Ok, kidlets - I have no time to post but much to say about 1) my final day in Colorado which included a very big FIRST for me and 2) my indulgence...but you'll have to wait until Monday to find out more, since I *need* to get to bed and tomorrow is a very long travel day back to NY.
BUT - I want to put this out to my Day 31 cohort: we need a TEAM NAME!!! I get jealous every time I read "Team Sexaaay" (an awesome name, btw) because having a group identity is a very powerful thing. Group consciousness - having the sum of the parts be greater than the parts themselves - that sort of thing! So - please put your suggestions in the comments below.
Since I brought this up, my vote is for TEAM BADASS since that is how the PCP makes me feel on a daily basis!
XOXO
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Day 30: Best Workout Yet
Wow - one third of the PCP is behind us "day 30" kids! (Aside - we need a team name, do we not? Any ideas?? Leave 'em below!). Go us!
For this morning's workout, I took a cue from Elena and borrowed my brother's stopwatch in order to keep my rest times down to what they should be. Also used my ipod and listened to music for the first time! I actually found it harder to listen to music and jump at the same time. Definitely need some faster tunes for this portion of the workout. But the rest of the exercises were made much more efficient and intense with the addition of a stopwatch and some rockin' tunes. I was very focused on each muscle group, pushing harder than I ever have before, and reeeaaaaaallllly grunting out the last few reps. Since I didn't have to hear myself grunt, it was easier to let it all out.
And, surprise surprise: as soon as I finished my last set of v-sits, I sat up to stretch in a forward bend and suddenly I was crying. I felt this wave of emotion come over me and just went with it. The tears weren't about anything in particular, they just needed to come out. This kind of thing happens to me in yoga from time to time. When we touch places deep inside the body, energy flows and sometimes releases undigested emotions. Just part of the process.
In other news, I think today is finally the day for my indulgence! What could be a better indulgence while on vacation than...a big ol' ice cream cone? Every year on our visit to Estes Park, we head down to one of the many touristy ice cream shops and pig out. We usually take pictures of the kids - the 4 cousins - with ice cream all over their faces, so this year I'll jump right in there too.
Tonight, after the kids go to bed, my hubby and bro and sis-in-law and I are planning to go out to the local watering hole to hear the "raucous acoustic hillbilly" stylings of a band called Big Smith. My plan is to work through all that ice cream with some good ol' fashioned rump-shakin'. I hope the bod is down with that plan - will report back tomorrow!
For this morning's workout, I took a cue from Elena and borrowed my brother's stopwatch in order to keep my rest times down to what they should be. Also used my ipod and listened to music for the first time! I actually found it harder to listen to music and jump at the same time. Definitely need some faster tunes for this portion of the workout. But the rest of the exercises were made much more efficient and intense with the addition of a stopwatch and some rockin' tunes. I was very focused on each muscle group, pushing harder than I ever have before, and reeeaaaaaallllly grunting out the last few reps. Since I didn't have to hear myself grunt, it was easier to let it all out.
And, surprise surprise: as soon as I finished my last set of v-sits, I sat up to stretch in a forward bend and suddenly I was crying. I felt this wave of emotion come over me and just went with it. The tears weren't about anything in particular, they just needed to come out. This kind of thing happens to me in yoga from time to time. When we touch places deep inside the body, energy flows and sometimes releases undigested emotions. Just part of the process.
In other news, I think today is finally the day for my indulgence! What could be a better indulgence while on vacation than...a big ol' ice cream cone? Every year on our visit to Estes Park, we head down to one of the many touristy ice cream shops and pig out. We usually take pictures of the kids - the 4 cousins - with ice cream all over their faces, so this year I'll jump right in there too.
Tonight, after the kids go to bed, my hubby and bro and sis-in-law and I are planning to go out to the local watering hole to hear the "raucous acoustic hillbilly" stylings of a band called Big Smith. My plan is to work through all that ice cream with some good ol' fashioned rump-shakin'. I hope the bod is down with that plan - will report back tomorrow!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Day 29: Mirror, Mirror on the wall
So...today was the beginning of the "real" PCP, according to Patrick. Don't you all just love hearing that? Like, what have we been doing until now??? Well, in fact, it did start to feel a bit more real this morning when I had my first taste of double quad exercises, double back, double abs. After lunges plus floorjumps, I crumpled onto the ground in a big puddle - first time reaching failure in these here thighs. It felt...serious. And also, pretty great in a badass kind of way. Partly because I have really been feeling my thighs recently - like, really feeling them with my hands because I can't believe how strong they are getting.
This morning, as I was blearily getting dressed for my workout, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and was caught off guard by how thin and fit I appeared. It was an unguarded moment - very different from most other times when I approach the mirror purposefully with a critical eye. This was like seeing what others probably see when they look at me - the good, not the bad. A view of love, or at least neutrality, instead of the negative fault-seeking of my own mind. Being able to see clearly not only my physical strengths but also the habits of my mind drove me strongly today during the entire "real PCP" workout. Living in and loving this body is possible - and in a context outside of my yoga practice, where negativity falls more easily to the wayside. So this morning, when I couldn't get through 30 jumps without tripping, I literally lifted my eyes to the mountains and saw myself in the mirror.
This morning, as I was blearily getting dressed for my workout, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and was caught off guard by how thin and fit I appeared. It was an unguarded moment - very different from most other times when I approach the mirror purposefully with a critical eye. This was like seeing what others probably see when they look at me - the good, not the bad. A view of love, or at least neutrality, instead of the negative fault-seeking of my own mind. Being able to see clearly not only my physical strengths but also the habits of my mind drove me strongly today during the entire "real PCP" workout. Living in and loving this body is possible - and in a context outside of my yoga practice, where negativity falls more easily to the wayside. So this morning, when I couldn't get through 30 jumps without tripping, I literally lifted my eyes to the mountains and saw myself in the mirror.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Day 27: Vacation Adventures
Whew - I'm back after being offline for 4 days. Honestly? If it weren't for the PCP and wanting to stay in touch with you all, I'd spend the rest of my vacation completely offline. It's great to take a sabbatical from the digital world every so often. But - I am really glad to have the chance to catch up with all your blogs and also share a little bit about our recent adventures.
Backing up to Saturday: Early morning, Minneapolis airport, flight to Denver, take 2. In order to get a PCP breakfast at the airport, I became an honest-to-god food super spy. (Cue Mission Impossible theme song.) Poached egg, whole wheat sourdough toast and milk were easily procured at French Meadow Bakery. Vegetables? Here's where I had to use my super spy tactics. Where to find plain veggies at an airport at 6 am? In the food court, I came across a burrito joint that had "add-ons" on the menu, including spinach, avocado, and tomato. Mission accomplished! I got a huge to-to container of these items - totally fresh and delicious. "Dude," I told my husband, "I am the MASTER of this diet!"
We finally arrived in Denver Sat morning and hit the road for Fort Collins to meet up with our fabulous friends Rachel and Bernie and their kids. That same afternoon, all eight of us struck out for camping in the mountains on the northern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. This was a total treat - 2 days of living outdoors, in a splendiforous setting, complete with streams, rivers, rocks and meadows to explore. I love camping - I grew up camping all over the country with my family - but we don't do it nearly enough. Even better than camping is camping with our friends! We all had a blast.
While we were out communing with Mother Nature, I had two days of workouts at 10,000 feet (3048 meters - is that how one measures mountain height in metric??). Experimenting with the jumprope at high altitude was...interesting. The first day, I literally couldn't jump more than 5 times in a row without tripping. I felt like my body was weighted down, like I just couldn't get my feet off the earth. I wasn't extra winded, like I expected to be, just heavy. And slow. I only eked out 900 jumps that day. And the strength exercises seemed to take twice as long as usual. On the upside, I had both Rachel and Dan (my hubby) doing some of the jumping and strength training with me...in the most spectacular setting imaginable:
That's me jumping at 10,000 feet! Kinda badass, right? Rachel took this photo (and those following) with her fancy new camera - thanks, Rach!
On the second day of high altitude workouts, the jumping was marginally easier (in part because I jumped on a dirt road instead of on the uneven turf you see above). I still felt like I was moving in super-slo-mo and did get slightly light-headed once, so I took my time and didn't push it. 1100 jumps accomplished, resistance band stuff done around a tree trunk, push-ups and v-sits attempted in midst of a fragrant mountain meadow...life is grand!
Did I mention that our friends brought their kayaks on our camping trip? As Rachel pointed out, it's great to be near the water, but it's always better to be on the water. Apparently, when kayaking, one should not be using one's arm muscles predominantly, but one's core. Once I heard that, I realized I could paddle a lot faster and easier by engaging my core. Cool, eh? Here's Dan and Milo on the lake:
On Monday, we spent the day in Fort Collins with our friends, relaxing by the pool. It was a heavenly day of kicking back and enjoying. And a little bit of adventuring too:
Getting back to sticking to the PCP while traveling, I need to give a big shout out to Rachel and Bernie (and Dan, too) for being totally supportive of my diet, for making sure I had everything I needed to eat even while camping, and for generally being great cheerleaders. This whole project is SO much easier to accomplish when I'm surrounded by people who are supportive and interested in the details of it - and who don't think I'm a dork for carrying my little scale around with me everywhere. The flip-side of this is that Rachel told me that I've inspired her to think more about how she eats, and to experiment with jumping rope. She's getting all the way to 600 jumps after only a few days! She's a great friend, a fantastic mom, a strong woman, and someone who inspires me all the time just be being who she is - so I'm just happy to do the same for her.
Today, we said goodbye to our friends and drove up the Big Thompson Canyon to Estes Park. Now we're at my parents' house, along with my brother and his family. For the next 5 days we'll be hiking, horse-back riding, exploring Rocky Mountain National Park, and - hopefully - rock climbing. I love vacation!
Hope you're having a good week, y'all. I'm hoping to have some time later to read and comment on all your recent goings on.
XOXO
We finally arrived in Denver Sat morning and hit the road for Fort Collins to meet up with our fabulous friends Rachel and Bernie and their kids. That same afternoon, all eight of us struck out for camping in the mountains on the northern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. This was a total treat - 2 days of living outdoors, in a splendiforous setting, complete with streams, rivers, rocks and meadows to explore. I love camping - I grew up camping all over the country with my family - but we don't do it nearly enough. Even better than camping is camping with our friends! We all had a blast.
While we were out communing with Mother Nature, I had two days of workouts at 10,000 feet (3048 meters - is that how one measures mountain height in metric??). Experimenting with the jumprope at high altitude was...interesting. The first day, I literally couldn't jump more than 5 times in a row without tripping. I felt like my body was weighted down, like I just couldn't get my feet off the earth. I wasn't extra winded, like I expected to be, just heavy. And slow. I only eked out 900 jumps that day. And the strength exercises seemed to take twice as long as usual. On the upside, I had both Rachel and Dan (my hubby) doing some of the jumping and strength training with me...in the most spectacular setting imaginable:
That's me jumping at 10,000 feet! Kinda badass, right? Rachel took this photo (and those following) with her fancy new camera - thanks, Rach!On the second day of high altitude workouts, the jumping was marginally easier (in part because I jumped on a dirt road instead of on the uneven turf you see above). I still felt like I was moving in super-slo-mo and did get slightly light-headed once, so I took my time and didn't push it. 1100 jumps accomplished, resistance band stuff done around a tree trunk, push-ups and v-sits attempted in midst of a fragrant mountain meadow...life is grand!
Did I mention that our friends brought their kayaks on our camping trip? As Rachel pointed out, it's great to be near the water, but it's always better to be on the water. Apparently, when kayaking, one should not be using one's arm muscles predominantly, but one's core. Once I heard that, I realized I could paddle a lot faster and easier by engaging my core. Cool, eh? Here's Dan and Milo on the lake:
On Monday, we spent the day in Fort Collins with our friends, relaxing by the pool. It was a heavenly day of kicking back and enjoying. And a little bit of adventuring too:
Getting back to sticking to the PCP while traveling, I need to give a big shout out to Rachel and Bernie (and Dan, too) for being totally supportive of my diet, for making sure I had everything I needed to eat even while camping, and for generally being great cheerleaders. This whole project is SO much easier to accomplish when I'm surrounded by people who are supportive and interested in the details of it - and who don't think I'm a dork for carrying my little scale around with me everywhere. The flip-side of this is that Rachel told me that I've inspired her to think more about how she eats, and to experiment with jumping rope. She's getting all the way to 600 jumps after only a few days! She's a great friend, a fantastic mom, a strong woman, and someone who inspires me all the time just be being who she is - so I'm just happy to do the same for her.Today, we said goodbye to our friends and drove up the Big Thompson Canyon to Estes Park. Now we're at my parents' house, along with my brother and his family. For the next 5 days we'll be hiking, horse-back riding, exploring Rocky Mountain National Park, and - hopefully - rock climbing. I love vacation!
Hope you're having a good week, y'all. I'm hoping to have some time later to read and comment on all your recent goings on.
XOXO
Friday, July 23, 2010
Day 23: Full of surprises
Writing a quick post from the Ramada at the Mall of America...in beautiful, sunny Minneapolis, MN. Which, you might notice, is not our destination. That would be beautiful, sunny Fort Collins, CO. Yep, our connecting flight was cancelled this afternoon. And all other flights to Denver were overbooked, overly stood-by, not gonna happen. So! We get a night at the Ramada and leave in the very early hours of the AM for Denver.
Not such a bad deal - we decided to take the train into the city and walk around downtown and have dinner down there. In order to do so, we had to walk through the Mall of America to get to the train. I could write an entire blog post about the Mall of America. Let's just say it would be an excellent place to do Patrick's homework re: people's body types and what food they're buying - instead of groceries, it's EVERY kind of fast food plus supposedly "healthier" mall choices like Au Bon Pain, etc. But, I digress. What I do want to blog about is what kind of food I found to eat today after my last home-prepared PCP meal was consumed (which was lunch).
So I was starving, middle of the afternoon, wishing I had my plain yogurt for afternoon "tea". Instead, I walked into the Mall of America and saw Freshens - frozen yogurt. On a big sign, they were advertising "tart" yogurt which was fat free, made from acidophilus cultures, "all natural", topped with fruit. I asked for the smallest kid-size available - just the yogurt, no fruit. The guy showed me their small cup - ha! It could have held at least 2 cups (sorry for you metric kids - still can't eyeball in grams). I asked him to put just a little bit in there (only supposed to have 80 grams). Had a bite, realized it was seriously delicious - flavor of plain yogurt, only frozen, creamy and refreshing - but also probably loaded with sugar, as it was just too good. I had a little off the top...mmm, maybe more than a little (ok, probably more than 80 grams) and threw the rest away.
For dinner, I scored! Two words: nicoise salad. Fresh greens, green beans, potatoes, tomatoes, capers, a hard boiled egg, with a nice piece of grilled salmon. Dressing on the side. Oh, the other bonus is that I had my little mini kitchen scale in my backpack, so I very surreptitiously weighed my dinner! It was a busy restaurant, and we were sitting outside, so I think I got away with it. I left the capers alone - too salty. Third score of the night was that I remembered to bring the hard boiled egg back to the hotel so I can have that for part of my breakfast tomorrow. I never dreamed I'd find such a PCP friendly dinner/breakfast option. Nicoise salad FTW!
Right now, the kids are having a blast in their adjoining hotel room (courtesy of Delta Airlines), dancing to the music on their borrowed ipods, and making "muscles" in the mirror. Wonder where they learned to do that??? I'm about to improvise the rest of my workout that I didn't have time to do before we left this morning - did the jumps and lunges. Only - my resistance band is in the suitcase which is at the airport, patiently waiting for our connecting flight in the AM. So, push-ups, leg-ups, dips, here I come.
More from the road in a few days.
Not such a bad deal - we decided to take the train into the city and walk around downtown and have dinner down there. In order to do so, we had to walk through the Mall of America to get to the train. I could write an entire blog post about the Mall of America. Let's just say it would be an excellent place to do Patrick's homework re: people's body types and what food they're buying - instead of groceries, it's EVERY kind of fast food plus supposedly "healthier" mall choices like Au Bon Pain, etc. But, I digress. What I do want to blog about is what kind of food I found to eat today after my last home-prepared PCP meal was consumed (which was lunch).
So I was starving, middle of the afternoon, wishing I had my plain yogurt for afternoon "tea". Instead, I walked into the Mall of America and saw Freshens - frozen yogurt. On a big sign, they were advertising "tart" yogurt which was fat free, made from acidophilus cultures, "all natural", topped with fruit. I asked for the smallest kid-size available - just the yogurt, no fruit. The guy showed me their small cup - ha! It could have held at least 2 cups (sorry for you metric kids - still can't eyeball in grams). I asked him to put just a little bit in there (only supposed to have 80 grams). Had a bite, realized it was seriously delicious - flavor of plain yogurt, only frozen, creamy and refreshing - but also probably loaded with sugar, as it was just too good. I had a little off the top...mmm, maybe more than a little (ok, probably more than 80 grams) and threw the rest away.
For dinner, I scored! Two words: nicoise salad. Fresh greens, green beans, potatoes, tomatoes, capers, a hard boiled egg, with a nice piece of grilled salmon. Dressing on the side. Oh, the other bonus is that I had my little mini kitchen scale in my backpack, so I very surreptitiously weighed my dinner! It was a busy restaurant, and we were sitting outside, so I think I got away with it. I left the capers alone - too salty. Third score of the night was that I remembered to bring the hard boiled egg back to the hotel so I can have that for part of my breakfast tomorrow. I never dreamed I'd find such a PCP friendly dinner/breakfast option. Nicoise salad FTW!
Right now, the kids are having a blast in their adjoining hotel room (courtesy of Delta Airlines), dancing to the music on their borrowed ipods, and making "muscles" in the mirror. Wonder where they learned to do that??? I'm about to improvise the rest of my workout that I didn't have time to do before we left this morning - did the jumps and lunges. Only - my resistance band is in the suitcase which is at the airport, patiently waiting for our connecting flight in the AM. So, push-ups, leg-ups, dips, here I come.
More from the road in a few days.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Day 22: Photo Rant!
Ok, folks. I just posted my photos from last week and today. Somehow, they got uploaded out of order, so the one from last week shows up on my blog. Don't know how to rearrange the order, so I guess it stays.
Actually, I'm much happier with my photos from last week vs. today. A week ago, I was pleasantly surprised at how lean my mid-section was beginning to appear. Today, however, I am shocked at how blobby and fat my belly and hips look. Blech! It seems like a step backward, frustrating because I've been working hard and sticking to the diet....oh, except. I almost forgot that I do have a confession to make!
On Tues, the last day of my yoga teacher training, I ate lunch OUT with some of my yogini friends. I had been packing all my own food for 5 days and loving that, but on the last day, I realized I didn't have much in the fridge to pack, and thought I could manage eating sushi out. I did manage pretty well - had seaweed salad and edamame, plain brown rice, and a few pieces of sashimi. However - I forgot to ask for the edamame WITHOUT salt. It was pretty salty, a shock to the system. I've been drinking lots of water to try and flush the salt out of my system, but do you think that perhaps all that salt (2 days ago) could be partly to blame for the flabby skin around my belly (water retention?)??? God, as I'm writing this, I realize it's wishful thinking. OK - rant over. I'm not going to stress about the photos anymore. I realize it's only Day 22 and the big physical changes are still a ways off. Patience, self!
In other news, I'm about to take the PCP all the way to 10,000 feet! Tomorrow we leave for 9 days in Colorado. We'll be with our dear friends in Fort Collins for 4 days (going camping for 2!), and then with my parents and my brother and his family in Estes Park for the second half of the trip. My parents retired to Estes Park - from Michigan - about 5 or 6 years ago. They are super active, outdoorsy people, so the Colorado lifestyle suits them perfectly! I'm proud of them for living out their dream and I hope that when I'm in my 60's I will be just as active and vibrant as they are.
Will keep you all posted on our Colorado adventures!
Actually, I'm much happier with my photos from last week vs. today. A week ago, I was pleasantly surprised at how lean my mid-section was beginning to appear. Today, however, I am shocked at how blobby and fat my belly and hips look. Blech! It seems like a step backward, frustrating because I've been working hard and sticking to the diet....oh, except. I almost forgot that I do have a confession to make!
On Tues, the last day of my yoga teacher training, I ate lunch OUT with some of my yogini friends. I had been packing all my own food for 5 days and loving that, but on the last day, I realized I didn't have much in the fridge to pack, and thought I could manage eating sushi out. I did manage pretty well - had seaweed salad and edamame, plain brown rice, and a few pieces of sashimi. However - I forgot to ask for the edamame WITHOUT salt. It was pretty salty, a shock to the system. I've been drinking lots of water to try and flush the salt out of my system, but do you think that perhaps all that salt (2 days ago) could be partly to blame for the flabby skin around my belly (water retention?)??? God, as I'm writing this, I realize it's wishful thinking. OK - rant over. I'm not going to stress about the photos anymore. I realize it's only Day 22 and the big physical changes are still a ways off. Patience, self!
In other news, I'm about to take the PCP all the way to 10,000 feet! Tomorrow we leave for 9 days in Colorado. We'll be with our dear friends in Fort Collins for 4 days (going camping for 2!), and then with my parents and my brother and his family in Estes Park for the second half of the trip. My parents retired to Estes Park - from Michigan - about 5 or 6 years ago. They are super active, outdoorsy people, so the Colorado lifestyle suits them perfectly! I'm proud of them for living out their dream and I hope that when I'm in my 60's I will be just as active and vibrant as they are.
Will keep you all posted on our Colorado adventures!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Day 21: Catching Up!
Hey fellow PCP'ers! Glad to return to the PCP blogosphere after some days away. I've been keeping up by reading as much as I can - you all are kicking some major butt! It's very heartening to see such transformation happening - both inside and out - in the group that's a month ahead of us, and even in our little 'three-weeks-in' cohort! Change is happening, folks! Exciting stuff.
So I have a few observations to share with y'all. First, about those workouts...
Jumping
A week or so ago, I found a good new stride in the jumping - slowing down slightly so that I wasn't gasping for breath each time I stopped. Well, I've lost that stride and have been f&*@#$% TRIPPING so much!! Not getting so winded, which is good, but the tripping is a little crazy-making. Also, by the time I get near the end of our 1000 jumps, my left shoulder is killing me. I'm taking from this that I am not jumping so efficiently. Naoko mentioned finding some ease in taking her jumps to the next level by breathing differently. This morning, I tried inhaling and exhaling strongly through my nose, instead of the panting I was doing before...which did help, especially when I found a rhythm with the breath and the jumps. But I must be doing too much with the arms if my shoulder is starting to feel strained. Any pointers? Anyone??
Strength training
Even after reading Patrick's email about working toward failure, I'm not getting there in most exercises. Incline pull-ups and anything targeting the shoulders - failure. But the lunges and squats in particular are fairly easy, less easy when I sloooowww them down, but still manageable. Biceps, triceps, abs, chest - same. Am I really not doing these exercises correctly?? I'm seeing results, feeling a slight burn, but it's definitely not a BURNING->AHHHGGHGH->FAIL situation. I'm sure I'll get to that situation eventually, as I already live in fear of all these mysterious exercises I can't even begin to picture (v-sits, pistol squats, kung-fu sit ups ?!?!). But in the meantime...??
Now on to other matters...
Sarah, meet your core. Core, meet Sarah. YOWZA! This is my favorite new development of the past 21 days. I feel so much stronger in my core, and am much more AWARE of being strong in my core. My posture is better, I'm walking around more confidently and less defensively. And, over the past 6 days, I've experienced a whole new level of core strength in my yoga practice. Especially when it comes to balancing postures. I love playing with balance anyway, but now - HOLY COWMOLY! Even if my limbs are shifting to keep the balance, my core is ROCK SOLID, and there's an ease to these postures that I've never felt before. I think Virabhadrasana III is my new favorite pose:
To me, this pose is all about joy, freedom, expansion in all directions, experiencing lightness while remaining rooted to the ground. Not to get too yogi-woo-woo on you, but...may we all experience these qualities at some point on the journey!
XOXO
So I have a few observations to share with y'all. First, about those workouts...
Jumping
A week or so ago, I found a good new stride in the jumping - slowing down slightly so that I wasn't gasping for breath each time I stopped. Well, I've lost that stride and have been f&*@#$% TRIPPING so much!! Not getting so winded, which is good, but the tripping is a little crazy-making. Also, by the time I get near the end of our 1000 jumps, my left shoulder is killing me. I'm taking from this that I am not jumping so efficiently. Naoko mentioned finding some ease in taking her jumps to the next level by breathing differently. This morning, I tried inhaling and exhaling strongly through my nose, instead of the panting I was doing before...which did help, especially when I found a rhythm with the breath and the jumps. But I must be doing too much with the arms if my shoulder is starting to feel strained. Any pointers? Anyone??
Strength training
Even after reading Patrick's email about working toward failure, I'm not getting there in most exercises. Incline pull-ups and anything targeting the shoulders - failure. But the lunges and squats in particular are fairly easy, less easy when I sloooowww them down, but still manageable. Biceps, triceps, abs, chest - same. Am I really not doing these exercises correctly?? I'm seeing results, feeling a slight burn, but it's definitely not a BURNING->AHHHGGHGH->FAIL situation. I'm sure I'll get to that situation eventually, as I already live in fear of all these mysterious exercises I can't even begin to picture (v-sits, pistol squats, kung-fu sit ups ?!?!). But in the meantime...??
Now on to other matters...
Sarah, meet your core. Core, meet Sarah. YOWZA! This is my favorite new development of the past 21 days. I feel so much stronger in my core, and am much more AWARE of being strong in my core. My posture is better, I'm walking around more confidently and less defensively. And, over the past 6 days, I've experienced a whole new level of core strength in my yoga practice. Especially when it comes to balancing postures. I love playing with balance anyway, but now - HOLY COWMOLY! Even if my limbs are shifting to keep the balance, my core is ROCK SOLID, and there's an ease to these postures that I've never felt before. I think Virabhadrasana III is my new favorite pose:
To me, this pose is all about joy, freedom, expansion in all directions, experiencing lightness while remaining rooted to the ground. Not to get too yogi-woo-woo on you, but...may we all experience these qualities at some point on the journey!XOXO
Friday, July 16, 2010
Day 16: Community
Just a quick post here before bed. Finished day 2 of my 6 day yoga training intensive. Amazingly, it hasn't been too hard to fit all the PCP stuff in - still doing the workouts in the early AM, was able to prepare lots of food on Wed before all this began. So far, so good. Also, all my yogini friends are commenting on how good I look and asking questions. I think I've told the "PCP story" at least 6 or 7 times in the past few days. :)
The best part of these trainings is being with my sangha (yoga community) again - we've been together for 2 years, learning, training and sharing LOTS with each other. There is absolutely nothing better than being with a group of people who are all walking the same path. I mention this because it is yet another reason why I was drawn to the PCP: the fact that there is a community here. Both the support and the accountability are key pieces to this experience - but I especially value the support.
That's all for now - gotta get to bed. Apologies if posting is light for the next 4 days...
The best part of these trainings is being with my sangha (yoga community) again - we've been together for 2 years, learning, training and sharing LOTS with each other. There is absolutely nothing better than being with a group of people who are all walking the same path. I mention this because it is yet another reason why I was drawn to the PCP: the fact that there is a community here. Both the support and the accountability are key pieces to this experience - but I especially value the support.
That's all for now - gotta get to bed. Apologies if posting is light for the next 4 days...
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Day 13.5: Health and Wellness
Seems I'm double posting today - just wanted to get these thoughts down while they're fresh.
This afternoon, I visited my OB/GYN. No, I'm not pregnant (though it's kinda weird to be in a waiting room full of pregnant women again - it's been over 5 years since I was in their shoes, and I'm pretty darn sure I won't be in those shoes again). Over the last 2 years or so, I've had some re-occurring symptoms that are annoying and tiring to deal with, but not, thank god, an indication of anything serious or life-threatening. These symptoms *may* be an indication of a future thyroid condition or the start of a possible ovarian shut-down. But there is no diagnosis to be made at the point, since the symptoms disappear as often as they re-occur. None of this is brand-new news, but today's appt. just confirmed that my body may be getting ready to go through some kind of major shift - when? nobody knows - or it may not. So basically nothing has been confirmed.
Now, this situation could easily be MUCH worse and I'm very thankful that it is not. It's really just an annoyance and a question, something to obsess over every so often. But it also serves as a reminder of the tenuousness of my physical health. We all know that anything could happen to us at any time - accident, injury, sudden illness - all of these things are possibilities. Perhaps you've already dealt with overcoming some major or minor threat to your health. Perhaps you're still dealing.
Today, of course, my mind went down the path of "Even if I get into peak condition, I'm probably still going to end up with ovarian failure, a thyroid condition or something that will screw up all my hard work. I'll probably get fat, loose all my hair, and be bitter about it". Oh yes, the mind loves to play this game. BUT - here is the real deal: I refuse to play victim to some condition, real or imagined, that may or may not be happening to me. This is one of the reasons I joined y'all on this PCP journey. I am taking charge, taking control of ALL the aspects of my health and wellness that are available to me. I may not be "in control" of my health (or of anything, really), but I can still make choices, make changes that will affect my health positively. The cumulative effect of these positive choices will, I trust, only make me stronger for whatEVER is in my future.
In the meanwhile, I'm planning to kick some serious ASS!
I'm sure many of you have other, more personal reasons for doing the PCP besides getting in shape. Might as well put it out there!
XOXO
This afternoon, I visited my OB/GYN. No, I'm not pregnant (though it's kinda weird to be in a waiting room full of pregnant women again - it's been over 5 years since I was in their shoes, and I'm pretty darn sure I won't be in those shoes again). Over the last 2 years or so, I've had some re-occurring symptoms that are annoying and tiring to deal with, but not, thank god, an indication of anything serious or life-threatening. These symptoms *may* be an indication of a future thyroid condition or the start of a possible ovarian shut-down. But there is no diagnosis to be made at the point, since the symptoms disappear as often as they re-occur. None of this is brand-new news, but today's appt. just confirmed that my body may be getting ready to go through some kind of major shift - when? nobody knows - or it may not. So basically nothing has been confirmed.
Now, this situation could easily be MUCH worse and I'm very thankful that it is not. It's really just an annoyance and a question, something to obsess over every so often. But it also serves as a reminder of the tenuousness of my physical health. We all know that anything could happen to us at any time - accident, injury, sudden illness - all of these things are possibilities. Perhaps you've already dealt with overcoming some major or minor threat to your health. Perhaps you're still dealing.
Today, of course, my mind went down the path of "Even if I get into peak condition, I'm probably still going to end up with ovarian failure, a thyroid condition or something that will screw up all my hard work. I'll probably get fat, loose all my hair, and be bitter about it". Oh yes, the mind loves to play this game. BUT - here is the real deal: I refuse to play victim to some condition, real or imagined, that may or may not be happening to me. This is one of the reasons I joined y'all on this PCP journey. I am taking charge, taking control of ALL the aspects of my health and wellness that are available to me. I may not be "in control" of my health (or of anything, really), but I can still make choices, make changes that will affect my health positively. The cumulative effect of these positive choices will, I trust, only make me stronger for whatEVER is in my future.
In the meanwhile, I'm planning to kick some serious ASS!
I'm sure many of you have other, more personal reasons for doing the PCP besides getting in shape. Might as well put it out there!
XOXO
Day 13: One Step at a Time
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS to all of you on Day 90!! That is a serious accomplishment. I've been really inspired by all of your blogs and pictures. You're all part of the reason I decided to do the PCP - so, thank you!
Some recent thoughts on food:
But...life becomes less overwhelming if I just take it one step at a time. One day, one moment, one meal at a time. :)
Some recent thoughts on food:
- Balsamic vinegar makes everything taste better. Seriously - I'm craving the stuff, and drizzle it on almost every lunch and dinner.
- LOVING breakfast these days: a warm bowl of a cooked grain (so far, quinoa or brown rice), chunks of avocado and/or beets, topped with a fried egg (fried only because I crack it into a pan on the stove - not using any butter or oil) with a soft yolk. All mixed up with a glass of milk on the side - YUM.
- My veggies have been a combination of raw and steamed. Ate kale both ways yesterday and it was almost like eating two different veggies.
- Need to vary my proteins. Mostly chicken so far, either grilled or my father-in-law's famous rotisserie chicken. Bought shrimp today.
- Is bread really ok? Any kind of bread? Dense and dark seems better, but I was reading labels at the store today and noticed how much sodium is in bread in general!
- I bought WAY too much fruit last week. 140 grams 2x/day = not much volume, as most fruit is heavy!
- I've been very hungry after breakfast (maybe because I work out first thing in the morning?), but yesterday and today, I've barely been able to finish my lunch or dinner. Feeling really full and bloated, similar to how I felt before the PCP. Not the lightness I was feeling last week.
- So...after reading Patrick's email re: working to muscle failure and keeping to the short rest time between sets...I had a very different workout this morning. For one thing, I finished everything in 45 mins as opposed to 60! For another, I pushed my muscles harder today than ever before.
- Looking closely at the pictures, I think I figured out the secret to a better DaVinci and front shoulder raise - keeping the elbows slightly bent. This really brings the burn into the shoulders instead of the wrists/elbows. Patrick - is this correct?
But...life becomes less overwhelming if I just take it one step at a time. One day, one moment, one meal at a time. :)
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Day 11: Morning in VT with Clyde
Oh so lovely and cool out this morning! During my 7am jumping session, I got to look out into this:
Did my workout, pushed through the maximum reps for each set, took my time since, hey, we're in VT! By the time I was done, the view was this:
Got the dog out for his morning workout session - he did ok, only complained a little during the third set of forward shoulder raises. :)
You know how I know he's my dog? We look alike, especially after a good, hard workout:
He's just a little longer in the tongue.
Did my workout, pushed through the maximum reps for each set, took my time since, hey, we're in VT! By the time I was done, the view was this:
Got the dog out for his morning workout session - he did ok, only complained a little during the third set of forward shoulder raises. :)
You know how I know he's my dog? We look alike, especially after a good, hard workout:
He's just a little longer in the tongue.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Day 10: Slow and Steady
Writing this from Manchester, VT. Hi Will! We're staying at my in-law's condo for the weekend. It's nice here, weather has finally cooled down. This morning I did my jumps in the rain - well, on the driveway underneath the deck, so I was partially protected. Fun to have little cool drops falling on me, instead of suffocating in the heat and humidity. Also had a great view of the foggy mountains to keep me going.
Today, I feel like I really hit my stride with the jumps. I'm jumping efficiently, not waving my arms around too much, not working too hard, keeping my breath nice and even. Tripping? Oh yes, lots of that. I don't let it frustrate me, I just pick up where I left off. Every one hundred jumps, I find a stick or a little stone and place it nearby to keep track of the sets. Jumping has become a welcome ritual in my day, something I look forward to when I wake up.
And I'm starting to see a change in my body after only 10 days! My pants are a little looser, I have lost a few pounds, I definitely feel stronger. Anyone else feeling a little shift going on? Makes me that much more motivated to rock the workouts and keep the diet going strong!
After my workout this morning, my husband and son and I took the dog out to romp on the big wet grassy field in front of the house. Wish I had taken a picture - it was raining just a smidge, I was barefoot, Milo was in his pj's and we were taking turns throwing the tennis ball for Clyde. Another awesome ritual to start the day. :)
Here's a gratuitous shot of Clyde (foreground) with his lady friend Ariel. Look at that face!
Today, I feel like I really hit my stride with the jumps. I'm jumping efficiently, not waving my arms around too much, not working too hard, keeping my breath nice and even. Tripping? Oh yes, lots of that. I don't let it frustrate me, I just pick up where I left off. Every one hundred jumps, I find a stick or a little stone and place it nearby to keep track of the sets. Jumping has become a welcome ritual in my day, something I look forward to when I wake up.
And I'm starting to see a change in my body after only 10 days! My pants are a little looser, I have lost a few pounds, I definitely feel stronger. Anyone else feeling a little shift going on? Makes me that much more motivated to rock the workouts and keep the diet going strong!
After my workout this morning, my husband and son and I took the dog out to romp on the big wet grassy field in front of the house. Wish I had taken a picture - it was raining just a smidge, I was barefoot, Milo was in his pj's and we were taking turns throwing the tennis ball for Clyde. Another awesome ritual to start the day. :)
Here's a gratuitous shot of Clyde (foreground) with his lady friend Ariel. Look at that face!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Day 8: Today is the first day...
...of the rest of my life! I kid you not, that was my first thought upon waking this morning. How cheeeeesy is that? This, after tossing and turning all night with anxiety about the changes in diet and workout (holy crap!) waiting for me in the AM?!?
Well, as it turn out, my positive-in-spite-of-myself thoughts made for a breakthrough workout session today! But more on that later. We've had some wonderful guests staying with us for a few days, which is why I haven't posted. In the meantime, there's been lots of PCP activity around here, so let's go back to yesterday (Day 7) for the recap, shall we?
Day 7: The Last of the Halfsies
The day began with ye old 500 jumps. This took me a while. I wasn't rushing because I knew that was it for the day - no strength training. But what took me a while was trying to recover enough to finish a set of 100 whenever I tripped. I was so winded and wobbly after the first 2 sets! But I persevered and got it done.
Then, on our last day of the half-diet, I decided to take Patrick's advice and eat all my favorite foods, without worrying if it was PCP-worthy and healthy or not. Here is what I had for lunch:
Just look at that yumminess, cut so perfectly in half! Portobello, avocado, eggplant tempura, roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella, and other various delights, with a side of house-made dijon. This is from my favorite coffee shop in all the land: Antoinette's.
Where's that other half?? In my bell-ay! The remainder is being eaten by my husband for lunch today :)
Dinner last night was half a farmer's market hamburger, a few pieces of grilled zucchini, and half a portion of my favorite arugula/quinoa/goat cheese/avo/blueberry salad:
I actually took a big portion of the salad, intending to eat it all, but found I was full after eating half! Also had half a Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA. Our guests, with some help from the kids, had made homemade chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches for dessert:
Alas, they weren't frozen enough to eat after dinner. So I just had half of one cookie. Nothin' wrong with homemade chocolate chip cookies!
Then, I read Patrick's lengthy Day 8 email, with all of the diet info and the week's monster workouts, hyperventilated for a few moments, and went to bed.
Which brings us to this morning! I got up extra early because I was worried about fitting in all the new exercises before getting the kids off to camp. Walked outside into air so thick and wet you could drink it through a straw - bah, humidity! Before I started my 600(!) jumps, I thought about slowing the jumping down a bit so I wasn't gasping for breath every time I stopped. Let me tell ya, that made a HUGE difference in my jumping today! HUGE! I felt like I was floating through the jumps, just breezing right along - even though I was tripping a LOT more. But the tripping didn't matter - I was able to start up right where I left off without having to catch my breath. So the 600 jumps went by much more quickly than the day before. It felt magical!
The rest of the exercises - new ones included - were fine. Honestly, my kids were up, our guests were getting ready to leave, it was kinda chaotic in the house while I was doing the last of the exercises. So it was a bit hard to focus on how they felt. The best part is that push-ups are getting much more do-able. The biggest hurdle is not having a bar for the incline pull-ups. I used our dining room table, which will do for now, but isn't ideal.
After everyone else had been fed, I was able to get out my little kitchen scale and figure out my own breakfast. I have to say, I'm psyched with the weighing. It's fun! Kinda like performing little science experiments before each meal. Without having gone shopping for lots of fresh foods, here's what I came up with for my very first, officially sanctioned, PCP Proper meal:
That's left-over quinoa, a scrambled egg, and avocado. Pretty good! Glad I had my bases covered with what I had in the house...though, what's the deal with avocados? I think of them as a vegetable, but since they have a pit, are they technically fruit?? Regardless, they are my favorite food and I eat them whenever possible. :)
Next, I went shopping:
It all looked so pretty when I was unpacking and putting stuff away, that I had to take a photo. Happy eating, everyone! Hope you all feel as good on Day 8 (or whatever day you're on) as I do!
Well, as it turn out, my positive-in-spite-of-myself thoughts made for a breakthrough workout session today! But more on that later. We've had some wonderful guests staying with us for a few days, which is why I haven't posted. In the meantime, there's been lots of PCP activity around here, so let's go back to yesterday (Day 7) for the recap, shall we?
Day 7: The Last of the Halfsies
The day began with ye old 500 jumps. This took me a while. I wasn't rushing because I knew that was it for the day - no strength training. But what took me a while was trying to recover enough to finish a set of 100 whenever I tripped. I was so winded and wobbly after the first 2 sets! But I persevered and got it done.
Then, on our last day of the half-diet, I decided to take Patrick's advice and eat all my favorite foods, without worrying if it was PCP-worthy and healthy or not. Here is what I had for lunch:
Just look at that yumminess, cut so perfectly in half! Portobello, avocado, eggplant tempura, roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella, and other various delights, with a side of house-made dijon. This is from my favorite coffee shop in all the land: Antoinette's.
Where's that other half?? In my bell-ay! The remainder is being eaten by my husband for lunch today :)Dinner last night was half a farmer's market hamburger, a few pieces of grilled zucchini, and half a portion of my favorite arugula/quinoa/goat cheese/avo/blueberry salad:
I actually took a big portion of the salad, intending to eat it all, but found I was full after eating half! Also had half a Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA. Our guests, with some help from the kids, had made homemade chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches for dessert:
Alas, they weren't frozen enough to eat after dinner. So I just had half of one cookie. Nothin' wrong with homemade chocolate chip cookies!Then, I read Patrick's lengthy Day 8 email, with all of the diet info and the week's monster workouts, hyperventilated for a few moments, and went to bed.
Which brings us to this morning! I got up extra early because I was worried about fitting in all the new exercises before getting the kids off to camp. Walked outside into air so thick and wet you could drink it through a straw - bah, humidity! Before I started my 600(!) jumps, I thought about slowing the jumping down a bit so I wasn't gasping for breath every time I stopped. Let me tell ya, that made a HUGE difference in my jumping today! HUGE! I felt like I was floating through the jumps, just breezing right along - even though I was tripping a LOT more. But the tripping didn't matter - I was able to start up right where I left off without having to catch my breath. So the 600 jumps went by much more quickly than the day before. It felt magical!
The rest of the exercises - new ones included - were fine. Honestly, my kids were up, our guests were getting ready to leave, it was kinda chaotic in the house while I was doing the last of the exercises. So it was a bit hard to focus on how they felt. The best part is that push-ups are getting much more do-able. The biggest hurdle is not having a bar for the incline pull-ups. I used our dining room table, which will do for now, but isn't ideal.
After everyone else had been fed, I was able to get out my little kitchen scale and figure out my own breakfast. I have to say, I'm psyched with the weighing. It's fun! Kinda like performing little science experiments before each meal. Without having gone shopping for lots of fresh foods, here's what I came up with for my very first, officially sanctioned, PCP Proper meal:
That's left-over quinoa, a scrambled egg, and avocado. Pretty good! Glad I had my bases covered with what I had in the house...though, what's the deal with avocados? I think of them as a vegetable, but since they have a pit, are they technically fruit?? Regardless, they are my favorite food and I eat them whenever possible. :)Next, I went shopping:
It all looked so pretty when I was unpacking and putting stuff away, that I had to take a photo. Happy eating, everyone! Hope you all feel as good on Day 8 (or whatever day you're on) as I do!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Day 5: Holidaze
Like many of you, I experienced my first social eating challenges this weekend. Yesterday, we had a BBQ with some good friends from Boston who we don't see much...but when we do, we have fun preparing and eating lots of yummy food. It was a day of grazing here, picking there, and then trying to figure out a half portion of all the glorious foods on the buffet. I think I did OK, eating less than I normally would, but probably a little more than half overall. I decided to stick with water instead of alcohol all weekend - which is a big switch for me. Booze just wasn't calling my name, perhaps because I'd already told myself, "It's time to make some changes around here!"
Interestingly, I didn't have such a major energy crash yesterday. Perhaps because I ate a little more than the previous days? Not sure. Today we had a bit more of a normal day and I really stuck to the half diet - and again, HAD to nap around 4 pm.
Still loving the morning workouts! This morning I thought, I'm so glad I'm doing this project. I've also loved reading all your posts - keep up the good work, y'all!
Interestingly, I didn't have such a major energy crash yesterday. Perhaps because I ate a little more than the previous days? Not sure. Today we had a bit more of a normal day and I really stuck to the half diet - and again, HAD to nap around 4 pm.
Still loving the morning workouts! This morning I thought, I'm so glad I'm doing this project. I've also loved reading all your posts - keep up the good work, y'all!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Day 4: Crash Course
I'm loving the workouts first thing in the morning. I definitely feel more energized and productive afterward. Jumping feels more fluid, less of a shock to the system. Overall, the workouts feel very do-able so far. I'm sore, but not painfully so. Each morning, I find myself resisting the urge to do more sets, to push myself (as is my usual habit), as I'm sure the challenges are right around the corner. :)
However, for the last 2 days, I've experienced a serious crash in energy in the late afternoon. Around 4 pm or so, I NEED to lie down. I feel like I've been hit by a truck. And I haven't been able to rally up some more energy until the kids' bedtime. What is happening here? I wonder if this is a normal response to increased exercise and change in diet? Or if this, plus the bruises all over my legs, means I'm anemic? Is anyone else experiencing a crash like this?
However, for the last 2 days, I've experienced a serious crash in energy in the late afternoon. Around 4 pm or so, I NEED to lie down. I feel like I've been hit by a truck. And I haven't been able to rally up some more energy until the kids' bedtime. What is happening here? I wonder if this is a normal response to increased exercise and change in diet? Or if this, plus the bruises all over my legs, means I'm anemic? Is anyone else experiencing a crash like this?
Friday, July 2, 2010
Day 2: Lunge Love
Couple of things to report this morning:
- Woke up early to do the workout - before the kids got up.
- My husband joined me instead of going to the gym. We did our jumps and lunges together outside (it's lovely and cool here at 6:15 am!) and the rest indoors.
- It's really nice to have a partner to work out with.
- Today, I LOVED the lunges. They just felt so good! I could really feel my thighs, hips and buttocks working - all areas that need some targeted attention :)
- Push-ups are very challenging for me, and the leg-ups are easy. For Dan, it is the exact opposite. Interesting!
- After getting everyone ready and out the door, I walked with my son up the hill and through the woods to the elementary school where his camp program meets. It's not a far walk and one that we could do together MUCH more often, but because I'm often running late, we usually just jump in the car. My hope is that this summer we will all WALK MORE!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Day 1: Starting Point
Well, let's see. On Day 1, I'm grateful that we're starting slow and ramping up over time! Doing my very first jumps (ever), I quickly realized how weird and hard this rope jumping stuff feels in my body. I'm so not used to doing cardio (did I really just admit this publicly?) that I couldn't even figure out how to breathe efficiently. Good thing I have 89 more days to explore this unknown realm.
The rest of the exercises went fine, felt good, etc. Still grateful for the relatively easy routine!
As for the eating half situation, it's kind of confusing and yes, I felt hungry at different times throughout the day. The confusion for me is that my normal eating is so scattered and piecemeal - grabbing something here or there, or forgetting to eat until I'm ravenous - that I rarely sit down to a full meal. So deciding what constitutes a "half-portion" is not very clear. I will say that each time I put something in my mouth today, I thought about it first, instead of merely inhaling it.
In this Day 1 post, I want to include my stats so that I can look back later and gloat :)
Weight: 117 lbs / 53 kg
Body fat %: 24.3
Chest: 32.5 in / 82.5 cm
Waist: 29.5 in / 75 cm
Hips: 38 in / 96.5 cm
Happy Day 1, everybody!
The rest of the exercises went fine, felt good, etc. Still grateful for the relatively easy routine!
As for the eating half situation, it's kind of confusing and yes, I felt hungry at different times throughout the day. The confusion for me is that my normal eating is so scattered and piecemeal - grabbing something here or there, or forgetting to eat until I'm ravenous - that I rarely sit down to a full meal. So deciding what constitutes a "half-portion" is not very clear. I will say that each time I put something in my mouth today, I thought about it first, instead of merely inhaling it.
In this Day 1 post, I want to include my stats so that I can look back later and gloat :)
Weight: 117 lbs / 53 kg
Body fat %: 24.3
Chest: 32.5 in / 82.5 cm
Waist: 29.5 in / 75 cm
Hips: 38 in / 96.5 cm
Happy Day 1, everybody!
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