

Dear Debra

It's the day we've all been looking forward to - and it's finally here (almost)! The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® of Salt Lake City, Utah will take place - Rain or Shine - this Saturday, October 11th at Liberty Park. The park is located at 600 East 1000 South, Salt Lake City.

We can't wait to see you there! Here are a few day of reminders:

• The walk will take place rain or shine... Because Breast Cancer happens rain or shine too!
• Registration will begin at 8:00 am
• Event begins at 9:00 am
• It can take between 1 & 1/2 to 2 hours to walk the 4.2 miles route
• Each individual should bring their own donations they have collected to the registration tent to turn it in
• Unfortunately, we cannot provide the number of walkers and money raised by each company. This event is too large for us to be able to track that information.
• Parking is available around the park itself but is limited
• CARPOOL! CARPOOL! CARPOOL!
• Please secure all your valuables

Click here for a map.

Before we get together to honor our survivors and celebrate the progress we've made in the fight against breast cancer, we want to thank you one more time for lending your time and energy to the American Cancer Society. There are not enough words to express our appreciation!

Why is Making Strides a success? Because of people like you!

So thank you - and see you this weekend!

Sincerely,

Your American Cancer Society
Utah Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

* * * * * *

Okay, that's it for today. I'll update our blog later on this week, so be watching for that ... AND REMEMBER ...

HAVE A "SOUPER" WEEK (you knew it was coming, right?)

Debra

P.S. See you Saturday morning (unless you're getting married that morning--Shae and Kelly--then you're excused)!

Soup's On!

Dear Wonderful Weight Watchers Friends!

This was another fantastic week. We were able to, once again, discuss the weight-loss journey and share what works, laugh about what doesn't, and get one step closer to our goals.

Some highlights of this week's meeting:
Our meeting this week was titled "Soup's On." We talked about all the amazing benefits (health, money- and time-savings, etc.) associated with eating soup for an appetizer, meal, or snack. Thank you so much for your great participation in our build-a-soup activity. We had such fun! Many of you asked for the list of ingredients we used during our discussion and, as promised, here's the list:

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Corn
Onion
Peas
Peppers
Spinach
Squash
Tomatoes

Starches & Grains
Barley
Beans
Brown Rice
Bulgar
Couscous
Lentils
Potatoes
Whole-wheat pasta

Lean Meats
Beef
Chicken
Lamb
Pork
Turkey

Other
Herbs
Soy Sauce
Spices
Taco Sauce
Teriyaki Sauce
Broth/bouillon (beef, chicken, or vegetable)
Tomato Juice
Tomato Paste

Combine 1-4 items from each group of ingredients to make a nutritious and filling soup.

If you have a favorite soup recipe or have the recipes we "created" during our meeting, please share those with me and I will include them in future blog posts. You may either bring a copy of your favorite recipes to our meeting, or send me an e-mail message. My personal e-mail address is lifeisglorious@gmail.com.

Next week's meeting topic . . . "Explore. Dream. Discover."
On Monday, we celebrate Columbus Day (aka Discovery/Discoverer's Day). You won't want to miss our meeting when we'll be discussing what Columbus and other discoverers can teach us about weight loss! This is going to be a great meeting. You will learn the steps you need to DISCOVER your dream!

Awards. I am thrilled with the number of awards we continue to celebrate during our meeting. Many (many) of you earned 5-lb. stars. In addition, our congratulations go out to the following successful members: Randy and Lisa each earned their "16-week Stay & Succeed" award and Candice and Linda have each lost 25 lbs. and earned their 25 lb. medallions! Thank you for letting us celebrate with you--and thank you for being such fantastic role models to all of us.

A few of you came up to me after our meeting and mentioned that you'd been attending for at least 16 weeks, but hadn't yet received your 16-week Stay & Succeed award. It is never our intention to neglect anyone who has earned an award (whether it's the 16-week award, 10%, 25 lb., 50 lb., 75 lb., goal, lifetime, etc.). Please forgive us--and remind us ANY TIME you have earned an award and we neglect to acknowledge it. Although we, as a Weight Watchers staff, work very hard to recognize all the milestone moments of each and every member, we often get so busy at the scale that we may occasionally overlook an award. There is no excuse--and we will work harder to make sure we give you each award that you earn--but please remind us if we do ever forget.

I wish to express a BIG "Thank You" for those of you who participated in the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" event that took place at Liberty Park yesterday morning. They announced at the event that more then $50,000 had been raised. WOW! If you ordered a t-shirt and were unable to attend the event, I will have your shirt(s) for you on Tuesday at our meeting. Although it was cold, the event was a huge success. It didn't rain or snow until the event was over--so we were lucky! I know many of you gave donations at the park, and I don't have a record of all the donations that were made, but I do know that, prior to Saturday, our team "Weight Walkers" collected at last $250 in donations! AMAZING. You are absolutely wonderful, generous people and it's a privilege to know each one of you. I got to walk with three of you (and a 4-legged angel) and it was a privilege to get to know you better. Thank you, Tif (and Traveler), Amy, and Margel for walking with me and making the event so enjoyable.

One final HUGE congratulations goes out to Shae and Kelly who were married on Saturday morning! Congratulations, newlyweds. Best wishes from all your friends at Weight Watchers.

Finally, thank you, Jill, for the recipes you provided (below). They both sounds delicious!

Motivational Thought:

There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not. Robert F. Kennedy

In anticipation of Tuesday night's meeting, please come prepared to discuss YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS DREAMS!

Warmest regards,

Debra

TACO SOUP

1 lb ground beef

1 large onion diced

16 oz can chili beans with liquid (I use the one in the hot sauce)

15 oz can kidney beans with liquid

15 oz can black beans with liquid

15 oz can corn with liquid

6 oz can tomato sauce

15 oz can peeled diced tomatoes

4 oz can diced green chili peppers (I use the hot version)

4 oz can diced jalapenos (optional)

1.25 oz package of taco or chili seasoning

1-2 cups water

Sautee onions and brown beef (lightly season or salt the beef).

Add the onions, beef and all other ingredients in a crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours.

(I usually do it just in a stockpot on the stove. I don’t think its necessary to cook it for 8 hours)

1 cup = 3 Points or CORE!

CHICKEN FIESTA

1 can corn drained

1 can black beans drained

Put into crock pot

Place 4 chicken breast halves on top. Cover with 16 oz jar of picante salsa

Cook on low 6-7 hours

4 servings = 4 Points

With ½ cup brown rice = 6 Points or CORE!

Top with fat free sour cream, if desired.

*NOTE* After cooking the chicken shreds easily; it’s really tasty wrapped in a tortilla as well!

Look Back and Learn

Dear Wonderful Weight Watchers Friends!

This was another fantastic week. We were able to, once again, discuss the weight-loss journey and share what works, laugh about what doesn't, and get one step closer to our goals.

Some highlights of this week's meeting.

This week, we talked about learning from the past--both the positive things that we've done that have worked well, and the negative things that we need to change (or avoid). When asked the question, "By show of hands, who here has ever been successful losing weight before?" every hand in the group was raised. Because we know ourselves better than anyone else, we likely know what works and what doesn't, when it comes to our losing weight.

• We know, for example, what motivates us (and what doesn't). During our discussion, a member shared that it's not helpful to her when seemingly helpful friends and family members monitor her "food intake" too closely (couldn't agree more). I look forward to our future discussions on learning to be assertive.


• We know what's the best way (for us) to add physical activity. I very much appreciated the comment about increasing activity by parking farther away in parking lots, taking stairs instead of elevators, and just simply MOVING MORE!


• We know what foods are winners for weight loss. A big "thank you" to those who shared some great "fabulous finds" (WW friendly foods) and discussed the benefits of eating low-POINT veggies, low-POINT ice cream, etc.


• We know what snacks we can enjoy (and what snacks we should avoid).

Almost everyone, at one time or another, has had a weight-loss setback. When we stop to reflect about the setback(s) and realize what HELPS and what HINDERS our weight loss, then we can ultimately turn every experience into a success! So, rather than criticize yourself for not being perfect, become curious about setbacks and decide how to manage similar situations more successfully next time.

We each have many experiences--some from months or years ago, and some as recent as a few hours, days or weeks ago--that can truly help us be successful, if we will just learn from those experiences. Everything that has happened before can be helpful to us now. Remember: FEEDBACK, NOT FAILURE.

So, take a look in your rearview mirror and learn from your past experiences. And remember, in a car's rearview mirror, "objects are often closer than they appear." Your goals are also closer than they sometimes appear. Learn what you can from the setbacks you have, and move forward. You WILL reach your goal.

Next week's meeting topic--"Soup's On"

We will continue our discussion about "learning more about ourselves." We'll be discussing, specifically, how soup can become our personal secret weapon for weight loss. If you have a great WW friendly soup recipe, PLEASE bring a copy of the recipe with you. I will be more than happy to post the recipes on our blog.

Speaking of recipes, I know many of you already have this recipe (it's a WW favorite), but for those of you who don't, I think you're going to really like it! It's one of MY favorites.

1 POINT Chocolate Muffins (makes 24 - 1 POINT each)

3 cups All Bran (or Fiber One) cereal

2 1/2 cups water

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla

1 pkg. Krusteaz fat-free brownie mix (other fat-free muffin mixes work well, too)

Soak cereal in water for 10 minutes (it'll swell and become mushy). Add baking powder, vanilla and muffin mix. Mix well. Spray muffin cups before filling.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Upcoming Events:

Next Saturday, October 11, is the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk/run at Liberty Park. Registration begins at 8:00 am, the walk begins at 9:00 am. For those of you who ordered t-shirts, I hope to have them by Tuesday (they are being shipped to my house and I haven't received them yet), but if they don't show up by then, I will definitely have them for you at Liberty Park next Saturday morning. WW will have a booth and you'll be able to find me there! Our team is "Weight Walkers" and, if you're able to make a donation, please do so. It's for SUCH a great cause. You can find our team at the following location (just copy and paste this link).

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCBlueprint?px=8155896&pg=personal&fr_id=11683

And congratulations, Amy (our team's co-captain), for raising $215 (so far) in donations. You're an inspiration.

Awards
Sincere congratulations to each of you for your success this week (whether or not the results showed up on the scale). Many of you earned additional 5-lb. stars and we had two major milestone awards, as follows:

• Lisa earned her 10% award, and has also now lost 25 lbs.


• Karen has lost 50 lbs. WOW.

Thank you for letting us celebrate with you--and thank you for being such fantastic role models to all of us. You're definitely STARS!

I'll leave you with this thought, which, by the way, ties in nicely with this week's discussion:

"There are two ways of meeting difficulties: you alter the difficulties, or you alter yourself to meet them." Phyllis Bottome

Have a wonderful weekend. I hope to see you again next Tuesday!

Warmest regards,

Debra

Dance It Off

Dear FABULOUS Weight Watchers Friends,

This is the first official post (formerly known as newsletter) on our new Blog. I've received feedback from a couple of you with a big thumbs up on this new form of communication. How do the rest of you feel? Any opinion, either way? I'd love to know. This is YOUR group, where you'll get the information and support that YOU need, and it definitely needs to work for you.

Some of the highlights from this week's meeting:

• The meeting topic was "Dance It Off." I LOVED this topic. When I was a brand new member of Weight Watchers, many years ago, I learned that activity (also known as exercise) doesn't have to be a difficult, painful, or an unpleasant experience. In fact, I found out (much to my surprise) that it can actually be really, really fun (and addicting)!
• We talked about how much fun it can be to DANCE, and that there are many benefits to dancing (developing coordination, stimulating the brain, building muscles--and, of course, burning calories).
  
• Cleaning the house, walking the dog, doing laundry, or just simply MOVING MORE ... while listening to upbeat, fun music ... can make the tasks so much more enjoyable, and you'll likely move faster and get more accomplished!
  
• A BIG "thank you" to the members (such good sports) who participated in our game of "musical chairs." What we all discovered was that even though these members were definitely walking, moving, and getting activity, they weren't thinking about THAT part of it--they were listening to music (yeah ABBA), having fun, laughing, and hoping they'd be the one to get seated in the final chair when the music stopped. A box of YUMMY WW bars was the prize for the lucky winner!
  
• We can get so caught up in listening to great music, audiobooks, etc., that we don't even realize we're exercising.
• Members shared many great comments again this week (I LOVE our groups' participation), including the fact that one member learned to belly dance (from a video) and REALLY got a workout. Others enjoy (or don't, depending on the instructor) taking exercise classes to help keep them motivated.
• Whatever you choose to do, make it fun! Do something you enjoy, and reap the many--many--benefits of moving more and sitting less.

Next Week's Meeting Topic:

• You definitely won't want to miss next week's meeting. The topic is "Look Back and Learn." We'll be discussing how we can each develop the habit to learn from experience. This meeting is sure to generate another fantastic discussion as we share our experiences and learn from our past--and from each other.

Upcoming Events:


Don't forget to schedule October 11 on your calendar. We will be supporting the American Cancer Society's "Making Strides for Breast Cancer" walk/run at Liberty Park. Our team ("Weight Walkers") t-shirts have been ordered and will be delivered to you prior to October 11. Our team has also been established on the website. Our team's site is found at:

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCBlueprint?px=8155896&pg=personal&fr_id=11683

Please sign up online to support our team and, if you're able to do so, make a contribution. It's for a very worthy cause!

Also, we're about halfway through the "Lose for Good" campaign. Are you building a monument at home to represent the amount of weight you've lost? Are you keeping track so you can report your losses to WW at the end of this campaign? Remember, Weight Watchers is going to donate food (equal in the amount of weight--up to $1 million--to what Weight Watchers members' lose during this campaign) to several wonderful organizations. Let's do our part to make this campaign a phenomenal success.

Recipes: Today's recipes are both desserts ... YUMMY ... and two of my favorites Core Plan recipes.

APPLE CRISP

Serves 8

4 POINTS per serving (Flex Plan) and Core Plan Recipe

Ingredients

6 med. apples (Jonagold, Gala, Jonathan, or other baking variety)

2 cups oatmeal

1 box (small) fat-free sugar-free vanilla pudding mix

5 packets of Splenda

8 tsp. of canola oil

2 very generous Tbsp. of cinnamon

Instructions

Mix it all together and put on the bottom of the pan.

Peel and slice 5-6 apples and combine with a few Splenda packets (depending on how sweet your apples are).

Bake @ 350 till the apples are tender (about 45 min).

CREAMY CRUSTLESS PUMPKIN PIE

Makes 4 servings (1 POINT for each serving on Flex Plan, Core Plan recipe)

Ingredients

1 large package sugar-free instant vanilla pudding

½ cup skim milk

1 cup cooked pumpkin

¾ tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

Slowly beat together all ingredients and pour into small containers. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours. Top with fat-free whip cream.

Motivational Quote:

Today's quote comes from CHER--a fantastic performer, and DANCER!

If you really want something, you can figure out how to make it happen.
Cher

Have a marvelous week ... and make time to DANCE!

Warmest regards,

Debra