M2M... summarized

I've been told of a mythical place near Bowery, a 2 story version of M2M. Hopefully I'll get a chance to visit it before leaving NYC. Anyhoo, back to the point of this post. I love M2M. Probably more than I love Hamdel. If it weren't so damn far across campus (yes I will sit and row for hours, but walking across campus is an ordeal for me), I probably would never go anywhere else. Let that be a testament to how much I like this little deli. In fact, despite the distance I need to walk, I've gone so much that the Filipino guy behind the counter knows my order for a cheeseburger. So clutch. Lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickles, and ketchup on 1 side only. I do this because they really like to pile on the ketchup. Anyway, I'll do something similar to what I did for Hamdel, and I'll pick 8 sandwiches that I happen to like a bit more than the others, just as a 'suggestions' list for when you're confused by all the options.

• New Yorker - Pictured above, it's basically a Philly cheese steak that uses cheddar and bbq sauce instead of red/green peppers and wiz. To be honest, I only took that picture because I was impressed by how oily it was. Grab some tums, but the shine on the bread doesn't do the taste justice.
  


• Spicy Grilled Chicken Wrap - Simply... grilled chicken (covered in Sriracha), mozzarella, red beans, rice, avocados, and lettuce. It's spicy enough to make you hate your mouth, but the mix of avocado and red bean gives for nice textural variation. You can sub any type of chicken in here btw. Actually, they might get pissed at you, but if you ask often enough, they stop caring.
  


• Cheeseburger Deluxe - Uh, this is going to sound really stupid, but for $5.42 (it used to be $4.91!!!) it's a really good deal. Their burger isn't all that incredible, but they put it together for you... unlike Hamdel, and it tastes more like real beef haha. No, but the real reason you get this is for the fries. They're fried in the same oil as their tempura shrimp, so they pick up the same flavor.
  


• Roll Broadway - Turkey, swiss cheese, onions, and... cranberry sauce. I fuggin' love cranberry sauce. You put that on any sandwich and I'll order it. This is no different.


• Hot Roast Beef - A combination of roast beef, meunster, and gravy... oh and some other nonsense like lettuce and tomatos. It's nothing incredible, but it has gravy in it. Anything is better when it has gravy in it right? Hm, that's up for debate, but their gravy is pretty delectable.


• Turkey Gobbler - It's like the hot roast beef, I like it for the gravy. It's just juicy turkey breast (which I think might be left over from the lunch time hot food trays) and gravy. I mean, of course there's other stuff, but those are the main points. Have I mentioned it's sandwiched by garlic bread?


• Honey Bunch - Grilled chicken in honey mustard plus swiss cheese... and spicy honey mustard for that extra bit of kick. Actually, I can't taste the spicy aspect at all. I really like honey mustard though, and this hits the spot. Most people probably wouldn't think it's anything special, and it's not, but you could do worse.
  


• Fresh Turkey Wrap - Sorry, this is cheating. It's the same thing as the Roll Broadway, just in wrap form. Uh, have I mentioned I really like cranberry sauce? Heh, yeah, I guess I don't really have 8 sandwiches I like at M2M.
  

I guess most of the novelty in M2M for me is the fact that they sell Asian drinks and snacks. Not really in the sandwiches. That's not to say the sandwiches aren't pretty incredible on their own, just that milk tea makes everything taste better. Also, I haven't seen Yakult sold anywhere else in the UWS, and that makes me sad. On a related note, I bought coffee soda there once. Where'd that go? I thought it was pretty good. Maybe I'm the only idiot who was willing to try it. Sigh, that's unfortunate.
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Hamilton Deli (I will miss you)

Someone once mentioned that there should be a list of suggestions for sandwiches to get at M2M. Well, this isn't it (I'll get to that in a future post). Instead I'm going to visit Hamdel, a place that keeps my wallet much thinner than it has to be, and keeps me going to the gym. After my points and meals ran out after freshman year, Hamdel became my second home. Some people claim they go there a lot, well... I'd put money on the fact that I collected more free gold cards in my sophomore year than they have in their college career. Anyhoo, it would be incredibly stupid to try to analyze every sandwich they serve (Although I have actually tried everything on their menu, also known as the Tour de Hamdel), so I'll just make a list of my favorite 8 (don't ask... it's a lucky number) and reasons why I love them.

• NYPD - It was the first sandwich I ever got at Hamdel, basically roast beef, cheese, bacon, and bbq sauce. Nothing outrageous, but there's nothing to dislike. It was a favorite of mine for well over a year. The picture at the top is the NYPD in all its glory.


• Fat Boy - I have to be honest, I only like this sandwich because when my friend ordered it, the lady at the counter said "Fat boy for the fat boy?" I do like pastrami and cole slaw though. Overly salty meat countered by questionably sweet cole slaw...


• Mojo Melt - This is basically a Fat Boy but with roast beef instead of pastrami. The combination still works. Hmm... maybe I just like their cole slaw.


• #3. Grilled Combo - A basic grilled chicken with mozzarella and teriyaki sauce. It's a sandwich I'll order if I feel like I need to eat 'healthier.' Ha, that's debatable.


• Undergrad - Combination of corned beef, swiss cheese, and sauerkraut. As for the mustard, I always replaced it with honey mustard. I'm not sure why I like this, but I do.


• The Judge - Reserved for when I have a free card. Always ordered deluxe. Covered in cheese, bacon, ham, and fried onions, it's a heart attack waiting to happen. I like to think I'm living dangerously when I order it.


• The Don - The idea of mozzarella and marinara sauce on a burger appeals to me. It's like I'm having a meatball sub, but with fries and all that jazz.


• E-Mail - The novelty of having guacamole and raw onions in a burger is sorta unique. Some people probably won't like the idea of that much fat in a burger. Meh, I embrace it.

To be honest, this list is purely based off my own opinion. There are a lot of sandwiches I absolutely can't stand (namely Jaws, and the tuna melt), and I feel like their paninis are rather mediocre, so by no means is this a comprehensive ranking for things you should get. I only wrote this hoping that someone might run across it when they're plum tucker out of ideas at Hamdel. Anyway, just don't flip out and leave hateful comments when you realize you order The Judge and your left arm starts to hurt. I'll do one of these for M2M too, as that was the original request haha.
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More installments of what I eat at school

I'm too lazy to make a real post. Let's be honest, it's surprising that I've managed to post on here with semi-regularity given my personality. In any case, a lot of my friends either find it gross 1) what I eat or 2) the amount of food I eat, so I thought maybe it'd be of interest to random strangers on the interwebs too (also since for some reason, people don't believe someone my size can eat all that much). Uh, my dinner from a night ago... was a pint of General Tso's Chicken with white rice, a quart of vegetable lo mein, french fries, and I forgot to take a picture of the container of fried chicken. Where I got this is irrelevant since the place isn't all that good (just cheap). Meh, what can I say? I'm easily satisfied when it comes to food as long as the quantity is sufficient. Though I have to say, I am kind of peeved I didn't get my free soda.


I actually really like having the above though. It's from Hamilton Deli (which to my great surprise... I've never written about!). It's just a breakfast wrap with eggs, cheddar cheese, and spinach, the number 12 if you will. It's becoming increasingly difficult for me to get the home fries outside of breakfast hours, and since I only like having this for dinner, it's a real luxury when it occurs. Anyway, just thought I'd post another peek into my life for would be stalkers and friends alike. Carry on. Maybe posts about Hamdel tomorrow. Maybe.

A btw thought... does this count as a food review post?

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This is why I'm hot... I mean fat

I'm not actually sure how to tag this... does this count as a slice? Or a recipe? Anyway, I'm finally coming back to this post, partially because I'm bored, partially because it really annoys me to see a mishmash of pictures on the front page of my blog. Anyway, if you know me... you know that I jizz in my pants love the 'Spicy Special' at the deli found at 109th and Amsterdam. It's also no secret that I love Koronet's despite their absurd yearly price hikes (seriously, class of 2012 and on... you have no clue how glorious it was when the jumbo slice was $2.75). It would only make sense that the 2 things belong together, considering their close geographical vicinity. I can't claim credit for this, as someone on my team actually did this before I did, but I do have to say that the combo sandwich roll is a thing of beauty.


So this is how it works... two things that are incredible individually get rolled together. Simple as that. I know a lot of people find this disgusting, that the thought of a Koronet's slice is enough for a meal and then some. Same thing for the 'Spicy Special.' Well guess what, I'm a fatty and I happen to consider this a very balanced meal.



End result prior to rolling. Actually since then I've found a better way to do this (inspired by my ohsowhite friend Davenport). For each half of the sandwich, you cut the slice down the middle, parallel to the crust, not along the bias. By doing so, you can effectively roll the sandwich 1.5x around for a nice thin pizza shell. As far as how it tastes, imagine having tomato sauce and hot cheese before hitting a nice center crust of toasted bread... then reaching a perfect mix of mayo, pepper jack cheese, and hot turkey. It's pretty much like eating a pizza with the toppings of a sub... but with more carbs. If that doesn't sound awesome to you, then... I'm sorry, you're probably dead to me. The synergy of double cheese, and artery clogging oils is undoubtedly one of my favorite meals in Morningside. The kicker? Total price... $8.50.
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The absurdity of Koronets Pizza

Remember that giant slice from Koronet's? Yeah, well Dominic came up with this awesome idea of getting a full pie. Just because it'd be super epic. Or as Daven would say... "stupid epic." Anyhoo, enjoy the picture of the pie in all its glory. Total cost was $31.50, but only because we got a full pie + 1 slice for Chris haha. The plan was for Dom and myself to finish 4 slices a person, but after pulling a 5k moderately hard, I could only bring myself to eat 3... which is not to say I couldn't have more, just I didn't want to feel like crap after eating. Contrary to popular belief, I actually like enjoying my food. Why did we get Koronet's instead of going to that place in Brooklyn? Well... because Davenport Sutton had a 40 page thesis he had to submit, and we felt guilty going without him. Super brolove.


Dom with the pie, I have to give him full credit as getting Koronet's was his idea. Pretty winner. Almost as much win as spandex. Almost.


Oh, and there's me with the pie. Just as a mention, it should be noted that the Brooklyn pizza challenge is a 16" pie to be completed within 10 minutes. That is approximately 201.06 square inches in pizza. Koronet's slices are 14" in radius, therefore, with 3 slices, we're already looking at 230.91 square inches of pizza. I did not finish in 10 minutes, but I did do so in roughly 30, savoring every single last inch of greasy cheese. Rocco's pizza... come January, I'ma make you my bitch.
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Koronets (a.k.a. I eat when I'm stressed)

So between the course of last night and this morning I finished a jar of peanut butter, about 10 bagels, a fair amount of oatmeal, ice cream, and a slice of Koronets. Lol no I didn't eat all of that because I'm stressed, actually no... I'm perhaps foolishly trying to maintain weight while losing fat... if that makes any sense (and I'm sure there are a lot of 'bros' who would say it doesn't), but that's besides the point. Anyway, I figured I would do well to pay tribute to the hole in wall that is known as Koronets before leaving for the summer. Plus I had a craving for pizza, what better way than to down a slice the size of your head?

The storefront like most on Broadway or Amsterdam is a small nook shop with only a plain orange awning to draw your attention. Which is to say it doesn't really draw your attention. Actually, most people probably wouldn't go here if it, not unlike Gourmet Deli, has a reputation on campus as a place that is open late, is cheap, and is good food for when you're drunk or out of your mind. My point is, the store is nothing to write home about (ironic that I'm still writing about it huh?), it has a couple of tables, and benches along the side blah blah blah. Their menu is pretty extensive, with jumbo slices, regular small slices, sicilian slices, and a host of generic toppings. They also have beef patties, which I would recommend against, stored in their small drink fridge and reheated upon request. Who would go here for anything aside from the plain jumbo slice though? Okay, maybe pepperoni... but the point stands, the star of the show is the giant slice. At $3.25 it's a considerable deal if you calculate by cost per square inch since it's literally the size of 2 regular pizzeria pizzas (not even $1 pizza can really compete). If you look at the picture, it's the obligatory dollar bill comparison. Actually I feel like it's gotten smaller, but whatever, it's still a behemoth in the pizza world. Also, sorry there's no pizza upskirt... if I tried that it would just flop so it's completely pointless. I will just tell you that there is no char, and often times it is undercooked and still doughy, but if you've been drinking... do you really think you'd care?

How is it? Well it's no DiFara's or Motorino pizza, hell I don't think it even stacks up well against Naples 45... but you're not paying for substance here. The fact that you get something so large that consists of flour, cheese, and sauce for $3.25 is all that matters. That said, it's a stomachable pizza. It tastes fine by all measures, the cheese is plentiful, the sauce is acceptable, and the crust is reasonably bready. It might be a tad oily, but hey... that's just a bonus, more calories for free (you have no clue how happy that makes me). If I was forced to give a midtown comparable... it would be just like stringing together a few of the $1 pizzas at Prince Deli. So would I go again? Yeah, I'm probably going again tonight for dinner haha, and I would suggest it to anyone in the area. If for no other reason, down 3 or 4 and it can be some sort of bragging right haha. I have one gripe though. When I got here Freshman year, the price per was a lean $2.75... and I feel like it was bigger (or maybe I got better at eating large quantities). That, was truly a deal. It's sad that the class of 2013 will never know true cheap eats from Koronets...

Weighing in at a tidy 152, so the weight is coming down gradually from that awful 158 mark. But if I'm losing weight, then I'm doing something wrong... perplexing.
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Best bagels on the UWS? Absolutely

I really need to stop using puns as blog post titles (it's my way of copping out since I'm not that creative). Anyway, Absolute Bagels has just become my favorite bagel place both because it's conveniently located at 108th and Broadway, and because well... their bagels are pretty phenomenal.

The UWS/morningside area is actually home to quite a few bagel places, even just around Columbia there's Broadway Bagel, Absolute, Nussbaum & Wu, and Hot and Crusty. Needless to say, in the past month... I've found myself visiting all of them as Bagels were, and still are, sort of like comfort cheat meals. I'm not going to review most of them, so I'll do a quick summary of Broadway, Nussbaum, and Hot & Crusty... small and unremarkable, okay... but doughy and undercooked(?), and um... I just don't like Hot & Crusty's name or bagels (it's okay for me to have bias towards a name). In any case, Abolute stands above the bunch (even matching the storied H&H a lot of people seem to love... imho of course).

The storefront is again, an umimposing little nook shop on Broadway, real plain awning, nothing too inspiring here. As you walk in, there's a couple of tables, but the place clearly isn't for spending a day at. There's just an L-shaped counter, and a giant menu to peruse behind it. The only thing they do (and do well) is bagels... which is exactly what you want in a bagel place. They're offerings are of the plain varieties (poppy seed, pumpernickel, rye, sesame, onion, garlic, etc.) so you won't find any creative or outrageous concoctions here, but it's okay since classic is good. Anyway, at $1 a piece, their bagels are a bit more expensive than most in the area, but trust me it's well worth it. I ended up buying a cinnamon raisin, a poppy seed, and a pumpernickel to sample the gamut of varieties... you know, just to make sure they weren't a one trick pony haha. All three were good in the same way. Warm crusty outter shell (I went at 6 am mind you), which yielded with a crunch to a soft inner bread that was heavy and doughy, but still airy. Sorry, I'm bad with words, and I realize that last sentence makes no sense, but that's the best I can do. Regardless, the bagels had nice textural character, with each producing enough subtle flavor to clearly distinguish the types, that is to say... the poppy seeds didn't dominate the taste of the bagel (the same is true for the other two). So if you're craving bagels, don't waste your time with the mass produced crap at westside market or morton... unless you're trying to save money (I'm guilty of this more times than I'd like to admit), try Absolute... I swear you'll want to go back for more. Oh and don't ask them to toast it, it costs extra and it just makes the inside crunchy too. If i wanted to have crunchy bagels, I'll just go to Nussbaum...

Did you know you can put on like 10 pounds in 1 day through sodium bloat? True story. Current weight... a tidy 157 haha... fail.
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Is the 'Spicy Special' everything it's cracked up to be?

Affectionately known as the 'spicy special,' it's a footlong hero filled with cajun turkey, spicy mustard, mayo, pepper jack cheese, and I guess what could pass for lettuce and tomatoes. It sounds plain, but I swear it's not. It's an old time favorite of fratboys and drunkards alike, and something I didn't really understand until last year. Since then, it, and it's brethren sandwiches, have been staples in my diet.

So I guess it was inevitable that I reviewed the spicy special, and actually I'm not really sure what took me so damn long to do it. First off, Gourmet Deli on 109th and Amsterdam is not a real upscale place. It's undergone some renovations recently that include moving the sandwich bar to the opposite side of the narrow hole in the wall storefront, and cleaning up the dingy paint job. Needless to say, it lost some credibility in my eyes. Still, when compared to the friendly atmosphere of say... a Hamdel, it is still pretty shady (you'll often find drunk homeless people getting into arguments with patrons of the establishment when they don't give out change). The storefront... uh, yeah nothing special. I honestly would not have ever bought a sandwich out of such a crappy looking place if the sandwich didn't boast the reputation it does on campus. Anywho, if you do walk in, go straight to the sandwich bar, ignore everything else, and for the love of god don't get the cheeseburger (chopped is different).

First on the chopping block is... the spicy special a.k.a. the crack special itself. The ingredients have been previously listed. Again, I should reiterate, don't judge this sandwich purely based on what goes into it. If you do, you'll make the mistake of never having one... then another... then another 20 as you become a regular, which is unavoidable. So it's a plain hero that's toasted with some meat and cheese, what's so special you ask? To be honest, it's not truly spicy like the name implies, it's more of a subtle tanginess if I can call it anything. What makes this hero rise above it's peers vs. Milano's or Lenny's or most other midtown/morningside sandwich shops is its price. It's an even $4 hot and on a hero. In fact, it's only $3.50 if you order it cold or on a roll, but pay the extra 2 quarters... it's a lot more food. I'm not implying that this is the only thing that makes the sandwich redeemable, because that would be selling it short. No, it's a remarkable sandwich which melds flavors together incredibly well... the selling price is only half the story. I should add though, the reputation it has earned as a heavy hitter among Columbia students is mostly due to the fact that the deli is 24/7 and that kids are very drunk or stupid hungry when they go. So take from this what you will... I love this sandwich, I would eat it every meal of every day for a month if I had to, but if you're expecting 'free foods' quality from something that doesn't break a Lincoln? You're looking in the wrong place (case in point: I sometimes buy scratch lottery tickets from here).

As a bonus, I also got a 'Sweetie Pie.' No it's not a dessert, it's actually another sandwich (what? it was 5 am and I was hungry as hell... and like I said, I can't eat this much food when I go home). In it is chicken with honey sauce, American cheese, and again... the same measly amounts of lettuce and tomatoes. Is this sandwich any good? Eh, it's 50/50. It was good because I was hungry... but everything's good when you're hungry. It also wasn't so bad where I wouldn't eat it again if I was offered one. I guess to explain, I would order it again, since it's also so cheap at $4, but only if the 'Spicy Special' and the 'London Bridge' (have to wait for another post) didn't exist. So sadly, I will never eat another one. Back to the sandwich though. The sweet sauce melds with the American cheese in way too terrific to explain, not unlike the mixing of flavors between spicy mustard and pepper jack cheese, but the chicken was dry and tasted as if it had been reheated once too many times, which ultimately ruins this sandwich for me. You're probably thinking that mine might've been a dud. Nope, this is my third and last. Every one has been consistently, which is good, dry, which is bad haha.

Like I said, this is my last 'off' day for the gym before the end of the year, as well as my last pigout celebration before I return to a life of normal caloric proportions, so that's why I had so much food at 5 in the morning. I also found out I can drink a gallon of milk and keep it down. I'm also 153 pounds as of this very moment. In case you can't tell, I'm quite proud of both those accomplishments. How long before I go sub 140 again? If I were a betting man I'd set the over/under on 7 days...
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No running today

Today is my day off, I think I put in enough miles this week to justify having 1 solid day dedicated to studying, sleeping, and pigging out haha. That and I'm making a serious effort to stay above 140... you'd be surprised how quickly the weight drops off when you don't eat 3000+ calories.

I've also come to the realization that I haven't been doing many food reviews, and for that I apologize. Seeing as how when I'm at home I won't be able to eat nearly as much food (for fear of getting yelled at by my parents...) I will do my absolute best to make this last week at Columbia count... food wise of course. What? You thought I meant finals? HA... here's to the last week of academics that actually counts towards applying to graduate school. Hurrah!

Oh yeah, I got hungry last night... went to M2M and bought this. Not because I knew it tasted good, but because it had Shin chan on the packaging. Yes I'm almost 21, and yes I still buy things on impulse because of advertising aimed at 7 year olds. Anyway, they were good. Think sweetened corn chips fried in sesame oil. Then rolled in honey or sugar, then coated with sesames. I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor actually... I only wanted to buy it so I could take a picture haha.
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M2M, it's about damn time I reviewed them

They raised prices... I am not a happy fat kid (still, at $5.42 including tax, what do I have to complain about?).


Anyway, I sit awake so early in the morning having just completed my run, which I'm still not sure I should be happy or annoyed at (more on that at the end), finally having worked off that late night gut bomb session. What did I eat this time? Bagels... half a dozen of them of varying sorts, marbled raisin, yeast, egg, wheat, sourdough, and I'm pretty sure a pumpernickel one as well, all topped with 'Peanut Butter & Co' chocolate pb. In addition, 2 pints of ice cream (not sorbet this time, finally grabbed the right one), a 1/2 pound burger made out of ground buffalo, 2 pounds of cottage cheese, and that beautiful burger from M2M. Do I feel guilty about any of this? Not really, it was a rather 'light' binge session if you will... and it's not like I got some crappy ass burger from a craptastic burger/pizza place. Nope, this is a good burger, and as previously mentioned... cheap too. M2M apparently has 2 locations in NYC, one downtown on 11th, and another up on 115th next to Columbia. As such, it's become a favorite fallback food option for the student population here. With a dizzying array of sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and even some moderately decent Japanese food all at pretty cheap prices, it's not really that surprising they do so well. It's also a small asian supermarket if anyone cares (I do occasionally buy random Japanese breads, variants of pocky, and Asian ice creams lol). That's not the reason I went though... which was obviously their burger.

Don't get me wrong, once again, like Hamilton Deli (see here, and here), this is no City Burger or Minetta Tavern. It is not 'Pat LaFrieda' blend, it is not shipped from some organic farm on Long Island, it is a plain burger. I'm actually fairly sure that they're the frozen patties you can buy at Morton Williams or Fairway, but whatever. You can either get the plain cheeseburger, which will run you $3.50, or the deluxe version, which costs apparently $5 now... (the incoming freshman will never have it as good as we did... $2.75 Koronets, $4.91 deluxe cheeseburgers, and $6.23 sandwiches at Hamdel, yes I memorized all the prices so I could bring exact change). Also, please don't ask how much the plain burger is, or the veggie burger, or the turkey burger. If you're going to go, don't waste your time on those, in other words... I don't know. Anyway, there's a counter in the back where you place your order, which, if you're getting the burger, takes quite a while. After a few minutes, one of the guys will ask you what you want on it. This is where M2M is unique, you can pretty much do anything. I've asked for red beans on my burger, I've asked for sriracha, I've even asked for kimchi, they will put it on, sometimes for extra, sometimes for free. In any case, the classic ketchup, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, mustard combo comes with the meal, so do yourself a favor... and get everything you paid for.

The burger itself is quite good actually. I won't waste time talking about char (since it's broiled under a brick), degree of doneness (since it's almost always cooked through and through no matter what you say), or bun to patty ratio (are you kidding me? it's a seeded bun that you can buy yourself... not some honey brioche). What I will say is this, if you're hungry, and you actually want a burger 'your way,' don't go to Burger King... M2M is your late night comfort place. Well... not too late, it closes at midnight, hence the name, and the grill stops at 11. Final thoughts on the burger... don't skimp, go deluxe. Their fries (which Wayne actually dislikes) are in my opinion, pretty damn good. They're done up in the same oil as their tempura, so there's a weird aftertaste. Mild, but pleasant. Also guaranteed crunchy if you eat them while they're still hot.

Why am I annoyed at my run? Well... because I'm slow again. I did 3.67 or something in 30 minutes which means my pace was actually below an 8 minute mile for the overall. I ended up going back after a few minutes of stretching to run a mile as fast as I could, at 6:23 which could've been better too, just to prove that I could still do speed pieces *sigh*. Whatever, tomorrow's a new day, and hopefully I can get above that 4 mile mark again for the 30 minutes (I remember a time when 4.1 miles was an 'off' day).

distance for the day: 5.06 miles
distance biked for the day: 0.00 miles

distance on the year: 94.01 miles
distance biked on the year: 98.39 miles
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Damn you crafty farmer's market people...

I feel bad for tagging this under running, because if anything, what I did today can't even be considered running. What I did today was an injustice to great weather, a light problem set load from my professors, and to my own body.

First off, after yesterday, I vowed to restart on my normal schedule, and that includes eating. Yet, when you go outside on a gorgeous Sunday morning and see the farmer's market people selling donuts, how can you say no? At 50 cents a piece, these things were fantastic (better than those I had at Union Square Market). Okay, so no pictures again, even though it was literally across the street from my dorm, but anyway, I bought 1 single plain whole wheat apple cinnamon donut and went down to westside to pick up some egg beaters, some veggies, and some yogurt (it was on sale, and is my temporary replacement for cottage cheese... don't judge me lol). Then on the way back, I got a sugared version of the same donut. The second time, after the guy asked, "Back again?" I remarked, "Yeah... these things are addictive, you guys are gonna make me fat." His answer? "That's what we strive for." Great... your goal in life is to ruin me. So back to the donut, dense but light... wait... what? It's hard to explain, the donut is cakelike and moist so it's heavy, but at the same time it's not oily or 'clog your arteries' heavy. It almost feels like it's good for you... but trust me it's not. Later in the day for lunch, since I had no clue what to make, I went to buy an oatmeal apple muffin. Same guy, same story... apparently, no one buys the no sugar added apple muffins, I of course would gladly trade off those calories so I said it was fine. He proceeds to plop two muffins into my bag, saying, "There's a lot left over, so I'll give you two for the price of one!" Once again, the muffin man... er, I mean farmer market man gets me. So in the end, I didn't cut any calories, I just stuffed my face full of more homemade goodness. How do I classify him... is he a 'friend' or is he an 'frienemy?' The muffins were just like the donuts, nothing but high praise. Ginormous and (insert every description I had about the donuts here), for $1.75 they weren't terribly expensive, especially when you get 2 haha. So if you're up at Columbia on a Thursday or Sunday, do my local farmer's a favor and buy a muffin or donut, or really a dozen donuts wouldn't be pushing it.

About that run, mid 60s weather, low wind, I was planning on running to Trader Joe's to do some health food shopping, but I had to stop at the 72nd street boat basin before deciding to turn back. Seriously, I felt like puking... but with all the people out because of the weather, I obviously couldn't haha (see? considerate... me). I had to resort to walking before I got to the 96th street exit, for a grand total failrun of... 2.61 miles, and at pace I don't even want to think about calculating. I think the eating's catching up with me, so back to the week... back to eating healthy, and hopefully back to 135 by the end of the week.

distance for the day: 2.61 miles in... um, let's not talk about that

distance on the year: 12.88 miles
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No I'm not trying to kill myself with food (also I'm getting fat)

I know I didn't update my last post yet, but I couldn't help it... I've been bogged down this week with a crapton of work and feeling like hell (in general... I even took 2 off days from the gym, imagine that). Also, I've realized... I'm getting kinda fat. No not like obese, but pudgy, complete with a mini gut and everything (did I mention my fear of developing bitch tits?). Anyway, as I was running this morning, I realized how much it hurts being out of shape (both physically and mentally... haha), so as an added bonus to the food related posts, which will still appear despite what I plan to say next, I am going to start getting back to eating healthier and blogging about my training. I'm sure my running and biking tales aren't exactly the types of lore that tales are written from, but it's mostly for me to keep myself on track. From now on, there will be daily posts, if only just to make a note of how far I ran or whatever. Hrm, and random photos of char siu gyoza?


distance for the day: 4.23 miles in 30 minutes (running)
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