November 4

Luke 15:10 - NLT
'In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents.'

Paul fumbled with his keys outside his apartment. When he tried the lock, the door swung inward. Cautiously, he entered. As he switched on the light a dozen of his friends and neighbors jumped out, shouting, 'Surprise!' They had come out to offer a congratulations party for the sixty pounds Paul had been able to lose. It was such a wonderful moment. Paul had felt joyful about what he had done for some time, but it was something special to have friends celebrate with him. God had blessed Paul so much. Not only had He helped him when he dieted, but He gave him such good friends.

Today's Thought:  To gain means starvation; to lose, jubilation!

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Today's Tip:  Fitness
Continually rotate new ab exercises into your routine to keep your workout interesting. Choose an abdominal exercise, like the hanging knee raise, that you have not yet perfected. Set a goal to reach a certain number of reps by a certain date.

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DIET OR LOW CAL CHICKEN  

1 (1 1/2 lb.) boneless chicken breast, cut into strips
2 tbsp. lite soy sauce
1 1/2 tsp. grated ginger root or 2 tsp. ginger
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. green or red peppers, sliced thin
1/4 - 1/2 bottle lite Italian salad dressing

Stir fry in wok; add 1 bag Japanese vegetables and small box chopped broccoli or French beans and simmer. Delicious over rice.

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November 3

Psalms 126:6 - NLT
They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

The groaning was over. The long nights of hunger lay behind. For some strange reason, the diet was getting easier. Finally, Diane's body had gotten the message that snacks and heavy meals were no more. The cravings and cryings of her stomach subsided. It had been a tough war, but Diane felt she had scored a victory at long last. All the weeping was behind, and she felt a wonderful joy. She knew that plenty of tough times lay ahead, but she also knew she could handle them. With God's help, she would make it. The hardest part was behind her.

Today's Thought: When I take it one day at a time, the days fall away as fast as the pounds!

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Today's Tip:  Health and Diet
Side dishes don’t have to put a dent in your diet. Eliminate some of the fat from those side dishes. Use low fat mayo in potato salad or cole slaw. Mix some low fat yogurt with regular mayo to decrease the fat content. Add spices, tomatoes or vegetables to baked beans. Toss cole slaw with some shredded apples for a sweet taste and extra vitamin C.

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LOW-CAL CHICKEN & RICE SALAD  

2 c. chicken or turkey, white meat
2 c. cooked, cooled rice
1/4 c. diced green pepper
1/4 c. diced red pepper
1 c. grated carrot
1/2 c. sliced celery
1/4 c. diced onions
Lettuce or spinach

Toss all ingredients with low-cal or fat-free dressing. Serve on greens. Serves 6.

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November 1

November is:  Joy and Thanksgiving

Those who are in captivity learn to truly understand the value of freedom. When we have been captive to an abundance of flesh, we long for freedom from obesity. To be able to walk my distance without feeling exhausted, to be able to wear fashionable clothing, to look fit, to not be embarrassed; all these things attain a preciou value when we don't have them. When we travel the road toward a healthy, normal body, we come to appreciate the gift of the human form that God intended us to have. We learn to be thankful for what we have been given, and when we live as God intended us to live, we come to possess a deep and abiding joy beyond words. God gave us life to enjoy to the fullest. When we allow our bodies to become unfit, we make it impossible to live life as fully as is possible. Our Lord offers us a second chance; a chance of renew ourselves and enter into a life of peace and joy. Let us be thankful that He loves us enough to help us find a truly fulfilling life.

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November 1

Hebrews 6:10 - NLT
For God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other Christians, as you still do.

What a great reward! Robin had never looked so good. All her months of dieting paid off royally. It was beautiful to see the expressions on people's faces when they saw her. She couldn't wait to go out to show herself off. God had certainly blessed her through the rough time of dieting. There were days when she decided it just wasn't worth it. Now, she could hardly believe she ever had doubts. Looking in the mirror, she even surprised herself. She never thought she'd look this good. When we dedicate ourselves to doing things that are right and good to do, God is sure to bless us and reward us for our labors.

Today's Thought: Improvement comes with practice. I can even get good at dieting!

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Today's Tip:  "Plan for the holidays ahead NOW in order to forego unwanted weight gain - no matter what your current size is right NOW." Keep in mind that most people put on unwanted pounds during the holiday season - some more than others.  Rarely does an individual cross the Holiday Finish Line at an even keel in regards to their weight loss scales.   If you're already trying to lose unwanted weight, gaining holiday weight is a disaster in the making.

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Spicy Chicken Breasts

2.5 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon ground cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
4  skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Lightly oil grill and preheat to medium high.   In a medium bowl mix together the spices. Reserve 3 tablespoons; store the remainder in an airtight container for later use.  Rub the reserved 3 tablespoons of seasoning on the chicken breasts and grill over medium high heat for 6 to 8 minutes on each side.

October 30

Psalm 37:39 - NLT
The LORD saves the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.

Bob had a terrible dream. Food kept coming at him from every direction. Wherever it touched him, it stuck to him. Before long he couldn't move. He had trouble breathing. He had trouble seeing. He was hot and slimy. He kept trying to reach out for help, but no help came. He was buried under a mountain of food. As he lay awake thinking of the dream, he realized that it wasn't far from the truth. He was buried by a mountain of food become flesh. He did have trouble breathing and moving. It wasn't worth it. Silently, he reached out for help in a meek and humble prayer. God, the Source of salvation, reached back.

Today's Thought: God, save me from an appetite seldom satisfied!

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Today's Tip:  If you just can't do without your fried chicken (or fried anything) then eat them half as much. If you eat fried chicken two times a week then eat it once a week. You can cut your calorie intake by as much as 40% if you eliminate fried foods to once a week. That saving in calories means you'll lose weight.

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Low-Cal Chicken

The sweetness of saccharin offsets the saltiness of soy sauce in this reduced-calorie baked chicken.
Serves 5 to 6

Calories: 169.30
Total Fat: 1.82 g
Total Carbohydrate: 2.70 g
Dietary Fiber: N/A
Protein: 35.54 g

Ingredients
6  skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1.5 tablespoons minced onion
2 tablespoons crushed garlic
1.5 teaspoons poultry seasoning
0.25 cup soy sauce
2 teaspoons artificial sweetener

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. Place chicken in a 9x13 inch baking dish; sprinkle with onion, garlic, seasoning, soy sauce and sweetener.
3. Place foil over pan and bake for one hour at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). It's ready to serve!

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October 28

James 5:16 - NLT
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.

The best idea the group ever had was to pray for one another. Every Monday morning, they got together for exercise and a Bible study. They talked about their diets and how things were going, and they had to announce publicly what their weight was and how much they had lost or gained. Then, they promised to pray for one another, and they swapped telephone numbers so they could give a call of encouragement through the week. It was a wonderful system, and it helped so much to know you weren't dieting alone. The power of a well-meant prayer was amazing. It made dieting much easier.

Today's Thought: A prayer a day keeps the flabbies away!

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Today's Tip:  The pumpkin contains yummy seeds that are generally roasted and slightly salted by processing plants.  These seeds can be an important part of your diet and contain no cholesterol, little sodium if unsalted, substantial fiber, high levels of magnesium, plentiful iron and although high in fat, it is unsaturated - which has been proven effective in lowering high serum cholesterol.  Good for the old blood pressure!  Also, the one-ounce serving size equals about 140 kernels, which is a very generous portion and takes a long while to eat.  Pretty good for 150 calories if one is dieting!

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Orange Spiced Chicken

0.5 cup soy sauce
0.25 cup orange juice
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
0.5 tsp. ground ginger
2 Tbsp. raisins
4 (8 oz.) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Combine all but chicken in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Mix well, add chicken and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate to marinate for 2 to 3 hours, turning once or twice.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Uncover chicken and turn one more time. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 min., basting often.

October 26

1 Peter 4:1-2 - NLT
So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you are willing to suffer for Christ, you have decided to stop sinning.   And you won't spend the rest of your life chasing after evil desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

Barney knew he could lose weight. He'd given up cigarettes, and that was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. If he could do away with cigarettes, he was positive he could lose weight. A friend had once told him that if he was suffering, he knew he was on the right track. Nothing worth doing came easy. Barney asked God for strength as he set about losing weight. When he felt he was suffering the most, that's when he relied most heavily on God. A little suffering never hurt anyone, especially when it was done in order to attain good health.

Today's Thought: I suffer now so that I can enjoy the rest of my life!

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Today's Tip:  Follow the 90% to 10% rule. "If you watch what you eat 90% of the time, the other 10% is not a problem."

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Tinga

4  skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 tbs canola oil
2  medium tomatoes, chopped
3  jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1/4  medium onion, chopped
2 (12 ounce) packages corn tortillas, warmed
canola oil for frying

Place chicken into a large saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender. Remove from heat, drain, and set aside to cool. Heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute tomatoes, jalapenos, and onions until soft. Debone and shred chicken and throw it in the skillet with the tomato mixture. Fry until browned.   Fill each corn tortilla with about 1/4 cup of the chicken mixture, and roll into a cylinder. Fry filled tortillas in the hot oil until golden, turning once. Drain on paper, and serve hot.

October 21

Matthew 13:31-32 - NLT
Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.  It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants and grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter in its branches."

All too often, people tackle diets that are too big for them. They try to give up everything at once, hoping to lose a huge amount of weight in a short period of time. Usually, that won't work. We should learn that the greatest successes come in small steps. We need to set modest goals that we can handle, so we don't get discouraged. God blesses our small efforts, for they are usually the most sincere and realistic. Ask God's guidance, and He will grant you exactly the right amount of strength you need to triumph.

Today's Thought: Giving up a little at a time will keep me from giving up altogether!

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Today's Tip:  Tickle your taste buds without fat or calories by making the most of herbs and spices. Thyme has a light, minty aroma. Parsley gives kick and color to Italian-accented dishes. Cilantro has a lively, pungent fragrance that lends itself well to salsa, and rosemary pairs well with garlic in a savory sauce. Spice it up. sprinkle chopped tarragon with dill or parsley over grilled chicken, fish, or veggies.

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Sesame Chicken

1/4 c all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size strips
1/4 c soy sauce
1/4 c sugar
1/2 tsp dark sesame oil
2 tbs sesame seeds, toasted

Combine flour, salt, pepper. Dredge chicken in flour mix, shake off excess.  Spray skillet with non-stack spray. Add chicken to warm skillet and cook till done. Transfer to holding plate. Reduce heat combine the soy sauce and sugar in skillet and cook until sugar dissolves. Stir in sesame seeds and sesame oil. Add chicken to pan to re-heat and coat with sauce. Serve.

October 18

Psalm 68:35 - NLT
God is awesome in his sanctuary.  The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.  Praise be to God!

Theo knew the power of God. He had seen it in the birth of his daughter. He had felt it when his father had died. He had witnessed it many times in the glorious creation of nature. Theo had no doubt about the power of God. He had worked in forestry for his entire life. He had flown through thunderstorms where lightning splintered huge trees and set forests blazing. The power of God was both a wonderful and a terrifying thing. Theo had no doubt that there was nothing beyond the power of God. The God of all creation could handle his diet. He had no question in his mind. Strength such as God's was a good thing to have on his side!

Today's Thought: With God on my side, my fat doesn't stand a chance!

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Today's Tip:  Make realistic goals and make a diet plan. Confide in a close friend or companion about your goals and the coming changes of your lifestyles. Whenever you reach a goal treat yourself. Buy a CD, an outfit, go to the movies... just don't treat yourself with food, important in any diet plan.

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Auto Parts Chicken

1 tbs butter
1 tbs olive oil
4  skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 cloves garlic, minced
1  leek, chopped
0.5  white onion, sliced
4 large potatoes, chopped
2 large carrots, sliced diagonally
1 (10.75 ounce) can herb seasoned chicken broth
2/3 c water
1  bay leaf, crushed
pepper to taste
2 tsp dried parsley
2 tbs flour
2 tbs water

In a skillet, heat the butter and oil over medium heat. Lightly brown chicken. Add garlic, leek and onion; saute until softened. Add potatoes, carrots, chicken broth, water and bay leaf.  Combine flour and water Turn up heat under skillet and add flour/water mixture to thicken the juices.

October 16

John 19:11 - NLT
Then Jesus said, "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above.  So the one who brought me to you has the greater sin."

How much easier our lives would be if we could quit fighting the fact that all power comes from God. We want control of our own lives, and we like to think we can stand on our own two feet. The reality of the matter is that we have received everything we have from the Lord. He has given us our abilities and talents, He has given us our resources, and He gives us our opportunities. The truly strong person is she who understands that God is the source of all power. If we want the power to diet, it can come to us only through the Lord God Almighty, who loves His children and offers them everything they need.

Today's Thought: God is greater than my desire to eat!

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Today's Tip:

Time your eating and activity patterns correctly. Don’t go all day without eating or you’ll be more like to binge on unhealthy foods when you do finally eat. If most of your physical activity takes place during the day, make breakfast and lunch your larger meals. Enjoy small, healthy snacks in between meals. Keep things light and lean in the evenings. Remember, food is fuel. Use the energy when you need it most.

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Satisfy Everyone Chicken Wraps

Ingredients:

Chicken Breast, sauteed
Flour tortillas
Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese
Salsa
Lowfat Refried Beans Diced Tomatoes
Shredded Lettuce
Diced onion
Jalapeno slices
Black olive slices

Cooking Instructions:

Cook Chicken through. (1 breast makes 2-3 good sized wraps). Shred chicken with 2 forks.

Warm Tortillas

Place remaining ingredients in small bowls.

Everyone can make their own healthy creation!

September 7

Psalm 34:17 - NLT
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.  He rescues them from all their troubles.

Pat lay crying in bed. It was so hard. It seemed that for every three pounds she lost, she immediately gained two back. She really wanted to lose weight, but she felt so weak in the face of temptation. Wasn't there anything that could help her? Pat fell asleep that night with a prayer on her lips. Strangely, she felt a wonderful peace the next morning. The battle was truly tough, but she was once more ready to face it. God didn't take away the struggle, but He was able to give Pat just what she needed to carry on. That is the wonder of our God.

Today's Thought: I'll keep fighting fat until I'm fit!

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Today's Tip:
Feeling tired? Did you know that one of the most common reasons for fatigue is mild dehydration? If you have a hard time keeping track of how many glasses of water you consume, fill a 2-liter bottle of water and drink over the course of a day. If you finish the bottle, you’ve reached the goal of 8 glasses per day. This way you can visualize your daily fluid intake.

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Easy Chicken Casserole

Dice up 2-4 chicken breasts and cook in a skillet with a small amount of olive oil to prevent from sticking

Cook up 2 cups of macaroni

Once the chicken and macaroni are cooked place in a bowl and stir in a can of fat free or reduced fat and low sodium mushroom soup

Pour in a casserole dish and top with light or fat free cheese

Cook in the oven for about 30 minutes

You can add a variety of frozen veggies into the mix if you want something different.

September 5

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Lois woke up from the strangest dream. She had died and gone to heaven, but when she got there, she couldn't get in. There was an extremely narrow hallway that everyone had to pass through before they could enter heaven. Try as she might, Lois couldn't get through the passageway because she was so large. Before, she had doubted that she could lose weight. Now, she found a new motivation. She believed God had broken through her excuses to tell her how important it was for her to lose. Never once did she believe that God would keep her out of heaven because of her weight, but she realized that her weight already kept her from enjoying life the way God intended it to be.

Today's Thought:  Life is great when you carry less weight!

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Today's Tip:  Stop Emotional Eating.
It's not always calories, fat or any other diet factor that causes people to become overweight. For many people, the trigger to overeating is stress, and the answer could be mastering relaxation techniques.

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ANGEL HAIR PASTA WITH CHICKEN

2 Chicken Breasts Boneless and Skin Removed, cut into pieces
1 Carrot, sliced
Broccoli, cut into pieces
2 Cloves Garlic
12 Ounces Angel Hair Pasta
2/3 Cup Chicken Broth
1 Teaspoon Dried Basil
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

Cook the chicken and cut into pieces. Cook noodles until done about 7-10 minutes. Add the chicken broth into a frying pan. Add carrots and cook until tender. Add broccoli and steam for about 7 minutes. Add basil, garlic and chicken and simmer for 5 more minutes. Place the noodles in a bowl and top with the vegetable chicken mixture. Sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese and serve.

August 8

John 1:5 - NLT
The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Rusty scared herself. She walked past the mirror in the dim light of dusk and thought there was a stranger in the house. How had she gotten so big? Who was she kidding? She kept telling herself that she wasn't that big, but it was so bad she didn't recognize her-self in the mirror. It was like a revelation: a bright light shining through the darkness. She had to do something about her weight. Determined, she set out to lose the weight she had gained, and with God's help, she was able to do just that.

Today's thought: I want to find out just how good I can look!

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Today's Tip:  The Sensible Approach: Get Real

You don't have to join a diet program to lose weight and keep it off. You do need to make a plan. This plan must be realistic. If you can lose a pound a week, that's great. If all you are able to do is stop gaining weight, you're still ahead of the game.

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Chicken Teriyaki

2 chicken breasts, whole, split in half
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup dry sherry
1 Tbs. sugar
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp. ground ginger

Arrange chicken, skin side up, in a single layer in a shallow dish. Combine soy sauce, sherry, sugar, garlic, and ginger in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake vigorously and pour over chicken. Marinate in refrigerator 2 hours, turning once or twice. Preheat broiler. Remove chicken from marinade. Spray rack in broiler pan with vegetable spray. Transfer chicken to rack. Broil about 10 minutes about 6 inches from heat, turning once and basting with marinade.

July 26

Philippians 1:23-24 - NLT
I am torn between two desires:  Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ.  That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.

Paul questioned why God had put him on Earth in the first place. Being fat seemed like unnecessary torture. The diets were killers, and they didn't seem to do any good, anyway. What was the use of trying and failing over and over again? Better to never have been born. Despair and frustration are a part of dieting. Often it seems so hopeless. Still, God has given us life as a gift. We prepare ourselves in this life for eternal life in God's presence. Now is the time we need to learn self-discipline and control. Now is the time to strive to be everything we are meant to be. Our life in the flesh is necessary, and it is up to us to make sure we take proper care of ourselves.

Today's Thought: I'll try my hardest to lose weight today, because I may not get another chance!

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Today's Tip:  When it comes to working out, many of us are creatures of habit. We do what we know. We stick with what's familiar and comfortable. The catch is that if you always do the same thing the same way, your body will adapt and your results will grind to a halt. This is especially true of strength training, where you need to keep your body guessing if you want to keep seeing results.

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Oven Barbecued Chicken

6 skinless chicken breasts
3/4 c tomato sauce
2 tbs. honey
2 tbs. reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp. ground mustard
1/2 tsp. prepared horseradish
1/2 tsp. red pepper sauce

Heat oven to 375. Place chicken in a single layer in an ungreased baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Mix the remaining ingredients together in a small bowl. Remove chicken from oven and turn over. Brush sauce over chicken pieces. Bake uncovered about 30 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Spoon remaining sauce over chicken prior to serving.

July 20

Philippians 3:14 - NLT
I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Jesus Christ, is calling us up to heaven.

Stan lived to please people. He served his church, his job, and his family with total devotion. He was continually asking what he could do for others. There was nothing Stan would not do in order to please someone else. Stan had never worried about his weight until one Sunday when the pastor read that his body was the Lord's temple. From that day forward, Stan worked to make it a fit and healthy temple. Not only was God pleased at Stan's desire to improve himself, but He was also pleased by the example Stan set for others.

Today's Thought: I can actually glorify God just by losing weight!

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Today's Tip:  How Do I Spot a Fad Diet?

• Recommendations that promise a quick fix
• Dire warnings of dangers from a single product or regimen claims that sound too good to be true
• Simplistic conclusions drawn from a complex or single study dramatic statements that are refuted by reputable scientific organizations lists of "good" and "bad" foods 
• Recommendations made to help sell a product
• Recommendations based on studies published without review by other researchers
• Recommendations from studies that ignore differences among individuals or groups
• Eliminated one or more of the five food groups

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ORIENTAL CHICKEN TENDERS
1 c. soy sauce
1/3 c. sugar
4 tsp. vegetable oil
1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. five spice powder
2 bunches green onion
16 chicken tenders (approx. 2 lbs.)

Blend soy sauce, sugar, oil, ginger and five spice powder in a large bowl until the sugar dissolves. Stir in green onions. Add chicken tenders to marinade. Turn to coat. Cover chicken and refrigerate overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain chicken RESERVING MARINADE. Arrange chicken in dish and bake until brown and tender, while basting occasionally with marinade.

Three tenders = 2 points.