April 20, 2012 9:07 AM JST

Apparently my last blog post didn't qualify as a "final"...

I assumed that my prior blog post, written after Day 90, would qualify as my "final" post so I could receive my COMPLETED badge but I just received an email saying that I'm required to do one more.  Strange...

I do have more wrap-up notes that I want to add to this blog so consider this an interim update to appease the PCP serverbot Gods while I gather my thoughts.

April 14, 2012 4:15 PM JST

The final workout and review

What a great way to wrap up these first three months.  I burned right through the final workout and it felt waaaaay too easy (especially after the routines from this past week)!  I grouped two exercises into one set just like our current workout and still made it in fine style.  Tomorrow it's time to bring the pain again!

Until then, here are some thoughts based on my personal experience going through the PCP Program.  This will probably be spread out over a couple of posts so consider this PART ONE.  For those who have gone through the program, you may agree with some points or not.  For those who are in the process of joining or are on the fence, hopefully my thoughts don't overly influence to jump on board or dissuade you from taking a chance.  Try as I may to be objective, neverthless, everything still comes from an opinionated point of view. 

With that said, my first point is:

YOUR MILEAGE MAY AND WILL VARY

PCP will provide you with the daily workout plans, meal plans, and a base level of encouragement.  With this foundation in place, IT IS STILL UP TO YOU to stay on task and accept responsibility for your progress.  In spite of my own strict discipline (sticking with the meal portions and only ever missing 1 jump rope workout), during the past 3 months I've seen fellow PCPers progress better than me and others that haven't.  Did that discourage me?  Not at all.  Compared to where I started, I've still gone through an impressive transformation. 

Food discipline aside, your progress with the daily workouts will most likely be the greatest influencing factor.  If you review some of my early blog posts, I complained a LOT whenever a new routine is introduced but it didn't stop me from doing them.  I think it would be fair to say that a hefty amount of self-discipline and/or stubbornness is necessary to constantly push yourself. 

Workouts definitely got tougher over time but they never felt insurmountable.  Keeping up with the routines, as best you can (even if you can't hit the max daily numbers suggested) is your best defense from falling behind.  I had days where I didn't progress as well as I would have liked.  That pissed me off.  Rather than stay frustrated, I used that motivation to push through the next day and on and on; chipping away at those reps.  Even now, at the end, there's a few routines that I still haven't completely conquered (I'm looking at you DaVinci's) but you'll find that it's more about the effort you put in rather than the target number.

Anyhoo, more thoughts soon...

April 12, 2012 1:31 PM JST

Tick Tick Tick Tick...

I'm really eager the start applying everything beyond the confines of the PCP structure and reviewing how things progress.  What would really be interesting is if PCP followed up with folks 6 months or a year later to post updates to their lifestyle.  How many people are maintaining it?  Who fell off the wagon?  What were the most difficult aspects of maintaining the discipline for yourself?  Insights like that would be a great way for alumni to compare their own situations with and, more importantly, keeping an eye out for things that could derail you.

Anyhoo, looking forward to the victory lap.  Good work, everyone!

April 11, 2012 2:18 PM JST

Today's Blog has been brought to you by the letters "O" and "W"

"Ow..."

Shoulder exercises x4 today!!  Gah, that was brutal.  God knows the faces I must have made just to get through them.  I don't think I've dreaded opening each days exercises more than the ones from this week.

NEARLY THERE...

Can't help but wonder if the last "secret" workout is either a mega, super, killer one or a big ol' "SURPRISE - REST DAY!"

I know which one I'm rooting for...

April 8, 2012 9:08 AM JST

Rocking the jump rope

Had a great week with the jump rope.  For the last 6 days I was able to knock out the entire 21 minute routine in one go without tripping/stumbling/stopping to scratch my nose.  Today feels a bit like a cheat going back to 18 minutes but I'll take it!

Arms have been really sore the entire week - specifically my triceps.  I've been rocking the failure wall pretty early with the elevated push-ups which is a bit frustrating.  Tried to go up one intensity level on the tension-band for one of my workouts and barely made it halfway through.  The only set that didn't kill me was the rowing.  Everything else killed me so I humbly shifted back.

Saved my indulgence meal for tonight (Easter Sunday here in NZ).  Don't be surprised if it's a carbon-copy of my B-day dinner meal!

Hard to believe things are going to start wrapping up soon!  Honestly, I can't say the time has flown by - I've certainly felt every single day of the past 3 months - but it'll be nice to put in another kick-ass week and finish strong.

March 31, 2012 8:18 AM JST

Planks are tanking me

Even with the incremental increase of reps and sets, planks have been CRUSHING me this week.  Try as I might, after doing my leg lift sets, my body continues to reach failure well before I've accomplished the 90 sec goal x 6 sets.  I can just barely muster the first 90.  The second set usually dropped to 30 and then each successive set was 20 or less.  Boooooo!

Shoulder workouts are still a struggle - my much documented angst for Da Vinci's continues unabated.  Chicken wing pullups definitely bring on the hurt but I'm definitely nearing my failure point at the end of the set.

Funny to think that, at the beginning of the program, my biggest worry was nailing the coordination of jump roping.  That's probably the one aspect I genuinely look forward to (because I can just zone out for 18+ minutes).

Diet still feels a bit samey but that's mainly my problem.  I've gotten so used to gram counting (despite PCP's insistence that I shouldn't) that I've compartmentalized my food types and portions too efficiently.  The downside, is that I don't have much in the way of interesting variety but, at least, I'm slimmer!

Feeling kind of bad that my updates have been more infrequent but, honestly, there's not a whole lot to report one way or another during the week.  Photo time tomorrow!

March 25, 2012 2:11 PM JST

Good Week, more sets still feel brutal

Started out really exhausted at the beginning of the week.  Each day required some rather stubborn effort in order to preserver.  I always seem to reach muscle failure on Da Vinci's well before the minimum number of each rep.  Annoying.  Not sure how much further I can/need to push myself on those but I wish the definition change in my shoulders were similar (equal or better) to other areas. 

Nothing really to say about the diet - it is what it is - neither good nor bad!  Over the last two weeks, however, I've noticed that cows and chickens step aside when I walk into a room.  All those daily doses of milk and eggs are sending ripples of fear throughout New Zealand farms...

On the positive, my recent weigh-in puts me at the lightest since I left college many, MANY moons ago...

March 20, 2012 7:18 AM JST

Misery loves company

Seems like a lot of folks have been struggling this week.  Except for the occasional bouts of physical frustration at the beginning of PCP, generally, I've been feeling that things have been progressing well.  It certainly hasn't been a cake walk but definitely doable.  This week (ie - the last two days), however, has been the toughest days yet to get through my exercises.  I figured my biggest challenge would have been last week due to the international trip from the week before.  Nope.  Definitely this week. 

Both days have been a struggle to motivate myself out of bed at 5:30am and into my workout clothes - even with 8(ish) hours of sleep.  Jump-roping is still a non-issue but my reps for other exercises have been lower, especially for lunges and planks, which is very demotivating.  Not that I'm in any position or desire to throw in the towel - far from it.  I think this is where sheer stubbornness will actually help me through this dimly lit valley.

March 18, 2012 10:00 AM JST

Another week down

Getting back into the routine after a week away wasn't a big deal at all.  Sticking with the exercises in spite of the food slippage was key, methinks.  Returning to my normally scheduled eating habits was equally fine.  Except for the occasional pangs of food desire, it's pretty easy to shrug off temptation.

Looking forward to the upcoming week.

March 17, 2012 3:56 PM JST

Happy St. Patrick's Day

On this side of the international dateline, St. Patty's Day is already in full swing.  Sadly, no imbibing of spirits this holiday.  Less than a month to go - gotta keep the momentum going!

Workouts this week really stressed out my arms.  I had two days there where my biceps and triceps were really feeling taut.  The only exercise that I still can't accomplish is the kung-fu situps - I'm just too tall for my doorway so there's no way to straighten my legs.  My alternate method, curling up like I'm doing a crunch without my legs sticking out, seems to be an okay solution.  My abs are still killing me afterwards so I imagine it's activating the right spot.

Diet is still fine but I still miss getting in some solid protein (that isn't just egg whites) during dinner.  Still fighting off exhaustion at night.  Around 8pm my body just wants to shut down and it's been more and more noticeable lately.  There was a prior message that was sent out to the team about low-energy days but it isn't quite the same as what I'm dealing with.  I still get up at 5:30 every morning for my workout but I haven't experienced the fatigue during, only well after, in the evening.  That said, last night was the first in probably 3 weeks where I didn't completely crash early.  We'll see tonight.

March 13, 2012 10:56 AM JST

A week in review

As I mentioned in my prior blog post, I was a bit naughty with my diet while I was gone last week.  Here's a recap of some of the things I consumed:

Breakfast
French Toast with Fresh Fruit (just once)
Oatmeal with Fresh Fruit (just once)
Yoghurt with Fresh Fruit (just once)
Two Eggs, Hash Browns, Turkey Bacon, and two halves of an english muffin with milk (for two different breakfasts)

Lunch
Crappy chinese from a mall food court (this was before I found my way to more interesting food options)
Chevy's "Mexican" Grill - Chicken Quesadilla and Tortilla Soup
Peruvian Pulled Pork Sandwhich with Yucca Fries

Chinese (2 separate dinners with portions split between 2-3 people)
Fried chicken wings with Thai Chili sauce (8 pieces one night, 8 pieces another)
Stir-fried string beans with minced pork (1 per night)
General Tso's Chicken (1 per night)
Pork Fried Rice (1 per night)
Szechuan Beef (just once, disliked the interpretation)
Kung Pao Chicken (just once)
Pot stickers (3 pieces one night, 3 pieces another)

Other Dinners
Beef Burger Sliders (small in size; 3 individual burgers would roughly equal 2/3's of a normal burger)
  with Onion Rings and (slaps hand) 3 glasses of Root Beer.  Sorry but I can't find Root Beer in NZ.  It was delish!

Miscellaneous Insubordination (spread across the week)
4 Bourbon and Cokes
1 Long Island Ice Tea
1 Unmemorable Drink (whose feminine-esque colour attracted gentle ribbing)
3 glasses of white and red wine

I may have forgotten a meal or two but this is the gist of my indulgence.  The guilt of every meal helped to keep my early-morning exercise discipline intact.  I was really scared to know how much weight I was going to gain once I returned home but happily (and surprisingly) I didn't gain a pound.  If anything, I'm still shedding weight.  Woot!

Not that I'm giving in to any more temptation.  I'm back to my normal eating routine and the readjustment has been fine.

Now to go back through the back catalogue of training emails I've missed.

Crap - and I've been very tardy about my weekly photo.  I'll get on that tonight.

March 11, 2012 12:41 PM JST

Just a Quick Update

Hey All,
  Just returned from my conference trip.  Totally exhausted.  Long story short - I was really strict with my exercise but not entirely strict with my diet.  Didn't overindulge but wasn't always eating the best options, either.  Looking forward to getting back into 100% alignment from here on in.

It was awesome to have last weeks exercises downloaded to keep the momentum going while I was out of internet connectivity.  Thanks again Patrick for those.

Anyway, I'm pooped.  Can't wait to crank through this coming week.

Cheers,
Michael

March 1, 2012 3:44 PM JST

I love a good discussion

Thanks to everyone who humored me with my rant the other day.  To everyone else, it's still not too late to chime in!  :)

Sorry I was absent the last couple of days.  Been really busy with work ahead of my flight on Saturday (Friday to you folks on the other side of the international date line).  I'll be gone for 8-9 days so PCP will be largely rant-free whilst I'm away - YAY!

Let's see... updates...

Morning workouts are still going strong.  I still feel like I'm cheating myself with the shorter jump rope routine, though.  Diet is still fine.  That reminds me - the after workout fruit snack - is it okay to eat that with my breakfast since my workout segues right into my morning meal?

Came home nearly comatose - super exhausted.  Not sure why.  Was worn out nearly the entire day despite having more than 9 hours of sleep the prior night.  Ooof...

Tomorrow will be my last update before my absence.  Take care, all!

February 27, 2012 3:30 PM JST

Ranting and Raving

Diet is Fine, the workout is fine.

Today, I'm curious to hear from other people about this program and if you feel you're getting enough information to make informed decisions.  This open query has come about due to this thread I started:

http://thepeakconditionproject.com/programs/4/questions/527

and the resulting concerns that spilled into here:

http://thepeakconditionproject.com/programs/4/questions/532

I'd love to know your thoughts, whether here in the comments section or in the Q&A thread.  Am I overreacting?  Out of my depth?  Let me know!  If you've got concerns but you don't want them public, then message me!

February 26, 2012 7:29 AM JST

Week 7 Diet conflicts with latest 6-meal message

So I get the new diet plan.  Dinner is still the name small portions as the prior two weeks (boo...) but several of the other daily meals/snacks include "as much as you want" vegetable portions (AWESOME!).  What's odd is that I just received this lengthy message about the glory of our "eat 6 times a day" approach.  Yet, this updated diet now includes a 7th meal; an after workout fruit snack.  Perhaps it's just a minor detail but it was a strange to have these two messages appear at the same time yet lacked a unified mindset.

Workout continues fine.  Diet continues as always.

Have a good weekend everyone!

February 25, 2012 12:30 PM JST

Nearly another week done

Really starting to like the results I'm seeing - just have to remind myself that I still have another month and a half to go.  Should be able to crank through the new workouts in usual fashion but I'm curious to know what, if any, changes occur with the weekly diet update.  The early morning workouts are serving me well.  I *love* getting it out of the way first thing.  I only wish my body could react better to the early morning wake up.

In a week I'll be flying back to the States for a conference in San Francisco.  This will be my first big test since I'll be away from my normal routine.  I really, REALLY want to enjoy myself (eating-wise) while I'm in San Francisco.  Not to eat poorly or excessive, mind you, but rare is the opportunity for me to travel and enjoy the local flavors.  I'm hoping that if I stick to my general portion sizes, I should fare okay.  There's a fitness room in the hotel so I'll have a place to work out.

If anyone lives in SF and has any good suggestions for food, hit me up!

Thanks All, you're doing great!

February 22, 2012 3:20 PM JST

To Simon B. - why yes, I DO hate bicycle kicks and 40 second planks!

As they say here in New Zealand, "yeah, nah"...

Yeah, I did them but nah, I didn't do a very good job.  Made it through ONE set of the bicycle kicks before my legs crapped out.  Pathetic...  I still did the remaining sets but it was far from fluid.  I think there may have been man-tears involved...  The planks fared only slightly better.  I did all four sets but at only 30 seconds per set.  All of the other exercises I did without issue.  Those jumps do get me a bit breathless, though.

Over the last two nights, I've been super hungry after dinner.  Not sure if there's any wiggle room for some extra vegetables or something to appease the hunger Gods?  I've just tried to ignore it but it sucks.

February 20, 2012 3:15 PM JST

Never thought I'd be happy to be back on the diet again

Long story short - had an amazing dinner last night but my body was completely unprepared for the intensity of the flavors which led to a pretty restless night.  I'm pretty sure that I may have exceeded my indulgence allowance but I won't be attempting anything like that for the remainder of the 3 months.

Jump-roping was fine as usual.  I love days like today.

Here is my pictorial confession.  The portions may look large but I assure you, they weren't.  The camera adds... lots.  I should warn you, this post is NSFD (Not Safe for Diet)!

Photos

February 19, 2012 6:38 AM JST

Same good, same bad, different day

Not much to report today that's a whole lot different than the past couple of days.  Some exercises are going well, others continue to be a struggle.  Diet seems to be holding strong.  As of this writing I've shed nearly 10lbs.  My wife asked me for birthday ideas.  I had none.  So she bought me a new belt.

...and there was much rejoicing.

Looking forward to one dinner of indulgence to celebrate my many years of earthly presence.  We're going to a rather posh place tonight (posh = tiny portions) but the food offerings are fresh and close to dinner options from prior weeks.  No apple, banana, and egg white routine tonight, I'm afraid.

Just received this weeks new exercise routines.  I think my eyes moistened at the idea of next week ending with a standard workout and not just a jump rope session.  Looks like another week to toughen up and push through it.

February 16, 2012 5:18 PM JST

Mornin' Y'all

Still rocking the early morning workout.  I've been finding with this routine that my energy level stays pretty consistent during the day but once 9pm hits, my body really starts to shut down.  Definitely a great way to crash at a reasonable hour.

Had another Shish kabob for lunch.  Saved the leftover chicken and rice for my wife which she promptly snarfed down tonight.  My current dinner restrictions don't phase me (like I thought they would) which is both cool and surprising.  Still, wouldn't mind having a bit more variety.  Hopefully next week expands a bit.  My birthday is this weekend and I really, REALLY want to ease up on the restriction but knowing me, I probably won't.  Hold that thought, I haven't had a chance to use my indulgence credit yet!

Hmmmmm......

February 15, 2012 5:19 PM JST

Yep - liking the early morning workout routine

Was stuck at work late tonight due to a couple of extended meetings.  It was pure bliss to know that I didn't have to come home and jump right into a workout.  It's still a bit rough getting myself out of bed in the morning but having it "done and dusted" for the day is nice.

Made it through all the routines except for the leg lifts.  Only had enough gusto to make it through two sets with barely enough energy to hold onto my three sets of planks.  It's going to take a lot of incremental improvement before I'm going to have this one licked...

Diet still seems to be fine.  Been having a lot of upset stomach aches lately, though (past 3 days).  Nothing about my diet is out of line with what's expected so I'm a bit puzzled by that.  Hoping it goes away soon.

If any of you ever start to believe there's no good left in the world, check out this 10 minute documentary called "Mr. Happy Man".  This will warm the heart of even the most die-hard cynic...

February 14, 2012 1:00 PM JST

I miss the old PCP days when it would fill in the day number for you...

Editors Note: As much as I like to link to funny web pics, misspellings (even if they're intentional) drive me mad. Just so you know that I know the difference between "your" and "you're"...

The above picture is what I imagined Day 2 of my morning workout would become.  Happily, it didn't.  I have to credit a 9:30 bedtime curfew as the key.  Not sure if I can keep up that level of sleep-time discipline given that midnight/1am is my normal crash time but, as with so many things, we'll see how it goes...

Workout went fine, more or less.  Legs still feel crazy heavy at the beginning of jump roping.  I may have to find an alternate exercise for the new chair/arm/dip-thing, though.  The only "chairs" I have are stools and they sit a bit too low to the ground.  I can't drop very far without my toes pressing against the floor.  Kind of  shame - I like the exercise.

This workout seems to go faster than the days where I have lunges and planks.  Me likey!

Dinner didn't really phase me like I thought it would.  Nevertheless, I warned my wife to be on the lookout for any emotional rampaging as the week progresses.

February 13, 2012 1:59 PM JST

Survived my first "very early morning" workout

As convincing as the arguments were, the cacophony of sleep excuses fabricated by my brain didn't deter me from waking up at 5:30 this morning.  With minimal hyperbole, the groaning in my head could make the creakiest door blush.  Within 15 minutes I was in the car park, jumping away on the rope.  For whatever reason, my legs felt twice as heavy; requiring far more mental effort than I had expected.  Overall I just felt pooped.  Once I hit the halfway mark, I was definitely more alert but yawning like a mad man.  In fact, the yawning persisted throughout the workout (a similar occurrence would also happen to me when I worked out at night, too).  Anyway, the doubling-up of certain exercises really wore out my arms and abs today.  Made it through 2 sets of planks but had to split the last 2 into four smaller chunks.  DaVinci's still suck...

My biggest worry was that I'd be wiped out during the day.  A boost of morning caffeine helped to keep the droopy eyes away and I made it until the end surprisingly intact.  In fact, I was elated to know that I didn't have to rush home to complete my workout before making dinner, as I have in the prior weeks.  I'll continue to trial the morning workouts but, man, the increase in exercises this week makes me feel like I should have tried this sooner!

Time for my ginormous buffet of egg white, banana, apple, and milk.

February 12, 2012 3:06 PM JST

Great Googily Moogily!

Received my diet and workout updates last night...

Yikes.

Looks like I'm going to have to shift my exercise routine from "as soon as I get home" to "before I leave for work" now that we're looking at twice the number of routines than last week.  Perhaps for the better (in the long term) but I'm not looking forward to it right now.  The workouts build up such an appetite that I can't see doing the new routines before dinner (this week, at least) since the new portion sizes are rather meager. 

It's a shame to hear about Whitney Houston - such an incredible singer...

February 11, 2012 1:23 PM JST

V for Vendetta

Made it through every exercise today in fine style except for those darn V-sits.  Watched the workout video, mimicked the proper moves (as best I could), and it still very nearly killed me.  Had to do it in small groups of 5 before needing a breather.  Still made it through the full set of 30 but the quality of degraded over time.  Will do better but it's going to take time.

Baked some chicken breasts last night with a light dusting of Mexican seasoning and covered in a batch of fresh salsa.  Forgot (again) that my protein amount for dinner is pretty small this week so I only had a fraction of what I made.  Upshot is that I had plenty of leftovers.

Just realized that in a few days we'll have survived the first month of PCP!  Keep it going, everyone!  You're all doing awesome!

Fozzie, my spirit animal, couldn't be here today but his temporary replacement, Pepe, sends his congratulations:

February 9, 2012 3:05 PM JST

Day 25 - My hatred for lunges has graduated to V sit-ups...

Reminder to Self: Watch all workout videos for any new moves BEFORE you try them...

Well, my V sit-ups were a big cup o' fail and it's completely my fault.  I thought there was enough visual information in the workout sheet to do the exercise.  That's what I get for assuming.  Well, after floundering on the ground for 3 sets thinking that I was doing it right, I watched the training video afterward to double-check my technique.  Nothing quite as humbling as seeing my awkward attempt parallel every move demonstrated in the "INCORRECT" category. 

Look at it this way - I'm failing so you don't have to.  Consider this one of those G.I. Joe "knowing-is-half-the-battle" - kind of situations...

Had a Shish-kabob for lunch.  Waay too much chicken so I saved the remaining portion for dinner.  Just the right amount.  Nom nom nom...

Question to anyone: What day do you usually submit your weekly photo?

February 8, 2012 8:02 AM JST

Day 24

Kind of surprised myself with jump roping yesterday.  It was the first time I completed a set and actually felt fine immediately after.  I was still sweating buckets, mind you, but overall it didn't seem like that big of a deal.  How it started was a different matter.  Just getting through those first 400 or so and realizing you still have a long way to go is still a bit of a mental hurdle to overcome.  An inner thigh muscle was also aching a bit early on but eased up to nothing by the end.  Still hate lunges and daVinci's - sorry.

Had Chicken Saagwala last night for dinner (Indian chicken and spinach dish).  Substituted dessicated cauliflower for rice and it was quite yum.  Miss the evening carb boost from last week but the lunch portion balance seems to work fairly well.

February 6, 2012 4:57 PM JST

Day 22

Pull ups seem to be my worst enemy at the moment.  While a few of the other exercises have been giving me pain and soreness, the pull ups are simply illustrating that I don't have enough strength yet to do more than half the recommended number.  Kind of a bummer but oh well!

Ooof, definitely overdid it with the Jamaican spice rub last night - my stomach was not a happy camper this morning and afternoon.  Still feeling a bit dodgy.  A smarter man would have avoided eating those leftovers again for lunch today but A) I didn't want it to go to waste and B) I'm not a smart man...

February 5, 2012 3:16 PM JST

Week 4 looms

Glad to have just jump roping today.  Went ahead and did 1300 just to see how taxing it was.  I noticed that after a certain point, especially after jumping 800-900 times, a few hundred more doesn't seem like a big deal.  I'm still sweating like mad, I'm still "in the zone", and my body hasn't cried foul just yet.

Looks like I'm going to have to use the parking garage for some of these upcoming "hopping" exercises, too, in addition to the jump roping.  Wish the floors of my apartment weren't so thin because, oooh-weeee, our garage smells ripe the day before trash pickup...

Looking over the new diet for the week.  Similar breakfast, bigger lunch, no carbs for dinner.  Speaking of dinner, made some Jamaican jerk chicken tonight.  Used a bit too much of the spice rub but still... YUM!

February 4, 2012 2:22 PM JST

Ow pt.2 and "Am I the only one whose nose starts itching as soon as I start to jumprope?"

The new side curls from yesterdays workout  pulled something nasty at the base of my elbow.  Not sure if it's a tendon or a muscle - thank goodness the arm exercises today didn't really exacerbate the issue.  Just jump-roping tomorrow; the extra day of healing will be most welcome.  Lunging wasn't as bad today, soreness-wise - small victory!

Regarding the 2nd half of the blog title - it's weird - practically every time I start to jump rope, my nose starts to itch.  It's like my body knows my hands are indisposed so it decides to mess with me.  And ignoring the itch only makes it worse - way worse.  What the heck?!

So what's with the recent message about us potentially getting sick due to our diet/workout changes?  Does that happen a lot?  If so why?

February 3, 2012 9:17 AM JST

Day 19

Just uploaded my week 3 photo.  Honestly couldn't tell much of a difference between the photos in general.  No biggie.  Overall, I feel better and I believe I'm getting fitter.  I'm also assuming the lack of major weight loss is due to the exchange of fat for muscle.

Lunges can still rot in Hades for all I care.  My body seems to bounce back from every workout except for those pesky quads due to the lunges.  I think this is probably the 100th time I've vented my annoyance about the issue and I see no signs of stoppage anytime soon.  Take note - you will NOT beat me, lunges...

February 2, 2012 12:36 PM JST

Day ?? - Moving Right Along...

Not much to say today.  Just posted my Q&A response to the team in my usual atypical fashion.  Workouts are still going strong.  Happy to see standard pull-ups have been offered in place of those pesky inclines.  Still don't quite have the arm/shoulder/back muscle strength to do the max set, yet - unless I cheat and turn my hands around like bicep curls.  Remember: Cheaters never win - but they do get through their exercises waaaay faster... 

Yeah, terrible proverb. 

The diet is moving along.  This weeks carb and protein reduction (for dinner) is manageable, even if it does kills a small part of me on the inside.  But don't cry for me Argentina, I've just been telling myself that dead part of me is burned fat...

The moodiness I had for the last couple of days has finally lifted.  Again, no rhyme or reason for it, but I'm glad it's gone.  Anyone else experiencing similar issues?

January 31, 2012 12:44 PM JST

Day 15 - Back to the grind

Ahh, DaVinci stretches - how I hate thee.  I can almost make it through two sets at the max reps but, for the 3rd set?  Fuggedaboutit (as the mobster saying goes).  By the time that final set comes around, I'm thoroughly wiped out.  The routine looks like this - 6 pulls, 10 second breather. 3 pulls, 10 second breather. 2 pulls, 10 second breather. Final pull, much rejoicing but feel fairly wimpy for diminishing energy.

Nice to see that the new diet specs aren't too drastic this week.  I'm sure it'll be more "fun" in the coming weeks.

January 30, 2012 1:00 PM JST

Day 14 - Kris Kross gonna make you JUMP, JUMP

Nice to have a day just of jump roping.  Had a sneak peak at next weeks jump rope goal - 1000!  Well, I cheated and went ahead and did 1000, too.  Not in one sitting mind you (I still trip myself up a couple times) but I've been getting better and better at finding my "zone" and staying there longer.  I was able to close my eyes for a few 30-second stretches.  Kinda neat until you realize that you've hopped away from your starting position and nearly into a wall.  Ah well.

Had some tandoori chicken for my protein tonight - YUM and some basmati rice for the carbs.  Been on a cucumber kick lately so I've been snarfing on that as my veggie of choice.

C'mon week 3!

January 29, 2012 7:50 AM JST

Day 13 - Ow

My left quad isn't quite working through the strain of the lunges.  Even with the every-other-day approach, the leg muscle pain is immediate from the first dip and doesn't seem to abate.  Oddly, my left leg should be the stronger of the two but it certainly doesn't act like it.  Looking forward to a day of just jump roping and an extra day of leg healing!

The diet continues.  Breaking away from my routine, I did pop out for some Vietnamese Pho soup during lunch yesterday.  Broth, chicken, green veggies, and rice noodles - about as unprocessed as you can get.  Left half the noodles behind, monitored the overall portion size and was still surprisingly full afterwards.  Bought a heap of avocados at the farmers market today - should be a nice spread on toast as others have suggested.

January 27, 2012 8:36 PM JST

Day 12

Today has been pretty much like the last few days - rinse and repeat.  I'm managing to do most of the max reps in one go.  A few exercises cause me to bail out during the last set but after a quick 5-10 second breather I'll jump back in to finish the total amount.

I've become a nasty creature of habit, food-wise.  Found the proper portion sizes for eating the required lunch and dinner serving (a la ham/chicken sandwiches with veges) and that's all I've been eating for most of this week.  Need to break the cycle before I get bored stiff.  If only I could have some Indian curry...  Nom, nom, nom...

January 26, 2012 3:47 PM JST

Day 11 - Not much to say today

Haven't been hungry before, during, or after meals in general.  Still sticking with the gram counting and forcing myself to eat, even though I'm not in the mood.  Breakfast is especially tough - last two days in particular, I haven't been interested in eating at all.  Might be growing a bit bored with the food choices?

Jump roping is fine.  Still tripping over my feet ever now an again but overall, doing fine.  Kind of worried about how much more intense the workouts are going to get.  I'm pretty exhausted after each daily routine.  Huge sense of relief once the workout is done!

January 25, 2012 2:52 PM JST

Day 10 - Keep on Truckin'

Breakfast this morning was a scrambled egg, two pieces of toast (with a smidge of honey on each slice), a glass of milk, and a huge bowl of shredded cabbage.  Of the latter, I will never eat that alone again.  I ran out of my usual breakfast veggies, carrots and cucumbers, so I boarded the boring train to Cabbageville.  I'll need to get some balsamic vinegar to toss on next time.

I have a work-related dinner engagement tonight.  Luckily it's at a steak restaurant.  I should be able to stay within my dietary requirements, no worries...

Workouts are still going strong.  A few of the routines still present difficulties: the aforementioned lunges and, recently, DaVinci's.  Still unable to satisfactorily remedy the incline chin ups, however.  I have a few workout apps on my iPad that offer suggestions for back muscles.  Might find a good alternative there. 

Not quite reaching/maintaining the max number of reps for some of the routines.  It bothers me but hopefully it's not a sign of worse things to come.

I'm afraid I have nothing to argue, complain, or question about regarding the PCP program today.  Uh-oh, I may have spoken too soon!  I just realized there's a message waiting for me (and some comment updates to my earlier comments).  Time to go read!

January 24, 2012 5:47 PM JST

Day 9 - Finally got that pesky jump rope sorted

Yep - skip-shuffling my feet during each jump seems to be the magic sauce.  Overall, I'm operating at a much slower pace (it took me twice as long to complete) but the fatigue was much less severe than simply bunny hopping. 

Lunges are still brutal - not sure I'll ever enjoy those.  Those ab leg lifts are killer, too.  Didn't hit the max number of per set -- hopefully I'm not going to fall behind.  Nice to start integrating the resistance bands.  Not entirely sure how much resistance I should be applying so I'm starting with the easiest band. 

Diet still seems to be fine but according to the gram measurements I've been making, my food quantity appears to be greater than the half-portion meals I had a week ago. 

Didn't realize the whole grain bread (Soy and Linseed) I just bought was a no-no until a new diet message appeared today.  This is a perfect example of issue I brought up earlier - delaying crucial information and simply saying "we'll tell you soon" puts me (and possibly others) in a position where they may make incorrect purchases that results in wasted food (and money).  So far, I have yet to see or hear any justification for why these delays are necessary.

January 23, 2012 8:40 AM JST

Day 8 - Workouts and Rants

Oof, today was a tough one.  Three new sets of exercises were added to the existing batch.  I'm baffled how others areable to make it through the total number of jump ropes without resting.  My feet/legs were killing me after the first 150 or so.  After I pushed myself through the 600 jumps (stopping way more times then I'd like to admit), I started experimenting with some feet skipping/shuffling movement.  Wow - big change.  Fatigue didn't seem to set in quite as quickly.  It's going to take me a while to get the hang of it (hand/feet coordination lack unison) but I expect this will be the approach I'll follow in the future.

Okay - I'm about to rant for a bit.  I may come across as a bit of a dark cloud because of it, but, per my nature, I'm typically the kind of person who speaks their mind.  If you have any disagreements with what I'm about to say, then definitely message me - I'd really enjoy the opportunity to talk about these issues in more detail.

Are there any substitute routines that can be used for the incline pull up?  I don't own anything pole-like (at least one sturdy enough to support my weight) nor do I have chairs (only stools) that could safely support the pole.  The two tables I own have shelves underneath which provide zero access for extending myself beneath.

Diet seems to be okay.  I'm still less than thrilled with the explanations being offered up.  Quotes like "Don't overthink it!" seem quite absurd at this stage.  After all, in the same breath I'm being asked to completely "rethink my relationship with food."  Well then, if you're calling into question my assumptions of good/bad food choices, how am I NOT suppose to think those choices?  Where does this imaginary border between under and overthinking exist?

Here's a quote from my last diet message:

"So that's a brief overview of what you should be eating. We will dive
deeper and deeper into nutrition every week so hold your questions for a
while, answers will be coming."

Wait... How do you know what questions I want to ask?  More importantly, WHY can't I ask questions?  Your diet breakdown only covers a few choice examples of possible foods - given the diversity of people and their respective cultures, you should wholeheartedly be expecting way more questions now.  From what I gather, this project has been around for several years, why isn't there a master FAQ that collates all of the typical questions that come up every session?  Pointing users to this would help to address 75% of the questions that keep coming up time and time again. 

It's painful enough that most questions must be put into that Q&A blackhole where users have to dig unnecessarily through a mountain of existing questions to see if their particular issue has already been answered.  If nothing turns up and you still end up posting a duplicate question, there's nothing more fun then getting a "it's already been answered" response.  In PCP's defense, at least they'll quote the earlier answer but you still feel a bit silly for not finding it beforehand.  Regardless, I would still argue for a master FAQ that myself or other users can be pointed to.  Currently, the existing scavenger-hunt approach is less than ideal. 

I've got a few more concerns which I'll bring up in future posts.  If any of you think I'm way off base, again, please chat with me.  I'd love to know your thoughts on the matter.

January 22, 2012 10:06 AM JST

Day 7 - One Week Down

Not entirely sure what to make of the Day 7 workout.  Exercise sheet simply said to jump rope 500 times but without any further guidance.  Presumably all 500 at once?  What if I can't sustain it - how long a break can I have before starting back up again? 

What's the rationale of expecting 500 total jumps in one sitting when the most we've done up to this point have been 350 (with short breaks in-between).  Is this meant to be a benchmark?  If so, what I'm I suppose to take away from how good or bad I did in accomplishing the goal?  The lack of any explanation doesn't help me to better rationalize the effort involved, which is a bit frustrating to me.

Made it through the 500 but stopped about 4 times for a quick breath-catcher.

Half portions are still fine.  Moving on...

January 20, 2012 9:59 AM JST

Day 6 - This entry is actually for Day 5

Quads and butt were really sore going into Lunges, making the overall experience more trying.  Shoes didn't completely resolve the balancing/coordination issues I had with the dips.  Practice, practice, practice...

Here's a question: as the program starts to test my ability to perform the exercises well, is it more important to do the total number of reps with a longer rest in-between (if I need it) or is it better to do less reps but maintain the expected rest period?

Hunger pangs around 8:30pm are a common occurrence.  Not sure if I'm allowed to eat half of something or if I need to avoid eating altogether.  Thoughts?

January 19, 2012 4:52 AM JST

Day 4 - No "if's", "ands" or "butts"

Woke up this morning with a bit of of a sore lower-back and rear-end.  Nothing painful but it was juuuust enough to take notice.  Had to wear shoes when lunging - without them, my flat feet were causing wicked balancing issues.  Jumping rope is getting more consistent with less mistakes.  Oddly, the toughest part of my jump roping is simply keeping track of my jump count.  I'm also looking forward to expanding on my movement beyond the standard up-n-down hop.  Might put in some additional practice this weekend.

Still holding firm to the portion sizes though it's been tougher over the last couple of days.  I'm a sucker for food shows and the likes of Amazing Eats and Anthony Bourdains' travel shows have really tested my resolve.  I've been consuming food options that are roughly half the size of my (previously) standard meals.  Half sized plates and bowls really does the trick.  Can't say I'm a fan of the literal approach of tossing half my dinner away.  We're criticized enough that we're wasteful as a society; the idea of throwing out perfectly edible food, even for the sake of a healthier lifestyle, feels like it perpetuates this needlessly wasteful notion and then acts as a slap-to-the-face of folks who don't even have access to a reliable meal.  To me, it feels better to limit the initial serving size or, at the very least, save the remainder as leftovers.

At least, that's what my Spirit Animal tells me...

January 18, 2012 4:30 AM JST

Day 3 - 87 Left!

Exercises are still going well.  A little concerned about a consistent clicking/cracking sound my elbows make when doing pushups.  I don't notice any genuine pain but after a cursory google search, all of the highly certified internet medical professionals out there seem to agree that this shouldn't be much of an issue.

Halving food portions is still going strong.  Fingers crossed that my body doesn't think I'm trying to starve myself.  Perhaps the followers of Breatharianism have it right after all?  I bet a google search will tell me...

January 17, 2012 7:28 AM JST

Day 2 - 88 Days Left - Portion Control

Rolling into Day 2, I didn't notice any after effects from the prior days exercises.  Jumping rope (accurately), as others have experienced, will take a bit of time to get used to.  Likewise, the change to half portions has been interesting.  My wife has amazingly good eating habits so I've been gleaning off of her example. 

Case in point: to aid in the proper visualization of my new portions, I now eat from half-sized bowls and plates.  Ignoring (or removing altogether) our standard-sized eating ware does wonders for mental focus.  Eating half portions in a standard bowl, for example, can serve as a constant (negative) reminder of what you're missing; certainly not the best motivator. 

Now that I'm dealing with the portion issue, the other factor is dealing with the hunger pangs.  Prior to each meal, I've been drinking more water to help myself feel more full.  One of the interesting tips I took from Tim Ferriss' 4 Hour Body book was to drink a glass or two of water beforehand to aid in the fullness effect.

I'm curious to know how you all are dealing with the change?

January 16, 2012 8:22 AM JST

Day 1 - Only 89 Days Left!

Hey There!

I'd like to give a big warm shout-out to everyone participating in this PCP session.  If the Day 1 intro video is any indication, sounds like things will start to get interesting pretty quickly.  Looking forward to it!  (No, I'm not)  I am, I swear!  (Shut up, you)...

To summon the necessary strength/resolve to survive the next three months, I consulted with my local YMCA Shaman.  Actually, he never claimed to be a Shaman but his incomprehensible blabber, lack of visible possessions and threadbare robes were a dead giveaway.  It became readily apparent that, like so many "quiet mystics", he was extremely humble about his gift.  In fact, despite my insistence to the contrary, he repeatedly denied having any kind of special power.  When pressed further, he even escalated to neck throttling, old-school Chuck Norris chops and nonsensical gibberish like "wrong guy" and "kill you".  How odd!  Little did I realize that greatly reducing the personal space between us, mere inches at this point, would only increase the nature and severity of his combativeness.  I guess a more "rational" person would have recognized this show of force as sufficient reason to stay away, avoid eye contact, or at the very least, minimize gesticulations. 

But not me... 

Much like the unlearned Tae Bo student snatching a pebble from his Masters left ventricle, I knew this was simply a test. 

Days later, upon realizing that no amount of physical suffering and belittling would sway my plight, my Shaman finally recognized the worthiness of my persistence and, through viscous tears I  interpreted as pure joy, agreed to conduct an ancient Pastafarianism rite of passage. 

To make a needlessly long story shorter-ish, an assemblage of driftwood, stretched possum wool, and nutmeg eventually resulted in an impromptu sweat lodge that could easily seat between 7 to 30 of America's next great musical talent.  Entering the sacred ceremonial space was, to my surprise, quite moving.  Later, I reflected that it was motivated less by the sudden earthquake and more by the spicy Indian food I had just prior.

Sadly, I am forbidden from revealing the actual nature of the ceremony due to its deeply personal and wildly passive-aggressive process, however, I can say that my spirit animal was eventually revealed to me.  Unlike the prophet Mohammed, the visage of this heavenly creature gladly adorns the top of this post.

So, if you find yourself seething with jealously, I can completely understand.  Just realize that it's your problem, not mine.  Once you've accepted your exceedingly narrow worldview, feel free to ask how you, too, can connect with your own spirit animal.  It'll make all the difference in the world...

Or not.

Hugs!
Michael

December 20, 2011 3:32 PM JST

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