I stopped by Walgreen’s on my way home from work to pick up my test strips. Since they are so expensive now ($245!) I will probably only test my blood sugar 2 times a day vs. the 6-8 I previously did. I mostly need to know what it is before I workout and before bed, so I guess those will be the two times a day I’ll test.
As usual, since it was after work the pharmacy was busy. I always look over the discount end cap right near the pharmacy, just to see what’s there. I was shocked when I saw this product.
Healthe Trim says all you have to do is take two pills in the morning, don’t eat breakfast and then you’ll get fuller faster so the weight will just fall off – but you can still eat your favorite foods, you just won’t be able to eat as much as you did before. The video I watched was a 42 year old Mom who said that thanks to Healthe Trim, when you kids napped, she could get so much stuff done, and instead of wearing sweat pants with baby spit up on them to bed, thanks to Healthe Trim she wears form fitting night gowns to bed!
Gah. Sadly though, I could see a slightly overweight teenager going to Walgreen’s with her Mom and just stopping in her tracks thinking “maybe this will help me lose the weight?!”
What I’ve discovered these last couple months, is that losing weight is more about doing than talking. I’ve talked about losing weight since I started this blog in 2008 but when it got tough, I quit. It’s so much easier to do nothing! But I realize it’s consistency and hard work that will get the results I want, not a dietary supplement.
Just curious how many of you have ever tried taking dietary supplements thinking it was going to be the magic pill?
Yesterday morning before work I had enough time to make pork and apple breakfast sausages. I love the fennel seed in these. I made a banana walnut Martha Stewart pancake on the side – this was surprisingly very filling.
All the big kids definitely have to be in school this week – the only kids at the pool were in the zero depth area and were all under the age of five. It was awesome!
My camera battery died, so while that was charging, I took a shitty picture of my lunch. I had chicken noodle soup that I made over the weekend and a pepperoni/mozzarella spinach wrap on the side. Probably not the best choice in lunch meat, but hey, we are eating what we have on hand. 
I needed to buy carrots for this soup and another recipe later in the week. Baby carrots were on sale for $1 so I bought those. They must be nuclear though. I cooked the soup for 2 hours over the weekend before we ate it on Sunday night – the carrots were nearly raw. So I cooked it another 2 hours before I went to bed – yesterday at lunch – still raw!
While I was meal planning over the weekend, I put steak and cheese quesadillas on the menu. I was trying to think back and I am not sure I’ve ever made that for dinner before!
While Tony’s meat just got seasoned with taco seasoning right before cooking, I did a quick marinade before work with my steak:
Spicy Steak Marinade
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 of a jalapeno, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (sorry Rhonda!)
- lime zest
- 1 tsp lime juice
- splash of vinegar
- salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 4 ounces of lean steak
I just threw everything in a ziploc and mixed it around and just tossed it in the fridge before heading out the door. I should really videotape myself in the morning because I am kind of like a tornado of activity from 6:30 to 8:00 when I have to leave for work!
On the side I adapted a recipe from Skinny taste for Cuban black beans and rice. I did it a bit differently though because I buy bagged black beans, not canned. So much cheaper. Over the weekend I soaked 2 cups of black beans. Then the next day, you rinse the beans, cover with water just enough to cover the beans and simmer for 2-3 hours. Just check periodically to see that all the water hasn’t evaporated. I added 1 tablespoon of jalapeno hot sauce, 1 tablespoon of garlic, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro and 1 tablespoon of cumin. I did the black beans separately because Tony isn’t a fan, even though I put some on his plate – his rice was just white rice with a teeny tiny bit of cilantro.
The secret to a good and gooey cheese quesadilla is to put a lid on top of the pan and cook it low and slow. This way the outside doesn’t get burnt before the cheese and inside ingredients get hot – I had 1.5 ounces of shredded colby jack, 1 cup of baby spinach and 4 ounces of the marinated steak. I cooked the steak while the rice was cooking and let it cool slightly before building the quesadillas.
You can tell how much I loved this because I am using THREE photos from dinner – ha!
The marinade was just spicy enough and truth be told, I probably could have shredded the whole jalapeno – next time!
I put that last picture on Facebook last night and said that I was pretty sure every exhale was going to be a fart – but it wasn’t too bad! Last night was Insanity 40 minutes of cardio power and resistance. I kept up with the power jumps – maybe not as fast as the rest of the group – but I did the whole time without stopping.
Here is what they look like: Insane, right? I’ll have to have Tony videotape me one of these days!
I put this picture on Instagram last night – just to change it up – ha! (are you following me yet on Instagram – biz319)
My arms are really starting to get toned!
Stats for the Day:
- 1760 calories, 69 fat, 182 carbs, 25 fiber and 105 protein
- (not pictured – ounce of almonds and a Chobani)
- 42% of calories from carbs, 35 from fat and 23 from protein
- 30 minute swim
- 40 minute Insanity
Right now I’ve got Grown Up Spaghettios on the stove for lunch. And I think I have time to make an black bean spinach omelet for breakfast. I still haven’t taken a shower yet though – and I have 20 minutes before I need to leave for work. Ha – no problem!
Make it a great day!
Nice post and Thanks for this useful information…
Ugh, I hate seeing those diet supplements, too. One of the reasons I love your blog is because I think being fit is a lifestyle, not a crash diet or a pill you take for a month. I love that you live “fit” and show that eating healthy can be delicious. I also love that you know that occasional splurges are necessary. I wish more people could realize this.
I have fallen into the “take this magic pill and lose weight” trap so many times, it’s shameful. You’re right, the only way to do it…is just to do it. So proud of you Biz. 🙂
Thanks V! Hugs to you and that baby in your tummy!
Sweety if talking about weight loss was the thing I would have been high school skinny years ago LOL. I talk about it, oh yes I know what I have to do. But do I do it? So far: no success! So I stop talking about it till I do it. And I keep coming back here because you are such an inspiration right now!
Those diet products should be made illegal to sell. And use the money to give good advice how to have a healthy lifestyle.
Ha – you and me both Fran – this is the first time in a long time that I am actually walking the walk and not just “talking” about how I’ll lose weight. Love it!
That spicy steak marinade looks delicious. Also, I agree with you about Healthe Trim – it’s really bad that they are plugging it as a way to get high school skinny by eating your favourite foods and just taking some pills. Weight loss doesn’t work like that unfortunately, you’ve got to put in the time and effort to get the results!
Yep, it’s hard work, but it does pay off. Let me know if you try the marinade – so good!
High school skinny makes me laugh…but you are right, I can so see a teen looking to that for a quick fix. I remember a couple of girls I went to school with did phentermine…fast results but they all still struggle to this day. The pool looks so inviting! I’m thinking you’ll have plenty of more pool time in your future…it’s hot as hell out! Quesadillas sound so good, I wonder how low I could get the points on those. When are you posting about the new WW products? I’m excited!
Check out these flour tortillas – La Tortilla Factory Low Carb burritos – only 50 calories each AND 7 grams of fiber. Use less steak, more veggies and you’ve got a perfect low cal/low carb quesadilla!
http://www.latortillafactory.com/products-3.aspx
I saw that same diet product at the store the other day and just about wanted to throw them all i na trash can. What woman would ever want to go back to looking high school skinny…we were, so, SKINNY! In a boy-like way! Maybe it was just me, but who knows….it’s not something I think young girls should be looking at or be influenced by…so sad.
And I can only imagine what I look like doing those power jumps. Like a fool I’m sure. Hahaha!
I think you look amazingly healthy now Mel after all you’ve been through – I hope you see that too!
Umm, that chick’s boobs don’t move At ALL during those power jumps. I would knock myself out!
Those quesadillas look amazing…now that is something MAK will actually eat!
Yep, I wear small exercise bras – and while they are bitch to get on and off (thanks Tony – but think you just “help” me so he can see my boobs!)
I laugh because I am smaller now than I was in high school!
That’s awesome!!
I am going to have to get the meal planning thing figured out. I always have good intentions. I think my two biggest problems are the different tastebuds in my family and I shop first and attempt to plan afterwards. I know, I know…. not the sharpest crayon in the box 🙂
We had a squirrel at one of the properties I manage. He was super friendly! We named him Herman. He must have been somone’s pet at some point. He would come over and run up your leg and sit on your shoulder. He would sit there forever, especially if you were feeding him nuts. So cute! I had to remove him from the property because so many people thought he was rabid the way he ran toward them. My daughter’s zoology teacher was kind enough to take him to her home.
Love the name Herman! I think Kyle would sit on my shoulder if I let him!
Meal planning is key – shop around what you have and what’s on sale – although I know its difficult when there are different tastes – my sister has three kids, one doesn’t like chicken, one doesn’t like red meat and one doesn’t like a lot of veggies.
Although they can all agree on taco fiesta, so I think she has that at least twice a week!
Your quesadilla plate looks awesome!! We have Mexican night at least once a week. I’ve come up with ways to make things healthy…now I just have to get a handle on portion control:( That Insanity jump picture is scary for many reasons, but mostly cuz the lady parts are almost out there – EEK! Be careful when you make your video 😉
OMG, there is so much camel toe in the Insanity videos its not even funny. I’m like “didn’t they notice on post-production??!! 😀
I’ll cover my lady bits, promise!
Ihave never tried a dietary supplement [I think they’re bogus/harmful] but the doctors have put me on some pretty weird drugs that have caused me to go down to 100 lbs all the back up to 160 lbs in the span of a couple of months. It really messed with my muscle tone tho’.
And that sale item? Ought to be banned. “High School Weight” – no pressure high schoolers. That would crush Wallene if she saw it. BAH.
Oh, and never question the beauty that is the pepperoni.
I like your black beans and rice. [Cheaper beans and a ton less sodium than canned]. I do the same thing except I take 1 cups rice [uncooked] 1 cup of cooked kidney beans and a can of diced tomatoes with chilis [which I puree in my NInja] – add enough water to the puree to make 2 cups liquid – mix rice, beans and liquid in a pot, bring to a boil, cover, simmer for 20 minutes. Viola! Instant red beans and rice. I made it up because Pooldad loves the stuff but none of the packaged varieties tasted like what we wanted. Can’t wait to try yours.
And if by insane you mean insanely fit and healthy – than YES. YES, YOU DO. You’re amazing Biz. Truly.
Thanks again for everything! xo
I actually love the fact that your pureed the tomatoes with chili – I would love it then. Me no likey chunky tomatoes!
Glad Squirrel had a great 21st birthday!!
Wowser……power jumps, those are out of my league, getting one knee up is all I can do plus jumping??? I’d kill myself, maybe when I was 46….but not 66 🙂
Oh yeah, I have tried those diet pills…..too much caffine, got a bleeding ulcer, vowed never again….stuff just does not work except hard work, excercise and eating right.
Since I have been on these new Diabetes pills….the blood sugars have come down quite a bit, but my weight is going up….and I get drowsie…..wish there was a happy medium. I pay $15 for 100 test strips…..but that is with Medicare. Not looking forward to seeing what Obamacare does to Senior Citizens. Let alone those younger then me.
Food looks good. Have a great day.
That’s an awesome price for 100 strips Louise! Glad you are eating well and exercise 😀
*confused
Quesadillas are one of my favorites. I like how you made the black beans, I’m sure they’re much better than the store! It looks like one of our (at least mine) pool days, so enjoy it Biz! Oh and I seen your comment about the squirrel (hand feeding it) yesterday and here is a short article I found for you. (It started off by someone asking what were the chances of them gettting rabies from a friendly squirrel and she thought you died instantly (which made me laugh!)…
Little to none; squirrels cannot contract or transfer rabies.
Even if you did get rabies, you would not die automatically. It has several stages and many people have survived bites from rabid animals with the help of a few rabies shots.
You can tell if an animal has rabies if it appears confused, acts abnormally, foams at the mouth, makes unusual sounds, or is especially aggressive; however, it is difficult to discern during it’s earlier stages, so be sure to keep an eye out for the symptoms!
Squirrels are typically pretty clean and gentile, so I’d worry more about any parasites it might have in those hard-to-reach areas than getting bitten. I feed (and sometimes pet) my local squirrels too, so as long as you wash your hands with soap and hot water afterwards, and they don’t become dependent on you for food, there shouldn’t be much of a problem. Happy feeding!
Btw, I have seen one rabid squirrel in my life and it was really confusing and walking all crazy like. I watched it for a half an hour or so before I figured it was rabies and then I shot him. Sorry to be gross but, I did.
OMG, so much info in this comment – but I have to say, the last part about you shooting the rabid squirrel made me just spit water out of my mouth! 😀
I’m a little horrified that those diet aids actually say “high school skinny”. No wonder body images are all messed up! Glad you didn’t fart your way through the workout as you thought you might! OMG, you are too funny Vat!!! Have a great day.
You and I are both happy that didn’t happen! 😀
I love that pic of you after your Insanity workout! I tried that workout a few months ago, and that’s exactly how I looked after a couple of circuits of those damn power jumps!
I honestly think my body would break if I was high school skinny…ugh to stupid marketing techniques like that!
I want that quesadilla like now…totally going on next week’s meal plan! The amount of diet pills out there is so sad, luckily I’ve always been way too scared to take them.
Sam, these are right up your alley – and you have a super deluxe kitchen to cook them in!
That quesadilla dinner with the black beans looks delicious!!!
And, that girl is a beast on those jumps which are just evil!!!
Yeah, I don’t do them nearly as fast, but I am consistent in the height of my jumps for the duration, which is more than I could do in the beginning!
You are rocking it!!!
oh my goodness, no, I have never tried one of those scary pills and never plan to! I can barely take Tylenol without anxiety…. 🙂
Yummmmm quesadilla! Those look good right about now…….at 10am…..ha!
My husband loves your diet. Beans and meat, which i don’t make him any of. Well, I do make a lot of beans. You are a whirlwind and you are going to be high school skinny by doing this! Were you skinny in high school? Don’t know.
Yes I was healthy in high school! You can check out my stellar pics in my ABOUT page:
http://mybizzykitchen.com/about/
There are those short toes again:)
And honestly, really have no idea how you get ready so fast in the morning and do so much. You should videotape that tornado.
It’s it a whirlwind of activity – although at that hour in the morning I have to TRY to be quiet because Tony is still sleeping!
So much fail in that product name, between the brand (Healthe? Really?) and the “High School Skinny” promise. I have some renewed faith in humanity to see that it was on the discount rack, because it sounds like it’s basically legal speed.
Great job on your work as always! 🙂
Thanks E! 😀