Challenge 2.0, Day 11 – The Last Time at the Studio

Day 11 of Challenge 2.0 today. Today didn’t happen a lot. I worked at the studio for the last time. So if anybody of you planned to visit me there – it’s too late now. The next few days we are packing our stuff and bring it back home.

Man, my room will look like it was hit by a hurricane when I have all my stuff back in. But also I am looking forward to it. I will have my sewing machine back home and all my fabrics and other stuff, so if I feel creative I can start sewing right away. No matter what day or time it is and without being watched by someone or having to freeze or starve. This will be great. Also I will finally be able to finish my cosplay costumes. I could have done in the studio too but, somehow, I didn’t feel like it there. I need some peace to do that I guess.

My poor mate is sitting in her room for the last few days and sewing all day as she is doing a fashion show on saturday with a few other labels and working her …uhm…. she is working a lot! So if you want to see what she did, come to the fashion show on Saturday, April 17th  at the Mon Ami (Theobaldg. 9, 1060 Wien).

Other than that I watched another episode of the biggest loser earlier. It wasn’t very spectacular this time but in a strange way it still motivates to do more sport. The weather outside is still cold and ugly, hopefully it will get better soon and then I might try to go for a run alone for the first time. I’m still a bit scared but I really want to try.

Oh I just remembered something else I did while I was at the studio. Today I didn’t bring my laptop as I used to do but a book, I want and need to read and managed to read about 180 pages of it. That’s a nice progress. It seems that I finally get my reading challenges going.

That’s it for today. See you at Day 12.

Picture by Mikael Miettinen

Challenge 2.0, Day 10 – The Addiction Development

Challenge 2.0 Day 10. I’m in the two-digits, woho! :).  Today morning I tried to write that homework I spoke about yesterday again and I managed to get something on paper. I wouldn’t say it’s good but at least I had something to hand hin.

When I went home I got some fresh vegetables from the grocery store and cooked a delicious meal with vegetables and fish and egg noodles. Yummie! I’m gonna make something like that more often.

In the evening I went to another class (algorithms and data structures – for the geeks among us) where I found a little hope that I understood what I am supposed to do later in the semester. That feels good. Just not sure how well it really will turn out in the end.

When I was back home I did todays Sports Active Workout which included Belly exercises already. After that I found something on the web that made me think that I might be developing a new addiction at the moment. The thing I found was the Vampire Series Challenge. One more Reading Challenge. To make the long story short – yes, I joined. I must be crazy. I think I’m addicted to Reading Challenges. But this one is soo awesome so I HAD to join. Is there a group for anonymous reading challenge addicts anywhere?

Other than that I saw a few joggers when I went to the last class and felt a bit guilty that I wasn’t running. But we also have really bad, rainy weather at the moment. Someone told me today, that it is going to be better at the end of the week. Then I’ll go running, I promise (to myself).

At the end of the day I played a few hands at Poker on Facebook with a friend. That was fun.

Ok, it’s late already (again) and I am tired, so I say Goodbye for today. See you at Day 11.

Picture by rick

Challenge 2.0, Day 9 – The Writers Block

Day 9 of Challenge 2.0 today and I pretty much wasted it :(. I should have done a homework I was looking forward to do but when I sat down my head was suddenly empty. Nothing was there, no Idea popped into my head. It is due tomorrow, so I try it again tomorrow morning. Maybe my head works it out during the night. That happened a few times already. Once I was thinking about a problem at my programming homework all afternoon and couldn’t find the solution and when I was falling asleep in my bed at night, I suddenly saw the answer in front of me. I hope for that too today. I guess I just block myself because I put myself under too much pressure. I just don’t know how to release the pressure when the due date is knocking at the door.

Other than that I went to a class early in the morning where I lost some of my worries about the presentation I soon have to do in english (I hate presentations in general, doin it – for the first time – in english doesn’t make it better). That was because we heard the first presentation today and even if I try I will not be able to be worse than this woman.

Yes, I know, that sounds mean, but it really is the truth. She had such a bad pronunciation that you hardly could understand anything. Also she had a few funny mistakes in it. Yes, I’m aware of the fact, that everyone can make mistakes, especially when he or she is nervous. I’m sure I will talk a lot of nonsense when it is my turn. But she said stuff like “in the best fall” (she meant “in the best case” but used the german word “Fall”) and, when she couldn’t remember the word “counting” (or never knew, I don’t know) she said the german word “zählen” but not just the german word she said “zähling”, as if it would make the word english just when she adds the “-ing”. Yes, nevermind, I better stop now. I was just wondering.

Something very clever I did myself today happened in the evening. It’s a bit embarrassing. In the evening I normally have class. Today I didn’t really want to go out as it was raining and really cold but then motivated myself to go there, just to remember right before I was in front of the classroom door that the teacher mentioned something about that there is no class today. So I went there completely for nothing. That made me really happy (/sarcasm off).

The only little good thing I can remember about today is, that I, while I was on my way to the not-happening-class and back, read some pages of one of the books I have to read for Uni (and for my reading challenges). It was the book The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde.

I didn’t do any sport today as it was Sports Active Breakday and, as I already said, ugly weather. Tho I thought about doing some but I wanted to finish (start?) the homework (in what I didn’t succeed, as seen above). But I’ll do my belly exercises later right before going to bed. I found out that it’s nice to do them right before going to sleep as this reduces the time it takes me to warm myself up enough to be able to sleep (I have unfortunately this women-and-cold-feet-in-bed-problem).

Ok, enough ranting for today. See you at Day 10.

Picture by Brenda Annerl

Challenge 2.0, Day 8 – The Food Revolution Flash Mob

Day 8 of Challenge 2.0 today. It didn’t really happen much except that I realised around noon that a homework was due TODAY and panicked. I started it but couldn’t really motivate me to finish it. Now I’m still not done and have one hour left. I guess I won’t make it on time. Also I’m really tired already.

One reason why I am tire is, that I did a second Sports Active Workout today to finish two of my goals that were due today. So after the normal workout I did another step aerobic workout. That was fun but, as i said already, tiring.

I think I wrote about Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution already yesterday a little, but I was in a hurry to go to a party, so I didn’t write much about it. (The party was by the way not really worth it, except that we watched Planet Terror what was nice. Wanted to see that movie for a while already.) So yesterday was the 3rd Episode of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution and it seems that Jamie finally is making progress towards his ambitious goal. From the very beginning there was a radio dj of the local radio station who was totally against Jamie and his project. He wanted him gone. Last episode he had a bet running with Jamie that Jamie isn’t going to make it to teach 1000 people one healthy dish in one week. Jamie introduced him to some of his friends and people who have issues with obesity and at the end of the week the radio dj was Jamies 1000st person who learned a dish of him. I guess that’s called a success!

One thing Jamie also did was a Food Flash Mob. I really liked it and I couln’t get the song out of my head the whole day. Here you can watch the Flash Mob:

What do you think about that?

Today’s Summary:

1. Drink 1.5 Liters of Water: done (~2 Liters already)
2. Do Sports Active: done (2 Workouts!)
3. Belly Exercises: done (incl. in the first Sports Active Workout)

That’s it for today. Going to sleep now. Uni starts again tomorrow. See you then at Day 9.

Picture by Sir. Mo

Challenge 2.0, Day 7 – The Official Act

Today is day 7 of Challenge 2.0, that means that the first week is already over. Wow, that was quick. Today didn’t happen much except that I wasted my time with more or less useless tv shows (except Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, this was great and it warmed my heart) and that I got a headache. Maybe that’s connected with each other – or maybe it’s just the weather.

Other than that I did one important thing today. I made Challenge 2.0 official. I mean, in some way it is already official as I announced it here on the blog but today I went one step further and signed up for the women’s run. That means that I participate now officially and I wasted 25 € if I don’t go – what would be stupid – so I have one more motivation to do so.

Ok, I am heading to a party now, so I’m done for today. See you at day 8.

Picture by MobMouse

Challenge 2.0, Day 6 – The Friends

Day 6 of Challenge 2.0 is over and I was on the run pretty much all day. It started at 9 in the morning when I went to a friend right after I got up to help him with some stuff.

The moment I was back home another friend of mine (the one I went running with yesterday) texted me to ask if I want to go for lunch with her. Indeed I wanted! So we met and went to the big yellow M fast food chain. It was really nice and fun.

On my way to lunch I realised, that I had to return a book to the library today what I nearly forgot. When I was back home from lunch another friend of mine contacted me to meet at the library as he had to return books too, so we set a time to meet.

About an hour later we met at the library and returned the books and looked up some new. I didn’t get me new ones as I still have more than enought to read at the moment.But during that time I was asked by my friend, if I want to go running with him on weekend. This running thing is starting to get rolling!

Then I went back home and did today’s Sports Active Workout. It was a good coincidence that there were a few belly exercises included in this today, so I didn’t have to do them seperately as I felt pretty tired already. Also I decided for the stairs instead of the elevator three times today (to go upwards, to go down I hardly ever use the elevator) what was a good feeling too.

Today’s Summary:

1. Drink 1.5 Liters of Water: done (2 Liters again)
2. Belly exercises: done
3. Sports Active: done

All in all I’m really tired now and that’s why I stop here today. See you tomorrow when the first week is completed with Day 7.

Picture by pocketwiley

Challenge 2.0, Day 5 – The Second Run

Day 5 of Challenge 2.0 was exhausting but not as much as I thought it would be and I’m very proud of myself. In the afternoon I met with a really good friend of mine for some jogging in a park near my home. It was so much fun. We did some gossiping and had a lot of fun and ran 3,10 km without even really noticing. We were really surprised in the end how quickly we did it and how far we went. We already were proud of ourselves that we went at all beforehand, so this was making it even better.

When I was back home I went even further and did today’s Sports Active Workout and my belly exercises. And I can still move. I might not be able to tomorrow anymore, but so far I’m fine. Just my knees hurt a bit, but not as bad as they did when I was running last week. Me and my friend plan to run at least once a week now to be fit for the Women’s run. I wanted to do a picture of evidence but then forgot about it. Especially because the park we were running at was sooo pretty with all the flowers and cherry trees and stuff. But now it’s too late, next time.

Before I started writing this post I watched one more movie of my oscar winning movies list. First I thought, that I go through the list from bottom to top but then I arrived at The Departed and I THINK I saw it already but not sure if I saw everything so I didn’t check it off the list but I also didn’t want to watch it today. So I watched the next one on the list – Crash. If it weren’t on the list I think I wouldn’t have watched it, because it seemed to me like one of these movies I’m normally bored of. But I’m glad I “had to” watch it because I was nice. It had a lot of twists and turns and surprises and was really entertaining. I definitely recommend this movie to watch. Also there were a lot of good actors in it too like Sandra Bullock, Brandon Frasier and Ryan Phillipe (is it unprofessional when I say that he is cute? 🙂 ).

Todays summary:

1. Drink 1.5 Liters of Water: done (even more than 2 Liters)
2. Do Sports Active: done
3. Do belly exercises: done
4. Running once a week: done
5. Oscar winning movies list: cross off Crash

So, that’s all for today (was a lot anyway). See you tomorrow with Day 6.

Picture by lumiere

Challenge 2.0, Day 4 – The White Jacket

Day 4 of Challenge 2.0 already. Time flies by when you have to do a lot and today I did a lot. In the morning a friend of mine came to visit. He needed help for his cosplay costume. So we first went to a shop that sells art supplies to buy a few things he needed to finish the costume. Then we had lunch at an italian restaurant that is one of my favourites. Everything is sooo delicious there. (For everyone in my area: Vapiano is highly recommended!)

After that we went back home, I had a short geek-break aka I played a short round of CS with some friends and then we packed all the stuff we needed and headed to the studio. First because I had to work there today and second because we had space and a sewing machine and stuff to work on the costume what was a white suit jacket (as seen in the work in progress picture). We didn’t finish it and finished a lot less than we hoped but at least the most difficult parts are done now, hopefully my friend will succeed in doing the rest. He has busy days ahead of him as the convention where he want’s to wear it is this weekend already!

In the evening I went home and read a few other blogs of people doing Life Lists and found some interesting stuff and motivation. Also I remembered some more items for my own Life List so I updated it a bit today. After that I was hungry but it also was late already so I was looking for something to eat but didn’t really want to cook anymore. I was tempted to just eat some cookies (as I am allowed again) but then decided for a soup with pasta and vegetables. I’m proud that I took the better option even tho the cookies would have been the faster and easier one.

As I mentioned yesterday, it is a Sports Active Breakday today so I didn’t do any but I’ll do my belly exercises right after I finished this post. At the moment I have 3 active things (actually 4 but one is the result of one of the others) on my Life List . They were for today:

1. Drink 1.5 Liters of Water: done
2. Do belly exercises: right after this post
3. Blogpost: obviously done

That means, my day is completed and I can head to bed now (a little too late again *sigh*). See you at Day 5.

Challenge 2.0, Day 3 – The Movie Day

Day 3 of the Challenge started early, as a friend said he would come and visit me but then couldn’t come. Wasn’t a big problem, this way I finally managed it, to get up earlier again. I screwed my sleeping schedule the last few days anyway and was already annoyed of myself about it.

So I had time to complete a job today and besides I “worked” on one of the things on my Life List. I watched 3 of the movies that won the Oscar for best picture (that’s no. 23. atm, you can find the list of the movies here). First I watched The Hurt Locker, that was ok for a war movie (I’m normally not really into such movies). Then I watched Slumdog millionaire. I wanted to watch that movie for a while now and wasn’t disappointed about it at all after I’ve seen it. It was nice to watch. The third one I watched, was No country for old men. This one was ok, but no movie I would watch more often. So 3 movies crossed of my list, woho.

A few days ago I spoke to a friend of mine about the running stuff and she was excited and wanted to join me at running. So, today in the evening, she called me, and asked when we go. We planned it for thursday as I am busy with the friend tomorrow and with working in the studio (the second to last time btw, if you are interested to visit me there). So I’m excited about running with my sweety on thursday (and going shopping and going out in addition).

After the call I did todays Sports Active Workout and additional belly exercises even tho there was one belly exercise already included in the workout but I wanted to do more. (Maybe one reason for that was, that a friend of mine told me today, that I am not going to make it through 30 days of doing it every day :D).

So, tomorrow is Sports Active Breakday what is good, because I will be busy all day anyway. Check back for tomorrows update!

Picture by philandthehounds

Challenge 2.0, Day 2 – The Over-motivation

Day 2 of my brand new Challenge. If I counted right then this Challenge has 56 Days to go in total. That means 10 Days more than the old one. But now I’m already “advanced” in Challenges, so this should be a good next step.

Today I just did the daily Sports Active Workout what is not enough to be able to run the 5 km in the end but it is at least something. I decided to go visit a park near me this week. It should have a route with exactly 1 km length, that would be perfect. I would “just” have to run 5 rounds then and I’m ready for the women’s run. Sounds easy, huh? :).

Other than that I expanded the Life List today and I think I am a bit over-motivated in some points. I added a few reading Challenges. I really like reading since I was a little kid but I haven’t had a lot of time to read lately so I’m not sure if I’ll make it on time as some of the reading Challenges have a due date. But we will see. I have to read a few books for uni anyway, so that might fit in there. You can check if I make any progress towards my goals at any time. The Life list will grow bigger over time too every time I know something new to add.

That’s it already for today. See you tomorrow with Day 3.

Picture by stevecoutts