It’s a short month ya’ll! There are less days to get things done in February but I’m determined to be successful in my goals.
How did I do in January?
January Goals
1. Do yoga once a week. Either a class at the gym or at home. NOPE!
2. Go Snowshoeing at least once. YES!
3. Try one new restaurant each month. This month: Iorio. Yes!
4. Start training on the bike! YES!
I did pretty well in January. I’m proud of myself for completing most of my goals. I snowshoed twice in January (and once in December). I went to Iorio for my birthday dinner. And I’ve been consistently training on the bike once a week. I wish I had been more diligent with the yoga because as an injury-prone person I definitely need it. However with the start of the new year the gym classes were too crowded for me to try and go to yoga.
Going into the new month with a new set of goals I feel energized.
February Goals
1. Try one new restaurant each month. This month: Pata-Negra
2. Continue training for the Portland Century.
3. Try running outside (after 5 months of treadmill running).
4. Take a Body Pump class at the gym.
5. Pay attention to portion sizes!
Speaking of portion sizes…Michael and I had a debate last night about dinner and portion sizes. He picked up a New York Strip Steak for dinner.
I marinaded the steak in Soy Sauce, Balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire Sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and freshly minced garlic.
The steaks look huge and yes they are more than 1 serving but they were really thin. Michael’s argument is that since the steaks are so thin they aren’t two servings. I contend that they ARE two servings. Conflicting reports say 3 ounces of steak is a serving. We ate way more than a serving. 🙁
Can steak be frozen (uncooked) and defrosted at a later date? I want to make sure that we don’t eat 3 servings in the future but all the steak cuts at the grocery store are pretty big. There’s got to be a way to insure serving sizes AND save money. Any ideas?
While the steak was marinading we made sweet potato fries from 1 potato. I also steamed broccoli.
Michael and I discussed our Menu Planning. As you can see I already deviated from “The Plan.” Michael wants most of our meals to be planned this way:
PROTEIN
VEGETABLE
CARB
And once a week we just buy the protein to have on hand. I think it’s a good plan. I want to try new recipes and shake things up but it will follow that general template.
We spent the rest of the evening finishing Season 2 of Damages (such a good show). A coworker gave me sample of his girlfriend’s cookies that she sells in her store. Michael and I split the package.
Vanilla Bean, chocolate and caramel. Decadent!
A Google search of serving sizes has given me conflicting results. One said a serving of steak is 3 ounces. Another website claimed 12 ounces. Another says 4 ounces. So confused! Serving sizes have always been my downfall regarding my weight. I need to get on this!
QUESTION: What are your goals for February and how did you do with your January Goals? Plus, give me some tips on the steak servings sizes!
Lynne
On Weight Watchers, 3 ounces of lean, cooked steak is a serving and is 5 points. But I always keep extra points for dinner so I can have 2 servings of protein. You could do the same with calories!
Lisa Eirene
I could! I don’t have a problem eating a little bit extra I just want to make sure I am calculating it correctly. Thanks for the info!
Carbzilla
First of all, yes, you can freeze uncooked steak and defrost later. I do it all the time. I think if you’re even industrious, you can freeze it IN marinade so it marinates as it defrosts, though I’ve never done that.
I though a serving of meat was the size of a deck of cards which would come in between 3 – 4 oz. Definitely NOT 12! Holy Moly!
We meal plan the same way you guys do, with components or sometimes whole dishes. As long as they’re semi-balanced (I have to really make sure I get in my veggies).
Those cookies look AMAZING!!!!
Lisa Eirene
I think we ate 8 ounces in that steak last night.
I’ll give the freezing a try. Michael is okay with eating 8 ounces of steak but I’d really rather eat a serving. Maybe I just freeze half of my steak…
Lori
Yes, you can freeze meat – but freeze it raw. We purchase our meat in bulk at the smokehouse and divide it up and freeze it. That mostly just saves us a trip to the smokehouse more than price, but worth it.
As far as portion size – generally 3-4 oz of protein is a serving size. However, someone larger (like Michael) for instance, could have 6 ounces, since he is larger than you. Again, portion sizes are approximate on stuff like proteins and fruits and veggies. Although honestly, to me 12 ounces is 2 portions. Nobody really needs to eat a 12 oz steak. If it is a lean cut, you are looking at at least 600 calories in meat alone.
Lisa Eirene
I agree. Michael can eat way more than I can. I need to be more wary of serving sizes. I like the idea of buying meat in bulk and freezing it.
Phillis
I break up my meat into meal sizes and freeze in zip loc bags.
I also freeze single serving sizes of left over soups and stews. This gives you food already prepared on nights when you do not have time to cook and it also prevents you from eating seconds from the refrigerator.
Lisa Eirene
I like the idea of this because we both hate going to the grocery store multiple times a week. Not only that, we already do that with fish…
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin
I think you are right on this one! Those are more than 1 serving, and you can definitely cut it and freeze it. Sounds like you did awesome on your goals – good luck with February!
Jennifer (She's a Fit Chick)
Wow you did awesome with your January goals. I do not think I did as well lol. I have such a tough time with portion sizes as well.
Lisa Eirene
Portions have always been my nemesis!
Lisa
You can definately freeze steak and chicken and I highly recommend freezing the meat in the marinade. Makes the meat taste like you’ve had it marinating overnight.
I thought you could have the portion you have calories/points for, but portions are a problem for me too.
Kalin
Freeze the steak!
We buy steak at Costco (they have USDA Prime-the highest quality-for a good price ~$5 a pound and it’s so tender you don’t need a steak knife) and with two people you HAVE to freeze most of it! Press-and-seal wrap is nice for freezing since you can keep all the air off easily with it so it doesn’t get freezer burned.
Lisa Eirene
I’ll check out Costco next time we go. Thanks!
StephyEats
4 oz is generally a serving for women, but if you are very active in your daily activities and with exercise, then you may need more. Listening to your body is usually helpful in this sort of situation. If you feel like 4 oz does not satisy you after 20 minutes of eating it then maybe you actually need more. Also you most certainly can freeze uncooked steak, chicken, fish etc.
Lisa Eirene
That’s a good point too. I am a very active person and because I became so active I went from being a vegetarian to a meat eater because I craved the protein. Right now I am listening to my body and trying to figure out what it wants. Eating a lot of vegetables with dinner helps!
Erin
I worry about this too. I am doing Weight Watchers and often have enough points for 2 servings of protein at dinner. If I have the points, should I feel guilty about eating it? I tend to be all about quantity and don’t feel satisfied unless I have a big dinner.
Lisa Eirene
The way I see it as a calorie counter–if I have extra calories leftover nothing says I MUST eat them. Sometimes eating fewer calories works for me because of the type of food it is (like high in fiber or carbs) and the amount of exercise I’ve done. But with WW I’m not sure. I’ve heard that they don’t want you to go under your allotment of points…?