I've been pretty slack in getting this final post written, which I guess reflects the "conclusion" to my PCP in general. I'm sad to admit I missed most of the fun the final 2 weeks because my job just keeps piling on the shit for me to deal with to the point of squeezing everything else out of my life. I was able to maintain the diet pretty consistently throughout the program, but finding time to exercise even 30 minutes a day was sometimes an impossibility. Obviously this is reflected in my final results, which are definitely pleasing but not as mind-blowing as I was hoping for at the outset.
So, what were the results? I don't have one of those fancy scales that tells me fat% and body age and all that good stuff (just ordered one though for the post-PCP life), just an old bathroom scale that gives weight and is not very accurate but can be used to monitor trends to make sure things are moving in the right direction. According to that old clunker, I weighed 178 lbs on Day 1 and 159 lbs on Day 90. I think these weights are probably 10 lbs lighter than they should be, but no matter what they actual value is I did manage to lose 19 lbs during the course of the PCP. But more importantly than numbers, I look better, feel better, fit into my clothes better (except for the pants I had to get rid of because they are now way too big) and have gotten compliments from many people about how great I look. All of this is great motivation to keep up the lifestyle post-completion.
One thing that I definitely did not expect when I started PCP is that it has really made me hate my job. With a passion. I never had much problem shaking off all those cancelled dinner plans and ruined weekends in the past, but when my job starting causing me to miss my exercises I got really resentful. I mean, I'm a lawyer - not a trauma surgeon or a soldier or something else important - so essentially what I do is move papers around all day so that other people can make a lot of money. How can that be so all-encompassing that I can't even spare an hour a day to keep myself healthy? The answer I've arrived at is "it can't". PCP made me realize how important health and wellness are to me at this point in my life (I'll be turning 40 in September), which means if I can't balance those with my job then my job needs to change. It really is that simple.
And that's why I put the quotes around the word "conclusion" at the beginning of this post. I really don't feel like I have "concluded" the PCP, but rather that I am just beginning a new, healthier, happier and more fulfilling lifestyle. The 90 day PCP was the catalyst that really showed me the difference between what was and what could be, and gave me the knowledge and the tools to carry this forward.
I guess it wouldn't be right to leave off without thanking everyone who made this possible. For me it all starts with Fish, who was the first I know to venture down this road and show us all what was possible. J-Blo was also crucial in his relentless badgering of me to try the PCP for myself, Andy whose post-PCP incredible hulk photo made me a believer, Bill W. who sent me a video of a Japanese zoo escape to illustrate the dangers of not being in peak condition, and Richard, James, Peter, Billy, Steve and all the others who went before me and made the PCP a reality in my mind. Of course Rika, who tirelessly steamed vegetables so that I would have fuel to get me through each day, the rest of my PCP class who struggled through this with me, and obviously Patrick and Chen who conceived of this thing and have made it their business to help people like me discover and lead a healthier life. How do you ever thank someone for that?
Congratulations to all the new PCP grads! Best of luck in your post-PCP lives, and I hope to run into some of you somewhere down the line. Current PCP'ers - keep up the good work! And anyone considering signing up for the program -- DO IT!!
