Weight Watchers Chat #292: Make Your Points Budget Work for YOU!

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News and Reviews October 2022

And just like that…Crocktober hosted by Joan’s Pointed Plate is in the books! I’m not sure everyone got their recipes posted by 9am Eastern but here is the final list of participants who shared FREE recipes and how to make them! Naturally, I made one of my favorites – Windstar Karen’s Buffalo Chicken Dip in the crockpot. You can view my tutorial here: https://youtu.be/HI3PSdnVUFE

Follow the YouTubers listed below to get all of the yummy recipes FREE!

 

Last week during Chat #291 How To Make Breakfast Work For YOU! I asked you three questions:

  1. Do you eat breakfast every day / most days / no days?
  2. What time do you eat breakfast?
  3. When you hear the word “breakfast” what food(s) pops into your head?

The answers varied from every day to no days, 5am to after noon, and anything from eggs and bacon to a grilled cheese sandwich!

What You’re Doing Matters

Reasons to eat when you first get up might include: exercise / activity, too long until your next meal, using your brain, health issues that require you eat early, etc…

Reasons to wait might include: sedentary day, had a big meal the night before, or you’re just not hungry

What You Eat Matters

If you look up “breakfast of champions” you will find it was originally a marketing slogan for a popular breakfast cereal. That same cereal is also 130 calories for a cup, contains 240 grams of sodium, and 30 grams of carbohydrates – 5 of which are sugar. Champions aren’t eating muffins, sugar-laden cereal, or scones to start every day.

If you like traditional breakfast foods try: eggs, fresh fruit, whole wheat bread/english muffins, fat free cream cheese, or non sugary oats / oatmeal

When You Eat…Not So Much!

The idea of “when” your first meal of the day should be got A LOT of attention at our in-person workshop. When you eat your first meal of the day you are “breaking a fast” which simply means you are eating for the first time that day. What time is the best time? That’s all you baby!

 

Your homework for last week was #BreakThatFast. Last week I wanted you to tell us what time your first meal is on most days and what you eat.  Simple as that!  Remember, this is a no judgment zone and your homework may just let someone else know it’s ok to break that fast their own way! ….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!

  • Haley usually starts her breaking the fast at 9:30am and shared a fantastic looking meal of 1 egg, 2 egg whites, mushrooms, and tomatoes with a habanero pepper sauce from Belize. Now that’s starting your day!
  • Katy starts her day a little after 8am and on the morning she shared it with us, the temperature was only 26 chilly degrees. So she did some apple cinnamon roll oatmeal with vanilla protein to warm herself up!
  • Tina gets to work at 6:30am and breaks that fast about 8am. She doesn’t count her first cup of coffee as food…it’s just for her sanity hahaha! Her breakfasts this week were “Just Crack an Egg Veggie,” pumpkin spice overnight oats, and chex cereal with a banana!

Bravo, you did it!

 

This Week’s Topic: How To Make Your Points Budget Work for You!

Guess what? At the time I typed this we had:

  • 31 days until Thanksgiving
  • 62 days until Christmas
  • 69 days until New Year’s Day

 

Or maybe you just have 3 days until book club at Barbara’s house. Or one week until Sunday School breakfast. No matter what’s coming up this week or the rest of this year, you’ve got some decisions to make!

Paul’s Biscuits and Gravy versus Gwen’s Chocolate Lava Cake

The big difference in this showdown? I face the biscuits and gravy every week. If I want to plan for them I have the opportunity to…literally every, single, week.

The chocolate lava cake on the other hand was a once in a lifetime special treat for Gwen and her husband and they decided not to get it. He has not let her forget that missed opportunity…literally every, single, week. 

If the bigger point meal presents itself often, take the time to plan how to handle it. But for that once-in-a-lifetime, never-going-to-have-it-again, don’t-miss-out, spouse-is-going-to remind-you-constantly-of-the-missed-opportunity meal, it’s ok to enjoy it. Once in your lifetime LOL.

 

What’s your pain threshold limit?

I don’t know about you, but with many decisions in life I have to decide what my “pain threshold limit” is. Meaning it may not cause me too much discomfort to spend $60 on a pair of jeans I know I will wear 100+ times, but it causes me great discomfort to spend the same amount on a pair of “dressier” pants I may only wear a handful of times.  

In terms of points you are willing to spend, how painful is it to spend 20 points on something that was hot, fresh, and delicious versus something soggy, leftover and unenjoyable. Come on, we’ve all done it!

 

Eat This, so later you can Eat That

There are so many opportunities to lighten up a day, a meal, or even a week by eating “this” so that later we can eat “that”!  

  1. 2 on, 1 off – eating two meals on plan so you can enjoy the higher off-plan meal
  2. Choosing something lower point so you can enjoy the something higher pointed
  3. Planning zero point meals (even adding back points with zero point non starchy vegetables) so you can “afford” that higher point meal without guilt or anxiety!

 

This Week’s Homework: #EatThisAndThat

Your homework for this week is #EatThisAndThat. This week I want you to tell us how you would plan a zero point meal (this) so that you can enjoy a higher point meal or treat (that).  Bonus points if you plan a way to add back points with extra non starchy veggies ….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 #EatThisAndThat and tag me when you share on social media!

 

Extra Credit: ZERO Point Breakfast!

In keeping with this week’s “Eat This AND That” theme I am showing you how to plan not only a zero point breakfast but one that requires no special equipment in the kitchen other than a microwave! Keep in mind, the foods we’ll be talking about this evening are zero points for me, but they may not be for you – so be sure to adapt your plan accordingly!

 

One of the best things you can do is build your plan for the day around a zero point meal, especially if you know you’ll be splurging a bit on a special treat or meal.

To start, we’re going to make a recipe that was adapted from the Slender Kitchen – baked pumpkin oatmeal. For my version of the recipe I’ll be using a variety of foods that are zero points for me including – bananas, pumpkin, nonfat plain Greek yogurt, oats, DAK’s pumpkin spice, and Cary’s sugar-free syrup.

Once those ingredients are combined, I’m going to add the mixture to a microwave-safe container and microwave them on high for 2-3 minutes.

Then, to continue building out this zero point meal, I’m going to add roughly ½ cup of egg whites with a little nutritional yeast and seasoning to a mug (sprayed with nonstick spray) and microwave it for 1 minute on high. 

Finally, I’m going to steam a cup of snow peas for 1 minute in the microwave to add some vegetables to my morning meal. And with that, I’ve created a zero point meal for myself that are quick and easy to make, absolutely delicious, and incredibly filling. I was even able to add a point back to my day with my non-starchy vegetable!

Keep in mind, you can change out your selected zero point foods based on your own changing needs! For example, as we approach Thanksgiving I’ll be swapping in potatoes.

What zero point breakfast foods do you enjoy? Let me know in the comments!

 

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