"Okay, Now...That's Something I CAN DO!" (Setting Inspiring Goals)

Hello, Weight Watchers! Did last week's discussion give you some tools to determine your satisfaction level and deal with non-physical hunger? Sometimes you just need to HALT and say, "Am I hungry? If not, what am I really hungering for?"

SALES AND SPECIALS

• Has that $20 registration fee or having to pay missed week fees kept you from re-joining your traditional meeting? From now until March 14, all new and re-joining members get FREE REGISTRATION and NO MISSED WEEK FEES!
• Are you looking for new ways to Move More in 2009? From now until March 31, you can save $5 on our Get Moving Mix (five 10-20-min beginner segments, regularly $15) and Next Move (five 10-20-min intermediate segments, regularly $15) DVDs or our Walking Kit (audio CD, indoor walking DVD, Walking Guide booklet, and $10 coupon for a POINTS pedometer, regularly $25). What a great way to beat the winter blues and earn those Activity POINTS!

COOK ONCE, EAT TWICE
Make the best of your leftovers with the newest Weight Watchers cookbook, Now & Later. Priced at $10, it has 120 hearty recipes that will help cook one meal into two. Prepare one dish one night, and use the same ingredients to whip up another delicious meal the second night. You'll also find a variety of Filling Extra tips, a list of recipes that follow the Simply Filling technique, and a recipe index by POINTS value to make meal planning easy. Do double duty in your kitchen with these tasty Now & Later recipes!

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rolls-Royce and Duke Energy members - You have enough members to start your series this week! This week will be a Getting Started Session, which will introduce new members to the plan and provide a refresher for current members. If anyone is still interested but has not paid, come on in and join! Anyone can join any week of an At-Work series.

Cathedral High School members - Your Open House meeting will be held this Monday, Jan 26. Anyone who is not a current member, but is interested in WW may attend that meeting for free with no obligation to join! Payment for the new series will be expected that day, as well. Cathedral subsidizes half of your meeting fees, which reduces your weekly fee to $5.47 - don't miss out on this great opportunity!

FBI members - I received eight payments at the Info/Registration meeting last week. We must have 15 paid members to renew. Please give your payment to Kathy Guider if you plan to continue!

Covance Central Labs members - I received eight payments at our Open House meeting last week. The series must have 15 paid members to continue - please give your payment to Maxene Grounds if you plan to continue. We need YOU to keep the series going!

COMING TO YOUR MEETING ROOM!
Three new products will be appearing in a meeting room near you in March.

The POINTS Clicker is great for the on-the-go member who wants a quick and easy way to track POINTS values used throughout the day. For only $5, this keychain clicker is a handy way to stay on plan!

New Blueberry Harvest Oatmeal will be replacing our Strawberries and Cream flavor (available while supplies last). The new creamy oatmeal is packed with sweet blueberries with no added sugar and contains protein and fiber to help fill you up. A four-cup package will sell for $6.

Our best-selling Mint Cookie Crisp Just 2 POINTS bar will be replaced by a one-POINTS value Mint Cookie Crisp Mini Bar. The mini bar will have the same dark chocolate coating and delicious chocolate-mint crunchies that we love so much.

ARTICLES OF NOTE

• The Big Ten Percent
• Measure Your Success
  
• Danielle's Success - Slow and Steady

Sometimes we can have unrealistic goals and feel disappointed when we don't meet them. Learning to set and achieve realistic short-term goals can give us the confidence to "hang in there" and accomplish long-term success.

Have a great week, everyone! I'll see you at your meeting!

Cyndi

Life takes on meaning when you become motivated, set goals and charge after them in an unstoppable manner.
--Les Brown

Indian-Flavored Edamame*
Makes 4 servings
POINTS value per serving: 1

◊5 1/3 oz frozen edamame, shelled
2 tsp curry powder
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1. Place a small saucepan filled with water over high heat. Add edamame to pan and bring to a boil; boil for 3 minutes and drain. Place edamame in a serving bowl and set aside.

2. To make seasoning, mix together curry powder, salt, ground coriander, ground cinnamon and cayenne pepper in a cup; toss with edamame until well-coated. Yields about 1/3 cup per serving.

Works with the Simply Filling technique
Recipe from Weight Watchers.com

Getting a Handle on Hunger

Hello, Weight Watchers! Did last week's discussion help you stave off feelings of hunger and deprivation? Success isn't going to happen overnight or even in a few weeks, so we need to find ways that we can stick with the plan for a Lifetime. This means avoiding hunger and incorporating our favorite foods!

SALES AND SPECIALS

• Has that $20 registration fee or having to pay missed week fees kept you from re-joining your traditional meeting? From now until March 14, all new and re-joining members get FREE REGISTRATION and NO MISSED WEEK FEES!
• Are you looking for new ways to Move More in 2009? From now until March 31, you can save $5 on our Get Moving Mix (five 10-20-min beginner segments, regularly $15) and Next Move (five 10-20-min intermediate segments, regularly $15) DVDs or our Walking Kit (audio CD, indoor walking DVD, Walking Guide booklet, and $10 coupon for a POINTS pedometer, regularly $25). What a great way to beat the winter blues and earn those Activity POINTS!
  

MONTHLY PASS / QUARTERLY DRAWING
Attention Monthly Pass holders! When a Monthly Pass Member attends a meeting a BRAVO sticker will be placed on their Monthly Pass. Once Members have four BRAVOS and the monthly pass has expired, it goes into a drawing for one of three prizes offered each quarter within our territory:

- $50 Gas Card
- $50 in Weight Watchers product (members choice)
- $25 in Weight Watchers product (members choice)

Entry deadlines will be: Mar 31, Jun 30, Sep 30 and Dec 30. The three winners will be drawn 2 weeks after the deadline.

NEW PRODUCTS!
Weight Watchers is always finding new ways to satisfy that sweet or salty craving! The week of Jan 25, samples of our new Multi-grain Crisps will be available for free at a meeting near you!

Sadly, we will be saying goodbye to the BBQ Pretzel Thins to make room for the newest addition to our product line. Stock up now if they're your favorite - only available while current supplies last!

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cathedral High School At-Work Members - Your Open House meeting has been pushed back one week due to school being canceled on MLK Day. The last meeting of your current series will be held on Jan 26. Anyone who is not a current member, but is interested in WW may attend that meeting for free with no obligation to join! Payment for the new series will be expected that day, as well. Cathedral subsidizes half of your meeting fees, which reduces your weekly fee to $5.47 - don't miss out on this great opportunity!

Duke Energy At-Work Members - Your Open House meeting will be held this Monday, Jan 19. Anyone who is not a current member, but is interested in WW may attend that meeting for free with no obligation to join! Payment for the new series will be expected that day, as well. Duke reimburses 75% of the meeting fees of any member who attends 10 of 13 meetings. This reduces your per-week fees to $2.99 - a phenominal value!

Covance Central Labs At-Work Members - Your Open House meeting will be held this Friday, Jan 23. Anyone who is not a current member, but is interested in WW may attend that meeting for free with no obligation to join! Payment for the new series will be expected that day, as well.

FBI At-Work Members - Your Info/Registration meeting will be held this Tuesday, Jan 20. We need 20 people to qualify for the 17-week series! Please send your payment with Kathy Guider if you are unable to attend.

ARTICLES OF NOTE

• Emotional Eating
• Coping Skills
• Stacey's Sweet Success

We often eat for reasons other than hunger. Sometimes we ignore our body signals - getting too hungry or eating past full. This week's meeting will help us distinguish between physical hunger and emotional "hunger" and what to do for both.

Have a great week, everyone! I'll see you at your meeting!

Cyndi

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.
--Zig Zigler

White-Frosted Cupcakes

Makes 24 servings
POINTS values per serving: 3

18 1/4 oz unprepared packaged devil's food cake
1 cup water
◊1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
◊3/4 cup fat-free egg substitute
6 oz light cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 oz fat-free cream cheese
2 tbsp powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line 24 cupcake cups with paper liners or coat with cooking spray.

2. Beat cake mix, water, applesauce and egg substitute together for 2 minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into prepared muffin pans.

3. Stir together light cream cheese and vanilla. Drop a spoonful of the mixture into center of each cupcake. Bake until firm, 19 to 22 minutes. Cool completely before icing.

4. For icing, stir together fat-free cream cheese and powdered sugar. Do not stir too vigorously or it will become too soft to spread. Divide icing among cupcakes and spread to cover tops.

Recipe from Weight Watchers.com

Balancing Your POINTS Values

Hello, Weight Watchers! Last week, we rang in the New Year by getting back to basics with WW. The first four booklets are the basic skills of the Momentum plan, and the final six build on your newly-acquired skills. (FYI: The titles of all ten weeks are listed on the back of each booklet.)

SALES AND SPECIALS

• Has that $20 registration fee or having to pay missed week fees kept you from re-joining your traditional meeting? From now until March 14, all new and re-joining members get FREE REGISTRATION and NO MISSED WEEK FEES!
• Are you looking for new ways to Move More in 2009? From now until March 31, you can save $5 on our Get Moving Mix (five 10-20-min beginner segments, regularly $15) and Next Move (five 10-20-min intermediate segments, regularly $15) DVDs or our Walking Kit (audio CD, indoor walking DVD, Walking Guide booklet, and $10 coupon for a POINTS pedometer, regularly $25). What a great way to beat the winter blues and earn those Activity POINTS!

BEATING HUNGER WITH MOMENTUM
Weight Watchers has introduced a new ad campaign for the Momentum plan, featuring Hungry, a fuzzy orange monster. Click on the links below to see the new ads!

Momentum At Work Ad

Momentum At Home Ad

WINTER WEATHER CLOSINGS

If the weather outside is frightful, call (800) 651-6000 and press 4 to speak with a live customer service representative. Weight Watchers customer service will be notified of a decision to cancel Weight Watchers at least two hours prior to the meeting time.

LIFETIME STARS
Are you a Lifetime Member at goal? Kudos to you! Free meeting attendance is one perk “Free Lifetime Members*” enjoy, but I know I often felt that there wasn’t as much celebration or recognition given to maintaining weight loss as there was to losing weight. Well, that’s going to change in 2009!

I’m excited to announce that each month when you weigh in and are no more than 2 pounds above your weight goal, you will earn a Bravo sticker. Collect at least 10 Bravos on the new Lifetime Member Bookmark and you’ll receive a new GOLD LIFETIME KEY charm and (if it’s okay with you) a little recognition in the meeting. Plus you’ll have another year of “keeping it off” to celebrate!

* Free Lifetime Members: A Lifetime Member who weighs in at the first meeting attended of each calendar month and is no more than 2 pounds above their goal weight does not have to pay meeting fees.

MONTHLY PASS / QUARTERLY DRAWING
Attention Monthly Pass holders! When a Monthly Pass Member attends a meeting a BRAVO sticker will be placed on their Monthly Pass. Once Members have four BRAVOS and the monthly pass has expired, it goes into a drawing for one of three prizes offered each quarter within our territory:

- $50 Gas Card
- $50 in Weight Watchers product (members choice)
- $25 in Weight Watchers product (members choice)

Entry deadlines will be: Mar 31, Jun 30, Sep 30 and Dec 30. The three winners will be drawn 2 weeks after the deadline.

ARTICLES OF NOTE

• The Skill of Flexible Restraint
• Snack Well, Spend Less
• Katharine the Great...Loser!

Feelings of hunger and deprivation are two big reasons that weight-loss efforts are abandoned before we successfully reach our weight-loss goals. Success isn't going to happen overnight, or even in one or two weeks. Therefore, we need to find ways to follow the plan we can stick with - which means avoiding hunger and incorporating our favorite foods.

Have a great week, everyone! I'll see you at your meeting!

Cyndi

A good meal ought to begin with hunger.
--French proverb

Ham and Cheese Burritos

Makes 4 servings
POINTS value per serving: 5

◊2 c. matchstick strips lean ham
◊1 (8.8-oz.) package cooked brown rice
4 medium fat-free flour tortillas
◊1/2 c. fat-free salsa
1/4 c. shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

1. Heat a large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the ham and rice; cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 4 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, heat the tortillas according to the package directions.

3. Top the tortillas evenly with the ham mixture, salsa, and cheese, and roll up. Per serving (1 burrito).

Recipe from Nov/Dec issue Weight Watchers Magazine

KISS (Keep it Simple & Sustainable)

Hello, Weight Watchers! You've survived the holiday season - congratulations! The new behaviors we've learned will help us stay on the plan all year and reach our goals in 2009. Keep that weight-loss holiday letter we wrote last week handy, and refer to it throughout the year to keep your goals fresh and in front of you.

SALES AND SPECIALS

• Has that $20 registration fee or having to pay missed week fees kept you from re-joining your traditional meeting? From now until March 14, all new and re-joining members get FREE REGISTRATION and NO MISSED WEEK FEES!
• Are you looking for new ways to Move More in 2009? From now until March 31, you can save $5 on our Get Moving Mix (five 10-20-min beginner segments, regularly $15) and Next Move (five 10-20-min intermediate segments, regularly $15) DVDs or our Walking Kit (audio CD, indoor walking DVD, Walking Guide booklet, and $10 coupon for a POINTS pedometer, regularly $25). What a great way to beat the winter blues and earn those Activity POINTS!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• FBI At-Work members - This week is your Open House meeting! Please invite anyone interested in joining our meeting to attend this special preview meeting for free. There is no obligation to join, but those who know they will be joining should come prepared to pay for the next series. Payment options and series offerings are available on my website.
• The Cooking Up Success promotion has ended, which means this week is the drawing for goodies in each of my meetings! Must be present (or have a very good friend who is willing to claim your prize) to win!

ARTICLES OF NOTE

• The Science Behind Self-Monitoring
• Cutting Calories: Portion Control, Energy Density
• Petika's Healthy Education

The new Momentum plan is built on two simple concepts: choosing and tracking. This week, we will explore the Seven Steps for Success as proven success strategies for sustaining our weight-loss efforts.

Have a great week, everyone! I'll see you at your meeting!

Cyndi

Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.
--Mark Twain

Quick Beef and Pinto Bean Chili
Makes 4 servings
POINTS® value: 6

◊1 (1-pound) package frozen onions and peppers
1 small garlic clove, minced
◊1 pound lean ground beef (7% fat or less)
◊1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
◊1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles
◊1 cup canned crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1. Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and place over medium-high heat. Add the frozen vegetables and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are thawed and the liquid is evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add the beef and cook until browned, about 5 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon.

2. Add the beans, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, chili powder, salt, pepper, and oregano; bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally until the chili is thickened slightly, about 3 minutes.

Recipe from Weight Watchers Cookbook Best Eats © 2008. All rights reserved.