Eat your greens....Adios

Eat your greens Denise…..Day 90+

WOW….can’t believe it has been 90+ days since we all started this amazing journey. I bet that most of us choose different reasons for doing this program. For me…several factors were in play.

1) Fat loss: I had been slowly gaining weight over the past 3 years. Even though I was exercising (running on treadmill, elliptical and some (loosely used term) free weights).

2) Eat better: My diet consisted of meat, cheese, red wine, carbs (I love pretzels). Lite on fruit and veggies.

3) Be healthier: Knowing my family history of obesity, high blood pressure, cancer. I did not want to end up with those in my shopping cart at checkout time. Most of these health issues are a result of poor exercise and eating habits. And I’ll add…bad information.

4) Peer pressure: I am a competitor. Honestly, I had always been “the” fit person in my sphere of friends/co-workers, and I was losing control. Special kudos to Elena….she nagged me everyday to do SOMETHING……anything….but do SOMETHING consistently.

Results:

I wish I would have taken my measurements before I started this program.

SO, here are some not so scientific observations:

1) Lost 12 lbs of weight. Mostly the fat “ring” around the middle and legs. 163 vs 151 lbs. Height 5’8’’ (no change here).

2) Lost 1.5 dress sizes.

3) More flexibility. I have always have been flexible but now I can wash the middle part of my back with no problem…..both arms too.

4) Improved skin clarity and suppleness. I truly respect fruits and veggies.

5) More energy

OK...here are some not so scientific images.....Day 90ish.

What I have learned:

It’s OK for your body to get hurt……you will heal. During PCP I have experienced SORE knees (solution: use a exercise mat to jump on and NOT the concrete. Ibuprofen too.), Pulled hamstring (solution: better and different stretching exercises before and after workout), pulled shoulder (solution: Ibruprofen for that temp fix and more strengthening in that area). During our 90 days, I missed about 14 days of scheduled workout time due to these.

Simple food is simply the best! Case closed. You know we go back to our grandparents and remember what they ate and how they peacefully they left this earth. They had simple foods (although it was laced with lard and meat) but those items were from animals NOT injected with growth hormones, anti-boitics, and what not. Today, to eat like that, we need to eat organically. Raw butters/milk/eggs, free range meats, and non –pesticide laden fruits/veggies. I have seen enough people pass on in this life struggling at the end to hold on. I don’t want my body to FIGHT until it succumbs to cancer, etc. I just want it to “run out of gas”…wear down naturally.

Packaged products are not anyone’s friend. Not even the healthy bars or protein shakes (which I took great pride in consuming). Make your own bars with ingredients that you have bought/harvested yourself. Only then you will know what you are eating. Controlling what goes in is very important.

Back to basics with simple exercises. We on the PCP used nothing more than our own weight, bands, cans of tomatoes, etc . No gimmicks…no gyms required. There is no hocus pocus when it comes to having a FIT body…good from the inside as well as the outside.

Now for the kudos:

1) Patrick and Chen: Thank you for having the fortitude, guts and belief to put this program out there. Your daily emails will be missed.

2) Jonti/Gwen Bell: Thanks to Gwen for participating in PCP and spreading the word. It got to the ears of Jonti. Thank you ladies.

3) Me: For wanting to do SOMETHING and having that SOMETHING to do.

4) Office inspirational people: There has been a growing movement in my office to be fit. It started with a small group called the “Fat bastards club”. Money, recognition and bragging rights are certainly motivational factors for this group.

5) My fellow PCPers. Emily…….”Energerizer bunny”…….Shelly…..Naomi…..Jonti. To you, I tip my hat….you have been inspirational with your insight, kindness, thoughtfulness during these days. Muuuuuaaa to all!!!!