Day 90'ish - Milestones

We are officially through with the formal 90 day Peak Condition Project as led by Patrick and Chen. Thank you gentlemen for your leadership, support and knowledge. Thank you for the combination of exercise and example by you and all former PCP'ers including Gwen Bell for representing the project so well. It made the tough days and challenges bearable. Both fun and tough days were a blast with my group, Denise, Emily, Naomi and Shelly. The all girl PCP Team Rocked it!

So the formal project is over, but I totally feel like I am at another milestone. When you climb the peak, are you done with mountain climbing? Most people will stop, admire the view, rest for a bit, then eventually... start looking for another mountain to climb. Heh. I don't exactly know what is next, but I do know that PCP has given me the foundation to build a stronger lifestyle than the disorganized parts of pre-PCP. Oh sure, I went to the gym, ate healthy, enjoyed life, but the relationship between diet, fitness and health were somewhat precarious. Lots of instant gratification with consequences. You know... if you have too much rich unhealthy food at a party, then you work out a little longer the next day. Or not. Now, I know what it takes to maintain both an enjoyable life with a good perspective on how food, diet and fitness are related. I get to make the choices and know the consequences. Looks like the good choices are now habits since I find it hard to recall exactly what I ate and did for a workout routine before PCP. Here is a short list of changes to my lifestyle.

Food Choices:

Organic, Local, No sodium (not low, but no), more vegetables than carbs. I now LOVE fruit. We shop at a local farmer's market and will be growing more of my own food this coming year. Most foods have shifted in the way they taste as my palate has changed. I am starting to incorporate more raw foods and will continue exploration of clean, natural flavours.

Fitness Choices:

Cardio - I have always enjoyed the gym and loved lifting weights. Cardio is hard for me. But, I have made allowances and we will continue our budding relationship. I finally found an adjustable jump rope I like, and will trade off now and again with the rowing machine, brisk walks and more consistent activity. My rope is always portable and I have come to begrudgingly appreciate it's versatility. It works.

Strength - My body weight can be used to train? I knew this and knew it was possible, but didn't quite have all the examples I needed. I always thought isometrics, but this is real strength development. The exercise program taught me how to work my body to develop itself. I feel a bit of freedom knowing I don't have to use the gym to develop my body. I will keep my membership for now, but I love knowing I can go to a playground, park, or my own yard and workout any time I want.

Health Challenges:

Back injury - I have a blown out (herniated) disc in my lower spine, it bothers me sometimes. I modified some exercises in the beginning until my core was stronger. Now I can do any of the back and torso related exercises without injury. What did I modify? Early leg lifts with bent knees instead of straight legs, floor jumps (compression on the spine) were short sets or replaced with lunges. A few others I can't recall, but they all seem to have caught up after the first 30 days.

Flu - Out for a week+ with the flu. I was upset for the distraction, but recovered several days shorter if not weeks shorter than others in my local area. I attribute quick recovery to my body being stronger and free of unhealthy foods.

Dental - One root canal near the end of PCP. There is no fighting a toothache. It caused me to circumvent jump roping and then most exercises for nearly a week. Arggh. But, the project also taught me muscle memory exists. A quick deep dive back into the project, and I could pick back up on the same schedule as everyone else. The first workout or two after a week off were taken as short sets, but after about two mini workouts, I could do the sets and reps of my counterparts.

What does all this mean? Here is the summary:

Peak Condition Project Results:

Pounds lost = 14

Pants size = 2 sizes smaller

Shirt size = some don't fit shoulders and biceps any more if the fabric is not stretchy

Skin & Nails = in better condition, free of blemishes and nails grow like crazy

Immune system = stronger than colleagues at work

Diet = Eat healthy and feel full without ups and downs ( zero craving for energy drinks, sugar or energy bars)

Energy = no afternoon crashes after lunch, sleep deeper at night

Extended health = I don't know, but I am sure that my later years of life will be more like my great-great grandparents rather than my parents. Largely, this was my biggest motivation for the project. I have seen so many friends of my parents as well as mom and dad age somewhat ungracefully. I know this is preventable, but requires action now, with little immediate reward. Vanity helps for the moment, knowing I look better when working out consistently. But, deep down, my eye is on the ageing process. My great grandparents and grandparents lived lives full of activity until they ripened with age and good stories. Living well has its consequences and I am counting on it!

Gratuitous inspirational shot! Arms?! Even triceps!

Day 1 vs. Day 90

For now, thank you again to Patrick and Chen for the leadership and to Denise for going on this adventure with me. We did IT! To everyone, I look forward to seeing how we all continue and to a reunion of Complete PCP'ers as we all age gracefully!

It's that time of year

Busy, busy, busy! Parties, obligations, end of year deadlines, and... wrapping up the Peak Condition Project! Wow, how did we get here? Full post and photos to follow this week, but a short update from Day 89.

Even though everything is busy, we had to stop on Day 89 and take a nap. A sleep like none other. We did a monster morning workout on Day 89 with supersets and gave it all we had. More grunts, squints and clenched teeth than I remember in a long time. We crawled back towards a few egg whites and fruits to start rebuilding the fibers we just attacked. Then, a quick nap. The quick nap turned into an hour and half of deep sleep. I woke up groggy, but with the satisfaction that my body was growing and I had pushed myself for the past 3 months. I may not have been able to accomplish everything to 100% for the Peak, but I know what my body can do and it inspires me to more. Like many, I feel this is not an end, but a milestone in a continuous project. But, I now an expanded toolset for the road ahead.

A coworker had a holiday open house for the evening, so we dressed and headed out to see how the rest of the world had been operating for the last few months. It felt good to take a break and relax knowing I have a much more centered place to operate from. Several comments on appearance and a few new outfits, and the holidays are not looking so crazy. In fact, there are a few more upcoming parties that I am looking forward to with snazzy new (and smaller) outfits.

To Denise, Shelly, Emily and Naomi... Congrats! This has been more than expected and I look forward to hearing everyone's final comments as I organize my own thoughts. Patrick and Chen, you have been our gift this year.

Day 87 - Cold Weather Dehydration

Woke up the last few mornings with my muscles a bit more sore and stiff than normal and very lethargic. I first chalked it up to the last push intense exercises, old man winter and a bit of Emily's Senioritis. But, I think I realized this morning I haven't been getting enough water.

Less fruit in our diets has dropped some of the natural water intake and the cold weather seems to conspire as a trickster. Step outside into the cold and the moisture is immediately pulled from my lungs and throat. Get to the office and the building's heaters dry everything up. Sweat during a workout and the cold drys it quickly not letting me realize how much fluid I am using. Get home and bundle up in warm clothes and stay near the heater. I realize this is a real problem for people in extreme outdoor sports, but a slight case of winter dehydration must have slipped in to the daily routine. The daily deficit I am running is not a big deal, but definitely something I can improve. I drank lots of water when we started the Peak Condition Project, now I have focused on diet and workouts to the extent I was taking water for granted.

Today. Focus on drinking water and tea.

Day 85 - What it takes to be great

A short video. Explains some of the reasons we want to rock so hard.

Day 83 - ToDo list

Even on a weekend, the PCP routine has become that, an everyday part of life. It seems like after nearly 90 days, the habits we have created have become ingrained. The weekend's morning coffee coincides with steaming vegetables and boiling eggs for the day. We will be out of the house some today, so eggwhites go into a ziplock bag and vegetables in another. Add a piece of fruit or two, and we have lunch on the go instead of trying to find a healthy restaurant or worse.... going without until we get back home.

I find it kind of hard to sometime remember what I ate before PCP. Really? I know I ate stuff and probably lots of it. Hmmm... I know I didn't eat at restaurants much. Seems like I remember semi-healthy things I thought were healthy. Natural peanut butter and my backpack always had cheese sticks, and energy bars. Notice how not all of those are really natural? Wow. I think my difficulty in remembering what I ate indicates I have formed a solid habit and change in my outlook toward food. I do know what I will be eating going forward. Much of the same including my slightly embarrassing new love of egg whites and apples.

Today will include: hopping at the Holiday artisan market, errands and then since the weather has turned bitter cold for us warm weather birds, off to the gym this evening for a solid workout before we start the last week. Bad part of a gym? trying to regain enough energy to pick yourself up off the floor and drive home after the planks.

Day 79 - Food Recovery

It has taken a few days, but I think I finally recovered from our last food indulgence. No easy task. When we were told about the final indulgence, one of my first thoughts was... "can I give it back?" I already knew any of my pre-PCP foods would have me feeling sluggish, and it seems my taste buds have even changed and those things don't taste as good anymore. But, in the true spirit, I knew it would be good to play fairly and see really how my body and mind reacted to a full overblown meal of richness.

We chose some doozies. The restaurant was good, serving organic and locally grown foods when possible. We watched Food, Inc. over the holiday and that is a whole other blog post. So, a minimum was making sure the food was local when possible. Here are a few descriptions and picture from the menu.

Appetizer, Pan Boracho = Torn baguette, prosciutto, fresh thyme, garlic and yellow onion soaked in a savory white wine custard with gruyere, mozzarella and grana padano cheeses - all baked until bubbly and gooey. Wow... I am so glad I don't have to clean that dish. The cheese was truly gooey and crusty melted at the edges. We only had a few bites, but it was yum! Ugh.

Entree, Kobe Beef Burger = 8oz. Texas Kobe beef burger with mushrooms, caramelized onions and gruyere, in-house pickled jalapenos, Texas tomato and organic bibb lettuce on a fresh-baked bun, served with famous frites. Yep, that about sayz it. I didn't eat all the bread, but did try for all the burger. I had been craving a bit of beef, but I was surprised the flavour was not as intense as I would have liked.

Dessert, Big Brownie = you knew it was coming. We couldn't finish them, but decided to be fair, we should have a sweet bite at the end. Bad move. I had a brownie with ancho chile in the chocolate and a scoop of Dulce de Leche Gelato.

Included one glass of wine where I would have normally had two or more. I ordered a glass of cabernet I really enjoyed in the past. It tasted different. About half way through the meal, it opened up and I got used to the flavour again. But it still left a little lacking. (Note: Dang it Patrick, What have you and Chen done to my taste buds?)

This was Sunday evening. I woke up Monday with a food hangover and puffy tummy. Not fun. It has taken a full two days or more, but I finally feel like the sluggishness is out of my body. A steady diet of clean non-greasy foods has helped. Even boiled egg whites felt heavy up until this morning (nearly three days later).

Summary: Good local food, still too heavy. Taste buds whacked out, but somewhat recovered by half way through the main meal. Body recovery 2-3 days minimum to lose heavy feeling from too much rich food. Whew.

Admittedly, this would have been a rare indulgence even in the past, but not without precedent. I could have easily ordered this meal when out with friends about once or twice a month. Future meals out will be choosing from the lighter side of the menu.

Day 73 - Thanks

This morning, Denise and I hopped up after a very enjoyable day yesterday with extended work family. Where I work, we traditionally have a potluck where we invite our families to the office for the afternoon and then enjoy an exciting tradition of pre-Thanksgiving Plasma Car races on the parking garage roof. We are a bit competitive. (don't let the picture fool you, I won that race). The food was great, and the company better. I found the food mostly inappropriate for PCP and enjoyed walking around and talking to people without having to balance a plate and wine glass. Nice. It was a really great day. Now, I have a few days to be devoted to my own schedule, workouts and errands.

Today, we also headed to the Whole Foods store for fixin's to make a healthy pumpkin pie and small cornish hens for some protein. Thanksgiving needed some recognition, so I am going to make a #raw crust of walnuts and dates, then a pumpkin filling of organic pumpkin puree, flaxseed, tofu and spices. We are pretty excited. Then we threw everything in the refrigerator and treated ourselves to the gym for some gravity defying pull-ups before they closed. A few pics uploaded, and we are getting ready to create a healthy meal where we know all the ingredients and can choose our portion sizes.

Today, I am thankful for our health and how we are so fortunate this year to be able to workout, enjoy healthy real food, and share a little joy with others. I hope everyone is having a great day with friends, family and loved ones. Happy Thanksgiving PCP'ers and Patrick.

Day 7* - I'm Baa-a-c-k

Okay,

One root canal, one mild "fainting goat" type episode, and soft butternut squash for restorative nutrition and we are back in the game. Almost. Sharp stabby pains are no fun, so I am particularly glad to get back to the pain of mild muscle soreness and temporary aches. The most fun I have had the last two days was wearily moving from place to place with and Advil bottle in close proximity at all times until the Dentist could do his thing.

The interesting bit is the last few years have really brought about some conscious health choices. A few years ago, I would have taken antibiotics and fought a major dental procedure at all costs. Now, I understand the relationship of a body running smoothly and the long term effects of decisions we make today. Is this Peak Condition Project related? I actually think so. I easily made the decision to have a root canal without kicking and screaming. Why? I know it is best for my body to remove the bad things (dying nerve), focus on what we can control and keep by body healthy. No more worries about future re-infections or worse. The things we do today (PCP) to maintain our health will be repaid with interest in the future.

I missed a few days, but my body was way stronger going into the endodontical procedure than it had been in a long time. I feel recovery coming on fast and my body already asking for the next workout. It won't be much more than stretching and some upper body tonight, but the holiday weekend ahead will allow me the time to reset my workouts. Thankful.

Catching up and almost ready to rock.

Day 65 - Coasting through the Pain

I haven't been able to workout the last two nights. Seriously. This sucks. Tonight, it is some simple stretching and strength exercises, but not a full workout.

So far, I have overcome a knee injury, the flu, and now... inflamed tooth root with some bad azzz throbbing pain. Bouncing through some jump ropes and sucking in cold air was out of my league. I totally wussed out. Went to the dentist today and he prescribed pain killers and I have an appointment Monday for some extensive work. So, what do you think? Will pain killers help with muscle soreness? I am betting so. Heh.

I am pretty frustrated as we hit the home stretch. I am seeing some really impressive results. I mean, it's like every day I find a new muscle or striation I had not noticed before. Sweet! So, the goal is to keep at it and find out what works without jarring my head. Still, coming up with some muscle def and doing this, but without clenched teeth is a treat. It is a new form of concentration to do planks or the last set of bicep curls without clenching teeth. Heh. Go ahead, try it. You know you want to.

I have one other advantage. Tooth pain makes it especially hard to eat, but the egg whites are easy peasey! Y'all are rocking it, I am just a little slower at the moment, but right there with you. I will keep you updated, but for now... breathe in and out, and don't lock that jaw!

Day 58 - Speed

Patrick's email was so kind and warming to read. I know he is just looking out for us. He said something along the lines of wanting us to get the best out of these last few weeks. I know he cares about us, but right now I can barely type since my pecs and arms are blown. #$@#$!!!

We rocked through the workout tonight being very mindful of time between sets and moving quickly to the next exercise. We hadn't really slacked before, but might have easily taken a minute or two in some cases to check on the pups, or setup ropes. Tonight, the race was on and I think Denise and I had a slight competitive eye on each other. It worked, we were done in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

My body feels it, not pain, just some muscles seem to have forgotten how to move. The all too common aroma of steaming broccoli is wafting through the house, only to be replaced by menthol rub soon. Unker's is my new best friend. It used to be tiger balm, but a larger quantity was needed. ;-)

Patrick, it's a win this round. Muscle failure.

Day 55'ish - Cheese and Wine

This is a bit of recap from my weekend indulgence. It all started so innocently. A trip to one of my old haunts, Central Market. The cheesemonger and I have been acquaintances for nearly 5 years or more. Virginia's face brightens when she sees me... It's been awhile and I feared she may have forgotten me. Instead she quickly comments that I am looking great!? eep.

Instead of the normal four or twelve artisanal cheeses, I carefully choose three. Montenebro, a creamy goat from Spain. Capri, a blue ash covered goat and a aged Grand Cru Pecorino from Italy. Yeah... this is getting good. Not to be outdone, I also snagged a few slices of Serano ham from the deli. A nice ciabatta bread and an Italian red wine. Done! The evening is set.

After settling in at home, we created our indulgence plates. I added a bit of fig spread to balance and we were off! Flavours? Hellz yes. I thought my eyes would roll back in my head. Okay, they sorta did, but I recovered. But, wow the darn ham was salty? Yikes. I don't remember that. Cheese and bread was unbelievable. I loved it. The wine didn't seem to have the same finish as pre-PCP, but it was still worth it. However, by the time I finished my plate, I was very full. Even though my stomach was full of rich foods, I swear I could hear my body screaming for more fats and carbs as an instant craving. I didn't get any more cheese, but I did sneak one more slice of bread with just a sprinkle of olive oil, salt and pepper as a final bite and another half glass of wine. My tummy and palate were sated.

Ummm. What happened next I am not all that clear about. I had picked up a copy a new magazine "Cheese Connoisseur" and was settled in to read some of the articles including creameries in Vermont and the making of Comte' from France. Then, sleep hit. And, I mean the crawl towards the bed and put a blanket over me while I drool sleep. I was near comatose until morning. Talk about an early evening. A bit of cheese and wine and I was out! Craved water in the morning and felt sluggish all the following day. My legs seriously felt like I had ankle weights on during jumps. It took a good 3-4 hours after waking up to feel like a normal person with some kind of personality. Before that, guttural vowel sounds were my main form of communication.

I loved the indulgence, flavors were great and near explosive. Salt was a problem, and I felt it the next day. Even my ring finger was swollen. Wine, I think was okay, but it sure cut short the evening. I can't see me giving up cheese forever, but I think I can work in a future indulgence now and again. Hopefully Virginia and Central Market will survive with my limited visits.

Day 54 - Gym workout

We went to our local gym last night. It was kind of a treat to work out with plenty of mirrors around and watch our progress. Nice to see the muscles elongate and contract while working. It is a good motivator for me. Most people thing we are strange, because we use the bands and typically have to hook them to a heavy machine. Well, Denise uses them more than me, i still grab a free weight now and again. They prolly think we are nuts for not using the muscle isolation machines right there in front of us. Heh. But, I never got into that much anyway. We work out at home mostly, but we sneak over to the gym now and again if it is raining or something. We don't have enough space in the house to work out and don't have a garage. I love working out at home and using all my muscles, but admit to missing some of the time and focus at the gym. Sorry Patrick. There it is. Long term, I look forward to a mix of home natural workouts and the occasional gym trip.

We have used the aerobics room with soft wooden floors for jumping before. Easy on the knees. There was some sports team dance troupe practicing in there, so we didn't jump and took a break to use cardio machines. To be honest, a bit of a nice break from the jumprope. I am a fiend and love the Concept II rowing machine. But, I think I had some of Shelly's blue moon and just took it easy on the treadmill. One of the other benefits of going is they have an assisted pull-up station. I haven't been getting a good deep stretch and strong chin above the bar sets of pull-ups. I wanted to know what it feels like to do a full set, even if not pulling all my own weight. It felt great and I can't wait until I can do that on my own. Personal goal. Someday do a set of behind the head pull-ups. Wow.

Tonight, workout at home, stay focused and think about my lavish red wine and cheese plate for this weekend's indulgence.

Day 51 - Feats of Normalcy

Many people on the Peak Condition Project will not relate to this post. But, sometimes I like to note the small wins. In the last couple of days, I have closely noticed a few subtle changes in my habits. These aren't huge (still can't do a full set of deep pull-ups without assistance), but remarkable in their normalcy.

In the last week I have:

• Put on my socks and tied my shoes while standing
• Consistently raised myself out of a chair or couch while carrying objects

If you have never been overweight, these may not ring true for you. But, let me explain. You know the person that has trouble seeing their shoes? Okay. Now imagine that person trying to stand in one place, raise their knee and double over to tie their shoes while balancing. Yah. Not so easy. Now it is easier for me to bounce around the dressing area getting ready without always needing to find a place to sit. My tummy doesn't get in the way as much and I have better balance and control.

Ever notice your elders struggle to get up or down from a chair? Or maybe even struggle your self after a tough night of lunges? (raises hand) There is a slight wince and you might use one hand to help stabilize the body as you get up or down out of a deep chair or couch. I notice I raise up and down at will, even if I have objects in my arms. Cool. Gone are the lazy, crawl out from under the blanket, push up with both hands from the couch and barely get up moves. Not really. They still have their moments on a cold autumn evening.

It's not much, but just another sign my body is working more like it should and a post to realize the things I should not take for granted.

PCP wins when you live in small tight spaces. Booyah!

Day 48 - Time Delta

Time Change!

Yesterday was a fantastic workout, one of my strongest feeling ever. I stopped about half way through when I would have grabbed a energy bar or goo gel in the past. This time? Fresh fruit. A big large plum. Then, off to the remainder of the workout and it was great. Today, I am paying for it. Ouch. Lats feel like they are bruised to the touch. I am sure they are growing, because we really got the breakdown on some of those darn fibers. But, I probably need to take it easy on the workouts and remember I am not quite the spring chicken any more. I have had muscle soreness plenty of times in the past and the best medicine is usually stretching and a light workout. Now, bruising to the touch is kind of new. Oh well... off to stretch it out.

Today has been out of sorts with the extra special muscle soreness and time change. Woke up and couldn't figure out what time it was all day. I loved having the extra hour all day and seemed like there was lots of time to do things. Now it is late in the evening and I am just plain pooped. We got a lot accomplished today and we have pretty much figured out how to travel around most of the day and stay on good PCP diets. We did forget to take egg whites with us, but had plenty of fruit and milk. But, the tiredness has set in and my body reacts differently than pre PCP days. In the past, I could stay up late, keep going, have an energy drink the next day, and keep pushing through. I know now, if I stay up late and don't get proper rest, my body pays me back with muscle soreness plus body and mind fatigue. Not fun. So, off to bed soon even though the clock says it is too early for bed.

Good night and good luck with the time change PCP'ers.

Day 41-42'ish - Weekend Warrior

We went to Deanville, Texas to help friends get their new home, sort of a ranchette, ready for move-in. I was excited for my friends and... wanted to know how my PCP workouts would fair against an honest days labor. The house will have a long way to go, but they recently expanded their family to include goats. Lots of goats. Ironically, the property has to be ready for the goats before the people. That means fencing. Cross fencing. Gates. Posts and more.

Due to some travel logisitics, we didn't get to the 3 acre farm until mid afternoon on Saturday. It worked out okay, they had been to town to get last few materials. We quickly settled in to start stretching 4" goat wire fencing that was about 5 feet high. This required rolling out huge rolls of wire, stretching with a come-along, and nailing to posts with special fence nails. Fortunately, most of the previous posts were in good shape to be re-used.

Denise and I worked the remainder of the day Saturday, and some of Sunday. We kept up and stayed right along side our friends who do this more often than us. By the time we got back in to the city Sunday night, we were tired, but maybe more from the driving and excitement than the physical labor. PCP rocks!

We ate fresh food from a market selling grass feed meat, some frozen vegetables, and home made bread. Not all PCP friendly, but we focused on the good portions of the meals. Our friends in the country couldn't find anything wrong with our diet? It seemed rather natural to them. Well, they were opting for a lot more salt, so we cooked portions separately. But, otherwise, no major challenges.

We did miss a workout coming in Sunday night, but we moved that to our jump rope only night and it felt good to work out the muscles. I am still a little behind on jumps (catching up from the flu), but I can definitely feel I am getting in good strong workouts now. Yeah!

Day 40 - Groceries and sushi

I went out to lunch with a friend I had not seen in quite some time on Thursday. We went for sushi. Yumm... Since starting the PCP, I have not been out to a restaurant more than one handful of times. Sushi seemed easy and it was. Even better, to try and stay true to carb intake, I had the wonderful excuse to order Sashimi which is usually an indulgence. Overall, the flavours were awesome, I was full with smaller portions and did not have the rice/carb crash I would sometimes get in the past.

I am back to a respectable workout again after the flu bugs. Not quite back to full jump ropes and complete sets on legs, but upper body caught up really well. I at least feel like I am doing more good than just wheezing and trembling through. Can't do a pistol squat lower than a regular squat, but my knees aren't quite wired that way. Knee injuries as a kid prevented that star women's basketball career. Yeah, right... But, I did notice my jeans fit differently the other day. They are tighter in my thigh and I felt this weird thing called a hamstring along the back of my leg. Jeans also got a little longer? Denise says it is from hanging straight instead of going over the muffin top. Heh.

Groceries has become a weekend ritual and we are getting much better at shopping. Pretty easy routine now of knowing what stores to run through and buy fresh produce for the week. Not as time consuming as at first. But, I saw an interesting book yesterday, and unfortunately realized we don't need it (Darn, I love buying books). It was a guide on what to buy that is healthier vs. what is sold as healthy in the grocery store. We all know that can be a big difference. Eat This Not That! looked like a step in the right direction. I do hope some people buy it because it was rather enlightening on the pages I flipped through. Very visual and easy to understand. It showed common grocer brands and might compare cereals or condiments and provide a page of healthier alternatives vs. bad ones. It included nutritional info and then a series of meal recipes in back using suggested ingredients. Thankfully, it also had good sections on how to provide fresh produce, meats and other non-packaged staples. Not just packaged staples. However, I don't think most people will gravitate toward those chapters. Patrick, it was a start, but still lots of room for helping out the public!

Day 34: An Apple a Day

There is the old rhyme, "An apple a day keeps the Doctor away." Well, it didn't quite keep the Doctor away, but I do think it helped.

It has taken a full seven, no eight days, but I think I am at about 80% recovered from the flu or whatever that was. Clinics have stopped testing for strains of flu except in extreme cases, but they also say it is too early for the seasonal flu. So, with all my symptoms, the clinic's best guess was flu and treated me for such. Fever, chills, aches and more hung around, but then disappeared in about 3-4 days. Fatigue and weakness with headaches, much longer. But, when I read accounts of others who were out for several weeks or basically crawled around on the floor, my bout seems rather mild. I fully contribute it to the prior month of healthy foods, working out, extra Vitamin D, and packets of emergen-c. My body wanted to recover and was able.

I didn't lose my appetite during the fever, but mostly slept. Once marathon naps wore off, I could eat most anything. I stayed on diet, but without much attention to amounts. If I was hungry between meals, I ate fruit and didn't limit myself. Denise did a great job of keeping the house stocked and taking care of all the errands we share while I was down for the count. I was lucky I only had to focus on recovering. Thanks Denise!

I lost some muscle definition I was developing in my upper body. Dang, I was really loving that striation showing up between front and medial deltoid heads. My mid section, much softer, but I don't think I gained or lost weight much either way. I think much of this was due to the complication of medicines (anti-viral) in my digestive system. Let's just say, bloating. ugh. The big muscle groups in the legs are still tired. I won't start real jump ropes again until tomorrow when lungs and coordination start making a comeback. I did a mini-workout last night without jumprope, but walking and hopping just barely past comfort zone. I probably walked more than in the prior 7 days combined. My push-ups sucked wind, or I should say burned streaks across my chest and arms, but I got a few medium good sets in. Joints totally stiff and I could feel the pain from the inflammation. Knees down on the pushups, and my shoulders hurt. It will take a few days to get the strength back. Most band work was manageable since it can be modified to current capacity. Wow. Headache at the end of what would probably account for about a day 7 workout if I compared. Whew.

I missed a solid three days of work, and worked quarantined for another two. I started showing signs of illness last Sunday and it really took a whole week and both weekends to feel like I could start to approach normal. I did miss working out. Reading the above again, it sounds terrible. Ewww. But, I still think it was lighter than what many have experienced with the flu. I know I am getting better since I am now really wanting to get back on a regular schedule and regular workout. My tendency is to rush and try to catch up with everyone. But, I have to remember this is not a race and to - work my own workout.

So, here's to fruit (still loving on Honey Crisps), building back muscles strength and stamina and keeping the Doctors away. Raising my water bottle and apple in salute!

Day 32 - I think? What was that?

Whew...

Who knew PCP and flu weren't on the same menu? Yeah, they don't go together very well, except maybe the good diet has helped me recover quickly. A trip to the Dr. for anti-virals and it seems like it is sorting itself out. I have been fever free for nearly 48 hours. FTW! Body is still a bit beat up and not feeling normal. A bit weak, hmpphh. Who am I kidding? A new born kitten could take me in a boxing match right now. But I totally can't wait to get back to working out. I see some of the progress in tone and momentum being lost and looking forward to re-establishing the routine. I have kept to a slim version of the diet, so that has kept me happy.

Tonight won't be a full workout, or even strenuous, since I am in this for the long haul. Right now, I am mainly focused on feeding my body clean nutrients and resting, so I can come back strong. I have pull-ups in my future!

Thanks for the well wishes during recuperation!

Day 29: Causality

If you go ahead and enjoy your indulgence, okay. If you tag along and enjoy someone else's indulgence of ice cream... you will get sick. Probably with the flu. I had no idea that ice cream caused such illness? Wow.

Day two of O.O.C. = Out of commission.

Small cup of Ben and Jerry's Pumpkin and Yellow Brick Road Ice creams during the weekend. Oh, it was good. really good. But too much. Next indulgence will be a glass of red wine as promised.

Full details soon, but taking it easy while the body heals itself. Then I will have some catching up to do. Keep towing the line everyone! Be back before you know it.

Disclaimer - no ice cream organizations were intended harm in this post. In fact, ice cream is good, and does not cause the flu. But, dang the timing was uncanny.

Day 21 - Simplify doesn't always mean easier

Most of 2009 has been a year of simplifying. Purge things that were cluttering my focus or encumbering. Rightsizing. This included moving to a smaller space, reducing furniture, knick knacks, even treasured books. Reducing reliance on energy and generally moving towards a more independent and sustainable lifestyle. Yes, a few indulgences were allowed, but purging was strict and sometimes radical. In the end, it only has me feeling like I still have too much in my life. Wow. It seems the more I focus on what is important, the easier it is to see how much extra we carry around. Did I really need twelve pairs of black pants? I really like the three I kept.

This encumbrance has carried over to emotions and physicality. I carry around too many extraneous emotions and too much reliance on prepared food. Many years ago, I read The Simple Living Guide and without direct radical changes, it influenced my thought processes on a path I have continued. Traveling in many other countries validated smaller and quality were better than quantity. By no means do I live an object-less life, but I try and be mindful. The Peak Condition Project is just fitting so well in to this same pattern. Simple workouts without extra machines and simple food to feed our bodies. Things I feel like I have given up and now feel lighter without:

• processed flours
• processed sugars
• salt - still would like this in moderation, like good quality sea salt
• energy bars
• snack foods with preserving chemicals
• heavy oils and more...

Letting go of these things has played a bit of havoc with time, emotions and energy. But I now consistently feel like I have more energy and see subtle changes. I totally chow down and crave fruit. I mean... crave like "would-take-you-out-if-you-get-in-my-way" fresh sweet fruit such as ripe strawberries or crisp apples. The thought of packaged foods is becoming distasteful. I now pick fruit and vegetables carefully and with a much stronger eye on freshness and flavour. Knowing foods may have to stand on their own or be the star of a meal means each item is carefully selected. Selecting each ingredient in a recipe for it's flavour and contribution to health lends a certain clarity I will continue working towards.

The funny part? Simple isn't always easier. This simplicity is freeing, but also requires more focus. Maybe even more work and effort go into each meal, action, or decision, but the results are more satisfying. I spend more time preparing food, or preparing my space or body for working out. I sleep more. I feel like I have less time in my life. (Did I mention I feel a bit stressed for time?! Sleep, cook, work, workout, buy, eat, cook, sleep. All in continuous rotation.) But, I feel more satisfied when I enjoy a particular meal and taste the ingredients. My mind is lasering in on what is important and dropping distractions just as my body is letting go of the toxins that have crowded it for years.

I can slowly feel my body changing, clothes fitting differently, and the gradual return of some muscle outlines I remember. I do my share of complaining about muscle or joint soreness, but the results and simplicity will keep me coming back each day. Simplicity, with effort. Scheduling time and balancing are my Achilles heel. I can already feel many lessons I will take forward with me from this project. Don't let anyone kid you, simple doesn't always mean easier. It takes honest effort to bypass the conveniences our fast cultures throw at us daily. But measuring the rewards keeps it real.

Day 15 - Wow, that Apple was Sweet?!

I have never really been a fan of Apples. Yeah, they were okay, but often I just didn't get what all the fuss was about. Some were juicy, some fleshy, some crisp, but... hey, it's an apple. It falls on your head, right?

With trying new fruits and veggies in the Peak Condition Project, we remembered we discovered this little Indie of a fruit called "Honey Crisp last year." Come to find out, the goodness I remember from last year is WAY better this year. Good crop? Or my taste buds aligning with all this non-processed yummy? I think the later. Biting in to one of these bad boys today was an explosion. Crisp, tart and very juicy. Nice reward for my mid morning snack. I had easily passed up the morning office kolaches in the office for my fruit. Looking at the box of baked goods brought in, they all seemed heavy, and like they would coat my tongue with some unnamed slathering of oils, and ick. No thanks. It was really rather easy to pass them by. Then, when I got to my morning apple, I realized why. This was what my body was craving for fuel. Love the diet transformation that is happening. I have wanted this for a long time, good to feel it.

Now, if I can get my exercise self to match my diet transformation. All will be grand.

I love working out and feeling my muscles strain and rebuild. I have loved working out most of my life. Yeah, a little sick, but I do love it. But last night...I gave myself an out. I needed a night off. My body was cratering under some of the muscle and joint pressure and mentally, I just wasn't there. Yeah, I feel a tad guilty, but now I am totally itching to get home and face the next week's challenges. Instead, I regrouped, focused on preparing healthy meals for the week and rested my body with some anti-inflammatory support. Mondays are sometimes tough, these may be my most difficult days. I thought it would be Friday evenings. But working out on Friday evening has actually been a relief to focus on the workout and close out the work week behind me with a bit of sweat. Monday. Yeah, Monday's may be my challenge. Knowing that, I can prepare mentally for next Monday.

As always, Bring it!

Day 8 - or How to Boil an Egg

This seems to be a recurring theme, how to do the simple things and make them meaningful. We keep doing things the same way we always have even though we may not like the results. We keep asking around our house why boiling an egg has become so difficult. Okay, it is not the boiling that is the problem, but the peeling. The shells stick to the membrane and the membrane is tough as industrial strength saran wrap! I don't remember eggs like this as a young'in. My mom made eggs easy to peel and I used to make a game out of starting at one end and peeling the whole egg in one continuous shell. Kind of like peeling an orange in one continuous loop. It just doesn't happen any more?! So, is it due to some strange change in our chickens, eggs, or in the preparation?

We have tried different eggs: white, brown, free range, etc. All seem to have the same problem. Hmm.... maybe it is the cook? With that fleeting thought, and eggs on the menu, I wanted to see what I am doing or not doing right.

The NY Times has a pretty sweet article on How to Boil an Egg: So Simple, but not Easy. Not bad, they reference Julia Child and others. Must be something to it. But guess what? Even they can't really agree. There seem to be LOTS of ways to boil an egg. I do think I am sometimes lax on the cold water bath immediately after boiling. That will be my first plan to change. Then, oh dear, working my way through other options:

• the 10 minute egg
• the 10-17 minute egg
• the bring to boil then rest in hot water egg
• the four hour egg????

An entire post about eggs and simply boiling them. Even in the NY Times.

Maybe it isn't so simple after all?

Maybe it is finding the simple way to do things that works for you and yields results. Like, I wonder why all those fancy diets and workout programs don't work, especially when there are so many experts insisting their way is best. Somehow I think a simple set of tools, consistency and being honest about what works and doesn't is best.

So, here is to simply jumping rope, strengthening muscles, eating "food" and avoiding what isn't food. And hoping peeling eggs gets easier.

Day 3 - Oh hai

Hello legs. Nice to meet you again.

But,...um, if I am not mistaken, you seemed to have picked up some weight since yesterday. Really? I mean, don't take this the wrong way, but you sure felt heavier during the jumprope sets than the day before.

And now it gets very real. Posting Day 1 photos. Ouch. I know what I should look like, so it will be nice to see the transformation back to something I am more familiar with. Started revealing to more people about the project today. All seem very interested and excited. Several in my work place already knew about the project and are totally envious. I am not one to go around shouting about my personal life or what I am working on, but I have gotten much better at it the last few years. Going this public with something I am this focused on is different. Maybe not entirely different, but it seems so much more real in print and photos. Accountability, transparency. I talk about this nearly every day in my work for a web marketing company. Now it is time to walk the talk personally.

Again, Bring IT!

Day 2: Missed my morning half snack and legs

It's not that I am boring or regimented. But, okay... I could tend that way. Just because I take a morning break everyday and typically have a banana. At around 10:30 AM. Because my tummy tells me so! Nah, I am not regimented (shyly hides behind hand and peaks out). Today provided back to back meetings where I needed to be focused and out of the office. 10:30 came and went and no half a banana, after half of my breakfast. I missed it, but you know? I think it was psychological more than anything. By the time I finally got to my banana in the safety of my car, half was just fine. Whew. No worries. Besides, I think I am totally enjoying my bananas even more knowing they are a luxury of calories and sugar I won't be able to afford later.

Day two exercises

Included some nifty lunges. Made it just fine and with good form and knees felt great, but the last set started tickling me a bit. Yeah, tickling!? Causing internal laughing. As in, "giggle", your going to totally feel that walking down the stairs in the morning. My thighs will be a little weak and jelly like. I will smile.

Still laughing, but most important, it feels really good to focus on a muscle group and feel it move and stretch. I find when I concentrate specifically on the exercise and muscles involved, I enjoy the workout so much more. I love the feeling of muscles moving and being torn down a bit to build them back up again. Awesome!

Reving Up - Day 1

New blog, new program, building a strong foundation of health and diet to be in my peak physical and mental condition. I am ready for The Peak Condition Project.

I don't look at this as a beginning really, but rather a continuation of an ongoing journey. I have steadily increased my awareness and practice of healthier living as I continue to grow. I was raised by parents who started their family very late in their life and I watched them age not as gracefully as they would have hoped. Seeing that firsthand made the impression early on that what I do now has a direct impact on my ability to fully enjoy life later.

As I continue to learn more about my own fitness levels, nutrition, and abilities, I see each lesson take me closer to being my best. I still feel there is much to learn and accomplish. I am ready to see what determinedly pushing myself to meet exacting goals can do for me in a short period of time.

90 days. Another step in the continuous journey to my best self. Another step in enjoying life both now and for my future. I am so looking forward to this project.

Day 1 Review: The workout and diet today were manageable. A few muscle groups not used so recently let me know they were being used, a few hunger pangs and maybe a headache along the way. Did I cut my food in half? Mostly. Probably down to about 1000-1200 calories by days end and then a workout. My body will adjust and I suspect about the time it adjusts, we will be given new assignments to push again.

Exactly what I am excited about. Bring It!