3 Low-Cal Summer Thirst Quenchers

Hi Friends and Readers!
Well, I'm still away taking care of family 'things' in the Chicago Area, but I didn't want you to think I've forgotten about posting some healthy and lo-cal recipes. As I was reading my Yahoo news page this morning, I found a link to the Self Magazine. These recipes are for you to try and enjoy. They are lo-calorie drinks. As the article says, sometimes we get tired of just drinking water. Hope you'll enjoy the recipes and don't forget to click on the link to get there. Happy 5th of July! (the extra holiday-day this year)

3 Low-Cal Summer Thirst Quenchers

CLASSIC PENNE CARBONARA BY JAMIE OLIVER

Here's a scrumptious looking meal by Jamie Oliver.  Click on the following link for more yumminess: http://www.jamie-oliver-recipe.com

As you can see by this post, I'm not really paying attention to my diet--AT ALL! 
I'm hoping to make this sometime this week. 

And here's yet another recipe by Jamie--you can use pa ncetta or bacon in the salad.  Here's the link: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/04/bread-salad-with-speck-parmesan-poached-egg-recipe.html

I hope you're all doing well while I'm away. 
Wishing you healthy and happy eating! ~~C.

Inside-Out Lasagna

                   Inside-Out Lasagna

Here's a recipe that looks really good. I haven't tried it yet, but when you do please tell me how you liked it. This link also provides subscription information for Eating Well magazine. Here's to healthy eating!   Remember:  just click the title to link to the recipe. :0))

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Dear Friends and Readers,

As you can see I have been away from the page for the last several weeks, although, I have put up a scrumptious dessert for you to try--NOT on the dieters list, I'm sure.

I will be in visiting in Chicago for the next month, assisting my son after his motorcycle accident on the Memorial Day weekend. 

Please don't think that I've abandoned you, but during my absence you may send me notes or posting via this page. 

 I hope you'll enjoy the beginning of summer and I'll see you all when I return.

~~Cynthia.

Bacon, Egg, Avocado and Tomato Salad

bacon, egg, avocado and tomato salad...looking scrumptiously delicious!!   buy the ingredients, fix it for dinner, enjoy and delight in the decadence of all things yummy!

Bacon, Egg, Avocado and Tomato Salad | Mark's Daily Apple

Posted using ShareThis

TRES LECHES CAKE

sometimes we just need to take some time off...look at pretty pictures...find scrumptious recipes--the totally decadent ones--and have fun!!! 

Go to the following link and read the article published in Texas Highways and enjoy the recipe.  Everyone needs a 'vacation' sometime.  Besides, if you just take a couple small nibbles, it will give your sould sonme happy time.  **smile y'all**

http://www.texashighways.com/index.php/component/content/article/49-dining-a-tastes/6108-taste-triple-delight-of-tres-leches

and you're right...it's NOT on our diet! ~~ C.

GOOD GROUP THIS WEEK!! (MAY 5, 2010)

This week, we had great group participation!! Nice to have everyone there.

Linda brought information to share with us about the VA Program that she participates in. There is a lot of information about self-esteem and how to live a better life—healthy style!! Here is the link: http://www.move.va.gov/ You can go there and read A LOT of wonderful information and take a survey for better health. Another piece of information provided by Linda was that she enjoys utilizing the information that is followed via 12 Step Programs: http://www.12step.org/

Holly provided information regarding her dieting program and she enjoys participating thru the Live Strong website: http://www.livestrong.com/

Mary brought us information regarding a mailer that was sent to her. It is about a type of accupressure but after researching it some, it seems there is another group that provides a better service for this. I have listed both sites. The first one is from the mailer: https://accutrimcenter.com/ The second one is the better site: http://accuweight.com/ You girls make the decision IF this is something you would find beneficial to utilize.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/bodyimage Body Image is the topic of this link. It was one I found while researching the information from Linda. Personally, I think the information I received MANY years ago is still good. Each morning, as you are preparing for your day, look into your mirror and tell yourself three good things you like about yourself, i.e. I like my ‘good’ hair, my nice smile, my generous heart. We did this around our discussion table and we find that we each have MANY positive thoughts about ourselves (and others). The work begins when we believe that we are worthy of positive and powerful things in our life. Right now, that means that we can succeed at our goals to lose weight. Keep up the good work!!

Physical limitations due to health concerns was another topic discussed. Here’s links to follow helpful information:

www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200013ttp://www.womentowomen.com/assessments/bonehealth/default.aspx?id=19&campaignno=osteotreat&adgroup=ag5exercise&keywords=osteoporosis+exercises

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/osteoporosis/hq00643

http://womenshealth.suite101.com/article.cfm/osteoporosis_exercise

Some people are not able to do very physical exercise, but we can ALL do some. I used to teach classes when I worked at The Holland Home. They were designed to keep our senior family members moving. We took classes through the Arthritis Foundation, but over the years I continually go back to a television show called Sit and Be Fit. It’s a good site for those that cannot stand for long periods of time or have other physical limitations: http://www.sitandbefit.org/arthritis In our area you can find this program on KNCT-Belton on Tuesday and Thursdays at 11:30 am.

We decided, too, that prayer has a big impact in our lives—which we all know and realize—but we can use the power of prayer to assist in all aspects of our daily living.
http://protestantism.suite101.com/article.cfm/prayers_to_lose_weight

Prayers to start our day and to keep us on track. Suggestion: Post one and keep it in your bathroom or in the kitchen. Here’s a sample prayer to say or post and to pass along to anyone else that is on this weight loss

“Loving God, thank you for the strength to stick to [insert diet plan] and for [insert weight lost or other milestone.] Thank you for being with me throughout my attempts to be healthy. Be with me and guide me as I continue to choose life, think before I eat, and be healthy. Amen.”

Read more at Suite101: Prayers to Lose Weight: Blessing a Diet, Prayer for Eating Healthy, and More http://protestantism.suite101.com/article.cfm/prayers_to_lose_weight#ixzz0nIXbwYQ6

http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/Weight-Loss/Norris

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18

Thank you ladies for being a blessing in my life and for the encouragement and the wealth of questions and information shared. I love sharing my time with each of you ~~ C.

STUCK IN A RUT? HIT A PLATEAU? WHAT TO DO? IT'S UP TO YOU!!

It seems that losing weight can be a struggle. We eat the right things, we begin walking or exercising, we’re drinking tons of water, decaf coffee & tea and suck down quarts of Sassy Water, right? And what happens? We get stuck with no downward numbers on the ‘stupid’ scale. So what gives? Are we cheating too much? Are we eating too much and not getting enough exercise? Or are our bodies resistant to the change?


I found information that might help. This is from the site called Mark’s Daily Apple at http://www.marksdailyapple.com/ There are many suggestions, so you may each find some way to help aide you in ‘jump starting’ your weight loss again. One of the topics we discussed was an intermittent fasting. There are many ways to do these.
One suggestion (brought to us by Dorris) is to do a 24 hour fast. You begin at 3 pm on the first day and end at 3 pm on the second day. Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated, consume no solids and as your tummy begins to grumble with the ‘feed me’ sounds, pray and thank God for your hunger pains. Each time you feel hungry, it is your reminder to pray. I actually tried to find a reference for this but couldn’t find the exact reference that Dorris spoke of. Personally, I have a book written by Jentezen Franklin http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/fasting In this writing are the biblical references for fasting and supportive Bible verses for encouragement and references.

Here is another link for 24 hour fasting: http://www.ehow.com/how_5046856_conduct-hour-fast-health-longevity.html

You may follow the first link for Mark’s Daily Apple to find other suggestions. I prepared handouts for the Break Through Your Weight Loss Plateau and for the book The Primal Blueprint: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-book/the-primal-blueprint I hope these links will provide helpful information for each of you.

OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:

1. Where can we find the Ezekiel Bread sandwich buns? They can be found at the Drug Emporium in Waco.

2. Is high fructose corn syrup different from fructose? Answers can be found here: http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2008/08/20/4274/the-dangers-of-high-fructose-corn-syrup and here http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/sugars.htm

3. Irregular heartbeat and exercise? Problem, concerns and information: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003081.htm

4. Does body lotion add or absorb fat to your body? Answer yes. Links: http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Lotion-Making-You-Fat?&id=3716754 which led me to other sites for natural/chemical free/homemade products for healthy body care: http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Lotion-Making-You-Fat?&id=3716754 Is your lotion making you fat? There are numerous links for chemical free products and ways to make your own. Basically, in these articles it tells us that our skin (our largest organ) is being poisoned by the chemicals in our lotions, shampoos and fragrances.

Finally, we want to Welcome Clydia D. to our meeting this week. She currently participated in Weight Watchers program but decided to come and ‘check us out’ and to find a little support from our group. Welcome, Clydia!

As a reminder to our friends reading this article~~immediately following our weigh-in, we have Wednesday Family Night Supper and Bible Study at the church. All are welcome to come to join in dinner and stay for prayer and fellowship. We are always happy to welcome and greet newcomers to all of the programs we have at Canyon Creek Church of Christ. http://www.c4oftemple.com/

OKAY, that’s it for this week’s updates. Stay strong, stay healthy and continue to continue. Ask you other friends to join us. Having friends who are supportive makes healthy eating easier.

Let your head be more than a funnel to your stomach.
~~German Proverb





 
~~Cynthia.

Massage Therapy for Tendinitis : Ice Massages for Plantar Fasciitis

Massage Therapy for Tendinitis : Tissue Massages for Plantar Fasciitis

Massage Therapy for Tendinitis : About Plantar Fasciitis

ALL ABOUT YOUR FEET

Meeting of 04-21-2010
This week our conversations were about FEET and EATS.
I brought instructional information about taking care of yourself while walking. The first handout is Feel Great on Your Feet by http://www.walkitoff.com/thrive/feel-great-your-feet/090925594?page=8 it gives pointers about before you begin your walking, what to do while you are walking and information after your walk. There are MANY beneficial tips and I’m certain that each person could take away valuable insights to help make the walking experience better. As I’m reviewing my notes I found one tip that is important for me, as this past week my right foot has been ‘killing’ me!

Here’s the tip: Roll your feel over a tennis ball. Do this for 2 – 3 minutes as you sit at your desk or in front of the television. If your feet feel especially cramped, the recommendation is to fill a tennis ball container with ice, put it in the freezer and then roll your feet over it after your walk. The cold helps control any swelling you may have and numbs the nerves so your feet don’t ache as much.

This tip might also be helpful as this past week I have been experiencing plantar fasciitis. It has been quite painful and I have been using Aleve and Hot & Icy product. I will include a separate blog about this foot problem. There was a series of three videos on You Tube that I found beneficial in relieving the pain in my foot.

The second handout is about the different ways you can lace your walking shoes. There are 6 different ways for the differences in our feet: Slipping heel, pain on top of feet, toe pain, narrow foot, high arch and narrow heel with wide forefoot. This article is also from the Walk It Off site.

Mary brought us an article about the Top 10 Low-Carb Lunches. This handout is available for each member of the group. Please feel free to pick up each of these handouts the next time you attend Slim for Him.

Things we tried as healthy foods this week was the Spinach Feta Hummus that I wrote about a couple of weeks back. Dorris and I both made it—and both recipes were different in taste and consistency. Mine turned out more spicy (more red pepper flakes) and Dorris’ was less spicy. I think had we combined our two, it would have been just perfect. Dorris felt hers was too bland and I thought mine was two spicy, but had we combined it---just right?

Dorris tried a new recipe and says, “It was good!” It is a Betty Crocker recipe of Mandarin Chicken http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes or try this link: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/mandarin-chicken-salad You can scroll enter the recipe title in the search bar to locate the recipe, as well as finding many other good recipes. Many of the recipes are figure friendly and low in calories, so ENJOY!

One more recipe was from the book entitled 1 Mix 100 Muffins by Susanna Tee. Wheat Germ, Banana & Pumpkin Seed Muffins. They are heart healthy and the wheat germ does wonderful things for your digestion and ‘daily sit’, if you know what I mean! Warm them in the microwave for about 5 seconds and a little taste of butter (a small indulgence) to really bring out the yumminess of the muffin. 1 Mix, 100 Muffins

BURN FAT? IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE?

Go ahead.........Eat an Egg.

This week at Slim for Him, we talked about an article called Eat This, Burn Fat! From the Prevention Magazine publication Walk it Off. Note: You can find it now at most check out counters in your local grocery store. Thanks Dorris for the magazine!

The highlights of this article are that there are 15 foods that aide in burning fat. They are:

• Low-fat milk

• Low-fat yogurt

• Swiss cheese

• Oats

• Barley

• Green tea

• Eggs

• Walnuts

• Almonds

• Salmon

• Apples

• Pears

• Sweet peppers

• Flaxseed

• Vinegar

Other up-and-coming fat fighters:

• Blueberries

• Grapefruit

You can read more about the benefits of these foods and how they can aide in you goal of weight loss.

This edition of the magazine has many good articles to read. We made copies of some of our favorite recipes, but if you go to the link you will find MUCH more, including more recipes, tips for better eating, exercise facts, a log-in for those that want to follow the online pages AND subscription information for Prevention publications. On the home page you can sign up to participate in the Walk it Off program. Here’s the link: http://www.walkitoff.com/ Check it out.

You might enjoy checking out this page for the Best You Magazine: http://byh.ktvmedia.com/

Another topic of discussion was brought to us by Mary N. She ordered a collection of guided weight loss tapes aka hypnosis. Think and Lose is the title of this DVD class.

Here’s the bio and the link for further information>>

Nationally Certified Clinical Hypnotist, Donald J. Mannarino, M.A. perfected his incredibly powerful and successful skills as a clinical hypnotist for several major health organizations such as The American Heart Association (1978-1986), as well as for numerous hospitals and corporations for over 30 years. In private practice since 1978, Don sees many clients for Weight Loss, Smoking Cessation, Insomnia, Stress, Pain, ADHD, Sports Enhancement, Drug & Alcohol Addiction, as well as many other diverse applications of clinical hypnosis. http://www.donmannarino.com/

Mary brought up the question of, “what is lavash?” Well, I looked that up. It is a Middle East type of flatbread. You can find in now in most markets, but you can make your own. I’ve found a page that I really liked for the recipe. It seems easy and not very expensive to make. This is the page-- http://www.passionateaboutbaking.com/2008/11/lavash-crackers-again-with-roasted-bell.html

Finally, we want to welcome Linda R. to our group. She has been dieting (on her own) for a little while and even before joining out ‘little group’ she has lost 12 pounds!!! Congratulations on your weight loss success.

My parting thought this week …WHAT DO YOU EAT FOR BREAKFAST?

If everyone would come prepared to tell us what you eat, when you eat it and is it satisfying to eat? Does it hold the hunger bunnies away until your next 400 calorie meal?

And don’t forget…bring any topics or questions you have to group. I’ll do my best to research and find answers or links for everyone.

BURN THE FAT LADIES—AND REMEMBER TO BELLI LAFF!

Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Discover the Health Benefits of Eating Prunes: The Wrinkly Fruit That's Remarkably Healthy

Discover the Health Benefits of Eating Prunes: The Wrinkly Fruit That's Remarkably Healthy

Dorris enjoys eating prunes every evening before bedtime. While searching for information of the benefits of eating them--other than just tasting good--I found that there are MANY BENEFITS especially good for our mature women (those past menopause). Read the article and you many follow the numerous links for more information to healthy eating (and eliminating). Keep smiling! and eat your prunes.......funny, my mom used to tell me that. ~~C.

WALK--DON'T RUN!

Once again our group was VERY small this week. Where are all of our participants? This week there were only two of the regulars—Dorris and myself. Dorris was happy to have lost weight and I was happy that I only gained a few ounces. Although my jeans are fitting much better, the scale went the wrong way. It went up!! Sheesh!!

I think we need better participation, better encouragement between member in our group AND we need to be setting attainable goals. Eating healthier foods and preparing healthier menus is the primary goal of our group. The side benefit is that we will lose weight and get flat bellies! Wouldn’t that be nice? I think so.

Why the title? Walk—Don’t Run

Well…one of the easiest ways to burn calories, relax and enjoy the beautiful Texas weather is to walk. (there is no need to run or jog) There are many benefits to walking and I found an essay by John McDevitt entitled Walking for Inspiration. The opening line says, “Walking for inspiration is like dancing slowly with yourself. Your mind gliding effortlessly from thought to thought as you move to the rhythm of your footsteps.”

I like that first line. How many times is your mind cluttered with worries and cares, yet when you walk—and for me, I listen to inspirational music on my Zune—you find that your mind clears, you relax and you are prepared again for the rest of your day. It has a calming effect and it’s really good for your body. The entire writing by John was copied as a handout for each of you. You may pick up a copy at the next meeting.

Along with that handout, I prepared a Walking Journal page. It is an easy way for each person to track the date, time of day, weather and either miles, steps or amount of time walking. This too is a handout.

Another handout was from Medicinenet.com and it is the Top 10 reasons to walk. Should want to go directly to the site, this is the address: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=81245

NEWS! We have another new participant. Welcome to Trudy S.! We are happy to have you join our group. Note: We have a tracking sheet which includes your name, beginning date, beginning weight and measurements. If you haven’t started a tracking sheet, please see one of us to fill it out and get going.

Some of the topics we talked about Wednesday afternoon:

What is gout and how does it affect us? Are there diets that help with this arthritic condition? Here is information regarding the topic: http://www.medicinenet.com/gout/article.htm and http://arthritis.about.com/cs/goutdiet/a/goutpurines.htm

When we start our day eating carbs, why are we hungry all day long? Go to: http://www.ehow.com/how_5027964_stop-feeling-hungry-time.html

We also talked about gluten free eating: http://www.ehow.com/how_5027964_stop-feeling-hungry-time.html and http://www.bobsredmill.com/

This question was presented by Trudy: “can wheat germ be gluten free” Answer: No. Please see the gluten free eating sites for further information.

I’ve been reading two new books. The first is written by Jorge Cruise and is entitled The Belly Fat Cure. ISBN 978-1-4019-2781-9 Check it out. The second book is by Kelly Rudnicki called The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book. ISBN 978-1-57284-102-4 You can find them in your local library—oh! That would be the Temple Library for me and that would mean you have to wait until I return it before you can take it out for yourself.

Finally, we have a money jar or ‘kitty’ started for those of us that have gained weight. In other words, if you gain weight back at weigh-in, you have to put money in as a penalty. We talked about this and here is a guideline I thought might be workable for us, but you ladies can give us your input. We want to make it enough to hurt a little, but not so much as to hurt a lot. The goal is to make us aware of where we are at while dieting. Here is the guide: .1 to 16 ounces (1 pound) = $1.00, 1 pound – 2 pounds=$2.00, etc. We haven’t decided what we would do with this money, but the hope is that the ‘kitty’ stays small. If it stays small, it means we are losing weight and winning the battle of the belli!!!!!

That’s all for this week.
Wishing you all a healthy and active week.
~~C.

Other references for you to look at:

http://www.mapmywalk.com/ , http://walking.about.com/ , http://www.thewalkingsite.com/faq.html ,

http://www.medicinenet.com/walking/article.htm and http://www.startwalkingnow.org/


Love yourself--walk!!!

WINNING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE??

Okay friends, it seems that right now everyone is NOT on board with this weight loss program. Our group was VERY small this week. Hullo!!! It was Dorris, Mary and ME. For those of us that are part of this group, we need everyone’s participation. Also, you can invite your friends that seem to be struggling with unhealthy eating habits and continual weight gain. WE ARE NOT A SCARY GROUP OF SIZE 2 LADIES! We are regular sized and figurely woman (yes, this means generous curves and all) who are attempting to be a healthier version of ourselves. Additionally, this group is NOT just for the ladies. If any of the men out there want to join, we would be happy to have them join in.

Now, this week we tried the recipe for the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. It was especially tasty and the chips that I found were purchased at Marshall’s and are made from lentil and adzuki beans. The manufacturer of these chips is The Mediterranean Snack Food Company with the web link: http://www.mediterraneansnackfoods.com/ these, too, are figure friendly. If you check out their site it has links to their other products and good recipes.

For our next weigh-in, I hope to make the other recipe handout—Spinach and Feta Cheese Hummus. Here’s hoping for another ‘winner’.

By preparing and sharing some of the recipes, we are able to taste-test-together. Isn’t it always more funner to eat together???

ASPARAGUS!! What a wonderful vegetable! I love it, but what was interesting is that Kathy Ybarra gave Dorris a handout about the cancer benefits of eating it. Although, it was an interesting article, I did research it a little further and the handout is actually part of a health urban legend. There is no substantiation to this printed handout. Now—I’m not saying it shouldn’t be eaten, but it does put a huge responsibility on this sweet spring veggie! I am providing another link that gives the benefits of this succulent cousin to the lilies. Here is the link: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=12

GARLIC—OH MY! Another veggie that is in the same family as asparagus. Personally, I don’t like to chop and dice my own garlic, so I was investigating the type crushed garlic I find at both Wal-Mart and HEB. The brand I have currently in my kitchen is from: http://www.christopherranch.com/ and the conversion between crushed and clove is: 1 clove of fresh garlic = 1 tsp. crushed in the jar. This should make your cooking a little simpler.

BRAS (this article is just for the ‘girls’).
As our weight fluctuates, does it seem your bra just doesn’t fit correctly? Maybe, it’s time for a bra fitting. Or…if you’re too shy to have it done in one of the better department stores with the help of the intimate apparel clerks, you can figure it out for yourself. Here are two pages for you to look at: http://www.lindasonline.com/bra-school http://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Your-Bra-Size
Hope this helps your ‘girls’ feel happy and content with their daily covering.


Well, that’s all for this week. Have a Warm, Wonderful and Happy Easter. Go ahead~~splurge~~ eat some Peeps!! and remember Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

~~C.

P.S. DON’T FORGET TO WALK AND EXERCISE! IT BURNS CALORIES AND MAKES YOUR BODY HAPPEEEEE!

African Peanut Soup

This recipe is for Dorris. She said she ate this and couldn't find a recipe. I was looking and I found one that seemed easy to create:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/African-Peanut-Soup/Detail.aspx

I've never tried this, so this will be up to Dorris to make for us all to taste.

Enjoy!
~~C.

8 Foods that Fight Stress on Yahoo! Health

8 Foods that Fight Stress on Yahoo! Health: "It to Beat It
We all know that tension can"

Here's a few tips about eating healthy and it goes with our Flat Belly Diet program. Just a little more encouragement for WHY we should eat healthy!
~~C.

Goulash, but not really.

Goulash, but not really.

Hey Mary! I found a recipe that is a lo-cal version that I think would be good to try. Sounds similar to what you made. YUM!

INSPIRED BY FOOD? YES, WE ARE!!

This week we were unable to weigh in or take body measurements. Why? Michael was not at the church to unlock the office for us to retrieve our files/charts/tape measure or scale. Need week, prepare to show off how much you’ve lost…both in weight and in inches.

Since we didn’t have the ability to check our status by weigh in, we talked about recipes this week. One of the dishes we tried this past week was the Tilapia with almonds. The response was that this was a good dish and we would make it again.

Other recipes included Mary’s version of a family favorite—homemade goulash prepared with whole wheat noodles. She used ground beef and ground turkey to keep the yummy familiar flavors but with a leaner calorie profile. Her family was happy to eat this—no surprise you might say? That’s because she’s feeding men! (Insert laughter here, please) but I haven’t met a man who doesn’t enjoy it when a lady cooks for them. Keeping it lean and healthy was the extra bonus for all her ‘eaters’.

We welcome Holly G. to our group. Holly has been reducing calories and losing weight for some time now--with over 50 pounds lost!! She is joining our group to stay on track and continue the work she began on her own.

I passed out handouts that have snacks with 100 calories or less. If you need additional copies, please ask at our next meeting. If you are ever in doubt about what to eat as a snack here are a few quick picks: half an apple with 2 teaspoons of peanut butter, ½ frozen orange juice—frozen and eaten as sorbet, 9 Tootsie Roll Midgets (chocolate craving), 29 pistachios, and 60 Pepperidge Farm Baby Goldfish crackers.

On Wednesday morning I was watching the Rachel Ray Show. She had Dr. Ian Smith on talking about a few ways to trick ourselves and to stay on the path to healthy life changes. You can link to Rachel Ray’s page to read more: http:// www.rachaelrayshow.com


Here are Dr. Ian’s reminders and you can find the link to his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Ian-Smith/66447777852

Use the plate as a guide to decrease your portions. "Keep an inch between your food and the edge of the plate and make sure the food is not more than an inch high," he suggests. "Or use a salad plate as your entree plate."

Drink a glass of water before and after each meal to fill your stomach. "The water stretches your stomach. It sends a signal to your brain saying, 'I'm full, no more!'" he explains. "Now you're stretching the stomach to its maximum but on fewer calories!"

Use the color of the food as a guide to make the healthiest choices. "The best colors are the rainbow - so orange, blue, reds and greens are the best colors with all the vital nutrients that you need and the vitamins and minerals. The next best would be the browns, the whole grains and multi-grains," Dr. Ian says. "The worst of course are the whites, the enriched flowers."

Eat different foods and vary your menus. "If you change your diet every four days you prevent food boredom, and you burn off more calories because your body never gets adjusted to eating the same foods."

Here’s a recipe for each of you who are tired of drinking Sassy Water every day and want something warm to sip on.

It’s Soothing Ginger Tea from the Martha Stewart publication of http://www.wholeliving.com/

Step 1. Remove the skin from an inch of fresh ginger using a paring knife. Chop the ginger and measure a tablespoon per cup of tea. Step 2. Add ginger to a saucepan with water, 8 oz. per cup. Bring it to a boil, then simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Pour into a teapot. Step 3. Remove the strainer from the teapot and discard the ginger. Add honey if desired. Tea can be refrigerated for up to a day; warm to serve.

Finally, DON’T FORGET TO EXERCISE! Take a walk. Dance while cooking. Rake the yard. Just get up and get moving. I think we should track our exercise time as well as our calories.

Have a Happy Weekend and eat Healthy!

~~C.

DEFEAT? NOPE, NOT NO-HOW, NOT NO-WAY, NOT US!!!

This week seemed to be difficult for each of our participants. We each had reasons (or excuses) for becoming de-railed by food cravings. I don’t believe that it was the food we are eating, because we all enjoy what we are eating on the Flat Belly program, but it seems those ‘outside factors’ contributed to our lack of diligence. So…we are determined to do better this next week.

“Being defeated is often temporary, giving up makes it permanent.”

We are making permanent changes in our lives—and that includes health and weight-loss. We are not defeated! We are strong. So here are our weekly stats with only 4 of us, in attendance, this week: 2 of us lost a little and 2 of us gained a little. We CAN do better.

Some of the topics discussed at this week’s weigh in:

Mary and Roy made turkey burgers (all white meat) and put a chunky avocado and salsa mixture on top. Got their MUFAs and lots of flavor!

I used the George Foreman for fat free grilling. While talking about this, Mary reminded us of a recipe that incorporates chunky salsa into your hamburger meat before cooking. This sounds scrumptious to me. Next time I grill MY burgers, I’ll be trying this.

Mary brought her recipe file of favorite lo-cal dishes. It is decided that we are going to try the Almond Crusted Tilapia from the September 2008 Good Housekeeping magazine. Here’s the link: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/almond-crusted-tilapia-recipe?click=main_sr   By next week we should have time to try it and then give report on either thumbs up or thumbs down.

Here’s a smoothie recipe that Dorris wants to try:

Pina Colada Smoothie

½ cups fresh pineapple chunks

2 tsps. fresh lime juice

½ tsp. coconut extract

½ tbsp. sugar or Splenda granular

¾ cup nonfat plain yogurt

3-4 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Calories: 174, Calcium: 372 mg, Counts as 2 dairy serving and 1 fruit serving

Here are a couple more links for you to check out:

Mary provided us with a homemade hummus recipe. Blend all these ingredients together and serve with assorted vegetables or pita chips.

1 can chick peas, drained

1 cup roasted red peppers

1 lemon, juice only

Cinnamon, just a pinch

Salt & pepper, to season

And I found another: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Roasted-Red-Pepper-Hummus/Detail.aspx

I researched a web page that was on one of the recipe pages.  It is a book called Our Lady of Weight Loss by Janice Taylor. There is a lot beneficial information that can help each of us. Take a little time and see what she has on her web pages, and check out the books. She, like us, has been on this “healthy adventure”. Maybe we can learn a few things from her life. http://www.ourladyofweightloss.com/motivation/kick/index2010.asp

Well, that’s all for this week. Stay focused, stay positive and eat a little dark chocolate every day! ~~C.  Don't forget--we take measurements next week.

Healthy Chocolate Recipes and Tips

Healthy Chocolate Recipes and Tips

WEIGH IN PLEEZ! UGH!

Well, for some of our group this is the 3rd week of weigh in and self-discipline. For others, like me, this was my second week in the program. I was worried (only a little, mind you) that since I had cheated a little and because I didn’t accomplish the whole 4 days beginning program that I wouldn’t have lost anything. But….YIPPEE!!! I did lose weight. I lost 2.8 pounds! There is nothing better than when a woman gets on a scale and finds that she’s lost weight. It is amazing what it does for you! I just kept saying YIPPEE (in my head) but still ecstatic that I lost SOMETHING. Now…I know other gals in our group lost also! They, like me, were thrilled for our accomplishment.  Congratulations!

I’ve included a few links for you to click on. There is one on artificial sweeteners, 4 on how to take our measurements—which we all realize is of the utmost importance, right? :-))

Also, we discussed other ways that we can curb and manage how to eat less and feel full.

Dorris said that Scott and White Medical Group has a tip: Prepare your plate, eat ½ of what is on it and then put your fork down, leave the meal alone for 10 minutes and then resume eating. It is thought that by stopping mid-point that your body thinks it’s done eating, thereby causing you to eat smaller portion or less food. Note: I tried to find this particular diet on the Scott and White links, but didn’t find it. Similarly, that reminded me of a tip about cutting one bite at a time, putting fork and knife down and chewing your food completely before picking up your utensils again. Both are good tips and have value. Just try it and see how it may make a difference. Most people eat way too fast, so this is a good way to slow down, enjoy the meals and curb out tendencies to overeat. http://longevity.about.com/od/healthyeatingtips/qt/tips_slowdown.htm

Another additive was brought up by our friend Joan. She talked about MSG and what it does to our bodies and the bad effects. She did not have the web page links readily available for me to post, but I did find one shttp://www.msgtruth.org/whatisit.htmite that I felt pretty well summed it up. The sad part? IT’S IN ALOT OF FOODS WE CONSUME. http://www.msgtruth.org/whatisit.html

So Friends, it pays for each of us to be conscientious consumers, as well as keeping an eye on our portions. The more I read, the more I like the idea of eating natural, whole fruits and vegetables and natural grain products. I never thought of myself as becoming a Vegan, but it seems like it might be one of our safest options.

Have a GREAT WEIGHTLOSS WEEK! And don’t forget, if you don’t lose, you have to put money “in the kitty”.

Artificial Sweeteners: http://hubpages.com/hub/Artificial-Sweeteners--Natural-Sweeteners

Female Body Measurements: http://www.jedphoenix.com/easy-access/how-to-measure/womens-measurements

How To Take Accurate Body Measurements: http://www.thechicfashionista.com/body-measurements.html

How Do I Take My Measurements by iVillage: http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/diet-fitness/how-do-take-my-measurements.html

How To Take Body Measurements In 5 Easy Steps: http://www.curvycounselor.com/how-to-take-body-measurements.html

From my scale to yours,


Your “joyful dieter”~~ C.

CRAVINGS? LOVE CHOCOLATE?

Yesterday was a day that I was craving something sweet--all day.  Now, I know some might say that I didn't have enough to eat, or that I didn't eat the right things, but I did.  This is where the boredom factor comes in.  I eat when I'm bored or stressed.  Yesterday was one of those boring days for me.  Instead of getting off my posterior, I decided to veg-out watching TV movies on the Lifetime Channel and taking cat naps. 

Here is a wonderful option for about 100 calories (I think a capful of these is actually 150 calories--the cap double as a measure cup). 

Only thing is--- I didn't have any of these in the house either.  These little almonds are a wonderful compromise for our Chocolate Craving.  Yes, it's high in FAT content, but it's one of our approved fats--on our MUFA list.  They also come in snack size packaging--100 calorie packets.  Perfect to put in your purse of tote or school bag. 

So, you are now wondering what I did because I was craving chocolate??? I cheated on my diet.  I found I had a little bit of chocoate left over from my Valentine candy.  It was a gift!! so, it had to be eaten at some point, right?   Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!    I'm not going to beat myself up. I'll just do better today.  I have a goal to attain.  For me that's feeling better, getting fit and the payoff?  getting slimmer! 

Have a wonderful Monday, and it's a new week!  ~~C.

P.S.  If you want to know more about Emerald Brand nuts, click the word almond.

BREAD, GLORIOUS BREAD

I like bread! I want to say that again—I like bread!! I like the smell of a fresh loaf as I walk into the entrance of the nearest Wal-Mart or HEB grocery store. I like it even better when I have a nice schmeer of butter on it. Okay, so I like that warm bread plain—just tear off a hunk on the way home from the store and shove it into my mouth. Well, now that we agree about our bread craving, let’s find a way to still enjoy bread and not feel deprived. Here’s one of the ways that I’ve found this week to help with this:

There are products called slim breads. It seems they are everywhere and in every store—but they are pricey. I bought one package to try. My first brand is Nature’s Own brand.
This is the first slim bread. I like it! Hmm, maybe there is hope for me to “have my cake and eat it too”. My first sandwich was made with deli turkey, tomato, lots of lettuce and mustard. There is hope. I will survive.
Nature's Own Bread

Today I stopped by the Mrs. Baird’s bread store with my friend Juls. They have other varieties of whole grain breads (the good ones), plus Thomas’ Bakeries makes a new Bagel Thin. One of the workers there said his wife counts carbs and this is an approved and really good tasting alternative. He said “try it”, so I brought home 2 packages. (2 different varieties) They are now in the freezer until next week. The other bread was my Oroweat brand. Each company has a variety of flavors such as wheat, whole grain, honey wheat and multi-grain.

Because of my love of bread, I had to find a way to enjoy it and still stay on track for my weight loss program. You’ll find recipes on this site. Click the link for more information, plus the nutritional guides.
Arnold Breads

As I was looking at the bread nutrition guides, I realized that Bimbo Bakeries is the parent company for a lot of the bread brands that we daily see, buy and consume. Check it out and find the bread that you will love to lunch on! Here’s the link for their bread site: Bimbo Bakeries

Eat! Enjoy! But...Eat Slim!

Learning the Cha-Cha-Cha

Mary says "dancing is the best exercise".  Previously she taught dance and today she attempted to teach us the basics of the cha-cha-cha.  I have two left feet and very little sense of rhythm, but tonight I found several videos on YouTube with an easy instructor.  Hopefully, you'll do better than me!  I dance like I have two wooden legs (insert your own personal laughter here), but I did try tonight to accomplish this basic step. 

Here is the information regarding the instructor/demonstrator: Beginner Cha-Cha-Cha
He does have another 6 or 7 lessons to accompany this beginners video.  This is the instructor information: Expert: Franco Peraza & Valerie Levine, Contact: http://www.steppingoutstudios.com/,
Bio: Franco Peraza & Valerie Levine

Have fun!   No, really go ahead and have fun!

Welcome to Belli Laffs!

Getting started is the hardest part of any plan, right?

Well, we've started now--and there is no turning back.

It's time to get fit!!!

Who are we?

A group of friends gathering together at the

Canyon Creek Church of Christ in Temple, Texas

When do we meet?

Every Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.

Where do we meet?

4902 S. 31st Street, Temple, TX 76502

254.771.3712

Why do we meet?

To honor Christ by becoming healthier, slimmer and more fit.

What do we do?

We get together to weigh in, encourage each other, share recipes, encourage each other, exercise, did I say encourage each other?--and have fun!!!

Our "Slim for Him Class" coordinators are Roy and Mary Nelson.

We are following the Flat Belly Diet by Liz Vaccariello,

Editor-in-Chief of Prevention Magazine.

So...come on...join us...and let's have a few 'belli laffs',

~~Cynthia

PESTO

Here's the recipe from Prevention for Pesto: Enjoy!

Prep Time: 5 minsCook Time: 0 minsServes: 6Average Rating: 0/5This dip freezes well. Just pack it in a freezer-quality plastic container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then process briefly in a blender or food processor to restore its creamy texture.
Ingredients
2 cups chopped fresh basil 1 cup dry bread crumbs 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons chopped almonds 2 cloves garlic 1/4 cup nonfat mayonnaise 1/4 cup nonfat sour cream Directions
1.In a blender or food processor, combine the basil, bread crumbs, Parmesan, almonds, and garlic. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides of the container as necessary. Add the mayonnaise and sour cream. Process briefly to combine.


Print From Rodale 3/4/2010 ALL RIGHT RESERVED © 2008 Rodale