September 30

Psalm 27:14 - NLT
Wait patiently for the Lord, be brave and courageous.  Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Kerri wished she could lose weight just a little bit faster. She really didn't have anything to complain about. Since she started her diet, she had consistently lost. There were days, though, when she simply got tired of dieting. She doubted whether she was ever going to lose the weight she wanted to lose. All those times, she turned to God for encouragement. Talking to the Lord always made Kerri feel better. She really believed that He knew what she was going through. If God could be patient with her when she complained about her diet, she figured she could be more patient as she attempted to lose weight.

Today's Thought: Without patience, I'll never lose weight!

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Today's Tip:
Simplest Diet, Health Tip – Add Fruits and Vegetables
Read more at:  http://www.odwalla.com/enwfiles/release73.html or look at the Produce Color Chart here:  http://www.odwalla.com/enwfiles/enw_art/OdwallaClipAndSaveChart.jpg

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Summer Fruit Salad

 Cool off quick this summer with a delicious fruit salad!
 Fresh bananas, oranges, strawberries and grapes combine
 with creamy dressing for one cool, refreshing treat.

 Prep: 10 min

 3 medium bananas, sliced
 4 medium oranges, peeled and sectioned
 1 cup strawberries, cut in half
 1 cup seedless green grapes, cut in half
 Sour Cream-Honey Dressing (below)
 
 1. Toss bananas, oranges, strawberries and grapes.

 2. Make Sour Cream-Honey Dressing; pour over fruit. Toss
 until fruit is well coated.

 Makes 10 servings

 Sour Cream-Honey Dressing

 1/2 cup sour cream
 1 tablespoon honey
 1 tablespoon orange juice
 
 Mix all ingredients until smooth.

September 29

John 16:33 - NLT
'I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

Leo wanted to remember how tough it was. He'd lost the weight, but he never wanted to get back into the poor shape he'd recently been in. It would be way too easy to fall back into bad habits, thinking that the battle was won once for all time. It was nice to have succeeded. But Leo planned to make sure his success lasted a good, long time. It is nice to overcome obesity, but it is an ongoing battle. We should ally ourselves with the one true conqueror: Jesus Christ. With Christ's help, we can continue to triumph over our weight problems. He grants not only peace, but power to overcome any obstacle.

Today's Thought: If we empty our plate, we won't lose our weight!

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Today's Tip:  Chocolate Is Good for You!
At least it is if you stick to cocoa, or chocolate with little saturated fat. Cocoa has flavonoids -- the same health-boosting substances found in tea, red wine and soy foods. Studies suggest the flavonoids may help protect against heart disease and stroke.

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First Place Favorites Chewy Chocolate Brownie Recipe

Ingredients
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup diet margarine, melted
3 tbsp cocoa
1 sugar subst. to taste
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1/4 cup canned evap. skim milk
5 pecan halves, chopped

Directions
preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl mix flour, baking powder and
salt.  Beat eggs. Melt margarine. Add all ingredients to flour mixture.
Bake for 20 minutes.

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 27

Psalm 9:10 - NLT
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you.


It was nice to see that the church cared so much about the ladies' group that dieted together. At the annual church planning board dinner, it was suggested that a low calorie menu be offered. Dieting was so much easier when other people understood and cooperated with you. It was gratifying to be supported by the church as if by one's own family. God had been good to the ladies of the church. God's love should be apparent in our churches. The church should be a place where we know we will be affirmed and supported. God never forsakes His children, and His children should be careful not to forsake each other.

Today's thought: No matter what, I'm not on this diet alone!

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Today's Tip:  Fitness
Relieve neck pain through stretching. The next exercise resembles the neck movements of a turtle. You should literally stick your neck out and then draw it back again. In doing so, you will make a gliding movement forward with your chin, as if trying to reach far out with it and thus to lengthen the neck. The pull will be felt in the back of the neck on both sides between the ears as well as in the middle. Repeat this exercise four times.

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Mock Mashed Potatoes

2 10oz pkgs frozen cauliflower (or fresh 3/4 head)
1 tsp chicken bouillon granules
1/4 tsp white pepper
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp heavy cream

Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook cauliflower in microwave or on stovetop until it is fall-apart fork tender. Drain well and mix cauliflower with all ingredients except cream in food processor. Add cream slowly and mix again.

Spray ovenproof dish with cooking spray and put mixture in. Bake 15 - 20 minutes.

For those of you who think they would not like this dish because they are not fans of cauliflower, I implore you to try it - it does not taste like cauliflower at this point. Really.

September 26

Isaiah 43:5 - NLT
'Do not be afraid, for I am with you.  I will gather you and your children from east and west.'

It didn't look like it was going to work out. Becky wanted to lose a few pounds before the dance. It wasn't any big deal, but that made it worse. She'd had almost six weeks, and in that time she hadn't lost any weight at all. She kept telling herself she had plenty of time, but time had slipped away. Now it was too late, and she felt terrible. Why had she been so stupid? Why hadn't she taken it more seriously? Not only did she feel bad because she was overweight, but she also felt guilty and hopeless. Somehow she had to learn to knuckle down and stick to what she needed to do. With God's help, maybe she could.

Today's Thought: Today I lose weight; tomorrow's too late!

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Today's Tip:
Nibbling isn't the problem.
It's what you nibble ON that counts.
So find something non-fattening
to chew on, and
nibble happily ever after.

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Grilled Garden Vegetables

 2 medium red and/or yellow bell peppers, cut into 8 wedges
 2 medium zucchini and/or yellow squash, cut diagonally into
1-inch pieces
 8 small carrots with 1-inch greens intact
 6 green onions and/or red scallions, cut into 3-inch pieces
 2 tablespoons LAND O LAKES® Butter, melted
 1/2 teaspoon instant minced garlic or garlic salt
 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
 1/4 teaspoon salt

 Heat gas grill on medium or charcoal grill until coals are ash white. Make 12-inch square aluminum foil grilling pan with rectangle of double thickness heavy-duty aluminum foil or use purchased foil pan.

 Place peppers, squash, carrots and onions in grilling pan. Drizzle with melted butter; sprinkle with garlic, pepper and salt. Place pan onto grill. Cover; grill, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are roasted.

September 25

Proverbs 18:10 - NLT
The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.

Every few weeks or so, Ellen would go off by herself to her grandmother's farm for a day alone. She would fast for the entire day, and each time hunger would overtake her, she would pause to pray to God. She thanked Him for providing her with food and sustenance through the week. She thanked Him for her life in a country where she was free to do what she wanted to. She thanked Him that she didn't have to struggle day to day for survival. The times on the farm meant so much to her. Ellen found great strength in those times when hunger made her feel so weak. It was good to take time to be thankful.

Today's Thought: I'll try not to think of what I don't have, but what I do have!

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Today's Tip:  MOVE IT TO LOSE IT!

Watch and work out . . .  Choose one half-hour show that you like and jog in place.  Or create your own step class by putting four old phone books in a row on the floor and stepping up and down for the whole half-hour.  At the same time, move your arms up and down over your head.  Even better, let Oprah motivate you and work out for the whole hour!

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Orange-Avocado Salad

 This salad features a yummy combination of fruits, veggies
 and a citrus dressing.

 Prep: 20 min

 Orange Vinaigrette (below)
 3 oranges, peeled and sliced
 2 avocados, peeled, pitted and sliced
 6 thin slices red onion, separated into rings
 Salad greens

 1. Make Orange Dressing.

 2. Arrange oranges, avocados and onion on salad greens on
 6 salad plates. Serve with dressing.

 Makes 6 servings
 
 Orange Vinaigrette

 1/3 cup vegetable oil
 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
 1/4 cup orange juice
 2 tablespoons sugar
 2 tablespoons lemon juice
 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
 1/4 teaspoon salt
 
 Shake all ingredients in tightly covered container.

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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