- Express Shuttle USA (formerly Gray Line): One-way fare is $13. The busses run from 7am to 11:30 pm to locations in Manhattan from 23rd to 96th Streets. When you arrive at the airport, go to the ground transportation desk. A shuttle bus will come to pick you up within twenty minutes of your arrival. For exact schedules call (212) 315-3006 or (800) 451-0455.
- SuperShuttle: (800) BLUE VAN (258-3826). Haven't taken them but friends speak well of them.
Because I can be really, really cheap when I set my mind to it, if I am traveling via LaGuardia without much luggage but a sweater over my arm & a carryon, I will actually take the subway up to 125th street & then grab (I think it's the M60) bus which goes across 125th & ends up in LaGuardia. (I've done this most recently when flying to Oklahoma City for a long weekend.) Total cost is just subway fare, since the transfer to the bus is taken care of. But that's cut-throat cheap. Columbia students do it that way.|||And I realized my post has little to do with keeping you on plan during your visit.
Okay, the first thing I'd do is skip the fast food. Don't eat at any of those places. Instead, go to the large delis with upstairs seating in Midtown & the Theater District, where the office workers & actors & stage hands & etc. actually pick up their lunches. (You know, the real people.) You'll see steam tables in the background with hot food & lots of cold food, too. These are basically gigantic salad bars. You can get a plastic container & tray & make up a salad, weigh it, and then carry it out to eat in your hotel room or in their sitdown places. (Which generally lack for atmosphere.) This is my favorite way to get a healthy lunch quickly in this area. My favorite salad bar of all time is in the Whole Foods grocery stores. But there isn't one of those in midtown. (There will be in Union Square, if you emerge there from the Nos. 4, 5, or 6subway in the Village.)
If you run or walk at all, & you are staying near Central Park, I'd recommend a morning run or walk in the park, particularly along the reservoir. (Many years ago, you might have found yourself running beside Jackie Kennedy & her Secret Service agents.) You will see people out on their daily runs on the more residential streets, and also a lot of people going for bike rides. (Watch out for the delivery guys on the bikes, though.) There are designated bike lanes in a lot of areas.
The other thing to peruse, just for curiosity's sake, is all the second-floor fitness centers with glass windows, so people are exercising just above your head. In the Union Square area, you can, if so inclined, count the number of yoga studios as you pass them by. (10 points for Jivamukti, 20 points for a Lululemon store.)
Also, if you want motivation to stay on plan, look around you in the store windows. Saef has been known to be pissed off on Madison Avenue upon discovering that, after losing over 100 pounds, the salesclerk still pulls size L & XLs for me to try on. (Whatever happened to vanity sizing? Not in those shops, sadly!!!)|||Thanks Saef. Actually, I was looking into a shuttle from the hotel to the station. Its like $12+ for the shuttle and $18 for the train (off peak) into CT where I pick up my car. On the way back I thought about just taking a shuttle direct from CT into Laguardia for $68 in order to save the hassle of getting from the station to the airport. Its more than double, but might be worth it. Then again, I have a later flight out so that I wasn't rushed to get back into NYC for a flight. I've almost missed flights before from the traffic getting to the airport and being on a shuttle.
I know this has strayed away from the diet issue, but I appreciate the advice on all things.
Once I'm out of the city, I'll be in smaller towns with your run of the mill options. I'm hoping to find a nice local grocery with a salad bar or something. Or at least with deli salads that I can pick up for dinners a couple nights. And I think the hotel I'm staying at will have a breakfast bar so I can get fruit, yogurt or toast with peanutbutter and still stay semi on plan. (that's given I have a plan by then). And of course if fast food is my option, there's always subway veggie sub, or salad at one of the other joints.
And I hope to try to reserve some calories for the consumption of adult beverages at the reunion. I'm going to need a drink or two to take the edge off. The nice thing about dieting though - I cut out alcohol (not that I'm a drinker anyway) so 1 drink will get me tipsy and 2 will be my limit. I'm a light beer drinker or rum and diet coke.
But - if you all keep up these ideas for NYC, I may very well stay in NYC for a day or two before heading into CT for the reunion. You are making me want to stay there and get lost in the city.|||Chnkymonkey, I work in Stamford, right next to the border of Greenwich, so let me think on this a little.
In that area, Super Stop n' Shops and A&P Fresh grocery stores have decent salad bars. The Trader Joe's that I know in that area is in Darien.
I'm not as familiar with the rest of CT, since I pretty much just work there all day & leave, but I do know New Haven a little.
Best wishes on a happy & healthy trip.|||Alright quick and dirty for fast food/major chain restaurants
Panera bread- Lots of good choices, not a lot of added crap
Subway- Obvious
Chilis- The margharita grilled chicken is super taste and 530 calories
Applebees- has the 550 menu and is yummy
Quizno's- check out the sammies and torpedos you can get 2 for about 400-500 calories if you are careful
Arbys- skip the salads they are horrid the Roast chicken ranch sandwich has 320 calories in it and is very very tasty
I could go on but those are generally availible in most places :)|||since you are alone, that makes it a little easier since you can decide where to eat. Try to stick to simple things, grilled chicken and fish, skip the fries, salads.
I think the parties and get togethers are more peer pressure than temptations. You'll see everyone else around you eating junk food, maybe drinking and they'll see you with just carrot and celery sticks and water and might question if you are on a diet.