Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what others say you cannot do."
-Walter Bagehot

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"I'm not telling you it's going to be EASY, I'm telling you it's going to be WORTH it!"
-Judy Garland

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"I have found that if you love life, life will love you back."
-Arthur Rubenstein

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Nothing is too small to know, and nothing is too big to attempt."

-Sir William Van Horne

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity."

-Albert Einstein

Embrace the Journey

As a Weight Watchers meeting Leader, I am constantly learning from my members. You would probably think, "Aren't you the Leader? Shouldn't you be leading them??" Well, yes, and I do. However, from time to time there are things that are said in the meeting room that touch me and inspire me so much. This past Saturday was one of those times. I have a Facebook group that I started for all of the members who attend my meetings. This gives them a place to inspire, motivate and encourage each other in between meetings. I lead 12 meetings a week all over the metro Atlanta area. There are over 70 members who actively post in this group. Most of them have never even met each other. I am always so touched to see how they inspire one another. I would like to share the post by my member, Kimberly, who truly inspires me and said the most profound thing this past Saturday:

I wanted to share something here with y'all. I did share this thought with my WW class with encouragement from our wonderful leader, Renee. I hope it will make you think about your own weight loss journey.
Last week I received my 50 pound loss. I mentioned to my husband later that night about a bracelet I had seen that I wanted as a reward for that milestone. We jumped into the car and raced over to the nearest Brighton store and purchased my "reward."
The reason why this bracelet is so special to me is because it has the words, " Enjoy the Journey" written on it. I had remembered how Renee is stressing the fact that losing weight is a weight loss journey. So, I began to think about what that phrase, "Enjoy the Journey" means to me.
Sometimes during our journey we have good weigh-ins & g

ood weeks and of course, those bad moments we would rather forget. Having this bracelet has reminded me that I have come far from where I once was 50 pounds ago. I can feel confident going into stores, a ring fits much better, eating in a restaurant, an old pair of jeans fit me again or even stepping out of that box we may put ourselves in and getting a fresh new haircut. This bracelet with that wonderful phrase reminds me to look at the good things I have completed and pay attention to the positive changes I have applied to my life. So, even though we have those weak moments...don't let those take you so far down you can't pick yourself up....and lose track of why you began WW in the first place. Just take a moment to, "Enjoy YOUR Journey!"

 

Thank you so much, Kimberly for sharing this. I truly believe that this message will inspire so many. 

 

 

If you are a Weight Watcher member and would like to join our Facebook Group, just search "Beyond the WW Flipchart" on Facebook and request to join the group.  

 

 

 

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Today's progress is determined by yesterday's choices."
-Author Unknown

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Believe that there's light at the end of the tunnel. Believe that you might be that light for someone else."
-Kobi Yamanda

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one."
-C.S. Lewis

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"It always seems impossible until it's done."
-Nelson Mandela

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Learn from yesterday. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow."
-William James

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try."

-Seth Godin

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on."

-Thomas Jefferson

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"If you think you can't, you're right. If you think you can, you're right."

-Ken Hatton

Skinny Chick in Africa

Some of you may know that I had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Ngaamba, Kenya (a village outside of Nairobi) this past July for a mission trip. I have been back home now for a little over 2 1/2 months and it has taken this long for me to be able to express the awesome experience in words. 

I will say that one of the most outstanding aspects of this trip, for me, was the fact that I got to share this experience with my husband, Jamal. 

I have been asked on many occasions to describe my trip. I've been asked things like, "How was it?" or "I want to know all about it." Again, it has been so difficult to sum it up in just a few sentences or even in one conversation. I have been thinking long and hard about what I would say when I got the chance to share my story. So here goes...

We traveled to Kenya through Globalx, which a missions ministry offered through our church, North Point Community Church. http://goglobalx.org We partnered with an organization called The 410 Bridge http://www.410bridge.org. We were led throughout our whole 10-day excursion by an awesome guide, a native Kenyan, Abraham, who works with 410 Bridge. 

Our mission was to spread God's love to the children at Kalembwani Primary School. We did this by teaching them lessons through Bible stories, arts and crafts and sports.

I have to admit I was extremely nervous about all of this. I had never traveled to Africa or been that far away from home. And believe me, it is far. That is really put into perspective when you have traveled for over 24 hours to get to your destination. I could not sleep at all on the trip there. I was filled with lots of anxiety about not knowing what to expect upon our arrival.

All of my nerves were eased when we arrived in Nairobi. We were greeted by our most-amazing guide Abraham, who made us feel as if Kenya was our home. We traveled about 3 more hours to reach the Miriam Hotel in Sultan Hamud. We rested and set out on our journey the next morning.

From this point forward, I have to say that what I experienced was nothing like anything I have ever encountered in my life. We were greeted by the children and their mothers singing to us in perfect harmony. The sound was so moving, that it brought tears to my eyes. This is the feeling that set the tone for our trip. The Kenyans possess something that most of us try hard to emulate. It goes beyond just happiness and pride. Although, I will say they are some the most happy people I have ever met. To me, happiness is a temporary and conditional emotion. For instance, lots of us have been happy due to certain conditions in our lives. What the Kenyans possess goes way beyond that, they have JOY. This is an emotion that comes from within. It is not conditional, it just IS.

No matter what the Kenyans were facing whether it was the lack of running water, lack of electricity or even lack of shoes, nothing took away that unmistakable JOY.

I set out with a mission to help the people of Ngaamba, Kenya. However, I came home changed. They helped me to understand that happiness isn't conditional. JOY is something that rests within each of us. We can tap into it, and when we do, it is contagious. The thing to remember is that it does not get triggered by material things like a house, a job or even how much money you are worth. It is simply triggered by the truth that we all have a purpose and our life here on Earth is for a reason. We are all connected, whether you live in a small village in Kenya or a huge metropolis like Atlanta. I can still feel the JOY of the Kenyans and now I can say I have my own.

To experience this JOY in pictures feel free to click this link:
http://photos1.walmart.com/walmart/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=7864696001/a=7854960_7854960/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=walmart/

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Keep smiling because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about."

-Marilyn Monroe

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength."

-Corrie Ten Boom

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to error that counts."

-Nikki Giovanni

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Life is like a mirror. Smile at it and it smiles back at you."

-Peace Pilgrim

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"If you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm...and remember you have another hand: The first step is to help yourself, the second is to help others."

-Audrey Hepburn

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible!'"

-Audrey Hepburn

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Winning can be defined as the science of being totally prepared."

-George Allen

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance."

-Oscar Wilde

Skinny Fact

Did you KNOW:
According to research done out of Cornell University, the average person makes roughly 200 food decisions a day; however they can only recall about 10 to 15 of those decisions.

Skinny FACT

Did you KNOW:
The average American consumes 400 calories a day in beverages ALONE?

What can you do to lighten up your drinks?

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN do."

-John Wooden

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"A joy that's shared is a joy made double."

-Anonymous

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Happy and successful cooking doesn't rely only on know-how; it comes from the heart."

-George Blanc, award-winning French restaurateur

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Character is doing what's right when nobody's looking."

- J.C. Watts

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"You can't steal second base and keep one foot on first."

-Frederick B. Wilson

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts."

- Marcus Antonius

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"I make myself rich by making my wants few."

-Henry David Thoreau

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"The answers you get depend on the questions you ask."

-Thomas Kuhn

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything."

-E.J. Phelps

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it."

-John C. Maxwell

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Be clear about your goal but be flexible about the process of achieving it."

-Brian Tracey, self-help author and motivational speaker

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes."

St. Clement of Alexandria

The Battle: Thin vs. Healthy

I recently asked this question to my members in one of my Weight Watchers meetings, "Do most people want to be "thin" or "healthy?" The overwhelming response was healthy. However, I had to disagree with them. I believe that most people, if they're being honest with themselves, just want to be thin and if "healthy" happens, it happens.

Being healthy takes work, commitment, time and it is continuous. This is not something that you can just take a pill for or do a 14-day cleanse to become. Healthy is a lifestyle. This requires the breaking of old habits and forming new ones.

On the flip side, being "thin" is a condition. Conditions can be temporary. There are many things that you can do to be thin. Most of which would not be considered healthy. Let's just look at some of the things people in our culture are doing just to become "thin." You can eat pre-packaged food that is sent to you in the mail, you can stick a feeding tube up your nose and live without solid foods for 10 days, you can take pills, you can cut out carbs, you can cut out fat or any other macro nutrient of your choice, you can drink shakes, you can have surgery, you can take laxatives and the list goes on and on. I will agree that doing the majority of these things will probably make you thin, but how long will you stay that way? What message are you sending to your body?

Some of the things I listed that people are willing to do to become thin may sound rather surprising or extreme. However, people ARE doing these things. LOTS of people. Why? Why are we willing to sacrifice our health for a temporary condition? The answer: It's EASY. Most people, if they are honest, will tell you that they want to take the easiest path possible to be thin. I heard a recent report that said more people would rather be thin than be wealthy. WOW that says a whole lot. It also says a lot about our culture that being "thin" is so glorified that the extreme measures that people are willing to take to become thin are now becoming the norm.

People, I urge you to reconsider these extreme measures and seriously contemplate what it really means to long for this "quick-fix" for weight-loss. Those of us, myself included, who have/had a weight problem, had the problem due to other issues in our lives. We chose food as a way to handle them. Whether you use food to celebrate, soothe your pain or relieve boredom, it's all the same. Learning how to manage food and make the best food choices is key. Adding in activity into our daily lives, instead of watching others be active on reality TV will make a huge impact on our health. Understanding that losing 20 pounds in a month is not a healthy rate of weight-loss will help considerably.

I understand that what I am saying may be hard to hear for lots of people. We want results and we want them FAST. I am here to tell you that if you adopt a healthy lifestyle, it may not happen over night, but the weight will come off and it will STAY off. After all, isn't maintaining your weight-loss more of a WIN than how long it took you to lose the weight?

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Be kind to unkind people-- they need it the most."

-Anonymous

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"The manner of giving is worth more than the gift."

-Pierre Corneille

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still."

-Chinese Proverb

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going."

-Beverly Sills

In Good Times and In Bad

You know that feeling you get when you are just starting your weight-loss journey? The one where you are so dedicated. You have cleaned out your pantry and fridge and gotten rid of all the junk. You joined a gym and are exercising most days of the week. You are on it. Nothing can stop you...until it does. The "thing" that happens, whatever it may be, can put your weight-loss journey to a screeching halt.

We've all experienced this, or if you haven't, it's almost guaranteed that you will. How we react in these situations is what separates a success story from just another yo-yo dieter. My Inner Skinny Chick says: The key to getting through the challenges, set-backs, and speed bumps is to anticipate them before they occur.  I'm not saying to go into your weight-loss journey with a negative attitude, just understand that a journey without challenges just doesn't exist.

Most weight-loss journeys have a common formula: We start out with great expectations for our progress and we see results. Then the challenges arise. These challenges come in all different forms. They can range from a busy schedule, to a summer vacation, to an injury/illness, a weight-loss plateau or even stress/emotional difficulties. This is the turning point in our journey. We now have a choice; will we rise above our challenges and persevere OR will we allow these seasons of difficulty to define us and ultimately derail any progress we have made?

If you choose to persevere, then you are on to the next step of the process; character building. This is where the behavioral changes begin to emerge. You start to see yourself in a completely different light. You are a winner. You have gotten through the challenging season of your journey and are victorious. At this point any other challenges that arise don't seem as big. You are using your victory over your last challenge as proof that you can conquer anything. Before you know it, you have reached your ultimate goal and you are the author of a success story that is inspiring others.

I know, from experience, that this is a lot easier said than done. There are times that seem so hard, so draining and challenging. You begin to wonder, "What's the point?" When you find yourself in this place, choose to persevere. You will be a much better person for it. You will feel better about yourself and you never know who your story will inspire in the future.

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"The greatest good is what we do for one another."

-Mother Teresa

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"No man knows what he can do until he tries."

-Publilius Syrus

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"You block your dreams when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith."

-Mary Manin Morrissey

Skinny Chick Recipe Pick

Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup

6 PointsPlus Values per serving 

Click Here for Recipe

One Year Later

BEFORE/AFTER

1 YEAR AT GOAL WEIGHT-40 POUNDS LOST!

Well, it's been a whole year since I reached my goal weight. Happy Anniversary too me!! I am actually more proud today than I was on the day I reached my goal. I didn't think that would be possible, but it is. One year ago, today when I stood on the scale before my weekly Weight Watchers meeting and they told me I had reached my goal, I think I was in a state of shock. Did I do it? Did I really just lose a total of 32 pounds? Then after they gave me the good news, they said the dreaded word...maintenance.

To be honest, this really FREAKED me out. So now after I have spent the last 6 months losing weight, you are honestly telling me I get to eat MORE food and maintain my weight??!! This was very frightening. I didn't want all of my hard work to go to waste and I didn't want to look like a failure to myself and to all of my friends and family that supported me throughout this journey. 

My leader could see my face and recognized the familiar look of "maintenance panic." She quickly gave me the advice that I give to my members now who are headed into maintenance: Take it one day at a time, just like you did when you first started to lose weight. There is an adjustment period. You will learn where your body is comfortable and how much food (points) to eat in a day to maintain your goal weight. 

I did just that. Now after a year of maintaining my goal weight, my life looks totally different. Well, first of all, I am now a Weight Watchers leader myself. I spend the bulk of my days helping, advising, motivating and inspiring members to reach their weight-loss goals. I am also one of the "faces" of Weight Watchers. People have seen my face and read my story online, on TV commercials, in newspapers and in meeting rooms across the country. 

I think that the thing that I am most proud of is my athletic ability. I am stronger now than I have ever been. I am currently training to run a half-marathon in the fall. This is something that I NEVER would have thought would be possible for me, but now it is. I look at myself in the mirror when I am at the gym and I see a toned, defined body and I think, "Who is this person?" It's me. It really is me. All I can say is WOW!

Weight Watchers has truly changed my life. Not just the way I look, but the way I think. Most people don't understand that truly making a lifestyle change, not just losing weight takes a state of mind. This is not something that will just happen. People ask me all the time, "Does Weight Watchers really work?" I say to them, "Yes, if you really do it. If you kinda do it, it kinda works. If you don't put anything into it, it will not work." It's all about taking control over your life and putting yourself in the driver's seat. I just have one question for you, "How bad do you want it?"

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"The only difference between a winner and a loser is that a winner plays until he wins."

-Big KRIT

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese."

-Luis Bunuel

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Success takes patience. The lesson is in the journey."

-Unknown

Skinny Chick Recipe Pick

OREO CHEESECAKE

 Only 4 PointsPlus

Click Here For Full Recipe

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly."

-Stephen R. Covey, author,
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"He who has patience can have what they will."
-Benjamin Franklin

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?'"

-George Bernard Shaw

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Faith is not being sure where you're going, but going anyway."

-Frederick Buechner

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Nobody can hurt me without my permission."

-Mahatma Gandhi

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things."

-Albert Einstein

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position."

-John Maxwell

Human Nature

I had a meltdown. I repeat, I had a meltdown. It all stemmed from a dinner out last Friday night at a trendy boutique burger restaurant. I had a burger that was AMAZING and sweet potato tots with some sweet cinnamon cream dipping sauce. DELICIOUS! As always, I had planned this meal out. I knew how many PointsPlus I had left (sort of...if we're being completely honest). The portion sizes at this place are actually pretty small. The burger that I had was only 5 1/2 oz. (They actually put that on their menu, which is great). I also paired my meal with water, which I have been drinking non-stop since the weather has gotten warmer and running in Atlanta in the heat is not an easy feat...gotta stay hydrated at all costs. And I shared the sweet potato tots with my husband. So why the meltdown, you ask? I know, this seems like a very innocent, well-planned meal out on a Friday night.

THE GUILT....it was the guilt. An overwhelming sense of guilt that I felt after eating my meal and actually enjoying it. Not just enjoying it a little, but REALLY enjoying it. I had that butterfly feeling in my stomach that I had gotten prior to me losing weight, that gives you that feel-good, comforting feeling that you get when you eat your favorite food. It was like I had gone back in time to when I was eating out all the time, not caring or even being concerned about what I was putting in my body. I couldn't believe that this one meal could take me back to this place. It was as if I was an alcoholic who had walked back into a bar and had a drink after a long time of sobriety.

To make matters worse, as I looked around the restaurant, the majority of the patrons there looked the way I used to look before Weight Watchers. Then the panic began. I was asking myself, "Am I headed back down this road? Why did THIS meal spur these feelings? Am I falling off? Am I failing myself and my members?"

After leaving the restaurant, my husband and I got in the car and on the drive home I started to explain to him what I was feeling. I thought that he was going to agree that maybe the burger place wasn't a good choice for dinner, confirming the guilty feelings I had toward our meal. Instead, he said something to me that he always reminds me of...Renee, you're HUMAN!

When ever he says this to me, it hits me like a ton of bricks and brings me back to reality. I go through my week as if a I am a machine. Every day I am tracking food, prepping meals and figuring out what my activity plan or training plan is for that week. I have done this for so long, that it truly is second nature to me. I rarely let myself go. I rarely allow myself to let my feelings or emotions guide me. I have to be honest, I am afraid to do that. I am afraid that if I let go and actually "feel" I will be right back where I started. But, can I truly live my life that way? My Inner Skinny Chick says: Don't forget, we are all human beings with feelings and emotions, not robots. There are times when you need to treat yourself. Don't forget to enjoy life and the things (food) that you enjoy. Just plan for it and use moderation. Don't apologize or even feel guilty for enjoying life.

I have to continue to remind myself of this. After all, who wouldn't enjoy a great burger with sweet potato tots? Enjoying the things you love is just HUMAN NATURE.

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

What Food CAN Do

Food can fill our stomachs.

It cannot fill our souls. 

Food can nourish our bodies.

It cannot nourish our hearts and minds. 

Food can make our taste buds happy. 

It cannot make us happy. 

Food can give us momentary pleasure. 

It cannot give us lasting pleasure. 

Food can distract us from our pain. 

It cannot take away our pain. 

-Author Unknown

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry. And I know you do the same things too. So, we're really not that different, me and you."

-Colin Raye

Now What?

One of the questions that I get asked most frequently is, "What's harder: Losing weight or Maintaining your weight-loss?" I think it depends on how you look at it. Losing weight is a very motivating and inspiring process. If you follow what ever wight-loss plan you are on and stick to it, you should see a loss on the scale. While losing my weight with Weight Watchers, there was nothing more euphoric to me than stepping on the scale and seeing a loss week after week. That was a definite reward for my efforts throughout the week. However, once I reached my goal-weight the "high" that I would experience week after week was gone. So the question is, "Now what?"

Getting back to the original question, which is harder weight-loss or weight-maintenance; I really think they are both difficult in their own right. Weight-loss is difficult because it is a commitment to a change. It requires breaking old habits and adopting new ones. Some of the old habits may be more difficult to break than we really think. Weight-loss also involves lots of self-realization that can be down right painful. There are also plenty of setbacks and challenges to overcome while on your weight-loss journey. But, the great thing about weight-loss is that you get to see validation for your efforts in the form of a lower number on the scale, clothing fitting better or dropping sizes, increased level of activity, and improved health. This validation is positive reinforcement and drives you to continue.

Weight-maintenance is difficult because nothing is really "physically" changing. You have gotten to the point where your weight has stabilized and you are maintaining the loss that you have achieved. The compliments start to fade and people start to get used to you being the "Skinny Chick." And then, heaven forbid, people start to treat you like you've always been skinny. They may say things like, "You don't look like you would ever need Weight Watchers" or "Do people actually take you seriously when you say that you lost weight on Weight Watchers?" Not to mention the fact that you look at yourself in the mirror and you still see the "old" you. You also have the people around you who know that you have reached your goal and they ask you, "So now can you go back to eating regularly again?"

There is so much emphasis placed on weight-loss and the emotions surrounding it. Not to many people actually talk about the emotions around weight-maintenance and how to deal with those. It is so tempting to think, "Well, I'm at my goal now...I can splurge on this or that. One more piece of pizza won't make that much difference." The truth is, just like we had to commit to a change to lose weight, we have to commit to a lifestyle of maintaining our weight-loss. It begins with the realization that what ever it was that we did to lose weight, we must do the same thing to maintain the loss. If we go back to our "old ways," we will go back to looking like our "old" self. Here are some tips that have really helped me stay focused while maintaining my weight-loss:

1. Create a new goal each week to focus on. This can be anything from a specific activity goal or something food related like increasing your amount of protein or vegetables. 

2. Track what you eat ALL the time! Tracking is what got me here. Tracking is what's going to keep me here. 

3. Continue to attend your weekly Weight Watchers meeting. The meetings offer support and accountability for Lifetime members as well. You can also weigh-in every week if you like, even though you are only required to weigh once a month. 

Here are some other tips I found in the March/April issue of Weight Watchers magazine:

4 Maintenance Musts
Here are the top 4 secrets of more than 10,000 successful dieters:

90% Exercise, on average, 1 hour per day
78% Eat breakfast every day
75% Weigh themselves at least once a week
62% Watch less than 10 hours of TV a week

Source: The National Weight Control Registry's ongoing study of adults who lost more than 30 pounds and have kept that weight off for at least a year.

Skinny Chick Recipe Pick

SKINNY BEER-GARITAS

Click Here for Full Recipe

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

-Winston Churchill

Hilarious!

This commercial is SO hilarious. I just had to post this. What happens if you can't afford a weight-loss plan? What do you do? Watch and learn:

What are your thoughts on this? Would it work for you?

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become your character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."

-Unknown

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"There cannot be a stressful crisis next week. My schedule is already full."

-Henry Kissinger

Lights, Camera, Action!

As most of you know, back in August of last year (2011) I submitted my weight-loss success story to Weight Watchers. They LOVE to hear about member successes. At this time, they were looking to cast "real people" who had reached their goal-weight on the Weight Watchers PointsPlus plan in their next commercial ad campaign. I, along with 8 others, was selected to participate in the Weight Watchers commercial and print ad campaign---BELIEVE. Here are some of the print ads that I am featured in along with our group commercial with Jennifer Hudson.

MY MEETING ROOM POSTER

This is located in the meeting rooms at newly designed Weight Watchers stores across the country.

MY WINDOW BANNER

This is hanging in the windows of newly designed Weight Watchers stores across the country.

MAGAZINE AD

 Featured in Weight Watchers magazine, US Weekly, Life&Style and InTouch

GROUP TV COMMERCIAL

MEET THE CAST: BEHIND THE SCENES

I encourage you all to share your successes! You never know who you could be inspiring. This could be YOU one day!

We're Gonna Make a Change

Life is all about change and evolving or growing as a person. The longer you live, the more changes you experience. So is it safe to assume that all you have to do is let time pass and you will see change in your life? If you are referring to changes in technology or progression in society, then maybe the answer is "Yes." But, if you are talking about change from within or a "lifestyle" change, the answer is "No."

This fact remains: In order for one to actually see behavioral changes in their life, their BEHAVIOR must change. You can't keep engaging in the same behaviors and expect a different result. My Inner Skinny Chick says: In order to live the type of lifestyle no one else seems to be living, you've got to do the the things no one else seems to be doing.

At the beginning of each of my Weight Watchers meetings, I check in with my members about their past week and ask them if there was anything that they were proud of that they accomplished that doesn't have anything to do with the number they saw on the scale. I ask them this for two reasons:

1. Focusing on non-scale victories takes the "weight" off the scale. There are many factors that can affect the number you see on the scale. It should not be the only indicator of a successful week. 
2. Giving yourself a specific goal for the week like, I will try a new work-out, I will cook a new recipe or I will bring my lunch everyday this week, helps "lock-in" healthy habits that are necessary for true "lifestyle" change.

Why not spend our time thinking of different weekly goals we can set for ourselves instead of obsessing over the number on the scale. You'll be surprised. If you do this, you will begin to form habits and change your behavior. The icing on the cake is that the number on the scale will naturally begin to drop as these changes are implemented into your life.

What "non-scale" victories are you proud of? Have you seen a change in your behavior by implementing any goals for yourself?

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." 
-Mahatma Gandhi

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Don't be afraid to go out on a limb. That's where the fruit is."

-H. Jackson Browne

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"The chief cause of failure or unhappiness is trading what you want MOST for what you want at the moment."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"I like to move it, move it. I like to move it, move it. I like to...MOVE IT!"

-Real 2 Reel (from the movie Madagascar)

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it."

-Sydney J. Harris

Fighting the "Skinny Chick"

Why is it that we hear what our inner Skinny Chick is telling us and we refuse to listen? Why do we eat to soothe our stresses and pain when we know it will compromise our weight-loss and weight-maintenance efforts? Why do we fight the "Skinny Chick?"

I have asked this question throughout the week to my members in my Weight Watchers meetings, as this week we are talking about taming stress. The overwhelming response has been, "We eat to find comfort and to feel better, for the moment." I am sure most of us can relate to this. The thing that I find most interesting is the "for the moment" part. It is truly that. After that moment passes, how do we feel? Most of us, myself included, experience a feeling of overpowering guilt. We are upset at ourselves for giving in to our food temptations, for not choosing our health and well-being first and for fighting the "Skinny Chick."

For some of us, our fight with our inner "Skinny Chick" looks a little different. Some of us have gotten to a point in our weight-loss journey where we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and our "outer Skinny Chick" is beginning to emerge. This is scary for a lot of us. Once the "outer Skinny Chick" is present, everyone can see her. There is a different set of standards that, we not only have for ourselves, but others have for us as well. We don't want our "outer Skinny Chick" to emerge and then suffer the embarrassment of gaining the weight back. So what do we do? We hide our "outer Skinny Chick" by doing the things we know will not make us successful. It is a form of self-sabotage. If we do this, we don't have to worry about feeling as though we have failed. We can still keep our "Skinny Chick" on the inside.

There is also another group of us that may have not come to the point that we are ready to listen to our "inner Skinny Chick" at all. We may not even believe that there IS a "Skinny Chick" inside of us. We lash out and attack all things and all people that we consider "Skinny." We have convinced ourselves that the unhealthy version of ourselves is it, and it will never change. We have done such a great job of this, that we say things like, "Everyone in my family is over-weight" or "I like food that tastes good" or "I don't have time to exercise and I don't like to sweat." We begin to truly believe these things and accept that not being the healthiest version of ourselves is okay.

I know that these fights are hard to acknowledge, however they are so real for so many of us. The first step is to own up to the fact that sometimes we do fight our "Skinny Chick." She can be really annoying at times. She also can seem like she wants to spoil our fun and keep us from truly living our life. I agree. It does SEEM like this at times. However, it is exactly the opposite. You actually "hear" your "inner Skinny Chick" because deep down inside you know what it takes for you to be healthy. You know that above all else you want to BE healthy and that YOU are worth it.

Just like in any relationship, there are fights, arguments and even set-backs. Your relationship with your "inner/outer Skinny Chick" is no different. There are going to be times when you just don't listen at all. You will fight her to the core. However, the fact still remains that she will always be there, no matter how hard you try to hide her. She will ALWAYS give you another chance. She will NEVER fight you!

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Success is failure turned inside out."

-Unknown

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"I have found that if you love life, life will love you back."

-Arthur Rubinstein

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Many fine things can be done in a day, if you don't always make that day tomorrow."

-Unknown

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because the world needs people who have come alive."

-Howard Thurman
American Theologian, Clergyman, and Activist

Whitney...We Will Miss You!

WHITNEY HOUSTON 

1963-2012

There are so many songs that are memorable by the GREAT Whitney Houston. As a singer myself, she was one of my biggest musical influences. She made her mark on the industry as an icon and will never be forgotten. 

This song "When You Believe" sums up what my Inner Skinny Chick is saying to each of you. Enjoy! Get some Kleenex...you will need them! 

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"The greatest love all is easy to achieve. Learning to love yourself, it is the greatest love of all."

-Whitney Houston
1963-2012

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."

-Mother Teresa

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Nothing tastes as good as SKINNY feels!"

-Unknown

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."

-Mark Twain

Super Bowl Party Starters

So, my husband and I are having a few people over on Sunday to watch the Super Bowl. This is a very special occasion...his favorite team, The Giants, are playing. (Re-match from 2007). I want to make sure that we have lots of great snacks to keep the party going. However, I don't want to go overboard, like we know is so easy to do during these types of events. My inner Skinny Chick says: Take your favorite recipes and lighten them up. This way you don't have to worry about going overboard on the things you love. 

So here are some great Super Bowl party starters that are sure to be the talk of the party; aside from the Giants winning the game, of course. Enjoy!

BAKED SWEET POTATO CHIPS

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeId=50409

CRISPY CHIPOTLE POTATO SKINS

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeId=100501

LAYERED MEXICAN BEAN DIP

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeId=105431

JALAPENO POPPERS

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeId=90601

CLASSIC GUACAMOLE

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=99671

BUFFALO WINGS WITH BLUE CHEESE DIP

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=84571

BEEF, BLUE CHEESE AND SPINACH QUESADILLAS

 http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeId=89571

We Love Losing in Atlanta!

SKINNY CHICK NECOL 

LOST 45 POUNDS

AFTER LOSING 45 POUNDS

(She did it all with Weight Watchers) 

Another After Photo

Necol lives in the Atlanta area and was also featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution for her weight-loss success. I actually read her article back in November 2011 and that inspired me to submit mine to the newspaper. She is now a "Notes from a Skinny Chick" follower. Necol, you are such an inspiration! Let's keep LOSING, ATLANTA!

Skinny Chick Recipe Pick

SPICY BEEF TACOS

Only 7 PointsPlus per serving for Weight Watchers. Click here for full recipe http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=185901&sc=11

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

-Maria Robinson

A Day in the Life of a Skinny Chick

I feel like it has been forever since I have been able to actually write in my "Skinny Chick" diary. I have really missed it. I have been extremely busy lately. I have to admit that, while I do not like neglecting my blog and missing out on the therapy it provides me, I am really excited about how my life is changing from day to day.

As some of you may know, my day is mostly comprised of leading Weight Watchers meetings. I now have 4 of my own meetings that I lead. Two of them are At Work meetings (where I bring Weight Watchers to businesses and facilitate meetings over lunch) and two of them are traditional meetings in a Weight Watchers center. I also am a receptionist for two meetings. That is six meetings a week. I also sub for other leaders at least once a week, sometimes more.

I am loving how busy I am and I am so PROUD of all of my members. One of the meetings I lead is at an elementary school and there are 20 people who attend this meeting. This week, they are going into their 3rd week on the plan. After 2 weeks they have lost a total of over 100 POUNDS!! I am SO PROUD of them!

The meetings that I lead at the Weight Watchers centers have been successful as well. I have been able to grow those meetings from under 20 attendees to over 40 attendees per week and still GROWING! There are LOTS of "BELIEVERS" in metro Atlanta! Atlanta, let's show the rest of the country how to get HEALTHY!

Here are some pics of me in action at a Weight Watchers center:

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA WW CENTER

I have also been blessed to work with my church, Gwinnett Church, assisting in our UpStreet environment (elementary school ministry). This has been an AWESOME experience. Gwinnett Church is a new campus of North Point Ministries that just launched this past October. It is amazing to do God's work and be there to help from the ground up. Here is a picture of my husband and I at Gwinnett Church's first ever GroupLink event.

WE ARE GROUP LEADERS

My husband and I are leading a married couples small group. Our first meeting is this coming Tuesday! We are so excited! 

So, as you can see, 2012 is getting off to a great start! I LOVE serving others and giving back what the Lord has blessed me with. I feel that it is my responsibility to pour the knowledge that I have been given into others so that they may "pay it forward" in the same manner. 

Make 2012 count! Be an inspiration and ask yourself, "When was the last time I made a difference in someone's life?"

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing."

-Harriet Braiker

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"A goal without a plan is just a wish."

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"A setback is only a set up for a comeback."

-Anonymous

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"There's no half-singing in the shower, you're either a rock star or an opera diva."

-Josh Groban

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

-Frederick Keonig

New Year, New Me!

As I was posting before and after pictures that were submitted to me from "Notes from a Skinny Chick" followers, it dawned on me to go back through some photos of mine. My Inner Skinny Chick says: During your weight-loss journey, you should keep old pictures of yourself at your starting weight and current pictures of yourself around. Look at the old pictures whenever you feel discouraged and compare them to your current pictures. This will help you see "the big picture" and keep your weight-loss in perspective.

Here are some New Year's Eve pictures of me:

New Year's Eve 2009

I am in the front, on the far right.

New Year's Eve 2011 (A couple weeks ago)

Looking at these pictures definitely helps me keep my weight-loss in perspective. I love the new me! I love the way I look, but most importantly, I love the way feel! I am HEALTHY!!!

Inspiration Defined

Meet SKINNY CHICK Krystle

Krystle lost 94 pounds using Weight Watchers!

Krystle had the opportunity to meet one person who continues to inspire and motivate her during her weight-loss journey...Jennifer Hudson!

Now Krystle is an inspiration to so many others. Get inspiration from Krystle daily by following her blog: Skinny Jeans Dreams http://www.myskinnyjeansdreams.com/

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Let reason, not impulse, be your guide."

-Kahlil Gibran
artist, poet, writer

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

-Maya Angelou

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"It is higher and nobler to be kind."

-Mark Twain

Who's Your Motivation?

Confession: Statement: "I am the ultimate Beyonce fan!" It's true. I really LOVE Beyonce. In light of everything that's going on in the media right now with her, I felt it necessary to give her the credit that no one seems to be giving her right now. I love Beyonce for lots of reasons, but my number one reason is that she was my motivation during my weight-loss journey. I have every one of Beyonce's live concerts on DVD. I would watch those religiously (and still do) when I was losing weight. I was in awe of how fit she was. Just watching her dance and sing, full-out, and the performance she puts on is just AMAZING. It is almost a sin (and I am embarrassed to say) that I have never seen her live in concert. Hopefully, when she gets a break from her new baby, Blue Ivy, she will tour again. *SIGH*

Back to reality, okay, motivation. Like I said watching Beyonce motivated me to be more active and get fit. She is in incredible shape and that's what I wanted for myself. As the quote says that I posted earlier by Zig Ziglar, "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing; that's why we recommend it daily." It's true, we all lose our motivation at times. My Inner Skinny Chick says: That is why it is so important for you to find that "thing" or "person" that will keep you going when the road gets rough. 

In a Weight Watchers meeting that I led this week, I handed out straws to all of my members. I asked them to tell me what they thought the straw symbolized. They all came up with some very creative answers. I told them that I gave them the straws to symbolize their "last straw." Meaning, what was the last straw that made you decide you needed to do something about your health, lose weight, become more fit. You fill in the blank. They all began to tell me what the "last straw" was for them. Skinny Chick Challenge: Think about what "the last straw" was for you. Or have you reached it? Get a straw and keep it in a place where you will see it often. Every time you think that you want to give up or you feel as though your road is rough, look at that straw and remember where you were when you made the decision to change. This will motivate you to keep going so that you don't go back to that place.

There are many people in our lives that can motivate us as well. Here are three "Notes from a Skinny Chick" followers that can motivate us all! They have achieved significant weight-loss and are living a healthy lifestyle. Congratulations ladies! You are an inspiration to us all!

SKINNY CHICK Whitney 

47 Pounds Lost

SKINNY CHICK Dani

63.6 Pounds Lost

SKINNY CHICK Dacia

99.4 Pounds Lost

BEFORE

AFTER

I would love to showcase you as well. Email your before/after pictures to skinnychicknotes@gmail.com 

You just may be someone's motivation!

Skinny Chick Recipe Pick

 Chicken and Orange Salad

7 PointsPlus per serving for Weight Watchers 

Click the link for the full recipe http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=185891&sc=11

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"If you only do what you know you can do; you never do very much."

-Tom Krause

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing; that's why we recommend it daily."

-Zig Ziglar

A Little of This and a Little of That

As I was reading my current issue of Weight Watchers magazine this morning, there we so many interesting facts that I found really fascinating and helpful. I thought to myself, "Why not share these things?" So here they are:

Weighing Out Your Food Options
Here are some of our favorite foods and how much they weigh in relation to their PointsPlus values for Weight Watchers:

1 Medium Chocolate Chip Cookie- 10g-  1 PointsPlus
3 Cups Popcorn (Air-Popped)- 24g- 2 PointsPlus 
2oz Roast Beef- 56g- 2 PointsPlus
1/2 Cup Ice Cream- 68g- 4 PointsPlus
1 Cup Cooked Pasta- 140g- 5 PointsPlus
1 Thin-Crust Pizza Slice (1 Topping)- 78g- 5 PointsPlus
1 Small Bagel- 65g- 6 PointsPlus 


The Skinny on Omega-3 Fatty Acids 
-Great for your heart
-Helps with depression
-Helps with inflammation of joints

You should eat at least 2g of Omega-3s a day. Here are some great sources:

Flax seeds- 3/4 cup- 7g of Omega-3's
Atlantic mackerel- 4oz- 3g of Omega-3's
Walnuts- 1/4 cup- 2g of Omega-3's
Salmon- 4oz- 2g of Omega-3's
Soybeans, cooked- 1 cup- 1g of Omega-3's 

Skinny Chick Note: If you are going to eat fish to fulfill your serving of Omega-3's, remember don't fry it. Frying eliminates all the health benefits that fish offers.

Ponder This:
3 in 10 people who'd been told by doctors that they were overweight or obese still DIDN'T see their weight as a health issue. (Source: University of Florida, Gainesville) We need to do better and make our HEALTH our first priority!

Can You Sum Up Your Weight-Loss Journey in Six Words?

Weight Watchers magazine has examples of six words that can describe your weight-loss journey. Here are 3 of the the phrases they had:

-Ate too much. Changed my ways. 
-Love food. Love life much more.
-Been every size. Insides never change. 

Here's mine:
Inner Skinny finally meets Outer Skinny. 

What are the six words that describe your weight-loss journey?? Post them in comments and share with the world! 

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"Paths clear for those who know where they're going and are determined to get there."

-Anonymous 

Bethany Sweats Like a Skinny Chick!

"Notes from a Skinny Chick" follower Bethany sweats like a Skinny Chick!

Show that you're not afraid to SWEAT like  a Skinny Chick and email your sweaty pics to skinnychicknotes@gmail.com

Be sure to read my post "The Next Treadmill Over" to get inspiration on how to get sweaty!

Skinny Chick Quote of the Day

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in."

-Morrie Schwartz