2014 New Year, New You Challenge: Week 4
Welcome to 2014! Here's to a new year and a fresh resolve to set yourself up for long-term success. Hint: It's easier than you think.
With its cold weather and post-holiday anticlimax (not to mention uncomfortably snug pants), January is not the kindest month. Why, then, do so many of us also spend the first few weeks beating ourselves up about what we ate and drank in December? Right here and now, we are officially declaring the holidays Behind Us, and are ready to help you focus on your goals for 2014. Whether you’re new to Weight Watchers, or simply looking for help you recommitting or sticking to the Plan, we’ll help you succeed.
Your goal might be a sizeable one, or it might be just a few pounds away. Whichever camp you fall into, contemplating a whole year stretched ahead of you can feel overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the next 12 months, take our Challenge to get a far more manageable set of activities, ideas and motivation. Read the articles over the next four weeks, and head to the Community to participate in the Challenge with others looking to start the year off right.
Week 4
If you've checked off the previous weeks’ food challenges, then you’re planning meals ahead and trying new ingredients and recipes. Fantastic! But for seasoned cooks and kitchen newbies alike, it can sometimes feel like you’re spending a whole lot of time in the kitchen. You are worth it, but everyone needs a little help — and fun — from time to time.
So, here’s another way you can bring a sense of newness and reinvention to your daily life: Invite your spouse, kids, best friend, mom, anyone, into the kitchen with you. Especially someone who doesn’t normally get involved. If you’re lucky, they’ll be your sous chef, taking care of the less glamorous tasks like peeling vegetables, deboning a chicken (if they’re ambitious) or cleaning up after you (if you’re really lucky). But even if they’re a passive presence, while you’re working away, talk about what you’re cooking, what memories the food you’re preparing has for you, and if you’re with the kids, take the opportunity to give them a science lesson as well as a cooking one. If they know what the seeds actually do in a fruit, or why vegetables have roots, they’ll be much more inclined to eat it when it’s put in front of them at the dinner table.
You could take cooking with friends one step further by starting up your own meal-preparation club. Pick a half-dozen Weight Watchers recipes, list all the ingredients you’ll need (remembering to multiply quantities by the number of portions you want to make), figure out who has the herbs and spices you’ll need, and divvy up the shopping list among you to buy the rest. On the day itself, put on some music, set up an assembly line, maybe even pour a glass of wine and get cooking!
We hope this 4-week Challenge has started you off on the right foot this year. Remember to visit our Community for more great Challenges.
Your goal might be a sizeable one, or it might be just a few pounds away. Whichever camp you fall into, contemplating a whole year stretched ahead of you can feel overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the next 12 months, take our Challenge to get a far more manageable set of activities, ideas and motivation. Read the articles over the next four weeks, and head to the Community to participate in the Challenge with others looking to start the year off right.
Week 4
If you've checked off the previous weeks’ food challenges, then you’re planning meals ahead and trying new ingredients and recipes. Fantastic! But for seasoned cooks and kitchen newbies alike, it can sometimes feel like you’re spending a whole lot of time in the kitchen. You are worth it, but everyone needs a little help — and fun — from time to time.
So, here’s another way you can bring a sense of newness and reinvention to your daily life: Invite your spouse, kids, best friend, mom, anyone, into the kitchen with you. Especially someone who doesn’t normally get involved. If you’re lucky, they’ll be your sous chef, taking care of the less glamorous tasks like peeling vegetables, deboning a chicken (if they’re ambitious) or cleaning up after you (if you’re really lucky). But even if they’re a passive presence, while you’re working away, talk about what you’re cooking, what memories the food you’re preparing has for you, and if you’re with the kids, take the opportunity to give them a science lesson as well as a cooking one. If they know what the seeds actually do in a fruit, or why vegetables have roots, they’ll be much more inclined to eat it when it’s put in front of them at the dinner table.
You could take cooking with friends one step further by starting up your own meal-preparation club. Pick a half-dozen Weight Watchers recipes, list all the ingredients you’ll need (remembering to multiply quantities by the number of portions you want to make), figure out who has the herbs and spices you’ll need, and divvy up the shopping list among you to buy the rest. On the day itself, put on some music, set up an assembly line, maybe even pour a glass of wine and get cooking!
We hope this 4-week Challenge has started you off on the right foot this year. Remember to visit our Community for more great Challenges.
2014 New Year, New You Challenge: Week 3
Welcome to 2014! Here's to a new year and a fresh resolve to set yourself up for long-term success. Hint: It's easier than you think.
With its cold weather and post-holiday anticlimax (not to mention uncomfortably snug pants), January is not the kindest month. Why, then, do so many of us also spend the first few weeks beating ourselves up about what we ate and drank in December? Right here and now, we are officially declaring the holidays Behind Us, and are ready to help you focus on your goals for 2014. Whether you’re new to Weight Watchers, or simply looking for help you recommitting or sticking to the Plan, we’ll help you succeed.
Your goal might be a sizeable one, or it might be just a few pounds away. Whichever camp you fall into, contemplating a whole year stretched ahead of you can feel overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the next 12 months, take our Challenge to get a far more manageable set of activities, ideas and motivation. Read the articles over the next four weeks, and head to the Community to participate in the Challenge with others looking to start the year off right.
Week 3
This week’s task is to move more. So, whatever your current activity level is, add five minutes a day. It’s as simple as that. If you’re not exercising yet, have a little fun and dance around your bedroom with music in your earphones. For the more self-conscious, a walk around the block is a great way to start. Five minutes is all we're asking yet, of course, your five-minute walk around the block might well turn into 10, 15 or even 30 minutes if the mood takes you. (Remember to talk to your doctor before setting out on any new exercise plan.)
And if you’re already active, you can either use those five minutes to extend your workout, or try something completely different — five minutes on the rowing machine might use muscles that your step class overlooked! If you’ve taken a class at the gym that has a fixed start and end time, then do a quick five minutes on the elliptical afterwards. Better yet, instead of just standing around in line waiting for the class to start, look down upon your classmates from the vantage point of an exercise bike, knowing you’re getting a far better warm-up than they are.
Either way, grab the opportunity to try something new — it’s only five minutes of your life. Be sure to come back next week for your week 4 task!
Your goal might be a sizeable one, or it might be just a few pounds away. Whichever camp you fall into, contemplating a whole year stretched ahead of you can feel overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the next 12 months, take our Challenge to get a far more manageable set of activities, ideas and motivation. Read the articles over the next four weeks, and head to the Community to participate in the Challenge with others looking to start the year off right.
Week 3
This week’s task is to move more. So, whatever your current activity level is, add five minutes a day. It’s as simple as that. If you’re not exercising yet, have a little fun and dance around your bedroom with music in your earphones. For the more self-conscious, a walk around the block is a great way to start. Five minutes is all we're asking yet, of course, your five-minute walk around the block might well turn into 10, 15 or even 30 minutes if the mood takes you. (Remember to talk to your doctor before setting out on any new exercise plan.)
And if you’re already active, you can either use those five minutes to extend your workout, or try something completely different — five minutes on the rowing machine might use muscles that your step class overlooked! If you’ve taken a class at the gym that has a fixed start and end time, then do a quick five minutes on the elliptical afterwards. Better yet, instead of just standing around in line waiting for the class to start, look down upon your classmates from the vantage point of an exercise bike, knowing you’re getting a far better warm-up than they are.
Either way, grab the opportunity to try something new — it’s only five minutes of your life. Be sure to come back next week for your week 4 task!
2014 New Year, New You Challenge: Week 2
Welcome to 2014! Here's to a new year and a fresh resolve to set yourself up for long-term success. Hint: It's easier than you think.
With its cold weather and post-holiday anticlimax (not to mention uncomfortably snug pants), January is not the kindest month. Why, then, do so many of us also spend the first few weeks beating ourselves up about what we ate and drank in December? Right here and now, we are officially declaring the holidays Behind Us, and are ready to help you focus on your goals for 2014. Whether you’re new to Weight Watchers, or simply looking for help you recommitting or sticking to the Plan, we’ll help you succeed.
Your goal might be a sizeable one, or it might be just a few pounds away. Whichever camp you fall into, contemplating a whole year stretched ahead of you can feel overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the next 12 months, take our Challenge to get a far more manageable set of activities, ideas and motivation. Read the articles over the next four weeks, and head to the Community to participate in the Challenge with others looking to start the year off right.
Week 2
Last week you set a long-term, non-weight-related goal, and tried a new food. This week, we’re setting the bar a little higher. We want you to try even more new foods, and new recipes too. To make that easier to achieve, we’re asking you to plan (and shop for) a week’s menu.
Yes, it’s a big task if you're not used to being that rigid, but it’s so worth it. Look around on theMessage Boards. In many people’s signatures, you’ll find the words, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Take it from them: standing in front of the fridge is no place to plan your next meal.
Instead, take some time at the beginning of your tracking week, or on a Saturday morning, or even a midweek evening — whenever works for you — to plan a week’s worth of meals.
The challenge in keeping this great habit going, though, is balancing routine (going for the same few meals that you know how to cook and that require staple ingredients), with variety (lemon chicken again?).
So, when you plan your next few meals, make room for something brand new in the line-up. Look at the featured recipes on the Food and Recipes page; pick up a food magazine next time you’re out, or browse and discuss ideas in the Community Recipe Swap. Or, if you’re feeling really brave, grab a cookbook, fan through it with your eyes closed, and vow to make whatever you land on. If it’s a high-calorie nightmare, think of ways to lighten it up. (Subscribers can use the Recipe Builder to find lighter alternatives to many ingredients.
Make your shopping list with items grouped by type — even by aisle, if you're that familiar with your grocery store. Not only will this help you get around the store (and away from temptation) more quickly, it will also show you at a glance if the make-up of your diet is a little out of whack — for example, if you have an over-reliance on packaged goods rather than fresh. For more tips on navigating the supermarket, check out the Shopping section in the Spaces tool.
This is a great habit to get into; we promise it’s worth the effort. Good luck this week — and don’t forget to come back next week to continue the 2014 New Year, New You Challenge.
Your goal might be a sizeable one, or it might be just a few pounds away. Whichever camp you fall into, contemplating a whole year stretched ahead of you can feel overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the next 12 months, take our Challenge to get a far more manageable set of activities, ideas and motivation. Read the articles over the next four weeks, and head to the Community to participate in the Challenge with others looking to start the year off right.
Week 2
Last week you set a long-term, non-weight-related goal, and tried a new food. This week, we’re setting the bar a little higher. We want you to try even more new foods, and new recipes too. To make that easier to achieve, we’re asking you to plan (and shop for) a week’s menu.
Yes, it’s a big task if you're not used to being that rigid, but it’s so worth it. Look around on theMessage Boards. In many people’s signatures, you’ll find the words, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Take it from them: standing in front of the fridge is no place to plan your next meal.
Instead, take some time at the beginning of your tracking week, or on a Saturday morning, or even a midweek evening — whenever works for you — to plan a week’s worth of meals.
The challenge in keeping this great habit going, though, is balancing routine (going for the same few meals that you know how to cook and that require staple ingredients), with variety (lemon chicken again?).
So, when you plan your next few meals, make room for something brand new in the line-up. Look at the featured recipes on the Food and Recipes page; pick up a food magazine next time you’re out, or browse and discuss ideas in the Community Recipe Swap. Or, if you’re feeling really brave, grab a cookbook, fan through it with your eyes closed, and vow to make whatever you land on. If it’s a high-calorie nightmare, think of ways to lighten it up. (Subscribers can use the Recipe Builder to find lighter alternatives to many ingredients.
Make your shopping list with items grouped by type — even by aisle, if you're that familiar with your grocery store. Not only will this help you get around the store (and away from temptation) more quickly, it will also show you at a glance if the make-up of your diet is a little out of whack — for example, if you have an over-reliance on packaged goods rather than fresh. For more tips on navigating the supermarket, check out the Shopping section in the Spaces tool.
This is a great habit to get into; we promise it’s worth the effort. Good luck this week — and don’t forget to come back next week to continue the 2014 New Year, New You Challenge.
2014 New Year, New You Challenge: Week 1
Welcome to 2014! Here's to a new year and a fresh resolve to set yourself up for long-term success. Hint: It's easier than you think.
With its cold weather and post-holiday anticlimax (not to mention uncomfortably snug pants), January is not the kindest month. Why, then, do so many of us also spend the first few weeks beating ourselves up about what we ate and drank in December? Right here and now, we are officially declaring the holidays Behind Us, and are ready to help you focus on your goals for 2014. Whether you’re new to Weight Watchers, or simply looking for help you recommitting or sticking to the Plan, we’ll help you succeed.
Your goal might be a sizeable one, or it might be just a few pounds away. Whichever camp you fall into, contemplating a whole year stretched ahead of you can feel overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the next 12 months, take our Challenge to get a far more manageable set of activities, ideas and motivation. Read the articles over the next four weeks, and head to the Community to participate in the Challenge with others looking to start the year off right.
Week 1
You have two tasks this week: Something you can do right away, and something that will help you in the long term. For both of these, we encourage you to embrace the opportunity to believe in yourself and feel confident that you can change the way you think about yourself and your goals.
To that end, the long-term task is to think outside the scale. Set a goal for yourself that will see you through the 4 weeks of this Challenge and beyond, that has nothing to do with the numbers on the scale or on your clothing labels. Write it down and put it somewhere you’ll see each morning. What is it that you want to feel at the end of the 4 weeks? And how do you want to build on this momentum as we go into spring and beyond?
Only you can answer these questions, but here are some prompts for you. Think about what your decision to be healthier will do for you: Being a great role model for your kids? Wearing clothes with confidence? Accepting social invitations you might have turned down before, knowing you’ll show up feeling great?
Chew something new
As for the simple task you can do right away: Try a brand-new food this week, one you’ve never tried before. Try to choose a whole food rather than a packaged one — a fruit, vegetable, protein or grain. To get ideas, check out our list of pantry staples that are a cut above the usual. For more shopping tips, subscribers can check out our shopping Spaces tool.
That's it for week 1. Come back next week to get your next task in the 2014 New Year, New You Challenge. Good luck!
Your goal might be a sizeable one, or it might be just a few pounds away. Whichever camp you fall into, contemplating a whole year stretched ahead of you can feel overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the next 12 months, take our Challenge to get a far more manageable set of activities, ideas and motivation. Read the articles over the next four weeks, and head to the Community to participate in the Challenge with others looking to start the year off right.
Week 1
You have two tasks this week: Something you can do right away, and something that will help you in the long term. For both of these, we encourage you to embrace the opportunity to believe in yourself and feel confident that you can change the way you think about yourself and your goals.
To that end, the long-term task is to think outside the scale. Set a goal for yourself that will see you through the 4 weeks of this Challenge and beyond, that has nothing to do with the numbers on the scale or on your clothing labels. Write it down and put it somewhere you’ll see each morning. What is it that you want to feel at the end of the 4 weeks? And how do you want to build on this momentum as we go into spring and beyond?
Only you can answer these questions, but here are some prompts for you. Think about what your decision to be healthier will do for you: Being a great role model for your kids? Wearing clothes with confidence? Accepting social invitations you might have turned down before, knowing you’ll show up feeling great?
Chew something new
As for the simple task you can do right away: Try a brand-new food this week, one you’ve never tried before. Try to choose a whole food rather than a packaged one — a fruit, vegetable, protein or grain. To get ideas, check out our list of pantry staples that are a cut above the usual. For more shopping tips, subscribers can check out our shopping Spaces tool.
That's it for week 1. Come back next week to get your next task in the 2014 New Year, New You Challenge. Good luck!
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