Weight Watcher’s Tip 16-20

16. Have some dessert
You don’t have to deny yourself all the time. Have a treat that brings you pleasure, but this time enjoy it guilt-free be — sure you’re practicing portion control, and compensate for your indulgence by exercising a little more or by skipping your afternoon snack.

17. Ask for what you need
Tell your mother-in-law you don’t want seconds. Ask your other half to stop bringing you chocolates. Speak up for the place with great salads when your co-workers are picking a restaurant for lunch. Whatever you need to do to succeed at weight loss, ask for it — make yourself a priority and assert yourself.

18. Improve your treadmill technique
When walking on a treadmill, don’t grip the rails. It’s fine to touch them for balance, but you shouldn’t have to hold on. If you do, that might be a signal you should lower the intensity level.

19. Simon says… get fit
Here’s an easy way to fit in exercise with your kids: Buy a set of 1 lb weights and play a round of Simon Says — you do it with the weights, they do it without. They’ll love it!

20. Make the most of your walks
If your walking routine has become too easy, increase your effort by finding hills. Just be sure to tackle them at the beginning of your walk, when you have energy to spare.

Weight Watcher’s 25 Tips: Part 3

Wow, I was just looking back at my blog and see I only put 10 of the 25 tips here.  My update is that I just started back to WW to get rid of about 8 pounds that have crept up on my waist line.  My pants are a bit too snug, so I’m going with what works for me.

11. Leave something on your plate at every meal
One bite of bagel, half your sandwich, the bun from your burger. See if you still feel satisfied eating just a bit less.

12. Get to know your portion sizes
It’s easy to underestimate how much you’re eating. Today, don’t just estimate things — make sure. Ask how much is in a serving, read the fine print on labels, measure your food. And learn portion equivalents: One serving of pasta, for instance, should be around the size of a tennis ball.

13. Don’t give up dips
If you love creamy dips and sauces, don’t cut them out of your food plan completely. Just use low-fat soft cheese and mayo instead of the full fat stuff.

14. Make a healthy substitution
Learn to swap healthier foods for their less-healthy counterparts. Today, find a substitution that works for you: Use skim or low-fat milk instead of whole milk; try whole-wheat bread instead of white.

15. Bring lunch to work tomorrow
Packing lunch will help you control your portion sizes. It also provides a good alternative to restaurants and takeaways, where making healthy choices every day can be challenging (not to mention expensive).

Weight Watchers Update part 2

Here are the next 5 suggestions to help you lose weight.

6. Listen to your cravings
If you’re craving something sweet, eat something sweet — just opt for a healthier nosh (like fruit) instead of a high-calorie one like ice cream. The same goes for crunchy cravings — for example, try air-popped popcorn instead of high-fat chips. It’s just smart substitution!

7. Ease your way into produce
If you’re new to eating lots of fruits and vegetables, start slowly. Just add them to the foods you already enjoy. Pile salad veggies into your sandwiches, or add fruit to your cereal.

8. Look for high-fat hints
Want an easy way to identify high-calorie meals? Keep an eye out for these words: au gratin, parmigiana, tempura, alfredo, creamy and carbonara, and enjoy them in moderation.

9. Don’t multi-task while you eat
If you’re working, reading or watching TV while you eat, you won’t be paying attention to what’s going into your mouth — and you won’t be enjoying every bite. Today, every time you have a meal, sit down. Chew slowly and pay attention to flavors and textures. You’ll enjoy your food more and eat less.

10. Taste something new
Broaden your food repertoire — you may find you like more healthy foods than you knew. Try a new fruit or vegetable (ever had plantain, bak choy, starfruit or papaya?).

My Weight Watchers Update

It’s been a while since I posted about my weight loss.  I am continuing in the maintanience  portion of WW right now.  I’m over 5 months at goal.  I’m very pleased about this and knew it would be the hardest part of the whole program.  I also wanted to share part of a 25 point list as things to remember/incorporate with weight loss.  (These come from Weight Watchers)  Note: not all of these apply to every person but take the ideas and try to make them good habits for life.
1. Good things come in small packages
Here’s a trick for staying satisfied without consuming large portions: Chop high-calorie foods like cheese and chocolate into smaller pieces. It will seem like you’re getting more than you actually are.

2. Get “water-wise”
Make a habit of reaching for a glass of water instead of a high-fat snack. It will help your overall health as well as your waistline. So drink up! Add some zest to your six to eight glasses a day with a twist of lemon or lime.

3. Herb it up
Stock up your spice rack, and start growing a small herb garden in your kitchen window. Spices and herbs add fantastic flavor to foods without adding fat or calories.

4. Slim down your soup
Make a big batch of soup and refrigerate it before you eat it. As it cools, the fat will rise to the top and can be skimmed off the surface.

5. Doggie-bag that dinner
At restaurants that you know serve large portions, ask the waiter to put half of your main course in a take-home box before bringing it to your table. Putting the food away before you start your meal will help you practice portion control.

 

Weight Watcher Update

I am now in to my third month of maintenance.  It seems to be going well over all.  I’m sharing a picture of my standby breakfast.  It is 1-2 points plus, depending on the amount of milk and is very satisfying for me.  I use 1-2 bananas, 1/3-1/2 cup of 2% milk, cinnamon sugar, and freshly ground nutmeg.  Sometimes I add walnuts, but not always.

 

Weight Watcher’s Update

I made Lifetime the 1st week of March.  This means I don’t have to pay any more to attend the meetings.  Yay!  What a great blessing 2012 was to me in seeing this goal be accomplished.  I have so much more energy and feel more physically fit than I have in years.  It’s hard to believe how added weight can really mess up your mind and body.  I am thankful to God for his grace to see me through this self-imposed challenge.  I pray that I can keep it off too!

 

Weight Watcher Update- Week 53

Well, this is not a great picture, but I recieved this charm today for making it to my weight goal.  It has been 53 weeks since first joining WW and I have lost a total of 53 pounds.  I purchased myself a beautiful bouquet of yellow tulips. (sorry, I should have taken the picture of those) I’m excited to be at maintience level and anxious to see how well it goes.  I’ve heard others members say it is harder than losing but I am ready for the challange.  I will be a Lifetime member (for free) in six weeks if I don’t gain more than 2 pounds over my goal weight. 

I went through my closet just before Christmas and got rid of about 100 pounds of clothing.  I then went through some boxes of clothing I’ve been saving.  I now have a whole new wardrobe.  Yay!

Inexpensive Ways to Celebrate!

Treat Yourself

Who said celebrating had to be expensive? In fact, for as little as $5, you can experience some simple pleasures. Here are some fun suggestions for when you hit both mini and major milestones in your weight loss.

For under $5, why not …

Buy a new magazine and spend an hour reading it.

Enjoy a leisurely weekend morning. Take the phone off the hook and read the paper or a book in your pajamas.

Savor a celebratory glass of wine with dinner.

For under $10, why not …

Open an “I’m worth it” bank account: Deposit $10 for every week you’ve stuck to your weight-loss plan, or for every pound you’ve lost. Later, use the money you’ve saved to buy yourself new, smaller-sized clothes, or take yourself on a well-earned trip.

Buy a relaxation CD and use it daily.

Do some grocery shopping and make one of the delicious desserts from the WW Find & Explore Recipes section.

For $20 to $45, why not …

String a hammock up in the backyard and spend an afternoon napping in the sun.

Purchase some fitness accessories for your home like: free weights, jump rope, resistance bands, stability and fitness balls or a yoga/Pilates mat.

For over $50, why not …

Devote the entire day to shopping for a new pair of shoes—athletic shoes, that is, to help you earn activity PointsPlus® values.

Splurge on a bottle of expensive champagne; you deserve it.

Buy yourself theater tickets to a show you’ve been wanting to see.

Get yourself a haircut or 30-minute massage.

This is part of a Weight Watcher article that I wanted to remember.  ~ Beth

Weight Watchers Update

Celebrate with me, please.  I weighed in today at my weekly WW meeting 50 pounds lighter than in January 2012.  That’s 50 pounds in about 50 weeks.  I am so pleased with the Weight Watcher program, it does work.  I am very close to my ultimate goal and can’t wait to work at the maintenience part of all of this.

The holidays are upon us and so far so well.  The next couple weeks will be challenging but I’m learning to be balanced with the whole concept of food, I think. I will spurge for Christmas and am planning of making my favorite spritz cookies this next week.

Also, today I finished getting some of my older/smaller clothing out from under my bed, where I had it stored for this very purpose.  I now have a new wardrobe.   I also dropped off at Goodwill at huge bag of my huge clothing that I am not hanging on to in case this doesn’t last.

Weight Watchers Week 48

I missed my last accountabiliy check-in.  Wow, time does fly.  Well, I made it passed Thanksgiving.  I’ve now lost a total of 47 pounds and am closing in on my original weight loss target.  It is getting a bit harder the closer I get and here we are smack in the middle of the holiday season. Oh, no!  I am hoping to be done by the first of the year but we will see.  I’m planning my special holiday treats carefully this year, but I am looking forward to them.

Weight Watchers Week 40

Wow!  It’s been 40 weeks since joining Weight Watchers, and I will say that I am thrilled to be consistantly lossing weight and better yet physically feeling so much better.  Praise the Lord.   I have now lost a total of 43 pound, and getting close to the goal I set for myself.

Here are some tips for me to remember:

* exercise, if not daily, several times each week

* move the body when ever possible.  Nathan and I shoot basketball hoops each evening when we are hanging around the house after dinner.  It adds to my activity points.

* when gathering with friends, don’t make food the central theme, make activity dates instead of lunch dates.  Try bowling, hiking, walking in your neighborhood, play cards without snacks or dessert.

* during your “normal” snacking part of the day, find other things to do.  Read a book, knit, crochet, take a short walk, chew gum, or clean something.  Keep those hands busy.

* snack on healthy choice items, fruits and veggies are free WW points.

* don’t let boredom sabotage your weight loss.  Take a class at the community college or community center, call a friend and talk on the phone.  Do community service work and get out there and meet new people.

Okay, these are a few ideas I am picking up from my accountability meetings.

Here’s a funny for you!!!

Weight Watchers Check In

Yay! for me.  I recieved my 4th 10 pound ribbon a couple of weeks ago.  It is hard to believe I am 40 pounds lighter.  I am physically feeling so much better and have twice as much energy to get things done with.  I’ve very thankful to God for giving me the will power and knowledge to accomplish this so far.  I still have a few more pounds to lose but I’m getting closer to my goal.

Weight Watchers Week 32

Okay, I’ve made it passed the 1/2 year point.  I’m continuing with my slow but steady pace of weight loss. I lost 4 more pounds in the last month.  Also this month I was inspired by a friend to go back to making green smoothies in the morning for breakfast.  I’m doing that Monday-Friday with weekends off for some variety.  My exercise has been consistant even through our 100 degree weather here in Phoenix.

Here’s a couple weight loss chuckles for you:

My Weight Watcher’s Update

I’ve been making slow but steady progress on my weight loss.  It has now been 28 weeks on the WW program and I am in a good groove right now.  Even though July is busy with birthdays and the annual Home School Convention in down town Phoenix, with way more eating out, I did, overall, very well.  I lost weight 5 weeks in a row, which is great and I’m now down 37 pounds.  I’ll be glad to hit my goal and begin the maintanence process.  This last month I’ve changed my exercise routine from 5-6 days per week back to 3 more intense days.  It seem to be working so I will continue with this schedule for now.

Weight Watcher 24 Week Update

I missed my last scheduled update, at 20 weeks, sorry about that.  My computer is almost back to running like a charm.  The last 2 months I have continued to have weight loss success.  I am now down a total of 30 pounds with more to go.  I have upped my exercise routine and I am feeling lighter and with more energy.  PTL.  I love the support that Weight Watcher gives, I almost always come home from a meeting with a new idea for food or exercise.  Recently one co-member mentioned walking and listening to an audio book.  That charged me up to walk more with my downloaded pile of sermons.

This comic if for my Star Wars fans. lol.