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I’m a big believer in mind-body medicine, so I was excited when a recent WW Workshop focused on the connection between optimism and weight loss success.
I’ve written before about the link between positive thinking and weight loss — but it was inspiring to hear how optimism showed up in real members’ stories.
Here are some of the highlights and takeaways from that meeting.
Healthy Snacking Wins
Last week’s meeting had been all about healthy snacking, so we started by sharing our progress:
- One member tried PB2 (affiliate link) in place of peanut butter and was pleasantly surprised.
- Others shared how they use PB2 (affiliate link) or PBfit in all kinds of ways to save SmartPoints.
- Several members focused more on fruits and veggies instead of packaged snacks.
- Adding protein helped some cut down on sugar cravings.
- A creative member stuffed portabella mushrooms with spinach and string cheese.
- Another discovered that mixing salsa and chopped vegetables into Greek yogurt made a delicious savory dip.
Related Content: 11 Simple Ways to Tame Your Sugar Cravings
Strategies for Parties
Tips members shared:
- Eat before you go
- Plan for the foods you really want
- Focus on the people, not the food
- Leave before dessert or late-night snacks are served
This kind of sharing is why I love WW Workshops. The sense of community support makes staying on track so much easier.
If you haven’t tried them yet, here’s my take on Rediscovering WW Virtual Workshops.
The Benefit of 10% Weight Loss
We celebrated two women who reached their 10% weight loss milestone!
This is one of my favorite topics because so many people don’t realize how powerful even a modest weight loss can be. According to research:
- Losing as little as 5–10% of your starting weight improves blood sugars, blood pressure, and sleep apnea.
- In one U.S. study, losing just 7% reduced diabetes risk by 58%.
- Similar benefits were seen in Finland with only a 5% loss.
What benefits have you experienced?
- Less knee and back pain
- Improved COPD
- Better sleep and energy
- Smaller clothes
- Clearer thinking and brighter mood
On Choosing Optimism
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” ~ Henry Ford
Why optimism matters
Research shows that people who succeed on weight-loss plans believe they’ll succeed.
Optimism isn’t about pretending challenges don’t exist. It’s about focusing on what went right, letting go of slip-ups, and planning how you’ll handle things differently next time.
Reframing negative thoughts
- “I’m too busy and tired to work out” ? “I’ll just get on my yoga mat for 5 minutes and see what happens.”
- “I’m never going to reach my goal” ? “I’ll focus on getting as healthy as I can.”
- “I’m too old to lose weight” ? “I’ll start where I am and make slow, steady changes.”
We all fall into negative thinking sometimes, but optimism shifts our perspective. It helps us see everything as feedback, not failure.
? I’ve written before about positive thinking and weight loss success.
? We also talked about this in a recent Simple Shifts Podcast episode on WW Virtual Workshops.
Recipe Spotlight: Asian Beef & Mushroom Lettuce Wraps
Because optimism is easier when you enjoy what you’re eating, here’s a WW-friendly recipe that’s been a hit in my kitchen: Asian Beef and Mushroom Lettuce Wraps.
Asian Beef and Mushroom Lettuce Wraps
Each serving has 264 calories and 4 Points.
Click here to see your WW Points for this recipe and track in the WW APP or site!
If you’ve made these Asian-Inspired Lettuce Wraps with Beef and Mushrooms, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Asian Beef and Mushroom Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 1 pound uncooked 93% lean ground beef
- 1 cup thinly sliced onion
- 2 tablespoons peeled minced ginger
- 2 cloves garlic clove, minced
- 2 cups thinly sliced bok choy
- 2 cups thinly sliced mushrooms
- 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 8 large lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Coat a large nonstick skillet (affiliate link) with cooking spray and set it over medium-high heat. Add the beef, onion, ginger and garlic. Cook, breaking the beef up into crumbles, until it is browned and the and onion is soft, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add the bok choy, mushrooms, red pepper and soy sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bok choy is wilted and the pepper is crisp-tender, about 4 minutes.
- Spoon about 1/2 cup of beef mixture into each lettuce leaf.
- Yields 2 filled leaves per serving. Serve with extra soy sauce if desired (could affect POINTS values).
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Food for Thought
“Every day might not be good, but there’s something good in every day.” ~ Alice Morse Earle
