Willpower Quote

"It's not that some people have willpower and some don't.  It's that some people are ready to change and others are not."  ~James Gordon

Quote

"Anything you really want, you can attain, if you really go after it."  ~Wayne Dyer

Quote

"Good judgement comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgement."  ~Mulla Nasrudin

Quote

"Our plans miscarry because they have no aim.  When you don't know what harbor you're aiming for, no wind is the right wind."  ~Seneca

Quote

"If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning."  ~Mahatma Gandhi

Quote of the Day

"Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances."-- Thomas Jefferson

Monday, March 14, 2011

What restaurant/food have you enjoyed recently within the guidelines of the PointsPlus Program?  What do you enjoy with your 49 Weekly PointsPlus Allowance?  Do you enjoy yourself with your 49 WPPA?  If not…..WHY NOT?  GET INTO A MEETING THIS WEEK!!  Remind yourself that deprivation is NOT the key to any long term weight loss/maintenance plan!  If I couldn’t have Dunford chocolate donuts…I would die!!! (Okay- not literally….but people around me would be very unhappy due to my negative attitude and then may want to kill me….that’s all I’m saying.)  You see?  Variety/fun is the spice of life!!  ENJOY the program!  Enjoy your favorites!  It can ALL be done with the PointsPlus Program….again, the most LIVABLE PLAN we have EVER had!!!!

Easy Nachos

Easy Nachos15 Baked Tostitos Tortilla Scoops- 3 PPV
1/2 c. Great Value Fat Free Refried Beans- 2 PPV
1 (3.5 oz) container Ricos Salsa de Queso Nacho Cheese Sauce- 4 PPV
(Note- approx 3 oz. Kraft Velveeta (2% milk) cheese sauce had similar points values if you can't find the other)
2 Tbsp. Fat free sour cream- 0 PPV
Green onions, sliced
Tomatoes, diced

Fill each scoop with evenly divided amounts of refried beans, cheese sauce, and sour cream. Microwave until warmed through (approx. 30 seconds). Top with onions and tomatoes.
Total= 9 PointsPlus

Do Not Give Up!

"The difference in winning and losing is most often ...  not quitting."  ~Walt Disney

~Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas."  He went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland.  In fact, the proposed park was rejected by the city of Anaheim on the grounds that it would only attract riffraff.

~ As a young man, Abraham Lincoln went to war a captain and returned a private.  Afterwards, he was a failure as a businessman.  As a lawyer in Springfield, he was too impractical and temperamental to be a success.  He turned to politics and was defeated in his first try for the legislature, again defeated in his first attempt to be nominated for congress, defeated in his application to be commissioner of the General Land Office, defeated in the senatorial election of 1854, defeated in his efforts for the vice-presidency in 1856, and defeated in the senatorial election of 1858.  At about that time, he wrote in a letter to a friend, "I am now the most miserable man living.  If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on the earth."

~Winston Churchill failed sixth grade.  He was subsequently defeated in every election for public office until he became Prime Minister at the age of 62.  He later wrote, "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.  Never, Never, Never, Never give up." 

~Albert Einstein did not speak until he was 4-years-old and did not read until he was 7.  His parents thought he was "sub-normal," and one of his teachers descirbed him as "mentally slow, unsociable, and adrift forever in foolish dreams."  He was expelled from school and was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School.  He did eventually learn to speak and read.  Even to do a little math.

~An expert said of Vince Lombardi:  "He possesses minimal football knowledge and lacks motivation."  Lombardi would later write, "It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get back up."

~Michael Jordan and Bob Cousy were each cut from their high school basketball teams.  Jordan once observed, "I've failed over and over again in my life.  That is why I succeed."

For more inspiration on not giving up:  http://www.des.emory.edu/mfp/efficacynotgiveup.html

Quote

"Being negative is easy.  There will always be a downside to everything good, a hurdle to everything desirable, a con to every pro.  The real courage is in finding the good in what you have, the opportunities in every hurdle, the pros in every con."  ~Carolyn Hax

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"All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this:  Act as if it were impossible to fail."  ~Dorothea Brande

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"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.  Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."  ~Helen Keller

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"Most people who fail in their dreams fail not from lack of ability but from lack of commitment."  ~Zig Ziglar

Week #10 Celebrate Success

If we only recognize in ourselves the times when we have not lost like we think we should, and fail to recognize the positive efforts we have made, we can lose our motivation to keep up the good work.

During this meeting, and this week, you should recognize your accomplishments and reward yourself accordingly/appropriately.

Some suggestions from past members:

One member rewarded herself with a new lipstick for every 5 pounds lost.

Another member, who had wanted an additional ear piercing, waited until she had lost 25 pounds; then every time she looked in the mirror and saw her new earring, she was reminded of how well she had done and motivated to continue on to goal. 

A member bought a new piece of workout clothing for every 100 miles walked/jogged.

Weight is measured in .10 lb increments. Put 10 cents in a jar for each tenth of a pound lost, saving for a new outfit/wardrobe when goal is reached. Seeing the money grow can be motivating.

You always have support right here and more importantly in the weekly meeting. Our meeting rooms are full of people who “get it”; we all understand the struggles of weight loss, and we celebrate and commiserate together. Everyone in the room—including the staff members—has a weight issue; we’re either taking it off or keeping it off. And we empower one another.

Wrapping up Week 9

Did you find a new recipe? Try something different, new or add spice to an old favorite?

Remember to bring any recipes that you tried during the week and share! 

Tomorrow's Meeting insight:

Imagine, if you will, working in an atmosphere where there is never any recognition or positive reinforcement for a job well done, but only criticism for mistakes and being overlooked the rest of the time. It’s probably not a position you would want to stay in for long......come on in to the meeting and we will talk about SUCCESS!

Successful Member-Charolette Portella

BEFORE (2009)

AFTER (2011)

She has dropped an amazing 80 pounds!  She is rocking the scale, loving PointsPlus and living healthy!

Chicken

Chicken

Chicken in the crockpot
Chicken in the wok
Chicken is a power food
That always hits the spot

Grilled Chicken
Baked Chicken
Broiled Chicken, too

Pair it with some veggies or
Throw it in a stew

Spice it up
Shake it up
Add a little zing
Find something fun to do with it
To keep things interesting

Quote

"Variety is the very spice of life that gives it all flavor."
William Cowper

Quote

You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be.


David Viscott

Jennifer's Inspiration

All my life, when I would perform, people would go crazy over my voice. They would go on and on about my singing voice and how amazing my performance was. Lately, when I perform, all I am hearing is how great I looked…they loved my outfit…oh, by the way, great singing.

Gas Station Help!!!

What do you grab at the gas station when your stomach is on empty? (from Hungry Girl http://www.hungry-girl.com/)

Granola bars and snack bars!
Bars with good amounts of fiber and protein are an easy way to curb your hunger. Steer clear of any that pack in more than 300 calories... In fact, my limit for a snack bar hovers at around 200 or so.

Here are some favorites:

Nature Valley Oats 'N Honey Crunchy Granola Bars (The single-serve packs include two bars!)
Each 2-bar serving has 190 calories, 6g fat, 29g carbs, 2g fiber, 4g protein, and a PointsPlus™ value of 5.

Kind Fruit & Nut Bars
Each bar has 180 calories, 11g fat, 20g carbs, 4g fiber, 5g protein, and a PointsPlus value of 5.

Jerky!
This is another great snack. (If you're watching your sodium intake, be sure to check the labels.) There are lots of great options for jerky, and I am an equal opportunity jerky lover — I enjoy beef, turkey, and even soy jerky! Just check the nutritional stats on all of the packages and pick the best one. Single-serve sticks will keep you from going overboard, but multi-serving packs are okay too.

Beverage blunders & best bets!
If you're tired of water and soda, but you need some liquid to go with your snack, be careful! Gas stations usually have an incredible selection to choose from, but one over-caloried drink can throw off your entire day. Beware of the bottled Starbucks coffee drinks and sugary energy drinks. Instead, go for low-calorie finds like these:

Diet Snapple Trop-A-Rocka Tea. The entire bottle of fruity fun is only 5 calories (PointsPlus value 0).
Activate Drinks. I also enjoy these stevia-sweetened beverages. Another 5-calorie bargain (PointsPlus value 0).

Fruit finds...
Some gas stations have fresh fruit on hand, so if you spot some, grab it quick! Your work is over. I know, that Snickers bar is calling your name, but a banana is way more filling, and it's a total freebie! (All fresh fruit has a PointsPlus value of 0. Hooray!)

Candy alert!
If you really want candy and refuse to avoid it, go for one with light and airy filling, like 3 Musketeers. The Truffle Crisp Bars have only 170 calories and 9g fat for a 2-bar serving (PointsPlus value 5). Lollipops won't fill you up, but they are portion-controlled treats, they last a long time, and they'll definitely satisfy your sweet tooth.

If you want a lillipop....the tootsie pop is a cheap PointsPlus value!  1

Chicken Satay

CHICKEN SATAY WITH COCONUT DIPPING SAUCE
PointsPlus Value: 3
Serves 6 (As an appetizer or mini meal)
Serving Size: 3 skewers and 2 tablespoons sauce

1/2 cup light (reduced-fat) coconut milk
1 tablespoon bottled Thai green curry paste
3/4 pound skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut diagonally into 18 strips
1 teaspoon peanut or canola oil
1/4 cup minced onion
1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 teaspoon packed light brown or granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Soak 18 (7-inch) bamboo skewers in water to cover for 30 minutes.

Combine 1/4 cup of the coconut milk and the curry paste in a zip-close plastic bag.  Add the chicken, squeeze out the air, and seal the bag; turn to coat the chicken.  Refrigerate, turning the bag occasionally, 20-30 minutes or up to 1 day.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes.  Add the broth, peanut butter, sugar, salt, and the remaining 1/4 cup coconut milk; bring just to a boil.  Reduce the heat and cook, stirring, until thick and smooth, 1-2 minutes.  Set aside.

Spray the broiler rack with nonstick spray; preheat the broiler.  Thread the chicken onto the skewers and discard the excess marinade.  Place the skewers on the broiler rack and broil 5 inches from the heat, turning once, until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.  Place the skewers on a platter and serve with the sauce for dipping.

NUTRITIONAL INFO: Per serving--131 Cal, 7 g fat, 2 g Sat Fat, O g Trans Fat, 34 mg Chol, 190 mg Sod, 3 g Carb, 1 g Fib, 14 g Prot, 17 mg Calc.