Lose Or Chews

For some reason, I'm in the mood for a root beer float. I saw this recipe for a diet root beer float and thought I'd pass it along:


Ingredients
8 fl oz A&W Diet Root Beer, ice cold
1/2 cup light vanilla ice cream, Weight Watchers

Instructions
Pour 8 ounces ice cold Diet A&W Root Beer into a 12-ounce glass and top with a scoop of Weight Watchers vanilla ice cream.

-Jennifer

Chocolate Halloween Cupcakes
POINTS® value 3
Servings 24
Preparation Time 25 min
Cooking Time 32 min
Level of Difficulty Moderate

Ingredients
2 serving cooking spray (5 one-second sprays per serving)
2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cup McNeil Nutritionals SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp table salt
1 cup fat-free egg substitute
2 cup water
1 cup light corn syrup
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 medium egg white(s)
1/2 tsp table salt
1 Tbsp light corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 tsp decorating icing, orange

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat two 12-hole muffin tins with cooking spray and line with cupcake wrappers. (Note: We use both cooking spray and muffin wrappers to prevent any batter from sticking to the top of the pan. Alternatively, use nonstick pans.)
2. Combine flour, Splenda, cocoa, cornstarch, baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt in a large bowl; set aside.
3. Whisk egg substitute, 2 cups of water and 1 cup of light corn syrup together in a medium bowl.
4. Add egg mixture into flour mixture and mix until completely smooth and incorporated.
5. Pour batter into muffin tins until each hole is completely full. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.
6. While cupcakes cool, make frosting: Heat a medium pot of water to boiling.
7. In a medium metal or glass bowl, using a hand mixer, beat sugar, 1/2 cup of water, egg whites, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of corn syrup and vanilla extract at high speed for 1 minute.
8. Place bowl of frosting over rapidly boiling water (you are creating a double boiler) and beat at high speed until the mixture forms soft peaks, about 7 to 10 minutes.
9. Remove frosting from heat and beat until the mixture is thick enough to spread, about 5 minutes. Frost muffins, create a spider web-like design on each with icing and decorate as desired.

How to Eat at Family RestaurantsFrom the show Weight Loss Success Stories In his newest book, 'The Get With The Program! Guide to Fast Food and Family Restaurants, fitness expert Bob Greene says being an informed diner can save you hundreds of calories in just one meal. One key is to snack before going out to eat, he says. "Buffer that hunger. There is nothing more dangerous than showing up at a restaurant really hungry." Bob offers these tips for dining out at:

Italian Restaurants
Skip the bread basket altogether. Ask the wait staff to take it away, or negotiate it down to one piece. "Do not have it sitting in front of you for the whole meal," Bob says.
Split the pasta dishes. The portions are large enough for two.
A great choice for a meal is a soup. "Minestrone is terrific," Bob says.
Avoid anything called "parmagiana." Bob explains, "Pretty much that's always fried and layered with cheese all over it."

Chinese Restaurants
Watch the oil and avoid anything deep-fried. There's an assumption that most of these dishes are stir-fried, but that's not really true.
Most of the calories are hidden in the sauces.
Say "no" to egg rolls—they are filled with fat.
Avoid dishes with eggplant in them—they soak up the oil like a sponge.
Choose brown rice over white. Don't mistake fried rice for brown rice.
Fortune cookies are okay to eat—they only have about 30 calories.

Mexican Restaurants
Skip the chips and nachos.
Substitute salsa for other toppings such as cheese, guacamole and sour cream.
Avoid quesadillas and enchiladas that are filled with cheese. Tamales are filled with fat.
Only eat half a burrito—save the rest for later.
Taco salads are a good option—just don't eat the shell. The shell will double the calories.
Fajitas are a good option. Load them up with veggies and salsa, but skip the sour cream.

For more information on Bob Greene and his health program, visit http://www.getwiththeprogram.org/.

I found the article, over at Runner's World. It's a good read. Here's a quote:

"...there's another voice that many of us hear. I know I do, or at least I used to. This is the voice of the Gremlin. This is the voice that tells you whatever you're doing isn't good enough, that you should be able to run faster or farther, and that simply enjoying yourself is no reason to keep running. The Gremlin tells you that no matter how much you've improved your life or your running, you still have a long way to go. ..."

Here's the link: No Need for Speed: Racing the Gremlin

Listening to: Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - "Peaceful Valley" (It's been a Ryan Adams kinda day.)

I found a new link on the WW message board.

http://www.recipecircus.com/recipes/awsum34/TIDBITS---You-Need-To-Know/Candy_Points.html

This link will help us find out points for a favorite candies. Now, while I know we are all striving to make the best point choices, the reality is that Halloween is just a few more days away and we'll probably eat some of the girls candy.


Hope this link helps!

-Jennifer

I was looking at the weightwatchers.com website and discussion boards, and I found a website for calculating points. It is www.sublogic.com/points . Add this to your favorites and then, when you don't have your points slider, you can still calculate your points!

-Jennifer