Weight Watchers October ~~Come on in and join the fun!

[AZJane]

Just getting us started :)

[AZJane]

Happy October everyone! It sure is a warm welcome too at 9 it is 84 degrees. Yikes, could be a warm one today :) In fact, I think I'll take a swim today for my exercise.

I had too many drinks yesterday and not mocktails :p I feel like I'm in a haze and am going to chug the water today to overcome that feeling. Here's my menu:

A minimum of 6 16.9 oz. bottles of water (some with real lime packets I think)

B- 2 slices dry toast w/mixed fruit
L- sliced roast beef, cottage cheese, salad and fruit
D-cheeseburger soup w/salad
S- popcorn, sliced fruit w/cheddar

Any specific goals for this week? Here are mine.

6 16.9 oz. bottles of water per day
Mon-Fri walk 1 hour per day (new sched starts this wk with my winter walk partner)
No scale until Friday (this is gonna be hard but I'm going for it!)
No alcohol
No eating after 6 PM
Lose the popcorn snacking habit (almost done with my 100 cal packs!)

[Terri_A]

Well...I broke my own scale rule and got on it this morning. I don't know why - I only weigh myself one day a week usually, but I'm glad that I did, as I'm down 1 pound. My weight loss is painfully slow, but it's going the right direction!! Of course at the rate of 1 pound every other week, I'll hit my goal in about 2 1/2 years!!! I have an appointment with my endocrinologist in November and I think I'm in dire need of some medication adjustments. Now that I"m off the prednisone, nothing seems right, so we'll see.

My goal for the week - get my butt into the gym!!! Even if I went once it would be progress!!!

[AZJane]

Terri, Congratulations on your loss! I hear ya on the exercise. I rarely do it by myself. I have to have a workout pal to really get my commitment to exercise in gear. I've considered getting a trainer but I can't really justify it at this point in my mind. I'm just lazy. period. :D I have all the equipment at my house and there it sits. Hmmm...maybe I will do the Universal machine today :confused:

[SusanPC]

Congrats on the loss Terri_A! And, good luck getting to the gym. It really is hard dragging yourself there, I know, but it will make you feel so much better!

Well, I officially joined a meeting on Saturday. It was packed and it was fairly inspirational in terms of people celebrating various degrees of success. So, I am hoping it will help keep me motivated.

Of course, last night we went to a party and somehow it went from 7:30 to 2:30 AM w/out my noticing it....so as you can probably guess there was too much drinking, and as a result, too much eating. Today we went to a renaissance fair and I ate my way through it. Come home, DH walks over to whole foods and grills a steak which is smothered with blue cheese/olive oil sauce. Yummy...but not even close to on plan.

I am resolved to be perfect this week, no flexies for me as I ate/drank them this weekend. My DH is away on business part of the week and I am always good those days.

My goal on non trainer days this week is to get up early and get in at least 45 minutes of cardio. Tomorrow is one of those days so I plan to try to be there by 6AM tomorrow.

Good luck to everyone. We can do it!

[Goin' Coastal]

I am looking forward to a good week! Did 50 minutes on the treadmill this morning, and then this afternoon took a brisk 45 minute walk with a neighbor. It was a perfect fall day here in central Ohio! I've stayed within points today, too.

DH is gone for 2 weeks, so it will be much easier to stay on plan. I don't think I'll even be tempted to have a glass of wine in the evening with him not here, either - which is good because it uses up too many of those flex points! :D

Congratulations on the loss, Terri - it's even nicer since it was so hard coming!

Wishing a good week for all!

Char

[CindyTheCook]

I have a group of coworkers who started on WW about 7 months ago and there transformation is nothing short of amazing!, they all have lost over 40 pounds, and one guy even lost 60! WW is one amazing program :)

If you are just joining WW you may want to try this recipe.

It’s not my own but I came across it and well it has become a staple in my weekly dinners / lunches :)

It’s called Enchilada Casserole and it uses all low cal high fiber ingredients. It is so good you can't even believe it’s not that bad for you.


http://cookingitup.com/Recipe/r5n9kjbkq7j91lkhr3h/320/EnchiladaCassorole


Cindy

[pambrack]

Just wanted to say that I am in my first week of WW and it is the first diet program (haven't tried too many) that I am enjoying. It has added a challenge to my meal planning that is inspiring me. I am going crazy to find tastey recipes that are WW friendly. I bought a WW cookbook on Thursday and have cooked four of the recipes already. Each of them has been really good and my husband has not complained once about them. (Of course I am not telling him about no fat or low fat ingredients) I have my first weigh-in on Tuesday and I am a little nervous as I have never really been accountable before for my weight loss efforts. Just today I am starting to feel like there are changes in my body which I am giving credit to the WW program for. My bloat seems to abated and the water is making my skin and digestive system feel really great. Sunday was the first time I went over on points and used any from my bonus and that had a lot to do with it being a rainy Sunday afternoon. I have not even been tempted to resort to my old habits of grabbing hand fulls of M&M's or any kind of chocolate. The WW snack cakes are just enough to satisfy my cravings so far. Any tips anyone has to offer are more than welcome.

[AZJane]

Hi Everyone! Happy Monday!

I'm kinda busy today :p reorganizing my pantry :rolleyes: :eek: :rolleyes: but wanted to pop in to be accountable. Here's my menu:

fruit w/2 slices dry 9 grain toast
mozarella stick w/apple
soup/salad w/ff dressing
cottage cheese w/sundried tomatoes
fish/salad/green beans/fruit salad
100 cal popcorn

6 16.9 oz. water
90 minutes of walking today

Welcome to our new posters! I love the WW plan and more importantly, it WORKS!

[ltcook]

Hi everyone!

Thank you for welcoming me into the BB last week. I had a hard time staying within my points this weekend because I had a sort of cook-off day with my family. I made Truffle Sugar Cookies, Lettuce Wraps, Tacos al Carbon, and a Fajita Pizza all on Saturday. Of course I didn't eat this all by myself but the nibbling here and there was enough. I did deliver alot of the food to friends and family. The downfall was that they had also cooked alot of different things and of course I had to taste them. Everything I made was low-fat but there food was not. I used 25 flex points this weekend and my weigh in day is Wednesday. Last week I stayed the same weight but I'm a little nervous for this week.
My game plan for this week is:

*drink all of my water
*exercise at least 20 - 30 minutes a day
*stay in my points
* stop using flex points

wish me good luck ;)

angela

[chazkp]

My DH and I just started WW this week. I was in it before and I was really difficult for me because I got discouraged. Hopefully with my husband on board this time, and people to talk to about it, it will be easier for me.

I have a long way to go, but I know I can do it as long as I don't let the little setbacks get to me.

I'm starting off two challenging goals for me - drink at least 100 oz. of water a day and exercise 30 minutes every day.

[JanetJ]

Had my first weigh-in today and I am down 4 pounds! I knew I would lose something since I followed the plan to the letter this week and you usually have that first week water loss, but I was even surprised at a whole 4 pounds. Great motivation to keep it going!

Terri, congrats on the loss!

Here's to a great week everyone!

[Angelina]

I am still on it with my Mom. I have lost 60 pounds so far, and last week I lost 2 pounds, even though it was a less than stellar week nutritionally speaking. I was SHOCKED when I saw I lost 2!!

I am only 6oz away from my goal weight, so I am really hoping to get there this week...and maybe a little under. ;)

Angela

[CindyTheCook]

Angelina,

That is so wonderful!

I don't know if any of you have seen them but the lowcarb bagels at the supermarket. (110 calories, 7 grams fiber)

I think they work out to be about one point
Then if you go and get the laughing cow light cheese they just came out with
(35 calories, 2.5 grams fat)

if you add a little ham or turkey you have a 3 point to 4 point breakfast that is just a wonderful tasting great breakfast.

I turned on a few people at my work this (who are on WW) and let me tell you they fell in love with it.

Also for those of you who are new to WW I would highly recommend soup plantation. I don't know how many of them they are but they offer some of the most point friendly foods you can find :) they even have the nutritional information in a booklet at the restaurant so you can stay in your points (including a 1 point muffin :) )

Hope this helps out and if you want more good ideas let me know I'm full of them. Even though I'm in WW I have been going to lunch with the work WWC (Weight Watcher Crew) for a long time so I know all the tricks.

Cindy.

[foodlady]

Hi all!

Angela -- AWESOME job! Only .6 to go!

I went and weighed in last Friday (my first time since my son was born) and I have 36 pounds to lose to get back to my goal weight. It's more than I thought it would be, but it is what it is.

It feels SO good to be back on program -- and back in control of my food choices. My dh is doing it with me, and his support is awesome.

This week's new food finds:

Trader Joe's Chicken Chile Verde. YUM. Yesterday for lunch I had a serving of this over brown rice for only 6 pts and was full all afternoon. (I want to find / create a recipe for this!)

Wishbone salad spritzers - Balsamic Breeze -- only 1 calorie per squirt and yummy.

My biggest challenge -- getting my veggies in. I got out of the veggie habit when I was pregnant since they gave me horrible heartburn, and need to get BACK into it!!

Here's my plan for today:

Water, water, water...

Breakfast:
Coffee w/ milk & sugar - 1
WW English muffin w/ poached egg - 3
sliced peach - 1

Lunch:
Boca cheeseburger on light bun w/ lettuce and tomato - 3
Grapes - 1

Mid-afternoon slump -- Starbucks tall, nonfat vanilla latte - 3

Dinner:
CL Sloppy Joes with Corn - 6 (made ahead and kept warm in crock pot -- it's soccer night!)
Green salad - 0
Milk - 2

And in the evening when I plop in front of the TV ... herbal tea...

Have a great ON PROGRAM day everyone!!

[Terri_A]

Congrats Angelina and Janet on two great losses!

Angelina - you must be soooo excited to be that close to your goal weight! Losing 60 pounds is nothing to sneeze at, that's for sure! You should be proud (and I'm sure you are!)!

I had a so-so day yesterday. I ended up having 2 margaritas instead of going to the gym...long story how that happened, but suffice it to say I have 1 friend who's a bit of a bad influence!!!

Today should be better - I cannot be derailed from my plans. I'm leaving in a hour for work and I'm taking a bag to hit the gym on the way home. Does anyone workout in the middle of a work day? I have a flexible schedule and I'm thinking about trying to workout at lunch, but I certainly couldn't do a full-on shower at lunch, wash hair, etc...Anyone do it and have some "clean up" tips???

Thanks and have a great day!

[AZJane]

Morning Losers!

Woohoo! I see we have two great losers already this week! I love it! Congrats to Angelina and Janet for terrific weigh-ins!

Angela, I love trying new food finds. Just count the points and enjoy! I don't know if it really works or not but I like to drink extra water when I've had some more shall we say "fun" foods. Have a great week!

Chaz, how did your water and exercise go yesterday? It sure is great that youu have a spouse on plan with you. Lucky girl!

Janet, You're doing really great! Keep up the good work :)

Angelina! 60 Pounds is fantastic! You must have the compliments overflowing these days. Congrats on a job well done and I'm wishing you GOAL this week!

Cindy, are those the Western bagels you are posting about? or another brand? We used to have a really good lc bagel here (Fleishmann's) but it was discontinued in our area but was replaced with the Western Alternative bagel and I LoVE them. So hearty and no weird "diet" taste to them. I sure wish we had a Souplantation. It sounds particularly perfect for the cooler months.:cool:

Foodlady, good for you for joining WW to kick that babyweight to the curb! Nice that DH is joining you as well. Trader Joe's has some great food finds for WW. Have you tried the baked eggplant parmesan? Omg, delicious! I can't recall right now but I believe it is 3 points but it is a very nice serving size and I make it a meal along with a salad. At the WW site there are tons of threads with TJ WW finds.

Terri, I know all too well how much more fun margaritas are than exercise :D My neighbor wanted to do that last night instead of walk but I nudged her out of it. Thank goodness I was in high WW gear yesterday. I love margaritas! Have a great workout today!

I'm getting ready to leave for my hour long walk to start my day off. I'll walk again this evening for a half an hour. I'm taking advantage of having two walking partners while the evening sun still allows for it. Here's my plan for today:

6 16.9 oz. bottles of water
B- 2 slices 9 grain toast dry w/fruit
L- Progresso soup w/salad and yogurt
D- fish/salad/broccoli/fruit
Snacks: popcorn (almost gone!), fruit, cottage cheese w/olives and jalapenos

[Goin' Coastal]

Down 1.2 today - not extraordinary, but I'll take it! In my WW meeting this morning, they were talking about some low point treats. One was brownies made with a chocolate cake mix, a small can of pumpkin and 3/4 cup of water. Has anyone made these? They sound intriguing, but I never buy cake mixes anymore because of trans fats. Is there such thing as a cake mix without trans fats? I'll have to look at Whole Foods next time I am there. Another recipe (which I decided to try) is simply mixing an angel food cake mix with a 20 oz can of crushed pineapple. Bake at 350 until done. I put it in a jelly roll pan and will cut it into 20 portions which will be 2 pts. each. I figured I could wrap them individually and throw them in the freezer. I'll let you know how they are - they're in the oven right now. I also have a big pot of vegetable soup simmering on the stove right now - yummmmmmm.

[Angelina]

Thank you all for the compliments! It has taken me a year and a half, but who's counting? :p

I think WW has really worked out for me for several reasons. First of all, I am on Core. Everybody should use what they are more comfortable with, and for me this is it...I know I would be counting Oreo cookie points otherwise. ;) Perfect I'm not, but I do my best.

Second, when my mother first told me she wanted to go to WW, I told her that if she went, I would go with her and stick to it with her for as long as it took. She has lost so far 40 pounds, with about 30 more to go, but since my commitment is not just to myself, it pushes me more and keeps me on track. Sure, there are weeks when I gain a couple, but it's the long run that matters. Besides, my Mom pays my WW dues, and I feel SO guilty when I gain instead of losing. I try to convince her to let me pay on those weeks, but she won't let me!! My Mom is the best, and she is always there for me. Now is my time to be there for her, even if it means I can't sleep till noon anymore on Saturday mornings. :cool:

Last but not least, we rarely skip a meeting, and our meeting leader is really fun and energetic. She lost 105 pounds herself and now is a fitness instructor. With or without my Mom, I don't think I could have done it without the weekly meetings. No, the online thing would not have worked for me. Nobody checking my weight and writing it down on a piece of paper... :)

So this is what worked for me. Maybe it can help some of you as well. Keep your fingers crossed for me this Saturday! :D

Angela

[Chris415]

Morning all!

I've been debating on whether to join this forum, but after this morning's scale check, decided it's time!

Quick synopsis--Joined WW in July 2004, made lifetime in July 2005. Lost 30+ pounds and have been fairly consistent in my weight. But lately I've gained a little bit (8 from goal) and don't like it one bit! Things around home have been a little crazy, we've been out a fridge for a week and a half (the new one gets delivered today, hallelujah!), so cooking and eating right haven't been at the top of my list. We've been eating out a lot, and I've been slack in my choices.

I still point things, although I don't write them down,:rolleyes: (obviously part of my problem). One of the greatest things about WW is I can go back on program and count points whenever I'm feeling like things have gotten out of control in my eating, life, etc.

So that's where I'm at this morning. Back to counting points and hoping to get back down to my goal weight in a couple of weeks! :)

I agree with Angelina, I never would have been able to stick to WW if not for going to the meetings. I had to have someone verify if I've been good or bad. I have a really bad voice in my head that can justify ANYTHING! ;)

Best of luck to everyone here! And good luck, Angelina, here's to making goal!!! :D
Chris

[SusanPC]

Congratulations to all on your successes. It is very motivating.

I am doing well this week. Have stayed completely on plan this week and plan to until my weigh in on Saturday.

Monday night I hit the gym for 45 minutes of cardio. Last night I did 20 minutes of cardio and then an hour with my trainer. Tonight I am shooting for 30 minutes of cardio and then a leg work out. Tomorrow I have the trainer again.

I find that as long as I have good songs on my IPOD I actually don't mind working out. Dragging myself accross the street (I have no excuses the gym is litterally 100 yards from my home) after a long day at work is the hardest part.

My big goal this weekend is to do: some meal planning. I hate that "what am I going to eat" feeling when it is 8:30pm and I am just getting home to from the gym.

So, that's it for me. Plodding along and feeling like I can tackle the food side and hoping with the exercise base I have built over the last 10 weeks the weight will start to come off once the two synch up. I never appreciated how much harder it is to lose weight when you are out of your 20s!

Good luck to all for the rest of the week.

[maryellenmd]

Can I join in too? I've been doing WW on and off since 2001, when I lost 41 lbs. Over the years, the weight has crept back on slowly, and I just had a baby in June so I am ready to finally get back on the WW wagon!

This week my goal is to really get started again - journaling everything, keeping track of my points, and drinking my water. Hopefully, do some better meal planning and grocery shopping too.

One of my favorite discoveries recently has been those 100 calorie Baked Cheetos snack packs! So good. I definitely need help with the portion control so I love those single serving packages.

Hope you are all having a great week, staying on program!

-Mary Ellen

[pambrack]

Well last night was my first weigh-in and I lost 4.2 pounds. I was very happy. Once I got the hang of the point thing, it seemed relatively easy, but I had a little moment of panic just before I stepped on the scale that I wouldn't have lost more than a couple of pounds. This is my first attempt in all my 49 years to seriously try to weight and it seems to be agreeing with me and working. It is very inspiring for me to start me new week and look for new ideas to keep me satisfied. I need variety in my diet.

[AZJane]

Morning Losers!

GC, I'm anxious to read your review on the pineapple angelfood cake. I've never tried it but read about it a gazillion times. Let us know if you find a good cakemix without the TF's. I'd love that. On WW there are posts with how to make individual cakes using cakemix. I think I'd love to do that because I definitely have portion control issues with cake :p

Angelina, thanks for sharing your story. Congrats again! I love the meetings too and that is why I'm still attending weekly even though I am below my goal weight. I just like the commitment and the people. We have several lifetimers at goal or below that attend weekly and it is great because we give eachother tips that might not apply to the members still losing weight and it is nice to be accountable.

Welcome back to WW Chris! You'll knock that weight off in no time!

Susan, great job on the exercise. Some weeks I am a major planner with my meals, some not. LOL..I go around and around trying to figure out what will work for my lifestyle and my mindset.

Welcome Maryellen :) Have a great first week back!

Pam, WOW! Great first week! Woohooo! You go girl!

[MNGirlTX]

Good morning, ladies! Boy, we have some losers here :D ! Congrats to you all.

So, I'm back after a long weekend away at a dude ranch, plus a night/day in Las Vegas. The only control I had over my food at the ranch was the amount I ate. I think I did fairly well with that. I brought along the honey mustard pretzels and lemon dream bars from WW, so if I needed a snack I wouldn't be tempted by candy bars and other bad things.

While I didn't skip dessert at the ranch, I'm very proud of myself for not ordering desserts at dinner and lunch in Vegas. Of course, the high price tags on those 2 meals were part of the deterent. I DID have a pain au chocolat for breakfast, though. And, a couple chai teas from Starbucks at the airport(s)...but with ff milk.

Weigh-in is tomorrow. I went right back on Core yesterday morning. I'd be delighted if I stay the same, but I'm not too optimistic.

Welcome to all the new "faces".

Lori

[JanetJ]

So much positive energy going on in this thread!

Pam, great job!!

Welcome, Chris and Mary Ellen!

Susan, sounds like you are having a great week so far and have a solid exercise plan. Good job!

Angelina, good luck! I do WW with my mom, too, and it is a big help for me. We check in with each other during the week on it and then go to meetings together.

[AZJane]

Lori,sounds like a fun trip! how do you like the lemon bars? I'm tempted to try them but haven't yet.

I finished my hour walk and will do another 30 minute walk this evening. Here's my menu for today:

frut w/2 slices dry 9 grain toast
chicken salad made with lf mayo, chicken, almonds, grapes, celery and onion on a bed of lettuce
cake
Carl's jr. Low Carb chicken club sandwich
popcorn

I've already had over 40 oz of water and will have over 100 for the day.

[foodlady]

Great job, everyone! Go Angelina, go!

Here's my plan for the day: 20 pts

breakfast:
WW english muffin w/ 1 T whipped cream cheese - 2
coffee w/ milk & sugar - 1

lunch:
sloppy joe - 4
plums - 1
milk - 2
raw veggies - 0

dinner:
beef carnitas tacos - 5
baked tortilla chips - 2
Tex Mex Black bean dip - 1

snacks:
bananna - 1
apple - 1

[MNGirlTX]

Lori,sounds like a fun trip! how do you like the lemon bars? I'm tempted to try them but haven't yet.


I really like the lemon bars. They are the consistency of rice krispie bars, with a lemon jelly and frosting on them. They are VERY lemony.

Lori

[AZJane]

Morning Ladies,

I'm weighing myself tomorrow and see how I did "scale-less" for the week. We shall see:) I have my meeting tonight too. Big fun!

Here's my planned menu for today:

B- 2 slices 9 grain toast, dry w/fruit
L-egg salad landwich (lettuce wrap :D ) w/fruit and some Lay's light chips
D- fluffernutter sandwich! I read about Fluff (never had it before) here and Yikes, had to order it and it arrives today so I'm putting it on the menu. DH will crack up that this is my idea of 'dinner'. I'll serve that with chips and I'm going to buy a package of the lemon ww bars at my meeting, so I'll give them a whirl too.
S- fruit, veggies with salsa dip

1 hour walking today
100 oz. water minimum

Make it a great day!

[BarbaraL]

Hi, everybody.

I'm trying to get back into the swing of WW's. I'd lost 20 pounds, then kind of lost my steam. I'm under a lot of stress at work, and am getting home late and starving! I'm good all day, then the minute I get home, I lose control. I've started going for a walk as soon as I get home (weather permitting), and trying to clear out the trigger foods.

As they say, it's a marathon not a sprint . . .

[pambrack]

I was having a hard time before I started WW because I was ravenous (spelling) when I first got home from work so I would eat bad things. I started having a late afternoon snack before I leave work like an apple or some other one point snack so that I have something before I get home to all the temptations. I have to admit that I have cleaned out most of the bad things (like partymix with added M&M's and nuts) that I used to love to snack on while making dinner. I have also been having fun experimenting with a new WW cookbook Simply the Best so I am busy and not thinking about snacks as much. I think as long as I keep variety in my diet and life, I will do well.

[Chris415]

After work always has been the hardest time of the day for me too. For me, I think it's more of a psychological mindset. I can relax and be in my own surroundings at home, thus, I can eat what and how much I want! :rolleyes: This has been an ongoing struggle for me since starting WW, something I haven't totally conquered, but I face the challenge head on daily!

One thing that has helped me is getting involved in something physical. Whether it be going to the gym or mowing the lawn, I come home, change, maybe take a nibble of something, then head out. Away from the kitchen I do best! ;)

And of course, the best piece of advice is to not have cheese and crackers and all those other yummy nibblies in the house. Although, for me, that's always hard if you live with someone who can eat anything and everything and not gain an ounce! :mad: Or if they're there, measure what I can have and move away from the kitchen! :)

And if I go to the gym after work, I have to make sure that dinner is ready to go in a heartbeat, because I will be RAVENOUS when I walk in! Stirfries are really great for these evenings. My favorite WW cookbook is Take Out Tonight. They have tons of low-point Chinese stirfries! Yum!

Chris

[Goin' Coastal]

Reporting in on the angel food cake/pineapple bars. They were OK, but nothing great. They have a pretty good flavor, but very light and spongy, so you don't feel like you are really sticking your teeth into anything. Appearance was nothing to right home about either. I doubt I will make them again. They were extremely easy though - just mixing the cake mix with a can of crushed pineapple and bake.

[Goin' Coastal]

I made these muffins last night and found them to be really good - and 3 pts. each. I did not add the nuts, but I did add some raisins. Had a hard time stopping at just one! But I did ;) I also left out the orange rind because it just generally doesn't appeal to me in recipes. I am not sure who originally posted the recipe, but I'm glad they did!

Refrigerator Pumpkin Bran Muffins
From Pillsbury's Best Muffins and Quick Breads (Clarkson Potter; March, 1999)
Yield: 30 muffins

The secret to refrigerated muffin batters is the double-acting baking powder. It reacts first with liquids and then with heat during baking. Because baking powder loses its ability to leaven baked goods over time, use it before the expiration date on the package.

Prep Time: 20 minutes (Ready in 45 minutes)

* 2 cups shreds of whole bran cereal
* 1 1/2 cups buttermilk*
* 1 cup canned pumpkin
* 1/2 cup oil
* 2 teaspoons grated orange peel
* 2 eggs
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon cloves
* 1/4 teaspoon allspice
* 1/2 cup chopped nuts, if desired
* 3 tablespoons sugar

1. In large bowl, combine cereal and buttermilk; mix well. Let stand 5 minutes until cereal is softened.

2. To cereal mixture, add pumpkin, oil, orange peel, and eggs and blend well. Add flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, baking powder soda, cinnamon, salt, cloves, allspice and puts; mix well. Batter can be baked immediately or stored in tightly covered container in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

3. When ready to bake, heat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease desired number of muffin cups or line with paper baking cups. Stir batter; fill greased muffin cups 3/4 full. Sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon sugar over batter in each cup.

4. Bake at 400 degrees F for 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately remove from pan. Serve warm.

* To substitute for buttermilk, use 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice plus milk to make 1 1/2 cups. Or, substitute 1 1/2 cups orange juice for the buttermilk, and add 1 teaspoon grated orange peel to the batter.

High Attitude (Above 3,500 Feet): Decrease sugar in batter to 1 1/4 cups. Bake as directed above.

Nutrition Information Per Serving
Serving Size: 1 Muffin. Calories 170 - Calories from Fat 50 - Total Fat 6 g Saturated Fat - 1 g Cholesterol 15 mg - Sodium 125 mg - Dietary Fiber 3 g
Dietary Exchanges: I Starch, 1/2 Fruit, 1 Fat OR 1 1/2 Carbohydrate, 1 Fat

[SusanPC]

One thing I like to do to satisfy my ice cream craving is freeze ff cool whip and eat a spoonful or so. It tastes like ice cream to me. I need to get some!

I am doing well this week. Can't wait to weigh in and see if the results will be there. My coworkers were going to a burrito place today and instead of following along I said I would grab something healthy and meet them back at the office. Turns out, they didn't care and went with me.

Hope everyone is having a great day!

[MNGirlTX]

Just checking in - I only gained .4 pounds on vacation. Yay, me! Considering my "." is going to start in a few days, I probably didn't really gain anything. Now, to work hard this week and get a couple pounds gone. I'm running 10 miles in the morning, so think happy thoughts for me around 6 a.m.

Lori

[SusanPC]

Lori, congrats on the minimal gain. Very impressive. I am sure it will come off this week, and then some. Good luck too on the run. That is really impressive. I can't run more than 3 or so miles at a time!

I have my first official weigh in tomorrow morning. My scale at home shows just under a 5 lb loss (I had to peak) but we shall see what the WW gods say tomorrow.

Have a nice weekend everyone.

Funny (or not so funny depending on how you look at it) story from this AM, I step on the scale after being perfect all week.....and the scale says a pound over what I had started at. I swear I was going to cry when I realize my DH has snuck up behind me and has his foot on the back of the scale. Very mean!

[greysangel]

I swear I was going to cry when I realize my DH has snuck up behind me and has his foot on the back of the scale. Very mean!

My husband has done that..it is evil :rolleyes: :D

Hey ladies!

I'm back from vacation and finally free enough to write a few words! Belize was FANTASTIC! We had such a fabulous time. I will have to post some pictures, but it was gorgeous, fun, challenging (hiking, swimming, caving, ziplining, snorkeling :D ), tasty etc etc. I got back late late sunday night, weighed in Monday morning was up a pound, weighed on Tuesday morning and was down 3.5...I'll take the latter please and chalk up the Monday to airplane bloat or dehydration or something :) I ate plenty but we were also extremely active so it was a balance.


Our boat for a week:
http://www.greysangel.com/wwjeanne/ourboat.jpg

Dinner: :D
http://www.greysangel.com/wwjeanne/baracuda.jpg

Dolphins in the morning as we were sailing to the cayes:
http://www.greysangel.com/wwjeanne/dolphins.jpg

Anyhoo it was great to be gone and nice to come home to some happy puppies :)

[greysangel]

Long Cayes:
http://www.greysangel.com/wwjeanne/longcayes.jpg

Queen Cayes:
http://www.greysangel.com/wwjeanne/queencayes.jpg

In the dry cave:
http://www.greysangel.com/wwjeanne/incave.jpg

[Goin' Coastal]

Wow, JeAnne - it looks beautiful there! So glad you had a great time!

[foodlady]

Hey all!

I weighed in yesterday afternoon and I'm down 2 lbs. Woo hoo! Happy dance that the scale is moving down, and not up....

JeAnne -- your vacation photos are heavenly!!!

Have a great, on-program weekend everyone!!

[AZJane]

Happy Saturday! Wow, we've got a terrific group here!

I'm down a half pound and only have 4.5 to get to my Ultimate Goal weight! I'll be 14 pounds under my WW set goal and I think that will be terrific! Feeling really good about my progres.

Lori, the lemon bars are really delicious. Thanks for the recommendation. I bought the mint chocolate also and WOW! Love them too. I may try some more flavors. I was really impressed with how filling and tasty they are. Nice to have around and in the purse if you're out and about and get tempted to have some junk :D

Love the pics of your vacation! Just gorgeous :)

I'm working on my Christmas shopping today as I would love to be completely done by Thanksgiving. I also have to work on my Thanksgiving plans as well, since we host and we'll have 20 here for our dinner. I have bought the linens (I change the theme every year for fun) and new dinner plates (sure didn't need them but they match the linens perfectly) and now need to figure out my centerpieces and favors for each place setting. My theme this year is Western. I have toile napkins that are patterned with cowboys, horses and such that are in a golden yellow with an offwhite background and the fabric is a really nice heavy cotton. I was thinking maybe iced cookies that are cowboy hats or cactus or horse shoes wrapped in cellophane bags and tied up with leather ties? and I'm making llampshade covers for my chandelier in either leather or color copying the fabric and decoupaging some covers to match the linens. Hmmm..if anyone has any tips or ideas, I welcome them. Other favors I've done have been caramel apples, gift totes with candy in them, plants and candles. I also considered live cactus at each placesetting but a few people are traveling so they wouldnt' be able to take them home.

blah, blah, blah. I chat way too much! :rolleyes: so, here's my menu for today:

B: 2 eggs with sliced mushrooms, onions, broccoli w/fruit salad
L: salmon with broccoli, salad
D: chicken breast w/broccoli, salad
S: popcorn (last bag!) and fruit w/cheddar and maybe a WW bar.

[AZJane]

Is anyone else having a hard time getting their calcium requirement? I sure have. I just am not attracted to most calcium rich foods. I've been taking a supplement in place of it but wish I'd grow to love having a glass of milk or some yogurt on occasion.

My exercise is going to be a half hour treadmill.
Water will be at 100 or more oz. today.

[JRM24]

Hi All - Congrats on the good work!

I had my WI today and lost 0.5 lbs. I was hoping for a full pound, but I am happy that I did not gain. My total loss in 4 weeks is 9.5 lbs. This past week was a little tough since i was traveling for work and it is always difficult to measure food when I am away. Next time, I am considering switching to the core when i travel. The only good thing about traveling was that I exercised each night in my hotel. I always try to choose hotels with gyms/workout rooms - that way I know that I can watch tv while I am on the elliptical or treadmill - rather then sitting in my room.

Looking forward to being OP fully this week - since I will be home and more in control of what I can eat. I now have to make a list of meals for the week!

My DH and I went apple picking last weekend and now we have so many apples - luckily they are good for you and have fiber! I have to start thinking of recipes to incorporate them!

[SusanPC]

JeAnne--the pictures are amazing. Can I go?????

AZJane, congrats on the loss and having your personal end goal so close in sight!

I weighed in this AM and according to WW I am down 2.6lbs. I was kindof disappointed for a first week loss b/c I swear my home scale read approx 5 lbs. I wish you could strip down for the weigh in...I swear it was my bulky sweater :D

I was also dumb night before weigh in....2 beers and 1/2 a glass of red wine. My DH and I just love to head out on the weekend (it feels strange eating at home all week now....we have cabin fever by Friday!)

Well, I am off to run errands, but wanted to check in. Have a great weekend everyone!

[AZJane]

Morning Losers!

JRM24, 9.5 pounds for the month?? Wooohoooo! You go! Especially with travel. It is so easy to get into the "I'm away from home and DESERVE to have _____(insert junk here) mode" Good for you for exercising while away too. Have a great week!

Susan, 2.6 is nothing to sneeze at! I think it is terrific :) I know what you mean about getting a little stir crazy after being home all week. I am the same way. Unfortunately, for me to lose really well I have to limit my dining out experiences. I can order healthy stuff but somehow or another I always end up ordering cocktails :p :o :p It sure is fun but the scale doesn't like it much :mad:

I peeked at the scale and I'm down another half pound. I guess I am over my barrier and am loving getting out of the last decade :cool: We shall see what the week brings. I need to go weigh in at WW but I think they are closed for the holiday tomorrow. I think I'll call to make sure cos I'd love to weigh in and be done with it for the month. :) Since we got up so late this morning we are having a brunch meal today. Here's the menu:

Brunch: fruit salad, green salad,apple dutch baby, light pork sausage links, eggs

Dinner: Grilled cheese in my new sandwich toaster bags. I can't wait to give them a try. I found them on ebay (pampered chef brand) for a steal deal. I'll have that along with some fruit

Plenty of water, 30 minutes treadmill or walk

[JRM24]

Thanks AZJane! I am happy with my results.

SusanPC - Great job on the first week! I know what it is like not to eat out on Friday nights - my DH and I too try to escape for the week and eat out on the weekends. I have limited my Friday nights to eating at home and stopping by 8 pm. Saturday is my going out day - and eating out day.
Also - I, too, am in the DC area - which WW do you go to? I go to the one in Springfield!

My best friend was in town this weekend so I got some great exercise - I ran 4 miles yesterday and just took a pilates reformer class today. I am not sure how many of you are familiar with pilates but I just love it with the machines - it makes you feel so strong. I have never had much upper body strength and pilates really helps you versus regular weights which I can finish without difficulty. I guess it is all about using different muscles.

Ladies - Have a great day!

[madpots]

This is really a hearty meal with only 1 point per serving (which is 1 cup). It is very easy and you can substitute any kind of beans or tomatoes or use ground beef - that would be 2 points.

Yall are inspiring me to get started again.


* Exported from MasterCook *

TACO SOUP

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : 1 point per serving Soup

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 large onion -- chopped
1 boneless skinless chicken breast - diced
1 tsp cumin
1 package reduced sodium taco seasoning mix ( I used Chi Chi Fiesta)
2 cups whole kernel corn -- frozen (or 2 medium cans)
1 can chicken broth -- (15 oz)
1 can black beans -- (15 oz) (DO NOT DRAIN)
1 can white beans -- (15 oz) (DO NOT DRAIN)
1 can fat-free refried beans
1 can diced tomatoes -- (Mexican style) *Rotel
1 can diced tomatoes -- (any style)

Sauté onions until soft in a large sauce pot sprayed with pam, add chicken breast, cumin and cook through. Start opening cans; begin with the broth and refried beans and then dump everything else in. Bring to a boil and then simmer 30-40 minutes.

Makes 15 cups

1 cup = 1 point

S(Internet Address):
"http://copykatchat.com/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/480007706/m/694106277"
Yield:
"15 cups"


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 1582 Calories; 8g Fat (4.2% calories from fat); 103g Protein; 287g Carbohydrate; 69g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 1269mg Sodium. Exchanges: 17 Grain(Starch); 6 Lean Meat; 5 Vegetable; 0 Fat.


Nutr. Assoc. : 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

[AZJane]

Morning Losers!

Jrm, I've never done pilates. I do have a tape, just haven't used it yet :D I'll have to give it a go this week.

Madpots, thanks for the recipe. I'm printing it out for future use.

Just checking in before my hour walk this morning. I'll be doing another 30 minute walk this evening.

Here's the menu for today:

B: 2 eggs, sliced mushrooms, onions, broccoli, melon
L: grilled salmon, broccoli, green salad w/ff dressing
D: pork tenderloin, broccoli, fruit salad, cottage cheese
S: fruit w/cheddar

100 oz. minimum water, 2 diet sodas

Let's make this a great week!

[SusanPC]

JRM24- I live in Arlington but go to the Reston/Herndon meetings b/c my mom and sister live out there and we go together.

DH promised we would be good on Friday and I know he wants to be supportive...so I just need to be strong.

Lori, how was the run on Saturday? I hope your weather was better than ours on Sat!

We had a nice outdoorsy day yesterday up on Skyline Drive and did some hiking. I got up this AM and met with my trainer for an hour so it is nice to get the exercise out of the way.

Tonight after work I need to go to the grocery store and plan to make the Amish Style Chicken and Corn Soup for dinner. Fall is in the air and this sounded good to me (from WW Great Cooking Every Day).

I was bad foodwise from weigh in on Sat to last night. So, I am back at it.

Have a great day everyone!

[mom2garret]

Hey all! Congrats on all the loses. JeAnne, the pics are wonderful and way to go not totally blowing the WW thing. I just did my WI and shed another 2 pounds. Off to get a tea and skim milk from Dunkin. Take care all and I will check back in before letting another week go by!!
Jodi

[MNGirlTX]

Susan - My run was great! I'm very proud to say that I actually ran the entire 10 miles - walking only for water and Gu.

I ate like a horse over the weekend, though, so I've got to get back into the swing of things today.

Congrats on everyone's losses. Remember - a loss is a loss no matter how small you might think it is!

Lori

[Terri_A]

As a single mom I'm finding it VERY hard to get to the gym. I just don't have time!!! I can't go in the morning - can't leave the weeone home alone...in the evening, the last thing I want to do after picking her up from school is drop her in another daycare and I don't really have a "lunch" break at work - I'm on the go all day and can't go in the middle of the day. So, I've been thinking about doing the at-home workout thing. I'm a bit hesitant because I don't have ANY clue about what's a good workout DVD and what's not. I think I'd like a 40-45 minute workout that I could do at 6am and then DD and often ride bikes, walk to the park, etc in the evening. Do any of you have a reco for a good workout DVD??? I can't do high impact as I have 2 bum knees....thanks!!!

[SusanPC]

Lori, very impressive!

Terri_A, I have enough trouble getting in my exercise and eating right when all I have is a dog to look after. I am sure it must be infinately harder while looking after your DD. How young is she? Could you brisk walk with her in a stroller and then do some strength training videos?

I think Shape may have some spot training ones.

Also, I used to do workouts from The Firm collection. They were always challenging and I felt like I got good full body workouts. You could probably find them at a reduced price on eBay or something so you could try it out.

On another Note,

I have a question for those of you that have lost/been on the program for a while. Say I go over my weekly allowance (including flex points), how bad is it if I eat under plan the rest of the week. I am not talking skipping meals, but rather eating lower point options than I normally would.

For instance, I just plugged my weekend into the points tracker. I went over my 35 Flex points by 19 pts. (I know, this is BAD--esp. since most of it was liquid!). So, I am thinking of cutting 3-4 pts off each day this week to catch up. Is this effective or am I going to do metabolism damage?

I don't plan to do this every week but I am just having trouble making it out of the weekend unscathed. I think I have to swear off alcohol all together if I am going to truly succeed at this. Two drinks and I throw the plan to the wind!

[MNGirlTX]

Susan - I think it's best to stay actually OP instead of cutting points from each day to make up. Make sure you drink plenty of water - that will help. If you CAN, get in some activity points...and then don't USE them ;) . And, if you gain this week - start fresh. As Scarlett said, "Tomorrow is another day.". I've tried really hard to cut most alcohol out because it's just empty, wasted calories. That's not to say I don't have a drink or a glass of wine every now and then...I just try not to overdo it. I have a group of girlfriends who can drink a lot of wine. I've kind of backed away from doing as many things with them. And, I don't really miss it all that much, you know?

I don't feel that WW is about depriving ourselves, but, instead, about enriching our lives - helping us find a way to live longer, healthier lives.

Lori

[SusanPC]

Lori:

Thanks for the suggestion. I didn't even think about the APs as I don't convert them but I will just exercise extra this week and mentally remember how much I am banking. It seems to be the part of this journey I am having the most success with so far--probably b/c I have the trainer waiting for me 3 days a week and the measurments are being taken every 3 weeks.

I did an hour with my trainer this AM and have been instructed to get 45 minutes of cardio in tonight. So, I will just start mentally banking the points.

Since my mom and sister are doing this with me, the competitive juices are flowing. But, I do agree. This is a lifestyle thing.

It is a marathon, not a sprint!

[JanetJ]

Lost 1.6 this week! I ate out more this week than I would have liked to (well, I love to eat out, but you know what I mean) and I wasn't sure what the scale would show.

Congrats to everyone - we are all doing so well!

[nanco]

This thread motivated me to start again. I would love to start with 20 lbs! What are the latest recipes everyone has discovered? I am going to make the Taco Soup this weekend.

[AZJane]

Morning Losers!

Susan, how was your dinner last night? That recipe sounds delicious. When I go over on points, I just move on. I don't try to make up for it in points but I will say that I do try to eat very clean the next few days and use my points on healthy foods.

Waving to Jodi :)

Lori, wow! 10 miles is a lllloooooonnnnnggggg run! good for you!

Terri, I bought the Kathy Smith uppper and lower body workout tape that can be split into two 20 minute sessions. It might be one to consider. I like her tapes because they are easy to follow (uncoordinated would be an understatement as it applies to me!) Have you ever looked at the T-tapp site? I have friends that rave about the results.

Congrats on your loss Janet! keep up the great work!

Nan, welcome aboard! I've been brining a turkey breast since last night. That is probably my latest concoction. I have loads of WW cookbooks that a neighbor gave me when she moved, but I use them rarely. I love the CL recipes and am rarely disappointed. I'm trying an Epicurious baked apple recipe for dessert tonight. It is part of the spa collection there.

Well, off for my walk in a few. One hour this morning. Water was great for yesterday and I only had two diet sodas. Here's my planned menu for today:

B: 2 eggs w/mushrooms, onions, broccoli, fruit salad
L: Taco salad w/cottage cheese, fruit
D: Turkey breast, green chili stuffing, green beans, baked apple
snack if necessary will be: fruit w/'cheddar, WW bar

[SusanPC]

I didn't end up trying the soup last night. Got home late from work and didn't feel like cooking. I plan to make it tonight, have all of the ingredients, and will post back.

Have a great day everyone!

[Goin' Coastal]

Had my WI this morning and I'm down 2 lbs! WooHoo!! Then I headed to the park for an hour hike. I have 1.2 lb to go for my first ten, so hopefully I will hit that next week. Good luck to everyone!

[AZJane]

Happy Wednesday!

Susan, Hope the soup was tasty or if not, that you didn't go to too much time and trouble to make the recipe. That's the thing I hate. Bad recipes that take lots of time and moola to make :D

GC, Fantastic on the weight loss! That first ten will be your's very soon! Keep up the great work!

Well, I'm off for my hour walk and have another scheduled for 30 minutes this evening. Water is going well this week and I'll do 150 oz. today before any diet sodas. My brined turkey was fantastic! It was my first time and I really noticed a big difference in the flavor and texture of the meat.

Todays menu:

2 eggs, mushrooms, onions, broccoli, fruit
WW bar
Running around so maybe Subway? something fast
Turkey sandwiches, baked chips, fruit
Snacks will be fruit w/cheese, cottage cheese

[pambrack]

Week No. 2 weigh-in last night. Lost another 2.6 pounds. Total 6.8 in two weeks. I am happy with it and haven't starved myself and haven't had to eat substandard food. I have been exploring new recipes and no complaints from DH yet about anything. It is making my menus more interesting, if nothing else. My son's wedding is in February and got to look great in the gown I bought. Would be happy losing 20, but will take 30 pounds if I can get there by then. I know I am saying goodbye to the me that was bulging out of size 14's!

[MNGirlTX]

Congrats on your losses, ladies!

[SusanPC]

Way to go pambrack and Goin' Coastal! That is fantastic!

I didn't make the soup again last night. Worked too late and just too tired when I got home. I vow to have it tonight, DH has instructions to start it if I get tied up again. (He is in town this whole week--it feels so odd as he travels so much for work!)

We have decided to start a family in the new year and I spoke with a RE yesterday. He said it would probably take 6 weeks to get pg (we have to do IVF for various reasons but should be a cut and dry case). It is giving me extra motivation. I asked the DR if I could do anything to help make this a success and all he said was "I wouldn't be disappointed in you if you lost a few lbs." Funny how now I am more motivated thinking I am not just doing this for myself.

We are heading to a wedding about 45 minutes out of town this weekend. We have a hotel room booked but I am cancelling it. If I have to drive us home I can't be derailed by the alcohol and the subsequent munchies that ruin my weekend progress!

I did an hour with the trainer this am. He thinks I am going to see good additional inches lost when we measure on Friday AM. I really am starting to notice it in my tummy.

Have a great day everyone.

PS--AZJane, 150 oz of H20??? I feel good when I get in 60-80...I need to move my office to the restroom!

[AZJane]

Happy Thursday!

Congrats to our losers! Hooorrraaayyyy!!! We're making progress!

Susan, How exciting for you and your DH! Congratulations on your decision :)

Snuck a peek at the scale and I'm still at my lowest ever! Wooohooo! Tomorow is my official weigh-in but I had to look cos I woke up feeling like my flabdomen was improving in appearance ;) :p :rolleyes: I have my WW meeting tonight. I love it and look forward to it every week. Here's the menu plan for today:

B- 2 slices dry 9 grain toast, fruit salad
L- turkey breast slices on salad greens with a lf raspberry vinaigrette, ww cake (the little carrot guys are a bargain at 1 pt)
D- light ravioli with tomato sauce, green salad with spray salad dressing, fruit, slice of garlic bread.
Snacks: fruit w/cheddar, cottage cheese

1 hour 15 walk this morning, 150 oz. water. Susan, it is easy for me because I don't work and I have 53 oz. while walking, then another 26 oz at my WW meeting and the rest is with meals and just general hydration :D and yes, I make sure I know the location of the nearest restroom when I'm out and about :D :eek: :D

[MNGirlTX]

Susan - best of luck to you and your DH!

I weigh in tonight, so think skinny thoughts for me! Since I spent 3 days eating like "normal", I'm not too hopeful for this week.

I'll check back in later.

Lori

[SusanPC]

Lori, hope the weigh in went well.

I have mine tomorrow morning so think some skinny thoughts for me too.
I am not too hopeful, I haven't been having very sensible dinners this week.

DH is travelling all next week so I know I will be better. Ugh. (I am good at lunch though---in fact at work I am nicknamed "ecoli" as I am the only one who hits the salad bar anymore!)

I had an hour with the trainer this AM. No change in my mesaurments in the last three weeks (disappointing since the last round were pretty dramatic) and only a .2% reduction in body fat. Whippy Ding! I think I need to up my cardio. Muscles are great but the cardio will get the weight off faster.

I have what seems to be the beginning of a nasty cold/flu so I am just trying to drink lots of water and hopefully get some rest tonight. Work has been awful this week...I am so glad it is Friday!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Susie


PS--Forgot to mention I made the soup. It was ok, but nothing to rave about.

[AZJane]

Morning!

Lori, how'd the weigh-in go? I always think of my weighins as a new beginning and recomittment to do well the next period of time.

Susie, I'm a big cardio girl. I need to do weights too but the cardio is easier and I can yap with my friend while I'm doing it :) I might go the trainer route to help me in that area. How many sessions do you have a week with your trainer and is the commitment monthly or ?? Our ww leader has a pal that does training at your home or her facility for 35 a session when you buy 10 sessions at a time. I'm not sure if that is the going rate or not, but I may check some of her references and see what I think. I went fitness wild a few years back and was going to do BFL (lasted 3 wks. I couldn't stand the scale moving up when I was working so hard! should have given it more time) and bought all pro gym equipment for our exercise room in our home so I have all the equipment already. I should get some use out of it :D :eek: Have a great weigh-in tomorrow.

I'm doing my monthly WW weigh-in today. Scale is the lowest it has been in years, so I'm quite happy :cool: Really watching my points and eating a lot healthier is really showing me results. Duh. What a "lightbulb moment" :D Work it, and it works! ;) We are having guests tomorrow for the FB game so I'm deciding what to make, what to have catered at this last minute. I think mexican is probably the way to go. I'll just have it in chafing dishes and let everyone go to town. In anticipation of multiple margaritas (a must for all ASU game!) I'll be eating very clean today and jump strictly back on board on Sunday. Here's todays menu:

B- after WI gotta hit the bagel place next door for a "to die for" salt bagel toasted w/butter on the side.
L/D I will combine. DH wants to go out (we rarely do this when I'm in my 'serious Ww mode') but I'll eat healthy stuff. Most likely a steak, broc and salad w/dressing on the side.
Snacks- well, the good news is that I have no WW bars, no popcorn and only 2 ww cake snacks in the house. Fruit and cottage cheese it is. I'm very happy with this as it has been an area of struggle for me. I really want to eat more fruits/veggies in lieu of snacky type foods.

1 hour walk this AM, 45 minutes tonight. Water - at least 100 oz. today.

[MNGirlTX]

Thanks for the skinny thoughts - and here's some for you Susan - I was up a bit (.2), but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Since next weekend I have company, and a trip to the State Fair, I'm going to work really hard this week and, hopefully, get rid of these couple pounds I gained back.

Happy Friday y'all!

Lori

[Couperine]

I've been lurking a bit watching your thread this month, and I finally decided this week to do WW for myself. I'm doing the online plan, and it's been a huge awakening about portion control. I chose the Flex plan because I'd rather learn to eat what I want in moderation rather than eating tons of set things.

Did anyone make the Taco Soup recipe posted? I'd like to try it with the beans rinsed and drained and add in a little more broth instead. The sodium content in the nutritional info seemed high, so I was hoping that rinsing the beans would cut it a little bit.

My biggest challenge overall is cooking for my family as well as planning my meals. I'm not going to cook separate meals for my husband and baby - they can just eat appropriate amounts for them. The meals I'm used to cooking just happen to be far too many points for me to eat portions that fill me up and stay within the plan.

I do have a little question about the way points work - on the online tracker, I've never gone over my daily allowance into flexpoints or daily activity points. Will the program use up my activity points first if I do go over my points for the day? It makes sense to do that first, but I just wanted to be sure. :)

Nancy

[foodlady]

Weighed in this afternoon and I'm down another 3.2. Woo hoo! That's 5.2 total for me.

Welcome, Nancy! I cook low-fat meals for my whole family that are point-friendly. I usually save at least 8 points for dinner. Last night was Chinese BBQ pork w/ rice and veggies...tonight is raspberry balsamic chicken...

With the right recipes, nobody even has to know you're on WW. :D

[LakeMartinGal]

Mocha-Dark Chocolate Chunk Brownies


Cooking spray
1 cup Sugar or 1/2 cup Splenda Blend
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
3 Tbs butter or margarine, melted
1½ Tbs instant coffee granules
2 Tbs water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1 large egg white, slightly beaten (I used powdered, and added 2Twater)
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 oz dark chocolate, chopped. I used unsweetened, and added 1T Splenda Blend


1 Preheat oven to 350°
2 Coat bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.
3 Combine sugar and next 8 ingredients in a bowl.
4 Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Add flour and dark chocolate to cocoa mixture, stirring just until blended. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.


Servings: 16
Yield: 16 servings

Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 99.8 calories; 43% calories from fat; 4.8g total fat; 17.7mg cholesterol; 34.1mg sodium; 95.1mg potassium; 12.7g carbohydrates; 1.6g fiber; 6.2g sugar; 11.1g net carbs; 2.3g protein; 2.1 points.

This nutritional info is for the recipe as I made it, but the points agree with the cookbook!

[JanetJ]

Just popping to post that I lost 3.2 pounds this week! I was surprised to see a big loss, but happy just the same. I went down into the next points level so now I need to adjust to that.

Nancy, I cook almost every night for my family and use recipes that work for me points-wise. I also save a good chunk of points for dinner since that's what works for me. Last night we had Greek Shrimp Scampi and tonight were are having Southwestern Steak w/ Pinto Beans. One of the things I love about WW is that any recipe (especially CL ones) can fit into my plan. My husband usually just eats a larger portion than I do, but he never feels like he's eating "diet food," as he calls it.

[Couperine]

Thanks for your advice about planning points for family meals; it's definitely made things smoother this week.

Do you have any favorite recipes that fit nicely into flex planning? I keep looking at the WW recipe section, and there seems to be a lot of open a can of this, make this mix of that, etc. in the recipes I keep clicking. I really enjoy cooking meals where it seems more from scratch, basically like many of the recipes from CL happen to be.

Another issue for me is portion control from huge recipe sizes - those 13 serving pot roast recipes that are in the recent issue sound yummy, but I certainly don't need 10 servings of higher point foods left over! :)

I lost 10.2 lbs for my first week, but since it was two different scales, I'm sure things will even out in another couple of weeks.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful OP day!

Nancy

[pambrack]

Just reporting that this week I lost 1.2 pounds, so that makes me an even 8 pounds for three weeks. I am not complaining, but I must admit I was a little bummed that it wasn't more of a loss a I feel like I have lost more. I did have an encounter with some wine over the weekend and I think I need to add more exercise than my 40 minute walks four mornings a week. Hope to reach 10 by next week! If I keep that goal in mind at least I won't gain 2 pounds, even if I don't lose all that I want to.

[Chris415]

Thanks for your advice about planning points for family meals; it's definitely made things smoother this week.

Do you have any favorite recipes that fit nicely into flex planning? I keep looking at the WW recipe section, and there seems to be a lot of open a can of this, make this mix of that, etc. in the recipes I keep clicking. I really enjoy cooking meals where it seems more from scratch, basically like many of the recipes from CL happen to be.

Another issue for me is portion control from huge recipe sizes - those 13 serving pot roast recipes that are in the recent issue sound yummy, but I certainly don't need 10 servings of higher point foods left over! :)

I lost 10.2 lbs for my first week, but since it was two different scales, I'm sure things will even out in another couple of weeks.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful OP day!

Nancy

Hi Nancy,
That was one of my problems with WW. I like to cook and wanted to find ways to cook healthfully instead of opening up a can of something and adding some veggies. :rolleyes:

Anyways, I can't say enough about the WW cookbooks! I think I have 4 and all of them are great. And it's REAL cooking! :) My fave is Take Out Tonight, lots of great Chinese recipes. And most of the recipes are for 4 people, so leftovers for lunch! And the best part, no figuring out the points, they do it for you!
Chris

[MNGirlTX]

Nancy - try looking at the Core recipes. The point value per serving doesn't show once you pop open the recipe, but it does show after the name of the recipe in the listing. For instance, I'm making the Texas Barley Salad for dinner tonight. I don't need to know the points because I'm on Core, but it is 3 points per serving.

Since processed foods aren't "allowed" on Core, you might feel more like you're cooking.

Hope that helps.

Lori

[SusanPC]

I've had a bit of a melt down this week. I probably have gained back the 2.6 I lost the first week. I skipped weigh in last weekend so I am vowing to go on Sat. I am hoping the embarrassment of the increase will get me re-motivated.

I have still been exercising/working out with the trainer, but that is seriously about it.

Congrats on the loss Pambrack! I would love 10 lbs in a month!

[MNGirlTX]

I'm happy to report a 2.4 pound loss - despite having supper club on Saturday night, eating pizza for lunch on Friday of last week, and pretty much eating poorly at least 1/2 the week. And, no exercise after Saturday's 12 mile run, because I kind of injured myself a little and needed the week to recover.

Tomorrow - a 13 mile run. Followed by the State Fair. Which means kind of bad eating. But I'm going to do my best.

Lori

[foodlady]

Just checking in -- I'm down another pound! That makes 6 lbs total so far. And I ate every last flex point last week -- pizza out, a dessert, and a meal at a friend's house. I try to save flex for these kinds of things, and I'm LOVING that I can have a few splurges each week and still stay OP.

My biggest challenge right now is that my knee has been acting up. For the last two weeks it's been swollen and sore...my doc suspects a damaged miniscus (sp?). I went for an MRI this morning, and I've been on anti-inflamatory meds for the last 2 weeks. UGH. The meds cause water retention, and of course, no impact exercise for me at the moment...I'm determined to not let this deter me on my healthy lifestyle choices, though. I've been doing my handweights and sit ups every morning and night, and eating well. I can't do much about the meds, but I CAN stay on program, eat nutritiously, drink my water, etc.

I do tend to fall into self-pity, though, and am trying to suck it up. I have 3 small children (including a 3 month-old baby), and my husband travels extensively for work. How easy it is to fall into the "poor me" trap and tell myself I "deserve" a big bowl of ice cream at the end of a long day! I'm trying to focus on all of the good things I have -- three beautiful children, a great husband, the life I've always wanted. And I *deserve* to be healthy and take good care of my body!

Have a great, OP weekend, everyone! :)

[AZJane]

Hi Everyone! Just a drive-by. I've been working on my Christmas shopping and haven't had time to check in over here :) I hope everyone is doing great and will check in more often starting tomorrow.

Make this week count!

[greysangel]

I'm up 2 *sigh*...Tom is coming and I had way too many mojitos last Thursday so there is no one else to blame but moi.

j

[mom2garret]

Jeanne:

I am feelin' ya sister.................I will report back once I go to my WI today. Not expecting anything to write home about! I lost 1.2 last week.
Jodi

[SusanPC]

I was up 1.6 on Saturday. I can blame it on TOM as well but like others the drinks and food helped! I am back on the wagon though. Did an hour with my trainer this AM and have lots of water sitting on my desk. Goal this week is to eat completely clean until weigh in on Saturday.

My sister is down 6.6 lbs in the same period and we started nearly at the same weight. If she can do it, I can!

Foodlady- while I can't say I am in your shoes, because we don't have kids yet, my husband also travels a ton for work. I definately have thrown my share of pity parties when he is gone. It is hard b/c with mine at least, he is so tired by Friday when he is back from travels I am often resentful when he isn't bouncing off the walls with energy on the weekends. I tend to work a lot too...so I feel annoyed that I have to deal with a lot of the household stuff b/c he is never home. But, in the long run, I know he is working hard to do what is best for us and I appreciate and respect him for the hard work.
Not much to add in the way of support but I know it must be hard. Hang in there and good for you to try to be positive and take care of yourself!

Good luck to all for the week ahead!

[SusanPC]

I was up 1.6 on Saturday. I can blame it on TOM as well but like others the drinks and food helped! I am back on the wagon though. Did an hour with my trainer this AM and have lots of water sitting on my desk. Goal this week is to eat completely clean until weigh in on Saturday.

My sister is down 6.6 lbs in the same period and we started nearly at the same weight. If she can do it, I can!

Foodlady- while I can't say I am in your shoes, because we don't have kids yet, my husband also travels a ton for work. I definately have thrown my share of pity parties when he is gone. It is hard b/c with mine at least, he is so tired by Friday when he is back from travels I am often resentful when he isn't bouncing off the walls with energy on the weekends. I tend to work a lot too...so I feel annoyed that I have to deal with a lot of the household stuff b/c he is never home. But, in the long run, I know he is working hard to do what is best for us and I appreciate and respect him for the hard work.
Not much to add in the way of support but I know it must be hard. Hang in there and good for you to try to be positive and take care of yourself!

Good luck to all for the week ahead!

[Couperine]

Down 4.9 today for my 2nd weigh-in. I'm happy with that, and I hope to eat better this next week. I had 2 oatmeal-mini chocolate chip cookies at a gathering, and sure they were good, but man was I crying when the baker e-mailed her recipe and each cookie was 6 points. That's the whole point I know - actually paying attention to calories in/out, but it was an eye-opener. I thought about it later and I'd rather have eaten four 3 pt muffins if I'd known. :)

Hope everything goes well this week for all - I have my in-laws dog with us this week, and it's quite an effort to make a parade of two dogs and a stroller for my usual morning walk. Thankfully it's only 3 more mornings of that - the evening walk with my husband is better since we have more hands!

Nancy

[mom2garret]

Okay, I am back from WI. I lost 1 pound. Not bad but I wish it were more. I am just shy of my first 10 lbs gone. Slow but steady!
Jodi

[foodlady]

Susan -- thanks for the kind words! My dh is also pooped when he gets home, but is a good sport about taking on kid duty. On really bad weeks, I've been known to meet him at the door with MY suitcase and go check-in at the hotel down the street for a night of SLEEP!

Jodi -- good for you on the pound! A loss is a loss. Take it, girl! :D

Hang in there, everyone!! It's discouraging to gain, even a little, but think about where you'd be OFF program. For myself, I'd surely be up another 10 lbs by now...

I just had a kind of weird, but filling, lunch. Brown rice topped with a boca burger and fried egg. Weird, but really good. I also tried the WW english toffee ice cream bars -- 2 pts and very yummy!

[greysangel]

I just thought I would share this link ..its a link to all these free work out programs. Looks pretty cool to me if anyone is looking for a little inspiration!

http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/410.asp

[AZJane]

Hi Losers!

I got my one hour of walking in this morning, 100 oz of water and my food has been within my points today. I tried two new things today I thought I would share:
Jello has new pudding cups out in the dairy section in a variety of flavors. I tried the dulce de leche and it is fabulous. 1 pt. and yummmmmy.
Acorn squash...never tried it before. Who knew it would be so delightful? I sliced it and tossed it with olive oil, salt, pepper and crushed rosemary,then roasted it on a baking sheet. Wwo! fantastic! It may be my new favorite veggie. :cool:

My dh is doing his own form of dieting at the moment so I'm just cooking what I like and he's making his requests known :D Works great for us.

[AZJane]

:p Walk for one hour - done
100 oz. water - done
20 pts on my menu - done

Woohoo! Glad today is coming to a close. I was having a "hungry" day and wanted to eat everything that wasn't glued down :D I didn't, but I sure wanted to :p :rolleyes:

Off to play on the food forum and see what's going on over there. Have a great night everyone. :)

[pambrack]

Reporting in. Had weigh-in last night. Lost another 2.6 pounds. Total now is 10.6! I am very pleased after 4 weeks. I have never been able to stick with a weight loss program or diet for this long and have these results. It truly is a new way of life rather than a diet...got 5 more to go before I am at my goal. Bummer...I am down to 20 points this week....

[JanetJ]

I didn't post on Monday, but I lost 1 pound this week. I was more than happy with that since I ate out more than usual - made good choices, but you can never be 100% sure when you eat out what the points are. I'm down 9.8 in 4 weeks which is excellent and better than I thought I would do since I'm unable to do any exercise.

Congrats pambrack!

[AZJane]

Morning Ladies,
Congrats to all our Losers! Woohoo!

I've done my 1 hour walk and am now going out to do some mall walking and shop for some Christmas gifts :)

My food plan for today will be:
B-2 slices 9 grain toast w/sf jam, 1 cup canteloupe
L- who knows...whatever looks good on the foodcourt!
D- grilled veggies with a steak kebab
Snacks: apple, pear, cheddar and maybe some cottage cheese.

Plus, plenty of water!


Make it a great day!

[SusanPC]

Hi all. I didn't make it to weigh in this weekend (I know, bad) but think I am probably down that 1.6 lbs I gained the previous week. I plan to be very good this week, although my Junior League group is meeting at a bar for 1/2 price burgers tonight. I think I will survive :)

Wanted to post that I made a recipe posted over on the food boards by bobmark226 (F&W's Butternut Squash Soup (Nov. 2006)) yesterday and it was awesome. Looks like a serving is 5 pts.


My trainer is on vacation for 3 weeks so my challenge during this time is to keep up with the workouts.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and a wonderful week ahead!

[greysangel]

Well I am officially over it. I went back to protein shake in the morning to reduce calories, upped my activity, did a power hour and the cancer walk yesterday and I AM THE SAME this week after GAINING last week.

HMPH.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

This makes ZERO pounds lost in October.

[Couperine]

That has to be so frustrating for you - I admire you for sticking to your plan even while the scale was not cooperating for you. That's a lot more perseverance than I would have.

I did my 3rd weigh-in this morning - I lost 1.5 lbs, which was good considering I had to use flexpoints on Saturday and Sunday. This week I'm going to stick with my weekday exercise goal, and my goal for the next four weeks after that will be trying to incorporate at least 2 days a week of strength training in addition to my weekday walks.

I hope everyone has an excellent week!

Nancy

[AZJane]

Good Morning Everyone! the weather here is glorious. Bright and sunny but crisp and with a chill in the air. Gotta love fall in AZ :cool:

Scale is way up today. TOM is here and usually I am not effected but I can't come up with any other reason so I'm going with that. I'll just be continuing to eat clean and keep my water up and it should go in a few days. I'm really trying to get used to the weight fluctuations still. Grrrr...kinda freaks me out sometimes and I hate that. Oh well, this too shall pass :D

I walked for an hour this morning and plan on getting some shopping walking in today too.

Make it a great day everyone! I've got big plans this week to complete my Thanksgiving day menu/decorating/things to do list.

[emilyn]

hi all
I'm going to jump into this thread if that's ok. I do weight watchers online, mostly I'm good at maintaining but not losing so much. I'm switching to core (again) today, to see if it can jump start things for me. I was doing ok with flex for awhile but then I started working too many treats into the mix so maybe core will help me stop that.

I got engaged in September and I'm really hoping that the prospect of shopping for a dress will keep me motivated. we'll see.

My goal for today is to drink lots of water, get my menu for the week planned out, grocery shop and hit the treadmill for 30+minutes.

[Couperine]

Hi Emily and welcome!

I started online WW just over 3 weeks ago; I'm doing flex at present, but I can understand how easy it is to work in treats and get nowhere fast. I hope core works for you and that we see more, yet less of you!

Today I'm resolved to put on mosquito spray and walk anyway - I didn't do my usual morning routine, so I'm behind on motivation. :)

Have a great day all!

Nancy

[emilyn]

Nancy, thanks for the welcome, enjoy your walk.

Yesterday went pretty well for me, I was a little short on water so I'm trying to up that today. My other goal is to stay the heck out of the halloween candy, I know how hard it is to stop once I start so I won't let that happen.

[foodlady]

Okay....I'm sure I'm not the only one who needs to pick herself up from a floor littered with candy wrappers today and begin again! Today's a new day! :D

[SusanPC]

Foodlady, I ate so many kit kats last night that I had a stomach ache. The candy basket was thrown in the trash this AM!

[AZJane]

Morning Wwr's. I started a new thread for us just a few minutes ago. I need daily accountability for sure! I'm going a little nuts with my food this past week. Grrrrr..really irritates me too!

[Couperine]

I had a Hershey's chocolate mini bar and a Starburst mini-pack. I keep eyeing my son's fun size M&M's longingly. I love that people are generous with toddlers, but there's no way on earth I'll ever let him eat all that. Now me on the other hand...

I guess I'll stick them in a zip-lock in the pantry - out of sight, out of mind I hope.

On the plus side, I did walk yesterday and this morning, and last night's dinner turned out so bad that I got to save points from dinner for candy. I guess I found the silver lining in my meal failure! :)

Nancy