Today I'd like to talk a little about keeping on the Journey and the struggles I've had over the years.  It's that time to find our comfy chair and get settled in for a nice visit.  Don't forget your tall glass of refreshing water and your beautiful SMILE.

Keeping On the Journey
    By Dotti


How many times have you thought to yourself, "I'm tired of this Journey; I'm tired of watching everything I eat, and I'm tired of always thinking about food"?  I know I have lots of times throughout my Journey.  In fact, I can almost guarantee that those thoughts will enter my mind again sometime in the future.  I'm human.  Gosh, did I say I was human?  I wonder.  Can the human factor be the culprit in my falling off Program?  How about in just not wanting to do Program?  Why, when we know what to do and how to do it, can we not follow Program right to Goal with no side adventures?  

In January of 1998 I walked through the doors of Weight Watchers knowing what I wanted - GOAL!  I was so set in my mind in achieving GOAL that nothing could of gotten in my way - NOTHING!  Guess what?  I marched right to goal in about 8 months and kept the weight off with little to no effort for 3 years.  I got my 'Masters degree,' learning everything I could about this new healthy lifestyle and putting it to work in my Journey. I did it!  I was so proud of myself and so convinced at that time that I would not gain the weight back or have the need to go on this particular Journey to Goal again.
  
I'm sure many of you are asking, "What happened?" So am I.  I forgot that I was human and not perfect. I forgot that I still have to live my life with all the twists and turns it throws at us.  Some of it was complacency.  I was comfortable at my new weight and I was maintaining it with little to no effort.  Some of it was over-confidence that I was in control so there was no need to make sure backup plans were in place should I wander off the path. Why should I? I was making good food choices and making sure I got my activity or workouts done for the week.  I was drinking all my water.  I was doing what was necessary to maintain this healthy lifestyle and new weight.  I was in the zone and it truly was my new healthy lifestyle.

Let's back up to May 2002 when I quit smoking almost 3 packs of cigarettes a day.  It was easy for me to quit smoking.  I accomplished it by going to a group hypnosis session.  The hard part came after.  The mindless eating began and I couldn't control it.  I never started smoking again but I never regained that non-thinking-about-it healthy lifestyle at my goal weight again.  My concentration is still, to this day, not as good as it was.  My whole metabolism is different.   These are normal things that happen after you've quit smoking, especially as much as I was smoking.  I've had some people ask me why I don't start smoking again to get my weight back down to goal.  My answer to them was, "I was at my heaviest, 245 lbs, while smoking 3 packs a day which put me at double the risk for a heart attack - 100+ pounds overweight plus smoking 3 packs a day.  Why would I want to smoke again?"  Smoking is NOT the answer to achieving goal.

Soon after quitting smoking there were several deaths in the family, including my father-in-law, my Mother, my best friends Mom (and Mom to me) and a very dear, close friend who was like a second mother to me.  Life was out-of-control, which meant Program was out the door and it showed.  I gained a lot of my weight back. I don't know about you but when there are family issues going on I'm right there trying to make it easier on everyone and in the process I forget about taking care of me.  Let's face it.  We are caregivers.  I'm truly at my best and happiest when I'm helping someone or just giving of myself.

What was so magical about that time in 1998 when I walked right down to goal relatively easily?  How did I get so determined to make goal that I would have turned down a million dollars rather than go off program?  Gosh, I really wish I knew because I would bottle it and we'd all be at our GOAL weight.  

I've given this subject a lot of thought.  I want GOAL again so badly but I can't seem to muster up the strength to continue doing what I know I need to do to achieve my GOAL.  I am almost 10 years older today than I was in 1998, when I was moving straight to goal.  I am dealing with medical issues that I wasn't dealing with then, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromylagia, Osteo-Arthritis, menopause and severe Restless Leg Syndrome.  So what!  That should not keep me from achieving my goal weight.  Is it the depression that accompanies some of these conditions stopping me dead in my tracks?  I know when I stop doing what I need to do on Program it's very hard to get back in the groove. Of course, the tiredness doesn't help.  But... these are really just excuses.  I need to find some solutions.  Most of all, I need to accept the fact that this Journey back to Goal is not going to be the same one I did in 1998.  It's different and I need to learn to adjust to the differences.

What are some of the things I can do to help me stay focused on Program?

• Well, number one, for me, is help on focusing on my program and doing the right things! I know when I listen to the Enjoying Weight Loss CDs I focus.  Hypnosis works well for me when I actually use it.  So, this has to be on top of my list of things to do to reach goal.
  
  
• Secondly, I need to slow down and take time for ME, which I am not doing.  I do well for a bit, and then it's go, go, go, with no time for ME.  My Program goes right out the window when I don't take the time to take care of ME.  We all know that when we take care of ourselves we gain control over so much more in our lives, including our Program for a healthy lifestyle.  Everyone around me is happier when I take care of ME because I'm happy.  Ever heard the old saying, "If Mama ain't happy, no one is happy"?  So true!
  
  
• Thirdly, I must make sure I drink plenty of water during the day.  That truly is one of the keys to success on Program.  You feel better, you're not as hungry all the time and it cleanses your system.
  
  
• Last, but not least, I need to surround myself with others on this Journey.  When I'm struggling I need to soak up their energy and enthusiasm for Program.  When I'm not struggling I need to offer up my energy and enthusiasm to others struggling, for when you help others you truly are helping yourself.

So, all that being said, when will I get back to goal?  Your guess is as good as mine but I can tell you I will not quit trying.  You are never a failure as long as you keep getting up every time you fall.  You are never a failure as long as you do the best you can.  I will be at Goal again.  I know it.  I just need to remember that I'm not the same person I was 10 years ago.  I need to remember that every Journey is different and to accept that.  I need to remember that I have all of you out there supporting me and wishing me the very best, as I am you.  I need to remember that I'm Dotti, I'm human and I'm not perfect.

Dotti

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Vitalicious^TM Vitamin-fortified, delicious, better-for-you baked goods

Note from Vitalicious

Try Vitalicious^TM muffins today! They come in at 1 point on Weight Watchers and are the perfect snack.  

Why not try some today while you get a 10% discount!

Large Tasty Portions! One Yummy Point! www.vitalicious.com Use Coupon Code WDOT33108

Try these links for some great healthy ideas: http://www.vitalicious.com Low calorie recipe ideas Health Calculators Plant Sterols: A Natural way to Lower Cholesterol New Golden Corn VitaMuffins (1 Point) See us on TV! While visiting VitaliciousTM, don't forget to check out their VitaMuffins which are fortified with at least 15 essential daily vitamins and minerals. They have an awesome selection which includes: BlueBran, CranBran, MultiBran, AppleBerryBran, Deep Chocolate, Low-Carb/Sugar-Free BananaNut and Velvety chocolate, VitaBrownie, and Double Chocolate Dream. VitaliciousTM VitaTops, VitaMuffins and VitaBrownies are delicious. They are healthy, taste great and fit within any program you are using to attain your healthy new lifestyle. ~ Dotti

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Come Join the Fun!    

Do you want some extra support during your Journey? Would you like to have a place you can call "home," where you can be yourself? Our Message Board is just the place. It's home to all our Zonie friends who share their Journey experiences and are always willing and ready to offer support, laughs, friendship and ~ 24/7. Our DWLZ Message Board is at: http://www.dwlz2.com/forum/. Don't forget to register if you haven't already done so.

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Easter Candy

According to the National Confectioner's Association, Easter is the second most important candy-eating occasion of the year for Americans.  Guess how much candy was consumed in 2001?  7 billion pounds of candy!  Here are some other interesting facts about Easter.

    * In 2000, Americans spent nearly $1.9 billion on Easter candy, while Halloween sales were nearly $2 billion; Christmas, an estimated $1.4 billion; and Valentine's Day, just over $1 billion.
    * Ninety million chocolate Easter bunnies are produced each year.
    * Chocolate bunnies should be eaten ears first, according to 76% of Americans. Five percent said bunnies should be eaten feet first, while 4% favored eating the tail first.
    * Adults prefer milk chocolate (65%), to dark chocolate (27%).
    * Each Easter season, Americans buy more than 700 million Marshmallow Peeps, shaped like chicks, as well as Marshmallow Bunnies and Marshmallow Eggs, making them the most popular non-chocolate Easter candy.
    * As many as 4.2 million Marshmallow Peeps, bunnies, and other shapes can be made each day.
    * In 1953, it took 27 hours to create a Marshmallow Peep. Today it takes six minutes.
    * Yellow Peeps are the most popular, followed by pink, lavender, blue, and white.
    * Americans consume 16 billion jellybeans at Easter, many of them hidden in baskets. If all the Easter jellybeans were lined end to end, they would circle the globe nearly three times.
    * Jellybeans did not become an Easter tradition until the 1930s. They were probably first made in America by Boston candy maker William Schrafft, who ran advertisements urging people to send jellybeans to soldiers fighting in the Civil War.
    * 70% of kids aged 6–11 say they prefer to eat Easter jellybeans one at a time, while 23% report eating several at once. Boys (29%) were more apt to eat a handful than girls (18%).
    * Children indicate their favorite Easter jellybean flavors are cherry (20%), strawberry (12%), grape (10%), lime (7%), and blueberry (6%).

Here are some popular Easter candies with their nutritional values and Weight Watcher Points.

• Brachs Fiesta Malted Milk Eggs, 5 (180 cal/5 g fat/1 g fiber/31 g carbs)* 4
• Brachs Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Egg Crate, 4 eggs (170 cal/5 g fat/0 g fiber/31 g carbs) * 4
• Brachs Robin Eggs, 6 (200 cal/8 g fat/1 g fiber/31 g carbs) * 4.5
• Cadbury Caramel Egg, 1 (190 cal/10 g fat/0 g fiber/24 g carbs) * 5
• Cadbury Chocolate Egg, 1 (180 cal/8 g fat/1 g fiber/25 g carbs) * 4.5
• Cadbury Creme Egg, 1 (170 cal/6 g fat/0 g fiber/28 g carbs) * 4
• Cadbury Mini Eggs, 12 (190 cal/8 g fat/1 g fiber/28 g carbs) * 4.5
• Chocolate Bunny, 1 oz (140 cal) * 3
• Chocolate Bunny, 1 3/4 oz (260 cal) * 5.5
• Chocolate Bunny, 3 oz (440 cal/28 g fat) * 11.5
• Chocolate Bunny, 7 oz (1050 cal) * 21
• Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Bunny (60 cal) * 1.5
• Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Egg, 1 (100 cal) * 2
• Dove Truffle Eggs, Milk Chocolate, 1 (150 cal/10 g fat/0.25 g fiber) * 4
• Easter Smarties, 1 oz (100 cal/0 g fat/0 g fiber/25 g carbs) * 2
• Hershey's Candy-Coated Milk Chocolate Eggs, 4 (90 cal/4 g fat/0 g fiber/12 g carbs) * 2.5
• Hershey Robin Eggs, 24 (170 cal/5 g fat/0 g fiber/31 g carbs) * 4
• Lindt Chocolate Carrots, 4 (210 cal) * 4.5
• Lindt Lindor Mini Eggs, 3 (90 cal/7 g fat/0 g fiber/7 g carbs) * 2.5
• Lindt Lindor Mini Eggs, Double Milk, 3 (80 cal/5 g fat/0 g fiber/8 g carbs) * 2.5
• Marshmallow Chicks [Circus Peanut type], 5 (136 cal) * 3
• Milky Way, 1 egg (190 cal/12 g fat/0 g fiber) * 5
• Nestles Peanut Butter Mallow, 1 (140 cal/8 g fat/<1 g fiber) * 3.5
• Peeps, Regular, 5 (160 cal/0 g fat/0 g fiber/40 g carbs) * 3.5
• Peeps, Sugar-Free, 3 (60 cal/0 g fat/0 g fiber/23 g carbs) * 1.5
• Russell Stover Vanilla Cream Chocolate Egg (389 cal/12 g fat) * 9
• Smuckers (Brachs) Jelly Beans, 25 (150 cal/0 g fat/0 g fiber/37 g carbs) * 3
• Snickers Egg, 1 egg (170 cal/10 g fat/1 g fiber) * 4
• Spongebob Squarepants Hollow Egg, 1 (300 cal) * 6
• Wolfgang Dark Chocolate Vanilla Butter Cream Eggs, 2 (120 cal/4.5 g fat/0 g fiber/22 g carbs) * 3
  
  

     ^{~~~DWLZ.com @ http://www.dwlz.com/WWinfo/candy.html}
     ~~~Sweet Easter Facts by David Johnson  

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Penny's Low Fat Desserts

PENNY'S---THE NEW COOKIES, MUFFINS and MUFFIN TOPS---GREAT REVIEWS!

If you're looking at this ad and wondering if these products are really good---YES THEY ARE! We are so very proud of our new muffins, tops and cookies because they don't compromise on flavor, ingredients or size. Nothing artificial and we use the best ingredients---lots of real chocolate and fruits!

Here's what Dotti and Al had to say... "Penny, your new cookies and muffins were delicious. I love, love the cookies and of course the Almond Poppy muffins were a winner for me! Al loved the chocolate chip cookies & looks forward to a peanut butter cookie in the near future."

From a new Penny's customer... "Fantastic chocolate chip cookies!!! As a first-time customer, I had to let you know how wonderful your chocolate chip cookies are. I lightly toasted mine and it was fantastic--just the thing for my sweet tooth!! Penny, your personal customer service is a rare treat in this day and age and I will definitely be a life-long customer."

This came from one of our tasters... "I tried the carrot cake and almond poppy seed muffins and loved them both. A little bit of cream cheese frosting and I think I would have been in carrot cake heaven! The almond poppy seed reminded me of angel cake, so I thoroughly enjoyed that one also. My daughter loved the chocolate chocolate chip muffin and didn't share, so what does that tell you? Yum! Finally, we split the chocolate chip cookie and I cannot wait to order cookies since we haven't tried any of them before. The texture and flavor was wonderful and a lot of cookie for two points."

We made sure that flavor came first and baked using healthy all natural ingredients. Our "outta this world chocolate chip cookie" (with 7g of fiber) will soon be followed by 3 more flavors. All are individually wrapped in generous servings.

SPECIAL THROUGH 3/30: 10% OFF (use code: TAG4Y) or...

Spend $100 in desserts and receive 15% off your order (use code: 4ORMORE).

Fresh, moist, and YUMMY!

Website: http://www.PennysLowFatDesserts.com/ Sign up for Penny's newsletter, give us a try and receive new product information.  Low Low Fat, low cal, high fiber 2 point muffins, 1 point muffin tops and 2 point cookies. Moist, Sweet, and Healthy---all natural! Orange Cranberry, Apple-Cinnamon, Almond Poppy, Carrot-Raisin, Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins and Tops and Chocolate Chip Cookie! Each Serving is BIG & Individually Wrapped N0 transfats

TO ORDER:  http://www.PennysLowFatDesserts.com/  
NEWSLETTER: http://www.PennysLowFatDesserts.com/newsletter
TESTIMONIALS:  http://www.PennysLowFatDesserts.com/testimonials.asp
EMAIL PENNY:  Penny@PennysLowFatDesserts.com or call (866) 221-5109

By way of comparison, here's what the American Heart Association says that you get when you take salt straight:

• 1/4 teaspoon salt = 575 mg sodium
• 1/2 teaspoon salt = 1,150 mg sodium
• 3/4 teaspoon salt = 1,725 mg sodium
• 1 teaspoon salt = 2,300 mg sodium

It doesn't take long to reach that recommended upper limit of 2,300 mg does it?

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"Enjoying Weight Loss"

As many of you know, I use Dr. Roberta's Enjoying Weight Loss Hypnosis CDs as one of my "tools" on my lifelong Journey to a healthier me. They continue to be an irreplaceable part of my Journey back to goal.

In addition to offering their excellent hypnosis line of helpful programs, the Hypnosis Network now has a free E-Book available called Scientific Weight Loss Secrets: Tips from the Psychological Research, written by Roberta Temes, Ph.D. The book is filled with weight loss ideas and it is completely free to you. Just Click Here, and when you arrive, move to the bottom of the page and click on the appropriate link to download the book.

The Hypnosis Network is continuing to offer Dr. Roberta's Enjoying Weight Loss Hypnosis CDs for $97. For anyone who is "hypnosis-friendly" (about 90% of the human population can derive some benefit from hypnosis) the money could not be better spent. If you are interested in learning more about Dr. Roberta's Enjoying Weight Loss Hypnosis CDs you can read our review at http://www.dwlz.com/hypnosisreview.html. I would not recommend them if they hadn't of worked for me.

Here is what the Hypnosis Network says:

Dr. Roberta's Enjoying Weight Loss was tested and recommended by the National Health & Wellness Club. In the National Health & Wellness Club's Product Test Program, club members conduct their own independent tests of health and wellness products. The fifty independent testers who tried Enjoying Weight Loss gave the program a 92% approval rating.

3 Easy Payments!
The folks at Hypnosis Network have been receiving a lot of positive feedback about their new program of accepting 3 equal payments for these CDs. They rightly feel that your decision should be whether or not the product is right for you, and not about whether you can afford it.

Click Here to go directly to their site and find out more about the Hypnosis Network, and how you can order your CDs.

Thank you to all of you who continue to be there for me and support me in my Journey to becoming a healthier me. Thank you for caring! And remember, "If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got." Dotti

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Turkey & White Bean Chili

Makes 4 main dish servings

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb. turkey, ground (93% lean)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 tsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 can whole tomatoes in juice, chopped (28 oz)
• 1 can white kidney beans, cannelloni, rinsed & drained (15-19 oz)
• 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt

Using a 12-inch skillet heat oil on medium-high until hot.  Add turkey and 1/2 tsp salt, and cook 6 to 8 minutes or until the turkey loses its pink color throughout.  As you are stirring, break up the turkey with the side of your spoon.  Add onion and cook 4 minutes.  Stir in chili powder and cumin; cook 1 minute.

Add tomatoes with their juice, beans, and 1/2 cup water; heat to boiling on high.  Reduce the heat to medium and cook, uncovered, 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Serve chili in serving bowls and top with a dollop of yogurt.  Makes about 6 cups.

You cut calories by a third and fat by half when you substitute ground turkey for beef chuck.  You get 10 grams of fiber (almost half your daily requirements) by using cannelloni beans.  On top of that this recipe only takes about 25 minutes!

Per serving: 380 Calories, 13g Total Fat, 10g Dietary Fiber, 35g Carbohydrate, 875mg Sodium, 33g Protein  *8 (7)


     ^{~~~Recipe from Good Housekeeping Magazine, December 2007}

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Software You Can Use! — And Now Available Online!

Weight Commander

The Weight Commander is an awesome program for your Journey. I highly recommend it to all those who are on a Journey of their own. It is a wonderful program to track your progress on any weight loss program you are using. You can read My Review of the Weight Commander or go straight to the source and check out this great software by following this link to Weight Commander. He has many tips and ideas throughout his program which will help you to be successful on your Journey.

And for those who don't feel comfortable downloading software, or who cringe when Windows gives them another unnecessary warning about running perfectly safe software, Michael has created a wonderful online version of Weight Commander, where you can always access your information with privacy, with no worry about trying to transfer it from computer to computer when you switch. You can of course still get the software version (which continues to work very well, even on my Windows Vista computer), but the online version of Weight Commander is a wonderful new option! You make the choice, but you win either way.

Weight Commander Online Version

Weight Commander Offline Software

Weight Commander Our review

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Food Finds

Here are a few more of my food finds. Enjoy!

• Kellogg's Special K Bliss Bars, Raspberry, 1 bar
  [90 calories/2g fat/0g fiber/17g carbs/70mg sodium/1g protein] *2
• Moo Magic Milk Mix, Sugar Free, 1 packet
  [8 calories/0g fat/0g fiber/2g carbs/0mg sodium/0g protein] *0.5 (one-sixth point: free really)
• Quaker Mini Delights, 90 Calorie Packs, Chocolatey Drizzle, 1 pack
  [90 calories/3.5g fat/1g fiber/14g carbs/85mg sodium/1g protein] *2
• Quaker Mini Delights, 90 Calorie Packs, Chocolatey Mint, 1 pack
  [90 calories/3.5g fat/1g fiber/14g carbs/90mg sodium/1g protein] *2
• Quaker Mini Delights, 90 Calorie Packs, Caramel Drizzle, 1 pack
  [90 calories/3.5g fat/1g fiber/14g carbs/95mg sodium/1g protein] *2
• Quaker Mini Delights, 90 Calorie Packs, Buttered Popcorn, 1 pack
  [90 calories/3g fat/1g fiber/15g carbs/180mg sodium/1g protein] *2
• Quaker Mini Delights, 90 Calorie Packs, Cinnamon Streusel, 1 pack
  [90 calories/3.5g fat/1g fiber/14g carbs/95mg sodium/2g protein] *2
• Quaker Mini Delights, 90 Calorie Packs, Peanut Butter, 1 pack
  [90 calories/4g fat/1g fiber/13g carbs/105mg sodium/2g protein] *2

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Easter Around the World

Easter is not celebrated the same way everywhere.  The countries below have their own way of celebrating Easter and I must say, it is very interesting indeed. 

Norway's Criminal Habit Uncovered

In Norway, reading detective novels and crime thrillers has become a popular Easter pastime. Paaskekrim (Easter crime) refers to the new crime novels available at Easter. The period from Holy Thursday through East Monday is a public holiday, and many Norwegians take vacations to the mountains, or to the coast at this time. According to folklore professors at the Institute for Cultural Studies at the University of Oslo, the tradition of reading about crime at Easter may stem from the violent nature of Christ's death.

Latvians Break an Egg

Latvians play an Easter egg game in which each person takes a hard boiled, colored egg. Players make pairs and then tap the ends of their eggs together. First the wide ends of the two eggs are tapped together, then the narrow ends, and finally one wide and one narrow end. Whenever players' eggs break, the owners leave the game, which continues until one player is left with an unbroken egg.

Bermuda Lilies Bloom Abroad

Lilies were a symbol of purity for early Christians. The white trumpet lily, known in the United States as "Easter Lilies," were brought from Bermuda around 1900. The trumpet lily, which blooms in the spring, rapidly became popular for Easter decorations.

Mexican Village Produces Mega-Play

The passion play in the town of Iztapalapa, near Mexico City, is one of the most famous Easter events in Mexico, drawing one million visitors each year. Following a devastating cholera epidemic in the winter of 1833, the handful of survivors decided to hold the play to give thanks. The productions have become increasingly more elaborate. Everyone in town participates, but leading roles are awarded to those meeting strict height and appearance requirements, and of undisputed good character.

Easter Witches Haunt Sweden

In Sweden, witches were thought to fly their broomsticks to church bell towers on Easter Eve. Especially in western Sweden, children often dress up as hags and visit neighbors, often with an Easter card, hoping for a coin or a piece of candy in return.

      ^{~~~ Easter Around the World by David Johnson}   

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Pizza Fit'n Free

Note from Pizza Fit'n Free

Try adding some fresh veggies & some turkey pepperoni before baking. YUM ~ Dotti

Look great in 2008 with Pizza Fit'n Free! Each 7" Pizza is Fat Free, Sugar Free, Cholesterol Free, and only 252 Calories! You may order online in sets of six 7" fat free pizzas. Just $16.33 plus S&H. Or choose our NEW AutoShip program, and you'll never run out of fat free pizzas again! When the allotted time for your current supply has elapsed, we will automatically send you a new shipment and bill your credit card or Paypal account. And, there is no obligation - cancel anytime. Visit us online at www.pizzafree.com to learn more about our FAT FREE pizzas.

TO ORDER:  www.PizzaFree.com
Nutrition Facts:  www.PizzaFree.com/FAQ.htm
TESTIMONIALS: www.PizzaFree.com/reviewsdb.asp
Contact:  www.PizzaFree.com/contact.html

Note: Points® is a registered trademark of Weight Watchers International, Inc. The Points® values displayed were calculated by Pizza Fit'n Free, and is not an endorsement or sponsorship of Pizza Fit’n Free’s products by Weight Watchers International, Inc.

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Comic Relief  

Seven Days to Go

Day one ( right after weigh in)
Oh boy, that piece of cake I saved is near,
One big slice, I have no fear.
Besides, no pounds will ever show,
I've got seven whole days to go.

Day two
A day of shopping at the mall,
and a burger special - cheese, mayo and all.
I'll walk it off and get in gear.
Six days to go, no weigh-in near!

Day three
I think I'll skip my tuna lunch.
A Reuben sandwich is what I'll munch.
With maybe a shake and chips, you know?
Besides, I've got five days to go!

Day four
For breakfast, one egg, toast and juice.
Kids left their pancakes. Oh! What's the use?
These days wasting food is such a sin,
And it's still four days till I weigh in.

Day five
Boy, the weekend is really rough.
Restaurant menus are very tough!
I'll work off this steak, no problem here.
In just three days I'll be in the clear!

Day six
Breakfast...I'll just have coffee today.
Maybe I'll lose some that way!
Supper...I'm starving-I could eat a whale.
Two more days till I step on that scale!

Day seven
Now my nerves are really a wreck.
I might as well eat. Oh! What the heck!
I'll drink tons of water and walk all night.
One day to go -- I'll be alright.

Weigh in day
I polished off the pizza as a snack today.
But followed it with two bowls of Special K!
I gained two pounds--can you believe?
Maybe it's the Milky Way I've got up my sleeve.
Really, WW works if you just take it slow.
I guess I didn't have seven days to go!
 
     ~~~Anonymous

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Baja Bob's Cocktail Mixes
     ~ Home of the Original Sugar-Free Margarita Mix

Note from Baja Bob's

Try some Baja Bob's Sugar Free Cocktail Mixes today - What a great way to enjoy an occasional cocktail without any guilt! Enjoy and stay on your program! Enter Code dotti10 when ordering and receive a 10% discount...

Use Coupon Code dotti10

The growing popularity of the Weight Watchers Diet, combined with Baja Bob's incredible taste, has helped to push this cocktail mix leader into the mainstream. Baja Bob's newest release, Mojito Mix, follows their other popular flavors. All of the Baja Bob's cocktail mixes contain approximately 70-100% less calories and carbs than traditional mixes sweetened with high fructose corn syrup making these mixes the perfect Weight Watchers addition. Baja Bob's mixes are great with or without alcohol, allowing people who are watching their weight, or those who are forced to watch their sugar intake due to health reasons the opportunity to enjoy the great taste of a cocktail. Baja Bob's cocktail mixes come in several flavors: Original Margarita, Wild Strawberry Margarita, Desert Key Lime Margarita, Crazy Caribe Pina Colada, Loco Lemon Sweet & Sour, Maui Madness Mai Tai, Cranberry Cosmo Martini Mix, Sour Apple Martini Mix, and more to come...

Enjoy a cocktail and stay on your Program

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Did you know...?

Our Journey is not just about weight loss; it's about constantly learning new things... I'll wager you didn't know these interesting facts.

In 2004, the glossy IKEA catalogue overtook the Bible as the world's most distributed publication - 145 million copies versus 25 million copies.

Throughout its lifetime, an elephant goes through six sets of teeth.  The elephant starves to death once the sixth set of teeth falls out.

Hawaii is the only state in the United States that grows coffee.

A cockroach's brain is spread throughout its body. If you chop off its head, it can still live for up to a week.  It finally dies because it can't eat.

President McKinley was the first president to ride in an electric car - the ambulance that took him to the hospital after he was shot by an assassin.

^{~~~That's a Fact Jack! by Harry Bright and Jakob Anser}

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Al's Essays on Weight Loss and Maintenance

Al has written many in depth essays on Weight Loss and Maintenance and they are now available on the website!

Motivation Exercise How to Set Goals Journaling Weight Loss Maintenance MUCH MORE!

You can find Al's Essays on Weight Loss and Maintenance at:

http://www.dwlz.com/alsessays/

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DWLZ Cookbooks One and Two

Have you ordered your DWLZ Cookbooks yet? These cookbooks are filled with recipes that are Zonies' favorites, dishes that are delicious but on program, with nutritional information listed. This is two books in one package: DWLZ Cookbooks Volumes One and Two. The recipes are easy to make and don't use hard-to-find items. They are together in one PDF file, viewable in your free Acrobat Reader (Version 5 and higher). These make wonderful gifts.

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Philly Swirl

Receive a 1 day shopping pass to Sam’s Club   To receive your FREE 1 day pass to Sam's Club from Philly Swirl, go to http://www.phillyswirl.com/aboutus/1day.cfm  Shop as if you were a member all day and don't forget to stock up on lots of Philly Swirl Pops! Philly Swirl’s Sugar-Free, Fat-Free Swirl Pops [10 cal/0 g fat/1 g fiber/4 g carbs] 0.5 pts

Every day is a good day to stock up on some great tasting Philly Swirl's Sugar-Free, Fat-Free Swirl Pops! They are delicious and only 10 calories.

Keep your freezer stocked with these great 10 calorie pops which can be enjoyed anytime throughout the year. If you are interested in learning more about the Philly Swirl products please visit them at http://www.phillyswirl.com/ and drop them a line. They would love to hear from you. Psst...don’t forget to pass the word! We want to see these awesome Sugar-Free, Fat-Free Swirl Pops remain available to all of us on our Journey. Let's take the power we have to make a difference by passing the word about these awesome pops and keeping them available to us in the future.

Side Note - Philly Swirl has corrected their Sam's Club Pass so that it is now good thru May 2008.  I'm so sorry for the confusion for those visitors who went there and found the coupon had expired.  

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DWLZ Website Updates

I am in the process of changing my individual restaurant pages to include the Palm Pilot download and HTML download of that particular restaurant. I have gotten through Dunkin Donuts. Please be patient with me—it's a one-woman operation. Al does what he can to help out, but I still do the restaurant updates, and web design for the page on my own. Many people think I have a staff, but for most things it's just me. Thanks for understanding.

If you do not see these changes please refresh/reload your browser page.  Thanks.

Aladdin's Eatery is back up with nutritionals. 

Lists of all my updates can be found on the Message Board in the DWLZ Website News & Updates forum at:

http://www.dwlz2.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=4

US restaurants updates can be found at our Restaurants TOC page at:

http://www.dwlz.com/restaurants.html

Canadian restaurants updates can be found at our Canadian Restaurants TOC page at:

http://www.dwlz.com/restaurantscanadian.html

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"Today is the first day of the rest of your health." ~~~Jamba Juice

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Goodbye

Until our next visit, always keep in mind you are never alone on this Journey. We are all here with you, right beside you, rooting you on.

Take care until next time...

Dotti    

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"I cannot relive yesterday and tomorrow isn't here yet, so I will just deal with today." ~Dotti    

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Newsletter Sign Up

If this newsletter was forwarded to you, you can sign up for it yourself at:

Dotti's Newsletter Subscription Page -
http://www.dwlz.com/eletter.html

(You can also unsubscribe from Dotti's Newsletter there.)

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Dotti's Weight Loss Zone

And please don't forget to come and visit DWLZ!  

If you are not already a regular visitor, it is time for you to come and make yourself at home at my web page, where you will find lots of tips on losing weight, and help in picking out good things to eat at your favorite restaurants, while still remaining on program. We have motivation, success stories, and much more. It is a lot like Disneyland: you'll have lots of fun, and you could never see it all in just one day! However, unlike Disneyland, Dotti's [ http://www.dwlz.com ] is open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Copyright and Disclaimer

Copyright © DWLZ, Inc. - 2008, all rights reserved. This document may be reproduced freely as long as it is always reproduced in its entirety, including this copyright message, and the disclaimer below, and as long as it is always distributed free of charge.

Disclaimer - This newsletter is not meant to be a substitute for any professional advice, guidance, or counseling. We are not doctors. Any information contained in this email reflects our own opinions and experiences. It is not intended in any way to serve as or take the place of medical advice from a physician.

    *Whenever possible, I calculate ALL my Points on my Offline Points Calculator in the Half Points Mode, which rounds UP to the nearest Half Point. This keeps my site consistent. All point values shown in BLACK are calculated with the 10 gram fiber cap [Original 123 Success Points]. When there is a difference with the 4 gram fiber cap calculation, I show the points value for that in RED.

Note: Points® is a registered trademark of Weight Watchers International, Inc. The Points® values displayed are not intended in any way to show an endorsement or sponsorship of any product or organization by Weight Watchers International, Inc.