Day 90...PCP Complete!

Well here we are, 90 days down and a new life has unfolded. The PCP has taken me on a journey back to many moments in my life when I learnt valuable, healthy lessons...but for one reason or another I'd put them aside for a while. I had mixed expectations going into the project about my own goals but most of all I was looking for a healthier balance and a new start for Clive and I together.

You see I was worried, my family has a history of diabetes, blood pressure issues and heart attacks and I was really scared about going down the same path and Clive was on his way too. A big thanks to my hubby Clive I'm so proud of him, he suggested PCP and his results are outstanding no more diabetes for him and no high blood pressure. And I'm pleased with my results too.

I rekindled an old deep set passion for healthy foods and daily exercise that some days I thought I had lost forever. I used to run a lot. In fact I ran so much one year people were worried about my weight loss. I was skinny then and that's were I thought PCP would get me to again. I'm please to say it didn't. This time I'm fit, lean and strong. I've lost nearly 6kgs and although I'm 2kgs heavier than my skinny runny days I now feel great.

Patrick well done on such a terrific inspiring program, it's portable...amazing, and no excuses now. The gradual build of the exercises pushes your body and mind every day and yet is rarely unachievable so it keeps you motivated, it also keeps injury away and that's a true gift while trying to get your health and fitness in shape. The diet is great, it teaches you how to enjoy basic healthy food again and it certainly makes you look at the world through different eyes without the fuss of counting calories or missing out on a main food group. It's sustainable.

Well done to our group who did a great job and kept me inspired, thanks guys you are inspirational to me. And here's to the future, not much will change for us we will continue exercising daily (most of the time) and eating the right size portions of what I now call double fish Sundays, lunch and dinner...thank goodness Clive has found his love for fish. Here's to health, happiness and a long loving life.

Oh and if you want to see what happened, this is where I started...

And now I'm here...

More shopping needed I believe :)  

Best of luck to all of you that have a go, you will sweat, you will have tough days but I wish you all a healthy safe and wonderfully strong journey...

Travelling again on Sunday

Off again on a three day conference unfortunately, would have preferred to end PCP in the routine of being at home with my own food and gym but will make do.

Last time I used the study table in my hotel room for my pull ups whilst hoping it wasn't going to break or that I'd pull it over. Also found that you can do chest push ups simply using the corner of a kitchen bench and cringed at the thought of the bathroom hook flying off the wall as I did standing ovations hooked to it.

I must admit I half expected to have my skipping rope taken at the airport but they didn't bother about that and quizzed me about my metal book mark my Mum had given me. She would be horrified.

Anyway that said there really isn't anything you can't do with your trusty rope and resistance band.

Day 82

Hey Gang, gosh don't you find that 8 min abs guy hilarious? Clive and I end up laughing and imitating him as we go. :)

We decided to spend our indulgence out for Sat lunch at an amazing italian restaurant and it was awesome. The food was to die for and we still picked protein and vegies (of course they had sauces) but we did manage a little cheese wine and dessert Ooops! Of course in the usual old form we got home and I wanted more wine and Clive wanted football and sleep, we both got what we wanted, and my family and friends got me chatting for a couple of hours on the phone before falling asleep on the couch with a very bloated tummy and a slightly sore head.

It was yummy, fun and we will do it again, just not in the regular pattern that we used to and in less quantity too. I'm loving the new life style but it's great to know you can let your hair down every now and then. Everything in moderation as they say......with the exception of daily workouts, fruit, vegies and to some extent protein and carbs of course.

I'm not counting down to the end because it is just the beginning.

Traveling PCP

Hi Guys,

I had a strange week as I had to travel into North Sumatra for a few days, one of which started at 4am in the morning skipping rope and dancing around my room before hours of planes and 4 wheel drives, buses, trains that finally landed me at a hotel room at Singapore airport at nearly 1am the next day.

I ate broccoli for breaky and people asked if I was dieting, I used Patrick's advice and answered, "just being healthy", they soon moved on to talk about something else. Lunch choices were not so good but I managed to find salad, a bread roll and some egg followed with fruit and passed on the deep fried fish and the beef curry.

It's definitely harder to work when other people feed you but I made do with whatever healthy choices I could find.

Clive and I went for a couple of good walks this weekend too on top of our workouts so sweated it out in the HK heat and feeling relaxed and healthy tonight. I'm loving combining my skipping with some dance, it's a great way to start the day. Will sleep well tonight i'm sure. Hope you're all feeling good.

Frustration

Feeling a little frustrated today, I'm sure nothing has changed for a little while and I'm wondering why. I am working hard and eating well but not getting any movement at the moment... something's got to budge soon... please.

Abs to go......Noooooo

This is so bad it's hilarious, fake abs...and I've met this guy. Let's just say they suit him...

Indulgence

Yes we had a little vodka indulgence and it hurt the next day. My head was twice a sore as usual because the vodka went straight to my head and I fell over and hit my head on the coffee table. I proud to say I'm not the drinker that I used to be Ouch.

Reminder to self...

Don't forget your "Homework"...

Kung Fu panda or maybe monkey

So started the day off in fear when I saw Kung Fu Sit-ups on the agenda...what on earth were we in for?

Skipped, leaped, lunged etc through my workout and then to the last set of Kung Fu sit-ups I arrived. Climbed up onto the pull up bar and commenced what I suspect looked more like a drunk monkey trying to swing it's legs up into a tree. ha ha ha it was hilarious, thankfully the regulars in the gym had finished and left me alone (I was hoping they would...phew).
 
I re-read Patrick's tips about not using the swing to get momentum and it worked, although not perfect, I imagined I looked like a gymnast in training (very basic training) and not the monkey I started out to be :)

Kung Fu Sit-ups - TICK. Feel good today.

Veggie inspiration

If anyone has any good ideas on how to make veggies more exciting please do share. I love them but I'm going to have to put in a little effort to get some variety into the evening snack. Let me know if you have any veggie favorites.

By the way well done to everyone, I think we are all staying on track pretty well, and everyone is looking great, those that I can see anyway, keep it up guys :)

Day 40 - Almost Hump Day

It feels like a bit of a milestone reaching day 40 although the real milestone, 45 - half way, is just around the corner. Patrick was right, I can see why this is the time where some PCP'ers would fall off the wagon, body is tried, not in love with skipping anymore, but feeling positive and pushing through. Loving my sleep Zzzzzzz.

I'm focussed on the fact that 15 mins of skipping a day is much better use of my time than double the amount for a swim or run.

Made a yummy (PCP compliant apart from the olives I guess) Chicken Cacciatore last night, with zucchini and capsicum (forgot the mushrooms) and lots of fresh herbs. Clive and I weighed all the ingredients for two lunches each before cooking. I just ate mine for lunch with broccoli and pasta, was delicious... so full, relaxed and sleepy now Zzzzzzz.

Day 39 - Loving the journey

I've got to agree with the guys, my shoulders have been attacked the last few days, which has inevitably made my skipping a little tougher. Have been doing the 8 min abs for the last few days too, I love them, love a good ab burn. Tired today, went to James Blunt last night and didn't get to bed until late (which is anything after 10pm these days as we are up at 6am).

Clive and I had a wicked Saturday night, we feasted on our egg flip shakes and apples while cooking home made veggie burgers (non stick pan) and watching a movie almost falling asleep, we are out of control.

Decided it's too hard to do dinners with friends so have opted for popping over for a cuppa (no bickies) HA it's a hilarious change but everyone is understanding and curious. They all comment on how good Clive looks (and he does), no one comments that I look different too, obviously they are being kind or I hid it well before, or they just don't think I look any different. He does look amazing. I'll show them all this Christmas when I break out that bikini back in Aus. A few kgs to go before I'm finished but loving the journey.

Day 31 - Boat trip with temptations...

Can feel my muscles today, the new workout is definitely kicking in.

Managed to avoid complete disaster yesterday on our boat trip with friends. Turned down the pink champagne offer without hesitation, picked through what used to look like a healthy lunch, prawns (covered in seafood sauce), quiche (left the pastry), chicken (nuggets had two), salad (oil, dressing, picked mainly the cherry tomato) and then for the grand finale... pavlova, had one small spoonful and covered it with fresh berries that we had brought with us in an attempt to stay on track. So not perfect but ok. Clive and I both felt a little squeamish after the sugar hit of the pav.

The weather was awesome and we had a great swim into the beach and back to the boat. Body is slimming down so felt good in my bikinis which was great. A little sun, sand and salt always makes me smile. :)

Day 28 - Skipping Day Off

Ha Ha Sarah, funny thing is, I did the creep in my garden too as there was someone in our gym and I thought I should test it out in private. Sweated up a treat too as it was about 32 degrees and humid that morning in HK. Think I'll just do it in the gym next time now I think I know what I am doing.

I was the same yesterday, so hungry, I did miss my carbs at lunch, forgot to pack them (yes I'm still forgetting things, nearly forgot my lunch today, again!) so had an extra serve of fruit instead and that soothed the hunger.

Going to be a testing weekend as Saturday we are off to Shenzhen for a day trip, no idea where we will be eating and Sunday on a boat with great friends of ours who like a little indulgence so will have to stay strong right? :)

Day 26 - feeling good

I feel good today, a bit of a pause in weight loss has kicked in but I've lost a couple of kgs so far and feel different and excited about getting fitter and slimmer. A bit worried about bulking up to much, I like a lean body and my arms and legs can muscle up pretty easily, don't want to look like a body builder or a bloke.

Recovery when skipping is improving and like Sarah said it is so different to the first week or two. I did the new crawl this morning and couldn't believe how much it raised my heart rate and breathing.

A long way to go to get to my goal weight but will get there over time.

Day 22 - Did I forget something?

6.30am, workout - check, cool down - check, milk, gulp - check, plate with yummy toast/avo/tomato/egg - check, relax read my book and eat breakfast, feeling good, feeling relaxed....feeling like I've forgotten something....Bugger! Forgot my squats...

Ate my last mouthful of breaky and trudged off to do my squats and get all hot again before my shower.

Must be my week for forgetfulness, forgot my lunch (nearly) 2 times this week, whilst walking through the door with the sticky note "have you got your lunch?" put there by my husband Clive, who drove me home the week before last because I forgot my lunch. Lucky we had friends staying, who obviously were more switched on than me at that hour and saved me by yelling from the shower, "Have you got your lunch?"  I'll be in trouble next week when they go home. My poor husband, must tattoo my forehead, or tie some string, or something.

Day 19

Had our first night out last night and guess what...had a ball, and stayed on track whilst watching our wonderful friends (here on holidays) down what looked like a days worth of PCP food in one sitting and many pints of beer. Clive and I kept it on track by ordering a small steak and a small fish and a shared plate of vegies washed down with some bubbles (not champagne, mineral water). We then went and saw a group from the Melbourne Comedy Festival perform (in HK) and it was hilarious, was nearly ab crunching with laughter the whole way through. We caught a cab home at 10pm to prepare breakys and lunches and crawled into bed exhausted. The other two stayed out drinking till all hours. Gosh I sound like their Mum or something.

Anyway the moral of the story is today we feel great, I got up and did my workout at 6.30am Clive is doing his at lunch time and the other two are just getting up now with sore heads.  Don't worry those two party animals are tough and will power through by the pool this afternoon or shopping up a storm, but I couldn't help but feel a little lucky that we'd woken up clear headed and filled with a real feeling of health and achievement.

Give me strength on the weekend.

Day 13

Felt a bit tired yesterday when it came to the workout. Started skipping and thought, "this feels a little different than usual". Normally I feel good at the skipping point. I forgot my afternoon fruit and munched it down just before the workout but I don't think this is the issue. Just my body tired. Clive said he felt the same. Must be day 12 peak in our house, but we pushed through, thank goodness it was squats day and not lunges.

Definitely not hungry and have lost a bit over 2kgs so pretty happy, it's a start. looking forward to the end of week two and a skipping day with new food/workout plans. I hope everyone is going well.

Day 9 - Stuffed Peppers YUM

Just thought I'd post a little recipe that Clive and I made this week and it was really yummy.

Clive and Tracey’s Chicken Stuffed Capsicums

This recipe is great for using up any leftovers you may have e.g. rice or vegies previously cooked. Rice can be replaced for cannellini beans and spices and herbs changed depending on taste. You can pretty much stuff them with anything but this time we picked the following (adjust in quantities to equal your meal allowance of Carb, Veg & Protein). We made four so we could take two to work for lunch.

1 T x Olive oil

4 x Capsicums (any colour)

1 x Onion diced

4-5 x Garlic cloves crushed

20 x Pitted Olives chopped in half

1 cup x Tomato passata salt free

4 x Slow Roasted Tomatoes (Gwyn’s secret recipe see below)

Parsley chopped (a handful)

2 x Chicken breasts steamed and shredded with forks

Paprika to taste

Cayenne pepper to taste

Rice – cooked one tablespoon per pepper

100g Fetta

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Cook Chicken breasts and shred with forks. Cook rice and chop ingredients. Cut the top off each capsicum (like a lid) and drop into boiling water for 2 minutes, then drop into cold water to cool, turn them upside down onto kitchen paper to drain.

Heat olive oil in pan and add onion to sauté, when soft add garlic paprika and cayenne pepper stirring through. Add chicken, olives, passata, tomatoes, parsley and rice, stir to warm through and combine but don’t overcook.

Stuff peppers with mixture, layering a tablespoon at a time and topping each one with a feta slice.When they are full put the lids on and bake for 40 mins.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Slow Roasted Tomatoes

• Vine-ripened tomatoes
• Olive oil

Preheat the oven to 150°C.

Cut the tomatoes in half horizontally, rub with a tiny bit of olive oil and a pinch of salt, and bake, seed side up, in a 150°C oven for 3–5 hours, or until they look nearly sun dried (the edges will be caramelized and the moisture will be almost entirely evaporated). These keep, well refrigerated in an airtight container with a bit of olive oil, for at least a week, so make a whole bunch at once.

Enjoy, and please share some recipes with us, Trace.

Day 8

Woke up early today, can't believe it's Friday and day 8 already. As I couldn't sleep I decided to hit the gym early and give my new workout a run. Thinking I would need an hour I surprised myself when I was done in 30'ish minutes. Hope I'm doing it right?
I had nothing to do the incline pull up on so I ventured out into the heat (it's hot in HK at the moment) and found a handrail outside the gym to do the job. Probably no quite the right angle but it worked, and my arms are sleepy now so it did something. I hope the neighbors weren't watching.
Im feeling good, Clive and I are noticing changes in our shape already, even if they are small something is happening.

Day 4

Sunday was really tough but we got there.

After a midnight Saturday night departure from the Maldives we landed in Hong Kong around 1pm a little weary. Two 4'ish hour flights and little sleep was a bit of a shock to the mind and body after our 8-10 hour snooze sessions on holidays. But we had a plan.

After unpacking the suitcase we headed out to stock up on fruit and veg and returned home to fill the fridge with healthy options. The footy was on, I was a little sore from the previous lunge and squat sessions, and we didn't have a skipping rope yet (we had been using the rope at the Maldives gym), it was very tempting to say "it's just one day off". 

But I read Michael's blog (thanks Michael) about skipping without a rope and the image of him jumping without a  rope as his wife giggled at him made me realise we really had no excuse. So we did our workout jumping imaginary ropes together trying not to laugh and I suffered my way through the squats (Clive was fine) then headed for the pool for a little dip before dinner.

Breaky was yum today, avocado and egg on a piece of toast and I feel good today. I think pushing through the muscle aches has sent them packing, we are going to buy a rope at lunch time and I'm looking forward to a workout tonight. Just a pity I'm back at work today with shoes on again, I'd rather be snorkeling with Clive.

Bring it on

Well, here we are in the sunny Maldives, and in between relaxing and swimming we are setting up our blog.
Maybe next time we come back the bikini body will be in much better shape, well that's the plan now isn't it.