Keeping the Holidays in Perspective

Hello, Weight Watchers! How do you feel after the Thanksgiving holiday? If you are feeling positive, I look forward to seeing you this week to hear about your success! If you are feeling negative, let’s use your weekly meeting this week as a time to learn from experience, re-motivate yourself for success, and plan for upcoming challenges. Last week, we talked about making yourself a priority and giving yourself a gift over the holiday season. Why not make your gift this week the time you spend at your meeting?

WEIGHT WATCHERS WANTS YOU!

Are you interested in a fun way to help others achieve their weight-loss goals, discounts on meeting room products, and a great incentive to maintain your weight loss? If so, a career with WW may be for you! If you are at or approaching your weight goal, and interested in employment with WW, please consider attending an Open Information Session. You will get to meet Angi, our Territory Manager and learn about our Receptionist and Leader positions in an informal group format. Upcoming sessions:

• Dec 1, 5901 Olive Branch Road, Greenwood – 9:30am
• Dec 1, 2370 E. Stop 11 Road, Indianapolis – 11:30am
• Dec 1, 8510 Center Run Road, Indianapolis – 3:00pm
• Dec 3, 1320 Morton Avenue, Martinsville – 7:30pm
• Dec 4, 350 S. 25^th Street, Terre Haute – 4:00pm & 7:00pm

GETTING SUPPORT

When Weight Watchers founder Jean Nidetch called her friends to talk about their obsession with eating cookies, she set a precedent that became an integral part of Weight Watchers. Weight loss and maintenance are easier when members share their joys, sorrows, and experiences with other people. Support for their weight-management efforts – talking about what works and laughing about what doesn’t – gives them encouragement and hope.

Now people all over the world meet every week to benefit from this same kind of support. Support and encouragement are important, and the weekly meeting is the foundation of the Weight Watchers support network. Many of the changes members are making occur outside the meeting, but coming back for the support can provide the motivation you need to keep going for one more week. Even if you haven’t attended for awhile, we will always be happy to have you back at Weight Watchers!

New Data Shows Weekly Meetings Plus Internet Tools Offer Increased Weight-Loss Success

WHAT A DEAL!

From Nov 4 – Dec 29, all Weight Watchers cookbooks (with the exception of Mix it Match it, coming soon) will be on sale for just $7! This great deal is a great way to expand your food repertoire and make eating in more fun! Don’t forget that you can e-mail advance product orders to me at this address. Cookbooks can make a great holiday gift for the Weight Watchers in your life!

ARTICLES OF NOTE

• Transforming Thanksgiving Leftovers
• Be a Holiday Diva
• Ending the Vicious Cycle

When we think of a holiday as happening once a year, we may be tempted to relax our weight-loss efforts for the occasion. This week, we will gain perspective that festive times are another day on our weight-loss calendar with special challenges that we are capable of managing. Join us this week to set holiday weight-loss goals and Keep the Holidays in Perspective.

Have a great week, everyone!

Cyndi

In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.

--Albert Einstein

Turkey-Apple Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette

POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 4

From WeightWatchers.com

• 2 cup cooked skinless light meat turkey, sliced, shredded or chopped
• 1 medium apple(s), cored and diced
• 1 cup grapes, seedless, sliced in half each*
• 2 medium stalk celery, chopped
• 1 1/2 Tbsp vinegar, raspberry
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1/4 tsp table salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper, ground
• 4 cup romaine lettuce, shredded

In a large bowl, mix turkey, apple, grapes and celery; toss to combine.

In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, coriander, salt and pepper. Add dressing to chicken mixture and toss again to combine.

Arrange lettuce on 4 individual plates and top with chicken salad. Yields about 1 1/4 cups of chicken salad and 1 cup of lettuce per serving.

*You can substitute chicken breast for the turkey and/or 1/2 cup of raisins for the grapes if you prefer (could affect POINTS values).

Pick of the Season: Cranberries

A Gift to Yourself: Awareness

Hello, Weight Watchers! Did any of you celebrate Thanksgiving early this weekend? For Thanksgiving or any special occasion that involves celebrating with food, the IPF strategy helps us to stay involved in the celebration without feeling deprived. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, or office parties, we need to Be Thankful for IPF!

WAYS TO SAY YOU'RE THANKFUL (WITHOUT EATING)

1. Put it in Writing. Each guest gets a notepad to write down the date and 5 or 10 things he or she is thankful for this year. Afterward, the notepads are read aloud or passed around the table.

2. Scavenger Hunt. Prepare a list of items to find around the house or neighborhood. The list might include a photo of your great grandmother, a favorite toy, a maple leaf, a shell, something written in a foreign language, and so on. For added fun, pair kids and adults together, or team up guests who seldom see each other.

3. Family Olympics. Organize relay or bicycle races for the children. Older kids can participate in field events using a football as a shot put and a yardstick as a javelin. Plan ahead: Make gold, silver and bronze medals from construction paper and ribbon.

4. Photo Finish. After dessert, have everyone sift through boxes of old family photographs. Adults can help kids identify who's who and tell stories about them.

GET THE SCOOP ON WHAT'S NEW FOR 2008!

I know the holidays are a busy time, but here's a great reason to keep attending meetings during December: not only will you be more likely to stick with your healthy lifestyle, but you'll also be one of the first people to get the scoop on what's new with Weight Watchers for 2008. Starting December 9^th we'll be launching the 2008 program with new products and fresh ideas, all designed to help YOU succeed. We'll save a seat for you!

WHAT A DEAL!

From Nov 4 – Dec 29, all Weight Watchers cookbooks (with the exception of Mix it Match it, coming soon) will be on sale for just $7! This great deal is a great way to expand your food repertoire and make eating in more fun! Don’t forget that you can e-mail advance product orders to me at this address. Cookbooks can make a great holiday gift for the Weight Watchers in your life!

GREAT HOLIDAY RESOURCE FOR ETOOLS USERS

Did you know that eTools has a great selection of Weight Watchers-friendly Thanksgiving recipes? Simply sign in to the website using the username and password you chose when you registered your eTools voucher, select Find & Explore from the menu on the left side of the screen, and select Occasions under the Recipes header. There is a whole folder of tasty new recipes to lighten up your holiday favorites!

PASSPORT TO SUCCESS

The Passport to Success promotion has ended. Completed Passports can be turned in to any WW staff member until Nov 24 to be entered into the national drawing for a dream vacation anywhere in the world! If you do not have a Passport, but have six stamps, simply affix them to an index card and include your name, address, and phone number. Good luck

WEIGHT WATCHERS WANTS YOU!

Are you interested in a fun way to help others achieve their weight-loss goals, discounts on meeting room products, and a great incentive to maintain your weight loss? If so, a career with WW may be for you! If you are at or approaching your weight goal, and interested in employment with WW, please consider attending an Open Information Session. You will get to meet Angi, our Territory Manager and learn about our Receptionist and Leader positions in an informal group format. Upcoming sessions:

• Dec 1, 5901 Olive Branch Road, Greenwood – 9:30am
• Dec 1, 2370 E. Stop 11 Road, Indianapolis – 11:30am
• Dec 1, 8510 Center Run Road, Indianapolis – 3:00pm
• Dec 3, 1320 Morton Avenue, Martinsville – 7:30pm
• Dec 4, 350 S. 25^th Street, Terre Haute – 4:00pm & 7:00pm

ARTICLES OF NOTE

• Small Victories, Bigger Success
• 13 Ways to Steady the Scale During the Holidays
• Good-for-You Gift Ideas

For many, the holidays are times of expressing love to others or rekindling relationships. This week, we’ll discover how to express love to ourselves by making self-supportive choices and rekindling the healthy relationship we have with our bodies, using the Comfort Zone. It is important to give ourselves A Gift for Ourselves – Awareness, especially at this time of year when stress, overeating, and a time crunch are so commonplace.

Have a great week, everyone! I hope to see many of you at your meeting this week, but encourage you to attend a different meeting if your regular day/time doesn’t work because of the holiday. Don’t forget that Weight Watchers members who attend weekly meetings lose three times as much weight as those who go it alone!

Cyndi

None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.

-- Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

THANKSGIVING: ESTIMATED POINTS LIST

Beverages

Wine (4 oz. Glass) 2

Coffee or Tea 0

Appetizers/Salads

Mixed Nuts (1 oz.) 4

Salad with 2 tsp. Oil 2

Fruit Cocktail (1 cup) 2

Shrimp (2 oz.) & Cocktail Sauce (1/4 cup) 2

Main Course

Turkey, 1 slice with skin (2 oz.) 3

Turkey, 1 slice without skin (2 oz.) 2

Ham, lean (2 oz.) 2

Ham, glazed with pineapple (2 oz.) 3

Side Dishes

Stuffing/Dressing (1/2 cup) 4

Mashed Potatoes (1/2 cup) 2

Giblet Gravy (1/4 cup) 2

Winter Squash (1 cup) 1

Cranberry Sauce (1/4 cup) 2

Green Beans 0

Sweet Potato (1 large) 3

Candied Yams (1/2 cup) 4

Roll 3

Corn Kernels (1/2 cup) 1

Corn, Cream-Style (1/2 cup) 1-2

Crescent Roll (1 regular) 3

Crescent Roll (1 Grands!) 6

Crescent Roll (1 Reduced Fat) 2

Macaroni & Cheese (1/2 cup) 4

Peas (1/2 cup) 1

Noodles (1 cup, no added fat) 4

Desserts

Apple or Pumpkin Pie (1/8 of 8-9" pie) 9

Pecan Pie 11

Pie without crust (1/8 of 8-9" pie) subtract 3-5 points

Be Thankful for IPF (Item, Portion, Frequency)

Hello, Weight Watchers! Did last week’s discussing of Eating In encourage you to try some new tips, tricks, or recipes this week? Eating out is quick and convenient, but eating in can be if we practice our HOMEMADE strategies and plan ahead. Remember, this time of year is a great time to clean out your pantry and determine what ingredients would help you stick to the plan, what needs to be tossed, and what can be donated to those in need!

I also challenged several of my meetings last week to journal. Now is a great time for an assessment of your progress. Even if you have gone over your daily points if on Flex, journaling will help you evaluate your week and do some great damage control. If on Core, journaling helps you determine if you are really sticking to your 35 WPA.

SPICE WORLD

Spices bring flavor to your favorite dishes without upping the calories or POINTS® values. Here's a WeightWatchers.com list of herbs and spices and how to use them in your favorite foods.

WHAT A DEAL!

From Nov 4 – Dec 29, all Weight Watchers cookbooks (with the exception of Mix it Match it, coming soon) will be on sale for just $7! This great deal is a great way to expand your food repertoire and make eating in more fun! Don’t forget that you can e-mail advance product orders to me at this address. Cookbooks can make a great holiday gift for the Weight Watchers in your life!

PASSPORT TO SUCCESS

The Passport to Success promotion has ended. Completed Passports can be turned in to any WW staff member until Nov 24 to be entered into the national drawing for a dream vacation anywhere in the world! If you do not have a Passport, but have six stamps, simply affix them to an index card and include your name, address, and phone number. Good luck!

WW WANTS YOU!

Are you interested in a fun way to help others achieve their weight-loss goals, discounts on meeting room products, and a great incentive to maintain your weight loss? If so, a career with WW may be for you! If you are at or approaching your weight goal, and interested in employment with WW, please consider attending an Open Information Session. You will get to meet Angi, the Territory Manager and learn about our Receptionist and Leader positions in an informal group format. Upcoming sessions:

• Nov 12, 1500 S Center St, Plainfield – 7pm
• Nov 13, 320 Conrad Harcourt Way, Rushville – 7:30pm
• Nov 15, 1200 N Indiana St, Mooresville – 6:45pm
• Nov 19, 20 E Washington St, Morgantown – 6:30pm

ARTICLES OF NOTE

• The Skinny on Holiday Eating
• Holiday Stress Relief
• Walking off the Excuses

This week, we’ll discuss how members on both food plans can enjoy special holiday foods, especially next week’s Thanksgiving meal. We’ll use the IPF strategy, which can help us manage our special occasion eating and lose weight. This strategy can be used for any special occasion or holiday to come. This week, count your blessings and Be Thankful for IPF!

Have a great week, everyone!

Cyndi

Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.

--E.P. Powell

Pumpkin Pie

From weightwtachers.com

Was POINTS® Value: 8
Now POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 8

• 4 sprays cooking spray
• 4 sheet phyllo dough
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar (2 POINTS per serving if substituted with Splenda brown sugar)
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1/8 tsp table salt
• 1 1/2 cup canned pumpkin, puree
• 1 1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup fat-free egg substitute
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a 9-inch round pie pan with cooking spray.

Cut phyllo sheets in half. Place 1 sheet in prepared pan and lightly coat with cooking spray. Top with another sheet of phyllo, placing corners just to the right of the previous sheet's corners. Repeat with remaining sheets to form a circle. Press layered phyllo into pan and roll in edges. Bake until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

Whisk together brown sugar, spices, cornstarch and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together pumpkin, evaporated milk, egg substitute and vanilla in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk wet ingredients into dry ingredients.

Pour filling into crust. Bake until set, about 50 minutes. (Cover crust edges with foil during baking if they are becoming too brown.) Cool completely before cutting into 8 pieces.

Cranberry-Sage Cous Cous Stuffing

POINTS® Value: 3 also Core!
Servings: 8

• 4 cups cranberries, fresh
• 10 oz uncooked whole wheat couscous
• 2 cup fat-free chicken broth, or vegetable broth
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion(s), sweet, chopped
• 3 medium stalk celery, diced
• 1/8 oz fresh sage, minced (use 6 whole leaves)
• 1 sprays cooking spray
• 1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
• 1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste

Place cranberries in a large pot of water; boil until most have popped, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, prepare couscous according to package directions using broth instead of water.

In a large skillet, heat oil over high heat. Add onion, celery and sage and stir-fry until onion is tender but not brown, about 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; add couscous and cranberries to skillet and stir until well mixed. Season to taste with salt and pepper if desired.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a 1-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Spoon couscous mixture into dish and bake for 30 minutes. Yields about 1 heaping cup per serving.

The Ins and Outs of Eating In

Hello, Weight Watchers! What footprints did you leave this week? We need to discover the many different types of evidence – both external and internal – that prove that we’re making progress toward our Winning Outcomes. This can keep us from getting discouraged when the scale doesn’t deliver the news we seek. If you track all areas of your progress, you are more likely to discover signs of your success!

PARTY DIPS

Football parties, holidays, or family get-togethers are popping up on our calendars. How about some ideas for healthy dips and spreads? Check out recipes for Very Veggie Vegetable Dip, Roasted Eggplant Basil Spread, Seven Layer Mexican Dip and Mango Salsa at WeightWatchers.com.

WHAT A DEAL!

From Nov 4 – Dec 29, all Weight Watchers cookbooks (with the exception of Mix it Match it, coming soon) will be on sale for just $7! This great deal is a great way to expand your food repertoire and make eating in more fun! Don’t forget that you can e-mail advance product orders to me at this address.

ARTICLES OF NOTE

· Cook Once, Eat All Week

· Crockpot Cooking

· Queen of Healthy Cooking

· Everyday Gourmet: Make-Ahead Meals

Wouldn’t you love to sit down to an enticing, healthy meal every evening, with minimal effort? This week, we’ll trade tips and recipes to make that dream a reality. Together, we’ll discover the Ins and Outs of Eating In.

Have a great week, everyone!

Cyndi

You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces – just good food from fresh ingredients.

--Julia Child

Tex-Mex Rice and Bean Casserole

From WeightWatchers.com

POINTS® Value: 4 | Servings: 6

1 sprays cooking spray

1 cup canned yellow corn, drained, or frozen, thawed corn kernels

1 Tbsp canned green chili peppers, chopped, mild or hot

15 oz canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup cooked brown rice, fresh or day old

3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat Mexican-style cheese

3/4 cup fat-free sour cream

1/4 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp table salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

2 Tbsp scallion(s), chopped (dark green part only)

2 Tbsp shredded reduced-fat Mexican-style cheese

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a 2-quart glass baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine corn, chilies, beans, rice, 3/4 cup of cheese, sour cream, chili powder, salt and pepper; stir in scallions. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons of cheese. Return to oven and bake until cheese melts and casserole is slightly bubbly, about 10 minutes more. Let stand for 5 minutes to firm up before slicing into 6 pieces. Yields 1 piece per serving.

Notes

Change the beans or cheese to your liking: white or black beans, reduced-fat cheddar or Monterey Jack cheeses all work well.