September 28

Isaiah 41:13 - NLT
I am holding you by your right hand--I, the Lord your God.  And I say to you, 'Do not be afraid.  I am here to help you.'

When Jenny was young, her mother used to hold her hand whenever Jenny was afraid or worried. Just the feel of her mother's hand in hers gave her strength and courage. There were days when Jenny wished her mom was close enough to hold her hands again, but she lived hundreds of miles away. She especially wanted her mother's support now that she was dieting. Whenever things got particularly tough, she would close her eyes to say a short prayer. As she prayed, she imagined her hand in Jesus' hand, and she felt a wonderful peace and comfort. That image gave Jenny all the strength she needed.

Today's Thought: I'm never too heavy for God to pick up!

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Today's Tip:  Easy Ways To Eat More Veggies.
The more accessible vegetables are, the more likely you are to eat them every day. Try tossing a bag of baby carrots into your bag or briefcase to nibble on throughout the day; adding frozen veggies to canned soup; or topping broiled chicken or fish with salsa.

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Pumpkin Pancakes

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup Pumpkin
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

COMBINE flour, brown sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt in large bowl. Combine milk, pumpkin, egg and vegetable oil in small bowl; mix well. Add to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened; batter may be lumpy.

HEAT griddle or skillet over medium heat; brush lightly with vegetable oil. Pour 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle; cook until bubbles begin to burst. Turn and continue cooking 1 to 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter.

September 16

2 Corinthians 12:9 - NLT
Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.

There are times when the hunger pangs get to be almost unbearable. A person gets shaky, she feels weak-kneed and light-headed; it almost feels like an illness. Hunger makes us aware of how really weak we are. A person who is hungry is a person who is humble. It is good for us to realize that we need help, that we are not always able to stand on our own two feet. In those times of weakness, we learn to rely on the true strength: the power of Jesus Christ. Christ comes to us in our moments of weakness, to strengthen and support us. Praise God that He never lets us fail for very long.

Today's Thought: Hunger makes me weak; losing weight makes me strong!

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Today's Tip:  Health and Diet

Having a “senior moment?” It happens at any age! Maybe you’re misplaced your keys. Perhaps an appointment slipped your mind. Unfortunately, these forgetful moments are a part of the aging process. Healthy living can help keep your mind sharp. Eat a balanced diet, get plenty of sleep, control your blood pressure, keep active and exercise your mind by reading or solving puzzles.

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BREAKFAST PIZZA

2 C Frozen Shredded Hash Browns
1/4 Tsp Cumin
1/4 Tsp Chili Powder
2 Tbs Canola Oil, divided
1 C Egg Substitute
2 Tbs Skim Milk
2 Green Onions, sliced
2 Tbs Red Pepper, chopped
1 Tbs Jalapeno Pepper, chopped
1 Garlic Clove, minced
1 Pre-baked Pizza Crust (16 OZ)
1/2 C Salsa
3/4 C Cheddar Cheese, shredded

Cook hash browns & next 2 ingredients, in 1 tbs of the oil. In a bowl beat the egg and milk and set aside. Sauté onions and next 3 ingredients with remaining oil.  Add the egg mixture, cook and stir until almost set. Spread salsa over crust. Top with egg mixture, hash browns, then cheese. Bake at 375° for 8-10 min.

September 4

Matthew 7:7-8 - NLT
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Barry never really believed that he'd lose weight. That was probably his problem. His heart was never in it. Whenever he got the least bit discouraged, he'd immediately give up. His friends tried to offer support, but Barry always came up with excuses why he should give up his diet. If we want to lose weight, we need to believe in ourselves. Self-doubt is a killer. If we lack faith in ourselves, then perhaps we can overcome it by the faith we have in God. God can fill us with a self-assurance that allows us to do almost anything we set our minds to. Push aside doubt. Be filled with the confidence of God.

Today's Thought:  With God's help, I'll knock off a few pounds!

<>< J <>< E <>< S <>< U <>< S <><

Today's Tip:  To make brights brighter and whites whiter, add 1/4-cup baking soda to your laundry in addition to laundry detergent.  Not only is it great for combating juice, ketchup, and drool stains, it also removes odors and costs just a few cents per load.  Better yet, unlike bleach it's environmentally harmless.

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Summer Berry Parfait with Yogurt and Granola

3/4 cup sliced strawberries
3/4 cup blueberries
1 (6 ounce) container vanilla yogurt
1 tablespoon wheat germ
1/2 banana, sliced
1/3 cup granola

Layer 1/4 cup strawberries, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1/3 container yogurt, 1/3 tablespoon wheat germ, 1/3 of the sliced banana, and about 2 tablespoons of granola in a large bowl. Continue to build the parfait, repeating the layers until all of the ingredients are used completely.

August 20

Luke 10:41-42
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Angie brought home a new diet book each week. She had a closet full of exercisers guaranteed to take off pounds and inches. She had a cabinet full of pills, powders, and liquids bearing promises of miraculous weight loss. Cindy just shook her head. Why go to all the trouble? Losing weight wasn't going to come from anywhere except from inside the person who wanted to lose it. Desire was the main ingredient. It was too easy to get caught up in fads and fancy claims. A quiet determination to lose weight was what was really important. Angie lost a few pounds, while Cindy lost many.

Today's Thought:  It's hard to lose weight when you have a fat head!

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Today's Tip:  Don’t be so sweet.

Numerous studies have linked table sugar to increased calorie consumption. While sugar doesn’t do as much dietary damage as fat, you’ll find that when you eat sweets, you simply want to eat more… of everything. Not only that, but sugar also makes your body excrete chromium, and chromium is a mineral that helps your body build calorie-burning lean tissue – so you want to keep your chromium levels up.

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Low Fat Waffles

3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup liquid egg substitute
1 cup fat-free milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat waffle maker

Whisk dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add egg substitute, milk and vanilla extract, and whisk until smooth.

Ladle 2/3 cup of batter into preheated waffle maker, and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until golden.

Makes 3 Belgian waffles

August 12

Ephesians 2:4-5
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).

It really isn't a matter of whether God loves us more if we are thin than He does if we're fat. God loves us the same, no matter what. He loves sinners as much as He loves saints. His greatest desire, though, is for His children to be everything they can be. He wants us to desire perfection. The gluttony and selfishness that lead to obesity are not qualities of perfection. God wants us to attempt to live our lives as Jesus lived His. Let us vow to walk in a newness of life, transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, on the road to Christ-like perfection.

Today's Thought:  God can make me better than I ever dreamed possible!

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Today's Tip:  Take It Easy

Unless you are excited to be following a very specific diet and exercise plan, do not try and change too much too fast. If you have been eating poorly and not exercising, both your body and your mind will have a lot of adjusting to do.

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Breakfast Parfait

3/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese, or low-fat plain yogurt
1 cup pineapple chunks, papaya chunks or cling peaches
2 teaspoons toasted wheat germ

Place cottage cheese (or yogurt) in a small bowl. Top with fruit and sprinkle with wheat germ.

August 9

John 8:10-11 - NLT
Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, "Where are your accusers?  Didn't even one of them condemn you?"  "No, Lord," she said.  And Jesus said, "Neither do I.  Go and sin no more."

The doctor was going to kill her. Kate had been told to lose thirty pounds over six months. For awhile she had done really well. She took off twenty in the first three months, but lately she had gained again, for a net loss of only about twelve pounds. Kate was astonished when the doctor merely encouraged her to try harder. Christ, like the doctor, offers us no condemnation. He wants us to lose weight for our own sake, not for His. He wants to help us, not hurt us. Take comfort in the acceptance of Jesus Christ.

Today's Thought: Even when I give in, I'm still a good person.

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Today's Tip:

Stress-Buster: Give Yourself Some Quiet Time.
Schedule inviolate periods of time into your workday for tasks that are pleasurable, even if not overwhelmingly productive. Try to do this even when you feel rushed. A brisk 10-minute walk will give you as much energy as a cup of coffee

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Deluxe Slow Cooker (Crockpot) Oatmeal

1 tsp. butter
4 cups water, room temperature
2 C rolled oats
1 tsp. salt

Makes 4 cups (6-8 servings)

Grease inside of crock-pot up to water level with one teaspoon butter Add remaining ingredients to the pot, cover and turn on low heat. Cook overnight or 8-9 hours. A few minutes before serving, add other optional ingredients like cinnamon, raisins, nuts, fruit, milk etc. Stir and serve.

August 2

Matthew 11:28 - NLT

Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'

Sunday was 'anything goes' day. Carol had decided that if she was good about sticking to her diet through the week, she would allow herself to splurge on Sunday. It made the diet so much more tolerable. Interestingly, she never really went overboard on Sunday. She ate something she really liked, but she ate a moderate amount and found herself totally satisfied. Whenever we attempt something difficult, we need to allow ourselves a respite. It is a good thing to take a break, even from a diet. It requires self-control, but it can help us keep a healthy perspective on why we diet in the first place. Once we have rested from our fast, we can return to it renewed.

Today's Thought: I am tired of being heavy-ladened physically!

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Today's Tip:  Try a High-Fiber Cereal for Weight Loss.
Refined corn or rice cereals may be low in calories, but they're also rapidly digested, absorbed and assimilated, leaving you likely to prowl around for pre-lunch snacks. A whole-grain cereal is a better choice, because it leaves you feeling less hungry

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High Fiber Muffins

1 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. baking powder
2 c. All Bran cereal
1 1/4 c. skim milk
1 egg
1/4 c. Canola oil
1/2 - 3/4 c. raisins

Combine cereal and milk. Set aside to soften cereal (5 minutes).

Stir together whole wheat flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Set aside.

Add oil and egg to cereal and milk. Mix well. Add flour mixture. Stir until combined. Fold in raisins. Spoon into foil baking cups (2 1/2 inch size) that line muffin tin. Makes 12 high fiber, low fat muffins. Bake at 400 degrees for 17 minutes.

July 30

Colossians 3:23
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.

Alice was right: Doug had been doing his diet halfway. His heart hadn't really been in it, and Alice asked him why he was even doing it at all. Now, he felt he was ready. Alice had offered the challenge, and he aimed to take her up on it. No more halfway measures: he was going to throw all his energy and commitment into losing some weight. God wants us to mean what we say. Our yes must mean yes, and our no must mean no. Whatever we choose to do, we ought to do it fully, for God wants children with commitment and resolve, not indecision and insincerity.

Today's Thought:  My diet is an all-or-nothing proposition!

<>< J <>< E <>< S <>< U <>< S <><

Today's Tip:  Add More Activity

Find ways to build more activity into each day - take the stairs rather than the elevator. Park in the far corner of the parking lot rather than near the door. Put on music and dance through chores or just for fun.

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Fruit-Filled Breakfast Wontons

8 square wonton skins
1/4 c golden raisins
4 large walnut halves, cut in half
1 tbs packed brown sugar
1/8 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees; line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.  Bring a large pot of water to a simmer.  Brush edges of wonton skins with water to moisten.  Place raisins and walnuts in the centers of the wonton skins; fold in half on the diagonal, pressing the edges to seal tightly.  Place the wontons in the simmering water about 1 minute.  With a slotted spoon, transfer the wontons
to paper towels to drain; place them on the baking sheet.  In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the wontons.  Bake until lightly browned and crisp, 8-10 min.

July 3

Matthew 10:22 - NLT
And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.

Christ has a powerful lesson for those who choose to diet. Dieting makes us different, and it is never easy to be different. Being Christians made the disciples different, and they had to suffer many things for their difference. People who are different are often excluded by others. Sometimes they are even abused and persecuted for their differences. There was only one reason the disciples were able to persevere in their faith, and that was the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. That same Spirit can give us the power to be different and the strength to persevere, even through a tough diet.

Today's Thought:  Christ helps those who choose to be different!

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Today's Tip:  The best diet strategy for Fourth of July? Pack a picnic and manage your day by being well-prepared. Eat light and frequently throughout the day, picking up fresh fruit, salads with low-fat dressing, grilled vegetable wraps, or even some marinated chicken on the grill.

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Strawberry Yogurt Breakfast Split
A delicious and easy breakfast treat.

1 banana
4 oz. (1 C.) fresh strawberries
4 oz. (1/2 C.) vanilla yogurt
1 T. chopped, toasted almonds

1.. Peel and split banana.
2.. Place banana halves in serving bowl.
3.. Top with strawberries, yogurt and almonds.

YIELD: 1 serving

NUTRITION ANALYSIS PER SERVING: Calories, 312; Fat, 7 grams; Cholesterol, 5 milligrams; Fiber, 5 grams; Sodium, 75 milligrams; Calories from fat, 19 percent.

June 26

1 Timothy 4:4 - NLT
Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.

Greg tried not to get discouraged, even though he gained back most of the weight he'd lost. This time it would be easier. He'd done it once; he could do it again. The first time had been so hard because he had such a low opinion of himself. His self-image had improved immensely, and he had the confidence he needed to know he could lose weight. Greg knew he was made in God's image, even if that image got hidden a little now and then. Knowing that he was loved made losing weight much easier. Greg was thankful that God loved him so. He could conquer anything with God's help.

TODAY'S THOUGHT:  Good things come to those who believe they will!

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Today's Tip:  Eating Away at Exercise?
Many people think exercise allows them to eat more, but all that does is add back the calories you burned off. Never think of exercise as a license to overindulge.

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Eggless Pancakes Recipe

1 cup wholewheat flour
1 cup white flour
3 tbsp wheat germ
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp baking soda
1 tsp baking soda
1 salt, optional
1 sugar, optional
1 water to mix

Combine all the dry ingredients. Add water, starting with 1/2 c & beating well. Add enough water till you have the consistency
desired. If you prefer thicker batter, add less water, thinner
batter, add more water.

Fry in a very lightly oiled skillet till brown, flip & continue to
cook the other side.