HELPING OUT

I did a couple of extra WW groups this morning, subbing for a friend who is on vacation. I had a good time with one of them and a very good time with the second.

Here's what I reckon - I think I lead far better with the dynamics of a larger group. I play off the interaction and really rely on it to get into the swing of things. I guess I'm not alone in that, but having started my WW involvement with big groups, I think I have been spoiled and find it difficult to adjust to a handful of people.

Not their fault of course - it's me who needs to change things up!

JULIE ANDREWS ON AGEING

To commemorate her 69th birthday, actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a
special appearance at Radio City Music Hall for the benefit
of the AARP.
One of the musical numbers she performed was 'My Favorite Things' from
the legendary movie 'Sound Of Music'. Here are the lyrics she used:

(Sing It!) - If you sing it, it is especially hysterical!!!

Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad, I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache, When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim, Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.

(Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over
four minutes)

FLYING HIGH

I love celebrating with the great people in my WW groups, like the lady who got under 200lb today for the first time in decades; the man who got to goal after losing more than 40lb; the member who lost 4.6lb last week to move within 2lb of her goal - having dropped more than 60lb since the start of the year.

But what made my day today was the non-scale victory of a young woman who, having lost more than 60lb, ran a 5K race for the first time in her life last weekend.

That's success! Doing something you have never done before and would never have dreamed of doing.

I was flying high when I left the center this afternoon. I'm proud of our folks and privileged to get to coach them.

THANK GOODNESS

It's the simple things that make me appreciate having lost all that weight. Like having to squeeze into a very tight (but good) seat at Shea Stadium this afternoon and thinking -

Am I glad I didn't try this four years ago?

It's insane to pay that much money for that degree of discomfort!

SPEAKING OF DESSERT

Here's a great looking recipe from a member of our earliest Saturday WW group -thanks Linda!

Ingredients
4 boxes sugar-free Jello (Strawberry)
2 cups lite Cool Whip
2 1/2 cups boiling water
2 3/4 cups ice water (add ice cubes)
4oz lite cream cheese
8 packs Splenda
11oz can mandarin oranges - drained
1 can lite peaches - drained

Method
Put the Jello powder into a medium bowl and pour on the boiling water. Stir 2 minutes until dissolved. Add ice water and refrigerate about 2 hours (until consistency of egg whites). Add fruit and refrigerate for a further 15 minutes.

Whisk together cream cheese and Splenda, fold in the Cool Whip. Spread mix in a dish and pour the Jello mixture on top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Just before serving, add a thin layer of Cool Whip on the top.

How many points? - Use your calculator!!!

HOT DOG!

I haven't been a great fan of hot dogs since I started eating more healthily some three and a half years ago, but this summer I've taken a fancy to this humble favorite of millions and have been happy to discover they fit easily into my food plan.

So this evening I ate two, using Hebrew National low fat franks and light rolls - a total of four points! We don't top hot dogs with sauerkraut in the UK, we tend to go for fried onions, which works well for me as I don't care for pickled cabbage or whatever it is anyway.

So I threw on the onions (fried in spray stuff), some mustard, grilled an ear of corn, added a side salad and ate a very tasty, totally acceptable 5 Points dinner.

Which all goes to prove you don't need to run from typical summer fare, you just need to make smart choices.

Must go - time for fruit and ice cream.

SPECIAL DAY

The crowd was a bit thinner than usual at this morning's Weight Watchers groups - probably something to do with the heat and unbearable humidity - but it was a special day for me and I'll explain why.

In one of our groups we have a wonderful lady who is in the process of losing a substantial amount of weight and this past week or so has been huge for her - not just for success at the scale, but because she has managed to start walking again.

Her battle had left her seriously restricted for a long time, but having lost over 70lb already, she has now received a whole new lease of life by becoming more mobile.

She left us today to go out and buy good walking sneakers and I left a happy camper too.

It's why I do what I do!

THE FAMILY BUSINESS

My sister, Pat, finished her training to become a Weight Watchers leader this week and she takes on her first assignment on Monday. Pat addressed the family tendency towards obesity years ago by joining Weight Watchers and losing a heck of a lot.

She re-joined last year to get rid of a few extra pounds that were bugging her and once she got back to goal, she decided to look into helping others herself by becoming a leader.

Pat will be a great leader, but I can rest assured she won't draw away any of my members - she's doing her group in Preston, England!

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB COBBLER

I saw rhubarb in the store this morning and came across this recipe on the WW website -

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB COBBLER

3 cup fresh rhubarb, sliced
3 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup Splenda
1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 cup Bisquick Original Baking Mix
1/2 cup fat-free skim milk
2 Tbsp Splenda

Heat oven to 375. Mix together the first 6 items. Grease a 8x12 cake pan. Spoon strawberry mixture into pan. Mix together last 3 items and pour all over the strawberry mixture. Bake for 50 minutes or until browned.

Makes 8 servings at 3 Points

BREAKING THE BARRIER

I didn't get to run the Bellport Clipper yesterday as some things came up I had to deal with and was fully occupied well into the evening. I was looking forward to the 5K (3.1 miles) event as it's a flat, picturesque run through the town and down to the marina.

I struggled with it last year as it was very hot and humid, also probably because by 5.00 pm on a Sunday I am definitely not at my sharpest since weekends are so busy.

I can do 3 miles in 24 minutes on the treadmill, though I generally take it a bit steadier and turn in 28 or 29 minutes. Road running is another world, but nonetheless I was disappointed with a time of 33 minutes last year in Bellport.

I was hoping to get closer to 30 minutes yesterday, but since I didn't run, I'm going to work on improving my time by doing a bit more road running this week instead of heading to the gym.

I'll keep you posted!

DECLARATION OF THINDEPENDENCE

Here's something I shared in my 4th of July meeting that a number of members asked me to post here -

I pledge allegiance to myself
In quest of my weight loss goal;
And to the healthiness for which it stands,
One body...
Under control...
Indisputably...
With confidence in new clothes for fall.

IF YOU BITE IT ...

... YOU WRITE IT!

Here's some external testimony to the validity of WW Flex Program's approach to weight loss -

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25573436

Keep writing!

CAN'T BEAT THIS

I promised some new WW members that I'd post the link to my favorite chili up here tonight, so here goes - enjoy -

http://wheresthefatguy.blogspot.com/2008/05/chili-classic.html

ANOTHER HOLIDAY SUCCESFULLY NAVIGATED

Holidays with their parties, dinners, barbecues, etc can be a very demanding time for those of us who are trying to stay focused on healthy living, so I was a little concerned about today's 4th of July celebration - especially as we had been invited to two barbecues.

I made sure I started the day with some exercise, despite sleeping later than usual, and opted for a road run of a modest 3.2 miles (hey, it's a holiday!).

After that our plans for the day changed as we discovered our grandson was still sick and so he and our daughter would be spending Independence Day alone (he's apparently possibly still contagious, though we doubt it).

So we missed the barbecues - will apologize in due course - and were able to hang out with another Weight Watcher instead. No temptations there - challenge was gone - in fact the day is virtually over and I can report I had a really good time and actually stayed within my points allowance!

Phew!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

Have a good day, enjoying all that's best about this great country!

POTATO SALAD

Had a good time with my Miller Place groups tonight - some great people there. We were talking about barbecues this weekend and I mentioned the Potato Salad recipe I'd posted a couple of weeks ago.

If you want to check it out, it's here -

http://wheresthefatguy.blogspot.com/2008/06/great-summer-recipe.html

WW WORKS

From time to time I meet someone who tells me that Weight Watchers didn't work for them and to be honest, I don't buy that. The program works when you work the program and the only exception I've ever come across is when there are other unusual medical things going on.

But don't take my word for it -

The Cleveland Clinic has just offered its 30,000+ employees free patrticipation in Weight Watchers - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25455291

Rite-Aid will pay the costs of 16 weeks of Weight Watchers for any of its staff.

Employers are appreciating that it is in their interest to have a healthy workforce and that WW can help them in that direction.

The program works - but what do I know?

I only dropped 133lb after a lifetime of morbid obesity!