Day 71 - On the brink

After two weeks of maintaining the same weight. I didn't know what to expect when I stepped back on the scale today. To my pleasant surprise I was down 6 pounds and on the brink of reaching the 30 pound mark. How is it done? Working your tush off in the gym and eating a healthy balanced diet. Who knew? This weeks pictures up tomorrow.

Day 70 - Sunday best

Sunday is still the hardest day of the PCP. Off my regular schedule and filled with activity, I usually feel hunger throughout the day. The various activities usually means I miss my normal snack times so I have to combine my snacks with a main meal like lunch. However, it affords for some combinations that have left me feeling delight. I concocted a sandwich which I dubbed, "Patrick's revenge". Toasted sourdough, salmon, chicken, avocado, arugula, tomato, and egg white, liberally showered in red chili flakes. All measurements in line with the PCP and you'd never know it. The sandwich is a thing of beauty. So beautiful, no picture exists. Just the memory of its brief yet fulfilling existence.

Sunday also brings Patrick's e-mail regarding the new dietary requirements and workout regimen. Along with it a new pledge to take this week as seriously as I did week 1. The results are showing and I feel great but these next 20 days are vital to our PEAK fitness. Now is not the time to take the foot off the gas. Now is the time to stamp down on the pedal and tackle the weeks challenges with renewed vigor and sweat. The rewards are in the distance. The summer calendar is filling up with a mind melting array of trips, games, concerts, and bbq's with close friends and relatives. Capped off with the birth of my daughter. INSANE. I will partake in all in PEAK condition. PEAK MIND, BODY, SPIRT.

#1 goal this week. 4 sets of 90-second planks in the bag.

Day 68 - 90-second Planks

Chest & Bicep day is my favorite. It’s the workout where I tend to really push myself. But I’ve been running into a problem at the end. The 60-second planks were doable but after killing it in the gym this morning, the 90-second planks became impossible. I was simply exhausted and had trouble holding myself up. Next week I have to really concentrate on these 90-second planks. All 4 sets must be accomplished. How have my fellow Peakers been doing with the 90-second planks?

I’m off to Philly again tonight to see a band I’ve been DIEING to see for 4 years. All good things come for those who wait. Cheers!

Day 67 - Afternoon sun

I took a day off from work today. My wife and I found out that we're having a girl come September. So after a couple hours of shock/contemplation/debating about names/strolling around downtown we made it back home for a relaxing afternoon on a gorgeous day. Taking the day off also gave me the opportunity to do the workout outside for the first time. I walked over to the tennis court and did the entire routine in the shade of the trees. The breeze was light and cooling. Refreshing, even! One of the best things about the PCP is that the workouts can be done anywhere. No gym required. Outside, sunshine, blue sky, beats any gym any day.

Day 65 - Marks of the PCP

The PCP brings many changes. One of those changes is the appearance of marks on your body. How do these marks appear? Usually by whipping yourself with a jump rope while speed jumping. Here are some of my greatest hits.

Hot off the press! This mark above is a fresh whip from tonight.

These are scabs from whipping myself really hard a few weeks ago. So hard, I bled.

The classic leg whip mark. This is going to scar. I'll show my kids and say, "In my day we did the PCP, whipped ourselves, and liked it"!

This mark is more of a mystery. I don't know if this is jump rope related, resistance band related, or both. The mark appears on both of my hands in the exact same spot. After the work out it's blood red but a few hours later turns a soft brown.

The workout tonight was intense. 6 sets, 5 sets, more reps upon reps. I was really pushing myself today and literally dripping with sweat the entire workout. When I got to the planks, I started to break down. 1st 90 second plank. No problem. 2nd 90 second plank. OK, that was tough. 3rd 90 second plank. FAIL. I could only muster about 30 seconds before collapse. The 4th set was more of the same. Came home, mmmmmm, raw red pepper. I love you, pepper. I love you glass of milk. 25 days left. WOW. Strange feeling.

Day 64 - PCP Panda Says...

Only 25 days left of the PCP!!! This is your moment. This is your opportunity. Turn it to 11. Give 111%.

Don't slack. Don't cheat. The person in the mirror is you!!! You are accountable. You are responsible. You hold the key. You are IT. The future is NOW!!!!

Day 63 - Weekend challenges

After an exhausting 7 mile hike on Saturday, which featured a lovely picnic by a pond, the mind started to play tricks on me. The plan was clear. Hike, BBQ, drink cold beer, in that order. I said out loud, "Maybe I'll have a beer. After this hike and the workout this morning. I guess it would be OK". When I saw the 20 chicken drumsticks on the BBQ I said, "Maybe I can have one of those. I mean, it's for the protein". I had the thoughts, even said them out loud, but I let them pass. I let myself feel the desire but did not act on the temptation. I will soon enjoy a beer after a long hike under the hot sun. But not yet. Not with the finish line in sight. Not with mountain left to climb.

My family brunch this morning was much easier to handle. With my Father and my brother also on a diet and exercise plan, it was not a problem sitting in front of a heap of smoldering freshly cooked breakfast sausage. I just took out my pre-packed lunch and veggies and chowed down on my delicious PCP meal. My Uncle said, "If I knew everyone was on a diet I wouldn't have bought so much food!". It was a fun morning seeing the family and great to hear all the positive feedback. All the support and good vibes certainly made it one to remember.

Onward and upward!