Living a Healthy Life

Hi Guys. I took a few days off of blogging and then it just seemed to take forever to put this little post together. This past week has been great. My Food Truck Boss was out of town, so we took this past week off. That gave me plenty of time for myself and I was able to finished up my Christmas shopping. Most of it is wrapped and under the tree, and the remainder of it is en route. I planned my Christmas Eve menu, and it looks like the next two weeks are going to be very relaxing. 

Beyond the Scale

If you are a Weight Watcher member, and really, even if you aren’t, you probably know that Weight Watchers unveiled their new plan, Beyond the Scale, last week. I love the name. Weight Watchers is becoming more and more about our health, and not just about the number on the scale. That makes me very happy. Although the scale is what determines if we have reached our final goal or not, there are so many other factors besides our weight that go into living a healthy life, and it’s great to see Weight Watchers focusing on that more and more.

I’ve only been on the new WW plan for three days, but I love it already. The Weight Watcher’s app now has all sorts of new and fun things that you can do, and I’ll share some of that later in the week.

Weight Watcher points are no longer called PointsPlus. They are now called SmartPoints. To calculate the point value of a food, calories are back in the equation along with saturated fat, sugar and protein.

Some foods have gone up in points, while others have gone down. For the most part, lean protein foods are now lower in points, and high sugar and high fat foods are now higher in points. Makes perfect sense.

Daily SmartPoints

Every member has a certain amount of Daily SmartPoints, based on age, height, weight and gender.

Weekly SmartPoints

Every member has a certain amount of Weekly SmartPoints, also based on age, height, weight and gender. Those can be used throughout the week as needed, or not.

FitPoints

I’ll be honest. I’m not sure I completely understand how these work yet. Weight Watchers is encouraging exercise more and more as a part of our weekly routine, whereas before, I feel like exercise was more of a suggestion.

It is my understanding that you don’t typically eat your FitPoints, but you can eat them if you have eaten all of your Weekly SmartPoints? I think this is to erase the thought of “If I exercise, I can eat that brownie, or two”, but have the thought of “I need to exercise regularly for my overall health”.

According to the WW information that I have read, a recommended amount of FitPoints varies from member to member based on how active you are. This number can change from week to week. I’m not sure how this all works yet, so I’ll have to learn a little more, experiment with this on my Weight Watcher app, and blog more about it later.

Be Good to Yourself

WW is strongly encouraging all members to find some “me” time throughout the week. I think this is a great idea. So many people are busy with work, chores and that never ending “to do” list, it can be easy to forget to stop and take some time out of the day just for ourselves.

All of this is leading to Living a Healthy Life, and I’m looking forward to the new changes in the plan.

Since finishing the Whole30 just a few weeks back, I have been focused on eating more protein, more veggies and less sugar.

I think that the Whole30 and Weight Watchers together, make perfect sense for me!

The last few days have been full of soups, stews and hash for breakfast.  I tracked all of my food, but I’ll just give you some of the highlights, then go back to my usual daily blog tomorrow.

Breakfast Hash Number 1.

Sautéed Bell Peppers, Red Onion, Zucchini, Spinach, 60 g Cooked Sweet Potato, 1/2 Chicken Apple Sausage, topped with an Egg.

6 SmartPoints

 

Breakfast Hash Number 2.

Sautéed Bell Peppers, Onion, Zucchini with added Leftover Turkey Taco Meat and topped with an Egg. Taco Meat taste great with everything!

6 SmartPoints

 

Breakfast Hash Number 3.

Tons of Veggies, topped with an Egg and Avocado

4 SmartPoints

 

I’ve recently discovered Trina at PaleoNewbie.com, and I am loving everything that I have made from her website. The following are three of her recipes that I’ve made in the last few days that are easy and delicious. The hubs loved them too!

Beef Stew

Paleo Newbie Slow Cooker Beef Stew

This serving was approx 8 SmartPoints. This was exactly what I had hoped that it would be.

 

Chicken Soup

Paleo Newbie Turkey and Vegetable Soup (made with Rotisserie Chicken) I made this for this first time just after Thanksgiving with some of our leftover turkey. It was great with the chicken too!

2 Cups of Soup = Approx 8 SmartPoints, 10 Plantains = 1 SmartPoints

 

Ham and Potato Soup

Paleo Newbie Ham and Sweet Potato Soup This was ridiculously delicious.

1 Cup = Approx 10 SmartPoints,  Crumbled Bacon = 1 SmartPoints

I went to a Hot Yoga Class on Saturday and Sunday, and I’m planning on some Jazzercise Classes this week.

It’s going to be a great week! I think starting the new plan right before Christmas is brilliant! Going into the holidays can be challenging with all of the extra food and drink that can surround us. What a great way to get all of the WW Members in the right frame of mind right before facing so many challenges.

 

Weight Watcher’s SmartPoints 

I can eat 30 SmartPoints a day.

I have an allowance of 35 extra WeeklyPoints that I can dip into throughout the week if I choose.

My Weight Watcher Week Begins on Friday’s

 

Exercise = Saturday and Sunday, 60 Minute Hot Yoga Class

FitPoints Earned = 14 (although I don’t really know what this means yet, I know it’s a good thing)

“love the life you live, live the life you love”