Hot 100 Update # 7

Lordy, what a week. I shall go right to the goals and then indulge in some social chatter.

1) Lose 25lbs: I am determined not to get on the scale until the end of the challenge. But I am loving every NSV that comes my way. This week, the skinny jeans (that were looser three months ago) are ever-so-slightly baggy around the upper leg. It's a small but noticeable shift. Even the boyfriend commented (bless him). Also, an orange shirt that I bought months ago that was always just a bit tighter around the hips than the shoulders was donned yesterday for the first time in several weeks. It was discernably looser around the hips this week. Yay, and yay, and (thank the lifestyle-change gods) yay.

2) Run a 5k: if you count about 4 miles on the elliptical, then I stuck to this goal. Went to the foot doctor Monday, learned I have a mild neuroma, not much to speak of thankfully. But still had to suffer a cortisone shot and no walking or running all week. By the way, mucho gratitude and kind hugs to all who sent me good wishes -- nothing cheers me up like seeing new and old commenters on my blog. Thank you!

Didn't walk this week (much) and did elliptical on Wednesday (which annoyed foot). Very mild exercise this week, which led to.....

3) Weight-loss portions at every meal: Monday was not good. I didn't binge, but I ate emotionally and without making good choices. A couple of small vegan cakes were on the menu, and then a very late-night snack that I truly didn't need. Not my most stellar day. BUT....I rebounded fairly well. Monday was off, Tuesday was tough but I white-knuckled through, Wednesday and Thursday good, even without being able to walk to work or do my running, which made things really hard for me. On top of all else, it was a very hormonal week, and I found myself getting weepy and angry over things I would normally shrug off. When I get like that, working out really helps. But I couldn't do things as I wanted this week, so I was frustrated.

Yet, had a dinner out Thursday night with a friend and chose very well (pictures below). Ditto at the event we went to after, a really brilliant evening listening to a live storytelling competition. It's done by a group called The Moth.

I encourage everyone to download and listen on podcast if they can -- fun stories. But nothing compares to a live storytelling competition. It's exhilarating! And the storytellers were great. Some clearly had live performance experience. Others were just Average Joe's who wanted to tell a story and were nervous and excited and so so so brave for getting up on stage. Was such a lovely night and a nice change of pace for me.

And while my friend got a slice of carrot cake for the performance, I did not. Thank goodness it was so dark I couldn't see what she was eating. That really helped.

So here are some pictures from where we went to dinner. Food Network buffs might recognize it from an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay.

Schnipper's! It's a family joint, despite the glass cage effect. It's right on the corner of 41st and Eighth Avenue, so well located near Times Square and the Port Authority bus station. They do organic burgers, dogs, sandwiches, tacos (fish and chicken) salads and more.
We decided to split an order of fish tacos and an arugula, avocado and goat cheese sandwich. Everything was fresh, fresh, fresh. You order your food, they give you a stick with a number on it that matches your receipt and you go sit here, putting your stick on your table, until a server brings your order...
If you look verrrry, verrrry closely at this picture, you'll see a man in a brown jacket, glasses, with brown hair in the middle of the room facing the camera (but not looking at it). He's the fourth person directly in line behind the blond girl whose back is to me. That's Michael Musto.

Who is he, you ask? Well... he's a NYC insider celebrity, a nightlife columnist for The Village Voice who does a weekly article called La Dolce Musto. It's all about theater and clubs and NYC and he's been doing it for over 20 years. When I first moved to NYC I took an unpaid internship at The Village Voice and he was the "established" writer we all tiptoed around. He's nice, unassuming and incredibly shy. He also rides around NYC on a bike at all hours and in all weather and does not wear a helmet.

We went around the corner then to B.B. King's to enjoy the readings at The Moth. Here's a shot of 42nd St near Eighth Avenue at approximately 8 p.m. on a Thursday night. Sorry it's blurry.

And here's a sign of the place itself.
To sum up: a decent week. I wasn't perfect, but .... I was able to handle my moods, rebound from some bad choices and struggle through a change in routine without a major binge. I can live with that.