To be continued,...

Let's start with my Day 89 to 90 night! What a weird night. I woke up a few times during the night, which usually never happens. We didn't know what would be the last workout and I think I was excited, impatient, anxious, a bit sad as well, about our last official PCP day. And when I read Patrick's mail this morning, I had all those feelings confirmed. I know it will sound weird to the PCP fellas following us, but you'll get there soon: you'll get to miss, or at least you'll get this feeling that you will miss the daily PCP "to do" stuffs. Silly isn't it? True though,...

I think it is because the biggest challenge is actually now to come. Although you are doing all this for yourself, it is much easier to get it all done by thinking that you have someone telling you what to do and therefore there isn't much choice: you just need to get it done. It doesn't really make sense though: it's easier to think that we didn't have the choice but we actually did. It all depended on our will, right. We actually made it through because we wanted to, not because we were told to. But still, knowing that there won't be anyone telling us now what to do leads to this somehow uncomfortable feeling. I guess that's what questioning is, I guess that's how you build confidence.

Building confidence, yes. This is something that PCP is about. If I were asked, what do you think you've learned during these past three months? Well obviously many many things, about our bodies, about its needs, about the way it works. But mostly, I learned once more, and on a complete different area than usual - that is, purely personal field - how to take up a new challenge, how to keep on going through the doubts, how to accept ups and downs, basically how to know myself a bit more, know where and how to place my confidence, all this to face now a new challenge. One thing for the PCP fellas: I learned this in the past, and it gets more and more confirmed through life: answers and solutions come by keeping on going forward. And it's true for PCP too. Somedays you'll feel strong, somedays you'll think that those three months are endless. Just keep going, stay open to the process, accept the changes, accept what's new. You'll go through it, you'll learn on the way, and you'll look back at some point, thinking "Oh, I've actually done that".

To be honest I am not quite to that feeling yet. I don't really realize what we have done during those last three months. I guess it is because I am not really done with the progress. Of course I am happy with the results but I believe there is more to go and once again, it's on me now to keep these progress going. 

This is how I see the PCP today: take an athlete. An athlete knows what to do, knows what he is good at, knows what he needs to work on, knows mostly how to work on it. Still, an athlete is never on his own. He always has a team, he always has a coach. Does the PCP - although "abstract" (that's at least how it appeared to me when I first heard of it) but efficient way of working make sense now? Yes it does: for three months we had a team and we had a coach. And that clearly helped!

Ok, enough philosophy, changes now: I wasn't really into the figures during these three months. Not only because figures kind of scare me but also because it's not really a PCP principle (convenient,...). So I am not going to post any figures on weight, BMI and things like this. It's basically just about the way you feel. And people around you will be here to confirm it. Not only they will mention that you look different, but also, which is pretty pleasant, some of them will be willing to exercise and have a healthier diet, they may or may not ask you for advise, but the point is that the change that occur during these three months are not only about your look, I guess it is also about a whole attitude, and they influence your entourage. How pleasant! 


Ok so picture,... that's the latest. Clearly happy, still to go. 

Last point: the other day I was walking in the mall and here is what I saw:

I agree, indulge yourself only with the best. You will get to appreciate good things better as you go, and again, that's such a good feeling! Funny how I would never have noticed this ad three months back (as you can guess, as I walked by, I had to indulge myself a bit,..)


And finally, because I started with a Smiley, I will end with one: here you go guys,... you'll see that flag soon too! Make the most of it, enjoy, and smile along the way,... it helps! As for me, as finishing something means starting something new, I'll cross that final line and will start a new journey. See you soon "gang"!

Day 86-87: Edamame - Tofu Crisis!

It looks like week ends are either indulgence days or veggies days. Today I had my Edamame Crisis. I think I ate on my own a big pack of Edamame, a huge Tofu (plus of course some proteins and stuffs,...). Too much of one thing cannot be good. I keep on thinking that it is better to go for an Edamame pack than for a big Haagen Dazs Pot but still,...

And ok I had to wait for day 86 of PCP to be starving at night!! What is going on seriously. I woke up 3 times last night from hunger. I first thought it was 5 am, it was midnight. Then woke up at 3 and at 5. I ended up having breakfast at 6. I had dinner early last night but still what the hell!! It seems that my body got used to eat every three hours and it complained a lot last night!


Workout wise. Ok the davinci and shoulder forward super power set whatever thing,... ok that was a killer. I couldn't lift my arms at the end of the sets.


Today's failure was hard to measure. For some reason I find it hard to fail with the abs. It burns but I don't feel the "Oh I cannot lift up anymore"! Except for the V sits. So anyway I am still at my 5x18 v sits and did 5x20 side crunches. Yesterday the planks were lasting 1min 30sec.


I quite like the power super set machinchose because it shortens the time of the workout.


I am just kind of worried when I look at the remaining 3 days,... they look tough.


Oh, one more comment. We used to have one floor jumps on Fridays (hated it but then we were done for the week). What a good surprise to see that we have three this week,... thanks patrick! I better get my legs toned with that (plus the creeps!!) or I am going to kill someone!


That's it,... let's just pray that the Edamame will not get stuck in my thighs.


Namaste, Amen,... whatever

Day 84-85: Where do we fail?

Mmmmh,. I thought it would be interested to share where our failure was to have an idea if we are all more or less in the same range or not at all.


Ok so today was the Shoulder Fly. To be honest I don't really go much further than what we used to with the normal sets.
I did 1x25 - 1x22 - 1x22 - 1x21. I guess my failure is around the 22. From the 15th rep on my muscles really start to burn. After 20 my whole body is moving forward and backwards. It looks like nothing :) So I guess that's where failure is. It's not much but well, my shoulders are already quite large...

Another point: Has anyone else issues finishing the V sits?? Seriously Patrick mentioned "500 V sits" with an "if" of course but even 1 set of 18 is tough. The hip flexors are the first ones to suffer and then the abs. But anyways I cannot mange to get the 5 sets with straight legs up and down. I tend to bend the knees,... It ANNOYS ME!

Day 82-83: SIMPLICITY IS THE ULTIMATE SOPHISTICATION!!!

So that's my resolution: I want to keep going like this at least till Christmas. First because I believe there ares still lots of changes to potentially occur on my body, second because I like this way of life. It just feels good. Well clearly I am not saying this while I am starting my 5 series of floor jumps or Kung Fu sit ups but let's say that nutrition wise and globally working out wise I want to keep this pace.


But before talking about a non end end, let's just first realize that the project in itself is not finished. Like a few of us have mentioned by mail, I am clearly HUNGRY! It is probably due to the workout but for some reason I don't even ask myself whether the workouts are hard or not anymore. I just get them done. So it's like I do not realize what we really ask to our bodies. And well the final week schedule is still to come and I am sure that it is not going to be a piece of cake. I realized, a bit disappointed, that I am not doing perfectly well some of the workouts. The pull ups are still inclined for me, the push ups end up on the knees. The shoulder press get a bit cheaty after a couple of series, same for the double katana. That's what make me think that there is still a lot to go and I will do my best to not simply end things next Thursday evening!


I feel still a bit weak sometimes in a sense that I won't have this or that (food wise) because it is not PCP compliant. Not because I don't want it but because I shouldn't have it. So I am now slowly trying to shift my mind and think that I am not having this or that because my body doesn't need it instead of thinking that it is because it is not PCP compliant. One more thing: it seems, like a couple of weeks ago, that my body is going through this steady stage again on the scale,... GRRRRR, I just hate that moment. Especially towards the last week. I wish I could just drop by another few kg by next Friday. Then again, next Friday is not really  where PCP should end!


I went to the gym the other day, the homework. Not a real gym because I don't like it when it is too crowdy. Some kind of a private gym. And I observed,... First thing I was thinking was, no matter what you think, do not judge. Have an opinion but do not judge. Just a few months ago, I was not doing any better than any of these guys. Well basically there are different types. The ones that are not fit and lift super heavy weight (these are the ones I do not understand). The ones that are putting so much will in that precise moment to get their abs done. The ones that come for a regular routine with a book. The ones that are going through all the machines for 1 min each and that are doing quick and painless movements. There's a bit of everything to be honest. One similarity on all of these, in my taste: none of them keep it SIMPLE. When I had a global picture of the gym it made me think of an ITALIAN PASTA DISH (nice reference to the PCP food by the way,...). Why?


Because what makes Italian Pastas so good (please just consider this as a 100g cooked Wholewheat Italian Pasta :))? It's the fact that it is simple. Simply well cooked, add to it a bit of tomato sauce, or pesto sauce. But don't do it in a foreigner way where they add up a bit of everything to make it look and taste like something! If anything that gyn looked like a Minestrone :)


I thought about it and realized that all we bought since the beginning of the PCP is a resistance band and maybe some handles for the push ups. But no Medicine Ball (or however you call it), no Gym machine, no all of this. Somehow these guys had all something more in the hands or to carry or... ... And their movements were not two sided clear movements (like up and down, right left,...)... Their breathing had nothing to do with breathing in and out (they were breathing in in in in out in out out out in out ... ...). All these details. It looks silly to pay attention to those details but if I have to say one thing about this homework is this: IT IS HARD TO KEEP THINGS SIMPLE, HOWEVER SIMPLE IS THE BEST, THE MOST EFFICIENT AND THE HARDEST TO ACHIEVE. I believe it is true for life in general. And as weird as it may sound, as pre PCP I always thought that this project was complicated, PCP taught us, with proven results, to keep things simple and efficient. THanks PAtrick.


One last comment, where I must say I kind of disagree with Patrick. I am always happy when I get to the abs part of the workout. First because it is close to the end, and second because it feels good. It's not easy, but it just feels good to work on the abs because you feel them right away. Your body expression is also quite strong with the abs. You are not used to it and you do one sit up, your whole body is shaking, how is that. It's like they were the center house of our body. So yes the burn is tough but the feeling is good. 


Well that will be it for me today. So one tip for the 60 or more guys that just signed in for the program (what a success!!), keep it simple!

Day 80-81: My Veggies Story

It's funny to see how all along these 81 days we've all been thinking thoroughly about what veggies to eat, which one is good, which one has less carbs, etc etc,... Conclusion being, it seems, that veggies are veggies, no matter how much carbs or sugar they have in it, veggies are good and all have different nutritive contribution, therefore as long as you vary a lot, none can really harm you. That's my understanding of it.


Having said that, I tend to choose my veggies depending on the meal. Usually in the morning I go for veggies that are higher in carbs, like potatoes or anything like it. And I keep for the evening the "greens" or any cabbage.


Now there is one more, and clearly thins one I have no idea what it really is, but in Japan we call it Konyaku. I think it is quite popular for having very very few calories (it is used in some healthy diets against diabetes, if I am not mistaken) and also not much taste! I would usually keep that one for the evening too.


Anyway, all this to say basically that I am quite enjoying my veggies!

Day 78-79: I call it an Indulgence DAY!!

Haha I loved the wisdom BOMB video on an indulgence day. Because believe me it was for me an indulgence DAY, not a meal! And believe me to in the fact that there wasn't much of wisdom in today's diet ! But hey I enjoyed it and that's what indulgences are for right?


First it's so funny to notice how the brain works. It's been 79-2 days that we are following a precise diet. During these 77 days, I hardly craved for anything. Maybe at the beginning but that's it. Everyday just seems to go by happily with my diet. Just today, I woke up and knew it would be my indulgence day. From 6am till now I have been, not craving, but willing to eat non compliant stuffs.


It started this morning when for the first time I decided to eat cookies. But I didn't want to kill my indulgence just like this so I made up a "Healthy Cookie Recipe". And you probably won't like it but I enjoyed it because still I was eating cookies.


So here you go:


Tofu - Kinako Cookies
Basically Tofu replace the butter
Kinako (Kinako powder that we find in Japan - now what is Kinako? I think it's beans but I'll let you guys ask Patrick, he should know better) instead of chocolate chips
Honey instead of sugar
Just the egg white and no yolk
I added some tea leaves for the taste
Basically, an almost PCP compliant cookie


How did it taste? Japanese "dokutoku na aji" => Japanese real taste,... a no taste taste. Like many of the traditional Japanese food. I liked it :)


Ok, so that was this morning at 9am.


Now, lunch, we are talking about the real one. I mean, what was supposed to be the real one today. It was clearly an indulgence. Was it a dramatic one? Not really,... The dramatic one came later. Just for you to have a quick look:

I am not really showing you for the food, but more for the colors. It's so pretty isn't it? Especially the first "amuse bouche" (now this sounds really posh but I am half french so I have to call a dog a dog). 
Actually on the pictures you are missing two meals haha. The main, which was a french cod very good and some cheese. Yes well still my half french side. I realized I hadn't eaten cheese for something like 4-5 months (if you are not French or half French you cannot understand how unrealistic this is) and cheese is good, but just a little bit.


Anyhow, so I had this little corn soup amuse bouche, then the squid as appetizer. Then came the steamed cod (all this is pretty healthy). The unhealthy part was a bit of bread, a bit of cheese and the tiramisu. All in, an enjoyed indulgence, a full belly, a non sick me, a really satisfied me. Indulged but didn't go insane.


What's weird is those last three words,... didn't go insane. Then I started wondering why. Then, that's where the brain is funny, I started to convince myself that if I had to go insane it had to be today. I wasn't hungry at all or anything but around 6 I decided that I really wanted to make it a fully indulged day. So I had an ice cream with a piece of chocolate! And now, I am FULL like a triplets pregnant woman! Do I feel bad? Not really. I feel indulged, and that was the point.


Now clearly, I am going to force a bit on the workouts tomorrow. Even maybe tonight I will go for another round of skipping. Maybe it is useless, but I just feel like it. I made the most of the indulgence, now I need to make the most of the remaining 10 PCP days.


So well,... wisdom BOMB in my head,... yeah let's say that the 10min of the video are the my 10min wisdom of the day! The other 23h50 min - 1 hour workout were just purely indulgence!


Aaah, not sure whether I am feeling good or bad, I am just feeling it, and I think that's good!


Enjoy your indulgence team ! :)

Day 75-76-77: Feeling rather good.

I think that indeed changes keep on happening. Funny how the mood and the faith depends on the days. Even after 77 days! 


The workouts are clearly tough but other than that all seems ok.


Food wise it's fine. I manage to put in some variety and it tastes good.


I still haven't indulged yet. It will probably be for the week end.


2 more weeks gang, 2 more :)

Day 73-74: Catching up!

Nothing much to say. Did my workouts tonight after dinner as I didn't find the strength to get it done in the morning. Some days I see direct effects of the PCP on my body, some days I don't. But overall it is all good. I am cheating a bit with the food as I am adding the Japanese tastes that I missed soooo much but other than that all ok.


Let's keep it up! A bit of empathy to all of you:

Day 71-72: Stabilized?

Last ten days haven't been perfect for me as I spent 4 days in Tokyo but it seems that my body is stabilizing at the current stage. Which is not really delightful because this is also by being cautious on what I eat of course and on the workouts. I get to doubt a bit for the remaining 3 weeks. I just hope changes are still to come.

Day 68-69-70: Another week down!

I am not sure whether I should frown knowing that there are only 20 days left to the PCP. I am not even sure about the "only" here. These 20 days might actually be the longest of the program, don't they?


All more or less ok on this side. It's funny as I am feeling hungry before each meal. I know this sounds stupid but it is actually not as I realized I never really ate by hunger but more by automatism. In the morning I am hungry and it feels good to exercise then eat.


The skipping is becoming my new "free your mind" thing. Mix it with a bit of yoga and you are good. I just skip in the morning as I wake up and it's a good way to stimulate my body while my mind is still dreaming.


Food, especially veggies was much more in control in the last couple of days as I am back "home" (Gosh it is hard to call Hong Kong "home"!!) and I am preparing my own meals again. Early October I will be back in Tokyo though and it will be hard to not enjoy the food especially as PCP will be over.


Anyway we are not there yet.

For now, frown or grin? Grin or frown?

Day 66-67: Obviously was not compliant!

Ok first time it happened during the PCP life but clearly I was not fully compliant during my week end in Tokyo. First time the scale is going up and not down. I did my workouts everyday but I guess the AMAYW veggies killed me,... especially in Japan. That's the dangerous part with me,... AMAYW. I want a LOT!!! Plus, if you are not the one preparing them, you always have some oil added to it. 


But I figured, it's ok. I am just going to keep on going with the project. It actually did not kill my motivation. It just shows how fast you can revert some changes. Although I don't believe that I fully reverted past weeks changed with 500grams more on the scale because of 5kg of veggies in 3 days but anyway,...


The only thing is that being in Japan reminded me how even simple food is so good. Unfortunately there's always a little plus to the taste: a bit of soy sauce, a bit of this a bit of that. It makes a difference.


I know this won't be fully compliant either but I am adding up some of these tastes in my cooking now and it feels good. I am thinking that I want to enjoy my food, especially as I don't want to rush on something 500 times worse once we are done with this month. I kind of don't want to feel an END to the PCP. I just want to keep it going and for that I need to make it "normal". Is my reasoning wrong? Anyway,... slowly slowly,...


The workouts are indeed pretty painful. I read Patrick's email this morning and I thought, hmmm what if you want to stop here with the muscles, just keep them the way they are now and just want to lose a bit more weight from here on? But there's a couple of weeks left to go so let's work hard till then.


The skipping actually feels good now. I am doing a good 20 min for the past couple of days, just stopping a set whenever I feel like. It feels good ! I somehow feel good so I hope the body will follow.

Day 64-65: PCP compliant?

I confirm, much tougher from Tokyo, eating lots of veggies but probably too much. And nattou and Tofu and all this. Healthy stuffs but my belly is about to explode. I guess using a bit of oil as well so my belly is complaining a bit. All in all I am not sure this week end is really PCP compliant. I am doing all the workouts and sticking to the PCP food but diet is not as precise weight wise and cooking wise. We'll see... ... Jeez am full!!! IS this bad?? I don't know,... ... ...