Long long time

Level: C 1.1.3

Day: 7

Hellooo everyone!!!

Its been a long long time. I kind of fell off the wagon of blogging for several reasons I guess. First, lots and lots of things happened in my life - good and bad. Second, I lost some motivation to blog and tell people things. Sort of felt like going deep inside of my little shell and never emerging out of it. I guess, this happens to people from time to time especially when stress is what life is about... Damn, that sounds bad. :)

So about the things that happened so far. First, I did get my driving license. From the first attempt. Hurray!!! But with it also "buying a car" business came. So yes, I bought a car - a nice cute little Ford Ka from 2001. I purposefully wanted mechanic transmission so that I can learn to drive properly. And to be honest, it is not so bad! But all in all, I LOVE my car!!! Getting a car, however, means I move LESS - this is a bit of concern for me, but I will try to workout even more.

Second, my PhD is not finished yet, which means the stress of it continues to dawn on me. Every day, every evening. I stress out and I dont like that. But there isnt much I can do about it. I have to work on it, I have to write it and I have to get going. On the bright side: the conference I went to in the end of August (yes, after the last post) brought me a best paper prize for the article I was working on day and night in August. That is pretty cool, but I still have about 2 papers to finish up. End of October is my deadline for that... Oopsy - only 3 weeks left... :(((

Third, I am coordinating a BA course in my University and this is not easy. It takes waaaay too much time and I dont like it to be honest. I just want to finish my PhD and get the hell out. :)

Fourth, I am actually now in Russia. Far far away, and the stress is only building up right now as I havent been able to work for a long time now... My grandpa was diagnosed with 4th stage cancer with only months left and I decided to head to my hometown to spend some time before he goes. I love him dearly, and he loves me, so he was really happy to see me. He still talks and moves a little, but most of the simple everyday things are difficult and almost impossible for him to do. He barely eats, is really picky and grumpy. But nonetheless, we talk, he tells me his life story and I know he appreciates that. So even though it is sad, depressing and a bit unnerving to see death closer and closer, I try to just give him some good days on this Earth before he goes, and try to support my parents as much as I can. So my days have been full with reading and talking, bringing food (and yes running back and forth because it is not warm enough), finding just the right water (which is not bitter - I dont know how it can actually be bitter): I literally had to carry out a water-tasting. And I love doing that, even though this doesnt give me as much time for work (which means almost none at all). I also got to spend some good time with my mum and dad, hug them tons and simply be around them. On that note I have to say that when it is not cold, autumn in the Urals is beautiful! I go for runs almost every day (I just can do much at home) and that is so worth it!

And so now finally I get to the workout part... Most of my blog IS about workouts, but right now I needed to tell some other things before I say: " I have not been really good with workouts". Well I still DO workout. I still do TA. I am now on level 3, and finishing it pretty soon. I missed a lot of time and had to start over and practically redo level 2. It is going slowly and never as I want it to go. But I try to move - go for runs or do a little bit of exersises, even when I dont have a chance to do the MS. So the progress is not as AMAZING as the one in the beginning of Continuity: in the beginning I lost additional 2 kilos and was so skinny and I loved it! Now I have to say I dont have the courage to get back on scale. I know it is not going to be as much as I was a year ago, but the perspective is nonetheless frightening... I will get back with more updates - hopefully - very soon!!!!

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Long time no see

I am still alive. :)

It’s just life has been too fast and too busy in the past weeks. I have been working hard on my PhD, travelling to Stockholm for a meeting, and now my mum (along with boyfriend!!!) is visiting me – so I am doing a lot of touristy things, walking around and to be honest, discovering the city from a completely new angle. There is soooo much to do in Bremen and around. I am actually pleasantly surprised. Will write a post on that later - hopefully!

With mum on board of a ship from Bremen to Bremerhaven.

So, a little update about my workout. I have not been able to workout while my mum is here or I was travelling myself. So, while I did do good with level 8 – went till day 6-7, I never managed to finish it. Now I haven’t had a workout for a week!!! I am upset about it, and will try to squeeze at least cardio in today while my mum is sightseeing on her own. But there is nothing else I can do – will just have to jump back into it after my mum leaves. And get going again with level 8. Level 9 is so close and Continuity is not far away either. I am trying to motivate myself and in the meantime – eat healthy and stay away from scales... :) That can only bring frustration. Can’t wait to continue my workouts.

Stay tuned!

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Long time no see!

Gosh, I cant believe I was not here for so long...

Im so so so sorry I was gone. For SO long! Wow! I know many of you still read my blog - and all the info here is for you to use, learn, and so on. :) Feel free. Thanks to all of you, who have written in the past months and who have lost me for a while! I appreciate all your support and insight!

I have TONS of updates, and I wont be able to fit it all in here. But to explain why I have been relatively absent in the past 3-4 months - well, surprise-surprise, it is all my PhD. I know, I have been bragging about it for it seems like half a year. And it seems that for a year by now I have been saying "Hold on, Liuba, its just a little left!" Then suddenly my supervisor wants me to do a new study - in December! I was supposed to finish everything in December. The worst thing is I really wanted to do that study myself, so I did it. Sigh.

Anyway. I will be back and relatively soon. I am - YES! - planning to submit in May and am working really intensively now revising, revising, revising! After that I will be back. And I will have a few new things to share with you. 

First, Im gonna add another part to this blog - on health and going natural, as this is what I am doing this year. This was one of my NY resolutions, and I am going to share my journey with you. It will be a mix of some diet and make-up tips and stories.

Second, I have stopped doing TA after Continuity level 6. I never started level 7, though I really love TA (this blog is the proof enough right?!). But I simply couldnt find the time and energy besides my PhD. I am doing some exercise 3 times a week, but it is really low-intensity stuff, like Tracey Mallet barre method (I will try to do a review sometime). Why? Dont get me wrong - I still love TA immensely, but I really like to do it systematically. And when I cant - I feel like it is not worth it in a way. I DO want to proceed from level to level, and if right now I dont have a chance to be consistent and do one level in two weeks, well Id rather leave it till I can. This is only my thing, and some people dont mind being inconsistent. But I will get back to Continuity in May-June.

Third, I am planning to get a personal trainer on top of TA. Yes, I know, it is not recommended. But I want to learn about this stuff - so that I can understand my body better and know the differences between different workouts. Otherwise, how can I claim that what Im doing IS the way forward? Huh? :)

So this will be the updates to this blog, check back in soon! I have already prepared some stuff on natural make-up, mineral make-up and make-up for acne-prone skin. So, stay tuned!

Finally, some updates. I moved to Prague! Wohoo! One of the most beautiful cities in the world! But right now - I am having a research stay in Trondheim, Norway (I know it is confusing, but forget about Norway, Im thinking of myself as based in Prague already!). Trondheim VERY northern, but extremely pretty - any season. In the past months I also did a lot of travelling  we my BF (obviously besides packing up my stuff, selling furniture and leaving my beloved Bremen) - we travelled to Amsterdam, New York, Frankfurt, Heidelberg and Strasbourg. Lots of great memories, wonderful time, great food (YUM!). I am a food freak - I know that now. I LOVE FOOD! French food - delicious! Steak - WOW! We had some nice steak in NY almost every day, as well as had a great one at (not next to AT) the Grand Central at the Michael Jordan Steakhouse. It is quite pricey (like most things NY-style!), but very good and with a very fine view I have to say. :)

NYC skyline... Not just beautiful - breathtaking! I wish camera could really capture it!

Well I just couldnt NOT post this :)))) Funny. It is actually at the Madame Tussauds. 

Have a great rest of the weekend you guys, I will try to check in here more often. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

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Tough Time With Weight Reduction Try Out This!

It is confusing to know what the way that is best to lose weight is. The way that is best to understand is always to try multiple techniques until you find the one that consistently produces results in the context of your lifestyle. Here are some plain things it is possible to try.

In order to lose weight, stay away from fast food. Fast food often contains amount that is large of carbohydrates that have a much higher chance of turning into fat, rather than energy. Also the content that is fat sodium content, and sugar content in lots of junk food type meals can be incredibly high. If youre in a rush and have to eat, try to find any grilled items and stay away from obviously items that are bad.

Help yourself slim down at the job by making changes to work habits that dont help your goal. Instead of gossiping in the breakroom, walk around the block or up and down the stairwell. Stay away from the vending machine by bringing healthier snacks to work. Nosh on almonds, walnuts, low granola that is fat, or celery sticks with peanut butter to help to keep hunger cravings away.

One good way to encourage you to ultimately lose weight would be to keep a couple of cute jeans which are just a little too small in your closet. They are doingnt even have to be one size too small, just a little too snug to have the ability to wear out of the house. Try them on at least once a week. You will be happy when your diligence pays off because you will look smokin in your "new" old jeans.

A great way to help you lose weight is to start using an artificial sweetener instead of sugar. Eating too much sugar can sabotage any diet. By using an sweetener that is artificial you can still sweeten your food without damaging your diet. A change that is small this is very significant.

You will need to record the calories you consume each day. Calculate your needs that are daily document how many calories you are consuming each day. Knowing how many calories you are eating compared to how exercise that is much are doing helps you adjust your eating patterns to lose excess weight.

If you are exercising to lose weight, try exercising with music. Music has a real way of making exercise easier, especially if its music you enjoy. Listening to your favorite songs on a mp3 player is a great way to get a workout through, and itll place you in a great mood.

You might need to replenish your dishes. Most of us have dishes, plates and bowls, that are much bigger than what a serving that is true must be. A dinner that is healthy an adult should fit onto a 9 inch plate. The larger the plate, the much more likely you might be to fill it up, on the amount that you actually should be consuming.

Using this advice will help you begin to see the total results you want. Visualizing can help motivate you. Try methods that are different find what realy works for you. The tips out of this article are a great way to start.

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