Wellness Journey

Favorite Weight Watchers Smart Points Foods

Have you tried the market fresh salad from ChickFila? It is 5 points if you don't add the extras that come with it. The reduced fat berry vinaigrette  is 5 points for the whole packet. I use a half packet for only 7 points total for a great salad.  You can ask for the Asian salad with grilled chicken to and really cut the points. 

At home, I make my own version that is even lower in points. This one is mixed salad greens (0 pts),  berries (0 pts), oven roasted turkey from the deli (1 pt for 2 oz), fat-free feta (1 pts for 2 oz), and SkinnyGirl berry vinaigrette (0 points).

Total points = 3!!!

I take this every week to work for my lunch.

I eat an apple and 2 oz of turkey nearly every day for breakfast or lunch. This day I added  a few berries and cherry tomatoes. Zero points for most fruit and fresh veggies! The drink is my families favorite crunchy punch made sugar free (1pt)!

This whole meal (or snack) was only 2 points! 

 This is a meal from Zoe's restaurant. I didn't eat the rice or salad because their Greek dressing is high points! Shrimp is a great choice especially grilled.  It is 1 point for 3 oz! The veggies grilled are 0 points if they are not covered in oil or butter. 

Here is another salad. I love salad. This one has the mixed salad greens, veggies, berries fat-free feta and skinny girl dressing for only 1 point!  

I often make a big salad and serve salmon or shrimp with it for dinner.

Do you need a salty crunchy treat? This is 2 points for 3 cups of popcorn!

  

A few other things I love are Frigo light string cheese (1 point), a bowl of diced banana with a few berries (0 pts), Mama Lupe's low carb tortillas (1 point for 1 tortilla, 3 points for 2 so be aware). Fat-free coffee creamer and sugar-free coffee syrup are often what I use when I want a little sweet treat (1 pt for a TBSP of creamer). 

I make a meat-free taco soup with beans, corn, tomatoes, vegetable broth (you get the idea) then we use low-fat shredded cheese (1 pt) for a 1/4 cup) and tortilla strips from the salad dressing aisle (1 pt for 2 TBSP)

Avocados are higher in points but worth it, in my opinion.  Chia seeds get sprinkled on many of our meals. They look like pepper and have no taste but are full of good nutrients. 

Salsa is a great zero point item that adds loads of flavor. Use lots of spices on cauliflower or other veggies with a spray of pam for flavor but no points. 

I will add more, later. Recipes to come. We can do this and think how cute we will be by summer. ;) 

My thyroid support essential oil blend

(I only use Young Living Essential Oils)

In an empty 15 ml bottle

• 10 drops peppermint
• 10 drops spearmint
• 10 drops clove
• 10 drops copaiba 
• 10 drops frankincense
• 10 drops myrrh
• 10 drops basil 

Then I added 10 drops avocado carrier oil. I have dry skin (low thyroid symptom) and the avocado is great for that. You don't have to use it though. Next I added grape-seed carrier oil in the same amount as the essential oils. I just eyed how full the bottle was with only EO's then poured the carrier oil until it looked double. You could use another carrier like coconut oil. 

I popped on a roller ball for ease of use and my blend is ready. I apply it directly to my thyroid, over my adrenals (kidney area on the back) and big toes twice a day. 

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Have you ever heard of Parry Romberg Syndrome (PRS)? Don't feel bad most doctors haven't heard of it either. It is listed as a rare condition effecting approximately 1 per 700,000!  My son is the 1 in the statistic. When he was diagnosed at 5, the doctor said, "You will probably be the only person I will see with this in my lifetime." 

Click here (PRS) to learn a little about the condition. 

Since then we have found a doctor who has treated around 8 children with some variation of this condition. I remember My son's surprise when the doctor referred to other patients with this condition, he looked at me and said "I thought I was the only one!" 

The first symptoms appeared at 2 1/2 years old. His little nose was reddish purple all the time and one cheek had lots of tiny little veins. He had a bright red line down the middle of his forehead. People would often ask him if he colored on his face, or if he had a bruise. Eventually he began having terrible pain in his forehead, chin, and jaw. At 4 he described it as jellyfish stings. At 5 he finally got a diagnosis and went into what we considered remission after receiving treatment. That lasted nearly 4 years. 

At age 9 his condition came back with a vengeance.  He began having shocking pains in his stomach. Next, he had an episode that looked exactly like a stroke. I new immediately it was his condition because the stroke symptoms are on the left and his right side if affected by PRS. This also meant it was now not just on the outside but his brain was being attacked. 

It has been a long 3 years with much trial and error. We have found that a combination of diet, traditional medicine, and supplements are the best for us. We have proceeded with caution the entire time. Most medication comes with side effects that could cause new lifelong problems. Fortunately his doctors have had the "do no harm while helping heal" motto. We are grateful! Essential oils became part of our routine during this time. His doctors (he sees 4 specialists) are fully aware, and supportive. They have seen the improvement in the last year. :) 

Though daily his condition is an issue in our home and in his life, it is not what defines him. When he was first diagnosed I told him everyone has something.  I have a bad back, his daddy wears glasses, grandpa has diabetes, and he has PRS. 

When I wanted to blog about it I asked him if he minded if I wrote about his condition. It is his thing not mine. He is a private person, and doesn't like to draw attention to himself -especially about his condition. He surprised me though, "If it helps others I'm fine with it."  He isn't the poster child for PRS, he has no desire to go to support groups. It is just a thing to him like  braces or needing a hearing aid. 

So, this is our journey. His journey. We are fellow travelers, but in the end, we are just here to support him and help him find his way.

In every trial there is strengthening.  He is one tough 12 year old who has passed life trials many adults could not imagine. I can only say none of it is wasted.  I told him he was being strengthened and prepared. We may not even know how God uses this part of our lives on this side of heaven but He will. He carries us through. 

Join us on our journey to wellness!