I was really focused on doing the right thing this past week. I cooked a lot, and exercised even more - including a VERY brisk 60-minute walk last Saturday that I can STILL feel in my thigh muscles. So when I stepped onto the scale this morning, I was probably more confident and eager to see the result than ever before.

And guess what? I didn't lose an ounce.

It was like a slap in the face, let me tell you. I almost felt like crying. Took me a moment to realize this might have something to do with the fact that I'm supposed to get my period any minute. At least that's the only rational explanation. Unless there are really no rules and it ultimately doesn't matter what I do - or don't.:|

But yeah... water retention would have that effect. It sucks to be a woman sometimes. *sigh*

( On the upside, though... )

Guess what? I lost two pounds and two ounces since last Wednesday. Which brings the score down to 156 lbs. That's 7 lbs less than when I started. Seven pounds down in seven weeks. Despite indulging myself sinfully for a good few days in Toronto. I am inordinately pleased with myself right now.:)

So what did I do differently this week to get such a good result? Well... it's very simple indeed. I exercised about four or five times, as opposed to once or twice during each of the two previous weeks. Who would have thought that a scant hour of leisurely stretching could make such a difference. I am seriously wowed by it. Now I can no longer tell myself that it's OK to skip it, because it doesn't do much anyway. Well... maybe it didn't when I ate like a pig. Now it seems to be giving my metabolism quite a serious push. I can almost see my 'love handles' shrinking down... lol.

And maybe I shouldn't say this in public... but when I stand in front of my bathroom mirror, looking at my rudimentary (but still there) second chin, I just feel like quoting Gollum. You know, the part about "go away and NEVER COME BACK".:P

So simple... so true (snagged from slesia).

What Your Hands Say About You

You are logical, analytical, and rational. You have good verbal skills. Flexible and broad minded, you can fit in to any situation. There's no telling where your life will take you. Consistent and reliable, you like to count on structure and routine in your life. Your emotions tend to be well though out. You're willing to wait out a bad situation, and you're never too quick to act.

In other news, I was tagged. By gairid. To post "ten things that recently made me happy." What an easy way to make an update.:D

( So... here goes. )

And since this is a tagging business, I tag the following ten people to do the same: alliwantisanelf, akashaelfwitch, matan4il, mellacita, namarie120, romi (I know you have no time for this, but I always tag you, so there you go ;), slesia, stormatdusk, surreysmum, willowwing.

Okay, false alarm. I went to the proper American Airlines website, found the same flight I had found through Orbitz, and booked my tickets with no trouble there (and even slightly cheaper to boot). So it's all settled. San Francisco, see you in a month! *bounces*

Also, last night I went to see Eastern Promises again - with akashaelfwitch, to celebrate her birthday (not that we wouldn't have gone anyway...;P). I think I was much more able to focus on the movie itself this time - in Toronto, I was too overwhelmed by the whole festival experience, by having seen the 'real', 'live' Viggo right before the show, by the knowledge that he was actually sitting somewhere across the room with David and the other actors, watching the film just as we were... I was paying a lot of attention to other people's reactions too, for some reason; and I have to say that the festival audience was much more responsive than that of a dull suburban Chicago movie theater.:P I shall never forget the spontaneous applause after the bathhouse fight scene ended, for example (and I never thought I would be moved to clap my hands after seeing something as gruesome as that - but somehow I got the point). Anyway... this time, I was really watching the film, not what was going on around me; and I am even more impressed with it as a result. ( some mild spoilers, perhaps )

Rented Dirty Pretty Things last night. Mainly out of curiosity, because it kept popping up in reviews for Eastern Promises as having been written by the same screenwriter. And yes, it's definitely on the same intensity level. Totally heartwrenching and utterly brilliant. And with no artificial sweeteners either. Just brutal, naked truth in all its filthy glory. God, I love movies like this. Even if they give me nightmares.;)

( some boring RL stuff )

Back from Toronto. Still alive.:D Though maybe a bit off balance. Emotionally, I mean. Like when you've been looking forward to something for a very long time... and then, all of a sudden, it's over. And you don't even know how that happened. *sigh*

For the record, I did see Viggo. Up close. On the red carpet. For about 30 seconds or so.;) I even scored an autograph.:P But there was no eye contact or anything personal to this encounter, really - thanks to the tall, lanky German woman right behind me, who monopolized his attention by showering him with gifts and generally doing everything short of pushing me out of the way (even though we'd been there - me and namarie120 and willowwing - minding our spots for several hours before she showed up). It was typical, really, and I am not surprised in the slightest - just a tiny bit chagrined, perhaps (I'm really good at the subtle art of understatement, aren't I?...). Though, from a more practical standpoint, it might have been for the best - because if he had actually looked at me or said something, I might not have been able to display any semblance of normal brain activity.;) I was pretty much half-paralyzed, holding on to the railing for dear life and clutching my copy of Coincidence of Memory with shaking fingers.:P

Anyway... he looked absolutely gorgeous, too good to be true somehow - and that could be why it didn't quite register with me that I'd really seen him. I'm still not sure I believe that he is an actual human being.;P

As for the movie, it was every bit as intense as I expected, and managed to surprise me a few times despite the fact that I had read all the spoilers.:P The violence in it is pretty graphic, true; but if HoV wasn't too much for you, EP won't be either. In both films every graphic, disturbing scene serves a purpose in character/plot development; and that is enough for me. There is no lack of psychological depth and interesting nuances. The entire cast is impressive, and the Russian accents sound very real too. All in all, a gripping, believable story that makes you feel for the 'bad' guys just as much as for the 'good' ones; even if they're not played by Viggo.;) I'm really looking forward to seeing it again... and again. Watching Viggo on the big screen is one of my favorite and all too rare pleasures, after all.:P

Another unforgettable aspect of the trip was getting to know willowwing, whom I had never met in person before and who is certainly one of the sweetest, kindest, most warm-hearted people I ever encountered. I don't think I've ever felt that relaxed and comfortable in the company of someone I barely know. It's a gift... and I think people like that were put on this earth specifically for the benefit of the shy and reserved.;) To gently and effortlessly pull them out of their protective shell and let them bask in the warmth of genuine, unconditional approval. The amounts of positive energy I could feel radiating from Willow during those few days have charged my battery for many weeks to come.:)

And that is really all for now. I could say more, but it's getting late and my brain is shutting down.;)

But before I nod off... ( here's the evidence I didn't actually dream up the whole thing )

Yes. I can do it. It seemed nearly impossible at first to stick to Weight Watchers' guidelines without feeling uncomfortable... but now I think it's a question of time and adjustment. Of forming new eating habits to replace the old ones. So that's what I'm doing. It doesn't rule out indulging myself every once in a while; the key is that I treat it as a 'special occasion', a 'reward' for being a good girl and following the plan - not as a regular thing. I will still eat my Mum's Sunday dinner once or twice a month, and I will not angst over restaurant food in Toronto (a vacation is a vacation, and I'm planning to enjoy it) - but my average daily routine is going to be a different story from now on, meal-wise, and I really believe it's going to have an impact. Not only in terms of weight loss, but of general physical health and well-being (I won't ever have to worry about high cholesterol, for one).

And it's exactly like mellacita said: if eating right is important to you, you will find room for it in your life. I actually cook now, on a regular basis - and it's not as time consuming as I feared it would be, because I eat very simple. Too simple for my own taste, sometimes...;)... but again, it's a question of adjustment, and I hope to broaden my culinary horizons somewhat as I strive to stay on track. I'm actually pretty excited about this whole idea of having more control over what goes into my digestive system. It feels good to know I can consciously and effectively stop myself from descending the downward spiral, so to speak. I used to be pretty fatalistic about it, simply because I didn't know enough about proper nutrition and somehow imagined that most people living in the United States are 'doomed' to have serious weight issues. Well... now I think it actually might be more a question of awareness and self-respect than anything else. I was pretty careless and ignorant for most of my life too, so I know what I'm talking about (and if I had grown up here, on fast foods, processed snacks & 'soft drinks' sweetened with corn syrup, I probably wouldn't fit through the door by now). I guess I'm just lucky that I came to my senses before my stupidity caused some major damage...

Just an assortment of unrelated news today.

1) ( A massive, dangerous thunderstorm rolled through the entire Chicago area this afternoon & evening. )

2) ( Weight Watchers - the rude awakening. )

3) On a more pleasant note, I had a most surprising Orlando dream this morning. ( Read more... )

I discovered the Whole Foods store today. Some of my American flisters (especially mellacita ;) will probably die laughing to read this, but I have never been to one before. There just never was one close to where I lived. Now there is, and I have been driving past it on my way to work ever since they started the neverending road construction that forced me to change my route. But it's situated at a busy intersection, and for some reason I assumed it didn't have a parking lot - so I was kinda nervous about going there and trying to find a spot along those crowded streets. However, I decided to check it out today, no matter what - and sure enough, it does have a parking lot, right behind the building (which is why you can't see it from the intersection). A really spacious one, too. *headdesk* Anyway... as soon as I walked in, my jaw sort of dropped and I just wandered around in a daze for quite some time, before I was even able to decide where to start.;D ( Holy cow... that place ROCKS. )

So, tomorrow (or today, in some parts of the world :) is the birthday of Someone Very Special. Someone who opened an LJ account just so she could read my posts.:D (which, of course, is an amazing boost to my fragile ego ;P) Therefore, I would like to take a moment tonight to wish that special person happiness - whatever it might mean to her at any given time.

Thank you for still being there for me, in a way, despite everything that happened - or didn't.

( Here's a little something you might enjoy ;P )