Molly: So, I'm always up for a party. I decided to have a Weight Watchers Party. I invited 10 ladies I knew that are trying to lose weight on WW. Everyone was to bring an item that they liked in bite size servings. Don't we all hate it when you go to the grocery store and buy ingredients, take the time to make a new recipe, and then realize you really didn't like it? Time and money down the drain. I thought if everyone brought a little something, we could take a bite and if we liked it, we could take the recipe card for it. I was worried because I did not want to sabatoge anyone. That is why the sample sizes. I told everyone in advance to save some points for this evening.
Also, everyone shared tips and tricks which everyone needs. I pulled out boxes of food that I like. I showed everyone how I write the points value right on the box which is very helpful when you are figuring out your points for a meal quickly.
Tips and Stuff We Liked: Write before you bite. Write what you are going to eat down that day. If it isn't written down, don't eat it.
2 great salad dressings: Ken's Fat Free Raspberry Pecan Dressing (2T = 56 cal, 0 fat, 0 fiber), Kraft Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing (2T = 60 cal, 3 fat, 0 fiber)
One friend brought Red bell Pepper Salad (on pg. 62 of your 1st WW book!). I would NEVER have made it in a 1,000 years! It was so good! 1 1/2 pts a serving!
Rosemary chicken Wraps (basically just torilla shells) but 12 grams of fiber and very yummy!
The electronic calorie counter ($12 from WW). You can walk around your kitchen or the grocery store and figure out the points so quickly. VERY HELPFUL TOOL.
Katie: This little par-tay really was pretty fun. I did feel a little outsider-ish because of my lack of "points" talk. (I'm not doing WW) Most importantly though, the food was DEELISH and the company was fab. We will be sharing all of the recipes with you as we add them. Thanks Mol!
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June 8, 2007
Weight Watchers Party!
June 7, 2007
Sisterhood Q and O(pinions)
We got this awesome question from Allison a couple of days ago:
Question: At 5 ft 3 in, 155 pounds, and a size 10, I am trying very diligently to lose weight. The gym where I work out has a summer personal training special that I signed up for. I took a fitness test and he outlined a pretty intense workout plan as well as a diet plan. Apparently, I'm not eating enough? Really? How is that possible? Isn't eating more than enough what got me into this little weight issue? I was previously reducing my calories to about 1200 per day. His diet plan recommends around 1800 per day. He tried explaining it by using the analogy of 'fueling the fire' and fueling my body to keep my metabolism going."
Opinion: (Ok, before we dig in, we just need to say: we're not doctors, exercise scientists, personal trainers, or experts of anything really. We just run this here bloggity blog so take our advice for what it's worth. SS readers are welcome and asked to contribute too! Just leave a comment if you want to help Allison out.)
Katie: Allison, I'm excited for you! It's great to have someone watching over your progress so closely. (Don't get Molly started about Adrian) This is just my opinion, but unless you've got a whak-a-doo metabolism, (not likely), I'm in totaly agreement with your trainer. YES. You're not eating enough. Check this out:
*note: EPOC is excess post-exercise oxygen consumption. Which is basically your calories burned after you exercise.
"It is important to note that a diet containing insufficient calories can dramatically lower EPOC, reducing the number of fat calories you burn after exercise. Some evidence for this comes from researchers at Hiroshima Women's University in Japan. They studied a group of women who cycled for 60 minutes at 70% of VO2max the morning after two days on two different diets. The first diet provided 1600 calories per day, while diet two provided only 800 calories per day.EPOC was measured for seven hours after exercise. Following just two days of dietary restriction, EPOC was lowered by more than 50%."
Yikes!
I found it at The Facts About Fitness
Also, another great site that explains metabolism in an in-depth, but easy to understand way is: Lifetime Fitness There's my two cents. Well, actually, not even mine...
Molly: Strange as it may sound but you do have to be eating enough so your body does not go into starvation mode. If your body doesn't receive enough food, it thinks you are starving so it will just hold on to whatever it has. So I try to eat 3 meals + 3 snacks a day. I feel like I am always eating but the weight is coming off! Just some easy guidelines:
Eat at least 5 fruits or vegetables a day. FIBER!
Go for whole grains whenever possible
2 servings of milk
8 glasses of water
Protein! I try to get in at least 2 servings a day
Also, I try to choose foods with high fiber and lower fats.
This is the basics of the Weight Watchers plan. The reason I like WW (and I have done them all) is that anyone can do it and you can eat normal foods. It's simple and you lose weight!
One important thing is to fuel up your metabolism. Lift weights. Cardio is great for burning calories and great for your heart. I read somewhere that you burn calories up to 2 hrs after your cardio workout but up to 10 hours after you lift weights. (See Katie's links) I've noticed that whenever I have started a weight-training program, the weight doesn't come off immediately. But remember, muscle weighs more than fat. I lift weights 4 times a week and do cardio 5 times a week. You will see a greater change in what your body looks like if you incorporate weights into your daily schedule.
Thanks Allison! Keep us posted on your progress!
Have a question tip or anything else for us? Email us at comments@sisterskinny.com or just click the "email us" link on the sidebar.
May 25, 2007
Molly's Random Thoughts
I am a W.W. cult member. Here are some thoughts I have. I have a friend that really needs to lose weight (125 lbs or so). She REALLY wants to lose weight. Or does she? I joined to help her. I wasn't going to go to the meeting today for various reasons but down deep I thought, "No, I'm doing it for her." I just feel like I can't harp on her and encourage her and push her if I'm not doing it myself. What I don't understand is that she puts everyone and everything in front of this goal. Sometimes I think I want it more than her for her than she does. One reason I like W.W. is that it makes you accountable....
You have to weigh in even when you had a bad week. You have to look at that number and answer WHY the number didn't go down. Then, when you sit in the meeting, you are surrounded around people just like you - all trying for the same goal. You are encouraged by them, you feel their discouragements with them, it just is motivating. My friend doesn't have time to go to a meeting. Or does she? I believe she has meetings at work. It all comes down to your priorities. There are saturday morning meetings also. But I'm realizing slowly that I can't do it for her. Believe me-I would. I'm the type of person that goes and goes. I just hope she feels the belief I have in her and starts to believe in herself. If your reading this Gertrude, I am there for YOU!
One thing my leader said that I loved was don't hate the skinny people when they walk into a meeting. Because you KNOW we secretly do! She asked one skinny person how much she lost and it was over 100 lbs. Another one it was 60 lbs! Now that I know that, I have soooo much more admiration for them instead of looking at their skinny bodies wondering why in the world are they here??? I do think though they should wear a sign that says "don't hate me - 60 lbs down or 100 lbs down". Because you know us women - our thoughts are going in overdrive trying to figure it out!
I have a dear friend that re-committed herself today. She is at 208 lbs and her goal in 140 lbs. Like I said, I wasn't going today but this friend called me the night before at 10:25 to see if I was going. Of course I was! I havent missed yet! When I decided I couldn't go today I couldn't get her off of my mind. I really felt like I was going to let her down on her first week back. How would she feel? Her cheerleader couldn't make it there for her. So I went and sat next to her and laughed throughout the whole meeting with her. You go girl! I was proud to be sitting next to your 208 lb bottom!
