What You Will Find In This Issue...

• Diva's Ditties
  
  
• Feature Article: Why Does Exercise Help to Lose Weight?
  
  
• Feature Recipes: The Ever Popular Green Bean Casserole - Healthy Style

Please add "Info@TheCookingDiva.com" to your whitelist or address book in your e-mail program, so that you have no trouble receiving future issues!

December 18, 2008
Volume I, Issue 12.18

You are on our list because you signed up for one of our programs or purchased one of our products. To change your subscription, see link at the end of this email.

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you know who wants to live a healthy, Abundant Life!

Sign Me Up for this ezine

Are you busy getting all of your last minute holiday preparations in order? I am, but I am loving ever minute of it. My extended family and friends keep complaining about all the work and how hard it is to get everything done and how expensive it has gotten.

You know I just don't buy in to it. All it takes is a little planning, which might mean cutting off the t. v. and focusing on your holiday plans. I love giving gifts - I start planning months before Christmas. I make a list of everyone I need to have gifts for and as I think of things that would be perfect for them, I jot it down in my planner. Then as I have time, I can work on the gifts.

Many I purchase, but several I make. Like this year I am making my niece her very own cookbook, named after her. She loves to watch Food Network and help her dad in the kitchen. So, I knew she would love a small cookbook with her photo on the front and several recipes named after her.

I guess what I am trying to share with you is to not join in with the "Bah Humbug Spirit" this holiday. Think of the alternatives - you could be dead! So, make the most of being alive, smile and be happy that you have this opportunity to bless others even if it is just with a smile!

Lori Winders, The Cooking Diva
Htime, Inc.
6350 Lake Oconee Parkway, Suite 102
Greensboro, Georgia 30642
678-318-1751, ext. 104
Info@TheCookingDiva.com

Usually those of us who hate to exercise ask the question, "Why does exercise help to lose weight?" because of course we don't want to do it and are always told how we must in order to lose weight. If you are like me and are told that something is good for you, the natural next thing to pop into your mind is WHY? Why is it good for me and why do I have to do it?

We can lose weight by losing body fat, by losing water or by losing muscle. Most dieters will see an immediate 2 to 3 pound weight loss because of losing water. They become excited at this early success from whatever diet or weight loss program they just started and then become disappointed when they do not continue to see rapid weight loss despite working the diet or program. The best and healthier way to lose weight is to lose body fat not muscle. If you hate to change your eating habits and flatly refuse to, if you increase your exercise level and maintain the same diet including the amount of food you consume you will lose weight. That is because you are burning more calories with the increased level of exercise you are doing. Whenever you burn more calories than you consume, the natural result is a loss of weight.

Not every body has the same energy or caloric needs because not all of our bodies are the same proportion (shape, height or weight), age, or type (male/female). This body difference along with our different activity levels equates to different daily caloric needs. This is why in a situation where everyone is eating the same meals like in a school cafeteria, or camp situation one person consuming the exact same amount and type of foods will gain weight, another will lose weight and another will stay the same. The reason for the difference can be found in all of the other factors previously mentioned - body proportion, sex, age and activity level. If age and sex are the same as well as type and amount of food but one person is sedentary (non-active) and the other is active physically the person who is sedentary will gain body fat.

You can easily increase your physical level of activity each day simply by making a few changes in how you go about your day such as taking the stairs instead of using the elevator, walking the dog instead of watching TV, walk around while being in a waiting room instead of sitting in a chair while waiting. Take any opportunity to move instead of staying still that you can possibly find in your daily routine. Our bodies were designed for daily activity. When we recognize that design and take advantage of what our bodies can do we allow our bodies to maintain health the way they are designed to do.

Individuals who strive to diet and lose weight without adding exercise to the mix over time will begin to gain the weight back. The weight loss these individuals are experiencing is due to water and muscle loss as stated in the beginning of the article. There is only so much water and muscle to lose before your body becomes unhealthy. If you plan on losing weight the healthy way - diet and exercise are necessary and are inter-related.

© 2008 Htime, Inc.

WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Lori's Blog @ www.TheCookingDiva.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Online entrepreneur, International best selling author, & speaker, Lori Winders, publishes the popular ezine, "To Your Health." If you're ready to start living a Healthy, Abundant Life full of great taste then get your FR*EE copy now at www.TheCookingDiva.com

The Ever Popular Green Bean Casserole - Healthy Style

My husband loves the original green bean casserole that sits on everyone's holiday table. But when I had to start avoiding yeast, I stopped making it. Well he has requested that I work my magic and convert his favorite casserole dish to a healthy one so he can enjoy it again this year.

Ingredients:
2 cans (14.5 oz each) organic green beans, french sliced and drained
1 1/2 cups "Uncanned" Condensed Soup (recipe from the 11.27 ezine issue)**
1 large sweet onion
Extra Virgin Olive Oil for frying
Salt and Pepper

Directions:
Using a mandolin or very sharp knife, cut the onion into extremely thin slices. Heat olive oil in a shallow fry pan until hot. Carefully drop the separated onion slices in the oil in small batches. Stirring constantly, fry the onions until crispy and golden brown. Drain on paper towels and salt.

Heat oven to 350°F. In 1 1/2-quart casserole or glass baking dish, mix green beans, about 1/3 of the onions and the soup. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes, topping with onions during last 5 minutes of baking, until bubbly.

**You can visit the ezine archives by clicking here.

Lori Winders is "The Cooking Diva," along with being an author, speaker, business woman, wife and mom. Her cookbooks, "The Yeast Free Cooking Manual" and "The Crock pot Yeast Free Cookbook" are International hits that have sold in over 14 countries around the world. She is soon to release a new cookbook, "Whole Grain Cooking," which explores the wonderful tastes of not only wheat, but amaranth, millet, quinoa and more.

She has also authored two marriage devotionals with her husband, Tim, which they use in their marriage workshops.

Lori knows what it is like to have food allergies and very limited choices. She has felt the frustration and the hunger! Because she was such a great cook, her husband encouraged her to help others by putting her delicious recipes into book form. And, people have loved it!

Even if you don't have food allergies, you can benefit from a healthy, toxin free diet. Lori's goal is to help you to live the Abundant Life that you were designed to live. So, here's To Your Health!

To learn more about Lori and her products visit her website, TheCookingDiva.com

This month, I am recommending Bob's Red Mill Products.

I have a grain mill in my home, so I am easily able to make fresh ground flours out of any grain, beans, coconut, rice, you name it. This has been a wonderful addition to my healthy cooking. But, since every kitchen doesn't have this luxury, I wanted to give you a tip on the next best thing. Let Bob's Red Mill do the work for you.

Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods produces more than 400 products, including a full line of certified gluten free products and an extensive line of certified organic products. With a wide variety of whole grain products, from flours and hot cereals to baking mixes and grains, Bob's Red Mill has "whole grain foods for every meal of the day."

For more information visit the Bob's Red Mill website.

**If you have a product that you would like for Lori to review and recommend or include in one of her upcoming cookbooks, email her at products@thecookingdiva.com

Check Out These Great
Products & Services

Discover how to Lose Weight, Be In Great Shape, Have Loads of Energy, Look & Feel Younger, and Create Quick, Easy & Truly Healthy Meals. Get your own copy of "Yeast Free Cooking" today.

Is "Dancing With The Stars" one of your favorite shows? Keep up to date on all your favorite dancers at Dancing With Average Joe! Get Your Own Copy of Dancing With Average Joe's "History of Dancing With The Stars," for FR*EE, while supplies last!