Journal

 Today I bought another one of these journals at Walmart:

This is one of the best wellness journals I've found, and it only costs about $11.00.

I have a partially used one which I ripped out the used pages and thought I'd finish out the year with. 

Some inside pages:

The food menu appears at the beginning of the week, rather than on a daily basis; it's the only thing I don't like about the journal, however, there is a "whatever" place where you can write daily menus.

Right under the mood area is the area I will use for my daily meals.

Obviously, I won't use all these areas but I may find use for them.  If you sign up for Kickstart, this would be a good companion if you find you can't afford their "official" journal.  Kickstart is totally free and you do not have to use their journal to participate, you can use a plan old notebook if you want.  

I may use this one, I may use the Kickstart one; I haven't decided yet.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!  Enjoy Your Day!!

PROTEIN!

 As I mentioned before, Macros are coming to Weight Watchers.  Macros, apparently, will be "choose to use" which means if you aren't interested in them, you need not use them.  What that also means is that if you are interested, WW won't be telling you what your macros numbers are.

What do you do if you want to use Macros?  There are many websites out there to calculate that.  There are also people online who will do it for you for a cost.  Jenn Clayton did mine over a year ago.  I've never really used them because I just couldn't get my head in the right place for weight loss; but I still have them.  Jenn suggests paying attention mostly to the protein and calorie levels.  (FYI:  WW will not be giving you calories).

The level for protein can be a lot.  I've watched many influencers to see how they are getting their protein in.  I become very overwhelmed; especially when they suggest processed snacks to help.  

I've nothing against a processed snack; but I don't want to rely on just that to reach my protein goal.  Plus I've tried a few that get rave reviews....but I just don't care for the taste.

HOWEVER, protein shake are a little different.  Though, yeah, they probably are considered processed to an extent.  I've found you can do a lot with a protein shake.

Here's 2 brands I recommend and are low in WW points:

Pure Protein's will come in at 1 point.  Premier Protein will run 2-4 points depending on the flavor.  Both pack in 30g of Protein.

You can drink them straight if you want.  I like to throw one into the blender and add raw spinach (you'll never taste it), a fruit, fat free (or low fat) cottage cheese or a nonfat greek yogurt, ice and a little bit of xanthan gum to just thicken it up.  Taste like a milkshake and I get a vegetable serving and a fruit serving all packed into one drink.

If you're new to protein drinks, they are available in both liquid (as above) or powder form.  With the powder  you'll have to add a liquid (milk, almond milk, soy milk, water, etc..), I just prefer the liquid form.

Vanilla flavored protein drinks are the most versatile.  You can use cocoa powder, sugar free syrups, powdered peanut butter, etc... to change the flavoring.  So if you're a newbie, start with that flavor.  There are people who use it in place of milk on their cereal or even as creamer for their coffee.

Protein shakes can also be made into a protein pudding.  Just blend a full carton with 2 tablespoons of sugar free instant pudding (make sure the box says INSTANT), then put in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.  It will thicken into a pudding.  

Protein shakes are a great way to get protein in!

Word On The Street

 Word on the street is that there are some enhancements coming to the Weight Watchers program.  Those enhancements are:  more zero foods (to include potatoes and lean meats such as beef and pork) and a place to track macros if you want.

Don't panic though - Points are still around as well as the weight loss meds (if you choose to use them).

HOWEVER, no one knows when this is happening.  There is a select group that have the macros now (and WW did announce that on Connect) and someone on FB said that today they got an email from WW stating that more zero foods are coming.  Word is that it will happen mid-December.

If this happens, I will continue my WW membership past its end date in January; though I'll resign up as an online only member since they ditched my meeting.

I like the idea of more zero foods plus a place to track at least my proteins & carbs is enticing.  Protein is a good way to keep yourself full and macros is all the rave right now.

So we will know within the next few weeks.

Jean-Luc and Nick are doing another Kick Start beginning January 13, 2024.  Go here:  KICKSTART to learn more and sign-up!  It's FREE!  I know in the last post I said that I only made it through half of the Fall Kickstart; but I did enjoy it and want to give it another go!  Come Join Us!

It's Been Way Too Long Since A Post

 My highlight so far this year, was my third row seats to a Duran Duran concert.  We were SO CLOSE!!  It was AMAZING!  😁

So at least there was a highlight in this otherwise bad year.

Kickstart started great and then halfway through, I kind of lost the momento....and well then fell off.

Weight Watchers cancelled the only evening meeting in my area within a 50 mile radius.  Yeah, they'd say that is doable.....but not if you're leaving work and going through rush hour traffic.  Why is it that WW thinks no one works anymore???  I'd have to go right from work and it would be 87 miles and take almost 2 hours to get there and I wouldn't make it in time even on good traffic days.

A close high school friend passed in October.  I knew she had been sick but her husband stopped updating and turned off her phone (for her to rest) cutting off any communication.  He wouldn't respond to any FB postings.  The obituary was never in the newspaper; another friend just happened to come acrossed it online the day before her viewing which was scheduled rather weirdly from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.  Fortunately for me, I stopped on my way home from work.  She'd been cremated; I gave my condolences and left.  I realize he was grieving.....but so were all her friends.  I understand since covid, not many do services and such anymore and that is fine.  But c'mon, get the information out there!

Start Spreading The News.......

 ....she's finally gone!

😄

Sima is finally gone from Weight Watchers!!  Took them long enough! She got a huge pay-out though, which seems weird for a company whose stock is at an all time low.

Time to get back to the BASICS Weight Watchers!  Time to come back and take care of the members who have been there for you for 60 years.

Some quick things you should do?

1.    Bring back the website!

2.    Start adding back in-person meetings (especially evening ones).  And it doesn't have to be the fancy store front ones; start out in rented rooms.

3.    Bring back your products - those snacks that fit into the plan.

4.    Offer multiple different plans like you used to and don't force people to have zero point foods; if they want them-fine; if not-okay!

5.    Keep the weight loss med plan and support; but dump the clinical portion - people should be going to their own doctors for that!

They can now do so much; but they need to act fast!

And how about the next CEO having some nutritional background????

Off To A Good Start

 First week of Kickstart is complete and I managed a 1.1 lbs loss!  It could have been more BUT, the weekend, as always, threw me off.  Need to work on that.

My #9 commitment is to do a YouTube exercise video twice a week.  I totally didn't do that one at all.  I decided to make a slight change on that to any exercise other than a walk twice a week.  I just did some desk exercises, so that will be better!  Let's hope it's a consistent week and a much better weekend!

I've done really well with packing lunch and making dinner.  Hubby's been really happy with the dinner part!  Tonight we're having ham & bean soup in the slow cooker!  It's not my mother's homemade type, but it definitely comes close:

1 lb. ham    (I use the ham slices)

1 lb. bag dry northern beans (no need to soak them, just rinse them off)

2 -32 oz. chicken broth    (I also add a little water)

Onion    (optional - I don't)

THAT'S IT!!  Throw in all in the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.  You do not need to soak the beans to soften them ahead of time, just put the dry beans right in the slow cooker.

I got the original recipe from:  4 Sons Are Us

And yeah, you won't even know it's chicken broth!  I imagine you could also use vegetable broth.

How I Made Weight Watchers Mine

I wanted to explain how I made the Weight Watchers program my program.

I went to settings and changed from weight loss mode to maintenance mode.  This allows you to change your daily points.

I chose to up my daily points by 5, giving me 28 dailies rather than 23.  Why????  I find that 23 is way too low for me and there are things on the zero list I do not eat (I'm talking you - Tofu and tempeh); I also won't eat popcorn as a zero food - I must count points for that.  So I gave myself points in their place.  Why 28?  When I switch the app to the diabetic plan, it gave me 28 points (course it took some zero foods from me, fruit for example).  I felt 28 was a good starting point and considering that normally I probably eat double if not triple that (and the wrong things); 28 is fairly a good starting point.

Why not just do diabetic?  Because I want my fruits to be zero.  I could do diabetic and then just quick add my fruits at zero.  This is another option you can try, but I chose to do it my way.

I also turned off the roll overs.  I am earning points with walking.

Now, when eating I try to look at the old Simply Filling Food List.  Weight Watchers ditched this plan when they went with the three colored plans (Green, Blue, Purple).  Simply Filling is basically a much larger list then the purple plan was, the catch was that you didn't get any daily points only weeklies.  No I do not count all the foods on the Simply Filling list as zero - I only count the foods on the current plan list as zero, whatever the WW app says is zero, is what is zero - BUT I do refer to this list for better eating choices.

It may sound complicated, but it really isn't.

Actually I only used 23 points yesterday; and only 12 today; but I am comfortably full! I may never need the whole 28 dailies; but they are there if I do.

Tomorrow evening I'm going out with friends; the chosen place is a brewery and the food menu isn't healthy.  That's okay; like I said; I only used 12 points today and despite that I'm not doing roll overs... I do realize that cushion is there if needed.  I'm also eating lighter for breakfast and lunch.

It's all about planning!

Kickstart!

 Kickstart starts today!

I've managed to eat breakfast, track with WW, almost have all my water in, found a book to start, packed lunch, will be cooking dinner and will be walking with hubby later.

So most of my commitments are there; I have 2 or 3 that aren't everyday things.

I decided to do the current WW plan (I am still paying for it) with some adjustments.  At first I was going to follow the diabetic plan but still count fruit as zero.  That would give me 28 pts daily.  And yes, I could do that!  I ended up, however, just going into my Food Settings, changing my focus to "maintain" (even though that isn't what I'm doing) and setting the daily pts to 28.  I turned off the rollovers.  I know it's not the way it is to be done; I know that's not the "official" WW program; but it's what I'm going to commit to for now and see where it gets me.

I'm not looking for tons of points to accomodate bad eating.  My goal is to look at the zero list for the old WW Simply Filling plan and eat mostly off that.  All that stuff, of course, isn't zero on the current plan and that's fine; but it has to be the better foods to eat.

I was not happy with my weight this morning; so hoping for something better next weigh-in!

I'm not sure if I'll go back to meetings.

My Commitments

 The Kickstart will begin next Monday the 16th of September.  My Commitments are:

1.    Commit to the 6 weeks.

2.    Pick a WW program and stick with it.  

3.    Drink 6, 8 oz waters per day.

4.    Eat breakfast everyday.

5.    Pack work lunch 4 out of 5 days.

6.    Cook dinner at least 4 out of 7 days.

7.    Make wise food choices when eating out.

8.    Take a walk daily.

9.    Try a YouTube exercise video twice a week.

10.    Read one chapter of a book daily.

I haven't decided on a book yet; but it will be a book telling a story; not a self-help type.

But mostly, I'll be taking it a day at a time.

Today....

I'll update with my commitments in a few days.

I've mentioned that 2024 has been a bad year for my family.

Today....  we buried my father.

My Dad hasn't been well and the last week was very brutal as we were watching him die.  We always said that once one of our parents went, the other wouldn't be far behind.  He and Mom were only apart 6 months.  I'm glad they are together again; but I'm sad that my parents are both gone.

I know I've been lucky to have them both for a very long time.  They were married 70 years; most don't get that.  I just would have liked to of had more time.

Time.... there's never enough time.