Hypes and Holidays, prt 1

I hope everyone had a happy Easter! :)

Hypes

About 2 weeks ago I went to see 'The Hunger Games'. I never heard of it until 2 months ago when I saw the trailer on Youtube. I didn't know it was such a big deal until I read on several blogs how excited everyone was to go to see the movie. So, I was intrigued. 

Because there isn't a 'movie-adapted-from-a-book' hype I haven't read/seen:

I'm an Harry Potter geek and proud of it! :) *

I decided to check out what all the fuss was about and dragged a friend with me to watch 'The Hunger Games'.

(source)

I really liked it. The story itself is very good. It has a little bit of everything in it: romance, action,drama...  But it was very obvious that the movie was based on a book. When I went to buy the book, it was already sold out. (Bummer) Apparently, the hype didn't stay in the US. I made a reservation and they told me that I would have to wait at least 2 weeks. BUT Friday I got a mail that the book arrived! My mom was so sweet to go and get it for me. :) As usual the book is even better (or just better: I won't mention any names, Twilight) than the movie. It makes me understand the film a lot more. And what I like about books is that you can look inside the head of the character.

The beginning of a new 'book addiction'

At the same time, I'm trying to (finally) finish Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. I'm ashamed to say this but I started reading it in October and I still have 25 pages to go. It's not that I don't like it. It even has some similarities with the Potter-series: the scar, being able to read the bad guy's thoughts. But it's hard to get back into the story when I restart reading. And the old English doesn't make it any easier stay focused. 

only 25 pages to go...

To end with a funny note:

(source)

Do you know which three movies are combined in this picture?

*For the observant readers: Yes, I do have 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' but it's in my dorm and I'm at home right now.  

Snack Attack

yesterday's afternoon snack 

A smoothie made with some left-over fruit: a couple of grapes, strawberries and two pieces 'cavaillon'. (I don't know how it's called in English, cantaloupe?) It looks like a weird combination but it was actually quite good and tusted very fresh.

Fresh and fruity 

today's breakfast

I was craving some chocolate so breakfast contained:
One Weetabix biscuit, some semi-skimmed milk and 2 pieces of dark chocolate. It's a curse and a blessing at the same time to live in country with some of the best chocolate in the world, if you get what I'm saying. ;)

Mmm...dark chocolate

today's mid-morning and afternoon

Today was the first time ever that I tried the banana-peanut butter combination and ... I'm hooked! (Hence, the combo as a  mid-morning AND afternoon snacks. Normally, I try to have a variety of snacks but this time I just couldn't resist.) 

Deliciousness on a rice cracker

today's late night snack

My mom made waffles today. (and an apple cake, which will be probably be featured in tomorrow's post ;) The whole house smelled so good. I paired one with an apple and some cinnamon. (as if it makes it any healthier, but hey it's the thought that counts right?)

I think that was all for today. Do you believe that I'm hungry again? I can't wait for tomorrow's breakfast. :)

Run Forrest Run (or Run Joey Run)

Guess who went running this morning for the first time in 6 weeks!

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks 
You'd better run, better run! (faster than my bullet)

Oh, how I'v missed you, my good, old running shoes!

There are no after pictures 'cause I was so hungry that I ate immediately after I came home. Which means that there are no pictures of breakfast either. :)  

Breakfast contained overnight oats with strawberries and cinnamon, yumm. Although. I was a little but too sour for my taste. I'm still experimenting with plain (Greek) yoghurt.

Due to a knee inflammation, I wasn’t able run, bike or do any cardio activity in 6 weeks. It was pretty frustrating. And I missed running so bad. But yesterday was the first time that I didn’t had knee pain (another reason why it was a special day J ). So, I thought I would give it a go today. 

I was a success! 

Me and my scale.

Today was kind of a special day for me: I weighed myself for the first time in 5 weeks. For the last 5 years, (since I was 15, apparently the number 5 has some symbolic meaning in this story ;) I stepped on the scale almost daily or at least once a week.

                                                                                             (source)

A bit more than a month ago, I wanted to end my 'scale addiction'. So I decided to stay away from it 'till the end of March. It was easier than I thought, and at the same time it wasn't. In the back my mind I would always wonder what my weight was. And sometimes I was really afraid that I gained weight. But those issues were almost nothing compared to the freeing feeling that I had. On Saturdays my mood didn't depend on a number anymore. I didn't change what I ate on Fridays in order to see an as-low-as-possible number on the scale.

First I wanted to share the results. I even uploaded the pictures that I took from the scale while weighing myself! But I realized that it didn't matter because they are just some numbers. I do want to say that I'm very happy with the results. :) The main reason: My BMI is lower than 25 which means that I'm now officially out of the overweight range.

Right now, I'm figuring out what to do next. Because I'm trying to lose weight, I know that I will weigh myself on a regular basis. Maybe once a month or every two weeks... I will see. And I know that measuring yourself and seeing how your clothes fit are better ways to keep your weight in check. But personally, I think that it takes to long before you see changes when you're actually trying to lose weight. These methods don't motivate me enough. 

But that's just my opinion...

Question Time: Which method do you prefer to keep your weight in check?