Hi! Thanks for visiting Winning Friends with Salad. WFWS chronicles my journey as I solidify my newly found healthy relationship with food, exercise, and my body. First, a little about myself:
My name is Kate and I live in Manhattan on the Upper West Side. However, I can be found most days of the week in Chelsea with my boyfriend, Peter, who I sometimes refer to as ‘P’. I also work in Chelsea at a small advertising agency. I am 5′9 and currently weigh 167 lbs. I have lost 21 lbs since January 2008 and am striving to lose 24-34 lbs more. I am originally from Alexandria, Virginia, and graduated from James Madison University in 2006.
My relationship with food and weight has always been a little complicated. I never have been able to have an accurate view of myself. In middle and high school, I never viewed myself as heavy, but looking back on pictures, it’s clear that I was overweight. Early during college, I discovered exercising and began to have a somewhat negative relationship with food. At this point, I lost quite a bit of weight, but still thought I was very heavy. My infatuation with exercise wore off, and by graduation I gained back most of the weight I had lost.
2 weeks after graduation I moved to New York City. I moved to three different apartments in my first year. The stress of graduation, moving and my first job wore on me tremendously. I had no money, no friends, and no stability. It was very tumultuous and I reflected it. I ate horribly, drank alot, and never exercised.
Eventually, things settled down. I created a great circle of friends, got a steady job with people I enjoy that pays well, and met my wonderful boyfriend. Around Fall 2007, I realized that my weight was getting in the way of my happiness. I couldn’t enjoy the activities I attended, or the people in my life because I was always preoccupied with my weight. I had joined New York Sports Club in January 2007, but it wasn’t until that Fall 2007 that I got really serious with it. I also began following food blogs and cooking magazines, which opened my eyes to new ways of eating.
Through the 2007 holiday season, I maintained my weight through exercise and new eating patterns, and in January 2008 I really began to focus on weight loss. I eat between 1200 and 1550 calories a day, focusing on getting 55% from carbs, 30% from fat, and 15% from protein. I practice what I called “Intuitive Calorie Counting”. I try to listen to my body and eat when I’m hungry and don’t when I’m not - but I do try to keep it in my calorie range. I exercise 6 days a week, alternating between the elliptical trainer, spinning class, and the treadmill. In Spring 2008, I began taking a twice weekly Pilates class on the reformer. I believe it has helped immensely in my flexibility, strength, and definition. Also, being a New Yorker, I walk a good amount each day - usually to and from work and then in the evening for any errands.
I describe myself as a vegan enthusiast because I love vegan restaurants, cook from many vegan cookbooks, and only occasionally eat meat. However, I do enjoy fish, milk, cheese, and ice cream, so I don’t think I am ready to go fully vegan. I do enjoy alot of alternative dairy products, such as soy, hemp, and almond products. Perhaps one day I will go completely vegan, but not yet.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at winningfriendswithsalad@gmail.com.
Thanks!
Kate
May 6, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Wow! Awesome blog Kate! And I eat a lot like you as well…not a lot of meat, and I love tofu and soy products…but I don’t think I could ever become a vegetarian! Just love my cheese, yogurt, milk, and fish too much! I also am a huge Pilates fan- been practicing since I was 15! Thanks for sharing your story! I look forward to reading!
May 6, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Thanks glidingcalm! I’m so glad you like the blog - I look forward to posting!
May 17, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Hey Kate:
I am from Virginia as well. I went to George Mason University and I now live in Richmond. You’re story sounds similar to mine- I didn’t think I was overweight in high school so obvious I didn’t worry about working out. Then I start college and started working out every day and eating healthy. I lost 20 pounds and I have been maintaining that weight loss for several years. Generally I eat pretty healthy, but like anyone else I have my days! I just found your blog and I plan to continue reading!!
May 17, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Eatingbirdfood,
Hola Virginia! Thanks for sharing your story and reading the blog! I look forward to your comments and insights!!
May 17, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I really wish you could delete comments and repost… because I just reread my previous comment and found a million grammar mistakes. I must have been drunk when I wrote that. haha
May 17, 2008 at 11:47 pm
haha, I know…cruelty of the blogging world.
May 31, 2008 at 9:17 pm
hey kate! i just wanted to say that, as a fellow 23-year-old new yorker, i’ve been reading your blog for a little over a month and am really inspired by what you and everyone else out there is doing. in fact, i just set up my own
anyway, i wanted to say thanks - keep being wonderful!
June 1, 2008 at 11:26 am
Gretchen, aw thanks! Congrats on your blog and good luck with your healthy journey!
- Kate