Day 90 - the end of PCP

Wow. Three months ago I had no idea what the PCP journey was going to be all about, and now already the whole experience is in the past.

Amazing programme - hats off to Patrick and Chen. You have this thing TOTALLY sorted and ironed out.     The most incredible thing is how the programme is a "one size fits all". I never thought there could be a programme that could suit males, females, all shapes, sizes, fitness levels and personality types. You guys have it mastered. I cannot recommend the PCP highly enough to anyone considering a challenge, change and hoping for some self-improvement, both inside and out.

I think the thing that I took most from PCP was the emotional and mental part. Sure, it felt great to wake up my body, get some tone and firm up some wobbly places. Not to mention the buzz of shaking off nearly 5 kilos of unloved excess flab hanging around unwelcome places. But it was the feel good factor that was addictive. It was the falling in love with healthy food again that was empowering. And finally, it was breaking free from all those negative and bad food habits - for me, mostly of the sweet variety that was truly life changing.

I, unlike some of my more tough and strong will-powered fellow PCPers, did not make at 100% commitment to both the food and exercise for the full 90 days. However, the challenge for me was always personal and private right from the start. It was not about proving myself to anyone else or having myself monitored by others - be it supportive family or friends, or strangers on the internet. PCP for me was about challenging myself mentally and physically and proving to MYSELF that I can self-improve and better myself and enjoy the process, not hate it.

However, I have also learnt that I do not flourish in a strict regime. It tends to well up feelings of rebellion and resentment. I am best left in charge of myself, but while following a healthy and happy guideline in terms of nutrition and exercise.

To have given up the highs and lows associated with drinking alcohol for 90 days has been phenomenal. I realise how awesome the day can be if it does not start with a cloudy head or a nausea that is hard to shake until you reach 11 am. I have not missed the drinking at all - apart from with friends or enjoying a great meal in a restaurant. However, I have enjoyed two evenings of drinking wine (but moderate amounts) with friends in the last week, and now that it is a treat, not a norm, there is even more pleasure derived from it.

I realise now how often I would reach for a cookie before a piece of fruit and am horrified that all these years of eating "healthy" muesli, special K or all bran for breakfast has been a calorie packed con ! I now adore my one piece of low gi bread with veg, sometimes with an egg added as a treat, and plan on continuing this very good habit for years, not months to come.

The support/blogging/email part was essential to remain motivated. Without that, there is no doubt, that more people would struggle to remain focused for the whole 90 PCP days. I was incredibly fortunate to land in such a funny, witty, honest and determined group. Puck it guys - we WERE the coolest gang. No doubt about that ! Your results are all phenonmenal. Although I have never met you and don't know if you have brothers or sisters, I feel like I know you all and am proud of your results and merriment throughout the journey - good and bad days for us all.

Lastly, I would like to thank Bruce for his consistency and enthusiasm for the programme. He impressed me past my wildest expectations with his drive, determination, tunnel vision and dedication to the programme, the weight loss, the change of his nutritional outlook and his new found passion for exercise. Deep down, it was always his results I was the most excited about. However, he exceeded all the goals set by PCP and more importantly, by himself. I have gained a new, healthier,  more energetic, younger, happier and handsomer husband than I had three months ago. That in itself has made the PCP the most incredible success in our household. Even the kids are benefiting from a dad who is fitter and more happy inside and now happy to see himself in photos, not embarassed. Wowzers !!!

So to anyone reading this wondering if they should join PCP - my advice is just give it a whirl. 90 days is a minor portion of your life. When I think pregnancy is 3 times that, it makes me realise what a short time commitment PCP is. However, don't kid yourself. PCP is not for sissies. It is not for lazy arses. And it certainly is not for the weak willed or unmotivated. Do it. You learn so much about yourself. All of it is good. To self-improve and move forward can NEVER be a bad thing. PCP will change your life. DO IT.

Day 67

Wow, after tricep burns yesterday, today's workout was more pleasant. Weirdly though I have been starving the whole day long. Not exactly sure why.
Bruce's skipping is positively INCREDIBLE. I used to be the skipping champ in this house, but seems like my better half has found his mojo.... Great inspiration for me also. Wow, he can skip !!

Good to be back on the Blog. Helps me stay motivated. Can't believe that the end of PCP is in sight. Wow, Patrick. How exhausting it must be for you to be motivating PCPers every day of the year. Although I guess it is hugely satisfying for you to see the end result in each person who has whinged or whined along the way but made it to the end with a yeeehaaaaah.

Looking forward to my strawberries and yoghurt now as bedtime snack. The egg white smoothies seem like a distant hazy dream.....

Day 66 - long time no blog

Sorry gang - long time with no blog. It has been so friggin' busy past week or so, I don't know where the hours are flying.
Will do a proper blog tonight. Just checked out the Pucksters' blogs and you are all doing fantastically. Tres impressed with the group's progress.

Day 57 - bugger bugger bugger

I was cocky too soon. Woke up to do skips straight away and agony - injury is back, so had to abandon skips half way through and brisk walk on the treadmill instead. Mornings are so tight for time, so did another brisk dog walk at sunset tonight while B fed the kids.
Then did my exercises just now, but had to make up some different leg ones as the pain is too sore for lunges and pistol squats and of course the jumps. However, squats were less painful so hammered out lots of those !

So this time I won't let the injury get me down or lose my focus. I shall just re-adjust the cardio part and then cut back on the carbs until skipping or running again.

I am pissed off though. Things happen for a reason just can't fathom why this is happening on PCP. Lets just keep going and see....

Day 56 - skipping master is back

Wooooooohooooooooooo back on the skipping after sprained muscle has repaired. Three days now of skipping like Sylvester Stallone and so good for the morale.
Bruce cheered me on today for the 4 x 4 minute sets and I managed to do 400, 494, 492 and 400 skips in the four sets. Just call me Rocky..... welcome back to the game Georgie !!!

Day 53 - knee repaired

Been a bit off the PCP radar. Got really depressed by the injury and it threw me off balance with the whole project.
However, good news is it feels 100% today, so I am going to start skipping again from tomorrow.
Then seeing the physio on Monday to get his professional opinion.

Have not been having any carbs after my one piece of Low GI bread for breakfast while my cardio has not been happening. Not really missed it too much at lunch. Just increase the salad part of veggies so I feel good and full till pm snack.

Bruce back tomorrow, so that will make it easier to duck away and do the exercises. My little one is still too wee to leave unattended, so have to do workouts when they are asleep which is not very fun but once Bruce is back tomorrow, then we can cane it for the last chunk of PCP and shift taking care of the kids so we can work out in mornings and afternoons again.

My jeans look baggy on the bum today and need a belt for the waist which is a great feeling. Also, went out last night with kids for a birthday supper and a person who has not seen me for ages commented on a new slimmer version of me. That always feels good !!

Hope all your weekends are great. I will be blogging positive exercise news from tomorrow. In the meantime, food is going great and I am looking forward to having an indulgence with Bruce this weekend.

Day 49 - dog power walking

Obviously the treadmill is no kinder to my leg injury than skipping which is gutting. So today's cardio saw me power walk our two dogs round the estate at high speed. They were pooped when I got back and haven't stopped sleeping since so hopefully the pace was PCP passable.

Pissed off about this sore knee, but know everything happens for a reason. Chatted to the physio guy today and he has suggested trying cycling as cardio tomorrow, as there is no way I can get to a pool.

I am hoping that 2 or 3 days more of "resting" my left leg a bit will mean it is ready for the final 40 days of caning it on PCP. I guess an injury is to teach one patience and frustration management. I am working on it!

However, somebody took pity on me and ensured that when I got on the scales this morning, a further half kilo has been removed from my wobbly bits, so the high I am on from that good news is hard to ruin.

Seems like I am 3.5kg down from the start. I was aiming for 2kgs each month as a minimum, so that means I am on track - shew !! The place I can see best shrinkage results is my ass. So actually PCP has helped the view for others in my life - not me in the mirror. HA HA HA !

Day 48

Going to go treadmill and exercise now. Couldn't split it into two parts today. Will try to do skipping or treadmill first thing tomorrow and then enjoy the feeling that exercise is done for the day (the Tuesday oasis of cardio only).

Bruce flying as I type. Will feel odd drinking my egg white smoothie alone not to mention having to hang out with 8 minute Ab dude by myself - impressed at the PCPers out there doing this solo. The solace and encouragement of doing this as a two has been indescribable.

I really can't wait to reach Day 50. Will be super proud of us all when that landmark is reached. I have lost 3kgs so am chuffed now. Just want to get leg all better so I can get back into the early morning skipping. Am keen to "melt" the fat as much as possible. The pressure of the 90 day photo is starting to mount....

Happy Monday to you all.

Day 47 - irritating injury

I had sore calf muscle in my left leg about a week ago and just kept on skipping for another 3 days then wham on Day 44 the pain became less of an irritating ache and into a pain that rendered me unable to squat, lunge or skip anymore...

I went to the chiropractor (who obviously also does physio) on Friday (Day 45) and he can feel/see the knot and confirmed it is definitely a repetitive strain injury probably from all the skipping. He did some magic which made the pain lesson, and I am being diligent with applying deep heat and having hot bath at night to soothe everything.

I feel horrendously upset and guilty that Day 45 and 46 saw me doing no exercise on legs at all, but have just finished a 4km run on the treadmill, followed by rest of workout and so the guilt is subsiding and hopefully if I take it easy on the treadmill for a few days, the injury will repair quickly and then back to me old skipping it shall be.

Having never been someone of the sporty variety, to have a "sports injury" is another new phenomenon. I am battling with the frustration of not being able to plod on with programme at my desired speed, but rather to listen to my body and respect the limitations it is showing me.

On a lighter note, Bruce and I now are in the romantic habit of doing our 8 minute abs side by side each evening, so in a way, it is our "new" highlight of the evening, rather than eating veg and going to bed really early. It has spiced up the evenings, which are rather dreary now we can't go out and socialise with friends (as we are just too weird and not fun in restaurants/bars anymore and even more of a nightmare to go to someone else's house and then not be able to eat anything they have lovingly prepared for you, low-fat or otherwise!).

Bruce goes away on business tomorrow for 6 days so my challenge is going to increase as I have to squeeze all the workouts, cooking, job etc in and the kids go back to school tomorrow, so I need to have us all up and ready and driving by 7.15am. Eeek - not sure what time I am going to have to set the alarm to get the skipping/treadmill in before the crazy morning routine starts....

Lovely weekend though. Spring is in the air....

Day 44

My depressed fog has been lifted by my exceptionally cool, kind and motivating fellow PCP team members (and guru). Merci buckets to you all....

From this point forth Georgie Porgie has been officially relaunched as an enthousiastic PCP fanatic who will chant positive mantras and stop looking at the scales and focus more on the great changes in the mirror. Promise....

Day 42

Patrick's email today is music to my ears. My sentiments exactly.The novelty has worn off and the end seems miles away. However, GRIM ENTHUSIASM will be my motto henceforth and bugger off to the cynics. Georgie Porgie is going to finish these 90 days and kick ass......

Day 40 - woohooo !

Something highly inspiring about entering another decade of PCP. And many people have told me that life begins at 40...!

My calves have been aching since yesterday (probably just the change of me doing 7 x 200 reps of skips per set instead of 10 x 140). Certainly gets my heart rate up higher and I am more determined than ever to maximise good results for the next 50 days.

So, today was first time to do skipping first thing. Then workout at 5ish. Then 8 minute abs now at 9.30pm. Although good to have the whole day's chores (!) split into 3 more manageable and quick sections, the only downside is that it feels like PCP is dominating our lives! But if Patrick says that skipping as your feet touch the floor after night's sleep is the best fat burner then I am sold on the concept !

I still can't see dramatic or gobsmacking changes in the mirror, but depending on my mood, there are definitely some improvements slowly taking place. More tone in arms. My legs stronger than ever before and some of the squidgey parts seem to be shrinking. Nothing is getting bigger so that is a relief !


Food habits are certainly the healthiest they have ever been. Weekends used to be full of treats and moments of weakness. However,  they also used to be full of entertaining and having fun with friends !!! This was a quiet one, with just the four of us hanging out.  Even took our kids to movies without popcorn - another first and yet another bad habit broken. We had a nectarine in the car on the way and a bottle of still water as our "treat".

As Monday approaches tomorrow, am wondering how the diet will change starting Wednesday. Hopefully we don't lose the apple from the suppertime smoothie. I am still missing my friend the banana....

Day 38 - one week on and life before PCP seems like a distant haze

Wow gang... sorry for a week without blogging. School holidays this side, so life a bit more manic but still going well with the PCP challenge and seeing results each day in the mirror.

Skin glowing (am sure it's the detox part of PCP) , arms and legs def feeling more toned/defined. Arse may even be a tad smaller (dreaming?!) but tummy still a wobbly jelly field and bingo wings still a horror.

However, state of mind is good. Bruce and I less grumpy with each other, which must mean our bodies are adjusting to this new sober and healthy way of life. We sleep so much - it's absurd ! Head upstairs at 9ish. Hot bath to soothe aching muscles and then more or less 8 hours of sleep (sometimes 9) each night. This is VERY NEW. We were always 6 or max 7 hours a night. Just so pooped after veg snack (and sober!) so seems like a good idea to curl up under the duvet, get away from the subzero temperature within our house (no invention such as central heating in South Africa !) and get some zizz in.

Skipping is still my strongest part. Enjoy it. I do them in sets of 200 as of today just to prevent the boredom and then mark off on a tally sheet after each set to keep motivated.

The pistol squat is a shocker, but I think I may vaguely start to be having a more or less type of form from today. The creeps and floor jumps are possible now (first two times were a dismal disaster) and the elevated triceps dips tough but happening.

The bicycle, v sit and plank definitely the three things I dread the most. My abs my weakest link. However Bruce and I did the 8 min ab video a couple of days ago, and so will try to do that more often to make up for crap planks. My son was watching me do the bicycle on my office chair today, and although he didn't say the words " Mum, you are a complete nutter and have lost your plot entirely" it was written so clearly in the look of his eyes. Luckily, one's kids love is unconditional or so we hope....

Definitey can see an improvement in shoulder, chest and back moves, and even the push ups and pull ups are getting better and better.

We have been so good at sticking to the food regime, but certainly my tip to future PCPers is to make your social life as non-existent as possible to facilitate sticking to the diet and avoiding temptation under your nose.
This past week alone, we had people to stay and cooked them a roast that we couldn't eat, they drank a bottle of red while chilling with us in front of the fire - we drank tap water. I went to an Indian Restaurant and drank an exciting sparkling mineral water (one no more!) the whole night while everyone else devoured curry and got slowly smashed on red wine. I hosted a surprise birthday party for a friend here on Monday morning - 6 gals, 10 kids, food galore and even popped some champagne - pink bubbles. Ooooh the toughness to resist... Went out to fave restuarant with the kids and friends last weekend after ice skating and had an... skinny decaf cappucino - woooooooo hoooooooo for a Saturday night !! (didn't even eat the complimentary biscuit on saucer or free mint with the bill !).

Today though, Bruce and I had a brilliant meeting with an amazing outcome, so went to a restaurant called Meat Co after to celebrate. We had red meat for the third time in the past 38 days - a pepper crusted fillet and it was awesome. Onion rings we decided counted as a veg (rather debatable but the batter was almost invisible!) and I even picked the parmesan off the rocket salad. Shared a whoopiedoo bottle of spring water and toasted our good health !!

Looking forward to working out in the mornings this weekend. It's definitely my best. Managed to do so a couple of days this past week, but more often than not end up doing the workout from 5 to 6 when home from work.

Still haven't split the skipping and the exercises. Prefer to nail the whole thing in one go. The tunes are ESSENTIAL. Madonna was my pal today. Each day I choose a different album/artist.

Hope you are all doing great. I will take some time this weekend to check out all your blogs, pictures, news and views.

Happy weekend all and can't wait till we hit the Day 40 mark. A sense of real acheivement comes with that, especially as Patrick says 90% of people flake out by that point. Excited to have it confirmed that we are the chosen few and stubborn enough to stick it out.

Georgie

J-Lo mum inspiration

Day 31 - finally the scales are my friend

After a love/hate relationship with the scales over past 30 days, they are finally coming to the party. I am down 2.2kg since Day 1. Totally pleased with that. I am now back to the weight I was as a smoker, so now next goal is 2kg more, then I will be where I was prior to both pregnancies.

Weirdly rather enjoying the smoothie each night. Love the simplicity of supper and we can sit and hang out with the kids while drinking it. Have it early at around 6.30pm.

Then am not hungry at all for the veg later. Forcing them down though. Hope I am meant to do that - could really happily skip them.

Felt woozey on work out this morning after jumps. Took a 3 minute breather then ploughed ahead with rest of burny biceps, extraordinary triceps and astounding abs. Can't keep blaming the kids, but surely pregnancies have a bit to answer for with my pathetic abs ? Although with J Lo's new video and Britney's six pack comeback then I don't think us mums have got a leg left to stand on with excuses...

Workout taking me 45-50 mins now including stretch/warm down. Was taking me 35 mins last week. Definintely perspiring more. Gotta be good. Garfield often pops into my head "No pain, no gain" was his motto.

Welcome to the second trimester fellow PCP and Pucksters....

Day 30 - stiff

This has been a good day. Psychologically, day 30 - a third of the way in. More than a quarter, less than half...gotta be a pat on the back for that.

Exercised yesterday and today in the morning. So much better and the day afterwards just unfolds, rather than this "still got to exercise" cloud hanging over the day.

Skipping is sorted and squats all good. My legs have been the body part that has impressed me the most.

As for the dips on the chair. PATHETIC. I was like a pendulum with my legs swinging bizarrely while dipping a few millimeters each dip. I did think my ankle crossing looked just like Patrick. Surely I get some points for that ?!!

For a 34 year old, my creeping is totally OAP (old age pensioner) but I remain confident that I am just in the amateur phase and that good progress is sure to follow..

Bruce took our resting heart rates today (not something I have ever done before) and mine was so low I was in the ATHLETE category. I laughed like a hyaena. That is the funniest thing. Anyhoo, got to be good news, no ? Olympics here I come.....

Day 29 - Indulgence

Well for the sweet toothed fairy, this was an exciting treat. Had my heart set on a vanilla cupcake, but when we got to our fave Deli, they were not fresh, so decided the disappointment of dry cake was not worth the calories. So ordered chocolate cake instead. Took one bite and didn't like the flavour, so asked to have it in a doggy bag and brought home to give away. Again, not worth the calories. So third time lucky (the waiter by this point thought I was a tad fruity) was the chocolate cheesecake... oh... my.....gawd. Heaven on a teaspoon... every mouthful was orgasmic... wish I could write that it tasted too sweet, made me feel sick after or has put me off desserts forever, but alas, that would be a big fat lie. Twas heavenly....

However, to then have a smoothie (with unusual ingredients) a few hours later and then some steamed peppers a couple of hours after that, did make me feel a tad queasy and didn't want to think about all those randomly different ingredients mixed up in my stomach.

Strangely, I have had no sweet cravings whatsoever today and I do believe that the indulgence worked as planned by Patrick.

Only wondering how long it is until the next indulgence - days, weeks or months ? the suspense is fun.

Day 27 - obsessed

Ever since I have been granted the Indulgence, I have been obsessing over sweet things and have the image of my favourite vanilla cupcake. As it's our wedding anniversary on Friday, B and I were going to go out for coffee and cake instead of our usual boozey delicious supper to celebrate.
However, my impatience is at an all time high and we may not make it till Friday before we eat cake... My mouth is watering. Promise to take pic and confess when the moment arrives....

Days 25 and 26

Wow - what a contrast in Sat and Sunday. Saturday I felt invincible, will power was at full blast and I felt a whoosh of energy and enthousiasm throughout the workout and felt high and fab after.

Sunday, I felt flat, low, tired and for the first time since starting, completely uninterested or motivated to do the workout.

We seem to have fallen into a pattern of doing our workout one after the other in the time slot between 3pm and 7pm. That is after lunch is digested and before it is bathtime for the kids.

We were hosting B's family from Thursday night till Sunday brunch, so I am guessing I am just totally exhausted from that.

It is school holidays now for 4 weeks, so going to get tougher on the home front as B and I try to juggle that (we have a very tiny support structure here and no family, so holiday times are harder). He is at home today with our little one and I will do tomorrow. Then we should have some help starting on Wednesday. Lets see how it goes. The plus side of that is maybe being able to do the exercises in the morning, which always gives you such a good day after.

We have no plans for whoopie doo nights out for next couple of weeks, so will be trying to have early nights so we can stop feeling so exhausted and really get into the tougher weeks of PCP as they unfold.

I am still hating the pull ups and found the creeps almost impossible, but was in such a grump and lethargic mood yesterday afternoon, that maybe with fresh energy they will get better.

Will try to blog daily this week now that our social calendar is so clear....

Day 24 - Muscley legs

Well, the cravings have subsided. 24 days without a biscuit, chocolate or a sip of wine - who would have thought ?!
We have converted a room upstairs into a gym for now, which I enjoy as go into my "zone" to workout there away from all the hustle and bustle of the house, but am doing my skips outside on the deck then dashing up to do the exercises with the IPOD blaring. Music taking me down memory lane to my crazy clubbing days - if you had told that 22 year old me I would one day be doing a Project such as this that requires willpower, determination, sugar and alcohol resistance along with sporty inclinations, I would have guffawed (laughed) for hours.....

Loving the challenge. Bruce's family arrived yesterday for the weekend so they are our first visitors since my brother to witness the "strange" new B and G.

Good luck to you all and I have been thinking how cool it will feel when the next batch of innocent beginners start the PCP behind us, and we will feel like the superior pros, rather than the struggling newbies.

Have splendid weekends wherever you are in the Globe.