Category Archives: Reviews

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Weight Watchers 2017 Program Changes and Review

What’s in store for Weight Watchers 2017? Weight Watchers has been pretty much silent about changes coming, but I’ll share what I’ve found in this Weight Watchers 2017 Program Review.

The Biggest Change to the Weight Watchers 2017 Program

Perhaps the biggest changes to the Weight Watchers2017 program is leadership. CEO Jim Chambers resigned in September, and the company is seeking to find a replacement. Oprah gets to help with this, so I’m excited to see who they choose. Too bad Gayle already has a job. The stock price is down to about a third of what it was at the peak of the Oprah announcements. Revenues are also plummeting, and the negativity around Smart Points doesn’t help.

Weight Watchers 2017 Program Changes

From a points perspective, there aren’t many Weight Watchers 2017 program changes. Weight Watchers 2017They’ve added a new program that gets you a discount on the Apple Watch. But, be careful, if you terminate early you can be charged $304 the first month and less as you stay with the program. You effectively save $125 on the watch if you use this method. Not a bad deal if you truly want both programs.

Note: If you want the new program click my referral link here to get a $10 gift card, the latest Weight Watchers promotion (sometimes $20-$100 in incentives), and $5-$10 back from Ebates. Plus if you use a reward credit card, you’ll get that bonus too. There are so many ways to save on the Weight Watchers 2017 program.  

Weight Watchers continues to update the app. They typically release a new change every month, but they are mostly to fix bugs and crashes.  There aren’t as many crashes these days, which is nice.

Smart Points Are Here to Stay for 2017

Weight Watchers 2017 program still includes the new point calculations called SmartPoints and FitPoints.

What are Weight Watcher Smart Points?

Smart Points replace the old points plus system. They’re  focused on getting you to eat healthy,  more filling foods. If you thought South Beach diet was similar, you might be right.

  • Calculating SmartPoints: SmartPoints are created from a formula that includes calories, protein, sugars and saturated fat. Point are calculated with calories and decrease as you add protein and increase as you add saturated fat and sugars.
  • Weekly SmartPoints Allocation: Everyone starts with a target of 30 daily SmartPoints. You may get extra depending on the results of your initial assessment. You will also get a weekly allotment of SmartPoints depending on your weight, gender, etc. The absolute lowest number of weekly SmartPoints allocation is 14 based on a conversation I had with the expert chat team. However, 14 is very rare. Most people get between 21 and 35 weekly SmartPoints.
  • Protein: Proteins that are lean are the best choices for low smart point values. In fact, lean meats are often 1-2 points less per serving than they were on the PointsPlus program. Think tuna, turkey, lean ham, and chicken.
  • Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits and Veggies are free! Except for high starch veggies like potatoes. If you decide to juice your fruits and veggies, you’ll need to count the points because you’re removing the fiber. As far as freezing fruit and eating them unblended, I have word from my coach that this is fine. Zero points that is. (insert Yoda voice)
  • Sugar and sweets: Snacks hit you hard on the Weight Watchers 2017 program. Most snacks are a few points higher than they were on Points Plus. If you reduce the amount of snacks you have, you’ll do great on this program.

Weight Watchers 2017 Review

After a year of being on the new Weight Watchers program, I can say that when I stick to it exactly…I lose weight. When I mess up and go off track, I don’t do great. The difference between what I do and what most people do is that I don’t give up. This is why I’ve been able to lose weight and keep it off over the years.

There are so many avid Weight Watcher’s fans that are frustrated with the new Smart Points system. I have always said that if an older system works better for you, you should stick with it.

The only person who knows your body is you. If your body doesn’t respond to the new Smart Points system but, responds nicely to Points Plus, then by all means…do Points Plus! Just because Weight Watchers doesn’t support Points Plus, doesn’t mean you can’t find a program or app that still works. Do a search in Apple’s Appstore or Google Play for Weight Watchers Points Plus to find an app that works for you. My quick search turned up at least ten right off the bat.

Most folks who want to go back to the old system or who want to pay less for WW, should use the itrackbites app. It’s one of the best out there. It costs $3.99 with a recipe builder add on for $1.99 as well as a restaurant guide for $1.99. It tracks Smart Points, Points Plus, and the old Points program. The possibilities are endless.

I said it last year, and I’ll say it again, Weight Watchers exists to make money for its shareholders, and they do it by changing the program and marketing the heck out of it. Hence, the Oprah effect. I believe if Oprah weren’t on board with Smart Points, the stock price of Weight Watchers after the loss of their CEO would be well below $10 per share. Weight Watchers was SMART for partnering with her.

Overall, I give the  Weight Watchers 2017 program two thumbs up. Mostly because it works and is focused on the right things: healthy, filling foods combined with exercise. BUT, YOU MUST DO THE WORK.

Whats in Store for 2017?

I’m continuing with the Weight Watchers 2017 program, but with a few changes. Firstly, I’m making small, lasting changes. I’m analyzing my food habits and seeing how my body reacts to a new one over the span of 7-14 days. This means that I’m tracking and journaling daily!

One thing that I’ve found is that I don’t have as many cravings I when I start my day with protein and add carbs after lunch. I literally can last an entire morning on two cups of decaf and one egg. That’s 2 Smart Points if I don’t use creamer.

Secondly, I’m going to focus on ONE bad habit that I’d like to break. I think this is 2 PM carb binge. In 2016, I focused on removing caffeine from my life. This wasn’t easy and cost me a few weeks of nagging headaches. But, it was well worth it.

If you want to make a change in your life, start small and don’t give up just because you didn’t have a perfect day. Look for progress. Was today better than yesterday? If so, you’re making progress! If not, what do you need to do to change that? Make slow and steady progress to the person you want to be. AND DON’T GIVE UP ON YOU.

 

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Air Fryer Review and 3 Smart Point Air Fried Zucchini Recipe

I recently purchased the NuWave 3-qt. Digital Air Fryer to learn what all the air frying fuss was about.
air fryer reviewTo cut to the chase, I don’t know why it took me so long to buy one of these miracles. I love it. Here’s my complete air fryer review as well as a bonus recipe. For the bonus recipe, scroll down to the bottom of this article.

What is an Air Fryer?

An air fryer works by moving air around the entire unit while heating up the unit. There’s a grate in the basket where your food sits and is evenly cooked on all sides making it crispy on the outside. No oil is needed. However, some people choose to brush a little oil on their food to add crisp and flavor prior to air frying.

You can cook healthier versions of  french fries, as well as enjoy formally fried food like fried zucchini, jalapeno poppers, egg rolls, taquitos, and grilled cheese. I know this because I made all of these during the first few days of having my air fryer. Wings are on the list, but I haven’t purchased them yet.

Many air fryers do more than air fry. They also grill, roast, steam, and bake. Check your manual to find out if the model you prefer has these functions.

Air Fryer Features

air-fryer-reviewThe NuWave 3-qt. Digital Air Fryer has a 3-qt capacity basket, digital LED, pre-heat feature, digital LED controls and a safety feature that requires the basket to be in place before it operates. The temperature ranges from 100 to 390 degrees and can increase in 5-degree increments.
Digital LED controls ensure accuracy and consistent results.

You’ll find similar features with other air fryers. The most popular air fryer on Amazon is currently the GoWISE USA 4th Generation Electric Air Fryer.  This model has seven recipes pre-programmed for Chips, Meat, Chicken, Steak, Shrimp and Fish. It can also cook up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Other popular models include. Philips HD9220/26 Airfryer  and Farberware Multi-functional air fryer. Each has their own unique features in addition to the standard features mentioned above.

Air Fryer Not-So-Great Points

The problem area for most of the air fryers is the lack of space or the lack of the second rack. You’ll have to purchase extra accessories if you want to bake or increase the amount of food you cook. I think a second rack should be standard in every box. Making air fried zucchini would take half the time if I had a second rack.

All in all, I highly recommend the air fryer. I wouldn’t wait to get it for a Christmas present if you don’t have to. That’s why I didn’t put it on my must have list for Christmas. It is a must have, but It’s perfect for yummy snacks now and through the entire season.

Which Air Fryer is the Best?

Size

That depends on your needs. If you have a large family, you’ll want to start with the brands that have the largest capacity. Like the Power Fryer XL which has a 5.3 qt capacity basket. For two people, the NuWave 3 qt capacity air fryer works just fine.

Price

Next, you’ll need to decide on price. Price was a huge factor for me. I wanted to try air frying out without a large commitment. I picked up my Nuwave air fryer up at Kohls with a 30% off coupon and $10 cash back. You can’t beat that deal. Well…actually you can. Use Ebates to get a $10 gift card if you’re new plus a cash back rebate as well. This is on top of any credit card rebates you have outside of that program.  If you use my referral link, I’ll get a small referral commission, which helps support my website. Thank you!

If you don’t have a Kohls or don’t like the hassle of their cash back programs, Amazon is the next best place to get a lower priced model. The GoWISE USA 4th Generation Electric Air Fryer is the most popular air fryer listed under $90.

Functionality

Finally, you’ll want on that has the functions you need. I’m a plain kind of gal. So I don’t need the functions. I just need the ability to control the temperature and cook time. I’m happy with my purchase. If I were to buy another one, I’d probably go larger.

Air Fried Zucchini Recipe

This air friend zucchini recipe serves 4 people at 3 SmartPoints per serving.

Ingredients

  • 2 Sliced zucchini or summer squash will work too
  • 1/2 egg
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions

  1. Slice the zucchini about 1/8″ thick. You can slice it thinner or thicker per your preference. Too thin and you have a zucchini chip. Too thick and it will be too soft when you bite into it.
  2. Crack the egg into a bowl, beat it and save 1/2 of it. If you don’t reserve 1/2 of it, you’ll end up throwing it away. The egg is only used to coat the zucchini and help the bread crumbs to stick.air fried zucchini recipe
  3. Dip the zucchini into the egg mix and then coat each slice with the bread crumbs.
    Place slices into the air fryer. You can see that I’m using summer squash too. It works just as good as zucchini and that’s what I had on hand. nuewave air fryer zuchinni
  4. Cook in the air fryer at 360 degrees for 15 minutes. No turning is necessary unless you piled them on top of each other. Then you’ll need to shake them half way through the cooking process.air fry zucchini

Do you have an air fryer? What do you make it in it? I’d love to hear about your favorite recipes in the comments below.