bleh

Hokay, so I had my indulgence last night. Went out and had about a beer and a half, and watched Mikhael eat a hamburger (vengeance, on his part). It was fun, it tasted nice...but today I woke up and spent 5 or 10 minutes just dry heaving and getting nothing up but snot. I have this impression that it is not entirely the booz's fault, but that it was a bit of that last straw thing, because I haven't been feeling sick, but also haven't been feeling at the top of my game.

Now there comes the conundrum.

I don't feel great, but I still feel that I could do the workout if I pushed myself. Just now I'm tempted to opt for an evening workout, see if I feel better after work... But I've done that before and the whole day I feel as tho I'm completely out of sorts, as tho I just had a vital brain chemical removed for about 8 hours. Tough question.

Well, that's my current predicament. We shall see what the day brings.

Pics!

Pics! I have pics! oh my goodness!

If my lazyness about putting up pictures has anything to do with anything it's that I just don't like pictures. Never really have. It's kinda beyond really how I look in one, I just don't like photos of people fer some reason. Strange thing, the mind.

Anyway, since I have pics now I'm gonna show ya something!















This little fuzzy thing is my kitty, who spends the majority of her time terrorizing me and being a cute little bullet around the house.

There, with all the frivolity out of the way, here we go on what's up PcP wise. Workouts are fine, altho I gotta say double katana's after pushups absolutely killed my triceps. Couldn't even make it all the way thru the last 2 sets. Diet is fine, just keep on keepin' on. Got chicken cooking now in fact.

Anyway, gonna go get my food ready fer tomorrow, so talk to ya all later!

Graah!

So

I figured out why I'm failing so miserably at posting my pictures, and that is that I usually read this site at work. I tend to check it breifly after or before a workout, but just kinda look in like "Hmmm...reading for later" and then I skip on out the door for coffe or sunshine. Or I switch to a movie or something if it's rainy. This, however, leads to me not really posting pics on the site. I gotta work on that more. I really should post the ones I go, as the next set is approaching, and I've improved nicely. It's not that I'm scared to post 'em, but that I'm a lazy bum when it comes to computers.

I'm rather less lazy about the workouts. Since I talked to Patrick about when to do the workout I've been feeling a lot better about them. Less of the day long "ouch" and more of the burn while actually working out. The problem now is that some old aches and pains are starting to act up. I'm planning on giving them a couple days to go away, but if they don't I'll have to be very annoyed, and make my annoyed face.

On the subject of annoying, there is the Indulgences to consider. I have NO clue what to get. Well, that's not right, I have like...3 or 4 clues. It's gonna be one of the following :
-have a drink or two with friends
-Hongs Dumplings (the only street food I really like in Burlington, and EVERYONE likes them)
-Ben and Jerry's (that's right, they're from here. Muahaha)
-sweets at work (just so I don't want 'em any more)
I gotta say tho, what I want to do is save it up. My mom is having a birthday party in August, and if I could go home to that and have a beer and a small slice of cake, that'd be awsome. There is a very good chance that most of the food, and possibly even the cake will be PcP friendly (my family and friends tend to grow stuff and eat healthy, and man can my mom make a mean strawberry/maple upside down cake.) So...I'd like to save my indulgence, tho I doubt they're supposed to work like that. Ahh well.

And now, the last portion. Work is gettin' harder by the day, but I'm gettin' stronger by the day! I'm having to lift and move more old folks, but they feel lighter. The ones I strained with or needed help with I'm able to do more easily or by myself. This is a big bonus, as I am so far the only one at work who has not hurt their back while lifting (woo construction experience and learning to lift with the legs) and now that I'm stronger I suspect that I'll continue to not hurt my back. Celebrations all around!

Les'se now...what else to write about? Things continue. There's more that's going on, but it's largely unimportant or even possibly boring. So... I bid you adieu.

today

Hmmm.

Blogging is hard.

I run out of thoughts just as I hit this screen...ahh well, blather on.

The workouts have been fun recently, especially since the heatwave is over. I can get thru all the sets of any one exercize and not have to stop to wipe my head/hands free of sweat before the next. Awsome. And along with exercize being easier, I've felt my muscles growing and getting stronger. After a workout they're all soft and weak feeling, but after an hour or two it gets better.

I've been waking up sore these days. Kinda odd, especially since I started doing that on thursday, the day after my day of rest. So...after having not worked out, and gotten extra rest, I wake up sore...methinks I may be growing.

Diet wise, it's allright. I'm not that tempted by a lot of things, but I'm also not that tempted by a lot of the food I'm cooking. I'm kinda over food temptation alltogether. I'm just not feeling the draw to eat as much any more. This is not to say I'm not hungry, because I'm hungry from 5 minutes after I eat untill I start eating again, but I just don't have as much of a temptaion to eat as I used to. I guess I'm just getting used to this.

On other fronts, I got 4 days off around my mothers birthday, and I'm gonna be at a party for that (here's hoping those indulgences I've heard about fall on that day). Lookin' forward to that. The party is always fun. Good fresh home grown food, everyone playing music, and all set outside with bonfires and fireflies. Think full on "good old days" happening.

I shall keep you all appraised of what goes down.

week four (day 22)

Now we start week 4.

So far this week is perty good. I've been VERY tired all week, and today I woke up sore, which is odd becuase I didn't do a workout yesterday. I've noticed muscles growing tho, so I'm just keepin' up with the workouts. It's habitual now, and I actually have to try not to do them on my rest days.

The biggest problem I'm having now is sleepyness. I get VERY tired at about midday. Even having gotten 9 hours of sleep, I'm tired, and probly will be. I'm gonna aim for 10 hours next.

here we go.

20!

day 20! I've officially made it further into an exercise project than I have in the past 8 years. THREE CHEERS!

Huzzah
Huzzah
Huzzah

Ok...With that bit of hullabaloo calmed down, I can get down to more of what's actually up. Food/exercise going well.

I cheated (very very slightly) last night and had a piece of Gorgonzola cheese about the size of my pinky fingernail. Delicious, but I think I can make it without it.

Work is kinda stressful, but that's sort of expected. Some changes are happening, and some people are resisting, so it makes it rough. I think it'll smooth out after a while, but for now it's just kinda annoying. Handy that I get out most of that annoyance in the workouts.

Third note: My cat, who is usually very aloof and only really hangs out when she wants something, has decided that I'm awesome, and has been cuddling with me nightly and generally being very sweet. WOO!

I know I haven't posted photos yet this week. They've been delayed by me not budgeting time -quite- right and by conflicting schedules. I may just have to post them with the next week's photos....yeah. 6 pics instead of just 3 going up on Wednesday.

Temptation

Ok...so...

I'm feelin' a LOT of temptation all around me. Today at work, I had to serve fried peanut butter and bananna sandwiches. Sounds like an overabundence of sweet grease....but the temptation to just reach over and grab one was overwhelming. It's not stuff that I want (altho That is a temptation too) but man I want to eat it, and I think more for the freedom of eating anything more than actually wanting to eat it. Altho, I have to say anything with cheese on it is looking like a shining grail that I should quest for.

And then to add to all that, my friends from the bars are calling me up and asking me to go out. I did so last night, and resisted the temptation to drink, but I was also only there for about 15 minutes. I think it'll be easier to hold off on beer than I thought it would be...but still. Temptations seem to be coming out of the woodwork. Other people who brought pizza for lunch have (accidentially) waved it under my nose, places where I work seem covered in greasy food. I feel as tho I am being chased by the stuff.

Ahh well...temptation can be delt with. I'm good at self-deprevation...so I should be able to keep the food away, and workouts continue without a hitch. Muscles are building, and fat is burning. I'm noticing my arms/chest growing slightly...and generally being stronger/faster. After all, in a mere 73 days I'll look like Hercules! MUAHAHA!

Day 15

So.

Day 15.

What to say... What to say... What to say.

I'm honestly at a loss for what to talk about. Workouts continue...I'm making Sun Tea...I moved into the biggest room of the appartement...Stuff has happened, but I just don't feel like writing about it. Well, I'll push myself

Workouts: I reached failure on pushups today! And very nearly so on the resistance bands (went up by a couple extra, and didn't reach it...so I stopped. It's now 10 and a half hours later and my arms still feel a little jello-ish. Feels great. I also worked more on my jumproping. I've had a lot of trouble with stepping on/tripping up on/not clearing the rope, but today I tried jumping higher and slower and it worked out quite well. The height I thought was good was apparently insufficient to clear my GINORMOUS feet, and now that I'm jumping higher, it works better. Getting 2-3 hundred before I trip up instead of 50-100.

Food: The world is trying to kill me. Potato chips everywhere, friends calling me out to drink, sweets waved under my nose 5 times a day, having to serve high calorie food to people and not being allowed to eat any. Yeah...rough. Temptation is definitely there, but I'm not fallin' yet. The massive food quantities I'm eating are enough to keep me from eating the stupid sweets, and I recently started an online game to take the place of bartime socializing. Not a real solution, but still better than just sitting at home thinkin' about it.

Other: New room! Our appartement has 3 rooms, a small, medium and large. Mike had the large room for the past 3 months or so, and now that he has completed PcP I'm moving in there. Full rotation! Who knows...when I'm done with PcP perhaps Seabass will start it again...we'll have a household that can move yer car without using the wheels!

And now....I bid you a scatterbrained goodbye. Talk to you all on the flip side.

Cooling down

The temperature here seems to be cooling down...especially since today was cloudy and windy. The workouts are doing fine. I still have trouble with the pushups, but I think that'll change as my arms have started to grow. Not a lot yet, but enough to notice. The whole package seems to be growing, and I'm perty happy about it!

Workouts these days are a highlight of the day. I love the endorphin rush when you finish, and the way my muscles feel afterwards. I continue to do it in the morning, mostly because I get home at 11pm, and I'm usually very tired and hungry. Plus...it's a great way to wake up in the morning.

The diet is going well, but I gotta say I'm more and more hungry. I'm hoping the next week sees slightly larger portions...particularly the snack. The meals have me full fer about 45 minutes to an hour after, but the snacks are barely noticeable. 160 grams of fruit seems to dissappear in 5 seconds and last in my stomach fer even less time. Sticking to it tho...No extras even tho today I walked a tray of Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treets over 3 floors asking 50 people if they wanted any. If that isn't a test of a diet, I dunno what is.

Anyway...lookin' forward to week 3, and all the changes it may bring!

Day 12

Been a while since I posted...but all is well. Keeping up with the exercises and diet still. In fact, if I wait even a half hour after waking up before I do my workout my muscles start crying. The diet is rough, but I gotta say that I feel great. I feel myself moving faster and more easily, and I friends are noticing that I've gotten in better shape.

All in all, real happy about doing this, and exited for what's to come!

week two here we gooooo

So the start of the second week, and the actual diet and REAL workouts. The morning workout was hard, but I feel less thoroughly exhausted than I did on the first/second days. I think my body is getting used to being worked a bit more...probly for the best. The heat was atrocious tho. The pads on the pullup bar kept dripping my own sweat on me when I squeezed them. Awful.

The diet...now this is odd. I feel as tho I am eating a massive ammount, but within a half hour to 45 minutes I am hungry all over again, and have to hold off on eating the snack so I don't just blow thru all my meals over a few hours. As of now, I've had breakfast, snack, dinner, and am about to go have tea...and I still have 2 hours left of work. Let's see if I can make it (I think I can I think I can I think I can) without giving in and eating some of the absurd number of cookies/puddings that are sitting within 15 feet of me. Thank god the pudding is chocolate...I hate chocolate.

week one done

So, week one is done. Thank goodness. Food is the main problem, cuz I've been hungry this whole week. Altho, the heat will make it hard to eat all that I may have to eat tomorrow...

Anyway, a day of only jump rope...felt....odd. My arms/chest in particular felt cheated. My brain was happy to not have to sweat thru the exercises again, but my muscles had a different idea. At this point, my brain is still smarter than my brawn, but I dunno how long that'll last. It is rather handy scheduling tho, the day of rest being an actual day off... I think I like it.

Anyway, lookin' forward to the next week. Food and MORE WORKOUTS! YARRR!

day 6

Day 6 workout done! The heat became an actual factor in the exercises. I was nearly at failure on the push ups and the jump rope was excruciating. The thermostat in our house can't measure the heat, and the humidity is horrible. I still got them done, and a cold shower solved a lot of the heat problems.

Food wise, last night I went to a bi-weekly game night me and my friends have. I stuck to the 1/2 of what I would normally eat, but man was I incredibly full. It could have been the heat, but I also realize we always eat a lot at those gatherings. Gonna be good when I bring my own food.

Anyway, off to the rest of the day

there had better be a storm coming.

Day 5 done and done.

So, the biggest reason I like Vermont and most of the northern climates is winter. I have trouble with heat, and up north there's less of that...but oh man is that not true today. It's 81 degrees in the shade, and the humidity is off the charts, somewhere around 99% I think. Also, no breeze. There had better be a stormfront coming to blow this hot air away.

The heat made the exercises hard, especially the push ups (I couldn't keep my hands in place because of the sweat, even with padded handles). I still got it all done, and now I'm gonna shower and have myself a little treat. I found Lychee nuts at the local co-op today, and I have a small jar of Kim chi that my co-worker (who makes sushi around town) made for me. CRAZY exited about that. I also have some of her sushi sitting in my fridge fer later. mmmm....sushi with kimchi...and Lychee nuts as desert...

So happy.

day 4

Day for done and down. Slightly less sore, but extremely sweaty. I've literally soaked my yoga mat, and I dunno how long it'll take ME to dry off. This is a flood of biblical proportions, prepare yer arks.

On the food front, still starving, still not eating, and definitely tempted. I work in an Alzheimer ward, and one of the big things that the elders do is not eat, so we have to feed them high sugar/fat foods... so there are sweets and baked goods galore ALL AROUND ME! ARRG. Also...Patric....you NEED to stop mentioning cookies in yer emails, cuz every time you do they literally appear under my face. SO much temptation. Ahh well...just gotta stick with 1/2 a banana instead.

day 3

Ok...day 3. More resistance to waking up, and by resistance I mean "Oh lord my body feels like a plank of wood." This was made worse because yesterday was a horrible day. Work and co-workers getting me down, and my desire to do anything productive dropped considerably. However, I continue on with the workouts. Day 3 done and put to bed.

On the not eating portion...I appear to have lost about 10 pounds in the past 3 days (really only 2 cuz I woke up and weighed myself this morning). This is somewhat worrying, but I'm running with it, seeing as I started at 210 and am kinda aiming fer 180. We'll see.

Anyway, power thru everyone!

Day 2!

Hokay... day 2 workout done and put to bed. Had some trouble with the pushups, but that's to be expected what with doing them 2 days in a row after having not done them in a long long time.

What's more interesting is the 1/2 diet seems to have given me an almost manic energy level. I have trouble sitting down, and just wanna rush around and do EVERYTHING. Dunno why, and I suspect this will subside, but fer now it means I'm getting some brownie points at work fer doing...pretty much everything.

And now...I'm off to do that again! WOO!

Ok! Day one exercises done and put to bed. Now I just gotta get thru the day without eating much at all. I think I can do it.

Anyway, realizing that my first post told just about nothing about me, seeing as I kinda wrote it at around 1am...lemme lay down some knowledge.

I'm a 26 year old who works at an old folks home as an aide, which translates loosely to I do some of the normal work and ALL of the lifting, which is a part of why I'm doing this whole program. This job is also going to be the biggest problem with the program, as I occasionally have days that quite simply destroy my will to do anything. It's hard to be motivated when you get hit and bit by an Alzheimer patient that reminds you of yer grandfather.

Putting that aside, the REAL reason I want to do this is to get back to how I used to be, which was very strong. I grew up on a farm in rural Vermont. I stacked about 5 chords of wood every summer, along with haying, sugaring, farming, cows....etc. etc. etc. All that plus walking up a mountain every day and walking home from school (about 3.5 miles) had me perty strong. I moved to Burlington (one of the only real cities in VT) about 7 years ago for college, and kinda stopped having all those nice muscle building activities I used to have. And now...well, I feel weak and want to get strong again.

Now...let's get this program a-rollin'!