Newsletter - Mar 2013 for Norfolk and Bristol Counties

Area Captains Newsletter February 2013 for Norfolk and Bristol Counties

Gail Lewis 46 Elm Street East Bridgewater, MA 02333 (508)378-0459 gailistops@verizon.net

Quote for the Month:
“To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness”.
Bertrand Russell

Hey Everyone.......March is slated to come in like a lamb so watch out for the end of the month. This is the time to look within yourself and find that part of happiness that does not always show on the outside. Find out what makes you happy and go for it. Be assured that if you feel happy and live that way, the whole weight issue will come into it's own. Have a great month full of fun and surprises.....all the things that make us happy. :)

INFORMATION

INSPIRATION WORKSHOP
Save the date for our next workshop Saturday May 18, 2013
    Place: West Congregational Church
              155 North Walker Street Ext., Taunton, MA
    Time: Registration 8:30… Starts at 9:15

CHOOSING TO CHANGE Change can be scary – or exhilarating…the difference lies in your attitude. Not only that, but your attitude makes a major difference in whether you succeed at making a change in your life. Weight loss is a good example. Lots of people have vague hopes and dreams of slimming down and getting in better shape. But to succeed we have to be willing to make genuine changes in lifestyle. Stay tuned for more info in our April newsletter.

CHAPTER IDEAS – Any chapter ideas to share? Let me know and I will print them in the monthly newsletter. Thanks!!!!

SRD
The theme is “TOPS SRD 2013 Slimmer U High School Celebration”. It looks like it's going to be a lot of fun and full of inspiration. Plan on attending and do some chapter fund raising events to help defray the cost. Deadlines have past but if you're still instersted in going, please be sure to reach out and let me know. I'm sure we can still getyou in. For sure, there will be a lot of inspiration and fun in store for those who attend.
April 12 and 13, 2013
Sturbridge Host Hotel, Sturbridge, MA

INSPIRATION Remember…….. it’s YOU that decides what day I am going to have today……………. Teddy Stoddard (author unknown)

There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs. Thompson. And as she stood in front of her 5th grade class on her very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class.

"By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present which was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left she cried for at least an hour.

On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one her "teacher's pets."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life. Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer-the letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D. The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring.

Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

If you lose ONLY ONE POUND PER WEEK, look what you'll accomplish.......
By Valentine's Day, 6 pounds
By St. Patrick's Day, 11 pounds HOW IS EVERYONE DOING TO ACHIEVE THIS? IT'S NOT TOO LATE!!!! KEEP TRYING!!!!!
By Easter, 13 pounds
By Memorial Day, 21 pounds
By the 4th of July, 26 pounds
By Labor Day, 35 pounds
By Columbus Day, 41 pounds
By Thanksgiving, 47 pounds
By Christmas, 51 pounds
and by New Year's, a total of 52 pounds

I challenged my chapter to see who was with me to lose JUST A POUND A WEEK – who is up for the challenge? What can you lose.....besides a pound a week? Those that fail to plan, plan to fail. Get on board the losing train and let's lose some serious weight this year – it's OUR YEAR!!!!

A couple chapters commented back to me on this soup. They liked it basically but ended up adding a few things to it to make it even better. Bravo to those brave souls who tried and spiced it up according to what they liked. That's what it's all about. Here are some suggestions to add from all of you....

Salsa and Chicken Soup
8 oz. Salsa (any kind you like)
5 cups chicken broth (I used the low fat, low sodium)
2 cups cut up cooked chicken

Mix them together and you have soup. If you leave in your fridge over night, it becomes just a little thicker. I really liked it....it was easy and tasty.

TIPS
Add minced onion and/or garlic – salt and pepper to taste.
Couscous or barley for a thicker, more consistent stock.
Ground turkey instead of chicken.
One member suggested using the “Perfect Portion” chicken to make sure you were not putting too many calories into the soup.