So I've finally posted my day 90 photos....pretty damn pleased with overall outcome. Wanted to blog on my post PCP celebration lunch with Ren which was a spur of the moment decision to go to a US steak joint in Tokyo called Ruth's Chris steak house (I should have realised before we went that any restaurant sporting such a ludicrous name was bound to spell trouble).
The two glasses of wine were lovely (of course!) although I regretted them later in the office....but the food was shocking...there was just so MUCH of it. Tomato and onion salad...two massive tomatoes and a pile of onions slathered in dressing...then a burger. A MASSIVE burger, fries, three slices of cheese. Why 3? What's wrong with one? Bacon....ye gads. But this was as nothing to the apple pie. It was a whole pie. I kid you not - it was enough for four people. It must have been 3000 calories at the inside. Terrible terrible terrible thing. I ate less than 20% of it....and spent the rest of the day feeling sick. Never again - I've even told Naz she has permission to remind me when next I'm tempted by the thought of it rather than the reality.
So...it shows that PCP does work. Naz and I have had probably over 60% of our meals since finishing PCP compliant....why change?
Friday 4 November 2011
Saturday 29 October 2011
Day 90 - DONE!!!!
I know I've made quite a fuss about my post-PCP wine arrangements - so I feel that I need to update anyone who's been reading this on what has transpired. I'm sitting here typing and feeling slightly squiffy with the final glass of the Mouton Rothschild.
There is something worrying about opening the most expensive bottle of wine you've ever bought - a gut (with six pack) clenching concern of corking. Might it be off? Do I pretend it's not off - because I can't tip that sort of money down the sink? taking off the foil, there was a suspicious musty smell and the top of the cork was a mess. Concern mounted....but after a good wipe down with some water-soaked kitchen roll, we had something to work with. Tackling the cork I just got on with it...and when it finally eased out of the bottle, the smell was quite simply awesome. Having not had any wine for 3 months and then to be hit by something of this quality, I was quite literally speechless. This isn't a wine blog so I won't go into tasting notes, smell etc etc - but it was bang on and a damn good bottle of booze.
Had some Ruinart champagne too....not quite the same though....
Anyway, enough of wine: this is about PCP. I loved the whole thing of the last work out - great idea. And once it was done, I felt incredibly smug...How easy was that!? Very....
I might blog again - whilst this is my main blog post PCP, I think I might have more to say on what PCP has meant for me and my life. I will revert on this at some point - the only thing I want to say now is a very big thank you to four people...
First, Naz, my lovely and long-suffering wife. She is always an inspiration and has continued to be throughout PCP. For someone who doesn't need the change of PCP that much to commit to do it to support me is a pretty awesome display of love...and shows her as a thoroughly wonderful person. The fact that her six pack is better than mine will eat at me for years...but there you go!
Second and third, Patrick and Chen. Great programme. Great food. Great exercises. I can't praise you highly enough for something so simple. I said in an earlier blog that I am easy to institutionalise...I think that goes for a lot of people - and as a result, I just got on a did what you both said...and lost 12 cms on my waist and 16 kgs! Thank you both so much.
Finally, Ren. Ren's a nutter. With tattoos. One of them is a big tattoo. Notwithstanding that, Ren is the person who got me into PCP and he did it exactly the right way - pretty reserved about it at first, but then when I kept asking he gave me more and more - and as a result, we signed up. Without him, we wouldn't have ever discovered PCP...so he deserves a lot of thanks just for that. But on top of that, he's been a really good person to talk to when it's got tough - as he's at work, it means we can talk at the time I find most difficult - late morning before lunch, when I'm considering eating the desk...thanks Ren - it's been brilliant!
Right - I'm off now...well done everyone!
There is something worrying about opening the most expensive bottle of wine you've ever bought - a gut (with six pack) clenching concern of corking. Might it be off? Do I pretend it's not off - because I can't tip that sort of money down the sink? taking off the foil, there was a suspicious musty smell and the top of the cork was a mess. Concern mounted....but after a good wipe down with some water-soaked kitchen roll, we had something to work with. Tackling the cork I just got on with it...and when it finally eased out of the bottle, the smell was quite simply awesome. Having not had any wine for 3 months and then to be hit by something of this quality, I was quite literally speechless. This isn't a wine blog so I won't go into tasting notes, smell etc etc - but it was bang on and a damn good bottle of booze.
Had some Ruinart champagne too....not quite the same though....
Anyway, enough of wine: this is about PCP. I loved the whole thing of the last work out - great idea. And once it was done, I felt incredibly smug...How easy was that!? Very....
I might blog again - whilst this is my main blog post PCP, I think I might have more to say on what PCP has meant for me and my life. I will revert on this at some point - the only thing I want to say now is a very big thank you to four people...
First, Naz, my lovely and long-suffering wife. She is always an inspiration and has continued to be throughout PCP. For someone who doesn't need the change of PCP that much to commit to do it to support me is a pretty awesome display of love...and shows her as a thoroughly wonderful person. The fact that her six pack is better than mine will eat at me for years...but there you go!
Second and third, Patrick and Chen. Great programme. Great food. Great exercises. I can't praise you highly enough for something so simple. I said in an earlier blog that I am easy to institutionalise...I think that goes for a lot of people - and as a result, I just got on a did what you both said...and lost 12 cms on my waist and 16 kgs! Thank you both so much.
Finally, Ren. Ren's a nutter. With tattoos. One of them is a big tattoo. Notwithstanding that, Ren is the person who got me into PCP and he did it exactly the right way - pretty reserved about it at first, but then when I kept asking he gave me more and more - and as a result, we signed up. Without him, we wouldn't have ever discovered PCP...so he deserves a lot of thanks just for that. But on top of that, he's been a really good person to talk to when it's got tough - as he's at work, it means we can talk at the time I find most difficult - late morning before lunch, when I'm considering eating the desk...thanks Ren - it's been brilliant!
Right - I'm off now...well done everyone!
Saturday 22 October 2011
Day 83...and into the last week
Things going well I think...Since my last post, Naz and I enjoyed our indulgence - a trip to Osaka and a pretty awesome French meal in the Ritz Carlton....which included two of my all time favourite things - white alba truffle and foie gras...in the same dish!! That is what I call indulgence! Anyway - we were there to take the kids to Universal Studios Japan where a good time was had by all.
Back to Tokyo and last week the exercises started getting pretty hardcore I thought - especially the reps to failure, although I was pretty pleased that with sit ups I couldn't really get there - 120 straight through...! I also managed to skip without a trip or a break for 22 minutes which is a new record for me. I reckon it was about 2,700 jumps. To think how absolutely knackered I was after about 50 when we first set out.
On the body front, I've finally broken through the 90kgs barrier so I'm now down to 89.6kgs with one week to go. Don't expect to lose much more given the weight training but the waist is consistently dropping still which is good. In old money, I'm down 35lbs which is two and a half stone. Makes a big difference to everything in life and I feel so much better for the whole experience. I'm really going to try and enjoy this last week of pushing on....it will be tough I'm sure but having come this far etc etc....!
good luck to everyone else in the last week of PCP - it's all been worth it!
Back to Tokyo and last week the exercises started getting pretty hardcore I thought - especially the reps to failure, although I was pretty pleased that with sit ups I couldn't really get there - 120 straight through...! I also managed to skip without a trip or a break for 22 minutes which is a new record for me. I reckon it was about 2,700 jumps. To think how absolutely knackered I was after about 50 when we first set out.
On the body front, I've finally broken through the 90kgs barrier so I'm now down to 89.6kgs with one week to go. Don't expect to lose much more given the weight training but the waist is consistently dropping still which is good. In old money, I'm down 35lbs which is two and a half stone. Makes a big difference to everything in life and I feel so much better for the whole experience. I'm really going to try and enjoy this last week of pushing on....it will be tough I'm sure but having come this far etc etc....!
good luck to everyone else in the last week of PCP - it's all been worth it!
Saturday 15 October 2011
Suits you
I guess this is a sort of PCP thing to blog about - and if I go back over my blogs one day for posterity (or to find inspiration for another required regime change!) then this will help....
Friday was new suit day with Ren in Tokyo. He's a brilliant help as the tailor speaks absolutely no english at all so his translation services are invaluable - he should get a commission (I will buy him lunch though once PCP's done)...
These guys made me two suits earlier in the year - one of which I had on when we went along. The trousers fall down on their own now - and when the tailor got his tape measure out it was confirmed - waist size has been reduced by 11cms....that's quite a bit - over 4 inches! Backside also significantly reduced and jacket size down by 2 - although chest stayed put, with muscle rather than man boobs! Was really chuffed and picked out some pretty sharp material for new suits and some new shirts - I am going back to London in November (they'll have arrived by then!) so I'm hoping the new outfit will have the desired 'shock and awe' impact.
Until they're ready, I will have to continue to put two pretty big pleats in my current strides - which are becoming a cross between trousers and culottes!
Body fat percentage down to under 20% now too - never thought that would happen....so I'm buzzing for the last two weeks which I understand are pretty hardcore. Thank godness it's half term for the kids so we don't have to get up at 5am for this week. Off to Osaka tomorrow and we're going to miss Monday (shock horror) but will be back 'on the horse' on Tuesday.
Keep strong everyone for the last bit. Oh yes - my bottle of wine is arriving on Monday for the end of PCP....a 1986 Mouton Rothschild....get in!
Friday was new suit day with Ren in Tokyo. He's a brilliant help as the tailor speaks absolutely no english at all so his translation services are invaluable - he should get a commission (I will buy him lunch though once PCP's done)...
These guys made me two suits earlier in the year - one of which I had on when we went along. The trousers fall down on their own now - and when the tailor got his tape measure out it was confirmed - waist size has been reduced by 11cms....that's quite a bit - over 4 inches! Backside also significantly reduced and jacket size down by 2 - although chest stayed put, with muscle rather than man boobs! Was really chuffed and picked out some pretty sharp material for new suits and some new shirts - I am going back to London in November (they'll have arrived by then!) so I'm hoping the new outfit will have the desired 'shock and awe' impact.
Until they're ready, I will have to continue to put two pretty big pleats in my current strides - which are becoming a cross between trousers and culottes!
Body fat percentage down to under 20% now too - never thought that would happen....so I'm buzzing for the last two weeks which I understand are pretty hardcore. Thank godness it's half term for the kids so we don't have to get up at 5am for this week. Off to Osaka tomorrow and we're going to miss Monday (shock horror) but will be back 'on the horse' on Tuesday.
Keep strong everyone for the last bit. Oh yes - my bottle of wine is arriving on Monday for the end of PCP....a 1986 Mouton Rothschild....get in!
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Skipping (as we call it in England)
I am not lacking motivation for PCP - I'm generally enjoying it and whilst I'm looking forward to the end, the number of people who comment on my changed shape make it all worthwhile....
This one's about skipping though and is for people who have just started PCP or who are thinking of doing it. When I started, I was pretty crap. I stuck with it though and deliberately didn't do runs or swims or whatever instead of skipping. I gradually got better. Patrick doesn't 'recommend' equipment, but I started with an Asics plastic ultra lightweight rope and that was ok but not great. I switched to a Nike Speed Rope about three weeks ago and it's been a revelation. To start with it was hell - my shoulders killed me and my arms ached all over! I've stuck at it though and now I can bang out thousands of jumps in a row - and I'm really enjoying skipping and it will definitely stay with me post PCP. I get that this is a personal preference thing, but I really struggled to know where to start with jump ropes when I started and so I thought the above might help!
Also did weigh in....91.1kgs so now down 14.2kgs. Body fat %age down over 10% since the start....
This one's about skipping though and is for people who have just started PCP or who are thinking of doing it. When I started, I was pretty crap. I stuck with it though and deliberately didn't do runs or swims or whatever instead of skipping. I gradually got better. Patrick doesn't 'recommend' equipment, but I started with an Asics plastic ultra lightweight rope and that was ok but not great. I switched to a Nike Speed Rope about three weeks ago and it's been a revelation. To start with it was hell - my shoulders killed me and my arms ached all over! I've stuck at it though and now I can bang out thousands of jumps in a row - and I'm really enjoying skipping and it will definitely stay with me post PCP. I get that this is a personal preference thing, but I really struggled to know where to start with jump ropes when I started and so I thought the above might help!
Also did weigh in....91.1kgs so now down 14.2kgs. Body fat %age down over 10% since the start....
Tuesday 4 October 2011
Day 66
Haven't posted for a while....going along ok thanks very much! Exercises are a total shag - but hey that's what we signed up for. Egg whites also more boring than anything - I'm glad we've only got just over three weeks to go....as my biggest problem is boredom now. Haven't got the resolve to think up any funky new ways to eat egg whites or veg...so just hanging in there.
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Day 59
Back to exercise programme full time today after my triathlon at the weekend. Managed 2 hrs 39.47 so achieved my goal of breaking 2.40. Looked a long shot after a difficult swim - lots of kicking and pulling back etc (all gets a bit rough) but bike was very quick and then the run's the run....Murakami lovely place - the sunset on Saturday night was off the charts. Food also amazing - not PCP but mostly very healthy (can you really put that much weight on eating raw fish!?)
Weigh in today - 93.7 kgs now so down by just under 12 kgs since we started off...when you pick up that amount of weight in bottles of mineral water for example, it has brought home to me what a fat waster I was...! good it's not there any more (but the key will be to keep it off...)
Onwards and upwards. I was concerned I would lose interest now my tri is done. In fact the weight thing has helped - now want to get down under 90 kgs. good luck all....
Weigh in today - 93.7 kgs now so down by just under 12 kgs since we started off...when you pick up that amount of weight in bottles of mineral water for example, it has brought home to me what a fat waster I was...! good it's not there any more (but the key will be to keep it off...)
Onwards and upwards. I was concerned I would lose interest now my tri is done. In fact the weight thing has helped - now want to get down under 90 kgs. good luck all....
Monday 19 September 2011
Day 50 - heresy
So, I have been doing some thinking about this whole PCP thing. Especially because (a) there's a new group who've started, and (b) because I'm pretty amazed how much weight I've lost/changed shape.
Anyway, what I'm going to say is probably pretty heretical, but here goes anyway. I'm a foodie. I love food - and eating out. Naz and I spend a LOT of our time thinking about and buying food, cooking and going out to fabulous restaurants. I also collect wine. And drink a lot of it. But all that's changed on PCP! The funny thing is I've come to a couple of conclusions. The first is that I feel great having lost weight and I look pretty different too. And that's good! However, would I give up my foodie lifestyle and drinking to keep this way? No way! The thing is, MODERATION! It's no good eating and eating and eating and weighing a ton - or drinking yourself to death - but good food and good wine is the essence of life in some ways.
Anyway, I appreciate that this is a bit of a ramble - I'm really enjoying PCP and I'm keeping strong - loving the exercise and my new muscles, loving even the skipping now - and the food is no problem. BUT, when I'm finished I'm looking forward to sharing a bottle of Lafite with Naz, cooking up some pretty epic comfort food - Lasagna anyone, Boeuf Bourgignon!? and really really really enjoying it. My children have just sat and ate some chicken with wine, bacon and mushrooms I cooked a while back - my God it smelt good....and you just don't get that with a piece of steamed fish. So there!
So for anyone new to PCP who's wondering what they've let themselves in for - I'd say keep strong, and think of it as training - as Patrick says - and let yourself be institutionalised for three months. It's like school dinners. But when it's over.....I for one will be getting stuck in. Not to put on weight - and I'll definitely keep up the exercises - but to get back to enjoying something I absolutely love.
Rant over. 40 days to go!!
Anyway, what I'm going to say is probably pretty heretical, but here goes anyway. I'm a foodie. I love food - and eating out. Naz and I spend a LOT of our time thinking about and buying food, cooking and going out to fabulous restaurants. I also collect wine. And drink a lot of it. But all that's changed on PCP! The funny thing is I've come to a couple of conclusions. The first is that I feel great having lost weight and I look pretty different too. And that's good! However, would I give up my foodie lifestyle and drinking to keep this way? No way! The thing is, MODERATION! It's no good eating and eating and eating and weighing a ton - or drinking yourself to death - but good food and good wine is the essence of life in some ways.
Anyway, I appreciate that this is a bit of a ramble - I'm really enjoying PCP and I'm keeping strong - loving the exercise and my new muscles, loving even the skipping now - and the food is no problem. BUT, when I'm finished I'm looking forward to sharing a bottle of Lafite with Naz, cooking up some pretty epic comfort food - Lasagna anyone, Boeuf Bourgignon!? and really really really enjoying it. My children have just sat and ate some chicken with wine, bacon and mushrooms I cooked a while back - my God it smelt good....and you just don't get that with a piece of steamed fish. So there!
So for anyone new to PCP who's wondering what they've let themselves in for - I'd say keep strong, and think of it as training - as Patrick says - and let yourself be institutionalised for three months. It's like school dinners. But when it's over.....I for one will be getting stuck in. Not to put on weight - and I'll definitely keep up the exercises - but to get back to enjoying something I absolutely love.
Rant over. 40 days to go!!
Saturday 17 September 2011
Holiday weekend
Finally got through to the long weekend - in Japan they're like London buses. You wait ages for one, and then two come along at once! Still - can't complain. We're staying put in Tokyo this weekend and trying to get our unpacking finished. Nearly there (except the study - can't face that yet but at least we can shut the door on it).
Given all I read about pistol squats I feel I'm missing out - it's been these that have been hurting my leg and I'm not taking any chances before my triathlon next weekend. My bad leg has just about healed so I don't want to knacker it again. A friend who was supposed to be doing the tri managed to fracture his toe last weekend running upstairs - so you can't be too careful!!
Anyway - skipping is now much better. My 15 minutes gets me to around 2000. I'm not that quick but I can keep going. On the weight front I'm really starting to enjoy them and see the benefits of it. The only thing is having to get up early the whole time - but it's a habit now so we just keep at it. Friday nights remains the hardest time in PCP for me. A glass of wine would be soooo welcome. Still - at least I know I won't have gone off wine for life after PCP ends....just glad I will be much better at not drinking quite so much of it quite so often. Anyway - the new MASSIVE group has started - Paddy's going to end up having 30 minute videos to do at this rate. I'm glad - cos it shows we're quite a way through. Just think....they've got to keep going until a week before Christmas!
Anyway - good luck everyone and keep going.
Given all I read about pistol squats I feel I'm missing out - it's been these that have been hurting my leg and I'm not taking any chances before my triathlon next weekend. My bad leg has just about healed so I don't want to knacker it again. A friend who was supposed to be doing the tri managed to fracture his toe last weekend running upstairs - so you can't be too careful!!
Anyway - skipping is now much better. My 15 minutes gets me to around 2000. I'm not that quick but I can keep going. On the weight front I'm really starting to enjoy them and see the benefits of it. The only thing is having to get up early the whole time - but it's a habit now so we just keep at it. Friday nights remains the hardest time in PCP for me. A glass of wine would be soooo welcome. Still - at least I know I won't have gone off wine for life after PCP ends....just glad I will be much better at not drinking quite so much of it quite so often. Anyway - the new MASSIVE group has started - Paddy's going to end up having 30 minute videos to do at this rate. I'm glad - cos it shows we're quite a way through. Just think....they've got to keep going until a week before Christmas!
Anyway - good luck everyone and keep going.
Wednesday 14 September 2011
Day 45
So here we are - half way!! Did a weigh in. now down to 96.1kgs which is in total down 9.3 - which I'm pretty pleased with. Looking at other people's blogs, it looks like 10-15 kgs over the whole programme is the usual reduction - but I'm hoping to beat it given I had a lot to lose to start with.
Glad now we'll be able to see more of it behind us than in front of us.
Had two non PCP meals the last two days - head of the bank was in town last night and we had to go to dinner....and I was stitched up so ended up sitting next to him! Was actually a good evening but the French food probably wasn't so good - but I just love foie gras and couldn't very well be seen eating a load of egg whites. The wine was avoided though - although since I've stopped drinking, I have become much more sensitive to the smell of wine and the mersault smelt amazing! Still I was pleased with myself for my abstinence.
Very true - people say the rich 'normal food' is hard on the stomach - felt a bit odd for the rest of the evening but fine today.
Glad now we'll be able to see more of it behind us than in front of us.
Had two non PCP meals the last two days - head of the bank was in town last night and we had to go to dinner....and I was stitched up so ended up sitting next to him! Was actually a good evening but the French food probably wasn't so good - but I just love foie gras and couldn't very well be seen eating a load of egg whites. The wine was avoided though - although since I've stopped drinking, I have become much more sensitive to the smell of wine and the mersault smelt amazing! Still I was pleased with myself for my abstinence.
Very true - people say the rich 'normal food' is hard on the stomach - felt a bit odd for the rest of the evening but fine today.
Sunday 11 September 2011
Day 42 (or something)
Been away for a while - too busy! Anyway, things going good - still enjoying it all. Back of right knee still a problem so haven't been able to do much leg work - trying to let it heal. Hasn't stopped me skipping and given my pre PCP weight my thighs were pretty massive anyway (especially from my cycling!)
Cycled for the first time in 2 weeks today - the lack of weight and extra leg power was awesome...powered up a few hills that before would have been much tougher. If I can get the knee issue sorted, I'm pretty pumped up for my triathlon in two weeks.
Interested to see what this week will bring..! Good luck everyone - and keep it going!
PS. Also enjoying the Rugby World Cup - although perhaps not so much after England's performance against Argentina - but the real class came through in the end. Wales very unlucky not to beat the Saffers today - Saffers look past it - too many old timers up front....Wales threw it away rather than the Boks winning it.
Cycled for the first time in 2 weeks today - the lack of weight and extra leg power was awesome...powered up a few hills that before would have been much tougher. If I can get the knee issue sorted, I'm pretty pumped up for my triathlon in two weeks.
Interested to see what this week will bring..! Good luck everyone - and keep it going!
PS. Also enjoying the Rugby World Cup - although perhaps not so much after England's performance against Argentina - but the real class came through in the end. Wales very unlucky not to beat the Saffers today - Saffers look past it - too many old timers up front....Wales threw it away rather than the Boks winning it.
Saturday 3 September 2011
Weigh in
So, today was a trip to the American Club, which means it's also a day to weigh in! Good news was that I have dropped below 100kgs - down to 98.1...which means I've lost 7.3 kgs, or 16 lbs, or 1 stone and 2 lbs! Very chuffed - I can really notice it now and it makes sticking to PCP that much easier. Trouble is, my work suit trousers are getting a bit tricky as they need extra pleats...but it's a nice problem to have.
Friday was a really tough day - it's been a busy week at work and by Friday I was totally knackered. Struggled through my work out (which I always do first thing - which means before 6am at the moment) and then felt a bit ropey all day. Naz wanted to go to a wine tasting in our building in the evening - which was a social thing rather than a boozing session! - but I was sorely tempted by a glass of champers that was sitting there looking at me. Still - managed to resist, and then after 10 hours solid kip, felt like a new penny today. Workout was left until late afternoon, and skipping and weights were all much much better - even managed a few more sets.
Going for a run tomorrow rather than skipping - I need to get back into running as I have a triathlon in 3 weeks....the fitness is there no probs but it's a question of remembering what to do!
Still - all in all a good day and I'm pumped up for cracking on next week. Next weight goal is sub 95kgs...
Friday was a really tough day - it's been a busy week at work and by Friday I was totally knackered. Struggled through my work out (which I always do first thing - which means before 6am at the moment) and then felt a bit ropey all day. Naz wanted to go to a wine tasting in our building in the evening - which was a social thing rather than a boozing session! - but I was sorely tempted by a glass of champers that was sitting there looking at me. Still - managed to resist, and then after 10 hours solid kip, felt like a new penny today. Workout was left until late afternoon, and skipping and weights were all much much better - even managed a few more sets.
Going for a run tomorrow rather than skipping - I need to get back into running as I have a triathlon in 3 weeks....the fitness is there no probs but it's a question of remembering what to do!
Still - all in all a good day and I'm pumped up for cracking on next week. Next weight goal is sub 95kgs...
Wednesday 31 August 2011
Floor jumps
Evil, evil things. I thought my legs might just fly off this morning. The double sets are a significant step up as far as I'm concerned - but I guess that's what we need for progress.
Also felt pretty crappy this morning even after breakfast. Naz and I exercise together every morning and now the kids are back to school, it means a 530am start..! That's ok but by the time I get to the office, I feel shattered and ready to go back to sleep - which I nearly did in a meeting with a client today. I'm delaying my yoghurts from breakfast to around 10am and then have my fruit at around 12 noon to stretch lunch to 1pm - otherwise by the evening my lovely egg white dinner doesn't even touch the sides. That said, I feel I've eaten something in the evening and we're going to bed early enough that I don't have time to get hungry again.
I reckon the next four weeks are going to be pretty tough - just got to stick it out
Also felt pretty crappy this morning even after breakfast. Naz and I exercise together every morning and now the kids are back to school, it means a 530am start..! That's ok but by the time I get to the office, I feel shattered and ready to go back to sleep - which I nearly did in a meeting with a client today. I'm delaying my yoghurts from breakfast to around 10am and then have my fruit at around 12 noon to stretch lunch to 1pm - otherwise by the evening my lovely egg white dinner doesn't even touch the sides. That said, I feel I've eaten something in the evening and we're going to bed early enough that I don't have time to get hungry again.
I reckon the next four weeks are going to be pretty tough - just got to stick it out
Sunday 28 August 2011
Day 28 and into week 5
Good weekend...every one that goes by means that it's that much easier not to think too much about a glass (or five) of wine....!
Feel I'm making good progress although my running today was pretty shambolic - but that might have had something to do with the humidity and heat of running in Tokyo on a sunny day in August at 3pm! Have to spend a little bit more time on the running though for my triathlon at the end of September. Slightly apprehensive about the food for the coming week - I can really see the impact the diet's having on me (and I've even managed not to look half asleep in this week's photo) but there are times - again at weekends - where I feel I want to start tucking into the table/chair - anything really!
Feel I'm making good progress although my running today was pretty shambolic - but that might have had something to do with the humidity and heat of running in Tokyo on a sunny day in August at 3pm! Have to spend a little bit more time on the running though for my triathlon at the end of September. Slightly apprehensive about the food for the coming week - I can really see the impact the diet's having on me (and I've even managed not to look half asleep in this week's photo) but there are times - again at weekends - where I feel I want to start tucking into the table/chair - anything really!
Thursday 25 August 2011
Salty Miso
Had a work dinner tonight...stayed off the sauce which was good but smelt like a smoking house by the time I got home. The amount Japanese people smoke is off the charts. Something totally wrong about heavy smoking in a sushi restaurant. Oh well - when in Wome etc etc.
Second weigh in of PCP today....down to 100.7 kgs, which is now a total reduction of 4.7kgs...or as I would know it, 10.5lbs - which isn't that far off a whole stone! Went swimming (1.5kms) as part of my triathlon prep for the end of Sept and was amazed how much the shoulder exercises have done already. Starting to see real progress so I'm pretty bull market on the whole thing still.
Exercises getting more brutal - those squat jumps are just wrong. And tomorrow's creep is just a bit silly quite frankly. I'll feel like Yoda or something trundling around the living room. Or garage - if I'm allowed to do funny walks in there. Can't skip (although I think me and the security guard have come to some sort of arrangement - he daren't come in when I'm in full flow). Sorry to hear so many folks are having knee issues with the skipping - I haven't had this problem...just get a very sore shoulder from trying to hold the rope in the right place, but anyway I feel I'm winning my skipping battle.
Onwards and upwards...
Second weigh in of PCP today....down to 100.7 kgs, which is now a total reduction of 4.7kgs...or as I would know it, 10.5lbs - which isn't that far off a whole stone! Went swimming (1.5kms) as part of my triathlon prep for the end of Sept and was amazed how much the shoulder exercises have done already. Starting to see real progress so I'm pretty bull market on the whole thing still.
Exercises getting more brutal - those squat jumps are just wrong. And tomorrow's creep is just a bit silly quite frankly. I'll feel like Yoda or something trundling around the living room. Or garage - if I'm allowed to do funny walks in there. Can't skip (although I think me and the security guard have come to some sort of arrangement - he daren't come in when I'm in full flow). Sorry to hear so many folks are having knee issues with the skipping - I haven't had this problem...just get a very sore shoulder from trying to hold the rope in the right place, but anyway I feel I'm winning my skipping battle.
Onwards and upwards...
Monday 22 August 2011
Apologies - new photo time
Again for looking like I'm (a) about to fall asleep or (b) about to get really pissed off. What can I say - I've got a day of work ahead of me...
Fighting on
Been a while since my last post - Naz and I were away for the weekend (or tried to go away) but all in all it was a bit of a shocker - bad weather and a trip to the beach never really works that well. Also found out first hand how hard it is to go away and stick to the PCP diet properly...managed to avoid carbs etc and to have grilled stuff but restaurants always go for tons of oil etc in one way or another! Anyway, got back to Tokyo yesterday and the very unseasonable rain...but meant we spent the afternoon cooking cooking cooking. More vegetables than you can shake a stick at in our fridge. God knows how our sewage system copes. Anyway - week four starts, and that's three weekends without so much as a look at a glass of red. Slightly amazed I don't miss it more. The only real time was going out for dinner whilst in Shimoda - and there it wasn't that much of a deal...and the weekends seem so much longer...there I was laste night wiring up my new back up system (and no I'm not some sort of tech geek) and it worked..!
Anyway, I'm enjoying the exercises and I've cracked the skipping...despite what Patrick says, I reckon polished concrete the best surface as the thing that was hardest was rhythm and that was impacted by the rope sticking to the carpet ! Looking through this week's exercises, I'm filled with a horrid fascination....Creeps. What sort of exercise is called 'creeps'!? Anyway, I'm always up for something new.
Good luck PCPers - I am sufficiently into this now that I feel like I'm in some sort of fat camp without actually being locked up. And I've consistently managed to turn down work lunch invitations on the basis of my 'special diet....'. It will end...oh yes it will.....
Anyway, I'm enjoying the exercises and I've cracked the skipping...despite what Patrick says, I reckon polished concrete the best surface as the thing that was hardest was rhythm and that was impacted by the rope sticking to the carpet ! Looking through this week's exercises, I'm filled with a horrid fascination....Creeps. What sort of exercise is called 'creeps'!? Anyway, I'm always up for something new.
Good luck PCPers - I am sufficiently into this now that I feel like I'm in some sort of fat camp without actually being locked up. And I've consistently managed to turn down work lunch invitations on the basis of my 'special diet....'. It will end...oh yes it will.....
Tuesday 16 August 2011
Start of week 3
So yesterday saw my first weigh in after starting PCP....was pleasantly surprised with 3.4kgs having come off. Soon had the wind taken out of my sails by Ren, a PCP veteran who gave me a stern talking to about weight fluctuations, and generally that after two weeks I'd done NOTHING!!! To be fair to him though he's just finishing some uber-intensive six week Patrick nutter programme (especially designed for people who are slightly unhinged) so I guess he's earned the right....Still - he's been very supportive generally so I'm grateful overall. Still for lumps like me, getting rid of half a stone (in old money) in two weeks is pretty pleasing. I know I'm going to hit a wall at some point and it will be hard to get through it - so I reckon you have to take the positives when you get them!
Monday 15 August 2011
Week three
Another weekend negotiated and not a glass of red in sight - even with fillet steak on Saturday night...Cycled 83kms on Sunday morning and stuck to the diet during the day - not sure it was sensible but it certainly knackered me out: we were in bed asleep by 930pm! Certainly confirms that on the PCP you need a lot of sleep.
Preparing dinner this evening was a laugh...in the way you laugh when you can either do that or cry. 100g protein. Salmon in 100g pieces looks pitifully inadequate. And then veg. Not a great steaming pile of crunchy veg and spicy ratatouille, but a rather small lonely looking assembly...and it was all gone in moments without a trace. However, I don't feel hungry at the moment - but then again I've just finished it - and my tactic for getting hungry later is to go to sleep. I can see this week being pretty hard towards the end with the exercise stepping up and the food stepping down. Still that's what we're here for I suppose!
Preparing dinner this evening was a laugh...in the way you laugh when you can either do that or cry. 100g protein. Salmon in 100g pieces looks pitifully inadequate. And then veg. Not a great steaming pile of crunchy veg and spicy ratatouille, but a rather small lonely looking assembly...and it was all gone in moments without a trace. However, I don't feel hungry at the moment - but then again I've just finished it - and my tactic for getting hungry later is to go to sleep. I can see this week being pretty hard towards the end with the exercise stepping up and the food stepping down. Still that's what we're here for I suppose!
Saturday 13 August 2011
Busy week
Got to the end of the week - and now a weekend with the family which is great. Enjoying the exercise and the hints about pushing through to muscle failure really helping...makes you feel as if you're really doing something.
Spent this afternoon teaching my daughter to cycle - she's there already so now we'll have to spend hours going round and round the park as she thinks it's great - which it is! Anyway, will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings in terms of the diet...does it change every week, every 2 weeks?? Who knows. Anyway, two weeks successfully completed, although I was a bit annoyed (and slightly concerned) by the really bad throbbing headache my skipping gave me this morning: it's like a hangover headache when you stand up and you get a throbbing head - but I was getting it from jumping up and down. Will keep an eye on it (so to speak) but it felt as if it might have been dehydration, but that's odd since I've been drinking loads and loads of water with no booze.
Spent this afternoon teaching my daughter to cycle - she's there already so now we'll have to spend hours going round and round the park as she thinks it's great - which it is! Anyway, will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings in terms of the diet...does it change every week, every 2 weeks?? Who knows. Anyway, two weeks successfully completed, although I was a bit annoyed (and slightly concerned) by the really bad throbbing headache my skipping gave me this morning: it's like a hangover headache when you stand up and you get a throbbing head - but I was getting it from jumping up and down. Will keep an eye on it (so to speak) but it felt as if it might have been dehydration, but that's odd since I've been drinking loads and loads of water with no booze.
Tuesday 9 August 2011
Sorry
In the interests of full disclosure and motivation, I am going for weekly snaps without my shirt. At this stage I can only apologise....at least I have a bit of a tan which is more than can usually be said for a pasty and rotund Englishman. I will endevour to demonstrate improvement over the coming weeks.
Weirdness
Struck me today reading some of our email chains that we're all a bit weird. It's funny writing questions about when you can eat 100g of this or 50g of that. Still that's what's required to change a mindset I guess. Today's exercises were more fun - I like the change of weight training. Skipping still frustrates - but I'm getting there.
One thing I have already noticed - I can walk up a long flight of stairs much quicker (two at a time) without my thighs starting to burn - the squats and lunges really making a difference for me I think.
One thing I have already noticed - I can walk up a long flight of stairs much quicker (two at a time) without my thighs starting to burn - the squats and lunges really making a difference for me I think.
Monday 8 August 2011
First Diet Day
Found it properly weird eating brown rice and cabbage for breakfast. Truth was though that it filled me up a lot more than my usual bowl of all-bran. Couldn't stomach a glass of milk so went for yoghurt instead which was much more digestible. Exercises going ok although finding somewhere to do incline pull ups was a bit of a challenge!
I thought I'd comment on the weekend too. I calculated that this weekend was the first in roughly seven years that I had no alcohol to drink at all! When I realised that I was a bit shocked but what can I say? I LOVE wine! The thing is, I didn't really miss it (although if truth be told I could have murdered a glass of cold white on Friday after work) and the weekend seemed to have so many more hours. Woke up both Saturday and Sunday feeling great so that was quite a revelation. Yesterday I went for a long cycle and so slept like a baby - but getting up this morning was a real challenge although I think that was more to do with having to go to work rather than having to PCP!
The other thing I've been thinking about is institutionalisation. No bear with me....I went to boarding school when I was eight years old and so all food was prepared and stuck in front of you to eat...and for the most part it was eat it or don't eat anything....and sometimes it got pretty grim. Worst I reckon was a hot meal of one canned plum tomato, warmed up in a warming cupboard. Dreadful (although PCP eligible I'm sure!). Anyway, where was I going with this? Oh yes - my point is that I reckon I will be ok with the food thing. It's odd but Patrick tells us what to eat. OK we have to decide what 'protein' we need to eat or what veg we're going to cook - but we have a set of rules - and I find that strangely liberating!
Anyway, I'm starting to ramble (in fact I think this whole post pretty much fits into that category) so I'll leave you all be.
I thought I'd comment on the weekend too. I calculated that this weekend was the first in roughly seven years that I had no alcohol to drink at all! When I realised that I was a bit shocked but what can I say? I LOVE wine! The thing is, I didn't really miss it (although if truth be told I could have murdered a glass of cold white on Friday after work) and the weekend seemed to have so many more hours. Woke up both Saturday and Sunday feeling great so that was quite a revelation. Yesterday I went for a long cycle and so slept like a baby - but getting up this morning was a real challenge although I think that was more to do with having to go to work rather than having to PCP!
The other thing I've been thinking about is institutionalisation. No bear with me....I went to boarding school when I was eight years old and so all food was prepared and stuck in front of you to eat...and for the most part it was eat it or don't eat anything....and sometimes it got pretty grim. Worst I reckon was a hot meal of one canned plum tomato, warmed up in a warming cupboard. Dreadful (although PCP eligible I'm sure!). Anyway, where was I going with this? Oh yes - my point is that I reckon I will be ok with the food thing. It's odd but Patrick tells us what to eat. OK we have to decide what 'protein' we need to eat or what veg we're going to cook - but we have a set of rules - and I find that strangely liberating!
Anyway, I'm starting to ramble (in fact I think this whole post pretty much fits into that category) so I'll leave you all be.
Thursday 4 August 2011
Had to exercise in the evening today after a long day at work - that started in the office at 0645! Managed to get it done though and had a frugal dinner...I've got a new rope (Asics) which doesn't count for me, but then again I'm still so crap it would be wasted. Shouting a few choice words seems to help relieve the tension but as is my style I'm already starting to think of other options - running, cycling, staying in bed etc...
No! I'm going to stick with it and that's that. This first week so far, when all said and done, hasn't been too bad. The skipping annoys me intensely but there you go - something to work on. The lunges and squats just make my legs ache like hell and the press ups and sit ups are ok - for now. Slightly nervous about our diets next week. Eating not very much has been ok (made me feel and sleep a lot better), but it's going to take some adjustment I'm sure....I can't get the picture out of my head of another PCPer's blog with a picture of his dinner at a dinner party.....an egg - and bizarrely a banana on the same plate!
No! I'm going to stick with it and that's that. This first week so far, when all said and done, hasn't been too bad. The skipping annoys me intensely but there you go - something to work on. The lunges and squats just make my legs ache like hell and the press ups and sit ups are ok - for now. Slightly nervous about our diets next week. Eating not very much has been ok (made me feel and sleep a lot better), but it's going to take some adjustment I'm sure....I can't get the picture out of my head of another PCPer's blog with a picture of his dinner at a dinner party.....an egg - and bizarrely a banana on the same plate!
Wednesday 3 August 2011
What a day...
So this skipping thing is starting to annoy me properly. Blaming it on the tools obviously and I have decided to completely disregard Patrick's helpful comments about not spending money on equipment. Anyone know the most expensive rope on the market? Seriously though it's a good work out but frustrating.....
Get the food thing now too. Properly hungry today. Ren gave me an apple which was most welcome and stopped me piling into the desk which was looking pretty tasty. I'm also struggling to sit down now my thighs are so painful. I cycled over 100kms straight up a couple of weeks back and my thighs didn't even squeak. Now I look like I'm 85 hobbling about. Still - onwards and upwards...and I have a 7am meeting tomorrow which will mean exercise in the evening: I could do with the break!
Get the food thing now too. Properly hungry today. Ren gave me an apple which was most welcome and stopped me piling into the desk which was looking pretty tasty. I'm also struggling to sit down now my thighs are so painful. I cycled over 100kms straight up a couple of weeks back and my thighs didn't even squeak. Now I look like I'm 85 hobbling about. Still - onwards and upwards...and I have a 7am meeting tomorrow which will mean exercise in the evening: I could do with the break!
Monday 1 August 2011
Day 2...and skipping..! Feels like I'm in a cross between a junior school PE class and Rocky. Sadly Naz puts me to shame on the skill front, but I did manage 32 in a row before tripping over AGAIN. Other exercises all fine at the moment but I've read too many blog posts to think that anything other than total pain is coming down the line. Have to wait and see...
Sunday 31 July 2011
Peak Condition - here we come!
It's finally about to start. Last day of booze for three months....better crack open a decent bottle of red...!
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