2 questions...

1.  Where did summer go?
2.  Does anyone still follow me?

To say that I have neglected this blog over the summer would be putting it nicely!  I cannot believe October is in 5 days!  When I think of October I think of leaves changing color, apple cider, pumpkins AND a "Holiday" where kids dress up and walk door to door in hopes of heading home with a pillowcase full of SUGAR!  I don't have kids, I won't be going trick or treating but I will come in contact with a ton of candy.  It's like, October is the month where everyone in my office feels the need to have bowls and bowls of candy sitting around, it's an excuse to pop "fun-sized" snickers into your mouth one after the other!  Well, folks... NOT this year, NOT for me (at least) because this summer I started working for WW!  I am currently working 2 meetings on the weekend and once I get to my goal plan to lead my own meetings.  So far it has been a challenge going from "member" Erika to "employee" Erika but it is getting better week by week.  I am trying to get back to the basics, get back to the tips and tricks that got me down 40 lbs!  So as I said when I started this journey, sit back, grab a cold one and follow me as I get back on track and get to GOAL!!!      

summer, summer, summertime...

Okay... so clearly blogging hasn't been top on my list of things to do this summer but I'll give y'all a quick recap! After Christo and I got back from our trip to Europe we had a few days before he headed to the other side of the world to work in India for an ENTIRE MONTH. To say that I missed him would be an under-statement... Thankfully I have great parents and friends who took one for the team and "entertained" me for the month of June!

~ Mom and Dad came up to NYC for a week, we had a fun time from lunching at Eataly to taking in a Yankee game for Fathers Day





~ I headed back to NC with my parents and enjoyed some great nights with the girls and even fit in a Beach Day at Topsail.







~ Then, before I knew it, Christo was back and we were celebrating the 4th of July enjoying the sand and surf together!

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! My latest Weigh Day results will be up shortly... lets just say I guess I have had other things on my mind than staying on plan... ahhh!

W-Day #40

Hello, hello... is anybody out there?!?! I cannot believe it has been over a month since my last post! Apologies to all of you following me, as I'm sure your weekends just weren't the same without my weigh in stats! So what's been going on in my "world" lately, well, Christo and I had a fabulous, I mean ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS vacation in Italy and Bulgaria! Meeting all of his friends and family was extremely special and our "alone" time in Italy was a great way to start and end our getaway. I tried my best to stay on plan and although I wasn't counting my points (bad Erika) I was aware and that's huge for me. I tried to eat when I was hungry, not because everyone else was; I tried to monitor my hunger levels and put my fork down before feeling stuffed; I tried to eat the same amount as Christo's mom because she's tiny, ha! I guess those little things helped because I am down .8 lbs! Hoping to reach my final goal soon and every little bit helps!

Click here to see ALL of the pics from Milan and Bulgaria.

*** total weight loss to date 41.2 lbs ***

W-Day #39

Chipping away pound by pound AND super excited to post I'm 1.2 lbs closer to my final GOAL! I have been sticking to plan and loving the fact that I'm seeing actual results on the scale. I try to "celebrate" both non-scale and scale victories. They both show progress and can help with motivation to keep on going BUT as I have said before hearing you're down an actual number makes it a FACT you're losing and that's the best feeling!

*** total weight loss to date 40.4 lbs ***

W-Day #38

WOW... that's about all I could say as I stepped off the scale yesterday morning. I am down another 2 lbs!!! I have been super focused since our trip to Italy and Bulgaria is right around the corner. I am officially 7 lbs away from GOAL! Originally I wanted to make goal before our trip (May 18). At this stage of the game losing 7 lbs in 2.5 weeks is extremely aggressive but I'm going to try my best to get there! I currently weigh a number I have not seen since FRESHMEN year of college and that's celebration within itself!

*** total weight loss to date 39.2 lbs ***

Well Folks, my FIRST 5K was a...

SUCCESS!
I am very happy to post that my first official "race" is COMPLETED! I would never, and I mean NEVER consider myself much of an athlete, let alone a runner. With that said, when deciding on whether or not to sign up for this 5K with my sister I was a bit hesitant but I figured it would be motivation to get my butt to the gym. We talked Christo into running it with us so it was exciting and something to look forward to during our Easter weekend in Charlotte. I was overwhelmed at the beginning but once I found my "rhythm" I managed to pace myself where I was comfortable. I crossed that finish line in 35 minutes which was a personal best for me! Overall, I'm thrilled I signed up, I'm excited Nicole and Christo were a part of it and I'm relieved to have my first 5K in the bag!

W-Day #37

Yesterday when I went to weigh I did not see Joyce. I HATE when she is not there! I know that sounds weird and "stalker like" but after so many weekly weigh-in's you develop relationships with the staff and become superstitious! I always feel better when Joyce is on the other side of the desk smiling back at me. Clearly she was off, it was time to suck it up and step on for my results. I am happy to report that Joyce or no Joyce I am down .8 lbs! As she always says, "slow and steady wins the race." I'll win this race soon enough but until then I'll take it week by week!

*** total weight loss to date 37.2 lbs ***

I'm a cheap date these days!

Wednesday night Christo and I went to the Yankee game with some friends. The weather wasn't perfect for a night of baseball but we were offered tickets and had never been to a game so we figured, what the heck, lets go! We headed up to the Bronx after work and cheered on the home team to a victory. It was during the 7th inning stretch that Christo leaned over to me and said, "You haven't had ANYTHING, are you sure you're okay?" I remembered a post from last year when I took my Dad on the Yankee Stadium tour where I pointed out the calories of popular "stadium" food and quickly replied to Christo, "No thanks, I'm great." Did I want a hot dog, um yea, did I want some popcorn, oh yea but I have realized while on WW the difference between wants and needs. I did NOT need those things to make the night any better than it was and walking out of the game knowing I didn't get something just because most people there were chowing down was the real victory of the night!

W-Day #36

Hmm. One week down, one week up, one week down, the next week up... Hoping this is not going to be the "norm" until I get to GOAL but I'm beginning to see a pattern here! I went to weigh in on Saturday morning and I'm UP .4 lbs. Every time I am faced with a gain I go through the same drill of questions with myself. What did I do wrong? What did I not do enough of? Where can I adjust? Week by week those answers change, however, there is ONE fact that never changes. I have to jump right back in if I want to make my final goal! So here we go folks; new week, new start.

*** total weight loss to date 36.4 lbs ***

W-Day #35

On Saturday morning I went to weigh and was extremely excited and pleased to hear Joyce tell me I was down 1.8 lbs. I have been focusing on gaining "activity" points lately by continuing with Pilate's and doing more cardio. It feels good when the scale cooperates knowing all of the hard work I've been putting in. I am getting closer and closer to GOAL and it has really motivated me to keep on truckin' this time around!

*** total weight loss to date 36.8 lbs ***

NCAA Rule saved me a few lbs! I should probably say, "THANKS"

This past weekend Christo and I went to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games to cheer on the HEELS. We were able to score some great tickets thanks to a friend at work and after a short 30 minute train ride we arrived at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. It is here where we learned that the NCAA has a rule in place where they do not serve alcohol at their events. Honestly, not to sound like a major alkey but I was pissed... What the heck? Who wants to watch sports without enjoying a nice cold one? Uggg, definitely NOT me! Beer and basketball go together like milk and cookies! After I got over the fact that I can't convince the NCAA to change their rules just to please me I realized that it was probably best I did not sit through hours of basketball while consuming empty "points" all weekend. Talk about turning a negative into a positive! Even though I could not drink beer and UNC did not pull off the WIN on Sunday we had a blast! To see all of the pics, click here.

W-Day #34

Back on track and super excited to post that I'm down 1 lb! After my slight gain last week I knew I could deal with it one of two ways. Today's loss not only made my day but it proves that staying on course will pay off even when you're not seeing the results you want every week. I am now 1 lb closer to my final goal because of MY hard work. Life is full of ups and downs and apparently losing weight is no different!

*** total weight loss to date 35 lbs ***

W-Day #33

Remember those "non-scale" victories I mentioned in my last W-Day post? Well, this week is one of those weeks where I should probably focus on those and NOT the actual scale! I am up .2 lbs, ugg. I realize to any human on this planet .2 is literally nothing... BUT to a person following plan to a T and working out almost EVERY DAY that .2 didn't bode well. The fact of the matter is, 1) I can let this set me back even more or 2) I can move on. I choose option 2!

*** total weight loss to date 34.0 lbs ***

Before coloring eggs, before the Easter Bunny comes... there's work to be done!

My go to "give-up" for the Lent season is usually - work on my potty mouth, meaning, I will try not to talk like the sailor I do for the entirety of Lent. Then, a few days in my trader comes over, yells something in my face and well, there it goes... This year I decided that I want to give up a true indulgence. One of my favorite weekend activities came to mind. Any given Saturday Christo and I head to Murray's Cheese Shop, buy a few hunks of "unique" cheeses, stop by the wine shop to grab a few bottles, head home, park it on the couch and start sampling... and sampling our purchases. With that said, Lent this year will be a "true" challenge! Wine - definitely NOT an option so that leaves CHEESE. Can I really do this? Will I get closer to my weight loss goal by doing this? I guess we'll see. Are you giving up anything? Drop me a comment and let me know!

W-Day #32

Happy. Content. Motivated. Pleased. These are just a few words to describe how I felt Saturday morning after my weigh-in. I'm down another 1.4 lbs! When you know you have been eating right and working out it's extremely rewarding to see the number on the scale confirm it. In my meetings we talk a lot about "non-scale" victories. I agree it's important to celebrate a new dress size or getting into a pair of jeans that used to be tight but when it comes down to "fact" I tend to rely on the actual number. I know for a FACT I lost weight this week and that feels FABULOUS!

*** total weight loss to date 34.2 lbs ***

W-Day #31

Well, it has never happened and it happened today... I went to weigh and I didn't gain but I didn't lose. After 2 weeks of not weighing (yes, I have been a chicken and avoiding the scale like the plague) I am a little relieved but at the same time disappointed to report that I have stayed the exact same weight since last stepping foot on the scale. Weeks like this usually mess with my mind. No loss... How can that be? Was the scale right? Did Joyce read my last recorded weight instead of today's weight? BUT I've come to realize that none of that matters. What I do know is I have been working out, eating right, and feeling good. The numbers on the scale will catch up and I'm not going to back down just because this week didn't reflect the hard work I've been putting in!

*** total weight loss to date 32.8 lbs ***

and the winner is... Halibut

Christo surprised me with yet another amazing Valentine's Day dinner! He stuck with seafood again this year since it's a healthy option and he didn't disappoint. We had a cold yogurt soup with fresh dill and cucumbers to start, followed by pan-seared halibut topped with cherry tomatoes and shallots on a bed of lemon risotto. It was so obvious the amount of effort he put into the meal and it could not have been more delicious! To end the evening I surprised him with his favorite dessert from Sant Ambroeus. "Hallmark Holiday" or not, it was a perfect evening!

Good friends are like stars. You don't always see them, but you always know they are there.

Last weekend Christo and I went to Raleigh to see my parents and friends. The weather was amazing and we enjoyed our time away! I can't say I stuck to plan food-wise but I guess I have to focus on the positive which was I did gain a lot of "activity points" from tennis, running and even going to the GYM with my Dad! I realized even though I treated myself with foods that I usually don't eat I made it a point to work out and that's huge! I would not consider myself a "gym rat" by no means but the fact that the first thing I packed were my tennis shoes proves to me that I'm making progress! It was great seeing everyone and we hope to be back down South for another visit soon!

W-Day #30

Happy Superbowl Sunday! I just made the WW Mexican dip for later. I went to weigh yesterday and it felt great to hear Joyce say I was down .8 lbs! The past few weeks have been consistent losses for me. It proves going to the gym in addition to Pilate's is "working." It's a daily struggle to walk into that gym and hop on a machine but I've come to the realization I will not get to goal unless I push myself. I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I think that mean treadmill has something to do with it!

*** total weight loss to date 32.8 lbs ***

W-Day #29

When you do the right thing and you see results... it's a damn good feeling! This week I'm down 1.4 lbs! I have been working on being "conscious" about food. I've noticed I feel a lot better after I eat when I take a minute and actually THINK before digging in. Sometimes by just slowing down you'll start to notice the difference between need vs want. Give it a try! I've had some shocking revelations lately and I'm excited to see where this new behavior can take me. Hopefully to GOAL!

*** total weight loss to date 32 lbs ***

Surviving the SUPERBOWL

Are you ready for some football? Are you ready for hours of sitting around and picking on finger foods while downing beer after beer... or does that only happen at the Superbowl parties I attend?!? Well, either way here are some great recipes for hosting or attending a party. Even if your team blows it at least you won't!

Classic Guacamole - click here

Crispy Chipotle Potato Skins - click here

Layered Mexican Bean Dip - click here

*pics and recipes from WW.com

W-Day #28

YAY! WOOHOOO! I am happy to report that I'm down 1 lb... BUT I'm extremely happy to report that this 1 lb gets me over the big 3-0! I have been eagerly waiting and waiting and waiting for this day. Hitting this mark has made me realize that everything I'm doing is worth it. Saying no when my co-workers offer me french fries, choosing steamed broccoli over creamed spinach, freezing my tush off walking to go work-out, finally my new "habits" are PAYING OFF! Getting this initial 30 lbs off has enabled me with the confidence I need to get to my final goal. I feel motivated, I feel focused, I feel capable and most importantly I feel GREAT!

*** total weight loss to date 30.6 lbs ***

these boots were made for walking...

As many of you know it's ONLY January and NYC has seen a handful of snow storms already! I'm not sure how I survived 2 winters without snow/rain boots but just a few weeks ago I gave in and bought some (pictured). They are super comfy and warm! I feel totally "City" plowing right through puddles and piles of snow like it's my job. We're expecting more snow tonight so last night in my meeting we were talking about how many calories you burn walking vs walking in the SNOW. I was shocked when my leader said it can be more than double!

This morning I was reading an article and came across this,

"The amount of calories burned from walking depends on speed and terrain. Imagine walking from your car to your workplace in perfect weather conditions and on level ground. If you were a 150-lb. person of average build, you would burn about 136 calories per hour with this type of walking. But make that walk uphill in the snow (much like a story your grandpa probably told you), and the rate can jump to over 400 calories an hour."

Who said snow was a bad thing?!?!

W-Day #27 and VERY EXCITING NEWS!!!!!!

Yesterday was not only the first weigh in of 2011 but it was also my first official weigh in since I veered off course during Christmas. With that said, I squinted my eyes while I stepped on the scale waiting to hear the verdict. Joyce my regular lady was not there (which also gave me a bad feeling, stupid I know but these things tend to matter to me). I opened my eyes and much to my surprise I was down .2 lbs! Normally I'd probably question such a tiny loss BUT this week I felt a sense of relief, gave the lady a high five and jumped off that scale!

So now the super exciting news!!!! After my "glorious" weigh in I was gathering my things and putting on my jacket, hat, scarf... yes, I hate winter already and it's only January, when this woman approached me. She introduced herself as the assistant editor of Weight Watchers magazine and she was there to cast a few people for success stories to be published in the mag. She asked if I'd be interested and if I had a few minutes to chat and for her to get some PHOTOS! I was in my most natural state as I had just come from Pilates but I figured, um, no brainer here, heck yea I'm interested! We talked for a few mins, she basically asked me questions about where I started, how many lbs until I was at goal, if I was doing the program alone or with a friend, etc. After the Q & A she snapped probably about 10 pics of me, face shots, some EXTREMELY close and BODY shots as well, yikes! I should hear back in a few weeks if the Editor picks me and then it's a real photo shoot, a full story and I'd be published in the mag!!! Watch out Jennifer Hudson... there's a new girl in town!


***total weight loss to date 29.6 lbs***

Better late than never, right?!?

How is it already halfway into the first month of 2011? I guess the saying is true, time flies when you're having fun and that's exactly what we've been doing! Between Christmas parties, traveling to NC, and celebrating the New Year trying to stay on plan this Holiday season has been a challenge. This year was my first official WW Christmas and I'll be the first to admit I'm not so sure I succeeded. Avoiding the scale like the plague, I was a little shocked how "off course" I managed to go. Instead of beating myself up about the cheesecake I ate or the second helping of sweet potato casserole I took I'm going to focus on the positive. I'm starting off this year 29.6 lbs less than where I was a year ago and that deserves a "bravo." I've set two New Years resolutions that I know will get me to my final GOAL. The first is MOVE more and the second... BLOG more!

Happy One Year Anniversary to 'what goes UP must come DOWN'
A BIG thanks to ALL my followers! "A great sense of self-worth comes from sharing important experiences with good friends." ---Unknown


Christmas 2010

Happy New Year 2011