Day 31 - The peaks and valleys of the PCP

The peaks and valleys of the PCP. We hear about them in the blogs of the peakers who go before us. We may or may not realize that we too will be travelling the same ground. In my last blog I mentioned how spring was here and for some of us with spring come the allergies. With the pollen count today very high I was hit this morning with a cloudy head and a runny nose. Which very well might be a tiny cold. I felt I was dragging for a good part of the day. During the workout tonight a gym buddy helped me do 10 pull ups and after 1300 jumps, the cloudiness had lifted and the runny nose gone. I worked it pretty hard today. Pushing myself to do 40 second planks and keeping one eye on the clock to make sure I was keeping with the rest portions.

After the workout, now this is one of my favorite parts of the PCP, I get in the locker room, remove my shirt and it's just amazing to see all your muscles pumped and bulging. It's a great feeling to know that's actually you in the mirror. I get home to make my tilapia and asparagus as I was ravenous and again cloudy as the allergies and/or cold came back on. I started to tell my wife a story from a book I'm reading about a little girl and her father playing baseball and I just broke down and cried and I mean, I was crying! My wife stood there with a look of amazement of her face as an innocent parable transformed into epic sobbing. I then started laughing and took a nice long shower. Which, needless to say, was just what a needed.

How about my fellow peakers? Any mood swings going on in your world?

Day 30 - Around any corner

I found a new love today. Baked artichokes. I had never had one before, baked that is. Usually the artichoke is hidden in something called “dip”. Which, one must admit, is rather delicious. However, I never eat artichoke dip because it is rarely presented at cocktail parties, beach shin digs, nor the bingo hall. This morning, I sipped my morning Joe, and baked a dozen or so artichokes. I then scraped away the leaves, held the precious still beating heart in my hands, and chomped down. A new love indeed. The smell recalled tomatoes, the taste recalled, hmmmm….artichoke minus dip. Splendid!

The PCP offers many new opportunities to test boundaries and explore the world inside and out. That’s the wonderful thing. The discovery right around the corner of a new burning sensation in the arms, a new taste on the tongue, a new sight in the mirror. Oh, and just in time for spring. A wonderful time for renewal and discovery.

PCP confession booth: I could not do my V sit up's today. After the 4 sets of leg ups I was a quivering mess and I literally could not lift my legs anymore. So, I did three sets of regular sit ups and one set of planks.

Week 5 pics up.

Day 29 - Kick it up a notch

How does one feel after 1300 jumps of the rope, 120 lunges, and into the 2nd set of floor jumps? Tired and exhilarated. The pleasure and the pain of the PCP. PCP proper. PCP, kicked up a notch. That's where we are right now. The grams reduced, the carbs cut, the exercises doubled, and a long month ahead as we reach the 30 day mark.

I need to make adjustments to my meal times. By 12:30pm today I had gone through my mid-morning snack and lunch with only my yogurt to look forward to at 4. This is where my coffee would usually come in to help me reach my 7pm workout. So, one cup of coffee a day is manageable but I will have to push my lunch back an hour. Overall, a great PCP day.

Day 27 - Indulgence & 738

My indulgence was perfectly timed as it coincided with a BBQ/hang out session with a couple of good friends. The indulgence was never a mystery. Twas only ever going to be a cold beer. But which one and how many? I studied my options and counted my calories by staying true to the 400 calorie limit Patrick imposed on us Peakers. And since I stood around for a few hours on St. Patrick's Day watching hundreds of people drink "the black stuff", it didn't take much research to pick a winner. Guinness.

Two Guinness Extra Stouts and 1 ounce of Makers Mark bourbon came in at a respectable 422 calories. I started off with the 1 once of Maker's while we were all prepping the food and gabbing about a number of topics. After all the food was cooked and ready to devour, we gathered around the table and enjoyed a fine meal.

It was after the meal that I cracked open my 1st Guinness. Pouring the black gold into a pint glass was a beautiful thing to watch. Only made all the more so by the fact that I was about to raise the glass to my awaiting lips and eager tongue. She did not disappoint. I nursed the two stouts for the next two hours and managed to work up a small but giggly buzz bolstered by a fine array of silly and humorous conversation.

I'd like to thank Joe and Spence for their support and mindfulness of my life on the PCP. When it came time to BBQ the communal slab of Delmonico steak we'd all be sharing, a small slice was BBQ'd separately without salt, and without complaint. A wonderful gesture. There was not a dry eye in the house. Nor a drop spared in that pint glass.

Today, Day 27, was a great day by PCP standards. I started my jumps in the sun and in the zone as I knocked out 738 in a row! The Guinness clearly helped! My dinner tonight was solid. I made my famous meatballs today and they were a welcomed addition to the meal. Aruglia, cauliflower, pasta, carrots, and those wonderful meatballs.

P.S. I did not have any of the Newman's marinara sauce in the background. 510mg of sodium! Only 21% of your daily recommended allowance! 5 servings in the jar.

Salt free is where we gonna be!

Day 25 - Pulled up

I had a pretty fair day today. The floor jumps were fun and I felt like a frog. Patrick mentioned the burn after performing the floor jumps and boy, was he right. Something tells me I'm going to feel those in the morning. The tricep dips killed today. The chicken wings were cooked on a slow burn. The V sit ups were a welcomed change and I also felt the burn in all the right places.

But it was before my workout where my significant PCP event of the day happened. Patrick checked in on me to discuss my ability, or lack thereof, performing pull ups. The pull up is something I've struggled to do my entire life. For as long as I can remember. It's one of those ghosts of gym class that have been haunting my thoughts ever since the PCP started. And, I must admit I was accepting those negative thoughts. "It's OK", I told myself, "as long as I concentrate on the other exercises it will work out fine".

Patrick explained to me why the pull up was vitally important to my personal fitness and development. We brainstormed a few ideas to get me on the right track and after our conversation I've decided to put a pull up bar in the apartment so I can work extra weekends. Thanks Pat for helping me shake out some of these old cobwebs up in my attic. I have new focus and knowledge to walk my path.

Day 24 - Walking the plank

The plank is a torture exercise first used in 1484 in a dreary dungeon hidden somewhere in Barcelona during the Spanish Inquisition. Holding the position for 30 seconds for 3 sets would undoubtedly compel the poor soul into confessing to any sin or transgression that was put before him or her.

Fast forward to the year 2010 and you'll find a victim in a gym somewhere in Piscataway, NJ lying on the floor and screaming "WHY GOD? WHY?". Oh, Patrick. You cruel, cruel, man. Who would put the plank right after the shoulder press?!? WHO??? What devious soul would do that? AHHHHHHH!

I confess!!! A confession written in sweat on the gym floor.

Day 23 - Just 5 more...

Just 5 more....Keep your back to the floor....Just 5 more....That's how I was able to get through the last two sets of leg lifts today. The extra sets and reps added to the workout this week is exhausting. My arms were burning during the abs workout and I wasn't even using my arms! Straighting your legs for the triceps dips certainly makes them much, much harder. Muscle failure was imminent on the last set when I stopped and panted "Just 5 more". Just 5 more. Keep the form. Keep the legs straight. Bend your arms in the 90 degree angle. . Breath! Spit! Fight! Just 5 more and then 5 more after that.

It's amazing to look in the mirror and see changes in certain parts of my body that have haunted me since the 6th grade. That's not a joke. That's when I started to get harassed in the locker room for being fat. I'll tell you one thing, it certainly builds character. It feels marvelous to making this progress. I'm willing to go anywhere, provided it be forward. Just 5 more and then 5 more after that.

Day 22 - Morning Exercise

Today brought a change of routine. Due to a schedule conflict I would have to preform my PCP workout in the morning. Normally, outside of the PCP, I would have just skipped working out. See, I never workout in the morning. I can't recall ever doing so. I've known about this for about 4 days and it's been in the back of my head. The anticipation. The doubt. The morning workout.

I entered the gym at 11am and was pleasantly surprised by this thing called "morning exercise". I had boundless energy. I jumped 500 times in a row, leaped from exercise to exercise relishing the burn, and got through the entire workout in 40 minutes. Needless to say, I was pleased with the results and I'm planning on doing more of these morning jaunts to the gym.

This week also brings a handful of new exercises to the PCP. I'm ready to take them on and interested in how we all are going to fair over the next couple weeks. Hunger today wasn't an issue as it's been in prior weeks. Even with the reduced grams I felt well fed. I'm just going to enjoy that while it lasts.

PCPeace out!

Day 21 - Maintaining focus

As the days roll by and we reach deeper into the PCP. Maintaining focus is key to achieving the goals we set forth to accomplish. As with any long slog, the terrain will grow rocky, the weather fowl, and the voices inside our heads will tell us we can't go on. Patrick's e-mail today issued the caveat that "next week things get serious". We face a major test but for now, the week ahead will do. One day at a time.

I finally stepped back on the scale today to discover I've lost 5 pounds. The need for a new notch in my belt is imminent as I must hold my pants up when I walk. My sexy jeans are now rather loose! I felt rather calm today as I soaked up the sun in the park. The 1000 jumps of the rope went fairly quickly and I marveled at the fact that 1000 is now doable. As I type this, I'm hungry. Ready for my after dinner snack. So, you must excuse me as I consult my food scale. Peace!

Day 20 - Nice day!

The weather was gorgeous and I spent the better part of the morning with my son walking downtown. We stopped into my favorite cafe, listened to the organist rehearse at the chapel, and closely watched the behavior of squirrels. My son thinks their mice. He points and yells "MOUSE". He then slept for the better part of the afternoon and I got to catch up on reading and washed the pile dishes in the sink. All with the windows open!

The workout today went really well. Jumping outside made the jumps go quickly. Before I knew it I had done 700 with only 200 left to go. What I love about the PCP workout is that you don't need a gym. A door and some space is all you need to work up a really quality sweat. So, that's what I did! I'm feeling a lot less sore today. My left pectoral muscle was sore this past week but today, even after the push ups, it doesn't so much feel sore, but just kind of there. Growing! Argh!

My wife observed me flexing and commented, "Wow, you actually have muscles now!". I informed her that I always had muscles and I didn't hear a response. We're looking forward to another 72 degree day tomorrow and planing a PCP picnic in the park. Loads of vegetable in the fridge and can't wait to get some sleep.

Cheers Ya'll!

Day 19 - My barbaric yawp

Yesterday I was laughing and whimpering. Today I was sounding my barbaric yawp across the empty treadmills of the gym. With the weather on the East coast approaching spring, the gym empties out much sooner than in the winter weather. That makes a late attendee such as myself very happy. I'm able to walk in and actually turn off the 10 TVs that are blaring a jumble of nonsense. I love a quiet gym. To actually hear your body in motion. To concentrate on the movement. To get lost, not in a TV show, but within your own will and motivation to complete the next rep.

An empty gym also gives one freedom to express the sounds that leap out of the body while working out. I was roaring in between sets. Grunting and speaking to myself. Counting out loud and trying not think to far ahead. And I yawped a proud yawp and thought of old Walt Whitman and then about what I'd be eating for dinner. Angel hair spaghetti, buffalo, and spinach. But...just...20...more...push ups. YAWP!!!

On the way home I rolled down the window, put on the new Massive Attack, and took a deep breath of the cool air. I thought about Sunday. The PCP "rest" day where I only have to do 1000 jumps of the rope. Ahhh, only 1000. That's wonderful.

Day 18 - Everything changes

Shunryu Suzuki was once asked to sum up everything he knew about Zen Buddhism in one sentence. He paused and answered, "Everything changes". And when we embrace the inevitable and expanding change in each of our lives we can start to see the world a bit differently in each minor and major event. Today, I moved my desk. I had been given warning about three months ago that I would have to move my things. I had been sitting in this seat for two years and I had a few "who moved my cheese" moments. But after reflecting, I embraced the move as a new opportunity. A welcomed change. New people, new light, new sounds, new surfaces, new windows, new shades, new "Good mornings", new "Good nights", new laughs, and new things to absorb. A whole new world.

Here in the PCP. We are feeling new changes everyday. Today in the gym I was so sore, in between reps I just started laughing and then I started whimpering. It was the only thing I could express. The only thing that made sense to do. My body is changing. New lines appear on my arms and there is actually some definition around my belly. New movements as muscles start to flex. Muscles I've never seen contract and expand before. New hands to shake as I'm in the gym every night and start to see new faces and they see a bearded guy on the floor grunting in pain and sweating like a hog. I reach out my arm and pant, "What's up, bro?". Yes, everything changes. Thank God for that.

Day 17 - Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Ah, Ireland. The picture above was taken on Claire Island off the west coast of Ireland on our Honeymoon in '06. I was also on the Emerald Isle in '00 where I toured the country with my Uncle. It's a magic place and being Irish, my family has carried a healthy dose of Irish pride for as long as I can remember.

So, it is on this day where it is every good Irishman's duty to go out and drink. Guinness, whisky, wine, what-have-you...and, I've been known to celebrate in the past rather liberally. When I announced to certain parties that I was planning on not touching the stuff for 90 days, then inevitably came the light bulb over their fine little heads, "But, you're not drinking on St. Patrick's Day?!?!?". Shock, Horror, Disgrace. Well....

I went to two bars tonight. Yes, one drink wasn't going to kill me. No, one Guinness is not bad for you. In fact it's the lowest calorie non-light beer on the planet. Nope, one shot of whisky wouldn't set me back. But, no thanks. I'm not drinking. It's not about one sip. It's about the discipline. 90 days of discipline to prepare for the thousand days afterward. Sacrifice. The Irish certainly are no strangers to that and this Irishman most certainly isn't either. Thanks to Joe, Brian, Amanda, and special guest JD, helping me celebrate alcohol free. Slainte!!!!

Day 16 - Good day, Sunchoke

My hunger levels today were considerably less then yesterday. I neither felt full nor starving until about 5:39pm. I had a coffee to quell any rumbles and to get me through to my 7pm workout.

I finally picked up my extra resistance band in order to promote better form during the front arm raises and the DaVinci's. The band is "heavy". I have been using an "extra heavy" band which didn't make for the best form. I was happy to discover they are still hard and I was able to achieve the burning sensation we are looking for because I actually had control over the band. Another great workout tonight.

As far as the sunchokes go....Success! They are very tasty and I'll be eating them at least once a week while their in season. The sunchokes were baked in the oven just like a potato and had a light nutty flavor.

One last thought for today. I noticed something last night. I wasn't thirsty. Yes, I've been drinking the recommended amount of water a day but before the PCP I was a very thirty person. I was always drinking water and felt a thirst inside me for liquid. Now, it's not there. I haven't had salt for three weeks and I really enjoy not being thirsty like I was in the past. Self awareness is usually never good news but sometimes it's a ray of sunchoke or errr...sunshine.

And what does a cute baby elephant have to do with all this?...well, you decide.

Day 15 - Feeling the PCP

I had a feeling all day today. It never left. At the moment I am satiated. But whenever someone asked, "How are you today?". I only had one answer. "Hungry", I said, "I'm hungry". Yes. All day. Those grams that have been subtracted from our meals have left my metabolism much like Oliver Twist, "Please, Sir. I want some more". There was no more. I'm preparing for this feeling as I'm sure it will visit over the course of the PCP.

Today in the gym I made sure to kill it after reading Patrick's e-mail reminding us to essentially kill it in the gym. I grunted out the final reps in each set and watched the clock to make sure I was sticking to the 20 second intervals. A 20 second rest never felt so good! Oh, I feel some soreness in the chest. I screamed as I lifted my son out of the bath and onto my lap. Something tells me Patrick's e-mail from Sunday will ring true this week. We're getting further into the PCP and it's going to get a bit sticky, kids. Hang in there. In the end, the kids are alright.

Day 14 - Sashimi in the dark

My brother was 45 minutes late for lunch due to all the flooding in area from yesterday's Nor'Easter. When he finally knocked on the door, I was starving, so we exchanged pleasantries, he gave my wife a kiss on the cheek, I grabbed my son and we were off to Sushi Palace right down the road.

We walked through the doors to discover a room full of people eating in the shadows. There was no power in the area but the owners just kept on serving the eager lunch crowd. So, we joined in. I placed my food scale on the table and weighed my portions. My vegetable was seaweed, my carbs a bowl of rice, and for protein, a beautiful array of sashimi. No soy sauce. Which I must admit to missing. My brother is also on a exercise regiment so we sat and spoke about health, wellness, and our future fitness goals. My son, in his high chair, played with chopsticks and laughed at the Koi fish. "ISH!!" he'd scream.

We walked out an hour later and we both realize what a relaxing lunch we just had. The restaurant was very dark, only lite by the sparse sun peeking through the shades and the candles placed on the tables. The only sound was the tables of people whispering. Everyone was so quiet because it was so dark. A hushed dining experience free of neon light and muzak pumped through cheap ceiling speakers beamed by a satellite somewhere orbiting the earth. Ahhhhhh. Sashimi in the dark.

P.S. Trout for dinner. Amazing. And I found a great PCP candy bar! Take one long carrot and place it inside one long piece of celery. Heaven.

Day 13 - Like a hurricane

Saturday morning we make our usual trip to Whole Foods to buy the weeks groceries. This is where we usually have breakfast also. So, today was a tad bit hard to watch my wife chomp on her breakfast burrito, my son nimble on blueberry scone, and me? Well, my medium coffee, which went well with the torrential rain just outside the window.

As we approached the fruit and vegetable section of the store my heart began to pump. I was actually getting excited as I felt I was now entering a new world for the first time. I loaded up on the usual items and gathered a few things I don't normally buy. Sunchokes, Swiss chard, fresh spinach, white asparagus, and green onions. Then is was off to the fish section where my fish guy, who is Zoe Hart's brother, recommended the rock shrimp, fresh trout, and another helping of catfish. My heart was pumping. Then it was off to the meats where I grabbed some buffalo and chicken. I stocked up on long grain brown rice and had the bakery slice me up some freshly baked whole wheat bread. Oh, man! I gotta real rush looking at the cart. I wasn't sure if it was the coffee or the whole goodness inside but I didn't matter. Happiness abounded.

I strolled through the middle aisles looking at all the packaged "organic" foods and checked out the sodium content. I felt new. I didn't want a single processed thing. Free samples lined the back of the store and every demonstrator asked, "Would you like to try some?". "No", I said, "But my wife would love to!". And that is my new tag line! She did find some new yogurt she's happy about!

After we unpacked and the wife, son, and cats were all napping, I knew this was my PCP workout time. Look out the window. Hmmm. Still pouring. "Maybe I can jump in the living room". Once around and nope. Ceiling to low. "Maybe If I step outside in the hallway". Nope, low again. And there I was, outside, under the awning, facing my only option. To jump in the hurricane force winds. I literally threw caution to the wind, stepped into the storm, and starting jumping. I was soaked by 50. My fingers freezing, the wind pelting my face, forcing a faster rhythm in order to maintain control of the rope. 200....300...almost done....I can't believe I'm doing this....PCP!!!!....500.....600.....OMG! Is this tree going to fall on me?.....700!!! Yes.

As I was walking back in my neighbor stuck his head out of the door. "Are you crazy?", he rightly asked. "Yes!", was the only sane reply. "What are you doing?". "Getting in shape!", I said.

Day 12 - Pennies from heaven

A rain soaked weekend ahead for those of us in the Northeast. And just as the weather changes so do the plans. The rain has cancelled St. Patrick Day parades, an afternoon running in the park, and a day hike, which now means my brother will stop over for a welcomed and long overdue visit. The rain will let me catch up on reading the book I'm working on finishing, the movie I haven't started yet, the song I need to mix, and the carpet I keep promising my wife I'll clean. So, let it rain!

Saturday will bring food shopping and I'm looking to expand my vegetable repertoire beyond the broccoli, asparagus, arugula, carrots, peppers, and celery I normally make week in and week out. Rainy weekends are great for throwing on some music and experimenting in the kitchen.

Here's to rainy weekends! I hope all's well on your side of the screen and make sure your umbrella is upside down!

Day 11 - The Edge or "I can't"

What a workout today in the gym! By the 12th rep of the 4th set of leg ups I was covered in sweat. My legs collapsed to the floor while I let out a grunt of exhaustion and relief that I was now time to go home to eat raw red peppers, buffalo, and brown rice. But what a day it was!

A day specifically branded with the words "I can't" coming up in multiple situations and all of them regarding diet and exercise. The concept of will power also came up in one very personal situation where the protagonist just simply does not have the will power to change his life. Even here, in the PCP, we are faced with this every second.

In one conversation when "I can't" was mentioned, I typed back, "What one man can do another can do". The quote is from "The Edge". A wonderful film, about two men stranded in the Alaskan back country who are forced to survive. The film explores will, motivation, and our duty to our fellow humans. The scene is such, the characters have two choices, either kill the bear, or be killed. The odds where against them, but it was not impossible. One character makes the other repeat and then yell at the top of his lungs, "What one man can do another can do! What one man can do another can do!".

And the choice was theirs. And the choice is OURS. Don't make choices an excuse. Just simply make the right one. Look yourself in the mirror, "WHAT ONE MAN CAN DO ANOTHER CAN DO!". And then do it.

Day 10 - When life happens or climbing Everest

We woke up this morning to discover our son was running a fever and it was clear he wouldn't be able to attend school today. After a brief debate, my wife and I agreed to split the day with him. I would take the day shift and take him the Doctor. She would take the late afternoon shift, relieve me of my duty so I could then go into work. And there I found myself, barefoot as usual, in the kitchen. My routine broken!

For a nanosecond I thought my PCP day was over. The trap door in my mind had swung open and there I found myself, barefoot as usual, hovering over a void. My routine broken! "What do I do?" I thought. Then in that very same nanosecond, it occurred to me. I do what I normally do now. Make my PCP breakfast and go about my day. It seems so simple, but this is when we are most vulnerable, when life happens and we suddenly think, well, I can't do this now or that. I must do something different. I must fall into old habits. I must be impulsive. NO. Let every step be a step forward.

The next second I found myself, barefoot as usual, making my two eggs, heating my brown rice, and weighing my portion of carrots for breakfast. I washed it all down with a tall glass of milk and it tasted so mindful.

After I got home from the gym I lightly sauteed spinach, made my brown rice, and cooked Buffalo, onions, and garlic for my PCP dinner. After finishing I went to put my plate in the sink and there I was, standing over a heaping pile of leftover Buffalo. Spoon in hand, I looked into its meaty goodness, and had one thought. "Eat more. Dip your spoon in and shovel more in your mouth. Come on, it's protein". And as I stood there gazing into the bison abyss, I suddenly yelled, "PCP!! PCP!! PCP!!". My eyes darted over to my wife sitting on the couch who looked alarmed. "What?", she said, "Don't eat the leftovers. Don't eat the leftovers", I replied. "I'm not eating them", she answered with a bewildered look on her face. "No, me, I'm not eating them". "Why would you?" she asked. "Because it's there". My Everest. Leftovers. Normally, I would mindlessly drifted over the stove and began to shovel anything left over in my mouth. Not because I was hungry, but because it was there. I put down my spoon and walked away. "PCP!! PCP!! PCP!!", is the battle cry for today.

Exercise Notes: I figured out how to do the incline pull ups at the gym. While very hard, I did the full sets. I could not do the maximum reps for my push ups or sit ups today. By the third sets I was struggling but did manage to do the minimum reps for the last two sets of each. By my third set of sit ups I felt like I was going to throw up. I stumbled out of the gym with a smile on my face.

Day 9 - Work Hard and...

Breakfast went down a lot easier today and I didn't have a weird feeling like I ate too much. Two eggs, 40 baby carrots, oatmeal, and a tall glass of milk. By the time I sat down at work I already felt hungry. My mid morning snack was an avocado with a liberal dose of pepper. Lunch was one and a half chicken breasts, two slices of whole grain bread, one whole wheat English muffin and those 40 or so baby carrots again. I ate my after lunch snack of blueberries around 4pm and by 6, I was starving. I couldn't wait to get into the gym at 7 to get my mind off the rumbles in my belly.

My goal today in the gym was to do the maximum reps for each exercise and really concentrate on form. Being mindful of form is very important to attain the most out of any given exercise. I worked hard and concentrated and completed the maximum reps allowed. I felt really great and I'm already noticing tone in my arms that had not been there just three weeks ago.

Dinner was brown rice, leeks, and catfish. Succulent. I'd like to give a shout out to my new friend, the leek. You are wonderful and so green.

Not one speck of salt today and I don't miss it one bit. I have a cornucopia of spices in my cabinet and we will grow close and cherish each moment together over the next three months.

Now for some relaxation. Arsenal vs. Porto in the UEFA Champions league round of 16. 90 minutes of pure football joy.

I hope all my fellow PCP'rs are well.

Day 8 - The faces of the PCP

Day 8 is when "PCP proper" kicks in. PCP'rs open their "Day 8" e-mail from Patrick, glance at their daily allotted portion size, and then make a series of faces displaying surprise, outrage, disgust and just general WTF?!?

The portions are large. More then we have been eating before starting the PCP and certainly a lot more then the first week in which we eat half of what we normally do. WHY? Why is this? Because the PCP is not only about losing fat but gaining muscle and that muscle needs energy to grow and that form of energy is food. Glorious food.

What did I eat today? More carrots than any man on Earth. I can guarantee you that. I felt odd after eating such a large breakfast. I couldn't imagine eating for the rest of the day, but then lunch came and I ate and ate. And let me tell you folks something out there in TV Land, after the workout, I was starving. Argghhh! Give me that protein and those carbs and those veggies. Let me feed these dogs!!!

Overall, a pretty good first day of PCP proper with a few minor exceptions which will be corrected tomorrow after I stopped off at the market tonight. My one exercise hiccup had to do with the incline pull ups. My plan to pull these off was thwarted when the two benches I was using were not high enough off the ground. I had to basically skip these and will have to borrow a few chair from the cafeteria to complete them properly.

Patrick closed his e-mail today with something I need to keep in mind everyday in the gym and while doing the exercises. "Work hard", he said. Work hard. I must keep this in mind. I cannot cheat in the gym and I must give 100% in order to get 110% out of this project.

It reminded me of something J.D. said to me once. He's good and incredibly in shape friend of mine. "Brian," he said placing his hand on my shoulder, "when you cheat in the gym. The only person you cheat is yourself". Work hard. WORK HARD.

Day 7 - Last half and getting busy

The last half meal consisted of roasted gold potatoes, roasted mushrooms, roasted tomato, arugula and salmon. It was exquisite.

And now, the real work starts. This next week is very important. The disciple of weighing my food, prepping it for the week, and always remaining mindful of the reasons I have chosen to walk this path are the new challenges. It will be about establishing the new PCP "diet" routine. The new exercises added this week are but a glimpse of the 80+ days ahead. Soreness. Pain. Grumpiness. The mind playing tricks on me. I will maintain the same focused intensity in the gym and keep my eye on the prize.

This is what I signed up for. Get busy living or get busy dying.

Day 6 - Morning Mood

I had a fun time last night and didn't overindulge. I passed on the pizza, the sausage, and the pasta but I did have a few delicious nuts and a wonderful Belgium saison. I have a full day ahead taking my son to Meet-A-Turtle day at the local Audubon preserve. Then it's off to meet back up with the guys for some more "jamming".

I did my PCP exercises in the morning for the first time today. It felt great to get my heart-pumping and my brow sweating first thing in the morning with the sun illuminating my face. I also had a wonderful breakfast of one egg with sautéed mushrooms and onions.

So far....So good....Have a great weekend!

Day Five - Ready for weekend challenge

PCP Weekend challenge coming up. The weeks are pretty structured for me. The weekends, not so much. Plus, all the guys from Brooklyn and Central Jersey are getting together tonight and tomorrow for a hangout/jam session out in the wilds of Central Jersey. Traditionally, I would consume. Usually, too much. But, this time it's different. Everyone and their Mother knows I'm doing PCP so the support and some healthy taunting will be there. You may be able to guess which one will be more prevelant. Every challenge is an opportunity and I'm ready to seize mine. Off the gym.

P.S. My thigh muscles. Oh Boy!!! Them's sore, boy!

Day 4 - Today was a good day....

Less hungry. Less dazed. More energy. A few downs and a few ups. Numb and then full of laughter. It sometimes amazes me everything that goes into ones "day". If someone asked me, "What's new?", I'd probably say, "Oh, nothing". Which is both the complete truth and just about the farthest thing from it. I'd like to thank Wilco for helping me make sense of my world today. Their album 'Sky Blue Sky' is a beautiful statement.

My PCP thoughts for the day are such.....I really enjoy Patrick's daily e-mail, which I receive about an hour before the workout, because it helps me focus and reflect on the tasks before me. The half portions are getting much easier to handle and I feel so motivated in the gym knowing exactly what to do. Guided like a ship out on a dark sea navigating toward the lighthouse beacon. Ahoy! I'm starting to feel those lunges in my thighs! Yeah! Bring on the pain!

Here I find myself at the end of Day 4. Today was a good day.

Day 3 - Sacrifice

I felt a bit dazed today at certain times as I tried to eat my half portions as slowly as I could. I kept mindful of the PCP goals and sacrifices we have to make in order to reach our peak condition. When 7pm finally came around I made my way to the gym and again relished the quick and focused work out that revitalized me and left me strained as I struggled with that one last sit up.

I gathered my things and walked down the hall where I ran into Jose. He's part of the late night cleaning crew and we usually chat about football, as he supports Barcelona, and I, Manchester United. We gossip about results, players, goals and the latest manager to get sacked. He helps me with my broken Spanish and I with his broken English. But today I mentioned my son and then asked if he had children, "Two", he said, "They are in El Salvador with my wife". We talked about our jobs and he explained how he worked 14 hour a day in order to send enough back home so his wife and two daughters could live in a gang free neighborhood and have a chance a better future. "I see them once a year", he said as he leaned over to show me their picture. There on his cell phone was a fuzzy low resolution picture of two smiling girls and his wife. "Muy bonita!", I said. We shook hands for the first time and told him how much I admired his sacrifice and yelled "Buenas Noches" as I walked through the atrium and out the door.

As I crossed the dark parking lot to my car. I thought of his sacrifice to his family and then I realized how I had not thought of the PCP for a whole 20 minutes today. The time I was talking to Jose. I drove home, with the knowledge I'd be able to kiss my wife and my son, humbled. Sacrifice. So small, like only eating half a plate of your food. So large, like moving alone thousands of miles away to support your family. I stay mindful of the difference and thankful for being reminded.

Day Two

Day two! Hello, how do you do? Fine, Thank you. By 6pm there was a rumble coming from my belly. I hit the gym around 7pm and enjoyed the quick focused workout. I left with a smile on my face, a spring in my step, and with determination to get home as fast as I could to slowly eat my homemade black bean burrito. It did not disappoint. Feed myself, bathed my son, listened to the new Broken Bells album (which is very good by the way), kissed my wife, and off to bed soon ready to accept day three like the beams of warm sunlight on a dew glistened field. Cheers!

Day Two - Dear Yogurt

Dear Yogurt,

As I stare down into your succulent granola filled milky whiteness...Only now do I realize how precious and beautiful you really are. See, it's not you. It's me. I can only eat half of you. I know, I know...you want me to eat you all. You want me to dip my spoon one last time and enjoy the raisin and almond joyousness and cherish the unhomogenized whole milk with active acidophilus culture. Ah, don’t look at me like that. I love you but I can’t be with you……not now.

Day One

Day One. It went as well as it could possibly go for a day I've been waiting to arrive for three months. I was hungry during the day but kept mindful of the reason and the small milestones ahead in the future.

The exercises for day one left me feeling satisfied and sharp as the 20 second interval between sets kept my heart rate nice and steady and assured for a steady stream of sweat on my brow. I'm a sweater.

As far as the jump rope, well, it went excellent. 250 in a row. I must make a confession though, I've been practicing for a month in order to get the jump rope down in preparation for the PCP. Patrick commented once on the "zen of jump rope", which I set out to achieve. I face the wall, relax my eyes, and try to become the number while being aware of my bodies movements through the jumps. Sometimes it works, sometimes I get distracted but practice is the key. No doubt.

All said and done. Day One. In the bag. Day two? Bring it on.