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December 24, 2010
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Healthy Thoughts/Healthy Actions Weight Watchers Newsletter #81 |
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Hi Everyone!
I am sending this newsletter out a tad early this week, as I wanted you all to get it before Christmas. There are a few recipes which might be fun to try for the holiday and there is a fun Christmas video.
There is also the thought that you are all a gift to me so I wanted to thank you, and felt this was a good time to do that. You give me purpose, if that makes sense. My dream in this world is to make a difference in people's lives that would allow them to get healthier and live longer. You keep me on this path. Every time you've struggled on this journey I get the opportunity to revisit my personal trek and how hard it was...until it was easy.
That was the quote in the meeting room last week... "Everything is difficult until its easy" Wow, how true that is! Remember when you learned to drive? How about the first time you sat down in front of a computer? Some lessons in life take longer than others is my take on this "diet dance". We are learning how to choose different foods, eat less, modify years-long behaviors and usually unlock some part of our psyche needing to be probed to get to the desire, willpower and stick-to-itive-ness required to conquer this little devil once and for all.
So patience, perserverence, and humor will get you through, and when you're ready, you're ready. Until then make the best choices you can, try to stay positive, and keep moving...literally. Someday it will slap you in the face and you will go for it with gusto.
And I hope for each one of you reading this that you come into 2011 with joy, hope and excitement in your heart. Let's make it an amazing year! |
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MEETING TOPICS:
WEEKS OF
December 26 2010 & January 2, 2011
A SECOND HONEYMOON!
For those of us who have been doing Weight Watchers for awhile the new program is allowing us to get re-acquainted with that motivation and curiousity we came into the meeting room with the first time around. Rather than the "been there done that" feeling we are doing something quite new and fun. Let's share the ahas of this honeymoon period and brainstorm on how we hold onto these feelings.
And the week of January 2nd um...well... I HAVE NO IDEA!!
Generally I receive a meeting guide in the mail and an online newsletter with my meeting topics. But alas, nothing has been forthcoming as of yet. If it does not arrive prior to Friday you will have a mystery meeting for the beginning of the year. Fun!!! |
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RECIPES FOR THIS ISSUE
These recipes (handed to me in Petaluma I think...who was it who gave them to me? Thank you!!) are perfect dessert options for Christmas. The pecan tartlet recipe I switched out for a similar version which had a crust and worked out to less points overall...Yum!!!
PUMPKIN FLAN
Ingredients: 1/2 c brown sugar 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon cloves 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper 1/8 tsp salt 16 oz can pumpkin 1 c fat free evaporated milk 1/4 c orange juice 3/4 c egg substitute
Directions: 1) Preheat oven to 350 2) Stir together sugar, spices and whisk in all the rest of the ingredients. Divide amongst 6 custard cups. 3 Set cups in a roasting pan and pour boiling water around them to a depth of 1 inch. Bake until firm around the edges and slightly puffed: about 45 minutes. Remove cups from water, cover and refrigerate. Before serving top with fresh berries or reduced calorie whipped topping.
6 Servings. Each serving 1.5 Points Plus Values!
 PECAN TARTLETS
Ingredients:
Dough
- 3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, (Neufchatel), softened
- 1/4 cup canola oil
Filling
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- To prepare dough: Mix whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, butter, cream cheese and oil in a large bowl with a wooden spoon just until a coherent dough forms. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to reduce its stickiness.
- Position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 350.
- Roll the dough (it will be soft) into a 15-inch log. Cut the log in half, then cut each half into quarters, then cut the quarters into thirds to yield 24 equal portions, about 1 tablespoon each. Press each piece of dough into a mini muffin cup, making a well in the center and pressing the dough up the sides of the tin to form a tartlet shell.
- To prepare filling: Combine egg, pecans, brown sugar, butter and vanilla in a large bowl. Divide the filling evenly among the 24 tartlet shells.
- Bake the tartlets for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 and bake until the filling is puffed and the crust is lightly golden, 10 to 12 minutes more.
- Let cool in the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn the tartlets out and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
Makes 24 tartlets. Each is 4 points plus values.
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PRODUCT SUGGESTION
DR PRAEGER'S SPINACH PANCAKES
Suzanne in Sonoma mentioned these delicious sounding pancakes she finds at Costco (their website indicated they are available at Trader Joes and Whole Foods too!) and sent me the information. They are 2 points plus values each and they are apparently quite versatile. Put a soft boiled egg over one for breakfast, or have it as a side dish for dinner...or?? Yum!!
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THE IMAGINE DIET?
Jessica from Thursday Santa Rosa meetings sent me a link to this New York Times article about how imagining eating can curtail the desire for real consumption. Wow, if this works what a boon for all of us. Let's get dreaming everyone!!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/science/14tier.html?emc=eta1 |
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ATTENTION SANTA ROSA MEMBERS!!
It sounds like the remodel is on schedule (what are the odds of that happening?!) and we should be back in Santa Rosa Center on Thursday January 6th! Yippee! I will keep you informed if that changes but right now that is the situation. I can't wait to see the new center and our meetings will be the very first ones back, if all goes as planned. How cool is that?? |
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SO SO FUNNY AND CUTE!!
Those of you who love animals will delight in this charming Christmas video...And those of you who are not pet people...watch it anyways. It is extremely clever!
Click here |
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THE BEHAVIOR CHANGE CHALLENGE!!!
So this is my idea and I do not know if it has ever been tried, but I thought why not go for it.
Beginning January 1st I am starting a "challenge" for all of my readers and meeting members. What I want to do is put forward one behavior we each would like to change and spend 30 days working on making this change happen. After 30 days we can begin on another behavior if this worked for us and we would like to do continue on this path.
WEEK 1: Notice the behavior. If inclined, journal the behavior every time you do it. Keep a constant awareness around that specific action.
WEEK 2: Begin to stop doing it. Notice every time you go to do it. Journal it if inclined.
WEEK 3: Don't do it all week. Celebrate every time you say no to doing it.
WEEK 4: Notice how it has become easier to not do it. See if the desire has subsided or disappeared.
SPECIFIC BEHAVIORS:
Below are behaviors you can choose from. If none are something you do, pick something you are doing that you feel strongly about changing. I would love it if you want to email me your choice and your progress. We can talk about it in the meetings as well!
SNACKING FREQUENTLY
SNEAKING FOOD
EATING IN THE CAR
NOT EXERCISING REGULARLY
EATING TOO MUCH
EATING IN FRONT OF THE TV/COMPUTER
EATING TOO QUICKLY
Let me know what you think and if this is a challenge you want to tackle!!
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HEALTHY THOUGHTS/HEALTHY ACTIONS
LIFE COACHING
The new year is a time of beginnings and a hope for real, meaningful change. As a certified, co-active Lifecoach my work revolves around helping my clients out of a stuck, dissatisfied place to living their dreams. Make 2011 the year you take action to manifest what you want in your life. I would love to be on that path with you. |
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