Friday...

Friday is finally here... I did pretty good last week on program, I used up more (all) of my activity and flex points... plus went over by 5 points, but still lost 1.6!... :o)

This week I'm going to focus on drinking all my water. The week before last I barely made my quota, and last week I didn't make it at all... :o(

Yesterday at my meeting, I told my leader that I am down 29 pounds... she looked at my start weight and said it didn't reflect that... but I explained it's because I've joined and quit but total I am down 29.2 pounds... so she changed my start weight to 196.2 and I got my 10% ring and my 25lb charm, I felt special. Next week I should be down a pound and get my 30lb marker! I'm excited - I like awards.

Yesterday and so far today I haven't journaled... gonna take a break in a bit and balance out my points and food (like a checkbook), I'm scared... but it's only Friday and I have five more days to make this week ROCK!

I just thought of this - weight loss is like riding a bike... it can be smooth, but sometimes you might fall off or wreck into something... all you have to do is get back on and keep riding...

LET'S ROCK THIS WEEK! WHO'S WITH ME?!

Monday, Monday

I did great this weekend food and exercise wise. I stayed OP, I used a few of my activity points but not many and haven't touched my 35 flex points.

I'm excited about the weigh-in on Thursday... I know I'm only halfway through the week but I'm still excited. I got on the scale this morning it said 166.5! Then I got on a while later and it said 167... my scale might be messing with me... but still that's good. Even if I weigh-in on Thursday at 167 that is still a 3.8 pound loss from last week!


I'm going to get this weight off... No Rush, No Pressure, No Crash Dieting... nice and steady in a healthy manner.

I may not have everything in my life in order right now. Somedays it feels this is the only thing I have in order... but regardless it feels good to have this. Feels good to have gained control of my body again and guiding it to do what I want it to do - and that is to head in the direction of a healthy weight and all around be healthier.

So tell... how did you all do this weekend?

REMOVING THE ICKNESS, KEEPING THE THICKNESS

Yesterday was Day 1 of my new campaign REMOVING THE ICKNESS, KEEPING THE THICKNESS... and I KICKED ASS!

As always I'm counting my Weight Watcher's points and am eating off the Fat Smash food list. I am on track today also... I just have to up my water some - I only have 2 glasses in so far.

My goal is to drink 8 glasses of water a day, and do cardio exercise 5 days a week for 30 minutes each. I prefer to workout first thing in the morning... I don't usually work out on Thursdays because I go to an early meeting before work... and today I was just so tired and drained, I couldn't get out of bed.

It's been a tough week for me energy wise. Monday holidays really throw off my work and personal schedule, I'm starting not to like them.

I weighed in yesterday at 170.8, so that means I've got 35.8 pounds to lose. I CAN DO THIS! When I started it was over 60 pounds I had to lose, so I'm almost half way to goal!

I'm a little frustrated with Weight Watchers right now. I haven't had a monthly pass for a few months now... and yesterday when I attended the meeting I signed up for one again... she somehow screwed up - to make a long story short... I called WeightWatchers' hotline today because my log in wouldn't work, they had to reset up my account and in the process deleted all of my stats since September of 2008! WTF - it's all gone... the rep didn't tell me that was gonna happen. All that was kept on there was my starting weight of 196.2.

I'm going through all of my DietSodaDiva accounts right now, trying to get everything updated. I watched some of my youtube videos... WOW I can't believe how fat my face looks compared to now... I'm need to start making videos again soon... when time permits.

I'm looking at my very first video now... I can't believe how big I was... it's kind of depressing me to watch it, but also motivating me to get back in front of the camera.

Once I get organized and everything update you know what's gonna to be coming next... YES A CHALLENGE! I need to think this out and get the details worked out. I want to give away several prizes... and make it fun for everyone. But that'll come later... right now I'm just trying to focus on blogging again, getting caught up on emails and updating my accounts everywhere.

This is going to be a great weight losing weekend and week... I'll def be in the 160's next weigh in and don't plan on sending too much time there.

I'm aiming to be 155 by my birthday - October 17th! I CAN DO THIS! I WILL DO THIS!

Guess Who's Back...

Hello my Divas and Divos...

I'm still a live and well... still pretty down in my weight... gained back about 10 of the 36 I lost. Time to get back on the weight loss wagon. This time just for me... not for everyone else but for my pure pleasure (and good health).

I can't promise to be blog everyday - that was a hard thing to keep up (or try to keep up with), but I def plan on being around a WHOLE lot often. Let me climb back on the wagon, secure myself, and then we'll get some challenges going!

I'm happy to be back, completely motivated and ready to kick the rest of this fat off my body! I've got about 30-35 more pounds to go... tomorrow is official weigh-in.

I'll be weighing in at Weight Watchers, doing my measurements and get to work on some results. No rushing this time, slow and steady - so I'll keep it off just as slowly and steadily!

I love you all and hope you haven't forgotten about me... how have you been? Leave me comment and let me know!

Summer Vegetable Tart

Light Meals
POINTS Value: 4

Servings: 8

Preparation Time: 20 min

Cooking Time: 40 min

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Have a few ripe tomatoes on hand? Feature them in our summer tart, which looks as wonderful as it tastes.

Ingredients
3 spray(s) olive oil cooking spray
6 oz frozen ready-to-bake pie crust, thawed, or fresh pie crust (9 inch)
2 large tomato(es), sliced
1 medium zucchini, sliced
1 small yellow summer squash
1 cup(s) part-skim ricotta cheese
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste

Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a 9-inch tart pan, bake crust, unfilled, according to package directions. Let cool.

Place tomato, zucchini and squash slices on baking sheet and lightly coat with cooking spray.

Bake until tomatoes are slightly dry and zucchini and squash slices are tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove and let cool.

Mix together ricotta, herbs, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Spread evenly over tart crust.

Starting at center of crust and working outward, arrange slightly overlapping, alternating rings of vegetables until crust is completely covered. Return to oven until heated through, 5 to 10 minutes. Slice into 8 pieces and serve.

Spicy Pork Stir Fry

Main Meal
POINTS Value: 5
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 10 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Don't like a lot of spice? Then substitute peanut oil for some of the chili oil in this recipe, or reduce the amount of red pepper flakes.

Ingredients
2 tsp chili oil, divided
1 pound(s) lean pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips
4 medium garlic clove(s), minced
1 Tbsp ginger root, minced
1 tsp red pepper flakes, crushed
2 tsp cornstarch
1 pound(s) frozen mixed vegetables, Asian stir-fry mix
3 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp rice vinegar
1 tsp orange marmalade

Instructions
In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of the oil. Cook pork until it begins to brown and is just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Remove to a plate.

Heat remaining oil in the same skillet over high heat; add garlic, ginger and pepper flakes. Cook, stirring constantly, until golden and fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Mix cornstarch with 1/4 cup water. Add vegetables; cook, stirring frequently, until just tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Stir in soy sauce, vinegar and marmalade. Add cornstarch mixture and bring to boil.

Toss vegetable mixture with pork to heat through. Serve immediately.

Turkey Enchilada Pie

main meals
POINTS Value: 4
Servings: 6
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 30 min
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

This Mexican specialty will easily become a family favorite. We used lean turkey but you can use lean ground beef instead.*

Ingredients
1 spray(s) cooking spray
3/4 pound(s) lean ground turkey
1 medium onion(s), chopped
1 tsp chili powder
3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
4 oz canned jalapeno peppers, drained and chopped
1/2 tsp ground cumin
3 large burrito-size wheat flour tortilla(s)
3 cup(s) tomato(es), chopped
10 Tbsp low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat skillet over medium heat. Place turkey, onion and chili powder in skillet and cook until turkey is browned, stirring occasionally to break up meat, about 8 minutes. Remove turkey mixture from skillet and set aside.

Place skillet over medium-high heat and add flour. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium; simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes.

Remove skillet from heat; stir in turkey mixture, jalapenos and cumin.

Wrap tortillas in damp paper towels and microwave on HIGH until softened, about 15 seconds.

Place 1 tortilla in bottom of a 9-inch pie plate. Spread 1/3 of turkey mixture over tortilla. Spoon 1 cup of tomato on top and sprinkle with 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) of cheese. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients ending up with 2 tablespoons of cheese.

Cover pie plate with aluminum foil and cook until cheese melts and filling is warmed through, about 15 minutes. Let stand, covered, 2 minutes before cutting into 6 wedges.

Notes
*Could affect POINTS values.

Italian Turkey Burgers

Main Meals
POINTS Value: 5

Servings: 4

Preparation Time: 20 min

Cooking Time: 10 min

Level of Difficulty: Easy

The addition of fennel seeds makes these burgers reminiscent of Italian sausage. Top them with fresh basil and tomato for a wonderful summer main course.

Ingredients
1 spray(s) cooking spray
1 pound(s) lean ground turkey
1/3 cup(s) onion(s), chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp fennel seed
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
4 spray(s) olive oil cooking spray
2 small tomato(es), ripe, yellow and/or red, thinly sliced
1 cup(s) basil, fresh, leaves, torn or thinly shredded
4 item(s) reduced-calorie hamburger roll(s)

Instructions
Coat a grill or grill pan with cooking spray; preheat to medium-high.

In a large mixing bowl, combine turkey, onion, garlic, fennel seed, salt and pepper; form into four 1/2-inch-thick patties. Coat burgers and inside of rolls with cooking spray.

Grill burgers for 5 minutes; flip burgers and add rolls to grill. Grill open-face rolls until lightly charred, about 1 to 2 minutes; remove to serving plates. Grill burgers until cooked through, about 5 minutes more.

To serve, top grilled rolls with burgers and tomato slices; garnish with basil. Yields 1 burger per serving.

Notes
For an extra hit of flavor, rub the bread with a cut garlic clove as it comes off the grill.Try these burgers with arugula leaves instead of the basil.

Off

Today I'm feeling very off. My anxiety is high and I can't seem to eat anything - but considering the week I've had so far (eating wise) maybe that's not such a bad thing. I couldn't even finish a cup of decaf.

It's been a bad week points wise. I'm very disappointed in myself - I'm working on my 4th week and have been gaining and losing the same 2 pounds.
I haven't been on program all week... not good. I need to reevaluate what I'm currently doing, my current habits, and what I need to change. I think I'm already tired of the Fat Smash Foods... because I can't remember make a meal out of them - I'm sure it's possible I just don't know how.
What I need to do is sit down and write out another menu that works for me and just try to include as much Fat Smash Detoxing Foods as possible...
Any suggestions?

Vegan Chocolate Cookies

Desserts
POINTS Value: 1
Servings: 50
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 10 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

These chocolate-coconut cookies are rich, moist and chewy. If you eat dairy, try swapping melted butter for the coconut oil for an entirely different flavor.*

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
2/3 cup(s) unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp table salt
1 cup(s) sugar
1/3 cup(s) Spectrum Naturals Refined Organic Coconut oil, or other brand
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup(s) hot water, almost boiling, divided
1 cup(s) packaged shredded coconut, unsweetened

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In another large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat sugar with oil and vanilla until well-blended. Add half of flour mixture and half of water to sugar mixture; beat until smooth. Add coconut, remaining water and remaining flour mixture; beat until well-combined (dough might be a little stiff and sticky).

Scoop scant tablespoons of dough and roll into balls; place on prepared cookie sheets, leaving about 1 1/2- to 2-inches between each cookie. When all 50 cookies are made, flatten each ball into a 2-inch disk with the back of a wet spoon or fork.

Bake until done, about 8 to 10 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on cookie sheets for about 2 minutes and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Yields 1 cookie per serving.

Notes
You can melt the coconut oil over a low heat to make it easier to combine with the sugar, if desired.*Could affect POINTS values.

Manic Monday

It's been a crazy day today... I feel unorganized all the way around. Let's see... let me get my thoughts together... okay:

Weight in Saturday I'm down 1.8 :o) I was hoping for more but that's almost a 2 pound loss!

My Vanity fund is up to $28.75!

It was a shameful eating weekend. I went way over board. I've been allowing myself free weekends... and I don't think that works best for me. I can get crazy and greedy... Saturday I had 94 points, Sunday 67 points! Today wasn't much better...

I'm working on my 4th week and I'm only down 2 pounds. Something isn't right here... I need to make some changes. Maybe I need to stop mixing Weight Watchers with The Fat Smash foods... I don't know...

Easy Grape Granita

Desserts
POINTS Value: 1
Servings: 6
Preparation Time: 5 min
Cooking Time: 0 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

The name of this classic Italian dessert means "little grains," a reference to the tiny ice crystals that make it cooling and irresistible on a hot summer day.

Ingredients
3 cup(s) grapes, red, seedless, frozen overnight until hard

Instructions
Transfer the fruit to a food processor fitted with the chopping blade. Process until grainy but uniform, like millions of little ice crystals. Serve at once. Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.

Notes
You can swap strawberries for the grapes if desired.
For a treat, lay each serving on a bed of 2 tablespoons fat-free non-dairy topping (not included in POINTS values).

9 Habits that will shrink your middle

Sick of crunches? So are we. Luckily, abdominal exercises alone do not a flat belly make. In fact, there are loads of little things—from what you drink to the way you handle stress—that can make or break your middle. Here are 9 easy ways to start shrinking without crunching.

1. Calm down. Too much stress can contribute to a potbelly. Stress increases levels of cortisol, a hormone that seems to direct fat to our middle, says Jacob Seidell, PhD, of the National Institute of Public Health in Bilthoven, Netherlands. To keep levels low, try this 5- to 10-minute stress reducer: Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit. Next, take several slow, deep breaths to help clear your mind. Continue breathing deeply and repeat the word one to yourself as you exhale. (If you get distracted, just bring your focus back to the word one.) Practice this for 5 to 10 minutes once or twice a day.

2. Skip the alcohol for a week or so. That glass of wine with dinner may be part of the reason your jeans are too tight. Alcohol also tends to raise cortisol levels, sending fat to your belly, Seidell says.

3. Stop smoking. “It keeps me thin,” proclaim many smokers. But the truth is that smokers tend to have more abdominal fat than nonsmokers, says Seidell. (The stress hormone cortisol seems to be the culprit here too.) "When people stop smoking, the amount of abdominal fat actually decreases," he says.

4. Eat more fiber. Not only is fiber great for overall weight loss (it fills you up so you don't eat as much), but it also prevents constipation, which can cause your tummy to bulge, says Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD, a gastroenterologist and director of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center in Baltimore. To stay regular, aim for 22 to 25 g of fiber a day by eating more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables

5. Drink up. For premenstrual bloating, drink lots and lots of water. This will actually help flush away bloating, not make it worse

6. Keep bones strong. Osteoporosis can lead to fractured bones in your spine, causing you to slump. That shortens your abdominal cavity, giving your belly no place to go but out, says Willibald Nagler, MD, physiatrist in chief emeritus at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in New York City. Be sure to get 1,000 mg of calcium every day from the foods you eat and/or from supplements.

7. Get your heart rate up. All the ab exercises in the world won't do a thing unless you get rid of the fat hiding your abdominal muscles. The best way is to do aerobic exercise for 45 to 60 minutes, 5 times a week.

8. Tuck your tummy. Imagine there's a magnet pulling your belly button back toward your spine. Practice the tuck until it becomes comfortable, and soon it will come naturally--like breathing. Do it every chance you get.

9. Get a bonus ab workout. Stand as much as possible when doing weight-lifting exercises. That way your abs work too. “They help to balance and stabilize your body,” says Tammy Strunk, an Emmaus, PA, fitness instructor. Concentrate on keeping your abs tight and maintaining good posture, but don't hold your breath.

Orginally posted on yahoo... (http://shine.yahoo.com/event/bikini/9-habits-that-will-shrink-your-middle-1410534/)

What Will The Scale Say?

I had a bad day yesterday... I think my anxiety was up so I started eating and eating... I journaled, and drank my water... and ate 74 points! The good thing is I still had some Activity, Flex, and Daily points left from earlier in the week... so I'm still under my Weekly allowance. I'm back to being good today... so weigh-in tomorrow should be nice.

I've done WAY better then week than I did last week food wise - but haven't done any workouts... :o(

Tomorrow starts a new week with many workouts!

The Chocolate Milk Diet

Imagine if everything you needed to know about weight loss, you learned in kindergarten. Well, if your teacher gave you chocolate milk as a lunchtime treat, she was (unknowingly) giving you one of the most powerful weight-loss tools in the nutritional universe. Turns out this childhood staple may be the ideal vehicle for your body’s most neglected nutritional needs. Each bottle delivers a package of micro- and macronutrients that can help you shake off body flab and replace it with firm muscle. And when you served it ice-cold, the creamy sweetness flows across your tongue with all the pleasure of a milk shake. Yum.

That’s the crux of what I'm calling "The Chocolate Milk Diet," which isn’t a diet at all. It’s essentially three eight-ounce servings of chocolate milk consumed at key points throughout your day: one when you wake up, a second before you exercise, and a third directly after your workout. Or, if it's your day off, just pattern them for morning, afternoon, and night. Sounds good, right? It is, and that’s why it’s so easy. But is this a free ticket to eat as much fried chicken as you want throughout the rest of the day? Unfortunately not, but alongside a healthy diet, it can help you drop lots of belly fat fast. Here are the four reasons why:

Secret #1: The Calcium EffectResearchers have known for years about the role that calcium plays in building strong bones, but a more recent development deals with they way it affects your belly. A series of studies have shown that calcium can actually impede your body’s ability to absorb fat, and when researchers in Nebraska analyzed five of these studies, they were able to estimate that consuming 1,000 mg more calcium can translate to losing nearly 18 pounds of flab. What’s more, other studies have shown that dairy foods offer the most readily absorbable calcium you can find. Knock back three servings of brown cow and you’ll reach that crucial 1,000 mg threshold. At that point, any other calcium that you eat or drink is a bonus.

Secret #2: The Vitamin D FactorAll the calcium in the world isn’t going to help you if you don’t get a good dose of vitamin D to go with it. That’s because vitamin D is responsible for moving calcium from your food to your body, which means if you’re running low on D, you’re probably also missing the calcium you need to stay slim. Other symptoms of the D deficiency are weak muscles, easily breakable bones, and depression—not a great combo for success. Now here’s why this is significant: Most experts agree that the average American isn’t getting enough D. Some estimate that only half the population is meeting the requirement and one study published in the journal Pediatrics found that 70 percent of American children had low levels of D in their diet. The thing is, your body makes vitamin D naturally when you expose your skin to sunlight, but most people spend too much time indoors to benefit. And intentionally spending more time in the sun could put you at risk for skin cancer. The solution? Drink up.

Chocolate milk, like most milk, is fortified with vitamin D.

One caveat here: Drink 1% chocolate milk. Vitamin D won't work without a little fat to help break it down. You want to skip the whole milk, too, as it has too many calories to make it a regular habit. The best option is 1%, or low-fat chocolate milk. It has the fat you need to absorb crucial vitamins, yet at three cups a day, it will save you 120 calories over whole milk.

Secret #3: The Endurance BoostIf you want to lose the gut, you’ve got to exercise—no surprise there. But here’s a fact that’s not so obvious: Drinking chocolate milk can improve your gains. In a study published in The International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, subjects given chocolate milk before hopping on the stationary bikes were able to ride 49 percent longer than subjects given a generic carbohydrate-replacement beverage. And on top of that, they pedaled even harder. Total work performed by the chocolate-milk group was greater than the work performed by subjects drinking carbohydrate-replacement drinks or electrolyte-fortified sports drinks. The reason? Milk has naturally occurring electrolytes that keep you hydrated—more hydrated then water, in fact, which I revealed recently on my Twitter account—and its natural sweetness helps push more energy into your muscles. Another study from 2009 found similar results, but it went one step further by asking participants which beverage they thought tasted better. Not surprisingly, 100% chose chocolate milk.

Secret #4: The Protein-Body-Weight ConnectionWant to know the secret to staying thin? You need more muscle. That’s because muscle burns more calories than fat, so for every new muscle fiber you create, your resting metabolism receives another surge of fat-torching energy. And chocolate milk can help you do that. Researchers have determined that the ideal protein load for building muscle is 10 to 20 grams, half before and half after your workout.

How much protein will you find in low-fat chocolate milk? Eight grams per cup. (That means one serving before your workout and one serving after will give you a total of 16 grams of highly effective whey protein—a perfect serving.) Add that to the extra cup you drank first thing in the morning and you’re looking at a turbocharged metabolism that keeps you burning calories all day long.

And don’t forget, you can still melt those 18 pounds of belly fat without giving up your favorite foods. You just need to make smart swaps, and we’ve got 10 new ones right here. You'll lose weight faster than ever—again, with ever dieting again.

By David Zinczenko, with Matt Goulding - Originally posted elsewhere...

HOTTNESS HERE I COME!

So far, so good this week. I sneaked on the scale this morning... it said 171.5! I don't know how true that loss is... my scale as some of you might remember loves me dearly and sometimes likes to be nice by displaying lower numbers... but it sure was nice to see 171.5 again.

I've been really good and on program this week... I really wanted to do the Fat Smash Diet foods but was also feeling deprived. So I compromised... on the weekends I eat what I want, but count points. I just make sure not to have more than my daily and allowed flex points... the rest of the week I'm Fat Smashing it and still counting points. This is my first week trying this... and it seems to be working for me. I've been staying within my daily points range and haven't used any of my activity points for the past few days.

My only downfall this week is I haven't exercised at all... but I do get a lot of walking in so I'll probably still earn my 28 points even if I don't do a single workout... if I do one today, tomorrow, and Friday that'll still be an improvement from the past couple of weeks...

I think I'll be at 160 way before the 4th of July... HOTTNESS HERE I COME!

Cinnamon Apple Crisps

Snacks
POINTS® Value: 1
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 120 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Put these tasty treats in a bag and go. Easy fruit on the run!

Ingredients
2 small apple(s), Red Delicious or Gala, sliced paper-thin
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions
Preheat oven to 200°F.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper (not wax paper). Place apple slices in a single layer on paper; sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

Bake until lightly browned, about 2 hours. Cool on wire rack and serve.

This'll Be A Better Week...

I weighed in Saturday and gained 1.4... putting me at 178. I was a little sad, but I can't say I was surprised... even though I journaled all week I went over like crazy 50-60 point days. Today's a new week... and looking at the positive side of it - I get to start my challenge with a nice even number. I have 7 weeks to lose 18 pounds. Is it possible? Of course it is... I just have to stay motivated, dedicated, and focused! I did it last year, I can do it again.

Guess what... Saturday morning my pedometer came back... maybe she just needed a little vacation. She was clipped to a pair of my uniform pants, and my bus pass wasn't too far away. It's still unclear if they left together... but at this point I don't care, I'm just glad they're both back safely!

This week I'm focusing on staying with in my points range and getting in more than 2 workouts in... I'm aiming for 5 again.

Plain Yogurt

I love plain yogurt. My favorite way to have it is mixed with fruit and splenda... and a touch of vanilla... I just discovered that I can also use it as a subsitute for sour cream! I was a little nervous to try it and was excited when it worked...

So, I'm wondering how many other uses are out there for yogurt... so far I have it as a treat and sour cream... what do you use plain yogurt for?

I googled it and found this article I thought I'd share...

Yogurt: Good for You Inside and Out!

Yogurt. It is one of those foods most people either love or hate.

I love yogurt and over the years have tried finding a variety of ways to put it to use for both health and creative purposes. As a health care worker and mom of active children, yogurt often came to the rescue in some surprising ways.

The health benefits of eating yogurt on a daily basis is often advertised and preached in health magazines and commercials. Yogurt made from active cultures has been shown to enhance your immune system, prevent diarrhea and yeast infections, sooth and help prevent stomach ulcers and is even a healthy addition to your pet's diet . Have you wondered how many other uses is there for a container of plain, active- culture yogurt?

Facials: To cleanse, moisturize and tighten. Simply apply a generous coating of plain, active-culture yogurt to your face , close your eyes and relax for 20 minutes then rinse well with cool clear water.

Revitalizing Facial Mask: 1 teaspoon plain active-culture yogurt, 1tsp fresh orange juice with pulp, 1 tsp of aloe. Mix together well and spread onto face, allow to sit at least 5 minutes before rinsing off with cool clear water. (Cool cucumber slices on your closed eyes while you wait for either of these treatments really does reduce puffiness and redness as well!)

Relieve sunburn pain: My children often got too much sun before I realized just how long it had been since the sunscreen was applied. A coating of plain yogurt quickly cools hot sensitive skin and adds much needed moisture. Of course your little ones will groan 'Ewwww....gross!' but then giggle as the cool yogurt starts easing the burn! For extra moisture you can add a dollop of aloe gel to the yogurt before applying. Let sit on the red skin for several minutes then toss your little ones into a tub of cool water to rinse off!

While on the topic of children and yogurt here are a few more projects I introduced to them while they were young enough to think I was a 'genius'.

Yogurt Cheese: Introduce this as an 'experiment' and your kids may decide they like this cheese on a cracker better than peanut butter! Simply place a colander in a bowl(to catch liquid) then line the colander with cheesecloth or coffee filters. Pour a pint of plain yogurt into the colander. Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight - 24 hours. The longer it drains the firmer your cheese will be. Then blend cheese with your choice of herbs and enjoy in dips or spreads in place of cream cheese. Each child can make their own flavor combination!

Finger Paints: Yogurt makes a great edible finger paint. All you need is a few drops of food color to make the 'paint' any color you wish. You can even give a lesson in primary and secondary colors and show the little ones how yellow & blue=green or red & yellow=orange. Then see how many colors you can come up with. Spread a large drop cloth under the work area for easy clean up. Better yet, use an inexpensive disposable tablecloth and simple toss in the trash after the fun is done! Also works great to 'paint the sides of the shower' while playing in the tub. Easily rinses off with cold water!

Moss 'Paint': You need to help prepare this one mom. I suggest getting an old blender at a yard sale for this project. It will come in handy for future messes you don't want mixed with edible food later as well!

Into a blender, pour a pint of plain active-culture yogurt, a few good size pieces of lawn or yard moss and a cup of water. This can be painted onto terra cotta pots to give an 'aged' look when placed on the patio or garden for a few days. If you have a damp shady area under some bushes or trees that nothing seems to grow in, pour the remaining 'moss paint' in the area and keep damp, you should soon see the moss grow and spread in the 'painted area'. Why not try 'painting the ground in a design? Perhaps your child's initials?

Pets: Don't forget your pets out when considering the benefits of yogurt. If you have a pet who tends to get 'gassy', it is often a result of not enough live bacteria in their digestive tract. Add a few tablespoons of yogurt to the pet's meals and you should see a difference in just a few days.

Has Fido found something foul to roll in or tried to play tag with a pole cat? Massage a thick layer of yogurt into their fur before giving them a bath for a squeaky clean and fresh smelling furry friend! A yogurt massage once a month, before his bath,will help Fido's fur shin and cut down on dogie dandruff as well!

Have you found a use for yogurt that I've not tried?

Today's the start of DietSodaDiva's 160 By 4th of July Personal Challenge! This challenge is closed to the public and only has one contestant... MOI!

I'll be weighing in for the last time before 4th of July on July 3rd...

I have 7 weeks to lost a little over 15 pounds... that's a little over 2 pounds a week... think I can do it? I do! I'll get my prize at the end of the challenge... the victory of stepping on the scale and seeing 160 again.

For the next 7 weeks I'm going to hustle my butt up and exercise... I'm going to pass on high point foods so I'll stay within my range. I can do this... and so can you!

Join me... start a challenge today. Decide on a number and challenge yourself to get there by 4th of July... be hot by mid-summer!

Go ahead - YOU CAN DO IT!

(Please excuse the crappy banner... had to do a rush job for now... )