October 7

Hebrews 10:39 - NLT
And a righteous person will live by faith.  But I will have no pleasure in anyone who turns away.

Darren felt bad withdrawing from the group, but he had to. The other three men kept cheating on their diets, and that was no help at all. Each time they gave in to temptation, Darren asked himself why he tried so hard when everyone else quit. Darren needed strength and support, not more temptation. At least on his own he stood a fighting chance. Darren prayed for guidance. Dieting was hard enough without other people making it harder. We need to attach ourselves to those who are serious and committed to losing weight. God will help us have all the strength we need to keep on our diets.

Today's Thought: The weight that I've lost, was of minimal cost!

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Today's Tip:  Fitness
Stretching requires a certain technique. Follow these rules. Don't bounce a stretch. Holding a stretch is more effective and there is less risk of injury. Don't stretch a muscle that is not warmed up. Don't strain or push a muscle too far. If a stretch hurts, ease up. Don't hold your breath.

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OVEN FRIED ONION RINGS

2 Tablespoons Flour
Ground Pepper to taste
1/3 Cup Dried Bread Crumbs
1/4 Cup Egg Beaters
2 Large Onions, peeled, sliced 1/4" thick separated into double rings.

Adjust oven racks to divide Oven in half. Preheat to 400. Spray a cookie sheet with Nonstick cooking spray. On a sheet of wax paper combine the first 2 ingredients. On another sheet of wax paper. Place the Bread crumbs. In a bowl add the egg beaters. Coat each double onion ring with the flour. Shake off any excess. Coat with the egg beaters, than lightly with the bread crumbs. Place on cookie sheet. Continue with all rings. Spray the rings with Non-stick cooking spray. Bake on top rack for 10 minutes. Turn over carefully and bake another 5 minutes.

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 4

Philippians 4:11 - NLT
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little.

Sam remembered the POW camp he had spent six years in. Whenever he began to feel sorry for himself as he dieted, he remembered the time in his life when he really had something to be upset about. Dieting was nothing compared to what he had suffered. It humbled him a little. He gained great strength from the memory. God had gotten him through the war, so he knew God could get him through the diet. As long as he had the memory of all he had come through before, he knew he could make it through anything else that came his way.

Today's Thought: God brings me through every situation, whether large or small.

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Today's Tip:  Health and Diet
Weight loss won’t last if you fast! The body, especially the brain, requires a steady supply of glucose (energy from carbohydrates) in order to function properly. Glucose is stored in the muscles and liver as “glycogen,” and for every gram of glycogen stored, there are three grams of water. So when glycogen stores are diminished during a fast, water is lost, not pounds.

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Roasted Sugar Snap Peas


1 pound sugar snap peas*
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt or Fleur de sel
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

* Also called Sugar Peas. These peas are not shelled, as the entire pod is eaten.

Preheat broiler. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Toss peas with olive oil on prepared baking sheet. Spread peas in a single layer. Broil approximately 2 minutes or just until crisp-tender and they are beginning to brown in spots, stirring once. Remove from oven and transfer to a serving bowl. Sprinkl with coarse salt or fleur de sel, then chives, and serve.

Makes 6 servings.

Each Serving Totals - 2.7 Fat Grams, 73.3 calories, 1.8 WW Points

October 3

Job 17:9 - NLT
The righteous will move onward and froward, and those with pure hearts will become stronger and stronger.

Mort juggled his folder of papers, his coffee, and his sweet roll. It seemed as though Mort couldn't go anywhere without his hands full of food. Even now, as he rushed toward an important meeting, he fed his face. As he rounded the corner, a great gust of wind took him by surprise, ripping the folder from his hands. The sheets of his report flew off in many directions as he watched helplessly, sweet roll in hand. Looking at the messy roll clutched in his fingers, he silently swore to cut out all the snacks. Not only were they ruining his body, but now they jeopardized his job. It just wasn't worth it.

Today's Thought: I don't want my greatest skill to be my ability to eat!

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Today's Tip:  Don't drain that water! It can contain a good source of B vitamins! Steaming or microwaving vegetables is one of the best ways to retain the water-soluble B-complex and C vitamins. These preparation methods require very little liquid so fewer vitamins are leached out during the cooking process. If you boil vegetables, save the water for another part of the recipe… you'll save the leached out nutrients.

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Fettuccine with Tomato, Basil and Bocconcini

Ingredients:
500 g Fettuccine
4 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 Tbsp Equal Spoonful
1 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar
2 cup Fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
¼ cup Fresh bocconcini, finely diced
1 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp Capers, rinsed and drained
1 Tbsp Shaved fresh parmesan cheese
1 tsp Freshly ground black pepper to serve

Directions:
Lay tomatoes on a dish and sprinkle with the Equal or sugar and balsamic vinegar. Allow to marinate for 20 minutes.

Cook pasta according to directions. Combine tomato,
basil, cheese, oil and capers in a bowl and mix well.

Spoon over the hot pasta and serve topped with a few parmesan shavings and pepper.

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.

October 1

October is on Strength:

When we diet, we learn quickly how truly weak we are.  It takes great strength to diet:  strength of will, strength of character, strength of mind.  It takes a great deal of wisdom to admit that we don't possess all the strength we need on our own.  Somehow we need to tap into a greater source of strength.  That source is Jesus Christ the Lord.  His strength never wavers, never fails.  He has strength great enough to conquer death itself.  The amazing thing about the strength of Christ is that it is freely offered to everyone who asks for it.  When we feel the weakest, that is when we are most open to the strength of Christ.  Call upon the Lord, and He will be quick to answer.  Reach out for His strength, and you will find yourself able to conquer your weight problem better than you could ever hope to on your own.  Our God is a God of strength and power.  Hallelujah!

2 Corinthians 12:10 - NLT
Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Having to diet was like having a bad rash. It was almost impossible to ignore, and it never went away. It was a real test of will not to give in when the stomach started growling. More than anything he ate regularly, just not as much as he was used to. He always prided himself on being a strong person. His diet was proving otherwise. He was short-tempered and cranky. As hard as it was, he had to admit he needed help. He prayed for God to strengthen him through his diet. With God's help, he felt he might just make it.

Today's Thought: I'm stronger than my stomach gives me credit for being!

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Today's Tip:  Keep a pack of sugarless gum always close by. Make an effort to snack on healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. Diet plan tactic - place baskets of fruits and prepared vegetables in easy reach for nibbles.

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Glazed Snow Peas and Carrots

 Vegetables cooked alone or in combination with others will
 have more taste appeal when cooked in Swanson Broth.

 Prep/Cook Time:  25 min.

 4 tsp. cornstarch
 1 can (14 oz.) Swanson Vegetable Broth
 4 medium carrots, sliced
 1 medium onion, chopped
 3/4 lb. snow peas
 1 tsp. lemon juice

 MIX cornstarch and 1 cup broth.

 HEAT remaining broth in skillet to a boil. Add carrots and
 onion. Cover.

 COOK on low heat 5 min. or until carrots are tender-crisp.
 Add snow peas. Cook 2 min.

 ADD cornstarch mixture. Cook and stir until mixture boils
 and thickens. Stir in lemon juice.