Monday, September 24, 2007

Orlando On My Mind

Orlando on my mind.... Shopping for Orlando real estate ? Whether you are a buyer or seller of property in the Orlando market, here is the company that can assist you.

Did you know that over 77% of home buyers start their search on the Internet? Wow!

When looking for the company that can help you, you will want to make sure to go with a real estate agent that not only utilizes the extraordinary power of the Internet, but also engages the stratospheric potential of the blogosphere.

Ask your agent: What is your presence in the blogosphere? This one question could make all the difference in the world. If your realtor scratches his or her head and doesn't have a clue how blogs are being used as an important weapon in the savvy realtors marketing artillery- RUN!

save our homes

Not Applicable

As a single woman without children, I really don't see any real value in buying life insurance.

"Why spend the money on something like this? It's not applicable to my life."

On the other hand if I had a family, I'd be the first to sign up for term life insurance.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Shopping For Orlando Real Estate

Shopping for href="http://www.homekeys.net/Researcher/Real_Estate-Florida-Orange-Orlando.aspx">Orlando real estate?


Did you know that over 77 % of real estate transactions begin initially on the Internet?

It is true. A large number of buyers begin their house hunting online. It just makes sense to surf the turf of a region before you fire up your automobile.

If you are looking for residential or commercial property in central Florida, then by all means click on this link for a quick scan of what is on the market right now.

Good luck and Happy Hunting!


The Effects of Stress On A Diet

Why I think I could probably write volumes about the effects of stress on a diet. The biggest challenge I have faced before and during this diet is the varying degrees of stress in my life.

I don't know why I have let food be the crutch that has held me up during stressful times.

Even now, being totally conscious of what is happening, sometimes I can't help myself. I find there are times that I just want to plow into a hearty meal of comfort food.

I'll get a vision in my mind and I can't seem to shake it. What is up with this? I'm real close to the 90 pound mark and the 100 pound mark is just around the corner.

Yet, perhaps the most stressful days are approaching. Finding a new place to live, packing, hunting for land for sale or rent.

A Dream Life

Ever find yourself at a crossroads in life where you don't recognize the person you've become? The face in the mirror, isn't even a face you recognize....or the life you are living is so far removed from the life you once dreamed of for yourself?

You are not alone! Many of us discover that somewhere along the journey, we assumed a lifestyle that wasn't at all what we wanted.

Sure we might be decades into these mysterious lives. But we can still make the decision to refashion our future any way that we desire. We just need to decide to do it!

Let's live it up! For a bit of inspiration from someone who is living her dreams at an early age, why not get a set of Hannah Montana tickets.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

The Acai Story

The Acai Story
By Jim Swank

Acai is a palm tree that grows in the North of Brazil and is known by the people as "içá-çai", which means "fruit that cries". Acai Berries grow on an Amazon Palm Tree and have been prized for hundreds of years by the indigenous people of Brazil for their ability to provide a sense of strength, energy, and a high nutritional content. Acai is the only super berry on the market that has everything that you need, naturally from only the berry itself. Acai is considered one of the richest nutritive fruits from the Amazon or the world for that fact. Acai (ah-sigh-ee) is an all-natural energy fruit from Amazon palm berries.

Acai
Acai Medio is normally used in Brazil because it is cheaper and easier to process than the acai especial. Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-EE) is the fruit of a palm tree that grows in the Amazon rain forests of Brazil. It is Not a Magic Bullet, but It May be Close. While there certainly is no single food that can be considered a magic bullet, Acai must be ranked high among the most powerful and beneficial natural sources of vital minerals, anti-oxidants and nutrients that support a healthy body and lifestyle. It also provides a nearly perfect profile of amino acids plus it contains important vitamins and trace minerals too. Acai also contains two good fatty acids, Omega 6 (Linolenic acid) and Omega 9 (Oleic acid) each of which plays a large role in maintenance of your cardio vascular system. Acai is Loaded with Vitamins and Minerals, Fiber and Proteins Each capsule is a rich source of important nutrients for optimum health and vitality.

Health
We also think that any juice made from a blend of healthy fruits is much better than the soda and sugar filled juices most of the population is drinking now. Health Link Directory Research on Acai has shown that these Anti-Oxidants are known to fight and regulate cholesterol levels in the body. Dietary fiber, which is excellent for digestive tract health. As featured on Oprah, "the benefits from eating healthy are endless. Acai Berries can help a promote a healthier cardio vascular system and digestive tract, because of its synergy of monounsaturated (these are the healthily) fats, dietary fiber and phytosterols. I , of course believe that Acai has tremendous health benefits, but a number of Monavie reps have crossed the line and sold some very sick people a false set of promises. Distributors of Monavie have made unsupported health claims for Mona Vie on various websites. Please consult with a health care professional before starting any supplementation program.

Products
While the Acai berry is clearly a very healthy addition to any diet, many Acai products remain vague in their use of the acai berry. There are many Acai products on the market, but most use confusing proprietary formulas. Acai was recognized for its functional properties for use in food and nutrasutical products. Other companies add a trace amount of Acai to their products just so they can say they have Acai. The products promise the consumer everything, from extra energy to anti-aging benefits.

Energy
The reason that Acai is so great is that it's bursting with antioxidants that protect your health and give you energy. It is usually mixed with energy drinks, ice cream, and even energy bars. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has entered into a distribution agreement with Los Angeles-based Bossa Nova brand acai juices, and Anheuser-Busch adds the fruit to its new energy drink, 180 Blue.

Brazil
In 2004, NBC Today's Matt Lauer hosted an Amazon Rainforest road show from Brazil, reporting that locals now call the legendary Acai Berry the "Viagra of the Amazon. Brazilian athletes, on the other hand, consider Acai as an important staple in their diets. Natives living in the Amazon river region in Northern Brazil, have had as part of their diet the Acai berry for hundreds of years for it's nutritional value. The popularity of the Acai berry is starting to spread from Brazil to the rest of the Americas. It usually grows in the wild Amazonian jungles in Brazil, where it is harvested by natives who have been reaping its health benefits for generations now. The Brazilian natives believe the Acai berry to have amazing healing and nutritional properties.

Super
Perricone named the Acai berry as the #1 Superfood on the Oprah Winfrey show. Acai is the only super berry on the market that has everything that you need, naturally from only the berry itself. " In fact, just about every brightly colored fruit and vegetable fits the category of a superfood, as do nuts, beans, seeds and aromatic and brightly colored herbs and spices. The beneficial properties of each one of these superfoods could fill an entire book.

Acai is considered one of the richest nutritive fruits from the Amazon or the world for that fact. Acai is Not a Magic Bullet, but It May be Close While there certainly is no single food that can be considered a magic bullet, Acai must be ranked high among the most powerful and beneficial natural sources of vital minerals, anti-oxidants and nutrients that support a healthy body and lifestyle. Acai is the only super berry on the market that has everything that you need, naturally from only the berry itself.

This article was written by Jim Swank. For more information on health and nutrition go here: http://www.healthandbizguru.com/
Jim Swank has been in the health care field for a number of years. His particular area of expertise is Health - Nutrition and how it helps learning disabilities.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Swank http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Acai-Story&id=629925

Sunday, September 09, 2007

This Diet Has It's Just Desserts

One pilot, one sky diver, and one hobbyist who builds RC helicopters... what's up with this?

Best I can tell boys will be boys, whether they are ten or sixty! These boys (I mean men!) all have a wanderlust for aviation and are looking for their dream match.

Should I risk my life with the pilot who wants to whisk me off to North Carolina or the sky diver who has offered to take me on a tandem dive?

Being on this diet has it's just desserts! Invitations like this don't come along every day! But when they do.... life sure gets tasty!

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Real or Imitation... The Choice Is Yours

I love the story about the pearl necklace where the little girl's father has asked his daughter to give him her imitation pearls. But she is reluctant to do so, eventually she does and when she releases her grasp on the inferior and mediocre, she is free to accept the rare and beautiful real pearls.

Oh, how many times we clutch so hard to the inferior things of this world when God has something far greater for us. But the problem is that we can only clutch so much at a time.
And if our hand is filled up with inferiority, there is no room to clutch onto the superior.

Do we hang on to our weight, our old habits and our brokenness when we could simply let go and let GOD give us something much better... a new life in him!

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Kathi Goes Digital!


Happy Day! I am finally getting to where I can download my own photos onto the computer.
Once I get the hang of working between the two operating systems on my computer to download the digital pics, I'll be able to share pictures with you!
Yippity Do Da!Yippity Day! My oh my what a wonderful day!
I took this picture last month after a jaunt to the Growers Market. I think this was before I roasted the vegetables.
Just playing with the camera at this point! Hope to bring you some cool photos in the months to come and who knows... maybe I'll share some cooking videos, too!

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Elegant Bites For A Fabulous Healthy Body

Winner’s Weightloss Cooking Class
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Noon & 5:30PM
Tallahassee, Florida

Elegant Bites For A Fabulous Healthy Body
By Kathi Dameron


1. I’m Losing My Marbles! So far I’ve lost 75 of them!
2. How To Create A Beautiful Skewered Cocktail… Fragrant Shrimp Skewered Appetizer Cocktails with Far Eastern Spices
3. How To Add A Dash of Style and Pizzazz to A Savory Baked Appetizer … Spinach Artichoke Triangles with Fiesta Confetti Bites
4. Toss the Shrimp and Fresh Grapefruit In A Wild Greens Salad and Living Vegetable Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
5. Strawberry Kiwi Frozen Slushes will be served

These measurements are estimates, please adjust to suit your own preferences.

Fragrant Shrimp Marinade


1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 ½ teaspoons fresh cracked mixed blend gourmet pepper
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ package orange Winner’s Weightloss Supplement / water
½ teaspoon cardamom
½ teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons canola oil
Apple cider vinegar (optional)

Mix together and use as a marinade for shrimp, seafood, fish, etc.


Spinach Artichoke Triangles

1 - 14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained
½ cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ cup water mixed with
¼ package Winners Weightloss chicken soup supplement
1 egg
2 egg whites
¼ bread crumbs
black pepper to taste
½ teaspoon dried oregano
dash of cayenne pepper
½ cup shredded spinach
½ cup grated zucchini
¾ cup shredded reduced fat Monterey Jack cheese
¼ cup shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese
fat free sour cream or yogurt
confetti chopped veggies

Chop artichoke hearts in food processor. Set aside.
Mix together water and chicken soup supplement.
Saute onions and garlic in water blend until tender.
In small bowl mix together egg and egg yolks until frothy.
Mix in remaining ingredients then transfer to a 9x9x2 baking pan that has been pre-sprayed with no-stick cooking spray.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Spread with garlic and herb fat free sour cream or yogurt (optional) and garnish with confetti chopped veggies, then cut and triangles and serve.
For my online friends, I'll try to get some pictures posted after the class. Maybe I'll even post a video after future classes. Thanks for reading my blog :) Love and Kisses! Kathi

Monday, August 27, 2007

Create A Stress Plan

To all my Dear Dieting Compatriots,

Do you have a Stress Plan to guide you when times of stress in your life threaten to wreck havoc on your diet?

Not until I sat down to write this post a few minutes ago did I realize the importance for creating a stress plan or plans to carry me through times of personal crises.

The bottom-line reality is that food has always been my comforter through the storms of life.

How unhealthy and dysfunctional is that?

A couple years before embarking on my Winner's Weightloss program, it occurred to me, perhaps by a ray of divine insight that when I felt inner turmoil, I would turn to sugar.
A friend who is a psychologist had told me that my behavior was a classic example of self-medicating oneself. In fact, he had done his dissertation on the very subject.

Interesting.

I called good ole' mom.

"Did you use to give me sugary treats when I was upset?" I asked.

"We always had cookies for you children to calm you when you were upset," she responded.

Bingo! I had found the root of my eating disorder! Momma's good intentions had created a pattern that I would battle my entire life.

After a time of aggravation with Momma, it was time to let her off the hook, forgive her for the damage she had unknowingly created. After all she was only trying to be the best mother she knew how to be. Unfortunately, she had no clue that sugar was a terrible stress solution.

With stress of varying degrees an inevitable part of the human condition, a dieter would be wise to create their own personal stress plan, maybe even a plan a, a plan b, and a plan c!

The challenge before us is to create OUR STRESS PLANS! I'm going to start formulating mine and I encourage you to do the same. I invite you to share your strategies, what works for you and what doesn't. If you have a blog or website that you author, or a favorite site of encouragement that you visit that deals with diet-related issues, please share a link with us!

I want to hear from you! To comfort and nurturing! Kathi

Sunday, August 26, 2007

You've Been Flamingoed!

Jaunty bright pink plastic flamingos decorated the front yard.

Lordy, Lordy!

Look whose Forty!

Gabriela knew she was in for a fun birthday, but she had no idea that her husband had booked a surprise trip to the fabulous Flamingo Las Vegas where she was about to meet the surprise of her life!

Don't miss Gabriela's and Marco's hilarious romp!

Friday, August 24, 2007

Yellow-Tailed Snapper With Fiery Mango-Habanero Salsa

"After the race, let's stop at the fish market." I said as I laced up my Air Jordan running shoes.

"Fish, tonight? Fish is always a great Friday night dinner entree. What do you have in mind?"

"I was hoping to find a yellow-tailed snapper that we could grill and top with a fiery mango and habanero salsa. Maybe we can stop by the farmers market and pick up some nice wild greens, too."

A Master's Cheesecake

"Every spring, champions of the game of golf gather at the Augusta National Golf Club to compete in the first of America's major tournaments, the Masters." Second Round Tea Time At The Masters by The Junior League of Augusta, Georgia.

Attending the Masters is exciting, whether or not you are a player. But by all means ladies and gentlemen, dress the part. For the latest fashions in golf apparel ladies check out the women's golf pro shop online. While you are at it, don't miss the divine recipes in the cookbook. One of my favorite recipes is Marie Neel's Kahlua Cheesecake on page 299.

I know it is not a diet recipe, but with some slight variations it can be transformed into a low-fat wonder!

Keep your eye out... in future postings I'll be sharing some of the yummy Winner's Weightloss cheesecake recipes on this blog.

Only Two Things: Results and Excuses

A sudden silence fell across the table, then after a brief pause the conversation continued.

"So what did you tell him?"

"I told him that his calls were harassment and that if they didn't cease, I would report him."

"Obviously, he didn't take you serious. He has called all week. "

"That is the way a commercial collection agency works. Their objective is to collect their client's money. Fortunately, there are laws to protect people from threatening phone calls."

"Good! Because this stress is wrecking havoc on my diet."

"Don't let the stress be your excuse. There are only two things in life: results and excuses!"

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Mango Madness


Down here in Florida where the mangos grow... the inspirations for good heart-healthy cookery are a-plenty.
While mangos don't actually grow in my backyard, they grow in abundance further south.
During mango season, you'll find the fruit of these juicy treasures showing up in everything from tropical salsas and frozen cocktails during happy hour to playing the staring role for delicious grand finales at the dessert hour.
Yes, they are delicious when used in synergy with other ingredients... they are equally delightful to eat the just picked fruit from a tree and let the nectar trickle down your chin!
Photo Credit: Ajay Singh & SXC

Beauty and Health The Scandinavian Way

"The Scandinavian female is in tune with nature. She thinks French perfume is divine, but give her one that wafts of pine needles and she'll drench herself with it. A magnum of champagne has its allure-but so does a pitcher of fresh milk. Stepping out of bed onto a fur rug is groovy, but so is wading at the edge of the sea." ~ Gale Knutson

Sitting on my desk is my cherished copy circa 1969 of this fabulous book on Beauty and Health the Scandinavian Way. Scandinavia... known for Finnish women with pink and white complexions, snow-capped mountains, and modern desks.

Photo Credit: Ajay Singh & SXC

Feather-Light Angel Food

Looking for a light dessert to take to a party?

Store-bought or home-made Angel Food cake is feather light and fat free. Just top with some fat free cool whip and a medley of fresh berries. Yum!

Whip it up in your indoor or outdoor kitchen.

Photo Credit: Ajay Singh & SXC

Stop Fretting Over What Others Think!

While dining at a quaint and obscure little restaurant off the beaten path, I overheard the following conversation.

"Set yourself apart from the rest. Don't be afraid to make the changes that will propel your life to where you want to go."

"You speak wise words. But I worry too much what others think."

"You must stop fretting over what other people will think. Follow the light within. Get help for your addiction. For as long as your addiction has its ugly claws in you, you will fail to achieve your greatest potential. "

"Then you think I should go into the drug rehab program?"

"Absolutely! I want to see you launch into the stratosphere!"

As I heard the conversation that played out at the nearby table, I considered my own addiction to sugar and carbs and realized that no matter what our addictions might happen to be, ultimately these addictions shackle us to a bondage of inferiority and keep us from realizing our fullest potential.

The Secret To Today's Lunch

The heady perfume of fresh marjoram perfumed the house as the chicken and summer vegetables roasted in the oven.

My mouth watered in anticipation of lunch, a lunch that would help the scale inch down.

The secret to today's lunch is the chicken noodle soup supplement that gently baths the chicken and chunky vegetables and infuses flavor without the addition of fat. The marjoram adds just the right fragrance to this savory treat.