MY STORY… BEYOND THE SCALE & REAL LIFE TOO

A Good Plan gets rained on

If you have been in a meeting lately you know that I began training do run a 5k race with my 11 year old daughter about 10 weeks ago.  I downloaded the Couch to 5k app (C25K) in plenty of time to go from being fairly inactive to being able to run the entire race with her as she was training at school in a girls running program.  I admit, that race in June, seemed terribly far away when it was April and we were still wearing winter coats! I did my app- sometimes.  I even got up to week 5 of the 8 week training program but trying to cram 8 weeks into a few attempts wasn’t realistic or attainable.  So I made a Race Day Plan.  I knew that I had run for 5 minutes straight on a few different occasions and on one occasion I had even gone a full 17!   So come “Race Day” I would start out slow but run for a minimum of 5 minutes.  Then I could see if I could push myself a little farther depending on the crowd’s energy and Talia.  My hope was that she would be key in pushing me past my “I can’t” mentality.  When I couldn’t go any farther, I would walk but not for more than 2 minutes then run another 5 and on and on.  I also told myself numerous times on the 1 ½ hour bus ride that “I AM A RUNNER”  “I CAN DO THIS” by the time we got to Joliet Speedway I was excited and feeling good.  I know some of you were also there but I only saw Kelly S. since our daughters attend the same school! :)

My Running Buddy Talia

Then if you have been on Facebook you would know that after we waited for our heat to be called and all began lining up at the start line it began to rain.  Still most in the crowd were excited!  Then, it REALLY started raining and people just started running!  I had no idea if we were supposed to, if we were on the track or if we were heading towards the parking lot but when a herd of people are moving you just better move too!  Sadly, as the crowd started to thin I realized we were heading toward the buses & I heard the loud speaker announce that lightening had been spotted in the area.  This would post-pone the race.  We sat soaked and quiet on the school bus for a while before our school coaches were told that it was indeed canceled. 

Was my “training” for nothing?  Did I wake up at 5 am for nothing?  Was a small part of me happy… J  I won’t confirm nor deny!  But on the long, wet, cold ride home (only the experienced runners knew to bring a change of dry clothes) I knew I wanted to finish.  I WANT to finish.  And now I was given a chance to complete my training and actually RUN a 5K!  After a nap my daughter and I went on-line and looked up races without age restrictions.  Now that we have our list, I just have to compare the dates with the rest of our family calendar but by the end of the week we will be signed up for a 5K!  Ask me which one we are doing.  Hold me accountable! 

What about you?  Whether your goals include moving like we discussed last week in the meeting or if your goals are weight related, or involve tracking, what happens when YOU’RE well thought out plan gets rained on?  How do you respond?  Do you throw in the towel and just give up?  Who or What do you need to stay motivated? Can you do it?  Will you do it?  Only you can decide that.  But I believe that the summer of 2015 is OUR SUMMER!  The summer of change, accomplished goals and just being Happy with where I’m heading! 

JUNE Theme:  GET HAPPY!

minions Make me Happy

Do you ever say to yourself, “I’ll be happy when…”or “Once I lose weight, then I’ll enjoy…?”  Happiness can be cultivated and when we do it’s easier to the choices that improve our lives and make us , well, Happy!  So this month that is what we are focusing on in our meetings – Getting Happy!

 

Last Week:     ”GO OUT & PLAY”

Exercise can be such a a challenge!  In our meeting we “packed a bag” with the tools needed to be more active.  Looking at what you’re trying to achieve & what actions you need to take to make that happen can help us decide what tools you need to start reaching your goals!  Sometimes we need physical items for the activity and sometimes we need intangibles like motivation, stamina, etc.  What did you end up packing?  Will it fit in your with your lifestyle? Be sure to share in the meeting what you will need and maybe inspire a fellow member, too!

This Week:  “GET HAPPY”

Who doesn’t want to be happy?  It seems that most of us have pursued happiness at one time or another.  After all, it’s why we joined Weight Watchers.  Once we have lost our weight and gotten to our weight loss goal, we’ll be happy, right?!  How would it feel though if you could be happy starting right now?  What is it that makes you happy?  What do you associate with that feeling of happiness?  “If you’re happy and you know it..” make your way to the meeting & support others in finding their HAPPY!  If you aren’t there yet, don’t worry there will be lots of brain power in the room generating ideas that could help you find your Happy, Happy, Happy place!

 What’s Happening This Week!

ON SALE THIS WEEK: 

Candies:       $1.50

Smoothies:   $4.95

Original Active Link:  $5.00 ~ WHAT? 

You saw right!  The completely waterproof original Active Link is $5 through June 20.

$5 monthly subscription fee

 

STRUGGLING MEMBER WORKSHOPS:

Do you feel unmotivated?  Struggling with staying on plan? You're not alone!  Find a workshop that fits your schedule!

·         June 11,  6-7pm ~  South Elgin

·         June 20, 10:30-11:30am ~ North Aurora

·         June 25,  6:30-7:30pm ~ Geneva

APP WORKSHOP:

Need help using your WW app or digital tools on your tablets?  Bring your smart phones or tablets with the app downloaded and be ready to learn some great tricks and tips!

·         June 27, 10:30am North Aurora

Let’s Clap the Big Hands!

Yay Deb!  GOAL!

Celebrate the Scale & those Non Scale Victories too!

This week I want to recognize Deb from the South Elgin Thursday night meeting!  She reached her weight goal!  Woo-Hooo!!!  Deb mentioned that tracking is a big part of her success and it was great hearing from our life time members that encouraged her to KEEP coming even after Lifetime to help keep her at her goal!  Bravo Deb!  We are so proud to be a part of your journey!

(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.

TASTY TUESDAY:

Skinny - Oven Baked Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

6 Points Plus Values

Here’s a quick little sandwich just in time for summer picnics!  I found this recipe on Skinny Kitchen  www.skinnykitchen.com.  They only take a little over an hour!  This yummy pulled chicken sandwich is so tender and extremely flavorful.  She’s trimmed the fat and calories by making the coleslaw with a skinny dressing and using a 100 calorie, fiber rich, sandwich thin for the bun. The skinny for 1 sandwich, only 238 calories, 4 grams of fat and 6 Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS. If you’re not looking to feed a crowd just cut this recipe in half. One thing I know for sure, it’s really, really delicious!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Ingredients for Chicken:

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast

1 large onion, thinly sliced

1 (18 oz) bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Barbecue sauce or your favorite

Ingredients for Coleslaw:

6 cups shredded white cabbage, 1 (10 oz) bag

1 cup shredded carrots

¾ cup scallions, chopped

4 tablespoons light mayonnaise,  I like Best Foods (Hellman’s) Light

1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

2½ tablespoons spicy brown mustard

1 tablespoon honey

¼ teaspoon prepared white horseradish

2 packages Oroweat’s Honey Wheat Sandwich Thins, see shopping tip

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place chicken breasts in a roasting pan or rectangular Pyrex baking dish. Arrange sliced onions over the chicken, then pour the barbecue sauce over top, reserving 1 cup for later. Cover the baking dish/pan tightly with foil and place in the oven. Cook chicken for 1 hour, remove foil and cook for about 10 minutes longer until chicken is fork tender.

2. In the meantime, prepare the coleslaw-In a large bowl add the cabbage, carrots and scallions. In a small bowl mix together the dressing ingredients. Refrigerate the coleslaw and dressing separately until ready to serve. Don’t toss until serving to keep coleslaw crisp and crunchy, not soggy.

3. Remove the chicken to a plate or cutting board. Using two forks, pull the chicken breasts apart to shred the meat. Place the shredded chicken back in the pan, add the reserved 1 cup barbecue sauce and toss the chicken well to thoroughly coat in the sauce that’s remaining in the pan.

4. Serve the pulled chicken warm. Place on the bottom of each sandwich thin ½ cup barbecue shredded chicken. Add onion, ¾ cup slaw and top with sandwich thin.

5. If you have any leftovers, the shredded chicken freezes great. You can use leftover chicken to stuff a baked potato or add to a salad. Plus, this recipe can easily be cut in half!

Makes 12 servings (each serving ½ cup shredded chicken and ¾ cup coleslaw)

Shopping Tip:

Oroweat Honey Wheat Sandwich Thins can be found in most large supermarkets.  One sandwich thin has 100 calories, 1g fat and 5g fiber.  They come in several flavors with the same nutrition facts.  Several brands are available so if you can’t find Oroweat, use one of the others brands.

Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS VALUES = 6

SKINNY FACTS: for 1 sandwich (each serving ½ cup shredded chicken and ¾ cup coleslaw) 238 calories, 4g fat, 22g protein, 34g carbs, 7g fiber, 745mg sodium, 8g sugar

Who Moved My Cheese?

 MY STORY… BEYOND THE SCALE & REAL LIFE TOO

WHO MOVED MY CHEESE?

A friend of mine just lent me the book “Who Moved My Cheese” by Spencer Johnson M.D. as we were discussing the many graduation parties we both had been invited to this summer.  This book is her go~to Grad Gift. and yet I had never even heard of it before.  So sure enough she sent me home with her copy!  The premise of this little parable is that Change can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective.  It’s the story of 2 little mice & 2 little men that go every day into a maze to get cheese until one day they arrive & discover that the cheese is gone!  The mice are shocked but put on their shoes and race off in search of adventure & new cheese.  The men stay, every day, hoping it will come back until one man finally decides he will die if he doesn’t go out and look for new cheese.  So off he goes.  The last man stays.  Waiting.  Sad.  Angry.  Frustrated.  Who would DARE move his cheese?  He deserved that cheese.  What would he do if there was no cheese?  So think about it.  Are YOU adaptable and alert to change, embracing the newness with excitement?  Or do you often find yourself resisting and fearing it, hoping that if you ignore it long enough it will just change back to how things once were?

After finishing the book I had a little “Ah Ha” moment myself.  Whether I like it or not Change Is Coming!  Or in some parts of my life it already has!  At work I have a new Territory Manager that runs things in a new way then my previous supervisor.  Today is the kids last day of school.  Change is coming as we will be in a new routine for the next few months.  I used to be able to keep my weight maintained as long as I tracked my points but now sadly, I have to MOVE too!  Ugh!  I’m getting older….June is my birthday month and I will officially be as OLD as my Mom was the day I overheard her crying to a friend that she was 42 and middle aged.  Isn’t that funny?  I remember her being pregnant at 30 with my youngest sister thinking that the PTO would be gossiping that a 30 old was having a baby!  Times do change! 

What about you?  How has your life changed?  Are you still mad that we don’t have a slide rule for WW and that you can’t look at a nutrition label and guess the points? (C’mon that was 4 years ago- time to move on)  Have you lost a loved one this year that threw your life into a tailspin?  Retire?  Move?  Become a Grandpa?  How are you handling your life right now?  Take a moment today to think about the changes that have happened and how you responded?  Do you need to reconsider?  Are you like the sad, angry man complaining about your change or have you moved on and embraced the newness that came - in spite of that change?  So I guess I end with one last question….Are you a man or a mouse? 

May begins YOUR SUMMER TOOLKIT:

May is the gateway to summer!  School will soon be out, the weather is getting warmer, burgers are on the grill - this is the best time to start prepping for the challenges & fun of this next season!  Our May meetings are designed to help you stock your WW “tool box” so you can enjoy all that summer has to offer AND stay on Plan!  Coming next week= June is GET HAPPY month at W.W!

Last Week's Meeting:      ”THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE”

We worked together in the meeting room to brainstorm ideas to up the Flavor, bring back Blasts from the Past,  (Oberweiss Shakes made every list) tried to be more Adventurous & we Set the Mood.  I had so much fun hearing all your ideas!  I hope you did too!  Come to the meeting this week and let us know which of these great ideas you tried!  Did you like cold soup? Anyone have a Slab of Cake (Heather wink wink) I hope you got out of your ruts and away from “meh” meals!   

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This Week's Meeting:   ”GO OUT & PLAY”

Any activity goals for the summer?  Even if you are allergic to exercise let’s try to come up with ways to get moving that actually fit your lifestyle!  How can we play if …..   Been injured? Work full time?  Stay at home with little kids?  Do we need to “pack a bag” to actually meet our goals?  How can moving fit into your life right now?

Remember the Moving Man Challenge I gave you a few months back?  This is still in play!  Take your age and translate it into some type of action plan – last week Heidi got her charm by going to the gym 48 times and stayed for 48 minutes!  Yay Heidi!  You’ve seen members get them for planking, hula hooping, swimming and even going to the mailbox!  This is your challenge!  What goal will you set to move a little more then you are  now?  Don’t forget there is no end date to this challenge.  Whenever you complete it I will give you your bling!

What’s Happening!

ON SALE THIS WEEK: 

Smoothies:   $4.95

Fit Bits:   $10 off this week

Original Active Link:  $5.00  WHAT!? 

-  You saw right!  The completely waterproof original Active Link is $5 through June 20.

-  $5 monthly subscription fee

 

STRUGGLING MEMBER WORKSHOPS:

Do you feel unmotivated?  Struggling with staying on plan?  Or just need to refocus and recommit?  You're not alone!  Find a workshop that fits your schedule!

·         June 3,   9-10am ~ Geneva

·         June 11,  6-7pm ~  South Elgin

·         June 25,  6:30-7:30pm ~ Geneva

(North Aurora coming soon)

Let’s Clap the Big Hands!

Kay & Celeste

Celebrate the Scale & those Non Scale Victories too!

This week I want to recognize Kay & Celeste.  These sisters & roommates from Geneva cleaned out their cabinets last week.  Even those items that had low points values but were triggers or had high sodium were tossed out!  Then they went shopping so their environment was safe. Not only did these 2 characters cut & prep their produce they both LOST weight this week!  Bravo Kay & Celeste!

(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.

Recipe - Tasty Tuesday

Tasty Tuesday:   

AVOCADO SALSA

Here's a little treat my fitness instructor made for us on our last night of class.  Feel free to eat alone or use with your favorite point friendly chip!  Approximately 30 servings.  each serving is 2 ppv

 (BTW I don't even like avocados and I loved this dip)

INGREDIENTS:
1  16 oz bag of frozen corn kernels (i like the white & yellow mix personally)
2  2.5 oz cans of sliced ripe olives
1  red bell pepper, chopped
5  cloves of garlic, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
3  TBSP apple cider vinegar
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp black pepper
3  avocados - peeled, pitted and diced:


DIRECTIONS:
1.  In a large bowl mix the corn, olives, red pepper and onion
2.  In a small bowl mix garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, oregano, pepper and salt.
     Pour into the corn mixture and toss to coat.  Cover and chill for 6 hours in the fridge.
3.  Cut and Stir in avocados before serving to keep them from browning

MY STORY… BEYOND THE SCALE & REAL LIFE TOO

Thank those that have served our country so selflessly!

FREEDOM RINGS

Bode at 8!

Turning One

This morning as we honor our veterans, many of us are bustling around preparing the house & yard for a picnic!  Did you sleep in? Have the day off?  I hope so!  But, for some of us our Memorial Day started a few days ago.  Mine started Sunday, with my son’s Bode’s 8^th birthday.  It was just easier to order pizza, cut up some fruit and open a bag of chips then to grill or cook healthy.  I also had a co-worker (the fantastic Laura from N. Aurora) that happened to text me a recipe for “Death by Chocolate” to make for dessert! Notice I am being nice and NOT posting a picture of the dessert!  Let’s just say it held up to its name and I had most of my in-laws passed out in the kitchen to full too even go home!  

Since I am being honest I should also admit that this dessert included broken up Heath Bars.  I had one extra that didn’t go in the dessert and late last night it came running into my room, unwrapped itself & jumped in my mouth!  I have no idea how many points it is and I don’t want to know!  Now, I have 2 choices.  I can continue eating off plan and chalk it up to yet another holiday or I can look at today as a “normal” Monday except the kids & hubby are home. 

        Yep, I have left over pizza in the fridge, but I also have some beef thawed out.  Yep, I have a mouthwatering chocolate dessert left in my fridge but I also have a half of watermelon and cut up strawberries.  Do you see where I’m going with this?  As Weight Watchers our goal should not be to white knuckle it through holidays, parties, potlucks, festivals, etc. Or to deprive ourselves of all good things.  It IS about gaining awareness of what we really want and need the most – then following through! I’m going to be ON PLAN today, with a few measured out and pointed indulgences. 

 It’s about being proud of yesterday, at peace with today and optimistic about tomorrow! 

May begins YOUR SUMMER TOOLKIT:

May is the gateway to summer!  School will soon be out, the weather is getting warmer, burgers are on the grill - this is the best time to start prepping for the challenges & fun of this next season!  Our May meetings are designed to help you stock your WW “tool box” so you can enjoy all that summer has to offer AND stay on Plan!

Last Week:      ”YOUR SUMMER EATING GUIDE”

Summer and nice weather typically means a lot of opportunities to eat out – at friends’ houses, for BBQ’s, outdoor restuarants, & fast food while on the go!  In our meeting we discussed how to satisfy your reasons for eating out in Plan friendly ways.  What strategy seemed to be most helpful for you?  Be ready to share what you learned about your eating behaviors in the meeting!

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This Week:  ”THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE”

Are you stuck in a rut with meals?  Getting a little Ho-Hum?  For various reasons this happens to us and we tend to stick to what we know when it comes to our meals.  It’s safe & sometimes easy.  That being said, enjoying food, especially in the face of moderation is crucial to sticking on the Plan!  This week we will focus on making your meals more enjoyable.  Do you have a go to strategy for when boredom kicks in?  Bring your thoughts and ideas to the meeting so we can have fabulous meals this week! 

 What’s Happening This Week!

ON SALE THIS WEEK: 

Smoothies:   $4.95

Starter Kit:  $24.95

 

 

Lose 10 On Us!

Help Us Spread the Word! Join and purchase a Monthly Pass subscription plan between April 28 and June 1, 2015, lose 10 pounds within your first two months and W.W will pay you back for two months!

 

Let’s Clap the Big Hands!

Celebrate the Scale & those Non Scale Victories too!

This week we want to give a big Shout Out to the 30 members that showed up to the Struggling Member Workshop in Geneva!  Don’t forget to celebrate those small goals you set!  

(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.

Recipe of the Week: Salad in a Jar!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK:

Shared by Erin in North Aurora.  For more ideas search Pinterest

What is great about these jar recipes is that you can prep for the week & know they will be fresh come Friday.  Best part is they will fill you up for a small amount of points plus values.  At lunchtime just turn your jar upside down and shake to mix the dressing throughout.

ERIN USED:

 

Put your dressing in the jar first ~ 3TBSP vinegarette -1pps

1 TBSP corn -1ppv

1 TBSP Black beans -1ppv

2 TBSP quinoa -2ppv

Cucumber-0ppv

Grape tomatoes-0ppv

3 oz of chicken breast - 3ppv

Stuff with lettuce or spinach – 0ppv

Total 8 points = very satisfying

MY STORY… BEYOND THE SCALE & REAL LIFE TOO

Holidays? Or eating to fill the void?

This past Sunday was Mother’s Day.  If you are a mom to children or even to fur babies then you may have had a day of spoiling; a lunch you didn’t need to prepare or clean up and possibly a gift or two.  Most of my crew is still on the young side (you can see a photo of them on the FAMILY page) so I was given a scavenger hunt to search for my home-made cards, cups of grass, breakfast made by little ones not old enough to turn on the stove accompanied by a vase of tulips that were cut from the only flowering plant in my yard.  So now I have stems.  I had to pull the two older girls aside and remind them that a true Mother’s Day gift would mean I didn’t have to get out of bed at 6:30 to “find” my gifts but for this season of motherhood the little ones rule & I will revel in their love for me, no matter how early it is.  There is also a young woman in my life has turned this “holiday” into a day where I am blessed to have the chance to raise her babies as my own.  As I think of her on this day with longing arms.  Wishing for cups of dandelions and little voices whispering “I love you” I had another thought… 

For some of us this day may have felt like a freight train without brakes heading right at you!  A day where emotions crash into our hearts with such a heaviness that is hard to even breathe.  You may be one of these people.  People who dread a holiday that celebrates a woman you have a broken relationship with. Or you may be a woman desiring to carry a child and can’t, or haven’t.  Have you lost your mom & can only celebrate her memory?  Have you suffered the awful tragedy of having buried a child?  Or do we remember the women, like our birth mom that has given up her child(ren) for adoption? 

Boy I didn't mean for this to be a downer of a newsletter!  I just want to acknowledge that the “days” in our lives can be felt differently by those around us.  Gosh, now add into the mix being a Weight Watcher! Yikes!  How well do you respond to these days?  The days where LIFE just throws a wrench into our plans.  Did you take a WW “holiday” and eat till you were sick?  Did you eat until you were numb to avoid all the hurts this past weekend?  Or are there any of you that were able to fit the holiday into your plan – and although you ate with a little less structure - Monday came along and you are on track today?  No matter which way you acted let’s remember that even though Mother’s Day is over there will be more “days” in our future.

Take time this week to evaluate and reflect on how you did.  Learn from what worked and what didn't.  Are there things that can adapt next time we are faced with those challenges?  What can be celebrated?   Remember that all the food in the world will not change our realities.  But how we respond to our realities can be life changing!  So put on your armor and be ready.  Life is coming!

May begins YOUR SUMMER TOOLKIT:

May is the gateway to summer!  School will soon be out, the weather is getting warmer, burgers are on the grill - this is the best time to start prepping for the challenges & fun of this next season!  Our May meetings are designed to help you stock your WW “tool box” so you can enjoy all that summer has to offer AND stay on Plan!

Last Week:      ”YOUR MEAL PLAN – ACTION PLAN”

We all know that meal planning can be a big help towards staying on track. Most of us have a few go-to meals to get dinner on the table fast, but not having a plan can cause us to scramble for a good choice. As we discussed in the meeting, life can get in the way of making meal-planning routine. What did you learn in the meeting about the “how” of meal planning? How did that make a difference in your week? Were you able to follow through? If not, what got in the way?  I can’t wait to hear about it in the meeting!

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This Week:      ”SPRING CLEAN YOUR FRIDGE”

“You can’t eat it if you don’t have it” applies to both foods that are plan-friendly and to those high in Points Plus Values. Which of these two categories is most accessible to you? Is your fridge filled with plan-friendly foods? If so, where in the fridge are they? Are there foods that call your name even though you had bought them for someone else? It might be time to spring clean our food spaces, especially our fridge!  Take a before & after photo and it may make it in the newsletter next week or on the facebook page!  Here’s a short video that may get you started or at least give you some great ideas!

http://bcove.me/sqjeje0i

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 What’s Happening This Week!

ON SALE THIS WEEK: 

Smoothies:   $4.95

Crunchy Snacks: $3.95

2 for $20 Bundle Offers:   Pick any two of the Shop, Eat Out or Weight Watchers Power Foods Guide books. Also, bundle the Salad Solution To-Go with the Salad Dressing Cruet and save $5.90!

Lose 10 On Us!

Help Us Spread the Word! Join and purchase a Monthly Pass subscription plan between April 28 and June 1, 2015, lose 10 pounds within your first two months and W.W will pay you back for two months!

 

Thea S. Geneva Member

Let’s Clap the Big Hands!

Celebrate the Scale & those Non Scale Victories too!

This week we want to holler and clap for Thea!  She walked a 5K this Saturday without stopping to sit!  Yay!

-Quote of the Week-

In memory of our founder, Jean Nidetch, who taught us that 

"It's Choice -not Chance that determines your destiny" 

1923-2015

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