Newsletter - July 2013 for Norfolk and Bristol Counties

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

Hey Everyone.......The heat of the summer is upon us and it's only going to get hotter. How is your journey with weight loss going? Remember that it's easier to cope with the heat at a lower weight!!!! Have fun, get lots of exercise, stay hydrated and lose weight. See you in August.

INFORMATION

INSPIRATION WORKSHOP - Our next workshop will be at Fall Rally and then again in November just before the holidays. We will focus on surviving Thanksgiving, something we all need to plan for.

CHAPTER IDEAS - I received a contest idea from MA 463 Franklin this month. It's a cute idea and seasonal for the summer time. You can always adjust the rules to your chapter have fun. Thanks to Franklin for this idea. Keep them coming everyone.

We made kites with tails. It's only made out of construction paper with string. Then we assign a task for the week. The first week it was to drink 8 oz of water every day. At the meeting, we tied knots in the tail for every day we drank the 8 oz. of water. This week we're consuming 3 cups of dairy a day. And we'll tie knots in the tail for every day we manage to do it. Anyway, that's our summer contest.

FALL RALLY - All chapters should have received their first Fall Rally letter from our chairman Ron Azzu. As a reminder, this year, Fall Rally will be October 5th in Leominster with Ron Azzu as the Chairperson. The theme this year will be Peace, Love and TOPS. Now is the time to be planning a couple fund raising events so your chapter can make it more affordable for members to attend these great events. Hey, it could be you that's the big loser for the event. Imagine that!!!

CHAPTER VISITS
I've made it to over half the chapters in our area already this year if you have not seen the new Area Captain program yet, please send me an email, give me a few weeks you can fit me in and I'll get back to you. Give me a call or email me I'd love to come. Thanks!!!!

HERBS
Anyone that went to Inspiration Workshop on May 18th and brought home an herb pack how are your herbs growing? I was at my mother's house the other day and she has Thyme her plant is about 4 inches high, very delicate. She now has more thyme how is your plant doing? Let me know!!!

Officers Workshop
Barbara and I were thinking about having an officers workshop. It will probably be about 2- 3 hours. I know some of our chapters have new officers on board this year. Please ask your members and officers, whether they are new or not, would benefit from this workshop. Please e-mail me and we'll see what we can do. This is still in the works more information in August's newsletter. Hopefully we can make this a yearly event.

INSPIRATION The following is a "healthy food hot list" consisting of foods that will give you the biggest nutritional bang for your caloric buck, as well as decrease your risk for deadly illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
Apricots Power: Beta-carotene, which helps prevent free-radical damage and protect the eyes. The body also turns beta-carotene into vitamin A, which may help ward off some cancers, especially of the skin.
Artichokes These vegetables contain silymarin, an antioxidant that helps prevent skin cancer, plus fiber to help control cholesterol.
Avocados Power: Oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that helps lower overall cholesterol and raise levels of HDL, plus a good dose of fiber.
Blueberries Rich in Vitamins A, C, E and beta-carotene as well as the minerals potassium, manganese, magnesium. They are very high in fiber and low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. They provide antioxidants, those valuable elements which prevent cancer-causing cell damage and may limit the changes wrought by age-related diseases.
Bok Choy (Chinese cabbage) Power: Brassinin, which some research suggests may help prevent breast tumors, plus indoles and isothiocyanates, which lower levels of estrogen, make this vegetable a double-barreled weapon against breast cancer. It also helps to beat osteoporosis. Slice the greens and juicy white stalks, then sauté like spinach or toss into a stir-fry just before serving. Broccoli Power: Indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane, which help protect against breast cancer.
Broccoli also has lots of vitamin C and beta-carotene.
Cantaloupe Power: Vitamin C and beta-carotene - both powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from free-radical damage. Plus, half a melon has 853mg of potassium - almost twice as much as a banana, which helps lower blood pressure.
Clams/Mussels Power: Vitamin B12 supports nerve and brain function, plus iron and hard-to-get minerals like magnesium and potassium.
Figs A good source of potassium and fiber, figs also contain vitamin B6, which is responsible for producing mood-boosting serotonin, lowering cholesterol and preventing water retention.
Garlic The sulfur compounds that give garlic its pungent flavor can also lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol, lower blood pressure and even reduce your risk of stomach and colon cancer.
Lentils Power: Isoflavones, which may inhibit estrogen-promoted breast cancers, plus fiber for heart health and an impressive 9 grams of protein per half cup. Isoflavones hold up through processing, so buy lentils canned, dried or already in soup.
Onions Power: Quercetin is one of the most powerful flavonoids (natural plant antioxidants). Studies show it helps protect against cancer.
Pinto Beans A half cup has more than 25 percent of your daily requirement of folate, which helps protect against heart disease and reduces the risk of birth defects.
Quinoa A half cup of cooked quinoa has 5 grams of protein, more than any other grain, plus iron, riboflavin and magnesium. Add to soup for a protein boost. Rinse first, or it will taste bitter.
Raisins These little gems are a great source of iron, which helps the blood transport oxygen and which many women are short on.
Raspberries Power: Ellagic acid, which helps stall cancer-cell growth. These berries are also packed with vitamin C and are high in fiber, which helps prevent high cholesterol and heart disease.
Salmon, Mackerel and Tuna These are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce the risk of cardiac disease.
Spinach Power: Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that help fend off macular degeneration, a major cause of blindness in older people. Plus, studies show this green fountain of youth may help reverse some signs of aging.
Squash (Butternut, Pumpkin, Acorn) Winter squash has huge amounts of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which may help protect against endometrial cancer. Cut one in half, scoop out the seeds and bake or microwave until soft, then dust with cinnamon.
Tomato Power: Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as an antioxidant. Research shows that tomatoes may cut the risk of bladder, stomach and colon cancers in half if eaten daily. Drizzle fresh slices with olive oil, because lycopene is best absorbed when eaten with a little fat.
Wheat Germ A tablespoon gives you about 7 percent of your daily magnesium, which helps prevent muscle cramps; it is also a good source of vitamin E.

Here is a skit make up by MA 423 Franklin you are welcome to use at your chapter meeting!!!

Rapunzel
4 people: narrator reads the bold parts. Rapunzel. Prince. Mother.
Props: ladder and a large ribbon

Nowadays, it is very hard for a single mom to raise a daughter all by herself. This mother thinks that she has solved the problem by locking her daughter, Rapunzel, in the tower of their attic, at the very top of their old Victorian house. There Rapunzel grows up to be a beautiful teenager. Although she has everything she could possibly want, Rapunzel doesn’t get enough exercise living in a one room tower. This doesn’t really bother her all that much, after all, who cares if she’s fat. She never sees anybody except her mother. So she wiles away her time by reading and listening to music. She likes to sing, however, and daydreams that she’s a famous opera star, traveling around the world singing in opera houses.
One day, a handsome prince hears the beautiful voice and follows the music. He is enthralled to see a beautiful girl, way up in the window of the tower. As he looks up and enjoys the music, we join him…
Prince: Her voice is so beautiful. She is beautiful, too. I could listen to her forever. The prince claps, when the song ends. (Clap, Clap, Clap)
Rapunzel: Oh! You startled me. I didn’t see you.
Prince: Please don’t stop singing, beautiful lady. You sing so beautifully.
Rapunzel: You embarrass me. I I I don’t think I can sing, anymore.
Prince: What a pity! What is your name?
Rapunzel: Rapunzel
Prince: Come down so we can get to know each other.
Rapunzel: I can’t. I’m locked in this tower.
Prince: Why?
Rapunzel: My mother loves me and is so afraid of the world. I’m locked away to keep me safe.
Prince: I’ll protect you. Ask your mother to let you out.
Rapunzel: OK. I will ask her tonight when she brings my supper.
Prince: I’ll come back tomorrow, the same time. Good-bye beautiful lady.
Rapunzel: Goodbye, sweet prince.
Later on in the day, Rapunzel’s mother unlocks the door to the tower and brings in a huge platter of spaghetti and meatballs, garlic Italian bread, butter, whole chocolate milk, and pecan pie with ice cream.
Rapunzel: Oh mother, thank you. The most wonderful thing happened today.
Mother: Yes dear.
Rapunzel: I met the most handsome prince, and he wants me to leave the tower, and go down to meet him.
Mother: What! Oh dear, this is what I was always afraid of. Think Rapunzel. Why does he want to meet you?
Rapunzel: He likes my singing.
Mother: Ha! Don’t be naïve. You think he’s impressed? Wait till he sees you. You are over twenty pounds over-weight.   He’ll back off faster than ice cream on a hot day.
Rapunzel:   oh (sadly)
Mother: Never mind, my dear. Mumzie loves you. Now be a good girl and clean your plate, I’ll be up later and we can play cards.
Poor Rapunzel ate her food choking back deep sobs. What can she do? Fate is so cruel. She finally meets a young handsome prince, and she’s too ugly to let him see her.
      The next day, the prince comes back.
Prince: Rapunzel, Rapunzel, come out and play.
Rapunzel: I can’t dear prince. My mother forbids it. I must stay in the tower. But I will sing you a song.
Prince: But why?
Rapunzel: Because it’s safer than outside. What song would you like to hear?
Prince: I don’t understand.
Rapunzel changes the subject by singing. She sings so beautiful that the prince is lost in thought. When she finishes, they bid each other good night.
      The next day, he’s back.
Prince: Rapunzel, how’s this idea?   If you can’t come down, can I come up?
Rapunzel: Er…er…er The room is a mess. I’m embarrassed for you to see it.
Prince: I don’t care about the room. I just care about you. You can clean the room and tomorrow I’ll bring a ladder.
Now what was Rapunzel going to do? Once the prince saw how overweight she was, he’d never come back. Maybe she’ll tell him she’s very sick with something contagious.
      The next day, he’s back.
Prince: Rapunzel, I’m here with a ladder. Let me come up.
Rapunzel: NO! No, you can’t. I’m sick. I’m sick with measles. It’s highly contagious.
Prince: That doesn’t bother me. I’ve been inoculated.
And the prince starts to climb up. But the ladder is too short to reach all the way to the window.
Prince: Oh Rapunzel, what can I do?
Rapunzel: Whew! Oh. I mean, Oh Well! Maybe it’s not meant to be. Let’s just talk and get to know one another.
Prince: We’ve done that. And I already know that I love you.
Rapunzel: And I love you. But you, well, you don’t really know me.
Prince: I do. I love you.
Rapunzel: What if I’m fat and ugly?
Prince: I’ve gotten to know a beautiful girl. If the outside of this beautiful girl is fat and ugly, that won’t matter at all. That’s just the outside.
Rapunzel: Really?
Prince: Yes, I mean it.
Rapunzel: Well, I could let down all my hair, and you could climb up.
Which was exactly what the prince did. The prince and Rapunzel are together. And he was not repulsed by Rapunzel’s weight, at all. She was not ugly, just overweight, and he knew exactly what to do about that.
Prince: Rapunzel, it’s no wonder you’re overweight. You don’t get enough exercise. You won’t be able to escape out of this tower if you can’t fit through the window. Let’s set up an exercise regimen.
Rapunzel: Yes, you are so right. I get no exercise at all. And I’ll eat less. My aim is to fit through that window to be with you.
We will now fast forward to a month, ahead. Rapunzel has been dancing to her singing. She has taken up zumba and pilates. She also dropped out of the clean plate club and told mumzie that she wants salad to be part of her dinner and cut the portions drastically. Mumzie wanted to keep Rapunzel happy and Rapunzel never seemed happier. The prince came everyday.
Prince: Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.
Rapunzel: Here you are.
Prince: My goodness. Look at you. Your clothes are too big for you.
Rapunzel: I’ve lost ten pounds.
Prince: I think if you keep the regimen up, we can elope, next month. Let’s dance to that.
And so Rapunzel and the prince danced the night away, planning their elopement. The prince made wedding arrangements and planned the great escape. Finally, the day came.
Prince: Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.
Rapunzel: Here you are. Why, what are you carrying?
Prince: Rapunzel, you can fit through the window now. You can also fit this engagement ring on, and the wedding ring that awaits you. Here is a strong satin ribbon to tie on the bed post, so you can lower yourself out the window.
Rapunzel: The ring fits!! And I fit through the window!
Prince: Rapunzel you have made me so happy.
Rapunzel: You have made me happy too. Who knew what exercise and eating less would do?