So. I did it - I put my wallet where my mouth is and I joined Weight Watchers!

[Lynn49]

Butternut Squash Soup

1 white chopped onion
4 tablespoons butter (we omit)
1 peeled and cubed butternut squash
3 cups water (we use 1 box soup stock)
4 cubes chicken bouillon
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (we use hot sauce)
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese (lite!)

In a large pot, saute onions in margarine until tender (we frizzle them in water). Add squash, stock, bouillon, black pepper and several shakes of hot sauce. Bring to boil; cook 20 minutes, or until squash is tender.
Puree squash and cream cheese in a blender or food processor in batches until smooth. Return to saucepan, and heat through. Do not allow to boil.
Serve with 1/2 canned pear in the middle of your plate, bum up!

[Patty Smyth]

Love butternut squash soup , I make it quite often as well.

I do mine a little different in that I cut them in half, scoop out the "guts" fill the hole with water and roast them for 35 minutes, then scoop out the flesh and proceed with the soup recipe.

[walkonby]

ok, so I only lost 1/2 lb for the week, but the strange part is today 3 different co workers made complimentary comments along the lines of " this new job you are doing is too hard, you are getting too skinny! " ( Yeah, sure, skinny? hardly ) Still it was sweet of them to show their support that way.
I am still a fair mark off the weight I am going for ( like 20-24 lbs away) and when I mention that they freak out and say not to lose anymore, I look fine.
What's a gal to believe?

Happy weekend all!

[Granger]

A few people asked about the soup, its super simple

Cauliflower & Cheese
1 head cauliflower (chopped into small florets)
1 tbsp butter/marg (I use a light marg as it saves 1 pt)
1 tbsp whole wheat flour
2 cups fat free no salt added broth (chicken or veg)
2 cups water
1/2 cup milk
1/2-2/3 cup grated cheese of your choice (I used 1/2 skim mozza and 1/2 low fat cheddar)


Melt butter in a pot on low heat and mix in the flour to make a roux/paste
Add broth & water and mix paste in and bring to a boil
Add cauliflower and boil for 5 mins then reduce heat and cook until very tender
Spoon mixture into a blender (or use an immersion blender in the pot) and blend until no lumps - I find it works better in a blender if you do a little at a time
Add milk and cheese and allow them to melt over a very low heat
Makes 4-5 servings at 3pts each

Mmmmm. Want to try this for sure!

Butternut Squash Soup

1 white chopped onion
4 tablespoons butter (we omit)
1 peeled and cubed butternut squash
3 cups water (we use 1 box soup stock)
4 cubes chicken bouillon
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (we use hot sauce)
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese (lite!)

In a large pot, saute onions in margarine until tender (we frizzle them in water). Add squash, stock, bouillon, black pepper and several shakes of hot sauce. Bring to boil; cook 20 minutes, or until squash is tender.
Puree squash and cream cheese in a blender or food processor in batches until smooth. Return to saucepan, and heat through. Do not allow to boil.
Serve with 1/2 canned pear in the middle of your plate, bum up!

This one too!

ok, so I only lost 1/2 lb for the week, but the strange part is today 3 different co workers made complimentary comments along the lines of " this new job you are doing is too hard, you are getting too skinny! " ( Yeah, sure, skinny? hardly ) Still it was sweet of them to show their support that way.
I am still a fair mark off the weight I am going for ( like 20-24 lbs away) and when I mention that they freak out and say not to lose anymore, I look fine.
What's a gal to believe?

Happy weekend all!

Believe your heart. Sometimes it is envy speaking. Congrats everyone on the weight loss so far!

My first few days without Coke were hard. I have only had one a week or so as a treat. I can't remember the last time I ate chips. I have been having lite popcorn instead. Thanks for the continued inspiration. Although I am nursing so not trying to limit calories or lose, just make sure the input is healthier, I have lost 5 lbs (in maybe 3 weeks?). Water intake is definitely up which is good for baby too.

Keep up the great work everyone.

[Patty Smyth]

[walkonby]

Well here it is October 3rd and I have not listed my weight loss for this week...yet. It is because I have not had a loss, and with that yummo Thanksgiving feast we have planned on Sunday I can scratch the next Wednesday off the list too. Oh well, maintaining is always better than a gain.

[aussie]

Yes Walkonby maintaining is definently better then gaining!!
Yesterdays WI- Im down 2.6lbs! woohoo!!!!
Im looking forward to thanksgiving!!! my MIL and SIL are doing WW too, so there will be healthy choices! and MIL always has a veggie tray so we can munch on that before dinner, instead of nuts and crackers so we used to..

[FallenPixels]

Errr me and this 5lbs are having a long term love-hate relationship

[walkonby]

Well here it is October 3rd and I have not listed my weight loss for this week...yet. It is because I have not had a loss, and with that yummo Thanksgiving feast we have planned on Sunday I can scratch the next Wednesday off the list too. Oh well, maintaining is always better than a gain.

update Oct 6th!!

Well, today was my Naturopath appt. and I just love the news I got there!! Here I've been fretting over the scale, seemed as though I was " maintaining " forever, but when she did my measurements a clear loss from 3 1/2 weeks ago off my waist of 2.5 inches, and off my hips of 3.5 inches meant I am completely ok and on track!!

I think there is a slight possibility I have gained muscle ( which weighs more than fat) from doing a completely different and more physical job. Yippee!!

Yes Walkonby maintaining is definently better then gaining!!
Yesterdays WI- Im down 2.6lbs! woohoo!!!!
Im looking forward to thanksgiving!!! my MIL and SIL are doing WW too, so there will be healthy choices! and MIL always has a veggie tray so we can munch on that before dinner, instead of nuts and crackers so we used to..

Congrats aussie!! Yes dive into that Thanksgiving gravy boat! lol

Errr me and this 5lbs are having a long term love-hate relationship

I so feel that pain FP. For me it had a happy ending, but until this morning's Dr appt. I was dreading weighing myself each day. Hang in there.

[Granger]

My thanksgiving goals...plate to be half veggies, only seconds of veggies. I may pile my turkey and potatoes upwards a bit to meet my goal. I don't care much for gravy so that should help.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Remember to treat yourselves a little bit.

[FallenPixels]

We are doing prime rib instead of turkey, 7PP per 4oz so it better be a small piece of prime rib lol but it means no stuffing (I have a weakness for stuffing and will eat it all) and I don't like pie so should be ok for points

[FallenPixels]

WOB I wish I could like your post 100 times!

[walkonby]

^^ hee hee, I was really happy, could ya tell?

[alicia]

It's an amazing feeling to lose the inches especially when you thought you had plateaued. Which is why I just go by my measurements because I am much more active and stronger than I used to be, meaning more muscle.

I have a head of cauliflower in the fridge I need to use and homemade chicken/turkey broth so I am gonna make that cauliflower soup today or tomorrow. Hopefully my magic bullet blender can handle it

[walkonby]

alicia, I wish I loved cauliflower but I'm wishy washy over it. It is so versatile, low calorie, good for you, what is wrong with my brain? lol.
So yeah about that whole scale nonsense, NOW I understand why my DD stropped weighing herself, and goes by her clothes instead. She will know when something is tight to lay off the cheating.
I really am craving that meal now! Hurry up guests and arrive the smells in this house are making me crazy! Went overboard and bought ham and 3 Cornish hens as well as that turkey! I'm pooped now, been peeling, cutting and cooking all the squash type veg this a.m.
I intend to make up goody dinner bags with the extra stuff for them to take home, so I won't be eating like this all week!