The Live In is Gone

In Feb of this year my cousin Bo accepted a 12 week internship with an architecture firm on Michigan Ave.  Since 3 month leases are damn near impossible in this city, he moved in with me in my small one bedroom apartment, and was then referred to as the live in from that point on.  Move in date was the Saturday following St. Patrick's, the next 12 weeks we spent taking Jameson shots like crazy, eating as many restaurants as we could, and listening to 'Call Me Maybe' on repeat.
Here is our meal from Big and Little's that was on Diner's Drive Ins and Dives:

A pork belly sandwich with a side of Fois Gras and fries.  Yes, deep fried starch, aka potatoes covered in duck fat.  I seriously could have licked the container it was that good.  Or a 3 layer cake from Table 52:

I am pretty sure Art Smith put lard in this, and it was unbelievable.  After fried chicken and shrimp and grits no less.  Not to mention the 4-5 PINTS of Jack and Coke I would down a night.  Yeah pints....no high ball glasses here.  I was in a weight competition at work and was the only person that gained weight.  I ran 2 half marathons slow....way slow by my standards.  Thank god I was still going to the gym somewhat regularly.  Even between running and endless dance sessions at Harrigans, it happened.  I gained FIFTEEN pounds.  And my speed was greatly affected.  Like 10 minute mile if I am lucky slow.  (easy equation.....the less I weigh the faster I run.  I know this isn't true for everyone but it is for me).  As well as I just generally felt blah.  Honestly, I feel heavier now than I have ever been (key word being feel, not actually).  SOOO....Bo is gone.  I am sad and a bit lonely.  I miss having someone to tell if my outfit is ok or not, to make me breakfast on Sunday mornings, or just having someone to talk to when I come home from work. 

But this was not a healthy lifestyle.  Blacking out on a Thursday is fun.  But I would probably consume 1500 calories in drinks alone, not to mention the Qdoba or Panda Express I could eat on Friday afternoons.  Plus the all day drink fests on Sundays that followed crazy Saturday nights out.   It was fun, almost too fun, made me feel like I was 22 and a drinking champ again fun; but all good things must come to an end.  And it did, last weekend Bo finally departed. 

What perfect timing.  Marathon training has just started.  If I want to run the race I want to (and my god do I, it ain't called redemption Sunday for nothing!) I need to lose 20 to 25 lbs.  I will not run a 4:15 at this current weight.  SO, it is time to get serious.  Does this mean I am giving up everything to focus on my weight loss, hell no.  BUT I need to stop it with snacking on chips.  Eating those plastics containers full of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from Trader Joe's (damn you Joe those things are soooo good), and the getting drunk 4 nights a week has to stop.  Now.  So I went grocery shopping this week.  I bought fish, brown rice, fruit, veggies, trail mix and one box of skinny cow ice cream sandwiches (hey a girl can't give things up cold turkey).  And I am working out a lot.  Going to bed at a decent hour.  Having one beer when I go out, to dinner.  (let's be honest that will never happen on a Saturday night but good for week nights)  Eating half my sandwich when eating at a restaurant and saving the other half for lunch the next day.  Small changes every day.  Just in general picking a healthier life style.

It is easy to be positive 4 days in, but I really need to get to work.  I have so much to do in the next 15 weeks to prepare for this race.  PLUS my favorite BCBG dress does not fit.  That is unacceptable and needs to be changed asap.  Plus I just want to feel better, because as much fun as being a party girl is and it really is; you don't really feel that great until you have booze in your system, and that my friends is an alcoholic. 

The only thing that hasn't stopped......'Call Me Maybe' on repeat. all.the.time.  I don't know if that ever will.