bother

[taimatsu]

Stupid computer crashed and lost my life update.

Not much is happening. Ickle brother turns 16 next Tuesday and I have yet to find him a present. I have updated my CV, which is good. I still have errands to run (note to self: library books, cheques, stamps, address change for OXFEC and NC) some of which I am avoiding in an avoidant kind of way.

I made cake yesterday, and despite misreading the scales horribly, it worked. I have two frosted marmalade cakes, and they are yummy.

I am now officially dieting. This is a bit scary because I never have before, but I want to be a bit less flabby. I need to do more exercise. Any tips and assistance are welcome.

I am off to Reading tonight, then in London on Monday evening/Tuesday for Hugo's birthday. I am looking forward to seeing him, but I have NO CLUE what to get him. Budget about £15. Ideas welcome. He likes video games, skateboarding, fencing, Harry Potter, and cool clothing labels. And lots of other stuff too.

My sleeping patterns are going a bit weird again, which is bad. Waking up late, going to bed late. I have two weeks till I move. Aaaaaargh!

Comments

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

Is your brother doing any languages at school? Last year I bought my godson (avid HP fan) Harry Potter e il camera de segretti (I think I've remembered the title properly) which is helping his Italian lessons no end, plus it's quite a "cool thing" to own apparently. Waterstone's have HP in German and French, in Oxford, and occasionally other languages (they might have Spanish too). Pretty sure they're within your budget.

[taimatsu]

I think he'd kill me if I bought him that. Yes, he likes HP, and he has been doing something germanish for GCSE, but I don't know that he's doing one for A-level, and he'd probably think it was a bit too work-related. It's the kind of thing I'd love, though :)

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

Ah well. I must admit, I'd love them too (in German and Italian), and keep wondering if I can justify a purchase... maybe I should sign up for language classes at night or something, as an excuse!

dieting

[willjsm.livejournal.com]

The Atkins diet worked very well for Ally (i.e. she wanted to reduce one dress size, and did it in 1 week), so I guess I'd recommend it (and she's a vegetarian, and still 'managed')

Re: dieting

[taimatsu]

Er, is that the one which asks you to leave out major food groups, or something? those worry me a bit. And a dress size in a week sounds like very fast weight loss. I mean, great for her, but I'd *worry* if I started shrinking like that.

Re: dieting

[willjsm.livejournal.com]

Maybe it was a week and a half.

Essentially, the Atkins diet says "no carbohydrates; no really, none; that includes that grain of rice. HAve protein though, lots of it. Yep, that fatty steak deep fried in lard is fine, go right ahead".

Its mean to work cos your body (in about 3 days) runs out of carbohydrates to digest, and so has to meet its energy needs from digesting fats (hurrah!) and the proteins that you're feeding it. It kind of makes sense, although I also worry about a diet that says "don't worry if you feel dizzy in the first few days, this will pass". Not to mention what seems to be a permanent decrease in hunger levels in Ally.

But it works, and there are no observable long-term side-efffects, so it could b eworth considering.

Re: dieting

[damerell.livejournal.com]

Essentially it works as well as any other solution involving severe malnutrition. You'd be lighter if you cut your legs off at the knee but I wouldn't recommend that either.

[slappersire.livejournal.com]

Pilates is very good for triming and toning bodies, and it's no impact as well so it's good for your joints. It basically strebgthens the corset of muscles that _should_ be around your waist, stomach and back. I try to do it on a regular basis but have been ebing crap recently. Should get back to it, and the weightwatchers stuff as well.