Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Getting Thin in 2010

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on December 29, 2009.

In the meeting this week we talked about New Year’s Resolutions and setting goals.
Two of the most common resolutions of every New Year are to lose weight and exercise more.

When setting goals there are a few important things that should be considered:
• Stay positive!- This is your goal what you want to accomplish. Remind yourself how much you want it and how much it means to you to achieve it. Leave post it reminders around for encouragement. Come to the meetings…ha we’re here for you.

• Stay specific!- You can’t just set a goal stating “I am going to exercise more”. You have to have a plan. You also have to start the plan and get the wheels in motion. You could say something like “I want to exercise for 30 minutes 3 times a week this year. To accomplish this I am going to practice getting up earlier and working out to dvd’s that I have accumulated through the years. I am also going to play on the wii everyday for atleast 15 minutes when I get home from work 5 days a week.”

• Focus on what is doable!- Be realistic with yourself and your goals. If you set a goal that you cannot ever see yourself physically achieving then you have set your goals too high. Start small. Long term goals are comprised of many short term goals. Pace yourself and learn to reward your achievements at each interval.

• Make sure the goal is sensible for your lifestyle.

• Write down your goal and keep it somewhere that you will see it often. The members that attended the meeting wrote down their goals and I placed them in their folder that they pick up at the front of the room. That way anytime they need to refresh they have access to it.

I want everyone to be really specific and really think about what you think you can accomplish this new year. Take the time to set a personal goal that you want to achieve. Be sure that this goal meets all the above qualifications. Think back to the resolutions that you have made in prior years. Which ones worked and which ones didn’t? What was it that made them not work? Use this feedback to help influence your goal making this year.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Celebrate and Recognize Your Success

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on December 22, 2009.

While you are celebrating the end of a long year I think that it is important to be able to celebrate your own personal success. So often we put aside our accomplishments when they are so important to your success with weight watchers! I want you to make a list of all the things that have changed for the better over this past year.

Here are a few suggestions that you might could add to your list:
*Feel better about yourself- Have you noticed a little spring in your step. Maybe you have caught yourself smiling in the mirror.

*Measure up with a tape measure- Your pants seem to fit a little looser. Maybe you have had to create another hole in your belt. Your christmas clothes from last year fit better. Maybe you even have some bones that are beginning to show (hip/cheek/collar).

*Bought a smaller size?- How glorious is it when you go into a dressing room with your old size…only to find that it is way too big!

*Know when to say “no thanks”- This time of year especially have you found yourself turning down food that you used to consume no questions asked?

*Able to recognize your trigger foods-These are the foods that once you start eating them you can’t seem to stop. When you can recognize these foods before hand it is easier to avoid them or not even buy them at all.

*Order and cook like a pro- When you are at a restraunt you have no problems ordering food just the way you want it. Or when you cook at home have you noticed an improvement in the healthiness of the food you are cooking?

*Actually take time to enjoy your meals- Savor every bite and not just the whole dine and dash concept. Really look forward to each dish you consume. Plus with the points system you get to choose what you want to eat…which is soooo nice.

*Exercise without exhaustion-Maybe you don’t get winded going up a flight of stairs anymore. You might even find that your energy level has boosted.

*Accept compliments gracefully- When someone says “wow you look amazing”… instead of saying “thanks but I still have 40 lbs to go”…you could say something like “thank you so much I have really been trying to focus on eating healthier”

Getting compliments about your appearance can really help motivate you to get to your goals.

Be sure to take time to be thankful for all that you have done this past year. I know weight loss isn’t easy so you really have to decide that this is what you want. Then you have to make it all about you. It is not selfish to focus on your success and happiness. Whenever you start to feel tempted or discouraged over the holidays…read back over your list and remember the transformation that you have been through.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Staying Committed

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on December 15, 2009.

I know that with all the stress from the holiday season it has been really hard to stay committed to your weight loss plan. Don’t let yourself become victim to the snowball effect of a lapse-> relapse-> collapse! Lets try to push against that huge snowball on our backs! Remember that slip ups are going to happen. What we have to do is learn from each slip up that occurs and use positive feedback to get right back on plan! Here are a few things to keep in mind when you find your tongue licking the bottom of the ice cream carton.

1. Forgive yourself - ok yeah you slipped up you ate the entire tube of cookie dough but it’s not too late all is not lost!

2. Get right back on plan…the very next meal - Do not convince yourself that you will get back on plan tomorrow…because by tomorrow you could have gained yourself another 5 pounds.

3. Use feedback - analyze what just happened. Why did you eat that? What were you feeling at the time? Find a way to learn from each encounter!

4. Figure out the points of what you just ate - Sometimes documenting the amount of points in that pint of ice cream can keep you from splurging on that same item again.

5. Exercise - eeek there is always a way to try to make up for what just happened. Make an attempt to burn off some of those sneaky calories that just appeared in your tummy! Do some extra workouts to make up for it.

6. Ask for help and then accept it - So often we will ask for help from our friends/family…but then get mad when they tell us we shouldn’t be eating something ha ha. If you need help ask for it and then appreciate the help when it is given to you….besides they are probably right…you shouldn’t be eating 3 pieces of cheesecake!

7. Find an anchor - (in the meeting we used a penny to remind us of perseverance) find something that when you see it, it reconnects you to your goals and what you are trying to achieve. Some people use their 10% keychain, others have used newly appeared bones like hip bones and collar bones or cheek bones (bones that you used to not be able to see before the weight loss) Whenever they rub those bones or see them in a fresh picture it can be their inspiration to continue onward!

8. Recommit!!- You have made it this far and there are still 2 weeks left in this month. Do not allow yourself to let it all go and start over in January. We all know how easy it is to gain weight when we don’t try. It’s your choice do you really want 5-10 more pounds on you to have to lose?

Remember that you can do this….one cookie isn’t going to spoil everything. Commit to the plan and finish up this year the right way.

Stress and Eating

Here is the latest email from Dr. Jacobs.

As wonderful a time as Christmas is, it can often be stressful. Here is an article about dealing with the stress and eating:

Food, Stress, and Strategies
12/15/2009

“I eat when I’m bored.”

“I eat when I’m tired.”

“I eat when I’m lonely.”

“I eat when I’m stressed.”

Sound familiar? These are all reasons for eating which have nothing to do with actual hunger. It can even be viewed as part of a normal eating pattern as long as it only happens occasionally. It would be a problem if we ate for reasons other than hunger and nourishment more often than not. That’s when weight gain and other health issues arise. With these challenges in mind, we can arm ourselves with knowledge.

It’s important to learn what triggers our eating patterns. The next step is to learn how-to combat the temptation to eat when we are simply over stressed.

Stress can come from many places such as relationship strain, financial challenge, job demands, moving, and even happy stress—like what you might experience while planning a wedding. Your body does not discriminate against different types of stress and it reacts by pumping out hormones. Cortisol is one of those hormones which, over time, will increase your appetite and lead you to overeat.

The experts from the University of California, San Francisco Department of Psychiatry and Center on Obesity Assessment, Study, and Treatment tell us that cortisol and insulin shift our preferences toward comfort foods. Therefore, we crave high-fat, high-sugar, or high-salt foods. It’s one of the many reasons that we put on weight during the holidays which can be full of stressful triggers.

Lack of sleep is a trigger. Consistently missing the essential eight hours of rest and repair encourages certain metabolic changes that may lead to weight gain. A lack of sleep affects two important hormones that control appetite and satiety—leptin and ghrelin.

According to a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, people who slept only four hours a night had an 18 percent decrease in leptin (a hormone that signals the brain that the body has had enough to eat) and a 28 percent increase in ghrelin (a hormone that triggers hunger), compared with those who got more rest. Overall, study participants reported a 24 percent boost in appetite. The authors of the study also noted that too little sleep could eventually affect glucose (carbohydrate) metabolism which sets the stage for type 2 diabetes.

Here are a few more suggestions to help manage food and mood, according to Dr. Richard Wurtman from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology:
• Boost your alertness with lean protein. Protein foods are broken down into their amino acid building blocks during digestion. One amino acid, called tyrosine, will increase the production of dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. These neurotransmitters are known for their ability to increase levels of alertness and energy. Consider lean proteins like fish, chicken, turkey, lean red meat, and some vegetarian combinations like legumes with brown rice.

• Choose whole grain carbohydrates but remember to watch your portion size. Eating carbohydrates will trigger the release of insulin into the blood stream. Ultimately, the neurotransmitter serotonin will be triggered and serotonin has the effect of reducing pain, decreasing appetite, and producing a sense of calm. Research has shown that dieters tend to become depressed about two weeks into a diet, about the time their serotonin levels have dropped due to decreased carbohydrate intake.

• Adequate Folic acid can help counter mood. Folic acid deficiencies have been linked to depression in clinical studies. Folic acid deficiency causes serotonin levels in the brain to decrease. In these studies, as little as 200 micrograms was enough to help with depression. You can get that amount from a cup of cooked spinach or a glass of orange juice.

• Lack of selenium can cause bad moods. To help normalize mood, get adequate selenium by adding foods like Brazil nuts, tuna sandwiches, sunflower seeds or whole grain cereals to your weekly routine.

Now, let’s assume there will be “moments of humanity” which will consist of mistakes or lapses. On occasion we succumb to the stress and overeat. Guilt is rarely a positive motivator so consider these hints to get over the aftermath:
• Start with forgiveness – one day does not undo a healthy diet so don’t let one slip become three days or three weeks of excess.

• Start again – they say that the definition of success is falling two times and rising three so begin the next day with some exercise and a healthy breakfast. Try a great low fat breakfast burrito made with egg whites and fresh vegetables sautéed in a small amount of olive oil and wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla.

• Learn from the misstep – think about what triggered your food frenzy so you can come up with a better strategy for next time.
Remember, normal eating does include the occasional overindulgence—we all do it, but constant stress eating will result in declining health and expanding waistlines. You are unique and your coping strategies may need to be unique as well.

By Meridan Zerner, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., L.D. at Cooper Clinic is a registered and licensed dietitian with a masters degree in nutritional science. She is a certified sports specialist and believes in a balanced, science-based approach to health and wellness.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Get Some Sleep

Here is the latest email from Dr. Jacobs.

Are you in control of your emotions?

Chronic stress, illness, and even fluctuating hormones can all affect how well we handle daily problems. But one culprit of uncontrolled emotions that we often overlook is inadequate sleep. When we don't get enough rest, the emotional centers of our brain become more active. In fact, sleep-deprived people in a U.C. Berkeley study reacted 60% more dramatically to negative images than those who had plenty of sleep. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by minor troubles, first take a look at your sleeping habits.

Get some sleep AND some exercise!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Distract Yourself from Stress

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on December 8, 2009.

With all the events that take place in December it is nearly impossible to go through one second without experiencing Stress. Learning to control and distract yourself from stress is a key skill to long term weight loss management!

Here are a few of the tips and suggestions we discussed in the meeting last night:

*Listen to music - ha your music, not Hannah Montana or the Jonas Brothers but your favorites. Sing along and enjoy it. Let it soothe your stress.

*Exercise - Studies have proven that activity relieves stress. Whenever you start feeling tense take a walk, stretch, get your blood pumping. Maybe even dance along to some music.

*Keep your hands busy - Clean, knit, scrapbook, paint, read a book….all of these help to get your mind off your worries.

*Vent - Let it all out…phone a friend and just tell them all about your problems. Everybody feels better after a good vent session. Sometimes just crying…letting all your tension seep out of your eyelids.

*Make time for relaxation and yourself - Take a nice hot bubble bath and lock the door, sip on a glass of wine or even get a message. Reward yourself for all that you have achieved. You deserve it!

*Learn to say no - This time of year it seems like everyone needs something and it seems to be your time! You don’t have to go to all 10 Christmas parties you have been invited to and you definitely don’t have to meet everyone’s demands.

*Enjoy a peppermint - Studies show that something in peppermint oil helps to ease the mind and relieve tension. Also it is a sweet snack that can help curb your appetite and keep you from binge eating.

*Post it note your success - Start placing post it notes around your home/work/car reminding yourself why eating healthy through this season is a priority for you. Congratulate yourself on your success so far. Tell yourself that you can do it!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Get Fit Tip

Here is the latest email from Dr. Jacobs.

Why Less Exercise May Be Enough Exercise

Finding it hard to squeeze in your workout or your walk this time of year? Don't sweat it. Sometimes, less still cuts the mustard.

As long as you pick up the pace, that is. In a study, people who cut back on their walks but turned up the burn when they did get out there still boosted their cardiovascular endurance.

Keeping the Pace

Sure, frequent exercise is still better for you -- for a bunch of reasons, ranging from better cholesterol levels to better weight control. But the new research shows that you can cut back a little on frequency and still keep yourself in pretty good shape if you make some adjustments. And it's a good idea to do so, because then your body will be ready, willing, and able to do more when you get more time.

No Time? No Excuse

Why should you care about your cardiovascular endurance, anyway? Because a 5-year study showed that a mere 10 percent improvement lowered people's risk of mortality by 15 percent, compared with no cardiorespiratory improvement. So don't chuck your workout altogether this holiday season. Cut back if you must, but work harder. Or chunk your 30-minute walks into three 10-minute sessions. Your heart will thank you in the New Year.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Roasted Red Pepper Chicken

Roasted Red Pepper Chicken

Ingredients
1 12 oz bottle roasted red bell peppers, drained (find them in the condiment section)
2 teaspoons lime juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon salt divided
8 (6 oz) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
½ teaspoon pepper
Cooking spray

Instructions
1. Prepare grill

2. Place peppers, olive oil, cilantro and lime juice in a blender. Blend until smooth. Add 1/3 teaspoon salt. Set aside

3. Sprinkle remaining salt and pepper on the chicken. Grill chicken 5 – 6 minutes on each side, or until done.

4. While the chicken grills place pepper mixture in sauce pan and heat.

Yield 8 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast and 3 tablespoons of sauce.; Points: 5

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Award Winning Oreo Balls

Oreo Balls

Ingredients
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 pkg Oreos (not double stuffed)
1 pkg Almond Bark

Instructions
Twist ...Oreos and take apart. Scrape cream from cookies and put into large bowl. Add cream cheese to bowl and cream together.

Put remainder of cookies into a Ziploc bag and seal. Use a rolling pin to finely crush. Add finely crushed cookies to the creamed mixture and stir. Roll into 1-inch balls and chill.

Melt almond bark. Dip cookie balls into almond bark and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet. Let set and enjoy!

Makes about 3-4 dozen
Points: it depends on the size of the oreo balls, smaller balls less points

Happy (late) Thanksgiving!!

Happy (late) Thanksgiving!! Can you believe that it is already December? I can’t. Time has just gone by so quickly this year, that I feel like I need to just hold on for the ride. Jon and I had such a great Thanksgiving. We actually had two Thanksgiving dinners which made it that much more special for us. I was able to track almost every day last week and even though I ate too much I still wrote everything down, which is important. As soon as the holiday was over I got back on track on Saturday. I made sure that I was exercised on Monday as well. I refuse to let Thanksgiving throw me off the wagon. I hit a few bumps, but they were minor.


I hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving. I am glad that we could learn from this experience and will have the opportunity to apply what we have learned over the Christmas holiday.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Holiday Eating

Here is the lastest email I received from Dr. Jacobs.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, some of us are ready to make new goals NOT to eat so much. If that is you, here is a great article on holiday eating as we go into the Christmas season:

Holiday Eating

12/01/2009
Ready or not—the holidays are here. The malls are decorated and the buzz of the season has started. It’s that time that we get to enjoy our friends and family, but often holiday feasting means extra pounds on the scale. The holidays give new meaning to the saying, “eat, drink, and be merry”. Instead of worrying about gaining or losing weight this year, focus on maintaining your weight—be steady on the scales.

Here are some tips to prepare you for your holiday adventures:
• Start the day with a well balanced breakfast. It is not best to “save up” calories for a celebration later by not eating until late in the day when you are hungry and high fat options are awaiting you.

• Make a plan to eat a good variety of healthy foods. If you are going to a party where you can bring a dish, prepare a low fat option of a traditional dish or bring fresh fruit or veggies. Many recipes can be modified to be lower in calories and fat.

• Select a smaller plate. You may need a little assistance with portion control and this trick really helps to build awareness. We know the larger the plate, the more food you will eat.

• Do not deprive yourself. “It is not DEPRIVATION but LIBERATION through MODERATION”. Pick out your favorites and have a small portion, instead of a whole piece or larger portion.

• Eating slowly will help you know when you are full and satisfied. Try sipping a calorie-free beverage between bites. Use more of your time in conversation instead of over eating. Remember that it takes 20 minutes for your brain to get the signal you are getting full.

• Stay away from seconds. Before you head back to the serving line, ask yourself if your stomach is hungry or is it just your head.

• Keep your exercise routine at all costs. Without physical activity, you burn fewer calories and it is very easy to take in more calories than we need. Don’t wait until the New Year to start your fitness program.

• Watch your beverages. Avoid alcohol, sodas, and concentrated juices. These add calories without a lot of nutrition. If you are going to have a caloric beverage, alternate with a non-caloric beverage. Water will quench your thirst, cleanse our palate, and aid in digestion.

• Remove the temptations. Pack the leftovers for others to take with them so you can get back to your regular eating habits.
Food and celebrations will always be a major part of the holiday season and there is nothing wrong with that. Remember to eat in moderation and maintain a good variety of foods. Happy Holidays!

By Colleen Loveland, M.S., R.D., L.D., C.D.E., Cooper Clinic Nutrition.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Don't Jump Out of the Boat

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on November 24, 2009.

I know this time of year is oh so hectic but just remember how important it is to stay in the boat! You haven’t worked all year long to lose weight….just to give it up now.

Over the last couple of weeks we have talked about how important it is to keep your goals in focus. We talked about trying to make new traditions by incorporating activity into your family holidays.

We practiced visualizing our plates and the food choices we are going to make on Thanksgiving day. Last night we talked about peer pressure from our friends and relatives. Some of these may sound familiar to you:
• “You already look so thin why are you trying to lose weight”
• “Just one bite won’t hurt you.”
• “But I made this especially for you…Just the way you like it!”
• “Now I can’t eat all this myself. Have some more.”
• “I know you packed your lunch but doesn’t Papacitas sound good?”

At least one of these phrases probably sounds familiar to you. Know that you will probably encounter someone over the holidays who might be trying to sabotage what you have worked so hard for. When this happens there are a couple of things to remember:
• Be assertive. - Make sure they understand how much it means to you and how important eating healthy is for you.
• Remember the helpful habits you have developed. - Remember all your techniques such as measuring out your food and being able to see some of the bottom of your plate.
• Positive Self Talk - Give yourself a peptalk…help yourself get through it. Remind your brain and tummy how many points are in each thing!
• Ask for Help! - If you truly think that you are not going to be able to control yourself over the holidays ask a family member for help. If it’s the “Oreo balls” on the counter that call to you, ask someone to keep them away. They are your family/friends and if you just ask them to be there for you they will.
• Practice to win! - Sit down and run through all the scenarios in your head. Where are you going to sit, what is on your plate, are you going back for seconds? Are you going to be active? Are you going to be a grazer?

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Cranberry Apple Salad

Cranberry Apple Salad
By, Carolyn May

Ingredients
1 lb. fresh cranberries – chopped
2 apples – chopped
1 15-20 oz. can crushed pineapple – undrained
1 C. chopped celery
1 C. chopped pecans – (or to your liking)
1 boxes cherry jello (dry) – ( I use sugar free)
1 C. sugar – ( I use Splenda)

Instructions
Simply chop, dump, stir, and enjoy. This is much better made a couple of days ahead of time, but at least the night before. It will get juicier the longer it sits.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Thanksgiving Game Plan

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on November 17, 2009.

I hope that you are having an amazing week and are looking forward to this holiday season as much as I am. Remember Thanksgiving is just one day…with hard work and proper planning it doesn’t have to be a day of regret.

The Game Plan

Take some time before Thanksgiving to decide which foods you want to enjoy at your meal. It's important to do this before you sit down to eat.

Imagine yourself sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner. Visualize the spread and decide how you'll fill up your plate. Be sure to include your favorite items so that you don't feel deprived and overeat later. Make it a goal to be able to still see some of the bottom of your plate.

Here are some more tips for creating a strategy that will work.

Decide how much of a favorite food will satisfy you:
If you cannot conceive of eating just a small piece of Aunt Millie's famous pumpkin pie, cut out something else to account for the larger slice.

Select once-a-year foods:
Choose to eat dishes that are just served on Thanksgiving; avoid those that show up at every meal. After all, do you really want sweet potatoes topped with melted marshmallows plus an ordinary baked spud? Treat yourself with the dishes that are exclusively made for you on Thanksgiving.

Just say no:
Practice creative ways to say "no" in case you get pressured by others to take seconds (or thirds). Try moving or putting up the food after everyone is done eating. Cover the dishes with foil…this will help prevent you from going back and grazing.

There's always tomorrow:
If the meal is at your house, remember that there will be plenty of leftovers. If you won't be able to sleep knowing that there's half a pie in the kitchen, freeze leftovers immediately or give your guests doggie bags to take home. Invest in some of those cheap Tupperware containers so there won’t be any excuse for guests not to take home some leftovers.

Stop when you're full:
Push yourself away from the table when you've had enough. If you're not sitting within arm's length of the biscuits, you'll be less likely to overindulge. Really taste and enjoy your food. Be social eat slowly and talk with your family. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and really focus on the STOP REST AND ASSESS technique. Remember it takes approximately 20 min for your tummy to tell your brain that its full…..by that time you have probably already unbuttoned your pants!

All foods have benefits:
Many Thanksgiving foods are packed with nutrients. For example, pumpkin pie is loaded with vitamin A (important for proper vision) and beta-carotene (a potentially powerful antioxidant). Green bean casserole and stuffing contain lots of folic acid (a B vitamin linked to the prevention of birth defects and, possibly, heart disease). Don’t punish yourself for eating these foods.

Broaden your focus:
Make the holiday about more than just food. Focus on your friends and family and remember what you're thankful for, like wearing a smaller size, more comfortably crossing your legs or feeling more confident about yourself.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Chicken Tamale Casserole

Chicken Tamale Casserole
FROM: Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 2008

Ingredients
1 cup preshredded 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese, divided
1/3 cup fat-free milk
1/4 cup egg substitute
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
1 (8.5-ounce) box corn muffin mix (such as Martha White)
1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained
Cooking spray
1 (10-ounce) can red enchilada sauce (such as Old El Paso)
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. Combine 1/4 cup cheese and next 7 ingredients (through chiles) in a large bowl, stirring just until moist. Pour mixture into a 13 x 9–inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.

3. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until set. Pierce entire surface liberally with a fork; pour enchilada sauce over top. Top with chicken; sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until cheese melts. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Cut into 8 pieces; top each serving with 1 tablespoon sour cream.

Serves 6, Points 7

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Lifetime

This is it the ultimate goal that I have been working towards over the last 13 months...Lifetime. This is what weight watchers calls it when you reach your goal and maintain your goal weight for 6 weeks. I did it!! I have graduate into my new life at my new weight. I still plan on attending my weight watchers meetings, but now I do not have to pay. God is so faithful!!


This is me this morning getting ready for the day.


Me and my big pants



Flowers from Janet, She is just amazing!! Aren't they pretty!!



This is me at my weigh-in!! I did it!! She's writing it down in my book. This is the last entry, because they gave me a new book now that I am lifetime!



This is at the end of my meeting, durning the time they give out awards. I received "the key to weight watchers". Linda decided to show off my big pants.


Picture time!! This is Anna and I. I would still be wearing those big pants if it wasn't for her. :) Thank you!


This is my friend Amanda. She is also my Tuesday weight watchers leader and 5K buddy. She brought me balloons and so much encouragement. Thank you!!


This is Karla and I. We are newer weight watchers buddies, but I look forward to the day that I can celebrate lifetime with her!!


This is Linda and I. Linda is my Monday weight watchers leader. If you need a recipe for anything this woman has it. She is such a great resource! Thank you for all of your support!!


This is me with my weight watchers leaders. Over the course of the 13 months I have been on weight watchers I actually had 5 leaders! These two are my favorite...don't tell.



My biggest supporter, my husband. I could not have done this without him. He gave my health and lifestyle to God in prayer long before I knew I needed help. Thank you for going to the source and the one that changes our hearts!!


Finally, me with the balloons Amanda gave me!!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Crockpot Cranberry Chicken

Crockpot Cranberry Chicken

Ingredients
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 cup cranberries, or frozen unthawed
1 1/2 pounds uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp packed light brown sugar
1 tsp mustard, dry
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch, blended with 2 T cold water

Instructions
In a 3 quart or larger electric slow cooker, combine onion, cranberries. Arrange chicken on top. In small bowl, mix catsup, sugar, mustard and vinegar and pour over chicken. Cover. Cook at low setting until chicken is very tender when pierced (5 1/2 to 6 1/2 hours)

Lift out chicken when done. Blend cornstarch mixture into cooking liquid. Increase cooker heat setting to high; cover and cook, stirring 2 or 3 times until sauce thickens (10 to 15 more minutes). Season to taste with salt, pour over chicken Makes 4 servings.

Serves: 4; POINTS: 5

Monday, November 2, 2009

Halloween and Fall Festival

What a fun weekend!! Saturday evening we had our annual Pumpkin Carving Costume Party!! You had to come up with a costume for under $10.00. It took Jon and I a very long time to decide what we were going to be for Halloween. You see I like to dress-up, but Jon does not. After suggesting about 50 different ideas, he finally agreed to dress up as Salt and Pepper (thanks Bobbi for the suggestion). We had so much fun at the party. We carved a mummy on a pumpkin and we tied for best pumpkin with another couple.

Then Sunday we welcomed in the month of Navember with the annual Fall Festival at the church. Sunday evening we were in charge of the Tic-Tac-Toe booth at Fall Festival. The kids had so much fun, more candy then they need. Some people even had trouble figuring out what we were supposed to be. It was great! I am already trying to come up with ideas of what we could be next year!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

One Year Anniversary with Weight Watchers

This past Wednesday was my one year anniversary with Weight Watchers. I wanted to celebrate, so Jon suggested that we go out for dinner. I thought it was funny that we would be celebrating my weight loss by eating more food :). We went around in circle and ultimately we could not agree on what we wanted to do to celebrate. I told Jon that dinner at home would be fine. I came home from work at 5pm and to my surprise to Jon had prepared everything we needed to cook Chinese food!! He is the best!! We cooked the Chinese food, which took a while. It was so worth it though. Anytime that I get to spend with Jon makes me happy and this was not exception. The food was great!! After dinner we watch an episode of CSI and then later the World Series. It was the perfect celebration dinner/evening.

At the beginning of November I am going to get my wedding ring resized and I am so excited. My fingers have thinned out so much that I am now wearing my ring on my middle finger. I cannot believe how much has changed in just one year. I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to be on a program like Weight Watchers. The journey is not over, but just beginning. I have never lived life as a healthy individual and I am so excited to start!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

French Toast

French Toast

Ingredients
1/3 cup fat-free skim milk
1 egg
2 egg whites
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp table salt
cooking spray
4 slices Low-Cal bread

Instructions
In a wide, shallow bowl, beat together milk, egg, egg whites, vanilla and salt.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Dip bread, one piece at a time, into egg mixture; turn to coat both sides. Cook bread in a single layer, flipping once, until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.

Yields 2 pieces French toast per serving.

5 pointsplus+, 3 points

For Recipe Review, click here.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Crockpot BBQ Chicken

Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Source, "nyattitude"

Ingredients
1 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 cup canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground red pepper

Instructions
Place all ingredients except chicken in a crock pot. Stir until mixed. Add the chicken, coat well with the sauce.
Cover and cook on high 3-4 hours or low 7-8 hours until chicken in fully cooked.
Remove chicken and place it in a bowl. Shred each piece using 2 forks. Return chicken to the crock put, mix well with the sauce.

Serves 4; POINTS 5

NOTES : Per serving (1/2 cup): 149 cal, 1g fat, 0.5 fiber

Healthy Guidelines Part 2

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on October 27, 2009.

We finished up our good healthy guidelines.

Here is a quick review:

Liquids
The Guideline – 6 8-oz Glasses per day
What Counts – All liquids – except alcoholic beverages – best choice is still water
Why they're important – Keep you hydrated. Needed for temperature regulation & proper function of body cells, tissues and organs
Best Tips for getting them: use mix ins…there are tons of varieties at the stores to choose from, always carry a water bottle with you- keep spares at work and in your car

Healthy Oils
The Guideline – 2 tsp. per day
What Counts – Olive, canola, safflower, sunflower, or flaxseed. Avoid saturated & Trans fats
Why they're important. – Contain vitamin E & essential fatty acids. May help lower risk for heart disease & stroke. Essential for proper body & brain function. Help absorption of A, D, E, & K.

Vitamin Mineral Supplement
The Guideline –1 per day
What Counts – any supplement that contains no more than 100% of RDA for vitamins & minerals
Why they're important. - Ensures that your nutritional needs are covered and helps to keep your metabolism functioning properly
Best Tip: Try a children’s vitamin to find one that is gentler to your stomach. They have popsicles, gumballs, gummies, suckers, oh and you can’t forget the Flintstones

Activity
The Guideline – At least 30 minutes a day most days of the week
What Counts – All activity counts, including gardening & housework
Why they're important- Keeps you healthy & fit while you lose. Helps keep weight off once you’ve lost it. Helps prevent the excess skin flab that people get when they lose weight without exercising
Best tips: Start slow & build up. Mix it up. Find something that makes you happy and you have fun doing.

Sugar & Alcohol
The Guidelines: Limit your intake – Women no more than 1 alcoholic beverage a day – men no more than 2
What counts: Desserts, cakes, cookies, candy, sweetened beverages & alcohol
Why it’s important – Sugar & alcoholic beverages contain empty calories with few or no nutrients

GHG for liquids, oils, vitamins, activity & sugar can help you make healthier choices as you lose weight, AND helps you work toward shaping & overall healthy lifestyle that supports long-term weight maintenance. Knowledge & Strategies you gained today and last week can help you LIVE the guidelines.

Really try to focus on upping your intake of the GHG’s. If you’re getting in 3 now try to get in 4 this next week. If you are already a master of the GHG’s (by the way you rock) keep up the practice and remember how much of an impact it is having on your health.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala
By: Good Housekeeping

Ingredients
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tsp ginger root, grated, peeled
1 clove garlic clove, crushed with press
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes, from 15 oz can
1/2 cup fat-free half-and-half or light cream
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped, plus additional for garnish
2 Tbsp curry paste
1 1/4 pounds cooked chicken fillet, cut into 1-inch chunks

Instructions
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil on medium 1 minute. Add onion and cook 6 minutes, stirring frequently. Add ginger, garlic, and curry paste; cook 3 minutes longer.

Add chicken, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and cook 2 minutes or until no longer pink on the outside, stirring occasionally. Add tomato; cover and cook 3 to 4 minutes longer or until chicken just loses its pink color throughout.

Uncover and stir in half-and-half and cilantro. Spoon rice into 4 shallow bowls; top with chicken mixture and garnish with chopped cilantro.

Serve with rice.

Serves: 4; POINTS: 6 (rice not included)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Top 10 Signs You're a Trick or Treating Weight Watcher

So I thought that this was funny and just had to share it with all of you.

In the spirit of Halloween...
From Dotti's Newletter

Top 10 Signs You're a Trick or Treating Weight Watcher

10. You know how many door knocks it takes to earn an activity point.
9. You're the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a pedometer and a Points finder.
8. You ask each house if they mind if you step on their scale -- just to compare.
7. You ask to trade candy corn for the real stuff.
6. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you yell out the # of POINTS!
5. Your costume has a handy water bottle holder so you can meet your water requirements for the day.
4. You ask to use the bathroom every 3rd house because of #5.
3. At the end of the night, you sort your candy by POINT value.
2. You ask for high fiber candy only.
1. Your goodie bag has a half filled out journal taped to it.

Healthy Guidelines Part 1

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on October 20, 2009.

This week in the meeting we talked about how important our Good Healthy Guidelines are. We focused on the 4 GHG’s that are filling foods or green diamond foods. Remember Weight Watchers has you covered!

When you follow the MOMENTUM plan you are meeting many of your body’s needs when you get in your Good Healthy Guidelines. So here is a brief summary of benefits and rules.

Fruits and Vegetables

The Guideline: 5 a day (9 if you weigh over 350 pounds)
What Counts: all fruits and vegetables, and 100% juice
What’s a serving: 1 cup of leafy greens; ½ cup of most others
Why it is important: Rich source of vitamins and minerals, including antioxidants and helps reduce the risk of disease.
Member tip: Add spinach to your morning smoothies. You can’t taste it and it helps you sneak in an extra serving of veggies! Use v8 as the base for your soups….instant veggie servings!

Milk Products

The Guideline: 2 a day (3 if you’re nursing, a teen, over 50 or weigh over 250 pounds)
What Counts & What’s a serving: Milk or calcium fortified soy (1 cup), lattes (12 oz), cappuccinos (16 oz), WW smoothies, cottage cheese (2 cups), hard and semisoft cheese (1 ½ oz), ricotta (1/2 cup), and yogurt of pudding (1 cup)
Why it is important: Calcium and protein, zinc, potassium, phosphorous, riboflavin and added vitamin D. Strengthens bones, protects against colon cancer, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis.
Remember that it usually takes around 2 pts before you reach a FULL serving of dairy.

Lean Protein

The Guideline: 1-2 servings a day
What Counts: lean meats, skinless poultry, fish, beans, soy products, and lentils
What’s a serving: 1-2oz lean meats poultry/fish, 1 egg, ½ cup legumes
Why it is important: Provides essential amino acids that your body cannot produce on its own. These are needed to repair and build body tissue.

Whole Grains

The Guideline: substitute and choose whenever possible
What Counts: whole grain cereal, breads, pasta, rice or grains
What’s a serving: this varies- check you’re A-Z food list in your pocket guide- for many it is 1 cup
Why it is important: Packed with nutrients including fiber and is much more filling.

GHG can help you meet some of your body’s health needs by guiding you to healthier choices as you lose weight. Most GHG are also filling foods so they help keep you satisfied longer. The habit of eating GHG will serve you well for the long term

Here is that mnemonic to help you remember the Good Health Guidelines:
Oh (oil)
My (Milk)
Goodness (grains)
Look (liquids)
A (alcohol/added sugar)
Very (Vitamin)
Fabulous ( five fruits/veggies)
Awesome (Activity)
Program (Protein)

Monday, October 19, 2009

Caramel Rice Krispy Treats

Caramel Rice Krispy Treats
From: BOUNCINGTIGGER1

Ingredients
8 1/4 oz Milky Way Milky Way, 4 (2.05 ounce) Milky Way Bars
3/4 cup Light Margarine, divided
3 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies
1 cup milk chocolate chips

Instructions
1. In the microwave, or in the top of a double boiler, melt candy bars and 1/2 cup of butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. You need to make sure it's truly melted and smooth - the margarine takes a while to blend with the melted candy bar. Stir in cereal until well blended. Press into a greased 11x7 inch pan.

2. Melt chocolate chips and remaining 1/4 cup butter or margarine, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat, and spread over the top of bars. Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until firm; cut into squares.

Servings Per Recipe: 32; POINTS: 2

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Peach Glazed Chicken

Peach Glazed Chicken

Ingredients
15 oz canned peaches, packed in light syrup, sliced
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/3 cup peach fruit spread
1 tsp orange zest, grated
16 oz uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, 4 chicken breast halves (about 4 ounces each)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp parsley, snipped fresh
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp table salt
2 tsp olive oil

Instructions
Drain the peaches, reserving 1/4 cup juice. Set the peaches aside and pour the juice into a small bowl. Add the orange juice and cornstarch to the peach juice, whisking until the cornstarch is dissolved.
Whisk in the jam and orange zest. Set aside.

Put a chicken breast half with the smooth side up between two pieces of wax paper or plastic wrap. Using the smooth side of a meat mallet or a heavy pan, lightly flatten the breast to a thickness of
about 1/4 inch, being careful not to tear the meat. Repeat with the remaining chicken.

In a small bowl, stir together the flour, parsley, garlic powder, paprika, and salt. Sprinkle over both sides of the chicken. Using your fingertips, gently press the mixture so it adheres to the chicken.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the chicken for 4 minutes on each side, or until no longer pink in the center. Remove the skillet from the
heat, reducing the heat to medium low. Transfer the chicken to a plate. Set aside.

Immediately pour the reserved peach juice mixture into the skillet. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until thickened, stirring constantly. Add the reserved peaches, stirring until combined. Return the chicken
to the skillet. Spoon the peach sauce and peaches over the chicken. Heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until the chicken and peaches are heated through.

Serves 4 (3 ounces chicken and 1/2 cup peach topping per serving); POINTS: 6
Nutritional Information: Calories 320, Fat 4.0 g, Fiber 1 g

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Fiber One Haystacks

Fiber One Haystacks
By: windhorse23 & CRUELLA

Ingredients
8 1/2 oz General Mills Fiber One, one sleeve
12 oz morsel chips, any flavor*
2 tsp peanut butter, optional

Instructions
Melt morsels in the microwave until melted and smooth.

Stir in one sleeve fiber one until well coated.

Working quickly, spoon out onto a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet into 48 small mounds. Refrigerate until set. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator or freezer (I use a zip-loc bag).

*Use one 12 oz bag of any flavored morsels (adjust your points accordingly) chocolate, white chocolate, peanut butter, or butterscotch.

Variations:
Also could add 1/2 cup Peanuts (again adjust your points accordingly).

Servings: 24 or 48; 2 pointsplus+, 1 point

For Recipe Review, click here.

Taking Care of Yourself

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on October 13, 2009.

Our meeting this week was about how important it is to take care of yourself. Remember that if you aren’t keeping up with yourself, you are in no condition to keep up with others such as kids, spouses, and parents. Take some me time! I have included some good tips that will help with “me time”!

In the morning:
• Get up earlier and go for a walk, so your evening is free to relax after work.
• Buy groceries for tonight's dinner on your way to work, rather than on the way home - the store will be less crowded.
• Put in a load of wash and get your partner to help you hang it out. When you get home, it will be done.
• Clean one room before you go to work - by the weekend the housework will be done.
• Spend fifteen minutes soaking in an aromatherapy bath before the kids are awake. "You won't oversleep any more because you'll look forward to getting out of bed," says Reading.

In transit (on the bus or train):
• Write birthday cards or letters.
• Read the newspaper (and skim the headlines) or listen to a talking book.
• Work out your day's schedule.

At work:
• Take breaks - go for a walk or head to the park for lunch - you'll work far more effectively all afternoon.
• Ring ahead to check whether your doctor is running on time.
• Make a "to do" list: "Then number each task in order of importance," says Reading. "Tackle the biggest most taxing job first and you'll feel more energized all day."
• Stop being a perfectionist. "Learn where to cut corners and set times within which to complete tasks," Reading advises.

At night:
• Grab your cordless phone and pay bills by credit card while you stir the minestrone.
• Use your answering machine to screen calls and avoid unnecessary interruptions that eat into your night.
• Get a friend or relative to pick up the kids from baseball practice. Then do the same for them next week.
• While cooking, clean as you go.
• Let it go. "Remember, nobody has ever died from an untidy house," says Reading. "Whereas overwork has been proven to lead to chronic fatigue, cancer, ulcers and heart attacks."

On weekends:
• Delegate jobs like unloading the dishwasher to your partner and kids.
• Food shop outside peak-hours so you don't waste time in lines. Reading suggests you: "Organize a buddy system with a friend, where you buy her groceries one week and she gets yours the next."
• Cook in bulk and freeze the leftovers.
• Say no to social engagements every Friday night. "Then make a date with your partner, even if you just dress up and enjoy a candlelit dinner at home - you'll feel like you've pampered yourself," says Reading.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti
Source: Half My Size

Ingredients
1 pound Kraft Velveeta Light Reduced-Fat Pasteurized Processed Cheese Product
12 1/2 oz canned chicken, drained & flaked
10 3/4 oz Campbell's 98% Fat-Free Cream Of Chicken Soup, undiluted
10 3/4 oz Campbell's 98% Fat-Free Cream Of Mushroom Soup, undiluted
10 oz canned tomatoes with green chilies, Rotel
4 oz canned mushrooms, stems and pieces, drained
1/2 cup water
1 small onion, diced
1 medium green pepper, diced
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
14 1/2 oz cooked whole-wheat spaghetti

Instructions
Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and stir to mix well.
Cook on LOW for 2-3 hours. Stir again just before serving.

Serves 12 (1 cup each); 5 pointsplus+

For Recipe Review, click here.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Ingredients
1 box Spice Cake Mix
1 15 oz can of pure pumpkin (not pie filling)
1/2 cup water

Instructions
Mix everything together and put in muffin tins.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Additional Ideas:
1 Box yellow cake mix
1 can pumpkin
Spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, ground cloves)
Baked it in a 9 x 13 pan.

For complete recipe review, click here.

Soda Cupcakes

Soda Cupcakes
Source: Hungry Girl

Ingredients
1 Boxed Cake Mix (any flavor)
12 fl oz Diet Soda (any flavor)

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk thoroughly and transfer to a baking pan sprayed with nonstick spray; bake in the oven until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. (Refer to cake-mix box for pan size and approximate bake time.)

MAKES 12 SERVINGS

Best Flavor Combo
Yellow cake mix + diet cream soda. Runners-up include lemon cake mix + diet lemon-lime soda and devil's food cake mix + diet cherry cola.

The Texture
Moist and light.

The Taste
Pretty darn impressive! However, if you're sensitive to the sweetener in diet soda, you may notice a slight aftertaste... especially if you use cola of any kind.

Icing Options
Cupcakes can be frosted with 2 tablespoons of low fat whipped topping without affecting its point total. Also, to offer a richer flavor, one might try combining 1 1/2 cups of fat free vanilla yogurt with one package of Jell-O Sugar Free Fat Free Cheesecake Pudding. Mix thoroughly and top with 2 tablespoons per cupcake just before serving.

Choosing the Right Cake Flavor and Diet Soda
Pairing the cake mix and soda is crucial to flavor, but is not rocket science. For those hankering a lemon cake, the choice is obvious - lemon lime soda. Chocolate cake taste bests if a diet chocolate soda can be found (check out Waist Watchers Soda brand). If this somewhat elusive flavor cannot be found, opt for a diet cola or cream soda instead. Yellow and white cake mixes work well with lemon lime or cream sodas.

PER SERVING (1 piece, 1/12th of cake): 171 calories, 3.25g fat, 301mg sodium, 34g carbs, <0.5g fiber, 19g sugars, 1.5g protein --PointsPlus® value 5*

For Recipe Review, click here.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Meatloaf Muffins

Meatloaf Muffins

Ingredients
1 pound ground turkey breast or ground beef
2 egg whites
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup ketchup
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp table salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 cup fresh bread crumbs

Instructions
Put all the other ingredients in a large bowl and mix well, then add bread crumbs and mix all together, (may have to use hands to mix). Put into a 12 cup muffin tin that is sprayed with pam, fill almost to top. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 30 - 35 minutes or until done. Let stand 5 minutes then remove one at a time to serving plate.

Serves: 12; 2 pointsplus+

For Recipe Review, click here.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Finding Your Groove

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on October 6, 2009.

Get out of the rut and get into the GROOVE!!!

There are 2 many options available 2 be bored with weight watchers. Really focus this week on getting out of that rut of eating the same old foods and doing the same old exercises. Pull out your Activity Booster and figure out how many activity points you’ve been earning. Really try to push yourself to earn 2 extra activity points this week. Think back to when you were a kid and all the fun you used to have doing…..yup that’s right…EXERCISE!! So often we stick to the same old foods and our bodies just get tired of them. Spice things up. Try a new recipe, or maybe try a new breakfast food. Check out the new 100 calorie packs available and see if some of those can change your life this week.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Don’t Feed Your Feelings!

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on September 29, 2009.

Don’t Feed Your Feelings!

Remember this week as you start getting those hunger pains to:
1) Evaluate whether or not it is a physical hunger pain or if its emotional.
Ask yourself what it is you are really seeking. If it is physical hunger, then you should eat something. A good sign is that your stomach will begin to growl. If you determine it to be emotional then...

2) Find a distraction. Do something to help you resolve the emotion that doesn’t involve eating!

For example:

• Journal- write whatever it is that’s bothering you down on paper or in an email. Sometimes just writing it all down can be a great way to “let it all out.”
• Vent- call a friend or family member and just tell them what is going on. It just might make you feel better!
• Find a hobby- do something with your hands. (Knit, sew, crafts, garden, etc.)
• Take a relaxing bubble bath. The warm water helps soothe those achy muscles.
• Clean house- everyone loves that squeaky clean atmosphere.
• Read a book- a novelty book, one that you enjoy and are interested in. Let it take you away!
• Exercise- go for a walk. Maybe even just stretching can help take away some of that unwanted stress.
• Go shopping- even if it’s just window shopping, it can help you get through those emotions.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Still Going Strong

Last night I reached one of the biggest milestone in my weight loss journey. At my weigh-in last night, I reached my original Weight Watchers goal!!! WOW!! At my meeting I received my goal charm that is in the shape of a star. I can't believe I made it! God has been with me every step of the way and without Him I could not have done this. He has changed me inside and out. He has also put amazing people around me to support me through this journey and I could not have done it without them either. Thank you.

When I began this journey I was not convinced that I could lose 10% of my body weight let alone get to goal. After losing 20% of my body weight my Weight Watchers leader Linda and I set my goal, which I reached last night. However, in the back of my mind I have always wanted my goal to be 10 pounds less than the one I set with Linda in March. So, now that I know I can do it, I am going to keep going. At least I am going to keep going until I reach my ultimate goal weight and no less than that. I have prayed over where to set my goal weight and I feel that my body is still losing the remaining weight better than I thought it would. As my husband said, keep losing until I can’t lose anymore.

Thank you all for your love and support. The week before last I learned in my Weight Watchers meeting that we need to celebrate our weight loss achievements. That’s why I have shared this with you, even though I am going to keep going, so that we can celebrate each and every milestone together. When I reach my ultimate goal we will have to celebrate again and maybe even have a party, with Weight Watchers friendly food of course.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Shaking Up My Workout

My normal exercise routine has consisted of running and more running. This has been great! Running has really helped my weight loss and I want to keep it up. However last night when I went running with Jon, I started to think that I need to do something different. Do not get me wrong, I am not giving up running, I just want to add some variety.

There is a Zumba class that I think I am going to join that will meet two days a week. This will provide the variety I am looking for. Also it will be a great cross training workout, which I need for running. My running schedule does not have me running everyday, so on two of the off days I am going to Zumba!

Here is a video from the Today Show that gives you a little taste of what Zumba is all about. It sounds fun! There is an article I found at WebMd as well that you might want to check out too, Zumba: Fun Is Secret Ingredient of Latin Dance Workout.

What are you doing to spice up your workout routine? Maybe you should try some Zumba too!! I will keep you posted on how it goes.

Every Little Step

My Weight Watchers leader Linda emailed this to me yesterday. I was so busy that I did not have a chance to read it until just now. I hope that it can encourage you as much as it did me. We can get discouraged, because things are taking too long or we are losing too slowly. But every little step we take moves us closer and closer to our goal. Enjoy.

Look around at all the great accomplishments in your world. Each one, from the most simple to the most complex, was completed one step at a time.

An ambitious goal is nothing more than the joining together of many smaller goals. The small results may not seem like much, yet they are absolutely essential.

For it is upon those small results that the big results are built. And in that fact is a wonderful world of outstanding possibilities.

Do not back away from ambitious goals. Instead, look within them and break them down into small, easily manageable components.

Complex, massive success is nothing more than small, simple success carried out again and again with commitment and focus. As such, no goal is out of reach when you are willing to invest patience and persistence.

Choose your goals based not on how difficult you perceive them to be, but on how much they truly mean to you. When you're fully committed to every little step, anything can be yours. - Ralph Marston

Friday, September 18, 2009

Hungry Girl's Rockin' Poppin' Shrimp

Hungry Girl's Rockin' Poppin' Shrimp

Ingredients
3 oz. raw shrimp; pealed, deviened and cleaned
1/4 cup Egg Beaters, Original
1/2 cup Fiber One bran cereal
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour Egg Beaters into a bowl. Using a blender or food processor, grind Fiber One cereal to a breadcrumb-like consistency. Pour Fiber One crumbs into a plastic container that has an airtight lid (or into a plastic food storage bag). Add as much salt & pepper to Fiber One as you like. Next, prepare the shrimp by ensuring that they are as dry as possible (use a paper towel to soak up moisture). Place shrimp in dish with Egg Beaters and coat them thoroughly. Transfer shrimp to Fiber One container or bag and secure lid/ seal bag. Then shake until shrimp are well coated. Place shrimp on a baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Cook shrimp for 15 – 20 minutes (flipping them about halfway through), until outsides are crispy. Let ‘em cool; then serve 'em alone, with ketchup or with some cocktail sauce.


Serving Size: Entire recipe; Points: 3

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Chicken and Rice

Chicken and Rice
By, My Mother in Law

Ingredients
1 cup broccoli
1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup onion
16 oz fat-free chicken broth
1 can canned condensed fat free cream of chicken soup
1 can canned condensed fat free cream of mushroom soup
3 breasts uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 cup cooked white rice, cook rice

Instructions
Mix Cream of Mushroom, Cream of Chicken, and bolied chicken broth and bring to boil. Dice chicken after it has been boiled. Layer it on the bottom of a 9 X 13 casserole dish. Put rice over chicken. Pour soup mixture over rice and chicken. Add broccoli and onions. Mix all together to make sure the chicken broth has gotten everywhere. Top with cheese. Cooking Time: 20 min, Preheat Oven 350 degrees.

Servings: 8

PointsPlus+: 5
POINTS® Value: 5

For Recipe Review, click here.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

My Moment with a Size 6

I did not get much of a Labor Day weekend, but I guess that's the way it is when you have to work on Monday. Even though I did not have a day off, my weekend was still eventful. I tried on and fit into a size 6!! I had noticed in the last week that my jeans were beginning to feel a bit baggy. Normally, I have to wait until Anna, my co-worker, tells me that my pants are too big and I need to get new ones. This time I figured it out all on my own.

I went to Wal-mart to go grocery shopping and I was determined to try on a size 6 jeans. I went and picked out the pair of jeans that seemed best for me. I took them into the dressing room, telling myself that if they did not fit that it was okay. Do you know what I am talking about? When it is something I try on, like these pants that they really want to get into I talk myself through it. I have to literally give myself a pep talk thinking, “you can do this”. I finally got the jeans on and just as I pulled them up over my hips I sucked in, just in case they were too tight. As I exhaled and my stomach relaxed I realize that they are not too tight, they fit like glove. How exciting!! I left the store with the jeans in hand, they are my size 6 milestone memento.

Throughout my weight loss journey I have thought a lot about numbers, how much I weigh, how much I want to weight, what size I am, what size I want to be. Numbers have been a big part of the process. In my mind a size 6 has always been the ideal size for me. If I could reach a size 6 I would really feel like I had made it! Well I can fit into a size 6 and it feels great!! I hope that you are encouraged. God is good and He can lead you to a victory in weight loss or other areas of your life just like He is doing with me.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Hungry Girl Supermarket List

Happy Friday!! I am so glad that this is the last day of the week. It has been a long and busy week, but that's okay.

I wanted to let you know that I added Hungry Girl's Supermarket List to the Low Point Foods tab. I think that this is extremely helpful to know what to buy and stock up on. This has helped me to learn of many other alternatives out there that I never consider, or took the time to find myself. You can visit the Hungy Girl website and download the list as a pdf, if you want to do that. Just click on this link, Hungry Girl Supermarket List.

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

More Beautiful You

Last night at my Weight Watchers meeting we kicked off the Lose for Good campaign. During the meeting we were challenged to think about why we began weight watchers and how we feel we have changed since we started this journey. Many women, including myself, said that one major thing that has changed has been our self esteem.

Before my weight loss, I put myself down so much that I did not feel that I was worthy to be certain people's friends. I know it's sounds like junior high, but that's how I thought! I have come so far from that kind of thinking. It's not all better all the time, but I can see the change in my thinking.

In case you are someone who felt or feels just like I did, I wanted to share these lyrics with you. Everytime I hear this song I am reminded of what God thinks about me. I hope that you enjoy this song as much as I do.

"There Could Never Be a More Beautiful You" By, Jonny Diaz
Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn’t straight her body isn’t fake
And she’s always felt overweight

Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Defy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty-one the things that you’ve already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you’ve got a man but he’s got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead

Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there’s a man whose love is true
And he’ll treat you like the jewel you are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Defy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

So turn around you’re not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It’s not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who’s strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you’ll see through the eyes of a little girl

There could never be a more beautiful you
Defy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you
There could never be, a more beautiful you.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

75 Pounds Lost

Praise the Lord!! Last night I went to my Weight Watchers meeting. I weighed in and I learned that to date I have lost 75.4 pounds!! Talk about reaching a milestone!! Wow!! I received my 75 pound weight charm to add to my collection and my 5 pound sticker, at the meeting.

I was extremely overwhelmed by this achievement. I was almost in tears at my Weight Watchers meeting. God has done an amazing work in me changing my life both physically and spiritually. He deserves all the praise, without Him none of this would have been possible. I know that if it is His will for me to reach my goal then I will.

The other wonderful thing that happened yesterday was that I went running for the first time in a week and a half. I went running on 8.19.09 and really irritated my knee. Ever since then I have been trying to take it easy and rest as much as possible to help my knee recover. So with Jon by my side we ran 2 miles last night and my knee feels great!! I am so happy to be back out there running. I was suprise that I have missed it more then I thought I would. What can I say, I'm a runner!!

Monday, August 31, 2009

Hungry Girl's Big Bowl of Breakfast

Hungry Girl's Big Bowl of Breakfast

Ingredients
1 tray Green Giant Just for One Broccoli & Cheese Sauce
3/4 cup frozen potatoes O'Brien (like the kind by Ore-Ida)
3/4 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
1 slice Canadian bacon, chopped
2 tbsp. shredded fat-free cheddar cheese

Instructions
Prepare broccoli & cheese sauce according to package instructions. Set aside.

Bring a large pan sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat. Add egg substitute and scramble for 2 - 3 minutes, until fully cooked. Place scrambled egg substitute in a microwave-safe bowl and set aside.

Remove pan from heat, re-spray with nonstick spray, and return pan to the stove. Raise heat to medium-high and add potatoes. Cook for 3 - 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thawed and lightly browned.

Add Canadian bacon and cook until hot and a little crispy, about 1 - 2 minutes.

Add potato/bacon mixture to the bowl with the egg scramble. Add broccoli & cheese sauce and mix to combine.

Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of the bowl, and microwave for 30 - 45 seconds, until cheese has melted. Grab a sturdy fork and dig in!


Serving Size: entire bowl
Calories: 262
Fat: 3.5g
Sodium: 1,306mg
Carbs: 23.5g
Fiber: 5g
Sugars: 4g
Protein: 31g

6 PointsPlus+, 5 Points

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Chicken Salad

Chicken Salad

Ingredients
12 1/2 oz canned chicken
8 oz Dole canned Pineapple Tidbits in Juice
1/4 cup(s) slivered almonds
1/2 cup(s) fat-free Mayonnaise
1/2 tsp table salt


Instructions
Drain chicken and shred. Add pineapple tidbits and some of the juice. Add slivered almonds and salt. Stir in the mayonnaise until mixture is thoroughly blended.

Makes 10 - 1/4 cup servings - 2 Points per serving

Friday, August 28, 2009

Slow Cookin' Pulled Chicken

This recipes is from Hungry Girl. She says, "shredded BBQ chicken is FANTASTIC over salads, piled onto light buns, stuffed inside high-fiber tortillas with (rinsed) cole slaw, or eaten all by itself. Yummmmmm!". I hope you enjoy!

Slow Cookin' Pulled Chicken

Ingredients
1 1/2 lb. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breasts, halved
1 cup canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. brown sugar (not packed)
2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. cider vinegar
2 tsp. garlic powder
Optional: red pepper flakes, to taste

Instructions
Place all ingredients except the chicken in the crock pot. Stir until mixed. Add chicken and coat well with the sauce.

Cover and cook on high for 3 - 4 hours OR on low for 7 - 8 hours, until chicken is fully cooked.

Remove all the chicken and place it in a bowl. Shred each piece using two forks -- one to hold the chicken in place and the other to scrape across the meat and shred it. Return the shredded chicken to the crock pot, and mix well with the sauce.

If you're serving a group, keep the crock pot on its lowest setting, so the chicken stays warm. If you like, season to taste with red pepper flakes. Eat up!

PER SERVING (1/2 cup): 149 calories, 1g fat, 462mg sodium, 10g carbs, <0.5g fiber, 9g sugars, 22.5g protein -- POINTS® value 3*

MAKES 7 SERVINGS

Thursday, August 27, 2009

In His Image

One of my Weight Watchers leaders, Linda, emailed me a very interesting article from Spark People. You can check it out if you want, Improve Your Self Esteem With Journaling.

It made me think a lot about how I have a really hard time being positive when it comes to myself. I could encourage someone else in what they are doing, but when it comes to myself I am not so gracious.

I hope that you will read this article, maybe you do not need to work on this. For those people, that's awesome! I wish I were more like you. But for those of you who are more like me. Maybe we should take sometime to ask God to help us to be more positive with ourselves. After all we were created in His image!!God knew what He was doing when He created us and we have to trust Him to change us.

"God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them...God saw all that He has made, and behold, it was very good." - Genesis 1:27&32

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Weight Watchers Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

Weight Watchers Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients
2 tbsp butter, softened
2 tsp canola oil
1/2 cup packed brown sugar, dark-variety
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp table salt
1 large egg white
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
3 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips, about 1/2 cup

Instructions
Preheat oven to 375ºF.

In a medium bowl, cream together butter, oil and sugar. Add vanilla, salt and egg white; mix thoroughly to combine.

In a small bowl, mix together flour and baking soda; stir into batter. Add chocolate chips to batter; stir to distribute evenly throughout.

Drop rounded half-teaspoons of dough onto one or two large nonstick baking sheets, leaving a small amount of space between each cookie. Bake cookies until golden around edges, about 4 to 6 minutes; cool on a wire rack. Yields 2 cookies per serving.

1 cookie = 1 Point

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

South Beach Diet's Vegetable Quiche Cups

This is a great breakfast item. You can freeze and reheat them later.

South Beach Diet's Vegetable Quiche Cups

Ingredients
3/4 cup fat-free egg substitute, liquid
10 oz chopped frozen spinach, 1 package
3/4 cup shredded fat-free Cheddar or mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup green pepper, diced, can use red pepper as well
1/4 cup onion, diced
1/2 tsp table salt, to taste
1 tbsp salsa, put on top if desired

Instructions
Heat oven to 350F

Line 12 cup muffin pan with foil baking cups, spray the cups with the cooking spray.
Thaw and drain spinach - I wring it out well in my hand.
Mix the spinach, egg substitute, cheese, peppers, onions, hot pepper sauce, salt in a bowl.

Fill the foil cups with the mixture.

Bake at 350F or 20 minutes, testing so that a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Remove from cups to serve.

* Quiche cups can be frozen and reheated in the microwave. Any combination of appropriate vegetables and reduced-fat cheeses may be used.

Serving Size – 2 cups
PointsPlus+ Value - 1 pointsplus+ for 2 cups
Points Value - 1 point for 2 cups

Broccoli-Cauliflower Cheese Soup

Broccoli-Cauliflower Cheese Soup

Ingredients
3 cans of Fat Free Chicken Broth
2 lbs frozen Broccoli-Cauliflower Mix
1 can Rotel Tomatoes
8 oz lite (2%) Velveeta Cheese
Instructions
Boil veggies in chicken broth. When veggies get soft, mash them up. Add rotel tomatoes and cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.

Makes A Lot! (I added garlic and pepper for flavoring)

Serves 8; 2 pointsplus per serving (serving is approx. 1 cup)

For Recipe Review, click here

A Healthy Weight

I have been on Weight Watchers since October 2008. I am finally in a healthy weight range!! Praise the Lord!! As of August 3, 2009 I had lost 70 pounds and I now weigh 155!! I am in a healthy weight range according to Weight Watchers for my height (125-155). It is really very exciting. This is the main goal that I have been working towards since mid-October. Now, according to the doctor and Weight Watchers I can keep losing weight until I am comfortable in my own skin. The lowest I can go is 125 pounds, but I don?t want to go that low. Right now I have set my goal at 145, but I might work towards 135. I will just have to see what I feel like when I get to 145.

This has been such a long road that it is really amazing to reach such an important milestone like this one. I never thought that I would actually lose all my weight. I hoped that I would, I longed for it, but I was never confident in my ability to change my life. Please don?t be impressed with me, I have not done this on my own and it is only by God?s grace that I am able to say that I am healthy. He is the one who has changed my life and continues to do so on a daily basis.

Here are some things that have changed about me in the last 70 pounds:

1. I went from a size 18 to a size 8! As a result I have had to get rid of my wardrobe, because everything I own is too big for me. This is not a bad problem to have, but it means that I wear the same things over and over again. I can?t wait to be at goal and be able to build up a new wardrobe!

2. Over this process that is something else I have really come to love and that is running. Can you believe it? I was told that after my 5K I would become addicted to running races?well they were right! I am not signed up for another race yet, I think that there is a half-marathon in my future. I will bring you more details on the half-marathon when I have more information about it. For now I run on a regular basis so that I can lose the last 8 to 18 pounds that I have left before I reach my goal weight.

3. I am much more honest and open about my weight. I am sure that now-a-days I am too honest about my weight. I have become much more aware of my body and where I am at. When I have a bad week and don't exercise, I can feel it.

4. People are jealous of me. This is very weird for me to have people call me skinny, tiny, and some even say I have model legs.

I look forward to the day when I can post that I have reached my goal. That day is not today, but I can't wait for it to come. My perspective has changed, because now I know that I will reach my goal!

Change is good.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Hit a Plateau?

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on August 18, 2009.

So often in our weight loss journeys we hit brick walls (plateaus) But never fear...plateau rescue is here. Below are a few things that may be causing this plateau. Don’t give up you deserve to be skinny.

BREAKING THROUGH A PLATEAU WALL

10 Common hang-ups we all fall in to:

1. ATTITUDE – Who struggles with this? Attitude is everything-Be Positive

2. DAILY POINTS Range – Are you remembering to retake the quiz on page 15 of Book 1 as the pounds drop? This is very important for your journey! A changing body’s needs are different, a smaller body needs less calories.

3. GOOD HEALTH GUIDELINES - Revisit these and incorporate each one of them into your plan. The scales and your clothing size will move downward if you do this.

4. PORTIONS - look at these with a fresh eye. After following the plan for a while, it’s not uncommon to begin relaxing our portion sizes. Who’s guilty of this? So pull out those measuring cups, spoons, and scales. Who does do this regularly? How are they helping you stay on track? (plug in featured products)

5. TRACKING. Again, this step is commonly relaxed after being on the program for awhile. Commit to completing your Journal/tracker -plan ahead and stick to it. Who’s using the 3-month journal, e-tools, or the points calculator to track? How does this help you?

6. TOO MUCH TOO QUICK - A half pound to 2 pounds per week AVERAGE is a healthy pace, so don’t rush it. By losing too much too quickly, you risk the chance of burning muscle tissue instead of fat, which can reduce your metabolism and slow your weight loss.

7. MOVE MORE – If you answered yes to this you need to understand that you CANNOT lose weight by modifying your eating but NOT exercising, nor can you lose weight by exercising without modifying your eating. The two MUST go hand in hand. So get up off your toosh and move more!

8. VARY ACTIVITY – Unfortunately, over time, our bodies adapt to the same regimen, so consider switching it up and do something different. How can we do this?

9. BEWARE OF ZERO point foods. How many of you get tempted to do this? Remember, zero point foods still have calories and they can add up when put together! So reevaluate those 0 point choices. (Ketchup, diet soda, green beans, carrots, fat free cool whip, etc)

10. MEDICATIONS can affect weight by causing water retention and weight gain, so if you think this is the case, talk to your doctor about some healthy alternatives and solutions.

And this is just for fun…but oh how true it can be. One little slip up and we want to quit!
10 little Weight Watchers joining in a line,
One hates vegetables, and then there were nine.
9 little Weight Watchers say I’ve lost weight
One has a gain and then there were eight.
8 little Weight Watchers think this is heaven
One has a birthday, and then there were seven.
7 little Weight Watchers, enjoying the mix,
One isn’t having any fun and then there were six.
6 little Weight Watchers see how they thrive.
One said, "I don’t need to track", and then there were five.
5 little Weight Watchers beating at the door.
One weighed and left each week, and then there were four.
4 little Weight Watchers feeling young and free.
One didn’t want to exercise, and then there were three.
3 little Weight Watchers see how well they do.
One went on vacation, and then there were two.
2 little Weight Watchers, life has just begun.
One fell off the wagon, and then there was one.
1 little Weight Watcher standing all alone,
The body is so healthy and how the pride has grown.
1 little Weight Watcher, at goal and feels divine.
Each of us can be that ONE - and not the other nine!!!!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Controlling the Cravings

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting on August 11, 2009.

97% of women and 68% of men have admitted to having cravings. A craving is a strong desire to eat certain foods. Now this can easily be confused with an urge or a temptation. Cravings are the kind of things that eat away at your brain and all you can think about is eating that particular food.

Cravings can very easily get the best of us so…. here are a few techniques to help you bust down those obnoxious, relentless cravings.

• Distract it: If you think you’re having a craving, do something else for a while. The desire to eat may go away after 10—15 minutes. If it doesn’t, try another
strategy. A great example given was to give yourself a manicure…ha feels great and you can’t eat with wet fingernails.

• Fake it: You may want to eat a version of the food you’re craving that’s lower in POINTS® values.Instead of the chocolate cake try a weight watchers brownie.

• Feed it: If distracting yourselves and faking it doesn’t work, eat a controlled
portion of the food in a controlled setting. Try to avoid going to the restaurant because you will tend to eat a lot more…control it by eating at home.

• Dig deeper: If you become aware of why you’re craving a certain food, your desire for it may subside. For example, you may find it helpful to figure out if you’ve been too restrictive in your eating or if emotions are behind the craving. If feelings are the cause, realize that it’s usually better to face the issue head on.

• Ask what the craving implies: If you mainly crave a particular type of food (sweet, salty, crunchy), you may find it helpful to include foods of that type in your daily eating.A great example given was to eat carrots instead of potato chips to satisfy the crunch.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Granola Bars

Granola Bars
By, Alton Brown

Ingredients
8 ounces old-fashioned rolled oats, approximately 2 cups
1 1/2 ounces raw sunflower seeds, approximately 1/2 cup
3 ounces sliced almonds, approximately 1 cup
1 1/2 ounces wheat germ, approximately 1/2 cup
6 ounces honey, approximately 1/2 cup
1 3/4 ounces dark brown sugar, approximately 1/4 cup packed
1-ounce unsalted butter, plus extra for pan
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
6 1/2 ounces chopped dried fruit, any combination of apricots, cherries or blueberries

Instructions
Butter a 9 by 9-inch glass baking dish and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, and wheat germ onto a half-sheet pan. Place in the oven and toast for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In the meantime, combine the honey, brown sugar, butter, extract and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the brown sugar has completely dissolved.

Once the oat mixture is done, remove it from the oven and reduce the heat to 300 degrees F. Immediately add the oat mixture to the liquid mixture, add the dried fruit, and stir to combine. Turn mixture out into the prepared baking dish and press down, evenly distributing the mixture in the dish and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

The Gospel

I never want there to be any confusion about why I blog. I want to be honest with you. This is the point where I tell you that God designed you to be in relationship with Him, to love God with your whole heart and to worship and trust Him. Because of our nature, we are separated from God; we disobey God and go our own way. We fail at loving God with our whole heart. But, the good news is that God sent Jesus Christ to pay the punishment for our crime and raised Him from the dead so that we could be reconciled to God. In Jesus we have the free gift of God's grace, we're set free from slavery to sin, and we're given a new heart to love God like we should. We joyfully await the return of our King Jesus, when we will finally live in His presence face to face. Why the wait? Because God is patient and kind and wants many to come to salvation.

We must repent and trust Jesus. How do you Receive Jesus Christ?
1. Admit your need for forgiveness and peace.
2. Be willing to turn from your sins, believing that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
3. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to forgive your sins & be your Savior.

If you're already trusting in Him, that’s awesome!! Do not waste your life, go out and live each moment on mission to spread the good news of His grace and His soon coming return.

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