Greetings from the Post-PCP Life!

Mom and I flexing at 12,000 feet: Independence Pass, CO

It's been a crazy ride.
I put off the 'thoughts-after-90-days' post because immediately after finishing PCP, I got sick!

I'm sure the germs on the plane, wickedly intense heat in NYC, mania of travel and non-stop agenda didn't help. So while I was hoping to feel awesome, show off my new fit and happy self and play capoeira with my old Brooklyn chums, I instead was coughing up phlegm and feeling off-balance. Bah humbug!

Listening to my body and acknowledging I was really sick helped. Going to the doctor helped. Camping and hiking with my parents in the mountains helped. Having a routine helped--jogging and coffee with Dad at 5:30am? Okay!

Hiking with the family near Aspen, CO

I had forgotten how out-of-control portion sizes are in the US. I ordered a large Americano at my old ice cream stand/coffee place and was shocked when the woman behind the counter asked: Do you want 3 or 4 shots of espresso? Yikes, I was thinking 2 was plenty!

So eating out was really tough. I kept ordering the wrong thing. It sounded good, but tasted too greasy or salty or just, not good. I've realized the question is not: Will this taste good? But more importantly: Will this feel good to me after I've eaten it?

I erred in this department many a time whilst on vacation. Spiced chocolate donut in San Francisco? Delicious, but felt like a rock in my stomach immediately after eating it! Salmon my dad grilled with some sauteed chard and shallots? Yum on both accounts.

Okay, on to the things I've learned from this crazy PCP journey.

1. Change is really hard.

I had a clue about this from the international move I did last year.

Habit-changing is harder.

Especially when new habits you are cultivating involve lots of physical challenges.

That's why people avoid this hardship whenever possible and stay seated on the couch.

2. Challenges feel good.

I have never felt stronger or more happy about how I feel and look.

The last rep of the last set of the workout always had a tinge of nostalgia: I'm not doing that anymore... wait, yay!!!! Even on massively sweaty days felt like I was accomplishing something, something gross, but something good!

3. You Must Pay Attention.

• Getting flabby and losing energy doesn't happen overnight. It is a process of ignoring your body's needs that you know is happening, but don't always acknowledge or rationalize with lame excuses.
• Doing exercises poorly because it is a little less painful doesn't help you in the end. Do it right! Right now!
• Eating whatever makes you feel good in the moment does not make you feel good long-term.
• Pay attention to your actions and their impact on your body.
• Yes, I am a teacher. Can you tell?

4. The Muscle that is hardest to see changing is the one inside your skull!

• Really it takes even longer than the abs to come through!
• The sweating, grunting and forceful exhaling is all easy once you have worked on the mind.
• Getting up off the couch is the serious challenge. It takes more than 90 days to master.
• It will continue to be the thing I need to work on gray days like today when I think: jumproping before breakfast? but why? Putting on the shoes and making it happen makes me feel better. I will keep making the effort to remember this.

5. Keep talking through the rough parts.

This workout thing is no picnic. Remembering to blog about the hard parts and supporting others through them is why this project works. On days when I wasn't feeling up to the task, I thought about the rest of my team who were also dealing with these thoughts and other major changes in their lives and realized, if they can do it, so can I. Some days I could only do the workout after I read everyone else's blog for a boost. Thanks Team!

I think this applies to other hard things in life, as well. The idea of being independent and working it out alone isn't as important to me now, as is the idea of getting something done however I can, even if that means feeling weak and asking for help along the way.

Final thoughts... really, I'll stop stealing the spotlight from the newbies!

When I started this project, I didn't know if I could do it. I thought it would get too hard and I knew that my capoeira friends, Shivani and Emily, were stronger, had a better game than I and might just be more physically capable. I realized throughout the program that it isn't about being more muscly or athletic. People of all ages can do PCP... and have. The folks with really low body fat percentages already, big guys and gals, the 40+ crew, the still-in-college crowd and people who have the coveted six-pack on day 50, are all DOING THE SAME WORKOUT.

The biggest challenge was to convince myself that it was worth my time and effort to spend a few months focusing on making myself stronger, inside and out. I definitely had help in this from Patrick, my Running Rats team, my number one assistant (aka Head Chef & Cheerleader on the Homefront), as well as my folks, my friends, and all of you reading this thing RIGHT NOW. Knowing complete strangers were keeping tabs on me too-- I see you blog counter!-- helped me stay focused during the tough times when I wanted to bail on the whole thing. I am very grateful for the chance to be a better version of myself from year 33 onward.

Good luck to all the just started PCPers, the Day 66ers (team Sexaay! I believe?), Day 36ers and all of you out there waiting in the wings. It is worth the commitment and the struggle. Just get down to it!