I have been a member of Weight Watchers for almost 4 years now. During the first 6 months of my membership, I lost 22 pounds. My husband joined Weight Watchers around the same time, and has a similar story to share. We have both been able to maintain our weight ever since.
What is the secret to our success? A "template " for a healthy meal. While some days we prefer to eat some of the recipes I am sharing in this blog, and once in a while we go out to dinner or a party and eat what we like, I plan most meals following the little scheme I am about to describe.
The first component of my dinner is some kind of lean protein. During the weight loss phase of this adventure, we sure ate a lot of boneless skinless chicken breast! Pork tenderloin is another good choice because it is very lean and low in points. Another possibility is seafood, especially white fish and shrimp. I have become a lover of crab cakes in the last few years too.
That being said, there are plenty of options for those seeking variety. We eat New York Strip Steak fairly regularly; turkey burgers, chicken sausage, and boneless pork chops are other favorites. The possibilities are endless, just keep in mind that the leaner cuts are preferred most of the time. Don't forget that portion size is important. We have a kitchen scale to keep us in check.
The second component I always include in my dinner planning is a vegetable. Most vegetables count as zero in the Weight Watcher world, so you can eat as much as you like. The starchier vegetables--peas, corn, sweet or white potatoes for example...have point values so if you choose to eat them, portion size counts. We usually eat snap peas, green beans, broccoli, spinach, or asparagus. Kale and broccoli rabe are good, too!
The third component in my meal planning strategy is a fresh fruit. Most fresh fruit is zero points for Weight Watcher followers, so here again you can eat to your heart's content. We like grapes, berries, pineapple, and melons at dinner time. Sometimes when you can't get to the store or feel like something different, a canned fruit is ok as long as it has no added sugar. The best of this bunch is unsweetened applesauce. You can find brands that do not contain artificial sweeteners and you'll never miss the sugar.
The rest of dinner is where my husband and I part ways. He follows the paleo/primal diet and does not eat carbohydrates for the most part. There are days when he makes an exception but usually he follows the rules. I prefer to eat a small piece of diet bread or a reduced calorie pita with a teaspoonful or so of Smart Balance on it. I also eat sugar free jello pretty regularly, while he usually opts for an ounce or so of cheese.
So there you have it...I hope if you are trying to loose weight or just eat in a more healthful fashion, that I have offered a bit of inspiration!
What is the secret to our success? A "template " for a healthy meal. While some days we prefer to eat some of the recipes I am sharing in this blog, and once in a while we go out to dinner or a party and eat what we like, I plan most meals following the little scheme I am about to describe.
The first component of my dinner is some kind of lean protein. During the weight loss phase of this adventure, we sure ate a lot of boneless skinless chicken breast! Pork tenderloin is another good choice because it is very lean and low in points. Another possibility is seafood, especially white fish and shrimp. I have become a lover of crab cakes in the last few years too.
That being said, there are plenty of options for those seeking variety. We eat New York Strip Steak fairly regularly; turkey burgers, chicken sausage, and boneless pork chops are other favorites. The possibilities are endless, just keep in mind that the leaner cuts are preferred most of the time. Don't forget that portion size is important. We have a kitchen scale to keep us in check.
The second component I always include in my dinner planning is a vegetable. Most vegetables count as zero in the Weight Watcher world, so you can eat as much as you like. The starchier vegetables--peas, corn, sweet or white potatoes for example...have point values so if you choose to eat them, portion size counts. We usually eat snap peas, green beans, broccoli, spinach, or asparagus. Kale and broccoli rabe are good, too!
The third component in my meal planning strategy is a fresh fruit. Most fresh fruit is zero points for Weight Watcher followers, so here again you can eat to your heart's content. We like grapes, berries, pineapple, and melons at dinner time. Sometimes when you can't get to the store or feel like something different, a canned fruit is ok as long as it has no added sugar. The best of this bunch is unsweetened applesauce. You can find brands that do not contain artificial sweeteners and you'll never miss the sugar.
The rest of dinner is where my husband and I part ways. He follows the paleo/primal diet and does not eat carbohydrates for the most part. There are days when he makes an exception but usually he follows the rules. I prefer to eat a small piece of diet bread or a reduced calorie pita with a teaspoonful or so of Smart Balance on it. I also eat sugar free jello pretty regularly, while he usually opts for an ounce or so of cheese.
So there you have it...I hope if you are trying to loose weight or just eat in a more healthful fashion, that I have offered a bit of inspiration!
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