* 3 pounds eggplant, halved lengthwise
* 5 medium tomatoes, halved and cored
* 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for vegetables
* 1 head garlic, about 1/4 inch cut off top to expose cloves
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 3 tablespoons tomato paste
* 2 cans (14 ounces each) low-sodium chicken broth
* 1 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Directions
1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F. In a rimmed baking sheet, liberally brush eggplant and tomatoes with oil; arrange eggplant cut side down and tomatoes cut side up. Brush cut side of garlic head with oil and wrap in foil. Roast vegetables and garlic until vegetables are tender and browning in spots, about 45 minutes. Let stand until eggplant is cool enough to handle, about 20 minutes; peel.
2. Meanwhile, in a large pot, heat oil over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook until softened, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook 2 minutes. Add eggplant and tomatoes. Squeeze roasted garlic from skins into vegetables; stir to combine. Stir in broth, salt and pepper; bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes. Purée using an immersion blender or a food processor. Makes 10 cups.
Nutrition Facts
Hi Turtles,
MsMeri, that looks like a recipe worth making!
I'm back from my WW WI and I lost .2# this week. Yay! Last week I lost three pounds and that was so much that I hoped to be able to keep it off and I did.
Gotta run--take it easy and please chime in wherever you are. If things are tough, we're here for support. If things are going well for you, then you are our support.
Love, Judy
234.6/196.8/195 and well into onederland
Good going, Judy, on another loss after last week. You've really found something that's working for you. I'm so glad! I also agree with you about the helpfulness of not focusing on food and making decisions about food. This has helped me hugely over the past year and a half.
I'm also concerned about maintenance, and how what I'm doing now will translate to maintenance. But that would be true no matter what method I'm using. I do plan to re-join Weight Watchers in about 10 more pounds or so, because I want the long-term accountability and the weekly meetings to help me stay focused. My goal there is to make lifetime and attend meetings for the rest of my days. I expect to return to counting points more carefully then, too. But frankly, as long as we can afford home delivery meals, I'm going to keep eating them. They're the perfect answer to those of us who hate to cook or think about preparing food! And for the most part, they taste better than anything I prepare.
Doing OK here ... ate a bit too much at MIL's this past weekend and am up a pound or so. But it'll come back off ... hopefully before we leave for vacation next week. I anticipate gaining a few pounds on vacation, though fortunately we'll be staying with folks who eat very healthfully, and that will help tremendously.
Have a great day, everyone. Sorry I'm so sporadic these days, but I do think of you all and check in to see how you're doing.
Judy, I love your goals. I hope they work well for you. Keep us posted on how you do with them. Nice to see you lost a bit more this week, especially since after a large loss, the next week is often small or 0. You're doing so great.
Ms. Meri, your bisque looks wonderful. As a confirmed soup lover, I'll definitely have to try that one out. On other fronts--how are you doing? I hope things are going well for you.
Good luck on your vacation, Lauren. I love how carefully you plan each stage of your weight loss program. I bet that's responsible for much of your success.
I maintained this week. Food was fine. I ate well within my point level and I'm fine with it. My problem was lack of activity due to having hurt myself. It's frustrating, but I'm much better and getting back into walking again. I expect to see at least a small loss next week, unless things get weird. I should take my measurements, though. My jeans seem looser.
Hi all! Happy Monday to everyone! I have been out of the picture lately but started back on my WW plan on Saturday along with DH. We both need to get our noses to the grind stone and get healthy! I did cancel my WW plan due to money concerns with being laid off but will follow the plan, it is not like I don't know what to do... just need to do it.
I hope that everyone is well, I will try and get online daily to see what is going on a start posting again!
Hi Turtles,
Ooops, I goofed over the weekend. Much more stress than have had lately and it reared its ugly head in my eating. Long story short, ds and family arrived--it was supposed to be a "hotel" stop where they would visit her family in NYC. Instead, because they had colds and didn't want to get her family sick (her dad had been very ill and his immune system is shot) so they decided last minute after driving for six hours to get here that they would stay with us and "relax" all weekend. Somehow that translated into ordering in fattening food including a huge bakery stop that was deadly. I also let everyone sleep in and watched the kids into my exhaustion. Sorry I'm venting, but I'm up three pounds and am looking 200# squarely in the face after bragging about how I'd never see that number again. Egads. Anyway, they left and things are back to normal and I'll do better.
In the meantime, thanks to MsMeri and Lauren and Lin for chiming in here. It's gotten so quiet and I hope all the Turtles will regroup and chime in again.
Lauren, have fun on your vacation and I love your plan for long term maintenance. You've done so well. Your attitude is so good.
Lin, feel better soon. That was quite a fall you took and it takes a while to heal. Yeah, I bet your measurements are better than before. I have lost very little weight, but I'm down 5 inches from my hip and almost five from my bust. The waist is going down very slowly, but I am down a full inch there as well. When the scale is slow to move downward and the pants are loose, it's gotta be better measurements. Yay.
Spent a great day with dh and dd and dear grandson and dear son-in-law. The food was better today and I'm optimistic again.
Good luck to all of us turtles!! Take care and be well.
Judy
234.6/196.8/195 and it's cool to be in onederland
Best and Worst Salad Toppings Not Every Salad is a Healthy One
Lettuce
The foundation of most salads, lettuce adds substance, crunch, water, and fiber for very few calories—only about 10 per cup. But if you want all that and vitamins, too, toss out the iceberg and toss in the romaine, mixed baby greens and spinach. While iceberg lettuce is lower in nutrients (and still makes a decent choice if it's the only thing available), these other greens are rich in vitamins A, C and K, manganese, and folate.
Protein
Adding protein, such as lean meat, tofu, eggs or beans, will help bulk up your salad and keep you full longer. Unfortunately, many protein toppings are deep-fried, breaded and greasy, which adds unnecessary calories plus cholesterol, sodium and fat to your salad. Skimp on fattier toppings such as bacon and fried (breaded) chicken strips, and go for lean proteins instead. Grilled chicken, canned beans of all kinds, chickpeas, tofu, hardboiled eggs (especially whites), or water-packed tuna are leaner choices. Nuts and seeds are popular in salads, too, and while they’re a healthy source of good fats and some protein, they’re not exactly low-cal. If you choose to add them, watch your portions (1/2 ounce contains more than 80 calories).
Cheese
Restaurants know that people love cheese, so they tend to pile on multiple servings of it on their salads. It might be tasty, but it sends the calorie counts sky high! While cheese is a nutritious food that adds flavor, calcium, and protein to a salad, enjoy it in moderation due to its high fat content. Just a half-cup of cheddar cheese (the amount on many large restaurant salads) contains 18 grams of fat and 225 calories. To keep calories in check, use a single serving of cheese (approximately 2 tablespoons). Choose low-fat varieties as much as possible to save on saturated fat and calories. A smaller amount of a stronger-flavored cheese, such as Brie, feta, chevre, gorgonzola, sharp cheddar or bleu cheese will go a long way in helping you cut down on your portions.
Pile on the Veggies
Vegetables like bell peppers, grated carrots, sugar snap peas, and tomatoes provide flavor, fiber, and vitamins for few calories. Grated carrots, for example, have only 45 calories in a whole cup, and there are only about 20 calories in an entire red bell pepper. When building your best salad, use as many veggies as possible for extra filling power—and a nice crunch! Practice moderation when it comes to starchy vegetable toppings like corn and potatoes, which are higher in calories. And remember to go for a variety of colors to ensure you're getting several different nutrients and antioxidants in your salad bowl.
Don't Forget the Fruit
Don't leave fruit on the sidelines! Fresh, canned and dried fruits add a sweetness that can help temper the slightly bitter taste of greens and veggies. They also provide color and texture (not to mention nutrition) to your salad bowl. Chopped apples, pears, grapes, or mandarin oranges (canned in juice—not syrup—and drained) are excellent salad toppers. Chewy dried fruits (cranberries, raisins) work well, too, but they are also high in calories (so only use a sprinkle!). Avocados (and the guacamole made from them) are creamy and nutritious thanks to their heart-healthy fats, but they're also a concentrated sources of calories. Keep your use of avocado to a minimum if you're watching your weight.
Crunchy Toppings
Sesame sticks, crispy noodles and croutons are salty and crunchy but conceal lot of hidden fat. Better options include water chestnuts, apple slivers, a small serving of nuts, crumbled whole-grain crackers, and homemade croutons. To make your own low-fat croutons, just slice a large clove of garlic and rub it over both sides of a piece of whole-grain bread. Cut the bread into cubes and then brown it in the toaster or conventional oven.
Dressing
A very healthy salad could go very wrong with one too many shakes of oil or dressing. The main issue with dressing is its fat and sodium content—and the fact that people have trouble controlling their portions. Two tablespoons is an appropriate serving of dressing, but most restaurants serve much more than that, whether mixed in to your salad or served on the side. Those calories add up fast. When dining out, always ask for dressing on the side and dip your fork into the dressing before picking up your bite of salad. Caesar, ranch and other cream-based dressings (when not specified as low-fat) are calorie bombs worth avoiding. Look for dressings specified as "low-fat" that contain no more than 60 calories per serving. You can also add flavor for minimal calories by using salsa, vinegar or lemon juice.
Salad may be the symbol of healthy eating, but not every salad is healthful—or diet-friendly. The healthfulness of your next salad depends on the simple choices you make when topping or dressing it. Perhaps my greatest discovery about salads was that because you can customize them so easily, you could make a huge main-course salad for a very small amount of calories. Pile in the lettuce and veggies, add a moderate amount of lean protein, sprinkling some cheese and a little something crunchy and measure a portion-controlled side of dressing, and you’ve got a dinner that won’t leave you feeling hungry.
Nice to see you again, Princess. Following WW when you're stressed out about money is tough. I'm in that place, too. OTOH, healthy food is often inexpensive, especially if you use beans and veggies to stretch small portions of meat. Good luck!!
Judy, you hang in there. You were stuck in a difficult situation and because you were essentially blindsided, you couldn't plan for it. You'll get right back to doing what works now that you're back to your regular routine. OTOH, you could think about how the weekend went and what you could do if you're ever in a similar situation again. Not to beat yourself up. That's not helpful. Just to be aware of how that kind of unexpected event affects your food and activity choices and think about how to manage them next time.
Ms. Meri, thanks for the salad tips. And how are you doing?
I'm doing OK. I've gotten a lot of walking in the past few days and I feel much better. I love, love, love my shoes. I don't know where I'll get the $150 to replace them when they wear out, but I'll worry about that when it happens. The thing is, with these shoes, not only do my legs not hurt, but I can walk faster without pain. I have shin issues and they seem to be related to wearing the wrong shoes.
I've decided to do Simply Filling Foods starting Friday. I want to wait until I'm starting a new week to switch. I've been eating my points, but mindlessly. I'm using the points as my gauge of how much to eat, not my hunger signals. The Simply Filling Technique requires that you pay attention to how hungry/satisfied you are and that's something I need to learn to do. If I don't, I might get to goal, but I won't be able to stay there.
I'm not happy with some of the rules, particularly the bread thing. I think whole grain breads should be a once a day food, like cereal, whole wheat pasta, etc. But it's not, so I'm going to have to use points or adjust my food choices accordingly. That's the hard thing because I love to make (and eat) my homemade breads. And I don't overindulge because they're so filling, which is kind of ironic.
I also don't like the nonfat dairy thing. I don't find nonfat dairy satisfying, so I'm going to use points for the yogurt and cheese. I know that for now I have to follow it exactly or I'll get myself into trouble. But I may try a couple of tweaks later on and see if they cause problems or not.
I don't know if I'm going to keep that all the time or switch back to points if I have a really difficult week coming up where I know I'll be facing a lot of eating out or pot lucks or similar challenges where I'm going to be faced with a minimum of foods from the Simply Filling list. I'll deal with the details as I go along. And keep you posted on how it goes.
Keep turtlin'!
So, that's what's going on with me these days.
Hi turtles - lots to catch up on. I have been pretty busy up here with my ladies group & dd coming home. But all is good & hope all of you are keeping well.
Stayed the same AGAIN at my w/i last week - and was lucky to do that given I fell off my plan & had way too many treats & that carried on until Mon a.m. and I have been OP since then. So no idea how scales will react Wed evening. I am hoping for some kind of loss - getting frustrating staying the same. But am grateful not to be going up.
Princess - so happy to see you posting again!
Judy - you always have so much going on with everything, don't know how you juggle everything and still try staying OP.
Msmeri - thanks for salad info
Lin/Lauren - nice to see you posting
Cherry - hang in there!
Hope I didn't miss anyone! Lets get on with our plans!
Hi all and happy Tuesday to everyone! It has turned cold here, summer just seemed to turn around and walk away... not even a little glance over her shoulder or anything! We were in the 40's last night and supposed to get there again. I still have a couple of tomato plants hanging on in the garden but I guess I will pull off what is left and pull the plants out this week.
DH had to have a spot on his back removed today, the doctor did not like the look of it and sent it off to be tested. It was very deep and he had to be sewn up but will go back to get the results and have the stiches removed in a week and a half. I am having back trouble again but trying to stay one step a head of it and I know if I could get some of the extra weight off that it would help.
Food is good so far this week, not totally on plan but way better then it has been in the past and I am within points.
Judy: Stress! UGH, it gets us every time! But it sounds like you have it under control and are back on track!
Bandit: You are still doing so well even with a couple of weeks of not losing... but I know how much you want to see the scale go down so I sure hope that happens for you!
Lin: What kind of shoes did you get? Good luck with the filling foods, I hope that you are able to get the plan to work for you.
Thanks Bandit for thinking of me. I am trying to hang in there but not doing very well. My depression is rearing its ugly head and i am gaining weight.I haven't been posting cause i hate to sound so negative and bring anyone else down. You guys are doing great.
{{CherryAutumn}} Please post anyway. You don't have to be all upbeat and cheery; that's not why we're here. We'd just like to hear from you.
Princess, great to see you again! My DH had a spot removed from his back last year; it was basal cell carcinoma. That's the good kind of skin cancer, so it was a relief -- especially after the doctor initially told him he thought it was melanoma. Talk about not getting much sleep for a while there. So I can relate!
Bandit, good for you, getting right back on track. That always helps keep the gains away, or down to a bare minimum. Or, in the case of my upcoming vacation, I find that if I immediately get back on track, the weight comes off more quickly. It hasn't had time to "set" yet, apparently.
Lin, glad to hear you're out and walking again. You're an inspiration to me; I need to walk more. What kind of shoes do you have? I like how you tweak your approach when you're not getting the results you want. Reminds me of a chef, tweaking her recipes. Are you doing the NaNo thing this year?
Meri, thanks for the salad tips. How are you?
Judy, five inches from the hips!! Wow! OK, so you had a crappy weekend. I really think those are just part of the journey and actually have a great benefit when we turn them around immediately -- they show us we don't have to be perfect to make this work. The key is turning them around ASAP. So don't waste any time, just jump back on the wagon and keep going! Those pounds will fall right back off and you'll be on your way.
I lost the pounds I gained last week and am back to the weight in my signature. They were mostly hormonal. I've discovered that the middle of my cycle is now my worst time, by far, in every respect. In addition to the weight gain, I get terrible indigestion with bloating, and this month I experienced that sharp, nasty side pain some women get with ovulation. Bleah! Menopause, bring it on!
Anyway, I'm glad to see things getting back to normal, and glad my weight is back down before vacation. Since I fully expect it to go up over the next couple of weeks in the Adirondacks. I've planned a couple of splurges, and I'm also going to drink some lovely wine with most meals (the friends we'll be staying with always have wine with dinner). I'll also do some walking to keep the damage down a bit; here's hoping the weather holds out. They're predicting lots of rain, unfortunately! So I'm bringing some books to read out on the porch, overlooking the lake. I can't wait; we are SO ready for this vacation!
Oh, an NSV (sorry if I already mentioned this one) ... I had to pretty much get an entirely new wardrobe for the fall/winter months, and I recently had to return the new size 14 jeans because when I got them home and wore them for a couple of hours, I realized they were too big! So I went back and got the 12s. They're tight, but not horribly so. So now half my pants are 12s! I haven't seen this size in a long, long time. Makes me very, very happy.
Have a great day, everyone. We can do this! It's worth it.
Oh Turtles, I love you all! So good to see so many of us posting again.
MsMeri, love all the salad tips. It's a good reminder to not eat the crazy fatty things available at the salad bars and go for the things that'll get us into the normal weight range. How are things going for you?
Lin, it's great that you're back to walking. Those shoes sound incredible. I finally found a pair of New Balance that are cut wide enough for my feet. I had been walking in SAS sandals, but these sneakers make much more sense. I love all the personal tips you gave me about stress. I have made huge progress, but when I heard my quiet weekend with dh was going to be completely turned upside down, I started by bingeing right away. Next time I'll do better. the good thing is I went to my meeting this morning, had misplaced my pass, decided not to WI. However, I am going to go to a mtg. tomorrow morning and get a weekly /WI. I think I will be more accountable if I do. I'm saving points for my birthday this weekend. Yay!
Let us know how the filling foods works out. When I did Core, I loved it and my body liked the change up. I hope you find the same feelings of accomplishment.
Princess, yes, we're having changeable weather here. We've had a cold snap, tomatoes are all gone, not much yield this summer,. but what we had was good. You inspired me to get out in the backyard and put things away. Thanks! Tomorrow I'll pull the veggie plants so the soil will be good for next year.
I've got my fingers crossed for the spot your dh had removed. All that stuff is scary, but if you keep an eye on spots and get to a dermatologist right away, everything should be okay. I am so thrilled for you that food is good! Weigh to go. I still make your delicious Philly Cheesesteaks via WW style and they are delicious, filling, and low in points. A perfect recipe!
Cherry, you won't bring us down. That's the whole point here. When you need help, ask for it. When you're doing well, you're inspiration for the rest of us. The important part is to post, post, post!
Lauren,
Ohmigosh!!!! I'm so glad that your weight is back down. Isn't it wonderful to find something that works? I keep my eyes open for new things to try, but I won't leave WW's because my support group is wonderful. Good ideas, great leader, and a feeling of friendship. I'm lucky. I know just what you mean about my past weekend. Yes, as Lin says I was blindsided, and yes, I need to have more resources to do better next time, but I also feel that backsliding happens once in awhile and that's gotta be okay too. The problem I had before was I backslid to often and didn't lose weight. I didn't gain, but I didn't do any long term losing. Having resolved at the end of May that that wasn't good enough, I'm working hard to get this weight off.
Hooray for your wardrobe size!!!!!!! How terrific to have to return pants because they are too large. Wooo Hoooo!
Okay, this is much too long, but I'm happy to have so many of us chiming in again. Good luck to us all!
Judy
234.6/196.8/195 and five more pounds down (190 by Halloween)
all tooo quiet
and I love your plan for long term maintenance. You've done so well. Your attitude is so good. 
You can do this and like yousaid, you know what to do. 
I didn't see your post when I sent mine in.
I haven't been posting cause i hate to sound so negative and bring anyone else down. You guys are doing great.
I haven't seen this size in a long, long time. Makes me very, very happy.
Yay!
