9. Lost my rhythm

The past two workouts have been super meh. I’m not sure what’s going on if it’s the enthusiasm wearing off, that I don’t deal with change well, or that I’m just an inveterate slackass (I hope it’s not this one). The jumps are fine; it’s the exercises that I just can’t seem to get going. The new exercises threw off the rhythm that I had and I’m struggling both with how to do them correctly and whether I’m putting the maximum effort into them. I was having the same feeling that I get at the gym, where the uncertainty just wells up and gets in the way of actually focusing on things and getting down to business. Once I finally got going though, I found that I really like the resistance band exercises. I don’t really understand how to work the inclined pull-ups. If I can’t get anything to move while keeping my body stiff, should I just strain against the table edge and my weight or should I bend at the waist and just pull my top half up?

With the new exercises and the diet starting at the same time and making some mediocre food choices that left me unfulfilled and hungry, I think it was just too much. Hopefully I’ll get the hang of the new exercises and the diet fairly quickly.

Today’s eating has already been better than yesterday’s. In my rush to get everything cooked and packed for work I ended up eating cold quinoa and a microwaved egg for breakfast and banana for snack. I don’t like eggs really to begin with and add to that the super mushy consistency of everything and I spent the morning until lunch feeling nauseated. Today I scrambled the egg and made chapatti, which was a marked improvement. I can tell that my perfectly seasoned cast-iron skillet is going to become my new best friend. Thursdays are my csa pick-up day and I can’t wait to figure out how to eat everything from this week. Also, carrots for breakfast rock.

I could use some guidance on when I should be eating. At work I tend to get absorbed in what I’m doing and not manage to eat til I’m starving, which then leads to mega hunger the rest of the day. Another question: potatoes – carb or veggie?

7. Jumps only!?!?!

So it was jumps only today, which was totally unexpected. When I opened the workout, I kept trying to scroll down for the exercises figuring my computer was displying funny. The lighter workout was appreciated today as my legs are the tightest and sorest they've been so far. I think I overdid the running and swimming at the beach. Even without the exercises today's workout was a struggle. I just couldn't get off the ground. It was like my legs were full of lead. I found my rhythm after a while, but I still tripped more than usual.

I'm looking forward to the diet tomorrow. I've got a bunch of veggies in the fridge and picked up some bananas and nectarines yesterday and I'll pick up my csa box tomorrow evening. That said, I'm super glad it isn't starting today. Mondays and Wedesdays are my hardest days because I go straight from work to class until 9pm, so it'll be nice to get a little experience with the cooking and food packing before I have to take almost all the food for the whole day with me.

I'll see how I'm feeling after class as to whether I go out for my last gourmet hotdog or if I'll just go with yesterday's dinner of lettuce and grapes (and too much wine, oops).

6. The first week is mental

Patrick said in one of his emails that the first week is mostly about mental changes and that's one of the reasons for the half portions. I don't know if this is the mental change that's supposed to be happening, but I've lost most of my interest in food. I don't know if it's the half portions, the anticipation of the new diet on Thursday, or the heat, but my interest in eating is gone. I still feel hungry, but nothing sounds good to me. I'm about to eat lunch and nothing around sounds even vaguely appealing. Greasy diner - no. Chinese buffet - no. Overpriced deli - no. Indian - no. Fancy sandwiches - no. Mediocre sushi - no. Sweets from the coffee shop - no. I need to eat, I'm hungry and my lunch hour is dwindling, I guess I'll pick up for gazpacho from the the sandwich place next door, but I'm not enthusiastic about it. I guess I'm succeeding in breaking the spell food holds over me, so that's good. I am completely ready for a more regimented eating schedule as I have devoted way too much mental energy to lunch today.

Workout is scheduled for the evening. We'll see if I can transform the swampy weather into a sauna with the power of positive thinking.

5.

I managed to do yesterday's workout without falling through the floor, which is always good. And also made it through the party only having 2 beers and didn't make up for the lack of drinking by eating everything in site. I just had a cupcake and some popcorn. I saw the most intense home fireworks display I've ever seen. They had big speakers with karaoke screens and fireworks going at both ends of my friend's street. I'm really surprised no one blew their hand off or started their house on fire.

As for today's workout, it was fine. I jumped outside and even at 8:30 it was really hot and humid which made for unpleasant jumping and difficulty breathing. It's like a swap here these days. The fourth set of jumps I tripped almost every other jump. It was super frustrating, but all the other sets were fine.

The exercises are good too. I'm still struggling with the push-ups but am enjoying the squats alot.

And now it is beach time again.

4. Beachy Keen

Haven't managed to workout yet. Woke up too late to do that and be on my way for everything else in the morning. Is anyone else sleeping tons? I slept for 11 hours last night and still didn't want to get up. I did, however, make it to the beach for lake running and swimming like I do every Sunday. Love the water so much. It was really wavy so I didn't get much actual running in, but I did some jumping and side stroke and I was way less sore when I got out. I've got tomorrow off, so I'm going back in the morning.

I'm about to go workout now, but it's an inferno outside so for the first time I'm going to jump inside. Hopefully I don't take out any light fixtures or break through the floor (my house is 115 years old and the wood floors are thin).

Barring any major injuries that might result from falling through the floor I'm going to a barbecue tonight. I'm really thankful we're still on halves because that means I can still drink. I have pretty bad social anxiety that I deal with by drinking too much usually, but even with half the drinks I think I still should be ok. It's nice to have a transition step between normal socializing and sober socializing.

Ok. Time for jumps. Hooray.

3. So hungry

Just got done with the day 3 workout. I am really loving the workouts, especially the jumps. I could jump all day if I had the time. The exercises are good too, although most of them feel awkward. I don't know if that's just I haven't done any of these for years or that I'm just really uncoordinated. I don't know if it's just enthusiasm for the brand new or if the gym just made we feel that uncomfortable, but I've never really enjoyed working out before, but I got out of bed today looking forward to exercising.

Sarah, this was probably the best push-up video I found. Patrick, does this look right to you?



So the workouts are great, but the eating is throwing me for a loop. I'm starving. I'm hungry when I wake up and still hungry after ever meal. I'm still doing the half-portions but after two days of constant headache from being hungry, I'm thinking about going back to normal portions but better food. Maybe it's an indication that I'm not eating too much, just eating too poorly and definitely drinking too much. I'm really looking forward to the actual diet part of this thing.

Day 1!!!!

I should be working and not blog posting so this will be short.

First off, hello fellow PCPers!

Next a bulleted list:

• Jumps! I did them! Woo jumps! I actually did 6 sets I think because I lost track and figured I should do another for good measure. I trip less when I go faster.
• Squats. I think I need to work on some flexibility too because I can't seem to get my thighs down as far as Patrick is in the picture.
• Push-ups. I don't understand the mechanics of them with the push-up bars. They were a big mess. I'm going to nerd out tonight and see if I can find push-up videos on youtube to add to my viewing along with strongest man in the world videos (to learn how to pick stuff up for the firefighting test).
• Sit-ups! Love them. I've always done them with my legs in the air and this way I felt my abs working way more. It was like hello little ab muscles, we've never met before.
• Breakfast. It's almost 11am and I'm starving. The half bowl of cereal isn't quite cutting it.

Okay. Bye for now. Lunch is soon, hopefully.