For my entire adult life, I’ve managed to escape blink-of-an-eye weight gain. While my college friends promptly packed on the pounds freshman year from frat parties and late-night pizza fueled study sessions, I adhered to my elliptical routine and, as a result, my weight. [Going to school in Miami helped my motivation - you wear a bathing suit at least once a week!]

But 5 months ago, I did something that I’m scared has set off my first ever meet-and-greet with the chubs:

I moved to New York City.

For most people, the New York lifestyle is an urban whirlwind of working hard and playing hard, and I’ve definitely felt the effects of this when it comes to my eating habits. Last night, my boyfriend and I were going to a show (that I picked, because our tastes in music could not be more different; most of his concerts involve glowsticks and dancing mosh pits, and mine involve electric guitars and songs with actual lyrics). Anyway, we stopped for dinner beforehand, where i had a veggie burger, fries and a ginger mojito. After the show, we went out for drinks, where we split dessert and a bottle of champagne. Then, since it was around 11 pm and we had been drinking for awhile, we wanted what anyone who’s been drinking all night wants: french fries. So we headed to a frites place and split a cone of fries.

Well, golly gee! I just can’t figure out why I’m gaining weight! Couple those kinds of nights out with a busy work schedule that limits the regularity of my gym going, and BAM! Hey there, cellulite. In addition, since NY apartment kitchens tend to be small and cheap takeout is abundant on every corner, it’s really hard to make effort to plan recipes, buy ingredients and cook them when you can get a $1 piece of pizza across the street from your apartment. And, you know, a cupcake bakery on every corner.


How am I fighting this weight gain? I’m not trying to look super skinny; I just want to remain at a healthy weight and not start a cycle of adding excess poundage. Here’s what I’m doing:

  1. I started doing yoga, which is helping me stay relaxed in addition to being a surprisingly effective cardio workout (I leave each class dripping with sweat!)
  2. I’m TRYING to cook more. Since money is tight, I’m trying to eat out less anyway, and eating leftover beans and rice for lunch helps with calorie control AND budget crunching.
  3. I’m cutting back on booze. Drinking is a huge part of the social culture in New York, but all those wine and cocktail calories add up! I’m limiting the nights I go out drinking as well as the number of drinks I have, and instead of sugar-filled cocktails, I’m trying to stick to Bombay and tonics.

So, Lovelies, have you ever experienced a sudden weight gain due to moving to a new city, or going to college? How did you tame the extra pounds?