September Goals

First, I’d like to recap how I did on my August goals.  If you remember, I created these goals on my Meal Planning post half way through August.

SO HOW DID I DO?

GOALS FOR THE REST OF AUGUST

• Cut down on the grains I eat and buy gluten-free products. –
  • I did manage to cut down on grains for the week that I meal planned…not so much the last week of August.   I definitely didn’t try to purchase gluten-free products.
• Consume at least one serving of fruit each day. 
  • I definitely didn’t consume at least one serving of fruit a day.
• Juice one cup of fruits and veggies daily or make a smoothie. 
  • I only juiced twice and didn’t end up making any smoothies.  I have to say, freshly juiced OJ is AWESOME!
• Buy smaller quantities of fresh produce, don’t waste it! 
  • Some products you just can’t buy smaller quantities of.  I ended up wasting blueberries, kale, and a cucumber.  But the amount of fresh produce I did use up greatly outweighs what was wasted!
• Prepare snack-sized portions and meals ahead of time  (freezer meals for the days I want something quick). 
  • I cut up some broccoli and carrots and made dip for snacking.  That was all I made ahead of time.  No freezer meals.
• Track my calories.  If I’m repeatedly coming up short on reaching 1200 calories a day, consider high calorie shakes. 
  • I did not track my calories.  Tracking calories of homemade meals is difficult!  BUT not impossible, so I should be doing this every day!
• Half or even quarter recipes that I can’t freeze 
  • Easy!  (except for quartering an egg)
• Limit myself to one piece of chocolate a day. 
  • On most days, there wasn’t even any chocolate in the house!
• Don’t even buy ice cream! 
  • For the most part, there was no ice cream, except for the last week of August where I caved and bought a pint of Phish Food.  But considering one pint lasts me 4-5 days, I’d say that’s pretty good!
• Start regularly taking the vitamins/supplements I’ve been “forgetting” to take (calcium, fiber, probiotics, melatonin, etc) 
  • I started taking melatonin and probiotics daily.  I took fiber one day but forgot about the rest.  Need to add them to drinks DAILY!
• Get outside for at least 30 minutes each day (wear sunblock!) 
  • I didn’t go outside  for 30 minutes each day, nor did I wear sunblock.

Yeah, not so great.  I could definitely use some improvement for September!

I did try to make some frozen banana chocolate ice cream….it did not turn out, at all.  I bought cocoa powder based on a recipe and it was just plain disgusting.  I am going to try it with some Ovaltine to see if it is any better.

My husband and I went grocery shopping yesterday after I meal planned based on my soon-to-expire coupons and the store ad.  Out of the 47 items we bought, I think maybe 5 of them weren’t on sale or we didn’t have coupons for!  We ended up saving about $35!  We still spent over $120 so I’m no extreme couponer or anything.  I’ve never seen coupons for healthy food anyway.

SEPTEMBER GOALS

• Meal plan every week!
• Consume at least one serving of fruit each day.  Juicing and smoothies count!
• Don’t waste any fresh produce!
• Prepare snack-sized portions and (freezer) meals ahead of time.
• Track my calories.
• Limit myself to one piece of dark chocolate a day.
• Limit myself to less than 1/2 cup of ice cream a day.
• Start taking vitamins/supplements DAILY!
• Take a 30 minute walk each day (wear sunblock!)
• Create an #outwithstudentdebt video.
• Meditate for 2 minutes a day.
• Play a brain game at least once a day.  (Supposed to help with a  bad memory)
• Get a job or start making income somehow!

I have two potential job interviews coming up within the next few weeks.  One is for a local house cleaning business and the other is at a library.  Wish me luck!