Saturday, I wanted to workout but I didn't want to commute to SoHo for Bar Method so I went across the street to the Asser Levy Recreation Center (Ryan and I became members last week) and decided to join a spin class. Now this is not Pablo's spin, or soul cycle, or fly wheel...this is a spin class for 6 women who just want to ride a bike with an instructor. The NYC Recreation Center's are a great addition to the city and allow everyone to workout (it is $150/year to join! I pay $250/month for Bar). But the machines are old, the rooms are multipurpose and it is dingy and shabby. But it was perfect for what I wanted - a place to sweat. The girls I was spinning with were so nice and welcoming and I ended up have a great workout and a fun time! I will plan to go back some Saturday's when I don't have time for the commute and 1 hour bar class, or in the winter when it is too cold to even walk outside!
After spin, Ryan and I had Meal 1 (egg mcmuffins again).
After soaking up some sun we went for lunch at The Paris Cafe, opened in 1873 and had so much history!! They had just reopened after closing for 1.5 years because of Hurricane Sandy. Ryan ordered fish and chips (so tempting not to reach across the table and just grab a bite) and I ordered the warm mushroom salad. On the menu it was an arugula salad with mushrooms, pine nuts, goat cheese, balsamic vinaigrette. I kindly asked the waitress to serve it with no cheese and no dressing and add grilled chicken. 26 days ago I would have been to nervous to ask for these modifications but Whole30 has taught me to make it work so rather than not eat with Ryan, I found the best and easiest dish to modify and it was delicious!!!
After Meal 2 we took a 4 mile walk along the East River back home! It was so sunny, so warm, the skies were blue and everyone was so happy!
Dinner was leftovers since lunch was so late (3pm) so I had paleo pad thai.
Yesterday was just as incredible. I slept in a little (so no Bar Method in 3 days - yikes) and had breakfast. Ryan was craving donuts so I was a good wife and got him donuts and myself a vegetable omelette (topped with guacamole) served with a n'oatmeal muffin on the side.
Next, we headed out to the Roosevelt Island Tram. After living in NYC for 26 years, I have never taken the tram or been to Roosevelt Island and yesterday was the perfect day for it. The tram is at 60th street and 2nd avenue and it is a 10 minute ride over the East River (next to the 59th street bridge) and down to Roosevelt Island. Roosevelt Island is so small with only a few shops and we decided to walk to the North point. The views of Manhattan are gorgeous and there is so much history on the island and I can't wait to come back and go to the South Park. We walked 1 mile from the tram to the Blackwell Lighthouse and back around through the parks.
We headed back to Manhattan on the tram and went to Whole Foods and got lunch from the salad bar. I made a spinach salad with all of the vegetables, an endive and pomegranate seed salad and pulled chicken. And i topped it with Tessamae's Cracked Pepper Dressing. We took the salads to go and ate at home (again a really late lunch - 3pm) and hung out before cooking Meal 3. I had so much salad that I only ate half and saved the rest!
Meal 3 was incredible. It was a spice rubbed Ahi Tuna Steak cooked perfectly to rare/medium rare for Ryan. Ryan was so adamant that he would never eat rare fish and it had to be cooked but I told him to trust me! And he did...and he loved it! I had never made tuna steaks before but now I want to make it a lot more often. And it was so much cheaper than ordering sushi!
The steaks were coated with salt, pepper, paprika and coriander. Over a medium-high heat i added coconut oil and when the oil was hot (whips of smoke coming off the pan), I added the tuna. I seared the steaks for 2 minutes on each side and then let the fish rest for an additional minute. I sliced the steaks and served with asparagus, avocado and tuna topped with artichoke bruschetta. It was a delicious meal and Ryan loved it, which made me love it even more!
Now I know this sounds great and completely Whole30 compliant but I did have a few bumps in the road - nothing off plan - but some snacking! And I hate that I needed to snack and that I let food control me but some of it was necessary.
Saturday's snack was plantains and hazelnuts that I brought with me to the Elevated Acre. I snacked on them slowly throughout the day. And on Sunday I had 1/2 an RxBar while we were at Roosevelt Island and last night I had plantains, dates and carrots with almond butter and a fig/hazelnut spread. I know it doesn't sound crazy but for me it felt a little out of control. However, even though I snacked, I know why - and knowing why is just as important. We didn't meal plan so I brought snacks with me while we were out which was definitely great since I went more than 5 hours in between Meal 1 and 2 but not planning forced me to think too much about food. Eating late also led me to be a bit ravenous when we were home. And the pantry won.
Surprisingly, the past few days I have been craving something sweet which is why I keep going back to dates and almond butter and plantains after my meals. I shouldn't need sweet tasting things after meals but old habits are rearing their ugly heads again and I am not happy. Late night snacking of cooking and brownies is what got me in trouble 28 days ago and I don't want to feel out of control again. I was doing so well not eating after meals but lately - almond butter has been screaming my name. I don't know if I am craving it because it is in my pantry of if I really need it. I just don't know if I could not have certain things in my pantry because I do cook with dates, almond butter, figs - all of the sweet stuff!
Hopefully I can come out of Whole30 more control of my food choices, my activity and my outlook on happy and healthy living!
XO
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