WW (Weight Watchers) Chat #280: How To Plan For a Roadblock

News and Reviews July 2022

I stumbled upon two new bagged salads from Dole today! Check out my Instagram post or the post on www.ifyouhaveanegg.com but before you panic over the points…don’t forget to #bulkitup to make two to three HUGE salads by adding other fresh veggies, zero point protein, or even fruit!
Have you ever noticed that blue circle with a white plus in it in the lower right hand corner of your app? Do you know how powerful that is in the bottom right hand corner of your WW app? Click on it to instantly track a meal, track your weight, track activity, or track sleep. So now you know! Comment below when you check it out!
Tuesday, July 12th and Wednesday, July 13th is Amazon Prime Day! Prime Day kicks off on July 12 at midnight PDT (3 a.m. EDT) and runs through July 13. Click here for a few of my faves and take advantage of special deals on this once a year event!

The month’s theme is “Live Flexibly” and we will spend the entire month learning how to avoid life’s curveballs when they come your way!

Last week during Chat #279: How To Find Your Go To Foods, I opened everyone’s fridge and took a good peek around. Not really but based on our homework results I came pretty darn close!

Without peeking…tell us 5 things that are in your fridge right now.

You could probably rattle off 5 things (and maybe keep going) because there are certain foods you just keep in your fridge all the time. Right?

Now shout out one zero point food that you can’t imagine being on this journey without. Congratulations, you just started your go-to food list without even thinking about it!

Step 1: What is important to YOU when you think about a must have fridge or pantry item?

Points value?
Availability?
Taste or Enjoyment?
Convenience?
Fits in your budget?

Step 2: Check Some Boxes

Think about the foods you named off in your fridge (or panty) and see how many of the boxes they check off

Step 3: Make a Go To List and Check it Twice!

Now make a list of 5 foods that hit the mark(s) on your importance list and write down how you can use ONE of them this week to keep you out of a sticky food situation. For example, if fresh fruit made your list and you know you are headed to a cookout this week, how about making a fun watermelon bowl filled with other fresh fruits or fruit kabobs to share?

Your homework for last week was #AnchorYourFridge. 3 minutes…tops, seriously you can do this one! For this week’s homework I want you to write, photograph or somehow tell us your TOP 3 Go To Foods that will now and forever always be in your fridge! For special imaginary bravo points tell us WHY they are your top 3! ….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!

The ladies over on Connect were kicking it this week on the homework!
- @exerciseforyou listed eggs, low point bread and buns, and TJ’s shredded light mozzarella cheese
- @dianeforestwalker chose spinach, romaine, and red wine vinegar (I want to know what she’s making for dinner!)
- @mare220 says eggs, beans, and Schmidt 647 bread are on her list
- @kmarchess1 keeps satisfied by stocking eggs, fruit, and spinach
- @arah141 is keeping it low/no points with eggs, tomatoes, and cucumbers

Bravo, you did it!

This Week’s Topic: How To Plan For a Roadblock

Your meals are tracked. You are in control of your day. Whew, it’s feeling good to feel good.

*PANIC* The power goes out at work and you can’t open the door to get the lunch you carefully prepared and already tracked.

**PANIC!** Your spouse calls and there is a dinner date you can’t miss at a restaurant you’ve never been to.

***PANIC!!*** The hotel with the in-house gym and pool didn’t get your “guaranteed reservation” and now you’ve got to stay somewhere without one.

Ok, it doesn’t have to be that extreme, but even the little things can put our perfectly planned day in the ditch and that’s ok! Here’s how to keep from completely running off the road.

Identify The Detour

Is it a special event?
Is it one meal, one event, one entire day?
Is it something you can do a little differently and still stay on plan?

Open Up Your Toolbox

You’ve got skills, this isn’t your first rodeo and it sure won’t be your last. Take a moment to remind yourself of 3 things you use to stay on track on a normal day and then pick one to use in this situation.

Hands On The Wheel, Eyes On The Road

If you came upon a literal roadblock in your car you wouldn’t take your hands off the wheel and cover your eyes…same here. Keep your hands on that wheel, eyes open and on the road, and decide what you will do next (example: track the next meal, order a healthy meal delivery, take a walk rather than use the hotel treadmill)

This Week’s Homework: #FlexYourToolbox

Your homework for this week is #FlexYourToolbox. Whether you started this journey last week or a lifetime ago, you ALL HAVE TOOLS. Tell us your #1 tool from your WW Toolbox that keeps your wheels on the road even when you want to close your eyes ….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 #AnchorYourFridge 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: Summer of Savings – 3 Pro Tips for Saving Money on Groceries

I wasn’t kidding when I said we are going to spend the next few weeks talking about ways to save this summer. Gas prices are through the roof in most areas and grocery prices will be right behind them. This week we are going to talk about 3 pro tips for saving money on groceries!

Tonight I’m enlisting the help of my dear friend Lara who is a lifetime WW member and also the winner of Food Network’s first season of Grill of Victory (click here for more info!). If you hop over to chat with Lara be sure and tell her Kelly said hi!

When I met Lara, she was a stay at home mom of two growing boys who seemed to never stop eating. She and her husband felt it was important to sit down to a meal even with hectic work, sports, and school schedules. I was amazed at Lara’s carefully put together meals, colorful table, and seemingly endless supply of high quality and delicious food. I soon found out that just like the rest of us, Lara was hanging on by her teeth but determined to find ways to save money at the grocery and still feed her family and their friends.

Lara is one of the most genuine and honest WW’ers I’ve ever met. She’s not shy to tell you how she prepares a meal, when she messes one up, and how she keeps everything going while still maintaining her goal weight all these years later.

When I asked Lara if she would mind sharing her top 3 tips for saving money at the market with you she did not hesitate. Well she hesitated when I said she could only pick 3…but you can follow her on Instagram and TikTok @atlarastable to find out more!

Lara’s Pro Tip #1 – Use your store’s app, digital coupons, and make sure the app has your correct address. Stores will often mail paper coupons of the items you buy regularly. You can stack these coupons with in store sales!

Lara’s Pro Tip #2 – Buy seasonal fruits and vegetables that are on sale. This offers a wide variety in your diet and saves money.

Lara’s Pro Tip #3 – Make good use of your freezer. If you need one pepper but a pack of three is less expensive, buy the multipack and freeze the others for later use. If you have herbs, onions, potatoes (almost anything) that is about to pass its prime, freeze it. Lara says she’s even frozen bagged spinach to use later in eggs, soups, or casseroles. The same goes for gifted vegetables from a friend’s or your own garden. Preserve it while it’s fresh and enjoy it later!

To wrap up tonight we are going to use two of Lara’s tips in one easy recipe!

It’s blackberry season and I took full advantage of it two weeks ago. While the price of everything skyrockets, I took advantage of bulk buying 3 gallons of blackberries from The Peach Tent that were fresh, plump, HUGE and begging to be made into something. We ate about ½ of the first gallon here at KC Kitchen Center that day while we discussed what to do with them. Then I put 2 pints in glass jars to see if the same strawberry storage tip from Chat #272 would hold true and look at them..these are 2 weeks old! Lastly I hot water bath canned 4 pint jars and then froze 8 quarts for use later. The easiest way to save money is to reduce or eliminate food waste!

Taking Lara’s Pro Tip #2 and #3 I bought local produce that was on sale and now we are going to use it in a couple of easy recipes that are forgiving when fruit has gotten a little overripe: my 3,2,1 Mug Cake and 3,2,1 Blackberry Cobbler Mug Cake!

What are your favorite ways to save at the grocery store? Comment below, I’d love to hear them!