One day at a time

I started back to weight watchers on Jan. 14th. I had not been to a meeting since September 2008. It was so nice to see many of my old friends still coming and being faithful to the mission of reaching a set goal, Of making the weight loss a Healthy Living Life change. Understand any one can lose weight! Any one. It's what you do once you have lost to your goal that COUNTS. That's why I love weight watchers so much. Because it teaches you how to live, How to eat. It addresses the why you are over weight in the first place! EMOTIONAL EATTING I bet is at the top of the list. I am good at that one. If I get bored or do not plan my days as needed, I will get bored and then run to food for comfort.We all know how comforting food can be. Food use to be my BEST FRIEND, I could count on it to boost me up everytime. But, it just never lasted, I need more and more to satisfy me. As kids growing up we might have been raised by a food pusher! Granny pushed her pies and cakes and gravy and biscuits. Our Mama's would push fried this or that. We are all creatures of what we learned. So I am here to tell you know matter your age you can learn again! Learn to finally look in the mirror and say, I am not happy with what I see. I deserve better! I am going to love myself as Jesus does and He wants me healthy, strong, and he wants me to fill myself with LIFE and his word! Did you know that overeatting is a SIN! Yep, hate to be the bearer of bad news but in his word he says:
OVERCOMING OVEREATING SCRIPTURES


"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Mat. 4:4

"My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. Job 23:12

"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." Jn. 4:34

"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." Is. 1:19

"The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb." Ps. 19:9-10

"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Ps. 119:103

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Rm. 14:17

"For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence." Romans 14:20

"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:" Col. 2:16

"Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not: handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh." Col. 2:20-23

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;" Col. 3:1-5a

"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." Heb. 13:9

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Jn. 14:23

"Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." Acts 14:17

"Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;" -2 Cor. 9:10

"And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." 1 Tim. 6:8

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." Jn. 6:35

"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." John 6:27

"I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." Ps. 81:10

"O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is not want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing." Ps. 34:8-10

"Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." -Ps. 103:5

"(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)" Philip. 3:18-19

"A FALSE balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight." Prov. 11:1

"Ye shall do no righteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure." -Lev. 19:35
"You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity." Lev. 19:35 (Amplified)

"Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small." -Deut. 25:13

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Mat. 5:6

"HO, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not meat? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." Is. 55:1

I did manage to lose a Healthy 2 lbs my first week back. It isn't easy by no means, but God sure does help me through this daily and fills me up with his righteousness and love daily!

Winter Beef Stew

Winter Beef Stew POINTS® Value: 9
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 120 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Hot and satisfying — a fantastic meal in a bowl. We seared the beef first to maximize its flavor.


Ingredients

1 spray(s) cooking spray
1 pound(s) lean sirloin beef, such as boneless beef top sirloin, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
2 tsp canola oil
1 large red onion(s), cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
2 medium garlic clove(s), peeled, smashed
5 tsp red wine vinegar
1 piece(s) bay leaf
1/8 oz thyme, fresh, about 3 sprigs
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup(s) apple juice, or sparkling apple cider
1 cup(s) canned beef broth
2 medium carrot(s), thinly sliced
2 cup(s) cooked egg noodles, kept hot
2 tbsp parsley, fresh, minced

Instructions
Coat a large nonstick heavy-bottom pot (also know as a Dutch oven) with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat for 30 seconds. Add beef; brown beef about 2 minutes per side. Remove beef from pot; set aside.


Heat oil in same pot. Add onion and garlic; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in vinegar, bay leaf, thyme, salt and pepper. Pour in apple cider or juice, and stir up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Add broth; bring to a simmer. Add carrots and beef, cover pot and reduce heat to low; simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Remove bay leaf and thyme sprigs.


To serve, spoon noodles onto individual serving plates and top with stew; sprinkle with parsley. Yields about 1 cup of stew and 1/2 cup of noodles per serving.
Notes
This stew tastes even better if you make it a day in advance. Leave the bay leaf and thyme in the stew until you are ready to serve it.

Vary the recipe using parsnips instead of carrots (could affect POINTS values).

We serve the stew over egg noodles but couscous, rice or mashed potatoes are tasty alternatives (could affect POINTS values).

Lemon Chicken w/ Broccoli 3pts

Lemon Chicken with Broccoli






POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 10 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy


An easy weeknight dinner. Great with a side of angel hair pasta, rice or couscous.



Ingredients

2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp table salt, divided
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
12 oz uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced
2 tsp olive oil
1 1/2 cup(s) fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided
2 tsp minced garlic
2 1/2 cup(s) broccoli, small florets
2 tsp lemon zest, or more to taste
2 tbsp parsley, fresh, chopped
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Instructions
On a plate, combine 1 1/2 tablespoons of flour, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper; add chicken and turn to coat.


Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, turning as needed, until lightly browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes; remove to a plate.


Put 1 cup of broth and garlic in same skillet; bring to a boil over high heat, scrapping up browned bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. Add broccoli; cover and cook 1 minute.


In a small cup, stir together remaining 1/2 cup of broth, 1/2 tablespoon of flour and 1/4 teaspoon of salt; add to skillet and bring to a simmer over low heat.


Cover and cook until broccoli is crisp-tender and sauce is slightly thickened, about 1 1/2 minutes. Stir in chicken and lemon zest; heat through.


Remove skillet from heat and stir in parsley and lemon juice; toss to coat. Yields about 1 cup per serving

Just made this for our dinner tonight, quick easy and taste GREAT!!!

Hallies Glamour Shot Today

Hallie Playing in the Yard with Pepe

Hallie Playing in the Yard with PEPE

Hallie the Wonder Dog- Video LOL

Hallie the Wonder Puppy/ 3 1/2 months old

Hallie 4 Months 2 weeks Old - Now weighs 6 lbs

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No Dieting No New Years Resolutions For Me!

Okay, Okay, Okay! I got off track. Got over zealous, and got to content. Yes, I looked and felt much better with the 39 lb weight lost. But, I still had 15 to go to goal. I got too comfortable with the weight I had gotten off. Then I began to eat more, and 5 months later I was maintaining with in 3-4 lbs the same weight. So I said, Wow. My metabolism must have changed. So I slough off and quit my daily weigh in's. Big mistake! Then came Thanksgiving, I ate too much. Then came Christmas and I baked and cooked up a storm, and went into total denial, I was just on a sugar freak high with marshmallows and chocolate dripping from my chin. I was a sight, eyes bugged out and though it all was good at that very morsel minute. It took more and more morsels to make me happy. I was comfort food eating really bad. So Jan. 1st comes and I get on the scales and you could hear me scream from Bossier City to Magnolia Delaware where my daughter lives! I kid you not, she called me and said Lucy what's wrong. Scared me I really thought she heard me scream. Actually she just felt in her heart I was down. Mothers and daughters have that kind of bond you know. I tell her and woe is me say I hate that I have to lose 10 lbs that I had already lost before, and before, and before. She said, be thankful you caught it when you did! Get back on track, get focused! You can do it, I know you can I've seen you do it before.

You know what, I know I can also! Because I have done it before, and it had become a habit and a lifestyle change until I got in a bad state of mind. Weight loss is not just about portion control, What the scales say each week. It is a total mind, body, spiritual experience for me. When I am eating for health, and not consumed by food. I feel good. I have energy and all systems are go! But, the last 5 months I got away from Weight Watchers, in a low state after my mother passed away. I gave into depression, and I have always used food to comfort me when feeling blue.

So what's my plan this time? I am going to do what I know works! Weight Watchers, it's easy and it delivers a consistent weight loss of 2-3 pounds a week for me. Sometimes less, But what I love about it is I can eat what I love and not feel deprived. Another thing I tell myself is when I eat a high calorie food just cut a small small portion of cake. Eat it real slow then tell myself the next bite will taste just like the last one. No need to gorge, it's okay to stop now.

I am nearing the big 50. I don't want to have a lot of health problems that I know I can prevent now by caring for my body. In the biblical days, they ate a lot of fruits, and fish, and whole grains. In the early 1800-1900's people didn't eat all the processed garbage that the super market is full of. No, they raised gardens and ate fresh, fruits and vegetables in abundance. Look at your Grandmothers photo albums most everyone in them are slim and trim.

Go to the mall and sit on the bench after a good mall walk. Do some people watching, You will see that obesity is at and all time HIGH! Try counting how many over weight peoples you see. I bet you lose count!!!
Now I've told you my plan that works? What is yours. Mine is not a resolution, it is getting back on track and doing what really works. Sticking with my lifestyle change, No diets for me! Diets do not work. Take it from and ex- yo yo dieter! I believe in you, now lets believe in ourselves!!