day30

I noticed last night my food cravings are waning.  I went out with some friends to a Mexican restaurant and despite free flowing nachos, tacos, margaritas etc I didn't have any strong urge to get involved.  Also the initial few minutes of ridicule for ordering Perrier soon faded and my buddies just accepted the fact that I was on a different program.  I did have to leave a little early though as there came a point where I just couldn't understand what they were saying - sure looked like they were having a good time though!!
The other encouraging point from the last couple of days is sudden bout of weight loss.  Despite Patricks advice, I still jump on the scale each morning and after being stuck at 88.5kg for the last 2 weeks (from 91kg) I have moved down to 86kg.  

what happened to dinner???

The new week begins.  The exercises look fun, but the dinner diet seems as far from fun as you can get!  Starting to see more changes in my body recently so that should be enough motivation to push on.  I realised yesterday some non physical benefits over the last month.  I haven't had a hangover for 29days!  Consequently the long lasting mild  headaches have also disappeared.  Most exciting though is not waking up in the middle of the night with indigestion - this was normally a 2-3 time a week occurrence.  I actually often suspected it was partly due to a salt heavy diet... juicy well salted steaks, fried chicken etc etc.  It is probably a combination of booze, oil, salt and general overeating, but I am looking forward to Patrick revealing his secrets behind salt... the suspense is building.

back to normal

Got back from Singapore yesterday and feel like I can be back in 100% control again now.  The last couple of days in Sing were a challenge on both the exercise and diet front.  The new moves are providing a good challenge though think I have some work to do on my form. It is clear I will never quite be in my comfort zone with the PCP ratcheting up a notch each week.  The biggest challenge at the moment is saying no to invites for drinks and dinner from people that know the wife and kids are out of town for a few days.  I don't want to be a hermit so my current strategy is to eat at home early before joining friends

its all in the wrist

After struggling a bit with the skipping I have finally seemed to have found a rythym in the last couple of days.  I found if I focus on my wrists rotating properly, then I  trip far less.  Pretty obvious but it is working.  The diet has been ok for breakfast and lunch - also plenty of good fruit easily available here in Singapore.  Dinner has been more of a challenge as we are eating out.  My habits are changing though as now when I look at a menu I go straight to salads and vegetable section rather than steak/grill/meat section.  Passing up a lot of great food at the moment though.  Have to keep reminding myself of the final goal, and remember that I will have another chance to indulge, though probably at a more moderate pace than in the past.  Few more days to go here in Singapore then leave the family here and head back to Tokyo.  It will be easier to be 100% back on track being by myself for a little while.

Singapore

Arrived in Singapore with the family and have managed to stay pretty much on track with diet and exercise.  Have to remind myself to drink enough water with all the sweat from exercising in this humidity.  The couple of slight discretions on the food front have been a bite of a couple of things to taste the food the family is trying.  Not compliant, but happy with myself as at this stage on a normal trip I would probably be several thousand calories in already after a just a couple of days - so a couple of small bite to taste feels like a victory.

test passed

Survived a decent test last night.  We had a few friends over for a Thai dinner.  Managed to stick to mineral water despite the others getting stuck into the wine and beer.  The food was probably more of a challenge to not eat the coconut based curries etc.  Couple of Satay chicken sticks with no peanut sauce, my tiny portion of rice (which seemed to provide huge entertainment for our guests due to the miniscule portion) and a bunch of fresh salads.  We are off to Singapore from tonight for a week.  Have my rope and rubber packed.  I suspect the next week will be a major challenge on the diet front.

day15

Last night my wifes Homeopath (I think that is what he describes himself as) came by the house to give her a massage.  I decided to also have a session to try to sort out my legs.  I have been to him before and forgotten how good it was.  After 20mins of strange stretches and contortions I felt much better from my shoulders through to my calf muscles.  A decent nights sleep and my morning exercises were much more enjoyable.  I am thinking a regular session with this guy might help my body through this program.  New diet for the week looks interesting from the carb perspective... down to 50-60g at breakfast and dinner. That seems like 1 mouthful or rice or pasta.  The kids were already asking why daddy has less rice than me... "its not fair... I dont want to finish my rice"

hungry

Managed to get through my skips this morning, but still struggling with pain in the calf muscles.  Every 10 jumps or so it feels like the muscle is about to go into a cramp spasm - fortunately it didnt happen.  Somebody once told me that drinking pickle water immediately cures a cramp.  I am not quite at the stage of having a glass of this on hand for an emergency, but hoping I can work through this and get back to enjoying the morning skips.  On the diet front I seem to have gone from struggling to eat everything last week, to now being hungry and looking forward to the next meal despite no change in the quantities I am eating.  Perhaps my metabolism is slowly starting to awaken??

leg failure

Skipping was out of the realms of possibility this morning.  My legs just said No.  At the end of my skipping yesterday I cramped in my calf muscle, and can still feel a twinge there today.  I guess I will try again tonight, and worst case I will have to pass for today but will add extra reps to my exercises to make me at least feel less guilty.  Spent last night making a big load of gazpacho.  It was very theraputic stuffing vegetable after vegetable into the blender.  Tasted great when I added a little hot sauce.  That will last through todays meals.  

Weekends are tough

The daily schedule gets blown away on the weekends.  Fitting the food and exercise in around the family and various commitments is going to be tough I can see.  Managed to stay reasonably on course at a friends birthday party.  20 glasses of oolong tea, and 2 beers (forced!) is a pretty good result for me.
Managed to take some day-12 pics.  Not much to show for my efforts yet, but definitely feeling better than 12 days ago.  My wife also says I am snoring less.... coincidence perhaps?

full

Already these breakfasts are a challenge.  I have always been a light eater at breakfast so getting in all this food in is difficult.  I have heard the advice many times to eat like a king for breakfast, a prince for lunch and a pauper for dinner - feels a little like that at the moment.  Sitting here at my desk with a full stomach wondering if Patrick has a warped sense of humour... "haha you're all fat now!!".  Guess nobody every got fat from eating too many vegetables though.
Wondering if my skipping will ever get to this level? He seems to be having more fun than me..

new week

My initial panic after seeing the new dietry requirements has now subsided, and I have a few basic ideas for the next couple of days. Those ideas will get old fast though, so need to put the thinking cap on for ways to inspire vegetables without drowing them in olive oil and cheese.  Enjoyed the new workout regime this morning, though felt pretty light headed and had a strong urge to go back to bed for a nap afterwards.  The kids are still enjoying my program.  They thought it was particularly funny grabbing the rubber bands and trying to snap it back at daddy half way through his curls.  oh.. treated myself to a last beer with dinner.  Found myself drinking it like a rare, expensive french wine... very small, thoughtfull sips.  

alarm

No need for an alarm these days - my 2yo boy, Josh, happily comes bouncing into the bed ready to play at 5:30am every morning.  Every day I envy their energy!  Great time to get up and try to get the exercises done for the day.  It is so much better to get it done in the morning rather than have it hanging over my head all day.  The kids also seem to be enjoying it with all sorts of advice and tips on my form. "why is your face so red daddy... are you ok? Mommy... daddys lying on the floor breathing funny..."

correction

My earlier comments that I was somehow feeling satisfied with the 1/2 meals is clrarly not working today. I am now starving and chewing gum and drinking coffee like a mad man...

Day-6 and I can finally feel less pain in my calve muscles.  Whilst really enjoying the skipping, the first few days left me with very painful calf muscles, and the walking style of a 90 year old.  Hopefully I have pushed through that now?  Time will tell, but I guess the next weeks exercises will throw up some challenges again.  The 1/2 portion diet has been ok.  Trying to be very strict about it.  I was concerned the last couple of days as the smaller meals have left me feeling full despite the small quantities - this caused a bit of panic as I thought I was eating too much and not the 1/2 size.  Perhaps my stomach capacity has shrunk?  I am also on the cusp of a small personal milestone... 1 week without booze.  I cant remember a time I havent had at least a beer or 2 at the end of each day.  This will probably be the greatest challenge over the summer months ahead