PCP Afterthoughts

Sorry it took a little while for this final post. I wanted a few days post-PCP to see how I would incorporate it into my everyday world and to process all my thoughts about this experience.

First off, I cannot believe how amazing everyone looks! Thanks to Patrick and Chen for creating such a great program that actually works! And I'm super excited about the maintenance workouts. These past 3 days, I've just been doing the jump rope and 8ma, not really knowing where to go on the strength exercises, but now I have something to follow!

I know that diet will be my number one downfall in maintaining all the progress I've made, but I also know that I am capable of eating healthy and being happy eating healthy.

I can't emphasize how happy I am that I have done this program. What a perfect way to end college and enter a new phase of my life. I've landed dream job doing what I love in the legal field for the next year, so I'm really excited about that. My plan is to work, save some money, and then travel for a few months before I head off to law school.

PCP has helped me land another job of sorts. I just got signed with a modeling agency to be a leg and foot model, which weird as it sounds, actually pays pretty well for doing shoe catalogues, etc. And in my test shoots, the muscles in my legs are so well defined, I know I have all the squats, lunges, and jumping ropes to thank!

This has been a wonderful experience, and I cannot believe how these 90 days flew by. The last 45 went by especially quick for me. I'm excited to make this lifestyle a permanent one and continue to reap the benefits of a healthy body and mind!

Day 89

ONE MORE DAY.

After I did my set of shoulder, tricep, and bicep exercises, I thought my arms were going to fall off. As I was sweating it out, I though about how the workouts only last an hour tops, but the results last much longer. That thought alone is enough to give an hour of my day towards creating a healthy body.

Over these past 90 days, I've really fallen in love with jumping rope. Yes, there are still some days where I cannot jump rhythmically for the life of me, but when I do get into the groove, it is quite enjoyable. I'll admit, a lot of that probably has to do with the location of my jumping rope. At school, I did it on my porch over looking a pretty wooded area. And at home, I also do it on my top porch, overlooking the marsh and ocean. I'm eye level with the oak trees in my yard, and for the past week or so, I've observed a squirrel making its nest. The area on the porch where I jump rope almost always has a breeze and the combination of a breeze blowing through as I jump rope is like paradise.

I got Watson's gift yesterday (Go Team, Go!) and it was great. Perfect end to our PCP program. I won't ruin it for those that might not have gotten it yet.

One more day!

Day 85

Hmmm. I don't know which is harder. Planks, or v-sits. Those v-sits always make my abs burn like no other and I really can't imagine the day when I can do 400 easy peasy as Patrick alludes to in his email. I am excited about finding some new ab exercises to add to my workout and I've been perusing the women's health website. Pre-PCP, I loved looking at all the different types of workouts the website offered, and now I definitely plan on doing a few.

I went to a funeral this past weekend. It was short and sweet and as all funerals are, was a reminder of my own mortality and how I want to spend my time. I'm so happy to be on a healthy track and although my dedication has waned at times, I am definitely committed to continuing this lifestyle.

5 DAYS!

Day 81

I've started to get things rolling in the career front and I had a very promising lead today that I hope works out. Things are slowly coming together as I create my life back home. My room's getting cleaner, I'm going to sign up for yoga next week, and also sewing lessons.

As the days near towards the end of PCP, I find that I have a harder time sticking to the diet. I certainly haven't completely jumped off the wagon, consuming copious amounts of sugar, salt, or anything like that, but I've slacked off on my protein intake. My staple protein was shrimp and right now no where is selling any. But today I got some frozen salmon from whole foods that actually was quite delicious. The workouts are still on track, but I haven't performed them with my usual gusto. Feeling under the weather certainly didn't help, but now my throat is finally starting to feel normal again. I don't know why I suddenly petered out so close to the end of PCP. I want to go out with a bang on day 90, not with a whimper. I haven't worked so hard up to this point only to achieve a "healthy" condition. I want "peak" condition.

Tomorrow is a new day and I am going to make the most of these last 9 days. Everyone in the March group looks amazing. I seriously cannot believe the results everyone is getting; so proud to be part of such a great group!

Day 77

So close. 13 more days. wow.

Yesterday I was feeling really off- just super tired and kind of ill. My throat has been bothering me the past few days and shows no signs of letting up. Yesterday morning, when I started jumping rope, my side started to really hurt. This has happened about two or three other times in the course of PCP and usually i just push through the pain. But because I was already under the weather I just couldn't do it. I made it through one set of 6 mins and then half of the next set before I quit. I have no idea what causes the pain. I hadn't eaten anything "bad". I didn't feel good enough to do the rest of the workout, but I did it today.

Tomorrow I'm going to try to get to the yoga studio and sign up for a membership. My room is still far from clean and organized. I just need to push myself to get back into gear.

Day 75

I feel like I've hit the ground running since I've been home. Between cleaning, traveling to help my dad with work, and preparing for my mom's birthday tomorrow, I haven't made time to post my latest progress pics.

The PCP has been on my mind so much that the other night I had a dream two of my best friends decided to join the program. I remember thinking to myself, "Do they know they can't drink for 90 days?"

I've been sticking to the workouts and diet. I know I already kind of used my indulgence so we'll see if I can withstand the cake we'll have for my mom's bday tomorrow!

Day 71

Wow, this last week flew by. And between graduation parties and family outings, I'll admit, I was not living up to my PCP motto...which is basically, "do what Patrick says in his emails", haha.

Honestly, I didn't completely let go. I stuck to the workouts 100%, but I only got 8 minute abs in about 4/7 days instead of my usual 7/7. And I let a few things into my mouth that rhyme with the word schmocolate. I am disappointed that I let up on the PCP rules so close to the end, but I am going to give it my all these last 20 days, and recognize that letting go for a few days is not an excuse to suddenly give up on all your exercise and diet endeavors. This lifestyle is something I plan on continuing well after day 90 and I know there will be times when I might let up a little. But the important thing is to not let that bump in the road be the end of the road.

My next few days (well probably weeks at my pace) are going to be filled packing up boxes and unpacking boxes so that my room at home can become livable again. In these past four years, my room has accumulated a lot of crap and a lot of memories. After both my study aways, I shoved a lot of stuff in boxes and just left them in the corner of my room. But now that my room is no longer a resting place for a few weeks, but for a whole year, I want it spick and span. I want it to be organized and welcoming, a space all my own. This is going to take time and patience to carry out, but I know the results will be worth it. I'm already becoming a minimalist. I've filled four huge bags of clothes and shoes to go to goodwill. Cleaning really makes you think about what is important to you and what you know you really shouldn't be holding on to.

But as enlightening as cleaning can be, I really wish I had a magic wand and my room would be perfect and clean right now.

Day 69

I'M GRADUATING TODAY!!!!

A nostalgic post is sure to come in the next few days...

But in PCP news, my roommates have packed up all the cooking utensils, so my meals until I move out tomorrow will have to be a little improvised. I won't be able to follow the diet perfectly, but I will do my best.

So weird how these 4 years have flown by!

Day 67

Ahh, if only all 4 years of college were like this. No classes, no tests, just hanging out with friends and doing only what interests you.

Yesterday, I got a free massage, courtesy of the yoga studio I go to. They were handing out passes to a nearby massage place a few weeks ago, so I scheduled an appointment for the day after the last of my exams. It was great, such a treat for relaxation and all for only the price of a tip!

My indulgence last night went pretty well. I only ended up having one glass of wine and then a drink concoction called a "creamsicle" with some sort of alcohol in it. Both pretty good, but actually left my stomach feeling a little heavy and weird. I had a few brownies to top it off as a true indulgence. So that should hold me off for the next 23 days...You would think working out this morning would have been awful, but I actually loved it. I imagined all the sweat was the alcohol and brownie toxins pouring out of me. Probably false, but nice imagery and motivation!

Now that I know I have a full year before going to law school, I've already started thinking of some of the things I want to accomplish. I've been reading the last in the series of Simone de Beauvoir's autobiography, and it's given me a lot of inspiration for living a life full of enriching experiences. Autobiographies are one of my favorite genres to read because it's all adventures that actually happened! I know I want to brush up on my French, aka become fluent. A lofty goal, but I was well on my way to achieving it when I lived there. And, of course, I want to continue all my PCP progress well into this summer and beyond!

Day 65- Freedom (For a YEAR!)

So in the course of a few hours, I took my last exams as a college student and figured out what direction I want to go next year. After some consideration, I decided to defer law school for a year. I think my initial hesitation came more from the shock and the idea of such a drastic alteration to my plans. But after I actually thought of what I would be gaining in that year off, it was a no brainer. I've gone from shock and hesitation to excitement at the endless possibilities of what I can do with this year. I know I'm going to look for a job and try save as much money as possible, but that still leaves time for me to pursue my interests and passions. I can read all those books that are on my "list", I can explore my love of photography, I can really focus on my yoga practice. Basically do all the things that studying in law school would detract from.

I learned my lesson in decision making from picking a law school. Basically I knew UVA was right from the moment I visited, but I had to drag it out for almost two months, just to end up going with my gut reaction. And so with the decision to defer, after the shock wore off, deferring just felt right. And instead of debating it endlessly with myself and with family, I decided to just go ahead and make the decision that I know I'll make in a week anyways. So now instead of being stressed about what to do, I've already decided and am relaxed and happy. Hopefully this is a new direction for my perpetually indecisive self!!

In PCP land, things are still good. I love having few types of exercises with more sets. It practically forces me to go until failure and it just doesn't drag as much as those past few weks workouts did. And the food is still going well. I think I am going to use tomorrow night as my last indulgence as I think that's what it will end up being.

For the past few days whenever I make my breakfast mixture of eggs and veggies, my roommates always go, "OMG that smells so gooood!" And yesterday one of them asked for the recipe. I was almost embarrassed to tell her just how easy it was to make. But it just goes to show that healthy food can be just as enticing as some buttered up fancy meal!

Day 64

So today, right before an exam, I found out something that could very well change my immediate future plans. I found out that UVA will give me a pretty significant scholarship to go in 2011, which would require deferring for a year. They just don't have the money to offer me a scholarship this year. At first, I was like no way. I already have my roommates and am about to sign a lease on an apartment, but then I thought about it more. Deferring would allow me time to regroup, get a job, earn some money so I can take out even less loans, and I could hang out with friends sticking around in Charleston. But at the same time, I would have to live at home (well I could find an apartment but that seems silly when I'm trying to save money) and I might feel a little aimless. So I haven't made a decision by any means, but I do need to decide in a few days so I can tell my roommates, etc. This is one of those curveball situations that requires a total realigning of your mind. Basically what I thought was a guaranteed future might not be the reality. So it definitely takes a readjustment of thinking. I meditated about it after my exam, trying to breathe in possibility and breathe out stress.

In PCP world, I don't want to speak too soon, but I think today's workout might have taken me out of the valley. I have never enjoyed a workout so much. It was definitely hard and required a lot of effort, but I felt great and rejuvenated when it was over. I was inspired by Ren's post about not letting up during these last 26 days. I'm so pleased with my results, but I know I'm not at my peak condition...yet.

Two more exams tomorrow and then freedom!

Day 63

I ended up having a great day Friday. The tubing was just what I needed to relax (and it was a gorgeous day) and then I ended up going out that night! While I didn't drink anything, I did choose the designated night where I will partake in the tradition of drinking after all the exams are over. That night happens to fall on Cinqo de Mayo, so I think it should be pretty fun! I know I will have to break the PCP no alcohol rule, but I think this one time is worth it. We'll see how it goes!

As classes are over, I find my days much less structured and I've been sleeping in pretty late (like 9:30 or 10). Of course I'll be getting up early tomorrow and Tuesday for exams, but this has made me think about my schedule this summer. Although I don't enjoy actually getting up from bed early, I definitely am happy once I'm up. I like having that extra hour or two of free time, and I would like to continue that this summer. I'm glad that PCP extends into the summer so I'll learn how to incorporate it into my "lazy" life before I have to do it all on my own.

Food wise, things are going well. But I do have to confess to one attachment that has developed. The Pepperidge Farm 100% Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread has replaced chocolate as my new crack. It has become a pretty good size of my carb allotment each day. Now, it is 100% whole wheat, so I'm hoping that there's nothing wrong with it, but because of the presence of cinnamon and raisin, I'm thinking there might be...I certainly don't want to replace one food addiction with another (chocolate for bread?), but the swirl bread does bring me a certain amount of satisfaction that makes the rest of the PCP diet more than bearable.

Day 60

Really? We're at day 60? ALREADY???!

As this is the two week "party mode" period at my school (despite those pesky few days devoted to exams), I'm already struggling with finding a balance. It seems every social occasion surrounds food, and heavy, salty, sugary food at that. I went to the local baseball game tonight (it's a huge social thing) after my yoga class. My friends wanted me to come straight from yoga, well, actually they wanted me to skip yoga altogether, but I hadn't eaten dinner yet. I knew I could go straight to the game and my only dinner options would be some funnel cake and fries, which wouldn't even have been appetizing to me pre-PCP. So I went home, made my dinner, and then drove back downtown to go to the game. Yes, that was a lot of driving (I'll try to even out my carbon footprint tomorrow!), but it was worth it. The yoga class really left me feeling centered and stretched, and my homemade dinner was the perfect finish. And I didn't really miss anything by coming an hour or two late. I still got to hang out with my friends. Of course, they were all drinking and eating nachos or bacon fries (a pretty weird combination), but it wasn't hard at all to pass on the beer or the food.

Tomorrow I'm going tubing down a river up in the mountains and then going to a concert that night. The purpose of the tubing trip is to get drunk while lazy-ing on down the river, but I think I'll have just as much fun enjoying the scenery sober. Somehow I need to get some studying in along with the workouts and the social life!

Day 59

I've noticed that the days I find the workouts especially tedious, are the days I don't work up a sweat. I know that sweating doesn't really mean anything, but for some reason, it makes me feel like I'm really working hard and it feels extra good when the workout is over and I get to shower off. It's usually on the days that we don't do leg strengtheners that I don't sweat. Something about those squats and lunges really make the rest of the work out extra intense. Now don't get me wrong, those triceps and shoulder moves are just as tough (actually probably tougher). But I usually don't feel completely tapped out the way I do after a leg day. This is probably my own fault. I guess I need to ramp it up on the off-leg days!

I can definitely tell that this is sort of a PCP valley. The new-ness has worn off, the workouts have become routine, the meals have become routine. In a way that's good because this is now my normal life! Eating healthy and working out is no longer an irregular occurrence, I do it every day. I can't believe only one more day until day 60. At first the PCP days came and went slowly, but now the weeks fly by!

Day 58-A Reality Check

I wasn't going to blog today, but then something just happened a few hours ago, that compelled me to sit down and write this. Without giving too many details, (although I'm pretty positive no one knows anyone who I'm talking about) one of my roommates was found this afternoon unconscious and unresponsive, due to an excessive consumption of alcohol. The campus police came, the fire department came, the EMS people came with the ambulance, it was quite the commotion. About two hours later, she finally agreed to go to the hospital and my other roommates went with her.

I'm not even that close with my roommate, but the whole thing really shook me up. It's the last day of classes today (LDOC baby!) and so everyone is, of course, getting completely wasted. But this situation is a clear example of how alcohol can be so dangerous if abused. I've never been too much of a drinker and situations like this make me thankful for that. I know most people can be totally fine and never abuse alcohol, but for those few that do, it is so devastating. This isn't the first time this has happened with my roommate, and sadly it probably won't be the last. But it definitely is sobering for anyone to witness.

After everyone finally left the apartment, I sat down and meditated. It was pretty difficult to calm my mind, but it definitely helped me focus and process everything. I've been pretty consistent about meditating for 10 minutes a day the last week or so. I'm hoping it will become as much of a habit as working out by the end of PCP.

Tonight, I had a reality check that things can get serious really quickly when it comes to alcohol. Of course, it's not like I'll never drink again. But I think I will be extra mindful when I do.

Day 57

Today I am now officially an alumni of the Chi Omega sorority, the first of many endings (or beginnings) in the weeks to come. We had a big senior banquet tonight where your "family" gives you gifts and it's really sentimental and sweet. I'm not even that much of a participant in my sorority, but it definitely made me pause and appreciate everything I've done through Chi O in the last 4 years. Anyways, I promise there is a PCP connection in this nostalgia.

First off, I wore high heels to this event tonight. Let me just say, I NEVER wear high heels. Ever. Not worth the pain. But these have a sort of platformish heel, so they are not nearly as uncomfortable as the usual pairs (they're the ones in the pic above). Also I feel self-consciously tall in the few occasions I do wear them. But I bought a dress this weekend and these shoes to go with them, so I decided to face my fear of heels and the height and go for it. And I'm glad I did. I'm actually not that tall in them. I'm only 5 "6", so they only make me about 5 "8" or 5 "9". And they weren't that bad. Will I be wearing them every day? Hell no. But at least I know that when I want to turn it up a bit, those shoes will be there. Through the PCP, I'm inspired to try things I might normally not, like wear a high pair of heels. And I'm learning that it's worth putting yourself out there, and taking risks.

The second thing is obvious in its PCP connection. So, dinner was served at the senior banquet and the dessert was this layered chocolate cake. I didn't pick up a piece when going through the buffet line, and figured problem solved. But when I sat down, a friend brought over an extra piece of cake and then my chi o family, was like "have some!" When I said I didn't really want any, they literally said, "But Abby! You love chocolate! You have to have it!" And placed the cake in front of me. Now, this proves my claim that I really am known for being a gluttonous choco-holic (in my pre-PCP life, that is). So I had a bite....and was actually disappointed. It was good, but not nearly as good as that other chocolate cake I tried a few days ago. So I had one more little bite and then discreetly placed it on the waiter's tray when my friends weren't looking. It would've been easy to eat the whole thing, I mean everyone expected it! But I found I didn't actually want it, which was an amazing thing to realize. I said before that I was good on the sweets until the next indulgence, and I think I really am. No sweet seems worth compromising my PCP goals right now.

Day 56

How many kitchen mishaps can a PCPr have in one day?

I just got back from a relaxing weekend at home (yeah, I know I go home a lot for someone about to graduate, but there's a relaxation factor I get at home that cannot be undervalued) and decided to start prepping all my veggies and eggs for the week. So I cut up my bell peppers and onions and started steaming. I went to my room to start some homework, and 13 minutes later, I smelled something funny and realized it was the veggies! They were burning! So now that pot is ruined. I mean, it'll still be usable and we're in college so we'll still use it, but it won't ever return to it's pre-burn shiny glory :(

After about 15 minutes scrubbing that pot as clean as I could, I decided to boil some eggs. Well when I checked on them 12 minutes later, 2 of the eggs had cracked, leaving a big white puffy mess all over the pot. So I sadly had to throw those two eggs away and spend another 5 minutes cleaning the pot again!

And I also realized I forgot to bring back all the shrimp that my mom had bought me just for PCP. 3 lbs of shrimp still back at home, sitting in the freezer. I'm pretty disappointed about that.

So how many kitchen mishaps can a PCPr have in one day? Well, I've had two and a half so far, but I haven't even attempted making dinner yet.....

At least I had my indulgence over the weekend. On Saturday, I bought some Ben & Jerry's Phish Food ice cream, the best flavor in my opinion. Basically crack for any chocolate lover. It was delicious, beyond amazing. I wish I could say I rationed it out, eating it throughout the day, but I ate the whole caloric alloted amount in one sitting. I mean, I tried to eat slowly and appreciate each bite, but before I knew it, I was almost halfway through the pint and it was time to stop. I probably had too much in one sitting, because I did feel a little sick afterwards, but the feeling went away pretty quickly. It definitely satisfied my sweet tooth for a while; I think I'll be just fine until the next indulgence!

Day 53

Hmmm, workouts have been going better since Tuesday. Now that I kind of expect a higher level of difficulty (not that it wasn't plenty hard before!), I 'm less taken aback by the increasing amount of time I devote to the workout.

I was inspired by Ren's "confession" blog of sorts where he admitted what he cheats on in terms of PCP. I was going to mention today's incident anyways, but that was a good prompter as well.

So, today after I finished lunch, I had the biggest hankering for something sweet. Not fruit, not yogurt, not sugar free gum, only chocolate-y goodness would do. And that would be the cake that's been sitting out for almost a week now. I figured I would have one bite, it would taste old, and that would be that. Well, I must say, it was better than I ever imagined. The frosting was still perfect, the cake the perfect moist consistency and I had 3 more bites. And then...I stopped. Yes, it occurred to me that I could take a whole piece (or more) and make it my indulgence, but the whole point of an indulgence is to do it on your terms, not from giving in to a sweet tooth attack.

While this could be looked at as a weak point where I fell off the diet (which I am aware it was), I prefer to see it as a sign of progress. In a way I think it's more realistic to have a taste of those tantalizing foods every once in awhile rather than act like they don't exist. It's good for me to practice having only a few bites, and then stopping, rather than stuffing my face. That has been where I always fail in the past. So instead of freaking out about what those 4 bites of chocolate cake are going to do to my PCP progress, I'm going to recognize that this was a rare occurrence and celebrate the fact that I didn't go into my usual chocolate frenzy!! I hope this doesn't downgrade me from a blackbelt!

In other news, I've started focusing on my yoga practice again. Last week, I did not attend a single class (which is rare) and so this week I have made it a point to go. I've been 3 times already and really appreciate what it does for my body and mind. I'm really looking forward to this summer when I can go to the yoga studio I attended over Spring Break.

I realized the other day that in my halfway-point goal reflection blog, I forgot to mention one very important goal I made. That was to have a regular meditation practice. Of course, it's been the hardest one to keep. But I've really focused on it the past few days, and am working on making it a daily thing.

Day 51

I struggled to get through the workout this morning. I don't know exactly why today was especially difficult. I slept fine last night. It was mainly a mental block, rather than physical limitations. I made the classic mistake of looking ahead on the workout sheet, rather than just focusing on what was immediately ahead of me. Now I do this almost every day and it's not that big of a deal, but the increased number of sets today on nearly everything sort of psyched me out. I completed everything in my usual time, but I did not get the same endorphin rush I usually do. It felt like more of a task than a joy. And usually I really enjoy my workouts. I figure this will happen time to time though. Even on the days I don't enjoy the workout, I still appreciate what I'm doing for my body.

A recent shopping trip this weekend helped me appreciate all the effort I put into PCP. There was a mega sale at Banana Republic and I bought a graduation dress and a few other things. Now with girls, there are two kinds of attitudes when buying clothes. Dread, because you feel bad about yourself and think nothing will fit, or excitement because you feel great and know that the clothes you want should fit well. Luckily I was in the latter attitude. Everything I tried on fit perfectly and it was a huge boost for my self esteem to not have to struggle into any dresses. The things I wanted fit! Of course, it put on some added pressure post-PCP to keep the weight off so the clothes I bought will continue to fit, but I'm confident I can do it.

Saw an interesting article today in the Science section of the NY Times. All about the media's role in promoting the junk food culture of kids. No wonder it's so hard to eat healthy in the U.S.!

Day 50

Our new diets have added some interesting additions to my day. Protein for breakfast? For me that means adding some tasty shrimp into my veggie egg scramble. Quite good. But carbs pre-workout? That I am not enjoying so much. I'll admit I only had about half of the 50 grams and I definitely noticed it made me feel a little sluggish during the workout. And then with the yogurt and egg post-workout, I only had the egg. Since I basically wake up, jump rope, do my workout, shower and then eat breakfast, it's a lot of food to eat before I even start my day, if I eat everything alloted. So, Patrick is it okay to go a little lighter on the pre-workout carbs and maybe skip the yogurt if I'm not hungry?

Our recent email about carbs made me think about my own history with whole wheat foods. I've grown up on whole wheat bread as long as I can remember. Whenever I went over to a friend's house as a child and they had white bread, it was always such a treat! Of course now, that stuff kind of grosses me out, but probably only because I'm so used to whole wheat.

Growing up I loved having sweet cereals for breakfast like Lucky Charms and in late elementary school, one summer, my mom made me a deal. She said everyday I ate whole wheat bran flakes (with soy milk) she would give me a dollar. I don't think I ever actually saw the money, but it took about a week for me to fall in love with the bran and forget about the charms. Ever since then whole wheat bran flakes have been my breakfast staple. I switched from soy milk to almond milk about a year ago, but other than that, still the same!

As far as other whole wheat options go, I only eat whole wheat bagels, whole wheat pasta, etc. Basically if there's an option of a food in whole wheat, I'll take it. So at least I've always been on track with one element of the PCP diet!

Now, salty foods is another matter. I was recently informed by Patrick that my beloved Morning Star chicken nuggets are too salty to be considered healthy! Oh NO! I was addicted to that stuff pre-PCP and it will probably be a treat post-PCP.

Day 49

I went home this weekend, hoping for some rejuvenation and productivity, and I was not disappointed. Not only did I get a big paper written I also CHOSE A LAW SCHOOL! Now for me this is a huge deal because I am Ms. Indecisiveness. Seriously, it is a trait that I have been dealing with all my life. After yet another talk with my parents, I decided on UVA Law. Honestly, I knew the moment I visited that it was right for me. But me being me, I had to visit all the other ones just to make sure, and then debate about it some more until I was a little stress ball. Perhaps not the best way to go about it. Technically I don't have to decide for another week, but I feel so much better having made a decision.

There was an interesting article in today's New York Times Magazine on exercise. The whole issue was devoted to Wellness, but this article caught my eye in particular. The basic gist of it was that exercise alone will not necessarily cause you to drop pounds, but it will keep the weight off. Especially if you were a decent weight to begin with. Kind of depressing, but it rings true. I doubt without the food aspect of PCP, we'd be getting such great results. As I thought about the article, it doubled my appreciation for the PCP. All the science seems to say that it is extremely difficult to get into "peak condition" if you will, unless you can devote the time. Patrick makes everything accessible and straightforward, and the blog aspect keeps you motivated (as if the results weren't enough!) and honest. The PCP doesn't make getting in shape seem nearly as complicated as these science articles indicate. And although I am already freaking out a little bit about life post-PCP, I believe in myself enough that I can continue this healthy, fit path I am on.

Oh and it seems like whenever I leave my apartment for a few days, I always come back to some new temptation. The cupcakes are now gone, to be replaced with a huge chocolate cake! Frosted real pretty and everything, but already demolished a bit. So it's just sitting on our stove top, calling my name, asking me to have just a few bites. I know I have an indulgence, but no. A partially eaten chocolate cake is not my preference. I'm thinking ice cream....of some sort. So that cake will have to remain uneaten by me, I am holding out for the moose tracks :)

Day 46 The Two Ss

Sleepy and and sore. Those two words have described me best this past week. I previously wrote that I was embracing the soreness, but now I'm not so sure. It was a killer making it through the squats today and my butt has been feeling it all day long. Combine that with my lack of sleep and I haven't been the happiest camper. Luckily the beautiful weather makes it hard to be a grouch.

It does make me feel lazy and exhausted by midday though. Luckily that doesn't affect my workout because that's long over, but it does make it harder to withstand temptation. Currently in my apartment's kitchen there is 1) a lovely array of frosted cupcakes all for the taking 2) a bowl of yummy candy like chocolate kisses and kit kat bars, etc 3) mini chocolate easter bunnies. I'm not hungry at all, but I am craving that sugar rush like no other. It's interesting how much my mood affects my cravings. I've been looking at those cupcakes and candy all week, and only a few minutes ago did I really feel like reaching out and grabbing one to eat. I reminded myself it's all mental, and am now about to have my afternoon yogurt instead.

I don't have class tomorrow and I'm hoping I can somehow sleep in. Lately I have not been able to sleep past 7:30 AM. Now I know some of you are probably up hours before that, but think of how late you slept in in college. Yeah....I would like a glimpse of that.

Day 45!!!!!!

We are half way there-woah. Right now I'm feeling really good about these last 45 days and looking forward to the next 45. I feel like I'm actually beginning to see concrete changes in my physique and I can't wait for that to continue!

But I have noticed one sad side effect of PCP. The loss of my butt. I happened to wear a pair of jeans today that I haven't worn since starting PCP. They were always a bit too tight unless I was at my "skinny" weight. Well, that isn't a problem anymore. They're not uncomfortably loose or anything...except in the butt area (alright, maybe it's not as drastic as the one in the picture above). It's quite sad actually, I have to say I've always considered it to be one of my best assets and so I am going to mourn this loss. I guess it is worth the six pack abs though, a decent trade!

I'm sad that the January PCPr's won't be blogging anymore but I'm super excited for the freshies! I'm glad there's some more girls to keep me company! I definitely think women face different issues when getting in shape (I don't think I'll be hearing any of the guys complaining about their loss of a butt!) and I look forward to hearing others' thoughts. I know when I first started PCP I looked to the more veteran PCPr's for inspiration and I hope I can do the same for the new ones. Gosh, I really can't believe it's half way over! There is so much left to accomplish!!

Day 44

My jumprope broke just as I was around the 1050 mark. One of the handles flew off. I could've quit at that point, but I really wanted to keep going and I wasn't tired at all yet. (What a weird phenomenon, I actually want to work out MORE!??) So I did a makeshift sort of thing and held the broken rope part with one hand and the non broken handle in the other, and it actually worked. Luckily, I was having a really good rhythm day, or it might not have gone so well. So I went to Target this afternoon and bought two more of the same jump rope. They're super cheap, but the best ones I've found so far. And I figured it'd be smart to have a back up on hand.

Today at lunch I was craving carbs like no other. Ate my entire carb portion in bread. Just stuffed it in. And when the carb frenzy was over, I felt satisfied.

My legs are really feeling it today. This morning when I woke up, those lunges and floorjumps had done a number on me overnight, and doing the squats today just added to the soreness. But I kind of like the soreness. It's a reminder that my leg muscles are gaining strength and will help my body in all those ways Patrick talks about. I've also noticed how much more aware I am of my abs. I can feel them when I make almost any movement. It's a weird, but good, sensation.

I can't believe it's over for the January PCP'rs. I can't wait to see all the reveal photos!

Day 43 Tired, tired, tired

I don't really think my tired-ness is related to PCP. I think it's due to the recent amount of traveling I've done, the mounds of homework that keep piling up, and the stress of knowing I need to pick a law school in like a week! So I haven't been sleeping great and I use every waking second accomplishing one task or another with little down time. Needless to say I am constantly exhausted lately. The most energy I feel is in the morning. It's all downhill from there...

In the little downtime I do have, I've found myself gravitating towards blog sites concerning baked goods. Food porn if you will. The picture above is from one of my favorite sites, http://www.bakeorbreak.com Just looking at this food satisfies my sweet tooth in an odd way...

Have I mentioned yet that breakfast is my favorite meal? I always know exactly what I'll make and it tends to be my most satisfying meal. I love my veggies and eggs, and bagel on the side. Delicious! While dinner is way boring, it's also way easy, which I love.

Now I'm off to a 3.5 hour simulation of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty for my international relations class. I get to do this tomorrow night as well~oh joy!

Day 42

So I forgot to mention a very important detail about my Friday night! The reason my traveling schedule was so wonky this past week (flying to Nashville Wednesday night and returning Friday afternoon) was because I wanted to make it back to my sorority's formal Friday night. I'm not the biggest participator in my XO activities, but I was not about to miss formal. It is my favorite function and it's also my last function as I'm a senior. Plus, I love my dress. I got it for my senior prom in high school and I have worn it to every formal function I've had since. So last night was the fourth time I got to don this baby. And while I always feel like a million bucks in it, this year I felt especially confident, thanks to PCP. Usually about a month or two before formal, I go into depravation mode where I do intense diets and workouts just to fit into the dress. But this year, there was no panicking that the dress would be a smidge too tight. It was a great feeling not having to suck in my stomach at all during the event! haha This made me aware of the little changes that are already taking place in my physique due to PCP. Sometimes it's hard to see the progress, but then examples like this come along and make it apparent.

Now I know we are not yet at the 45-day-half-way-mark, but I have a super busy week coming up and I wanted to devote some time to blogging about my thoughts thus far on PCP. I looked back at my goals from day 1 and was happy to see I'm already well on my way to accomplishing most of them. To recap they were:

-be able to do a headstand in yoga class

-have a better grip on my addiction to chocolate

-be able to jumprope without feeling extremely clumsy (and winded after only a few sets!)

-have a greater appreciation for what my body is capable of doing

The only one I don't think I've made too much progress on is the headstand. I haven't even tried it in a long time. I'm going to try to focus more on that this month.

Along with the pride of accomplishing my goals, I've noticed some other benefits of PCP. I now cannot imagine not jumping rope and working out in the morning. Yes, there are days when I am still not too enthused to be getting out of bed, but the way it makes me feel for the rest of the day is worth it. I never knew this side of myself before: the side that enjoys continuing a workout program past the first week! While food is still a semi-struggle, it's more about the social aspect of it than me not being able to resist a piece of cake or something. I'm still working on being okay with not really eating at social events and not feeling awkward about it. Last night I went out with friends to some bars, and didn't drink at all. I didn't have any desire to drink; my friends wanted me to, but it wasn't worth it. I still had a lot of fun! Although I did promise them I would drink at least once before graduation. I feel like that's a must for the end of the year parties! So we'll see how that goes when the time comes.

Yes, there are days when I wish I could eat whatever I want or skip a workout, but then I look in the mirror or think about how great I feel, and realize the sacrifices are worth it. I am so glad I signed up for PCP. It's great to not have to worry whether I'll be in shape this summer; I know I will be!

Day 41-Relief

I am done with traveling! No more plane rides until PCP is over!!! (at least, as far as I know) I managed to get a full workout in on Thursday, and then yesterday I woke up early enough to do my jumping rope and abs. So on Sunday I'll do the rest of Friday's workout along with the 8 minute abs routine. Speaking of which, I did it for the first time today and I loved it! Doing it with the video makes it go by faster and the moves aren't unbearable. Unlike the bicycle for abs. After the first two sets of 40 seconds, I can't do the last two all the way through. I have to pause a little bit during them. I think it's extra hard because it requires you to use your leg strength at the same time as your core. So I'm working on it...

I did my best with the diet while I was gone, but I'm looking forward to being in control of everything now that I'm back. I'm not where I thought I would be almost halfway through PCP, but I'm going to push myself this last half and hopefully get the results I want. I cannot believe we're already at day 40! It's a reminder of how fast this time will fly by and how I need to focus every single day.

Day 38 Success!

Just got back from the buffet. I only had a few bites of cantaloupe and honey due that were delicious! And I had still had a great time!!

The workout this morning felt great. I'm still amazed that I have worked out consecutively for 38 days. That has NEVER happened before.

So as I leave for the airport in about 10 minutes, I'm going to try to keep a positive attitude in Nashville and make responsible choices that will help me towards my PCP goals!

I'm bringing all my workout gear, I just hope there's a space for me to jumprope at my host's house....

Day 37

Ugh. I feel kind of like a failure PCP wise right now. I debated about even blogging tonight, but figured I should go ahead and do it. One of my friends who I haven't seen in awhile called me and asked if I wanted to go to Asheville tonight. So we drove up and it was beautiful (of course). Then we got dinner at a bistro there. At first I ordered a seafood special (YAY protein!), but of course they were out, so I got the fried eggplant special. Somehow in my mind, I was like, oh it's vegetables....but yeah. probably not vegetables in the way PCP intended.

So now I am back at my apartment feeling uncomfortably full and tired of straying from my diet. I have a difficult time separating food from my social life. As the end of college approaches, so many outings with friends surround food and it's tough to eat out and eat wisely. For example, the end of the year party for an organization I'm involved in is at the Golden Corral, the most unhealthy food buffet place you can imagine. Seriously, there is not one food there that would pass on the PCP diet. I'm going to go because I want to see everyone and hang out one last time, but I don't know what I'm going to do about the food. Not eat at all?? That will seem pretty weird though. Any suggestions?

And going to Nashville for 2 days definitely won't make things easier, but hopefully I can eat as healthy as possible and return to PCP land full force on Saturday. That's the best I can do given the circumstances.

I guess this was one of the reasons I signed up for PCP, to learn how to make healthy eating decisions and stick to them. Right now I'm struggling more than I have yet these 37 days, but I hope I can overcome this and progress along with my other PCPrs. Everyone is doing so great, I don't want to be the black sheep of the group!

Day 36

Well, this weekend pretty much threw me completely off my PCP diet, but it wasn't anything too drastic. It wasn't like I suddenly consumed massive amounts of junk food. It was more along the lines of eating out and not using my scale like I should. Not too many of the foods were PCP no-no-s though, so that was good at least. For my indulgence, I had a 250 calorie chocolate easter bunny. It was beyond delicious. I didn't really notice too many side effects from straying from the PCP formula. My stomach wasn't very happy, but nothing horrible.

I know my results will not be as great as they could be this week, but I can't dwell on it. I stuck to the workouts which helped keep me focused on my PCP goals. And I do plan to get right back on track with my diet. I'm flying to Nashville Wednesday night, and getting back Friday night for my sorority's formal, but after that the law school visits are OVER!!!! I cannot wait to make a decision and also to have complete control over my diet all the time!

One things for sure, PCP has definitely helped make traveling easier. I can carry all my luggage to the car from my apartment, where as before I had to make a few trips, because my arms were too weak to carry it all at once! Exciting progress!!!

Day 34

I don't have much time, but I just wanted to give a little post to say I'm alive and well!! I've definitely had a little too much fun this break, but I figure as a senior in college, who rarely drinks in the first place, I should get some sort of break. Last night, I went out with my parents and family friends to one of the nicest restaurants that I usually get to eat at about once a year. Since this was such a special occasion, I couldn't pass up the chance to go. It was a heavenly meal, truly. Started with a pear, blue cheese, and arugula salad, followed by a parmesan incrusted flounder. And I had a few sips of some wonderful chardonnay (only a few sips!!). NO dessert though. That night I had a fun night out with friends at the bars. I only consumed one vodka cranberry drink which I nursed for quite some time. So yes, definitely a huge stray from my diet, but yes, totally worth it.

Working out today blew, but it wasn't unbearable by any means. Still not as bad as the infamous afternoon workout. I'm still right on track with the workouts and (minus last night) I am on track with the diet.

Day 31

I can't believe it's already the end of March. I know the next month is going to fly by with the end of college, choosing a law school, basically a lot of big life changes. In a way that's good because some of those pesky classes (upper level Hindi???!) will finally be over, but also sad because I'll be leaving a place that's become a home base these past four years. I'm sure I'll write a sentimental, nostalgic blog when graduation finally comes, so sorry for this little preview.

In PCP land, the jumps went much better this morning. The diet is good, except I'm a little hungrier at dinner than I would like. But it's so nice not to have to prepare a big meal for dinner with veggies and protein. I can just grab my apple, banana, two boiled eggs, and be good to go!

I'm leaving school tomorrow to go home for easter break. So more driving, but this time to a destination I know I'll enjoy! I'm excited for the break and looking forward to my indulgence!

Day 30- LOST

Lost: My rhythm.

Last seen: Yesterday morning 8:20 a.m.

Reward: As many egg whites as you desire

So yes, sadly my rhythm seems to have disappeared. I first noticed this tragedy when I attempted to jumprope after the drive back from USC this afternoon. I was exhausted on the drive and semi-dreading the workout, but once I got back to my apartment, I gained a burst of energy and decided to go for it. Now, maybe it's because I always do my workouts in the morning and so the whole sweating-in-the-afternoon thing threw me off, but I could not jumprope to save my life. Seriously, it was absolute misery making it through those 1300 jumps. I sincerely hope it was the combination of my lack of sleep and the different time of jumping, rather than a sad trick of fate and suddenly all my jumping rope "skills" have decided to disappear for the rest of PCP. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

As much as I hated this afternoon workout, I think it was a good lesson. I'll admit, if I didn't have this blog to report to, I probably would've skipped it. The thought did enter my head, "I haven't missed a workout yet, what's one day?" But I thought some more, and decided there was nothing holding me back from doing the workout once I got back to the apartment except my lame excuses, so I should just do it. So I did. And it was a good learning experience. I know there will be days in my life when I will simply not be able to fit in a workout in the morning before I begin my daily activities. So it's important to be flexible with the times of my workouts. But I'm not gonna lie. I really really hope I never have to do another afternoon workout ever again. NOT FUN.

So although I was only gone one night, it did throw my diet off. I ended up sharing a chocolate chip cookie with my host. We were offered the cookie for free and he told me to share it with him, and it would've been awkward to refuse. But I only had about 3 bites. The real challenge came that night. I was staying with one of my friends and after dinner she decided to make brownies. But not just any brownies. Chocolate, peanut butter, M&Ms, cream cheese brownies. Think about that for a minute. Just writing those ingredients down makes my mouth water. So they were baking these morsels of crack in front of me, and the smell was almost overpowering. But I did not have a single one. Not even a taste. I knew I didn't want that to be my indulgence and so I withstood temptation. Of course it doesn't help that my roommates at my apartment have also decided to make delicious nut brownies, but I haven't had any of those either. My will power is strong indeed. I don't want to have to rely on will power though. I hope some day (maybe by the end of PCP??) I will not feel such a strong desire to eat all these delicious baked goods. Some day.

Day 28

Day 28 means almost to Day 30 which means we'll be 1/3 through PCP! Wow!

So, Brian must've put a spell on my jump rope this morning, because I made it to exactly 737 jumps before I messed up. I kid you not, 737! Two more jumps and I would've beat him! But regardless of that little competition :-), I was amazed I went for so long without messing up! Once you find the rhythm it's easy, but once you're out of it, it's pretty difficult.

On the indulgence front, I plan to do mine over Easter Break. I'll be home with friends, so I figure that would be the perfect time. I'm thinking some wine and easter candy. Or just one of those if the calories are too much. In a way, I feel like I shouldn't take an indulgence since I slipped last weekend. But I think part of the indulgence is figuring out the calorie amount, choosing what to indulge in, and being aware of how that choice affects your body. So with that thought, I will take my indulgence with the other PCPrs!

I'm going on another law school visit tomorrow (USC-South Carolina). It's just for one night, so it shouldn't be too much of an interruption. Of course, my diet will be off, but what's new?!

Day 27

Whew! Another visit under my belt. This one wasn't quite so amazing, and I'm glad to be back in my familiar apartment. All this traveling is starting to wear me out. I stuck to the workout while I was gone, and definitely was better about my diet. No sweets for me this time around! Of course, it was impossible to follow the PCP diet perfectly, but I think I did a good of job as possible considering the circumstances.

I do hate that all of these visits interrupt my PCP progress. I know how integral the diet is to success, so I'm hoping this doesn't affect my results too much. I take comfort in knowing that for the last month or so of PCP, I will be at home with no huge travel plans, so no interruptions then!

The exercises are coming along. Jumping rope went splendidly today! YAY!

Day 24

I've been sort of looking forward to doing the plank instead of the seemingly never-ending sit ups this week. Back in my (probably misguided) workout days, planks were the one abs strengthener I always did. I usually did it for a minute, so I figured 30 seconds should be no problem. Boy was I wrong! When I used to do planks, I always clasped my hands together. This time I did it exactly like Patrick in the photo, and I think keeping your hands apart definitely makes it harder. I still made it through all 3 sets without fail, but it was way more difficult then I expected.

Jumping rope today was great. I am amazed how I don't feel the least bit winded when I finish at 1100 jumps, when I could barely catch my breath after only doing 50 or so at the beginning!

I've been looking at all the January PCPr's progress photos and they look amazing! It definitely shows that PCP works and makes me excited for my own results!

I'm leaving for Duke tomorrow. While I enjoy these law school tours, they are very exhausting and time consuming. And taxing on my PCP regimen. I liked Ren's suggestion about holding a drink to keep your hand busy from eating. I'll definitely use that trick this weekend. I still have two more visits to go after this and then it's decision time!!!!

Day 23- 5 OH 5

I made it to 505 jumps before I tripped up today! It's funny though, once I trip up, I keep tripping up. It's hard to get that rhythm back. Still, it was exciting to get up to the 500s! I felt great jumping rope today, not tired at all and my calves barely hurt even at the end. I still seem to have a love/hate relationship with it though. Some days the jumps are a lot easier to get through than others.

The strength exercises are tough, but not much more so than last week. I've been doing push ups and triceps dips with my legs straight from the very beginning, so I didn't have to adjust to that change.

This weekend is going to be another challenge for my PCP. I'm driving to Duke Law on Thursday. This time there's no host student and I'm staying at a hotel with my mom, so it should be a lot easier to stick to my own diet and workout schedule. There are a lot of social events on Friday night though, so I'm not sure how that will go down. I'll have to do my best!

Day 22- A blossoming romance

So me and Orbit are becoming very close. I'd like to think it cares for me as much as I for it, but I know there is no way it can match my devotion. The sweet relief that gum gives, the way it occupies my mouth, barring any bad food from entrance is something that cannot be properly reciprocated. I owe so much to my lovely Orbit and I have a feeling we'll become even closer as the days go on. And my cravings grow stronger...

I'm not going to lie, when Patrick said in his email that this was the last week before things get intense, I kind of got scared. These added exercises are no joke. 5 sets of squats instead of 4? Those floor jumps look killer. And don't even get me started on my trepidation of the V-sits. So in my mind things are already getting more intense. But I'm looking forward to the changes they'll bring to my body. I never thought I'd be able to do 100 sit ups, but today I accomplished just that! It wasn't easy, but I focused on the results I want to achieve and pushed through. I'm curious as to what next week will bring, but right now I'm just focusing on getting through week 4.

As for the new diet, I miss my dinner carbs. So sad to see them leave. I have a feeling they'll be gone for the next 70 days....

Day 20

Wow. I had an absolutely amazing weekend. It actually made me excited about law school (which from what I hear is kind of rare). I am going on a few more law school visits in the next few weeks, but I really really loved UVA. My host was great! I ended up bringing my jump rope and resistance bands and worked out both yesterday morning and this morning. So as far as the workout portion of PCP goes, I'm still right on track.

Now on to the diet portion. I'll admit, I failed.

Failure # 1: Yesterday, I was walking around the activities fair, looking at all the different clubs UVA law offers. One was the Club for Jewish Students. When I went up and started talking to them, and they realized I was Jewish too (my dad is Jewish), they brought out a special box of goodies (separate from the delicious sweets they already had laid out on the table) and joked, "These are for the chosen ones." I could've made up a food allergy or something but I figure if I end up there next year and join that club I'll probably want to eat sweets at some point and so I shouldn't lie. And it would've felt rude to flat out refuse their kind offer, so I just had a taste of the most delicious chocolate cake. But seriously just one mouthful, that's it. Now I know these all sound like excuses for why I ate it, but I felt it was kind of necessary. And I did pass all the other sweets at ALL THE OTHER TABLES. Imagine, rows and rows of tables with sweets laid out with people all wanting you to come over, eat their food, and talk to them about thier club. It was hard, but I even withstood the ice cream sundae stand. And I threw away the oreos that came with my boxed lunch. So I might've had a slip up, but it could've been so much worse.

Failure # 2: Last night I went out to dinner with my host and 2 of her friends. We got sushi (mine had shrimp in it so at least I got some protein yesterday!) It was a blast, and afterwards they all wanted to get gelato. Walking to the gelato place, I thought about what I should do. I knew it went against PCP, but I also knew I was having a great time and didn't want to cause some sort of awkwardness by not getting any gelatto while they all did. So I got a small scoop of chocolate. And it was delicious. As I was eating I started to feel a little guilty, but then I stopped myself. I realized I was eating it, so I should just enjoy it and know that I wouldn't let this happen again.

In retrospect, the gelatto might've been easier to refuse than the "chosen sweets", but I made the decision to completely enjoy my time at UVA within reason. So while I failed on the PCP diet yesterday, I did not go crazy with the chocolate. Although it may sound like I did, trust me. My pre-PCP self would've tried a sweet at EVERY table of the activity fair AND ate an ice cream sundae. And probably would've gotten a meduim gelatto instead of a small. So I still had a PCP state of mind, even if I didn't follow it to a T.

I know my results might not be as good as they could've been this week, but it was time well spent and it was worth it. I was proud of myself for having the discipline to wake up early both days and get my workout in. I still can't imagine not doing my workouts in the morning. It truly is the best way to start the day.

This weekend made me appreciate the timing of my PCP. From observing the law school environment, it seems like it would be essential to have some sort of daily exercise regimine to keep you fit and sane amidst all the chaos of school. So by getting myself fit now, hopefully I'll have the tools to keep it up long after PCP is over.

I've enjoyed reading all the blogs I missed over the past few days. Everyone's progress pics look great!

Day 17- An Adventure

So tomorrow I am flying to UVA to visit their law school for admitted students day weekend. I'm pretty excited about it, but as far as PCP goes, I'm kind of scared. I'll be staying with a student, so I think it might be a little awkward if I start pulling out resistance bands and my jump rope. Therefore, I'm already planning on skipping the exercises for Friday. I'll just be there Thursday, Friday and come back on Saturday. So I can work out Thursday morning before my flight and then Saturday night when I get back. I'll just miss Friday which I plan to make up for on Sunday. The only thing I can't make up is the day of missed jumping rope. I'm interested to see how much one day without it affects my "skills" (yeah right). It might not be perfect, but it'll have to work.

As far as diet goes, there's not really much I can control while I'm there. I'm going to pack some apples and whole wheat bagels, but other than that, I'm at the mercy of my host. And whatever food UVA serves at the various functions of the weekend; which is a whole 'nother matter. I know a lot of it will be buffet style food, which could be the death of me. I'll do my very best to stay away from those pesky sweets that always seem to be calling my name. But I'm sure pretty much everything will be loaded with salt. And I probably won't get my protein because I don't eat any meat but seafood, and I can't really see them serving fish.

I'm just mentally preparing myself now, so that I won't weaken my resolve when I'm there. I know this will be a minor set back in my progress on PCP; I hope it won't throw me off too much.

As far as my jumping rope goes, I was not able to repeat my miraculous feat of yesterday, but I definitely can still see progress. I can usually go for at least 200 jumps at a time without tripping up, even towards the end when I'm worn out. This is a huge improvement from even a few days ago, when my form would always get worse near the end.

I hope everyone has a good weekend (mine's starting a little early this week). Hopefully I can stay in a PCP state of mind while I'm away!

Day 16 THREE HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX!....

...That is how many jumps I made it to before I tripped up. Now this may not seem that impressive to those pro-jumpers, but to me it was amazing, wonderful, fantastic!!!! It was so nice to have that rhythm and just push through the slight burn in the calves. Of course after I tripped up, I tripped up a few more times before I made it to 800. But I think my calves are getting stronger and my rhythm is getting better, all making a much more enjoyable jumping rope experience. I just read Patrick's email about alternatives to our jump rope workout, but at this point the other suggested activities seem much more time consuming than jumping rope. And I like noting my progress each day. There may come a day where I might faint at the thought of one more jump, but I am no where near that point yet. It's a perfect way to start my day. I jump on the porch of my apartment, overlooking the wooded area behind campus. It's relaxing and almost meditating to be outside so early and have nothing to do but jump a pre-determined number of jumps.

Day 15

Today is the first day I've had a really bad chocolate craving. I could practically taste the sweetness and feel the sugar rush that would follow. But the knowledge that at some point there will be an indulgence, that this is not a 90 day chocolate-free zone, makes it easier to say no. I know eventually I'll get a morsel of that chocolate-y goodness of my choosing (brownie? piece of cake? mmmmm-so many possibilities). And seeing the results of all this hard work also makes it easier to say no. I'm so excited to see where I'll end up in 90 days. Honestly at this point of any workout/diet plan, if I'd gotten this far in progress I would be satisfied and quit pushing myself. But now I have the motivation to continue on.

I was going to post a picture of something ridiculously sweet and delicious looking, but I decided that would just be cruel. So here's a pic of something that looks adorable made from healthy food! YUM

Day 14 Freedom ends...

Today's the end of Spring Break, so I drove back up to school today. After I unpacked I went to the grocery store, loaded up on veggies and came back and steamed a bunch. And boiled a lot of noodles. So now I have a pretty good stack of food that should make things easier this week. For dinner I had noodles with veggies and shrimp. Not too bad, the shrimp were delicious!

I'm exhausted today due to some Spring Break fun last night. But I did my 800 jump ropes this morning! They are still a challenge for me, but it's such a sense of accomplishment to be able to do so many at one time! I'm glad the number isn't being upped again tomorrow though. 800 is definitely enough for now. My workouts are going better since my last post. Patrick's tip about sit ups should make a huge difference.

I can't believe it's already day 14! This past week flew by.

A Difficult Day 12

Today was not the best day. Is it bad when I think I've already hit a wall with PCP on only day 12? The jumping rope this morning did not go well at all. I think it had to do with my lack of energy (I didn't sleep well last night) and the fact that I'm still struggling with finding the right rope. My new rope keeps getting twisted no matter what I do, and so I went back to my old rope today. But it's way too light and I wasn't used to it anymore. So towards the end I think I was stopping about every 10 jumps because I kept smacking myself. I bought a new jump rope today and this is it. If I still have trouble I need to just pick one and work with it. I think this newest one is a good mix between the other two so I have high hopes!

The strength exercisers were not my best either. I strongly dislike squats. I get so bored of doing that repetitve motion that gives my legs such a burn. But I still do the max reps on those because they're not actually that difficult, just boring and slightly painful. I still don't have an option for the incline pull ups. I know I need to get moving on that! I'm hoping once I get back to school, the gym will have something I can use. The push ups were ok, I think I'm improving with the bars. I definitely could not do the max reps on those though. I could barely do the minimum! It's hard because just when I'm able to do the max reps on an exercise, they're upped so that it's a never ending struggle! I know that's on purpose though, so you're constantly challenging your muscles. The curl ups and Davincis were ok. My lack of energy made them more difficult than usual. And the sit ups were the biggest challenge of all. First of all, I hate sit ups. Yes, I used the H word. I have the hardest time keeping my feet on the ground. I'm been bracing my feet against my bed stand for support. I don't know if this is cheating or not, but if I don't do that, I really can't do a proper sit up after only a few reps.

Sorry to be such a downer. I'm keeping the blog honest, and I had to share my frustration. But enough with the negative. Now on to the positive. I think that it's ok that I hit a wall today. In fact I think that'll happen a lot throughout these 90 days. The important part is to push through it and continue on. And I can already tell my workouts are paying off! We did side planks in yoga yesterday, and they were so much easier than usual! I know I owe a lot of that to my dreaded sit ups. So that is why I think that I might grow to love all these ab exercisers that I dislike so much right now, or at least appreciate them more. And even though the diet is stressful (figuring out my meals) and time consuming (preparing my meals) at this point, I know it'll get easier as I get better at cooking and become more creative. The past few nights I've gone to bed a little hungry and instead of getting something to eat like I normally would, I just go to sleep. It's not that bad.

And reading all the other PCPr's blogs helps so much! I can always count on Ren's blog for a laugh, and Brian's for support and inspiration! So thanks everyone and please keep writing!

Day 10 sore, sore, sore...

...okay, I'm mainly just sore in my back. When i push my shoulder blades together, there is some quite intense soreness going on in those muscles! All these strength exercises with the resistance band are really working me hard! And using the push up bars is still a lot of extra work, but I'm pushing through (haha)!

I'm trying to find as many recipes as possible, so I won't be struggling for variety in my diet when I go back to school. It's been easier at home, because I have the time (and my mom) to help me figure everything out. But I know as soon as I get back to school, it's going to be a lot more complicated. Knowing this makes me happy I'll be at home for the last month of the program!

Day 10 means we're 1/9 through PCP!

Day 9

Last night I got a stomach virus right as I was about to go to sleep and proceeded to lose just about everything I ate yesterday. It sucks that I consumed all that food only to lose it a few hours later! But I felt fine today and did my workout as usual. The jumping rope went fairly well. My left calf was a little sore so I had to work through that. The strength exercises are getting more intense. I can definitely feel it working the muscles in my back!

I'm still having confusion with the diet. For example tonight I'm having a sweet potato as my vegetable portion for dinner. But it also has a lot of carbs in it. So does it count as carbs also? For tonight I'm going to say it does and eat some cereal to make up for the rest of the carbs.

I was very happy to read Patrick's email today and see that honey can be a treat once in a while that I won't have to feel guilty about! And cottage cheese! But I'm really sad that peanut butter is a no-no for these 90 days. It's one of the staples in my normal diet (PB+Js, yes sometimes I still have the taste buds of a 5 yr old).

I went on a nice long bike ride around the island today and then to another yoga class at that same place I mentioned yesterday. I'm already dreading the end of this vacation!

I Ate a lot on Day 8!....

...I thought it was kind of funny:)

So in all seriousness, day 8 definitely kicked PCP up a notch or two (or ten!) From the second I looked at my alloted diet I knew it would require discipline. Not so much in the sense that I have to discipline myself to eat only these non-processed, non-salted foods, but more so that I have to weigh each portion and figure out enough recipes so that I won't die of boredom. For my carbs for breakfast and dinner I had my all bran cereal (with almond milk). I think that's a pretty pure whole grain. I had salmon for lunch and flounder for dinner as my protein. I was surprised by how much food this all was, but I trust Patrick and this process enough to just go with it.

The exercise portion wasn't too bad today. I actually did the 600 jumps all the way through without feeling breathless or winded afterwards! It felt amazing. I only tripped up a few times, and each time I immediately kept going, instead of pausing. I used the push up bars for the first time today and they made my push ups way more difficult. I guess I just have to get used to them. Before I wasn't having a problem with push ups at all, but I know these will make my form even better. Unfortunately I can't find anything in my house to use for the incline pull ups, so I'm still brainstorming on that one.

Tonight I went to a yoga studio I'd never been to before that practices Jivamukti Yoga. I'd never even heard of it before. At first it seemed a little too new age-y for me, but once I let go, I loved it! It started and ended with singing, but don't let that fool you. It was the most intense class I've ever been too, but it was also the most fun. Because I'd never been before, I didn't know what would come next. This allowed me to really be in the moment of each present pose. And also I was having so much fun the whole time, I wasn't focused on the intensity of the pose. I definitely plan on going there more this week. I'm sad they don't have this back at college!

I hope all my fellow PCPr's had a great day 8!

Day 7

So I just read the email for week 2 and the diet definitely seems feasible. I have a lot of nit-picky questions about it, but I know the answers will come in time!

Today, I had more trouble with the 500 jump ropes than expected. I got a new, better rope, but it actually twists up more easily than my older one did. So I'm not sure which one I should use. I'm going to keep trying with the new one for a few more days and see if it gets any better.

As far as my last day before "PCP proper", I did fairly well. My treat was a Hershey bar. I figured it was the last time I'd get sugar in a while and it was the perfect amount. I count it as a half portion because normally I'd eat more chocolate than that!

All in all, I'd say week 1 went pretty well and I hope I do as well week 2!

Day 5 FREEDOM!

SPRING BREAK 2010!

Par-tay!

Haha, not really. Sadly (or happily, depending on how you look at it) I have never been much of a party-er. I'm more of a "couple of close friends hanging out" kind of girl. And liquor is not my alcohol of choice. That would be wine (do not come between me and my bottle of Smoking Loon Merlot). So instead of doing the typical senior-year-spring-break-week-long-party thing, I'm just going home for the week. I should probably mention I live on a beach, so home for me is where most people vacation to. And believe me, I don't take this for granted. I plan to spend a large portion of this week at the beach walking my dogs (that's a pic of my dog in the field right behind the beach and then the other is a pic I took at the beach). And just hanging out with my family. Lame I know, but the older I get, the more important those things are to me. And I am so ready for a break!

I am afraid of how PCP will go in this environment. At school I have a built in structure to my day, so in a way it's easy to fit PCP in. But now that I'm home, I have my mom who can cook anything and the beach which can sound much better than working out. But I know I can do it. I'm still going to work out first thing in the morning; in fact, it should be easier because I can wake up any time I want now! No alarm clock this week! And as far as food goes, with my family's support, I'm sure it'll be ok.

So here's to day 1 of relaxation!

A Mindful Day 4

There are two things everyone always notices about me. I eat fast and I walk fast. I have yet to make a good friend who does not comment on these characteristics of mine. Reading Patrick’s blog about "Becoming Your Psychology" made me contemplate these aspects of myself. His blog reminded me that the physical change the PCP will bring will only go so far. In order for this transition to last beyond these 90 days, I need to embrace a mental transformation. I don’t want to be that girl who loves food so much she scarfs it down without truly appreciating the taste. Or who walks so fast she misses the beauty that surrounds her.

The idea of a mediation practice is not new to me. The first time I did yoga, during Savasana, I could barely keep myself still; much less keep my thoughts still. I am now at the point where I can keep my body silent, but I still have a hard time calming my mind and letting go. I’m going to try to incorporate the daily meditation Patrick describes in an effort to increase my mindfulness and figure out who I really am. One of the reasons I decided to do the PCP at my age (22) is because I figured if I could learn all these lessons and gain better self-awareness early in life, it would make things much better and perhaps easier later on. I might as well make the most of everything available to me. So I now have another goal to add to the program:

Develop a meaningful meditation practice that I actually enjoy by the end of the 90 days. This will be a BIG challenge for me, but the rewards could be amazing.

I’ll keep you updated on how this pans out. I have a feeling it will be pretty interesting!

On a semi-connected note, I had an epiphany in yoga today. This was the first time I've had a chance to go since I started PCP and I was so ready for a good stretching session. The class was with a different teacher than usual and we spent the entire time connecting our breath with our movement. Now, I know every class does that, but we really focused on it above all else. There were no difficult poses today; it was just all about connecting with the breath. For some reason, that's what it took for me to FINALLY realize what "connect with your breath" actually means. It completely transformed how I see my body's movements and how I plan to approach my yoga practice from now on. And to think, if I hadn't happened to go to that yoga class on this day, I might have missed this amazing lesson.

Day 3

Today started off great. I figured out that this plastic thing I thought was part of my jump rope, actually wasn't. Once I cut it off, my skills greatly improved. I did 2 sets straight to 60 without messing up, and I didn't mess up too many times on the others! And I've already noticed I get less winded. I'm actually looking forward to jumping rope tomorrow and seeing if I can do even better! One positive side effect of working out first thing, is I down at least 2 glasses of water before I've even had breakfast. I've always been a big water drinker (that and milk) because I don't like soft drinks (weird I know, something about the carbonation) or coffee. But I've noticed these past few days that I've been drinking even more water than usual.

As far as the strength portion went, I had a lot of energy for some reason and did the maximum reps on each set. My core has been a little sore all day, but in a good way. I know that's my weakest area and one of the major reasons I joined PCP was to strengthen it. I know that'll really help my yoga practice. Oh, and in between my sets of push ups I went into child's pose and it felt great! I did the wheel after my last core rep as an energy boost, but that energy quickly dwindled. At around 2 PM, I could definitely tell I was crashing. I think it's just my body getting used to waking up so early every day. It has definitely made me hungrier than I was on day 1 and 2 though!

I had a really hard time halving my portions today. For lunch, at my university's dining hall I tried to just serve myself half the amount I usually would, but I'm not sure if it really was half. For my favorite DH meal~ honey nut cheerios with cut up banana, I may have cheated a little. I put only half the banana in the cereal, but I could not stop eating those cheerios! Now normally I think I would have gone back for another bowl, so maybe that was me halving it by not getting a second helping. I swear, those honey nut cheerios must be laced with crack they are soooo good. And the DH doesn't always have them, so I had to take advantage of the situation!

All in all a great day 3 for exercise and an ok day 3 for diet!

Day 2

It's snowing. In South Carolina. In March. There is a blizzard going on outside my window right now that while, mesmerizing to watch, causes me to have extreme hermit-like tendencies. Aka I am skipping that afternoon yoga class I'd been planning on attending all day. Luckily I got my PCP workout out of the way this morning, BEFORE the flurries started. I've been jump roping first thing these past 2 days and I think I'll continue to do that. I know if I put it off, I'll end up dreading it all day. Hopefully I can maintain this momentum to get it over with when I wake up.

With this snow, there is little that could get me to venture out right now. Except maybe the promise of the other half of the DELICIOUS veggie sub I had to throw away at lunch. I only get a 6 inch to begin with, so eating half isn't very filling. Maybe it's because I knew I couldn't finish it, but that sub has never tasted better. I was so tempted to just eat the whole thing, but this blog is keeping me honest and I forced myself to throw half in the trash.

2 midterms down, 1 paper and midterm to go!

Day 1

Week one of PCP happens to coincide with midterm week (aka the week from hell) at my university. Not the best timing, but it did give me incentive to wake up early and get my workout out of the way, so I could study the rest of the day. Now, normally I'm a fairly coordinated person, but when it comes to jumprope, I have two left feet. In India, me and my friends would jumprope sometimes for exercise, and they always laughed at how loud my feet would stomp when they hit the ground. While today I kept tried to keep the impact to mainly the balls of my feet, I still kept getting the rope wrapped around me. Also, for now I have to hop twice in between each turn; I'm not yet quick enough to be able to jump once on each turn. I can see how it is great cardio though. While this set wore me out perhaps more than intended, I look forward to improving my jumprope skills as the PCP continues!

As far as the diet goes, this was also more of a challenge than expected. It's 6:14 PM right now and I'm going to wait awhile longer to have dinner in hopes that I won't go to bed hungry on my half-portion!

Since this is Day 1 of the program, I figured it would be a good idea to lay out some goals of mine for the program. By the end of the 90 day period, I will:

-be able to do a headstand in yoga class

-have a better grip on my addiction to chocolate

-be able to jumprope without feeling extremely clumsy (and winded after only a few sets!)

-have a greater appreciation for what my body is capable of doing

I'm sure I'll develop some more goals as the weeks continue, but these are the major ones.

I look forward to reading how my fellow PCPr's are handling the first day!