Guilt-free Indulgence and a Love-ly Giveaway
Welcome Weight Loss Wednesday gals! (And anyone else peeking in!) If you haven’t joined our little cyber group of girlfriends, don’t fret! Newcomers are always welcome. You can get caught up by clicking on Weight Loss Wednesdays in the side bar. Just leave a comment on the last post listed there.
NOTE: During this week of Valentines giveaways, you may leave comments on any of the five posts until Sunday midnight EST. All winners will be announce next Monday.
Well—we had our first group conference call last night and it was a blast! I loved hearing your voices, sharing a bit from God’s word with you and then, listening to everyone interact. We will most definitely try to do it again and hope more of our WLW sisters can join us! (Those of you who signed up for the call, but couldn’t make it, email me at [email protected] and I will send you instructions for listening to it online.)
Today, I simply want to showcase the Valentines week giveaway for the day and give you a delicious and guilt-free recipe that is great to serve to your sweetheart, family, friends or co-workers. Every time I make, it gets rave reviews!
First for the giveaway:
One of you will be sitting soon in your home enjoying the scent of P.S. I Love You oil in a new electric oil diffuser. Both are from Bath and Body Works. Along with it, you’ll also receive some shower gel in the same fun, flowery scent. Oh, and by the way, married or single, it is God whispering “P.S. I love you!”
Now for the recipe: (and then I’ll announce the winner of last week’s little scripture memorization challenge…)
Hot Fudge Cake
1 C flour
3/4 sugar
2 T cocoa powder
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1/2 C skim or 1 % milk
2 T olive oil
1 t. vanilla extract (can use almond, coconut or cherry too–Yum!)
1 C brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 C cocoa powder
1 3/4 C boiling water
Combine first 5 ingredients in an ungreased 8 or 9 inch square pan and stir. Add milk, oil, and vanilla, blending until smooth. Combine brown sugar and 1/4 C cocoa and sprinkle over the top. Pour boiling water over entire pan and do NOT stir. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes until lightly set. A layer of oohey-goohey fudge settles to the bottom. Serve warm. (For the deluxe version, top with light whipped cream or ice cream!
Serves 9 240 calories 3.8 grams of fat
Okay—now….the winner of a fun, funky, and colorful set of recipe cards, along with matching measuring cups and spoons is:
Danielle Timestamp: February 3, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Congrats! Email me your home address at [email protected] so I can mail your your gift!
Now, go ahead and check in and let us know how your week went. Or, if you are new, let us know your health goals—weight loss, exercise or healthy eating desires.
My week was pretty good, other than it was crazy busy and I missed two planned days of exercise because of it. But, this morning, I was still down one 1.4 pounds and for that I am thankful!
Your turn! Remember, one gal who comments will win today’s giveaway pictured above!
Guilt-free blessings,
The cake looks delicious; I will try it!
Aren’t we always looking to slim down? I know I am! The Wii gave me some good news with my weight last night, so I am pleased. I will hit the treadmill today at work.
I would love the scented warmer!
Thank you!
Working on healthier eating – no weight change.
Gotta love finding out your pregnant! How exciting…to find the reason the weight’s not coming off. I wish that was my excuse…I just need to get motivated…I feel really lazy lately.
I am really excited about all of this great wealth of information and encouragement on P31! I haven’t lost weight this week but I have maintained. I have lost 18 lbs since December and my goal is to lose 25 more. I have cut my consumption of sodas down dramatically and working to cut out all sweets so they are more of a treat, instead of a daily occurence. Thanks for sharing the cake recipe. I may just have to make that for my hubby!
Marcia
OH, how was the conference last night??? I didn’t find out till too late that my meeting last night was cancelled, so I am bummed I missed it but looking forward to listening to the recording. Hopefully next time!
Oh, that cake looks yummy! I will have to try it once I am over my chocolate aversion. GJ, Karen for still losing weight even when missing some exercise!!
Congrats, Jessica!! When are you due? I’m due 9/24
So last week, did good with exercise…then Mon came and the worse morning sickness. :( And I haven’t exercised since. Yesterday I thought I could exercise, I felt so much better than the day before but it comes and goes all day long. :(
I forgot to weigh myself too. I always do that! So I’m weighing tomorrow. There’s not much I can eat it seems. I am pretty miserable LOL. Hungry, sick, tired. Hopefully I can exercise today, I’ll commit to half my normal time and see if maybe, wishful thinking here, it can keep this sickness at bay.
Have a great week everyone!
Though I am not a part of the group, I do appreciate low fat-healthy dessert recipes. I like pudding cakes, and may give this a try. Thank for all you do for our God
I’ve got a similar fudge cake recipe that I’ve made for years and love!! Thanks for sharing :)
The past week or so has been really tought for me. I’ve found myself making poor food choices, mostly from stress. My husband is scheduled for surgery on Friday of this week and I think I’m letting the stress of that situation overtake my good sense. Here’s to a newfound resolve and determination.
I LOVE BATH AND BODY
Congrats jessica! There does seem to be pregnant women everywhere lately! Anyway, I seem to be bouncing between the same 3 or 4 pounds lately. I think it’s time to kick the exercise up a notch. My DH is a teacher and we only had a 2 hour delay. That Mississippi River sure does slow down a storm! On one side 11 inches, on our side 5. Anyway, keep up the wonderful work everyone and remember with God on our side, we can accomplish anything!
Guh, I am not a part of the group but I am working on my weight loss… and it hasn’t been going too well. I find myself giving into temptation TOO much! I just need to keep repeating to myself something that I saw in my daily P31 devotional, ” You are worth more than this.” Thanks so much
Congrats Jessica! How exciting!
Thanks again for setting up the conference call, Karen! I didn’t speak up (which is really unusual for me!) but I did give me a lot of things to think about. I’m making a few note cards this morning with the word ‘Obedience’ on them. For me, I think that’s the key.
Down 2.7 pounds this week-I really think all the shoveling has a lot to do with it. I can’t believe how much snow we’re getting here in PA. It’s beautiful but oyyy enough already!!! No school today so I’m sure we’ll be out sledding and maybe even a snowman!
Have a great week everyone!
Oops…Congrats on the pregnancy Jessica! Exciting news!
Karen, thanks again for the conference call last night I loved it! I’m down 1 pound this week. I’m back to where I was before Christmas!! Now maybe some forward progress. No more wandering in the desert! Question: Your’s is the first blog I’ve EVER posted on. I’m not very tech savy. I would love to have a WLW blog that we could post to during the week. Some place to go when I feel weak and need to be accountable to someone. Maybe a place we could get to know each other a little more deeply, but I don’t have a clue how to go about this. Would anyone else be interested in that?
Congrats Jessica!!! I have had a good week. Still maintaining. If anyone has any good tips for maintenance let me know. I’m still exercising and it feels good to be able to do it! Everyone keep up the good work. It is a lifestyle change so if it takes a little longer it is worth it. It took me longer to lose the 26 pounds than most people, but the end result is worth it!
This recipe looks like a crock pot one that I have. It’s great!
Right when I feel like giving up, I read your blog and I’m inspired again ~ thank you!~ I am currently doing the Bible Study ‘First Place 4 Health’. We’ve been doing it for 2 wks now and I haven’t lost a pound, but I sat down and prayed real hard about it and figured out that God wants me to work on building my relationship with him first, making him the focus/center of my life, and then all else will balance out.
I think the Weight Loss Wednesday will be something that can help me in focusing on God while making healthy food choices and be encouraged to exercise. Thank you Lysa!
Congrats Jessica!
Restart :)
We are having a snow day! It is a nice day off with the kids. Hopefully we can play in the snow! I have finally lost 10 pounds total! It has been such a struggle butit feels good! I am so excited! Congratulations Jessica!
That cake looks so super yummy!!!
Jessica!!!!! Congrats! I am so happy for you. What is going on here? This is at least the second WLW gal who has popped up pregnant! ;-)
It is a great snow day! Lost 4 pounds in 2 weeks that’s good for me!!!Need to lose 20 before Aug. when my oldest daughter gets married…7 months later my other daughter gets married. Is there sex after kids?…it does get better when they move out….
Well, I finally figured out why I’m not really losing weight: I’m expecting! What a big surprise…and such a blessing. :) I think the Weight Loss Wednesday thing will still help me keep from gaining more weight than is healthy or necessary this time around, though, so I’m going to continue to check in.
Good Wednesday morning, My week is going pretty good. I missed last night’s conference call, I went to a friend’s house to exercise and when I got home I helped my twins study for a science test and completely forgot to call, I even had a reminder on my cell phone and don’t know what happened. I was looking forward to it. I have exercised 2 days this week so far and intend to do so 3 more days. I am part of a thing the Y is doing in the area where I live called Team Lean, I am on our local Christian radio station’s team and so have really been working hard to lose weight. Anyway I have lost 4.8 pounds in 3 weeks and am hoping to lose 20 more punds however long it takes me, even after our Team Lean challenge is over, it only lasts 12 weeks. Always looking for recipe ideas. I am a working mom and don’t have a whole lot of time to cook healthy so I welcome any ideas, the one you posted today looks dreamy, can’t wait to try it.