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Hola Everyone!
I am back from Costa Rica...sigh...It was a wonderful trip, but whenever I travel away from here, no matter how wonderful it is where I go, it is never as beautiful, enlightened, warm, and inviting as this place I call home. How lucky we all are to live here!
And also how fortunate we are to have the fantastic choices of foods around us, and the wherewithall to make the right choices in what we eat. Some of you are reading that line and saying to yourself "Right choices? Who's making right choices? Not me!" If you are one of those people who feels their choices aren't the best, keep coming to meetings! Get some great ideas! Don't give up! Keep plugging along and pretty soon you'll be one of the people inspiring others.
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Meeting Topics / Early March
The week of February 24th is all about examining how we can create a positive vision for ourselves to help us see our way to our goals. It brings into play some of the Tools For Living like Positive Self-Talk and Motivating Stragegies, as well as Mental Rehearsing.
The week following is a review of the ever important Good Health Guidelines. Do you know them? Are you following them? Come find out!
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Recipe of the Issue
Soupe Au Pistou
 This recipe was sent in from Jennifer in my Thursday Sonoma meeting. I have not yet tried it, but it sounds delicious!
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 leeks (white and pale-green parts
only), thinly sliced
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
Salt and black
pepper
1 large can (48 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 can
(15.5-19 ounces) white or cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (14.5
ounces) diced tomatoes
2 medium zucchini, quartered length-wise and sliced
1 medium yellow squash, quartered
1 dried bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon
dried thyme or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
1/2 pound green beans, cut into 1-inch
pieces (about 1 1/2 cups)
Pistou
3 medium garlic cloves, halved
3 cups
packed fresh basil leaves (2.5 ounces from 2 medium bunches)
1/2 teaspoon
salt
5 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Warm oil in large stockpot or Dutch oven
over medium-high heat. Add leeks; cook about 3 minutes, until softened,
stirring. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring. Season with salt and pepper.
Stir in next 7 ingredients. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes,
uncovered. Add green beans to pot; simmer 6 to 8 minutes longer, until tender.
Meanwhile, make pistou: In blender or food processor, process garlic until
finely chopped. Add basil and salt; process until basil is finely chopped.
Scrape down sides of bowl. With machine running, gradually pour in oil. Add
cheese; process to blend. Ladle hot soup into serving bowls. Swirl 1 tablespoon
pistou into each bowl.
Nutritional Information: Serves 8
159 calories
12 g total
fat (3 g sat)
5 mg cholesterol
8 g carbohydrate
7 g protein
1 g
fiber
377 mg sodium
3 points per serving.
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Product of the Week
Xylosweet
 I have been using this sugar substitute for quite awhile and really love it. Here are some facts from the website:
- Zero carbohydrates.
- Just as sweet and tasteful as table sugar with 1/3 fewer calories
(~ 2.4 calories/gram versus sugar's 4.0) This makes it 1/2 the points of sugar!
- Glycemic index: 7
- Made of a naturally-occurring substance found in fruits and
vegetables like plums, strawberries, and corn.
Xylosweet is increasingly
gaining acceptance as an alternative sweetener; using
it actually helps reduce the
development of dental cavities. Unlike artificial
sweeteners, Xylosweet contains all-natural xylitol-nothing
else!
I find this reproduces in every way exactly like sugar, so can be used for cooking and baking. And the added bonus of it actually being good for teeth and gums makes me want to use it, instead of other artificial sweeteners. My dental hygienist actually commented on how much better my gums seemed to be! Kind of amazing to be eating something sweet and hearing that!
It is available at Whole Foods, but I would buy it at Olivers, as it substantially cheaper.
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Lunch with Janet & Linda
After the Thursday noon meeting in Santa Rosa
 I forgot that we had committed to lunch this past Thursday after the noon meeting, and no one in the meeting asked about it. We would love to do it, but I think the best plan is to hear from all of you to find out what are good Thursdays (the first one of the month, or the last, or?) and who wants to come. How about we create a sign-up and y'all let me know? Just email me back!
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Before and After Pictures...
  So I am waiting for another member to offer up pics... anyone out there? You can bring them into a meeting if you do not have them in your computer or just email them to me, and write a bit as well about your journey...
Meanwhile you're stuck with more of mine...80 lbs difference. I lost my weight back 1999, so the first picture was shot in my early 20's and the current one was 2 months ago.
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Other Information
 As many of you know I am not only a Weight Watcher leader, but also a Life Coach, and weight counselor. I offer workshops in Weight Management, as well as a support group and private work.
My workshop on smart food choices has been moved to Sunday, March 30th. This is a hands-on exploration of the world of healthy, yummy foods on the market, smart restaurant eating, deli and salad bar choices, and cooking tips. We will be enjoying tons of samples (yum!) and a delicious lunch. This workshop will be invaluable to you on your weight-loss journey. I hope you will consider joining me for this one day world of food!
Please email me at jciel@sbcglobal.net if you have any interest in my other work.
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And our closing quote for this newsletter....
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always
ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid
plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves
too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor
all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no
man could have dreamt would have come his way." - Goethe
Wow, that says a lot, doesn't it?
- Janet Ciel
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Healthy Thoughts/Healthy Actions