Seven Great Miles
…finally! After a few rough runs in the past few weeks, I was excited to head off to Brooklyn to run with Ashley and Rebecca. Unfortunately, the subway had other plans for me, and I didn’t make it out there to meet them. I decided I’d mix it up anyway and head up the east side of Manhattan, rather than the west, like I usually do. After about a mile, I realized why: the west side is way prettier!
I ran up to the Williamsburg Bridge, across it and through Brooklyn. When I run, I do a lot of thinking. Sometimes it’s about stuff going on in my life, sometimes it’s about what I’m going to write about my run.
As I ran through Williamsburg, I was surprised that it’s not just hipsters. I saw lots of little Hasidic Jewish men with big fur hats. (Apparently they’re called shtreimels. Don’t say I never taught you anything.) I saw a very different Williamsburg than I’ve seen when I’ve been to a few bars out there.
I think it’s good that I took a completely different route this time; it kept it fresh. I EVEN FOUND A TARGET AS I FINISHED UP. I went inside, but I was too tired/sweaty/thirsty to shop. (I know!)
Here’s a map of my route, because I don’t know anywhere else in BK where I ran, other than Williamsburg: 
(Note: Between the first two bridges [Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge, for non-New Yorkers], I did not run through the water, despite what it may look like.)
I NEVER wake up this early (I left at 7:45) to run, but I’m glad I did. It’s not even 11am yet, and I’ve already run seven miles. And had a bagel. Below are my splits. 
Any advice on why I’m running slower? Or should I just chalk it up to the heat?
24 July 2010
As a part of Theodora 2.5, Joel gives me a super-vegetable every day. Today’s veggie was leeks, yesterday’s was carrots. I didn’t really get my carrots in yesterday, so I decided to double up on veggies today. A few people have asked, what if I don’t like one of the veggies? I like most of my veggies, so I don’t anticipate this being a problem…and if I find one I don’t like, hopefully Joel will let me switch!
I had no idea what to do with leeks (or what they looked like—I had to google image them at the store), so I searched my Google reader to see what recipes my fave bloggers had used them in. Rose from On a Lobster Placemat (great name, right?) made a Grilled Tofu and Orzo with Kale, Carrots and Leeks recipe that I decided was worth a try. Because I never follow a recipe exactly, I used scallops in lieu of tofu and brown rice in lieu of orzo. It was pretty damn good but hopefully won’t upset my stomach before tomorrow’s fun long run with Ashley and Rebecca!
23 July 2010
After attempting my own, I decided to go back for the real deal soba noodle salad today. Just one more and I get a free one!
I’m behind on my super-vegetables though. Yesterday’s was carrots and I had some in this salad. Today’s is leeks: I’m going to find a way to incorporate them in dinner!
23 July 2010
You always return to your one true love. For me, for breakfast, that’s a spinach feta wrap from Starbucks. (Last night’s dinner was fajitas at Tortilla Flats for Jen’s birthday.)
Just a few more words on this:
Maybe Losing Weight in the City is a bit of a misnomer for a blog that’s now turned mostly into a blog about *maintaining* a healthy lifestyle and a 50-pound weight loss, but I’m not ready to change its name. If you just started reading recently, I hadn’t been trying to lose more weight. I already lost 50 pounds. I’ve been trying to maintain it through a healthy lifestyle. I’ve returned to Joel, the trainer who helped me do it, from now until my marathon (ah!) on October 10. I’m trying to tone up my core and run faster.
I try my hardest to eat healthy, but I’m human. I share with you when I slip up to show you that you can get right back up on the horse. I don’t always cook, and when I do, I eat the same meal for a few days straight. That’s how I “do” healthy, and that’s what you’ll find on this blog. If there’s something you’d like to see more of or if you have questions about what I’m doing, they’re always welcome.
23 July 2010
Anonymous asked: I've been following your blog for a couple of months. You seem to be pushing the weight loss thing as your way of life. However I see you eating a lot of fried and fatty foods. To be honest with you....I haven't seen much in the way of results. You look about the same as you did months ago.
Maybe you should change the name of your blog. To full of myself and faking it in the city.
This was in my ask folder, so I could have just deleted it, but I decided to address it.
I’m actually surprised I didn’t get a comment like this earlier. Yes, I’ve been eating fried food lately. And to be honest, I’ll probably never give it up entirely. I have no desire to 100% limit myself to healthy food. I lost weight by being very restrictive with my diet, and I can do that again for brief periods, but I won’t ever completely give up foods I enjoy—even if they’re “bad” for me. I’ll just have them less.
I have a desire to eat mostly healthily, and I think I do.
I’m not pushing the weight loss thing as my way of life, or really pushing anything. I’m showing what I do. I called my blog Losing Weight in the City because, when I started it, that’s what I was doing. I never thought I’d keep it up this long!
From about April until last Saturday, when I started working out with Joel again, I wasn’t actively trying to lose weight. AT ALL. I was trying to maintain. So, I wasn’t looking for results. So I’m okay with you, anonymous commenter, not seeing results either.
Now, I’d like to lose a few more pounds/tone up. I’ll definitely be eating a little “better” than I was in the past few months. I’ve come a long way from where I came from, and I’ll never go back to eating fried food all the time, but I’m more than okay with having it sometimes.
I’m sorry if you think I’m full of myself. I think I’m confident. I wasn’t so much before I lost weight, so I’m happy to be confident.
22 July 2010
My coworker and I went over to Hummus Kitchen for lunch. After my two lunches yesterday, I wasn’t very hungry today… I got this sampler platter and ate maybe half of it.
22 July 2010
It’s normal to be much hungrier when you’re working out more, right? I brought one of the oatmeal bars for breakfast, but when I went to grab my iced coffee, I decided that I’d probably be jonesin’ for a snack mid-morning, so I grabbed an egg white turkey sausage flatbread instead so I could eat the bar as a snack.
I meant to run four miles before work this morning, but my friend Amy is staying with me for a few nights before she moves to San Francisco :(, so I chatted with her instead and will run four miles right after work instead. On the treadmill…I even got dressed to run, headed outside, and I couldn’t get a signal on my Garmin so I went for a few extra minutes of sleep instead.
Today’s veggie? Carrots.
22 July 2010
GPOYW: Before pics edition! If there was ever a post I might later take down, it’s this one.
*Update: Yes, I’m trying to tone up my abs and get in a little better shape and run a little faster. I know I’ve come a long way, baby. Both that Theodora and this Theodora are proud of how strong my is and what it can do. I’m also happier and more confident now that I’ve lost weight.
I really do believe in Caitlin’s Stopping Fat Talk and the rest of her Operation Beautiful message, so I don’t want to send the message that I think I’m fat or anything. The omg-I-can’t-believe-I-just-posted-this is just the vulnerability of exposing more of my body than I’ve ever exposed on here. (And ever will again until I post the afters from Theodora 2.5.)
Oh, and dinner was sushi. No pics, cause, honestly, I order the same thing every time!
21 July 2010
This is actually lunch #2. After finishing up Part 2 of my workout at lunch, I was RAVENOUS. I had a soba noodle salad with tofu, broccoli and spinach that did NOTHING for my hunger. A little while later, I went downstairs and got this brown rice + broccoli + BBQ turkey burger. Now, I’m only hungry enough to eat my finger, not my whole arm.
21 July 2010
- Theodora: I felt like I was going to die on the Stairmaster.
- Joel: Then you were doing it right.
21 July 2010
About Me
After seven years (and probably seven million calories) of living in D.C., I moved to NYC in August 2008. After a few months of eating my way through the city, I realized this had to stop and nipped my temptations in the bud. Here's the story of how a girl lost 50 pounds in the most tempting city known to woman. My next big challenge? The Chicago Marathon. 10.10.10.
Basic nutrition guidelines I'm following.
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