Tamira

I know this is more “Forum” than “Blog”, but I thought these were useful tips to share here anyway…

Foods for the Fourth

When hosting your own Fourth of July party, decorate with streamers and tablecloths in red, white, and blue — using the following ideas for a festive menu. Or, if you’re attending a party, bring one of these colorful, nutritious dishes to pass:

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• Freeze watermelon balls and star fruit to use as ice cubes. rn
• Create a veggie tray with red peppers, radishes, mushrooms, cauliflower, and tomatoes; serve with a low-fat salad dressing. rn
• Mix the pulp from halved and scooped out baked potatoes with low-fat cheese and Tostitos® salsa. Stuff each skin with the filling and broil long enough to melt the cheese. Serve with Baked! Tostitos® tortilla chips. rn
• Grill kabobs made with chicken, red peppers, and mushrooms for a delicious main course. rn
• Garnish grilled turkey patties (lower in fat than ground beef) with red onion and barbeque sauce for a unique twist on the traditional burger. rn
• Toss cooked Near East® Couscous, red peppers, tomatoes, onions, and olives with lemon juice and olive oil for a tasty side dish. rn
• Layer cubes of angel food cake, reduced-fat ice cream, raspberries, and blueberries for a light, delicious dessert. rn
• Top a rice cake with a low-fat cream cheese and decorate with sliced strawberries, blueberries, banana, and star fruit. Glaze with Tropicana Pure Premium® Orange juice thickened with a bit of cornstarch. rn
• Combine strawberries, raspberries, pears, bananas, blackberries, and blueberries to create a stunning fruit salad. rn
• Blend strawberries and blueberries with low-fat yogurt and Dole® Chilled 100% Berry Blend juice for a refreshing fruit smoothie.

Using fresh fruits and vegetables in vibrant shades of red, white, and blue is a creative and fun way to set a patriotic mood for your Fourth of July celebration.

Source: www.americaonthemove.org

I lost 3lbs this week and I broke my 3 week plateau, just in time for the Fourth of July!  Do you think Kraft makes Diet BBQ sauce?  

I put my hand in yours
I put my hand in yours,
and together we can do
what we could never do alone.
No longer is there a sense of hopelessness,
no longer must we each depend
upon our own unsteady willpower.
We are all together now,
reaching out our hands for
power and strength greater than ours,
and as we join hands,
we find love and understanding
beyond our wildest dreams.

I pulled out a pair of jeans that used to require 3 assistants to get me in this morning and I was able to slip them on with no problem.  They are actually loose-fitting now.  Hooray for me!

Happy Friday to all and have a WONDERFUL weekend!

I have been a member for a few weeks, but this is my first time posting a blog.  I have hit a plateau and I am in a severe funk about it.  I know this happens with dieting all the time, but this is the same weight I got stuck at last year for a month before I threw I the towel.  I’ve been getting compliments all week about how great I look, but all I want to do is go home, pop in a few movies and eat.  Part of my problem is I also suffer from depression and I know how easy it is to let that monster rear it’s ugly head and ruin my goals . 

Reading everyone’s posts these past few weeks have really been inspiring and I thank you all for sharing your stories.  I know those numbers on the scale will move again but it’s hard not seeing my effort pay off, especially when I have been down this road before.  I packed my gym clothes in the car to remove the temptation to go home and crash on the couch.  Hopefully, I will achieve my mini-goal this month.   Thanks for listening and wish me luck!