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.
- 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.
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.
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
