News and Reviews September 2022
- RSV…I don’t recommend it. Tonight will be an abbreviated chat due to fits of coughing and overall fatigue still lingering. But thank you to everyone who asked – the girls are much better and almost back up to normal speed. It’s mom and the grandparents who are feeling rough now!
- Souptember was a hit! If you haven’t had a chance to check out all the great recipes yet, it’s not too late. Check out Joan’s Pointed Plate on YouTube for the entire list of great recipes and YouTubers who participated!
The month’s theme is “Simplify Your Journey” and we will spend the entire month learning how to find ways to keep this simple and our lives sane!
Last week during Chat #288: Tame Your To Do List I told you this chat was for MEEEEE too! I wake up at least once every night (sometimes multiple times) thinking of things that I didn’t get done, who’s going to be standing at my desk first, what phone call is inevitable because I didn’t do X, Y, or even come close to Z.
Sound familiar? So what do we do??
Touch It Once
Do you ever feel like you need a to-do list to find all your to-do lists?
Putting all of my “to-do” items in different spots, in different formats, with different methods is my number one problem. I have a spiral notebook that I carry around, post-it notes, a corkboard, and various and sundry loose notes. Everywhere. Literally.
Some days I pick up and put down the same item multiple times because it’s in so many places. Pick a spot for loose notes, pick a planner/notebook for the items you need to be able to carry around. One notebook Kelly, I’m talking to you!
Be Ruthless
I found a great article on Zapier.com that says to be truly in control of your to-do list you must be ruthless in prioritizing them. I highly recommend you put reading this article on your to-do list (LOL) but the first item I found to be a game changer for me is this. Take an honest look at each item and decide right then if you will:
- DO: Complete the task now. If it can be completed in under 2 minutes put it in the DO stack. Under 2 minutes, now. ot 10 minutes or 10 days from now when you remember to circle back around to it
- DEFER: If the task is important that you handle it but will take longer than 2 minutes put it in the DEFER list stack
- DELEGATE: This is a tough one for me but simply take the to-do item you just wrote down and hand it to someone else. And back away Kelly…don’t over explain it, don’t pick it back up. WALK. AWAY.
- DELETE: If it’s something you really shouldn’t be doing just wad it up and move on.
Raise Your Hand
I have been practicing hard on this one. Every time I pick up a to-do item whether it’s placing an order, answering a customer, or even sticking my lunch in the microwave someone is there or on the phone to fill in that 3 seconds of air space. It feels rude at first, but I have been practicing raising my hand (literally, like I’m asking a question of a teacher) and saying I need to hold on for just a minute and let me finish this first. Then I promise you can ask your question or pass that phone call. Just since I have started doing it I bet I’ve had a 20-30% success rate of “never mind, I just did it” responses when I’m ready to circle back!
Your homework for last week was #SimplyTameIt. Your goal was to write down one to-do item whether it’s as simple as go grocery shopping or as complex as make and pre-point a menu for the entire week and then tell us if you will DO, DEFER, DELEGATE or DELETE it….and then type it, snap it, share it however you like, and then tag me for your next cool badge!
Let’s see how you did!
- Even when I’m sick and out of it Deanna comes through clutch with some great homework! She picked three items on her list, decided if she would DO, DEFER, DELEGATE or DELETE and as usual got it done!
- Lynn, Karen, and Julie get bonus bravos for deciding that continuing to post while I was under the weather was a DO for all three of them. I appreciate you ladies more than you know!
- John gets the biggest bravo of the week…so that Casey’s husband could stay at work while we were at the hospital he organized what, where, and how the other granddaughter would be those days, was Papaw Dash (think door dash LOL) one night to make sure we ate something besides Cheezits, and added medicine dosing for both Alyssa and Dusty to his DO list so that mom and I could delegate!
Bravo, you did it!
This Week’s Topic: Simplify Your Journey – Take Charge Tracking!
I love it when I hear commercials for other weight loss programs that say “no tracking” or “no need to write anything down” etc. Pre-ordering meals, using colored containers, checking boxes, or even moving cards is still tracking – just under a different marketing label!
So why is tracking so important? If you’ve been doing WW for a day or a decade you know that the plan works if you work the plan. And part of working this plan is knowing what you did eat, what you are eating, and what you will eat? But what does that look like for YOU?
All-In Tracker
I know many of you who are really really into planning and recording – let’s just say you are the scrapbookers of the Weight Watchers world. You’ve got color coded notes, charts and graphs, and probably a binder with your favorite go to foods, meal plans, and recipes. If that’s you, keep at it! And tracking isn’t just for food…Scott in our IYHAE Facebook Group tracks his weight loss on the cutest “calendars” you’ve ever seen. I think that’s a creative and fun way to know how you are doing and keep yourself motivated to keep going!
Digital Tracker
Some of you were around long enough ago to use paper trackers and actually turn them in to your leader each week to be “graded”. Now tracking is at your fingertips with the powerful WW App for scanning, recipe building, and adding favorites. You can even alter a recipe to make it fit YOU before you make it, track your water, add back points with veggies, track activity, and more.
I Got This Tracker
The rest of you fall into what I will classify as pro-level tracking or “I Got This” tracking. You know what you eat, when you eat it, and already know the points…most days. If that’s you, simply use the WW app to:
- Save meals or foods to track with Siri
- Save (favorite) frequently eaten meals for quick tracking
- Use Quick Add and enter the points for a food or meal without searching each item
This Week’s Homework: #SimplyTrackIt
Your homework for this week is #SimplyTrackIt. This week I want you to tell us if your tracking style is “All In,” “Digital,” or “I Got This” and why that style works for you….and then type it, snap it, share it however you like, and then tag me for your next cool badge!
Don’t forget to do your homework #SimplyTrackIt and tag me when you share on social media!
- Tag @ifyouhaveanegg on Instagram
- Tag @ifyouhaveanegg on our Facebook Page
- Tag @Kelly Green Milligan in our Facebook Group
- Tag @ifyouhaveanegg on WW Connect
Extra Credit: #BulkItUp – But I Don’t Cook Edition
For the entire month of September, we’ve been talking about ways to #bulkitup in our meals. Together we’ve made a Taco Tuesday meal, a breakfast bowl, and a weekly meal prep.
Tonight’s #bulkitup is for those of you who prefer not to cook!
There are a few things you’ll want to be sure of and keep in mind if you’re using prepared or packaged food for your meals.
- Watch your serving sizes – many packaged foods might seem like a single serving but they’re actually 2-3
- Choose small, single-serve containers – this helps keep your portion and serving sizes in line
- Keep certain protein- and fiber-rich foods on hand to easily bulk up your meals (I love beans, chickpeas, and tuna for this)
- Convenience meals (like Lean Cuisine, Smart Choice, etc…) are a great option to keep in your freezer if you’re in a pinch, but they can be heavy in points and not provide very much actual food. BUT… you can #bulkitup and turn them into an incredible meal!
Step 1 – Pick your base. Tonight we’re starting off with a Santa Fe Rice and Beans frozen meal as our base. I love to enjoy my meals on a large plate or bowl, and on its own what came in the meal just isn’t much food at all. So I’m going to add some veggies, carbs, and zero points to take it up a notch!
Step 2 – #bulkitup with a carb, zero point foods, and non-starchy veggies. For this bowl, I’m adding ½ cup corn, ¼ cup of mixed beans, ½ cup riced cauliflower, and a Wholly Guacamole packet to really play up the flavors of the meal.
This frozen meal started off at 9 points and was essentially just enough food for a snack. Instead, I’ve used my zero point foods to my advantage and created a point-friendly and filling meal that’s packed with flavor! It just goes to show that, even without any real cooking required you can #bulkitup with ease!
How will you bulk up your meals this week? Let me know in the comments!
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