2 friends across town

what i did this week

dawn

when it's fall, the house gets dressed for the season.  i made this wreath out of fresh eucalyptus that i bought at the farmer's market and last year's dried bittersweet.

this cute little guy also gets to come out again

i got these branches in the woods behind the house and placed them in a terra cotta pot.  heavy rocks helped to anchor and place them and the leftover dried bittersweet dresses it up.

What Keeps Me Sane and Satisfied on Weight Watchers-What I'm Munching This Week (and right this minute)

-Tracy

I first discovered WW's point system about 11 years ago. I was newly married, and my hubby and I had discovered that our cohabitation + tight work schedules + eating out nearly every night = a need for a wider, sturdier couch.

When we weren't eating out or grabbing food on the run, we were gleefully snacking before bed. Nighttime munching had always been my downfall, and now having a husband, in addition to staying up waaay past my usual bedtime to greet him each night after his bar and grill closed made me feel just so grown-up. We'd watch old reruns of Cheers or NYPD Blue while nuking some nachos made with that Cheez-Whiz stuff from a jar, or scoop up some coffee-flavored Haagen Daaz. Sure, we could've had some air-popped popcorn or carrot sticks instead, but they just didn't have the late-night, ass-building appeal of things covered in neon-orange cheese and/or butterfat.

My wake-up call came when I glanced through some photos we'd taken on our first trip to New York together right before Thanksgiving. It had been unseasonably cold, even for New York, and H, my sister-in-law, her husband and I all huddled together and walked bent against the bitter winds each day we were there. But I had worn this new, long leather jacket that I'd purchased just for the trip. It was sleek and double-breasted and I'd accessorized it with a red scarf and matching hat. If I was going to have to bundle up, by God, I was gonna do it with real NYC flair.

As I flicked through the pictures, I smiled remembering all the highlights of the trip, but I winced when I saw image after image of me in what I'd thought was my "slimming" jacket. I looked like a lifesize, overdressed version of the stuffed sausages we'd enjoyed in Little Italy. The buttons were clearly straining and the shots from behind that H took while we were looking up at the Empire State Building? You don't wanna know about those. As my gal Chrissy from the Pretenders would say , don't get me wrong. I certainly don't think being super-skinny is the only way to go, and I don't advocate one body shape or style over another. But I was bordering on unhealthy at the time and the sting of disappointment that I felt when I looked at those pictures was just the kick in the nacho-enhanced butt that I needed.

Trend-setter that she is, Dawn had already achieved success with Weight Watchers back then, so I just followed her lead and the weight came off, a bit too slowly at first. When I hit a wall, I whined to her that I didn't get it since I was staying within my daily point values. "Are you getting your water in?" she reminded me. That was it---the rest of the weight came off almost magically within a few months.

Over the years some of those pounds have crept back, so recently I turned to two old friends--
Weight Watchers and Dawn--for inspiration. Oh, and there've been some new developments in the snack world since I first joined WW; for one thing, instead of having to measure out individual servings and figuring the point value, many treats now come in individual 100-calorie packs, making it a lot easier to toss one in my purse in preparation for the 3 o'clock munchies.

Right now I'm currently loving these snacks, sweets and low-cal drinks that are helping me ensure that I'll never go out in public as a leather-bound sausage again:

100-cal packs of Sunchips

Laughing Cow Light cheese wedges (the garlic and herb are awesome)

A cup of 1% milk with a tablespoon of Hershey's light syrup

A handful of Snyders pretzels with a tablespoon of Skippy Natural peanut-butter

Gala apple slices dipped in Stoneyfield vanilla yogurt

A big mug of tea with a couple of Snackwells Lemon Creme cookies

Cherry Coke Zero

Baby carrots with hummus

South Beach Diet snack bars

Weight Watchers 1-point snack cakes---I love the lemon ones and the devil's food

Okay, Dawn--what are the little noshes that keep you going? Oh, and also, what are some foods that you simply won't give up, no matter how decadent? For me, it's really good cheese, even in salad dressing. I must have real blue cheese dressing with big chunks of the stuff mixed in, no lo-fat chalky stuff on my romaine, thank you. Oh, and I will not be restrained at all this weekend when we go out with y'all to celebrate MY BIRTHDAY! I plan to inhale all the fried oysters rockefeller at CT! You didn't want one anyway, right? Hmmm?

in looking at your snack list Trace, i have to say that nuts have been my main staple that have really kept me on track. they satisfy my hunger and keep me from hitting the cheez doodles. i have also discovered the spreadable brie that allouette puts out and it is super good with apple slices. peanut butter and apple or banana is also a favorite of mine. when i snack, i tend to stay away from any kind of sweet things or processed foods in any way just because i do better without them. i eat things that i want, i just try to eat very small portions of them. so far, it's worked and i pray that it continues to! you've done so well at keeping your weight off, Trace and you continue to inspire me to do the same. and btw, you better let me have at least one of those oyster rockefellers....i don't care if it IS your birthday!