DWBride615

Renee...I love Love LOVE the cake you posted. Too hilarious! I remember I made one of those for my friend's birthday, only I stuffed the inside with white frosting filling for the ultimate touch haha Anyway, I see you ladies are making an AMAZING start this season! Great job and best wishes =] I will be back soon with a new recipe to post. Hmm....maybe a healthy cake alternate recipe to help recreate Renee's stunning masterpiece for all those bachelorette parties currently in the works...hehe ;-)

Hi ladies, just wanted to drop in and say how great it is that a new BL season is starting for the New Year. I know Marla will do an amazing job hosting and all of you will do an awesome job losing Best of Luck, contestants, on season 11 and Have a wonderful New Years' holiday! I hope you all don't mind, but I'll definitely be stopping by here and there for a quick hello, maybe a recipe or two to share. Take care!

Final Weigh-Ins Thank you all for sending in the final weigh-in submissions! The weigh-ins are in and this week’s weight loss percentages have been calculated. In alphabetical order… Competing category: CanadianSandy + 0.31% Mrs.*J*2011 (Lea) - 0.39% Msmarmar123 (Marla) - 0.53% Oryx (Renée) + 0.50 % Teira1031 -/+ 0.00% Non-competing category: Cindy* Heartbeat (Michelle) Jkgirl83 (Katie) OceanWonderland (Leslie) Sheri B Stachr (Stacey) Sunstarmoon (Chris) Tifany Now for the… Overall recorded weight loss: Competing category: CanadianSandy - 0.64% Mrs.*J*2011 (Lea) - 3.57% Msmarmar123 (Marla) - 3.57% Oryx (Renée) - 3.72% Teira1031 - 3.93% Non-competing category: Cindy* - 2.86% Heartbeat (Michelle) + 0.62% Jkgirl83 (Katie) - 3.11% OceanWonderland (Leslie) + 0.22% Sheri B -/+ 0.00% Stachr (Stacey) - 2.26% Sunstarmoon (Chris) -/+ 0.00% Tifany - 1.24% And the winner of BDW’s Biggest Loser: Season 10 is….. …. … …. … ….Teira1031with a total weight loss of 3.93% this season! Congratulations to Teira on the big win! It’s up to her whether the before and after pics can be shown, but she looks great! The results definitely show and you deserve the win! I’ll contact AnnR as soon as possible to get your ‘Superstar!’ banner added onto your name =] Congratulations to everyone on your hard work! There were many who were very close to snagging that win. You all did such an amazing job. It took courage and a lot of diligence to start and keep at it, but you all did it! And again, Thank you all for allowing me to host this time around; it was a great season!

Wow, the final week is already here! I can't believe it's already been three months. Please don't forget to send in your final weigh-ins (both scale pics and 'after' full-body pics) by noon EST on Saturday in order to remain eligible for the 'win'. Season 10 may be coming to an end, but we are getting closer to determining the Biggest Loser! =] Thank you all for allowing me to host this season; I'm so glad that I was able to be a part of this. This group did such an amazing job this season and the results will certainly show off all your hard work. P.S. Welcome back, Cindy! You're a Mrs. now!!! I hope your wedding was as amazing as ever!

FINAL WEEK OF NOVEMBER 14 – 20, 2010 Tip of the Week Did you know?…Your sense of taste doesn't always notice sodium, and sea salt or other gourmet salts aren't healthier than table salt.Just because it doesn't taste salty doesn't mean that it isn't salty. Many processed foods contain a lot of sodium -- check the label. Sea salt contains slightly less sodium per teaspoon than table salt only because sea salt is coarser, so fewer grains fit into the teaspoon. Challenge of the Week (I think Ann’s suggestions are great, so I’m posting but ALL credit goes to Ann : ) 50 Push-Ups Myth of the Week(Is it True or False?) â€Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight.†Answer: FALSE Studies show that people who skip breakfast and eat fewer times during the day tend to be heavier than people who eat a healthy breakfast and eat four or five times a day. This may be because people who skip meals tend to feel hungrier later on, and eat more than they normally would. It may also be that eating many small meals throughout the day helps people control their appetites. Tip:Eat small meals throughout the day that include a variety of healthy, low-fat, low-calorie foods. Healthy Recipe of the Week A recipe that would be tasty side in a Thanksgiving dinner =] Green Bean Cheese Potato Pie (Great alternative to the original Green Bean Casserole) Ingredients 1 package Grillers Prime® Veggie Burgers, thawed 3 cups frozen shredded hashbrowns, thawed 2 cups frozen French-cut green beans 1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Cheddar cheese soup 1/2 cup reduced fat milk 1 can (2.8 oz.) French fried onions, divided 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1/2 cup shredded reduced fat Cheddar cheese Directions 1. Cut MORNINGSTAR FARMS GRILLERS PRIME Veggie Burgers into pieces. Set aside. 2. Coat bottom and side of 9-inch pie plate with vegetable cooking spray. Evenly line plate with hash browns. Bake at 450 degrees about 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F. 3. Combine Veggie Burgers, green beans, soup, milk, 1 cup of the onions, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Place mixture in hot hash brown crust. Top with cheese and remaining 1/2 cup onions. 4. Bake at 350 degrees F about 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve hot. Have a happy Thanksgiving! =]

Week 11 Weigh-In Thank you all for sending in week eleven submissions! The weigh-ins are in and this week’s weight loss percentages have been calculated. In alphabetical order… Competing category: CanadianSandy -/+ 0.00 % Mrs.*J*2011 (Lea) Msmarmar123 (Marla) - 0.67% Oryx (Renée) - 1.24% Teira1031 Non-competing category: Cindy* Heartbeat (Michelle) Jkgirl83 (Katie) OceanWonderland (Leslie) Sheri B Sunstarmoon (Chris) Tifany Week eleven’s MVP for the second time in a row is Oryx (Renée) for losing – 1.24% in the competing category! Congratulations to everyone on your hard work. Remember, we are all here to support each other on our journey to a healthier lifestyle. It’s time for the last week in season 10’s BDW Biggest Loser! Please don’t forget to send in your scale pics and full-body result pictures for week 12. Only one week left until the final weigh-in =]

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 7 – 13, 2010 Tip of the Week Here’s a fun fact…Golf exercises are those that specifically target the muscles used during the golf swing. Golfers can improve their swings in various ways by incorporating golf exercises into a workout routine: lengthening the backswing, improving rotation, strengthening wrists and forearms and the muscles of the core. Spend time golfing(or on mini-golf courses with friends or loved ones and you’ll be exercising your arms and core muscles, while having fun. Challenge of the Week (I think Ann’s suggestions are great, so I’m posting but ALL credit goes to Ann : ) 100 jumping jacks Myth of the Week(Is it True or False?) â€Certain foods, like grapefruit, celery, or cabbage soup, can burn fat and make you lose weight.†Answer: FALSE No foods can burn fat. Some foods with caffeine may speed up your metabolism (the way your body uses energy, or calories) for a short time, but they do not cause weight loss. Healthy Recipe of the Week Hungarian Beef Goulash LOW-CARB recipe This saucy dish is a natural served over whole-wheat egg noodles. Or, for something different, try prepared potato gnocchi or spaetzle. Servings: 8 servings, about 1 cup each Prep: 30 mins Total: 4 hrs 30 mins Ingredients 2 pounds beef stew meat, (such as chuck), trimmed and cubed 2 teaspoons caraway seeds 1 1/2 - 2 tablespoons sweet or hot paprika, (or a mixture of the two), preferably Hungarian (see Ingredient Note) //Chelsea’s Note: The recipe could use a couple more spoons full, so I would say about 3 tbsps 1/4 teaspoon salt Freshly ground pepper, to taste 1 large or 2 medium onions, choppedand browned 1 small red bell pepper, choppedand browned 1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes 1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium beef broth 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 bay leaves 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 4 tablespoons water 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 1 carrot, sliced or cubed (optional) Directions 1. Place beef in a 4-quart or larger slow cooker. Crush caraway seeds with the bottom of a saucepan. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in paprika, salt and pepper. Sprinkle the beef with the spice mixture and toss to coat well. Top with browned onion and bell pepper. 2. Combine tomatoes, broth, Worcestershire sauce and garlic in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer. Pour over the beef and vegetables. Place bay leaves on top. Cover and cook until the beef is very tender, 4 to 4 1/2 hours on high or 7 to 7 1/2 hours on low. 3. Discard the bay leaves; skim or blot any visible fat from the surface of the stew. Add the cornstarch mixture to the stew and cook on high, stirring 2 or 3 times, until slightly thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve sprinkled with parsley. Tips: Ingredient Note: Paprika specifically labeled as "Hungarian" is worth seeking out for this dish because it delivers a fuller, richer flavor than regular or Spanish paprika. Also, adding potatoes to the recipe will higher the carbs, but will also thicken the sauce. MAKE AHEAD TIP: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 4 months. | Prep ahead: Trim beef and coat with spice mixture. Prepare vegetables. Combine tomatoes, broth, Worcestershire sauce and garlic. Refrigerate in separate covered containers for up to 1 day. Nutrition Facts Calories 180, Total Fat 5 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Monounsaturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 48 mg, Sodium 250 mg, Carbohydrate 6 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 25 g, Potassium 298 mg. Daily Values: Vitamin A 25%, Vitamin C 35%, Iron 15%. Exchanges: Vegetable 1,Lean Meat 3 Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Week 10 Weigh-In Thank you all for sending in week ten submissions! The weigh-ins are in and this week’s weight loss percentages have been calculated. In alphabetical order… Competing category: CanadianSandy - 0.31% Mrs.*J*2011 (Lea) - 0.39% Msmarmar123 (Marla) - 0.14% Oryx (Renée) - 1.22% Teira1031 - 0.53% Non-competing category: Cindy* Heartbeat (Michelle) Jkgirl83 (Katie) OceanWonderland (Leslie) Sheri B Sunstarmoon (Chris) Tifany Week ten’s MVP is Oryx (Renée) for losing - 1.22% in the competing category! Congratulations to everyone on your hard work. Remember, we are all here to support each other on our journey to a healthier lifestyle. It’s time for week eleven! Two more weeks to go until the final weigh-in!

It's time for week 10 weigh-ins! Only two more left to go! Don't forget to send in your scale pics by tomorrow at 12:00pm EST. I hope everyone had a good week and good luck =]

Week 9 Weigh-In Thank you all for sending in week nine submissions! The weigh-ins are in and this week’s weight loss percentages have been calculated. In alphabetical order… Competing category: CanadianSandy - 1.15% Mrs.*J*2011 (Lea) - 0.13% Msmarmar123 (Marla) - 0.38% Oryx (Renée) - 0.85% Teira1031 -/+ 0.00% Non-competing category: Cindy* Heartbeat (Michelle) Jkgirl83 (Katie) OceanWonderland (Leslie) Sheri B Sunstarmoon (Chris) Tifany Week nine’s MVP is CanadianSandy for losing –1.15% in the competing category! Congratulations to everyone on your hard work. Remember, we are all here to support each other on our journey to a healthier lifestyle. It’s time for week nine! Three more weeks to go! =] Happy Halloween!

Wow, I can't believe it's week nine already! Well, it's true and it's that time again to send in your scale pics. Please remember to send them in by 12:00pm EST on Saturday. We only have three weeks left until final weigh-ins! Time flies! Best of luck, ladies! =]

WEEKS FROM OCTOBER 24 – NOVEMBER 6, 2010 Due to a holiday, there will be no weekly update this weekend. Weigh-ins will still go as planned. Happy early Halloween! =] Tip of the Week Did you know?…The long-term health effects of a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet are unknown. But getting most of your daily calories from high-protein foods like meat, eggs, and cheese is not a balanced eating plan. You may be eating too much fat and cholesterol, which may raise heart disease risk. You may be eating too few fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which may lead to constipation due to lack of dietary fiber. Following a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet may also make you feel nauseous, tired, and weak. Eating fewer than 130 grams of carbohydrate a day can lead to the buildup of ketones in your blood. Ketones are partially broken-down fats. A buildup of these in your blood (called ketosis) can cause your body to produce high levels of uric acid, which is a risk factor for gout (a painful swelling of the joints) and kidney stones. Ketosis may be especially risky for pregnant women and people with diabetes or kidney disease. Be sure to discuss any changes in your diet with a health care professional, especially if you have health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, or type 2 diabetes. High-protein/low-carbohydrate diets are often low in calories because food choices are strictly limited, so they may cause short-term weight loss. But a reduced-calorie eating plan that includes recommended amounts of carbohydrate, protein, and fat will also allow you to lose weight. By following a balanced eating plan, you will not have to stop eating whole classes of foods, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables—and miss the key nutrients they contain. You may also find it easier to stick with a diet or eating plan that includes a greater variety of foods. Challenge of the Week (I think Ann’s suggestions are great, so I’m posting but ALL credit goes to Ann : ) 40 Push-Ups Myth of the Week(Is it True or False?) "Exercise turns fat into muscle" Answer: FALSE Fat and muscle tissue are composed of two entirely different types of cells. While you can lose one and replace it with another, the two never “convert†into different forms, so fat will never turn into muscle. Healthy Recipe of the Week (Since Halloween is coming up, I thought I’d add a healthier recipe for that pumpkin taste. Great for Thanksgiving too!) Maple-Pumpkin Custards with Crystallized Ginger Ingredients 1 1/2 cups 1% milk 4 large eggs 3/4 cup maple syrup, (I recommend Grade B dark amber syrup for the best maple taste) 3/4 cup canned unseasoned pumpkin puree 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons whipped cream (optional) 1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger Preparation Preheat oven to 325°F. Put a kettle of water on to heat for the water bath. Line a roasting pan with a folded kitchen towel. Heat milk over low heat in a small saucepan until barely steaming but not boiling. Whisk eggs and syrup in a large bowl until smooth. Gently whisk in the warm milk (a little bit at a time so the eggs don't cook). Add pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; whisk until blended. Divide the mixture among six 6-ounce (3/4-cup) custard cups. Skim foam from the surface. Place custard cups in the prepared roasting pan. Pour enough boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the custard cups. Place the pan in the oven and bake, uncovered, until custards are just set but still quiver in the center when shaken, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer custards to a wire rack and let cool for 45 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until chilled. To serve, top each custard with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of crystallized ginger. Tips & Notes Make Ahead Tip: Prepare through Step 4. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Ingredient Note:If you can find it, use Grade B dark amber syrup to get the best maple flavor.

Week 8 Weigh-In Thank you for sending in week eight submissions! The weigh-ins are in and this week’s weight loss percentages have been calculated. In alphabetical order… Competing category: CanadianSandy - 0.46% Mrs.*J*2011 (Lea) Msmarmar123 (Marla) - 0.57% Oryx (Renée) Teira1031 - 0.10% Non-competing category: Cindy* I hope you have an amazing wedding, Cindy! =] Heartbeat (Michelle) Jkgirl83 (Katie) OceanWonderland (Leslie) Sheri B Sunstarmoon (Chris) Tifany Week eight’s MVP is Msmarmar123 (Marla) for losing – 0.57% for the competing category! Congratulations to everyone on your hard work. Remember, we are all here to support each other on our journey to a healthier lifestyle. It’s time for week nine! One more month to go! =] Cindy left for her wedding today and will be coming back a bride! Best wishes, Cindy!

Hi ladies, weeks 8 is here! Time to send in your scale pics =] Best of luck and have a great weekend!

Congrats again ladies and wow, Cindy! Your wedding is so close! I wish you the best and I know you'll look amazing on your wedding day =]

oops forgot the picture for the recipe Here's the lightened pumpkin pie:

WEEK FROM OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2010 Tip of the Week Did you know?…you don’t have to sweat to get a good workout. Sweating is not necessarily an indicator of exertion—sweating is your body’s way of cooling itself. It is possible to burn a significant number of calories without breaking a sweat: try taking a walk, or doing some light weight training, or working out in a swimming pool. Challenge of the Week (I think Ann’s suggestions are great, so I’m posting but ALL credit goes to Ann : ) 40 crunches Myth of the Week(Is it True or False?) “Fat is bad for you; no matter what kind.†Answer: FALSE Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of “good fats†out there that are essential for good health and aid in disease prevention. They are the ones that occur naturally in foods like avocados, nuts, and fish, as opposed to those that are manufactured. Including small amounts of these foods at meal times can help you to feel full longer and therefore eat less. Healthy Recipe of the Week (Since Halloween is coming up, I thought I’d add a healthier recipe for that pumpkin taste. Great for Thanksgiving too!) Lightened Pumpkin Pie Ingredients 1 Lightened Pastry for Single-Crust Pie 1 15-ounce can pumpkin 2/3 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice 4 egg whites 1 cup evaporated skim milk 1/4 cup water 8 tablespoons frozen whipped dessert topping, thawed (optional) Directions 1. Prepare Pastry for Lightened Single-Crust Pie and line a 9-inch pie plate as directed. 2. Stir together pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves or allspice in a large mixing bowl. Add egg whites. Beat mixture with a fork until combined. Stir in evaporated skim milk and water. Place pastry-lined pie plate on an oven rack. Pour pumpkin mixture into pie plate. Cover edge of pie crust with foil. 3. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes more or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool pie on a wire rack. Cover and store in refrigerator. Serve with whipped topping, if desired. Makes 8 servings. Make-Ahead Tip Up to 1 week ahead, prepare pastry. Roll the pastry into rounds. Place on waxed paper on a baking sheet. Wrap, seal, label, and freeze. Thaw at room temperature before using. Pastry also may be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Lightened Pastry for Single-Crust Pie Butter-flavored shortening also works well in this recipe.1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup shortening 4 to 5 tablespoons cold waterStir together flour and the salt. Using a pastry blender cut in shortening until pieces are pea size.Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the water over part of the mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to the side of the bowl. Repeat moistening dough, using 1 tablespoon of the water at a time, until all the dough is moistened. Form dough into a ball.On a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten dough. Roll dough from center to edges into a circle about 12 inches in diameter.To transfer pastry, wrap it around the rolling pin. Unroll pastry into a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry.Trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry. Crimp edge as desired. Do not prick pastry. Continue as directed above. Nutrition Facts Calories 240, Total Fat 7 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 1 mg, Sodium 135 mg, Carbohydrate 39 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 7 g. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Week 7 Weigh-Ins Thank you all for sending in week seven submissions! The weigh-ins are in and this week’s weight loss percentages have been calculated. In alphabetical order… Competing category: CanadianSandy -/+ 0.00% Mrs.*J*2011 (Lea) - 0.39% Msmarmar123 (Marla) - 0.61% Oryx (Renée) - 0.24% Teira1031 - 0.93% Non-competing category: Cindy* - 1.18% Heartbeat (Michelle) Jkgirl83 (Katie) OceanWonderland (Leslie) - 0.37% Sheri B Sunstarmoon (Chris) Tifany Week seven’s MVPis Teira1031 for losing – 0.93% for the competing category and a very special mention to Cindy* for losing -1.18% in the non-competing category! Congratulations to everyone on your hard work. Remember, we are all here to support each other on our journey to a healthier lifestyle. It’s time for week seven! Five more weeks to go! =] P.S. I felt I should explain the reason behind the switch of some ladies from the competing category into the non-competing category. All the ladies are given two free non-notified weeks without weigh-ins that won’t affect their position in the contest. After the two weeks are used up, the contestants will still be just as involved as they were before, but they will be moved to the non-competing category and not be eligible for the ‘win’. Sorry ladies, but it’s a rule for everyone out of fairness.

Hi ladies! It's that time again... Week 7 is here! Just wanted to pop in and give you all a friendly reminder that weigh-ins are due by 12:00pm EST this Saturday. Good luck and best wishes everyone! Just 5 more weeks left to go until the final weigh-ins! =]

WEEKS FROM OCTOBER 3 – OCTOBER 16, 2010 Tip of the Week Did you know?…Some studies have suggested that stretching actually makes muscles more susceptible to injury. They claim that by stretching, muscle fibers are lengthened and destabilized, making them less prepared for the strain of exercise. You might want to warm-up and stretch before a run, but if you are lifting weights wait until after the workout to stretch your muscles. Challenge of the Week (I think Ann’s suggestions are great, so I’m posting but ALL credit goes to Ann 1 set of squats… three times a day, every other day of this week Myth of the Week(Is it True or False?) “You should never eat before a workout.†Answer: FALSE Fact: "Fuel" from food and fluids is required to provide the energy for your muscles to work efficiently, even if you are doing an early morning workout. Tip: Consider eating a small meal or snack one to three hours prior to exercise. Load up your tank with premium ‘fuel’ and choose some fruit, yogurt, or whole wheat toast. Healthy Recipes of the Week Recipe #1 Kiwi-Melon Coolers Ingredients 1 1/4 cups light apple juice, chilled 2 cups chopped honeydew melon, frozen 1 kiwifruit, peeled, chopped, and frozen Honeydew and kiwifruit wedges (optional) Directions 1. In a blender, combine apple juice, honeydew, and kiwi. Cover and blend until smooth. 2. Pour into 2 glasses. If desired garnish with honeydew and kiwifruit. Nutrition Facts Calories 106, Total Fat 0 g, Saturated Fat 0 g, Monounsaturated Fat 0 g, Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium 39 mg, Carbohydrate 25 g, Total Sugar 21 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 1 g. Daily Values: Vitamin A 0%, Vitamin C 173%, Calcium 2%, Iron 2%. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet Recipe # 2 Chocolate-Amaretto Pots de Crème Ingredients 1 cup light vanilla soymilk 2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute* equivalent to 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed 2 ounces sugar-free dark chocolate or regular dark chocolate, chopped 1 tablespoon margarine 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso coffee powder 4 egg yolks, lightly beaten, or 1/4 cup refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed** 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon amaretto (optional) 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1 recipe Whipped Coffee-Almond Topping (below) Shaved chocolate (optional) Directions 1. In a heavy small saucepan, combine soymilk, sugar, whipped topping, chocolate, margarine, cocoa powder, and coffee powder. Cook and stir over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes or until the mixture boils and begins to thicken. Reduce heat to low. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. 2. Gradually stir about 1/3 cup of the hot chocolate mixture into the beaten egg yolks. Return the yolk mixture to the remaining hot chocolate mixture in the saucepan. Cook and stir over low heat for 2 minutes; remove from heat. 3. Stir in vanilla, amaretto (if desired), and almond extract. Pour chocolate mixture into six small heatproof cups or pots de creme cups. Cover and chill for 2 hours or overnight or until set. 4. Spoon the Whipped Coffee-Almond Topping atop individual servings. If desired, sprinkle with shaved chocolate. Makes 6 individual pots de creme. Whipped Coffee-Almond Topping In a small bowl, stir together 1 teaspoon amaretto (optional), 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, 1/8 teaspoon instant espresso coffee powder, and several drops almond extract, stirring until coffee dissolves. Fold in 1/4 cup frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed. Test Kitchen Tip If you use egg product, the mixture will be softer set. Sugar Substitutes Choose from Splenda Granular, Equal Spoonful or packets, or Sweet' N Low bulk or packets. Follow package directions to use product amount equivalent to 2 tablespoons sugar. If using Equal, add it with the vanilla in step 3.PER SERVING WITH SUBSTITUTE: same as above, except 125 cal., 8 g carbo. Carb Choices: 0.5. Nutrition Facts Calories 141, Total Fat 10 g, Saturated Fat 4 g, Cholesterol 140 mg, Sodium 60 mg, Carbohydrate 11 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 4 g. Daily Values: Vitamin A 0%, Vitamin C 0%, Calcium 0%, Iron 0%. Exchanges: Other Carbohydrate .5, Fat 2. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Week 6 Weigh-Ins Thank you all for sending in week six submissions! The weigh-ins are in and this week’s weight loss percentages have been calculated. In alphabetical order… Competing category: CanadianSandy - 0.31% Jkgirl83 (Katie) Mrs.*J*2011 (Lea) - 0.65% Msmarmar123 (Marla) - 0.28% Oryx (Renée) -/+ 0.00% SheriB Stachr (Stacey) - 0.43% Teira1031 -/+ 0.00 % Tifany Non-competing category: Cindy* - 0.65% Heartbeat (Michelle) OceanWonderland (Leslie) Sunstarmoon (Chris) Week five’s MVP is Mrs.*J*2011 (Lea) for losing – 0.65% in the competing category and in a great tie, Cindy* matches the weight loss in the non-competing category!!! Congratulations to everyone on your hard work. Remember, we are all here to support each other on our journey to a healthier lifestyle. It’s time for week seven! Only halfway more to go! =] P.S. I recently realized that I hadn’t posted a weekly update last Sunday. Sorry ladies, I had one of those days and it just slipped my mind. Hopefully, I can make up for it by posting two recipes on the next update =]

Love that convertible dress!!! I already have my bridesmaids dresses but I want to get this dress just to wear myself

Yes, it's that time again! =] This is just another friendly reminder for all the ladies that it's time to send in your week six weigh-ins. As always, late deadline is on Saturday at 12:00pm EST. I can't believe we're already halfway through the season! Congrats to all the ladies for your hardwork and best wishes on continuing your success

So cute! It kind of reminds me of my flower girl's dress! love it! This is the flower girl's dress: This will be my bridesmaids' dresses, only instead of green, the color will be a darker rose red (one of my theme colors) and worn with silver heels:

Week 5 Weigh-Ins Thank you all for sending in week five submissions! If you notice the empty spaces, it was just a busy week for some of the ladies and they will be back with us next week. =] The weigh-ins are in and this week’s weight loss percentages have been calculated. In alphabetical order… Competing category: CanadianSandy + 1.41% Jkgirl83 (Katie) - 1.26% Mrs.*J*2011 (Lea) + 0.13 % Msmarmar123 (Marla) Oryx (Renée) + 0.24% SheriB Stachr (Stacey) + 0.72% Teira1031 + 0.52% Tifany Non-competing category: Cindy* Heartbeat (Michelle) OceanWonderland (Leslie) Sunstarmoon (Chris) Week five’s MVP for the second time in a row is....... Jkgirl83 (Katie) for losing -1.26% in the competing category!!! Congratulations to everyone on your hard work. Remember, we are all here to support each other on our journey to a healthier lifestyle. It’s time for week six! We’re already halfway through the season!