Super Bowl Thai Chicken Skewers!

In the learning stages of the Weight Watcher lifestyle, social events can be disasterous. But only if you let them. Although I am not an avid football fan, this year's Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants could not be ignored.  I researched recipes so I could get as much bang for my buck as possible. This chicken dish was super easy to prepare, scrumptious and only 2 points a skewer.

Weight Watchers Thai Chicken Skewers

20 fl oz light coconut milk, about 2 1/2 cups (two and a half cans)

4 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped or to taste

1 Tbsp dark brown sugar

1 1/2 Tbsp Spicy Thai Sauce/Marinade

1 tsp fresh and finely chopped ginger root

 1 Tbsp lime juice

3/4 tsp table salt

1-1/2 pound uncooked boneless skinless chicken breasts/strips (about 26)

*Soak the wooden skewers in water overnight so they won't scorch/burn when you grill the chicken.



In a medium bowl, whisk together the can of coconut milk, cilantro, brown sugar, thai sauce, ginger, lime and salt until well blended.

 



Remove about a cup of the mixture and set aside. This will be used for a dipping sauce for the chicken. Put the rest into a gallon resealable plastic bag and add the chicken. Turn to coat several times and place the bag in the refrigerator for about 4 hours.



Put the marinated chicken strips onto the skewers and discard the remaining sauce from the bag.



 Grill the skewers over medium heat for about 5-6 minutes per side.



Heat up the remaining marinade mixture on the stovetop until it comes to a boil, then place in a bowl with a spoon.

Arrange skewers on a platter with the dipping sauce and sprinkle with fresh cilantro.

Enjoy!!



Choices

My Weight Watchers leader says that controlling your weight is all about making better choices. For example, "Should I eat that entire triple chocolate layer cake myself, or should I just have an apple?"

Okay. I get it. Making the better choice is going to eventually lead to a better lifestyle. I'm not too far gone to realize that when I make a healthier food choice, I feel better. My stomach doesn't bloat over the top of my pants. I'm not as jittery.....and I can definitely go longer in between meals.

I still start out my day with a 1/2 cup of oatmeal (not the instant kind), with a small scoop of Better n' Peanut Butter. Boring, but I love it. It's quick, it's easy and above all.....it's delicious. It's all for a total of 3 Points Plus and it holds me for most of the morning. I usually plan out my entire day for food in the morning, so my day is already set in stone. I don't deviate.

Ever.

My weigh in yesterday showed that I dropped 1.5 pounds last week. It's not Biggest Loser style weight loss, but it's a weight loss I can live with. Slow and steady. If I can maintain that loss each week, I'll be a happy camper. I only lost a total of 4.5 pounds for the month of January, but I'm really okay with it. I'm not looking too far ahead.  I find that it's sort of like climbing a mountain..... if you look up to try and see what's ahead of you at the top, you may fall off a cliff while you are climbing. So I'm keeping my head down. Watching each step. Talking my time and making choices that I can live with.

Have a great day!

Is Patience truly a virtue?

Okay. So here I am in Week Three of my Weight Watchers journey and I have only lost 3 pounds. Well, 2.7 to be exact.  According to Weight Watchers, it's a good thing. A slow weight loss is a lasting weight loss.

Looking back to prior attempts with Weight Watchers, the first month was always the most difficult for me. It's the whole transition thing. You know, it's not really a diet.........it's a lifestyle. My motivation is the Spring and Summer. I didn't go to the beach at all last year because I just couldn't stand the thought of myself in a bathing suit.

That was rock bottom, my friends. Rock. Bottom.

Time for a change. A good change. Time to be held accountable. Time to sit up and take a good long look at that person in the mirror. Who IS that? I almost don't recognize her anymore.

But I will. Just give me time. And patience. Lots and lots of patience. It didn't take me overnight to look like this, and it's not going to come off overnight either.  

I tracked all my points yesterday. It was a good day. Tuesday is weigh-in day and my Weight Watchers "buddy" Karen treated us both to a new Weight Watchers cookbook.

Don't worry....I'll share all my recipes with you! Today I started off with my usual 1/2 cup of oatmeal, only today I added a small scoop of all natural Better n' Peanut Butter. 

I read about this in Eating Well magazine and finally found it at Whole Foods.

If you like peanut butter, you'll love this!  Two tablespoons of low-fat peanut butter is 5 points plus with Weight Watchers.  Two tablespoons of Better n' Peanut Butter is only 2 points. It doesn't sound like a big deal.....but when you are counting points IT IS!!  Try it!!  

So breakfast today was Oatmeal - 2 points

          Better n' Peanut Butter -     2 points

                                                                                    Coffee -  2 points

                                                                                                   6 points

Now I'm off to ride my bike for 30 minutes or so before I have to leave for work.......ACTIVITY POINTS!!!!!   Have a great day!



A Great Start!

Today is Sunday. My favorite day of the week as it is the only day that I can sleep past 7am. This morning I made it to 7:10am before my little Boston Terrier, Gracie woke me up.

After letting Gracie ouside for her morning "ritual", I made myself a scrumptious cup of hot coffee and contemplated breakfast. Since starting Weight Watchers three weeks ago (yet again), I have been carefully counting my Points each day.....not willing to carelessly waste even one of them.  So today my breakfast consisted of a 1/2 cup of cooked oatmeal, the real kind, and just before I was ready to eat, I added a level teaspoon of low-fat peanut butter and 16 (count 'em) fabulous dark chocolate chips.

1/2 cup cooked oatmeal   -           2 points

2 teaspoons low-fat peanut butter - 2 points

16 dark chocolate chips -              2 points

So, for a grand total of 6 points, I had what tasted like a warm and slightly soggy O' Henry bar. Delightful. Now I'm headed out for a walk to work off and take back about 4 of those points.

See how this works??

:)