After stepping on the scale yesterday and seeing that number (which I am not going to share just yet), I knew I had to step up my game otherwise that number will just keep going up.
One thing lacking in my exercise routine? Strength training. I found this book through www.goodreads.com and ordered it off of Amazon.
I have some likes and dislikes about this book. First of all, I can’t be one of those people who eats six meals a day. I take an insulin shot with every meal, and the thought of adding 3 more shots in a day? No thanks.
But I did agree with the starchy vegetable theory, in that it only is useful to your body at breakfast and after a workout. I am going to add that one to my plan.
In one part of the book they have women’s excuses about why they can’t stick with this program. One woman said “eating the same foods is so boring. I’m sick of chicken and vegetables.” The authors answer?
Eating does not, and should not, equal entertainment. . .you need to enjoy fueling your body and how the healthy food makes you feel. Tune in to how great you feel when you’re eating those “boring” foods. The feeling you get by being in shape should outweigh how boring the food is.
What? Preparing food and eating food is one of the most enjoyable experiences most of us look forward to! So while I will be using their grocery list as a guideline, I am not going to stick to it 100 percent.
There are so many ways to lose weight: Weight Watchers, Paleo, Sugar busters . . . and who’s to say one is better than another. It finally dawned on me that I just need to keep it simple – move more, eat less. And add strength training!
Get ready to see lots of ideas with Chobani yogurt! The wonderful folks sent me a case of their new flavors – in 16 ounce containers!
The flavor I have been dying to try?
And I plan on trying to make super blueberry muffins using this yogurt and some of the Michigan blueberries I bought last weekend.
I did have the last of my plain Chobani in the fridge and made a strawberry and peaches. With 1/4 cup of granola, breakfast comes in at 315 calories, 3.5 fat, 55 carbs, 5.9 fiber and 17 protein.
Only one slight problem. I used the last of my insulin pen at breakfast, so before I could work out, I had to go to Walgreen’s to pick some up. This cut into my workout, so I only got 2 miles done.
I was going through my pantry and found a can of Bush’s chili beans. They had a recipe on the side of the can that sounded interesting. The only changes I made was that I left out the onion, and added one can of chili beans and one can of black beans.
Bush’s Chili Bean Chili
Makes Six, 1.5 cups servings: 286 calories, 11 fat, 29 carbs, 7.4 fiber and 21 protein.
INGREDIENTS:
1 lb. ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 cans (16 oz.) chili beans in sauce, undrained (I used one can of black beans one can of chili beans)
2 cups water (I used 2 cups chicken broth)
1 teaspoon chili powder (or to taste)
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or hot pepper sauce
DIRECTIONS:
In a large non-stick skillet, cook beef until lightly browned. Push to one side of pan. Add onion, garlic and celery. Cook until soft. Drain excess fat. Mix in remaining ingredients. Mix well, simmer 30 to 45 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
On the side I baked up some tortilla chips from Mission’s extra thin corn tortillas. Just 350 degrees for 10 minutes, makes the perfect dipper! Lunch comes in at 406 calories, 12 fat, 53 carbs, 10.4 fiber and 24 protein.
When I got home from work Tony was home and enjoying a cigar while the dog was wondering our yard. It’s been so nice without the mosquitos, but the flies are coming back, I think we’ll have to get another one of those fly catchers.
I decided to grill our steak – Bon Appetit had a recipe for Garlic Steak from a restaurant called St. Anselm in Brooklyn. This recipe is for 2 servings, believe it or not – 1.5 pound steak, or 14 ounces trimmed. I made this recipe 3 servings. And its not much of a recipe, but the parsley butter sauce is to die for.
Garlic Steak
(each serving: 480 calories, 28 fat, 0 carbs, 0 fiber and 53 protein)
- 1.5
ouncepound steak (I had a sirloin) - 1.5 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- chopped parsley
- coarse sea salt and pepper
Make sure your steak is at room temperature. Never go from the fridge to the grill. Season the steak liberally with salt and pepper. I cooked ours about 4 minutes per side for medium rare.
Melt the butter. Add the garlic and let it simmer while the steak cooks. At the last minute, add the chopped parsley and pour evenly over the two plates.
I know it’s kind of a shitty picture, but I liked how the smoke looked. 
Yep, last time you’ll see starch on my dinner plate for the month of August!
Dinner comes in at 585 calories, 31 fat, 16 carbs, 1.4 fiber and 54 protein.
August Goals
- 100 miles
- Track my Food
- Read a book
Move for at least 100 miles in August, whether its walking, running, biking or swimming. I can no longer “eye ball” my food because when I do, over time my portion sizes just get bigger and bigger. So my food scale and www.fatsecret.com will be utilized this month.
And read a book. I seriously cannot remember the last time I read a book from cover to cover, and I used to be such an avid reader. Now I just read blogs! I have some suggestions on www.goodreads.com, but if you have a suggestion, I am all ears.
Lastly, whose with me to meet their August goals? I know some of you told me what your goals were in yesterdays post, but if you email me, or leave a comment to this post with your goal, I’ll check back in with you at the end of the month to see if you met that goal.
Everyone that met their goal will be eligible to win a wonderful prize pack from me – not sure what it will entail yet, but it will be good!
Alright, I have to get ready for work – make it a great day!
Stats for August 1:
- 1573 calories (includes cheese and crackers I had after dinner)
- 63 fat, 146 carbs, 18 fiber and 109 protein
- 2 mile run
- 98 miles left for the month
My August goal is to find a new job & get accepted into the CELTA program in Chicago so that I can get the ball rolling on marrying my baby & being employable outside of the USA.
Ominous for 100 miles in August. I’m going to do walking.
I would like to read 3 books, walk 100 miles and volunteer at least once this month 🙂
Hi Biz! I’m glad you liked the Bob Ross video. Isn’t it great?! Sure, go ahead and use it. I hope your readers like it too. ~ Marion
My goals for this month are to read 3 books and hit yoga 2+ times a week and not lose my sanity – I have 2 weddings (on the same day) a horse show I’m judging (the next day) a shower for a wedding I’m in. And another 3 day horse show I’m judging – I need yoga mat time!
I’ll join you on your hundred if you’d like a partner
After getting some pretty scary results from my wellness check up (let’s just say my cholesterol is higher than my moms…and I’m only 26!), I’m getting serious about getting healthy! You motivate me, so I know I can do it if you can!!
My August goals:
~ Move more 6 days a week, for at least 30 minutes a day (Sunday is my ‘down’ day)
~ Really watch AND track what I eat (fat, calories and salt intake included)
~ Stay on track! School starts August 15th for both the husband and I, so I am determined to make it!
~ Lose at least 5lbs.
And if I know you’ll follow up with me, I know I’ll have more determination to stick to my goals!
As far as books, I’m a Stephen King fantatic. Do you have an e-Reader? I have a Nook and LOVE it! Our county library has free e-books 🙂
I forgot to click the notify me of follow up comments button, so if you respond, can you respond to this comment (I’m going to check the box right now!)
That’s just it Julia, its been so long since I’ve read anything, I have no idea. In the past I’ve read John Irving books, and Stephen King books. 😀
If you like witch/vampire books I can’t recommned A Discovery of Witches enough. It is by a historian, so the book is like a look into the past as well as the uncanny. I enjoyed reading it so much.
What kind of books do you like to read? I read a lot, so maybe I can suggest something for you based on your tastes… let me know!
My sister is also a diabetic and she has lost weight and kept it off!!! She has an insulin pump? One stick in 3 days!!!!! It takes a little to get use to but well worth it. Good job I love your blog!!!
Thanks! 😀 Sadly because I control my diabetes, my insurance company doesn’t want to fork over the insulin pump – I do hope to get it one day!
Hi Lori! I also didn’t like that book much. It isn’t very motivational and to think of food like that just makes a person want to rebel/binge.
I put curry and a little brown sugar in my chili.
Dieting is always made more complex than it is by human mind and emotions. I like your simple approach– best wishes that you keep to it in heart and mind, too!
I have many books I want to recommend, but here’s a pretty new one: The Orphan Master’s Son. I couldn’t put it down. I finished reading it in several hours, though it did take me two nights.
Thanks for the book recommendation Sophia! 😀
I actually am a member at the gym that Rachel, the author of that book, and her husband own. I did a jeans challenge at the gym and for 8weeks I followed her food plan outlined in the book and worked out with an emphasis on strength training 3 times per week. I lost 2 jeans sizes in those 8 weeks. Not much weight was lost, maybe 3 or 4 pounds, but what a huge difference in my body! Especially my muffin top! She advocates for enjoying 4 splurges a week, and she doesn’t mean a small cookie; she means lasagna, wine, and dessert if you want. Sounds good to me!
Wow – that’s great – 2 jeans sizes! 😀
Good luck with your goals for this new month! It’s never too late to give yourself a kick start.
Strength training is awesome! I quit when I broke my foot back in March and am only just now restarting. Sad that I lost my progress. Can’t wait to see what you do with all of that yogurt!
Just had my annual physical this morning and decided I would get back to being consistent with food and exercise. My big goal is to use the Y 12 times this month or cancel my membership. I hate that I am wasting my money by not going. At my son’s orientation we stood in the football stadium and barked like dogs … GO DAWGS SIC EM!
I won a Chobani pack from a blogger back in January and never received it 🙁 I really love Chobani 0% plain yogurt. There’s just something about the tartness. That vanilla chocolate chunk look really good though.
So I mentioned that my goal is to get back on track with marathon training this month. I am training for the Philly marathon in November but I was derailed by some minor injuries. I’m going to rework my training calendar this weekend, but I’ve been running all week. So far so good.
Good for you for getting back on track. I finally broke through the 160s and hope to write about it soon, but it feels great. You can do it too!! Life happens and we are bound to have setbacks but as long as we know when to get serious again I think we will be ok.
Great goals! My only goal is get through the first half of August, on vacation, without gaining any weight. Good luck with the goals.
Um, yeah, I believe that you should get enjoyment out of what you eat – I don’t subscribe to the whole “food is only for fuel” belief. If that was true, there wouldn’t be so many options, flavors, etc. I am also super jealous of your Chobani freebies. I bought a few of those small size ones yesterday at $1.07 each – free would be nice! Can’t wait to hear how the chocolate chunk one is.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. August is kind of a transition month for me, because summer is winding down, and for me, September is almost a new year. You can tell that I worked in an academic setting for many years. As for goals, to continue eating intuitively (not sure if I like that word), but to continue to add exercise minutes, until I’m up to 30 minutes, 5 days a week. This may be a small goal for many of you, but for me, it is pretty big and out of my comfort zone. I’m also planning to lose another 5 pounds by September 1.
Love some Chobani! I have yet to find the Chocolate Chunk! Gah! I need that in my life!:) Love that parfait!
And I agree…food has to be enjoyable!
I’m reading a book called The Book Whisperer right now…it’s for work. It’s actually good though! 🙂
I’m on the “food can certainly be entertainment” team. Not just the eating, the planning, the shopping, the actual cooking (which I love), the sharing with my family…however, everyone is different….I like the feeling of being fit too, so for me, it’s all about balance.
Have a great day Vat. Yay on the yogurt delivery!!!!
Reading is a pretty dangerous business.
My hubby played golf with some of Bush’s Beans R&D and Marketing guys back in the spring. Sadly, NO FREE BEANS.
Their White Chicken Chili recipe on the back of the White bean can is pretty darned good.
That yogurt creation of yours looks incredible.
I’m reading “The Good Thief” by Hannah Tinti. It’s cute! And an easy read.
Food is not my entertainment – or rarely, it is. But then, I’m not into cooking like you are, so there’s that. I’m rooting for you with this – give it your all for 30 days and see what happens!
My goals for August are to survive – no, ENJOY – my long runs each Saturday. In the dastardly heat and humidity. I need to remember how much I would have given, last August, to be able to run, period.
I think food should be enjoyable too…geesh! I don’t like the book already…ha ha just teasing. That chili looks good, as does the garlic steak. I have garlic fries on the menu tonight 🙂 I did manage to get my laps in last night in the pool…yay! Today it’s raining, we’ll see what it’s like when I get out of work. Hopefully, HOT!
That Chobani looks awesome! I’m jealous!
Do you use something like Daily Mile to track how much you move? 100 miles is very ambitious! I ran for 115 miles last month and did about 50 miles of biking, but I’m training for a marathon! But I know you will do great with your goals.
You know I just finished that FBB workout. You will feel it – I promise you. Eating 3 times a day will be okay for you – just be really fueled up for the workouts because they are very tiring.
I have been reading a ton since I got my Kindle. Have you read the Hunger Games books? Those are fast reads, which I like during the summer.
I’ve been slowly incorporating strength training into my routine, I hate it but I do it. I have not seen the chocolate chobani flavor yet, I am sure it’s fantastic like the rest of their flavors!
I <3 greek yogurt!! I tlcpiayly just add toppings like fruit or granola to mine, but I'd love to experiment more with recipes. I have seen some fun pancake recipes using greek yogurt instead of eggs or buttermilk that I'd love to try!
Chobani rocks my world! I have a hard time with food not being entertainment. I mean yes, on the one hand I get it, but on the other – I just wasn’t raised like that! Food has always meant some emotion in my life.
I understand what the author is saying about food not being entertainment…but I think enjoying what you eat is super important! Odd…Yayy for the Chobani! I’m supposed to be getting mine soon too- I cannot wait!
I love the 16 oz resealeable chobani yogurts, black cherry is my favorite but, I wasn’t very happy with the low fat chocolate, it was kind of odd, not my cup of tea. Intrigued to her what you think. The chocolate cherry brownie recipe was yummy 🙂
I am super jealous of your Chobani case! I’ve been eating boring plain yogurt. I wasn’t too keen on making any goals for August until you mentioned a prize…if this includes any of your homemade goodies I will be setting some goals ASAP 😀
Seriously, my goal is to get moved (we are moving to the coast!) & we will have a pool so I hope to swim laps every day until it gets too cool! There is also a brand new Y…so hopefully I will get back to my exercise classes in the fall.
Sounds like you’re on the right path! This is motivation for me. I’ve been slacking this week. Time to kick it into gear!
I am not as ambitious as you! I will:
run/walk – 50 miles
read – 2 books
track my food at least 25 out of 31 days.