FOOD PLAN TOOLS

Things that make life a bit easier on this eating plan:


1.  This adorable scale is a Paula Dean scale, from Walmart.  I got it because RED makes me happy.  I use this to weigh ALL of my meat AFTER it's cooked.  I love that it has a really big bowl on top.  It holds lots. :)



2.  This is my amazing water bottle.  It's from Contigo.  I got it from Costco. It comes in a three pack (not sure if they sell these anymore - I got mine during Christmastime).  It's 24 oz.  I drink 4 of these every day.  When I first started the food plan, I weighed more, so I drank 5 of these.  The straw makes it SO SUPER easy to drink all of my water.


I am headed to Costco again today, because I saw these same water bottles (in a two pack) that are stainless steel and insulated.  They are around 20 oz.  They are supposed to keep drinks cold for up to 20 hours!!!  So, now I can make a shake before I leave the house, put it in one of these babies, and have that in my car for a MF meal while I'm out and about!  Sweet!

3.  This is my Magic Bullet blender.  I LOVE this thing.  I throw some pebble ice in (about 2/3 full), dump in the shake mix, any extract I want to use, and a bit of Truvia sweetener, and BBZZZTTT!  I've got a shake in about 10 seconds.  This is SO easy to use.  Costco has the set for around $40-$50, I think.  I've had mine for over 3 years.  LOVE it.


4.  This is an oversized mug.  It probably holds at least 3 cups.  I use this to make my soups in.  If I use anything smaller, my soup boils over and makes a mess.  Especially since I usually add a bit more water and bouillon.


5.  This is a small thermos (shhh... I got it at Jenny Craig years ago!)  My coach told me to put the soup mixes in a thermos in the morning, with boiling water, and let them sit until lunch time.  I tried this the other day - it was amazing!  The soup was SO much better!  Doing it this way allows the veggies and meat in the soup to soften up.  I think this one holds about 2 cups.



6.  And this is my little group of tools I use to mix things up - 1/4 cup measuring cup, small whisk, small mixing bowl, 1 tablespoon and 1/4 teaspoon.  I use these every single day.  The spatula is to clean out the bowl after mixing pancakes.



7.  Because I use all of these every single day, I just keep all of the small stuff in a cheerful red bowl on my counter!



8.  And, of course, I use one of these whenever I make pancakes!  Pull it out... heat it up... cook the pancakes... wipe it out... put it away!  Easy Peasy!

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Weight Watchers - The ABCs of Weight Loss

I read this in the Weight Watcher magazine July/August 2008, and thought there were some great suggestions here. These were all contributed by successful WW members)...

A - Ask questions (when dining out, don't be afraid to ask your server how a dish is prepared - and request it without sauce or oil).

B - Budget for snacks - you don't have to give up all of your favorite treats, just plan ahead.

C - Cancel the pity party - when you're down about your weight, remind yourself that everyone struggles.

D - Distract yourself - If you're hungry, call a friend, go for a walk, write a letter or email, etc. You'll notice that the hunger usually passes in a matter of minutes.

E - Eat slowly - put the fork down between bites, be more aware of how much you're putting in your mouth.

F - Focus on the presentation - arrange your food creatively, use a larger plate and spread your portions more artfully, it will help you feel more satisfied.

G - Give the new habits time - make a commitment to stick to your new regimen for at least 6 months, it often takes that long for revamped eating or exercise habits to feel natural.

H - Hang out with optimists - The can-do spirit is contagious.

I - Inspire yourself - brainstorm a list of activities you've been putting off because of your weight - it will provide a built-in incentive to slim down.

J - Join up - exercise with others - this often provides a sense of accountibility.

K - Keep your focus - as you lose weight, notice what you're gaining - a healthier diet, slimmer profile, or a new love of exercise.

L - Lighten up your favorite - Use cookbooks that can show you low-fat, healthier versions of your favorite dishes.

M - Make over your kitchen - get rid of trigger foods (those you often overeat) and restock your kitchen with healthy items.

N - Navigate out of your comfort zone - try a new exercise once a week.

O - Opt for the 10-minute rule - Even if you don't feel like it, get moving for at least 10 minutes.

P - Push yourself to try at least one new fruit or vegetable each week - expand your culinary repertoire in a healthy, low-calorie way.

Q - Quit the clean-plate club - stop eating once you're satisfied, and you won't eat tons of extra calories.

R - Reward yourself - if you are looking for a snack after dinner, give yourself a manicure or pedicure instead!

S - Stand up to food pushers - if a host pressures you to eat something you'd rather avoid, tell her you'll try something else on the table - compliment her, and she'll be distracted.

T - Treat your body like a temple - exercise and take care of yourself as if you were an athlete.

U - Use your lunch break wisely - spend half of your lunch break walking.

V - View sweet treats wisely - if you want to shed pounds, you can't eat sweets whenever you like. Find a low - calorie substitute that you can have every day, or limit rich desserts to once a week.

W - Write a gratitude list - each day, jot down 3 to 5 things in your life that you're grateful for.

X - Xerox your exercise moves - find exercise routines you'd like to try in books and magazines, and make copies, then refer to these when you need new moves.

Y - Yearn to accept where you are now - when you fell discouraged by your rate of progress, try to accept and appreciate yourself at your current weight. This might help you hang in there until you start losing weight again.

Z - Zero in on your body - Don't wear big baggy clothes - wearing clothes that fit well to remind yourself of your diet and fitness goals - and the slimmer body your are striving for.

GOOD LUCK!