hey just a note to say i have succumbed and am now following the weight watchers diet - day 3 and i'm finding it very hard as i tend to be hungry at night, even though i have my main meal at like 6.30ish. any hints or handy low point recipies anyone like to share???
also any spells to help maintain willpower or dedication to something will be very helpful as i really don't want to fall off the regime here. its SO HARD!!!!

Hi Luckypawprints. The first thing I'd have to ask you is what time do you actually go to sleep? You can still eat stuff up to about 3 hours before bed time and not have too many problems with slimming down. You also may want to eat dinner a little earlier so you can have a low points snack a little later in the evening (no later than that 3 hour window of course). Timing of your meals means a lot. Also, what kind of exercise program are you on? If you're not on one, you may want to start one. Your goals will be attained tht much sooner. Just remember to not get your heart rate too high. This will actually be counter productive. Your body will actuall convert muscle to fuel instead of utilizing fat. Also, you don't want to stay hungry constantly for too long because your body will go into a sort of survival mode and store fat rather than burn it. You may loose weight but it'll be muscle �that your body is burning because its easier to convert to energy. And thats not what you want. As far as a spell for will power- you don't need one. Look in the mirror. Decide if you like what you see looking back at you. If you don't, and it is truely your heart's desire to change what you see in that mirror, visualize yourself with the body you think you should have and make it so. You already know what you need to. Make the investment in yourself and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Just remember that diet alone won't help. You NEED to exercise for it to really work. One last thing- don't get discouraged if when you begin an exercise program you gain a little weight. Its natural for this to happen. Remember this- muscle is heavier than fat. And the more muscle you have, the more calories you actually will burn during exercise, AND at rest. Personally, I think the worst thing you can do is live by the scale. Body fat percentage is a better guage to use. My daughter is a prime example- to look at her you wouldn't think she's as heavy as she really is. That's because she's very athletic and has a lot of muscle throughout her body. Best of luck to you on your weight loss goals. Hope this helps somewhat.

Blessings,

Draco

I agree with you Draco.  I hope you have considered why you want to go on a diet?  I hope it isn't to have that 'perfect' body that's displayed in all the photo edited fashion magazines.  
Now that I've said that, you shouldn't be on a diet.  If you want to change your body, you should be changing your lifestyle, not dieting.  ie:  eating good foods, getting exercise, and living more healthy.
I hope what you want to do, is to feel better about yourself, and be more healthy.  That doesn't mean starving yourself.  If you want to eat large meals, go right ahead.  Just make sure that the the largest portion of your meal is veggies and fruits.  Eat as much as them as you want as long as they're not coated with creams and sauces.  Hunger pains, eat fruit.  Savor it.  Hear the crunch of the apple, or burst of liquids from a fresh peach, feel your tastebuds welcoming the juices flowing into your mouth.  Enjoy it.  Still hungry?  My house needs to be cleaned.  You can come here and I'll put you to work so that you'll forget about being hungry.  

Weight Watchers has a  "0" point soup that you can eat....of course it is something you make at home, let me check my desk upstairs and I will get back to you with a recipe....I know it has a cabbage and chicken broth base but I can't remember all of the details without checking....  

Yep there it is...

Garden Vegetable Soup

2/3rds cup sliced carrot
1/2 cup diced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups fat-free broth (beef, chicken or vegetable)
1 and 1/2 cups diced green cabbage
1/2 cup of green beans
1tbsp tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup diced zucchini

Peparation:

1. In large saucepan, sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, saute the carrot, onion, and garlic over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes.

2. Add botrh, cabbage,beans,tomato paste, basil, oregano, and salt; bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered about 15 minutes or until beans are tender..

3. Stir in zucchini and heat 3-4 minutes. Serve hot.

Per serving:

42 calories, 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 63 mg sodium, 8 g total carbohydrates,2.4 g dietary fiber, 3 g protein, 41 mg calcium.


I am really glad you reminded me of this as hubbys test for cholesterol came back on the high side this time, this soup makes a really good "starter" too...when you come home tired and so hungry you could eat the sofa.  Of course I don't have any idea how that feels....

I wish you the best of luck with your diet, and I do have some other recipes if you want to pm or email me I would be glad to share whatever I have with you.

That soup sounds REALLY good  (hungry)  . I love soup. I don't know why I don't eat more of it. That recipe also reminded me that I need to get my daughter to whip up a pot of her vegetarian chilli  (drool) . Let me know if you're interested and I'll get you the recipe. I have no idea what the point value per serving is. But it is very good AND filling.

Blessings,

Draco

ANY recipies welcomed draco, esp veggie ones, i have a point thingy that can work out per serving so thats fine and dandy!! thanks eeyoresgirl, i will be brewing up a batch right away.  thanks for the advice everyone else, the reason i am doing this is that i have noticed my weight creep up and up and i just want to put a stop and reduce my bmi to healthy range as my parents have cholesterol and blood pressure probs, i'm only 27 so think prevention is better than cure so doing the best for me for the future etc. not wanting perfect body (what is perfect anyway??? everyone see's beauty differently) and i have enough emotional probs to overcome without worrying about that ( currently succeeding my battle with depression) so am feeling in a good place now and as u say i want to do something for me.   starting to get in the swing of it now, counting points etc and was even good enough that i was allowed a big ring doughnut yesterday - oh lifes little pleasures!!!
i tell u it makes u enjoy food all the more because instead of eating what is in the cupboard it makes u try new recipies and rediscover things u never knew u liked!!!

keep ya posted and if anyone wants any ww advice pm me and i will help where i can

by the way week one and i lost 4 pounds!!!!! i know mostly water retention as u drink far more but still, anything is a winner - especially as pms week and i usually gain that amount!!!

love and hugs and keep recipies flowing!!!!

lucky

Wow 4 lbs especially at "that time of the month" is incredible....Congrats on the weight loss.I will post a few recipes on Monday....too lazy to go get em right now.... Hope you are having a great weekend.

BB

Congrats on the weight loss!  And I agree that taking your family medical history into account is a great reason to take care of your health now while you're young enough to make a big difference. Trust me, its far easier to take off the weight off when you're young than it is when you're older (like me)   . As soon as I get home I'll dig that recipe up for you and post it for you. Now, with regard to what a perfect body is: If you've ever read any of the Harry Potter books, you'll remember a magical object called the "Mirror of ERISED". It was said that the happiest person in the world could look into this mirror and see only themself standing in the mirror. Otherwise, a person would gaze into the mirror and see their deepest desire. So in response to your question, "What is a perfect body anyway?" I'd have to say that when you can look in the mirror, be happy with what you see, and not be concerned with anyone else's expectations of what they think you should be, you've got the perfect body   . Just my humble opinion sweety. One last note: don't consider it a diet. Diets usually have an ending point - usually when you've reached your target weight. The fact that you're going after a target BMI is a pretty good indicator that you're approaching this intelligently. Don't consider it or even call it a diet. Your adopting a healthier lifestyle that will benefit you for many years to come. Good luck.

Blessings,

Draco

PS:The word "ERISED" is the word "DESIRE" backwards- just a little Harry Potter trivia  

Capellini with Fresh Tomato Sauce

makes 6 servings @ 5 pts per serving

5-6 tomatoes,chopped
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped basil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tbsps olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1tsp sugar
9 oz's capellini
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese


Preparation

1. In a large non-reactive bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, basil, vinegar, oil garlic, and sugar. Let stand, covered, at least 4 hours.

2. Meanwhile, cook the capellini according to package direction; drain and place in a large serving vowl. Top with the sauce, toss to combine. Serve, sprinkled with the Parmesan cheese.

per serving 241 calories, 6.7 g total fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 3 mg. cholesterol, 89 mg sodium, 37 g total carbohydrate,2 g dietary fiber, 8 g protein, 70 mg calcium.

Whoopie Pies

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
12 c. sugar
1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening
1 egg white
1/2 c low-fat (1%) milk
3/4 c marshmallow spread

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the sugar, shortening and egg white in a medicum bowl until fluffy and well blended, about 2 minutes. Stir in the flour mixture, then the milk, until just blended.

2. Drop teh dough by spoonfuls onto large, ungreased baking sheets, making 36 cookies. Bake until top springs back when lightly touched, 5-7 minutes. Cool completely on the sheets on a rack. Spoon 2 tsp marshmallow spread on the bottoms of half the cookies. Top with the remaining cookies. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

per serving 119 cal, 3g total fat, 1g saturated fat, o mg cholesterol, 109 mg sodium, 21 g total carbohydrate, 1g dietary fiber, 1 g protein, 11 mg calcium.


These are 2 pts each.

oops 1/2 cup of sugar not 12......

Here's that recipe for Vegetarian Chili-
Ingredients:
1/3 c olive oil                               3/4 t dried oregano
2 c finely chopped onions              2 t salt
3/4 c chopped celery                    2 c tomato juice
1 c chopped green peppers           3/4 c bulgar wheat
1 c chopped carrots                      2 c chopped tomatoes
1 T minced garlic                          2 c kidney beans
2 c chopped mushrooms                1/2 t Tobasco sauce
1/4 t red pepper flakes                  2 T lemon juice
1 T ground cumin                          3 T tomato paste
3/4 t dried basil                             1 T Worcestershire sauce
2 T chili powder                             2 T chopped canned green chilies
1/4 c red or white wine                    

Method of preparation:
Have all the ingredients ready. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Over high heat, add the onions, celery, green peppers, carrots, garlic, mushrooms, spices, salt and pepper. Cook stirring for 1-2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, uncovered. If the chili is too thick, it can be thinned with adding additonal tomato juice.
You can adjust/delete ingredients according to your taste (personally, I only use about 1/2 the cumin as I find it a bit over powering). Hope you enjoy it as much as I do  

Blessings,

Draco

oh the printer is going a plenty with all these tasty recipies, weigh in tomorrow so will keep ya posted though have had a couple of slip ups!!

thanks again to ya all!!

Best of luck to ya

First of all, congratulations on your weight release! �
I must admit though, that I like to word things a little differently ...... I find that my terminology affects my attitude and outcome.
If you are "on a diet" you can "go off a diet" making that a temporary thing and you're out to change your life for the better permanently!
I dislike the word "diet" ..... its just the word "die" with a "t" added to it and doesn't sound like much fun. �Change it to something like "I've improved my eathing habits" or "I am aware of what I am putting in my body" or �"I've changed my lifestyle to be healtheir" or something of the sort.
"weight" is too general, it could be water weight, muscle weight, or weight loss due to losing a limb, yikes! (I wanted to "lose weight" and a couple of months later I "lost weight" by way of a double mastectomy) so I say "fat." �Yes, its an ugly word but that is what you are out to say goodbye forever to.
also, anything you "lose" you can find again.....say "release" or "give away"
another is "try" ..... either do it or don't do it
This falls into every aspect. �I don't "have to go to the store" I "get to go to the store and buy what I want/need"
I don't "have to drive my son to school", I "get to drive my son to school, therefore spending more time with him"
It wasn't an easy transition. �I spent 40 years with my old terminology, and sometimes I still slip, but it really has changed things for me for the better.
I just reread this and it sounds like an attack � �sheesh, thats not how I mean it. I just know my improving terminology has effected my life for the better.
Keep us posted on your progress!
.