Weight Watchers: Setting goals to make summer dieting fun

Karen Thompson, a multi-award winning Weight Watchers Leader, looks at setting goals to make summer dieting fun.

Karen runs meetings at Saddleworth Rangers Rugby Club, Shaw Hall Bank Road, on Tuesdays at 6.30pm. To find out more call Karen on 07970 370336 or email KThompson@weight-watchers.co.uk

WITH THE bank holidays and half term out of the way, June is a good time to start focusing on how we can feel good for summer and with the lighter nights and warmer weather it’s a great time to make some small changes to help you lead a more healthy lifestyle.

How are you planning to spend your summer? Maybe a holiday with family or friends, days out with the kids, or simply relaxing in the back garden.

Whatever your plans are, those crazy, hazy days of summer should be a fun and happy time – but this doesn’t have to mean sabotaging your efforts to lose weight or become fitter.

In my meetings we talk all the time about setting small achievable goals along the way as some realistic goals can really help you to keep focused.

Goal setting is not just a number – it’s about changing and introducing behaviours that help you stay in control.

Achieving a goal can make you feel fantastic and more confident, so what’s your goal going to be? Looking fab for a special occasion, doing more exercise, feeling good for summer, going down a notch on your belt, dropping a dress size, cooking more at home or trying a fantastic new recipe?

As summer means BBQs why not try making your own beef burgers using this recipe.

But remember, the barbecue is not just for meat – try using it to chargrill vegetables like peppers, onions, mushrooms and asparagus.

If you fancy a dessert, bananas bake wonderfully on a cooling BBQ or why not make some fruit kebabs. Fruit contains natural sugars fructose, glucose and sucrose, which are all sources of energy and eaten in moderation can be part of a healthy eating plan.

 

Beef Burger (4 pro points per serving or free on filling and healthy)

1)     Mix together 500g extra lean beef mince, 1 finely chopped onion, 2 teaspoons oregano, 1 egg white (beaten) and 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce. Season and shape into 4 burgers.

2)     Preheat the BBQ and cook the burgers for 4-5 minutes on each side (or until cooked through)

3)     Serve with the lettuce, cherry tomatoes and pickled gherkins.

Tip: If you like your burger in a bun, just add 4 pro points for a burger bun. If you prefer a cheeseburger, just add 20g Weight Watchers grated cheese for an extra 1 pro point