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!