Thinner Thursday

Well, my honest intention was to share a recipe today... but the truth is... I'm so confused by the kids going back to school yesterday that I don't have my act as together as I would have hoped.  So instead, I'm going to wax philosophical at you about getting healthy.

Yes, GETTING HEALTHY... not skinny, not hot... healthy.  That's really my goal.... and for me that means at least 25 lbs have to go... for good.  The only way that's going to happen is if I change my thinking and my behavior. 

Well, I can say my thinking has changed because for once I actually feel like I not only *should* do something but want to do something and *will* do something about my health.

That said, I'm munching on Sour Patch Kids as I write this... so clearly my mind and body are not in sync.  My mind is saying... "Enough!" and my tongue is saying "mmm... do it again" (If you've ever seen the Lion King, think of the Hyenas who get creeped out by someone just saying "Mufasa" at them... that's how I feel about Sour Patch Kids. ).

I'll be honest, I have made minor changes... adjustments in my navigation towards the goal of losing 25 lbs.  I'm, frankly, not a fan of any weight loss pill/supplements... sure I'd love to drop pounds like no ones business... but I firmly believe that if I just eat real food regularly, I'll lose weight.  I believe it because that works.  So my biggest challenges really turn into the following... It would be awesome if:

• I could function without a caffeinated, sugar-laden soda
• I could run my kids down in the backyard and not feel like I've had a work out
• I felt full, instead of guilty when I eat.
• I eat meals reagularly... instead of forgetting meals and stuffing myself at dinner.
 

So how might I accomplish these simple things...

• phase out soda. 
• Right now is the perfect time to do that for me... I have a cold and I recently have the stomach flu.  It's a tru-ism in my life that soda tastes especially nasty when combined with post-nasal drip.  Not that I'm mixing them in a cup.. . that's gross... I meant that the mucus dulls my taste buds and just the film of soda is left in my mouth with none of the pleasure of it's addictively sweet taste
• Frankly, I'm pretty on target here-- I'm not drinking it at home and will drink other stuff when given the option
• I WILL lose weight just dropping the useless calories and sugar addiction that drives me to eat chocolate and carbs.
• reduce the weight stress on my knees and hips and ankle joints and I'll be goofing off with the kids by summer.
• Some people would say, increase exercise... go walking... yeah, no... not likely... at least not until it warms up and then I want to walk alone.  And I want to walk in the woods like my family used to when we lived in England and Germany. Since I don't live on the edge of the Black Forest any more... and instead in the mosquito infested Midwest... we'll see.
• Cook real food.
• Ever notice how you go through the fast food drive thru and get your "value meal," because you're starved and pressed for time. Then you scarf that thing down as though it was manna from heaven.  And within 20 minutes, you're full but feeling like a pig for eating all that food, but you're some how still hungry?  That's because you didn't eat REAL food.  The crux of most diets centers around eating REAL food.  Tonight, I made steak, baked potatoes, salad and sweet corn casserole for dinner... we hardly ate anything.  Why?  My theory is the food was real, it was good and my body knew it was getting nutrients and not preservatives.  In fact... I'm still so full from dinner 4 hours ago, I only ate about 10 Sour Patch Kids.  [Normally, my tongue would be burning by now, because I ate the whole bag.]  The only thing I felt guilty about after dinner was asking my husband to do the dishes because I'm a little under the weather. 
 
 

So there you have it peeps... my mental framework for reaching my Health goal.  And I think 25 lbs is reasonable and I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be able to feel halfway decent in a swimsuit this summer. 

And since I'm feeling inspired... here's the "recipe" for Pan Steaks I pulled off tonight after watching the Food Network for years (in other words... there's no real recipe, just a technique).

4 NY Strip Steaks (about an inch thick-- if the steaks are thinner, you may possibly omit the oven stage).

Montreal Steak Seasoning

Olive Oil

large stainless frying pan  that is oven-safe(Mine is a cuisinart 14" fry pan).

Heat oven to 400 deg F.

Heat 1- 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil in pan on stove top.

Season one side of steak with steak seasoning.

When oil is hot hot hot... lay the steaks, seasoning side down, in the pan.  Wiggle the steak slightly to be sure there is oil under it.

Season exposed side of steak the steak seasoning. 

Let Steaks sit in pan for approximately 7minutes, the flip.

Let steaks sit in pan (cooking, obviously) for about 5 minutes (peak to see it's browned).

Place pan in oven for (no joke) 10 minutes. 

To test if the steaks are done (PLEASE PLEASE use a oven mitt to touch the pan and stove racks), pull the pan/rack out partially and poke one of the steaks with your finger or a wooden spoon.  If the resistance you receive from the meat feels like that muscle between your forefinger and thumb, then your steak is medium rare.

Mine were phenomenal. Really! And I don't cook steak every night... you can use leftovers for your lunch salad the next day.  MmM...

What are your get thin ideas... please comment here or on the FB page.