|
January 24, 2010
|
Healthy Thoughts/Healthy Actions
Weight Watchers Newsletter #57
|
|
|
|
|
Hi Everyone!
 As I write this the wind is howling outside, bending the trees as far as they can bend, while the rain falls in torrential sheets. The storms we are having are drought-saving and necessary, as well as being a bit scary at times, potentially damaging in some ways, and certainly messy. But as I sit looking out my window I see something really fascinating. At my bird feeders, despite pelting raindrops and powerful gusts, the goldfinches, juncos, house finches and sparrows crowd in for their daily feeding. They seem oblivious to the forces of nature which keep us indoors, waiting longingly for more pleasant conditions to venture outside. In fact, to watch them you would think the pleasant weather was, in fact, happening right now.
So this made me think about persistance and desire. Those birds WANT those seeds. They want them badly enough to brave whatever conditions they are presented with to get them. How does this apply to us? Well, how badly do you want to lose weight? How much are you willing to "go out on a limb" to make it happen? Are you willing to ask for help, such as telling your family or friends you'd rather not eat at the Cheesecake Factory, and would like a healthier option? Are you willing to go to the gym before or after work, because that's the only time you have? How about saying no to the treat food you usually buy, and picking a healthier option? How bad do you want it?
If you're reading this and saying to yourself "well, that's the problem. I don't feel hugely motivated right now, and don't have that strong desire to make it happen", first of all, don't beat yourself up around it. We all have been there, or will be there. It is part of the natural cycle of any journey towards true change. But what I would ask you to do is to find one small motivator in this coming week which will move you forward in this journey. Maybe it is walking back into the meeting room, if you have not yet gotten there. Maybe it is exercising a little longer, or one extra day. Maybe it is changing one habit which plagues you (going immediately to the refrigerator as you walk through the door, for example...go change your clothes first!). I challenge all of you to find one thing...just one thing which will make you feel better about yourself, which is the first step towards finding that all-out, must-make-it-happen feeling that gets us to our goals. |
|
SONOMA MEMBERS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCMENT!!
I just found out that the FAHA location where we hold our Sonoma meeting has a flooding problem (not great news for their new floor...) so we will meet in the smaller room off the courtyard. I will post signs in the morning, but the easiest way to find it is to park outside the lot where we usually park and come in the pool gate. We have met there several times so many of you will know this location.
| |
MEETING TOPICS:
WEEKS OF
January 24 & January 31
The week of January 17th the topic is
Real Hunger or Emotional Hunger?
How many times have you scarfed down something and then realized you ate it afterwards, and you weren't even hungry? Ever go straight to the refrigerator or cupboard when you have a bad day, or are upset about something? How do we tell if emotions are causing our "hunger" or if we are really hungry? Come to this meeting to find out how to tell the difference and what to do about it!
The week of January 31st we will be discussing
Motivation!!
What is the secret of finding motivation? Why does it fade and how do we spark it back to life? This is the ideal meeting to find that nugget which will get you back in the groove! |
RECIPE FOR THIS ISSUE
A recipe I make frequently for friends is a gorgeous mushroom chicken, with a special kick from a favorite sauce. But at Trader Joes last week I decided to buy pork tenderloin and made the recipe with that, and...wow! Really delicious!
I welcome any recipes you would like to send, and if you have a photo of it, by chance, all the better!
I recently updated the recipe page of my website so check it out!!
HEALTHY THOUGHTS/HEALTHY ACTIONS RECIPES
MUSHROOM ARTICHOKE PORK TENDERLOIN
Ingredients:
spray oil
2 squares Dorot frozen garlic* or 4 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb pork tenderloin, chopped into 1" squares (or skinless chicken breast)
1/2 onion, chopped
1 dozen crimini or white mushrooms, sliced
8 canned artichoke hearts, drained and sliced salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
1 cup french onion soup broth (see below) or chicken broth
1 Tbl flour
1/4-1/2 cup Pickapeppa sauce or Lizano salsa (to taste) (see below)
Instructions:
1) Heat a large saute pan with spray oil and melt the garlic squares, or saute the garlic until transparent.
2) Add the pork or chicken and saute until lightly brown.
3) Remove pork from pan and set aside. Respray the pan and saute the onion and mushrooms.
4) Add the pork back into the pan and add all of the broth, except 1/8th cup. Add the chopped artichoke hearts and spices.
5) Let the mixture cook for about 5-7 minutes. Meanwhile mix the Tbl of flour into the remaining broth until blended.
6) Mix the flour mixture and the Pickapeppa or Lizano sauce into the pan and cook for another 5-7 minutes. Add more broth if necessary and season to taste. Serve over whole wheat couscous, brown rice or roasted potatoes.
* see the Product Page of my website to see a photo of this, available at Trader Joes.
4 servings. 5 points per serving.
|
|
Product Suggestions
LIZANO SALSA
In the recipe above you'll notice this as one of the two sauces suggested, and it is from Costa Rica. It is so delicious, if you find it you will want to use it in everything! It is medium spicy, and kind of sweet at the same time: a totally unique taste. And "salsa" in Spanish means "sauce" so this is not what we would consider salsa in this country, but rather it is a brown, somewhat thick liquid. But finding it...that is another story. As far as I know it is not sold through any stores in this country. I had it many times in my trip to Costa Rica, as they have on every restaurant table. You can order it online, which is how I buy it: http://www.costaricaproducts.com/lizano/ It is worth the cost and effort!
PICKAPEPPA SAUCE
This has similar qualities to the salsa above, but I like Lizano better. This has more of a Worcesteshire sauce-like flavor to it, but a bit sweeter, because one of the ingredients is mango. it is from Jamaica, and like Lizano, you frequently find it on the table at a restaurant there, like we have ketchup. This is found at Whole Foods, Pacific and Olivers.
PACIFIC FRENCH ONION SOUP
This is basically an onion broth, which is absolutely delicious, and is great for soups and also for cooking grains and pasta. I found it at Olivers, and it might be new, as I have never seen it before.
For a great list of healthy, low point food products visit my website's product page:
|
|
Meetings Meetings Meetings!
The new Palm Drive Hospital meeting will have an Information Meeting on Tuesday, February 2nd at 3:45 pm in the main conference room at the front entrance. This meeting is to register all members, and we need to have a minimum of 15 people for this meeting to go forward, so if you are planning to join please make it a point to attend. The actual time of the meeting, once it begins (hopefully the following week, if we have enough members), will be 3:45 weigh-in, 4:15 meeting.
It was very sad to have to close the Cotati meeting on Wedesday evenings, but not enough attendees is the reason.
I am, however, subbing on Friday mornings in Petaluma through the end of the month. It is a 9:30 weigh-in, 10am meeting.
The Monroe Hall Monday meeting has a big change / surprise coming down the pike, but until all the arrangements are made I am not allowed to give you more than a tease about it. I should hopefully know more within the week, so hang in there. You will love it!! |
WALKING GROUP!
I have had a couple of members join me in the last few weeks to walk on Thursdays. I walk every week unless the weather is too bad. Come get some exercise!
1:45 at Howath Park, to walk the Spring Lake loop at an easy pace. Let me know if you'd like to give it a try.
And if anyone from Sonoma would like to walk the Regional Park instead, let me know and I can switch off and do that some weeks as well.
|
CURIOUS ABOUT LIFECOACHING? COME TO A GREAT WORKSHOP!!
As many of you know I am a certified co-active Lifecoach, with a speciality in weight management. I am teaming up with another certified coach, Linda Kepner, whose focus is on business development. We are holding a wonderful workshop which will give you a full understanding of the coaching process, as well as the opportunity to explore your dreams, and where you are feeling stuck and dissatisfied in your life. There is no doubt for most of us co-active Lifecoaching can be transformational, so come find out what it is all about. We'll serve some yummy food, and guarantee you will come away having had a great experience, and a shift in perspective. And if weight or business is not your issue, no worries: we coach the person not the topic.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 21, 1-5PM
LOCATION TBA
$20 PER PERSON INCLUDING DELICIOUS FOOD!
|
Just a Note...
If you receive this newsletter and some of the colors or sizes of the text seems off or unreadable...this is not because I am choosing these colors or sizes. This program seems to do odd things in certain browsers, so despite my best efforts to second guess how it will look to you, I honestly cannot know. I find out when you write back to me and I see your copy returned...Now as for the typos...wish I could blame the program, but...um..guess I'll claim those as my own special skill.
And speaking of writing to me... I create this newsletter as a resource for information and inspiration, and I rely on your input, ideas, recipes, before and after photos, etc. to make it sing. So bring 'em on!!
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
