Day 90 .......

There is an expression that goes “Courage in the face of humility”

You’ve all shown this by openly and honestly revealing yourself, physically and emotionally, for all to see – This take courage…

-          I think you all rock !

PCP & Patrick …
It rocks and it gives you the opportunity for something special and unique that is not out there – It takes Nutrition, Exercise, Education, Self Awareness and presents it with no BS – You do it for yourself..

Nice one Patrick, and Thank You…

Take Away …
Mind, Body and soul are totally interconnected when it comes to your “Wellness”
Balance is needed in everything we do and who we are.
Self awareness is the greatest tool…

Thank You….
Everyone, you know who you are, thank you for your time, your ears, your eyes, your words, and your support….. – With out you it would not have been possible and it would not have been fun…

And lastly, and certainly not least, Shirley, so much to say, but to try and put it simply… You might think that I am an iron man, but you’ve always been able to lift me up….

Bye,
Ricky.

(_0_)

Day 88 - Two Roads

Today is a new day and it's a beautiful one at that... I slept for 8hrs last night. I also ate an egg tart ...
Something i wanted to write about, but Robert Frost say's it so much better ....

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, 
And sorry I could not travel both 
And be one traveler, long I stood 
And looked down one as far as I could 
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
 
Then took the other, as just as fair, 
And having perhaps the better claim, 
Because it was grassy and wanted wear; 
Though as for that the passing there 
Had worn them really about the same,
 
And both that morning equally lay 
In leaves no step had trodden black. 
Oh, I kept the first for another day! 
Yet knowing how way leads on to way, 
I doubted if I should ever come back.
 
I shall be telling this with a sigh 
Somewhere ages and ages hence: 
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— 
I took the one less traveled by, 
And that has made all the difference.

 - Robert Frost

Day 87: Rad...

Super Set Thursday, Superset Shoulders... now that hurt.... oh, has anyone else raised there eye brows at Saturday's work out ?  If it wasn't the second last day, I would suspect it's the last major work out of our program.... Epic is the first word that comes to mind, but probably not the right one....

I'm wearing down, my mind is there, but even that is taking a beating right now. Emotional and Physical exhaustion, breaking point is imminent... Mind and Body into insignificance..... even my muscles feel like they are sagging.... - Dramatic i know, but we all need a release....

I was thinking about our journey and what makes it possible for us all to do this PCP....  The 3 C's.. Compassion, Courage and Conviction... all are applicable to our journey right now;

Compassion to understand what and why and also to support ourselves & each other,
Courage to pursue what we want
and to action with Conviction....
- I totally could have put some other words in there, but i like the 3 Cs... This helps me add some depth to what i'm doing and to continue doing it.... knowing that it takes more of you to step out and to perform, but you've got to do it and do it well...

Stay Rad ....

Day 86: Super What ?

Wow, just finished the ridiculously intense super set work out.... it was intense, fast, powerful and fun.... Yes fun, I like the high energy work outs...

The routine actually went faster then usual....Makes sense when i think about it, even though we are supersetting we are resting one body part whilst doing the super set exercise.... Usually it's the same muscle group being drilled and i find that more exhausting ...... 

Just on the blogs, it's really enjoyable reading all your blogs, especially the regulars... Thanks for the entertaining reads and comments...  It really does help, and i can see from when i needed a break and see others having a break how detached you can come from this and that does affect how well you do this - if it was easy every one would be in peak condition !!!

LIFE, PCP, same same I think, What I'm doing later or who I'm seeing, these things don't concern me, It's about when I'm eating, when I'm sleeping, when I'm working out, when I'm grocery shopping & When i'm eating ... All i see is sets & reps & skips & food! My brain seems to be getting rewired and unfortunately or fortunately(depending who you ask) .... cross wired !

Hvae a Suepr Day ....

Day 85: Business....

Excited is the first word that comes to mind, but it's probably not the right one - Day 85 !

Definitely looking forward to the next phase.... But I found my mind kind of wondering for the last little while, even though i'm still exerising, my mind as been adrift, i decided to let it drift for a spell, see where it went, and decided to paddle back in to destroy these last 5 days... haha... game on...

I've been creative the last few days during the rain here in HK, there was a whisper of skipping, but wait, with no rope ! If one can believe such a thing... novel idea, yes ? well, I decided to give it a go - i like it... Jumping around in my apartment with no rope, put some 5kgs weights in my hand and doing simple movements with them, shoulder press, da vincis, all that whilst doign the 1, 2 on my feet, it's quite a nice little warm up for the main course....  Give it a go sometime ....

Super sets start tomorrow.... I'm not sure i'm going to be able to fit back in my door after the pump it's going to give me.... not 1, but 2 body parts...  damn .....

Ok rock n rollers.... let's do the business...

Day 84: How do you do it ....

5 sets of abs till failure, something kinda doesn’t sit right with me on this one…. I always like to have a goal and then once I get there, I’m honest enough to know that I can do another 10 more or 2 more…. Suppose it’s one of those mind game things we play with ourselves…

I’ve been thinking a lot, like most of you, about what exercise routine I’m going to have once I finish my PCP, a few considerations, doing it as you feel or making it up as you go along, isn’t going to work, doing skipping only is not going to satisfy my appetite for exercise or allow me to make progress, and like any goal, you need to be able to measure it and making it up or just going with the flow doesn’t allow you to take stock and review…. So, what’s the answer ?

I’m not 100% sure yet, it’ll definitely have the 3 specific core strength session. i.e. legs/shoulder, chest/biceps, back/triceps – Lots more yoga, as I really couldn’t do as much as what I was used to before during the PCP, get some abs in daily too…  generally something everyday… but it will be a little more moderate and lifestyle friendly…

Either way, right now, it's really time to kick it, perhaps boot it, or you can scratch it, possibly sniff it, others can kiss it, I prefer to smash it,  do what ever you want to do, but you’ve got to do it for yourself….

Have a rocking final 6 days ...

Day 81: You are not the clothes you wear or the car you drive....

I was lying in bed today, feeling very tired and fatigued and this is what has inspired my blog today, regret, often people say,  a life of regret is a life not worth living, i personally find that you can use regret to make you strong, to use it as fuel that fights the fear of not achieving or letting something slip by... Could be life, but in this case, PCP, every day exercise, strict eating habits, you might just go out and do it, not think too much about it, think of it as hard and leave it at that, but will you get to a point where you are not seeing the changes you expected and then regret that you didn't push it hard every session, think that you could have been doing it better and harder – Doesn’t this form of regret drive you to excel and or simply, change your ways? The fact that you don’t want to feel regret, so in fact, you are turning that negative emotion into a positive one, motivation…..

What is it to you ? for me this helps with those times I’m in bed and feeling sorry, tired and just all round fatigued, but I know, I know if I don’t get up I’ll feel even worse later on as the guilt will kick in and I’ll regret not doing it. BUT, if I do do it, I’ll feel fantastic for doing it, I’ll get my natural drug kick, I’ll have accomplished something and proven something to myself, that I know that I did it… oh, and of course, why were doing it in the first place, I’ll get fit and be on my way to PEAK CONDITION … (in saying all this, some times I feel like I’m chasing my tail, the peak continues to get bigger and manages to not get any closer  …. ! )

Either way you do it, don't ignore regret, embrace it and use it as motivation to drive you past that plateau you may be on....

On the exercises, I really enjoy side crunches, they were considerably weak at first, i think before PCP my abs were quite 1 dimensional, these days, they are all round solid, either way you look at them, and i notice in everything I do, and i do a bit of yoga, i find that i twist and control movements so much easier, less stress on the back as the abs hold everything in place.... Functional muscles !

Peace and Blue skies...

Day 80: Here it comes....

It was a spectacular morning in the park today, sun was shining, slight breeze in the air and looking around, a slight spring in everyone's step, or perhaps it was my spring that was uplifting....

I was going to say, i can't believe it's day 80... but i can, it's been 80 days of constant pushing, exercising, testing, healing, writing, reflecting, sleeping, resting, eating, resting, eating... i meant to echo those last 2, as it seems that has been all we do at times....

Seems that even up to this pinnacle of this program we are still reaching new heights and breaking barriers... Both physical and mental .... Usually not one with out the other

I was reading Shirley's blog on contentment, I like this idea... "enjoyment of whatever may be desired". For me, knowing and accepting that you like to grow and pursue what is true for you .... and not confusing it with restlessness ...I like this....

Alright folks, enough philosophising for now... time to get it on...

laterz...

Day 79: Freedom

I’ve said, “11 days to freedom” but to be honest, I feel more liberated in myself now, then I did before…  The knowledge, the self awareness, and the fact that I know what I have and can achieve.  I don’t feel worried or concerned about post 90 days, how can you possibly go back after going so far forward!

I think that If you want to maintain and keep it going, I don’t think you can switch it on and off, you’ve got to be consistent, ease back a little of course, enjoy some moderation, but you know, it’s too easy to let things slip and get back into old grooves, and to be honest, the logic and rational is in the day 1 pictures…   It’s definitely time to make sure that this new you is the one that stays, and the old one stays away…. 

My thinking is, just like this project, you’ve got to have a plan and goals… What will yours be?

Enjoy!

Day 78 - We like cake ....

Had a nice little lie in yesterday as it was skipping only, but once i got started, i needed more, so i saw the gang for the 8min ab session too ... oh, and did some yoga at lunch..... Lovely Yoga teacher even bought a cake in for me as it was my birthday yesterday ... but she also made me do a forearm stand in front of whole class and i kinda fell on my head - it's definitely one of those love/hate relationships...

New work outs and eating plans are in, pretty much same same i think, well, exercises ramped up as per usual and some extra grams...

Oh, here's a pic of me enjoying the birthday cake last night, this was the last installment of my indulgence #3 last night... oh, and one unauthorised pic of PCP Mark, now you can't see the cake anymore as he swallowed it whole, but he's making sure he gets every last piece off his fingers...

Can you smell it, it's called freedom, and it's only 12 days away....
Have a fantastic week ...

Day 76 - Ready, Set, Go ...

Alright, what a session this morning. Have to say, i was very lethargic yesterday, juice level was low, had a great rest day, even a few drinks over a long lunch with the boys, it was just what i needed, after a movie, early Saturday night, woke this morning nice and early and killed it. Oh, can't believe i didn't think of this earlier, I'm not sure about you guys, but i often find grabbing the bar for pull ups can often impact the amount i can do, as opposed to having the actual strengh to do the pull ups. So, i kind of got this idea after reading Yeemans blog, about climbing, well, being a climber in my previous life and have my own gear, i also have a chalk ball that i use for climbing, well, took that bad boy down to the park and chalked up before doing the pull ups. BAM ! 60 pull ups, I laugh at you ...

14 days to go.. my muscles are twitching with anticipation.....

I'm off, 90min massage today, perfect timing really, on the back of the last training day of our week..

Get Ready, Get Set, GO !!!!

Day 75: poo-ped

15 days to go, 75 down..... Awesome.... It's been another huge week of doing what we do, making it happen and making it count...  and can i just say, ever so quietly, I am poo-ped....

It's ok though, i'm good with it, i've got the weekend to eat, chill, sleep and get some deep rest, and all the while have some cheeky indulgences...  Not sure what yet though, I'd say i'll spread it over the weekend with little things - I figure if i have some ridiculously anti PCP meal then I'm going to feel it, hard ! and it's a certain someones birthday on Monday, so i figure I'll have some birthday cake !

Thankfully it's miserable weather in HK, perfect excuse to not do anything ... Does anyone else need to make excuses for not doing anything ? weird...

Oh, and thank god blogger is back, i felt so incomplete for the last couple of days ...

Have a rock, rock ,rock, rocking weekend ...

Day 73: empowered

Woke @ 5:40 this morning, opened the curtains, and saw this, and I thought, Hell yeah I am !!

Pull Ups are coming along, not as fast or as many as I’d like to, 6 sets usually look like this, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4.5  – and throw in another 4 or so afterwards to keep the back guessing - I’m pretty shattered after that… I like the pro tip for the kung fu’s, twist to the side on each raise, nice and slow… I like doing side, middle, side…  ( i use the word "like" very loosely, it's one of those love/hate relationships )

Oh, ok, here's one, exercising this morning, faithless, god is a DJ, came on, and watching the old ladies do some sort of movement, tai che type exercises - I thought i was watching a trippy music video.... I did stop and stare and enjoy it for a little while - suppose you had to be there ...

I read on someones blog of them doing 100+ on a particular exercise, as it was meant to go to failure. I'd imagine their work outs are taking a little over 60mins !!!

After reading some things on blogs and through a recent experience of mine, the word and feeling of empowerment continued to creep in my mind…. I’m sure this means something to everyone participating in their own PCP, as they have made this choice, they have chosen to empower themselves to make a change, and not a small one either.

Often we make excuses, blame others or things in our life, we disempower ourselves and then we turn into victims, as we are always blaming and waiting for something or someone else to make us happy or to make a change for us….  People can blame their careers, relationships, people, magazines, current affairs for not taking control of themselves – It’s up to you how you want things to be …

The more you empower someone else for you, the more you disempower yourself….

I don’t know about you, but I say Yes! to me… oh, and i also say yes to a 6-pack ! :-)

– 17 days left to take it where you want it to go !!!

Day 72 - Muscle Men....

72 days down, 18 days left, 2 weeks and 6 days..... 3 week ends of PCP to go -

I just noticed, I've not been sick in 72 days, and given the beating I've been giving my body, it has surprisingly bounced back....

Brings me onto another thing I've been thinking or noticing .... how this experience makes you much more aware of your body, coming back to my struggle of moderation and the ever fighting battle of expectations and results - that all of us face...

See, and only in retrospect, I can see that before I started this, it's been an up hill battle all along,(and I'm not saying now doesn't feel like a huge challenge) not very balanced workouts, trying to push big weights and nutrition was fairly average - No wonder the results i wanted never came - and I payed by pushing hard with unrealistic expectations, fighting the wrong battle, i got stuck in a cycle and my body was crying for me to change my ways - I just never got where i wanted to be and i felt out of whack. This is compared now to the consistent, balanced, work outs and fantastic nutrition - Results have come in fast and body feels well balanced.

I think this understanding and awareness can set you up for life and it's a recipe for success...

Interesting chat on email today with Robbie and Patrick, he bought up something interesting about not pushing as much at the gym, i too notice the same thing, but my logic and experience is somewhat different to Robbies. I logic is that just because i can't push the same big weights, this is not to say that i am weaker, In fact, I am stronger. The muscles i have are not only bigger, they look good, consistent, they are balanced, they have more strength, they push for longer and harder, they are efficient -  I can lift and push my own body weight in nearly any direction, and not just for 1 rep ! .... Big weights are unnecessary in life, however endurance, stamina and balance in your body and muscles is necessary for a healthy and long lasting body....

You don't need to push big weights, and i don't plan on going back to it - the results speak for themselves...

Oh, i went to the cinemas the other night, checked out Thor... One word, Ridiculous !

Week 10 Pic

66kgs

Day 71: Saturation....

Now we all have those things that we love to hate, those things that we dread, we think about, we don't wanna think about, we think about and we build up the awful nature of what it actually is, a hindrance to our overall calm state of mind... I think you all know what I'm talking about.. Legs and Shoulder sessions !!!

Damn..there ain't too many times i drop to the ground and wince in pain, but every leg and shoulder session, you'll find me on the turf in the middle of the park squirming around.... and you'd be thinking "What the?"

Found my mind drifting from time to time during the session, i really had to bring it back to what i was doing.. See it's brutally hot at the moment, air is thick and the sun is coarse. The body really takes a beating, as does the mind.... - Funnily enough, Patrick mentions about how the body sweats to cool the brain, oh man, if that's the case, I have one hot brain ! seriously, it must be big, or just gets over heated easily - 'Saturation' would be an understatement !

I made a decision the other day, i decided that after this monumental programme that I figure one needs a reward, so i booked 5 nights in Phuket for some hard earned rest and peace... Meditation, Yoga and of course Mai Tai's.....

But before this, 19 days of PCP action - oh, just on PCP, if PCP was a person, I'd use him or her as my sweat band ! ... I'm off to the beach.

Day 67 - Can you drive ...

I'm feeling the heat, well, that's just what the body is producing right now, heat - If i was a chick and over the age of 55, I'd be thinking I was hitting menopause - but thankfully I'm not a chick and I'm not over the age of 55.... but back to the other heat I'm talking about - Do you feel it ? it's counting upwards, and each day it's gets closer to the pinnacle, Day 90... It's when the little blue bar hits our little blue inspiration man on the main page, it's when we get lablled and tagged as completed and get shafted off the main page to "Completed" page.

Some sort of poetic justice...

Just on that, this week has been a bit of a fizz and mostly due to personal factors, no valley syndrome or anything like that, been working out, but I don't feel mentally committed, eating, but just not enough or good enough, but everyday I'd been building it up, the guilt, the pressure, to the point where i just wanna explode with determination and turn it around - as I can't go on like this, why sit in the back seat, when you can be driving in the front - I woke today at 5:45 and decided that now was the time, did todays exercises at 6 and then did it again at lunch in the gym, well, different exercises, and i plan on playing "i wanna be your friend for 8mins, Man" tonight ...

Now my view of what is slacking may be completely different to yours, but i suppose, it all comes back to you being honest with yourself - I like to be tough, so then it doesn't allow me to slack too much... - but in saying that, when i do slack, i slack hard, cause i know i don't really slack too much...  It's crazy how you play these games with your mind... or is it just me! - it's like those people that say, i'm a truly lazy person, so they do everything to the best they can, learn it, get stronger, see, then when they do it again, it becomes easier and hence, you can go into it lazy and not have to try so hard - Some sort of backwards logic !

Ok that's enough.

Day 65: Life Changes....

Wow, I'm not sure about you guys, but i found Patricks email this morning pretty funny "takin your last set of the exercises to failure. The sheet may say 12-15 reps, but on your last set, keep going to muscle failure"

ok, so how many of you can actually do all 6 sets of 10 push ups, keeping to the 20sec rule between sets and then keep going on the last ! Perhaps it's just my weak a$$, but i'm just trying to get all the maximum required numbers out with good form...  - Suppose it comes back to mind over matter, do 2 more, then do another 2 !!!!

Life Changes, like most folks, you get times where you are extremely busy personally or have life jumping around and you're left wondering, what happened ??? This has been me in the last couple of weeks ! now, don't get too worried, exercises are definitely being done and eating is on track, but just as critical and not just for me, but for the team is the blogging.... I find you start to feel slightly removed from it all, which is what you don't want - I'm not one for excuses, so i'll leave it at that and get my butt into action...

On the exercises, I really like these big numbered super sets we have now, the muscle feels stronger and more consistent, especially when compared to the old school gym work outs where you get a huge pump at the end and then the muscles soon deflate....

Alright revellers.... let's rock it

Day 60 - Changes....

Day 60, 30 days to go, that equals 90 days of P to the C to the P.....  Thoroughly enjoying reading and seeing all the positive changes in everyone and funny reading all the same challenges and comments in the up and coming group ...

Seems that my sleeping patterns are all askew, feels like the body won't shut down. I think it's due to the increased training schedule and ramping up of PCP... But this tiredness only adds to my resolve, it's about breaking barriers, setting benchmarks and proving something to myself - gesus, i sound like a lunatic !

Wee bit of a late start this morning, so i did my exercises at the gym today ...

It was quite an experience to be back at the gym, saw all the usual lads, funny thing was, none of them have changed - still training the same way, and no real physical progress - freedom from judgement you know, but more so an observation....    Had an old timer there, he's all buff and great for his age, actually, great for my age - He said, "hey man, you're looking really good, you've been eating well haven't you?" - He picked up on it straight away and this makes you think, he knows what it's about! and he's looking better then lads half his age...

Confirms that nutrition and training, if you want to make some serious changes, one doesn't go with out the other  ... This fact has been around a long time, and yet, most people don't do it or get it, as we all are experiencing and learning ourselves...

Yes for Friday, Yes for the long weekend, and Yes for Changes ....

Day 58 - Motivation

I was asked recently "What makes you so motivated?" - I had to stop and think about this one, it's always been easy for me, if anything, what i struggle most with is moderation....

It's also a loaded question and you can't help touching into the philosophical side of life when answering... so switch off now if it sounds too much

Some back ground first, What I've learned most of all is mind and body; they are joined, they are also separate and conflicted with each other. I try and not let my body dictate my mind, and my mind my body - I think the only way to find true is to do it and see the results.

Everything is an opportunity, In PCP, it's very physically and Mental - I get up every morning because i like to look after myself and i love the challenges it brings to me. The physical challenges, every exercise, easy, make it hard, hard, make it easier, changing my body to be balanced,  and as i mentioned, the mental challenge of getting up and actually doing it and doing it the best that i can do it, keeping the perspective of my goals - This is how i see it every day....    This keeps me stimulated, interested and motivated....

                        - And I’d be lying if I didn't say that I also want a great physique ... but i've learned that this is and should be a second priority, my wellness and body balance is the key and the goal... - harder then it sounds i think..

If you can find your true motivation, you can apply this to PCP and all aspects of your life and you will do well – for PCP and afterwards. However if your looking for complacency in what you do or some sort of peace of mind/body - then perhaps your expectations will let you down and things will always be tougher for you... – so if you haven’t already, have a think about what your goals are and what truly motivates you...

I like the mantra Patrick mentioned, it rang true for me "Pain is temporary, pride is forever" - but more so on the pride front, being true to yourself, as you have to look in the mirror every morning and live in your head - What do you see? And I suppose more pertinent to this opportunity for personal development, what do you want to see and think? - Motivation can come in many forms, What's yours ?

I was concerned about writing this as it's my inner thoughts, and the way i look at things. We are all different - but I was asked and many people have commented on my motivation - so this is what it is for me...

Oh, and last thought for you, well, it's a mantra for me, no matter what ... Simplify!
                        You are often the one that makes things complicated...

....

Day 57 - It's a question of etiquette, do you give the ass or the crotch ?

Ok, 8 weeks down, 9th week opened today, with a bang ! and followed with a POW !

I can't remeber the last time i did shoulder press with a rope and my legs we're shaking... could have something to do with the 3 sets of lunges(no break), 4 sets of pistal squats, and then 5 sets of floor jumps - Total muscle failure on the floor jumps with my face eating the dirt a couple of times .... It tasted good !

I've just had 10 days off, not from PCP, but 10 days off work, showed mum around town and did some travel around Taiwan with Shirls and my mum - Eating was tough, but did the best we could, training was ON...

I'm not sure about you ? but i'm quite excited for the next 33 days -  I don't really struggle for motivation but after having this time off it's gotten me even more pumped for the rest of this epic journey - I just want to do my absolute best and make it count....

Who's in and can i get a  ? 

Day 51 - Kicking it like it's 1985 ...

8min ab man makes me wanna visit the nearest 80s thrift shop and pick myself up a Lycra fun filled wardrobe.... - it never gets old..

Week 7 exercises are well and truly ramped up, love it - 3 exercises per body part, 2 body parts plus abs every day and a smidge of skips.. Did somebody say rip ? ! Oh, chicken legs actually getting some growth.. amazing...

Blogs have been, well, not been happening at all, apologies guys...  Mama Owen has been visiting and i've been well and truly over booked - but funnily enough, i asked her to go in the other room tonight whilst i did 8min ab session - all she could hear was that 80s porn music and some guy telling me to do it and keep my head up...Priceless..

All you can eat veggies for lunch and dinner, interesting concept ....

Off to Taiwan for 5 days tomorrow.. PCP International - Bring it ON

Enjoy the easter break and have a rocking PCP Week and enjoy easter with no chocolate.. What the  ??

Day 45 - This too shall pass...

Right now I feel like my body is burning all the time…demanding more energy, It’s like a machine, input here, output here i.e. Energy – Suppose that’s exactly the way it’s meant to work, giving your body “clean and useable” fuel, and it processes it to deliver a constant stream of pure energy…. Something satisfying in this realisation ….

Half Point, milestone seems somewhat insignificant compared to the gladiators that are finishing today…. Their results are simply amazing and what is really interesting is that they are from all walks of life; mums, dads, parents, execs, revellers, socialites….  If anyone ever complains to me about not having time or some sort of excuse to not look after ones self, I’ll point them in the direction of this website and tell them read it, then ask them to tell me again why they think they are different and can’t make time to take care of themselves ...

For those in my group that are in the midst and working the grind, this Persian proverb comes to mind -   “This too shall pass”   

Happy Hump & Ready to Rock 46 and Beyond ….

Day 43 - Body Wars ...

Starting to feel a little like myself again, last week, weekend, some great training, lots of outside activities, sunshine & Beach, all in all it’s been great, but damn I was exhausted, do you feel like you are constantly battling your body !? – hit the sack at 21:30 on Sunday and Monday night for some great rest and starting to feel like I’ve got some energy back today – in saying that, it’s only early. I usually start to drop around 6pm – funnily enough, close to when I’m expecting dinner….

I like the timed skipping, counting the 1400 or so is just plain old boring, and I find myself always wanting to just get it over with, as experimenting with skipping is too hard when counting. I actually started skipping for time periods over the weekend as I wanted to have a little more fun and experiment with different techniques; I definitely enjoyed it more and found that I skipped for longer …. Variety is the spice of life …

Hump day for the program is fast approaching, It’s been challenging, 43 days none stop, although I did have a couple of days, actually, this weekend where I couldn't have my pre-pared meals as I was out and about, and being out and not so regimented, even if only for a day or so, felt good for the soul and even though I kept training it was good to get some time off…. Now ready to rock Week 7 and bring in the second half with style !!!

Hope you all have a cracking week and looking forward to reading and seeing what’s moving and shaking ...

Bye for now....

day 39 - What do you want !

I've thought long and hard today, working out how to do it, what i'm going to do, how it's going to go down and what it's going to take... I've made a promise, created a plan, and now I'm going to teach my body new limits  ....

ha, sounds kinda evil, but seriously, we're coming up to half way, it's time to kick it up, sometimes you think, yeah, i'm doing it alright, challenging, but are you, are we just getting used to a certain pain threshold, can we be doing that little bit more, break it, recreate it, can you go back and do another 2... as arnie says, "do 2 more, then do another 2" - Now i'm not comparing myself to the man, nor do i want to, goes against the whole body in equilibrium... but i think you get my point....

Tomorrow is the start, first session of 2 double sessions... (well, as long as i can move after the first one, I'll do the second one, no! that's not the attitude, I'll be doing the second one regardless... )

Anyway, this weekend, it's going to hurt - I think I'm going to have to double my egg dosage to help me get through it.....

Later !

Day 38 - Mild, Hot or Spicy ...

this was the opening line from my yoga teacher today.... "Mild, Hot or Spicy ?" .... 60 minutes of inversion, arm balances and all round torture in a 40 degree room, and just quietly, i kinda enjoyed ...

Exercises are considerably tougher, more punch, more bang, and more bite !!! - I had to have a massage last night to get the body to keep up...

Note to self, learn moderation....

Kinda gross but i couldn't stop laughing..

Hope you all have a great day, for those in HK, enjoy the sun this weekend, it's going to be HOTTT ...

Good Day, Good Bye and Good Luck  ...



Day 37 - I found my kryptonite ...

We all have those exercises that we find challenging, to be honest, all of them are, but you know, some of them you feel strong, some not so strong, but one of them, I’m left wondering “what’s gone wrong?” Damn those shoulder flys !!! they are to me what kryptonite is to superman – they hurt me.

Didn’t matter how much I cursed, encouraged or simply pulled, they just didn’t want to budge…. On the up side, it’s good to find these imbalances in your body and I’ll work on them until I own them!

Food portions have gone up slightly, thanks goodness. I find my stomach constantly hungry and it’s also showing on the scales – dropped close to a kilo !  Not sure what others are doing or even if they have this, I have a pre work out snack allocated, 60grams of carbs, however at 6am, it rather tough to chow down on 60grams of bread before working out, it’s rather heavy, Tried it on Tuesday and felt like I was having twins… I think to just distribute them through out the rest of the day….

old man is back at it again, Ricky Ricky Ricky Ricky Ricky... once for every pushup (that I'm in the middle of) and then telling me to watch him whilst he does his exercise - again.... I feel like I'm a camp counsellor again, surrounded by children all wanting your attention .... Why me ?

Good Day.

Day 35 - I like to talk to my muscles ....

5 weeks – Done…. Kind of sneaks up on you… and it’s all rocking right now… boom boom !!!

Weekend was great; weather here in HK was very enjoyable. Spent both days at South Bay enjoying the sand and sun ….

I kind of like to talk to my muscles, often when I’m in the middle of a set and I’m struggling, I like to give them some encouragement and I also hate on the rope, “Come on arm, do it, your weak, you can do it, that rope sucks, he hates you, do just 2 more, the rope is so flexible, you know what he said about you  ” you know, that sort of thing… give it a go next time you’re struggling – find your motivation….

Exercises and diet is status quo and hanging to see what is install for us tomorrow…..

I've said it before and i say it again, 8min ab routine, awesome…. Soon as i walk in the door, I'm on the floor, hit replay, and he's there, on my TV - I tend to curse him at times as well, especially when he's telling me to touch my toes, and we all know you can't touch your toes when your legs are up in the air.... How does he talk so calmly whilst doing the routine! ??

Good Bye week 5, Hello 6….

Day 32 - Check your totem....

I read today’s routine to Shirley last night, and I was quietly excited… Sad I know… WOW, what a intense and powerful session, I mean, everything burned, everything was solid and everything felt good….  Set’s 3 & 4 of the pull ups I had to have a break at #6, but got through the 4 sets, then straight into the rowing, wow again, I could feel my back muscles working and contracting….  Lunges and floor jumps, I don’t think I need to comment on those, I’m sure we are all feeling the same way…. Shirley assumed the fetal position and asked for the pain to go away !!!

Interesting reading others blogs and some folks are talking about things being easy or really hard… I'm sure like everyone else, I can sometimes find myself gliding through or thinking, that’s not too bad, but every time I feel this I stop, check my self and what I’m actually doing and meant to be doing, where I should be feeling it(i.e. what muscle should be working) and then I can generally work out what i'm doing wrong – more times then not, it gets harder after doing this and then I remember why i was probably gliding in the first place ! So basically what I’m saying to myself is, check your totem once and a while…  Make sure you are in the here and now with what you are doing and feeling, oh, and not think about the next 100 sit ups you have to do ;-)

Egg Whites are getting slightly easier to eat, perhaps I’m just building up a tolerance to the sulphur, but it’s tough, every bite releases that stench…   I get it, feeding the muscles & taking my medicine ….

Yay for Friday and the Weekend!

Day 31 – Thunder and Lightning

Wooha, it was an arm`tastic work out today… I’ve decided to call each one of my arms as they are feeling right now, Thunder & Lightning…. It’s a deep burn….

I was feeling quite uninspired yesterday, one might say, a little pooped…. I've been training a few extra sessions at lunch, but i woke this morning from a very deep sleep - One thing i've been realising, and this is after looking at the way i behave with food and training and things happening around me, it's important to not let sudden emotions or things around you get in the way or to stop you looking after yourself - I'm pretty sure there will always be something happening around you, drama, love, work, and usually all at the same time !!! ... Difficult things never have a good time...

Needed some time out though, so i stepped out at lunch today for a massage – highly recommend every one to get a few of these along the way if you are not already having them… it's great for the mind and body...

8min ab guy rocks – the leotard throws you a bit at first, but he is all inspiring and I don’t know how he can do all that and still yabber away – I second Mark, I want him as my inspirational picture …

... Pack it, smack it, butter it, bag it, smother it, kiss it, but most of all, Rock It

Day 29 - One step closer to equilibrium ....

Wowsa, today’s work out was rocking…. Dual exercise per body part !!! – Crunches and Plank, pull ups and rowing, Lunges and floor jumps, man, I haven’t whimpered like that since I was a little school girl …

New diets are also great – My breakfast plate, well, it really doesn’t do it justice to describe it in words - so here’s a little snap for you….

2 eggs(1 for breaky and 1 for post workout), 70grams tuna, 150grams veg, 110g carbs and 250ml soymilk)

(I need to buy bigger plates)

Oh, and i destroyed another skipping rope last night...

I’ve now gone back to the Nike speed rope, made from actual indestructible material and biodegradability = 0  

Have to say, it helps me skip like a demon !!! I'm not sure how a demon would skip, but i think it would be fast ....

 

Game On !

Day 28 – Fence Sitting ...

Howdy Ho every body….

Weekend was PCPed to the max…..

Caught up with fellow PCP Mark for a Saturday morning session and then cooked  a huge breakfast for the two of us - Ha, well Mark was defintiely slightly jealous of the mass amount of food on my plate – Shirls was off doing her yoga thing, but since I seem to be her dedicated trainer I had to do Saturday’s PCP session again in the afternoon – After 2 sessions of creeps, i kinda looked like I’d been riding a horse for a week when i walked. - I slept very well on Saturday night !!!

Sunday morning sessions are great, take your time, enjoy the outside, enojoy the park, enjoy wtching all the weirdo's heading to the 7's in the most outragous outfits - I seriously saw 6 dudes dressed up in avatar outfits, head to toe, they were wearing black underwear on the outside..  Never have i ever ....

I do find the 1200 skips get a little boring, appreciate that we should probably try and spice it up and do some different styles of jumps, but the other thought it my head says, “dude, just get it done and move on to the good stuff….” - Your probably wondering "Good Stuff ?"

Ok, on to the good stuff, Indulgence, Shirley & I had discussions at length on what to do, I originally was thinking about some sort of ice cream, although after our careful and thoughtful assessment of our options we decided to visit Cova - Cova is a cake/coffee/sweets establishment in HK, we had two little bite size treats.. Chocolate Mouse, and the other, White and Chocolate Mouse  - Delicious ! – Unfortunately I have the habit of just sticking it all in my mouth and gargle the thing, where as Shirley tends to take child bite sizes and sucking the crumbs and makes it last for an hour…

Funnily enough, I felt pretty fine after eating it, no issues around stomach or anything, although, I have to say, I wanted more !!!!

Just received Patrick’s email on regrouping - Haven’t you heard, it’s cool to be involved, get off the fence …

Hope you all have a rocking week and looking forward to kicking it into week 5

Day 25 - Bada-ba-ba-baaa.....

I knew the day was coming, I didn’t know when, but I’ve been looking forward to it…. I’ve read others blogs, they talk about how it didn’t meet expectations, they were disappointed, they don’t want to do it again, but you know what, I want learn this one for myself.   Indulgence Day !

Shirls and I were discussing the options that we have, maximizing the 200-400 calorie count, a mouth watering treat we could have, sitting inside some sort of boutique decedent place to ensure the experience is all it can be...

Chocolate Sunday inside a McDonald’s it is then !  Class !

Bada ba-ba-baa… I’m Loving It….

Exercise are going well, although doing the shoulder press with the resistance bands rubs nice deep red welts into the back of my arms - Anyone else getting this? Or perhaps my technique is off…   Patrick, any advice here?

Been a bit slack on week 3 pics, will get them up tonight…

Happy Friggin Friday Every One….

Day 23 - Le Beefcake ...

Wow, ok, Week 4, here we Go….

Food, I mentioned I love breakfast before, didn’t think it could get any better, well, now I’ve got an extra 60grams of protein to squeeze in, seriously, I’ve never eaten this much guilt free before… Love it… And because my post work out egg white falls directly on breakfast, Supersize me !!!  Let’s just say there are two plates in front of me in the morning…  I think my program nickname is to be called, ‘Le-Beefcake’

(i am not complaining, as I could use a few more good pounds)

Exercises are great and excited that we are getting some more variety…. Had an equipment malfunction yesterday ( note the timing, as I disrespected the skipping god by claiming ownership on him in my last post quote "i own you" ) well, the rope, completely broke in half, right down the middle, fancy that, unbreakable my a$$....

Sleep wise is a little inconsistent, it can be deep, then at other times the body just doesn’t shut down and I feel like I have energy constantly buzzing through me… Like some others, skin as been a little patchy at times with the toxins being released….

Oh, and can I just say, my masterpiece last night….  Picture doesn’t do it justice, but I have to say, it was incredibly tasty - not sure i've heard Shirley moan so much before or maybe that was me ! Grilled crumbed chicken fillets – and the chicken was seasoned with Cajun, Spanish paprika and chilli peppers. How to do it ? mix all the seasonings with  2 eggs(eggs make everything stick), then dip the chicken in the mix, once coated, discard the mix and dip the chicken pieces in your bread crumps and grill it …   Tasty ! - I can't wait for lunch today...

I don’t count the eggs or bread crumbs in my portions as it’s light and spread across a lot of chicken as it’s for 4 meals (2 people, 2 meals each)

(I’m lucky enough to still have some carbs for dinner)

Rock On Everybody....

Day 21 - Open for business....

1000 jumps.. I own you !!!  Not sure what changed, perhaps i just stopped thinking about it or i learned a bit of coordination - can you learn that .. ?!

I won't bore you with the rest of the weekends detailed report, but basically it was, light and dark, up and down, wet and moist,  and most of all, too short....

Happy Monday all and ready to kick another week ....

Day 18 – What are you looking at?

It’s been a countdown all week, and it’s here! Friday! I am pooped … I’m pretty sure I passed out last night and this morning woke with what I would consider tea bags under my eyes. I was in the lift heading down for our 6ishAM workout and rubbing some life into the little fellas – I’m pretty sure the security guard was looking at me weird when I got out of the lift. Dammit, I know he just stares at you through the camera, I mean, isn’t nothing private anymore?! I was in a bathroom not that long ago and the entire thing was mirrors, didn't matter where you looked, you saw it looking back at you! I’m all up for public displays of affection, but, right along the bathroom, including the urinals – Nothing is sacred anymore….

Random rants....

Onto PCP… exercises are not getting easier, if anything once you start getting stronger and focusing on the technique they typically become harder, the illusion is that you are not getting stronger, but in fact you are, as you have the strength now to control your technique… which makes it harder….

Made breakfast a little different this morning, decided to wrap it all up in a fajita wrap, wow, it was like have a breakfast Barito, but not… - I have to say, it was delicious, I was moaning the whole way through it ….

Fajita(garlic & Coriander) with scrambled egg(basil and pepper) Mushrooms & tomato

Hope you all have a fantastic Friday….

Rock It ….

Day 16 – Love & Hate

I’ve been noticing a constant fatigue and energy drop in the last couple of days… With the body in constant repair mode and most probably a lack of deep rest, the body is feeling like I’ve constantly been beating it up and have to pull energy up from somewhere, Where ???  - The good eating helps, more rest would help and an iron will to keep it all together….    We’ve been religious about our 6am starts and trying to look at it like a process, head down and do it – have to say though, that fatigue and energy loss is kind of rewarding, it’s a constant reminder that you are doing something good for yourself…

If you do it, the muscles will come…

The alarm and me have a love and hate relationship, I love that it helps me to get up, tell me what time I should wake, when I should turn up for an appointment, but I hate that it tells me when I should wake when I clearly want to sleep, and I hate it when it tells me that I should do or go somewhere when clearly I want to stay where I am….  What to do?

Working hard on keeping the exercises challenging and engaging, it definitely works up a sweat, although further to my original comment, at times it’s more challenging in the wrong area - Fighting fatigue makes it that much more difficult. Decisions need to be made, make time to rest and recover or continue to suffer…  Seems like an easy choice, Yes ?

Keep it real peoples and enjoy !

Oh, decided to remove the countdown, i figure it's important to enjoy the now instead of focusing on the end ....   - DEEP...

Day 15 - It's getting HOT....

Wow, what a difference a little bit of heat makes on you, I feel like I’m in one of the hot yoga classes and am building my very own dam around me - On the good side, knees and aches tend to be dispersing with the heat, or perhaps it's the daily exercise regime that's strengthening the limbs....

I'm sure like everyone else, I jumped right ahead to the last days exercises to see the jump routine... I like to see what we have to look forward to... 1000! WOW (i don't think anything more need to be said)

Food quantities are still good, slight difference with decreasing carbs and increase in my protein.

We tend to cook batches of food for different meals, for instance, breakfast, we have a combination of Zucchini, tomato and mushrooms, we have a big tub that lasts about 3 breakfast servings, i figure mornings we have the least amount of time after doing all the exercises, so the breaky preparations needs to be quick, just whack it on the stove to re-heat and do the eggs, done in a jiffy - On a personal note, it goes down as quickly as it hits the plate!!! I love breakfast.... oh, and top it off by the fresh bread from the bakery downstairs from our apartment... let's not forget the full glass of milk - Oh man, I’m in heaven.. - What would be great is if i could go straight back to bed....

Week 2 pictures are up, weight is slightly down(.4); and everything is a little more firm…

Over and Out…

T - 75

Day 14 - Man Vs Food

Day 14 and 800 skips done... Did a yoga class at lunch, was great, especially when you've got muscles all beaten up. Not sure about everyone else, but i find myself constantly hungry, food is great and good quantities, but it's still an on-going battle with my belly, I've always found my exercise, metabolism and appetite go hand in hand... and right now they are all ramped up !!!

Happy Monday ...

T - 76

Day 13 - Lesson 28: never laugh at a guy made from stone !

Wow, what a weekend... Hong Kong has been sunny and warm - It makes such a difference to be outside and exercising.... Found myself doing extra skips and sets, even came back and did the 8min abs that the other group has been talking about.. Ha, pretty darn funny, some dude wearing a leotard telling you to crunch - I would laugh at him but the guy is build like a brick.. Lesson 28: never laugh at a guy made from stone !

Not too much else to report, apart from the catastrophe in Japan, which i wish all the best, it's been a good weekend and looking forward to this coming week with new exercise plans, new meal plans and new challenges...

Hope you all a great week..

T-77