Day 28- Keep your mouth busy

I enjoyed this week's questions video. I'm taking two key points away with me this week. 1) Mindfulness of cravings and owning them. They are just chemical messages being sent round the body. Usually I think, by force of habbit or by emotional recall. The feeling of over-ruling those cravings is immense. OK, so I'm still learning how to do it but the times that I have done it have felt like huge victories more satisfying than sticking my face in a chocolate cake.

2) Keep yuor mouth busy! Love this. So far have been drinking loads of water and tea and chewing loads of chewing gum and its really helping. Obviously there are plenty of other oral activities to indulge in but none are decent enough to partake in during regular snack times:

Really looking forward to new diets and work outs. Used to fell scared about those now I feel excited! I'm being PCP'd

Have a good last day of week 4! Can't believe how fast its flying by.

Day 27- Champagne and potatoes

I, Like Richard, accidentally had my indulgence ahead of schedule. I was at wedding in south west France over the weekend. It was a flying visit and I managed to keep mostly to the schedule.

Friday was fine, was at work in the day, did my work out at the start of the day had my food all planned out. legged it from the office to Heathrow and put my chicken breast and chopped carrotts through the security scanner before eating them in the lounge. Felt like a twat but you've gotta' do what you've gotta' do!

Didn't arrive at the challets I was staying at (where my boyfriend and some of his friends had been having a holiday pre-wedding) until 1.30am. Was greeted by two very drunk boys. Went to bed and woke up late but feeling fresh (unlike everyone else!) I didn't know the people we were staying with very well so felt a bit self concious marching out to greet everyone in the morning wearing a sports bra and wrilding a skipping rope but did it anywy!. Did my skips and legs and was a bit sloppy on the arms and abs. had time to eat an egg and the rest of my carrotts (didn't eat as much as I should have, or at the right times on Sat but had limited resources!)

Got ready for the wedding. It was ROASTING. the service was wonderful but outside so we were all a bit soggy by the time it came to the champagne reception. So this was my indulgence. I had 2 glasses of champagne and a glass of beer much later on. It was lovely but I found I had a headache almost instantly. I danced a lot instead of stading around feeling fidgitty and wanting to drink. I think this was a great solution, kept active and moving for most of the night and didn't drink too much! The meal was pretty PCP friendly I had two thin slices of veal which wasn't over salted of covered in sauce or anything. I had a big helping of green beans and the naughty bit, was that I had some potatoes

Did a really half arse work out on Sunday. Feel terrible about it. It was because I had had those drinks and it was 40 degress C on Sunday I could hardly move!

Back really late last night so didn't do morning workout today but will do it tonight WITH VIGOR! and back to morning routine tomorrow.

I wish I had a bit mroe control over my indulgence and had it on my terms more. But I have learned that those booze cravings are much easier to manage than I had thought. I feel better without it and I feel emotionally rubbish if I sabotage my work out/ food regeme for the sake of a drink or two. I do think this has helped me conquer the cravings and be more in control of them. But I really wanted a packed of malteasers for my indulgence :( I'll have to hope we get another indulgence soonish.

I've got a hen weekend this weekend coming, on a hot european island (can't say where as the hen reads this sometimes) its going to be another challenge. But I'll be with all my best friends and they are all incredibly supportive and will help me make sure I make the time to work out and eat right. Following what Patrick said in his recent emails. I am very blessed in this way. I feel  lilke I have been proven right (yet again) that my best friends are fucking amazing! Their support means the world to me, and Will who has been amazing (if a little Nizi-ish!)

Looking forward to the new routines and diets, we'll see what they will be tomorrow!

Day 24- On va en France

Very amused by the chat on the question threads today. Boys proudly advertising their solution to trouble sleeping (frankly with the skipping cramps I don't know how they do it!) Girls are having more confidential discussions...we are a flurry of chat and banter all of a sudden. Very enjoyable indeed.

Off to France for a wedding this weekend. Haven't a clue how I'm giong to make this work. Provintial France is not known for its convenience shopping. Shops are usually open for about 2 hours a day when the town's folk aren't sleeping, eating cheese, examaining tourists with distain, drinking wine by the bucket or sleeping so Frog knows how I'm going to get the supplies I need for my meals. I imagine the wedding dinner will be something I can adapt and off load all the extras onto Will's plate. I will have to practice EXTREME wine-dodging this weekend. Its goig to hurt me a lot but hopefully there will enough embarrassing relatives present dancing like lunatics to amuse me sufficiently.

Having taken the mick out the lads, I must confess I have not been sleeping that well this week either. Hopefully the weekend will help me catch up.

Bought some awesome new spoprts kit yesterday, my sweat pants were falling off me on Wednesday when I was skipping- an excellent sign! Although mooning your neighbours before noon I believe is considered quite uncouth. Hopefully there will not be a repeat performance of that now.

Week 3 pic is up. A bit shite, had to take myself.

Have a good weekend all.
Au revoir! x

Day 23

Becasue who in their right mind would do more than 999 skips!?

Day 22- up a gear

The diet has been dialed down a bit in quantity and the work out has been dialed up. I see where this is going but have been told by Patrick to stop looking ahead and reading plot spoilers from those ahead of us in the program. Thats probably very wise but I'm so curious!

I'm already starting to feel like we're in the thick of it a bit now. Did my 100 squats and my 1020 skips this morning but will have to do the resistance stuff tonight as didn't have time this morning before an early work start. I'm rather tired today but feel like my resolve is a lot stronger.

Those skipping cramps are really messing up my skipping vibes! the bottoms of my shins and feet cramp up and wrists/ arms (my boyfriend delicately refer to this now as wankers cramp) I have to have 10 second breaks every 100 skips or so which is really frustrating me as its slowing me down. But Patrick says to persevere so persevere I will! I look forward to those cramps disolving.

Enjoying Karim's mix's- thanks Karim.

PS

Just watched Patrick's video and was really pleased to hear the reassurance that weight isn't that important. Its a really hard concept to get my head around though. I'm sure some other people will find that adjustment in thinking hard to accept initially. But ultimatley I'm sure its rather liberating!

Remember the dresses I decided not to get altered, and decided to jsut keep as they are and have faith that they will fit soon enough. One of them does already. (The other one is still a little way off mind you!) I guess that is the sort of thing to look out for.......

Day 21- Peaks and Troughs

Having been a fairly bumpy toboggan ride of doom fown the toblerone valley I have been rescued by the snow patrol and am back on form. I had two days of pickign at the off nibble of chocolate and I feel wretched for it. I think the root of my problem is that I have been disorganised about my fruit snacks and have been missing some out. I haven't been able to get the timing right or plan them properly and get the things I like prepared. I'm really fussy about fruit!

I'm renewing my efforts with that now, and with the new diet plan that we have just recieved I will have to make sure I do as cards are fading fast! none for dinner any more! sheeeesh.
I've had a schlumpy 2 days. Feeling a bit low about it all. I've done all my workouts and stuck to my diet apart from my fruit snacks and those toblerone glitches. And I am now very very aware how important it is to stick to the plan and not deviate at all. Its not worth it. mentally and physically it doesn't add up. Don't do it!

Still, I'm down 3kgs. Would like to improve on that in the next week by a significant amount if I can.

Any kicks up the arse and words of encouragement would be really really appreciated today!
Well done everyone. Thanks for all your great blogs, they are keeping me going.

Day 17- From Piglet to Pooh Bear in 24 hrs.

In my, frankly, desperate attempts to avoid the mountains of Swiss deliciousness that is Toblerone, I have turned to honey. A couple times a day I have a drop on a tea spoon or on a wafter thin cracker (salt free, natch) in an  effort to overpower the dark forces of the milky chocolate noughat evil ninjas who are trying to sabotage me. And its working so far! (that and a few helpful messages- special thanks to Meg!) So today I will mostly be channelling the palate of Winnie the Pooh.

I didn't do my workout this morning second friday in a row where I have given myself the early morning off and will have to do it tonight when I get home from my friend's birthday drinks. At which I will be consuming soda water with lime (which I actually LOVE) In fact its about an hours walk to my place. I might walk home from there and do my resistance stuff when I get in. Thats a plan.

Having another social gym session tomorrow with my friend. Looking forward to it. I'm starting to feel lighter. I'm wearing a dress today that a few weeks ago would have been unconfortable I would have looked like the titanic in a condom but its comfortable and fitting perfectly today!

Have a strong weekend PCP'ers everywhere. You can do it.

Day 15- I've got 99 problems (and they are related to work)

If its not a networking dinner, its a staff BBQ, if its not a late night comedy show with a free bar its my bloody collegues coming back from holiday with mini reeces peanut butter cups or MASSIVE bags of MINI toblerone. You know how I spelt toblerone right first go? because I have a sad little empty wrapper on my desk, the contents of which I gobbled up in a blind frenzied fit- I literally think my mind left my body during that time.

I came to senses too late, I feel bad. I'm lying to you now becasue there are actully 3 mini toblerone wrappers on my desk (i really do mean mini though. They are only an inch long. But that is not the point) i shouldn't have done that.

On the upside. Workout this mornign was much better. 800 skipps, took about 2/3rds of the time it did yesterday. And I powered through the resistance stuff with tiny rest periods. I felt good about all of that.

I'm off to have some mint tea or something. this temptation is UN REAL.

Off to another show tonight but shouldn't be too late.

Hope you are all doing well. Anyone else had a guilty moment? How do you deal with it?

Day 14- End of Week 2. Phew

Completely fogot my vegetables for breakfast this morning. What a plonker. I'm really annoyed.
I spent about 2 1/2 hrs last night sorting meals and weights for the rest of the week, as I've got commitments every evening this week. I then recieved Patrick's email at 10pm last night warning that the measures may well change very soon. I just hope all those meals I've sorted are good to go this week. Also, I know people have sustains some minor injuries during our workout regeme. I have back pain from hunching over my kitchen counter endlessly chopping and washing up! I must get a massage soon.

I am excited about the prospect of our metabolsim revving up and the results that will produce over the next few weeks that Patrick mentioned. It all sounds too good to be true. But then again it isn't becasue I am working really hard on all of this, but then again, maybe it is, but....... I am sucpicious of attaining these results becuase I want them so much.....

I'm starting to find Tuesday's a bit nerve wracking, waiting to see what the next week will hold and wondering how much its going to hurt!

Onwards!

Day 13- Tough

Today has been more of a struggle than most. Maybe becasue its Monday or its just getting harder. Skipping was the hardest I have found it yet, today, and the strength stuff was tough. A deep burn! I made sure to follow Patricks instructions to keep going with minimal rest. There was some grunting and cursing involved too, but that isn't unusual for a Monday morning anyway.

I am hungry today. Haven't been hungry much on the food plan yet but today I am Huuuuuurngray.

I'm off to the supermercado (supermarket in Portugese- I'm learning it!) to buy another boat load of vegetables.

Have a good week everyone. Stay strong. Fight the good fight!

Because today's header is 'tough', I have sourced some vintage boyband wonder. The New Kids on the Block know what I'm talking about:

Days 11& 12 Zzzzzzz's

Oh what glorious sleep I had this weekend. I woke up at 8.30am on Saturday (that his literally NEVER happened!) no hangovers, no drowsy restless sleep. It was glorious and effective and my weekend felt so much fuller.

I even made my Saturday workout into a social thing and met a friend at the gym to workout (she's a pilates instructor and personal trainer and is nails! She is very impressed and supportive of PCP) then I indulged in a sauna, steam room and and beauty duty. It was wonderful.

I have noticed how the push ups have doubled in reps. Well that was sneaky. And frankly I'm not quite ready for that! I feel like they are gatecrashing my house party, I did not invite them, and yet here they are in my house, drinking my expensive wine and trashing my bathroom. Thugs! Guess I better get good at those push ups so I can throw them out myself!

Monday approaches, and I am going to spend the rest of my sunday evening having some QT with Jack Bauer. I'll be as stong as him in 78 days. Maybe he'll need my help on his next mission...

Day 10 Life Gets In The Way

I am still learning how to handle the days in life that throw every PCP obstacle at you, then collect them all up and wrap them in diferent packaging and throw them at you again.

After meetings and phonecalls that I got stuck on yesterday afternoon, I only had enough time to run the theatre in time for the press night. Watch the 3 hour show and then schmooooze at the party with my client dodging all the wine and canapes. As a result I missed dinner altogether which I know is really naughty. I felt guilty but my choice was bad food or no food so I went for the latter. One soda water with fresh lime got me through the party and I enjoyed not drinking. I got home after midnight and am now coming down with this summer flu bug. I feel wretched. Couldn't get up in time for my pre work work-out so I am having to do it tonight when I get home.

We are having a company summer party this evening. A summer BBQ with loads of food and beers. I was greeted this morning by our Head of Live saying 'morning Fleur are you ready to get piss drunk this afternoon!?' I had to inform him that I would be abstaining as I am on a reigeme (which I continually have to follow with I'm not pregnant!- people are getting very sucpicious!) He mocked me then saw my delicious scrambled egg and veg on brown toast breakfast and immidiately changed his tume saying 'oh wow, that looks yummy'! HA.

I know I can handle this bbq. Wish me luck. Although I may pass out with this flu before then and skip it alltogether. the workout will be a megga struggle tonight, but I must just employ some of the old fashioned British reserve and keep calm and carry on!

Day 9 Rampant...

...cravings for chocolate

This made me laugh.
Then I ate 140g of melon. Not as funny, or fun :(

The work out was good today. I did 4 sets of push ups by mistake (what a ridiculous thought) I thought 'argh, I'll do the push ups first and get them out of the way because they are my hardest thing'. having done themI checked the workout sheet again only to discover we didn't need to do push ups today. Its all getting a bit crazy with the upper body stuff. Aching arms and shoulders today. I might need new resistance bands as the handles on mine are a really course fibre and hurt to grip onto. This morning (picture this) I did my resistance band work in a tank top, gym shorts and ski gloves. Yeah, I styled it out.

Starting to feel like I've done a full day at work by the time I arrive at work to do a full day of work. Out until late at the theatre with casting directors and clients this evening. First big booze test.

Keep up the good work everyone we're getting into the swing of things now.
Rock on- Today's song. Classic:

Day 8- The Deep End

I'm one of those packed lunch people now. I always hated those people and now I am one of them. Rinsing out plastic tubs in staff kitchens, so not me! And yet here I am. Strangely proud of all the work and care I've taken to lovingly prepare my meals. I caused quite the stir today when i presented my microwavable omeltte maker at work. I made a batch of vegetables last night with a bit of cayenne pepper, black pepper, oregano and garlilc and weiged it into my next 3 days of breakfast measurements in portions, to have with my 1 egg omlette and 2 small slices of brown bread.
Ta Daaaa......

 OK, so it came out scrambled. Same same but different.

I am enjoying the challenge of gathering PCP friendly reipies for future meals. So far I'm looking forward to making ceviche. My sister makes a killer ceviche so I will ask her for help. Some recipes involve a little bit of sugar but I can leave that out, the rest is all PCP permitted. Lime juice, salmon, chillies, shallotts. Serve with quinoa and asparagus or something- Yum.

The work out took about twice as long as day 1 today. Got to get better at keeping the momentum up so I don't have to get up too early! All was well though. Still have cramping foot from skipping. But I refuse to be sabotaged by foot cramp.

I bought so much food yesterday to prepare meals with and having sorted 3 brekkies and 1 lunch, most of it has already gone. I need to do another big shop and load more prep. I've got a theatre press night tomorrow night so tonight to make lunch and dinner for Thurs and lunch for Fri all at once. I fear I will not only be one of those tupperwear people but also and possibly more tragically, I will have to join the old ladies who bring a 'shopper'  to the supermarket and wheel their harvest home. May need to get one of these bad bays:

Haha.

Keep up the good work everyone. Karim and I are enjoying the Asian contingent guinea-pigging all the new instructions before us!

TODAY'S INSPIRATION is the ferocious Juliette Lewis

Day 7- topsy turvey

I decided to 'treat' myself to a lie in this morning and not get up early to work out. I'll have to do my skipping when I get home from work. I've already decided that I don't like doing it this way round. I feel like I'm behind or something. I must try and keep to my morning routine. I think its the only thing for it.

I'm a little scared of what happens next. I'm sure if Patrick were to tell me now, what I will be eating and how I will be working out on, say, day 72, I would probably induce a coma in myself just to avoid it. But at the same time, the NOT knowing is freaking me out quite a lot.

So I met that bastard that now lives in my bathroom Mr. Body-fat-percentage-scales. Geeez, can you believe this guy?! What a tool. Anyway he shouted some offensively high numbers at me this morning they are as follows:
weight: 84kg
Fat%: 34.3%

*shudder*

Onwards and upwards!
My skipping track when I get home tonight will be:

TUNE

Day 6- I'm a PCP Grad pervert.

 

Hi, my name is Fleur and I am a PCP grad pervert! I can't stop looking at all the successful PCP'ers of days gone by. I'm sure people in my office are wondering what all these topless photos are that i am studying. Freak!

PCP grad Andy commented on my post on Friday, very kindly. Its great to know that they all survived and are still alive! I saw this post on his blog and wanted to repost it. I think its awesome. An adaptation from the famous scene in Full Metal Jacket.

Our new mantra!

Call to arms

This is my jump rope. 
There are many like it but this one is mine.
My jump rope is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. 
Without me, my jump rope is useless. Without my jump rope I am useless. 
I must skip my jump rope true. I must jump faster than my enemy the calorie, who is trying to kill me. 
I must burn  him before he burns me. 
I will.

Days 4 and 5- We know each other so well we finish each other's.......sandwiches

Saturday was challenging. My boyfriend's brother has a birthday lunch and a birthday dinner! We went to the OXO tower for lunch. Its so delicious. I decided to order only a main course and not starter or pud as would normally be the case at a scrumptious celebratory lunch such as this. I had a salmon fillet and some greens and 2 squares of gnocchi the size of a postage stamp. I suppose part of the advantage of eating at an expensive restaurant is that their portions are borderline disappointing (unless you are in week 1 of PCP!) 

My boyfriend Will had nobly offered to finish any bits of any meal I had to leave. He's a gentleman like that/ a human dustbin. he got various bonus portions at dinner. 

I drank half what I would normally in fact for the whole weekend I probably drank 1/4 what I normally would. I'm desperately worried about giving up booze. But I know we all are. 

Today is Sunday and i've been pottering and having a chilled out day which is lovely and rare. I got a steamer and a new set of scales which has all the body fat % jazz. I will have to face that at some point today. I suspect me and this scales chap are going to have an uncomfortable introduction. He looks like a lying weasel to me but I'm sure I look like a scared wannabe in denial to him. 

I had an appointment to take some new dresses to the dress maker on Saturday. I made the appointment about 4 weeks ago before I decided to do this. I woke up on saturday and decided to have faith in my ability to get the results I want from this program and cancelled the appointment. I believe those dresses will fit me in 30 days (when I need to wear one of them to a wedding!) so there's an extra element of fear to my task!

I'm off to have some dinner.

My shins and feet are aching from the skipping. Is that normal!? 

Day 3. Hot Damn

 I woke up feeling like I had never been to sleep and convinced myself that I would do my work out this evening. After about 5 minutes of trying with all my mite to snooze, and failing, I got up and weighed myself. I've lost 1.5kg in 2 days. HA! Check me out!

Suddenly I felt like a winner (insert your own Charlie Sheen gags here) The trainers and skipping rope sitting by my front door which moments earlier had been taunting me suddenly felt like my minions. I own them! I threw my trainers on skipped my 300 in 3 sets of 100. Bam. Boshed out my lunges, push ups and sit ups and bounced off to work for my half oatmeal.

Danko Jones sponsored my work out this morning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YumPnZxpFIc

I am ferociously repeating steps 1,2&3 from yesterday. I feel hungry and tempted. Will have to introduce further steps which include google imaging Tracy Anderson, Gisele and other such irritatingly perfect people. Gotta keep my eye on the prize.

I hope you are all going well today. Its Friday!

Day 2 cont...

Its 4pm. I am at work and the chocolates in the reception of my office building are shouting at me. I am having impure thoughts about chocolate. There I said it.

How to conquer these... I have devised a 3 step plan, its still in the testing phase
1) drink lots of water
2) drink lots of tea
3) google image Jessica Biel and remember that she didn't get to look like that by listening to shouting chocolates.

I continue to resist.

Up yours cadbury heroes.

Day 2 Lets Get Physical

I am surprised at how much I hurt today. Well I was surprised initially but now that surprise is morphing into dread and concearn. I've read in other blogs of people who have completed the program that they experience moments, around the day 40 mark, of laying on the floor mid workout searching for the answer to the questiong 'wtf am I doing!?' Well, I appear to be well ahead of schedule, I had that moment today and we haven't really started!

I'm a little ashamed to say that I envy all of those who have finished or are nearly finished. I want to be one of you!

On the bright side only 88 days left!

I have to visualise the 'COMPLETE' stamp accross my name and great health and great shape I will be in.

This is making me laugh and spuring me on today.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWz9VN40nCA

Hope you are all doing well!

PS I seem unable to comment on other blogs even though I am signed in. Any suggestions?

London Calling

Anyone else in London/ Europe or even USA?
Just wondering I am the last to do everything or if anyone else is in a similar timezone.
Thanks! F

Day 1

If skipping were a person I very much doubt we would be friends. If he turned up at a dinner party I was at I would be like "who invited that prat!?" However I accept that we are both at this party and I don't want to ruin the fun for everyone or myself so I will try and make friends with him!

I did all my 5 sets this morning.it's possible that my downstairs neighbors won't be too pleased with all the clanging around. I'll see how long I can get away with it. But when the sun is shining I can go to the park outside my flat. The lunges and abs were fine but push ups tested me somewhat. Never been good at those.

I'm in London so seems like I'm a bit behind you all! Some of you will be having half your dinner by the time I get to the office to have half my breakfast.

Well done everyone. Already enjoying reading how your day 1 has been going. I love seeing everyone's inspiration pictures.

Here goes.