Wednesday, June 1, 2011

The Final Post!

I’m a little teary about this being my last post. I was even a little nostalgic doing my last work out on Sunday so I put on a yellow t-shirt in homage to my ‘jump rope for heart’ school days.

I’ve needed a few days for all those endorphins to wear off so I can write something cohesive without punctuating every sentence with “Good job! Woo! [air punch]” or any other motivational outbursts I have found myself becoming somewhat inclined to these last few months. So (deep breath) here goes… These last 3 months have been among the most intense in my life. I don’t think I have been this committed to physical exercise – ever! However, I have also been incredibly fortunate to have gone through all this with a fantastic group. Guys you are truly an amazing bunch of individuals – THANKS Everyone!

Of course particular mention must go to Patrick and Chen (you man of mystery – reveal yourself! Any chance you can cameo in Patrick’s last weekly video? Come on, not even a walk on part?) for completely changing the way I think about diet and exercise and for making me a tad (just a tad) less cynical. Looking back over my posts I do note a hint of growing sentimentalism…maybe she’ll stick around for a while. I hope so. Indeed your workouts border on sadistic at times but they are effective and we are all walking proof of that. A huge thanks as well to the PCP ladies – Yeeman, Kristi, Shirley, Helen – for your ever entertaining blogs, comments and support. Please keep in touch! You’re all extraordinary and strong women and now look absolutely traffic stoppingly amazing. Meow! Gilles, thanks for kicking me out of bed every morning to make me face another PCP day, for putting up with all the impossible moods and keeping my spirits up and for being such a maestro in the kitchen. I won’t go on or you’ll get a big head (to match your new chest measurements). Oh god, something tells me I am going to be hearing about this outburst of gratitude for the rest of my life – “remember when you posted blah blah blah…” maybe the internet will be obsolete by then…

So here are the before and after photos:
ugh wide load, bloated and lethargic - Week 1

Day 91



And the regulation clothing shots:


I also retook my banner shots to see if there would be any difference come day 90….



 
My new stiletto legs!!

Now for a few little tid bits from my post-PCP life

1. 3kgs – The average amount of yoghurt consumed by Gilles and I in one week. I have now tried every available brand out there in HK and the BEST hands down is ‘Farmers Union Greek Style’ – be still my beating heart….YUM! I would choose you over ice cream any day.
2. I am no longer a social pariah. People are inviting me out again! However…
3. PCP has killed my alcohol tolerance – not that it was massive before but now I literally sniff wine and fall down. Great…au revoir social kudos.
4. My 2003 jeans fit me again!!! Woohoooo this is a major triumph. Why buy news jeans when I can fit into old ones.

5. Eggs and vegetables are my new breakfast…
6. Avocados – Our fruit bowl is now heaped full of them. Anything to avoid another encounter with Gilles without his morning avocado...
7. More vegetables and seafood – never would have thought I would crave these two things and yet the impossible has happened. Dinners at home look less like spag bol and now look like this (that was a celebratory wine btw…)

8. Snap out of it! Nothing gets me out of a bad mood quicker than exercise.10 mins skipping or a 30mins run isn’t a big deal at all. I will do everything humanly possible to keep up the exercise if only to avoid having to do the last 3 months again – ever!! Not only do I feel annoyingly energised but I haven’t been sick once during the program.
9. Running (wo)man – I discovered running by default when my legs launched a revolt against the skipping and it’s just what I need to clear all the junk out of my cluttered head. I’m not signing up for any marathons but never in a million years did I see this one coming.
10. I still and will always despise lunges….Even when I did the Day 11 workout on Day 90 I was cursing them.
11. 8mins abs – here to stay. Locked into my favourites on youtube.
12. I am flexible again! I haven’t been able to stretch like this since I was 19.
13. A mini health revolution – without even mentioning PCP, friends and colleagues have noticed I have changed my eating habits and look different and it’s having a knock on effect.
14. I love to blog! What to do when I can no longer ‘blog it out’?? Currently plotting my next blogging adventure…

Without a shadow on my conscious I am proud to say I did this - from beginning to end. The original goal was to get fit for my wedding which is now in only 5 weeks but predictably it has become about so much more (specifically - more cash since I now need to get my dress resized…ha!!).

Patrick and Chen your program is tough and unforgiving but it works and has changed my life. There were times when I cursed you both out loud and wanted to crawl up in a ball and give up in a blaze of Doritos but in hindsight I am so glad I didn’t. I love my new positive frame of mind and feel great in my new strong body. I needed a swift health kick up the bum to get me motivated and feeling good about myself again and this most certainly was it. Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu!!! m(_ _)m

Congratulations everyone!! I hope you all go out and celebrate in a manner befitting this most awesome achievement. Good Luck!

Patrick - how about golden jump ropes for each of us graduates?

Tanya x