The blogs of those who have completed the PCP and those who are in the cohort that started before us have been such a great resource for me. There are some PCPers whose blogs I have read over many times, like Sarah R's and Corry's. Sometimes I like to jump to the day in someone's blog that coincides with our current day and see what was going on for them and how it compares with what's going on for me.
For example, yesterday I found this post from Sarah on her day 37 and it exactly echoed how I felt during Tuesday's jumps-only day. I jump in sets of 100. It pained me because I was thinking, I've been doing this for 35 days—how can I not just do sets of 400 and get it over with? But by 80 jumps my legs and shoulders are burning and when I hit 100 I have to stop for 20 or 30 second to regroup and start over.
So I really appreciated find this post and reading Sarah's take on her situation and all the follow-up comments. I am going to work harder at pushing it and doing the things I need to do to increase my jumps per set, like switching feet, slowing down, speeding up... whatever helps break the monotony. There's no reason I can't at least try. The most jumps I've done at once is 261 (I tripped or I would have at least tried to make it to 275). So I CAN jump more than 100 times but it's like my mind put up this road block of 100 being manageable or easy to count to or something.
Anyway, I will continue to look back at those who've gone before us. There are some gems of advice in those posts!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Day 35 - Lithe to Lumpy
Well, it's been 35 days. I haven't missed a workout or screwed up a meal. And like I whined to Patrick the other day... I feel fat.
I feel like I was getting somewhere. I was feeling lithe and lean around the middle. Now I just feel lumpy and lethargic. I want a peice of toast with peanut butter. And not because I'm craving it... I'm still not craving food. I am craving the simplicity of that meal, though. The ease of preparing toast and peanut butter is so appealing to me right now. I just want a quick meal without thinking and weighing. I hope this passes.
Patrick's wise words to me were that it's not really possible to gain fat on this diet and that I should not stress. He also said that I needed all the food to create the new muscle, otherwise the muscle just takes from existing muscle to make more. This all makes sense to me. Yet, I just feel thick around the middle and the rolls of fat are coming back. At least I think they are. Maybe it is my mind playing tricks on me.
Anyway, I'm eager for new and harder exercises this week. (I will regret saying this, I bet.) And I'm wondering if my diet will change. I want to feel like I'm going to succeed at this but I'm 1/3 in and I thought after a promising start that I would see more differences by this point. Maybe this is just the visceral fat... whatever it is it feels like there's more of it and it's getting me down.
I feel like I was getting somewhere. I was feeling lithe and lean around the middle. Now I just feel lumpy and lethargic. I want a peice of toast with peanut butter. And not because I'm craving it... I'm still not craving food. I am craving the simplicity of that meal, though. The ease of preparing toast and peanut butter is so appealing to me right now. I just want a quick meal without thinking and weighing. I hope this passes.
Patrick's wise words to me were that it's not really possible to gain fat on this diet and that I should not stress. He also said that I needed all the food to create the new muscle, otherwise the muscle just takes from existing muscle to make more. This all makes sense to me. Yet, I just feel thick around the middle and the rolls of fat are coming back. At least I think they are. Maybe it is my mind playing tricks on me.
Anyway, I'm eager for new and harder exercises this week. (I will regret saying this, I bet.) And I'm wondering if my diet will change. I want to feel like I'm going to succeed at this but I'm 1/3 in and I thought after a promising start that I would see more differences by this point. Maybe this is just the visceral fat... whatever it is it feels like there's more of it and it's getting me down.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Day 34
I could barely get through those leg lifts today and actually welcomed the first plank when they were over. The second and third planks were as painful as all the leg lifts! I’m really looking forward to just jumps tomorrow.
My night away was fine. I had prepared all meals and snacks except Saturday’s supper and I just ate what was available at the bridal shower... sushi, shrimp, raw veggies, quinoa salad, and a whole wheat pita. Definitely low on protein but it was only one meal so I wasn’t too stressed (although my stomach was a little off the next day). I abstained from alcohol and nobody cared, although I will say I didn’t really have a good time. I felt a little uptight and socially anxious in a room full of strangers. I don’t drink a lot but in that scenario (off PCP) I for sure would have used a glass of wine or two as social lubricant! What does that say about me?
I bowed out early – around 8:30 when everyone was headed to the bar. I went back to my best friend’s house and they had company so I made some herbal tea and we all sat up and talked until 1:30. It was after 2 before I got to sleep and even though I slept in until 9:15 I felt completely hung over the next day, like I’d been on a bender. I am usually in bed by 10 and I hate late nights. I was back on schedule last night though.
Looking forward to what’s in store for the upcoming week!
My night away was fine. I had prepared all meals and snacks except Saturday’s supper and I just ate what was available at the bridal shower... sushi, shrimp, raw veggies, quinoa salad, and a whole wheat pita. Definitely low on protein but it was only one meal so I wasn’t too stressed (although my stomach was a little off the next day). I abstained from alcohol and nobody cared, although I will say I didn’t really have a good time. I felt a little uptight and socially anxious in a room full of strangers. I don’t drink a lot but in that scenario (off PCP) I for sure would have used a glass of wine or two as social lubricant! What does that say about me?
I bowed out early – around 8:30 when everyone was headed to the bar. I went back to my best friend’s house and they had company so I made some herbal tea and we all sat up and talked until 1:30. It was after 2 before I got to sleep and even though I slept in until 9:15 I felt completely hung over the next day, like I’d been on a bender. I am usually in bed by 10 and I hate late nights. I was back on schedule last night though.
Looking forward to what’s in store for the upcoming week!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Day 31 - Pancakes
This is a dinosaur made of pancakes and I think it's totally awesome:
It made me think that maybe my next indulgence would be a pancake.
Great workout today. You know how sometimes there are exercises you hate (I'm talking to you, lunges) and exercises you LOVE to hate? I love floor jumps. I hate them too but the love far outweighs the hate. Quite the quiver with those. Things are going well here. I crave nothing and I find that really interesting. I made Simon a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch today and didn't even want a crumble of cheese.
Strange, but I'm not complaining. Much easier this way.
It made me think that maybe my next indulgence would be a pancake.
Great workout today. You know how sometimes there are exercises you hate (I'm talking to you, lunges) and exercises you LOVE to hate? I love floor jumps. I hate them too but the love far outweighs the hate. Quite the quiver with those. Things are going well here. I crave nothing and I find that really interesting. I made Simon a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch today and didn't even want a crumble of cheese.
Strange, but I'm not complaining. Much easier this way.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Day 30 - Eggs, anyone?
Saw these at the grocery store:
And, no, I didn't buy them. If I can't boil my own eggs I am L-A-M-E.
And, no, I didn't buy them. If I can't boil my own eggs I am L-A-M-E.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Day 29 - Going on a trip...
It’s not a far trip, and it’s not a long trip, and I’m not even going until Saturday... but it's all I can think about.
I'm headed to Toronto this weekend for a girlfriend's wedding shower and bachelorette party. I found myself awake in the middle of the night thinking about the things I need to take with me to make sure I get the food as close as possible to what I'm supposed to eat. It's making me nervous but a good test I suppose as the weekend after this one we're going to the wedding and will be staying in a hotel for 4 days/nights. This weekend I'm staying with a friend, so I can bring my snacks and breakfast and for supper I'll do my best and carry a bag of veggies in my purse because I think that will be the hardest thing to get my hands on. I'm not the least bit interested in going to a bar (I never am, but this time I'm REALLY not) so I think by the time everybody's drunk and ready to go out and party I will quietly excuse myself and head back to my friend's place. I will be interested to see if my not drinking will be easily accepted by others or if people will pressure me somehow. I've never understood why people do that. I've witnessed it a lot… I’ve had it happen to me and I’ve seen it happen to friends of mine who were not drinking because they JUST found out they were pregnant... somehow “no thanks” or “just water” gets people all riled up. I guess that's why a lot of people walk around with a glass of wine a just don't drink it. I refuse to do that out of principle.
I like this post from Kim, about navigating social situations and a specific situation in which she went "stealth". That's what I'll do this weekend. I'm not going to explain to anyone why I'm not drinking or eating junk. I will the following weekend when I dine out with my friends, but this weekend is a) not about me, and b) a party filled with people I will be meeting for the first time and I'm just not that interested in sharing with strangers (I mean really, will a stranger ask me why I’m not drinking? I can’t imagine but I will report back!)
I am totally over-thinking this. I know that lots of y'all have gone out and travelled around and made PCP work on the road. I'm just worried that I won't have access to good stuff will get thrown off my schedule. I haven’t deviated and I don’t want to start now. The good news for this weekend is that I can do my workout at home before I go on Saturday and at home when I get back Sunday. The following weekend I'll figure it out in the hotel room and hotel gym.
For the record, I did my 1300 jumps yesterday before supper and was really glad I did. I couldn't bear the thought of skipping my workout. And today I got back to working out first thing. Simon offered to take on the morning dog walk so my mornings aren't so rushed. He's a fine man. Last night he said "you're going to be so proud of yourself at the end of this". I don't doubt it. Today I'm proud that I've exercised 29 days in a row.
That's a FIRST!
I'm headed to Toronto this weekend for a girlfriend's wedding shower and bachelorette party. I found myself awake in the middle of the night thinking about the things I need to take with me to make sure I get the food as close as possible to what I'm supposed to eat. It's making me nervous but a good test I suppose as the weekend after this one we're going to the wedding and will be staying in a hotel for 4 days/nights. This weekend I'm staying with a friend, so I can bring my snacks and breakfast and for supper I'll do my best and carry a bag of veggies in my purse because I think that will be the hardest thing to get my hands on. I'm not the least bit interested in going to a bar (I never am, but this time I'm REALLY not) so I think by the time everybody's drunk and ready to go out and party I will quietly excuse myself and head back to my friend's place. I will be interested to see if my not drinking will be easily accepted by others or if people will pressure me somehow. I've never understood why people do that. I've witnessed it a lot… I’ve had it happen to me and I’ve seen it happen to friends of mine who were not drinking because they JUST found out they were pregnant... somehow “no thanks” or “just water” gets people all riled up. I guess that's why a lot of people walk around with a glass of wine a just don't drink it. I refuse to do that out of principle.
I like this post from Kim, about navigating social situations and a specific situation in which she went "stealth". That's what I'll do this weekend. I'm not going to explain to anyone why I'm not drinking or eating junk. I will the following weekend when I dine out with my friends, but this weekend is a) not about me, and b) a party filled with people I will be meeting for the first time and I'm just not that interested in sharing with strangers (I mean really, will a stranger ask me why I’m not drinking? I can’t imagine but I will report back!)
I am totally over-thinking this. I know that lots of y'all have gone out and travelled around and made PCP work on the road. I'm just worried that I won't have access to good stuff will get thrown off my schedule. I haven’t deviated and I don’t want to start now. The good news for this weekend is that I can do my workout at home before I go on Saturday and at home when I get back Sunday. The following weekend I'll figure it out in the hotel room and hotel gym.
For the record, I did my 1300 jumps yesterday before supper and was really glad I did. I couldn't bear the thought of skipping my workout. And today I got back to working out first thing. Simon offered to take on the morning dog walk so my mornings aren't so rushed. He's a fine man. Last night he said "you're going to be so proud of yourself at the end of this". I don't doubt it. Today I'm proud that I've exercised 29 days in a row.
That's a FIRST!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Day 28 - Spent
Yesterday was the first day of the PCP that I almost didn't do the workout. I'm hurting and I felt like my body needed a break. I pressed on and got the most of my workout though I was extremely careful with my form and about moving too quickly in and out of different positions. Then I had a long soak in the hot tub followed by really gentle stretching.
I hurt myself with the creeps the other day... I feel like I shredded my left quad and my right knee is tweaked too. I think I was too low, not sure. Anyway, I got through yesterday and will see how I feel a little later about doing the jumps. But for the first part of the day I'm going to take it a bit easy and just try to keep moving a little so I don't end up sitting still too long. Will continue the soaking/stretching routine too.
I've enjoyed reading about all the indulgences! Sounds like we've pretty much learned that we can live without the food we used to crave so badly!
I hurt myself with the creeps the other day... I feel like I shredded my left quad and my right knee is tweaked too. I think I was too low, not sure. Anyway, I got through yesterday and will see how I feel a little later about doing the jumps. But for the first part of the day I'm going to take it a bit easy and just try to keep moving a little so I don't end up sitting still too long. Will continue the soaking/stretching routine too.
I've enjoyed reading about all the indulgences! Sounds like we've pretty much learned that we can live without the food we used to crave so badly!
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