WW (Weight Watchers) Chat #229: Create a Bedroom Oasis

WW News June 2021:

Sorry I missed the 2:30 Knoxville Zoom today. I was interviewing a replacement for Casey while she’s on maternity leave. As most of you know those are big shoes to fill so I put her through the ringer and completely missed the time…see you all next week!
Orlando Debbi found a great Starbucks SmartPoints list and shared the link in our closed group…go check it out! (To join the closed group visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113471572340708 and be sure to answer the 3 questions so I know you are a real person and can let you right in!)
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 Presbyterian 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 #228: Are You in a Food Rut? we learned that weight loss plan or not, eating the same things over and over or only allowing yourself to have certain things can cause a food rut.

Gwen’s favorite leader used to remind her group that if you put yourself in food prison you spend most of your time planning what you will eat when you break out. It’s the truth, don’t close that cell door!

Some easy ideas for ending a rut?

Seasonal fruit: If you find yourself eating the same bananas and grapes all the time try some in season fruit. It’s not around long, it’s at the peak of flavor, and you might find yourself looking forward to it next season.
Switch chefs: Did you just pass out? If you are the main food creator, maker, and decision maker in your household, try one meal a week letting someone else come up with an idea of their own and make it. Of course make sure your pantry is stocked with WW friendly ingredients or help them calculate something that will stay in your budget.
Spice it up: You don’t have to make a huge investment to try adding a little something new to your seasoning repertoire. Most markets have smaller fresh herbs in clamshell containers, many times farmer’s markets have bundled herbs you can try, you can even buy frozen cubes of garlic and other herbs. If you’re all in on the herb wagon, pick a sunny spot and try a variety of easy to grow and fast to harvest things like basil, chives, cilantro, and rosemary!

Your homework for last week’s chat was #RutRescue. Change ONE thing this week (a new recipe, a different fruit or veggie, or a spice you haven’t tried before) and snap a picture, show us the recipe, just write it down…and 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!

Carol Lou rescued her breakfast/snack rut by adding Puffed Kamut cereal to her nonfat plain Greek yogurt and strawberries…I don’t think I’ve ever had kamut but now I’m on the hunt!
Sandra keeps from getting in a rut by creating a simple, fast, and yummy breakfast roll up. Simply scramble some eggs, put a “schmear” of Laughing Cow Cheese on a warmed low point tortilla, add the eggs, sprinkle on some real bacon bits and tada!
Jeanne said last week’s topic was just what she needed to kick her routine in the rear end. She went all out with: Meal 1 – French Onion baked chicken with leafy veggies sautéed. The next night she added 1/3 baked potato for all those lovely juices from Meal 1. So 2 meals and 2 frozen meals. Meal 2 was WW steak with shallot and blue cheese sauce made with wine, sautéed veggies from Meal 1 and a white bean salad with cucumbers, red onion and tomato…then added tuna for the next day’s lunch and 1/2 baked potato. Wow!

Bravo, you did it!

This Week’s Topic: Create a Bedroom Oasis

Calm down…I didn’t change topics and start a Boudreaux blog hahaha. Creating a bedroom oasis can mean the difference between a good night’s rest and another night tossing and turning wondering what time the alarm clock will go off.

Sleeping alone with black out curtains, swaying in a hammock surrounded by the soothing sounds and smells of ocean waves isn’t just unrealistic for most of us, it’s not even perfect sleeping conditions for all of us.

I sleep best with Alyssa’s arm thrown across me and a cockapoo between my legs so “alone” is off my list. We live in the center of a five story loft building but I can’t get total blackout due to the 16 foot tall windows that face the city, exit lights, and the fire alarm system. I LOVE the smell of the ocean and the sound of the waves, but our leader Gwen gets sweaty palms and anxious over the same things.

So what do YOU need for the perfect bedroom oasis:

Darkness: Not everyone can sleep in a totally dark room but try to turn all blue lights off, put the nightlight out in the hall in case you need it, and if you like more dark but your partner doesn’t try a comfortable eye mask (maybe sprinkle the eye mask with a little lavender for added relaxation!)
Quiet: Do you fall asleep easier with the tv or radio on? It may help to get you to sleep but not to help you stay asleep. Try a tv or radio with a timer to auto shut off after 30 minutes or so.
Smells: You’re going to think I’m crazy but I LOVE the smell of Vick’s Vaporub. If I’m having trouble sleeping I’ll rub just a little under my nose and *zonk* lights out. Diffusing lavender or other calming essential oils can also help.
Temp check: This one is a great debate at our house. Recommendations are between 60 and 67 but John would literally have to sleep in all his clothes. We settle for 70 and I use a fan. The fan also doubles as a noise reducer for outside (loft) noise.
Pillow fight: If you find yourself tossing and turning it may be time to get a pillow designed for your sleep habits like back, side, or tummy sleeper.
Decorate for success: I know that sounds weird but if you have to take 67 pillows off the bed before you can even climb in and then stare at a picture of your mother in law on the bedside table you may need to rethink your décor. The last thing your eyeballs (and brain) should see before lights out should soothe and relax you, not make you feel like you want to get up and salsa.

This Week’s Homework: #BedroomOasis

Your homework for this week is #BedroomOasis. Change ONE thing about your bedroom and see if it helps you fall or stay asleep. How did that make you feel?…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 #BedroomOasis 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: It’s Peach Season!

I’m from the south, so when we eat peaches they’re coming from either Georgia or South Carolina. But there are peaches available from many more areas and we’ll be taste-testing one of those tonight and making some delicious treats with them!

Here are my thoughts:

South Carolina – Most juicy. It’s what i’d use if I was making something that didn’t need to be super firm.
Georgia – Most firm and flavorful.
New York – Difficult to twist and remove the pit. Not quite as flavorful as its southern counterparts.

Peaches are officially in season and we’re taking full advantage by making seasonal peaches the star of the show in these delicious and super simple recipes: