Day 90 - the end... and the beginning

And so the end came.  Something of an anti climax?  Saturday came and then there was Sunday - and strict guidance to be "normal" and not do any exercise...  It felt strange and felt wrong but as it turns out (it's now Tuesday night) that, just like everything else Patrick said to us, it's spot on advice.  We need to take time out, get back into the real world and feel for ourselves; explore food and drink and take time away from the gym and then listen to our bodies and hearts as which path to follow next...

I can't add much on what so many have said before but I repeat that it has been an incredible experience for me.  I must thank Vittorio (PCP alumni) who told me "it's the best thing I ever did" - now when you that hear that from a 16 year old you can legitimately ignore it, but when you hear it from a forty-something year old (sorry Vittorio!) then it's well worth listening to.  And my message to anyone who cares to listen (and this is from a forty-something year old) is that "PCPs' the best thing I ever did".

That said, PCP is not for everyone - the brilliant thing is that the diet approach and the exercises really are for anyone and everyone but the mental angle is not.  You need to want to do it, to have the mental strength and desire to follow a rules-based approach, to have the support of friends and loved ones to keep you going and to be able to see the successes that time and dedication will bring.  It worked for me, and it will work for many - but PCP will not work for all and I suspect that there is a high price in terms of feelings of letting yourself down that a failed attempt at the programme will bring.

My attitudes, my behaviours and my life have been changed.  There was no fat assessment or cholesterol test at the outset so I have no scientific data to shout from the rooftops - but I do have how I feel, how much my weight has dropped and how my overall appearance has changed.  These three alone stand as testament to the fact that, while I could always have pushed myself harder in every exercise, I can proudly say that I never cheated, I did the exercises every single day and for 90 days I absolutely "did my best".

So for the record I feel incredible and have a whole new take on life and living.  The weighing scales started at 14 stone 8 lbs and ended at 11 stone 8 lbs - so that's a change of 42 lbs or 19 kgs.  And as for the appearance?  Well this is where I began at the start of August:

and this is where I finished up:

Patrick and Chen, I salute you and thank you - it's been an incredible journey.  It may be the end, but in truth it's just the beginning...