Day 90 - Gambarimashita!

Welcome to my peak! For those of you outside Japan, 'gambarimashita' means 'I did my best!'
I'm proud of what I've done with the help of this awesome program, the guidance of Chen and Patrick, and of course, my fellow PCPers. As I stand at the peak, I look across at the rest of my gang standing on their own mountain tops, people I have to thank  - Kristi, Yeeman, Ricky, Shirley, Paul, Jon, and all of the other people who helped me so much. I shout and give them a wave of triumph. We made it!

This long post is in eight parts


1. My banner
2. The PCP mindset
3. PCPing and a better planet
4. PCPing and feminism
5. PCPing and relationships
6. The next adventure
7. Thank you
8. Conclusion


1. My banner


Diet


This was without a doubt the most satisfying part of the PCP and one that I felt most secure about. I had already done some online coaching to improve my eating habits, but PCPing went much further. Weighing food became second nature, making bento boxes a pleasure, shopping meant I saved a load of money. 


I thought, erroneously, that PCP-ing would have me cutting back, but was delighted to be told to eat more. Patrick and Chen grasped from my photos that I have a body type (ectomorph, hard-gainer) I'd need to 'keep the tank very full'. I ate and I ate and I ate. Lots of fish, lots of eggs, piles of veg, carbs in moderation. Comments from colleagues on my food included


'Are you feeding the cat?' (on seeing a plate of veggies and fish)


'What is this, voodoo?' (on seeing me separate an egg yolk)


'Are you really losing weight on this diet?' (Again, on seeing a plate of veggies, bread, fish). 


It really is a relief to know that I can eat well and enjoy it. 


Two tips:


1. Eat food, not too much, mainly plants (Michael Pollan)
2. If man made it, don't eat it


Of course, we can't live by this 100 per cent, but in today's food environment, we need to think this way!

Food eaten out adapted for PCPing by ordering extra veg!

Brown rice sushi roll, a la Youtube. Egg inspired by St. George

Fitness


Doing jump rope everyday strengthens your heart muscles, lungs, and teaches better breathing. On day 90 I belted out my record 630 odd jumps in a row very comfortably. After week 1, my jinga (the basic step in capoeira) got much more fluid and powerful. The diet of wholefoods really helped me feel lighter and more like exercising and moving. 

Better fitness = better breathing

Better breathing = better voice

(One tip I hope you won't judge me for...Sleep in workout clothes, so you don't have any time to waste for morning jump rope!)


Strength


I upped my muscle percentage with alot of work. I pushed myself hard during workouts to feel a good burn. And did my best to get enough sleep, so my muscles would build. Now I feel a real solidity to my body where before I was just soft. It's an awesome feeling and I plan to continue to build my muscles. I was most pleased with how my shoulders developed, but also with my torso and arms. The exercises I found hardest were the legups, press ups, pullups. Legups got better and turned into good V-sit ups. Pressups made me feel like GI Jane. Pullups are in my future!


Three tips for building muscle


1. Go after a strong burn. Days when you just get through should be the exception. 
2. Sleep! The weeks I skimped on sleep showed poorer muscle growth. 
3. Expect a cycle of energy and slump. Muscle tissue gets shredded before reforming as new muscle. 

Capoeira


Doing so much for the PCP (expect to spend a lot of time shopping/cooking/cleaning!) meant that my capoeira time got cut back. However, my instructor Cacapa and I can see a difference. I'm more confident, my moves are stronger and more decisive, and I ask more questions. I need to now work on my musicality and learn the instruments for the roda. 

Barbara Stanwyck


I chose her for her sassiness and poise. As the weeks went on, the people in my group and the people who were ahead, especially Chris and Molly, became my role models. Thank you!


2. The PCP mindset (A-E-I-O-U)


A = Animal. 


Wild animals eat when they need food and they eat what is needed. They move and rest at the right time. They do not eat for comfort, worry about their appearance, step on scales or any other nonsense. 
Their main characteristic is functional excellence. Human animals have the ability to know what to eat, how much to rest, and move for a healthy life. 


E = Educated


The paradox of modern life with processed foods and sedentary lifestyles is that modern humans have a distorted relationship with their bodies. During the PCP program we learn a lot of important information on how to care for our most precious gift. Topics such as muscle growth, how to eat well, hydration, exercise, mind/body, sleep. I've really enjoyed this part of the PCP. Patrick, you have a real gift for explaining how the body works in a way that is both accessible, and awe-inspiring. 


I = Intuitive


The way that we apply this knowledge is going to be largely intuitive. I think I have a relaxed confidence in my body now. I trust that it will tell me when something needs adjusting. I just have to listen.


O = Optimistic


Having a strong and intimate understanding of my body can only make me more optimistic about life in general. Of course, bad things happen - the biggest earthquake in Japan's history happened on my Day 11. However, for a lot of people, including myself, the discipline of the PCP was very grounding. And the endorphines of a great workout or skipping session are better than any night of drinking! 


U = Understanding


We've all fallen from the PCP wagon in some way shape or form. And we signed up for this thing! So while we've gone through some radical changes, we won't judge others (or ourselves come to that) when we see people eating badly or not exercising. We can share what we've learnt with those who really want to know and ask. Live by example, stay chilled!

Educated, intuitive, optimistic, understanding, ANIMALS

3. PCP-ing for a better planet


If everyone did the PCP at some point we'd see


1. More demand for a variety of whole foods. Perhaps more biodiversity. 
2. Lower rates of life-style related diseases, diabetes, heart disease, cancers. 
3. Greater happiness all round

A PCP-ed out world? Nice thought. 

4. PCP-ing and feminism

PCP-ing puts women in charge of how they look and feel, plus cheering on other women. 

"Well, I think I look nice" Julia Roberts as Erin Brokovich

5. PCP-ing and relationships


PCP-ing will raise your expectations of yourself and others. This usually is a good thing, but if a relationship isn't working out, then you'll probably find yourself doing a bit of rethinking. And you'll feel pretty vulnerable too. 


Tip: Use the blogs to make connections, relax, have fun, and get support. Because sometimes, you just won't get it from people you want it from. 


Generally, PCP-ing will be good for relationships by making you a more open and relaxed person. 

Who can resist us?

6. The next adventure


I want to learn and do more with capoeira, get a real career in radio, travel more. Maybe to Kristi's house as she seems to be a good cook and knows some interesting places. I also want to get a meditation practice going. I think this will be an investment for life; just like the PCP has been. 

7. Thank you 

Deep gassho to Patrick and Chen for your insight, plans, encouragement. Patrick, I appreciate you working out with me at the end of a heavy Sunday schedule. 


To all my fellow PCP-ers who made me laugh, encourage me, made me think, inspired. Good luck with the next journey!


To my colleagues, especially Tracy, Russell, and Joy, for encouragement, practical advice, and taking photos. 


To Hayden, for the encouraging emails and being an awesome listener. 

No trouble keeping balance after PCP!?

To my friends at Bantus Capoeira Japan, Cacapa, Bolinha, Abelinha, Cafune. 
You'll see much more of me at class now!


8. Conclusion from Oscar Wilde

'Nothing should reveal the body, but the body'

Day 60 - Be tough on yourself before temptation

Congratulations everyone at Day 60! Woohoo! I hope that you all celebrated! 

I made a new drink for post workout. I'm supposed to have low fat milk/yogurt and an egg white. I made it more fun by adding powdered cloves, cinammon, and nutmeg on top. The egg white is raw and then it's zapped together. I call it Ripped Little Girl because I got my workout done in 54 minutes. 

Anyone else got some cool ways with our milk allowance?

One satisfying thing today was planning much earlier than I thought I needed to. Had to buy some proper dance shoes for tomorrow's shoot and knew that if I left finding a place to eat in Shibuya until after I'd done it - it wouldn't happen. Ideally, I'd have packed a lunch, but sometimes there's only so much cooking/prepping you can do before you need to get out, so I went into a place where you can assemble your own lunch from big trays of veggies/fish/rice balls. They do ready made bento there too, but with the self service you get to make better choices. I got two pieces of shio (salt) saba fish and then 4 kinds of veg, and then weighed the rice ball. It was way over my allowance, as was the fish - so carved it up in Yoyogi park, put the remainder in small tupperware to take home and enjoyed an imperfect but fairly compliant meal watching everyone exercise. I even saw some teenage boys jump roping and felt a little smidge of pride. 

The cool thing about being picky with the grams came later. When I got home around 5 pm a couple of friends asked me to their apartment "Want to join two queens for strawberries, cheese, and champagne to celebrate the wedding of the next queen?" I've housesat for this couple and know their tv is truly huge, so of course I accepted. There was very little time to prepare. Prepare my stomach that is. I knew that I couldn't go into that situation without some lining. I threw a tin of tuna with the remaining fish from the morning, and pre-prepped potatoes and avocado. And some beansprouts plus other leftover veg on the side. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't even warm, but it was satisfying and delicious. 

Cycled to their place, announced that I'd be toasting with diet coke, then ate 5 strawberries while they ate french bread and squidgy Brie  and strawberries and champagne. One of them who hadn't heard about the PCP and was suprised I was declining posh champagne asked 'Why? Are you ill?' I said 'You don't want to see what's under my shirt'. He didn't either. 

---- 

I take two things from Day 60

1. Be tough on yourself before you are tempted by others. It's easier to have it out with the devil and angel on your own. 

2. One good meal usually leads to the next one being good - virtuous circle. 

Day 58 - Jewel-like sashimi

Delicious and beautiful. From a supermarket near Tokyo's famous Tsukiji market last night. And I correctly estimated their weight - around 60 g.! Anyone know what they are btw!?

Day 41 - PCP curry.

I'm all for Zen and 'ma' and white space and all that, but surely they could have arranged this a little more intelligently! It's screaming 'Look Mum, No Nan Bread!' I went to this curry house in Kawasaki 30 minutes before meeting Japanese grandma and told them what I'd like by the gram. I wanted to get tandoori chicken, but I'm trying to do my PCP with fish as my main protein source, so I asked for tandoori prawn. This was very dry and I'm sure it was not 120 g. so I bought 20 g. of dried fish from a station platform afterwards.  Not good. 

Going back to this culinary extravaganza, the red dish is vegetable curry and was rather uninspiring. Usually I'd get a two-curry set with nan, rice, and salad. I'd usually pay 950 yen. For this, I paid 1, 500 yen because of the tandoori prawns. Meh. All this grousing is wholly unimportant compared to the pleasure of spending time with my delightful Japanese grandmother, Yoko. I missed meeting her for a month. The world is a better place after seeing her. 

After I got back to my part of Tokyo, I went to Toshimaen for a bit and had this...squid and salad. It came to 1,200 yen which is more reasonable than the curry, but in truth, I'd paid someone to chop and arrange some vegetables and then grill some squid. If I did this at home, I'd have arranged the squid properly.  It tasted good though, ordered sans salt, sans mayo, salad with vinegar.

I don't mind paying to eat this when I can look at a huge pink sakura lit up against the night sky.

-----

Did I mention that I did all my WO before breakfast? I think I'm over that throat thing now. Maybe I have a stronger immune system already. 

Let's finish Week 6 in style with some sexy jumps tomorrow. Go TEAM IO!

Day 30 - One third in!

It's only just after lunch now, but I wanted to nail a few things about the 1/3 mark!  There are a few negatives, but I'm saving those for another time. Maybe Day 45!?

New habits

We've put down the spade work for the challenges of the next two months. The first times you say 'no' to things it feels like a big step, then it becomes just your habit. Your habit becomes something that is part of you and you wouldn't do it any other way. When people say 'It's my habit' as an excuse for eating or drinking too much or not exercising, they really mean 'I don't care enough to do something different'. Habits are either your greatest ally or your worst enemy depending on how they impact your life.

The body speaks

Everyone is showing some changes, big in some places, and small in others. 

I'm suprised at how much my torso is flattening and my legs are bulking up. I feel more present in my own body. This gives me hope that the next two months work is going to yield results. 

Our community

I've received so much encouragement from my team, those ahead of me, and those who've already completed. This helped me face the situation in Japan and to push on with the PCP. You can always find a blog post that gives you ideas, inspiration, a reality check, a nudge. Whatever you need to hear, it'll be out there. If I was doing this on my own, I'd have given up on Day 2. I know it's going to get harder (and it should) and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's journey. 

Oh, and the greatest thing is that rather than feeling jealous of other people, I feel in their corner. I want them to lose that bit of weight or build muscle or complete their V sit-ups. This feeling of generosity, of wanting others to be fabulous and flourish, doesn't happen often enough for me. But when you see the comments people give you can't help wanting to be a part of it. 

[ SIDE RANT

At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, I do believe that so many situations in life nudge us to compare ourselves to others in an unhelpful way. Look at how people buy clothes in a shop. They always avoid looking too closely at fellow shoppers, but there is always a glance, an interrogation. In the UK last year as I was holding up a sweater to myself and looking in the mirror. A middle-aged lady walked past and exclaimed 'Looks lovely!' and was gone before I turned from the mirror. This is the kind of celebratory attitude we can take to others. But all too often we see each other as competitors. PCPing is a refreshing break from all that nonsense]

Self knowledge

Doing the same challenge each day teaches you about yourself. Negative things include being too quick to think a set is over, over thinking, procrastinating, being embarrassed exercising in front of strangers, being prideful exercising in front of strangers. Good things - I'm a fairly mean cook, I like sleep, I can be disciplined if I know what is expected.

Day 28 - A bit of prep

Not the best shot, but you get the idea. The endives smell divine, kind of peppery and dark. I also steamed some clams and chopped up some marinaded (AKA salty) saba (mackeral) for tomorrow. Yum!

Day 27 - Indulge me 20 minutes

After a fun conversation with the owner of the Alice in Wonderland cake shop, 'I'm doing a strict diet, and I HAVE to have a cake/Ara, ara! (dear god! in polite Japanese), mulling over options - marron creme? chocolate orange ganesh? caramel apple tart? - Finally settled on the thing that drew me from the start, the creme cheese ball.

I suprised myself a bit by going for this. When I was considering PCP and in the week or so before, I was convinced that my indulgence would be a curry with triple nan. But actually, I haven't felt any craving for it - mainly because the button it was pressing (BREEEAD) is being satisfied pretty nicely, and I am getting lots of spices every day in my own breakfasts (paprika eggy veg).

So how was it?

Delightful! Not too sweet, but rich and velvety. The cream cheese had some resistance and the centre was slightly lemony. I'm not a big fan of sponge cakes, but this was just enough. And the indulgence wasn't the eating, which took about 20 minutes it was the whole thing - the deciding, the walk there on a cold sunny afternoon, the conversation with the owner/cook (Side rant - WHY are Japanese women so skinny when they are surrounded by cake?), sharing it here afterwards.

I'm on a slight, but not high sugar rush. I chose this cake as I thought it'd have good ingredients and not make me sick.

I learnt about myself that I have at least three cravings related to food

Craving one

For McVities/Marmite/Weetabix, i.e., things that take me back to the UK.
Ex-pats who have a wealth of restaurants to enjoy will still pay a lot of money in foreign food stores for foods that are not that sophisticated because they enable us to take something out of a box and remember our roots.

Michael Pollan said something like 'The last place to look for signs of integration in an immigrants home is the pantry'. Food is a way of expressing our history and identity.

Craving two

For food in companionship. Did you know that 'companion' derives from 'shared bread?'. And in Japanese they say something like 'We eat from the same rice pot'.

The hardest part of the PCP foodwise for me is saying no to my capoeira group dinners because they invariably involve going somewhere that just won't work for me. This may change in the future, but now, I just enjoy class and a bit of chat as we head out. Boring I know, but I'm resigned to it.

This second craving is actually not really for the food, but the chance to be with friends. It's a damn important thing, and I'm a bit scared about what I'll do post PCP.

Craving three

For a specific mouth taste and feel. Invariably, it's lamb or chicken curry, and always nan. The appetite for PCP foods (let's just call it FOOD) builds slowly and is centered around a dish I have already planned. I often dream about breakfast.

------

What did you eat?

I'd love to know how you guys chose what to have! Was it something you'd been looking forward to specifically or did you suprise yourself with an unexpected choice? Whatever it was, I hope that you all enjoyed it as much as I did and it gave you some heart for the next week!