Final Post

Around fall when they're nice and ripe you want to go out on the flats with a bucket and pick a mess of berries. Then, mix those berries with crisco and sugar. You've now made agutuk or Eskimo ice cream. Traditionally it was made with fish and seal oil, but I've only had the berries and crisco kind. You're likely a little queasy right now thinking about this treat, but I ate berries prepared like this at every potluck, graduation, birthday party or celebration I went to when I live in rural AK. I tell people about this treat sometimes now that I live in PA, and 9 out of 10 times they're grossed out.

Thing is, isn't like every treat in aisle 5 the same thing? Some fat, some sugar, some flavor. Why do people get grossed out at berries covered in crisco but chow down a Little Debbie cupcake? If anything, at least with agutuk you know what you're getting. Maybe that's where the disconect is. You can lie to yourself with the granola bar and say "this is healthy" because you have no idea what is in it. You need a PhD in Chemistry to understand the label, so we assume it's good for us because the box says it is. Of course, as PCPers, we know that's nonsense. The only thing "good for you" is food. Real food that you can understand.

I learned a few things on the PCP. I learned that I do like real food. I went months without fast food and didn't really miss it. I didn't miss potato chips or soda. I was drinking at least a pop a day and eating Wendy's three days a week minimum. Then I stopped and I lived. Ninety days later and that habit is gone. I learned that I like strength exercises and even jumping the rope. I haven't done either seriously since the project ended and I'm starting to really miss it.

However, I did miss a nice BLT, an Italian sub, or some buffalo wings and a cold beer. And I've had a lot of wings since the project ended, but that's okay because I was aware of what I was doing. I was eating something I enjoy. I knew it would make me groggy later and it was worth it. I'm not here to live an life of denial, proving to myself forever that I can not eat desert. Last night my father in law made a lovely apple cake and I had two slices. Ala mode. Guess what? I didn't die.

I mean look, this might seem like I'm taking a tone, I'm not, I really respect the people that can do the PCP and follow every rule, that did each set to completion and really did reach peak condition. I'm not going to lie and say I did. Hell, the sorta-six pack I had developed has already started to fade.

But for me the most important part of this whole thing is to quit lying to yourself. If you're going to eat bacon then eat bacon. Don't tell yourself that it's good for you. Don't convince yourself that you'll balance it out later with an extra hour on the treadmill in the sweaty, loud, oppressive gym. Pardon my French, but just fucking enjoy it. Realize what you're doing. Be, as the zen crowd says, mindful. And, if you're not going to enjoy it, if it isn't going to be worth it, then don't eat it. Sounds simple, but is very very difficult. For me at least, the PCP was a 90 day re-hab from the mindless eating of junk food that was running me down.

I say good luck to everyone else, this was fun, keep at it and enjoy life. Patrick, sorry about the delay, last week was...eventful.

Day 89

Hey, everyone knows on the PCP you eat a lot of eggs. Well, if you're tired of eating lame, boring round eggs you should check out the Egg Cuber. This awesome device makes your hardboiled eggs into cubes. For easy storage and transportation I guess. Maybe they fit better in a Slap-chop as cubes. Ever look at the breakfast-to-go in the Slap-chop commerical? It's a hardboiled egg, a green onion and some ham, all chopped up together. What? How is that to go? Am I just walking around with greasy ham and egg chunks in my hand, munching on it like peanuts? Oh Vince, what a crack up. Anyway, enjoy the cuber. (HT Unclutterer)

Is this really my day 89 post? Yeah, it is. Maybe tomorrow will be profound.

Day 87 - this just about sums it all up

When I'm on a jog or not feeling like doing the plank or whatever, this is my go to song:

The audio quality is awful, so here are the lyrics of this part:

blow my money on my favorite company
they can blow holes in my ozone
so pour that propane on my clothes
I like it when my skin glows
besides there's nothing to live for
unless you live a little more like you're going to die

so what the fuck are you going to do?
they robbed your life from you
tell them you want to get it back
if you do, I've got your back
yes it's something worth defending
so throw caution to the wind
and other platitudes
that were written just for you
take a shit in their swimming pool
let them chase you if you do
finally something is happening to you
put an axe through the TV
blow up your radio,
though you can't see them now
you'll hear birds singing in your soul
sneak your way past the gates in a little hard heart shape

if you're gonna be a shark you better learn to stay awake

why you wanna spend your life in jail?

For a more traditional motivational monday movie, here's are these, song is amazing (Saul Williams, Reparations) and worth a download. The third one is brilliant.

Day 83 - Goals Smoals

The latest Zen is Stupid touched on something that I think about a lot. Maybe too much. The discussion was about what we set goals for, and how goals themselves can become an attachment. As I near the end of my PCP, I thought I might reflect on this here.

I've thought about this in two areas: fitness and education. I'll start with fitness. My goal with the PCP was to get in excellent shape, that I would carry through the winter. The higher level of strength and endurance will help me with cycling and triathlon, and bring my race time down. Eventually, I want to complete a half-ironman race, possibly in 2011. But here's the thing, I like races and events because they give me a goal and force me to get up in the morning to work out. Without that deadline I'll push back, stay in bed (like I did today) and be lazy. I know this will have long-term health consequences, and make me feel like crap all day. Do you see what's happened there? I train to do events because they make me train. Maybe this is good, a self-reinforcing system. But if I don't keep this cycle in mind, if I forget, then what am I doing? When I did the Philly tri last summer I saw many many many people who were just miserable. The look on their face, their posture, was just miserable. They had better times than me, but so what? I need to remember that I do this stuff because I think it is fun, and if it stops being fun I need to get out and quickly.

The second area is education. I've got my education all screwed up. Basically I started a master's program in August 2002 and am just (knock on wood) finishing up in December. In the mean time I've gotten within two classes of another masters and started a third here in PA. Now I can work this to where everything intermingles and I end up with all three just in time to start the PhD program when it is planned to start up here. But, why? Right now it is because I am interested in this Comparative Education field and the work that is being done. But the goal is to do that work, to study the intersection of education and sustainable development. And I suspect the only way to get someone to pay me for that is to get a PhD. But I'm not going to lie, if someone offered me a job tomorrow doing this kind of research I'm not sure I would take it. Because I am attached to getting a doctorate. The means has become a goal. And it's a big goal, but for what? Does it help me get to where I want to be?

This sounds like some Zen Habits or Lifehacker nonsense, but when we set our goals we have to make a distinction between strategy and tactics. The overall strategy is to live a healthy life and to study ecological economics and education. The tactics are the PCP, the races, the degrees and the other things I need to do to make that happen. It is okay to change tactics if it gets you closer to the strategic goals. This is very easy to say and very hard to do.

Day 81

Finally made it to the pool today. I'm not a good swimmer, my form is sloppy and my breathing is a joke, but I do love it. I can only go for like 25 minutes because I have to run over on my lunch hour, but that's 25 minutes where I can just zone out, not worry about email or feel like I should be reading some article about multi-lateral aid to the education sector in Turkmenistan. Doing the jumps or running requires more concentration for me, so I can't really relax the same way that I do in the pool.

Tomorrow when I go I'll have to poke my head in the gym so I can do my homework.

Also, day EIGHTY ONE? The heck did that happen?

Day 78

Back before this whole PCP thing, every couple of weeks I would eat my "mediterranean dinner". They're always talking on the news about the benefits of a mediterranean diet, right? Well, this is not that diet.

My version was pretty basic. I would get a nice salami or other spiced meat, some good cheese, some olives, maybe a loaf of sourdough and that would be my dinner. Let's break it down: fat and salt, fat and salt and salt. But it was tasty. So, even though I indulged when I blew it last week, I had this dinner last night.

I bought some chorizo, some jarlsberg, a peppered salami, some of the really stinky briney minced garlic stuffed olives and a bag of those high end honey dijon potato chips. I sliced the meats and cheese and arranged everything all nice on the plate and ate till I was full. Which was sooner than it would of been months ago.

I felt fine afterwords, very warm as my body went into overdrive trying to process the fats. And I was very thirsty, but no big disasters or anything. I know after the indulgences we're supposed to say "oh no, I could feel it clogging my heart and I started to pass out." I have no doubt that people have that experience, but I didn't. Likely because I haven't been 100% on diet.

What I did learn from the experience is that, while it was good, I also would of been fine with a big salad or Emily's Asian chicken or even a tuna fish sandwich. Which are all way better than me than salami and potato chips. So, even though my laziness is going to keep me from being all PCP hyper-ripped, I did break some really deep down food cravings during all this.

And now, back to revising that damn thesis.

Day 72

After my freakout, E said something very important about the "food" vs food situation. Basically that real food costs more than "food products". This is to be expected, virtually everything of a higher quality costs more in any market. However, it is important to remember that many "food" products cost less because the American tax payers are subsidizing them. That poor family that can't afford real food, pays for it anyway through their taxes.

What is fascinating to me is this discussion lately about a sin tax on high calorie "foods". Just to make this clear, the Feds are going to pay the manufacturers to produce HFCS and then charge the consumer for enjoying it. All in the name of saving us from ourselves. And I have yet to hear ANYONE suggest just getting rid of the subsidy - which would also cause the prices of these products to rise and have a similar expected change in demand.

Anyway, I failed HARD at the PCP this week. The conference was 13 hours or so a day of being "on", since I both attended and (slightly) helped run the thing. That led to some really questionable food choices (mozzarella sticks and beer) and not working out. Every time I get on a roll I let some environmental change take away all the gains. Very annoying.

Day 68 - When PCP'ers stop being polite

Tomorrow I'm attending this Comparative Education conference and I thought I'd buy a couple new pair of pants for the occasion since my basic business casual khakis were looking a little shot. So I swing by the outdoor mall on the way home and wander into LL Bean. I look at the racks and find just a basic pair of pants in a nice color, you know, pants. No big deal. I start to look for my size.

Now, I've always been pretty skinny and a few years ago I gave up on ratcheting down size 32 pants and just started buying 30 or 31. So I start digging through these pants, there are shelves of them and I realize I'm not going to find anything. There is nothing in this style with a waist smaller than 34. Okay. Fine. I've been scrawny for a long time, I know the deal. So I find another pair I like and - you guessed it - nothing below a 32. And then I quit caring if the pants looked good or whatever, I'm just looking for pants with a waist smaller than 32 inches. And of course, there aren't any. None.

I figure, what the heck, I'm here already, try the 32 and see if they work. What's the harm. So I grab the 32 off the shelf and then notice the length is 30. The only 32 inch waist pants in the whole giant LL Bean store have a 30 inch length. I need 32. So, there are no pants - including jeans and the "technical" waterproof deals - in this whole store that fits me.

That's when I had to leave the store. Now if this had been some other store I might not have minded too much. But I'm standing there looking at the selection of bicycles and kayaks for sale right next to the pants and there is nothing for a skinny person to wear. Have you ever seen a professional cyclist? They make me look like Chris Farley. And LL Bean is selling that life style, right? They're saying "shop here and you'll be a fitness loving rugged outdoors man who kayaks to the mountain bike trail and the rides to the deer stand." They have giant photographs of dudes on fishing expeditions or standing on cliffs, and those dudes likely can't buy pants in the store itself.

So, I leave the store and go to Old Navy where I buy literally the only pants in THAT store that fits me.

And really, this is no big deal in the long run, I went back into Bean and bought some sweaters and shirts. The world did not end.

But I do want to say the following, and it might be offensive, I don't know.

This morning on NPR I heard the phrase "just another example of discrimination against the fat". I don't remember the exact context, something about the health care debate. My point is, what discrimination? Almost every grocery store and restaurant in America caters to the obese. I can't buy gas without someone trying to sell me sausage and cheese between pancakes. Now I have to order my clothes on the internet because they aren't available. Forget Big and Tall stores, we need Skinny and Tall; EVERY store is for the big. Discrimination? "The fat" are running this show for crying out loud.

Did I do anything to be skinny? Does it make me a better person? No, of course not. Hell, I started this project to GAIN weight. I fail at the PCP every single day, I'm not saying it is easy to change. It's luck in the genetic lottery, I know that. But I'm just sick of hearing about how tough things are for people that drink Coke at breakfast or eat McDonald's every day. And so what if they advertise? People really cannot overcome a picture of a hamburger with some silly music and a lame joke? Honestly? Every time I watch TV the breaks are full of ads for crap like 2 and Half Men, but I don't watch it, because I know it is crap. People don't know by now that Burger King is crap? Of course it's crap. It has always been crap. It's not like they were selling fruit salad and the changed it up all the sudden. "Oh it's the high fructose corn syrup. ADM is evil for putting it in my food." Then don't buy that food. No HFCS in an apple. No multinational added sugars to the carrots.

Do I slip up on the diet? Of course, everyone slips, but take responsibility for it. Are there genetic or cultural factors. Sure. But how many graduates of this program would of said they just had bad genetics before starting? How many people never try because they're given that excuse day in day out by some talking head on TV. Tell people they're always going to be out of shape because of their genes or culture or socio-economics status or whatever and they will always be out of shape. Tell people they can improve and they'll improve.

Is that too naive? Maybe. Sorry if I'm a jerk. Long couple days at work topped by this nonsense today.

Alright, enough being a baby, time to cook up some dinner.

Day 66 - Monday [Night] Motivational Movie

Of course, I left my trunks at home, brought a towel and no trunks. Tomorrow I swim.

Anyway, enjoy the movie. I know I use so many are Nike ads, but they sell athleticism and they sell it well.

Day 65

I was glad to find out that I was failing correctly.

I don't think I have yet to make it through the whole time jumping rope without having to take a quick 10-second breather every now and then. I'm impressed with the people that can cross arms and stuff, I do the one foot then the other thing, but the second I cross it all falls apart.

Tomorrow I'm going to swim on my lunch break, I've been meaning to get back in the pool for weeks and it is time. It'll help with the jumps, keep me lean and - most importantly - take me away from my desk for an hour.

This week, for the first time, I planned out my meals for the week and used that to shop. I'll have to re-up meats and veg on Wednesday, but hopefully I can stick to the diet this week. I agree, Jessica, it is a lot of yogurt, but I needs the protein if I'm going to put on some muscles, right?

New Picture up, looks like some progress, but I can't really tell because of the lighting. Like the fake "I'm flexing as hard as I can" smile on my face?

Day 61

Jessica, reaching muscle failure is easy. In my first set I do exactly how many of whatever Patrick demands. The max reps if he gives a range. The second set I do the same. The third usually is a fight to get to the minimum reps. The fourth and/or fifth involve a lot of shaking, grunting and getting as many reps in before I drop the band or fall on my face. With floorjumps it means I make a jumping motion, but the distance I leave the ground is roughly the thickness of two human hairs.

I know when I reach muscle failure when I can't drink my post work-out milk because the mug is too heavy to bring up to my mouth. From your day 60 post you're already reaching what I call muscle failure, which makes me wonder if I'm not really reaching muscle failure. Am I failing at failing?

Day 60, [Tuesday] Motivational Movie

Two-thirds in and I'm bringing back the big motivation:

When I forget why I'm downstairs jumping rope in the night, this video always helps.

Unlike Jess I can reach muscle failure in my legs and holy crap, two days after Monday's workout I am still sore. Which is good, tearing fibers and rebuilding them stronger. The timed jumps are getting better, but I'm with Amy, I just straight jump, the arm cross just ends up with me twaping myself in the face. But the timed jumps are getting better. I was really speeding through sets of 150 or 200 before. It's just about pacing myself now.

Day 55

Rough Draft done and sent, final word count 11,470, 45 pages in word. Whew. Now I sit here for a couple of weeks and be nervous. But at least the ball is rolling.

Thanks for all the comments about the pull-ups. It was good to hear. A lot of times I look at the sheet and read the emails and think everyone else is powering through every set and every rep just like the picture. Not very realistic I guess. It is still frustrating because I could do more last week, but I also went on a egg hiatus with no other protein to substitute, so that's what I get.

Anyone else hate timed jumps? As long as we're being honest? My final couple of sets are like "jump...pant...pant...pant....jump...pant pant pant..." I know the goal is to improve, but it is quite a transition from knocking down 150 sets to having to just keep going until my watch beeps.

Day 54

7,622 words and I am writing this on a quick bathroom break. Dear old and new PCPers alike, do not decided that 200g of asparagus is part of a good breakfast. It is too much. That's the best advice I know right now. Two hours later and I'm still stuffed. Good to be eating back on plan though, I need to build the muscles up. Yesterday I could only do a handful of regular pull-ups and had to go back to the inclines. Lame.

Day 53 - Natural Born Procrastinator

I procrastinate, that's what I do. I put off my workouts, eating, work and school.

I am, right this instant on a two hour break from working on my final project for a master's degree I started in 2002. My advisor finally gave me a "have something to me by X" date and I had to take two days off to get it to him. So I'm home, in my PJs getting it done.

The worst part is I just wrote 3024 words in two hours. A lot of it was based off of earlier papers and research, but still. I've sat on this thing for 5 years (when I was coursework complete) and I got what W|A tells me is 13 pages done in two hours. Now is no time to gloat, that's just the introduction and the theory application will be a pain, but I'm moving.

So, time to take this little break, let the dog use the bathroom, check the mail, knock back some tuna and carbs and then get back to work. Maybe I'll sneak in some extra abs work while I'm at it. One thing I will not be doing today? Limiting my coffee. Sorry Patrick, I know it is toxic and destroying me but when I hit that 4pm slump I will enjoy a tall cup. At least it isn't a big cup of bacon fat, right?

The worst worst worst feeling about procrastination is how good it feels when you finally stop sitting on the couch and turn the doing dial up a notch.

I could go on and on about discount rates and brain chemistry and why that feeling is so easy to forget, but I'm on a short break here and don't want to lose that momentium. So, I've been reading everyone's blogs just not commenting, keep it up, you're all rockstars. Anshuman, I know that frustration - I'm still losing weight - but don't let it get to you, just let it fuel you workout. Alright, got to go

Day 51 - Beautiful Day

I love the fall. It's true. I don't have much use for the sweltering heat of summer and when it comes to an end it just brings me such joy. This week we transitioned from shorts weather to jean weather and I could not be happier. A nice crisp breeze is blowing and the sky seems clearer from the cold.

The workout have been really kicking my butt this week, I cannot do 4 full sets of dips and end up going back to propping my legs up for the last set every time. I'm getting there and it is nice to feel that comforting soreness the next day.

I had my indulgence last week before we even had permission. After being up past midnight reading about structural violence and other cheerful topics, I left the house in a rush without having breakfast. As my stomach fed on itself I decided I had to eat something, so, like an idiot I pulled into Wendy's. Their options were limited, as you can imagine. You know, McDonalds gets a lot of crap for being unhealthy, but at least they make an effort. Wendy's and Burger King have embrased the fact they sell you crap that will kill you (esp. BK) and they're not targeted nearly as much. Almost makes you feel bad for Ronald McDonald. Almost. Anyway, I got a fried chicken biscut thing.

There is a book I like, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell. In it a character comes out from under a spell and it is described as they had a piece of opaque glass covering every aspect of his life and it was suddenly broken. Without exaggeration that is how I felt after eating that chicken, only opposite. Everything was slow and my thoughts were cloudy. I'm sure lack of sleep didn't help, but wow it was amazing what an effect it had. I would of been better off losing the kcals and being hungry until lunch.

Daisy is being a total spaz, so I have to take her on a run. Welcome to the new crew! Keep up the work everyone.

Day 48 - reflection and musings, also sarcasm

Where I last taught was an alternative school. For those that don't know, this is the school kids go to after they get expelled. Not that they're all bad kids (some are) but almost all of them say the same thing when confronted with something hard, like math. They say, "I just can't do this, I don't think this way, it isn't who I am."

The argument, which they cannot articulate because they've been socially promoted through 8 to 12 years of schooling, is that they are at some level genetically or culturally hardwired to be incapable of completing the task. The task can be sitting still, not throwing things, not dropping the f-word every three minutes, writing a five paragraph essay or anything else. It doesn't really matter. The point I'm making is there is a instant reaction that anything that requires effort is impossible, and then fear of failure prevents them from even trying. Learned helplessness is the buzzword most often used to describe these situations.

I'm uncomfortable with these explanations, as my sarcasm above should make clear. It sounds too much like determinism, like saying because someone is born poor, or hispanic, or black then they will never be able to comprehend a linear equation. Or because someone has a record they will always be a criminal, so why bother trying. It is just in their nature.

Pardon the language but I call bullshit. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe nature will out in the long run. For sure, maintaining the peak condition lifestyle has been a real struggle for me, but I have to believe in the ability for humans to change their behaviors. Otherwise what is the point? Of anything?

Day 45 - Halfway Point Movie

Woah, someone filmed my subconscious yelling at Patrick, who is oddly enough is played by an African-American woman:

And the remix:

Anyway, been working the PCP at about 80% capacity lately, which is weak because it's just the Condition Project. It is working, I'm getting in shape and feeling stronger. I managed to knock out 300 jumps without stopping - which is a new record. I don't know how Anshuman does 286,513,456 in a row every time. Sorry for being slack on the blog, but they expect me to work at work all of the sudden so my putzing online time is more restricted.

Okay, time for bed to get my solid seven before a morning workout.

Day 41 - Stress

Different people have different stress responses. A lot of people turn to food. I forget to eat. Two days in a row things have been silly enough at work that I've looked at the clock and said "crap it's noon".

Skipped the jump rope because I walk / jog /sprinted with Daisy for nearly three miles today.

Going to bed early to make up for staying up past midnight yesterday.

Made a decision at work today, things will get done when they get done. I have overworked myself to meet unreasonable deadlines since I got the job in January and set that as my co-worker's expectation. Now I need to stop rushing because that has reset the deadlines to where a rush job is a normal job. Not trying to whine, I'm lucky to have a job. I am just trying to be more assertive and mindful of what is important to me.

So, bed now.

Also, v-sits still suck. Bicycles too, but I think I am doing them wrong, my legs feel it way more than my abs.

Day 39 - Monday Morning Motivational Movie

This one is maybe a little personal:

Day 38 - Eggs

Look, I know they are little pockets of protein and I know all of this muscle work is just making me ropey and scrawnier with out them, but ten eggs a day? One-zero, TEN. That is a lot of eggs man. No matter how much mustard, wasabi or sriracha you dump on them. It's a lot of eggs. If someone were to ask me what the #1 challenge of the PCP was it wouldn't be floorjumps, it wouldn't be pistol squats, it wouldn't even be planks or bicycles - all of which I hate - it would be eating eggs all damn day.

New picture, reflecting my days of missing upper body workout and skipping too many eggs. I'm stronger based on the reps I can do now, but it isn't showing. And still not feeling that miracle energy boost yet. Maybe the caffeine restrictions Patrick just imposed will help with that. See also, getting enough sleep.

Okay, done venting, time to finish this chapter and hit the basement for today's workout. And by venting I mean bitching about minor stuff. I mean, my biggest problem is I have to eat eggs? Really? What is it about the blog format that takes minor things and blows them out of proportion? Sheesh. :)

Day 34 - Where I've Been

Meet Daisy:

She's three year old boxer that we adopted last weekend.

Boxers are what you call a "high energy breed". Which is good because it means walks (and occasional sprints) in the park. But I thought I'd let you know I've been slack on the blogging because the choice between keeping her from pooping in the house and writing a blog post ain't no choice at all.

Day 32 - Month 1 Wrap-Up

Bill W. says you can't get better until you hit rock bottom. Well, this weekend I fell off the wagon and fell hard. And, as you might guess, after dinner on Sunday I had a headache, felt like I was going to throw up and was slugish in my movement and thinking. I hit rock bottom.

ANYWAY, I'm not going to dwell on that. I've spent too much of this blog talking about ways I screwed up. Just know I'm on the straight and narrow now.

Instead I do want to highlight my accomplishments up until this weekend:

• no soda
• no beer
• no fast food
• no candy
• no ice cream
• 3 pickle spears total (I could kill a jar in a day)
• a dozen olives total (I eat these like popcorn)
• no hot dogs
• no pizza
• no chinese
• no microwave crap-food
• no spiced meats (love salami, pepperoni and summer sausage)
• no pork
• no potato chips
• no potato salad
• no cookies, cupcakes, cake or pie
• daily fruit
• daily vegetables
• daily carbs
• 2 to 3 large nalgenes of water / day
• daily exercise
• rarely overslept
• cooked most of my meals

I'm proud of that, and maybe my muscles aren't where they should be because I am sick of egg whites or neglected my abs. Whatever, moving forward is still moving forward.

Day 26 - Planners

So yesterday I ended up being stuck at work until 6:30. After 45 minute drive home, I ended up doing my workout until a bit after eight. I have to hold my arms out on the floorjumps and it makes me feel like some kind of movie shaman doing a bird dance. Then I ate a very simple exhausted-chef chicken on lettuce salad with some rice on the side and worked on homework. Next thing I knew it was 10:30. I'm going on vacation tonight, leaving for the beach as soon as class ends, and like a dolt I have did not pack or put the bikes on the rack or anything. So after I finish that draft of my paper and get ready for my trip and it was creeping up on midnight.

We have various elements to the PCP, the food, the exercise, getting enough sleep, etc. Last night when I set my alarm for 5:30 I failed at all three. I had no time to exercise or cook, and I was still not getting eight hours of sleep. So today is a bit of a wash. I'll cobble together something PCP from the deli, which will be less than optimal.

Unlike E, I am not a rules stickler. And if I don't become one I will not reach my goal of Peak Condition. This is the dilemma. I have no doubt that I can adapt, I have adapted to some pretty strange circumstances, to the point where sleeping on airport floors felt normal or riding my bike for 8 hours a day was just what I did. I have gotten (mentally) fat and lazy living the (really wonderful) good life these past years and now I have to reset some patterns. That conflict will inevitably lead to days like today.

Just as reaching muscle failure makes us stronger, reaching habit failure is the only way for me to build stronger systems.

That got rambly, have a good weekend kids, see y'all Monday.

Day 25 - Monkey Mind

Yesterday I did nearly 600 jumps without catching my foot once. This is, for me, a sort of miracle. So I started mentally writing a post about how I was able to do all of my jumps without a single trip because of my new just-socks-no-shoes style. And, you guessed it, my foot caught.

So, a little deflated, I started again to jump, paying strict attention to the spot on the wall I stare at and counting away. And in the mid-900s I start thinking about how if I don't pay attention to my jumps it causes me to trip. So I start composing a post in my head about how I trip if I don't pay attention to my jumps and...

thawk

I trip.

The moral of the story? Forget the blog, pay attention to the jumps. As they say in the Hagakure (via Ghost Dog), "this understanding extends to all things."

Day 24 - Monday Motivational

His name is Lance. He came back from cancer to win what most people consider the hardest race in his sport. Over and over again, breaking records as he went. No, not that guy. I'm talking about Lance Mackey, and the man is a true badass. This means nothing to most people, but he twice won the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod in the same year. Twice. No one had ever done that before and he comes along and does it back to back. Hardly anyone even tries to enter both races, for crying out loud!

He also lives in what most people would consider abject poverty so he can do his sport, not living the high life courtesy of Nike, Trek and whatever that "tired of being tired" drink the other Lance is selling me on every webpage.

But, I digress, both Lances are awesome.

Here are a couple videos about Mackey:





In other news, I just sat through a meeting for over an hour with everyone else eating pepperoni pizza and just drank water.

UPDATE: Even better video with angry Lance about to win his second Iditarod here.

Day 23 - I got so many grams to get through I feel like a coke dealer

Woah, weekends are killer. I have zero routine on the weekends, which will kick my but in exactly three days when class starts. We have homework due on the first day of class. I'm going to repeat that, because it bears repeating. We have a (short) paper due on the first day of class. If I don't figure out a way to spend the weekend not sleeping late and being lazy that will be a problem for sure.

Anyway, this sleeping in has jacked my food all around today, I am sitting down with my list of foods for the day trying to figure out how to eat 2/3rds of them in two hours. I'm sure that is way bad, but skipping the meals is worse. Anshuman, you got to not worry about the weight. I'm losing weight, but also losing power. The shoulder exercises were harder today than so far, I think because I was sloppy about my grams yesterday. I guess I need the kcals to build this muscle, it's just hard to stay on top of. People react to stress differently, most it seems choose to eat. I'm the opposite. Without the routine of the workday I can easily look at a clock and realize I haven't eating anything in 8 hours.

On the plus side I avoided a dozen temptations while shopping today. I had cravings for everything. Mozzerella sticks, salami, soda, pizza rolls. If it was crap I wanted it. I will confess I had a Milky Way on the belt for about 20 seconds thinking no one would know but me. Then, shaking my head, I thought "What the [bloopity bloop] am I doing here?" and put the candy bar back. I'm sure I must of looked like a health nut scolding myself over one candy bar and having a belt full of organic veg and fruit. Whatever, there's worse things to look like.

Great posts from everyone, and thanks for the comments when I was in the dumps last week everyone. E, glad to read the jumps are getting easier. I took my shoes off today and they were WAY easier, maybe something to try. Amy, keep going and we'll get through this, yesterday sounded wonderful for you. Jessica, could you suspend a bar with some rope? That's what I did in my basement and it worked great. Good luck on week three everyone, and now I need to eat and maybe read some.

Oh, real quick, here is a tip, I get tired of yogurt just on it's own. But I do love the tzatziki sauce they put on gyros. So I started making a halfway version by dumping dill in my greek yogurt servings. It's not bad at all. Maybe I'll chop up some cukes to make it more authentic.

Day 21 - horse lattitudes

I always thought the Horse Latitudes were named because when ships were becalmed and stuck there the sailors were forced to eat the horses. But wikipedia tells me that's not true.

Anyway, I finally took Patrick's Day 19 advice and took it easy last night. I did just the jump ropes and made sure to eat every single alloted gram in the diet. Today is jumprope Friday and hopefully a couple days of taking it easy will restart my system.

I'm eating my 9:30am snack now at noon, had a pile of stuff to do at work today. Don't you hate when you have to work at work? It is the worst.

So, I really am back on track and sorry that I wined about nothing yesterday. I wasn't knocking the program or anything like that. It was a little humbling to read about E's knees disintegrating and still making it through the workouts while I had to take a half-day.

Day 20 - the doldrums

I don't know how you guys and girls with kids manage this thing. After taking off work Tuesday to sleep my diet got all out of wack. I've been having trouble staying on schedule, and keep forgetting to drink milk with breakfast and eat my daily cheese. I also got lazy yesterday and bought a pre-cooked turkey breast at the fancy food store. This will provide me with protein for a couple days, but I don't really know how it was prepared. There are some herbs on top, but for all I know prior to roasting it could of been coated in salt. Tastes fine though. Anyway, after lazing about Tuesday I did my workout at about 4pm. Then I stayed up till midnight working on stuff for school. I've gotten myself in a bit of a pickle with paperwork and deadlines and just felt like I needed to get it taken care of. So for the past two days I've worked out at night. This morning I woke up intending to workout, but ended up sleeping in again. So I'll be jumping rope at night, which I don't like because then I'm not eating dinner until after 8pm and my snack soon after. Classes start next Tuesday and I'm at this point where my enthusiasm for the PCP has wavered but it isn't yet a natural routine to workout and cook everyday. Am I the only one with this frustration right now? I don't know if it is because I'm not following the diet 100% but I am not getting the energy boost I was expecting, instead I feel worn down a lot of days. Sorry to vent, just wondering if I'm the only one dragging.

Day 18 - sick of bread and pasta

Take just a little diced bell pepper, green onion and mushrooms from your mise en place and sautee them in just enough olive oil so they don't stick to your large high-sided pan. Celery is also good, but I didn't have any prepared. Liberally coat with hot pepper flakes and fresh ground pepper as they cook. Other spicy red powders might also be good here. (see E's post on spices) Let that all cook down a bit to soften them up, stirring frequently. Add 1 and 1/2 cups of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling add 1 cup of quinoa, I like the red, but don't really know if there is a difference. Turn the heat to low for a simmer and cover the pan. Cook away for 15 minutes, turn the stove off and let the pan stay covered on the cooling burner for 5 minutes or so. (can you tell I have an electric stove?)

While the quinoa is finishing, take your chicken breast you've just finished roasting and cut into smallish chunks. I like mine almost diced. Once the quinoa has absorbed all the water, measure it out into a bowl for that meals carbs. Zero the scale and mix with the chicken and you have a nice, simple, flavorful and lean carb & protein combo.

For my diet, this made enough protein for yesterday's dinner and today's lunch and enough carbs for last night's diner, breakfast and lunch. Roughly 460g carbs and 280g protein. After having 8 slices of rye at lunch yesterday, I was ready for a more dense carb.

Of course, while all this is going on you can also boil your eggs for the next couple days and you'll be set.

I had kind of a rough headache this morning so I'm playing hookie from work, after sleeping an extra five hours I feel much better. Off to do the workout now. Only annoying part is my meals will not be very spaced out.

Day 17 - Mike's Monday Morning Motivational Movie (with weekend notes)

This one is short and simple, but this ad gets me going. Maybe because it reminds me of my youth playing in Onondaga Park, climbing trees and making BMX ramps out of whatever we could find. But there is something of the PCP in this video, because these kids are making due with what they can find. They're doing what they like to do without hundreds of dollars in equipment and specialized clothing. We're doing the same here, we're not buying bowflexes or spending money on special PX90 dvds to get in shape. We're using playground monkey bars, dining room tables and door jams. I also love the shot of the boy growling or the girl one showing her elbow scrape. I mean, aren't we doing the same in our weekly pictures?

Onto to PCP update: The lack of schedule on the weekend continues to be a challenge. I lazed about Saturday morning leading to a total reshuffling of my meals to later in the day. After trying to adopt a doggie, we ended up eating out for my "lunch" around 5pm. I got a steak salad and ate a pile of the complementary bread to try get close to my carb count. Luckily the place we went to had a massive enough portion that I was able to take half home and still have enough protein for my dinner. I have to say, I am loving these unlimited vegetables, but the carbs are killing me.

Sunday was another story. Before the PCP began Emily and I had planned to drive out to Amish Country and go for a 50km bike ride. It was fun and the scenery was amazing, complete with covered bridges and horses pulling buggies. However, the course was hilly and the heat was blazing. And, as with all organized rides, the crowd made it difficult to get a decent rhythm. I was disappointed to find my legs dead after about 20 miles. I had thought 800 j-ropes easily equaled 30 miles of riding, and boy was I wrong. By the end of the ride I was d-o-n-e done.

Our entry fee entitled us to a free Subway sandwich, which I gladly ate in about 20 seconds. I'm sure the salami and pepperoni on the italian sub were far from PCP-approved, but I had seriously underestimated how wiped out I would be at the end of this ride. Still not really seeing the promised energy boost, but it is early. More on that tomorrow, I think.

The work outs haven't been that bad, although I did switch today's and yesterday's, just had the sheets in the wrong order. I am getting stronger since I was able to (barely) complete 3 sets of 4 pull-ups. When I tried last week I maxed out at one set of two. I also got super lucky with Patrick saying we could occasionally replace our jumpropes with another cardio exercise yesterday. After that ride I came home, ate an egg white and slept for about two hours. I then sat around trying to psych myself into doing the workout. Literally as I was copying down the (wrong) workout the email came in. I'm pretty sure I couldn't of cleared the rope, so I was glad to get the reprieve.

Looks like everyone else is moving right along, although Anshuman is destroying his house and E is coming close. Jessica is communicating in comics fulltime now (which is awesome) and Amy is jacking other people's inspirations. What a crew. Keep getting it done everyone.

Day 14 - back on track

Wow. Exercising at night sucks. Patrick is right, my body was telling me it prefers the morning and I should listen to that. It was really difficult to get the motivation to start and by the time I finished I was eating at 8:30 at night. Also, it was the worst jumprope day for me yet, I felt like I caught my foot 2,345,966,589 times. And it didn't help that after two 100-sets my feet hurt like I was running a barefoot marathon on coals and broken glass.

I did learn a little about effort though. I had this feeling that the band I was using for the ovations and the rows was too weak, and I asked Patrick if I should bump up and risk not finishing my reps or stay low. He pointed out that standing farther away would provide more resistance. Duh. So I got inspired by Jimmy's work out rage, and just to see I stepped farther away with a band two levels up from what I used up until now. And completed every rep. So, I guess I'm getting stronger and/or need to quit thinking of myself as unable to do these things.

So, steak dinner and a good night's sleep and I got up and did the jumpropes. I like these week-ending days where all we do is jump. A nice break from the action.

Thinking of what E said about eating, today I had to scamper to the library right before my snack time and didn't end up eating my plum until an hour later. I ate it like I was a viking, juice dribbling down my chin like a crazy person and facing the window so my officemates wouldn't notice. Ahh, PCP = the good life.

Day 13 - bad idea

So after all my big talk yesterday about waking up and getting out of bed with my jumprope in hand, I did the exact opposite this morning. After working-out last night I decided when the alarm went off today that I would try and exercise after work, so I could see which I liked more.

This was a huge mistake. I guess my brain has two routines rattling around in it, one Pre-PCP and the other Post-PCP.

The Post-PCP routine involves getting up at 5 and then internet'ing around for 15 to 20 minutes as I wake up for real. Then it is to the basement for jumpropes and whatever strength exercises Patrick has planned for the day. I head upstairs to eat breakfast, packing my lunch and snacks, take a shower and head off to work. Since the PCP started I have been consistently 5 or 10 minutes late to work, but I'm not really rushing most mornings. It helps that if I ask real nice Emily will iron something for me to wear if I get desperate.

Today, by not getting up at 5, I almost right into the old Pre-PCP routine. Which includes dozing back off until 6:30. With forty-five minutes till I had to leave, I am then ran around like a crazy person trying to my food together and skipping breakfast so I can get to work on-time. The first thing I drank was coffee, which is all I drank until about 9 in the morning. Then, because I didn't pack enough food I go to the deli at lunch and get a gyro or BLT.

Today, thankfully, was not THAT bad. I did get up at 6:30, but managed to cobble together a breakfast of 4 slices of rye bread, a bunch of carrots and cherry tomatoes and a hardboiled egg. I ate this in the car, wrapping the bread around a couple carrots to make it not so dry. Lunch was frozen shrimps on some pasta with more carrots and cherry tomatoes on the side. Emily did me a huge favor boiling the pasta while I showered. I have an apple packed for afternoon snack, but just now realized I did not remember to drink my morning milk. The only good thing is I did manage to get here five minutes early, hence the importance of eliminating that first-thing facebook.

The most striking effect was how grumpy I was. There could be a number of factors: annoyance at myself for having to rush, being hungry, being dehydrated, no endorphin kick from exercise and knowing I was going to have to exercise after work when I'm burned out. Chances are these are all factors on my mood, each building on the other. However, as my 'metrics professor would say, each of these variables is multicollinear to the other because they share a single root z-variable: not getting up and getting the work out done.

So, lesson learned, this is the first time in 12 days I did not get up and exercise, which I can assure you is a PR, and I didn't react well. I'll have to remember this next time the snooze button looks so inviting and I want to change the routine.

Day Twelve - I can't help it, it's my major

Sean correctly said something pretty remarkable today: "A funny thing. I have a person very close to me who is overweight. We talked about the PCP and he stopped taking as soon as he heard about the amount of money it costs to join. And, of course, when I first talked to Patrick, the price made me think twice too. But, look at me now. And, if I hadn't spent the money on the PCP, I'd be spending the same amount and more, albeit more slowly, on overeating, allergy medication, pneumonia medication and eventually, but much sooner than planned, this: [gravestone]"

Although, he stops short by only listing the monetary costs. If we look at the non-market benefits to the PCP, such as his self-reported increased energy, or improved health for his family (classic example of positive externalities, or spillover effects) then the equation tips even more towards the PCP. These things are notoriously difficult to quantify and place a dollar amount on, so they are often not included in traditional Cost-Benefit Analysis. This is a mistake.

And to be sure, there could plenty of non-market costs to the PCP as well, the increased time in food prep and the time spent exercising. I can't speak for Sean, but I enjoy the workouts so for me that is an additional benefit. As a silly example, it also forces me to drink water first thing in the AM, instead of coffee, which I am sure has some positive health effects.

In the comments Seabass points to an interesting phenomena semi-recently introduced to the literature by behavioral economics, and the rationale behind the web service Stickk. Namely, that if you pay a cost for doing or not doing something, you will be more incentivized to do it. Personally, I think this relates to the CBA discussion above. The monetary costs are fixed, if I drop out of the PCP today they do not change. So, somewhere in my brain, I know I have to get X amount of benefits from the program to match these costs. In the classic "gonna get in shape" example I have similar costs, but they are ongoing. If I quit then both my additional benefits and costs cease. So the optimal decision is less clear and, indeed can change day to day. One morning the "cost" of getting out of bed might not match the marginal benefit of an additional day of jogging around the park. I do that a few times and jogging becomes harder again and as my discomfort on the track increases my costs increase. And then I find myself out of shape again.

E's case is even more extreme because he had very high costs without any discernible benefits, so of course he quit. It was the correct thing to do!

All of this is a long and wonky way of saying that Sean's friend is full of nonsense. But if it were this simple why is it so hard to see? Because even the most naturally risk adverse of us still discounts future gains compared to today. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, right? Think about it, the health and fitness benefits of a PCP-style lifestyle change are paid out in the future with all the costs upfront. The benefits of a eating a BLT in front of the TV are paid to me now with the costs in impaired health and fitness way in the future.

Add to that the recursive disincentives that are created by an unhealthy lifestyle: it literally becomes harder to exercise as you get out of shape or the social costs of being the heaviest person at the gym or the guy benching the empty bar. This is where the 12-step language of breaking the cycle comes into play. By having a 90-day intensive experience we are forced to break the self-reinforcing habits that got us into these positions in the first place. Each time we do so the benefits of that BLT are lessoned (just reading the indulgence reports makes that clear) and as discussed earlier with Sean's examples we discover additional benefits that are delivered in the short term. Also, how many PCP'ers learned to love vegetables during the program?

Our internal Cost-Benefit Analysis becomes realigned and the rational, logical, "homo economicus" thing to do is to get up early in the morning and jumprope.

Which, incidentally, is all I did this morning. I walked to a local park for some change of scenery and ended up running out of time after the 700 jumps. Will have to complete the rest of the exercises at home tonight. Patrick, is this a good strategy or should we try and do the work out in one big block until we start the two-a-days?

Day Eleven

Okay, still getting the timing down. Will have to do the abs workout tonight because I just ran out of time. My plan for tonight is to...

1. Wash and iron all the clothes in the hamper.
2. Cut up all my veg as Patrick recommended.
3. Cook up a mess of carbs and measure them out for Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat.
   
4. Boil many eggs.
   
5. Get to bed early.

If I can get up and workout without having to worry about clothes or food then I can take my time with the workout and not be rushed.

It's about building systems, so that when classes start in a couple weeks I'll not be overwhelmed with the added responsibilities.

Here is a recipe for your night time snack. Pour your alloted milk into a measuring cup. Add your alloted grams of fruit in blueberries to the measuring cup. Enjoy.


If you're like me, you're already looking for food ideas that aren't 160g of carrots. Check out 101 Simple Salads for inspiration, there are some good ideas in there, even if they do need rebalancing for PCP. And, of course, we'll have to hold off anything with prosciutto because long term gain is worth some short term sacrifice. I think I might try #68 with some good sourdough and pasta on the side for carbs tonight or tomorrow.

Day 10 - Monday Morning Motivational Movie

"There are really just two types of people: those who say 'I can't' and those who say 'I can'."

I have watched this video a lot. Easily over 100 times. For a while there I watched it every morning to get me going. Sometimes I'd sit through the whole thing, sometimes I'd just hear those lines and head to the park. Now, when I'm laying in bed too lazy to get up it is Al Trautwig's voice I hear, and I have to ask myself which kind of person I want to be today.

This morning was tough. A few days ago I asked Patrick if I could just do regular pull-ups instead of inclined, thinking of an earlier time when 8 pull-ups was tough but not impossible. This morning I quickly lowered the bar (puns!) and did the inclines. Reached muscle failure during the DaVinci's with a set to go. I said "f' it" and moved on to the sit-ups. The whole time, up and down, up and down, I heard Al's voice in my head. Did I want to say "I can't do the minimum set"? Is that how to begin day 10? I decided no, got the band back down and knocked out one last set. Not quite like Scott in the video, but small victories are still victories.

Watching the Ironman promo today also reminded me how much I miss swimming on my lunch break, maybe I'll try to do that tomorrow to wash the lactic out of my legs after all these j-ropes.

Finally, anyone else seeing improved posture? I don't know if it is increased back / core strength, higher energy levels or pride but I noticed just now that I am standing and sitting a lot straighter.

Day Nine

My meals and snacks are merging into each other since I slept in extra late today. You would think after reading everyone's blogs for how many months I would of been ready for the planning component of the program, but it did kind of sneak up on me. I still think tomorrow will go smoother, but also I have to prep my meals tonight. So I better get downstairs.

Just wanted to check in and tell everyone great job, the other blogs have been great reads, although Jessica appears to be hallucinating due to pizza DTs. I am jealous of E's zen jump episode, it sounds so Star Wars. "E, you've turned off your ropejumping computer, what's wrong?"

Good luck tomorrow AM everyone, I really will have to get up early to cram in all that working out

Day Eight

So, that's what I figured, a lot more food. Already my schedule is out of wack on the eating. I'm thinking it will be easier on the weekdays when I'm at the desk all day. Work out took sometime to get through, just a lot more. Tired now. Hope everyone else is glad to go to bed full, good luck tomorrow AM.

Also, thanks for the advice, but you guys are better at counting than I am, my trouble is keeping track during the set. My mind kind of wanders off and then I'm like "crap, was that 60 or 70"?

Day Seven - In which I get preachy about fish

500 jumpropes is kind of a lot. I'm sure any of the June or July PCP'ers reading this are rolling their eyes and remembering fondly when Dear Leader Patrick only gave them 500 jumpropes. But really, it is kind of a lot. A lot to count too. Anyone else having trouble keeping track?

I wrote them down between sets. My first set I got all the way up to 120 before having to walk around a little bit and catch my breath. The it was more difficult, but I did manage one more set of 100 mixed in with a 70 and some smaller ones to fill in the gaps.

It is pretty amazing that in one week we've passed already to this point where 500 jumpropes is do-able. By no means a cakewalk, but not WTF inducing either.

So I clocked in at 143.1 today, creeping dangerously close to my panic weight of 139 lbs. I assume this is all part of the plan, because it is, right Patrick? Right? When we get the new food plan later it'll be full of eggs and veg and other goodies to keep me from wasting away? Or do I need to get over this arbitrary nature of weight X being good while weight Y is bad and just worry about fitness?

Looking forward to next week and the ten after that!

Happy day seven everyone, hope you all enjoy your last meal. Here is what I'm having, Alaskan Sockeye (Niklliq as the Alutiiq say) on the grill:

And real quick, let me be uppity for just one second. If you are forced to decide between frozen wild fish or fresh farmed fish pick the frozen every time. Hear me out. Study after study after study has shown that almost no one can tell the difference in taste between fish flash frozen on tenders or catcher-processors and that same fish cooked fresh, it is a food-snob myth.

Remember, friends don't let friends eat farmed fish.

Day Six - wishing I could just cal the landlord

The joys of home ownership interrupted my workout this morning, so I only got the jumpropes done. Will have to finish the rest up after work. Bugging.

So check out this the graphic "How Different Groups Spend Their Day" from the NYT a little while back. Look at all that TV watching!

UPDATE: Done. MUCH easier for me in the morning, and today was even a pretty mellow day at work. Have to remember that.

Day Fünf

Yesterday Anshuman shared with us a video of the Chugach, so thought I would share a picture from next door in the Wrangel - St. Elias. Know what's at the end of that road where the rainbow ends? Peak Motherflipping Condition, that's what.

Wait, no, it's a giant abandoned copper mine.

But imagine it is Peak Condition, and we're all on that path together. Very inspirational, isn't it?

Yesterday, on the way home from work I was starving. I mean, oh man I am going to pass out and crash the car h u n g r y. On day 4, just like Patrick predicted.

So, in an epic feat of rationalizing, I thought to myself "when I feel this way normally I pull into Wendy's and I get two junior bacon cheeseburgers and a coke, half of that equals one junior bacon cheeseburger." So, I got one, without the coke, so technically less than "half".

Now I doubt 4 days in my diet has adapted significantly enough to cause the badness and malaise that overtook me upon finishing that burger. Maybe it was psychosomatic, but whatever it was I need to hold on to that feeling. My gut hurt, my head hurt, my shins hurt. My shins hurt from a 99 cent cheeseburger. I have no explanation.

But I'll not make that mistake again for a while. Should of listened to the right side.

About the workout, Patrick snuck in all kinds of extra stuff today, including 50 extra jumps. S'okay, cranked through and got them done. Did something else I hate doing, I got up at 5:15 and then putzed around the internet watching Tron 2 trailers and Facebooking until 6:00, and had to rush through the workout and then breakfast. Once we start cooking I will have no time for this nonsense, so I need to break that habit in the next few days.

Alright everyone, let's keep walking down that road, woo hoo!

Day Four, ouch, I'm sore

Jeremiah mentions Michael Pollan, and yesterday I read an interesting article by him in the NYT. One section in particular shocked me.

"I spent an enlightening if somewhat depressing hour on the phone with a veteran food-marketing researcher, Harry Balzer, who explained that “people call things ‘cooking’ today that would roll their grandmother in her grave — heating up a can of soup or microwaving a frozen pizza.” Balzer has been studying American eating habits since 1978; the NPD Group, the firm he works for, collects data from a pool of 2,000 food diaries to track American eating habits. Years ago Balzer noticed that the definition of cooking held by his respondents had grown so broad as to be meaningless, so the firm tightened up the meaning of “to cook” at least slightly to capture what was really going on in American kitchens. To cook from scratch, they decreed, means to prepare a main dish that requires some degree of “assembly of elements.” So microwaving a pizza doesn’t count as cooking, though washing a head of lettuce and pouring bottled dressing over it does. Under this dispensation, you’re also cooking when you spread mayonnaise on a slice of bread and pile on some cold cuts or a hamburger patty. (Currently the most popular meal in America, at both lunch and dinner, is a sandwich; the No. 1 accompanying beverage is a soda.) At least by Balzer’s none-too-exacting standard, Americans are still cooking up a storm — 58 percent of our evening meals qualify, though even that figure has been falling steadily since the 1980s."

What is shocking here is that 42%, FORTY TWO PERCENT AND DROPPING!, of America's evening meals require no "assembly of elements". Easy Mac counts as cooking and three nights a week we're not doing that.

The article ends with this great quote by Balzer: "You want Americans to eat less? I have the diet for you. It’s short, and it’s simple. Here’s my diet plan: Cook it yourself. That’s it. Eat anything you want — just as long as you’re willing to cook it yourself.”

Okay, enough being uppity, the workouts were a little tough today if I'm being honest, had to struggle to get done with that extra set of push-ups Patrick snuck in there. I took longer than the prescribed between-set rest time, that is for sure. Need to get to bed earlier, that's also for sure.

Day Three - Monday Morning Motivational Movie!

Got up extra early and knocked the workout to the ground. You suck workout. I kicked your butt! Beefcake BEEFCAKE! Grrrrr!

Okay, really, my legs are all kinds of sore from these squats. Whew. Today I did the j-ropes with no headphones at all and that worked even better.

I'd like to introduce what will be a regular feature here on Peak Condition Project Mike: Monday Morning Motivational Movie! (Alliteration!)

I have 10 or so movies I bookmarked on YouTube. Commercials, little clips, stuff like that to get me going in the morning when I have to workout. I figured on Mondays I would share them with my fellow PCP'ers.

Today's is an oldie but a goodie. Lance and Nike from way back in the Postal Service days. It's the final line "I'm on my bike, busting my ass, six hours a day" that gets me every time, because it's like, yeah I guess I can go workout for an hour.

As you can see in the banner above, Lance is my inspiration on this. As I told the team last week, I don't think there is anyone who has ridden a bike in the past 10 years that hasn't been at least a little inspired by Lance. I know the doping allegations continue to haunt him, and he is an arrogant SOB isn't he. But so was Bob Gibson. Maybe if you're the best you get to be a little cocky. The man is a true badass on a bicycle.

Anyway, enjoy:

Day Two

I woke up at 3:45am to the kraka-TOOM of thunder and the sound of rain on the window. This was not good.

When my alarm went off 45 minutes later I knew I would not be attending my race today. I was supposed to run a localish sprint triathlon today, signed up for it months ago but kind of stopped training about after my last race. I figured I could finish, just with a weak time. However, open water swimming and lightening didn't seem like a good combination. The radar on NOAA.gov was ugly and the forecast said T-storms all day. So I went back to sleep.

Of course when I woke up again it was closer to race time and the thunder had stopped and the rain had died down. If I was really hardcore I guess I could of done the race. But transition would of been a swamp, my shoes would be soaked, the bike would of been dangerous and I would of had to drive for an hour in wet shorts once it was done.

Besides, there are some others in the fall I might sign up for once I'm closer to peak condition.

It also gave me a chance to go to church with my wife and afterward we went to a local diner where I had half a bowl of french onion soup and 5/7ths of a greek wrap, but only a few of the potato chips.

It was disappointing to miss the race, but this morning was great and it was nice to get the rest.

ANYWAY, I just finished the workout, and today wasn't too bad. I could feel soreness in some new spots from yesterday's jumpropes and squats. But once I started up and it felt good and my "no music while jumping rope" system worked to keep me from tripping on 4 of the 5 sets. I'm sure as I get more tired I'll trip more, but so far I've been pretty lucky. I also stretched some after the workout, hopefully that'll prevent the soreness some tomorrow.

Jessica suggested some tunes yesterday so I'll give you the songs that never ever leave my workout playlist:

• The Passenger by Iggy Pop
• Rough Gem by Islands
• Life in Jail by Islands
• Wake Up by Arcade Fire
• Monday by Wilco
• Hang On by Dr. Dog
• You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son by Wolf Parade

I weighed in at 146.7lbs just now. I didn't really expect a change so soon, just wanted to get that down so when I look back later I can see the change.

Everyone else, enjoy your lunges if you haven't already. Breathe out on when pushing up. Don't stress the neck on the sit-ups. All that fun stuff. I know y'all can do it, stay strong, good luck!

Day One

Ran into a problem already. So for the first week we're supposed to eat half of what we normally eat. I've been so inconsistent and unobservant about my eating I wasn't really sure what I was supposed to make into half. I decided since I normally eat until I'm stuffed I would solve this by eating until I wasn't hungry any more and stopping. During the week my meals are a little more consistent, but I couldn't tell you what I had for breakfast last Saturday. That's a problem, because it likely was something bad like bacon and I didn't even realize it.

The workout is clearly easing us into this, which is good. Way less intimidating. Did the jump ropes alright, tripped up some, but got through them. Here is a trick that helped me a lot (I know, with a sample size of 1 day), when I listened to music I would try and jump to the beat, get out of rhythm with the rope and catch my foot or something. I caught myself doing that and forwarded through a few times to an audiobook and it went much easier. Going to stick with talking for jumpropes and see if that keeps me going without stumbling.

Hope everyone else is having a good first day!

Day Zero

Hello Everybody, tomorrow I begin this PCP adventure. I'll be writing more about myself as we go through this, so I'll just start with the basics right now. I'm a 31 year-old former-teacher living and working in eastern PA. I work at a college and take classes there, which means my writing might get a little long winded at times. Once you get into that academic mode of writing it can be hard to stop, ya know?

What else what else? I'm scrawny, which is something I'm hoping the PCP will help with. I'm what they call a "hard gainer" (aka it is hard for me to gain weight). There are a lot of recommendations for fixing this out there, most centering on lifting weights and drinking protean shakes all day. Although one book I browsed in Borders said, no joke, to eat junk food. That was this book's whole thesis. Eat chips while you watch TV. So, I don't want to do that because what is the point of gaining weight if I'm not healthy. It's a correlation / causation thing I guess. Like, okay, now I have gym muscles I have to take in 3500 expensive synthetic calories a day to maintain, what's that get me? I already have a wonderful beautiful wife, so I don't have to impress any ladies.

Wow, that was a tangent. Get used to them I guess.

So I'm doing the PCP to get proper fit. I've been pretty fit a few times in the past. Biked a lot a few years ago when I did Bike and Build, but didn't maintain that and quickly got back out of shape again. More recently I finished my first triathlon, haven't really worked out since. That's why I'm doing the PCP. I want to build habits or systems that are comprehensive so I eat right and exercise right so that when Halloween rolls around in three months I can maintain my newfound fitness.

Okay, that's enough for now I think. Bedtime.

Good luck to all my fellow PCP'ers and thanks Patrick for maintaining this program for us.

Tang’rciqamken, everyone!