June 1 2008
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Healthy Thoughts/Healthy Actions
Weight Watchers Newsletter #14
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 Wow, May is over and it is June! Being a June baby has always made me especially partial to this month, but it is also the gateway to summer, and all that it represents. Kids out of school (boy do I remember those days...I couldn't wait!!), family vacations, sunburns at the beach (there's a memory I could live without). And we get to spend our summers in this glorious place! We are blessed, to be sure.
So what are our plans for summer? Those of you who came to the meeting this week know that we explored the realm of the "vacation mind" that summer produces, and sometimes that can mean taking a vacation from our weight loss journey as well. Does that sound like you? Did you miss the meeting this week because you decided to give it a break during the summer and you'll come back in the fall?? Or maybe you are going on a vacation and figure you'll be a Weight Watcher when you come back?
If you truly want to lose weight and keep it off, healthy habits do not come and go with the seasons. The more wise choices you make, the more this becomes a lifestyle and not just a "diet". And one wise choice is continuing to attend meetings. This is a message to all of you who are not coming, or who are wavering on your comittment. Make it a priority to attend a meeting this week! You will feel so much better knowing you are taking positive action towards a healthier, happier you!
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Meeting Topics / Early June
 The week of June 1st we will be talking about one of my favorite Tools For Living: Empowering Beliefs. What do you believe yourself capable of? And how do act based on those beliefs?
And the week of June 8th the topic is a great one...the journey, and how we view it, and make it exciting a fun! Don't miss either of these meetings!
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 This recipe is from the Simply Delicious Cookbook, and takes full advantage of the season's bounty!
Warm Barley, Chicken and Stone Fruit Melange
1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
1 1/2 Tbl raspberry vinegar
1Tbl walnut or canola oil
3/4 lb cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast, chopped in 1/2 inch pieces
2 fresh ripe peaches, pitted and chopped
2 fresh ripe nectarines, pitted and chopped
2 fresh, ripe plums, pitted and chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 scallions, chopped
1 cup pearl barley, cooked and kept warm
Mix together the mint, vinegar, oil, salt and pepper in a small bowl and set aside.
Combine chicken, fruit, celery and scallions in a bowl. Add the mint mixture, and the warm barley and serve at once.
Ideally fruit should be a room temperature, and chicken should be warm as well.
6 servings: 5 pts per serving. This is a CORE recipe. |
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The Letter Department
Debbie from Santa Rosa asks a great question...
I am thinking of switching from Flex to Core. On which one will I lose weight faster?
I have gotten asked this many times over the years, so recently have made a concerted effort to observe losses between the two programs. Here's what I have discovered...
People who start out doing Flex and switch to Core lose weight very quickly out of the gate, just as they did when they began the program. Soon, however, their losses average the same as being on Flex, which is about one pound a week.
People who start out with Core seem to have losses slightly higher overall, and over a longer period of time.
I have a theory, which I cannot prove, so hope you all will give me your two cents. I think Core forces us to let go of a lot of addictive carbohydrates. If one starts out with Flex and switches, those carb addictions can possibly come to haunt us somewhere along the line, because we had counted the points on them before, so we start bringing them back into our diets at some point. People who do Core from the outset have not counted the points on those foods, and so feel uncomfortable eating them, and stick to the Core perhaps a little more solidly than their formerly-Flex co-members.
But here's the bottom line, people. If you do either one, and take them seriously, you will lose weight.
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 Trader Joe's has such great products but there are no pictures on line, so for the next few newsletters I will be listing some here for you all to explore...
RED PEPPER, EGGPLANT AND GARLIC SAUCE
Thick, spread on bread or use in soups or stews, this spread is very low in points, spicy and deelish!!
CHILI LIME CHICKEN BURGERS
I cannot believe these huge, delicious burgers are only 2 points, and by the list of ingredients appear to be Core as well. So big they outsize any bun!
CHOCOLATE CAT COOKIES
I feel mixed about recommending these, as they are quite addictive, and they come in a large tub, so the possibility of abuse is lurking. But at 15 cookies for 2 points, they are a treasure for us Weight Watchers.
ZEN MUFFINS
If you've done this program for awhile you will likely be familiar with these tasty treats. There are two types: the fibercakes, which are only 1 point, but can be somewhat dry and tasteless (but many members love them) and the 4 point muffins. These are large and have lots of flavor, especially when heated. I like the mango, cranberry bran ones. Decidely un-Core I am afraid...
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Check this link...
Samantha, from the Thursday Sonoma meeting, forwarded this link to me. Kind of bad news for those of us who eat out regularly at these chain restaurants.
 Great Consignment Clothing Shop!
Dru, also from the Sonoma meetings, told me about a great consignment clothing shop called Sisters, which is at 120 West Napa Street, Sonoma. She says they welcome larger sizes, which makes this an ideal place to take those clothes that are now too large, and find yourself something which will show off your weight loss. Remember, buying used is a great way to recycle!
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Get In Shape the Fun Way!
 My dance-based fitness class at Tone Fitness in downtown Santa Rosa is going great guns. Do you like shakin' your booty to Motown, swing jazz, blues and good old rock n' roll, like the Eagles and Van Morrison? Then this class is for you! No gym memberships or long term commitments. Just show up Sunday at 10 am and plan for an hour of great fun!
www.tonefitness.com
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For Your Information..
Life Coaching
Besides being a Weight Watcher leader, I am a trained Life Coach specializing in weight managment issues. You may be coming to meetings, knowing what you should be doing, but not doing it. Coaching explores the deeper realm to uncover what is really going on that causes you to use food in an unhealthy way.
Support Group
I have formed a support group which meets in my Sebastopol home/office every Monday from 7-9 pm. There is room for 1-2 more people. This is a comfortable, inexpensive way to experience coaching.
If either of these interest you please email me.
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And the closing quote...
 "Let the beauty of what you love
be what you do." - Rumi
Lots of love and good wishes to all of you!
- Janet Ciel
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