10 Steps to Success, Part 2

Hello, Weight Watchers! How were you able to better manage your ANTS (automatic negative thoughts) with Positive Self-Talking? The first five Steps for Success will help us eliminate ANTS and replace them with more positive thoughts.

WEIGHT WATCHERS WANTS YOU!

Are you at or near goal and interested in a fulfilling job with a flexible schedule, weight accountability, and great discounts? If so, a new career with Weight Watchers may be for you! All Weight Watchers are welcome to attend any Open Information Session, but you must be a Lifetime member within two pounds of your Healthy Weight Range to be considered for employment.

• Indianapolis Eastside Center, 9433 E Washington St – March 5 at 5:30pm

TFL OF THE WEEK

When you use the Motivating Strategy, you experience in your imagination all the benefits you’ll enjoy once you’ve achieved your Winning Outcome. Use this Tool for Living when you need to inspire yourself to do what it takes to reach your goal.

• Imagine yourself having already achieved your Winning Outcome and enjoying some of the benefits. What are you seeing, hearing, doing, wearing, etc.?
• Get in touch with the good feelings that come from having achieved your outcome.
• Keep in touch with those good feelings as you practice the behaviors you know will help you move closer to your weight goal (such as Asserting yourself, Taking Care of Yourself, planning tomorrow’s meal, refusing a second portion, eating fruits and vegetables, taking a walk, etc.).

OATMEAL: NOT JUST FOR THE BREAKFAST BOWL
Weight Watchers Maple Brown Sugar or Strawberries and Cream oatmeal cups are convenient, delicious and Core. They also can make more than just a bowl of oatmeal, which is tough to eat on the go!

Mini Breakfast Cookies (2 POINTS): Mix ½ teaspoon baking powder in one cup; stir in ¼ to 1/3 cup water. Let the mixture sit to absorb the liquid. Use non-stick spray on a cookie sheet. Spoon 4 mini-cookies onto the pan and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes until firm.

Pancakes (3 POINTS): Mix ½ teaspoon baking powder in one cup; stir in ¼ egg substitute (or 3 egg whites). Let the mixture sit to absorb the liquid. The batter will make 2 pancakes. Cook in a nonstick pan over medium heat. They’re sweet enough not to need any syrup!

Peach Cobbler (3 POINTS): Add one large, undrained can of peaches packed in Splenda to an 8x8” pan. Sprinkle the contents of the oatmeal cup on top. Spritz topping with 4 “butter sprays” and then bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

ARTICLES OF NOTE

• Another Weight-Loss Angle
• Kerrie’s New Wardrobe – and New Life
• 7 Ways to Give Your Plan a Fresh Start

According to Jack Canfield, world-famous co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, there are ten simple steps to success. This meeting follows up on last week’s and shows how the last five steps also reinforce the Helpful Habits and Tools for Living and how they help us achieve weight-loss success.

Have a great week, everyone!

Cyndi

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.

--Colin Powell

Oscar-Inspired Recipes

Find the list here.

10 Steps to Success, Part 1

Hello, Weight Watchers! Did you learn about some fun new ways to work activity in last week? We can “feel the burn” just as much from play as work, so we can be as creative as we want with Moving More!

WHAT’S UP DOC?

There are a few situations at Weight Watchers where we must have a note from your doctor. They are:

• If you are losing an average of more than two pounds per week after the first three weeks
• If you wish to set a weight goal higher or lower than the weight range listed in Welcome to Your Meeting
• You are between the ages of 10-16 and wish to join

Weight Watchers is all about safe and healthy weight loss. If you have any concerns, it’s never a bad idea to open up a dialogue with your regular doctor about your weight-loss efforts. Weight Watchers staff is always available for support, but are not trained medical professionals.

ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?

The Eight Good Health Guidelines Challenge is here! If you have not been, now is a great time to start working on those 8GHGs every day. Simply print off the attached entry form, check off your 8GHGs each day, and bring it to your meeting. If you have checked 45 or more of the 8GHG for the week, you may submit your slip for a prize drawing! All qualifying entries will be entered into a grand prize drawing in mid-March for the meeting room product of the member’s choice, valued at $25 or less. Good luck!

HALT!

I know you already know and practice the Stop, Rest, and Assess strategy. But do you know how to HALT before making a food choice? Simply stop and ask, “Am I hungry? Or am I angry, lonely, or tired?”

If hunger isn’t the problem, food isn’t the answer!

ARTICLES OF NOTE

• For Julie, it’s All About Attitude
• 7 Steps to Losing Weight
• The Skill of Flexible Restraint
• Why the Scale Lies

According to Jack Canfield, world-famous author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, there are ten simple steps to success. This week, we will focus on the first five – and relate them to the Helpful Habits and Tools for Living. Next week we’ll cover the next five “steps for success.”

Have a great week, everyone!

Cyndi

One comes to believe whatever one repeats to oneself sufficiently often, whether the statement be true of false. It comes to be dominating thought in one's mind.

--Robert Collier

Spicy Apple Crepes

From www.weightwatchers.com

8 servings | 3 POINTS

• 3/4 cup fat-free skim milk
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 large egg(s)
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/8 tsp table salt
• 1/4 cup light artificially sweetened caramel yogurt
• 2 small Granny Smith apple(s), peeled, cored, and cubed
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1/3 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup apple jelly
• 2 Tbsp unpacked brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup 1% low-fat cottage cheese

In a blender or food processor, combine milk, flour, egg, sugar and salt; whirl until smooth. Pour into a small bowl; let stand about 30 minutes.

To make the caramel cream; in a food processor or blender, combine the cottage cheese and yogurt. Whirl until very smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping down side of bowl 2 or 3 times; pulse in the brown sugar. Refrigerate, covered, at least 30 minutes.

To make the filling, in a medium nonstick skillet, toss apples with lemon juice. Stir in the cider, raisins, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until apples are just tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in jelly; cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Set aside and keep warm.

Lightly spray an 8-inch nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray; heat. Pour the batter, a scant 2 tablespoons at a time, into the skillet, tilting to cover the bottom of the pan. Cook until the underside is set, about 30 seconds. Flip and cook the other side until lightly browned, about 15 seconds. Slide the crêpe onto wax paper. Repeat with remaining batter, making 8 crêpes, stacking the crêpes between sheets of wax paper.

To serve, transfer the crêpes to plates. Spread a scant 1/4 cup of the filling over one-half of each crêpe; fold into half moons. Spoon the caramel cream over the crêpes.

Fun is Contagious

Hello, Weight Watchers! Did you use any of your new dining out skills this weekend? It’s so nice to know that we can eat out and still be on the plan! A little planning and using the Asserting TFL goes a long way!

This week is the first week of the new series. A big THANK YOU to all who renewed! Please thank Sharon Peterson, also. She has put a ton of work into making this WW At Work series a fantastic success!

WEIGHT WATCHERS WANTS YOU!

Are you curious about what it’s like to work for Weight Watchers? All members are invited to attend.

• Tuesday, Feb 12 – First Baptist Church, Greencastle, 6pm
• Wednesday, Feb 13 – First Presbyterian Church, Shelbyville, 7pm
• Friday, Feb 15 – Southside WW Center, Greenwood, 7pm

TFL OF THE WEEK

Winning Outcomes describe exactly what you want to accomplish. It is:

• Stated in positive terms
• Specific
• Within your control
• A good fit for your life

It is perfectly acceptable to be working toward more than one Winning Outcome at any time. I encourage my members to have both long and short-term, and scale and non-scale Winning Outcomes.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

Don’t let all of that candy get you down! Here are some great, non-food ways to celebrate:

• Take a walk
• Write a special note
• Play a favorite board game
• Get a massage
• Go window shopping
• Indoor rock climbing
• Take a riding lesson
• Yoga class

ARTICLES OF NOTE

• Music to Move You
• I ♥ My Heart
• Five Multi-Muscle Moves to a Stronger You

Even though Moving More is one quarter of the Four Way Approach, some members are reluctant to do it. A key is to find activities that we enjoy. This week, we’ll explore games we liked to play when we were younger and where this can fit into the four activity stages.

Have a great week, everyone!

Cyndi

The time for action is now. It's never too late to do something.

--Carl Sandburg

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Serves 4 | 4 POINTS

From Shortcuts

• 1 lb chicken tenders, cut into 1” pieces
• 10 oz shredded carrots
• ½ c jarred chili sauce
• 1 bunch scallions, chopped
• ½ c fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
• 8 large Boston lettuce leaves
• 8 lime wedges

To make the filling, spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and carrots; cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through (5-6 min). Stir in the chili sauce and scallions; cook, stirring frequently, until heated through (about 1 min). Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the cilantro.

Place two lettuce leaves on each of four plates. Place ½ c filling on each leaf, squeeze the juice from one lime wedge over the top of each, and roll up. Serve immediately.

Spanish Rice and Chicken Burritos

Serves 4 | 5 POINTS

From Shortcuts

• ¾ pound chicken cutlets, cut into ½” strips
• 8.8 oz cooked Spanish-style rice
• 4 8” fat-free flour tortillas
• ½ c salsa
• ¼ c shredded reduced-fat pepper jack cheese

Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning occasionally, until browned (about 6 min). Add the rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through (about 2 min).

Warm the tortillas according to package directions.

Put one tortilla on a work surface and spook one cup of the chicken mixture down the center. Top with 2 T of the salsa and one T of the cheese. Fold the unfilled sides of the tortilla over the filling; then roll up to enclose the filling. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

My Favorite Thing to Make for Dinner - Reservations!

Hello, Weight Watchers! Did you make it through Super Bowl Sunday on-plan? If you’re happy with your weekend, Bravo! If not, now is a great time for a fresh start. Pull out a clean QuickTrak and start your week anew!

NEW CHALLENGE!

There are two attachments included with this e-mail. The first one is a Flexible Spending Account receipt. If you need a receipt to use your FSA for Weight Watchers, simply print this receipt, fill it out, and bring it to me to sign.

The second attachment is needed for the new Eight Healthy Guideline Challenge. Print out a copy of the chart and cut it in half. Each section records how many of the Eight Healthy Guidelines you have accomplished for one week. Start on your meeting day, and record your progress. Next week, everyone who has 45 or more points will be entered in a drawing for a prize. At the end of February, all entries with 45 or more points will be entered to win the product of the member’s choice for $25 or less!

TFL OF THE WEEK

Motivating Strategy: When you use the Motivating Strategy, you experience in your imagination all the benefits you’ll enjoy once you’ve achieved your Winning Outcome. Use this Tool for Living when you need to inspire yourself to do what it takes to reach your goal.

Follow these steps:

• Imagine yourself having already achieved your Winning Outcome and enjoying some of the benefits. Use “juicy” words and images to describe what you are seeing, hearing, feeling, doing, and wearing.
• Get in touch with the good feelings that come from having achieved your Winning Outcome.
• Keep in touch with these good feelings as you practice the behaviors that you know will help you move closer to your weight goal (such as Taking Care of Yourself, Managing Your Environment, Preparing Yourself, etc.).

KICKSTART CORE RECIPE POINTS VALUES

Thanks to another helpful staff member and the eTools Recipe Builder, here are the POINTS values for the Core Recipes included on page 12 in your KickStart booklet:

Pasta with Meat Sauce, 6
Chicken with Broccoli and Garlic Sauce, 8 (4 without rice)
Mustard Dill Chicken, 3
Shepherd’s Pie, 10
Chicken Cacciatore, 7

COMING SOON TO YOUR MEETING ROOM!

Start Living, Start Losing, Weight Watchers’ popular retail hardcover book of inspirational success stories, is in stores now and WW has arranged to offer a very special limited quantity of the soft cover edition to Meetings members. You can read more than 60 humorous and motivational accounts of how everyday people and celebrities overcame the hurdles they encountered along their weight-loss journey with Weight Watchers. Each story also includes practical tips and advice to help readers achieve and maintain their weight-loss goals.

This special edition costs $13, nearly 50% off the hardcover price, and will be available while supplies last. Due to the limited quantities available, I’m asking that you let me know ahead of time if you are interested in this book in the next few weeks. As always, feel free to flip through it at your meeting!

ARTICLES OF NOTE

• You Can Dine Out on a Diet! Top 20 Tips
• Managing Business Lunches
• Healthy Dining Guide
• Portion Control and My Rottweiler

Eating out is one of the biggest challenges to weight loss, due to gigantic portions and limitless varieties of food. We need to know how to manage all types of eating establishments. In this meeting, we will learn about the strategies and support resources available at Weight Watchers to conquer this challenge.

Have a great week!

Cyndi

Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

--Joshua J. Marine

Chicken Fingers with Ranch Dip and Seasoned Fries (CORE)
POINTS® Value: 6
Servings: 4

Dip our oat-crusted chicken fingers in ranch dressing and dig into a side of seasoned, baked fries. Perfect for grown-ups and kids, too.

3 sprays cooking spray
1 pound uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 1/2 packet uncooked instant oatmeal, 1 oz each (about 1 cup total)
2 tsp garlic herb seasoning, preferably salt-free
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 large Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick fries
1 Tbsp Creole seasoning
1/2 cup fat-free ranch salad dressing

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Coat chicken strips with mustard. Combine oats, garlic herb seasoning, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Dip chicken strips in oat mixture and turn to coat; place chicken strips on prepared pan.

Arrange potatoes around chicken on pan; lightly coat both with cooking spray. Sprinkle potatoes with Creole seasoning. Bake, flipping once, until chicken is cooked through and both chicken and potatoes are tender and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Serve chicken and potatoes with dressing on the side. Yields about 3 ounces of chicken, 1/2 a potato and 2 tablespoons of dressing per serving.

Crispy Chipotle Potato Skins (CORE)
POINTS® Value: 4
Servings: 8

Potato skins are always a crowd-pleaser. Ours are topped with bacon, cheddar and sour cream for wonderful Tex-Mex flavor.

4 large potatoes, baking-variety, cooked, cooled and quartered lengthwise
1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp chili powder, or chipotle chili powder
1/4 tsp hot pepper sauce
6 slice cooked Canadian-style bacon, finely chopped
3/4 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
2 medium tomatoes, diced
3 medium scallions, finely chopped
3/4 cup fat-free sour cream

Preheat oven to 425°F. Scoop out flesh of potatoes, leaving about 1/8th of potato flesh in potato. (Reserve remaining potato flesh for another use such as mashed potatoes, if desired.) In a small bowl, combine oil, chili powder and hot pepper sauce. Using a pastry brush, brush insides of potato wedges with oil mixture. Place potato wedges in a single layer on a large nonstick baking sheet; sprinkle with bacon and cheese.

Bake until cheese melts and potatoes are heated through, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with tomatoes and scallions; serve with sour cream on the side. Yields 2 potato skins and about 1 1/2 tablespoons of sour cream per serving.

Notes
We used fat-free cheese and sour cream to make this a Core Plan recipe but you can use reduced-fat versions of these products if you prefer (could affect POINTS values).

Make this recipe milder and sweeter by using fat-free mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar and pineapple tidbits instead of tomato.