Watching My Weight with Weight Watchers

My Patio Container Garden - a fun way to get some exercise!

2023-03-01T01:33:00.010-07:00

Disclosure: As an Amazon associate I may earn from qualifying purchases mentioned in this article.

My stacking compost system

I started my seedlings indoor in November

Last year I started composting, which makes me feel like a responsible citizen of our earth, and, honestly, it’s kinda fun! Like a science project!

My grandson got me interested in growing veggies and herbs on my little patio soon after, so I started late fall 2022 with some seeds he gave me and then the grow bags he gifted me for Christmas.

I bought some seed starter containers, a grow light, pots, fertilizer, a greenhouse, etc etc. Once you get started it’s hard to stop finding things to buy! I’ve been watching YouTube videos and reading books and I’ve learned a lot! Not everything is working out, but some things are taking off.

My patio greenhouse

I am having success with a cherry tomato plant (my first two tiny tomatoes are almost red!), romaine lettuce sweet snap peas, parsley, sweet mint, basil and rosemary.

Sweet mint, romaine, trimmed back pepper plant

Cherry Tomato

Snap peas

Rosemary

My radishes came up as skinny red strings, 😿 so I’m trying again now that the weather has warmed up a bit (I’m in Phoenix).

My radishes were a fail!

I don’t get as much full Sun as I need to grow many things, so I figure this season will teach me what I should spend my time on. And whatever I have success with, I’ll keep growing! I’m really enjoying it, and it keeps me busy…..and when I’m busy, I’m burning calories and not eating!

Bread and Butter Cucumber Radish Slaw

2023-02-28T23:47:00.022-07:00

This veggie slaw is so good it is almost addicting. Very low in points too! I have “bread and butter” in its name, because it reminds me of bread and butter pickles with its slightly sweet taste.

“Bread and Butter” Cucumber Radish Slaw

Servings: 5 cup servings

Points per serving : 1

Ingredients:

1 large cucumber

I bunch (7-8) radishes

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onions

1 cup thinly sliced or julienned carrots

1 cup water

1/3 cup vinegar

3-4 T Sugar

1/2 teas salt

Fresh mint leaves, 2 or 3

Directions:

Julienne the cucumber and radishes by slicing thinly, then stacking the slices and cutting into strips. Mix with carrots and red onion and place into large jar or bowl with tight fitting lid. Combine water, vinegar and sugar or sweetener. Pour over veggies and refrigerate overnight.

Note: First batch I sliced all veggies using my small food processor and then cut into strips. Second time I used the bagged julienned carrots in the produce section because I decided it’s too hard to julienne carrots. Worth the extra cost to me!

Save the brine once you’ve finished all the veggies to make another batch. I’ve used my brine three times now!

Optional:

Add juice from canned pineapples, oranges or other fruit

Add organic nectar or Splenda in place of sweetener. Increase vinegar or sweetener according to your preference.

Leave out the mint if needed, but if you aren’t growing mint in your garden or window sill, try it! Super easy herb to grow and propagate.

New Favorite Snacks

2022-09-14T22:36:00.009-07:00

Disclosure: As an Amazon associate I may earn from qualifying purchases mentioned in this article.

Okay, no matter how good we’re being about our eating, we need snacks, right? Over the past few months I’ve found a few new, low WW point snacks, that get me through the evenings watching TV. Of course, there’s popcorn. At zero pts for air popped it’s hard to beat, but I need variety. My two new favorites are:

Snacklins:

The company describes these delicious devils as impossibly crunchy, remarkably airy crisps. And that’s true! They are plant-based and 90 cal per snack size bag. I buy the larger bags at Sprouts, so I can’t eat the whole bag, but for a serving of 25 chips they’re 3 points for me, which is great! And, It’s not like there are 25 little puny chips sitting at the bottom of a bowl either, which is often the case with other bagged snacks (say pretzel sticks). These are big chips and I always feel very happy when I look at that full bowl that I get to eat. They come in barbecue and nacho at Sprouts, but it looks like you can get others online, such as teriyaki, Chesapeake Bay, sea salt and vinegar, and Cinnamon churro. My favorite is Nacho right now but I haven’t had all of them. I love these crunchy nibbles! I just wish my grocery store would stock them.

Arrowhead Mills Cereal Puffed Corn:

I guess it might seem weird to just eat cereal like a snack, but I’ve done this all my life, with no regard to calories or points. I love Arrowhead’s puffed rice as a snack now too, but their puffed corn has become my newest favorite. I can only find them in my area at Sprouts. This cereal is 1 point for 1 cup and I always fill my bowl with two servings. It’s addictive though, so beware…..always measure and don’t eat out of the bag (which you would never do, right?) 🙂

I firmly believe it’s important to keep my snacks around so I won’t go off the rails when I get the nibbles, so I do. A trip to Sprouts is a weekly event for me.

Well, have a good WW week….it’s Snack time!

23 pounds and still losing…..

2022-09-14T03:02:00.006-07:00

Hi everyone! Just an update....I'm now 23 pounds lighter than I was in April when I re-joined. Yay! I think this plan of going for the steady loss rather than quick loss may work for the long run this time. I'm looking forward to my favorite sweaters and sweatshirts being even baggier! That looks so much better when you're thinner, doesn't it? More later!

New WW Plans

2022-04-08T14:13:00.004-07:00

I recently re-upped, signing up for the annual fee of $198. I was paying $20 a month before I discontinued, thinking I could go it alone. I can't! I'm hoping that by signing up for a year, I'll find a way to maintain and not go off the rails! Here's hoping! Also, please note that I've had this blog for so long that WW has gone through several plan changes and most of my point values on recipes aren't correct or don't make sense because everything is personalized now. Please forgive this irritation and enter the ingredients in your recipe builder. Today I received my order from WW for their Iced Cinnamon Puffs and mini bar variety pack. I've already lost 5 pounds my first week back. Feels good! What do you think of the new plans/options?

Can You Be an Ethical Consumer and a Weight Watcher?

2021-04-09T22:27:00.001-07:00

Over time I have gradually cut most meat out of my diet. I’ve eaten mostly chicken or fish for years whether I’m actively tracking or not, But I’ve also become more aware of the ugly underbelly of our food industry, especially when it comes to the treatment of living creatures and slaughtering them so we can eat their bodies. I’m not here to convert you, but if you watch enough documentaries on the subject, you might feel the same.

Having said that, it’s not always easy to eat a sustainable diet while you’re counting WW points. In some ways, it helps because you are cutting out (or at least reducing) things like cheese and other dairy foods. In fact I love Almond milk (1 point per cup) and it’s lower in purple points than nonfat dairy milk (3 points). But if I want to make tapioca pudding, almond milk doesn’t cut it. It gets all weird as you are bringing the pudding to a boil.

Also, eggs are zero points on purple and so are potatoes, so often, a low point breakfast for me is homemade hash browns and scrambled eggs. If I want toast I also eat two slices of Sara 45 Calories & Delightful whole grain bread (2 points, purple) I’ve eaten plant based burgers for a while. Two good brands with low WW Points are Gardein and Morningstar (3 purple points) but there are lots of others I haven’t tried, and it’s easy to make your own. I plan to post reviews of some WW recipes in the future.

I tried “Impossible Burger” recently and it is honestly delicious! I like it better than real ground beef! It is lower in points than real beef, but not as much as I expected (6 points for a 3 ounce burger) and higher than the other veggie burgers, so be sure to check the points before consuming! As far as looking and tasting like a real meat burger, however, Impossible Burgers beat the others hands down!

Impossible Burger with shredded zucchini and sliced green onions added

So in some ways, being an ethical consumer, and losing weight on WW may seem like a conflict, but with proper planning, you can do it. For me right now, I’ve decided not to eat anything with eyes....no animals, fish, chicken etc. But I feel like eating eggs and milk products is a sustainable way to eat. However, I can’t stand the idea of a bunch of chickens locked in cages laying eggs for me, so I buy organic, cage free, pasture raised chicken eggs. Similarly, I want to picture cows happy on a farm, grazing in a pasture, and then milked for the products I end up eating. There are health reasons NOT to drink cows milk, but that’s a topic for another post!

If you’re interested in watching a few eye opening documentaries, here are a few to check out:

Netflix:

What the Health

Cowspiracy

SeasPiracy

Watch for:

Food, Inc

Covid Vaccination

2021-04-09T20:38:00.001-07:00

Have you gotten your vaccination yet? I am now a month past my second dose, and I feel so good and safe now. It really was a breeze. Set up online, drove up to the vaccination site in the Cardinals Stadium parking lot, got my poke, and drove home! Easy peasy! No negative reaction after the initial dose, and only a slight reaction after the second. I describe it similar to the way I feel when I think, hmmmm, I might be coming down with something. But then the next day all better! I hope you all get yours!

Get vaccinated, Stay safe and track your points!

Weight Watchers Purple Plan for Me

2021-04-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

Hi fellow Weight Watchers! Yes that is a picture of a small spot in my patio garden. It makes me smile...no logic to it being here 🙂

I’m so sorry I haven’t been very active on this blog. Life got in the way. I lost weight and WW wasn’t on my mind. I started making jewelry. You know how it goes! I am actively using Weight Watchers again, tracking and eating right. The new WW is pretty cool with the different plans. When I entered my eating habits in their questionnaire, they recommended Purple. I really like it!

Due to the fact that the different plans have different point values, it would be almost impossible for me to give accurate point values on this blog now, so when I post I’ll focus on tips, ideas or purple dishes. I still think this will help you and if you are on a different plan and want to add the point value for something please do so in a comment! If I can provide pts for each, I will, but no promises.

Honestly I didn’t think the purple plan would work. I told my daughter, this is crazy! Potatoes, Popcorn, Greek Yogurt and chicken are zero foods! How can I lose weight eating like this? But I have. I’ll be posting about some of my favorite dishes eating on the purple plan. But for now, all I want to say is just START! Day one (again) on WW can begin any day you want it to!

Altered recipe - Chicken Tamale Pie

2020-06-01T12:39:00.006-07:00

Hi everyone!
Sorry I haven’t posted in a while but I had problems adding to my blog for a while so I kind of gave up. But now it’s working for me. 🙂

I’ve been back on Weight Watchers (purple plan this time) for a few months and lost 14 pounds so far. Yes, I’ve lost these pounds before, but that’s okay. I really like the Purple Plan as it works well for my eating preferences. Potatoes, Air popped popcorn and whole wheat pasta - ZERO POINTS!

Today, I wanted to share a quick menu idea.

A few days ago I made the recipe in my recipe list “Taco Chicken Chili”, which is sooooo good and zero points on this plan. Yes, zero! I usually put it in a low carb flour tortilla, or a couple corn tortillas which does add points, but it’s still low in total points for the amount of delicious you get to gobble down.

This dish makes a large quantity, and I can’t give any away to my daughters due to Covid separation right now. Even in normal times it’s hard for me to eat it up, so often I freeze half. This time I ate on it for two days, and then used it as filling for Tamale Pie. You may have your own tamale pie recipe, but if not, here’s what I did.

I made the masa crust by adding 1 1/2 inch cups corn meal, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tbls chili powder to 3 cups cold water, and bringing to a boil. Cook a bit longer until thick, just a little thicker than cream of wheat. Spread on the sides and bottom of a 8 1/2 x 13 inch cake pan.

I added a can of creamed corn (Zero points) to the chili because that’s an ingredient in my tamale pie. Then I added the chili mixture into the masa lined pan between two sparse layers of broken tortilla chips. Not a lot of chips...I used two servings. I’ve always done this and it adds flavor and helps hold the pie together. Top with 3/4 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese. Cook one hour at 350 degrees. This made 8 generous servings, and is even better on day two because the masa is firmer after it’s cooled and re-heated.

I called this leftover makeover Chicken Tamale Pie Add-On, since I couldn’t use the recipe as an ingredient (wouldn’t that be a good idea?), and it was 5 points. So you can enter the Taco Chicken Chili serving and the Add-on for a total of Five points. To be honest, I just entered the add-on points since the filling was zero.

That’s it! Easy-peazy leftover makeover that is delicious!

Keep at it. We’re in this for life right?

I’m back!

2018-07-13T23:49:00.003-07:00

Well, I guess one thing most of us have in common is gaining back lost weight, which I’ve done over the past few years. I dabbled in vegan and then went to vegetarian, hoping to improve my health stats, but unexpectedly, my numbers went the wrong way, and I realized that as hard as I was trying (beans, beans, beans), I was protein deficit. I did find great recipes and actually learned to enjoy Almond and Soy milk (they last in the fridge for a LONG time) So, I plan to continue those things, but decided to add animal protein back into my diet.

My doctor said what I needed most is to lose weight, but once I decided she was right, I felt confused how to eat after totally buying into the vegetarian way. But then I realized that I already knew what to do: eat a balanced diet and apply The Weight Watchers principles and count points.

So, since then, I’ve already lost ten pounds and fit back into a pair of pants I didn’t last month. Also, my blood pressure has gone back to normal and my doctor is pleased with me! That’s the motivation I needed!

Expect some new thoughts and recipes this year!

Cauliflower Bacon Salad

2015-07-08T21:19:00.004-07:00

This recipe is quickly becoming my favorite side dish. My daughter loves it and she isn't even on a diet! I plan on bringing it to barbecues and family events instead of potato salad.

Makes 8 servings (1 cup each)
WW+ points: 3

Ingredients:

1 medium head cauliflower, broken into small florets
8 slices bacon, cooked
1 cup shredded 2% cheddar cheese
1 cup green pepper, sliced or chopped coarsely
1 cup red pepper, sliced or chopped coarsely
1/2 cup frozen peas, uncooked
Onion, either green onions or red onion, in an amount to your preference, chopped
1 cup mayonnaise light (35 calories per T)
4 teaspoons granulated sugar substitute

Directions:
1. In 8 cup container, combine cauliflower, peppers, onion, cheese and bacon
2. In bowl stir sugar substitute into mayonnaise and then add to container over vegetables
3. Stir together and refrigerate several hours or overnight, stirring a few times
4. Stir before serving
Notes:
Salt and pepper can be added (I prefer mine a bit sweet so I don't add salt)
You can use either one whole green or red pepper if preferred, I just like using half of both for the color.
No need to cook the peas, they defrost in the salad in a short period of time

Nutritional Info:

Calories	131

Fat	6.5	g
Saturated	1.1	g
Carbs	10.9	g
Fiber	3.9	g
Sugars	5	g
Protein	9.2	g
Sodium	188	mg

Enjoy!

Seven Layer Salad

2015-03-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

I recently decided to make one of my favorite overnight salads, a recipe that I originally got from my sister-in-law: the Seven Layer Salad. As I made it I added up the points and was happy to learn that it was Weight Watchers friendly! One serving is very generous and filling! Here it is:

Makes 4 generous servings

Weight Watchers Points:
Total Salad - 20 Points
Per Serving - 5 Points

Ingredients:
1 head Iceberg Lettuce
1/2 cup purple onion
I head cauliflower
Peas, canned or frozen, approximately 1 cup (add 3 pts for each additional cup)
1 jar Bacon Bits or equivalent crispy fried bacon
8 Tablespoons reduced fat mayonnaise
1/2 to 1cup grated Parmesan cheese, enough to cover

Directions:

In a large cylindrical container with airtight lid, layer ingredients in the following order:

Bite sized pieces of Lettuce
Thinly sliced or diced purple onion
Bite sized pieces of cauliflower
Peas (if using frozen no need to cook)
Bacon bits or crumbled bacon

Spread mayonnaise over salad like you are frosting it. Be sure to cover salad entirely right to the edges. (Leaving holes or not frosting to the edge will allow flavors to escape and lettuce to wilt.)

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of mayo.

Cover tightly and refrigerate several hours or overnight. Overnight is best.

Scoop out a serving, mix it up and enjoy!!

Note: Points may vary based on the mayonnaise you use and if you add more bacon, etc. Also I didn't put this in the WW recipe builder, but instead just added points for the items that weren't vegetables. I rounded up for my total point count. Double check for your own purposes.

Thanksgiving Cheat Sheet from Weight Watchers

2014-11-25T18:15:00.004-07:00

Weight Watchers has a good Cheat Sheet to use when choosing between Holiday dishes. This article provides good tips and an interactive Thanksgiving plate that you can load up with the choices you might make.

Here's the article:

Thanksgiving Cheat Sheet
Article By: Leslie Fink, MS, RD

For some of us, Thanksgiving is a simple turkey dinner and a time to give thanks. But for many, it's an eating orgy and a six-week countdown to the same lose-weight-and-get-back-in-shape New Year's resolution that we make year after year…after year.
Break the cycle this holiday season. Enjoy Thanksgiving but don't overindulge; head into the New Year feeling confident, slimmer and in control.

Ready, set, eat
Consider the worst-case scenario: If you were to eat a serving of dark-meat turkey with all the fixings and sides on the plate above, it would total a whopping 40 PointsPlus^® values. Here's how to slash that number:

Continue Reading on Weight Watcher's Site Here.

Chex Party Mix Points

2014-11-25T17:30:00.002-07:00

I've been planning for Thanksgiving over the past few days, and I'm sure you have been too. Even though I know I'll rack up a bunch of WW points on Thursday, I've been good and staying the course since I started back up on Weight Watchers. Today was my weekly weigh-in and I'm happy to report that I lost 1 1/2 pounds.

Today I started making the snacks I'll serve to my family, one being our traditional Chex Mix which will get snacked on before and after dinner. As I posted earlier, I'm calculating every dish I'm making for Thursday so I won't have to do that then, or eat something with a mystery point value and feel surprised and guilty afterward. Also, I'm not necessarily trying to reduce points for a traditional dish, because I'd rather eat less of something I love than more of something that tastes wrong. Of course, I will substitute where it doesn't matter.

Here's how our Traditional Chex Mix turned out (calculation may be slightly off):

Ingredients:
9 cups Chex (I just used Rice this time)
1 cup Cheerios
2 cups zero fat pretzel sticks
2 cups Cheezits
1 1/2 cups cashews
6 tablespoons Smart Balance
2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
2 teas seasoning salt
3/4 teas garlic powder
1/2 teas onion powder

Appx Total Points:100
Appx Per cup: 6

Now I know what I'm getting myself into when I start snacking on this goodie. If you adjust this recipe to lower points successfully, please post your changes! Happy Thanksgiving!

WW Points for My Thanksgiving Feast

2014-11-20T15:38:00.002-07:00

Images provided by Morguefile.com

My daughters and I are already planning the menu for Thanksgiving. I know that day will be a day filled with tempting food with lots of WW Points, but I don't dread it. As I posted before, I plan to enjoy it.

I recently started tracking using the iTrackBites app on my phone just to get in the habit of tracking, intending to really limit points after the holidays, but as soon as I started tracking, I started caring again and have stayed within my 26 points for 3 days. I guess I'm on the wagon again!

I've already looked up the WW pts for the foods we will be serving. No matter how I might gorge myself, I vow to track all the points I consume all day. Basically, these are the foods we are now planning to serve for our Thanksgiving and their WW pt values:

Ham, per slice 3 Pts

Scalloped Potatoes, 1/2 cup 5 Pts

Green Bean Casserole, 1 1/2 cups 4 Pts

Roasted vegetables, 1 1/2 cups 2 Pts

Stuffing, Stove Top 1/2 cup 5 Pts

Gravy, Heinz HomeStyle, 1/2 cup 1 Pt

1 serving is 1/8 of a 9 inch pie:

Pecan Pie                   14 Pts

Pumpkin Pie                                       11 Pts

Caramel Apple Pie                              11 Pts

I figure my meal point total will be between 30 and 35 points. Of course we'll have other goodies like a cheese ball and crackers, plus some snacks when we play games later in the day. I can track that as I go.

My rule is to calculate everything ahead of time, so I can choose how to best use my points. I'm okay if I use my daily and all of my weekly points on Thanksgiving. This is NOT a day to stress over Points...but I find KNOWING helps me choose better during the holiday and feel better afterward!

Hope your Thanksgiving is full of family, food, and fun!

New Food Find: Banquet Cheesy Potato Bake

2014-11-20T13:39:00.002-07:00

I just started buying this product. I used to buy a similar meal made by Lean Cuisine (Cheddar Potatoes with Broccoli), but I haven't been able to find it anymore. When I saw this in the Banquet section I figured I'd give it a try. It is very similar to the Lean Cuisine version and is much cheaper at $1.00! The iTrackBites scanner give a WW point value at 5 which is the same as the Lean Cuisine meal. The nutritional content is somewhat different however...it has 2 g more fat 4 g less protein, 6 g less carbs, and 180 mg more sodium, with 10 less calories.

Overall I say .... Score!

+

Cabbage and Bacon

2014-11-19T17:23:00.001-07:00

This is one of my favorite side dishes or quick meals. I love cabbage cooked this way.

WW+ Pts 5 for the whole batch (I eat it all in one sitting for dinner!)

Fry 2 strips of Bacon, cut up
Reduce bacon grease to 1 Tablespoon (eyeball it)
Add 1/2 head thinly sliced Cabbage
Season with Seasoning Salt and Pepper
Stir fry on medium heat until crisp tender
Cover and cook to preference, stirring frequently

Note: I sometimes add a tablespoon or so of hot water if needed.

Alternate Veggies to try: If you don't like cabbage, I also use frozen french cut green beans or thinly sliced brussel sprouts. It tastes equally good with all 3 of these vegetables!

That's it! It's yummy!

iTrackBites iPhone App for Weight Watchers

2014-11-18T16:51:00.001-07:00

Happy Day! In keeping with my earlier post about starting again to track my food intake and activity, I had to figure out how I was going to do that without being signed up for the Weight Watcher's online program. I do have the books, but that is not very easy. I lost my little handheld calculator months ago, and I can't use the mobile app since I don't currently have an online membership

So, I did some research in the app store and discovered a great tool if you have an iPhone, iPod or iPad. It's available in the iTunes Store too so it can be synced to your computer. The iTrackBites app is very similar to the system that is available online at Weight Watchers, plus the convenience of the mobile app. Only $2.99....Here is an online preview of this app:

iTrackBites

I just started using it today, so I'll let you know what I think after a week. So far, it has worked great! If this works, I may not sign up online in January, but instead track daily using this app! I accumulate recipes using OneNote on my laptop, so I think I'll create a new section in it for saving possible WW recipes...and then add them to this blog once I've adapted them.

Losing weight and saving money? Cha-ching Weight Watchers!

Note: I downloaded this app in a package that included a "bites value" slider and I have no clue what it's for or how to use it....so do a better job than I did and look for just the iTracksBite app by itself. I paid an extra dollar for that unneeded app!

Happy Holidays? How Do We Watch our Weight with Weight Watchers Right Now?

2014-11-18T14:43:00.003-07:00

Well, it's that time of year...The Holidays...Friends, Family, Parties, and a time when all those tempting goodies will be right there in our face.

I've slacked off the past six months and I need to get back on the wagon, but let's face it, this isn't the best time to try to lose weight. However, it is a good time to remind ourselves of the WW principles and find ways to get back in control if we've lost our way. So, I've made a plan today that includes the next 6 weeks and after the holidays are over. Making a plan makes me feel better. Here's my plan:

Make soups. I love my Crockpot soups...the potato and broccoli are my favorites. It's soup season, and I plan to have more soups for my meals.

Look for more recipes in which vegetables are the stars. Sprouts is filled with lots of winter vegetables like winter squash, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. And I see yummy recipes all the time on Facebook and I've tried a bunch of them that were very good. I vow to focus on the ones that primarily use vegetables and adapt them to lower WW points. Likewise, I will look for fruit based recipes that fit the WW model to stave off my craving for sweets during the holidays.

Stock the freezer with low point frozen dinners and WW frozen deserts. I really need these. Sometimes I am too lazy to cook for myself. I love most of the Lean Cuisine dinners and they provide WW points on every box, so I'll be stocking up. I'll always make sure I have some kind of frozen WW sweet treat in there too!

Start tracking points again and weighing myself regularly. I'm going to go easy on myself, but it's time to start tracking again, to get my mind in gear. I think I'll set my daily point goal at 35-40 a day during this time period, so it will be easy to feel in control. I'm also going to start stepping on those dreaded scales. It's time to click on our brains and have the right attitude!

Enjoy the holiday dinners. Yes, I'll be eating and enjoying! I won't be worrying about WW Points on Thanksgiving Day or for Christmas dinner....if I do I'll feel too deprived. However, every OTHER day, I will put on my WW thinking cap. And after the dinners, I'll make everyone else take home high point leftovers!

Sign up for Weight Watchers online again after the holidays. Come January, it will be easy to slip into weight loss mode and hopefully, lose the pounds I've gained. I find using the website helps me stay focused.

I'll be sharing the good ideas I discover over the next 6 weeks, so check back. I hope you'll share your ideas for how to stay a Weight Watcher during this time too!

Happy Holidays everyone. Enjoy, but keep watching your weight!

Zucchini Potato Pancakes

2014-07-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Today I got creative in the kitchen and found a yummy alternative to hash browns or potato pancakes. It's healthy, simple and tastes Delicious!

Makes 6 medium sized pancakes/2 servings at 3 Pts. per serving

Simple Instructions:
Peel a small potato and wash one medium zucchini then grate both into a bowl. Add 1 egg, 1 tablespoon milk, seasoning salt to taste, and 1 tablespoon baking mix (like Bisquick). Mix together and drop large spoonfuls onto hot griddle sprayed with Olive Oil Spray. Brown to your preference and enjoy!

Can I hear a Way to Stretch a Potato, Jan?

Eggplant Parmesan Stack

2013-10-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

Eggplant Parmesan Stack for Weight Watchers

This is one of my favorite dishes to make! I love it whether I am trying to lose weight or just hungry!

Makes 4 Servings

1 Medium to Large Eggplant
1 egg plus 1 egg white
2-3 Teaspoons Olive Oil
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese (1.5g fat)
Reduced Fat Mozzarella Cheese
1 Large Tomato
Salt to taste (minimal needed)

Peel Eggplant and slice into 1 inch thick slices, salt if desired but don't get carried way because the Parmesan cheese is salty. I usually don't add any salt.)
Drop 1 egg + egg white into zippered baggie and shake together.
Mix together Parmesan cheeses in flat bowl
Add sliced eggplant to egg mixture in baggie and shake to coat lightly
Dip each eggplant slice into cheese mixture creating a light batter.
Spray pan with non-stick spray and add a little additional olive oil (1 teaspoon or as needed)
Brown each side of coated slice of eggplant , testing with fork to make sure eggplant is cooked through (approx 5 to 8 minutes)
While eggplant is cooking, slice tomato

On serving plate:

Place one slice of cooked eggplant
Stack one to two slices of tomato, a few spoonfuls of marinara sauce and sprinkle a bit of mozzarella cheese
Stack a second slice of eggplant
Top with grated Parmesan cheese and another spoonful or so of marinara sauce

4 Weight Watchers Pts
Refrigerate the extra slices for quick future meals.

Jennifer Hudson's Veggie Lasagna

2013-06-03T12:11:00.001-07:00

Jennifer Hudson is an icon when it comes to Weight Watchers and she recently shared some of her weight loss secrets on the Dr. Oz Show. Her recipe for a "No Noodle Lasagna" went viral on Facebook recently and for good reason! I tried it and it is delicious!

Recipe note: I didn't have the eggplant so I just used zucchini from my sister's garden.

In case you missed this recipe from the Dr. Oz show, here it is:

Jennifer Hudson Veggie Lasagna Recipe

12 servings

(Only 5 Weight Watchers points per serving)

Ingredients :

Cooking spray
1 med eggplant – Trim the eggplant into slices lengthwise
2 large uncooked zucchini sliced and trimmed into 1/4 inch thick slices lengthwise
1 large beaten egg
3/4 pound part skim ricotta cheese
Fresh basil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 Cups marinara sauce
1/2 pound shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
Spray two baking sheets with cooking spray
Place the 1/4 inch lenghtwise sliced eggplant on one prepared baking sheet nd do the same with the zucchini on the other baking sheet
Roast for 8 minutes
Turn vegetables and roast 7-10 additional mins
Remove from oven
Combine egg, ricotta cheese, basil, and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
After you have removed the veggies from the oven reduce heat to 350 degrees
Spray 14″ x 8″ baking dish with cooking spray
Spread thin layer of marinara sauce on bottom of pan.
Layer eggplant over sauce
Add another layer of marinara sauce over eggplant
Add Ricotta cheese and half the mozzarella cheese over the eggplant and marinara sauce
Add layer of zucchini
Add Remaining marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 35-40 minutes until the bottom starts to bubble
Remove from oven to cool
After the lasagna cools you can cut it into 12 pieces
Each piece is considered one serving

Note : If you can’t cut the eggplant or zucchini lengthwise you can cut them into 1/4 inch round slices as well and layer accordingly.

Enjoy! Thank you Weight Watchers!

Cheesy Zucchini

2013-05-05T22:56:00.003-07:00

I saw this recipe posted on Facebook by Gregg Howard the other day and thought it was perfect for we Weight Watchers who enjoy growing veggies in our backyards or know someone who does. If you strike out on both counts, look for a local farmers market, like Sprouts and buy a big baggie of zucchini....because this looks delicious! I plan to keep the points as low as possible by spraying the tops with Olive Oil Spray and using a mixturre of low fat Parmesan and Mozarella cheeses. Yum!

Slice the zucchini in half. Slice off the bottom it sits flat on the pan. Brush with olive oil and top with garlic or garlic powder. Top with sliced tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste. Use mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese or mixed blend.. Bake 375 for 20 to 30 minutes until soft.

Estimated WW Pts: 1-2 per serving (2 Zucchini Strips)

To befriend Greg Howard visit his Facebook Page

My Annual Weight Watchers Refresher

2013-03-15T12:46:00.001-07:00

Holidays are a time for family and friends!

Oh boy, have I been MIA! So sorry. But my absence doesn't mean I have abandoned my Weight Watcher attitude. In fact, after the holidays my daughter and I decided to sign up for a 90 day stint to lose the holiday pounds that crept on.

I think it's important to be realistic about maintaining my weight loss. I've lost a total of 50 pounds over the past few years, 35 of that since joining Weight Watchers last January, but we all know that it's never a straight line from fat to thin, especially if you regularly track your weight. When I went on maintenance, I made a vow to jump back on the WW weight loss routine if I gained more than 2 pounds, which I have now done.

Yes, I enjoyed celebrating the holidays with family and friends, and don't apologize for eating an Almond Roca occasionally during this time-frame. But I NEVER want to have to lose those 50 pounds I've already lost ever again. At this point, I have lost the few pounds I gained from all the Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's parties.

Even though my eating slipped on occasion end of the year, one thing I've never stopped doing is weighing myself weekly. Every Friday I step on that scale religiously, sometimes with trepidation, and it always makes me feel better afterward. Better to know the truth than imagine the worst.

In addition to losing the holiday pounds, my goal this time was to lose an additional 5 pounds, which I am still working on....3 more pounds to go! I think this will be an annual event for me. It erases any guilt I had about enjoying life with my family for our celebrations, and it reminded me of the WW basics.

Staying healthy is a lifetime endeavor, so if you slipped a bit during the holidays, don't despair. Jump back in and you'll be ready for those Spring clothes in no time at all! Losing a few pounds now is much easier than 50 pounds later, trust me!

Find Your Favorite Food Staples, Develop a Routine, and Be Adventurous!

2012-07-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

Image courtesy of Click/morguefile.com

Sorry I haven't posted recently, but please be confident that even so doesn't mean I'm not still a bona-fide weight watcher! I recently hit a new low weight for me, having lost a total of 34.5 pounds on WW. I'm very close to my newest goal weight and confident I'll reach this weight soon. In fact, I've canceled my online subscription for August, but I'll continue tracking manually. I'm sure I'll still be checking into the WW site occasionally since I'll have that available to me, but I feel I have the tools I need right in my kitchen and purse!

It's been 7 months of eating the Weight Watchers way and it's inherent now for me to shop smart, measure portions and stop before I've gotten out of control. I've been able to enjoy special events with family, accept dinner invitations and watch a movie with popcorn (no butter!).

Much of my success on Weight Watchers is that I have a shopping routine at the grocery store and have discovered many "favorites" that I buy weekly to keep me on target.I imagine I will continue this practice forever, modifying from time to time, adding new "favorites" which have low enough point values to make it into my kitchen.

My Pantry Staples

Everyone likes different foods, which is the best thing about Weight Watchers because you can build your own "favorites" that fit into the program point guidelines. I shop weekly and replenish my food stock with my favorites each week. My refrigerator and pantry usually include:

Fruits and vegetables, depending on the season:

Watermelon
Bananas
Carrots
Bell Peppers
Strawberries
Lettuce
Onions
Eggplant
Zucchini

Dairy and Frozen Food

Frozen hash browns (for my crockpot potato soup) (3.5 pts per cup serving)
Frozen broccoli
Low fat cream cheese (for soups and WW Spinach Artichoke dip)
Fat free sour Cream (basically a free food)
Frozen green beans
2% fat grated cheddar cheese (2 pts for 1/4 cup)
Low fat parmesan cheese(1.5% fat- I don't even adds pts for this type)
Low fat plain Greek Yogurt (for dips and cooking)
Carbmaster or Yoplait fruit flavored yogurt (2 pts per 6 oz. carton)
Fat free frozen dairy topping (such as Cool Whip) (0 pts)
Chicken breasts
Snack sized flour tortillas (there are brands that are 2 pts each - Mission Low carb for one)

Pantry

98% fat free cream of chicken soup
Rosarita fat free refried feans (2 pts for 1/2 cup)
Special K Cracker Chips (3 pts per 27 - 30 chips)
Rold Gold Pretzel Sticks (3 pts for 53 pretzels)
Baked Tostitos corn chips
Wasa Crisp'n Light Crackerbread
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars (3 pts)
Fiber One 90 Calorie Brownies (2 pts)
Pop Weaver Light butter popcorn (6 pts for the whole bag)
Del Monte No Sugar Added canned fruit cocktail or peaches (For Fruit Salad mixed with Cool Whip) (0 pts)
Salsa

Of course, I buy other items from time to time, but I always calculate points right at the grocery store with my handheld calculator! (When I get an iPhone I will use their cool scanning app.)

The biggest tip I can give you in regard to picking foods on Weight Watchers is for you to find the lowest point value foods for things you like. You HAVE to eat and there's no reason to feel that you can only eat salads or a chicken breast. Experiment, look for recipes, and always figure out the point value so you'll know how much you can eat at a sitting. It's really that simple!

After 7 months on Weight Watchers, I can't imagine going back to my old bad habits even after I hit my goal weight, but if I slip and gain more than 2 pounds, I know what to do to regain control. THAT feels great to me...and no longer do I feel afraid of food or guilty about eating. I look at each day as a new 24-hour period to make good food choices and use up all my points. Every shopping trip is an adventure for me to discover a new low-point food option!

It's nice to have a plan, isn't it? Thanks Weight Watchers!