WW (Weight Watchers) Chat #253: Get Together. Stay On Track!

WW News December 2021:

It’s 5 days and a few hours until Christmas….that’s not WW news but I thought you needed to know 🙂
For anyone currently panicking because they somehow didn’t realize Christmas was coming on the 25th this year…the following major grocery stores and convenience store chains are open on Christmas Eve and Day (check local schedule for hours): 7 Eleven, Albertsons, Circle K, CVS, Giant Food Stores, Rite Aid, Safeway, Speedway, Starbucks (is that really a grocery or convenience store?), Wawa
For those of you who didn’t know they needed to panic, the following are reported to be CLOSED on Christmas Day: Aldi, BJ’s, Costo, Dollar General, Dollar Tree (no last minute craft projects ladies!), Family Dollar, HEB, Hy-Vee, Kroger, Publix, Ralphs, Sam’s Club, ShopRite, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Wegmans, Whole Foods
And finally, for those who just need a break and want to eat out on Christmas Day check out these brave establishments (and please tip heavily for your server to be there while you relax!): Applebees, Benihana, Bonefish Grill (Christmas Eve only), Boston Market (including its annual Heat and Serve dinners), Cracker Barrel is CLOSED on Christmas Day but you should still be able to pick up a heat and serve holiday meal on Christmas Eve, Del Taco, Denny’s, Domino’s Pizza (check your local store since they are independently owned and operated), Dunkin Donuts, iHop, McDonald’s, Panda Express, Romano’s Macaroni Grill will be hosting their annual Christmas Dinner, Shoney’s, Starbucks (how did they make two lists??)

The month’s theme is “Find Balance” and we will spend the entire month finding ways to change the “all or nothing super overwhelming” holiday season into a “balanced and say yes to what you really want” season to enjoy!

Last week during Chat #252: Make the Most of Your Budge, we agreed that budgets at the holidays are like speed limits in the Sahara…what’s the point right?

Even though I’m not very good at sticking to budgets this time of year, if I set one I am at least more mindful of what I originally intended to do. Eating budgets are the same way. Even if you don’t intend to track for the next (how many days did I say it was until Christmas?) you should at least make a budget, write it down, and refer back as needed!

Emotional Budget

If food(s) (or even a situation) at the holidays are tied to a very strong emotion, you better plan how to budget for it now or pay for that indecision later

Grandma’s famous _______. Plan ONE in your budget and savor it without guilt.
The “I can only get this at/from/with ______” food item. Whatever you do, don’t try to substitute it with a cheap knock off. You’ll waste points, be disappointed and probably won’t enjoy it as much when you do have it
When I was a little kid we used to ________. Well most of you are grown ups now so if you filled in the blank with “lick the beaters” just move on. If you filled it in with “played football in the backyard after lunch on Sunday” then go for it, your budget will replenish with +1 activity points and you will get that feel good moment back!

Sales Rep / Drug Rep / Well Meaning Strangers in Your Office Budget

They mean well, they really do. No one needs a one pound bag of assorted Hershey’s chocolates or a dozen tiny bundt cakes. Seriously guys come on. If you are facing that dreaded “ding dong…your rep is carrying bags from Harry & David” moment try this!

Let your rep / boss / secret Santa know that you are killing it on this new program and would LOVE to have a double shot espresso over ice in a venti cup instead of the cookies they were going to buy you. Then add your own sugar free syrup and some vanilla or chocolate protein drink and enjoy!
Tell the person you are really into saving the planet this year and would think more highly of them (and maybe even order more next year) if they gave to your favorite charity this year instead of bringing you an non recyclable styrofoam container full of homemade candy.
Have a co-worker contact them “anonymously” and say “you know what Tiffany would love this year? She’s been dying to take her son, daughter, significant other, whoever to the ice skating rink downtown. You should get her tickets…she would love you!”

Ho Ho Hold It!

You will be offered food left and right during the holidays, but you are by no means obligated to take food that you’re offered or obligated to participate in things that you didn’t budget for.

Skip the leftovers to-go box
Politely decline offers for food that you didn’t budget for
No thank you is still an acceptable response

Your homework for last week was #HoHoHoldIt. Find one holiday food or situation you need to deal with and tell us how you will Ho Ho Hold It! ….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!

Katy went to dinner as a holiday treat. After one bite of the dessert she realized it didn’t taste as good as she remembered it. Instead of finishing something that didn’t taste good she said ho ho hold it and left it on the plate!
Lynn and Mary Ann both held off a Christmas cookie crisis by ho ho holding it by either freezing the rest or sending them home with someone else!
Vickie made the conscious decision to only include her favorite foods that were worth the points she had planned to spend on them. She enjoyed her food but also came away feeling victorious about the decisions she had made!

Bravo, you did it!

This Week’s Topic: Get Together. Stay On Track!

I love that the WW Weekly graphic starts with “imagine an upcoming event or meal”…really? I think that’s ALL we’ve been imaging the last few weeks, am I right?

There are lots of reasons to get together and believe or not they don’t all revolve around food. We had a discussion in the showroom this week about “civilians” (people who have never had to worry about their weight up OR down) versus the rest of us. There were three of us in the discussion: One woman who constantly battles keeping weight off, me (kind of in the middle but have to be ever vigilant), and a very tall man who struggles every day to keep weight on. I’m telling you, he did most of the talking and for him keeping weight on is just as hard!

One thing we all agreed on, “civilians” don’t have an issue with every discussion, decision, or planned get-together revolving around food. Here is how to make your next get together do just that!

Know Before You Go

If the get together does revolve around food (dining out, party or a family event):

Do your best to look up the restaurant or find out the menu so that you can pre-plan what you will have ahead of time
Pre-track what you can – the best in the moment decisions are made when you’ve already committed something to paper
Decide BEFORE you get there that if something isn’t good or doesn’t meet the pre-planned point expectation that you will leave it, throw it away or give it away

Coffee, Tea, or Me?

I have a friend who likes to meet at a favorite coffee shop, but they also have sweet treats that I find it hard to resist. We are planning on getting together soon and this time I’m thinking about ME

Coffee Shop – There are so many local coffee shops now I can choose one that doesn’t have yummy treats I’ve already decided I have trouble resisting
Tea Shop – Does your city have cute little tea shops popping up like we do? My favorite, Tonya Rea’s, is tea and a show. Many of her teas are quite the presentation and she knows so much about the ingredients she has carefully selected for them that I know I can enjoy the experience without feeling like I have to go overboard on snacks while I’m there
At Home Barista – Maybe you should just set up your own low-point hot cocoa or coffee bar using sugar free syrups, homemade cocoa blends, or no sugar creamers to save some money, points, and your sanity

Enjoy the Company

Have you ever been so preoccupied with what you are getting on your second plate at the dessert bar that you got lost in the conversation you went there to have?

Put your fork down in between bites and actually listen to the other person(s)
Offer to share a treat, tell the waiter you want extra spoons, and let them go first
Mentally make a note of the sights, smells, and sounds accompanying your meal BEFORE you take that first bite

This Week’s Homework: #KeepItTogether

Your homework for this week is #KeepItTogether. Think of a get together opportunity coming up soon and let us know how you will get together while still keeping it together ….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 #KeepItTogether 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: Five 15 Minute or Less Holiday Ideas!

You heard my warning at the beginning of this chat right? You’ve been warned. Which stores are open, what selections you may or may not have if you wait too much longer. And if you’ve waited too long to go to the store you probably don’t have a lot of time to make anything…never fear, we have a chat for that!

Five 15 Minute or Less Holiday Ideas!

Make your own Fat Free Cream Cheese. I know you’re thinking Kelly, that takes longer than 15 minutes. Prep is less than 3 minutes, it “cooks” itself in the fridge overnight, and boom…you’re ready to go in less than 15 minutes of total hands-on time in the kitchen. Making our own fat free cream cheese not only lowers your points in holiday recipes, it also puts pennies back in your pocket! Today at Food City an 8 oz. block of commercially prepared fat-free cream cheese was on sale for $2.99. A 24 oz. container of plain nonfat greek yogurt was just under $6. I can make approximately 3 to 3 ½ blocks of cream cheese as I need them for $6 instead of spending $9 and having to throw away foil and a box!
Windstar Karen’s Buffalo Chicken Dip. Just do it. I’m serious, this is hand’s down the most requested bring along recipe I have. Start to finish (even if you include the 3 minutes to prep the cream cheese the night before) you have 10 minutes tops invested in creating this masterpiece. Use it as a dip with chips or celery, stuff croissants or a roll up pinwheel recipe, we even use it to make mac ‘n cheese!
Cheeseballs are back on the menu. How many of you are like me and have completely taken cheese balls off the holiday menu? Using fat free cream cheese you can shave the points and enjoy all the flavor. Guess what? Your civilian family and friends won’t even know. I’m going to be trying this Drizzle Me Skinny Everything But the Bagel Cheese Ball in the next week or so using Dak’s Everything But Tha Salt seasoning for a double win! Other than sitting in the fridge to firm up I’m guessing you’ve got 10-12 minutes invested in this one tops.
The family favorite….sausage balls! Alyssa and I will be making a batch of my Cream Cheese Sausage Balls tomorrow to freeze and have ready for Christmas morning. While it may take a little more than 15 minutes, I always make a double batch to keep handy for snacking even after the holidays. Using my fat free cream cheese recipe adds back some creamy moisture when using lower fat content turkey or “light” sausage and Heart Healthy Bisquick mix. Recipe coming to your personal Recipe Builder soon!
Hot Pepper Jelly & Cream Cheese. You literally can’t go wrong with this. The only people who don’t love this holiday combo are people who have tried this holiday combo. Am I right? If you’ve got some fat free cream cheese prepped in your fridge, you are minutes away from having this ready and on the table for guests. Find the simple recipe here and add it to your Recipe Builder to calculate your own Personal Points!