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July 11, 2010
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Healthy Thoughts/Healthy Actions
Weight Watchers Newsletter #69
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Hi Everyone!
This week, for some reason, motivation has been coming into my brain. I'm not sure why, but I have been thinking about the things that motivate us to act. It seems like a lot of our lives we have all the best intentions but do not actually take the leap to do the things we say we want to do. But then we do. Something clicks inside of us and and we finally redo the bathroom, take the trip to Europe, and yes, lose weight. So how does this "click" happen? I am not at all sure, but if I ever come up with a formula I will bottle it and make millions. Meanwhile here are some things I know which tend to get us into action:
1) Having goals. Sometimes we are rather aimless on our path towards change. It is kind of hard to get somewhere when you have no idea where you're going. So having something which really calls to you: like that pair of pants you want to wear to the party in a month might do the trick.
2) Not over-blowing the goals. When we have 85 lbs to lose that can be so daunting that we just quit before we begin. Chunking things down is the British term, and I love that. What would happen if you lost 5 lbs? Or 10? Would it then spur you on to lose more? Probably. And what about if the goal could be about a behavior change that did not actually have a number attached to it? For example, setting a goal of not eating in front of the computer or TV...something like that.
3) Seeing someone else succeed. If we are at all competitive, or even simply admiring, a friend or family member's success is often a spur to getting us to act.
4) Using visualizations. Some of us respond well to visual triggers. Seeing a photo of ourselves when we were lighter, or someone we admire and compare ourselves to who is similar in size or shape to our goals can be quite motivating.
5) Let go of the past. I think the single biggest thing that keeps motivation at bay is consistently going back to how we failed previously. If we beat ourselves up it does the opposite of motivate us. It deflates our egos and keeps us from acting. It is only through acceptance that "that was then, this is now", and embracing that fully, that we can feel a true desire for change.
I hope all of you find the motivation you need to see yourself fulfill your goals. I am rooting for you!
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MEETING TOPICS:
WEEKS OF
July 11 & July 18, 2010
The week of July 11th the topic is
If there were ever a topic which needs to be discussed, this is one members ask about again and again. It is quite frustrating to hit a plateau and simply hang out there for awhile. Why does it happen? How can we tell if it is physical or psychological? Come find out!
RESTARTING
is the topic for the week of July 18th.
In a way this is an adjunct to the topic of plateaus, because sometimes a plateau is caused by a lack of motivation. But this is also a great topic for anyone who has lost their way, so to speak, and also for those of you who are returning members and wanting to find the same juice as you had when you began.
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RECIPES FOR THIS ISSUE
Well this must be the week of the fruit recipes, as a couple of members, and my lovely co-worker Linda gave me fruity ideas... a great follow-up on the meeting topic this past week of eating more fruits and vegetables. And my sweetie made to-die-for chili rellenos last week, which when I found out they were really low in points, well, I had to share this recipe with you all.
For more great recipes check out the recipe page on my website: HEALTHY THOUGHTS/HEALTHY ACTIONS RECIPES
from Jean in Santa Rosa
Watermelon Salad with Cucumber, Scallion, and Feta
Ingredients:
1 (2 pound) seedless watermelon, rind removed
1 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced (I use English seedless unpeeled)
1 scallion (green onion), thinly sliced
3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
Directions:
1. Cut water melon into
3/4-inch pieces
2. Combine the watermelon, cucumber, scallion, vinegar and salt in a serving
bowl; let stand about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with the feta cheese and serve at
once.
4 generous 1 cup servings
1 point per serving
COLD MELON SOUP 2 c. cantaloupe, cut in chunks* 1 c. non-fat yogurt sea or kosher salt to taste Whirl melon and yogurt in the blender. Add salt.
1 generous serving - 4 points Refreshing!
*This soup is only as flavorful
as the melon used.
 Given to me by my receptionist Linda
Ingredients: (Fruit is your choice. These are just ideas)
1 cup watermelon, chopped
1 medium firm banana, sliced
1/3 cup halved seedless red grapes
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts
1 cup blueberries
1 (6 ounce) container non fat plain yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbl sugar or Xylitol
1 Tbl lemon juice
Directions:
In a bowl, combine all ingredients.
2 pts per cup
Mango Chile Rellenos Al Carbon
Ingredients:
6 large poblano or Anaheim peppers
1/2 medium
white onion, peeled and cut into rings
2 large firm but ripe mangoes,
peeled, pitted and
sliced, divided
6 oz. reduced fat Jack cheese, cut
into 12 strips
1 tbsp. lime juice
1 very small canned chipotle
pepper plus 1 tsp. adobo
sauce from can
Snipped fresh cilantro
Direction:
1. Grill peppers and onions over high heat until peppers are well
charred and onion is lightly charred. Place peppers in a paper bag and fold over
top several times; set aside for 20 minutes.
2. Remove peels from peppers by rubbing gently with fingers. Make a
slit the length of each pepper and carefully remove seeds and membranes. Place 2
large mango slices and 2 strips cheese inside each pepper. Place on a large
piece of heavy duty foil and grill over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until
cheese is melted.
3. Remove from grill and keep warm. Chop 1/2 cup of the
remaining mango; set aside, then puree the rest of the mango with onions,
lime juice, chipotle peppers and adobo sauce until smooth. Season to taste with
salt and stir in reserved chopped mango. Place a relleno on each serving plate;
top with mango chipotle mixture and cilantro.
2 per serving Makes 6 servings 4 pts each
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PRODUCT SUGGESTIONS
TRADER JOES AVOCADO SALSA VERDE
This was brought to my attention by my receptionist Linda, who just raved about it. Unfortunately TJs does not have photos of their products on line but this is a small plastic container (upright, not the usual flatish ones) which contains chunky, delicious avocado salsa. It comes out to 3 servings for 1 point, and the entire container is 3 points!
TRADER JOES FAT FREE SPICY BLACK BEAN DIP
Another TJs product recommended by Linda's daughter, Blair. I have had this before and it is delicious and very filling. It is a point for a quarter cup, and that is a lot of this yummy dip.
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ANOTHER HYSTERICAL VIDEO
The Front Fell Off
In light of the BP oil disaster this video may not seem as hilarious as when I got it about a year ago. But it is a very Monty-Python-esque comedy routine I am guessing you will find darned amusing.
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Subscribe to this newsletter! For some reason I have not been getting subscription requests through the link here. So if you had this forwarded to you and want to receive it bi-monthly just email me (click this link) and say "Subscribe to the Newsletter" in the subject line. Thanks!
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MY WEBSITE IS A GREAT RESOURCE!
If you have not visited my website find out why it is a truly helpful addition to your Weight Watchers efforts.
My Products Page features dozens of low-point food suggestions from Trader Joes and lots of other markets.
The Recipe Page has been updated but I have kept some classics, including the to-die-for oatmeal pancakes I talk about all the time.
The Healthy Tips page has lots of great ideas which we talk about in the meetings, but you might need to have at your fingertips when you are not in the meeting room.
And last, but not least, if you are coming to the meetings and finding yourself not actually taking the action you want to be taking to lose your weight, or maybe you cannot even seem to get motivated to come back to the meetings, maybe there is something deeper going on. I am a Certified Lifecoach, specializing in weight managment. I do free sample sessions and would love to talk to you about this or any other dream you have which is unfullfilled. |
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"To think is easy. To act is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act
in accordance with your thinking."
- Goethe
Lots of love and joy to all of you!
~Janet |
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