Pray it Off March 11, 2010 Meeting

The following materials were discussed last night at our Weekly PRAY IT OFF Thursday night Group Meeting.

AGENDA Pray it Off March 11, 2010

Total Lbs Off 1st Session-644 2nd Session-571 Combined-1215
3rd Session-235 Combined-1450 4th Session -261 4th Session Combined 1711 5th Session- -202 TOTAL POUNDS LOST - 1913

1. Packets
Log Sheet/Matthew 23
Matthew 22
Spring Cleaning Spruces Up Your Home and Helps Mental Health
Mental Clutter
How To De-Clutter Your Life and Lose Weight
Refrigerator Quiz
Five Fun Ways to Get More Exercise This Spring
Vegetarian Cabbage Lasagna
Lyrics: Song 5 Broken by Lifehouse
PIO Group Prayer Time
2. Opening Prayer
3. Awards:
4. Review Bible Verse
5. Review Packet Materials
6. Listen to: Broken
7. St. Pio Intercession
8. PIO Group Prayer Time
9. Dismissal 7:00

Weekly PIO Form March 12, 2010

Name/Weight
Three meals/Snack/ Exercise Log/H2O Intake Matthew 23 ________________________



Friday:
Meals Exer. H2O
B:


L:

D:
S:

Saturday:
Meals Exer. H2O
B:


L:

D:
S:

Sunday:
Meals Exer. H2O
B:


L:

D:
S:

Monday:
Meals Exer. H2O
B:


L:

D:
S:

Tuesday:
Meals Exer. H2O
B:


L:

D:
S:

Wednesday:
Meals Exer. H2O
B:


L:

D:
S:

Matthew Chapter 22
http://www.catholicbiblestudyonline.com

1 Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. 3 He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.
4 A second time he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast."' 5 Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.
6 The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
9 Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.' 10 The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
12 He said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. 13 Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'
14 Many are invited, but few are chosen." 15 Then the Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech. 16 They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status.
17 Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" 18 Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. 20 He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" 21 They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."
22 When they heard this they were amazed, and leaving him they went away. 23 On that day Sadducees approached him, saying that there is no resurrection. They put this question to him, 24 saying, "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies without children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up descendants for his brother.'
25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died and, having no descendants, left his wife to his brother. 26 The same happened with the second and the third, through all seven. 27 Finally the woman died.
28 Now at the resurrection, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had been married to her." 29 Jesus said to them in reply, "You are misled because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God.
30 At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven. 31 And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God,
32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." 33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them [a scholar of the law] tested him by asking, 36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"
37 He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus questioned them, 42 saying, "What is your opinion about the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They replied, "David's."
43 He said to them, "How, then, does David, inspired by the Spirit, call him 'lord,' saying: 44 'The Lord said to my lord, "Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet"'? 45 If David calls him 'lord,' how can he be his son?"
46 No one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Spring Cleaning Spruces Up Your Home and Helps Your Mental Health SHINE
http://www.marketwatch.com

LOS ANGELES, Mar 08, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE source HealthNet) -- The month of March brings with it the official start of spring -- a season associated with renewal and romance, and, on a less lyrical level -- with dusting, scrubbing, and otherwise engaging in the roll-up-your-sleeves ritual known as spring cleaning. While heavy-duty housework hardly sounds inviting, Health Net, Inc. wants to spread the word that spring cleaning not only results in a tidy abode, but also brings with it mental health benefits.
Studies have shown that a dirty, disorganized home can harbor health threats in the form of mold, bacteria and clutter-caused injuries, but such an environment also can negatively impact mental health, explains Ian Shaffer, M.D., chief medical officer of MHN, Health Net's behavioral health subsidiary. "A thorough spring cleaning definitely brings with it a feel-good sense of satisfaction," he adds, "and the physical exertion of dusting, vacuuming and scrubbing has been found to reduce stress and anxiety."
Shaffer points out that, while the physical benefits of exercise are well known, there's mounting evidence that exercise -- even in the form of housework -- brings with it mental health benefits. In fact, one study -- conducted by University College London -- found that as little as 20 minutes of housework per week reduced feelings of psychological distress. It was further found that the risk of mental health problems was reduced by one-fifth among those engaging in just 20 minutes of housework weekly.
"Exercise is known to boost mental health," says Shaffer, "and house-cleaning activities are certainly a form of exercise. A bigger activity, like a top-to-bottom spring cleaning, helps you to feel organized and in control, and those feelings definitely result in reduced stress."
The chores-calories connection. Doing housework not only lifts your spirits and lowers your stress level, but -- as an added bonus -- you also burn calories in the process. The American Heart Association categorizes housework as "moderate exercise," and says that a person weighing 150 pounds who engages in 30 minutes of household chores can expect to burn the following:
 Cleaning a bathroom -- 200 calories
 Doing laundry -- 133 calories
 Making beds -- 130 calories
 Washing windows -- 125 calories
 Vacuuming -- 123 calories
 Ironing --70 calories Dusting -- 50 calories
Shaffer notes, "Household chores alone are unlikely to keep you physically fit, but this, along with other daily tasks, provides a portion of the physical exercise we all need. If you combine these activities with a structured exercise program, the results can be very positive."
Stay organized after spring cleaning . With the satisfaction of a successful spring cleaning behind you, Shaffer cautions against returning to one's previously disorganized ways. "Staying organized," he says, "encourages the good kind of stress." In fact, studies have shown that a feeling of control -- a feeling that comes with being organized -- is key to whether stress will serve as a positive force that fuels creativity and optimism or if it will serve as a negative force accompanied by a sense of helplessness and pessimism.
Beyond optimism, being organized brings with it a bounty of other benefits. Shaffer points to three:
1. Reduced time pressure -- Among the greatest sources of stress is time pressure, i.e., so much to do, so little time. While being organized doesn't add hours to the day, it does enable you to make the most of the 24 hours in each day. Organized individuals don't waste time wondering what work project is due when, or where a needed item -- from an unpaid bill to an uncashed check -- might be hiding. The time saved can be spent on any number of stress-busting activities, such as exercising or preparing a healthy meal.
2. Disorganization makes it hard to see things in their components. Failing to see the parts leads to a few of the whole that can be very overwhelming and at times will lead to immobilization and people failing to act and move forward.
3. No disorganization domino effect -- As a general rule, disorganization creates a ripple effect, impacting not only the offender, but also those around him or her. If you're disorganized, the fallout can extend to family, friends as well as co-workers, and a tension-filled environment can become the order of the day. Conversely, while organization doesn't guarantee harmony and happiness, it unquestionably helps.

The Mental Clutter of Defeatist Language
http://www.clutterdietblog.com

I want to discourage you from thinking discouraging thoughts and speaking defeatist language about yourself and to yourself. I have often heard people say things like these:
"I am not a very organized person." "I will never get this mess cleaned up."
"I'll never get the hang of this."
Even if you think you're just kidding or exaggerating for effect, please STOP cluttering your mind with these negative and unempowering messages. Ask yourself, "Would I say those same things to my best friend or my child?" If not, then why would you say them to yourself?
Take care that you're not using permanent language for a temporary problem. If you say, "I'm not very organized," you have assigned a permanent, unchangeable characteristic to yourself. Catch yourself and replace negative and permanent words with language that shows hope and belief in your abilities.
Instead of: Never. Positively phrase it this way instead: Sometimes, Rarely, Seldom, Barely, Hardly
Instead of: "I'm not a very organized person." Positively phrase it this way instead: "I am working on improving my organizing skills."
Instead of: "I'm such an idiot." Positively phrase it this way instead: "I made a mistake. What did I learn from it?"
Instead of: "I'll never get the hang of this." Positively phrase it this way instead: "I'm frustrated! How can I get some help?"
Instead of: "This is just how I am." Positively phrase it this way instead: "I tend to approach things this way. How can I improve that?"
I truly believe that our words define us. Words start as thoughts, and whether we say them aloud or just say them to ourselves, they begin to form our destiny! Be careful and be kind.
The Poisonous Mental Clutter of Worry
I've identified three main types of clutter:
• Purchased: Physical items for which you pay money to bring into your home.
• Acquired: Physical items you bring into your home that come from your mailbox, gifts, school and work, freebies/giveaways, inheritances, and other people's storage.
• Allowed: Time and communication clutter like overscheduled calendars, unnecessary activities, emails, and phone calls.
To the category of Allowed clutter, I would like to add that mental clutter can be as time-consuming as e-mail spam messages and even likely more damaging. Today's focus: WORRY.
Two months ago I received a notice from my bank about some terms that were going to change regarding one of my accounts. I did not like what it said! But I had some time to contact them and choose whether to accept those terms or to close my account. I was mad about it and stewed about it for a while... and it really bugged me. So I finally sat down to make the dreaded call, bracing myself for an argument. And guess what? When I re-read the top part of the page, I realized it was regarding an old dormant account I hadn't used for years! It had nothing to with anything I currently was using.
I felt like such a fool, a total sillyhead, for letting this bother me so much, when it was all a mirage! As my mother says, I had "made a mountain out of a molehill." I wish I could get back all of the energy I expended worrying about it and being angry.
Consultant Dan Zadra said, "Worry is misuse of imagination." Amen, brother. Would much rather have been creating something constructive with all of that energy! What could I have done differently? Taken action sooner. I am a big believer that action conquers fear. Do SOMETHING, don't wait. Make the call, grab the bull by the horns, git 'er done. Sometimes having all of the information becomes the cure.
Ease Your Mind Using "The Bookmark Principle"
I want to write about another kind of mental clutter I see many people suffering from-- the bad habit of keeping too many things in your head and not writing them down.
Have you ever seen those circus performers who do plate spinning? They have multiple plates spinning and balanced on sticks and they have to keep circulating back to each plate and giving it additional spins to keep the whole thing going. This is how many people manage their time and appointments in their heads! They are keeping lots of information in their short-term memory and hope that they remember it at the right time. They keep repeating things to themselves (maybe even out loud) like, "Oh, yeah, I've gotta remember to call Susie," and "Don't forget to leave that check for the babysitter."
Does this sound familiar? Here is the cure for this problem: I call it The Bookmark Principle.
How many of you, when reading a good book, put the book down and run around the rest of the day saying to yourself, "I'm on page 52, I'm on page 52, I'm on page 52..."? You don't, do you? You use something to help you remember that-- it's called a BOOKMARK. A bookmark holds your place so you don't have to remember. It's a system that you trust enough to allow the information to never even register in your mind. You just let it go and know the bookmark will be there. You don't spin that plate.
The Bookmark Principle: Your time management system should be as trusted as a bookmark. David Allen talks about having "trusted systems..." I love that phrase. If you don't trust your calendar, task list, and other capturing tools as much as you would trust a bookmark, you need to spend some time considering how to improve them.
You need to have some trusted capturing tools to grab those thoughts and tasks before they become more spinning plates in your head.

How to de-clutter your life and lose weight
Charles Stuart Platkin - The Macomb Daily (macombdaily.com)

While there haven't been any studies I know of linking clutter to obesity, I do know that being disorganized doesn't help. Think about the factors that facilitate weight loss: increased physical activity, eating healthier foods, good sleeping habits and a balanced emotional life — all related to an organized, clutter-free life.

The fact is that most failed dieters complain that maintaining a diet is just too much work. The amount of information and control required can be extremely difficult to sustain. This becomes especially important when your control systems are weakened — like when you're disorganized or stressed. When distractions compete for your attention, the mental workload can be overwhelming. That alone could be the reason you fall off your diet. Therefore, you need to arrange your personal environment to maximize your chances of controlling your weight and minimize your chances of slipping up.

One of the leading barriers to increasing your physical activity is time. If your home and office are disorganized and filled with clutter, you're probably spending a lot of time simply looking for things you need. When you get rid of the clutter, you can make room for a small exercise area and have easy access to your gym clothing so you can get to the gym. Think about it: If you spend 10 fewer minutes a day looking for things, you can spend 10 more minutes exercising.

Keep in mind, while you're cleaning and organizing you're also burning 210 calories per hour -- not bad. Here are a few key strategies to help you get organized and declutter:

1. Organize Your Pantry and Have Healthy Spices Available and Easy to Use. If you believe you can easily prepare healthy foods with a disorganized pantry, you're mistaken.
2. Take everything off the shelves. Get rid of expired items and foods that have unhealthy ingredients (e.g., partially hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup). "Trigger foods" also must go. These are your go-to foods that can lead to binges.
3. Clean the shelves and, if possible, paint your pantry white, or some bright color so you can see the foods you have. When restocking the shelves, group like foods together and try to make healthy foods easily accessible so that you reach for them first. Several companies make storage containers and tools to help you get organized. (www.spacesavers.com, www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen)
4. Create an easy-to-use spice section. Spices make bland foods taste great, and should be used as part of your cooking process.
5. Make sure you have the following:
a. Fat-free cooking sprays.
b. Fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth.
c. Rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar and balsamic vinegar to add a lot of zing.
d. Canned beans.
e. Whole-wheat bread crumbs and flour.
f. Soups and other healthy canned foods: It is not cheating to open a can of low-calorie soup or tuna for a fast dinner. Stock up on these foods — they're filling, inexpensive and right there when you don't feel like making a big deal out of dinner.
6. Go through your utensils. Do you really need everything you have? Put things you don't often use on a top shelf where they won't get in your way. Things you do need:
a. Several small plastic cutting boards or mats that fit into your dishwasher.
b. Very sharp knives, along with a knife sharpener.
c. A food processor or blender to slice, grind, dice, chop and shred.
d. A microwave: Great for defrosting meat and reheating leftovers. It also cooks a potato in about 7 minutes.
e. Pots and pans, readily available and in good working order.
f. Clean countertops. Make sure they're free of unopened mail, old newspapers and magazines; they're supposed to be for food prep.

Refrigerator Makeover.
Take the Fridge Quiz. Would you shop in a dirty, poorly laid out grocery store? Keep your fridge clean and organized into sections, just like a supermarket. Soda and juice are high in calories; try to keep water or unsweetened iced tea in the front so you grab them first. Better yet, toss the cola. Fruits and veggies should be front and center and at eye level so you see them. Keep all the high-cal foods in the fruit and veggie drawer or in the back.

Be Fitness Prepared.

Have a gym bag packed and ready to go. Buy a crate to store all your fitness items, including sneakers, bands, pedometer, gym clothes, fitness DVDs, jump-rope, etc. Make everything easily accessible and ready to use.

Organize Your Closets and Garage.
Get all the areas of your life organized, including your closets and garage. Using storage bins is great, as long as they don't serve as another place to hide stuff you don't need. If you haven't used something in the last two years, chances are you will not use it at all. If you do end up storing things, make sure to label and make detailed lists of what's in each container.

Ask, or hire, your friends — there are always a few friends who would love to get their hands on organizing your house.

Charles Stuart Platkin, Ph.D., M.P.H., is a nutrition and public health advocate and founder of DietDetective.com.

Refrigerator Quiz
http://www.dietdetective.com

Do you need the Diet Detective to come to your home? One of the first things you should do if you're planning to live a healthier life is evaluate your food surroundings — specifically your fridge.
Here's a quiz to help you determine what to upgrade.
1. Your fridge is ...

a. Clean and organized – with baking soda to prevent odors. (+3)
b. Stocked, but it hasn't been cleaned since we moved in five years ago. (0)
c. Not filthy, but not exactly clean. (-1)
d. A mess and completely disorganized. (-2)

Diet Detective Tip: Would you shop in a dirty, poorly laid out grocery store? Keep your fridge clean and organized into sections, just like a supermarket.
2. Your milk and dairy products are ...

a. Whatever is on sale. (-1)
b. Chocolate milk, cheese, cream cheese and cream. (-3)
c. Skim or fat-free milk, low-fat yogurt with no added sugar and low-fat half-and-half, containers of egg whites. (+4)
d. 2 percent milk, provolone cheese and yogurt (with added sugar). (-1)
Diet Detective Tip: Dairy is an important source of calcium, but it can be high in calories. Make sure to stick to low- or no-fat versions.
3. How many desserts do you have in your freezer now?

a. The Ben & Jerry's and Haagen-Dazs never run out. (-2)
b. A frozen apple pie and a chocolate cake, plus loads of ice cream, a few ice cubes, one frozen Snickers bar. (-4)
c. Frozen fruit bars, frozen grapes, fat-free frozen yogurt. (+2)
d. No desserts. (+1)
Diet Detective Tip: Freeze fruits such as bananas and grapes, or make a smoothie with nothing but fresh fruit and a bit of no-sugar-added apple juice and freeze with popsicle sticks in an ice tray. You should have something healthy and sweet on hand to satisfy those cravings.
4. Where are the water bottles in relation to the juices or sodas?

a. There is no soda or juice; just bottled water and a water-filtering pitcher right in front, then unsweetened iced green tea and skim milk. (+3)
b. Who needs water? We drink cola. (-3)
c. Mostly diet drinks – soda, iced tea, low-cal juice. (0)
Diet Detective Tip: Soda and juice are high in calories; try to keep water or unsweetened iced tea in the front – so you grab that first. Better yet, toss the cola.
5. Your peanut butter has ...

a. No added sugar or any other additional ingredients. (+3)
b. Added sugar, fat and salt. (-3)
c. Added sugar, but it's fat free. (-1)
Diet Detective Tip: Check the ingredients in all of your foods. Make sure there's no added sugar and that you can pronounce everything that's in what you eat.
6. When you get to your fridge you ...

a. Find yourself standing in front of the open door picking at leftovers. (-3)
b. Know exactly what you want and don't linger. (+3)
c. Stare at the fridge and grab the first thing you see. (-1)
d. Find that it's empty. (-2)
Diet Detective Tip: Always know what you're going to eat before you get there.
7. Which best describes the condiments in your fridge?

a. Mustard, salsa, relish, ketchup, low-cal salad-dressing spritzers (e.g., Wish-Bone Spritzers). (+3)
b. Ranch or blue cheese dressing, jelly, tartar sauce. (-3)
c. Butter, margarine, mayonnaise. (-3)
Diet Detective Tip: You would be shocked at how many calories condiments can add. Use mustard, salsa, spices and other low-cal condiments to add flavor.
8. Your fruits and vegetables are ...

a. Right where I can see them – front and center. (+4)
b. In the fruit and vegetable drawer, but they're always fresh. (+2)
c. In the drawer – but I always forget about them. (0)
d. Completely absent. The fruit and vegetable drawer has a few batteries and a bottle of Champagne from two years ago. (-3)
Diet Detective Tip: Fruits and veggies should be front and center and at eye level so you see them. Keep all the high-cal foods in the fruit and veggie drawer or in the back.
9. If you had to make a meal from your fridge, you have ...

a. Chicken or tuna salad, bacon (but no lettuce or tomatoes), salami or bologna. (-2)
b. Lean roast beef, all-beef hot dogs. (+1)
c. Chicken breast, sliced turkey, leftover grilled salmon and turkey meatballs. (+3)
d. Leftover Chinese takeout. (-3)
Diet Detective Tip: Use lean protein and have a few meals prepared in advance.
10. In the freezer I have ...

a. Frozen pizza, steak and a few Hungry-Man meals. Also juice concentrate, hot dogs and mac and cheese. (-3)
b. Chicken breast and other lean protein (turkey, fish, low-calorie frozen dinners -- Lean Cuisine, Smart Ones, Healthy Choice, Seeds of Change, Kashi, Amy's, etc.), sorbet, frozen vegetables (e.g., Steamfresh), containers with healthy homemade meals prepared in batches. (+4)
c. Ice, just ice. (0)
d. 2-year-old frozen veggies, orange and grape juice concentrate and a few containers of ice cream. (-2)
Diet Detective Tip: Batch-cooked foods and low-calorie frozen dinners can be great alternatives to fast food.
11. On the front of your fridge are ...

a. Inspirational healthy eating messages and a shopping list. (+4)
b. Photos of family and friends. (+2)
c. Unhealthy recipes and photos of cakes, muffins and other things I want to bake. (-1)
Diet Detective Tip: Research shows that inspirational messages help to keep you on track. Creating a shopping list helps to keep you from being tempted when you do go shopping.
12. When you open your fridge you see ...

a. Leftover food stored in foil that's been reused several times and isn't airtight. (-1)
b. Lots of plastic or glass containers, but I can't tell what's inside. (0)
c. See-through containers filled with healthy foods. (+3)
Diet Detective Tip: Knowing what you have in your fridge is half the battle. Always store foods in clear, airtight containers.
A score of:

• 35 or more: Ph.D. in Nutrition
• 24 to 34: Nutrition Expert
• 18 to 23: Arm Chair Nutritionist
• 11 to 17: Simple changes would help
• 0 to 10: Fridge makeover needed
• 1 to -14: Need a game plan
• -15 to -28: Complete overhaul required
• -29 or lower: Seek assistance from a professional

Five Fun Ways to Get More Exercise This Spring
http://www.floridasnatural.com

Has winter turned your family into lethargic couch potatoes? Spring's the perfect time to get the whole family out of the house, exercising, and having fun.
When early June rolls around, most of us start thinking of getting ready for summer activities like biking, boating, hiking, swimming, and going to the beach. Sometimes, there can be a moment of panic upon realizing that last year's bathing suit doesn't fit quite right or a ten-minute bike ride leaves you out of breath.

Want to avoid any moments of panic? Try adding healthy, heart-pumping activities to your routine right now. And get your kids involved, too, since being physically active as a kid builds a great foundation for a long and healthy life.

Getting more exercise during spring doesn't have to be hard or painful, since you can choose spring activities that are fun for both children and adults. Here are five easy ways for you and your kids to get more exercise and have fun.

1. Go Bird Watching. Whether you live in a large city, a small town or a rural setting, your family can get outside during the spring and discover the myriad of big and small birds living near you. Challenge your kids to listen for different bird songs as you walk, and to count how many different songs they hear. If you don't know anything about birds, buy a bird identification guide and a pair of inexpensive binoculars and see if you can identify one new species on each bird walk you go on.

2. Spring Clean Your Yard. Moderate yard work such as raking, trimming, and gardening can burn around 225 calories in an hour. That's a lot of calories! To maximize the benefits of your spring yard work, break it down into 20- or 30-minute segments, and get your whole family to work on your yard regularly. Not only will you get great exercise-your yard will be the best-looking one on the block.

3. Spring Clean Your Community. Often, communities have several different cleanup days in the spring. Sometimes it's helping to clean up a nearby river or creek area; sometimes it's to repair damage done in the winter to local hiking trails; or sometimes cleanup days will be held in neighborhood parks. It's a great way to get some exercise, and, by participating as a family, you'll allow your children to experience how fun it can be to do a little hard work, get a little dirty, and help make a difference in your community.

4. Go Fly a Kite. It's the quintessential outdoor spring activity for families, and it's great exercise. You can fly kites in the summer and fall, but the weather conditions are optimal in the spring. There's the good wind speeds that make it easy to get your kite up high. There's the always changing wind direction that makes it tougher (and more fun) to keep your kite in the air for a long time. Need a few kite flying hints? Here are two: Keep a kite in your car so that when the perfect kite flying opportunity presents itself, you and your kids will be ready; and, for a little more visual fun, let your kids add "line laundry" such as streamers or ribbon tails to the kite line.

5. Bring Spring to You. If your big-city setting makes it difficult to get outdoor exercise, you can bring fun spring indoors. Try a variety of activities, like dancing, dusting, jumping jacks, doing dishes, or playing hacky sack in the living room. Designate a space where kids can roll, climb, jump, dance and tumble. If your kids like playing video games, then get some games that incorporate movement into them (dance games are a good bet) and join in on the fun, too.

Vegetarian Cabbage "Lasagna"
http://recipes.menshealth.com

• Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 49 mins Total Time: 1 hrs 9 mins Serves: 6
• Calories 263 Fat 11.8 G Saturated Fat 4.1 Sodium 978 Carbs 22.7 Sugar 9.9 G Fiber 7 G Protein 18 G
This tasty, protein-packed lasagna layers savory sauteed vegetables and tofu between leaves of tender cabbage. No one will know there's tofu in it!
Ingredients
• 1 head (11/2 pounds) green cabbage (about 12 large leaves), cored
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion (about 1 small)
• 1 pound sliced mushrooms
• 6 ounces baby spinach leaves, cut into slices (about 8 cups loosely packed)
• 1 tablespoon italian seasoning blend
• 1 package (12 to 14 ounces) silken tofu, drained
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated parmesan/ romano cheese blend
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 jar (26 ounces) marinara sauce
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Directions
Separate the cabbage leaves and wash in cold water. Reserve the remaining cabbage in the refrigerator for another use. Place 4 to 6 leaves in a resealable plastic storage bag. Microwave on high power for 3 to 4 minutes, rotating, until wilted. Using oven mitts, remove and set aside. Fill another bag with leaves. Microwave until wilted. Empty the first bag; fill it with leaves and microwave. Continue until all the leaves are steamed.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 13" x 9" pan with cooking spray.
In a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat, warm the oil. Add the onion and mushrooms. Toss to coat. Cover and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the liquid pools in the pan. Uncover and cook for about 4 minutes longer, or until the liquid has evaporated. Add the spinach and seasoning. Cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted.

In a bowl, combine the tofu, eggs, Parmesan/Romano, pepper, salt, and nutmeg. Stir to blend completely. Coat the bottom of the pan with 1/4 cup of the sauce. Line the pan with 4 of the cabbage leaves. Top with half of the tofu mixture, half of the mushroom mixture, and about 2/3 cup sauce. Cover with 4 of the cabbage leaves. Top with the remaining tofu mixture, mushroom mixture, and 2/3 cup sauce. Cover with the remaining leaves and sauce. Sprinkle the mozzarella on top. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until bubbly and the cheese is golden.

Broken by Lifehouse

The broken clock is a comfort, it helps me sleep tonight
Maybe it can stop tomorrow from stealing all my time
And I am here still waiting though I still have my doubts
I am damaged at best, like you've already figured out

CHORUS: I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on. I'm holdin' on. I'm holdin' on.
I'm barely holdin' on to you

The broken locks were a warning you got inside my head
I tried my best to be guarded; I'm an open book instead
And I still see your reflection inside of my eyes
That are looking for purpose, they're still looking for life

CHORUS

I'm hanging on, another day
Just to see what you will throw my way
And I'm hanging on to the words you say
You said that I would, would be ok

The broken lights on the freeway left me here alone
I may have lost my way now, haven't forgotten my way home

CHORUS


PIO GROUP PRAYER TIME
March 11, 2010

• Have you checked out the Pray it Off Blog? What are the benefits of having a PIO Blog?
• Do you do 20 minutes of housework at one time a week? How about a day? What are your Spring Cleaning plans?
• Do you have a defeatist mental dialogue towards weight loss? Brainstorm defeatist thoughts and then positively rephrase it (i.e. I am a PIO failure? I haven’t lost weight yet but I can start again right now.)
• Discuss the benefits of writing things down. Do you? Can you?
• How organized is your pantry? Your refrigerator? Can you pick one organizing project to do before next Wednesday?
• Have you ever formally gone bird watching? Discuss doing it?
• Say the Hail Mary to Close the Group.
Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”
Mary Anne Radmacher