Ahhh Baseball Season...

That means spring will be coming! The sun will be shinning! I am so ready... Here is a picture of me and Rosie Red. You know I am from Cincinnati and just so you know I love the REDS! Always have always will. I love all that follows the beginning of baseball season. I am running the Lowell Half Marathon this weekend. I do not feel prepared but the one thing I can say is that I plan to go out there and give it my all. I also have a lot of warm weather plans in the making. Do you? What do you love about spring? The annual Ringing in the Spring 5K in Valparaiso, Indiana is this weekend. What else is kicking off spring for you?

What I have learned from Vacations...

Ok so many of you know Jason (my boyfriend) and I spent a week in Las Vegas. We had a great time. The weather was much colder than we expected but we still had a great time. Here is what I learned. I basically stayed the same/gained about .2 pounds while I was gone. Although we did two days of all you can eat buffets we did a ton of walking. I tracked over 115,00 steps on my weight watchers pedometer. It really felt good to not be so lazy and to walk places. I also made sure that I did make as many good choices as I possibly could. I am not sure they were all the best (see photo of very large drink... I shared I promise).

 I think after several vacations since joining weight watchers I have learned several things.

1. Have a good time. Its a vacation enjoy it.

2. Do the best you can. You don't have to be perfect on vacation but try to enjoy yourself. Sometimes we think because we enjoyed one meal that wasn't so friendly they are all going to be that way but it doesn't have to be.

3. Don't be disappointed by the numbers on the scale. I feel going and not totally blowing it is success.

4. Find a way to be active. Most of my vacations have involved a lot of walking so that has helped me. On the one that didn't I found at least one day to hit up the hotel gym. I feel like being as active as I possibly can really helps.

How can you make your next vacatin successful?

What can we learn from basketball?

If you know me well enough you know I LOVE SPORTS! Right now we are in the thick of one of my favorite times of year.. MARCH MADNESS... so it got me thinking what can we learn from basketball?




1. It takes a team... you can't win a basketball game without teammates. You also can lose weight without asking for help. Who is on your team? Who is there you catch your pass? Who can you feed the ball to when the shot is open for you to take? Don't be afraid to ask for help.



2. Be Selfish. The really great basketball players know when to just take the shot. They also know when to pass the ball. If you have the open shot take it. This is your life. Take control the best you can. Don't be afraid to do what you need to do to accomplish your goals and win the game.



3. The little guy can always win. Every year the media dreams of a Cinderella team beating up on the big teams. Just like in basketball anyone with the willingness and determination can win. Just like you. You can win this game we call weight loss. Make a plan and put it into action.

4. Sometimes you just get beat. You can have the best game plan, the best team and sometimes you just don't win. When you don't win though you have to bounce back. Learn from your mistakes. What didn't work? What did? Reflect and put a new plan into action.

What kind of plan are you putting into place? What do you need to do to hit the slam dunk?

Oatmeal done over...

Do you love oatmeal for breakfast but really need a shake up.... here are a ton of ideas I found online that sound pretty yummy or daring. I have calculated the points plus value for all of them. The great thing about oatmeal is that it keeps you satisifed and feeling good...

• 2 Tbsp dried cranberries, 1 Tbsp toasted pistachios (5 Points Plus)

• 2 Tbsp raisins, 1 Tbsp chopped pecans (6 Points Plus)

• 2 Tbsp dried cherries, 1 Tbsp chopped almonds, 1 tsp sugar (5 Points Plus)
• 1/4 cup blueberries, 1 Tbsp chopped walnuts, dash of cinnamon (6 Points Plus)

• 1/2 cup diced apple, 2 Tbsp dried cranberries (6 Points Plus)
• 1/2 cup diced pears and 2 Tbsp dried cherries (6 Points Plus)
• 1 Tbsp Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut spread), 1/2 a banana, sliced (8 Points Plus)
• 1 cup diced apple, 2 Tbsp raisins, sprinkle of cinnamon (6 Points Plus)
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 Tbsp maple syrup,1 Tbsp chopped toasted walnuts (6 Points Plus)
• 1/2 cup diced apple, 1 Tbsp raisins, 1 Tbsp peanut butter (8 Points Plus)
• 1 Tbsp honey, 2 Tbsp raisins, 1 Tbsp chopped walnuts (8 Points Plus)

• 1 Tbsp honey, 1 Tbsp peanut butter (8 Points Plus)

• 1/2 sliced banana, 1 Tbsp peanut butter(8 Points Plus)
• 1/2 cup sliced peaches, 1.5 tsp. brown sugar, 1 Tbsp sliced almonds, dash of vanilla extract (5 Points Plus)

• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce, dash of cinnamon (5 Points Plus)

• 1/4 cup apple butter, dash of cinnamon and allspice (or pumpkin-pie spice), 1 Tbsp dried cranberries or cherries (8 Points Plus)

• 1/2 cup sliced fresh or frozen strawberries, 1 Tbsp sliced almonds, dash of almond extract (5 Points Plus)

• 3 Tbsp of your favorite fruit spread or preserves(sugar free) (5 Points Plus)
• 1 Tbsp dry-roasted peanuts, 1 Tbsp raisins, 1 Tbsp mini chocolate chips (8 Points Plus)

• 1 Tbsp chopped dried banana chips, 1 Tbsp dry-roasted peanuts, 1 Tbsp raisins (6 Points Plus)

• 1 Tbsp dried cranberries, 1 Tbsp raisins, 1 Tbsp chopped pecans (6 Points Plus)

• Italian oatmeal: 1/3 cup part-skim ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup diced tomatoes (8 Points Plus)

Any more ideas? I would love to hear them.

Healthy Oil

One of things I have really been stressing to new members is getting in their good health guidelines that weight watchers has lined out for them. I have been focusing on the importance of being healthy and losing weight. The mention of healthy oils came up in one of my meetings so I thought I would post some ideas and information about them.

What are healthy oils?

The healthy oils that weight watchers recommends are the most common oils that are highest in healthy essential fatty acids and Vitamin E. For example olive, canola and peanut oils

Why are oils considered an important part of the diet?

When calories are being cut for weight loss it’s important to get adequate Vitamin E and essential fatty acids that help absorb fat-soluble vitamins. It’s more difficult to get these vitamins when you’re eating fewer calories, which is why oils are important to add into our diet.

Do we need to count the PointsPlus value for oil? How about nutritional supplements such as fish oil?

Yes, healthy oils need to be counted in the Momentum plan. PointsPlus values for fish oil most definitely need to be counted, as it has PointsPlus values just like the healthy oils.

There are many ways to get in your healthy oils here are some suggestions

1) Cook with it, Alot of recipes start off with oil in the skillet

2) Mix up a marinade for meats and/or veggies

3) Mix it with meat sauces, or most sauces
4) Sautee with it.
5) Drizzle over pasta
6) Drizzle over popcorn
7) Drizzle over veggies
8) Drizzle over pizza
9) Drizzle over corn on the cob
10) Drizzle some over fat free cheese(it helps melt better)
11) Mix up some salad dressing (like olive oil and balsamic vinegar)
12) Rub it on poultry or fish before baking it
13) Rub it on meats for the spices and/or rubs have something to stick to
14) Rub some on a baked/Sweet potato
15) Grill sandwiches
16) Stir Fry veggies
17) Coat some homemade baked fries
18) Makes garlic toast, (oil and garlic on bread toast)
19) Add some to soups
20) Add some to smoothies
21) Mix 2 tsps olive oil to fat-free salad dressing
22) Add to anything that is fat-free. instead of the fat, you're replacing it with healthy oils
23) Roast veggies with oil
24) Mix canola oil to oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies, soups
25) put some in salsa
26) If you eat frozen dinners, drizzle some over it.
27) make some Herb or Spice Infused Oil, (for dipping or cooking)
28) Mix in some Butter Buds or Molly McButter, you'll have butter flavored oils.

The important thing is to remember to get the healthy oils in best you can. How will you get them in today?

No Excuses!

I bought this DVD at Costco on Sunday for only $7.99... Holy workout. Defiantly worth my 30 minutes last night! I read about the DVD in one of the many magazines that comes to my house. They had a list of recommended workout DVD’s. Now I know why they listed Jackie’s DVD. The best parts are that it is high intensity and worth the time. I like that you get in the cardio and the weight training at the same time. Very similar to something Jillian Michaels would have done. I think the great part about DVD's is that we can do that at home when we have time. I have noticed lately I have very little time to get in workouts. I decided I needed to find something that I could really try to do even if it was only 30 minutes. I think the important thing is just making time. I could have sat down watched some TV and just put it off again. Instead I walked in from working at weight watchers, went upstairs changed into my workout clothes and turned the DVD on. No time to stop and change my mind. Just do it. I think often we say ok in 5 minutes. I think you have to have the mindset; No not in 5 minutes NOW! What can make time for today?