Thursday, March 31, 2011

Day 77

5:30 wake up, 30 mins skipping.. time to take No 1 and No 2 to bus, with the help of No 3 (dressed in a funny way.. April's fool!!) and the little puppy!
And it is a GORGEOUS day here in Hong Kong: fingers crossed it holds for the week end: kid's hokey and maybe sailing, and of course INDULGENCE!!
Pity the wife is away.. :(

great weekend to all!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Day 76

This morning I woke up at 5:25.. 5 mins before the alarm! Patrick, what have you done to me!
At least all done and dusted..
This morning I skipped and exercised with music and all was much easier.

It's 2 weeks to the end.. or is it to the beginning of a new life style!

ciao

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Day 75

5:30 am again
not too hard, actually: enough to go to bed early!
but don't have much time for the kiddies in the morning...  a 26/27 hour day would be perfect!
Having been abandoned my the wife wil try to get home early tonight to spend a little time with the little monsters!

great day to all...

Monday, March 28, 2011

Day 74

The days are ticking away and the goal is in sight: light a the end of the tunnel, but...
I am going to miss all of this, my daily blogging, my daily fat-less food, all my veggies, my yogurt, my exercises, my skipping, my skipping, my skipping, my skipping....

I know the answer is that I can continue doing it as I am doing now , but... when you know it is for 90 days you clench your teeth and fists and DO IT, but when you know it is for the rest of your life it is a far more complicated proposition...

Anyway, up at 5:40, skipping and exercises under my belt and got my endorphins fix!
Great day to you all!!

Day 73

After the weekend it is tough to start the week.. over the weekend it is easy and pleasant to train, during the week finding the time is always a struggle...
Best thing is training in the morning and then it's over, so.. set the alarm or 5:45 but... no 2 was sick during the night and so the alarm beep beep was not all that convincing...
Dashed home from work, did the sets and then drove mrs better half to the airport with no 4.
Got home late and gulped down the evening snack (goo, mm..., filling) and now are in bed with the alarm set for 5:30am: we will see...

Good night
ps really hate the failure thing... never really know if I am failing or if I could have done an extra one!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Day 72

It should be weekend everyday of the week!!
Love waking up, skipping, exercises, shower, nice relaxed breakfast (but for a faint background incessant noise produced by 4 boys and a dog) with the papers...
Not sure I am a fan of the failure target: difficult to assess if you are really failing.. guess you never do as there also an extra one you can do.. so as many as you do you are not content because you kind of think "maybe I should have done an extra 2 or 5.."
Anyway, by 8:50 all exercises done and dusted: suffered less on the plank but had issues with chest dips..

All have a great Sunday

Friday, March 25, 2011

Day 71

New diets, new exercises... nothing to blow me away
Bring it on
Skipping getting a tad tedious... 22mins is a lot of time staring at the wall!!
Here is week 11 picture:



Thursday, March 24, 2011

Day 70

another round number
20 days to go.. still long way to Tipperary, it's a long way to go!
skipped and skipped and skipped... 20 mins + 300 + cold have done more but the day is not long enough!
waking up crack of dawn tomorrow to see what's next...

merry week end to all

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Day 69

This morning was an almost Rocky one: 5:45 instead of 5:00.. Huge difference! But also meant missing taking the boys to the bus which I thoroughly enjoy. But had no choice as I have a white collar boxing event to attend.. With special menu request of course!!!
Skipped flat 15 mins (few minutes less than my recent target)!but didn't have much time... Surprised that whole routine took 45 mins... A bit rushed but all exercises completed!
Tomorrow skipping and then? Worth waking up early on Saturday to find out!!

Ciao to all

Day 68

After yesterdays lack of energy and considering I really struggled through my skipping and my exercises I was terrified of my training session today: what if I failed again? what if I could no longer skip and exercise as before? But Forrest is back: skip Forrest, skip!! Did my 20 mins with double skip every minute and could have done a little more... Exercises were tough but not impossible.. failed on the last chest dips set and of course had to clench my teeth to finish the plank sets but not feeling nearly as wiped out as yesterday.. almost considering to add 8 mins abs.. nan, just kidding! good night (tough one tomorrow: got a dinner so might have to wake up super early for exercises..)




Monday, March 21, 2011

Day 67

Tough, tough , tough!
This time pushed it all a little too much! not 20 years old any more!!
Had a dinner last night and although I had tuna and a lot of veggies, fear the starter (roast veggies) was drenched with oil...
Felt horrible all night: nauseated! Patrick what have you done to us!!
What a good lesson... restaurants suck, for sure!
And this morning instead of sleeping and recovering I was feeling so disgusted that I got up at 5am and did my exercises... what a struggle.. had to stop several times during my skipping and had a rough session... and now I am feeling wiped out.
Getting old.. will take it easy for a couple of days..

ciao to all

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Day 66

Yesterday after the exercises we went for a long walk (down slope) with all the family and the  little dog.
It was great fun but felt a little drained at the end... old age and accumulation of PCP training!
In the evening managed to slot in an 8mins abs session: it was the first time and it is actually fun, not too painful...

And Patrick, regarding your mail about failure, don't worry!! as long as there are those bcycle things, planks, chest dips, pull-ups.. no problems!! I will fail!!

This morning did a Rocky one: got up at 5am and did all my stuff... felt great! Will try and repeat tomorrow...

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Day 65

OMG.. those exercise sheets!!!
They look nasty on Saturday morning when we receive them but this time they look even worse in the playground where i do most of my exercises...
The chest dips were tough and failed on set 5.. not sure if it was muscle failure or fear of heights (yes monkey bars again!!).
And the plank was excruciatingly painful... started trembling at the end of set 3 and for second half of set 4.
But it is done and it is Sunday morning and now I have time for the kiddies.... although my arms/shoulders are a little numb!
Have a great Sunday!
 

Friday, March 18, 2011

Day 64

And it's Saturday and on Saturday, like a kid on his birthday or on Xmas day I wake up super early to see what Patrick has in store for us...
And the food is OK but the exercise sheet.. OMG!!
Thank God it's a weekend and that allows me to settle into the new training regime slowly..
Had to take Tommaso (no 1) to a cross country race at 8:00 am (yes, on a Saturday). Got back and did all the exercises. It's going to be a lazy weekend. Weather is yuck and no 3 has a bit of fever...
Here is our weekly picture, Mr and Mrs De Angelis...


                   


No kidding.. here is the picture:



and here is Tommaso racing (2nd from the left)... go Tommy go !!


Thursday, March 17, 2011

Day 63

As I said last night.. I did wake up at 5:50 and I did my 20 mins skipping (+100 to account for the few trips..).
Feels good now, it's over for today... might even be tempted to try (have not so far) the 8 mins abs thing this evening..

TGIF and merry we to all

Day 62

Skip Forrest Skip!!
Done my 18 mins followed by exercises.. smooth. Almost too much.. must of either not counted correctly or didn't do exercises all that well.. or maybe just getting stronger!!

good night
tomorrow only skipping!!
will aim for early morning 20mins.. we will see if the sheets let me out of bed!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Day 61

Run Forrest Run!!
That is how I am starting to feel when I skip the rope.
It is not a great effort and I can go on for a while.
The exercises today were rather painful: the biceps were really tired and must say  I didn't enjoy the  bicycle!.. oh yes and forgot: hated the 5th set of plank!! but then again such is life: we are not meant to enjoy the training!!!

buona notte

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Day 60

Going going... almost gone!
I am going to miss it when it is no longer there... the PCP I mean!
Shit day at the office and what better than 16 mins of skipping + 300 extra jumps?
And then all the rest of the exercises.
Skipping is a tad tedious: hoping to have the will power to continue skipping in the after PCP life: wondering how much skipping is necessary to preserve the goals achieved over these 90 days?

Great evening to all and thinking of all of you in Japan...

Monday, March 14, 2011

Day 59

Yet another round number ahead... slowly but surely!
Got home in no mood to train but the exercises got off with a good skip and some good series.
Failed after three set of pull-ups and the triceps were hard... but all good and fast (50 mins).

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Day 58

Great day yesterday!!
Beautiful weather here in HK.
Nico to get the exercises out of the way early morning.. leisurely breakfast.. walk on the promenade with 75% of the kids (no 1 had Bday party)... Bolle took his first swim (that is our little puppy).


Afternoon on the water with again 75% of the kids (no 2 had "previous engagements").
Mika (no 4) really enjoyed the sail and helped me helm.. :)


Finally we decided to indulge and after nibbling at our kids BBQ we settled for a French secluded and romantic restaurant in Stanley (bull market here in HK, everything else was booked).
I had roasted pork belly salad, a rib eye steak, shared a warm chocolate pudding and a glass of red.


It was pleasant, had been craving chocolate so really dug into the pudding but...


"Patrick, what have you done to us??!!!%£^£$%&£%&^*£%&%£"

It was not nearly as much fun as expected!
Actually almost regretted all that food.
With hindsight starter and pudding would have been more than enough.
And I was really contended with one glass of wine...

Woke up bright and early and executed all the training (it's more than one hour!!)
The weather is sublime: warm, not hot, fresh, not humid.. just perfect!!
Had some help with the chest dips...

Friday, March 11, 2011

Day 57

Difficult to worry about our PCP when such tragic events unfold.
Thinking of you all up there in Japan...

Great job Patrick, was impressed to see your mail this morning: as you said come whatever and PCP goes on.. life goes on...

Got up, did all the exercises and seriously thought of either a) crying b) fainting c) clenching my teeth at the third series of floor jumps.. opted for c)...

Here is the weekly picture...

Week 9

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Day 55

Who said that home and work is the healthy way of life?
look at what looms in the office:



but I am strong...
but I am strong...
but I am strong...
but I am strong...
but I am strong...

Day 56

MADE IT!!

Managed to creep out of bed and did my 16 mins of skipping +100 jumps (as I tripped a fair amount)..
No Damocles sword for the rest of the day: GREAT!!
A bit anxious about the next mail from Patrick... is it going to be only half an apple in the evening? or 2 apples? not sure what would be worse..!! :)

TGIF and great we to all

Day 55

Good skipping session: only one trip 25 seconds before the end...
Exercises were ok and the pull-ups were decent. Not full full extension but manged all 50.
Here is the coffee machine I was talking about yesterday: can't wait for my breakfast tomorrow!!
This morning instead of the tomatoes I had some aubergine and onion puree on one of my pieces of  with the egg, on the other piece my beloved avocado...
Lunch was awesome: chicken, rice and veggies with a yummy sauce.
All in all eating extremely well and enjoying fresh cooked meals: but still crave the naughty stuff!!

Good night!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Day 54

Not much to report!
Calves hurting a little, not sure I enjoy the skipping all that much.. it's a little long and tedious: wonder how much longer next week...
The chest dips were tough, tough to exhaustion: as I was doing the dips on the monkey bars was actually worried about failing and falling down!!!
The rest was ok. The whole routine is close to one hour. Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow morning! Bought a little coffee machine (the traditional type from Naples) for the morning: you put water on the bottom, when it starts boiling the water goes up through the coffee and it comes out on top.. mmm!!!

Time for bed: buona notte!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Day 53

Dashed out of the office early to attend Giorgio's (no 3) 5th birthday party.
A bunch of over hyper kids: mayhem!! But nice to see Giorgio being the center of attention: he was so excited and proud... and it means a lot to see Dad turn up!
That also meant getting home a little earlier than usual and down to the "PCP cage" for the skipping and playground for the training.

It's official, the WORST and TOUGHEST exercise EVER is the cycling thing... agony!
In comparison even the jumps are barely bearable... (or not?) and the pull-ups are a piece of cake (mmm..)
So the worst nightmare would be floor jumps, followed by pull-ups and then the cycling thing...
The skipping was a little intense and had a hint of cramps in the left calf, just a glitch? we will see tomorrow...
I realised I am going to bed looking forward to breakfast! Such a great meal....

Good night!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Day 52

Another latish work out
Don't mind it at all: get home put the kiddies to bed and hit the deserted playground...
The only problem is if I have a dinner or after-work arrangement... then it slips very late and it is a Damocles sword hanging over my head for the whole day.
Pull-ups as usual were tough and also struggled a little with the skipping: bought some training earphones and skipped with music and the timer running... not sure I like it, difficult not knowing exactly how much tie left.
On the food fron no major complaints: can't wait for breakfast and lunch... less so for dinner!


Good night to all

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Day 51

Back home.. finally!!
Great to walk in the house and be greeted by a bunch of kids... much more interested in what I had brought for them than my actual self: such is life!
Get a meal less as 8 hours disappeared somewhere!
Had my lunch at 5 and my dinner in a few minutes, hope I manage to sleep.
Nice to workout outside without shivering. Struggled a lot with the chest dips: funny as they were one of my strong exercises. Also found the push ups hard work. Fatigue? Old age creeping up?

Here is latest picture:
Week 8

Friday, March 4, 2011

Day 49

Traveling tomorrow, back home by Sunday: hurray!
Giorgio (number 3) is going to be 5 tomorrow! Time flies, feels like yesterday when we rushed to the hospital after too much food and too much wine! And scary amount of fog... And Giorio popped out not too long after...

Got a peep at Saturday's training which i did today and will only skip tomorrow morning: the floor jumps are a real challenge... Tough, tough, tough!

Ciao to all

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Day 48

Now in Italy and it's freezing!!
-2 C and really couldn't face skipping out in the cold: opted for my parents living room, moved chairs and carpet and set the timer for 16 minutes.. and managed to do skip for the whole time non stop, no trips.. total of around 2200 skips.. wow!!!

all looking good
longing to be back to HK to see my family

ciao to all

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Day 47

Today it was a tripping session.. not a skipping one!
So did extra 200 just to be on the safe side... it's ramping up, we are around 2,200 skips.
Good to get the exercises early in the morning but the downside is that it's not fun to wake up...

Yesterday was a tough one foodwise: had fish for lunch and for dinner... no apple and egg white!
But had to see clients lunch and dinner... will have to make up for it somehow.


Ciao

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Day 46

Thought it would feel good to pass the halfway mark but another 44 days is still a little daunting!
I am sure when I was produced smewhere on the package there must have been written: do not sore below 20 C... Here in London it is cold and damp: yuck!
Makes it harder to wake up at 6:00 and start exercising..

Exercises are really getting tougher: that extra set is a killer! the 14 mins skip is a long one but feel great after. Going to be tough to maintain that discipline after the PCP..

Great day to all!