WW (Weight Watchers) Chat #226: Ready To Make Changes?

WW News June 2021:

KNOXVILLE GIRLS! IN PERSON Workshops are changing rapidly, currently you can attend any of these (keep checking Connect for W Knox, Thompson Lane and Franklin to stay up to date for middle and east TN). Please note: MASKS ARE STILL REQUIRED
- Central Baptist of Fountain City Church (Knoxville)
  - Mondays at 5:30pm with Gwen R
- Beaver Creek Cumberland Prespyterian Church (Powell)
  - Tuesdays at 9:30am with Gwen R
- Community Studio at Beaver Dam Baptist Church (Halls) (please note: fees must be paid up front in 12 week series)
  - Mondays at 5pm with Kristye G
- WW Studio Kingston Pike (Knoxville)
  - Mondays at 12:15pm with Gwen R
  - Thursdays at 9:30am with Sandi P
  - Thursdays at 12:15pm with Sandi P
  - Saturdays at 8am with Sheryl M
  - Saturdays at 9:30am with Sheryl M
- Community Studio at Fairview Elementary (Heiskell) (please note: fees must be paid up front in 12 week series)
  - Thursdays at 5pm with Kristye G
- Maryville Church of Christ (Maryville)
  - Saturdays at 8am with Sandi P
- First Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Oak Ridge)
  - Tuesdays at 5:30pm with Kristye G
- American Legion Post 104 (Sevierville)
  - Mondays at 5:30pm with Sheryl M
  - Tuesdays at 9:30am with Sheryl M
- Community Studio at Pigeon Forge Community Center (Pigeon Forge) (please note: fees must be paid up front in 12 week series)
  - Tuesdays with Sheryl M
- Central United Methodist Church (Lenoir City)
- Mondays at 5:30pm with Sandra P

Wellness Check-Ins (no workshop, just check in)
- Cedar Bluff Main Location (9208 Kingston Pike)
  - Thursdays 10am – 11:30am as of April 22
  - Saturdays 9am – 11am
- Powell( Beaver Creek Cumberland Church)
  - Tuesdays 8:30am – 9:30am
- Maryville (Maryville Church of Christ)
  - Saturdays 8am – 10am

To find a wellness check in: Go to WW → Connect → and find the Kingston Pike – W Knoxville, TN group for more info. You can also join me on Sunday afternoons at 2:30pm eastern in this same virtual workshop with hostess Gwen, my fave WW’er and the inspiration for the name of our group If You Have an Egg! East TN Lifetime Members who were in good standing when COVID started have had their membership extended again until the end of June 2021. You will need to attend a Wellness Workshop during the month of June to continue those privileges.
The month’s theme is “Embrace Change” and focuses on finding ways to accept and even embrace change whether you or not you like to try something different. And talk about getting out of your comfort zone…nothing like 18 months of pandemic to get you to try something new!

Last week during Chat #225: Bye Bye Negative Self Talk we learned that getting rid of negative or critical self-talk can let you say “hello” to a stronger mind. And the more you practice it the stronger your brain (and your attitude) will be!

When others say things like “you’ve got this”, “wow you are so dedicated”, “look what a beautiful plate you made” the appropriate response is Thank You! And then do yourself a favor…right down those same words and repeat them to yourself when you need a pick-me-up. Post them on the fridge. Stick one of them on the scale.

Studies show when you speak, write and refer to yourself with these same positive affirmations you can have an effective and pro-active response in times of need. Eventually you will strengthen your mindset and say bye bye to the critical self talk chatter!

Your homework for last week’s chat was #ByeByeBadChatter. Write down one (or a couple) of the positive affirmations that popped in your head…then type it, snap it, however you want to share it and then tag me for your next cool badge!

Let’s see how you did!

Barbara has two awesome t-shirts to remind her “Your Only Limit is You” and to “Do What You Love!”
Marlene made herself an awesome note card that says “Eating Better Got Easier When: I can’t have that turned into…I don’t want that!” So yes!
Sandra has a note on her bathroom mirror that says “One small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day!”

Bravo, you did it!

This Week’s Topic: Ready To Make Some Changes?

2020 brought some changes that were “ready or not, here I come!” Some of you were ready…some are still trying to come to grips with what happened 18 months later.

When someone says the word “change” do you:

Raise your hand and sign up even before you heard what the change is
Ask the to the plan for the change so you can evaluate it first
The word change does not exist in your internal dictionary

Ok so you’ve embraced there will be a change, next do you:

Jump in and do it!
Still drag your feet a little and may or may not make the change
Walk…no run, in the other direction

But what if it’s unexpected? Do you:

Try it anyway – why not it’s an adventure!
Try to adjust and hope for the best
Try to find a way to keep things status quo

It’s ok, this is a no judgement zone. We are all different. If we were all the same we would be driving VW Microbuses and eating tofu at the beach. God didn’t make some of us wrong and some of us right, He just made us ourselves! So no matter how you deal with change it’s going to happen

If you are “jump in, let’s do this” when it comes to change try to remember some of those times when you’ve come out on top and try to repeat it next time.

If you are more likely to need time to sort it out and get all the deets first, try to remember a time when you felt good about taking that next step towards change. Use that feeling to find your confidence in a decision this time.

But if you’re of the “no change please” mindset you may have to dig a little deeper. I promise there is a time in your life that seemed like change was the last thing you wanted. Then find a time in your memory where on the other side you thought “well that wasn’t so bad.” Hold on to the tools you used that time and let’s work on it again!

This Week’s Homework: #TheChangeGame

Your homework for this week is #TheChangeGame. We’re going to play a game of Texas Hold ‘Em this week. When you hear the word “change” decide if you will play:

ALL IN: You’re putting all your chips in and taking on the change
HOLD ‘EM: Even though you don’t know what the change will hold you know you can count on your community to help you through the change
STAY: You’re not sure you have the best handle on this change. But you’ve won before and use your past experiences to STAY…and win!

Decide which player you are in #TheChangeGame and then type it, snap it, however you want to share it and then tag me for your next cool badge!

Don’t forget to do your homework #TheChangeGame and tag me when you share on social media!

Instagram tag @ifyouhaveanegg
Facebook Page tag @ifyouhaveanegg
Facebook Group tag @Kelly Green Milligan
WW Connect tag @ifyouhaveanegg

Extra Credit: Egg Lady Labs – Drink Everly Taste Test!

Raise your hand if you have tried Everly Drink Mixes. Now raise your hand if you are like me and this is your first time hearing of this intriguing product and the company’s mission.

I was approached by Everly to give their products a try* and since this Kickstarter was born just a few hours away from here in Nashville I thought why not? But before we tear into this (literally) let me tell you a little about the company.

This is my first time trying Everly and I am trying it live with you. If this is an epic fail I will be honest. You know me, if I love what I find you also won’t be able to shut me up!
Everly drink mixes are: Vegan, Sugar Free, Gluten Free, Keto, natural and full of electrolytes
According to their website “Everly started in 2012 with a crazy idea: what if we could make a drink mix powder that tasted like our favorite sugary drinks, but was low carb and plant-based? A few months later, we launched our first drink mixes on Kickstarter and exceeded our goal by 200%!” They have been featured in Forbes, Kickstarter, Starter Story, TODAY in Nashville, The Tennessean, Nashville Fit Magazine, Teknovation, Keto Adapted, Wicked Stuffed, Laura Lea Balanced, Lex Paige, RVA Fit Foodie, Keto Krate, and many others. Everly is available at 15% off using my Affiliate code KELLY15 at checkout or you can even find their product on your WW App!
All Everly flavors are ZERO SMART POINTS on all plans woo hoo!
As part of their Hydration for Hydration Initiative, Everly has donated over 1.5 million packets of life-saving rehydration salts to their non-profit partner ColaLife
The flavors are divided into three groups:
1. Hydration
2. Belly Health
3. Energy
FAQ (frequently asked questions)
1. Why pouches? The pouches are less mess and easier to pour, transport and use than open packets
2. How does this compare to drink stick products (shake em up sticks)? Each Everly pouch replaces up to 20-30 powdered drink sticks
3. How many servings are in a pouch? If you only use them for making yummy flavored water approximately 20-30
4. Is a pouch of Everly expensive? A traditional drink stick is approximately $1 due to packaging. Everly is approximately $.33 to $.65 per serving and there is less risk of waste due to spilling or a stick getting ruined due to moisture
5. Can I do anything with Everly besides make flavored water? We are about to find out!

*in the spirit of transparency I will receive a small commission from your first purchase of Everly using my affiliate code: KELLY15 at checkout from their website www.drinkeverly.com

Test #1: Peach Mango Hydration Mix in a Bottle of Water
For this test, I added 1 tsp of the Peach Mango hydration mix to a bottle of water and shook it until well-mixed. The drink smells like candy and is deliciously refreshing! Just make sure it’s shaken very well!

Test #2: Sugar-Free Grape Gummies
Using this sugar-free keto gummies recipe from Everly’s website, I’m going to make some gummies for Alyssa and her friend for our playdate tomorrow. (Although, after realizing that the grape pouch I have is the Energy Blend with tons of natural caffeine, I’m rethinking my decision!) – UPDATE: the recipe provided on the Everly website produces a strong flavor. Alyssa, Casey and I all tried them and decided we need to tweak the recipe to tone it down just a bit. Check back later on www.ifyouhaveanegg.com for more!

Test #3: Pomegranate Berry Yogurt
These flavored mixes were originally intended for drinks, but they can be used for so much more! I’m simply adding a serving of the drink mix to nonfat plain Greek yogurt and I might even have it with some fresh fruit. It’s delicious, as expected!

Test #4: Everly Ketorade
Everly is great for those following keto and they’ve been very thoughtful in coming up with this Ketorade recipe for those experiencing the “keto flu” – I’m not on keto so I’m a little skeptical of this one, but I’m trying for all you keto followers out there! It’s a little salty, but that’s the point! Otherwise it tastes wonderful!