MY STORY… BEYOND THE SCALE & REAL LIFE TOO

Vacations Over - Back to Life, Already?

Here we go.  I can’t even believe that summer is pretty much done.  We just got back from vacation and BAM - reality.  No easing in – just BAM!  As soon as we got home it was right back to craziness.  Our oldest had volleyball tryouts for her high school the day we arrived home, 3 of the kids had football practice that night, my little one with the broken leg had a doctors apt and did I forget to mention that I wasn’t done school supply shopping?  And today 5 of the 6 started school.  Almost without blinking summer has faded into the background and here we go again.

With or without kids I am sure some of you still relate.  We escape for a little while but can’t truly run from our realities.  It was fun, relaxing, and restful.  A much needed break while it lasted.  We began our summer just a few short months ago with lofty goals of healthy eating and exercise filled days.  Visions of us strolling the farmers markets picking up fresh fruits and veggies to plan a healthy meal.  Am I right?  We thought summer was our time to shine! 

Instead we forgot about all the parties, picnics, humid days and mosquito filled nights that kept us from achieving those goals.   Now what?  Did you give up?  Did you stop attending meetings once you gained a few pounds over a party filled weekend? If so, that’s not the end.  Just pick yourself up and place one foot in front of the other.  What is the next thing I can focus on?  Am I happy where I am?  If the answer is no, then what is it that you want? 

For me the end of vacation also means I stop eating and drinking like I am on vacation.  I can’t stop eating and drinking like I am lounging on a boat or sitting on the dock of a gorgeous lake.  J   I want to!  But then I will gain all my weight back, get mad at myself for doing that, eat some more because I am so disappointed and on and on and on. 

So Today, instead of thinking of all the things I KNOW I should be doing it was about choosing ONE thing that I can focus on this week.  For me it was tracking all those B.L.T’s (bites, licks and tastes) Not easy to do on the first day of school, while still unpacking and cleaning the house.  I would have rather grazed all day then take time to sit and eat a meal. I am busy, remember?  But I knew that for me that would mean not really counting some of my snacks.  They would just be a quick handful here or there.  Those don’t really count, do they?  After my eye opening 11 points of munching today I am going to guess that this may result in some success at the scale after all (if I can continue all week) but I have already decided that this week’s goal isn’t about losing what I gained on vacation.  For me it is about resuming the habits that helped get me to goal in the first place.  How `bout you?  What worked when you were successful on WW?  What is one thing that you need to bring with you as we transition from summer to fall? 

I’d love to hear from you!  Don’t let a summer of slip ups turn into a fall of not caring.  And a winter of gains.  We can do this – with the help of one another.  

AUGUST Theme:  TO GOAL & BEYOND!

August brings us to the end of summer and we begin to look forward.  You hear it said all the time, “It’s not a diet it’s a lifestyle change” August is centered on how Weight Watchers is impacting your ongoing sustainment of a healthier life.  You don’t want to miss a meeting!

 

Last Week:     HUNGER GAMES

It’s not always easy to decipher our hunger signals.  Is that hunger because we are actually hungry or is it because we just had a stressful situation?  We know emotional eating isn’t helping us lose weight, but that doesn’t stop us from reaching for food to soothe.  In our meeting we discussed techniques to combat eating our feelings.  Which worked for you?  Did they impact your choices?  Write down how this affected your emotions and your eating and bring it your meeting this week.

This Week:   A SLIP NOT A SLIDE

If only weight loss could be a nice, straight, downward line on a graph…instead of the line that resembles something closer to a ‘connect the dots’ picture gone wrong!  How do you deal with a gain?  Does a slip become something bigger?  This week we’re focused on resetting our expectations.  Let’s try shifting our thinking and do more than just reach a number on the scale.  If you find yourself on a sliding slope, join us and hear what others have done in similar situations!  If you’ve “been there done that” join us and share your thoughts. 

What’s Happening This Week!

GET HAPPY CHALLENGE:

Only 2 more weeks left and you will have completed the Get Happy Challenge!  Are you happier? #WWGETHAPPY

ON SALE THIS WEEK: 

FOOD SCALE:  $29.95

POINTS PLUS CALCULATOR:  $4.95

PEDOMETER:  $14.95
CRUNCHY SNACKS:  $3.95
SNACK BARS:  $3.95

BUY 2 SMOOTHIES GET A FREE SHAKER (while supplies last)

 

TRADER JOE’S TOUR:

Want to tour your Batavia Trader Joe’s Store?  Come get a tour and learn what options are plan friendly for W.W.  You may even get to taste a few!  Come check it out!  If interested sign up on the clip board in the meeting room. 

·         September 9 ~ 9:30 am or  1:00 pm

TASTY TUESDAY: 

BACON CHEDDAR & TOMATO SANDWICH

NEARLY NO COOK LUNCH OPTION

What will you serve with this tasty Sandwich?

Points Plus Values:  4

Prep Time:  5 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

·        1 light English Muffin toasted

·        ½ small fresh tomato cut into 3 thick slices

·        ¼ cup spinach

·        2 TBSP low fat shredded cheddar cheese

·        1 slice of reduced fat cooked crisp bacon (break & crumble)

Instructions:

1.      Top half of muffin with tomato, spinach, cheese and bacon.

2. Broil until cheese melts and top with other muffin half

Let’s Clap the Big Hands!

Celebrate the Scale & those Non Scale Victories too!

JULIE from N. AURORA Saturday Meeting! 

Julie brought her bike to Mackinac Island last week in hopes of riding it while touring the island while on vacation.  A friend challenged her to bike the entire 8.1 mile perimeter, which sounded a little daunting but she went for it anyway!  Not only did she ride across the island once – She did it TWICE!  What a Rock Star! 

Congratulate her on not letting fear get in the way of her success!  What goal do you have that you have been afraid to try?  Talk to Julie this week and hear how she overcame those obstacles!  We’re super proud of you Julie – BRAVO!

(if you’d like to share your success, post under comments or let me know you’d like to be added in the blog)

Quote of the Week:

This newsletter is and the views shared are not affiliated with weight watchers international, inc.  It is meant to be a motivational tool.

MY STORY… BEYOND THE SCALE & REAL LIFE TOO

Love my body?  Do people actually do that?

I stand in front of you each week so y’all know that I have gained some weight this year.  I hate it.  I get embarrassed and feel like a hypocrite sometimes.  I am still a Weight Watcher but with some of the “Life” stuff going on it can be hard to stay focused.  It’s hard for me to even type and admit this to you now - but I can - because YOU all are MY support system too!

I went to the doctor this month & was told “I’m just getting older” is that something that is true or is this just another excuse that society gives us to accept our bodies?  I don’t know if I want to weigh what I did when I first reached my WW goal (maybe a little of me does but that was also 3 kids ago) See another reason/excuse.  She also told me that once you hit a certain age, woman need to watch their sugars and move more.  It’s not just about diet anymore at this age.  How old does she think I am?!  But she is right.  When I first hit my goal in 2006 I didn’t have to exercise to keep my weight off.  I moved for fun, had cheat weekends and could still show up at my Thursday meeting safely in my lifetime range.  Almost 10 years later I can’t do that anymore.  When I do – it shows.  Its showing. 

Then this week’s topic of Body Gratitude; when I have a love/hate relationship with mine.  I literally fell through one of my pool chairs this week!  Embarrassing!  Until, I spent some time thinking about all the things I appreciate about my body…I realized that I actually respect it!  Still hard to say I love it, but I am amazed by it! This body has climbed mountains, hiked ruins, para sailed, learned to run!, given birth, seen sights I didn’t know existed, heard roaring from oceans, listened to symphonies, smelled, tasted and touched so many things!  It has been a temple that I have taken for granted.  I don’t always respect it – I put crap in it and expect it to do miracles.  I look in the mirror and criticize it for its wrinkles, roles, veins and bumps.   But when I am grateful for this body I have I start to treat it in a whole new way.  I make better choices for it.  I stop talking bad to it.

She's a T

A few months ago my friend Jen (she’s mentioned again below in the recipe section) wrote a post about being that overweight chubby kid in grade school horrified on track day of having to compete with her fellow students.  Wishing she could go back to that little girl and show her what kind of woman she is now!  Jen just competed in a Tri-Athlon gosh darn it! She is a serious butt kicker that’s lost 216# on W.W.!  Wowza! 

Thinking of that post this week reminded me that when I am frustrated and say/think negative thoughts about this body of mine; what if I had to say them out loud to the grade school version of myself?  Better yet, what if I said those thoughts to my daughters and sons? “You’re so ugly.  Your legs are like tree trunks!  Look at all that cellulite!  You have cankles!  Look at that double chin, flabby arms, tummy roll…do I need to keep going?  Probably not.  I don’t think any of us would say those hurtful words to others so we need to stop saying them to ourselves!

So this week when I am frustrated with some part of my body I will not turn to food!  This is the time to do something great for my body!  I will thank it by accepting compliments, I will go for a walk, eat less processed foods, try that yoga class I have wanted to try and begin to accept that this woman, of that particular age, can learn to love the body I’m in.  Flaws and all. 

I will always have gratitude for my body
I will have a healthy body image
I will always love my body no matter what
I am beginning to accept myself more and more
I am beginning to feel content with the way I look
I am becoming happier with my body
Each day I look and feel better
My self-acceptance is beginning to change the way other people see me
I am overcoming negativity and building a positive attitude towards myself
I am finding it easier to feel confident in the way I look

~Shared by Tom, a fellow W.W. Leader

Check out Jen’s Blog: www.suchafunnyfat.blogspot.com

Or this inspiring article on woman looking in the mirror at a local mall.  http://www.upworthy.com/these-ladies-arent-happy-with-their-reflection-but-then-the-mirror-tells-the-truth

JULY Theme:  FIND YOUR FOCUS!

July was centered on the idea that finding our focus will empower us.  All month long we’ve worked on making actionable, positive choices that lead us to getting happy.  How have you directed your focus to a specific change and how has it impacted you?  What choices have you made this month that has helped you Get Happy? #FindYourFocus 

 

Last Week:     ”OUTSMART YOUR TIME BANDITS”

How often do you wish for more hours in a day?  Ever said if only I had 25 hours…..”  While more time can’t be created, we can be mindful about how we spend our time and ensure that we’re getting what we really want out of our days.  What is stealing your time?  Is there a strategy to help you find your focus and get that time back?  Be sure to share in our meeting this week what worked and what didn’t – you never know whom you’re going to inspire!

This Week:  “BODY GRATITUDE”

Image shared from MollysFund.org

When it comes to physical appearance, most people are quick to find the negative aspects but when asked to find positive with regard to their body…uhm…!  Negative self-talk could very well be holding us back in achieving what we really want.  The good news is that if the negative self-talk can have that big of an effect, so can positive talk!  How we think and talk about our bodies has a profound impact on how we feel about ourselves - so this week we will unlock positive, supportive, beliefs in order to pave the way towards success and LOVING your body! 

What’s Happening This Week!

GET HAPPY CHALLENGE:

You’re almost there!  The charms are in and waiting to be placed on your charm holders for attending meetings this summer during your busy schedules!  You put yourself first in order to earn that bling – don’t stop now!   

ON SALE THIS WEEK: 

ALL ACTIVITY TOOLS!  DVD’s, weights, pedometers, yoga mats, active links and Fit Bits oh my!  If it helps us move it’s probably on sale! 

 

STRUGGLING MEMBER WORKSHOPS:

Are you sabotaging yourself with Negative Thoughts?  Do you feel unmotivated?  Struggling with staying on plan? You're not alone!  This month we focus on how our thoughts get in our way!

·         Aug 5,  9-10am ~ Geneva Store

TASTY TUESDAY:

GRILLED FENNEL & TOMATO

My great friend and fellow leader Jen (w/ one N – so lazy, right? Just write that extra N! J) allowed my family to share her vegetable farm box this week, while she was on vacation!  Wow!  What a neat idea, you share the harvest of a local organic farm a specific amount of weeks with other families, (thus splitting the cost)  We arrived at the host home where a garage full of boxes were waiting.  I grabbed the box and went home to see what was inside! 

Most of you know that this is a little out of my comfort zone.  Veggies are often drunk in smoothies or chopped finely into sauces – it’s awful I know.  Someday I will be struck by lightning from the WW gods saying that!  However, it was fun washing, chopping and searching recipes for the items we brought home.  And, I confess; I did have to text a picture of one or two things to Jen because I simply had no idea what it was!  Hence your recipe this week.  Fennel!  Have you ever seen Fennel!  Of course you have because you’re all perfect Weight Watchers that try new veggies every week!  Right?! Wink Wink!

Fennel is a unique vegetable that looks like a cross between a celery and an onion.  But it doesn’t taste like either.  It smelled like black licorice which was hard for me to get past – so I grilled it instead of eating it raw like Jen suggested.  By grilling it it took on a sweeter, more herbal flavor.  Btw I used my grill pan on the stove because the mosquitoes were so bad Sunday night!

           

Points Plus Values:  2

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

·        1 Fennel (I had one but if your cooking for more than yourself you will want more)

·        2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Here’s where the points come from)

·        Chopped Garlic

·        1 Lemon

·        Tomato (again cooking for myself I used 1)

·        Sea Salt & Pepper per your taste

Instructions:

1.      Cut off the bottom of your fennel bulb and trim off the stems. (There are things you can do with the stems but I just fed them to my bunny)

2.    Cut the bulb in half lengthwise.  Then into wedges.  My fennel did this naturally for me, like an onion.

3.     Slice your tomato into wedges also.

4.    In a bowl I made a marinade of olive oil, squeezed the juice from the lemon, and chopped garlic.

5.     Heat up your grill pan & spray with nonstick cooking spray.  

6.     I dropped my veggies into the marinade bowl until they were coated.  Then placed them on the grill pan.  You could put the lemon on there too if you like!

7.     Turn the heat to medium and let cook until tender, almost translucent.  This was about 10 minutes for me.  I flipped them occasionally.

8.     Salt and pepper while grilling or use any other season you may like!

9.     Once done I just ate them!  It was so good.  I had used a Roma Tomato so I started to imagine it served over pasta and tossing it in the marinade like a cold salad… Maybe next time!  Bon Appetit!

Let’s Clap the Big Hands!

Celebrate the Scale & those Non Scale Victories too!

BIG SHOUT OUT TO the N. AURORA WALKING GROUP! 

These ladies are walking on Wednesday nights at 7pm.  They have started going short distances and times but are hoping to be walking a 5k by September!  If you are interested in starting one after your meetings just say the word.  It would be great to wear your walking shoes to your meeting and then take off after we are done.  These ladies are having a great time getting to know each other and are looking for more group members.  If this sounds like a group you want to be a part of just show up on Wednesdays at the N. Aurora Center.  They’d love to have you!

You Ladies Rock!

(if you’d like to share your success, post under comments or let me know you’d like to be added in the blog)

Quote of the Week:

by Dr. Maxwell Maltz

This newsletter is and the views shared are not affiliated with weight watchers international, inc.  It is meant to be a motivational tool.

MY STORY… BEYOND THE SCALE & REAL LIFE TOO

PORTION CONTROL IS ABOUT EATING JUST ENOUGH TO STAY FUELED & FULL - cnn

This week I don’t have a personal anecdote.  It was hard to find humor in the fact that our culture is making food decisions based on anything but our health.  Sometimes we are eating for emotion or in the moment but go past that & you’ll find we are eating more then we calorically need due to advertising, marketing and a portion distortion mindset.  I studied the topic for this week’s Perfect Portions meeting & realized that this topic was more than reading nutrition labels or pulling out our food scales. Here’s a little of the psychology behind our decision making.

Do you remember when there was only one size drink at fast food restaurants?  No?  Me either.  But apparently it’s true!  The child size kid’s meal drink was THE drink.  There was no Super-size, Big Joe, Super Big Gulps, King Sized or the term FREE Refills.  Why? Because, food was meant to fuel our bodies and to keep us full between meals.  Nowadays everything from the size of bagels & pizza have grown in size – and our waistlines followed suit.  We weight watchers know that, in our heads, but the reality is we also want a good deal.  And just like any sale, we see the size of our meal as a bargain and we want one!  Especially if we go out to dinner.  When we are paying away from home for a meal then darn it we want that plate big and full!   We have so many choices now that it is easy to convince ourselves that the heaping plate of pasta is a healthy serving.  Or that since that movie popcorn bucket has a free refill it would be silly if we didn’t refill it!  The University of Illinois even ran a study of this on random movie goers one afternoon.  Everyone that attended a particular movie were given FREE popcorn.  Big and Bigger buckets were distributed without explaining why.  Both groups of people ate what was given to them.  Both buckets were well above what a Portion of Popcorn should be, but those with the bigger bucket ate more than those with the big bucket.  Why does bigger portion size equate to more consumption?  This is what the U of I study showed; “Because if you have it, you’ll eat it.”   Sounds about right, doesn’t it?

Government guidelines show that a muffin should weigh 2 ounces and be 200 calories.  What is being sold in stores are muffins weighing 7 ounces and about 700 calories!  That’s like eating 7 slices of bread at one sitting!  So it’s not our fault!  Right?  We have been tricked into a portion distortion mindset.  Before you get off the hook let me tell you that the marketers will put the blame back on us.  They say they know they are “over serving” but that they are just giving us what we want. 

No matter where the blame lies I want to know is it possible to live our healthiest life without keeping our portions in check? Are we out of control or can we retrain our brains to see food as fuel?  Can we savor each bite, eat with our non-dominant hand, use small plates and just not care if I can get a large for the same price as a small?  Yikes!  I’m not sure!  I want my $1.08 to be a good value.  But if a Large & Small Diet Coke are both 0 points then the deal is the same isn’t it?  Oh boy, I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this subject!   What we can all agree on is that we are living in a super-sized world and it is resulting in supersized people.  But don’t get too discouraged; I see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.  A light that shows us Weight Watchers have each other’s backs.  And together we are on our way to smaller backsides too!  J   

JULY Theme:  FIND YOUR FOCUS!

As we find our focus this month we look at ways to take care of ourselves holistically during the weight loss journey.  This week we direct our focus to sharing tips, tricks and tools that help us leverage portioning toward success!

 

Last Week:     ”WHAT’S YOUR PLEASURE?”

Taking the time and actions to take care of ourselves is not selfish, it’s vital!  And leads us to long lasting weight loss.  In the meeting last week you were asked to focus on one self-care goal to work on.  How has that been going?  What challenges did you face?  Have you been able to unlink the words “guilty” and “pleasure”?  I’m looking forward to hearing all about your pleasure filled moments when I see you this week!

This Week:  “PERFECT PORTIONS”

For a lot of us members, portioning is a tool that gives us a greater sense of control over how much we eat.  It also helps us enjoy indulgences without feeling guilty.  When it comes to portioning it is all about being mindful – being aware of how much we eat in order to get the results we want.

While a great tool, portioning may seem hard and labor intensive or even unnecessary.  This meeting we will discover tools and tips that make it easier and actually takes the stress off of meal planning to help you stay on track to reach your goals. 

How do you incorporate portioning into your daily routine?  What is holding you back from using portioning tools?  All these will be covered in the meeting room.  See you there!

What’s Happening This Week!

GET HAPPY CHALLENGE:

You’ve made it half way!  Keep on attending your meetings during the summer challenge.  Attend 10 of 12 weeks & earn the Happy Charm!

ON SALE THIS WEEK: 

ALL MEASURING TOOLS!  Steamer, measuring spoons, scale, cups, bowls, tumbler, fruit & salad bowls & more!…If it measures it is on sale this week!  Not sure how something works? Let us show you!

Prices from  $3.95- $24.95

Mini Bars:  $4.95

Oatmeal:  $4.95

 

STRUGGLING MEMBER WORKSHOPS:

Do you feel unmotivated?  Struggling with staying on plan? You're not alone!  This month we focus on how our thoughts get in our way!  Join us as we correct the negative thoughts. 

·         Aug 5,  9-10am ~ Geneva Store

TASTY TUESDAY:

Recipe Genie

Have you ever stood in your kitchen wondering what to make for dinner with what you have on hand?  Then our Recipe Genie is just the tool you are looking for!  This week instead of giving you a recipe I thought I would walk you through a tool on the website.  (For monthly pass & Free Lifetime members only) 

Log into your WW website, select the downward arrow on the ‘FOOD & RECIPES’ tab.  On the left hand side of your screen, just under ‘RECIPES’ you will see ‘SEE ALL RECIPES’, select * on the new page that opens up you will see the ‘RECIPE GENIE’ on the right hand side.  Type in what you have on hand (up to 3 ingredients) and search away! 

Let’s Clap the Big Hands!

Celebrate the Scale & those Non Scale Victories too!

Erin E. - Non Scale Victory!

BIG  SHOUT OUT  TO Erin!  She sent me this note over the weekend & didn’t realize that in the midst of her “bad week” a behavior change occurred.  This is the definition of a BRAVO moment!  Whether she sees the effects of this behavior on the scale this week is secondary to the fact that she took care of herself – which leads to long term happiness and success!  Here’s a little of what she shared with me; 

“I was having a bad day, which was a continuation of a bad week.  I planned on working out but had to meet my boss instead.  I came home in a mood!  I got out my tablet and wrote down all the things that made me happy & all the things that made me mad.  I decided to stop making excuses & went for a 15 minute walk in the rain.  I came back feeling much better!” 

Way to go Erin!  I’m thrilled that you were able to look past the situation and take care of YOU!  WOO – HOOO! 

(if you’d like to share your success, post under comments or let me know you’d like to be added in the blog)

Quote of the Week:

by Lucille Ball

This newsletter is and the views shared are not affiliated with weight watchers international, inc.  It is meant to be a motivational tool.