Weight Watchers - Sharing Ideas

At a recent Weight Watcher Meeting I was asked about Ideas to help lose weight. These are some of my favorites.

• Walk every day. I carry a pedometer with me and make it a point to take a daily walk (weather permitting). I work a a variety of locations. When I'm in Troy, New York I really like to hike through Oakwood Cemetery. From the entry at 101st Street it's about a 200' climb.

• Every morning I cut up a snack tray for the evening. Includes all sorts of low cal veggies. I place this is in a prominent place in the fridge.

• In case I get an attack of hungeries I keep a supply of quick fixes in the fridge. This includes Artichoke Hearts (No marinated in Oil) - whole can 90 calories; Hearts of Palm (70 cal); Marinated Green Asparagus (8 pieces = 10 cal); Marinated Mushrooms (4 = 9 cal, 28 oz jar = 180 cal). The trick here is to read the label, avoid veggies marinated in oil.

• I use Almond Breeze Milk substitute on my cereal (40 cal compared to 100 for skim milk). The Almond Breeze Milk is a great complement with an Almond Related Cereal.
  


• Air Pop Corn - 4.5 Cups = 140 Cal. To add flavor, I spray with butter spray and toss with salt or seasoning. Sometimes I season with franks hot sauce.


• Serve Tomatoes with every dinner meal. Substitute for potatoes. Or least, tomatoes allows you to cut down on the volume of potatoes. Also good when eating breakfast out.


• If you get sick of tomatoes, serve two vegetables or a veggie and a fruit.
  


• Baked Potatoes (And Baked Sweet Potatoes) - since my wife and I are both dieting, it's easy. Just bake one, split it down the middle and share.
  


• Whole wheat Pasta (not too often), and always serve a salad. If we've had a good week at our weight-in we may defrost a few pieces of garlic bread.

• For some meat dishes I use gravy. I like Mushroom Gravy, which I dilute with canned mushrooms. An entire can is 100 cal. , I use about 1/4 per meal an freeze the rest.


• In my heavy days I loved Pizza. I had to find a reasonable substitute. I cut a Weight Watchers Whole Wheat Pita (100 cal) around the seam to give me two flat and round pizzas. Toast them, cover with pizza sauce and fat free mozzarella and topping. Throw them in a 450 oven to melt the cheese, finished in about 6 minutes.


• Buy better stuff in smaller quantities. Fillet Mignon instead of Sirloin. etc. I buy the thin cuts of chicken and pork chops, and small ham steaks. The butcher counter is fine to select top quality stuff. I actually save a little by buying in bulk and have the butcher custom cut and freeze them.


• One chicken dish that we like is chicken parm. We use the thin sliced breast, 1st dip in plate of grated Parmesan Cheese, then in egg white and coat with bread crumbs. Can use Corn Chip Crumbs or Panko to add variety. This only adds about 2-3 teaspoons of cheese per chicken - (about 20-30 cal.).
  


• Do not shop on an empty stomach and don't order at a restaurant on an empty stomach. Pass on the bread plate, but get a diet soda or two. When traveling I like to order a Cobb or Greek salad, with the dressing on the side. Often times these salads are so favorable that no dressing is necessary.
  


• At home, every day I make a salad and use a salad spritzer instead of dressing. I buy prepared Salad in large quantities, but substitute my own fresh toppings and onions.

• Feta Cheese comes in a fat free variety. It's great in a salad, but also with green beans.

• Diet Orange Crush and Polar Diet Vanilla Soda are my favorite Diet Sodas.
  

• We found this Stovetop Grill which allows fats to drain. One of my most useful pans.