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December 12, 2010
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Healthy Thoughts/Healthy Actions Weight Watchers Newsletter #80 |
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Hi Everyone!
I hope you all have time to read this newsletter, given there are only 12 days left of shopping madness! Ah, the holidays! Even those of us who are Jewish, or non-celebratory, find ourselves buying gifts for loved ones and friends because...well, because giving gifts is an act of love no matter when you do it.
So what is the gift you are giving yourself this year? I find in both my coaching and Weight Watchers work the one thing that seems to arise over and over again in people who struggle with their weight is a feeling of dislike and disrespect for onesself. We are generous to a fault when it comes to others we love. We forgive them their mistakes, their poor judgments, their extra bits of plumpness around the middle. But in ourselves these are glaring defects to be scorned and detested. A gift for ourselves? Ha! A lump of coal will do, thank you very much!
Well it strikes me that a huge secret to being successful with weight loss is feeling you are worth it. Its hard to find that belief buried under all that self-loathing. Is it possible to forgive all your faults, accept that they are a part of you, just like your eyes or your hair, and that we evolve, change, grow and become who we want to be with time and effort? If there were one gift I wish for all of you to give yourselves it would be that of self-love and appreciation.
And the other gift is that of good health. If you have not been in a meeting room lately come check out the buzz about the new program. Talk about healthy, satisfying and easy...it is the best! I hope to see you very soon!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! |
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MEETING TOPICS:
WEEKS OF
December 12 & December 19, 2010
HOLIDAY HELP FROM POINTS PLUS
 Not sure how the new program and your holiday cooking and partying will work? Come to the meeting and get a new points plus guide for all your holiday favorites, similar to the one we gave out prior to Thanksgiving, and share ideas and tips for making this the best holiday ever!
And the week of December 19th we will discuss FREE FRUITS AND (MOST) VEGETABLES!!!
Does it seem too good to be true? Those of you doing the program and finding this to be the greatest gift can share their finds and their ahas of how this one element transforms the entire journey. |
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RECIPES FOR THIS ISSUE
I thought it might be a good plan to offer up some appetizer recipes this issue, for those parties we are giving or will attend. And below the recipes I have included a list of ideas for appetizers which won't derail you before the meal.
OVEN BAKED PARMESAN CRISPS
Ingredients:
- 1 cup grated Parmesean cheese - NOT the dried powdery stuff
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 F.Toss cheese with any seasonings you'd like -- garlic powder (about half a teaspoon for a cup of cheese), hot pepper powder, even cinnamon. Or leave plain.Pile 1 to 4 Tablespoons of cheese (depending on the size you want) on a baking sheet covered with a silicone mat or parchment paper oiled on both sides. Flatten the tops so they are in more or less an even pile. There should be at least two inches between smaller mounds, 4 inches between larger ones.Bake 5 to 6 minutes until they are a light golden brown (they will be a little darker at the edges). It happens fast, so watch carefully.If you want to mold them into a shape, you want to "drape" them while still warm. You can make cups over an upturned glass, or "taco shell" shapes by draping over any cylindrical object that is at hand (rolling pin, side of glass)Serving Suggestions: Fill with fruit, dip, salad, or any spread you want, or eat plain.
The entire recipe comes out to 12 Points Plus values, so depending on the amount you make they will be 2-3 for 1 Point Plus value!
SWEET POTATO PUFFS INGREDIENTS:
2 cups cooked, mashed sweet potato
1 ripe banana
2 tsp butter, melted
1 egg yolk
11/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp nutmeg or curry powder
1/5 cup orange juice
1 egg white
DIRECTIONS:
1) Preheat oven to 500. Spray a cookie sheet with spray oil. 2)Put sweet potato in bowl. Peel and mash banana and add to potato.
Mix in all rest of ingredients, except egg white, and mix thoroughly 3) In another small bowl beat the egg white until it forms soft peaks.
4) Fold egg white into potato mixture until just blended.
5) Place heaping tbls of mixture onto cookie sheet, or use a pastry tube for the effect pictured.
Bake at 500 for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Makes 24 2 for a 1 Points Plus value
APPETIZER IDEAS:
A platter of vegetables and dip are always a good idea, but mix up the veges. Use sugar snap peas, jicama, steamed carrots, caulifower and broccoli, miniature sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes and zucchini spears.
For dip try unique salsas, like the pineapple or mango salsa from Trader Joes. TJs also has a fabulous fat free bean dip and an avocado salsa verde that is delicious. Their eggplant hummus is quite low as is the red pepper, garlic and eggplant spread I mentioned last newsletter.
Or maybe try a marinated vegetable spread. TJs garlic marinated mushrooms are to die for! Pickles, olives, peppers, etc make for a lovely unusual appetizer spread that has practically no points!
For low points plus value chips try the TJs rye toasts, Pop chips, or soy crisps. Why put out high point chips you know you'll dip into when you could put lower ones out and no one will know the difference!
FOR OTHER DELICIOUS RECIPES GO TO MY WEBSITE RECIPE PAGE!
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PRODUCT SUGGESTION
I have never recommended a business specifically in this column: only products. But a bakery in Sonoma, owned by Francoise in my Sonoma Monday meeting, is producing breads and rolls which are worthy of mention. The Basque Boulangerie Cafe, on the square, makes a whole wheat and multi-grain rolls and breads which come out to 1 points plus value each (per roll or one slice of bread). These rolls are dense and chewy, and incredibly filling. Now that Points Plus has given us whole wheat bread as a Power Food, I have been focusing in on the best choices. Although these rolls and breads cannot be listed as a Power Food (they only list the major manufacturers) my suspicion is they would be considered so, based on their nutritional content. On their website they list quite a few locations which carry their breads. If the location in your area does not have their whole wheat or multigrain products ask them to order them for you. You will not be diappointed!
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EASY WAYS TO CUT CONSUMPTION!
My boyfriend showed me a copy of AARP magazine the other day (guess I should join now that I am waaay over their age limit) and it had a wonderful article on ways to cut your calorie consumption without really trying. Below is a link to the article and I have to say they have some good ideas. I would recommend clicking the link within the page itself to read the full article, as they site a study that was done with plate and food container sizes that was quite eye-opening.
http://www.aarp.org/food/diet-nutrition/info-11-2010/lose_weight_without_really_trying.html |
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ATTENTION SANTA ROSA MEMBERS!!
Just an important note regarding the center remodeling. Those of you who have been attending meetings know the Steele/Mendocino center we just moved into earlier this year is getting remodeled. Not just any remodel, mind you, but a state-of-the-art one, and we are one of two centers nationally to have this level of work!! Wow!! This means through the end of the month we are relocated in the Steele Lane Community Center. It is much closer to the freeway (just west of the school) and is a lovely facility. So hang in there and come January we will be in for a real treat. I cannot wait! |
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YOU WILL LOVE THIS!!
My lovely co-worker Jeannie sent this to me last Christmas and I have decided it needs to be a Christmas tradition in the newsletter.
Click here for a true musical treat!
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Look at these amazing images created ENTIRELY WITH FOOD (!!) done by Carl Warner and sent by Barrie from the Santa Rosa meeting. Awe inspiring!!!
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A HOLIDAY SPECIAL FROM
HEALTHY THOUGHTS/HEALTHY ACTIONS
Dreaming of making changes but not sure how to begin? Stuck in the same rut and really want to move forward? I am a certified Life Coach, specializing in the field of weight management, but I work with people in all realms, seeking change and growth in their lives. Our biggest dreams are generally the ones we fear we cannot achieve, but as a coach my job is to take you from a place of stuck-ness to being the person who goes for it 100%.
The greatest gift you could give yourself is the gift of this forward journey. I am offering a half price special through the month of December 2010, and a discounted rate for continuing sessions after that. Contact me for more information. I offer a free half hour session to see how coaching works. I work primarily by phone, or you can come to my office in Sebastopol. What have you got to lose? Email me today! |
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There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.
~Erma Bombeck
Lots of love and joy to all of you!
~Janet |
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