Successful Tour

We had so much fun at Support Group! We met at Smith's Food King for a grocery store tour/scavenger hunt. Here are some of our faorite fabulous finds:

1. Kroeger Carb Master Yogurt - 80 calories, only 4 g carbohydrates and 12 g protein and just 40 cents! We taste tested the vanilla and found it yummy! Beat that!

2. Orowheat Sandwich Thins - 100 calories, 5 g fiber and 5 g protein. These delicious thin buns come in whole wheat and multi-grain varieties. The texture (dense and thin) tends to work well for band patients.

3. Torani Sugar Free Syrups - 0 calories. For more than flavoring coffees, try the hazelnut, the almond, or the raspberry in oatmeal!

4. Ocean Spray White Cran Peach or Cran Pomegranite drink mixes - 5 calories. Lynae recommends using 1 pkt per about 24 oz of water rather than the 17.5 oz per package directions.

5. Sobe Lifewater - Kiwi Strawberry Lemonade flavor in particular. You will have to go to Target to taste this limited time new flavor, then you can log on to face book and vote to keep it!

6. Pouches of tuna or salmon - no draining - ready to eat!

7. Almond Breeze Original - just 40 calories per 8 oz (less than half the calories from skim milk.) Try cooking your oatmeal in Almond Breeze - very tasty! However, remember it is not the protein equivalent (just 1 g protein rather than the 8 g in skim milk.)

8. Ballpark All White Meat Turkey Hot Dogs - just 40 calories and 0 g fat - and taste great besides those impressive stats.

What a fun group! I think everybody went home with some new ideas and inspiration and most of us went home with a grocery bag! Looking forward to next month already - June 24th - Special Guest Speaker!div>

May Recipe of the Month

Stuffed Cabbage
Low Carb, Low Fat, Big Flavor

So you want to know how something that’s low carb AND low fat can be so tasty? Trust, me, this recipe is a keeper. I took the idea of using chopped cauliflower from Blane Jelus, (Blane’s low carb kitchen) and applied it to my own stuffed cabbage recipe. This recipe takes a little time and effort, but it is worth it. Make it for company or make it for yourself and freeze portions for many future special meals.

1 head green cabbage (about 2 pounds)
1 ½ pounds ground turkey
½ cup onion, minced
1 cup Egg Beaters egg substitute
½ cup tomato sauce
2 cups chopped raw cauliflower
1 Tablespoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon white pepper
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

For the Sauce:
1 – 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon white pepper
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon brown sugar
½ cup water

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. 2. Core head of cabbage with a sharp knife.
3. Place head of cabbage in a pot of boiling water (enough water to cover cabbage.)
4. As the leaves begin to soft, pull them off and return head to water.
5. Cut the large thick vein off the back of each leaf in a deep V pattern.
6. Mix together the next ten ingredients.
7. Place just enough meat mixture on the cabbage leaves so that you can roll up without squishing out the sides. Work from the thickest side towards you, fold over the meat, then fold the sides in and finish rolling away from you.
8. Place in a glass baking dish, seam side down. Finish stuffing all cabbage leaves with the meat mixture.
9. In a large bowl, stir together crushed tomatoes, thyme, both peppers, brown sugar and water (just enough to thin slightly.)
10. Pour tomato mixture over the stuffed cabbage, and cover tightly with aluminum foil.
11. Bake at 300 degrees about 1 ½ hours (until cabbage is quite soft.)

Nutrition Information – Makes 8 servings – Each serving provides 212 calories, 19 g protein.

Fitness Census 2010

This is a rather interesting article you may like....


Fitness Census 2010: Special Report From Gold's Gym and Health.com Reveals 'Sizeable' Shift in the Shape of America


Eye-Popping Research Exposes a Decade of Flawed Fitness Fads, Supersized Meals and Fatter Pets
DALLAS, April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- In conjunction with this year's U.S. Census, Gold's Gym and Health.com have teamed up to assess how the state of the nation's health has changed since 2000. The result? A 2010 "Fitness Census" that paints a brutally honest portrait of our nation's health, our growing waistline and what the future holds for America in 2020.

While some of the findings are grim (lower life expectancy in the U.S., fatter pets and an increased fat intake equal to 2 sticks of butter per week, per person), the news isn't all bad. New fitness trends and technologies might pave the way to a healthier 2020. To help raise awareness for the 2010 Fitness Census and help consumers battle the bulge, Gold's Gym and Health.com have teamed up to create the "30 Days, 30 Ways" Fitness Calendar. This free interactive tool, available at www.health.com, allows consumers to receive one eye-popping stat and one actionable fitness tip each day.

"Even though there has been a tremendous amount of information released over the past 10 years that promotes the benefits of exercise and diet, the Fitness Census revealed a significant decline in our nation's health," said Robert Reames, Gold's Gym Fitness Institute. "The new millennium began with a decade of supersized meals, a dramatic reduction in physical activity and an obesity epidemic that continues to weigh down the nation. We hope this report raises awareness about the importance of fitness, and that the interactive calendar gives people some actionable steps they can use to stay active and get in shape. Our message is simple: Even a small amount of regular exercise can go a long way."

Here's a look at some additional astonishing statistics as revealed by the Fitness Census:

Two out of three adult Americans are now overweight or obese
A staggering one out of every three kids is overweight, with physical education in most schools disappearing
For the first time in 60 years, the average life expectancy of Americans born today may be less than their parents
There have been an estimated 8 million new cases of diabetes since the year 2000
25% of America's pets are now overweight
In the past 10 years, the number of gastric bypass and other bariatric surgeries shot up nearly 600%, with 220,000 procedures done in 2009 alone. Total cost: $3.7 billion to $5.7 billion
While the economy continues to find its footing, fast food sales in the U.S. are up 15% in just five years
Since 2000, the amount of fat the average American consumes has increased by 180 grams (the equivalent of two sticks of butter) per week. That's an extra 20 pounds of fat per year
Since 2000, the time an average eight- to 18-year-old spends playing video games has more than doubled
The men's "big and tall" clothing market generates $6 billion annually – enough money to cover the deficit of California


In other findings, the Fitness Census took a look at some of the biggest diet and exercise trends of the past decade to see which ones really worked and which ones should stay in the past. From Tae-Bo and instant abdominal devices to 100 calorie packs and video game fitness, the report shows that Americans turned to a variety of exercise trends to help stay in shape. Looking forward, Gold's Gym Fitness Institute experts predict America's next big fitness trends, including Kangoo Jumps and Early Fitness Programs aimed more at kids, teens and tweens.

To kick start their fitness routine, Americans are invited to visit the interactive "30 Days and 30 Ways" calendar at www.health.com/fitness-census. In addition, consumers are encouraged to log on to www.goldsgym.com to receive a free 7-day workout pass to any participating Gold's Gym in America.

About Gold's Gym

Established in Venice, Calif. in 1965, Gold's Gym is the largest full service gym chain in the world with more than 700 locations in 43 states and 28 countries. Gold's Gym offers the latest equipment and services, including group exercise, personal training, cardiovascular equipment, group cycle, Pilates and yoga. With nearly 3.5 million members worldwide, Gold's Gym helps all kinds of people achieve their individual potential through fitness. For more information please visit www.goldsgym.com or www.facebook.com/goldsgym.


SOURCE Gold's Gym

Your Store Tour

You won't want to miss Support Group this month! We will be going to Smith's Food King @ 400 South Woodruff in Idaho Falls for a tour. Your tour guide will be Sandi and she will be showing you some tricks to save calories and money while not missing out on nutrients or taste - can't beat that!

Wear your walking shoes - this is not a bus tour! You will put on some miles as you scout out the treasure hidden there.

The date is Thursday, May 27th! Mark you calendar now and plan to be there for a really fun time. Meet at the New U clinic at 6:45 if you would like to carpool or in the deli area at Smith's at 7:00 if your prefer to go straight there.

Feel free to bring a friend, your coach, or anyone interested in joining us on our quest to become healthier every day! See you there!