A Letter to Lose and Win 2007 Participants

We can’t believe that an idea in 2005 to have a weight loss program based on the book “The Town That Lost a Ton” would become an annual event in Hancock County.

Pete Loiselle, who lost 500 pounds, shows a Lose and Win audience his old pants.

In Hancock County, 374 residents formed 45 teams and accumulated a loss of 2,630 pounds during Lose and Win 2006. 

Lose and Win is a 10-week program in which teams are formed to challenge other teams, not only to lose weight, but also to develop a healthier lifestyle. We have found that past participants may not have had to lose weight, but did need to make a change in their lives. Some quit smoking, while others added regular physical activity to their lives, or gave up soda and switched to water. Encouragement to meet these goals came from attending weekly meetings and getting support from their teammates.

The Healthy Hancock Education Committee has been busy planning the 2007 schedule for the 10-week program. New this year will be a mini health fair for the week two meeting. Lose and Win participants can receive screenings and education on a variety of health-related subjects.

The weekly programs cover a variety of subjects. A speaker will talk about emotional eating, we will have an introduction to Jazzercise and Cheryl Wixson will give a cooking demonstration on week seven.  Cheryl will also be providing healthy weekly recipes.

The emphasis this year is on physical activity. Weight loss is nearly impossible without significant physical activity (we hate the E word). Each participant will be receiving a pedometer in his or her packet. The newly designed journal, sponsored by Hannaford, will have a space to record the number of steps taken each day.

The Kick Off for Lose and Win is Jan. 4 and the program will end on March 8. What better way to have 10 weeks of winter fly by and go into spring having made healthful changes in your life and being pounds lighter.

Team captain registration forms and the schedule of events are located in this supplement. If all your questions are not answered in this issue, call 667-2474.

We hope you will form a team and be part of the Third Annual Lose and Win. It’s fun!

— Lose and Win Planning Committee

[photos of Lose & Win 2007]

Maine’s Bountiful Harvest: These Nutritional Treasures Won’t Break Your Diet
PUMPKIN
SNACK CAKES

My teenagers are always rummaging through the cupboards for a snack. I make Pumpkin Snack Cakes and store them in the freezer. Better than cookies, one little cake has over a gram of fiber and provides 20% of the RDA of Vitamin A. Dry milk powder and chopped apricots
replace the sugar to add extra calcium and Vitamin C.

Beat with electric mixer in large bowl:

•   1 – 15 ounce can pumpkin (1¾ cup cooked pumpkin)
•   ½ cup sugar
•   3 eggs
•   1 cup canola oil
•   1 ½ cup skim milk
•   ½ cup fat-free dry milk powder

Mix together in medium bowl:

•   2 cups all purpose flour
•   ½ cup wheat germ
•   2 cups whole wheat flour
•   1 tablespoon cinnamon
•   1½ teaspoon grated nutmeg
•   2 tablespoons baking powder

Stir into pumpkin mixture. Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips and ½ cup finely chopped dried apricots.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray mini-muffin pans with cooking spray. Spoon batter into pans and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool on rack. Store in tins, plastic bags or plastic containers. Makes 72 cakes.
Nutritional analysis per cake: 83 calories, 2 grams protein, 10 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fat, 1 gram fiber, 29 mg sodium.