A Recipe For Preserved Children

I came across this recipe on an old vintage recipe card. It always puts such a smile on my face, as it reminds me of the carefree days of childhood from a bygone era when exercise wasn't even something that we consciously thought about. Yet, our lifestyles were active and obesity uncommon. Nowadays, children seem to stay indoors far more than they did when I was a child and childhood obesity has grown to frightening statistics.

Last month when Ruth did the fat test on me, she said something interesting to me.

"You can thank your mom and dad. " Apparently she could tell by the test results that I had good genes and that when I was a child, I had built plenty of good muscle.

"These overweight kids today won't have a chance," she continued, "their poor bodies are being set up for diabetes and a whole slew of major health problems."

Yikes! It is time to turn this tide.

Preserved Children

1 large field
1/2 dozen children
2 small dogs
pinch of brook
pebbles
flowers
blue sky
sun
1 old pick up truck
new truck accessories
bathtub

Transport the children to a big open field, stir in children and dogs. Pour the brook over the pebbles, sprinkle with flowers spread over a deep blue sky and bake it in the sky. When golden brown whisk back home to cool in the bathtub. Yields many memories that will never be forgotten.

Exotic Flavored Homemade Popsicles

Summer is a great time to get in the kitchen and whip up a batch of homemade popsicles. The Winner's Weightloss fruit-flavored supplements can be used in so many different creative concoctions.

I can't wait to start playing with the different flavors.

Ah, The Wednesday Afternoon Grower's Market at Lake Ella

Tired of the same old, same old?

Today I jaunted over to the Wednesday afternoon Grower's Market at Lake Ella.

This week I was smart. I made sure to get there as close to the 3:00 opening time as possible. Believe me, it makes a difference! Last week I missed out on just about everything I had hoped to procure.

The Lake Ella Growers Market, my friends, is the place to shop for produce in Tallahassee! You simple can't get much fresher, unless you grow your produce in your own garden, spray it down with the garden hose and pop it right into your mouth right there among the blooms. Lake Ella on Wednesday afternoon is the next best thing, without all the work.

I'm growing some green beans and Japanese Eggplant in a whiskey barrell at home, but the eggplant has a long way to go before I can roast it or saute it with a bit of garlic and bunch of swiss chard.

Personal Chef Services ~ Summer 2007

Imagine having your very own personal chef cooking up all your favorite foods and arranging them in your freezer complete with directions for reheating. What could be more delicious than a well-stocked freezer of soups, sauces, entrees, breads, vegetables, appetizers and desserts?

Culinary writer, food columnist, former caterer and event designer Kathi Dameron is offering private personal chef services this summer. For more information contact Kathi directly at 850-422-3599.

The Rocky Mountain Spa Resort evoked images of the sprawling ranches of the untamed west. Fresh, delicious western cuisine was treated with a feathery touch at this exclusive spa for billionaires who had come to whittle their waistlines and cut their carbs. And even though one might feel as if they had time traveled to a by-gone time, the well-hidden network cables provided global access to the rest of the world.

"My lips are zipped!" I said as I ran my thumb and my forefinger across my mouth in a quick zipping action.

The reporter was asking privileged information that I didn't have the right to divulge. Sure, I could have said something, but too much was at stake and it wouldn't be the smart thing to do.

I eyed the water bottle filter and unzipped my lips long enough to take a big gulp of fresh water. I sort of felt like a big exotic tropical fish in a small transparent goldfish bowl.

While jaunting in the Lilliemobile to the vacation home rental
Joy asked, "Lillie would you like some java?"

"Joy that sounds wonderful.It smells divine."

"It is one of my favorites... chocolate hazelnut. Freshly roasted and brewed decaf coffee beans with a drop of pure chocolate, hazelnut and vanilla extracts. But one of my biggest secrets is in the water I use. The ultimate secret is in the purewater.

Let's Make It An Annual Tradition

"The entire weekend was a celebration of what life can be like at its very best!"

"There is much to be said for the closeness and camraderie of good friends. I'm glad we had the opportunity to all get together."

"Lets make it an annual tradition."

"Great idea! I can't wait to see you next year. You'll be as thin as a pencil!"

"From your lips to God's ears! I still have a ways to go on this diet."

"You can count on me to send you words of encouragement!"

"So lets book our Orlando vacation rental for next year!"

I've Lost About 70 Pounds So Far

I've lost about 70 pounds so far. I'd be down further but I do some of the dumbest things to sabotage my efforts.

The bottom line is I am battling a case of severe emotional eating. The odd thing is that while I'm not turning to the sweets as I once did in times of stress, I'm still engaging in a form of dysfunctional behavior.

What happens is I get so stressed over certain circumstances such as my finances, that I skip eating or drinking my water altogether. Splat goes the metabolism and the scale doesn't move.

I need to move this ole' body and gulp that water.

A friend suggested Phentermine, but I said I preferred to stick with the Winner's Weightloss Regime!

A Kayaking Vacation

One of my favorite things about losing this weight, is the increased energy I have!

Anyone up for a kayaking vacation? I will be when I drop all my excess weight.

Photo Credit: Stephen Gibson & SXC

Iced Chocolate Truffle Cappuccino

Mid-afternoon and the daily workload is heavy, with no end in sight. Feeling a dip in energy, I headed to the kitchen where I whipped up a little something to rev up my engine.

My solution is a delicious one. Imagine a creamy cup of iced chocolate truffle cappuccino.

Simply delish and so easy, too.

This version is made with freshly brewed chocolate truffle coffee, a packet of Winner's Weightloss chocolate shake supplement and a good bit of ice. Whip it all up to a thick, rich consistency and pour into a favorite cocoa mug. Dust the top with a flourish of cinnamon. Yum!

Diet? What diet? This sure doesn't taste like diet fare, but the high protein in this shake is actually helping me to shed my unwanted pounds.

Looking to lose some weight? Winner's Weightloss in Tallahassee, Florida is a great place for helping people to shed unhealthy pounds and reclaim the life they were created to live. For a complimentary consultation call Lori at 850-297-2500 or Ruth at 850-671-3200. Make sure and tell them Kathi sent you!

Photo Credit: Dragon Sasic & SXC

Meal Replacement Solutions For Healthy Eating

Where does the time fly?

My breakfast and lunch today tasted great.

Breakfast was a prune-studded breakfast cake. My breakfast cake is made with the same quick fix recipe that takes a beaten egg, a torn-up slice of 40-calorie honey wheat bread, cinnamon, equal, a sprinkle of (dry) vanilla shake mix and a small amount of fruit.

Since my fresh fruit supply is totally depleted, I thought why don't I try adding some slivers of prune, since I do have some of those little gems in the refrigerator. As I carefully sliced a couple prunes, visions of Jewish Hamantaschen danced in my head.

Hamantaschen are my most favorite cookie. Even though I was never a fan of prunes, the prune hamantaschen that I enjoyed as a child were phenomenal tasting.

I nuked the breakfast cake for a tad over 1.25 min. Inverted the small, round cake on my breakfast plate and dusted the top with a bit more cinnamon and equal.

Delish!!

Lunch was a small beef fillet with an oriental veggie blend, stir fried with some Winner's Weight Loss Beef Supplement. A liberal shake of various spices imparted a rich and amazing depth of flavor.

I love being on the Winner's Weightloss program! It is great to be able to eat real food.

Today, I heard that the Tallahassee, Florida LA Weight Loss Center is closing. So I got to thinking about a conversation that Ruth and I had the day I was teaching cooking classes at the NE Capital Circle location.

How cool would it be to have a place where you could swing by and pick-up a ready-to-eat meal on your way home. Not something laden with fat or calories, but a replacement meal that is light, healthy and simply delicious!

I' d love to co-ordinate or consult on a project of this type with Winner's Weightloss or even a restaurant, catering company or other facility that has a state-licensed, commercial kitchen that wants to set up an "enlightened to-go" program. No, I don't want to do the cooking, but I would love to provide recipes, ideas and public relations for such an endeavor. If you are interested, call me and let's pow-wow! Food writer and former caterer Kathi Dameron, can be reached at 850-422-3599. BTW ... If you have the time, please come by and read my latest column from Entertaining with Kathi. I would love your feedback!

Potato Saffron Frittata with Lemon-Kissed Spinach

The Food Network shared a recipe today for a Potato Saffron Omelet, as part of a Tapas collection.

I didn't take the time to read the recipe, as I knew there would be ingredients that I wouldn't be able to eat on my diet. Yet, I found the idea to be a nice launching pad for tonights dinner.

How does this sound... a Potato Saffron Frittata with Spinach? My version will be made with egg, potato, spinach, saffron and spices, prepared in an individual souffle dish. I'll serve it inverted on a bed of lemon-kissed braised spinach, to which I'll add a blast of roasted garlic. To garnish the dish, I'll do a mosaic of colorful, confetti chopped raw veggies.

Tomorrow night should be a real adventure. I'm going to a restaurant that I have wanted to go to for years, but the timing was never right. Tomorrows adventure is part of a new project I'm working on called Coastal Culinary Odyssey. Each month, I'll be visiting a different Florida Coastal restaurant and writing it up in the new Every Day Living Magazine. Very exciting! In fact in time, I would like to research the possibility of getting a grant to turn this project into a Florida tv series. I know... I have BIG IDEAS, but that is the way my mind is wired! What can I say!

Surviving The Holidays

Surviving The Holidays.... that is a loaded title for me!

Since this is a diet blog, I'll try to stay on topic and not run down any bunny trails.

I did it! I got through the Easter weekend without even craving a chocolate-covered marshmallow bunny.

This new lifestyle is becoming easier for me. Something else really amazing is happening. Years ago I received lots of compliments. But in the last fifteen years, I don't remember hearing any compliments on how I looked. But lately I've been hearing people tell me I look "beautiful."
Wow! It sounds kind of funny after so long. Funny, in a nice way.

Encouragement is such a great thing! I am so appreciative of people who take the time to encourage others along! We need to encourage one another. It takes so little, yet it gives so much. For some reason, my antennae has really been tuned in to the subject of encouragement for several years now. I've witnessed a real lack of encouragement with certain people. Best I can tell, some people simply are not wired to plant seeds of encouragement. That doesn't make them bad. They probably have lots of other gifts, instead.

If you find yourself lacking in encouragement, that is ok. You are not alone. Give yourself permission to encourage yourself! The best encouragement we might get... just might be the encouragement that flows from the inner most region of our souls.

From that interior region we can find the strength to survive anything... even dieting during the holidays!

Staying The Course

Kudos to meal replacement shakes! While I rarely go the meal replacement shake route, I am thankful for their convenience.

Right now I am sipping on a rich creamy chocolate shake and thrilled that I didn't have to interrupt my manic-like frenzy of writing this afternoon, to prepare lunch.

The diet is going GREAT! Actually it is going alot better than I would have ever expected. Even though visions of rich, decadent food flows in and out of my consciousness constantly through my passion and vocation of food writing, I am not deterred. I am staying the course without difficulty. To date I have lost about sixty pounds and feeling better than I have felt in years!

The Deep Dreams Of Our Soul: Are they Linked To Hunger

Today, I can not help to wonder how much of obesity is related to the deep unrealized dreams in our souls.

As a firm believer that every person's life and purpose was planned before the creation of the world, I wonder if when we are living outside of the bullseye of our truest authenticity, if that isn't a big piece of the puzzle as to why there is such a deep hunger.

Our authenticity is tied so profoundly to our life purpose. But if our life purpose has become scattered by the choices we make and the resulting circumstances of our reality, perhaps we lose sight of what is really important for us. Perhaps we come to believe that the big dream is not ours to have and that we have to settle for something far less than what we really want out of life.

Looking at my own life, I am mad at myself for settling for so much less than I once dreamed of.
I am mad that for twelve years I settled for a fruitless and unhappy marriage. I am mad that I am constantly doing things outside of the bullseye of what I really want.

Two years ago I identified the following goals:

1. To be a prolific best selling author, bringing the dozens of book projects inside of me to fruition.

2. To be a syndicated food and entertaining columnist.

3. To be fabulous, fit and financially secure.

4. To be living in the fullness of the best version of who I was created to be.

While by the grace of God, I have made significant progress on these goals... I recognize that I am a long way from hitting the bullseye of my target because I get caught up in things that are sort of what I want. But the reality is these "sort of things" are not what I really want-hence the reason for my anger at myself this morning.

Life is far too precious not to be going after the bullseye of our dreams. In the light of introspection, the "sort of" doesn't cut it! You either are or you are not and when you are not... there is bound to be a deep void in the garden of the soul that cries to be fed.

So we can feed it with that which it truly wants or we can attempt to stuff it with that which will never satisfy us and we will continue to be starving.

Pan Sauteed Grouper with Broccoli Pesto

For dinner tonight I'm thinking about preparing Pan Sauteed Grouper with Broccoli Pesto and A Lemon Herb Smashed Potato.

To lighten up the pesto, I'm planning to use some chicken soup supplement in place of the olive oil. I'll still use maybe 1/4 teaspoon of oil with the broccoli, herbs, garlic, lemon, etc.

For my Lemon Smashed Potato, I plan to incorporate some of the yummy lemon drink supplement, garlic and herbs into one cooked potato.

If I get a chance I'll post the results on how it tasted.

Do you want to know my secret to creating diet-friendly meals that pop with flavor?

My secret is to keep a well-stocked pantry of different Winner's Weightloss supplements that I can sprinkle into meal preparation. These supplements are a huge help in creating interesting, tasty meals that pop with great flavor.

Nothing Tastes As Good As Thin Feels

"Nothing tastes as good as thin feels!"

I have heard this saying several times over the years, but today is the first time that I have heard my own inner voice murmur those words.

While I am still a long way from being considered 'thin', I am nearing the 60 pound mark which is making me feel so much thinner than I was before embarking on this adventure.

Slipping into a pair of old khacki shorts this morning, that I have not been able to wear in at least five years and discovering that they are now two sizes too big for me, certainly made these last five months well worth everything it takes to lose over fifty pounds.

This diet really works! After being on just about every fad diet, it is so exciting to finally find the one weight loss program that can help me to lose the fat.

Kudos to Ruth and Lori at Winner's Weightloss in Tallahassee, Florida for helping me to get my life back! As far as weight loss centers go... Winner's Weightloss ROCKS!!

Luscious Lemon and Apple Breakfast Treat

Luscious Lemon and Apple Breakfast Treat is very similar to the 2 minute wonder breakfast souffle that I made for the recent cooking class at Winner's Weight Loss in Tallahassee, Florida.

My taste buds are dancing with joy after breakfasting on this luscious lemon-kissed meal. In most cases it would take an hour plus and hundreds of calories to get a treat that tasted this yummy. Yet in my kitchen, it took no more than two minutes to assemble and cook.

Luscious Lemon and Apple Breakfast Treat
From The Kitchen of Kathi Dameron

You'll need:

1 piece 40 calorie honey wheat bread, torn into small bit size pieces
1 egg, beaten
2 teaspoons Winner's Weight Loss Lemon Supplement
1 Tablespoon fresh apple, diced
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 drop pure vanilla extract
1 packet splenda, equal or stevia
Dusting of cinnamon (afterwards)

Directions:

1. Spray individual glass souffle cup with pam non-stick spray.

2. Tear bread in bite size pieces and add to souffle cup.

3. Add egg and mix well. Add all other ingredients and mix well.

4. Microwave for approximately 1 min. 25 seconds or until fluffy.

5. Invert on breakfast plate and dust with additional cinnamon.

For more recipes ... scroll through the pages of this blog.

Have a recipe? Please feel free to share it with all of us on this blog.

Happy Dieting! Looking forward to seeing "less" of you at the next cooking class.

Tell your friends to stop by too for ideas and let's see how many combined pounds we can lose in Tallahassee this year!

Look like Heaven in 2007!

Kathi Dameron's Cooking Class Menu For March 29, 2007

"Kathi, everyone wants to know what you are cooking tomorrow," Ruth said.

"Tell them it is a surprise!" I responded.

But while tomorrow's cooking class is fresh on my mind I realized I probably ought to post the menu on this blog, before my life detours in a zillion different directions.

The class is going to start out with a jolt of frozen cappuccino. What could be more refreshing on a warm Tallahassee day than a frosty, whipped blend of Frozen Cappuccino Blast?

Surprise!! We are going to add a blast of fudge-like brownie into an icy brew of java and cappuccino or chocolate supplement. Yum! Keep in mind the addition of a diced Winner's Weight Loss candy bar is not something you should do everyday... but tomorrow is not everyday. So I say let's make it special! Think Dairy Queen Blast and you have the general idea for the first food in Thursday's cooking
class line up.

From there we are going to make use of the microwave for a super simple one-bowl breakfast souffle. With one egg, one piece of forty-calorie bread, a drop of vanilla extract, a dash of supplement and a dusting of cinnamon and sweet and low I'll show you my two minute breakfast. Now of course this is just one variation. This easy treat can be made savory or sweet, depending on your taste preferences and availability of ingredients.

The third food is the lunch that I eat most days- a mixed green salad with fruit and a wildberry vinaigrette. This dressing in my opinion is far better than the Sweet and Jazzy dressing that I use to make when I owned Canopy Rose Catering. Plus it is not loaded with sugar and oil!

We'll finish up with an exotic tea-marinated chicken breast that I'll turn into a trendy chicken sate appetizer.

There you have it the Winner's Weight Loss Cooking Class menu for Thursday, March 29, 2007.

Finding Time For Creative Exercise In The Garden

Exercise doesn't have to be a ho-hum routine. I'm interested in pursuing creative exercise. You know what I mean? The kind of exercise that doesn't even feel like you are exercising.

Like yesterday for example... my exercise involved getting into the garden and doing some spring maintenance. With all the work my garden needs this season, I should be able to burn up lots of calories.

So my plan today is to take my mid-afternoon break outside scrubbing down the mailbox, bird baths, garden statuary and yard markers.

I've Lost 54 Pounds

Today I hit a new benchmark in this weight loss adventure. I've lost 54 pounds so far! As I drove home from the weight loss center, I began pondering the psychological aspects of eating.

Long before I embarked on the diet, I had been trying to unravel the mystery of how it was that food, especially sugar cravings, had become so entangled in my interior being.

As I became more aware of my patterns, I spotted triggers in my life that drove me to crave sugar.

While I don't begin to have the answers for anyone else, I understand what is making the difference for me. My secret is the transforming work of a higher power. With the hand of God, none of what I've been able to accomplish could have happened. God's orchestration is everywhere in this fabulous journey of weight loss.

Timing is everything. For some mysterious reason, after fifteen years of being obese, the timing is right for me to lose the weight. I suspect that if I had lost the weight before God had the chance to do a bunch of inner work with me, things would have been far more tangled up inside me.

I pray that my years of obesity have not caused irreversible health problems in my body. How tragic that so many of the health problems in today's world could be avoided by simply following a diet that is based on the good natural foods God gave to us.

It is often said that you don't have something because you don't ask, or that when you do, you ask with the wrong motives. How true this can be about weight loss.

For me this weight loss is not so much about looking hot, as it is about becoming the best possible version of who God created me to be. It is also about being a good steward of this one miraculous body that will travel with me during the remainder of my stay on planet earth. It is my job to do my part to take care of it and not abuse it.

Next Cooking Class

Thursday March 29, 2007 is the date for the next cooking class that I will be teaching at Winner's Weight Loss. Space is very limited, so if you are interested in attending call Ruth at 850-671-3200 and make a reservation as soon as possible. The classroom is pretty small, but the good news is I'll be teaching the same cooking segment during two different time slots that day. The first class is at 12 noon and the second class is at either at 5 or 5:30.

Naturally these classes focus on low-fat, heart-healthy cuisine that pops with flavor.

If you can't come to the class, but want the recipes send me a request at askkathidameron@aol.com

Springing With Joy

Hoorah! I've finally crossed the fifty pound mark! On my most recent weigh-in I was down 50 1/2 pounds and 54 1/2 inches.

What a great way to spring into the warm weather season. And springing is a good way to describe exactly how I am feeling these days!

Now, of course I'm still as big as a football player, but God-willing by tailgate season next fall, my weight won't be any where close to a football ball players weight any longer.

Grapefruit Sorbet

Did you know that frozen fruit tastes awesome?

This is a real fluke! Last week when everything went haywire over here, my commercial refrigerator turned into a freezer. The temperature dropped from 40 degrees down to 20 degrees below zero. Everything turned rock solid!

I really thought I would have to toss everything out.

But I discovered if I kept the grapefruit and tangerines in the freezer and nuke them as I wanted one, they tasted fine. In fact, the iced taste added an extra bit of pizzazz to the partially thawed fruit. Imagine the taste of a grapefruit sorbet without any added sugar or other other ingredients.

This former food professional is still learning kitchen secrets. Sort of like getting a Free Diet tip!

I'm Back

I'm back! Finally!

Did you miss me? I sure missed being able to post on my blogs.

I had about a week where everything simply went haywire over here! Kudos to Heath for pitching in and posting when I couldn't!

There is a story about my diet coming out in the next issue of Tallahassee Discoveries Magazine.

I'll probably go ahead and post it here, but try to pick up a copy of the magazine.

Sandy has tweaked distribution a bit. Starting with this issue, she will be direct mailing an extra 4,000 copies to certain Northeast Tallahassee neighborhoods. I hope that will give her advertisers more bang for their buck!

Ok... back to my diet. Some days my stress hopped off the charts. But the good news is I didn't turn to sugar! You know I think I'm licking this emotional eating disorder!

On my last weigh-in I was down 49 pounds!

Hopefully, my postings will get back on a consistent schedule now.

I'll be doing another cooking class in March. If you want more details call Ruth over at Winner's Weight Loss. The number is 850-671-3200

Tramadol Amount

Question: Can you take too much tramadol?

Answer: You want to be very careful how much tramadol you take. Generally it should be taken every 4 to 6 hours, too much can easily result in serious side effects. Always perform your due diligence prior to taking a new medication. Be proactive and know the facts.

Shooting Food Videos

Today, I dusted off the digital camcorder that I purchased back in 2000 for videotaping Canopy Rose catered events.

Back then, my vision had been to create entertaining videos for the old Canopy Rose website. But we were always too busy to shoot videos.

For nearly seven years, the equipment sat stowed away on a shelf in the closet. Occasionally, I'd pull it out and attempt to play videographer.

After last night's cooking class at Winner's Weight Loss in Tallahassee, Florida - I got to thinking that I should set my camera on a tripod in my culinary studio and experiment with creating some cooking episodes.

Who knows! Maybe sometime in the future I'll share a couple of them on here... after I can figure out how to use the technology to effectively express the visions that dance across my imagination.

Anyway, I wanted to share this video I just found on youtube. I liked it. I thought it was pretty good. They used the Windows Movie Maker program to make the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOQkBP5nioY

Cooking Class Menu From February 6, 2007

Today, I had the wonderful privilege of sharing some recipes and ideas with some other members of Winner's Weight Loss.

We might be dieting, but that doesn't keep us from eating beautiful and flavorful food.

Here is the menu from tonight's cooking class:

February 6, 2007 Cooking Class Menu

at Winner's Weight Loss

Tallahassee, Florida

Hot Spiced Tea with Lemon, Orange and Pineapple

Sun Dried Tomato Terrine with Jicama

Mixed Greens with Fresh Florida Strawberries

Wild Berry Vinaigrette

Flounder en Papillot with Vegetable Medley

Pineapple Cheesecake

Would you like to join us for an upcoming cooking class? Contact Kathi Dameron at askkathidameron@aol.com

Want to learn about the Winner's Weight Loss program, call Lori at 850-297-2500

Solutions Better Than Frustration

Question: There is a problem with my power supply lines. I'm so frustrated, I could eat a pint of ice cream! I need to find a company that does power supply repair. Can you suggest or direct me to a resource?

Answer: There is a company on the Internet called acsindustrial.com that provides a solution for repairing all sorts of cable lines. Their website lists all of their different services.

Dieting Is Like A Competitive Game of Ice Hockey

Imagine a game of ice hockey. That is how I'm feeling about my diet this morning.

A competitive spirit is at work with the scale, attempting to block me from achieving another ten pound goal.

For some reason, my weight-loss always seems to hover as I near each ten pound mark.

I'll be so close to getting another ten pound certificate to post on my board and so confident that I'll achieve the goal at the next weigh-in, but then it takes up to two weeks to break it. Then once again the weight starts dropping with ease, until I hit the next 10 pound plateau.

Perhaps I need to get more proactive and engage in more of the proven strategies to outsmart the ten pound goalies.

Score Points with Super Bowl Kebabs

The Super Bowl Challenge: What can I serve to guests or bring to a party that won't defeat my diet?


One great solution: You can level the playing field and score big points by offering a heart-healthy balance. While traditional Super Bowl Cuisine has a reputation for clogging arteries, a party platter like the one being described in this blog offers a more conscientious option.


I'm thinking of something that is festive and fun, threaded on a stick or artistically arranged on a do-it-yourself platter and actually is perfect fare for Super Bowl parties.

Imagine an edible collage of fresh, colorful chunk-sized ingredients. Perhaps Florida seafood, beef tenderloin, mesquite grilled chicken strips, fresh seasonal garden fresh fruits and veggies.

Whether served hot off the grill or ice cold, Kebabs with a luscious dipping sauce are a tried and true party food.

The best part... they are super easy to prepare.

Simply pick up a package of wooden skewers at the grocery store. They are usually sold near the fresh fish case. Then indulge your friends in some of their favorite ingredients that can be threaded on a stick.

To save time just prep (and cook if necessary) the ingredients and arrange in an attractive design on a platter or greenery lined basket. Serve with sticks so everyone can create their own favorite combination.

For more great tasting diet ideas, don't miss Kathi Dameron's upcoming cooking class at Winner's Weight Loss in Tallahassee, Florida. Space is limited so reserve your spot today by sending an e-mail to askkathidameron@aol.com or calling Lori at 850-297-2500

Mixed Greens with Grilled Chicken and Diced Apple

From The Kitchen of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter - Kathi Dameron

This salad is so good. Most days I prepare some variation of it for lunch.

If you can get the organic baby herb salad greens in a bag- do it. The intensely flavored herbs kick up the flavors to an even greater degree of culinary intrigue.

My Recipe for Mixed Greens With Grilled Chicken & Diced Apple

1. Layer a plate or bowl with plenty of mixed greens. I usually use a combination of spring greens, fresh herbs, spinach, red and white cabbage.

2. Nuke a mesquite grilled chicken breast. ( I buy mine at Sam's Wholesale Club and in my microwave they are cooked in 2 minutes and ready to slice and dice.) Srinkle on greens.

3. Wash, slice and dice a red delicious apple. Sprinkle on greens.

4. Stir up a bit of citrus vinaigrette. My diet version is made with 1 teaspoon olive oil or canola oil, a big splash of a favorite gourmet flavored vinegar, fresh minced garlic, a big splash of fresh squeezed Florida grapefruit, orange, lemon, or lime. Sometimes I add a splash of a fruity Winner's Weight Loss supplement like Mixed Berry, and a pinch of salt-free and msg-free seasoning. I always like to dip one of the greens into the dressing to taste the flavor, and then adjust the vinaigrette if necessary. Then I drizzle it all over the greens.

This is a wonderful, feel-good lunch. The best part is you won't even feel like your dieting! This is certainly a salad you could serve to company and not feel the least bit guilty that you are serving your diet cuisine.

Of course, you don't have to use apple. I like to change my fruit from time to time. Strawberries are lovely in this recipe as is grapefruit, orange or just about any seasonal garden fresh produce.

Also, the protein doesn't have to be Grilled Chicken. Iced Shrimp, salmon or tuna would also make a fine salad that will leave your tastebuds humming with joy.

For more ideas, don't miss my upcoming cooking class at Winner's Weight Loss. Space is limited, but there are still seats available. Call Lori at 850-297-2500 or send Kathi an e-mail at askkathidameron@aol.com to make a reservation.

I'm At The Quarter Mark

Right now I'm to the quarter mark on my diet. This is very exciting.

The progress of course feels slow, yet steady.

But ah, my clothes tell a different story. Being able to slip into outfits that I had not been able to wear for several years, feels absolutely wonderful. Everything is baggy! I love it! But I don't plan on buying any clothes until every extra pound is off.

Thoughts of a November '07 wardrobe shopping excursion dance across my imagination. I have not worn a size 5 or 7 since 1989. I'm so jazzed that I'm on the road to recovery from this horrible, life-robbing disease of obesity.

So far I've lost about 40 pounds.

Listen if I can do this, anyone can do this! It is about stepping away from the denial, assuming 100% responsibility for our bodies, and desiring inner healing that is an inheritance to all who are willing to ask, believe and accept the gift.

We are only deceiving ourselves if we think we can live our best possible life wrapped in fat.

For me, in some ways I found safety by being overweight. Fat was my upside down way of protecting my heart from being shattered. But in the illuminating light of truth, that reasoning has some major black holes.

With divine guidance, I've been able to fill those black holes with God's love and therefore, food holds absolutely no claim over my heart.

But Winners Weight Loss is helping me, too. Before I started the program at Winner's, I couldn't lose the weight. I wasn't eating very much. I just was eating the wrong things. Winner's has put me on the right track where the weight is coming off in a safe way.

Weight Loss Tips From Jon M. Stout

Weight Loss Tips
By Jon Stout

Today, doctors are calling obesity our number one health concern in the United States. Today, about 30% of the adult population in this country is considered obese. In addition, 16% of children between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight. Though it has gained a tremendous amount of attention in the past few years, the problem is still on the rise.

One of this country’s national health objectives is to reduce the incidence of obesity to less than 15% of the adult population by the year 2010. And, while there is a lot of talk about the problem, many people don’t seem to truly understand the steps they need to take to get their weight under control.

Most of us understand that in order to lose weight you need to burn more calories than you consume. However, many people attempt to reach this goal by seriously restricting their calorie intake. This type of dieting generally fails for two reasons.

First of all, when you begin to significantly reduce the number of calories you consume, your body goes into starvation mode. When in starvation mode, your body works very hard to hold onto the fat that you have, decreasing the number of calories you’re burning. This means that your body is adjusting itself to the reduced number of calories you’re consuming.

Secondly, starvation diets are not realistic. We simply cannot live on such restrictive plans for any significant length of time. So, we begin to feel deprived, and before you know it, we’ve given up on dieting.

Doctors believe that just after a starvation diet, our bodies will quickly accumulate fat when we begin to eat again, as though trying to make up for the famine it just endured. So, often, just a few weeks after ending a diet, we find that we’re fatter than before. We feel defeated and as though losing weight is simply not possible.

However, losing weight is possible if you approach the situation correctly. There are two important pieces to the weight loss puzzle. The first is adjusting your diet.

Adjusting your diet doesn’t mean eating so little that you’re hungry nearly all the time. Adjusting your diet for permanent weight loss means replacing your high fat, high calorie foods with those that are healthier and contain fewer calories. By eating the right foods, you can easily eat enough to feel satisfied, but still lose weight. Avoiding hunger will help you stick to your diet long enough to see serious results.

Take a look at the way you’re eating. Get rid of the hydrogenated fats like butter and replace them with healthy ones like olive oil. Eat mostly chicken and fish – making red meats an occasional meal rather than a regular one. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and make your breads and cereals only from whole grains. Avoid processed foods. If you can make these substitutions, you should lose weight automatically.

The second part of the weight loss equation is speeding up your metabolism. You can make a significant difference in the number of calories you burn each day, making weight loss and weight maintenance far easier.

The fastest and easiest way to speed up your metabolism is to exercise. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. Walking is a great exercise that anyone can do. In addition, try to make your life more active in general. Take the stairs instead of the elevator and walk wherever you can.

Be sure to get in some resistance training, as well. Muscle, even when resting, burns more calories than fat, so adding some additional muscle is extremely beneficial. You don’t need to aim to be a body builder; just 20 minutes of strength training 3 times a week is enough to build some additional muscle. Strength training will also help shape your body, making your weight loss results more noticeable.

It is also beneficial to use foods to your advantage when it comes to speeding up your metabolism. For example, eat those foods that require lots of energy to digest, like raw fruits and vegetables. Many raw vegetables actually require more calories to digest than they contain!
In addition, try adding some tea to your diet. Tea has been shown to speed up the metabolism and help oxidize fat. It may also have the ability to inhibit the absorption of dietary fat into the body.

One research study, conducted at Maastricht University in The Netherlands, looked at tea’s ability to increase thermogenesis, burning fat and speeding up the metabolism. Many studies have shown that caffeine helps speed weight loss, but tea seems to have more potential than other beverages with caffeine.

Tea’s catechins, a potent form of anti-oxidant, seem to work in conjunction with the caffeine in tea to burn fat and speed up metabolism. The study in the Netherlands came to this conclusion, along with concluding that other substances often used to speed metabolism, like caffeine with ephedra, simply are not safe enough to be recommended as a weight loss supplement.

For those prone to being overweight, keeping the scale in check is a lifelong project. But, armed with the right tools, including a sensible diet, regular exercise and helpers like tea, maintaining a normal weight for the long term is entirely possible.

Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai. Visit goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Stout
http://EzineArticles.com/?Weight-Loss-Tips&id=422633

Green Tea Weight-Loss Strategy

While researching weight-loss articles this afternoon, I came across an interesting article that shares insight into how green tea might be beneficial on a diet.

More Evidence That Tea Helps with Weight Loss

By Jon Stout

Every little bit of help is useful when you’re trying to lose weight or keep your weight stable as you get older. Diet and exercise are still the most important components of weight loss and maintenance, but studies are showing that tea, particularly green tea, may be able to provide some assistance in losing weight and keeping it off.

For centuries, Asians have used green tea for health. In addition to Asian cultures having a much lower incidence of serious diseases such as cancer and heart disease, they also are far less likely to be overweight.

Tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. While there are several different types of tea, all true tea comes from this plant. The differences occur from how the tea is processed. Green tea is not fermented during processing, but black tea, which is the most common outside Asia does go through a fermentation process.

Tea leaves naturally contain catechins, which belong to the flavan-3-ol class of flavonoids, which are anti-oxidants. EGCG is one of the catechins contained in tea, and is one of the most powerful anti-oxidants around.

Each day, as we convert food to energy, we create free radicals in our body. These free radicals can damage our cells and our DNA if we don’t combat them. It is believed that unchecked free radicals contribute to the development of many diseases, including cancer. In addition, they speed up the aging process and contribute to clogged arteries and other health problems.

Anti-oxidants are powerful at combating free radicals and are linked with preventing cancer, as well as with decreasing your risk of stroke and heart disease. and with lowering your cholesterol. For this reason, drinking green tea is a simple and effective way to slow down the aging process and prevent disease. But, in addition to being a way to protect your health, drinking tea seems to also be a way to help keep you slim.

There has been a fairly significant amount of research on tea and its ability to help control your waistline. Tea seems to work on two levels. The first is that it appears to speed up the metabolism, so you use more calories each day. However, it also seems to inhibit fat absorption, so that less of the fat in your diet becomes fat on your body.

Tea has two ingredients that seem to help it work its magic. The first is caffeine, which is known to help speed up the metabolism. However, tea seems to work better than other caffeinated beverages because of those powerful anti-oxidants we were talking about earlier. The anti-oxidants, also known as catechins, are the key to helping inhibit the absorption of fat and keep the metabolism moving for hours. One research study that evaluated the benefits of tea on weight loss was conducted by the Osaka University of Foreign Studies. This study was conducted on just under 200 healthy men and women between the ages of 20 and 65. The subjects were divided into three groups; the control group, low dose group and high dose group.
The study lasted for 12 weeks. During the study period, the control group was fed 3 bottles of placebo drink. The low dose group consumed 2 bottles of a drink containing tea catechins and one bottle of placebo drink and the high dose group consumed 3 bottles of the tea catechin drink.
At the end of the twelve week study, those subjects in the low dose and high dose group showed a significant decrease in body fat compared with the control group. Both body weight and BMI were reduced in these two groups. In addition, abdominal fat was significantly reduced.
This reduction in body fat around the abdominal area is significant. Fat around the midsection is the fat that is most dangerous to our health. Abdominal fat is the type that is most likely to be an indicator of heart disease. Reducing your waist size, and the fat around your midsection is the most important weight to lose in order to protect your health.

Another interesting result of this study was that the subjects who had slightly elevated cholesterol levels also experienced a reduction in LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is the “bad cholesterol”. When too much of this type of cholesterol circulates in the blood, it oxidizes into plaque that clogs the arteries. This causes the arteries to narrow, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke.

When you combine this information with other studies that have shown a positive relationship between the amount of tea consumed in a day and the amount of overall body fat, it certainly suggests that drinking tea can be an effective way to lose weight and keep it off.

We all know that it’s critical to eat well and get regular exercise in order to maintain our health and keep our weight in check. However, understanding how simple things like drinking tea can provide assistance can make this challenge a little easier and faster.

Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai.

Visit goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Stouthttp://EzineArticles.com/?More-Evidence-That-Tea-Helps-with-Weight-Loss&id=422636

Can You Help With Kathi's Pizza Challenge?

Considering that I was born and bred in the Chicago area, where great tasting pizza is as much a part of the culinary landscape; as Lake Michigan is of the geographic landscape...living a lifestyle deprived of pizza grows old.

What is a dieting pizza lover to do?

This pizza lover is experimenting with different options for edible plates that don't bankrupt the days food budget in calories or carbs.

The toppings are the least of my problems. My imagination is blooming with a veritable garden of topping ideas.

My challenge is the crust. How can I create a crust that fits the bread criteria on the Winner's Weight Loss Diet?

My first attempt was with a fat-free whole-wheat flour tortilla. But even in the heart-healthy reduced version, the tortilla was still almost triple the calories of the 40 calorie bread.

I would love to hear from you with your ideas for great-tasting home-made pizza crusts that are low-fat, low-salt and low-carbohydrate.

In the meantime, I'm going on assignment to research this subject on the Internet.
If I come up with some great-sounding solutions, I'll be sure to post them on this blog.

Do you have a weight-loss challenge that you need help with? Post it here or drop Kathi an e-mail at askkathidameron@aol.com

A Night In Casablanca

This week I'm dreaming up some ideas for experimenting with some good old vintage cuisine with perhaps some exotic twists.

Think Casabanca, Humphrey Bogart and the flavors of Morocco.

The menu I'm imagining goes like this: A Tangerine and Sparkling Water Cocktail with Fresh Raspberries, a Kasbah-Inspired Salad, Slow-Roasted Meat and Vegetable Kebabs, A Bit of Couscous and a Cup of Rich and Fragrant Moroccan Spiced Tea.

Perhaps I'll check with the library and see if they have the Casabanca video or soundtrack to check out.

Wouldn't this be a fun party theme? Add some Seafood Marseillaise to the menu and encourage your friends to come dressed circa Casablanca!

For an outrageous idea, why not stage this soiree on a weekend getaway at an Orlando Holiday Villa.

Greek-Style Fish

Splashes of white wine and fresh squeezed lime...

Whispers of chopped herbs, slivers of finely cut onion and the essence of flattened minced garlic ....

An unmistakable fine drizzle of olive oil...

A sprinkle of sea salt and some favorite spices...

The flounder filet and a hot oven.

That is basically how I created a flounder entree tonight that tasted simply superb.

My objective was to create a lighter version of the wonderful Greek-style fish, like the popular dish served at restaurants like Captain Anderson's at Panama City Beach, Florida.

Looking for a diet program where good taste won't have to be sacrificed?

Winner's Weight Loss, located in Tallahassee, Florida offers a doctor-designed and approved diet program that lets you eat simply delicious food while learning strategies for life.

For more information on the fabulous Winner's Weight Loss Program call Lori at 850-297-2500.

Want to learn some new ideas for creative cookery with nutritional supplements?
Make sure and sign up with Lori for Kathi Dameron's upcoming cooking class. The class will be on February 6, 2007.

The February class is free, but seats are limited. Reserve your space today!

Have a question? I'll do my best to answer it. Send it to askkathidameron@aol.com

What's For Dinner?

Ah, there is nothing like stirring up some intoxicating aromas in the kitchen to whet the taste buds.

Tonight I walked into the kitchen with one big question hanging over me.

"What am I going to fix for dinner?"

After a quick survey of the refrigerator and pantry, I opted for a Greek-Style Florida Fish, Basmati Rice and Steamed Trees.

If dinner tastes as good as it smells, my taste buds will be dancing a waltz tonight.

Diet fare does not need to be blah! At least that's what I keep telling myself. I am out to prove that healthy eating can indeed be delicious.

Are you looking for ideas for dinner ... sign up for my cooking class.

For more information call Lori at Winner's Weight Loss in Tallahassee, Florida at 850-297-2500 or send Kathi an e-mail at askkathidameron@aol.com

French Onion Soup

With the weather growing cooler by the day, hearty and home-made soups are perfect fare.

French Onion Soup, a traditional favorite of mine is on the menu tonight at my house for dinner.


My challenge tonight will be to take the traditional recipe and tweak it to work with my diet.

For rich beef broth, I will be substituting one of the great tasting beef soup supplements from Winner's Weight Loss.

If I have time, I'll share my recipe after dinner.

I've Lost 36 Pounds!

Yippy!! This morning I weighed in at Winner's Weight Loss and discovered that so far I have lost 36 pounds!

Why, I'm starting to feel like a new person. Still have a long way to go, but that doesn't bother me since I'm learning how to eat for the rest of my life.

I've decided that successful weight loss is really about readiness, getting the internal stuff right and having the support of a proven program.

For a few weeks, I didn't have all the vitamins. The lesson to me was that the vitamins are critical for optimized energy, metabolism and weight-loss. Now that I'm back on all the recommended vitamins, not only has my energy soared, but my clothes are looser and the scale is reflecting the progress.

Nutritional support seems to be a biggee in successful weight reduction.

If you are looking for help with a weight-loss adventure in 2007, my friends at Winner's Weight Loss in Tallahassee, Florida would love to help you, too.

I've been on just about every diet around and spent years on the diet merry-go-round but I feel confident that through the help and support of the doctor-approved diet at Winner's Weight Loss I will be able to finally lose all of the weight that my body no long needs.

DNA vs. Self-Control

Lately I've been doing some writing assignments on the subject of DNA Testing.

My research has taken me to the public library and hop-scotching across the Internet to learn a bit about this field.

In the books that I have checked out from the main branch of the Tallahassee Library, I'm discovering fascinating information about the role my DNA has played in my love of sweets and carbs. I suppose I come by my sweet tooth naturally, but I can't blame it all on the DNA, since in all reality we are the ones who hold the ultimate control over what we put in our mouths.

In the fight over DNA vs. Self-Control, I'm going to cheer for good self-control in 2007.

You're Invited To A Free Cooking Class ~ Tuesday February 6, 2007

From the Desk of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

Mark your calendar and reserve your spot if you would like to come to my cooking class.

This class is free, but space is very limited!

Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2007

RSVP: To Lori at 297-2500 or to Kathi at AskKathiDameron@aol.com

Location: Winner's Weight Loss on North Monroe

More details coming soon!

Keeping A Food Diary

Today, I've decided to get serious about keeping a food diary. For someone who loves to write and journals daily, you would think keeping a food diary would be a breeze. Not!

Yet, keeping score of your daily food, water and exercise is a good idea when trying to change old habits.

In a small whimsical pink floral notebook, I'm recording the little details that over time will equate to more pep in my step.

Up, Up With Greeting Cards!

Up, Up With Greeting Cards!

I love receiving thoughtful cards in the mail! Since starting my diet with Winner's Weight Loss, I have been thrilled by the cards that Lori, my Weight Loss Counselor has mailed to me. They always put a smile on my face and make me feel so special that Lori cares enough to send along a note of encouragement.

Losing weight is a BIG deal. Especially during the holidays. It is awesome to receive well-timed notes to help me stay focused on sticking to the diet, at a time when sugar plums and rich chocolate yule logs dance in my head.

Winner's Weight Loss knows a timeless secret. It is no wonder that they are are Tallahassee's number one diet center.

When I was playing around on the Internet, I happened across a great web site for printable greeting cards that I am going to share with Lori and my other friends who like to be in the know about low cost ways to grow their businesses.

I think sending greeting cards is like investing seeds in a garden! In time your garden will be a blooming with the most exquisite and fragrant beauties!

So Far I've Lost 25 Pounds!

From The Desk of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

So far I've lost 25 pounds!

The bottom line reality, (as we all know) is that "dieting' is tough.

I am trying not to think of this as "dieting" but rather as a new lifestyle that embraces smart, healthy food choices.

Some days are much easier than others. But trying to choose smart during the holidays can be a special challenge. It seems that wherever you go, during this season of indulgence, it is hard to escape the intoxicating aromas and tastes of home baked goodies.

Therefore, I allow the foods of the season to be my inspiration to draw on my own creativity in preparing meals that won't leave me feeling deprived.

After years of creating some of most exquisite party food in the Tallahassee area, creating equally sensational light dishes should not be all that much of a challenge. I've created great dishes without butter and rich cream in the past and I know that it is indeed doable to experiment with different techniques that introduce a splendid variety of flavor ranges without sacrificing taste in any way. It really boils down to accepting and embracing the art of creative, light cookery and finding new approaches. I love innovation! My heart pops with joy at the rich opportunity to travel with passion and confidence into uncharted territory.

If you are in the Tallahassee area and are looking for help in transforming your body into your best possible version, my friends at Winner's Weight Loss can help you, too! Call Lori at 850-297-2500.

Fire-Roasted Asian Beef, Vegetable and Greens Salad

From The Kitchen of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

Before I forget, I want to share an idea for a wonderful, rich fire-roasted salad I made this weekend. It sizzled with delicious flavor and satisfied the craving I had for a substantial meal. I named this one:

Fire Roasted Asian Beef, Vegetable and Greens Salad

In a sizzling hot skillet, cook beef filet on one side, and garden fresh Oriental vegetables on the other side in sea salt and a tiny drizzle of canola oil. About 3/4 of the way done add a splash of beef supplement mixed with water. During last 4 minutes, add salad greens and saute lightly. (Cut beef into mixture.)

On plate put one layer of cold crisp greens (plain or drizzled lightly with a zesty vinaigrette) then top with the beef , vegetables, and sauteed salad greens. Yum!

Christmas Brunch Hazelnut, Apple & Cinnamon French Toast

From The Kitchen of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

Here is a lovely little french toast with good flavor that is nice for a Christmas Brunch. I've named it:

Christmas Brunch Hazelnut, Apple & Cinnamon French Toast

1 slice 40 calories honey wheat bread
1 egg white
1 drop hazelnut extract
1 drop vanilla extract
1 sprinkle cinnamon
1 sprinkle sweet and low
very thin slices of apple

Beat egg white. Add extracts and cinnamon. Dip bread on both sides in flavored egg white. Place on non stick pan. Sprinkle with more cinnamon and with sweet and low.
Top with thin apple slices and dust to taste with additional cinnamon and sweet & low. Bake till almost crisp and the intoxicating fragrance spills into the house!

Fragrant Orange, Hibiscus Flower and Exotic Spiced Poached Flounder with Asparagus

From The Kitchen of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

Tonight for dinner I created a lovely, delicately flavored poached fish dish I have named:

Fragrant Orange, Hibiscus Flower and Exotic Spiced Poached Flounder with Asparagus & Snow Peas

I began the dish early in the afternoon by marinating the flounder filets in a fragrant brew of artisan spring water, orange peel, hibiscus flowers, rose hips, and a secret blend of exotic spices.

Just prior to the dinner hour, I prepped some fresh pencil thin asparagus and snow peas and added them to my marinating fish and poached the dish for approximately 20 minutes.

A light drizzle of fine white wine and a sprinkle of sea salt, just before serving turned the dish into a divine tasting entree that tickled this gourmand's fickle taste buds.

Unforgettable Cary NC Real Estate Open House

While attending a Cary NC Real Estate Open House, I sampled a delightful tea punch with a unforgettable flavor of exotic spices, orange and pomegranate. The realtor assured me that the punch was sugar-free and only made with fine tea leaves and fresh fruit.

I think it is a nice touch when business related open houses offer some sort of interesting "light" refreshment, like the one in Cary, North Carolina. In addition, to the punch, the agent prepared a lovely assortment of regionally-inspired nibbles that were served from the spectacular dining room of the beautiful and elegant mansion that was for sale.

Raspberries In Champagne

While vacationing at Orlando condos, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a cooking class.

The participants were greeted with crystal flutes of Raspberries in Champagne.

To make this festive and bubbly beverage, just drop a quarter cup of raspberries into the flute and splash with bubbly.

While,the champagne has plenty of calories. You can always substitute sparkling water or even a low-cal ginger ale for the champagne.

How To Stay Fit During The Holidays

How To Stay Fit During the Holidays
By Kim Roach

With the holiday's approaching, now is one of the hardest times to
hold on to your healthy habits. However, one of the best things you can do for yourself during the holiday season is to pay attention to your diet and fitness program. Otherwise, you could easily start the New Year five pounds heavier. By following a few tips, you can keep your physique and continue with your healthy lifestyle through the holidays and into the new year.

Here are some tips to keep you slim and trim.

Shake up your workout routines. During the holiday's, it's hard to stay dedicated to your usual workout routines. That's why it helps to shake it up a bit. Do some power sessions that are quick but still very effective.

Exercise with the family. Holidays are one of the best times of the year and allow you to gain back some much-needed time with the family. However, why not make fitness a family affair with neigborhood walks, family fitness contests, or even building a snow fort.

Never go to a holiday part on an empty stomach!

This is a rule I've started to live by and you wouldn't believe how much it helps. Simply eat a little bit before you head off to a party and you will be less tempted to indulge in sweets. An apple is a great food to help curb your appetite.

Skip the egg nog (up to 350 calories a cup!), alcohol, and sodas and stick to water. This will save you hundreds of calories. Drinking plenty of water also supresses the appetite and keeps your body in optimal health.

Do your workouts early in the morning. Everyone's schedule is hectic during the holiday's. Those wee early morning's may be the only time you have to get in a powerful workout. Wake up as early as possible and do an exercise video or head off to the gym for some morning cardio.

Eat slowly!

Research has shown that eating slowly reduces caloric intake by
70 percent.

When tempted to eat sweets, snack on fruits, vegetables and high-fiber foods instead. These foods can satisfy your sweet-tooth and your hunger cravings. In addition, dried fruits are one of the healthiest alternatives to sweet snacks.

Surround yourself with a support group. Having a support group is essential to losing weight. Everyone needs to know that they're not in this alone. There's a great online group you can join at Sparkpeople.com. This free website is a community of like-minded people who will help you stay motivated to reach your goals. They also provide plenty of healthy recipes, exercise ideas, and tons of nutrition information. Join today at SparkPeople.com.

Skip the gravy, dressings, and other high-calorie condiments. Many dressings and condiments can add hundreds of unwanted calories. You can enjoy the holidays without sacrificing your figure. The key is knowing which foods to eat and which ones to skip. Focus on fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. These food choices are nutritious options that won't leave you craving second-helpings.

If you're into the sweets, you don't have to skip them. Just remember that one bite is often as good as ten. You can have just a few bites and enjoy your dessert rather than overindulge and suffer later.

Don't skip meals. Your body needs to be fueled properly every few hours with healthy, nutritious meals. This keeps your blood sugar levels in check and prevents the wild hunger pangs that often lead to over-indulgence. Our bodies were not made for the large helpings that are so common during the holiday's. If you want to stay fit, it is best to eat five smaller meals throughout the day. Say goodbye to the turkey hangover!

Bring healthy dishes to holiday parties. If you are wanting to eat healthy, you need to lead by example. By bringing a healthy dish to the potluck, you are allowing yourself and others to choose healthier options.

The majority of the population will gain a few pounds during the holiday's and slack off on their fitness program. Let's NOT follow their example. Instead, let's stay fit and healthy all year long. In the end, the others will wish they had done the same.

Nothing tastes as good as being fit feels....

Kim Roach is the fitness reporter at HealthyEveryDay.com. Come and
visit to find out more about the
benefits of flaxseed and
spirulina.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kim_Roach

Power Walking Techniques - Increase Your Metabolism The Right Way

Power Walking Techniques - Increase Your Metabolism The Right Way
By Mike Singh

Powerwalking is walking at a fast pace for a sustained period of time. You may have seen this style of walking if you watch Olympics, but it is a good exercise for anyone. Power walking is usually walking at the speed of a 12 or 15 -minute mile. It is an aerobic workout for your body that helps to increase the oxygen level of the cells. This helps to raise the metabolic rate at which the body burns calories and is therefore an important part of any fitness and weight loss program.
Walking at a faster speed than normal helps the body burn more calories than normal walking. This is why power walking is popular among those who are trying to lose weight.
One of the benefits of power walking is that it not only speeds up the bodys metabolism but it also strengthens and tones the upper and lower leg muscles as well as the glutes. As little as three 15 20 minutes walking sessions per week will produce noticeable results in your weight and you ability to walk faster.
The thing about getting started with faster walking is that you can do it in short intervals until you get used to the brisk pace. Try to increase the length of your intervals each day until your full walk is actually a power walk.
When starting a power walking program there are a few things you should keep in mind. You do need to have a good pair of running shoes, even if you are walking indoors. Keep your arms relaxed because when you hold your arms at a 90 degree angle it tenses up the muscles in the lower back.
You should also take small steps and gently swing your arms from the elbows. This technique helps to promote movement in the entire body and allows the muscles to move evenly.
Check out http://www.1-stop-fitness.com/ for articles on used stairmasters and discount rowing machines.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Singh

Could Thyroid Problems Be Causing Your Weight Gain?

Could Thyroid Problems Be Causing Your Weight Gain?
By Susannah Young

Dr. Merril W. Edmonds describes the thyroid’s function as similar to a car’s cruise control. Just as the cruise control keeps the car at a constant speed without effort from the driver, the hormones released by the thyroid ensure that your body is functioning at a constant and correct speed.

The thyroid regulates the body’s metabolism. When the hormone level decreases, all the cells in your body become less active. Because the cells are less active, they need less energy to perform and thus more energy is stored in the form of body mass. In other words, you gain weight. This is a condition called hypothyroidism, and due to the wide variety of symptoms, it can often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. The condition occurs in 1.5 to 2 percent of women and only 0.2 percent of men.

When hypothyroidism-related weight gain begins, you lose your ability to burn off or waste extra calories – that is, any calories your body does not need to maintain its normal functions. This is something most people with normal thyroid function are able to do. If someone has hypothyroidism, they can eat less than people with normal thyroid function and still gain more weight.

Once diagnosed, hypothyroidism can easily be treated by taking extra thyroid hormone in pill form. This will speed up the patient’s metabolism and help him/her lose weight, though the process is often still difficult. Taking the correct dosage is crucial, because too much thyroid hormone induces protein weight loss, which can result in heart problems and osteoporosis. Though it seems like a simple solution, thyroid hormone in pill form may not help indefinitely. After taking thyroid hormone for a long period of time, some people begin to gain weight again, even though thyroid hormones may be at the correct level.

The following symptoms may indicate hypothyroidism:

• Slowed speech and a hoarse voice. Sometimes the voice will deepen or break.

• Impaired memory, slowed reflexes, and general brain fog

• Hives

• Migraine headaches

• Increased sensitivity to heat and cold

• Shortness of breath

• Puffy or swollen skin, especially in the face, hands, and feet

• Hair loss

• Brittle fingernails

• Decrease in libido

• Abnormal menstrual periods, sometimes coupled with infertility

• Anemia

• Constipation

• Unexplained weight gain, or weight gain in spite of diet and exercise

• Unexplained fatigue



Helpful information on maintaining normal thyroid function may be found at http://www.alvidar.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susannah_Young

Oh, Happy Days!

From The Desk of Tallahassee Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

Oh, Happy Days! The North Monroe Street Winner's Weight Loss Center in Tallahassee across the street from Tallahassee Mall, received a new shipment of the Variety Pack of Hot Cocoa Mixes.

Pausing inbetween strokes of the keyboard, as I write this blog, to sip and savor the steamy and delish Chocolate Mint Hot Cocoa. Yum! This is so good!

It is treats like this one, that helps me to not feel deprived that I am not indulging in the seasonal festive holiday goodies, that tend to overflow in sugary abundance at this time of year.

Imagine a diet where you can have steamy mugs of:

Mocha Hot Chocolate

Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

Raspberry Hot Chocolate

Amaretto Hot Chocolate

Mint Hot Chocolate

and of course, Classic Hot Cocoa sans additional flavors

And to think, that this is just one type of supplement that Winner's Weight Loss offers to help their patient's experience success on their weight reduction programs.

If you are looking for a great weight loss facility in Tallahassee, Florida... personally, I believe Winner's Weight Loss on N. Monroe Street is tops. For a free consultation, give Nutrition Management Counselor, Lori a call at 850-297-2500 and begin your own fabulous journey to becoming the very best possible version of yourself in 2007.

Tricks for Drinking The Water

From The Desk of Tallahassee Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

Some days I struggle to drink enough water. Yet, I understand that water consumption is a necessary function of a healthy diet.

I keep promising Lori, my Winners Weight Loss counselor, that I am going to up my water intake. But I keep falling short.

One of the problems is, I'm not exercising enough. When I exercise, I experience a natural thirst, which is a good thing and really helps with the weight-loss.

Lori suggested that I add Fulfill Mixed Fruit Drink to my water. The first time I tried the Fulfill, I wasn't all that crazy about it. But now I really like it. I water it down more than the package calls for and it is really good. I like the way that the product has a unique blend of soluble fibers and several key nutrients.

I guess I should go over to Lake Ella now and get in a little exercise before nightfall.

BTW if you are in Tallahassee, Florida and looking for a great weight loss center, check out Winners Weight Loss on North Monroe. The phone number is 850-297-2500

Sandler's Recipe For Baked Potato Latkes

From The Desk of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

Sandler Dickson is one of those wonderfully-present souls, who I have bumped into from time-to-time around Tallahassee.

The conversations we have had, always revolved around food. The first time I ever met Sandler was at a local Greek eatery.

Back at the end of October, when I went to Winner's Weight Loss on North Monroe for a diet consultation, I bumped into Sandler again.

"I know you!" I said after visiting with him in the lobby of the diet center "We met at Captain Pete's years ago!"

Sandler has a wonderful, friendly, outgoing and unforgettable personality. If you ever need real estate in Tallahassee, call Sandler and his wife Barbara at REMAX Professionals Realty at 850-545-7095.

The last time I saw Sandler, he shared about their upcoming cruise and the menu that he had sent to the cruise lines. On this menu, was a low-fat heart-healthy recipe for Baked Potato Latkes. I love Potato Latkes! But I didn't think of these sumptuous patties as diet-friendly food.

Sandler shared with me his recipe and I can't wait for an opportunity to bake up a batch soon. I wonder if I can freeze them?

Sandler's Recipe For Baked Potato Latkes
5-6 russet potatoes, peeled
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 bunch of chives, snipped
1 egg plus 1 egg white, lightly beaten
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
3 tsp. safflower oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush 2 baking sheets with 1 teaspoon Safflower oil each.

Loosely grate potatoes and onion in food processor and place in large mixing bowl.

Season to taste with pepper. Add whole wheat flour and onion and mix well. Mix in eggs and 1 teaspoon Safflower oil.

Spoon out the batter onto baking sheets and flatten slightly, with oven racks in lower and middle positions. Bake until brown on the bottom (about 10 minutes).
Turn and bake another 5 minutes or until brown.

Garnish liberally with chives and serve with non-fat yogurt.

What Should I Bring?

From The Desk of Tallahassee Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

"What should I bring?" is a frequent question, guests often ask during this season of holiday soirees.

For the dieting guest, holiday parties can seem like dangerous territory.

Holiday menus are often the antithesis of heart-healthy eating. In fact, the typical party menus are more akin to a prescription for ushering in Type 2 diabetes.

Oops, my time is running out right now, but when I get home from church, I'm going to share with you a recipe for a Festive Holiday Dip Party Platter that you can bring to your next Christmas party.

Ok, I'm back home! Now, that I'm all prayed up :) here is the recipe for a light holiday appetizer that would be good any time of the year. I've added plenty of red and green garnish to this version, to give it a Christmas season look.

Kathi Dameron's Festive Holiday Dip Party Platter ~ A Heart Healthy Idea

1 carton low fat or fat free cottage cheese
1/2 fresh Florida lemon, squeezed
2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
1 Teaspoon fresh dill, chopped (or dried)
onion powder, garlic powder, Mrs. Dash to taste to taste

sun-dried tomatoes, reconstituted (if necessary)
Fresh spinach, finely shredded
Fresh chives, minced

A colorful cornucopia of garden fresh veggies.

Adjust quantities according to the number of guests.

Mix first 5 ingredient (lines) ingredients together. Put in a decorative bowl. For an intersting bowl, try a hollowed out cabbage... very pretty!)

Artistically garnish the top of the dip with a sprinkling of sun-dried tomatoes, an elegant chiffonade of shedded spinach, and fresh chives.

I would arrange this assortment on a rustic basket, that I would line with big collard green leaves. In the center, I would put my dip-stuffed cabbage. Then around the dip I would arrange a culinary display of exquisite garden fresh vegetables.

Staying Focused On The Big Picture

Staying focused on the big picture is something that I'm trying to do. But the truth is, it is not always easy!

Frustrations come and go in life. They are inevitable.

For some reason, my past m.o. was to handle and self-medicate frustrations with sugar and carbs. Fortunately, I have learned to only engage in conscientious eating and try to eliminate emotional eating, altogether.

Thank GOD that I have the help of Winner's Weight Loss in Tallahassee, Florida to help me on this journey. The encouragement and support I receive from Lori at Winner's is an important key to success. I couldn't do this without her help!

If you are trying to lose weight, find someone who can help you. If you are in Tallahassee, Florida and you are looking for a supportive, weight loss counselor, personally, I think Lori is tops!

Can House Painting Facilitate Weight Loss?

I wonder if there are colors that can facilitate weight loss?

When I have the time, I'm going to check on the Internet and see if I can find some articles about how the colors of a house may affect appetite.

On this diet, I want to do everything I can to psychologically support my efforts to lose this weight.

That is why I have been thinking about doing some house painting in 2007.

Frozen Caramel Truffle Cappuccino Recipe

From The Desk of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

For a rich and luxurious cup of frozen hot chocolate, try this tasty treat!

Frozen Caramel Truffle Cappuccino Recipe

8 oz. fresh brewed Decaf Caramel Truffle Coffee
1 package Creamy Swiss Chocolate Shake Supplement from Winner's Weight Loss
A handful or two of ice

Blend to a rich, thick frozen consistency. Pour into a big whimsical mug.
Dust with a sprinkle of cinnamon or stir with a cinnamon stick. Serve with a long elegant ice tea spoon. Yum!

To learn more about the Winner's Weight Loss Diet contact Lori at 850-297-2500.

Hot and Sizzling Fajita Skillet ~ Ole!

From The Desk of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

Coming from a caterer's background... food just doesn't taste palpable to me if it isn't bursting with good flavor. On so many diets, the food tends to be bland and boring.

With the amount of weight that I need to lose, the only way that this adventure is going to work, is if my food-lovin' taste buds get their daily dose of pizzazz!

So for my dinner tonight, I kicked it up a notch with some high voltage southwestern flavor.

Sizzling Beef and Vegetable Fajitas With Salsa

Beef
Onions, Sliced
Medley of Your Favorite Vegetables
Salsa

Get your skillet screaming hot. Cook beef and vegetables till beef is done and vegetables are caramelized to perfection.

Top with a big dollop of chunky salsa. Ole!

Flavor Popping Salad

From The Desk of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

For a flavor-popping salad, I prepared a seasonal marriage of Mixed Greens With Turkey, Crisp Red Apple and Florida Tangerine Vinaigrette for my lunch this afternoon. Yum! It was simply delicious, quick to assemble, and so wonderfully healthy! With food this flavorful, dieting is a treat!

Mixed Greens with Turkey, Apple, & Florida Tangerine Vinaigrette

Bagged Field Greens

1 Small Red Delicious Apple

3 oz. Roasted Turkey, chopped or shedded

1 Teaspoon canola oil

2 Teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar

Mrs. Dash Sun Dried Tomato Seasoning

A generous splash of fresh squeezed Florida tangerines

Top greens with turkey and sliced apples. Combine vinagrette ingredients then splash over salad.

This salad is a vision of culinary simplicity! Whose dieting? With food like this... it is a pleasure to embrace heart smart choices!

I am on an exciting adventure to shed over 100 pounds. If you want to join me on this magnificent journey... hop aboard! My friends at Winners Weight Loss can help you, too!

For more information on how you can embark on your own magnificent journey call Lori at 850-297-2500.

Frosty Mocha Cappuccino

Form The Desk of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

For a nice tasting mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack, here is a treat that tastes a bit like a cup of frozen hot chocolate with a whisper of flavored coffee.

1 Package Swiss Chocolate Shake and Pudding Mix, available from Winner's Weight Loss

4 oz. Fresh Brewed DECAF coffee (more or less according to taste preference)

4 oz. cold water

A hand ful of ice cubes

Put all in blender and frappe to a nice thick frozen consistence. Serve in a big mug and dust with a sprinkle of cinnamon or stir with a cinnamon stick.

To learn more about the Winner's Weight Loss Diet ~ Call Lori at 850-297-2500.

Vegetable Broth

Here's a nice vegetable broth you can cook up in a crock pot.

1 Gallon water

2 Onions, sliced

3 Celery Stalks, sliced

3 Carrots, peeled and sliced

3 Garlic Cloves

Fresh Tomatoes, chopped

Plus lots of your favorite chopped vegetables, chopped fresh herbs, and gourmet peppercorns.

Slow cook according to your crock pot instructions. Strain the stock, discarding the solids.

Let cool to room temperature. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze. After cubes are frozen, pop the frozen vegetable broth cubes into freezer bags. Then use as desired to season vegetables.

Surviving Thanksgiving

Surviving Thanksgiving on a diet is not entirely easy!

I started out with good intentions to eat only turkey and vegetables. But as the food was passed- my resolve gave in to the tantalizing foods being passed.

How can you not take at least a little bit? So I put a tiny portion of each item on my plate and enjoyed every bite.

Today I'm back on plan and happy that I had a small diversion yesterday.

Look For Apex NC Real Estate That Will Enhance Physical Fitness

When shopping for Apex NC Real Estate, it is smart to make sure that the home and the neighborhood offer opportunities to enhance one's physical fitness.

Here are a few questions to consider to help you make health-wise home-buying decisions:

1. Is the neighborhood suitable for walking, bicycling or jogging?

2. Does the home offer space for physical fitness? Is there space for an exercise room?

3. How is the backyard? If there is not currently a swimming or lap pool, is there room to add one if you would like?

4. How close is the home to community parks and sports complexes?

Orlando Town Homes Are Good Solution For Vacationing Dieters

When I achieve some of the major milestones on this diet, I am going to take some vacations!

One of the vacations I plan to take will be to Orlando, Florida.

Not only will I hit the outlet mall for some fun new clothes, I know I will continue to lose weight while on vacation with all the walking I will be doing!

By staying somewhere with a kitchen like Orlando town homes it will be easy for me to stay on my diet while on vacation. I think places with kitchens are a good solution for vacationing dieters.

Guess how many pounds?

From The Desk of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

Oops... I almost forgot to tell you.

Guess how many pounds I have lost?

Well, when I weighed in this morning I was down 15 1/2 pounds.

Yippee!! I already feel so much better. It is amazing how different I feel.

No more heartburn! No more strange sensations along the sides of my feet! And my tummy is shrinking! Hallelujah!

At first, I was worried that I wouldn't have enough energy. But the reality is I have more energy than I have had in years!

This is the best diet I have ever been on! It is not even like being on a diet... it is much more like being on a program to become the very best possible version of oneself!

I am so appreciative of Lori and Ruth from Winner's Weight Loss in Tallahassee, Florida. You gals rock! Thank You!

The Secret Is In The Supplement!

From The Desk of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

Yum!! The recipe I described in my previous post turned out to be simply delicious!

My tastebuds time traveled on this dish- back to the 1960's and to my grandmother' s house.

This tasted just like grandmother's cooking!

Chicken and fresh veggies that were stewed in a flavorful stock to tender perfection was a favorite staple in my grandmother's kitchen.

My grandmother was always a stickler for healthy, low fat food. She was never overweight and always on a diet. After tasting this tonight... I suspect grandmother might have been flavoring her dishes with some nutritious type supplements, too. Now that I think about it, she had quite a cache of unusual seasoning packages in her pantry.

How ironic! That in all these years I have never once been able to recreate the same intense flavor I remembered and loved in grandmother's exquisite stewed chicken and veggies until tonight...when by sheer serendipity the long lost flavor re-emerges.

Food has an uncanny ability to peel back the ages and transport us to days of long ago!

After experiencing this taste sensation, I have to admit that I can't wait to try some of the other soup type supplements from Winner's Weight Loss. What a surprise to learn that the secret is in the supplement! Wow!

I get my supplements from Lori at Winner's Weight Loss in Tallahassee, Florida. Give her a call if you would like to know more about the Winner's Weight Loss Diet Supplements. She can be reached at 850-297-2500.

Hungry For Something Hearty and Slow Roasted

From The Desk of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

With chill winds blowing outside tonight I am hungering for something hearty for dinner.

When I first looked in the freezer about 45 minutes ago ... I wasn't really too ecstatic over my choices.

I wanted to prepare a dinner that spoke to my soul and nourished me with a richness- the kind that is derived from the lovingly prepared and slow roasted process.

Maybe that seems like an oxymoron considering I'm on a diet. But I don't think it has to be.

In fact during the winter months I'm going to push ahead to create legal dinners that are soul satisfying.

Of course I don't know how this experiment will taste, because it is still cooking. However, the aroma is intoxicating! If it tastes as scrumptious as it smells.... Oh momma!!!

Ok here is what is cooking right now in my kitchen.

In a pan of roasting chicken meat, I added coarsely chopped onion, squash, zucchini, and a generous sprinkle of Mrs. Dash. Then I prepped the Winner's Weight Loss Chicken Noodle Soup in a shaker and added it to the roasting pan.

In a few minutes I get to dine on my experiment!

Trading In My Latte For A Fragrant Constant Comment

From the Desk of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

Ok... maybe I experienced a period of grief over saying good bye to my morning caffeine and brown sugar driven lattes.

But oh my ... an afternoon spot of hot fragrant decaffeinated tea is simply delightful! The taste transports me to days of long ago when office staff would arrive with a trolley cart of tea for teachers. I was a student teacher then near Wimbledon, England on an overseas student teaching program.

It has been said that when you let go of one thing in your life, you generally put something else in its place.

So I've traded my addiction from lattes of caffeine, brown sugar and milk first thing in the morning- to healthy breakfasts, lunches and a mid afternoon spot of tea.

And guess what I have not lost any of my rev... in fact the only thing I've lost is 11 3/4 pounds! Not bad for the first ten days!

Not only is this diet helping me to lose weight ... I think it will save my life, too.

Getting A Running Start on My 2007 Resolutions

From The Desk of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

By starting my diet before the holidays, I'm hoping to get a running start on my 2007 resolutions.

Ok, maybe I'm a little behind on my 2006 resolutions. (Yes, it took me close to 11 months to get in gear.) But I look at it this way. I have finally made the biggest decision of all- the decision to tackle my weighty challenge.

Come the season of resolutions on January 1, 2007 ... I will be weighing in at least 25 pounds lighter. Maybe more! How about you? Do you want to start 2007 lighter?

If you are in the Tallahassee, Florida area and looking for a diet pal ... my friends at Winner's Weight Loss can help you, too!

Lori is just one of the many awesome cheerleaders at Winner's Weight Loss that can help people to break the bondages of fat.

We all deserve to be the very best possible version of ourselves. Why let fat get in the way of experiencing your best possible life?

Lori does free, no obligation weight loss consultations. If you would like to arrange an appointment give her a call at 850-297-2500.

And if Lori's location is not convenient for you, there are several other centers. There is even one in nearby Crawfordville for our coastal friends.

I've Lost 11 3/4 Pounds

From The Desk of Tallahassee, Florida Dieter ~ Kathi Dameron

Today I broke the 10 pound mark. Since yesterday's weigh-in I have shed another 2 3/4 pounds!

I am down a total of 11 3/4 pounds! Yippee!

For every ten pounds shed, Lorie takes a picture... so today was picture day.

Lori, is such a great cheerleader. I truly feel blessed to be on the Winner's Weight Loss Program. This program is helping me to do something that I simply can not do on my own.

Even though I was not eating very much before I started doing the program... the little bit that I was eating was sabotaging my efforts to lose weight.

When Lori, my weight loss counselor reviewed what I had been eating pre-Winners Weight Loss, she was able to identify immediately some of the problem areas.

Every morning, I would start my day with two jumbo lattes with brown sugar. I had no clue that caffeine causes the body to hold onto weight! I assumed my brown sugar was a no-no... but didn't understand how disastrous caffeine is to a diet!

During the last 10 days, I have kicked the caffeine habit! This is a good thing! :)

So far... I love my Winner's Weight Loss Diet! I love the encouragement and support
that I get from the center.

Since I was finally ready to get serious about tackling my weight issues, Winner's Weight Loss is the key that I believe will lead me step-by-step to my ultimate success in my weight loss struggles.

It is going to be a lengthy journey... but one that will be worth every step. What could be better in life than working towards becoming the best possible version of oneself in every conceivable way?

Losing My Marbles!

I'm losing my marbles! Last week when I started my Winner's Weight Loss Diet I had an interesting visit with another Winner's Weight Loss patient who shared with me his penny technique for sticking to the diet.

His penny technique sounded really good... but by the time I arrived at home, I had added a new spin to his idea.

Since the first day I've almost lost ten marbles. Yippee!! I'm on my way!

This is how I am using marbles to help me keep track and stay focused.

I counted out crystal marbles for every pound I want to lose and put them in a stemmed carved antique brass candy dish. Every time I lose a pound I transfer a marble from the brass container to a nearby crystal container.

So far...so good. My clothes are already feeling looser and the heartburn that I sometimes get at bedtime has not surfaced once!