October 13

James 4:7 - NLT
So humble yourselves before God.  Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.

Grace was surprised. The hostess had offered her dessert and she had declined without even the slightest pang of remorse. Dessert had always been Grace's favorite type of food. Giving up dessert had been the worst part of her diet. Now, though, she found that she had declined without really caring. What a breakthrough! She felt she had a fighting chance. She had resisted temptation so long that it wasn't tempting any longer. Grace felt stronger than at any other point in her diet. Thank God. She was going to make it, after all!

Today's Thought: The more I turn down, the more my weight goes down!

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Today's Tip:  Fitness
The key to staying healthy is to do everything in moderation. This is best viewed as something relative to one's own fitness level and goals. Don't expect to exercise an hour every day simply because your very fit friend does. The body needs time to adjust, adapt and, yes, even recuperate. Exercising to the point of overtraining is simply taking one step forward, two steps back -- not exactly good training tactics.

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Cheesy Tortilla Wedges

Ingredients
6 large corn tortillas
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded low-fat Monterey Jack chee
1/2 cup green chiles
1/2 cup sliced pitted black olives
Guacamole, (see recipe)

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spread both sides of tortilla with olive oil. Place on cookie sheets and bake 3 minutes or until lightly browned.  Turn tortillas over; top with the two cheeses, chiles, and olives, spreading to the edge. Bake an additional 3 minutes or until cheese melts.

Cut each tortilla into 6 wedges and arrange on a platter. Top with Guacamole and serve.

This recipe yields 12 servings. Serving size: 1/2 of a corn tortilla (3 wedges) with 1 tablespoon guacamole.

October 6

Isaiah 40:31 - NLT
But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.  They will fly high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.

Kip was amazed at how easily he took the stairs. When his kids had begged him to climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty with them, he had squirmed. He remembered what a labor it had been when he was fat. He knew that he never would have made it before. Instead of a painful trauma, he found the climb a relative breeze. Thank God he had been able to lose the weight. It was the best move he ever made. It had been tough, but Kip had relied heavily on God to help him out. While he had been dieting, he had needed God's strength. Now that he was thin, God let him use his own strength once again.

Today's Thought: Food gives us temporary strength. God gives us strength forever!

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Today's Tip:  Health and Diet
Are you relying too heavily on that multivitamin supplement? The best way to get vitamins and minerals is through food, not pills. Try swapping your favorite junk food snack for a piece of fresh seasonal fruit, like a Fiji apple or an Anjou pear, or munch a serving of baby carrots and cucumber spears with hummus.

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Apple Crisp

Sliced apples, enough to fill 9-inch
    square baking dish 3/4 full
2 tablespoons flour
Sugar substitute to equal 1 cup granulated sugar
Cinnamon

Topping
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup quick oatmeal
1/4 cup margarine
1 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Place apples, flour sugar substitute and a sprinkle of cinnamon in 9-inch square cake pan.

Mix topping ingredients together like a pie crust and add to apples.

Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking for 40 to 50 minutes.

NOTE: Directions for substituting sweetener for sugar are on the box.

October 5

Psalm 121:1-2 - NLT
I look to the mountains--does my help come from there?  My help comes from the Lord who made the heavens and the earth!

Sonya was just about to dip into the ice cream when her doorbell rang. Guiltily, she threw the container into the freezer and slammed the door. Rushing to the hallway, she opened the door and found her sister standing there. Time after time, her sister showed up when she was most needed. Sonya couldn't believe the number of times her sister had been there to help her resist temptation. Sonya felt God was really watching out for her. Whenever her own strength gave out, God sent someone along who could strengthen her. Relieved, she let her sister in and told her the service she had just performed.

Today's Thought: Strength comes from unexpected places when our own gives out!

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Today's Tip:  To cut restaurant portions down to size, ask for a take-out container before you start eating. Pack half of everything, and then enjoy your meal.

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Sweet and Creamy Pumpkin Dip
 
 Sweet and Creamy Pumpkin Dip is the perfect appetizer or  dessert to serve with Gingersnaps for any fall or winter gathering and it is so easy to make!

 Prep 5 min Chill: 30 min

 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
 2 cups confectioners sugar
 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin
 1 tablespoon McCormick® Pumpkin Pie Spice
 1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Orange Extract
 1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Ground Ginger
 Gingersnap cookies
 
 1. Blend cream cheese and confectioners sugar until smooth in a mixer or food processor. Add pumpkin and remaining ingredients.
 Mix or blend thoroughly.

 2. Chill 30 minutes or until ready to serve. Serve with Gingersnap
 cookies and/or Red Delicious apples or pears, cored and cut into
 1/2-inch slices, leaving skin on for color. Toss fruit with a  little lemon juice mixed with water to prevent browning.

 Makes 20 (2 tablespoon) servings

October 2

Ephesians 6:13 - NLT
Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Even the mightiest warrior of old was not foolish enough to enter battle without protection. Strength must be tempered with common sense. When we wage war on fat, we need to be well-equipped for the fray. If we give something up, we need to have something to replace it with. Jesus proposed that we should not live by bread only, but upon the word of God. We can protect ourselves from temptation by faith. God will fight our battle alongside us. With Christ, we become an invincible army. We can carry on in the strength of the Spirit, which will allow us to conquer our weight and fears. With Christ comes true power.

Today's thought: With Jesus' might, my fat I'll fight!

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Today's Tip:  Health and Diet

Hold the MSG.
Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is a flavor enhancer that adds a “meaty or broth-like” flavor to certain foods. Some individuals are sensitive to this enhancer. Limit your intake by asking for meals prepared without MSG and checking the ingredient list on food labels. MSG has less sodium than salt, but it should still be avoided.

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Cinnamon Crispas
(You'll think you have the real thing from Taco Bell!)

Ingredients:
1 bag (full size -- 3-4 oz.) plain pork rinds
15 pkgs Splenda
4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Drizzle melted butter over the rinds or put in a plastic bag and shake well to coat. Mix Splenda and cinnamon in a paper bag, then drop pork rinds into bag and shake, shake, shake!

If they become soft or soggy later, put them in a warm oven and let them crisp up again.

Serves 4. 3 net grams of carbohydrate per serving.

September 24

James 1:6 - NLT
But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the seas that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Sybil couldn't understand why Bev kept praying about her diet. It seemed so silly. Sybil was a good Christian, but she didn't bother talking about such trivial things with God. God had much better things to do than watch people lose weight, didn't He? Still, Bev seemed to be doing much better on her diet than Sybil was. Bev didn't struggle with temptation as much, and she was much better at saying no when she was offered rich, fattening foods. Maybe Bev had something. Her prayers were obviously a help to her, and Sybil had nothing to lose but her weight. Sybil decided to ask Bev for some guidance.

Today's Thought: Too much doubt rules weight loss out!

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Today's Tip:  Get the Best Bread.
When you buy bread, check that the first ingredient is "whole-grain wheat," "whole wheat," "whole rye," etc. Whole grains are primary fuel for your body. They're rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and hard-to-get trace elements such as chromium.

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Wheat Crackers

    1 c  Whole wheat flour
    1/4 c  Wheat germ
      1 t  Salt
    1/2 c  Water
      1 c  All purpose flour
    1/4 c  Brown sugar
    1/2 t  Baking soda
    1/4 c  butter, softened

     In a medium bowl, mix flours, wheat germ, sugar, salt and soda. Stir in water and butter until smooth dough forms.  Divide in half; cover; let
  stand 10 minutes.  Place half the dough on a lightly oiled 17 x 14 inch
  baking sheet; roll out to a 16 1/2 inch x 13 1/2 inch rectangle. Prick all
  over with a fork, cut in 1 1/2 inch squares, brush with water and sprinkle with additional salt (opt.).  Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes until crisp but not over browned.  Remove to racks to cool. Repeat with second half.

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September 15

2 Peter 2:9 - NLT
So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while punishing the wicked right up until the day of judgement.

Woody had a weird dream. His hands and arms got so flabby that he couldn't reach out and pick anything up anymore. Before him stood a long table filled with marvelous things to eat, but he was unable to take anything. He woke up sweat-soaked and shuddering. It had seemed so real! He caught a glimpse of himself in the dresser mirror as he sat alone in the night. He was getting awfully plump. Maybe somebody was trying to tell him something. He was no fool. They say that God moves in mysterious ways, and maybe that was true. No reason to push the old luck. Tomorrow the diet begins!

Today's thought: I remember when my eyes could be bigger than my stomach!

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Today's Tip:  Conquer Pre-Dinner Munchies.

Ever get home from work and feel so hungry you grab any food in sight? Plan ahead by keeping low-calorie munchies in easy reach, such as raw vegetables (mini carrots, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers) with low-fat dip, or air-popped popcorn.

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Easy Low Fat Dip

1 pint creamed cottage cheese -- Fat Free
1 tablespoon mayonnaise -- Fat Free
1 teaspoon dry salad dressing mix

Blend together until smooth. Serve chilled with fresh veggies and/or crackers.

August 11

Luke 7:50
And he said to the woman, 'Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.'

God will help us as we diet, but the weight of the responsibility still lies with us. We have to really want to lose weight. God will not do it for us. Faith is the key to unlocking God's power in our lives. When we put our faith in God, He is able to lead us in new ways. He fills us with strength, courage, purpose, and the will to succeed. God has already placed those qualities in each one of us. Faith is our way of allowing God to show us how to use what we've already got. Let us remain open to
God so we can succeed in losing the weight that doesn't need to be there.

Today's Thought:  God has given me everything I need to fight fat!

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Today's Tip:  Too Little of a Good Thing

But don't try to eliminate fat altogether, as dietary fat is necessary to maintain a healthy body. It is a vital component for building body tissue and cells, and it aids in the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. Many people eat too much of the bad fats, but also eat too little of the good fats required for optimal health.

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Grilled Dark Chocolate Sandwich

1/4 c fat-free evaporated milk
3 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 1/2 tbs butter, softened
8 slices thin whole-wheat or white bread
3 tbs semisweet chocolate chips

Heat evaporated milk just until boiling. Add chocolate, let stand for 1 min, then whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly. Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. Divide the chocolate mixture on the unbuttered side of 4 slices, leaving a little border. Press chocolate chips into the chocolate. Cover with the remaining slices of bread, buttered-side up, and press lightly. Cook sandwiches in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 min. Turn over, press with a spatula, and cook until nicely browned and the chocolate is barely melted, 30 seconds to 1 min. Serve warm.

August 10

Romans 2:11 - NLT
For God does not show favoritism.

Andrea was furious. She hadn't wanted to go on the hike in the first place, and now she was falling farther and farther behind. No one would give her time to catch up. Some of them were even laughing at her. It wasn't her fault she wasn't in good physical condition. She had to carry around a lot more weight than they did. It just wasn't fair. In this life, we don't get a lot of breaks. Just because we're overweight doesn't mean we deserve special treatment. God doesn't give preferential treatment. He wants all of His children to be the best they can possibly be. He expects us all to do our best.

Today's Thought: I am trying my best to please God!

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Today's Tip:  Take Control of What You Eat

There are few things that we have complete control over, but what we put in our mouths is one of them. We don't have to lose control in a restaurant or a friend's home, and we don't have to eat everything that's put in front of us.

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BANANA SPLIT SMORES

12 Marshmallows
24 Gingersnaps
1 Milk Chocolate Bar (1.5 Ounces),
separated into 12 pieces
1 Small Banana, cut into 12 pieces

Toast Marshmallows on Skewers until browned. To make a smore, ease a marshmallow onto a gingersnap, top with 1 piece chocolate and 1 piece banana. Cover with other gingersnap. Press down until chocolate melts.

Augut 1

August is on Comfort

When we attempt anything that is difficult and painful, we need comfort in order to survive the ordeal. God has placed within us a need to be comforted, but also a need to comfort. We can find comfort in the fact that God is with us in our diet, and we usually have friends to turn to as we diet. All these avenues of comfort are vital as we try to change our lives by losing weight. As we find comfort through the tough times in our diets, we also find strength and courage. God blesses us with everything we need, if we only turn to Him and include Him in our weight-loss programs. There is no greater source of comfort than the Lord. We can turn to Him in our times of greatest need, and He will soothe and comfort us every time.

Psalm 138:7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

It was war! Greg looked at the bag of cookies on the table in front of him, and they almost made him cry. Why couldn't he just ignore them? It was as if they had some kind of magical spell over him. Closing his eyes didn't help. Neither did putting them in the cabinet; he still knew they were there. He was determined to resist their pull, but was he really strong enough? When the temptations get to be too much, we need to call on the Lord. In the midst of our stiffest challenges, He will truly save us.

Today's Thought:  I need God to save me from myself!

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

Today's Tip:  Eat Regularly

It makes sense. If you have food in your stomach, you won't be hungry! Many people think dieting is about starving. However, this is self defeating! If your body thinks it's starving, it'll cling to fat as a safety mechanism. It won't Let you lose weight! Then you get frustrated. The only way to lose weight is if your body thinks it's safe to release that fat. Therefore, you have to eat regular meals - NEVER skip meals. Just make sure those meals and snacks are healthy ones.

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

Vanilla Chocolate-Chip Pudding Pops

1 oz fat-free, sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
2 c fat-free milk
2 tbsp mini chocolate chips, semi-sweet

Prepare instant pudding according to package directions.

Spoon 1 teaspoon of chips into the bottom of each of six 3-ounce paper cups; fill cups with pudding, cover with foil and poke a wooden Popsicle stick through the center of each. Freeze until firm, about 3 hours.  To eat, dip bottom of cup into warm water for about 10 seconds; remove foil, peel off cup and enjoy.

July 29

Ephesians 4:1
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.

Rodney let himself go completely. His friends were uncomfortable when he was around. He ate constantly, and he seemed to grow larger by the day. No one knew how to talk to him about it, so they let it slide. Finally, Barb took him aside and asked him why he was destroying himself. She told him that people were losing their respect for him and couldn't understand it. In anger, Rodney told Barb it was none of her business and stormed off. As Christians, it is other people's business when we follow paths that are not worthy of Jesus Christ. He has called us to be living examples of Himself. To be less than that is a sin. Let us try to live life in a body fit for Christ.

Today's thought: Do people see Christ when they look at me?

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Today's Tip:  Reduce calories

Reduce your calories by a further 200 per day, but do not go below 1000 calories per day unless you are on a medically supervised program. Tactics would be cutting portions and eliminating fattier food, substituting fruits and vegetables for other snacks. If you begin to lose more than 1.5 pounds a week, add back in those 200 calories.

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Spicy Cilantro Salsa

• 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
• 3 large fresh tomatoes, diced
• 1 red onion, diced
• 2 small jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
• 2 tomatillos, diced
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon hot chili sauce (such as Sriracha)
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground cumin seed
• Salt, to taste

Mix together the cilantro, tomatoes, red onion, jalapeno, tomatillos, lime juice, hot chili sauce and cumin seed in a large bowl. Season with salt to taste.

Cover and refrigerate overnight before serving to blend flavors. Serve with baked tortilla chips.

July 28

2 Timothy 2:6 - NLT
Hardworking farmers are the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.

Wendy thought she was dieting for her husband and family. She kept telling herself she was doing it for them, anyway. As the pounds melted away, however, Wendy realized something very important. No matter who she said she was doing it for, she came out the big winner. She looked better, she felt better, and she loved every minute of it. She knew she was doing something really right. She put forth a lot of sweat and tears, and she was reaping the big benefits. Not only was she dieting for her family, but she was doing it for herself, and that was a good thing. She was worth it.

Today's Thought: My diet is a really great decision on my part!

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Today's Tip: Walk More

Your walking program should build up progressively, increasing your total mileage by no more than 10% a week in order to avoid injury. Look at your walking progress and increase your mileage according to that schedule. As you lose weight, you burn fewer calories per mile, so in order to have the same calories burned, you will need to steadily increase the distance that you walk.

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Cereal Crunch Recipe

1 cup unsalted pretzel twists
1 1/2 cup cheerios
1 1/2 cup crispix cereal
1/3 cup raisins
1/4 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl or jar for a snack mix.

July 14

Philippians 1:6 - NLT
And God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

Ron was one of the best contractors in the business. Every job he'd ever started, he'd completed to the client's satisfaction. He never left anything undone. His reputation was beyond reproach. No one ever had to worry when they had Ron working for them. When we rely on God to help us with our dieting, we can rest assured that He will stick with us throughout the entire process. God does not give up. When He begins a job, He finishes it. We can have complete confidence in God. He will help us realize our goal.

Today's Thought: With God's help, I can see this thing through to the end!

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Today's Tip:  A walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

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BAKED SPICY FRIES

6 medium baking potatoes
1 tbl. olive oil
1 tbl. paprika
3 tsps. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. black pepper

1. Cut potatoes into wedges or slices and lightly spray a baking sheet with fat-free oil.
2. Place potato wedges or slices in a plastic bag with spices and half of the oil, then toss to cover all.
3. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes turning and brushing often with the remaining oil.
4. Broil about 5 minutes turning after 3 minutes.

Servings: 4. Fat 4 g, Calories 185, Fiber 4.3g

3 points per serving

July 12

Galatians 1:10 - NLT

Obviously, I'm not trying to be a people pleaser!  No, I am triyng to please God.  If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ's servant.

Granny wanted Ellen to lose weight. She used to offer her bribes all the time, to encourage her. The problem was, no matter how much weight Ellen lost, her grandmother wanted her to lose more. There was just no pleasing her. Instead of helping Ellen lose weight, Granny just made her more frustrated and discouraged. It wasn't until Ellen decided she wanted to lose weight for herself that it really worked for her. She prayed for God's help, and He delivered. Doing it for Granny wasn't enough, doing it for God and herself made it all worthwhile.

Today's thought: The more I care, the less I weigh!

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Today's Tip:  A tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.

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Cheesy Chips

10 small wonton wrappers

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2 teaspoons olive oil

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

Diagonally cut each wonton wrapper in half, forming two triangles.  Place in single layer on prepared baking sheet.

Combine cheese, oil and garlic powder in small bowl.  Sprinkle over wonton triangles.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.  Remove from oven.  Cool completely.  Makes 4 servings--2 points per serving.