After seven years (and probably 700,000 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 is the Chicago Marathon. 10.10.10. About me: Theodora Blanchfield is a writer living in NYC. For more information, go to theodorablanchfield.com or click here to e-mail me. Become a fan on Facebook! Before and after This is what works for me. Where I started. Basic nutrition guidelines I’m following. Ask me a question! Tumblr (3.0; @losingweightinthecity)http://losingweightinthecity.com/<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kz2rl7bYJh1qzat1ao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I gobbled down some oatmeal too quickly to photograph it this morning before my physical therapy session. (I’m done!) I ate about an hour earlier than I’m used to eating, so I had a snack when I came back that I don’t usually have. I had coffee and a Luna protein bar. It was good, but maybe a little too sugary. I’m currently chugging water in hopes of flushing the allergies out of my nose.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/E-BcFJ4D29A" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/E-BcFJ4D29A/439218722http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/439218722Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:39:07 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/439218722Don’t forget to e-mail me today and let me know how you did on last week’s goals and...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/2Sl-JMdEZb8" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/2Sl-JMdEZb8/439028739http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/439028739Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:13:04 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/439028739<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kz1txoJldf1qzat1ao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I had a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nyjl.org">Junior League</a> meeting tonight at <a target="_blank" href="http://runtiffyrun.wordpress.com">Tiffany’s</a>, and I had a piece of pizza and <a target="_blank" href="http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/194698696/recipe-for-tiffanys-salad">Tiff’s yummy salad</a>…minus the walnuts for me, because I’m allergic. I wouldn’t say I feel guilty, per se, when I eat something like pizza, but I definitely think twice about it afterwards.</p> <p>Tomorrow is another day. (Which will start with some oatmeal.)</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/bDzElJg79DI" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/bDzElJg79DI/438283863http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/438283863Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:32:12 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/438283863I almost forgot! This little blog here turns one today! I’ve done the navel-gazing posts at...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/T__4h9KPGJ8" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/T__4h9KPGJ8/437624963http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/437624963Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:56:00 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/437624963<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kz1djaj9qf1qzat1ao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>After my workout, I was starving, so I made a ginormous salad with chicken, guacamole, a bit of goat cheese, arugula and some bell peppers. I had a sweet potato on the side for some extra carb action.</p> <p>Before my workout, I made my first Green Monster! I drank it far too quickly to even think about photographing it. I threw in: about a cup of spinach, a banana,  some strawberries and mango.</p> <p>Joel says that bananas are among the least-good fruits for you because of the high carb content.</p> <p>If eating bananas is wrong, I don’t wanna be right.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/lL4nn9bCBDk" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/lL4nn9bCBDk/437592561http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/437592561Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:37:58 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/437592561I’ve been working out with Meghan and Joel with New York Sports Club’s 2fit deal, but...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/bqbSrOTIHuk" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/bqbSrOTIHuk/437478718http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/437478718Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:35:00 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/437478718<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kz0x1vfMDD1qzat1ao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Back to the oatmeal this morning. I discovered yesterday that my beloved wrap has <a target="_blank" href="http://www.starbucks.com/menu/food/hot-breakfast/egg-white-spinach-and-feta-wrap?foodZone=9999">39 percent</a> of the recommended daily value of sodium (and, um, making my own oatmeal is cheaper anyway), so it has been moved back to “just once in a while.”</p> <p>I think they might have changed the recipe — I thought it used to be more like 30 percent, which is still ridiculous, but less close to half of the sodium you should be having in one day!</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/LzZLji4ZRcw" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/LzZLji4ZRcw/437060929http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/437060929Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:41:55 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/437060929I’ve been on this health kick for a bit over a year now. I do enjoy working out now, but...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/Az8Yzun0A34" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/Az8Yzun0A34/436998325http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/436998325Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:53:53 -0500reviewexercisespinhttp://losingweightinthecity.com/post/436998325<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyzx8w6sDa1qzat1ao1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyzx8w6sDa1qzat1ao2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>After hitting up a Soul Cycle spin class (full review later!) this evening, I met up with Lacey (who had also just completed an ass-kicking workout!) for a bite to eat. We went to Land Thai, on the Upper East Side. Luckily, it wasn’t super-fancy and they were totally cool with the two sweaty, famished girls who walked in. I started with some spring rolls and then had some kind of tofu with a ginger sauce and brown rice. (iPhone pic because my memory card is currently in my computer.) P.S. As I write this on the subway, I am pretty sure the MTA worker sitting next to me is boozin’ from a Thermos.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/YGFlTaBm1lo" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/YGFlTaBm1lo/436040399http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/436040399Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:48:37 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/436040399<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyzx4xlnLl1qzat1ao1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyzx4xlnLl1qzat1ao2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Just a few shots from today.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/vKHVWsaWkPQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/vKHVWsaWkPQ/436035080http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/436035080Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:45:34 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/436035080<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyzx1mv7MH1qzat1ao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I went to Pump before going grocery shopping this afternoon so that I did not attempt to buy everything Whole Foods sells.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/5mOKCoL6gOA" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/5mOKCoL6gOA/436030648http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/436030648Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:44:06 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/436030648<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyyw8gNhIT1qzat1ao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I’m definitely low on food right now, so I had a little tryst with my Starbucks lover, the wrap.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/1htxqmBezSs" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/1htxqmBezSs/434711262http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/434711262Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:29:06 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/434711262<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyy1wwvbmW1qzat1ao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I made a Pump-esque bowl when I got home tonight.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/yIWzh3TMLYA" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/yIWzh3TMLYA/433822587http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433822587Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:34:05 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433822587I played tennis in high school, and I loved that my favorite sport meant that I could get sweaty...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/271oejzUvVY" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/271oejzUvVY/433474241http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433474241Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:47:39 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433474241Sometimes it’s thinking about how I used to look and how unhappy I was with my looks. If I am...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/Gwqio-vdf0M" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/Gwqio-vdf0M/433418624http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433418624Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:19:19 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433418624The last unhealthy thing I ate was a huge brunch this afternoon with bacon, potatoes and pancakes!...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/Id7IFVFzPDg" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/Id7IFVFzPDg/433379078http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433379078Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:58:43 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433379078I get this question a lot. Here’s how I went from wheezing my way through a 5K to running...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/A2NqXrC_Oo8" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/A2NqXrC_Oo8/433314133http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433314133Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:23:43 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433314133<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyxpt5odqL1qzat1ao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>A hearty brunch. Must. Have. Fruit.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/-DiXcmiJFi8" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/-DiXcmiJFi8/433293929http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433293929Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:12:34 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433293929<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyxpo9K9Vf1qzat1ao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Last night, Meggie, Kat and I went to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.alerorestaurant.com">Alero</a> on U Street, one of our favorite Mexican spots in DC. They have happy hour from 3:30-7 on the weekends, which includes margaritas! I had a few margaritas and then switched to beer. I used to be able to drink margaritas all night long, but now, the sugar is too much for me and I got a bit of a headache.</p> <p>Alero has three locations in DC - one on Connecticut Ave in Cleveland Park, one in Dupont Circle, and the one on U Street. The U Street one has a fun and trendy vibe, thanks to its U Street location. (The music playing is always a bit questionable, however.) As readers know, I don’t eat much red meat any more, but the steak in their steak fajitas is incredibly tender and well-seasoned. The fajitas are ginormous, so we split them between the three of us and had some nachos to start.</p> <p>Updated: also consumed: mozzarella sticks at the bar.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/6TX5fmdrca4" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/6TX5fmdrca4/433288461http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433288461Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:09:00 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433288461I run probably 2-3 times a week, depending on what I’m training for. I definitely don’t...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~4/x5-2b0beQgQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/losingweightinthecity211/~3/x5-2b0beQgQ/433215517http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433215517Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:31:17 -0500http://losingweightinthecity.com/post/433215517