Summer's Bounty

Between Weight Watchers, exercise and trying -- and generally succeeding -- to eat healthier, I've spent less time this year eating out and more time visiting my local fruit and vegetable stand. There's a lot more than fruit and vegetables, but I've found the local market has a terrific assortment of local and organic produce. This isn't always easy to get and especially at prices comparable, or better, than supermarkets.

Today's bounty included some real treasures. I only came away with two peaches from an orchard in New Jersey. These are among the best peaches I've ever had and I wait for them to be in season, a wait that's so worth it. But I was entranced by these beautiful tomatoes from Pennsylvania. I resisted buying them, as I've found I need to buy only what I can use in a few days and dislike letting any of these jewels go to waste. I've also been snacking on the red peppers. They're not local, but so healthy and delicious. 

A lot of the fruit in the back row is shipped from California, but there were also plums and apricots from Long Island. The farms of Long Island are rapidly disappearing, but there are fabulous farm stands there, and especially good corn at this time of year.

But I still do get around the city and keep an eye for goodies to share with my Buttercupland friends. Yesterday I was at the dentist and even though I was there less than a month ago I noticed a new and very elegant pastry and sandwich restaurant, Francois Payard Bakery, a couple of blocks away. I settled for an iced coffee but the temptation was enormous to try a piece of cake...

Lemon is one of my all-time favorite flavors.

 

 ...Or buy a jar of jam to take home. Though very simple I was taken with the packaging and the Wild Strawberry called out to me. 

 

 

The product that was most appealing were the ice cream sandwiches made with Payard's signature macarons. I resisted, but I'm thinking of returning before the end of the summer. Happily, I don't have another dental appointment until December, but I think this sweet is worth a trip. I'm debating whether I would pick Salted Caramel or Espresso Brownie, but I'm leaning to the Espresso Brownie. Which flavor would you choose?  

 

There were beautiful cakes and tarts, but the ice cream sandwiches went to the top of my list.   

 

I'm keeping cool dreaming of ice cream sandwiches. I hope the thoughts keeping you cool are equally sweet. As ever, thanks for visiting and wishes for a sweet Thursday! 







Thank You, Awesome Annie

I've written about joining Weight Watchers last fall several times, but generally I don't post about it. Quite unexpectedly I've really enjoyed attending meetings. I liked the people I met, got a lot out of our discussions and was greatly encouraged by Annie, our Wednesday morning Weight Watcher leader. Annie is on hiatus for the summer starting this week and today was our last meeting for awhile with her.

This is the my favorite picture from today's meeting. I think Annie looks great, but generally Annie is smiling, with a big gorgeous smile.  

I tried several meetings before I landed at Wednesday mornings. I initially thought I wanted to attend a meeting with mostly retired people, but I soon realized I liked a "mix" at the meetings and this energetic young woman was a great leader, thoughtful, funny and supportive.

What I like best about my hour at Weight Watchers is that it is totally a no-judgment and no-competition zone. I can't remember anyone being critical of another member and we cheer on every success and console at every disappointment. It's one of the best environments I know and the support and good ideas have helped me lose twenty plus pounds in the last eight months.

It's not the amount I had hoped to lose and it's going a little slower than I like, but I'm healthier and feeling better than I thought I could be. I've stopped worrying about how long it will take me to get to my goal weight and realize another two, three or six months doesn't matter. The thing that matters is continuing on the journey to health.

I have a "goal" number in mind, but I'm still up in the air about it. I know it's not going to be my high school weight, as attractive as it seems. But I don't have a seventeen year old metabolism anymore and it would be torturous to try and maintain that number. My goal is to be healthy and to have everything in my closet fit. The latter would be a complete novelty and fabulous.

I would be remiss to not thank the awesome Annie for all of her support. Annie says we do the work and we deserve all the cheering, but I know that a great coach has a lot to do with victory. Annie, you've been a fabulous coach and I can't wait to welcome you back for the next season. Wishing you a great summer!

It's taking me a few days to get back to my routines after my New England weekend. But I was back to the gym, back to Weight Watchers and to grocery shopping and emails and a library visit is planned for Friday. None of it is exotic, but I enjoy my regular life along Broadway very much, too.

As ever, thanks for visiting and wishes for a happy summer day!

Goal #1...(Physically) Less of Me to Love

When I wrote about my perfect word for 2015 last week, "Climb" I wrote that I had four goals for the year, as well, and that I would be sharing them during January. We're now solidly into January and after jury duty I have returned to the pursuit of these dreams. I've done some work on all four, but have really put a focus on two this last week. I'm going to write about the first of these dreams/goals today, losing weight.

  Temptation around every corner -- cake, pie and more cake at a local diner.

 

I am the veteran of hundreds of diets. I've never counted, but it's been an endless parade. Weight watchers, low carb, low fat, paleo and the B6 Cider Lecithin diet of 1975 are just a few. Some worked better than others, but emotional eating always got the best of me. My trip to Savannah this October nudged something inside of me. I was travelling with friends I had met in a Weight Watchers chat group a dozen years ago. Of the five of us, three had come close to their Weight Watcher goals, one in the last year. We did less snacking on this trip, even though we were in one of the great food cities of America and we did a lot of walking. I was amazed and thrilled to find that I hadn't gained an ounce while I was in Savannah. It was just the impetus I needed to go back to Weight Watchers. The day after my return to New York I was a returning member. 

 

I made a commitment that I wouldn't miss a meeting and I wouldn't give up quickly, and I've stuck to it. I tried several different meetings and found one that I really enjoy on Wednesday mornings. I track my food, plan my meals and treats and read labels carefully. I quickly realized during jury duty that eating lunch out every day, especially with the alluring restaurants of Chinatown a block away, would be the undoing of my efforts. I began to bring my lunch and my treat was coffee or a diet soda. This is the first time I can remember that I did not gain three/four/five pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years and look at my closet with complete despair in January. I am down one size and my next aim is another size. I'm not thinking about how many pounds I'd like to lose, but focusing on the good changes I'm making. The thing that most surprises me is I don't feel deprived and sad about what I'm giving up, but so pleased with what I'm getting, a trimmer and healthier me. 

I didn't write about Weight Watchers or even mention it to many friends because I was concerned I wouldn't stick with it. But I happily have and getting trimmer is a major goal for 2015. It's not a new year's resolution, but an ongoing effort to get healthier. My only new year's resolution is however about food. I'm giving up kale for 2015. I've tried and tried to like it and I'm done with kale. I'm eating healthy, but I'm giving up all efforts to force myself to eat kale.

Yes, it's really cold in New York, but I got myself dressed in many layers for a walk this afternoon. I keep remembering that I grew up in New England and in 1958 I would have been walking to school and back twice a day in weather just like this. That may be the equivalent of all the stories of olden times and walking five miles to school in a blizzard, and so be it. I am a fan of getting out for "fresh air" and it actually felt good. 

As always, thanks so much for visiting. Take care keep cozy!