Day 93: That's All Folks!

Hey Everyone,

Well, we've come to the end. The PCP is over and done, and my life has been changed forever. Now, only one thing remains--to let go of this Blog.

The Beginning and the End

Out of all the things that have given me motivation throughout this project, this blog has been number one. Sometimes I would get an idea for a blog post, and it would carry me through an entire workout with a smile of anticipation on my face. I loved reading comments on my blog and commenting on my teamates blogs as well. Am I going to disappear for good? No. I'll be back to comment now and again on the blogs of people working their way through the PCP, to give them advice and support. But now, it's time for me to redirect all this writing energy back where it belongs--to my dreams of writing a novel.

Patrick, thanks again for everything you've done for me on the PCP. Thank-you for your blog comments. And, thanks for teaching me how to post videos on this blog. It made it that much more fun.

Next I want to say thanks to all the members of my team. I couldn't have done the PCP without you. Your words, simple or verbose, gave me strength at times when I needed it the most. And to read about your struggles on your blogs while you read mine, really helped me feel a sense of community even though we were so far away from one another. This sense of community kept me on track. Know you all have a friend in me when you need one.

Next, to my friends and family who have followed this blog. I really appreciate your support and comments--every bit of them. I've never been a big e-mail writer or telephone caller, and this blog made me even less so. Thank-you for your understanding while I went through this program and gave it so much of my attention. I was in a bad place three months ago, but now I'm better than ever, and, because of all my hard work, I get to enjoy more time in this life with all of you. That's the best reward of all.

Finally, to a stranger or potential PCPer reading this blog. This blog is my gift to you. If you're here, you're likely on a quest for better health. Maybe your overweight. Maybe you just need to put on some muscle. Or, maybe your health has put you in a desperate place like mine did me. Whatever the reason, the PCP is here as a potential solution that offers a sense of community and accountability that can really help you reach new heights of health and lock it all in when it's over. You don't have to be sporty or belong to a gym to be in this program. You don't need a bunch of large equipment in your basement. You don't have to compete with others. You can be an entertainment lovin' fool like me who would much rather see the latest Batman movie than climb a mountain. The point is, the PCP Diet and Exercise program is for everyone, and that's what makes it so special.

Oh, and by the way, I will be finished with all my allergy and pneumonia medications at the end of this week and have a completely clean bill of health. Allergy medications have been part of my life since high school, and I thought they would be with me every day of my life forever. How that for change?

Well, that's all folks. If your looking for me. You'll often find me day to day in Muzuki park jumping rope, doing elevated tricep-dips on the jungle gym, or any number of simple but effective exercises. Not because I have to or need too, but because I want to. And, this, perhaps, is the greatest change of all.

THE END

Sean

Day 92: In house! And, a few more pics

Hey all,

Today, I woke up with plans to got to the park as usual and workout, but the rain from a nearby Typhon was coming down hard. I was contemplating going out into the the rain like I had before on the PCP, but I realized it was time for me to take control and plan a workout for myself when I'm stuck indoors with no room to do J-ropes. So, I did Pistol Squats, Lunges, (Curl & Tricep Dip supersets), Push-ups and Planks. I'm going to add Davinci's next time. Oh, the possibilities! However, I have to make sure I challenge myself each time and don't ignore exercises like pull-ups just because they're still hard or annoying for me.

My son joined me in the curls today as best he could with my medium tension band which was too long for him. He was also my little coach. He counted for me during the V-sits and cheered for me during the Tricep Dips. It was so wonderful, not to mention cute.

And, finally, a personal victory today. I worked out because I wanted to, not because I felt I had to do so.

Now, here are a few more pictures from my last day on the PCP.

Barrel Shot!

Looking Tough!

I actually have triceps!

The biceps chest muscles, and abs make an appearance!

Retake!

Nothing to hide!

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 91: A Day of Rest and some Pictures

"And so, the whole PCP was completed. By the ninety-first day Sean finished what he had been doing and rested. He honored the ninety-first day and set it apart as a special day, because by that day he had completed the PCP and rested." Sean's Genisis: 1-3

Before/After

Ryo Saeba and Sean Anderson.

No workout today.

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 90: The View from the Top of The Mountain

Hey Faithful Readers--and anyone who just skipped to the end of this blog to see how it all turned out. ;-)

In my first year in Japan, I climbed Mount Fuji. It was hard work--damp, dangerous, and suffocating. However, when I got to the top and saw the sun rise out of the clouds like a sphere of molded fire, I knew it was worth it. And, to this day, I still consider my Fuji-climb to be one of the greatest achievements in my life. And now, I have conquered one more mountain. This mountain is not the thing of natural beauty Fuji-san is. It is the horrible mountain of my own ignorance and lack of self-worth when it came to my own body.

Back on Day 1, I wrote I thought I was a little crazy joining the PCP program, but it turns out joining the PCP was perhaps the most sane thing I've done to date. Before meeting Patrick and joining his his program, I was truly crazy. I embraced ignorance regarding food and an absence of regular exercise. I overate. I ate salty chemically-enhanced junk food with reckless abandon. And, worst of all, I believed my own bullshit for the longest time that I did not have the inner strength or time to get out of the grave I was slowly eating myself into. I was blinding myself to the real truth. If you don't have your health, you don't--or you very soon won't--have anything.

It took pneumonia and the thought of losing my time with my wife and son, and all the other people and things I love to make me see clearly enough to want to change. I just thank God Patrick was standing there when my eyes were finally opened.

Yes, while, at my core, I'm not much for church and its ceremony, I believe in God--fiercely. I believe he guides us through the events and people around us, and sets up opportunities for us at every turn. Gosd was there for me when NOVA GROUP was about to start its fall. He gave me a good friend who appeared just in time and helped me move to Senzoku Gakuen High School. Senzoku lasted just long enough for there to be an opening at my current school. And there, I met Patrick. God bless Patrick. I hold him among the best of my friends, and I hope one day he will hold me in the same regard. Is Patrick responsible for my change? In part, yes. He showed me a path--a path he has worked hard (with Chen) to create. However, It was up to me to stay on that path and walk on it to the end--all up to me.


Was my PCP perfect? Did I follow the diet 100%? Did I do every single exercise the way it was supposed to be done? No. But, I know this: I did my best evey day against the imperfect human being I know I am, and for me that is a triumph. The biggest challenge in life isn't someone else or something. It's you. It's always you.

So, here on the last day, I went to Patrick's studio at 5:30 P.M. for my workout and, in order to emphasize how far I had come, Patrick had me do my Day 9 workout. Let's go back a bit in time shall we and look at my Day 9 post, shall we?:

Day 9: Rope Revelations!

Today I was given the greatest gift I could have asked for: the solution to my jump rope problem. As I said before, my rope is not too short, but I thought it was, even today, as it hit me in the head and feet. And, now I know why! God. Finally, I know why! I feel idiotic and elated at the same time.

After I finished skipping for the first time at Patrick’s yoga studio, I just tossed my rope in my bag. Since then, I have been outside trying to skip successfully in the early morning. What happens to a plastic skipping rope when it has spent the night just tossed in a bag? It ends up tangled like an old phone cord. And what happens when this same plastic skipping rope is taken outside into the cool morning? It maintains its tangles! The air is cool, so the rope cools and loses its slack (Insert appropriate chemistry term here). Basically, I was trying to jump with a rope that wasn’t straight. And, when I would start jumping, it would tangle up worse and seem shorter! God. Eureka! So, I spent the next ten minutes heating the rope with the body warmth from my hands until it was nice and slack and guess what?

The rope flew around me like bloody wind itself. I did 150 jumps without screwing up. Man, I don’t know why I didn’t see it before.

And now, todays’s stats and stuff.

Weight: 96.4kg (-00.8). Go baby go!

Fat percentage: 27.0 (-00.7)

Jumprope. 600 complete! See above. God.

Lunges: 16 x 4 sets. My legs feel really worked out after these.

Rowing: 12 x 3 sets. Gently down the stream! Complete!

Standing Ovation: 12 x 3 sets. Complete! Hold the applause-heh.

Triceps Dip: 8 x 3 sets. Complete! This went smooth, too smooth. I think I was using my legs too much. I will straighten them out the next time I do this exercise as per Patrick’s advice.

Forward Shoulder Raise: 10 x 3 sets. Complete!

Leg lifts: 12 x 4 sets. Complete. I did these on the grass in the park. Fun, but not as nice as the tatami in my house.

Diet is rolling along, although I’m lagging a bit in the protein. I just have to coordinate my shopping with my wife’s shopping better.

Breakfast, same as yesterday except I had pasta instead of bread this time, and I didn’t have the egg white because the wasted egg yolk would have annoyed my family. Patrick, Team, any other way to get egg white short of drinking them on the sly at work?

Lunch: two subway chicken salads—for the protien, no cream cheese this time, but did have their red wine vinegar sauce. This may have salt, so will stop using it and switch to an alternative Patrick introduced to me. I ate four pieces of whole wheat bread for my carbs. Then, I ate bananas to round out the fruit requirement at lunch and snack time.

Dinner: Fish with seaweed soup, tomatoes, a bit of cheese, lots of sliced pumpkin, and bamboo rice. There were small blocks of tofu in the seaweed soup. I hear tofu is seriously processed, but I don’t know for sure. Should I be eating it?


And finally, I have a cold. WAAAACHOOO! Sniff. Sorry. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends with the PCP, work, my novel, and this blog. I guess my body decided to tell me I need to slow down a bit. I will, but don’t worry team. My PCP will not suffer. WAAAACHOOO! Sniff. Sorry. I’ll just cut back on my novel writing a bit—save it for the train and the weekends. I have to take of myself. As Count Rugen said in The Princess Bride, “If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.”

Love to all!

More tomorrow,

Sean

Hmmm, I guess this day went pretty well then, and it went well again once more. But, to a healthier stronger Sean, this workout was about as difficult as a walk in the park. Oh, and the cold I mentioned on Day 9 turned out to not be a cold at all. It was just an allergy attack.

So, tonight to celebrate my last day on the PCP, I joined Patrick, his fiance Kasue, and former PCPer Kazuhiro for my end of PCP party. We went to Beer Gardens atop the Star Hotel in Yokohama and were treated to a lovely view as we threw caution in the wind and ate an assortment of the unhealthy. We also went to another restaurant for pizza and eneded with dessert at Starbucks. However, the special food event for the night was:

Patrick asked me to buy my usual jumbo bag for this evening, and I have to confess when I bought them on day 89, I felt a little bit dirty. I had not touched these chips in three months and now they represented everything I used to be. Before the PCP, I used to be able to polish off a bag of these in about ten minutes. What would happen to me on Day 90 when I ate them?

We popped the bag open alongside the rest of the food we ordered at Beer Garden and...

They were salty as hell and tasted like greasy nacho cheese soap. I ate about three.

However, when we left the restaurant, I took the still loaded bag with me thinking I might have more later. Doritos was an old friend. I couldn't just abandon them and the money I spent. But, as the night went on and I consumed pizza and a Starbucks Short Vanilla Frappuccino, I started to get a little woozy. At the end of this feast, a feast I would have thoroughly enjoyed prior to the PCP, I felt so ill that I looked at the bag of Doritoes in a plastic bag on my wrist and did something I have never ever done in my entire life. I threw a full bag of Doritoes in the train station garbage. I'm still having trouble believeing it myself, but there it is.

So, here I am at the top of the PCP mountain. Am I in peak condition? No. but I'm in far, far, far better health at 35 than I was at 30, and I now have the knowledge to keep improving my health for the rest of my life. I've lost a ton of weight, and I am no longer embarassed to look at myself in a mirror. I've got my life back in more ways than one, and it's wonderful. Fat Sean is forever dead and healthy Sean will live as long as God will let him. That's a promise.

The PCP is finished, but this blog won't be for a day or two yet. There is an Epilogue still to come and the matter of some pictures to wrap everything up. I hope you'll stay with me to the end.

I did it! I blogged every single day on the PCP. Way past cool.

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 89: BANG!

My god. Today was a mountain of a workout. It was like almost every exercise we've ever done came out of the PCP files to have one more go at us before the final day--and they were in supersets. But, at 6:00 am this morning, I got up and...

Let's do this! Com'on!

I got through it. There were some reduced reps in the last few sets, but otherwise everything went well. Even my J-ropes were great. But, boy, am I tired. Mentally, I'm wide okay, but--on top of the drain from yesterday's workout, my body feels like it's been in a wash machine. There was one more small victory today too. With help from something Patrick said yesterday, I think I've finally figured out how to deal with some of the pain that comes with working out, the pain that tries to get you to quit and makes you think you can't do one rep more. Don't take your mind off it. Dive right into it. Pain wants you to avoid it, that's how it wins. But, if you dive into it, take it head on, use it, you can get that little bit more out of your exercise before failure. I still have a long way to go before I perfect this technique, but I hope I'm on the right track.

More tomorrow--my last day on the PCP.

Sean

Day 88: The End--Not!

Okay, here we go:

Weight: 83.2 kg (-0.6 kg) Well, my weight dropped again.

Body Fat: 18.8% (+0.2%) Body fat up???

Visceral Fat: 8.5% (-0%) No change???

Basal: 1849 (-12) Yeah!

Muscle Mass: 35.8% (-0.3) Huh???

Subcantaneous Fat: 12.1 (+0.1) What???

BMI: 24.7 (-0.1) Whatever.

Body Age: 39 (-0) What happened???

Today was to be my last visit to PAtrick's studio as a PCPer, but we have made plans for me to go on Saturday, my official last day on the PCP.

Now, to the stats above. This week I'm afraid I did not improve as much as I have in weeks past. Why, you ask? Well, the fact was I was pretty tired this week. I was back at work after a long holiday. my private lesson schedule got mixed around. I went to the Kawasaki Robot Festival which was fun, but really draining. And, the end result was tired body that, while healthy, just couldn't fight the fat battle as effectively this week. When you workout nearly 90 days straight as I have, sometimes your body just doesn't have the energy to make more muscle and process more fat. You plateau for a bit.

So, am I depressed? No way! The good news is if you keep working out after this point, you see dramatic results again very soon. And, since I am going to keep exercising well beyond the PCP, as well as visit Patrick's studio as a former PCP'er from time to time, I've still got many dramatic drops in fat and rises in muscle ahead of me. The battle to get healthy took three months, but the battle to stay healthy is never-ending. The good news is the PCP has definitely made this never-ending battle easier. Knowledge is power and the PCP has given more knowledge than I could have hoped.

I should also note that I turned 35-years-old last week, so that affected my stats a bit as well.

In other news, Patrick took my final pictures for the PCP today. Wait until you see those! They'll be up on here soon enough. Also, I had the honor of meeting Chen. Chen and Patrick are the two halves that make the PCP whole. Chen is a well-built encouraging man with a good soul, and a pretty baby daughter. It was an honor to meet him.

So, while today did feel a bit like my last day, I still have a couple of days to go, and I will have one more super-stat weigh in on my last day. Wish me luck.

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 87: J-rope Juice: "Odoru Ponpokorin" with a little "Footsteps"

Hey all,

As we count down to the last day, I'm looking for whatever I can get music-wise to give me a little more juice when I'm working out. A good song can take your mind off your pain and body and let you get through an exercise smoothly. Well, today, thanks to these two songs, I was able to J-rope and do the rest of exercises extremely well today.

First up, Odoru Ponpokorin:



Odoru Ponpokorin is from an animated series called Chibi-Maruko-Chan. And, don't let this wacky intro fool you, this show was and still is very popular in Japan. Based on the 5th top selling Shojo Manga of all time, this series depicts the simple, everyday life of a little girl nicknamed Maruko and her family in suburban mid-seventies Japan. The series is set in the former city of Shimizu, now part of Shizuoka City, birthplace of its author, Momoko Sakura.

Chibi Maruko-chan originally aired on Fuji Television. 142 episodes were broadcast, from January 1990 to September 1992. The series attained a TV viewer rating of 39.9%, the highest rating ever attained by an animated TV series in Japan at the time.

The theme song Odoru Ponpokorin became a hit and was interpreted by several artists including the Kinki Kids and Captain Jack.

I encountered this animated series early on in my arrival in Japan, and enjoy watching it (or just listening to the opening credits) whenever I happen to see it on TV. I've always found the song quite cheerful and uplifting and am happy to finally add it to my PCP soundtrack.

Next up, "Footsteps"



"Footsteps" is a song from City Hunter Season II. It is played whenever Ryo leaps into action. I watched an episode of City Hunter yesterday with my lunch, and I decided right then and there this song needed to be on my PCP soundtrack. Nothing like a liitle musical encouragement from my PCP hero as I fight to the finish.

Tomorrow, my last visit to Patrick's studio while on the PCP--Can you believe it?

Sean

Day 86: Super Sets!

Hey all,

Check out this super set!

Today marked the first day of Super sets. A Super set is where you alternate between two different exercises from set to set instead than completing all the sets in one exercise and going on to the other. And, I must say, I loved them. Oh, they were hell to complete, but they made my workout go so quickly compared to other days in the past. The Supersets kept me from extended rests and I really liked that. Also, the Supersets gave me more time to spend on the V-sits and Plank which called for failure instead of a set number this time out.

J-ropes were good today. There was still a little bit of trouble from the ol' left leg, but things are definitely getting better. I hope this improvement continues.

No big revalations or anything to report today. I'm just happy to be healthy and alive. And, sometimes that's all you need.

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 85: Better Jumps, Dizzy Crunches, and Old Cravings

Hey all,

Well, it looks like the day of rest yesterday did the trick. My left leg was back in the game. It wasn't perfect, but there was a definite difference. Yes, much more success on the J-ropes today. Thank God. The J-rope, as it is the first exercise I do everyday, really sets the tone of my workout for the day. If the J-rope session sucks, the workout is harder. If the J-rope session is great, the workout is easier. Patrick has said the days when the workout is mentally difficult are often the days the workout does the most good for our body. While that may be true, it doesn't make the workout anymore enjoyable on these days--heh. ;-)

Now, while the J-ropes we far better than they have been in days, I had to cut my side cruches short today. I just kept getting dizzy. I think it might be from dehydration. You see, I have no water from the time I go to bed until my workout is finished (I'm usually sweating buckets by then, especially now in the peak of summer). I take no water so the water does not affect my ab workout, but if my dehydration theory is correct, I may have to take a little water after all. The V-sits were just fine, however.

In other news, My wife and son went on a small trip to see my wife's sister and her family, so it's just me and the PCP for the next few days. You know, I remember on some nights when I had the house to myself, I used to head over to Mcdonalds, get two Big Macs and an order of large fries, dump them all on one plate and eat myself silly. And, even now, here at the end of the PCP, I'd be lying if I said that did not sound really good. But, now there is a big place in my mind that also makes me think of the health level I would be trading for one night of Mickey-D's, how the fast food would quickly go to work to undo all the good I've done for myself. And then, the Big Macs and fries don't sound so good after all. In fact, the thought of eating all that fast food at one sitting actually fills me with a deep sense of dread.

"Care to join your old self for dinner tonight, Sean?"

Shudder.

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 84: Unexpected Strength

Hey all,

I wanted to tell this story yesterday, but I didn't want anything to take away from my "Left leg" issue. And, yes, my left leg gave me trouble today. No pain, just no juice to jump rope--too tired and weak. So, I did most of my jumps on my right leg today to give my left leg a rest and things went much better. But, I digress.

The other day, the first of my two trains home from work was delayed for one reason or another, so I was late getting to my transfer point. As I walked towards my trasnfer station, I saw my connecting train was already there waiting. I checked my watch and there was only about a minute before it was about to leave and leave me standing at the station for another 30 minutes. So, I ran for it.

Got to get that train!

Now, prior to the PCP, running to catch my train in this situation would have left me gasping for air, sweating like a pig, and, more often than not, still without a train. But, to my suprise, I moved like a bat out of hell. I guess that's what happens when you lose weight equal to a small child in killograms, and you workout everyday. And, when I got to the station, I was breathing a little quicker, but that was it. Patrick said we would sometimes discover our new strength unexpectedly. I guess this was one of those times.

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 83: My Left Leg.

Hey all,

Today, in order to attend the Kawasaki Robot festival, a super-cool event where people of all ages design battery-powered 3kg robots that resemble the offspring of insects and kitchen appliances and battle it out one on one, I got up at 4:30 A.M. to do my workout in the park. And, let me tell you, it was a whole new experience doing my workout from dark to sunrise. Of course, the fact I pretty tired from a busy day at work on Friday didn't help matters. However, I got through the workout with only a little trouble. And, the trouble came from my left leg.



My left leg is very weak these days when I jump rope. My right leg does just fine, but my left leg is almost dead weight and frequently trips me up. To see if this problem was just in my head, I did some one-leg jumps with my J-rope over the last couple of days, first with my right leg and then my left. My right leg was fine until it tired out. My left leg, however, could barely get itself off the ground from the start. In fact, there was one time I jumped and my left foot didn't even leave the ground--it was that weak, no pain, just no juice to jump. I think, with all the jump-rope, the weakness in my left leg, the weakness that started years ago when I broke my left leg by foolishly jumping off a snow hill--don't ask--has finally caught up with me.

Of course, I will do my J-ropes tomorrow--frequent left leg trips not withstanding, but I think I'm going to do my best just to sit on my ass for the rest of the day. My left leg needs a serious break.

Team, is anyone else feeling weakness in just one of their legs? Patrick, any thoughts? I'd appreciate some input (or comfort) here.

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 82: A Superman Story

Hey all,

I have a little story for you, but first a couple of things about the workout today. Everything went fine until I got to the leg-lifts. Ever since my Day 74 visit to Patrick's studio,which included an intense session of the Creep exercise, the muscle pain in my upper legs has returned. It's muscle pain from exercise, nothing I can't handle, but it made for a moment of complete muscle failure today. I know the leg-lifts are a lower abdominal exercise, but the effort does creep into the legs after a while. And, right in the middle of my fourth set, my muscles failed. It wasn't painful. It just felt like my aching muscles suddenly unplugged from my brain, and I felt nothing but my legs drop. Everything was fine immediately afterward, but it was a rather funny sensation. I always thought muscle failure would hurt like hell. This was more like an off switch. The body works in mysterious ways sometimes.

Also, I completed the new 1:45 planks sets, all four of them, without a drop. Of course, there was an earthquake's worth of shaking and buckets of sweat, but I held on. My arms may not be houses of power, but my core sure seems to be--as of late anyway.

And now to my story....



When you enjoy the world of comics as I do, it is only natural to want to wear some of the T-shirts that come from that world. As such, I have a Superman T-shirt like the one above, and I enjoy wearing it, but as my weight grew and grew to where it was pre-PCP. I felt a certain degree of embarassment when wearing this shirt in public. I wore it less and less, save in the house where no one could see me and to movies which celebrated favorite comic characters of mine. I mean let's face it, when we take into account the healthy-looking guy this T-shirt represents, seeing it on a fat guy with a big spare-tire is just wrong. The fat guy might as well scratch the S-shield off and paint the words Super-Loser on in its place.

However, today with my new found health, I took my Superman T-shirt out of the closet and wore it this morning during my PCP workout out in the park for all to see. And, for the first time, I felt I was someone actually worthy to wear such a shirt in the public eye, not just because I am a fan of the character in question, but because I have become a Superman in my own way in body and in mind through this program. Am I at peak condition? No. I still have a ways to go, but for the first time in a long time, I actually feel and look pretty darn super.



More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 81: Just the stats, Ma'am.

Hey all,

Well, another tough workout at Patrick's studio today, and then I got on the super scale. Here's what the latter had to say.

Weight: 83.2 kg (-0.4 kg)

Body Fat: 18.6% (-1.8%) Dropping like a stone!

Visceral Fat: 8.5% (-0.5%) Lowering my risk of cancer everyday!

Basal: 1861 (-22) I need less and less calories just to sit on my ass for a day. Ain't it great?

Muscle Mass: 36.1% (+1.2) Another round of super muscle growth, which accounts for my only slight weight loss this week. I'm exchanging fat for muscle, which will in turn burn more fat. Yeah!

Subcantaneous Fat: 12.0 (-1.1) Skin fat dropping too!

BMI: 24.8 (-0.2)

Body Age: 39 (-2 years) I went right past 40. Awesome!

Once again, another PCP victory week for me. And, with one week to go I may or may not make that 80 kg mark. I can only stick to my diet and hope. Of course, if I just keep building muscle and dropping fat, without really dropping my net weight, that's just fine too. It's the body fat percentage that needs to keep dropping and the muscle mass that needs to keep rising. If this is happening, the kgs don't matter so much.

WAY TO GO. SEAN!

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 80: Um...Street Fighter Salsa?

Hey all,

Things are going well. I got a shower of compliments from some of my students who hadn't seen me in a while yesterday, which was nice. They were amazed at how thin I was and said I looked pretty handsome--always a nice thing to hear.

Today, I don't have anything particularly thought provoking to share, so I thought I would share a video I found a while back. Street Fighter Salsa Dancing! Another example of geekdom having fun and staying fit at the same time. Enjoy!



Love to my Family!
Love to the team!
Love to the readers--wish I had more for you today.

Patrick's studio and more tomorrow!

Sean

Day 79: A Plank Victory and a Call to Arms.

Hey all,

One of the toughest exercises I've ever done.

Today's J-ropes were not very good, and the chest dips took a lot out of me, so my push-ups were mostly on my knees, but if there is one victory I'm extremely proud of today it is making it through all five of the 90 second planks today! I did it. I can't believe it. In the last plank set, my body was shaking like there was an earthquake going on inside me, but I held on and completed it. This is absolutely fantastic. I'm one happy planker.

However, now, I'm wondering why I'm having such a hard time putting muscle on my upper body--specifically my arms. Yes, I'm losing my gut and I'm so pleased with that--super pleased! But, now that I've been on the PCP for a while, I find myself looking beyond weight loss. I'm doing my exercises and eating more protien then ever before, but I feel I don't look any bigger arm and back muscle-wise. Is it my imaganation? Are the changes so gradual in my photo stream that I just don't see them? Is it genetic? My father was a star athelete, but never a "big" muscle-bound guy. Is it mental? I know I tend to give into weakness a bit more when it comes to exercises like the chest dips and push-ups. Hell, I still don't have the strength to do more than one or two pull-ups. I'm still doing inclined ones just to get some sense of acomplishment. Yeah, I know as I write this, I'm confusing back muscle performance with arm muscle performance, but one thing is for sure. When the PCP is over, I intend to continue working on my arms and back muscles until I see some kind of definitive change like I have with the rest of my body.

"It's times like this I wish my arms were bigger," thought Spider-man

And to think, a few months ago, just writing a post like this would have tired me out. ;-)

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 78: Know your Friend/Enemy

Hey all,

My jump rope, "J-rope" for short. I love it, and I hate it. But, how well do I really know it? That's something I thought I would remedy today. So, I did some research on my good friend/enemy--the jump rope.

While many people associate jump roping with children on a playground, the fact is that jump rope history goes back to early human history. From the earliest days of rope jumping to today, the sport has evolved considerably and is now a competitive sport. Known as jump rope, skip rope, rope jumping, and skipping, the activity dates back to ancient civilizations.

The Egyptians used to jump over vines, aborigines jumped over bamboo, and paintings from the medieval period show images of children jumping hoops. Many people associate jump roping with girls' play, but history indicates that jump roping was originally a man's game.

No one knows the exact jump rope history. There are a number of versions of the sport's history. What is known, however, is that the practice originated a long time ago, and eventually traveled around the world to become a popular pastime, a favorite form of exercise, and a competitive sport.

The movement of jumping is a natural one. People jump for sport, fun, and even survival, such as jumping out of the way to avoid a bite from a dangerous animal. Most jump rope history researchers seem to agree that jump roping dates back to about 1600 B.C., when Egyptians used vines for jumping.

Some also date jump roping to ancient China; however, the Western versions probably originated from Egypt. What is known is that jump roping, in some form or another, spread through Europe to the Netherlands, and eventually to North America.

Early Dutch settlers were some of the first jump ropers in North America. Not surprisingly, one of the more popular jumping games is called 'Double Dutch.' In this game, two people hold two ropes and spin them in opposite directions. Jumpers then jump into and over both ropes.

In the early 1940s and 1950s, many children in inner cities used jumping rope as a form of play. It only required a rope, and anyone could play. From the late 1950s until the 1970s, however, jump rope history took a back seat to radio and television.

In the 1970s, an increased interest in physical fitness and overall health emerged. From programs promoting jump roping to keep kids from other unhealthy activities, to organized jump roping events made jump rope history evolve into a jump rope craze.

Since that time, jump roping has been recognized as a great way to get exercise. It is a fun activity, almost anyone can do it, and it requires very little equipment. Serious jumpers have developed a number of intricate jumping moves and combinations. All forms of jumping, from individual jumping to multi-person Double Dutch jumping, involves highly technical moves and amazing stunts.

Jump roping organizations and clubs can be found almost anywhere. Jump rope competitions are serious business, requiring specific timing and a high level of skill. With the ongoing interest in jump roping as an exercise option and as a sport, jump rope history may be a thing of the past.

You will Jump rope with me!

Well, now I know my jumprope a little better, but, somehow my relationship with it has stayed the same. Heh. One thing though, I'm never giving it up. I wouldn't dare give my jumprope the satisfaction.

Day 77: Spidey and the X-men vs. Smokin' and Doritos

Hey all,

My wife went to her 20-year junior high school reunion, and I was on my own for the evening. So, I had a Spidey Night. I watched Spider-Man II and III back to back--good parts only, while munching on my PCP evening snack. In this case, some baby tomatoes and a glass of low-fat milk. Tasty. As I watched the movies, I was reminded of an episode from the old Spider-Man Animated series from the 1990's. In it, Spider-Man meets up with the Animated X-men from the 90's. All the proper voice actors were on deck, and it made for one sweet two-part episode. I found it and posted it below for anyone looking for a Spider-Man X-men fix at the same time.

Now, like I said, my wife went to her twenty-year junior high school reunion. The thing that suprised her the most at this event wasn't how much the people changed, but rather, how many people were smoking. One of the reunion participants brought their baby with them, so this poor child was exposed to the hazy smoke-filled room for several hours. Sigh. Smoking has a pretty good grip on Japan, because the cigarettes are very cheap, cheaper than the U.S. or Canada anyway. Also, from what I've been told, the cigarettes in Japan are not as strong as their North-American counterparts. Sigh, the things we do to our bodies in the name of insecurity. Of course, as we learned today in PCP education, abusing yourself with junky food full of High Fructose Corn Syrup and/or Partially Hydrogenated Oil (the latter made from unsaturated fat) is not much better.

On that note, submitted for your disapproval, the ingredients of my favorite pre-PCP snack:

Frito-Lay Nacho Cheese Doritos

Nutrition FactsServing Size 1 oz. (28g)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 140 Calories from Fat 70

% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 12%
Trans Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 1.5g 7%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 180mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1g 6%
Sugars 1g

Protein 2g

• Vitamin A 0%
• Vitamin C 0%
• Calcium 2%
• Iron 2%

Ingredients: Whole corn, vegetable oil (contains one or more of the following: corn, soybean, and/or sunflower oil), salt, cheddar cheese (cultured milk, salt, enzymes), maltodextrin, wheat flour, whey, monsodium glutamate, buttermilk solids, romano cheese from cow's milk (part-skim cow's milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), whey protein concentrate, onion powder, partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil, corn flour, disodium phosphate, lactose, natural and artificial flavor, dextrose, tomato powder, spices, lactic acid, artificial color (including yellow 6, yellow 5, red 40), citric acid, sugar, garlic powder, red and green bell peppe powder, sodium casinate, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, nonfat milk solids, whey protein isolate, and corn syrup solids. Also Contains milk and wheat ingredients.

I'm guessing here, but the partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil must be made from saturated fat instead of unsaturated fat, and therefore allows this snack to have "Trans Fat 0%" in it's nutrition facts.

Food for thought, if not for your body. Sigh, I guess I'm going to have to find a new favorite snack.

Anyway, here's that great Spider-Man/X-men two parter. Enjoy:

Part I: 1 0f 2



Part I: 2 of 2


Part II: 1 of 2


Part II: 2 of 2


More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 76: The Final Golden Key

Hey all,

Talk about luck. My wife's sister's family came to visit us this weekend to celebrate my birthday, my nephew's birthday, an my wife's twin sisters' birthday--all of which fall in this month--and, of course, that meant a nice big Mokichi dinner in our future. From the day of our first indulgence, I hoped and hoped my final indulgence, my final golden key on the PCP, would show up in time.

It did! So, here is my super-duper final PCP indulgence, at Mokichi, of course.

First, a veggies, seafood, and ham plate!

Next, some chilled avacado soup! Man, I love avacadoes.

Next, another thinly-sliced ham and veggie dish, with cheese!

My first beer since I started the PCP.

Some fried onion wedges, some four-types of cheese pizza, and some fried chicken. There was also a piece of Margarita Pizza with this (not shown). Objects in the picture below are smaller than they appear. ;-)





Some nice mushroom cream sauce spaghetti.



And finally, a piece of baked cheese cake.



All this food was shared, I didn't eat a single whole plate of anything--save the cheesecake. That said, this was one sweet meal! I know we were supposed to have something we really loved, or used to love, but I just wanted to eat with my family without worry as we celebrated my nephew's birthday. Thanks PCP, great timing!

No, it's not my birthday yet--not until next week. This was just our early family celebration. However, when I started the PCP, I thought I would have to miss my family birthday dinner this year, or at least postphone it. But, I guess I got to have my cake and eat it too!

Being healthy rocks!

More tomorrow, Sean

Day 75: The Balsam Pear

Hey all,

My workout today wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible either. My J-ropes were garbage, trip after trip after trip. So, I just did my best to embrace it and used it as a patience exercise. Yes, Day 75 and I still have a dubious relationship with my jumprope, but my knowledge of it's benefits on good days or bad days is what keeps me from giving up. All my other exercises went reasonably well, but I used my medium strength tension band all the way through instead of my heavy. I decided to take it easy today because my core was still feeling pretty beat from my workout at Patrick's studio yesterday. I should be back on top of my game tomorrow.

I tried a new vegetable today. A balsam pear, also known as the bittergourd or bitter melon. It looks like a cucumber with a serious case of ugly (a cucumber with a chronic case of goosebumps). It's bitter as heck, and a good source of Vitamin C, or so I'm told.

I ate it in small bits in a tofu salad and found myself asking why God seemed to go out of his way to make so many nutritious things that taste terrible as he did nutritious things that taste good. It's things like the Balsam pear that make me absolutely sure God has a sense of humor.

Heh, now that I thnk of it, the Balsam pear would be a great prop to bring into a boy's sex education class. Hold a few of them up infront of a bunch of teenage boys and say. Have sex without protection and this will happen to you!

DUN! DUN! DUN!!!!

HA! That's it. I'm done.

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 74: Another Bunch of FAT gone!

Hey everyone,

Well, here we are again. I spent the day with Patrick, which included another one of his awesome workouts, and here's what I have to show for it. I'm so close to my new target of 80 kgs.

Weight: 83.6 kg (-1.7 kg)

Body Fat: 20.4% (-0%) This "0" still means I lost fat, it's just this percent is relative to muscle gain.

Visceral Fat: 9.0% (-0%) As above.

Basal: 1883 (-30)

Muscle Mass: 34.9% (+0.2) Again, it's all relative.

Subcantaneous Fat: 13.1 (-0.1)

BMI: 25.0 (-0.5)

Body Age: 41 (-1 year) Man, I've never been so excited about the possibility of turning 40!

After the workout, Patrick and I threw down in a little Street Fighter IV, and later his fiance Kazue joined us for a little 3-player Bomberman, all on Patrick's X-box. It was a real good time! And, of course, I got to try some of Patrick's Mexican cooking, which, of course, ruled. I have rarely been treated to such wonderful hospitality.

I'm absolutely thrilled with my new stats today, and all these numbers make me want to push that much harder to the finish line, which I can't believe is only two weeks away. Patrick even asked me today where I would like to go for my day 90 party. I'm that close to the end.

Wow.

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 73: Friends, Fellow PCPers, Geeks! Lend me your Ears!

Hey all,

My heart was not in my workout today. I got up and got right to it, but it took a bit to get from set to set and exercise to exercise. I was still stiff after 10 minutes of stretching, and J-ropes were a hodge podge--probably more trips than reps. heh. I did all I had to do at the park and went home. In fact, that's been my feeling for most of the day. I just wanna curl up in a ball and do nothing. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there will be days on the PCP that suck. But, that's part of the fun.

Why do I have these days? I really don't like them. Aw heck, I probably just need a nap. A nap is the best thing to do when you feel like a whiny five-year-old.

But, before I nap, I want to write a couple of things.

First, thanks to everyone who has been reading and has commented on this blog from my trainer Patrick and teammates, my family, and friends, right down to any stranger who happened upon it accidentally in a web search. I mean it. Having an audience, at least in the blog sense of the word, has been really helpful in keeping me on track. I'm not done the PCP, of course, but having you all around sure has made things easier.

Next, I want to reiterate something I hope has been evident throughout my entire blog. If you came to my blog expecting health insights and PCP secrets, you've got the wrong guy. I'm a fanboy (an otaku?). I love animation. I love comics. I love video games. I love to play pencil and paper RPG's. I would prefer the latest Street Fighter IV soundtrack to the latest hit song. I think The Dark Knight is a zillion times better than Slum Dog Millionaire, and so on. You get the idea. However, a person can still love all these things and still be healthy. Just becuase alot of my hobbies have me sitting down, doesn't mean I can't be healthy. I have a job, a family, and I'm still out there busting my ass with my jumprope and tension bands, and doing my best to stick to my diet. Why? Not because I want to play any sports, or kick anyone's ass at something. Who needs that? I'm doing the PCP because I want to live longer and enjoy the things I love longer, especially my family. For the longest time, I sat on my ass, enjoyed my unhealthy food in large quantities and look where it got me--pneumonia road. Readers out there who have yet to take care of their health, don't let what happened to me happen to you. Don't lose everything you have because of your own slothfulness. We think we can't change, but we can! I'm proof.

A funny thing. I have a person very close to me who is overweight. We talked about the PCP and he stopped taking as soon as he heard about the amount of money it costs to join. And, of course, when I first talked to Patrick, the price made me think twice too. But, look at me now. And, if I hadn't spent the money on the PCP, I'd be spending the the same amount and more, albeit more slowly, on overeating, allergy medication, pneumonia medication and eventually, but much sooner than planned, this:



I had to pay alot of money over time to get my fat ass. Is it any wonder I had to pay some significant coin up front to get rid of it? You get what you give. Besides, the cost helps lock you into completing the PCP. If you don't you waste the money. That can be a big motivator for some people!

I'll tell you right now, and you can take this to the bank, the PCP beats the hell out of any gym I've ever been a member of.

Anyway, what started out as something perhaps thoughtful, has turned into a rant. So, I'm done here. Just remember, If you're fat, and you don't get off your own ass and find a way to fix it. You're going to have no one to blame, but yourself when they bring that extra wide coffin to bury you. Don't wait to get sick like I did. I'm just damn lucky, when I joined the PCP, I wasn't too late. Morbid, but true.

Oh, by the way, I went for a walk with my three year-old son today, and we stopped for a snack on the way home. No more donuts or small packs of cookies for us. We shared two egg whites and a low fat strawberry yogurt. And, you know what? He loved it, and our little snack time together was just as nice. I'm through ignorantly putting junk into my son's system. I loved myself enough to get on the PCP, and I love my son even more. So isn't it logical to take extra special care of him too? Don't worry, I'm not gonna cramp his style and be some kind of food nazi. After all, he hasn't lived until he's tried my mom's cooking!! But, I'm definitely going to make sure he's as health savy as I am as he grows up, not to mention a kick-ass jump-roper in his free time. ;-)

And, one more thing (the last one, I promise), my mother-in-law got a package in the mail today that weighed 10kgs. I went over and picked it up and it was pretty heavy. Then it occurred to me. Prior to the PCP, I was carrying that much extra weight on my body and more. Scary!

Patrick's studio tomorrow!

Yawn.

I'm going to go nap now.

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 72: Rain, Earthquakes, RPG's, and Bionic Six

Hey all,

Today it rained even more than yesterday. My park was practiclly a swamp. So, I had to spilt my workout between inside the house and at the park, and I had to do the exercises somewhat out of order. Plus, I felt kinda tired today so my workout was a bit slow. On the plus side, the J-ropes are still going fine. Although, I did give myself a good wack on the back of the neck during one of my speed bursts. Ouch.

We had an earthquake yesterday and again today. They were three and four respectively on the "shindo" scale. The Shindo scale is commonly used in Japan rather than the Richter scale. Shindo refers to the intensity of an earthquake at a given location, i.e. what people actually feel at a given location, while the Richter scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake, i.e. the energy an earthquake releases at the epicenter.
The shindo scale ranges from shindo one, a slight earthquake felt only by people who are not moving, to shindo seven, a severe earthquake. Shindo two to four are still minor earthquakes that do not cause damage, while objects start to fall at shindo five, and heavier damage occurs at shindo six and seven. So, there you go.

And, here's something else. Possibly starting in October, I will be helping to found the Shonan Gaming Group. It's a few other people and myself who will get together one Sunday a month for things like Dungeons and Dragons, other RPG's, and games. I hope it works out. I was a pencil and paper RPG player for several years. I loved pencil and paper RPG's because they were a step beyond just reading a story. You were actually in it, and anything was possible. And, of course, it was a way to get all my friends in one room, which was beyond awesome. So, it would be nice to touch base with it again, for old times sake, even if it will be with different people.

Finally, last night as I was surfing, I stubled upon a couple of episodes of an old show I used to like. It's called Bionic six. It's kind of like if your everyday family situation comedy combined with the Six Million dollar man and animated.

Here a couple of short cool videos to give you and idea of what I'm talking about.

First, the Bionic Six intro--one of the coolest theme songs from the 80's:



And last, the Bionic Six team transformation sequence:



Cool.

See, you can enjoy all this stuff and still be fit!

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 71: Rain, Billy's Boot Camp Abs, and Jumping like the Wind!

Hey all,

Japan's rainy season was out in full force today as I went outside to my park to do my exercises. I managed to get through everything, save abs exercises outside, so I came inside and finished up. Then, I still had some power left, so I decided to join my wife in a session of Billy's Bootcamp Abs. I did this workout prior to the PCP and it was pretty hard then. So, I was curious on how well I could do it now, expecially after my full PCP workout for the day. I'm pleased to say it went very smoothly. It made me smile.

Also, today, my J-ropes were a thing of beauty. Sure, there were still trip-ups as I reached failure in my arms or legs, but up until then I was going at super-speed. Lately, I've been trying to go as fast as possible for as long as possible when I do my J-ropes. I can do a little bit of one-foot J-roping (more on my right foot than my left), but. personally, I don't find hopping as impressive as someone who can go really really fast. To what do I owe this J-rope success after having so much trouble not so long ago? Well, I shortened my rope a bit. I find this hillarious considering the shortness of my rope was my top complaint back around week 1 and 2, but the shorter length really forces me to use my wrists and makes me feel a little less crooked. Am I right? I don't know. But, it's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 70: Are Unhealthy Eaters Ugly?

Hey All,

Lately, as I work my way through the PCP, I find myself doing health related web-searches from time to time. Here's a post I stumbled upon as I did so.

Are Unhealthy Eaters Ugly?

You walk into a room. You see two people eating. One is consuming a large greasy pie, the other a small salad. What are your first impressions of these people?


New research concludes that unhealthy eaters are viewed as "less physically attractive, less warm, less intelligent and less studious" than healthy eaters.

On the flip-side, fast food eaters are perceived as easygoing and more sociable.

In one study, test subjects were presented with a single sentence describing a person who ate oatmeal for breakfast and another person who had a slice of pie instead.

Researchers determined that "oatmeal eaters were perceived as being more physically attractive, more intelligent, more responsible and more moral, but also less humorous and more boring than pie eaters."

Other Perceptions
More feminine: those who eat “healthy” foods and smaller meals.

More masculine: those who eat “unhealthy” foods and larger meals.

People who are thrust into a conversation with a "desirable" member of the opposite sex are less likely to snack on candy or peanuts than people who are speaking with an "undesirable" member of the opposite sex.

Just something I found. Thoughts? Comments? Emotions?

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 69: Another Smooth Day

Hey all,

I got up and started my workout before 6:00 A.M. today, and, save the J-ropes, everything went pretty smoothly. I swear, ever since I hurt my shoulder while back, I feel like the tower of Piza when I'm J-roping--all off center. However, I am battling back. Since I'm off all this week, I added a good twenty minutes of stretching to help myself out. It makes the J-rops go a little smoother than if I don't bother to stretch.

Anyone want a piece of Pisa?

Now, I'm going to spend some time with my son.

Look for more tomorrow,

Sean

Day 68: Mega-Extreme Star-powered Ways

Hey all,

Today's workout was enjoyable. Sure, the J-ropes were hodge-podgy, but everything else seemed to go so smoothly, and I was in the right frame of mind. I was still feeling worked from Patrick's studio yesterday, but it didn't seem to drown out the star-power (as I call it) inside me.

Star Power Activated!

I particularly enjoyed the elevated push-ups today, not because I was able to complete a full set of them, but rather they made the regular knees- off-the-ground push-ups seem easier. So, I did as many of the elevated and standard push-ups I could until my muscles failed. And, just as I was about to collapse from my last set, the song below from my PCP soundtrack popped up in my I-pod shuffle sequence and gave me the boost I needed to do a couple more. I didn't finish all the reps, but I'll take what I can get. The song is the intro song from Sega Saturn's Megaman 8. I really like it. Enjoy



Of course, the last exercise of the day was the 90 second plank. So, to help me get through them, I...well...sang. Another song from my PCP soundtrack, Extreme Ways by Moby (from the Bourne Identity Soundtrack) popped up and I sang along to keep my mind off the muscle pain. It worked pretty well. And, no, there was no one else in the park as I did my little sing along. If there was, I probably wouldn't have done it. Then again, maybe I would. Perhaps singing would keep the dog walkers that pass through the park from trying to talk to me in the middle of my workout and make me lose count. Heh.



All in all, a good rockin' workout on the PCP!

More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 67: The Groom has Returned!

Hey Everyone,

I went to Patrick's studio this morning for my workout, and we managed to get everything done in an hour. One of the great things about working out with Patrick is he never lets you rest too long. And now, for the super stats. Please note my weight difference is compared to my number one week ago on Day 60 whereas my other stats are compared to my numbers from the last day I visited Patrick's studio, Day 53

Weight: 85.3 kg (-2 kg) lost in 1 weeks time

Body Fat: 20.4% (-3.3%) lost in 2 weeks time

Visceral Fat: 9.5% (-1%) lost in 2 weeks time

Basal: 1883 (-44) lost in 2 weeks time

Muscle Mass: 35.1% (+0.7) gained in 2 weeks time

Subcantaneous Fat: 13.2 (-1.2) lost in 2 weeks time

BMI: 25.5 (-1) lost in 2 weeks time

Body Age: 42 (-2 years) lost in 2 weeks time.

So, I've lost over ten killograms and over ten years! I have now officially passed my wedding weight of 86.0 kgs by a whole 0.7 kgs. Any weight loss from this point to the end of the PCP is bonus. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm going to take it easy. I'm going to be pushing hard all the way to the finish line! Man, I can't believe I did it. I thought I'd never see a number this low on a scale again. And I still have three weeks to go. Isn't it great?

Look! My pants don't fit me anymore!

The PCP: fitness and education to help maintain that fitness, with more yet to come. Best money I ever spent.

More tomorrow!

Sean

Day 66: The Bicycle from Hell

Hey All,

I got to my workout a little earlier today and tried my best to really work my muscles. The tricep dip was particularly difficult in the last two sets, but I managed to do at least 9-10 in these last sets if not the full 14.

In accordance with some advice given to me by a person who has completed the PCP, through my whole workout I'm trying my best to only think of the exercise I'm doing at the time and not the next one to come. This makes my workout a little less stressful and feel shorter.

Also, I'm slowly coming to terms with muscle failure and trying not to take the fact I can't always hit the max numbers on the sets as a negative. I understand now these high numbers of sets we are doing lately are meant to produce muscle failure. The exercise is about pushing muscles to their limit, not necesarrily doing every single rep.

Now, this all said. My bicycle exercise was, as Bryan my fellow PCPer said in a recent post, fail-tastic. The whole exercise was a big start-stop-start-stop extravaganza. In the last few weeks we've been pushing our legs so hard, I don't think my legs have ever felt completely rested in this time. And, they definitely weren't there for me today. To be more precise, it was holding my legs up in order to do the bicyle that was the most difficult. Oh well. I'll just keep at it. Tomorrow, I'm off to Patrick's yoga studio for my workout. I'm looking forward to it.

In the meantime, here's another song from my PCP soundtrack. It's the intro to a very popular Japanese anime called Death Note. It's pretty rockin'. Enjoy!



More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 65: The Road not Taken

Hey Everyone,

Today, I was thinking about why I never had much interest in sports in school. I mean, there I was surrouned by a variety of athletics and nothing grabbed me. I even had a father who was a star athelete in school. And yet, I took the road of chess, gaming, and yes, even the library club.

I didn't even quite qualify for nerd because I wasn't particularly exceptional at science or a great piano player or something like that. Sure, I could read by the time I was three, but the rest of the world catches up, well most of them anyway.

I'm not being down on myself. I like who I am. I'm just trying to figure out why I'm on the road I'm on in relation to sports. Even now, I find very little pleasure in watching professional sports and think many of the athletes could be doing something better with their time and the world could be doing something better with it's money. But, I know with these thoughts I'm not being fair to professional sports which has brought much joy and challenge into people's lives.

I used to think it was the people that drove me away from sports, but I'm not so sure. One thing I do know, It was impossible to find a jock at my school that wasn't a jerk--at least to me. Jock... Jerk... perhaps it's not a coincidence these two words are spelled so similalrly. But, of course, looking at the other side, I did things--whatever they were, perhaps it was simply existing--that made these jocks uncomfortable. So, they lashed out. And of course, it might have been the crap in their own lives that made them jerks so they would be jerks to anyone regardless of who they were. There are so many variables to consider.

Now, here I am doing the PCP. It's not sports. It's not competitive--except with myself. And I find it worthwhile, challenging and absolute hell sometimes, but worthwhile. Perhaps it's because my goal isn't to score points, but to improve myself so I get more of the thing I love so much--time to do the things I love.

Sorry, this is a bit or a ramble that goes nowhere, but, like I said, I'm still figuring it out. The PCP has brought this to the surface and I'm wondering if, by not embracing sports, I'm missing something. Maybe, maybe not. I don't know. I'm still thinking. One thing, I do know for sure. Back in highschool, I might have welcomesd the invitation to play a sport for fun, now, I'm not so sure I would. I just want to be healthy. I don't need to put myself in a place where I can get injured. I have a family to think of. Hmmm. I have a friend who plays pretty serious American football with no salary here in Japan. He recently got married. I wonder if he will give up the sport he loves when he has a family to consider. The other side of the coin I'm examining perhaps?

Funny where the mind goes when you're web-swinging...er...I mean exercising.



More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 64: Long Workout and Dead Fantasy 3

Hey all,

Okay, first, let me set something straight. I over did it on the jumpropes yeserday. My mind told me 5 min. x 5 sets, but it was actually 5 min. x 3 sets. So, I went overboard on the J-ropes yesterday, but no matter. I enjoyed the extra.

Now, that said, today's work out took a long time--almost two hours. This is because I have to keep fighting with myself to get moving between sets. I use a timer, but there is still some arguing between mind and body. Why is does it seem to be a universal truth that we have to fight with ourselves to do what's good for ourselves? All this exercise, all this good food, makes our body stronger and healthier, right? So, why do our body's and minds put up such resistance? It boggles the mind. On the plus side, I got back on my horse with the floor jumps since last time and completed them all today.

Also, I'm starting to realize the wisdom in the small dinners we eat on the PCP. This week I'm down to pretty much a banana and milk, but I know now that that's really all I need. I mean, com'on. How much do we actually do in the evening? Most people after a big dinner just sit and watch TV, then go to bed. No way do you need a full course meal to accomplish that. Now, if you were going to go out and shovel snow like my father does some nights in the winter, a little more food before heading out would be a good idea, but with my writing evenings, I just need enough food to keep my mind clear, that's it. Also, I find I'm not as hot during these Japan summer evenings because I'm not eating so much before bed. Cool--literally.

Now, something I know I have been looking forward too. Dead Fantasy 3, by Monty Oum. See my Day 2 post for parts 1 and 2. Enjoy.



More tomorrow,

Sean

Day 63 Driving through the J-ropes

Hey Team and Readers,

I tried something different today to ease my J-rope stress. Instead of sets, I just set my timer for thirty minutes and jumped flat out. The exercise today actually only required only twenty-five minutes of jumping. (5 min x 5 sets), but I kicked the time up another five minutes because I felt pretty good today and to compensate for any brief breaks I would take after tripping or just getting tired. Then, I did my best to ignore the timer until it beeped and told me time was up. I think this method is the closest I'm going to get to zoning out while jumping rope. The best thing about this method was it saved time because I didn't have to fight with myself to get started again between sets. The clock kept the pressure on me to get moving.

More tomorrow,

Sean