~ Think of a lapse as if you broke a plate of your best china; Would you go and break all the rest of your dishes or do you just mourn the loss of your broken plate and move on?

~ A favorite midday snack is a light English muffin with a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese, a slice of tomato, salt and pepper, and a little balsamic vinegar (very filling) all for a (very filling) POINTS value of 3!

~ My Leader gave us a paper clip for each pound lost, so I hung my paper clips from the refrigerator as a constant reminder of my hard work and accomplishments.

~ Whenever I felt discouraged for only losing .4 or .8 pounds, I would envision one stick of butter which is 1/4 of a pound disappearing from my body.

~ One of the eating-out tricks I picked up on the website is to ask for a to-go box, and put half the meal in there right away. You’ll have a more normal portion and a bonus meal for lunch the next day.

~ Eating a little bit more slowly is another trick I’ve learned. If something’s really good, you tend to just wolf it all down and then you’re too full all of a sudden. Eat slower and pay attention to when you’re satisfied.

~ Pick up and carry on. Everyone has holidays and special events. The beauty of the Weight Watchers plan is that you can have a meal that’s not so POINTS-value friendly. It might take 10 POINTS values out of your weekly allowance, but you move on from there.

* Look at your first gain like you do the first dent in a new car. It's hard to deal with, but after a while it isn't as big of a deal. There will be gains and losses, but overall, you're making your life healthier.

* Set weight goals but not time-oriented goals. Don't say, "I must lose 10 pounds by Labor Day." Instead, pick a small reward for when you lose 10 pounds, and celebrate your loss when you get there.

* Take it slower in the beginning and make a routine. Learn to cook foods you love instead of buying "fat-free" everything and expecting to enjoy it. Weight Watchers is a journey. If you don't enjoy the ride, chances are you won't get to the finish line.

~ Set mini-goals for yourself—and make sure they come with mini-rewards like a new bracelet or smaller-size shorts.

* When in an unfamiliar restaurant, stick with lots of fruit, green salads, non-fried lean chicken or seafood. Sometimes take a tiny bite if there's something else amazing that you have to try.

* Stock your home with a variety of fruits and vegetables: fresh, frozen and canned.

* You don't need to join a fancy gym to be active. Before I ran, I walked. I initially earned up to four activity POINTS values per hour. Buy a pedometer, and try to beat your own daily step record.

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~~Amanda~~ Mommy to Elijah (3), TTC #2

These are great! Thanks!

Here is one more (an oldie but a goodie):
~Use a small plate for meals (like a dessert or bread and butter plate). It really works!

And another:
~I always allot points for a nightly dessert. I don't know why, I'm not even a big sweet eater, but this makes me feel even more like I am "not on a diet".

PS I love the Thomas' Light Multigrain English Muffins...my fav! The Laughing Cow on it was a great idea.

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"A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families…"
Psalm 68:5-6a