The last weigh-in Wednesday

I have to admit, I’m bored of weigh-in Wednesdays now… and I’m sure you are too! So I’ve decided to make this the last one. It was only supposed to be a summer thing anyway, and by this time next week it will be September (eep, where has the time gone?!). Even if it isn’t officially autumn until the 22nd of September, it’s still an autumn month… and that was a long-winded explanation for something so simple! I think I’d better get on with the post…

Photo credit: Esthr

I’ve almost reached goal weight now (still not telling you what it is though. Ha!). I’m 1.3 kg down on last week, and weigh a whole 3.6 kg less than when I started the challenge. Go me!

I’ve only been weighing in every other day for the past two weeks, but my body fat percentage has been up and down just as much as when I was doing it every day. The ups have been lower as time goes on though, and today’s percentage is 28.3 %, down by 0.8% compared with last week!

Today’s waist line measurement was 76 cm (following on from 76.5 the last two times), which is 4 cm less than my starting measurement of 80 cm and puts me well below the unhealthy boundary. Phew!

I suspect I may look something like this… (Photo credit: pasukaru76)

Exercise has been… wellll, non-existent to be honest. I did do some walking (more than the usual tram stop to work and back, which I don’t count), but that’s about it. However, my local supermarket currently have fitness products on offer, so I took advantage and finally bought myself some hand weights… which means no more lifting tins of mangos! I might get my Jillian Michaels DVD out again this week and see how I fare doing a workout with actual weights…

And that’s my last weigh-in Wednesday for the time being. I might mention my measurements as part of another post in future, but I don’t intend to dedicate any more entire posts to weight loss… at least not until next summer when it’s time to stop hiding under stomach-shaping tights and baggy jumpers again!

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Friday letters

Friday has been a long time coming this week. Between my colleague being ill – making overtime necessary to complete her work as well as my own – and the snow, which Deutsche Bahn cannot cope with at all, the days have been incredibly long. I’m definitely hoping to find some time to relax this weekend! But first I’m going out tonight to eat Italian food and enjoy some live music. And before that, it’s Friday letters time…

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Dear weather. Actually, no. I don’t even have the words to express what I want to say to you – at least not politely. I’ve managed not to swear on my blog up to now, and I won’t give you the satisfaction of being the first thing I swear at!

Dear exercise DVD. I know I promised to get back to you this week, but that was before overtime and delayed trains conspired against me. I will try to be better next week (notice how I’m not promising anything…)

Dear St. Patrick’s Day. I’ts kind of annoying that you’re on a Sunday, but I shall be celebrating you anyway. Irish pub, here I come! (Dressed in green, of course).

Dear boyfriend. After losing you to Turkey for over a week (during which you ended up ill1), I thought you might get to stay home for a while, but within two days of being back at work, you were sent to Munich for a project meeting! Am I the only one that finds this unfair? Can’t wait to have you back tonight.

Dear birthday. You are now a few days less than 5 months away and I still haven’t arranged anything whatsoever for you. I’m seriously considering returning to my original plan – stay in bed and pretend you’re not happening. Unless someone decides to take pity on me and do the organising on my behalf…

Must go now. I promised to pick my friend up at the tram stop in 5 minutes (good job it’s basically outside my house!). Happy Friday everyone.

More Friday letters

Yep, it’s that time again! I haven’t really had much to post about this week (as you may have noticed…). January is such a blah month, don’t you think? Nothing really seems to happen – at least not in my life. Nevertheless, here are my Friday letters for the week…

19th century letterbox in Wormgate (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dear snow. You are very pretty, but must you also be so slippy? I’m sure I’m going to break my neck before long!

Dear self. I know Amazon is really tempting with its e-mails full of recommendations and ridiculously cheap second-hand books, but  you really need to stop spending money… at least until pay day!

Spending Money (Photo: 401(K) 2013)

Dear weekend. I’m so glad you’re here! I know we’re going to have lots of fun together.

Dear exercise DVD. I have done a circuit from you three times this week (I skipped Wednesday for no other reason than laziness, and tonight I seriously don’t have time! Been home long enough to type this and as soon as I’m done I’m off to put some washing on and start cooking tea). When do I get to start seeing results?

Dear self (again). The answer to the above question is when you stop allowing yourself a treat every. single. day.

Dear new gloves. You are soft and fluffy and, most importantly, warm. I think I’m in love!

Dear brain. One day you are going to produce a translation in which my colleague doesn’t have to suggest stylistic changes in every other sentence. Please work with me on this because seeing so many corrections every single day is starting to make my wonder whether I’m actually in the right profession.

Dear lips. I know it’s cold outside and central heating sucks the moisture out of everything, but please could you stop being dry and chapped and sore? I can only put lip balm on so many times a day, you know!

Dear tea. You (and chocolate) have kept me sane this week. Thank you!

For more Friday letters, see: http://www.thesweetseasonblog.com/2013/01/fridays-letters_18.html

Happy weekend, everybody!

A good day after all

After not sleeping very well last night then having to get up while it was still dark this morning – a fact that I had somehow managed to bloc from my memory during my two weeks off – I was really not in the mood for going to work this morning. Monday has never been my favourite day and first Mondays back after two weeks spent relaxing are never going to get a reputation for being particularly fun. But then my colleague arrived bringing with her an unexpected gift for me and suddenly things looked a lot brighter.

I got a mini Henry desktop hoover! He’s just like the ordinary Henry hoovers (you know, the red vacuum cleaners with the face), but battery operated and much smaller. So very cute! Every time my very boring translation made me start to wish I was anywhere but at my desk, a quick glance at Henry soon put the smile back on my face.

I then arrived home to find that two things had arrived. First something I found last week while looking for a gift for a friend’s birthday. I immediately fell in love and after showing it to Jan he agreed that I could buy it:

Owl tea cosy

Isn’t she beautiful? (Yes, I’ve decided it’s a she). More fuel for my current obsession with owls. And it goes very well with the owl cushion my Grandma sent me before Christmas.

The second thing I found in my mail box made me squee very loudly to myself in excitement:

Eddie Izzard tickets!!

You probably can’t tell from this photo, but these are in fact my tickets for Eddie Izzard in Berlin this April!! I wanted to take a close up photo but my camera battery died immediately after taking this one.

The excitement of receiving my tickets was even enough to give me the rush of energy I needed to do some of my exercise DVD. Admittedly only one circuit (well, 3 if you inlude the warm up and cool down) but I did the thighs and triceps one which always kills me! I’ve no idea how I’m going to cope when I eventually get round to trying out the entire 40 minute workout!

So a potentially bad day that actually turned out well. Isn’t amazing what a difference a visit from the postman can make? 😉 (Not to mention lovely colleagues who know exactly what gifts will make you smile).

Friday letters

As pleased as I am that it’s the weekend, I could swear it was only just Friday! Somebody seems to have fast forwarded my week! Oh well, I guess there’s nothing for it but to give you my second ever episode of Friday letters. Here goes…

Dear weather. I understand it is nearly November and cold temperatures are to be expected, but going directly from 21°C to 14°C was a bit of a shock to the system. That’s a difference of 7 whole degrees! Following this by dropping to 9°C today was just plain mean!

Dear brain. I’m not sure what’s possessed you to wake me up half an hour before my alarm on almost every work day for the past three weeks, but I would really, really appreciate it if you could stop now!

Dear portable DVD player thing. PLEASE stop skipping when I put a CD in you! You are currently ruining the music I’m trying to listen to and I am not at all impressed.

Dear Halloween. You are just around the corner and I can’t wait! I plan on spending this weekend sorting out costumes for the boy and I. And I really don’t care if we end up being the only people dressed up on Wednesday. It’s going to be amazing anywaqy – especially since the next day is a holiday in this part of Germany, which means lie in. Woop!

Dear Jillian Michaels. Your no more trouble zones DVD is excellent, but I don’t think I’m EVER going to be able to do the full 40 minute workout! So far the most I’ve managed is two circuits and Oh. My. Word. I thought I was going to die! Yes, I really am that ridiculously unfit. I will persevere though...

Dear Galaxy chocolate. You were sent to me a while ago, and I’ve been sooo good about not eating you that it seems you’re now technically passed your best before date. I guess that means I’m going to have to much what’s left of you this weekend. Such a shame… I do not think 😀 (Errm, sorry Jillian…)

That’s all from me. If you want to join in or just read more Friday letters click below: