h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Okay okay - I didn't post yesterday. We were out all day and when I got home I set up the laptop in the cellar to do some ironing and the wifi doesn't reach down there. Yeah. Lame excuse.

As for trying to change things so I can start losing weight: I didn't buy any nibbles on Saturday, and as from yesterday I shall spend every evening standing up rather than sitting down. As from today I shall not *eat* any more nibbles either. I managed this morning, just having a cappucino instead of a chocolate bar, but it's the afternoons that will be the hardest!

As it's Monday there's not much to talk about, but yesterday we sang at the cemetery and wreaths were laid at the war memorial. This year I wasn't the only non-German to take part - three members of our church choir who are Polish sang along too.

Then in the afternoon my husband and I treated ourselves to a few hours at the local spa baths and had various nice things done to us.

At work last week we were talking about the French and Belgian holiday on 11 November. All the Germans seriously thought it was for St Martin's day. My French colleague and I had to explain it to the Italian and German contingents.

The ceremony at the cemetery is for Volkstrauertag, which is really the same as Remembrance Day, but they somehow don't seem to get the connection.



We'll probably have to do it again on 8 May.

I'm not convinced that standing is a good idea. Walking is very good exercise, but I don't think human anatomy is designed for standing still. You'll have problems with your knees and back, particularly if you are slightly overweight. Of course, it's good to stand for ironing and other jobs, but don't do it for the sake of it. Better 30 minutes walking than 2 hours of standing still.

I thought I had something at the back of my mind to that effect, Gnomon. So I'll have to introduce a bit more walking at some point.

Anyway, ironing sitting down is something I will never do. My sister prefers it, but I can't get the pressure on if I'm not above the work.

Back and knees. I think I have trouble with them from bad habits started when weight wasn't such a problem. Weight, obviously, will exacerbate this.

I can walk for hours, but if I have to stand still, I start hurting after about 10 minutes--and I don't have any physical problems (well, I'm overweight again, but the same holds true when I'm the weight I should be)

I second the thing about standing vs walking - I can only walk and stand with assistance, but I do a bit, and shifting from one foot to the other in the walking motion is definitely much easier than just standing still and balancing on the spot.

Good luck with it all, anyway - sounds like you are doing well so far with not snacking when you don't need to

There was a very interesting TV prog about a month ago, where some office workers were given old-fashioned desks to stand up at. They finished the experiment slimmer and fitter than their colleagues who sat at their desks. Sorry I can't provide references - somewhere on the BBC but the details have gone completely.