COMPLETE!

WOW, its over. This feels weird.

I feel a bit like I'm on a come down. The past 3months have been intense, hard work, a little depressing at times, stressful, educational, liberating, triumphant, energetic, moody..... a rollercoaster!

Today on Day 91 I feel a long way from day 1, the huffing puffing wobbler I was then is not the same skipping machine I am today. I would like to continue this journey. I know Patrick has designed this plan so that we can enter the maintanence phase now (which, if you are thinking of starting, or are part way through isn't as much of an effort as you might expect) But I'd like to push a bit harder than that still until my trip to Indonesia in November and then go into maintance gear then. I would like to continue to shape up and build on the progress I have made.

I remember reading the closing statements of PCP'ers before me saying how they have changed their ways for the long term and I remember wondering what that would feel like and how on earth does a person get there!? And now here I am, one of those people. I can confirm that after completing PCP the wiring in your barin and your body is different. I went for a splash out meal with my sister and the splash out was a glass of pinot noir and half a small chocolate pudding. The rest of my dinner I ate according to the program! I had a grilled seabass fillet with seasonal vegetables. I imagined I'd eat a cake to myself and a massive burger and fries or something but I don't want to or need. I actually even tried to convince myself to have something more indulgent. But I honestly preferred to have the fish and veg.

I feel much more connected to my health and wellbeing, energy and fitness. I am no longer petrified of trying to go for a jog! The 1500 maintanence skips are something I look forward to and complete efficiently. I enjoy the clarity of my work outs now and the knowledge I have gained in woring out efficiently and in a focussed way is a revolution to me. No more sitting on stupid gym machine I don't understand looking blankly at the floor between half ass sets of somethign pointless!

I have gone form a jeans size 32 to 29 WOOHOOO I've lost 8kgs which is over a stone and I've toned up a lot too. I'm really pleased with that.

Patrick is an incredibly mentor, teacher, motivator the program is so simple (but so complex!) and I am so grateful to thave found it and completed it. Our gang is great, the comunity element is crucial, You guys have done brilliantly. Noel and Pete were head of entertainment I'd say. My girls Tracey, Conny and all the others have been inspirational to me throughout.  Thanks to you all and WELL DONE.

My official photographer is on holiday with his mates so when he gets back home this weekend I'll post my final pictures.

Day 89 recap

I haven't posted for a while. I have been in Edinburgh for work, at the Edinburgh festival. The largest comedy festival in the world. It was a disaster! I tried to go prepared, I brought up Tupperware and went to the supermarket and prepared some meals. Breakfasts were good, lunch normaly good but I'd have to leave the flat at 2pm and would typically be in town in and out of shows until after midnight, then we have to hang out with clients in bars so late nights, some drinking dinner was always a challenge. I want to gym everyday but one but that was always in place of sleep so I was averaging 4 or 5 hours a night. Exhausting and dreadful for PCP.

I've been back in London for 3 days now and am back on it. I would like to push hard until the end of this week- to day 97 or something! then post my pictures.

THE GYM:
I feel a bit divided about this. I found that working out alone at home was starting to become distracting. I found that I didn't' like being in my pokey living room, sweating my carpet doing my resistance stuff I felt too confined (and the rain has been relentless here lately)I spend the last 10 days working out in the gym. I've actually really enjoyed it. I stay away from the pointless machines (although I find the ones that target the back quite useful) and use free weights and skip/run/ cross train. I feel satisfied looking at the lazy people who can't focus, and who are working out half ass, holding on the rails etc. But there are some people in there that I admire, they work really hard and you can see its. Part of me enjoys the fitness environment.

Off skipping now.

Will post day 90 summary and pics in a few days.
WOW!

Day 76- Indulgence and pain

I'm starting to get used to but also tired of being in constant aching pain. I woke up this morning and felt like I'd been run over by lorry. Its rather brutal but it does have the minorly redeeming sensation of success or satidfaction. But like I say it mostly just hurts.

I am so tired its untrue.

So we got an indulgence licence yesterday and in my usual fashion I wouldn't let the sun set before I got stright on that! We went out to dinner with family and I was searching the menue for my big fat indulgence. Its not where I would have chosen to go fo rmy indulgence, we had already booked it for a family birthday. What I really wanted was a mexican tosstada or some hearty spag bol. I was going to get steak and chips, or a burger but when it came down to it, I couldn't bring myself to order it. I thought, I would love a bite of one of those but I don't want a whole meal! so I ordered the roasted cod fillet with green beans and some boiled potatoes! the cod had chickpeas and a bit of chorizo which was the naughty bit.

I had a brownie for pud which was very indulgent.

I learned that I couldn't eat a large quantity of somethign. The thought of eating a lot of anything felt quite overwhelming to be honest. I really couldn't face the sort of volume of food I used to. But I still definatley have a weakness for certain (chocholatey) things but I can only eat them in small quantities.

I feel less inclined to eat all my carbs today. I feel the need to restore the balance or something. I definately feel like the balance has been tipped.

2 hours at the gym tonight. I'm trying to get my extra 40 mins cardio in most days. I still have more fat to loose. Can't wait until we can have some time off and I've got space to think about and do other things in my life again!

Day 71- Refelctive

Felt very tired and defeated last night and thought I was going to stray as I was out with friends adn a friends brother doing some bridesmaid duties. They all ordered delicious dinners and I thought I'd wait until I got home to have my egg whites (but when it gets agter 10 I tend to skip dinner and go to bed which is really bad I know) but i saw my friends fish cakes came with a poached egg adn although, being the amazing friend she is, she was willing to donate it to me we asked hte kitchen if they would make me poached egg and they did! so I let the yoke run out and I ate the white. I was so pleased that they accomodated me. I didn't want to skip another dinner. I've learned that there are knock on effects of doing that and I hope I don't ever do it again. Got to keep the metabolism active.

So I've got 40 minutes of extra cardio everday now. My work outs are 90 minutes plus now. I wish there was some way I could buy some time! With work, commute, work out and food prep I have no spare time on week days now and have promised myself NO EVENING COMMITMENTS until I'm finished.

However, I have to go to the Edinburgh festival next saturday for 5 days for work. That is going to be a nightmare for PCP. I have gym membership to a gym up there so hopefully I can get a good session in everyday hopefully find the one place in town that sells fruit and veg!?

I feel spurred by anxiety at the moment that time is running out and the 'after' picture I see in my head is not the picture I see in the mirror.... I really want to bosh out those extra cardio hours and burn off all that is left!

You guys all seem to be doing so great Conny's pictures and a great inspiration, and Tracey you are doing amazingly well. Keep it up guys for a strong finnish!

Day 64- Been AWOL (at work and then wedding in Italy) I'm back

Hi gang, I've been a non-blogger for a while. I'm ashamed, sorry. So its been peaks and trough's over the past week or so.
I'm finding the workouts hard! I gather I'm not the only one. I had two days where I had to split up my strength training which I know we are NOT supposed to do. But doing skipping and legs in the morning and then arms and abs in the evning has been the most plausable use of time in a few instances this past week. I'm starting to find working out in and around home isn't working so well for me anymore. To get the focus and intensity that is now required I find the environment in the gym is much more motivational and conducive to that all important focus. Its a total shag to get the gym in the mornings but I think I'm going to have to man up and do it if I'm going to do the workouts 100% right.

So eating to plan in Italy is bloody hard. It may be possible but it wasn''t for me! I stayed at the most divine private house B&B in Umbria near the tuscan boarder (we were there for a friends wedding) its run by this awesome Italian couple (who don't speak a peep of english!) they served us a 4 course dinner on our first night. It was just Will and I there, the 3 Tennors booming out of hte speakers our of the french doors and into the valley below. The food was wonderful and not disasterous but rather more than an egg white! Breakfast was cerials, toast and toghurt everyday. I had yoghurt and crostini bread plain but no egg. I missed my workout on 2 of the days i was there but did a good one the day I was able to do it and I would tread water for 15 minutes for cardio each day (though the pool was freezing!)

The first day we were there was good as I had prepared all my eggs and veg and brought it with me on the plane.

Lots of lovely comments on my weight loss which was wonderful. It was the first time in ages that I wasn't fleeing from people with cameras, was more than happy to be in pics of the wedding!

Got a nice realxing weekend in the country this weekend with my best friends who are big supports of my PCP plight so I feel good about the next week or so, its all planned.
Got to say I am SO IMPRESSED with how well you are all doing. Keep it up guys!