If you havn't seen this then check it out, is sooooo funny!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1XIm6q4r4

Unfortunatly, the diet has slipped somewhat as I has macaroni cheese for dinner last night with coke and some ice-cream for afters However, I did do some more aerobics and am sure that my love handles and muffin top are decreasing slowly (Or maybe I am just convincing myself?) Am hopefully going to pursuade the other half to go for a bike ride with me at the weekend to make up for all the naughty food!

Thanks, Its just all the other PhD students in my department think im crazy and laugh at me for labelling all my files!

So I have sorted out the what and how of my lit review, and have decided that it should be organised thematically. I have researched some papers for the first theme, and plan to make notes on A4 paper and then file them in themes. I have developed a 'form' as it were, with boxes and questions (such as reference, source, aims, theoretical implications, criticisms, etc)to fill out on each paper to help with note taking.

I am hoping that when I come to write my lit review I can just go through my notes (which will be in order) and it will make my life easier. What do you guys think of my plan? Am I being way to organised and logical about this process?

I have only done the yoga three times, but it is such hard work and really leaves me tired. I think its much easier if you have energy, which means eating the right amount which is hard to gauge. My problem is that I don't own any scales and have no means of weighing myself. I am thinking that maybe it would be a good if I measure round my waist instead. I have noticed my flabby belly getting smaller but still have a muffin-top! Although, I am now on the smallest hole of my belt!

Following on from a post about 3 weeks ago, on putting on weight during you PhD, I was just wondering how people are getting on with their new healthier lifestyles?

I have been trying to eat a lot healthier for a while now and am finally not getting any sugar cravings! way hey! I have also taken up doing exercise dvd's in the evenings instead of sitting on my bum watching TV. Am enjoying doing yoga and aerobics and am already noticing some results. I feel more toned and am sleeping much better which has impacted on my concentration and is improving my work!

Thanks guys for your comments. Am feeling more upbeat now and have learned a lot from this experience, which is what doing a PhD is all about

The contributor still hasn't got back to me, which is a problem as my supervisor is going to visit his home country for a month next week.
I have managed to simulate a dataset that leads to the results I'm after (it's a training paper) and am going to show my supervisors what I have done this afternoon as we have a meeting.

I'll update you all later today!

I am so downhearted and feel that I have been working for 6 months on nothing. I am behind on my reading a lit review because of these papers that have come to nothing! And I still have nothing to publish or present at conferences etc.

Sorry, guys, just needed a big rant. I have no one to talk to in my department about this as all the other PhD students just ignore me!

Why, oh why, is this so hard!!!

I have spent months researching, drafting and fine-tuning a paper. I sent it to a contributer (who provided data) last week for some input, who replied on Monday saying that we could not possibly publish the paper if we want to use the data set in the way we have!
I was not down hearted at first, and emailed to arrange a meeting- said contributor has still not emailed back however my supervisor bumped into him today and he said we would have to start from scratch again. Problem is that the data set dosn't provide the example I need for my training paper.

Another data set I have for another paper is also proving difficult to analyse and I have hit a brick wall with this after spending all day today trying to use another programme that once again won't work!

hee hee I come out as a ISTJ which is so me!! ISTJs learn best by experiencing, doing and practicing. For them, the theory (and the links that can be made to their existing knowledge and skills) comes later. V. good website!

Definitely agree with rosy and cryogenics, its nice to know that there are still people with traditional views on marriage. Have been with my partner for 3 years, and cannot wait for us to get married and we have both agreed we will have children at some point. I will also take his name, I would feel weird if I didn’t have the same name as my future children and that we would not be a proper family. Although I will have to keep my maiden name for work as have already published. Weddings are definitely for families- I would much prefer to elope but know that my dad would be heartbroken if he didn’t get the chance to walk me down the aisle!

Your supervisor is being unrealistic. You are the only person who can say if your working to your potential, as only you know if you can work harder.

I don't understand the culture in academia to work so hard that you burn out. A friend told me her PhD supervisor did 5.30-7! Unbelievable! You will only make yourself ill and ruin your future health.

Don't feel bad- I havn't been to a dentist since I was a child! (Due to my parents hating the dentist) My teeth were always fairly straight but my second lot of wisdom teeth have started making the front ones wonky! I have no fillings and never had any pain with them though so that has to be a good thing? Am gonna have to bite the bullet and go soon...

Okay- spooky 4 posts within 3 minutes!!!

Try the HSBC although their customer service is appalling, they offer good bank accounts. The Natwest do a similar services with much better customer services but is not an international bank like HSBC.