Before I get to the jerky recipe and progress pics, I wanted to talk a little about a conversation I had with Anna yesterday. I'm sure you remember the pictures of her--how tiny and beautiful she is. Well, and I hope she doesn't kill me for saying this, she wants to get fit, become more active, and lose a couple of pounds.
And before I started this journey I used to snap at her when she'd say that. "Who are you to say that you need to lose weight?! You're already skinny. I'm a huge fat ass, and you're tiny!"
I'd be mad for minutes hours days.
And I'd eat and eat.
And I know she still gets that from some people, but never from me.
Not anymore.
Why is that? Well, I've come to realize that we're all at different places. Anna's a few pounds away from where she wants to be. I'm many pounds away from where I want to be. And everyone out there is some where in between being drastically underweight (and wanting to gain weight) and being morbidly obese (and wanting to lose weight)--or even not caring, but I'm still not sure what to do with that type. Who am I to tell Anna (or anyone else) that her weight/health goals are insignificant? How does that help her? I should support her and anyone who tells me about their goal (be it huge or small).
Maybe my new attitude is a result of my journey. If it is, I think it's a welcome byproduct. What about you? Do you scoff at people who have to lose less weight than you? Or do you help them in any way you can?
Now to my recipe.
Spicy Beef Jerky
2 pounds Top Round London Broil (fat trimmed off)
1/4 cup Lite Soy Sauce
3 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
2 tsp Liquid Smoke
2 tbsp Agave Nectar
1/2 tsp Colman's Mustard
1 tsp Hot Sauce
1 tsp Medaglia D'Oro Instant Espresso
1-1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
1 tbsp Dried Minced Onion
1 tsp Crushed Red Chiles
1 tsp Ground White Pepper
- Place meat in freezer for a couple of hours to firm up. Trim meat. Slice into 1/4-1/8 ince wide slices and place in resealable bag.
- Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl and pour over meat.
- Marinate meat overnight.
- Dry meat as instructed by Jerky Maker.
That's it!
This makes about 40 pieces. They come out to be 45 Calories a piece (about 135 Calories per ounce--not sure if that's right). But each piece does have 60mg of Sodium per piece (about 180mg per ounce). That's less than 1/2 of the sodium that Jack Link's has...but more Calories? Not sure how that works. It still needs some work: I want to increase the sweetness a little bit, lower the sodium some more, and increase the beefy-ness. I'll have another recipe no later than next week...
More progress updates:
First, I wanted to take one of those pants pictures where the smaller pair is laid on top of the larger pair. This is the difference between 48x30 and 36x30. Not sure if it does it justice, but it's a crazy difference.
Then, just last night, I remembered that I had started tracking my weight and measurements back before I really started on this journey, but I never kept at it (another reason this change is so surprising to everyone involved). So, I had to dig that up. And here it is:
- Weight: -128 Pounds
- Waist: -14.125"
- Stomach: -14.5"
- Thigh: -8"
- Calf: -3.5"
- Bicep: -3"
- Body Fat (estimated): -6.3%
- BMI: -16.5 points
That last one's especially crazy to me!
Tuesday:
12 minutes on elliptical
12 minutes on stair stepper
12 minutes on exercise bike
1 set of planks (60 second front plank; 60 second back plank; 30 second side plank on each side)
50 situps
25 push ups
prayed daily
read the bible daily
date with Anna
fast
Total:
24 minutes on elliptical
24 minutes on stair stepper
24 minutes on exercise bike
2 sets of planks (60 second front plank; 60 second back plank; 30 second side plank on each side)
200 situps
100 push ups
ran/walked 10 miles
prayed daily
read the bible daily
2 dates with Anna
fasted
Weekly Calorie Count:
Saturday: 2,225 Calories
Sunday: 2,560 Calories
Monday: 2,190 Calories
Tuesday: 1,280 Calories
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Daily Average: 2,064 Calories.
Want to watch me twEAT? Check it out here.
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6 comments:
March 17, 2010 at 5:21 AM
Brilliant jeans photo! Can hardly believe you took a size 48...
That's a very important point you make about how much our individual goals mean to us... I've always been a bit miffed when a person who only needs to lose a few pounds can think it's such a big deal, but we all know how vilified women (it's predominantly women who suffer this fate, IMHO) in the public eye are if they - God forbid - gain a few pounds and creep up towards having a BMI of 21+... If someone is used to being a certain way, then a few extra pounds to them is going to seem like 100lbs to someone who has always been very big. I'm over-simplifying, I know... ;o)
March 17, 2010 at 12:29 PM
Awww. you're so sweet to Anna! And that pants overlay pic is crazy! Big big difference.
March 17, 2010 at 4:02 PM
Beej, thanks for the sweeeeet comment you left me. What a nice thing to say. You made my day!
I think we should support people whether they want to lose weight or gain weight. Can you imagine some people actually want to gain??? I think it is a struggle no matter the number. Glad you aware of this and able to support Anna.
WOW! What a difference in the pants and all of your measurements. Great job!
The jerky looks good.
March 17, 2010 at 6:44 PM
I love the picture of the pants. I need to pull out some of my large ones and do that same thing.
The beef jerky looks enticing. I may have to give this a try.
You know, thinking about your question, I am sure I have been that way, but now I am on the other end of it. I have a lot of people telling me that I don't need to lose more weight, but I know I do. There is a good lesson to learn here, that is for sure.
March 17, 2010 at 7:19 PM
Those are some mighty big changes! Well done!
March 18, 2010 at 9:05 AM
The pants are impressive!
Your realisation about Anna more so. I don't think that Anna is "overweight" but she also isn't someone that makes me scared when I hear she wants to lose a little weight. By your own words she wants to become more active, get fit and lose a couple of pounds. The first 2 are what are ultimately more important.
My sister is tiny and I mean tiny enough her doctor has suggested she gain a few pounds. BUT I am in better shape than her, she couldn't keep up with me for 5 minutes while she was here. People looking at my 50 pounds to lose and her 5 pounds to gain would automatically assume she is in better shape but she isn't ultimately with all my weight I am healthier and more fit.
So focus on Anna's desire to be fitter and more active, it's something for both of you to live long happy lives together.
Well done putting away the baggage of being frustrated with people who have less to lose.
In my Weightwatchers meeting recently a woman hit lifetime after losing 10 pounds and there was some snarky woman who said wow you had it rough. My comment was I sure wish I had done this when I only needed to lose 10 pounds, there were choruses of agreement. She is not overweight in the sense that you or I were, but most people can stand to lose a couple pounds and more power to her for realising it now and to you for understanding we all have to be comfortable in OUR own skins.
OK enough rambling, keep up the great work.
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