Walking!

Wow - its been almost a week. The new job has me busy! So busy in fact that I am trying to figure out just how to squeeze in the exercise. So I decided to try a different route to and from work. This new route involves one less train switch which is pretty awesome and a .8 mile walk to my office. Done in reverse - another .8 mile back for a total of 1.6 miles in a day! It is through crowded city streets - so not exactly a jog, but there is some sport involved as you are constantly figuring out how to leap past the slow poke or tourist that just stops dead in their tracks to look up. Speaking of that - if you do ever come to NYC please move aside before stopping short and looking up. We realize there are a lot of awesome things to see - but really - its for your own safety and virgin ears if you are not a fan of explicatives.

I am however, getting a little concerned about my weight. I continue to gain - all in my stomach area despite a very good diet consisting of mostly organic foods. I know how many calories is in everything I eat - so I am still calorie counting as well. I am starting to get concerned that there is something going on beyond my control (like fibroids or something)since my waist band keeps expanding. It is incredibly frustrating and depressing. My new insurance starts on Dec 1st - so that will be my first priority. And no, I'm not pregnant! I had my tubes tied, and the paranoia in me did force me to buy a test which was of course negative.

So there you have it. At least I will be getting in a nice walk every day and hopefully at some point will actually make it to kick boxing!

Paneer Instead of Punches

Ok, so I admit it. I didn't go to kick boxing last night. Instead I went for Indian food with my honey. You see, my kids have been sick since Sunday and I have gotten no sleep the past few nights. I was exhausted. So a nice dinner sounded like the perfect solution. I stuck to a vegetarian dish so I was good. I then came home and passed out. Didn't even watch the World Series.

So I promise I will get to kick boxing. It may just have to wait til the weekend.

Lets Get Physical!

So I have figured out that I have gained 29lbs since I stopped going to kickboxing about a year and a month ago. So much happened that it became impossible. My dad passed away, I got divorced and I lost my job. A trifecta crap shoot if you will. But now things are looking up. I got a new job and have an awesome fiance :) So I have decided that no matter how crazy my schedule is, I am going back to Kick-boxing. I felt awesome when I was actively going, and I had lost a lot of weight and gained a lot of muscle. It was one thing that REALLY worked for me. I know its going to kill me the first couple of times I go back, but the weight should (hopefully) start melting off! That and I need the energy back that I used to feel when I was going.

So tell me more about kick-boxing you say? Well - I go to this place called CKO. The trainers there are awesome. If I didn't feel so comfortable in this place I would look for something more convenient to my new job, but really - I feel like there is nowhere else I can go. There are people of all shapes and sizes in this class. The instructors treat everyone the same, knowing that those of us not in as great a shape as the others are there to get healthy. They are so supportive and never make you feel like you don't belong there with the "super healthy" folks. Its an hour long class with the last 10 minutes devoted to abs. When you leave you are drenched in sweat. It works out every muscle and you see the results really quickly. I was amazed with how much better my body looked in only a few months the last time I actively went. So with all of you as my witnesses - I am going back. Wednesday night will probably be the night, so I will post after my first class back.

Hopefully this along with the new improved diet will be the one-two punch I need to lose those 30-40lbs. Sorry - I just couldn't resist the pun.

Props to Quick Food

So as you may have gathered from my previous posts, I have a new job. This is exciting stuff. I am working "all the way downtown" in "the city". For those of you not from around these parts, that translates to the Wall Street area in New York City (aka NYC, aka Manhattan). It's a really cool part of town. The Stock Exchange is a block away and the spot where Washington was sworn in as President is around the corner. There are cobblestone streets with really old buildings and pubs. Its a total maze, nothing makes sense compared to the very easy to navigate grid that makes up most of the city. Lots of nooks and crannies with great little restaurants.

So during my first week of work, I was very pleasantly surprised with some of the local breakfast and lunch places. Not only were they quick and easy, but they were diet friendly. And I'm not just talking healthy choices, I mean they had the calories of everything displayed right in the store (even on the big menu/price boards). You didn't have to navigate the web to find nutrition info (though the sites are great too), it was just right in front of your face!

So Cosi and Pret A Manger both get BIG props (both have many locations world wide). I have found that I am making better decisions at lunch since the calories are right there for me. Something that might have sounded appealing by description would suddenly not look quite as good when I realized I could get something else equally appealing for half the calories.

So not only do I get to explore my new work neighborhood for some cool stores and pubs, but I feel like I have so many more food choices than I thought I would. Oh and of course there is a Starbucks on the corner (awesome). Not a bad deal, especially after that long commute "all the way downtown".

The Supper Club

So at least twice a month I go out with the same group of people sampling the cuisines of the world. Recently we have done Thai, Japanese, Indian, and Polish. Last night we did Portuguese. Have you ever gone to a Portuguese Restaurant? Well they give you a ridiculous amount of food. It was all good, but the side of pig that I received didn't exactly help the diet. I however, did bring more than half of it home. The Sangria was particularly tasty and three of us finished off a pitcher. I know, I know, more than the one glass I said I would limit myself too - but hey - it had fruit in it :)
And really, the most important thing about these supper club meetings is the company. Sometimes we invite "outsiders" to the festivities. Regardless, the company is always great and is an evening I always look forward to.
Oh, and last night I was celebrating my first day at my new job! Woo Hoo! Needless to say it was a long - but fun day!

Splat!

That was the sound of me falling off the wagon. Actually, I was pretty good all day. Then tonight we went to the world famous White Manna Hamburgers. If you have never heard of it, its a tiny little burger place from the 1940's. It's been highlighted on the Food Network numerous times, most recently on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I'm not quite sure if this place qualifies as a Diner or Dive, but the burgers are tasty.



So I had three sliders. Not so bad considering most people walk out with sacks. I will admit they were pretty darn good and I think I will still be tasting them for hours. I will of course blame my raging PMS for this momentary lack of food discretion. Maybe pairing it with a 2009 vintage of bottled water will some how counterbalance the burgers.



But hey, we all need to have a little wiggle room with our food, and like I said, I stuck to my organic, all natural goodness for the better part of the day. I will once again swear allegiance to Amy tomorrow, but for now its off to watch Anthony Bourdain. Gotta love his snarky sense of humor.

Hormones, Why Do You Hate Me So?

Uuuggghhh - sometimes being a girl stinks. I can just feel the hormones taking over my body. Things swell, my face breaks out and I get cranky and hungry!!!! So I have decided that I am not going to do my weigh-in tomorrow. I know I did well all week, but I know I will get disappointed (and more cranky) if I see little to no loss. So I will just wait til next week and I should see an even bigger loss (which will make me spontaneously break into the happy happy joy joy song).

I was very good tonight though when the munchies hit, and just had a 90 calorie granola bar. Luckily my man knows he has to be strong for me and did not bend when I "suggested" we get some ice cream. Ahhhh...ice cream sounds so yummy!!!!

Oh well - off to bed soon. Hopefully that will quiet my rumbly tummy.