THE DIET SHOP

I visited a new shop this afternoon, one that some of my WW colleagues have been recommending to me - The Diet Shop in Ronkonkoma.

They have an amazing selection of foods that are all pointed out for those on the WW Flex Program, from soups to snacks to entrees, with some great muffins that are just one point each.

In the interest of my Saturday members, I bought a load of different things to sample so that I can pass on informed recommendations. I'm not going to eat this stuff because I want to - honest!

The store is on Portion Road about one mile west of Nicolls in a Tudor-style shopping center right across from Waldbaum's.

I recommend it!

GOD LOVES ME!

I have approached the Christmas season with a great deal of concern as traditionally this has been the most testing time of the year for me. Christmas is the holiday for most Brits and I'm sitting here in Texas with my family surrounded by all kinds of tempting treats that have the potential to seriously derail me.

BUT - I've had a gastro-intestinal problem all week and am existing on Gatorade and little else. I'm having a great time with my children and grandchildren, but am not faced with food challenges at all.

You see, God does love me!

(Sorry if that's too much information for you!)

CHRISTMAS

Heading to Dallas in an hour or so for Christmas with my son and his family. Our daughter and her son will be joining us on the 26th, so we'll all be toegther for a few days.

I have packed my running shoes and clothes. I also have a strategy for watching what I eat.

I'll let you know how it goes on what for me has typically been the most challenging time of the year.

SHOW AND TELL

Tomorrow I've decided I'll take the one piece of clothing I have from my larger days with me to my WW groups. I hope it will help me make the point that there are some things that we just have to look at and they help us keep moving in the right direction.

This garment certainly does that.

What is it?

Tomorrow!

BIGGEST LOSER

I was out last night, so had to record the season finale of The Biggest Loser. It came as no surprise to me that the ultimate champions were twins Jim and Bill - after all, they're New Yorkers and when we set our minds to do a thing, we do it. They did incredibly well.

There were some huge percentage losses among the eighteen original contestants, but I must admit that given all the assistance they received, I'm feeling pretty good right now about the 39.92% of my starting weight that I lost with Weight Watchers.

Most of us will never make the TV show, but there's an equally effective program within a short drive of most of us.

SAYING NO

This week I took a bit of the advice that I was dishing out last Saturday morning when I was encouraging my WW groups to reduce the stress of Christmas by declining some invitations.

For reasons too complex to go into here, I am a member of both Medford and Ronkonkoma Chambers of Commerce and they had their Christmas dinners on consecutive nights this past week. I opted to go to just one, figured the second would not fall apart without me and knew that this would not only simplify my week but also reduce the amount of challenges I would face to my healthy lifestyle.

In preparation for the one function I did attend, I ate a dinner of my choice before I went. Then I went to the restaurant, enjoyed the folks at the table, pushed my salad around my plate for ever and asked for the entree to go (next day I gave it to my daughter).

That's not the way I treat every event, but it worked for this week and I end it with no regrets!

LIFE'S NOT FAIR!

Well, fancy that!

Neil loses 10lb but doesn't make it to the finale of The Biggest Loser. I bet he's pig sick, but then again he goes home a winner, almost unrecognisable from when the show started.

I'm glad to see they're starting a Biggest Loser - Couples on January 1st. They'll probably diversify as much as CSI now they know they have a winning formula.

Look for -

Celebrity Biggest Loser
Biggest Loser - Seniors
Teenage Biggest Loser
Biggest Loser from Mars
Biggest Loser for Irishman
Left-handed Biggest Loser
Vegetarian Biggest Loser
Biggest Loser - Pets

Etc., etc.

Kick Start

When we were given the new WW materials for 2008, I thought this was a weird time for the company to introduce some innovations. It seemed logical to me to put out the information right after the holidays, but they wanted us to put it ion people's hands this week.

I think I finally understand their logic. There's a great tool included that will be a considerable help in navigating the challenges of Christmas and New Year and I'll be taking quite a bit of Saturday's meeting to talk about it.

What is it?

You're kidding, right?

You have to be there - 8.00am, 9.30am, 11.00am or 12.15pm.

ROUTINE

There has been so much going on this past month that I have got way out of routine where my exercise is concerned. Twelve days in India, three days in Florida over Thanksgiving and then guests in the house for nine days.

I have barely been running 15 miles a week, which is way less than the 40+ that was my regular pattern. It was good to get back to the gym today and have a half decent workout, knowing that my schedule for the next two weeks should allow me to be on the treadmill far more frequently.

The real challenge in staying healthy is staying on track when life is not normal. I've done that fairly well, but am glad I've now got my early mornings at the gym back.

SATURDAY SNIPPETS

+ Had a good morning at WW. We have some excellent people in our groups. It's a pleasure to spend time with them each week.

+ The banana I ate for breakfast at 6.45 had worn off by the time I got home at 1.45. Maybe I need to eat something more substantial next week.

+ I love it when people stand on the scale sheepishly, but then get a pleasant surprise. Of course the opposite to this scenario happens at times too - that stinks!

+ Towards the end of the morning our Location Coordinator got a lot of the stuff in place for the revamp for '08 that we'll be introducing next week.

+ It's very quiet at this time of year, with attendance down by a good 35%. Of course, come January that will all change.

+ Got nailed good this morning when I was talking about reducing holiday stress by accepting offers of help. One mischievious member asked if I would be doing that Christmas Day. (Last week I shared that the kitchen is my sole domain at that time of year and no one else is allowed in!)

+ Sounds like the temptation to ease up on exercise is the main issue for folks at this time of year. I liked the idea of using a good walking DVD and also the concept of going up and down the basement stairs every time there is a commercial break on TV.

+ Did I say I enjoy the folks at WW???

CHRISTMAS WISHES

There's nothing that I really want for Christmas.

Let's face it, I'm blessed and have all I really need. Sure, I don't have a BMW, a vacation home in the Bahamas or even an iPhone but the reality is there's more to life than stuff.

This year I'll have the thing I love most at Christmas - dinner with all my family. Gill and I, the kids and the grandkids. What more could a man ask for?

There's one thing I don't want and I hope you don't get either -

A weight increase that wipes out weeks or months of self-restraint and effort. Last Saturday I recommended to my groups that they set themselves a target for the holidays, a time when the average American gains 7lb - 10lb.

You see, if you don't know where you're going you'll end up any old place. So I suggested reasonable goals should be established.

Here's mine - I want to hit January at my regular goal weight.

No gain will be a win for me.

That's my Christmas wish - but wishing alone won't make it a reality.

UNEXPECTED AWARD

I was given this award for being Rookie Leader of The Year in WW Eastern Suffolk Territory today. Not sure what I did to deserve it, but it is much appreciated. On the left of the picture are Barbara and Nikki who are part of the Saturday staff team and on the right, Territory Manager Lucia Velardi, presenting the award.