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Hey All,

So I have been away from the blog for a while. Apologies for that.  Work has slightly taken over in the last few weeks and some other parts of life seem to have come to the forefront and taken over.  It's been a strange last part of the PCP and I definitely hold my hands up to not getting the most out of the last push to the end.

That said, I take some comfort in the fact that my body has never been in better shape and my diet is still going strong.

Will I achieve the 'ultimate' body by day 90.  No, and that is entirely my fault. Am I in the best shape I have been in for years and years. Absolutely.  My tummy has pretty much gone and my shoulders are wider than my hips.  I can now play 4 hours of tennis and not get too tired and my energy levels are higher than they are usually.

I think the most important thing for me as we close in on the last couple days is that I've gone 90 days without alcohol, chocolate, pizza's and ice cream......and even at this point I am not desiring them.  Mainstreaming this diet programme into my life doesn't seem so daunting anymore, and I am going to continue with the exercises. All in all, I feel I have a good foundation to continue moving past day 90 with.

I'm not sure how good people have been with being regimented with the programme but I am so mightily impressed from the blogs I have read about people's commitment.

As I start to reflect on this programme, a number of things are becoming clear.  I am more focused at work and in life than I have usually been.  I am surprised by my will power.  I've enjoyed the structure this programme has given my life.  Friends and colleagues comments have been inspiring and have helped me to get out the skipping rope when it was the last thing  I wanted to do.

Maybe every year, I should be repeating this programme......

Day 1-45: A+, Day 45-60: F-, Day 60-90: Back to A+

Ok, so the first 45 days were fantastically driven and with great adherence to the diet and the exercise.  Day 45-60 has been plagued by one bout of the flu, one bout of food poisoning and ridiculous working hours. I really feel the last two weeks have been a real failure.  I've maintained as many days of exercise as possible, but I have missed about 9 out of 15 days due to sickness.  And for four of those days I could not keep any food or water down, so I sadly feel I have lost a lot of the benefits gained since the start of this programme.

I also feel I have lost a lot of muscle over the last two weeks so I am now very committed to make the most of this last month.  I wander if doing two sets of exercises will fast track my progress??  Needless to say I have some big work ahead of me to make sure I get to a better place by Day 90.  I will post a new post-sick pic later this evening.

I have also decided I am going to keep on with the exercises after 90 days and maintain the diet.  Keen to keep the momentum of progress going.

Ok, I feel slightly less guilty for the failures now.  Off to exercise now.

A to I to V....and dreaded food poisoning

Ok, so this has been a very crazy few weeks. After missing out on a few days of exercising due to the flu, I then went to the Help for Heroes Rugby match at Twickenham with mates and ended up getting food poisoning from a steak sandwich (no bun of course).  Needless to say, I have been housebound since Saturday evening and hoping to get back to exercises tomorrow. The good news is I have lost lots of weight, but the bad news is I am also afraid I have lost some muscle too.  Is that likely??

I am hoping the remainder of the programme is disaster free.  Fingers crossed.

A friend made a comment to me the other day.  He said my body has gone from 'A' shape to 'I' shape. Clearly what he meant was now my waist is no longer wider than my shoulders and that my shoulders are starting to look wider than my hips.  This is all a good thing.  I am hoping the 'I' will turn to a 'V' over the remaining weeks.  I figure as long as I stick to the programme and diet the next 40 days will see this happen.  That is, of course, when I can start to keep food down again.  Its been water and bananas only for four days now. Not fun.

My only other comment is that my suits and shirts look absolutely ridiculous on me. I will need to check my waist, but I think I have lost about 3 inches.  My trousers are swimmingly large on me and if it wasn't for my belt, they would not stay up. A new wardrobe at the end of the 90 days are a foregone conclusion.  It's shocking how much  I have lost over the last three to four weeks.  Here is hoping the muscle now starts to build up and kick on through.

Long weekend is here

Well the long weekend is here.......finally.  It's been another crazy week at work and balancing the work load and the exercise has been a bit of a struggle.  I  had to work yesterday and so hoping to find some more dedicated PCP time over the next few days.

The great news is the weather in London has been amazing so I am enjoying doing as many of the exercises outside as I can.

I'm amazed at some of the blogs people are writing.  Clearly there are some excellent writers in the group.  I've realised I'm of the 'short and sweet' ilk when it comes to blogging. Haha!

I do have to say I am glad the skipping is now by time rather than by counting.  Ok, well off to do the day's exercises.

We are in the lead.......

It hit me today, with the graduation (is that the right word) of the previous group, we are now leading the pack for the new PCP'ers.  The baton has passed and it just goes to show how well we are doing in getting through the programme.

It's nice to see their energy and enthusiasm on Day 3.  That seems so long ago now, and I have a slight twinge of regret that we are now in the last half of this programme.  I have come to really enjoy the structure and stability it gives us.  Its diametrically opposed to my work life - and I'm already thinking about continuing on with the exercises post day 90.

Today was my second double PCP work-out.  I'm going to try and do 9 workouts a week until the end.  My gut is being incredibly stubborn, and I'm gonna have to crank it up I reckon.

My diet wasn't the best this week.  I just didn't have time to shop with work being out-of-control.  I went to Sainsbury's today and did a big shop so this week will be more stringent.

Pics today

Hey All,

Ok, so pics are just getting put up in a few minutes..  I think I am starting to notice some differences.  I am now four holes up on the belt and my clothes are so baggy around the waist now.  I go into the office and my relatively tight shirts are just falling off me.  Patrick's comments are right on.....shopping will have to wait another 40 days.

So, the bicycles.  Is this killing everyone else?  I can barely stand at the end.  The planks do the same to me.  I won't even begin to discuss the one pull up maximum. Lol.  Everything else I cannot get enough off.  And I am LOVING not having to count to 1400 for jump rope.  Utter bliss!!

Ok, gonna leave it there and go and comment on some of the blogs.

I'm back

And just in time for day 45 - the half way mark.  First day of going full out on all the exercises following a crazy bout of the flu - and four days of inactivity.  I'm thinking it was similar to a mini-vacation and now its fifth gear for  the second half.

So here are some of the cool things I have noticed after 45 days of a great diet and exercise.

1. My belt is three holes in from when I started
2. I can get through my 75 minute tennis lesson without gasping for air at the end.
3. My tight shirts are now getting baggy - big shopping trip is the reward for that
4. I feel taller - I don't know why, but I definitely do.  I think my posture has improved - maybe that's it
5. I sleep so much better - although that might be from exhaustion
6. I am way more focused and productive at work
7. I'm looking forward to mowing the lawn without my shirt on - :)
8. I'm surprised by will power. Not one drop of alcohol or a one spoon on Haagan Das ice cream in 45 days.
9. My friends are brilliantly supportive.
10. I still hate planks, but I know its working.

So, I have decided my congratulation present to myself will be climbing Toubkal Summit in Morocco in early June.  Gotta love life!!!!

Ricky - you are still the guru :)

Ok, so made it through the work day.  Had to pop strepsils one after the other, so this is my last official day on the sick list.  Tomorrow I come back with a vengeance.  I am really disappointed with myself for being down and out for so many days.  It has felt like a mini-break and I am now more and more committed to getting the most out of the second half of the progamme.

Thanks for all the supportive comments everyone.  I'll become a comment-master from here on in.  Definitely boosted my spirits.

Day 3 - still sick

Ok, so crashed out on couch under my duvet again.  Let's just say I'm likely gonna lose some weight but more from not eating than as a result of exercise.  I don't do sick well and I am bored out of my mind. Drinking lots of tea and hoping I am be back on form tomorrow.  I think I am going to follow Ricky's method and do double trainings to catch up after losing another day.  That guy is a trooper!!!

This PCP'er is not happy.

Sick Day 2

No exercises today.  And very little food.  Under my duvet on the couch nursing a  very sore throat and nausea.  Pre PCP, I would have used ice cream to soothe my throat.  Things you really miss when you are feeling poorly.

Here's hoping I return to form tomorrow.

Sick :(

Hmm, so maybe it was three nights in a row of not finishing my exercises before midnight and still getting up at 6 for work, but I'm officially not doing exercises today.  Throat is very sore and struggling as it is.  Figure a good nights sleep will hopefully put me right.

Back tomorrow PCP'ers.

It's an addiction now

Ok, I am loving the new exercises.  Creep. Floor jumps.  Elevated tricep dips.  These are great exercises. And the plank.  Its all I can do to make it through the fourth set.  I think this week I have really started to notice changes in my upper body.  It's getting exciting. And having great weather in London is just an added bonus.  Could life be much better??

I was noticing my calves this evening.  I have always thought they were the worst part of my body.  Now I'm thinking they are moving close to the top of the list.  I'll take a picture tomorrow and post them.  Slightly vain, but hey, you have to celebrate the small successes.

I loved Patrick's suggestion of doing the jump ropes in the morning.  I might give it a try but that's a significant amount of body co-ordination so early in the morning.  I foresee myself saying "forget it" and heading back to hide under my duvet.

It's another night of finishing after midnight so its into bed for me.  I'm looking forward to reading some blogs on the weekend.  They are inspiring reads.

Day 37

Ok, so did my 1400 skips without too much pain in the shins.  Bring it on I say.... the boy is back on form.  Not too much to report tonight.  Its midnight after a long day in the office so its bed time for me.  I'll write more tomorrow.

Oh one more thing, pistol squats followed by the creep.......had to drag myself in from the garden, I could barely walk. Too funny.

Good night PCP'ers.

Injury day :(

Well my shins are totally done for the day. I got up to 230skips and just had to stop.  I think I might switch to swimming on some days to take the strain off my body from skipping.  And can I just say my legs were still screaming this morning.  Holy smokes, no pain, no gain.

Ok, short post today. I am going to read some of the amazing blogs I have not had the time to read for a while.

:)    

8 minute abs

Ok, so photo cable found and new pics up on flickr. Had a lovely weekend in Poole visiting a friends new home and now back in London and completed my exercises for the day.  I've also made the conscious effort to reduce my hours at work and my mantra for the remainder of this year is all about work-life balance.   Maybe I'll even have time to sort out a personal life.  Hmm, an ambitious part of the PCP plan, well maybe a nice unexpected result of it.

So, I think its time I kick it in to high gear.  Legs are looking good, but still fighting that slight gut still. Its definitely smaller than it was four weeks ago, but I'm guessing the last bit of flab will be the most stubborn.  So I've decided to do the 8 min abs twice a day in addition to the regular daily work out.  

I've also enjoyed reading other people's blogs.  It has definitely motivated me and refocused me. Thanks for that. I realised I was probably getting a little lazy with the exercises and so will focus on getting that burn every time.
 
I woke up yesterday morning and skipped very early just as the sun was rising.  The damp London air and the freshness of the morning were truly inspiring.  The stillness was breathtaking.  I am now seriously considering to starting my day with exercises rather than doing at the end.  I remember having a personal trainer a few years ago who told me to start the day doing something for yourself, because the rest of the day is often about meeting other's needs.  That seemed great advice then and still does.

Its kicking off

Ok, so in usual Phil fashion, I've lost the cable that links my camera to my laptop, so picture of this week taken and hopefully it'll be up in the next day or so.

The work-outs are getting more intense and time intensive.  All the skipping and endless lunges are making my legs pretty muscular, more so than they have been in a very long time, maybe ever.  I am hoping the same happens to the upper body.  I'm secretly hoping the skipping becomes less of the programme but I doubt that is the case. 1300 is a whopping amount.

I think my body has now finally adapted to the food regime and I can't say I have any serious cravings any more.  That's pretty impressive given the folk in my office have a table dedicated to cookies and cakes and pop.  Luckily they all know about my diet so even if I wanted to cheat, I couldn't get away with it.

I think I need to weigh myself, I'm losing weight up a storm,  I'm almost three belt loops up now.

Ok, this boy is off to bed.

P :)

Day 27

Almost four weeks down.  I have to admit I snuck some bad food today.  I think I will repeat today's exercise tomorrow on top of the jump ropes tomorrow.  The good news is I felt physically not very well after eating it.  So, that will now keep me on the straight and narrow for the narrow for the next 63 days.  Maybe my body is also at a point of rejecting bad food, which must mean I am well on my way to being healthier from the inside.

Just a short (and honest) blog today.

Happy day 27 everyone.

  

Guilt - well only a little

So I missed a day of exercise.  I had intended to do them last night after work but I ended up going out with friends and dancing the night away until 4am.   I decided that after 4 very stressful weeks at work, the release of dancing the night away - bottle of water only in hand - was the perfect mental work-out that I really needed. And all those hours on the dance floor had to more than make up for the 1100 jump ropes at least.

I did get up and do today's already, so feeling quite proud of that.

And my success of the PCP programme so far: I have moved up two holes on my belt already.  Yahoo!!

  

BORED...............

This must be some sort of meditative programme.  1050 jumps and by the time I get to about 800 I am in a complete daze.  My shins are still killing me and I really notice it every morning as I walk to work.   And 17 x 4 sets of lunges per leg with no rest in between is really just another way of doing 136 lunges in a row.  It burns by the time I get to about 80.  Ok Phil, stop bitching and just get yourself through it.

I'm glad the exercises are starting to change.  I'm still motivated, but getting bored somewhat by the daily repetition (see earlier comment about meditation).

That's all I have for today.  I finished my exercises at 11:40 so happy to have finished this side of midnight.

Px

Day 20 something

Hey All,

So its 12:01, just past midnight and I have just finished my exercises for today.  I have now decided I am, by circumstance, a late night work-out boy.  Work continues to be incredibly busy and it's usually very late by the time I get my meals ready for the next day and climb into bed.  I think the next 68 days will be a complete daze, which is slightly a shame as I'd like to have more time to enjoy this process.

How are people doing with injuries? I ask because the 1050 jumps are wreaking havoc on my shins.  I looked ahead and saw at about day 28 we have to do 1300 jumps. Thankfully I work for the NHS so access to emergency care is quite easy. I might get some nice drugs to dull the pain.

OK, that is it. My pillow calls.