Sunday, October 2, 2011

Weight Watchers Points Plus and Eggs Benedict,.............or..... "I'm A Believer"

I've lost a considerable amount of weight in the last two months.  I haven't mentioned that until now, because I thought I might wake up and find out it was a dream.  It's not.

I dug out the last booklet that I brought home from a Weight Watchers meeting a year ago. I stopped attending meetings, as  I had lost my motivation, and couldn't seem to shed the last five pounds.  The booklet told  how the new "Points Plus" system works.  I hadn't been on that program when I stopped attending the meetings, and I'd tossed the new information into a drawer.  Good thing I knew where I hid it!

I actually got out of bed at 1 AM one night to search it out, and spent the next few hours online to find details.  I also called a friend who had begun the program, (not in the middle of the night), and her excited comments about her results made me decide to try this Points Plus system.


The NEW Points Plus System is so easy to follow that you would not even know I had been watching what I ate and counting points unless you lived with me.  It allows more points, and more "extra" weekly points.  The way to calculate the points changed, also.  One major change is that FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE "FREE." Before, I had to count an apple as one point, a banana as two, and so forth, so it was less desirable to eat fruits and vegetables when I only had 18 points a day to use.  Now, with 29 points, and not having to count fruits and vegetables, there's more food on the table and I am eating fruit and vegetables every day! (I see them as "Get Out of Jail Free" cards!)

The number of points a person is allowed each day is based on current weight, height, age, and activity level.

In simple terms, THIS IS THE BEST METHOD OF WEIGHT LOSS I HAVE EVER USED.  I've eaten three meals a day, a few snacks, good meals, counted my points, and the weight I wanted to lose has literally melted off.

In June, I laid a pair of skinny jeans on the floor of my "dressing room," and made myself walk over and around them for most of the summer. They were right there, reminding me that I couldn't fit into them. (They coughed and hissed at me each day, and I swore at them and kicked them a lot.)

I wore them to work for dress-down day Friday. (Now, we're friends.)

No, I am not being paid by Weight Watchers to tell you this.  I use a website www.calculator.com  to figure out the Points Plus for things I eat.  I've cooked some of the easy recipes in that booklet. I buy WW cookbooks, subscribe to the magazine, and am a Facebook friend.  I've played in my kitchen, following the guidelines, and I've created the best diet meal in the entire universe..............which we are eating once a week..............and lost weight.  Of course I am going to share this recipe!
                                           Weight Watchers  Eggs Benedict
    Yes, I know this is generally a breakfast thing............I've gotten over that....now it's called "Dinner!
Serves two.
Ingredients:
                  4 eggs              2 English Muffins             Canadian Bacon    "Hollandaise Sauce"
I've used Oscar Meyer Canadian Bacon. It has 2 packages of 4.4 oz.....so I can get two meals out of a box. I've also used Canadian Bacon from Aldi's when I can find it.  Both work fine.  About 2-3 slices per person is enough.

First, make the Hollandaise Sauce, using a blender.
Ingredients:  1 egg yolk,  1/2 tsp Dijon mustard,  1 T water,  1-2 tsp lemon juice,  1.5 T melted butter, salt, pepper

In the blender, mix together the yolk, mustard, lemon juice, water, and salt and pepper.
Then, slowly pour in the melted butter (through the top hole in the blender lid) with the blender on "blend."  Pour this sauce into a small bowl, and set it aside. (Resist the temptation to drink this......)

Spray a frying pan with no-stick stuff, and cook the Canadian Bacon in the pan. I like to get it a little brown. (Notice that there is virtually NO FAT oozing out of this bacon......hence no fat on your thighs, either...) Keep it warm.

Split the muffins and toast them.  You might want to be sure the first one is lightly browned before starting the eggs.

In another sprayed frying pan, fry the 4 eggs, gently turning each one over once.  You want them to be "runny" in the middle.  Randy says this is called "Over Easy." (Yes, I know that REAL Eggs Benedict call for poached eggs, but they taste the same to me, and this is easier.)

Lay the muffin halves on 2 plates.  Put the Canadian Bacon on top of the muffins.  Gently lay a fried egg on top of each baconed muffin.  Spoon the Hollandaise Sauce over these, and sprinkle with some parsley flakes. (Presentation is everything.)

Points count:  muffin-4, each egg-2, Canadian bacon-2-3, H-Sauce-2
The whole plate per person is 11-13 Points Plus.
(and worth every point.....)

Enjoy!
It will take a sharp knife and a fork to eat this, but it will take awhile, and fill you up. You will need to chew.  Every time I've made this, I feel as if I am cheating on my eating plan.  I've also lost weight.

I've made Eggs Benedict for years, and served it only on Christmas Morning.  I always used a packaged Hollandaise Sauce mix to make life easier.  I will probably use this new recipe from now on.  (Philip named it "Holiday Sauce," so that's what we call it.)

If you remember, I was using a website to count my caloric intake earlier this year.  Not a bad thing, but this new Points Plus thing is, in my opinion, wonderful.  I hope the ad they run under this blog  is for Weight Watchers.  There is no arguing with years of success, and the fact that WW stopped, took a look at scientific weight-loss research, and then recharged their program last year with this NEW system, is pretty awesome.

I religiously attended WW meetings for five years. I made friends, most of whom I only know by their first names.  I trusted my WW Leader, and I learned a lot about eating right. I also learned how my emotions could cause me to binge.  Right now, I am doing this at home, and not attending meetings, but if I had not been to all those meetings, I would be there.  I just cannot argue with SUCCESS.


copyright: KP Gillenwater