Holiday Tips

(1)EVERYTHING IN MODERATION. Keep portions in check-smaller plates etc.

(2)Make a Decision - If you decide that NOW is the time to change your lifestyle then it doesn’t matter what time of year it is, you can do it. A healthy lifestyle is year-round anyway and it doesn’t "go away" when a holiday comes up. If that were the case then it would be very hard to maintain your weight because on average there are 2 holidays of some sort each month!

(3)Chart your Goals - If you are averaging .5-2 pounds a week as WW's suggests that is pounds gone by December 31st! No matter how many pounds you lose between now and December 31st you will be well on your way towards your goal.

(4)Drop Perfectionism - You can have some of your old favorites if you really want them on Thanksgiving and Christmas - all you need to do is change how you eat them. In other words, just have a taste of them or a small portion instead of a huge helping or two. members at goal do not eat buffet size portions but they do indulge at times. This option will only work for you though, if the foods you choose to eat on these holidays are not your trigger foods.

(5)Drop the Diet - Diets don’t work and neither do magical diet pills and powders. What does work is Weight Watchers it creates a healthy lifestyle!

(6)Maintain Your Exercise Routine - Even if on the actual holiday dates you do not stick to only whole foods you can still maintain your regular exercise routine and even get the entire family involved. Take a 30-minute walk after your meal and get some fresh air. Get outside, get that blood pumping, and get moving. Take a bottle of water with you and have fun instead of only focusing on the holiday feast.

Pita Chips with Black Bean "Caviar"

Makes 8 servings (Appetizers)
POINTS value per serving: 2

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 tablespoon prepared black olive tapenade
1 tablespoon crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large garlic clove, minced
1⁄4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 (6-inch) whole-wheat pitas, toasted, each cut into 8 wedges

1. Combine the beans, tapenade, feta, oil, garlic, and pepper in a medium bowl; gently mash with a wooden spoon to break up some of the beans. 2. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with the pita wedges.

Recipe from Weight Watchers Cookbook All Time Favorites © 2008. All rights reserved.

Lose for Good Campaign Results

In the New River Valley (Virginia), I work as a Leader at a traditional location where the Food Bank is located. Right prior to our Lose for Good Campaign, I witnessed why this initiative would be desperately needed. We were setting up all the goodies we sell during our meeting when, on this particular night, the Food Bank Administrator and a young couple walked through to gain access to a large kitchen pantry in the building. The girl was clearly with child and the young man could have been my brother, my cousin, my son. Instead of being defeated as I am sure their situation could have triggered, they were upbeat. The reason? The kitchen pantry. They were going to get groceries for the week.

In the weeks that followed I could not get what I had witnessed out of my mind. Could we as Weight Watchers Members make a difference? Needless to say as the Lose for Good Campaign was set into motion I felt I had to share what I had seen with my At-Work Members. I offered members the story then stated, “Just as what you have in your pantry can hold the key to your weightloss success, it can also hold the key to helping those who need a little extra to get by”. As a result, we worked together to gain the extra motivation to “Lose for Good” (191.8 pounds from Sept. 7 – Oct. 18) as well as collect a total of one hundred, thirty two non-perishable items for our local food bank located at New River Community Action.

We have been proud of being a part of this weightloss initiative.

Submitted by,

Lesia Linkous
Weight Watchers Leader on behalf of

Virginia Tech, Southgate Center
Virginia Tech, Outreach
Montgomery County Government

What are you hungry for???

Who's Hungry by Judy Christiansen

I eat when I'm angry.

I eat when I'm sad.

I eat when I'm tired.

I eat when I'm glad.

I eat between meals.

I eat bedtime snacks.

I eat from fine china.

Or from paper sacks.

I eat sitting down.

I eat on the run.

I eat when I read.

I eat just for fun.

I eat when I'm pressured.

I eat to relax.

I eat when it's time

To pay income tax.

I eat while I'm cooking.

I eat at mealtime.

Now this question you ask

(Interrupting my rhyme),

Do I eat when I'm hungry?

I really can't say...

I do not recall

Ever getting that way!

If hunger is not the problem, then eating is not the solution (unknown author)

Halloween Candy Points Values

Hello Folks.

Linda and I do plan to renew the very next week assuming we have at least 15 members interested in joining. START UP DATE THURSDAY OCTOBER 30TH....I look forward to seeing everyone there.

HALLOWEEN CANDY POINTS

Remember, you can find even MORE candy listed in your 2008 Complete Food Companion, p. 247-260 or look them up on e-tools. Prepare yourself for success!!

3 Musketeers, 2 fun size bars 3 1/2
1000 Grand, 2 bars 4 1/2
Abazaba, mini, Each 1
ABC Fruit Chomps, 7 pieces 3
ANDES "Creme de Menth Thin Mint", 8 pieces 5 1/2
Animal Crackers, 11 crackers 3
Almond Joy, 2 snack size bars 4
America1s Original Bubble Gum, 4 pieces 1 1/2
Atomic Fireballs, Each 1
Baby Ruth, 2 fun size bars 4
Big Hunk, mini, Each 1
Bit-O-Honey, 6 pieces 4
Blow Pops, Each 1.5
Bubble Gum, super, 2 pieces 1
Butterfinger, 2 fun size bars 4
Butternut Mini Bar, .75 oz 2
Candy Corn, 22 pieces 3
Caramello, 2 snack size bars 4
Crispy Caramel Fudge Bar, snack size, Each bar 2
Caramel & Peanut Butter Crispy Bars, snack size, Each bar 2
Chocolate Toffee Crisp Bar, snack size, Each bar, 2
Crunchy Peanut Butter Bar, snack size, Each bar, 2
Double Bubble Gum, 2 pieces 1
Heath Bar, 5 snack size bars 6
Hershey's Bar (plain), 2 snack size bars 5
Hershey's (almonds), 2 snack size bars 5
Hershey Kisses, 8 pieces 5
Hershey Kisses or Hugs, 3 pieces 2
Hershey Miniatures, 5 pieces 5
Hershey Tastations (any flavor), 3 pieces 1
Hershey Sweet Escapes 2
Hi C Juice Fillers, bag (5 candies) 2
Hot Tamales, Each snack box 1
Jolly Rancher, 3 pieces 1
Jolly Rancher Mini Stix, Each 1
Kit Kat, 3 (2 pc) snack bars 6
Kit Kat, Each 2
Lemonheads, Each box 2
Life Saver Five Flavor Candy, 4 1.5
Life Saver Gummi Savers, 2 rolls 2.5
Life Saver Pops, Each 1
M & M (plain), Each fun size pack 2
M & M (peanut), Each fun size pack 2
M & M Crispy, Each pkg 5
Mars, 2 fun size bars 4
Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses, 6 pieces 3.5
Maynards Wine Gums, 1 roll (44 g), 3
Mike & Ikes, Each snack pkg 1
Milk Duds, 4 fun size boxes 4
Milky Way, 2 fun size bars 4
Milky Way Lite, minis, 5 pieces 3
Milky Way Lite, regular bar 3.5
Mounds, 2 snack size bars 4
Necco Wafers, Each roll 1
Nerds, Each box 1
Nestles PB Mallow, Each 3.5
Nestles Baby Ruth, Each 4.5
Nestle Crunch Fun Size, 4 bars 5
Now & Later, 3 mini bars 3
O'Henry, 2 fun size bars 5
Peter Pan Peanut Butter Cups, 4 pieces 6
Pumpkin Pop, Each sucker 1
Raisinettes, 3 snack size boxes 4
Red Hots, Each box 2
Reese's Crunchy Cookie Cups, 2 snacks 4
Reese's Miniature Peanut Butter Cups, 5 pieces 5
Reeses Peanut Butter Bites, 3 pkgs 5.5
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, 2 snack size 4
Reesesticks, 2 snack size 4
Skittles, 3 pkgs 4
Skittles (regular), 2 packs 3
Smarties, 3 rolls 1
Smuckers Fruit Fillers, Each bag (5 candies) 2
Snackwells Nut Clusters, Each piece 1
Snickers, 2 fun size bars 4
Snickers, minis (4 pieces) or 2 fun size bars 4
Spree Candies, 8 pieces 1
Spree Twist, 2 rolls 1.5
Starburst, 3 fun size pkgs 4
Starburst Fruit Chews, 8 chews 3.5
Sugar Babies, 2 snack size pouches 4.5
Sugar Daddy Pops, 3 3.5
Sweethearts (Necco), Each (1 1/8 oz box) 2.5
Sweet Tarts, 2 rolls 1
Tootsie Hot Chocolate Pops, Each 1.5
Three Muskateers, 2 fun size 4
Tootsie Roll, 2 snack bars 2
Tootsie Roll Midgees, 6 pieces 3.5
Tootsie Roll Pop, Each pop 1
Triple Chocolate Wafer Bar, snack size, Each bar, 2
Twix, (mini size) Each 1
Twix, Each snack size bar 2
Twix, Regular Size, Each (2) pack 7
Twizzlers Pull-n-Peel Cherry Candy, 3 pieces 2.5
Twizzlers Strawberry Twists, 4 twists 2.5
Werther's Original, 3 pieces 1
Whoppers Malted Milk Balls, 2 snack size pouches 5
Wonka Nerds Gumballs, Each 1
Wonka Shock Tarts Gumball, Each 1
Wrigleys Chewing Gum, 5 pieces 1
York Peppermint Patties, 3 patties 3

Time for Pumpkin!

Pumpkin Roll

15 servings
3 points

1 Angel Food Cake Mix - the 1 Step

1 cup cold water

1 can (15oz) pumpkin

1 TB pumpkin pie spice

Filling:
1 (8oz) FF Cream cheese

1 (3 oz) SF FF Cheesecake pudding mix

1 (8 oz) FF Cool Whip Pumpkin pie spice to taste

Preheat oven to 350* Line a jelly roll pan with waxed paper. Spray lightly with Pam. Beat the cake mix and water together in a bowl for 2 or 3 minutes. Fold in pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cake springs back when touched gently in the center. Let cool for 5 minutes. Put powdered sugar on a clean dish towel and flip the cake onto the towel. Carefully peel off the wax paper. Roll the cake and towel together on the longer side. Let cool for 5 or 6 hours. Beat cream cheese and slowly add Cool Whip in portions. This keeps the filling from getting lumpy. After this mixture is well blended, add the dry pudding mix and pumpkin pie spice. Carefully unroll the cake, spread the cream cheese mixture on the top. Gently roll the cake back up.

Butterscotch Pumpkin Pudding

I small package ff, sf butterscotch pudding mix

1 cup of pumpkin

2 cups ff milk

Pumpkin pie spice

Mix the pumpkin with the cold milk, add pudding mix and pumpkin pie spice, whisk for several minutes till thick, pour into 4 dessert dishes. Core or 1.5 points

Gingerbread Pumpkin Cream Tart

servings 8

estimated POINTS® value per serving 5

8 oz gingersnap cookies (1 1/2 cups)

3 Tbsp sugar

3 Tbsp chopped walnuts

3 Tbsp fat-free margarine

1 cup powdered sugar

8 oz fat-free cream cheese

1 cup canned pumpkin

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup Cool Whip Free

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare a 10" tart pan (or springform) with cooking spray, set aside. Crush cookies (1 1/2 cups). Combine cookies, granulated sugar, walnuts and margarine. Mix well. Reserve 3 Tbsp of mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture on bottom and up sides of pan. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool and set aside.To prepare filling, combine powdered sugar, cream cheese, pumkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over baked crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving.

Crustless Pumpkin Pie

Serves 8--1 Point per serving

1 can pumpkin (15 oz)

1 can fat free evaporated milk (12 oz)

1/2 cup egg substitute

1/2 tsp. salt

3 tsp. pumpkin spice

1 tsp. vanilla

2/3 cup Splenda

Combine all ingredients & beat until smooth. Pour into PAM sprayed 9" dish. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes, then reduce to 350 for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Pumpkin Rice Pudding

POINTS value of entire batch = 26 Servings 9 servings = 3 pts, 12 servings = 2 pts

4 cup 1% low-fat milk

15 oz canned pumpkin

3/4 cup SPLENDA

1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup Egg Beaters

3 cup cooked white rice

1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine first five ingredients in large saucepan. Bring to boil over med heat, stirring constantly. Gradually add small amount to Egg Beaters; return all to pan. Bring to gentle boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in rice and vanilla.
Pour into sprayed 13 x 9 baking dish. Bake uncovered @375 for 25-30 min until knife in center comes out clean. Serve warm or cold.

Get-up-and-dance Songs - get moving to boost weightloss

Let’s Get Loud, Jennifer Lopez
The Chicken Dance
Dancing Queen, Abba
In the Mood, Glenn Miller Orchestra
Hokey Pokey, Ray Anthony and his orchestra
I hope you Dance, Lee Ann Womack
Celebration, Kool and the Gang
No Parking (on the dance floor), Midnight Star
Boot Scoot’in Boogie, Brooks and Dunn
Dance to the Music, Sly and the Family Stone

Can you find your Leader: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRPHGTulthE

Crispy Crab Cakes

¼ c FF mayonnaise
1 egg which
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. old bay seasoning
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
¾ lb. imitation crabmeat (surimi), chopped
½ lb. medium peeled and deveined shrimp, chopped
¾ c. fresh whole-wheat bread crumbs
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 (5oz) bag mixed spring greens
4 lemon wedges


Preheat oven 350 degrees

Combine first 5 ingredients, then add crabmeat and shrimp. Mix well. Add bread crumbs until blended. With moistened hands, form the mixture into 8 (2.5 inches) patties.

Heat oil in a nonstick pan over medium stovetop heat…. Cook 3-4 min. Transfer to baking sheet….. bake for 8-10 min.

Serve with greens and lemon wedge.

2 patties, 4 points.

What would your weightloss pep-talk sound like?

How to Manage Negative Thoughts:
1. Recognize you are doing it
2. Practice, Practice, Practice the positive

Check out this U-tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGrDucZxTJA

Robin H-C, a psychologist reporting in Toronto Canada, says that the first and last 30 minutes of your day are the best times to be receptive to new thought process. AND what you put in the last 30 min of the day will most likely be repeated in your head more often.

RECIPE FROM SHELLY, A WW MEMBERS (THANKS Shelly!!!!)


German Potato Salad
4 medium all-purpose potatoes, cooked and diced (I used red skinned potatoes)
1 onion, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
3 slices bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup apple juice
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

In large bowl, combine the potatoes, onion, celery, bell pepper, and bacon; set aside.

In small saucepan, whisk the apple juice, vinegar, and flour; bring to a boil, whisking constantly.Boil, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 4 minutes; stir in salt and pepper.

Drizzle over the vegetables, toss to coat, and serve at once.

(makes 4 servings)1-1/2 cups = 3 pts.