“THIS ISN’T JUST A ‘NOW’ THING – THIS IS FOREVER.”

– Carolyn Cole, member

WEEKLY6 November 2016

WEEK 45

cut thecravingsWONDERING WHAT DOES

(AND DOESN’T) WORK? WE’VE GOT IT COVERED.

My weight was a problem – I knew that – I’m a nurse, after all! Things had to change. With four

daughters, I was always running around taking care of their needs and I never put myself first. But as my 40th birthday drew near, I decided it was time to make a change and prioritise me. I’d joined WW before, so I knew it worked. I liked that I didn’t have to cut out certain foods completely, and could still lose weight. What a win!

A NEW MINDSETWhen I started WW, I didn’t realise how much I was eating! Tracking everything I put in my mouth really helped. It’s simple: you track, you lose. The biggest challenge for me was my mindset. In hindsight, I’d become a bit of a martyr. I thought part of being a ‘good’ mum meant always physically being there for the girls. I felt guilty doing anything for myself. I had to start putting myself first, which I knew would ultimately benefit the whole family.

CAROLYN COLE ENSURED HER KIDS WERE HEALTHY, BUT WITH WW SHE STARTED MAKING HER OWN HEALTH AND FITNESS A PRIORITY, TOO.

GIRL POWER

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Lost

25.1kgin 18 months

WW SUCCESSFUL SLIMMER

BEFORE

GET MOVINGI went from doing nothing, thinking I didn’t like exercise, to absolutely loving it – boxing is one of my favourite things now! When I get home after I’ve worked out, I’m always in a much better frame of mind. I love the effect of all those endorphins. And even though I get up a lot earlier than I used to, I have so much more energy at home and at work. When I used to stay at home with the girls, I’d need a nanna nap in the afternoon. I certainly don’t need that now – my energy levels are higher than ever before.

EATING WELLI wouldn’t rate myself as an awesome cook, but the WW recipes are perfect for us. Following the Program also helped highlight some of my bad habits. I used to put the kids to bed, go to the cupboard and reach for lollies, chocolate – whatever I could find. That doesn’t happen at all now. I’m much more aware when it comes to making food choices.

NOW & FOREVERAlong the way my self-worth has increased and now I think, ‘Yeah! I’m

worth it!’ I’ve realised that making time for myself is more than okay – it benefits everyone. We live in a small town, so when people started noticing my weight loss it gave me a boost and incentive to keep going. I particularly like it when people use the word ‘healthy’ as that was my goal – to become fit and healthy.

I never thought I’d become a Lifetime member. I thought if I lost 10kg that would be great, but I reached Goal 18 months after my first meeting and achieved Lifetime membership just before Christmas last year. I’m so much better off now – I’m not as emotional, don’t get as frustrated with the girls, and feel a lot better about myself which I’m sure benefits my relationship with my husband. This isn’t just a ‘now’ thing – this is forever.

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FEEL YOUR CRAVINGSFood cravings aren’t a sign your body’s nutritionally deficient in something (sorry!), but how you feel can be a trigger. To work out what you’re craving, ask am I...TIRED? You’re more likely to crave sugar- and fat-rich food when you’re sleep deprived, because tiredness affects ‘reward’ and decision-making brain regions. Have a 10-minute nap to boost alertness, and see how you feel.

STRESSED? That can cause cravings for super-tasty foods (like hot chips and doughnuts). Instead of opening the fridge, have a cup of tea, which can help you recover more quickly from a stressful situation.

SAD? Low mood is a big food craving trigger. Instead of eating, find something to do – book movie tickets or plan a holiday. Experiences make you happier than possessions, plus having something to look forward to is an effective mood booster.

WORK OUT OF ITAlong with all the other health benefits being physically active delivers, it also helps control food cravings. We know: clever or what? Here’s how to use FIT to fight back.

For a quick-fix: Go for a 15-minute walk next time you feel like you need a hit of something sweet even though you’re not hungry. By making more blood sugar available to your brain, it temporarily makes it easier to resist the food you’re craving, even when it’s put in front of you. Genius!

For a day-long solution: Do a 60-minute workout. It’ll help keep your hunger in check for a few hours afterwards, by regulating appetite-related hormones. But the really cool thing is that it changes the way your brain responds to food, making healthier options seem more attractive, and ‘treat’ foods seem less so. How good is that?!

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TRENDING NOW: National Recycling Week! It’s on in Australia this week, and is a hot topic in NZ this month, too. One of the initiative’s aims is to encourage people to minimise waste, so when you’re grocery shopping this week, do your bit by picking as many package-free foods as you can… like 0 SmartPoints fruit and veg!

GOOD NEWS!

You’re already doing something to fight food cravings. Don’t believe us? Well, you know those little things called SmartPoints®? It turns out that as well as helping you lose weight, sticking to your SmartPoints

budget cuts cravings: research proves that 78 per cent of people (that’s roughly three out of four members) who followed the SmartPoints Plan for six months experienced a significant

reduction in cravings for a whole range of foods, including sweets, high-fat foods and fat from fast foods. Love that fact? We do too!

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WW YOUR WAY

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STAR ANISE & GINGER POACHED CHICKEN WITH GARLIC EGGPLANT

O 500g lean chicken breast fillets, fat trimmed

1L (4 cups) reduced-salt chicken stock 2 tbs Shaoxing wine (Chinese rice wine)O 3 star aniseO 4cm-piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced 1 tbs olive oilO 4 garlic cloves, thinly slicedO 1 long fresh red chilli, finely chopped,

plus extra to garnishO 1 eggplant, cut into 1.5cm piecesO 225g can sliced water chestnuts, drainedO 2 bunches baby pak choy, cut into

6cm lengths 2 tbs reduced-salt soy sauceO 2 green shallots, thinly sliced

1 Combine chicken, stock, wine, star anise and ginger in a large saucepan over medium heat

SmartPoints VALUE PER SERVE: 4 | SERVES: 4 | PREP: 15 mins | COOKING TIME: 15 mins

O Filling & Healthy foods are marked with a green circle. These foods help fill you up and keep you healthy.

and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and gently simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate, cover with foil and set aside to rest for 5 minutes before thickly slicing. You can freeze the poaching liquid for up to 3 months, for use in other recipes.2 Meanwhile, heat a wok over high heat. Add oil and heat for 20 seconds. Stir-fry garlic, chilli and eggplant for 3–4 minutes or until golden. Add chestnuts and pak choy and stir-fry for 1–2 minutes or until heated through. Stir in half the soy sauce.3 Top vegetables with chicken and sprinkle with shallots and extra chilli. Drizzle with remaining soy sauce to serve. SERVE WITH : Basmati rice. Add 3 SmartPoints for ½ cup (85g) cooked rice per serve.

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For more healthy and

delicious recipes that pack a tasty

punch, grab a copy of

TURN UP THE FLAVOUR

NEXT WEEK Learn how to live everything bigger (trust us: it’s a smart move!).Do you have some ideas about the Weeklies? We’d love to hear them! Email us at: weekly@weightwatchers.com.au

MEET OUR EXPERTWEIGHT WATCHERS DIAMOND COACH MARIE ELLIOTT IS HERE TO HELP.

WHY I LOVE EXERCISEWhen it comes to fitness, improving your health is just one of the many benefits. Here are three other reasons I make it a priority.

what’s going on in our lives. Plus, we get to be outdoors and in nature, which is always calming.

3 IT’S GOOD FUN! I probably wouldn’t have

tried Zumba on my own but knowing my girlfriends were going was the confidence boost I needed to go. We have a lot of fun trying to keep up with all the moves.

1IT’S A PICK-ME-UP. Whether I’m stressed or

feeling a little low, I know that after 30 minutes of exercise I’ll feel happier and more relaxed. It’s my quick go-to mood booster.

2 IT’S A TIME TO BOND. I often go for walks with

my husband, which is a great time for us to put everything else aside and chat about

MEET OUR EXPERTMEET OUR EXPERTMEET OUR EXPERTMEET OUR EXPERT

NEW STICKY TOFFEE BARSTHE PERFECT SWEET TREATYou can satisfy a chocolate craving in a Plan-friendly way with our new indulgent Sticky Toffee Bars. They’re deliciously chewy milk chocolate bars with crisped cereal, marshmallows and caramel pieces – a combination that’s guaranteed to satisfy your sweet cravings. Plus, these delightful treats are perfectly portion-controlled, which means you can carry them with you to enjoy at any time of day, no matter where you are. And because each bar is only 2 SmartPoints values each, Sticky Toffee Bars are easy to incorporate into your SmartPoints budget. Yum! (AU$6.25/NZ$6.80)

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Time for youFinding a healthy balance just got a whole lot easier, thanks to Weight

Watchers frozen meals. Made with wholesome ingredients including quinoa and vegetables, they’re snap frozen and on hand for when you need them.

Life is busy! Work, kids, you, your partner, personal admin – the list goes on! Sometimes putting yourself first seems to come last. That’s why Weight Watchers frozen meals are the perfect meal- time solution when you’re short on time. Weight Watchers has done the shopping and cooking for you so you can spend extra time on the things you love – like that yoga class you’ve been meaning to take for weeks!

The range is created with culinary experts and nutritionists so you know they include the perfect blend of wholesome ingredients including quinoa, vegetables and seafood. Taking time out for yourself never tasted so good.

Try a few of our favourite, proven ways to feel fitter and happier: YOGA The blend of physical and spiritual has made yoga one of the most popular activities in the world. With the right class you can find a great mind-body connection. RUNNING No gym fees! Do it anywhere and anytime – running is one of the most convenient exercises around.FRIENDS Laugh, love, share. Doing anything with friends makes it that more special and fun.Find our new-look meal range now at your local Coles, Woolworths or independent grocery supermarket, or check out wowfrozenmeals.com.au

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