WW Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

Over the weekend I posted this photo on my Instagram stories with the caption that I
make these bars every weekend and it's true! When I started WW (formerly know as
Weight Watchers) last April I found that most of the granola or protein bars that I had
been eating had more smart points than I wanted to use for a morning or afternoon snack
so I began making these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars.

Chocolate Diet Coke Cupcakes

This post has been sponsored by SheSpeaks, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Everyone who knows me well knows that I love Diet Coke®. I've been a fan for years!
There's just something about the delicious taste and that fizz that keeps me coming back
for more.

Many years ago, I heard that you could bake a low-fat cake by simply adding a 12-ounce
can of Diet Coke® to a box of chocolate cake mix. That's it. No oil, eggs or water needed,
just a can of diet soda and cake mix. Diet Coke® and chocolate - I was sold!

Weight Loss Challenge and DIY Snack Size Jell-O

The company I work for is hosting a "Show Yourself Some Love" weight loss challenge, which began last week.  If you lose 5 lbs. and keep it off until April 1st, your name is entered into a drawing for prizes. 
Since swimsuit season will be here before we know it, so I decided this was just the push I needed to lose a few pounds and to get my body moving.

Those of us that signed up to participate received these litte jars.
For every 0.2 pounds you lose, you get to remove a bead from one jar to the other.
Visual motivation.
I keep them on my desk at work to motivate me NOT to snack on the wrong foods.
I've been really good so far, but I still haven't been able to move a bead.
Losing weight is HARD!

I am doing Weight Watchers on my own since it has worked for me in the past.

Now the challenge is staying within my 26 points plus each day!!

Fruits and veggies are zero points, which I love, but I was trying to come up with a few other low point snacks to have in my lunch bag at work.  Sugar-Free Jell-O is 0 points, so I decided to make my own instead of buying the snack size 4 pack for $1.99.  A small box of Sugar-Free Jell-O is .74 cents at Target and all you need to add is water.  I made the Jell-O and poured it into 4 ounce jelly jars that I already had on hand.  One small box of Jell-O filled 6 jars.  Definitely more economical as long as you already have the containers and eco-friendly!

No plastic to recycle :)

Any ideas for me of other low-point snacks or food?

I'd love to hear your weight loss tips or sucess stories, so feel free to comment!

DIY Snack Size Jell-O

1 small box (0.30 oz) Sugar Free Jell-O
1 cup boiling water
1 cup cold water

Empty Jell-O into a small bowl.  Pour 1 cup of boiling water of the Jell-O and stir for 2 minutes.
Add 1 cup of cold water and stir to combine.
Pour Jell-O into individual containers (I used 4 oz. jelly jars)
Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm.

Skinny Hot Chocolate

Hi there!
Sorry I haven't been posting as much lately, but I've been trying to be good and not make too many sweets.
I've been tracking weight watcher points and my friend Bekka and I started the Couch to 5K plan.
We are on week two - yay us!

Swim suit season is just around the corner, so we have to stay focused!

I would love to hear any tips or advice you might have about either plan, so please comment or send me an email.  We need all the help we can get :)

I've been pretty good about staying within my WW points plus, but I need something sweet after dinner.
And it has to be chocolate. 

It has been really cold aroud here the past few days, so this Skinny Hot Chocolate hit the spot tonight!

I've been trying to give up as many artificial sweeteners as I can, besides my beloved Diet Coke, so I been using stevia.  It's a little pricey, but healthier for sure.  I tried it in this recipe and really like it.

I can't wait to hear your WW and/or running tips!
Happy Monday!

Skinny Hot Chocolate
recipe from Prevention RD

1 1/4 cup almond milk
1 1/2 T unsweetened cocoa
pinch of sea salt
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. stevia or other sweetener of your choice

Whisk together the milk, cocoa powder, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Cook until milk starts to steam.  Turn off heat and whisk in the vanilla extract and stevia.
Serve hot.

Yield - 1 serving, 4 ww points plus

Double Chocolate Pudding

Even though I'm trying to watch what I eat - a girl still has to have some chocolate.
I do anyway.
This little chocolate pudding is made with low-fat milk and dark chocolate chips and guess what?
It is only 3 Weight Watcher points!!!
I can't wait to have another one after dinner tonight :)

Double Chocolate Pudding

1 oz. bittersweet chocolate (I used 1/4 cup Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Chips)

2 cups low-fat chocolate milk, at room temperature, divided

3 T cornstarch

Fat Free aerosol whipped cream

In a small pot, over low heat, melt chocolate, stirring constantly, about 1 minute.

Add 1 1/2 cups chocolate milk and cook, stirring occasionally, to combine, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix remaining 1/2 cup milk with cornstarch until well-blended with no lumps; add to pan with chocolate milk mixture.  Increase heat to medium and bring to a boil; stirring constantly; boil for one minute.  Reduce heat to low and cook until thickened; about 30 seconds; pour about 1/3 cup pudding into each of 6 small ramekins.  Cover ramekins with plastic wrap, pressing plastic down onto the surface of pudding (so skin does not form) and refrigerate until chilled.  When ready to serve, top with whipped cream.

Recipe from Weight Watchers

3 PointsPlus Value