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

Just passing through, thought I'd stop to say hi. Agree about The Man Who Wasn't There but also thought Oh Brother was a waste of time - otherwise love those guys. Especially Miller's Crossing and Blood Simple.

If I could think of anything interesting to say I'd say it now but in fact I'm just taking a break from watching Cabaret on DVD (had to get up to feed cats) and popped in here and saw you on Ben's poetry thread and so - here I am. But now I have to go.

Maybe see you around. Hope so.

azahar

Hi there. Thanks for dropping round: I don't get as many visitors as I'd like.

I really liked Oh Brother, but the main criticism levelled at it sticks: it's really a sequence of brilliantly executed set pieces rather than a film. But it was very entertaining, and had some interesting references to other movies. The prison warder in welding goggles was obviously a reference to Cool Hand Luke.

Cabaret is a great film. That bit where the young lad gets up and starts to sing 'Tomorrow belongs to me' has such a sting in the tail. You really get the sense of the world on the cusp of something ugly and terrifying.

Cheers
FM

hi again,

Film over. I always hate it when it ends. Yes, the scene with the young lad singing is powerful. But in fact I know very few films, like this one, where almost every scene is perfect. It blows me away every time I watch it. Of course Bob Fosse was a genius of choreography. But somehow everything works in this film. And you don't see that very often.

Oops, sorry. Shall stop raving now.

az

Question - why do so many people hate the way their bodies look? You also mention this on your personal page. I mean, it is such a waste of time, don't you think? I'm also not very happy with my body at the moment but I also know that ten years from now when I see photos of myself from this time I will think - 'Girl! What were you thinking!' Because I do this now with earlier photos.

The mind reels.

az

Well, I'm overweight. I didn't used to be, but it all went to pot when I was self-employed: working long and irregular hours, grabbing food when I could on site etc etc. The self-discipline I used to have to maintain a trim figure took a lot of effort and will take a lot of effrot to re-establish. However, it's easier to make big changes in one's lfe than little ones. You can chuck out a whole gamut of bad habits in one go instead of some of them hanging around to drag you back to where you were. I have a photo of myself from 10 years ago and I was a very handsome beast, even though I say so myself. I haven't actually aged that much but I am, to put it bluntly, fat, and it all has to go. Now.

Hmmmm . . .

Well, until about 3 1/2 years ago I was a healthy normal weight, but then I had an operation and basically could not do *anything* for about three months. And so that broke my regular exercise routine, and so no doubt that and the fact that I was on the other side of 40 - I GOT FAT!!! Well, okay, I'm not obese or anything. But way fatter than I am happy being.

The really stupid thing is that I ended up not doing any sort of exercise for almost three years! And before I used to always do something.

So what exactly is it that you are going to suddenly do to change your life and your body?

But really, that hadn't been my original question. I was wondering why so many people - who look just fine, even if a bit plump - feel badly about their body shape. I mean, I assume that your wife does not complain about how you look. So you cannot feel insecure about that. And since you were a handsome beast ten years ago, I'm sure you are still quite attractive now (losing weight will not make you look ten years younger).

I've just been wondering why we end up with such nasty self-images - I don't think that is healthy at all.

az

No, but it might make me feel younger. I don't actually suffer from any body dysmorphic disfunction: I just don't like being fat. If you imagine Tony Soprano with much more hair then you have a pretty good idea of what I look like.

Tony Soprano with hair??? Well, yes, that would be attractive. Come to mention it, I live in Spain, so have only been able to see the first two series of the Sopranos (that friends from Canada have sent to me on video). It isn't shown here on television. But I got so addicted to that programme and now I have to wait until somebody sends me more videos.

But I digress. . .

<>

Well, that's good. And also losing a few pounds might make you feel better physically. But I reckon that the things you will have to do in order to lose those pounds - more exercise, a healthier diet - will be the things that end up making you feel ten years younger. Not just the weight loss.

But I also know people who exercise regularly and eat quite well and yet remain 'chubby'.

Anyhow, this is my whole point. I don't like the idea that just because someone is overweight this means - to them - that they are no longer attractive. And that was the message I got from you. That although not 'body dysmorphic disfunctional' you still have this idea that your present state is not attractive.

I mean, I also don't like being and feeling FAT. But I also know that I exaggerate my sense of fatness. I am probably just on the other side of normal body weight - not obese. But since I am not stick insect thin I think that no man would ever find me attractive. And that attitude is quite unhealthy I think.

So what are you planning to do about this? Do you have a plan? Another hootoo pal of mine - a man - recently went on the Atkins diet and has lost almost 2 stone.

How are you with self-discipline? I totally suck in that area, to be honest. But recently I have been doing quite a bit more exercise than before. Getting back into a daily exercise routine.

Anyhow, am curious about what your plans are in this area. Because I feel I am somewhat in the same boat.

az

My self-discipline stinks, but it hasn't done in the past. When I lost weight I did so by going on a low-fat diet, but then I lived by myself and had no family to look after. Now, we have family mealtimes which have to take into account the fads and tastes of a five-year old, not to mention the fact that they need a balanced diet above all else.

The best diet I can recommend is Martin Katahn's T-Factor diet. This is the only diet book I have ever seen which has a scientific literature review in the back of it as as a justification for the diet's regime. It works very well, but it requires a lot of prparation, planning and cooking. You don't go hungry at all, but with all life changes you do need discipline to see them through. You also have to stay on the diet if you intend to keep the weight off.