Begin with the end in mind..

If you were at the 8:00 showing of Hangover 2 at PP AMC on Saturday night... and you wondered who was that chomping on freshly cut apple slices in the third row... hands up. It was me and my wife... Yes it's true - ignored the sweet and/or hot and buttered popcorn and brought our own snacks. A first for me to be sure. We've taken to the PCP idea together and have enjoyed a pretty good start.

The half dinners have been... well... half is relative really. Half of 'what I would usually eat' gives me a good bit of room to maneuver if hungry. I've given it an honest effort to clean up my act - no Sift cupcakes, no desserts in general... no fried bits, lots of meats/vegetables and light on starches (particularly in the evenings).

The workouts have been good but the excitement of end result is what's paramount.  I'm looking forward to slimming down but ultimately feeling better and getting fit.  How many meals have I sat across from peers who 'don't eat this - don't eat that' while I put away the 12oz wagyu and 3/4s of a late 90s Chianti - more than my share I mean to confess. So, i've been off the booze since June 2 and will aim to remain 'largely' off the booze until completion.

I've tried to add a few runs into the mix as well... it seems that the new exercises have made my standard 4 and 5k runs on the weekend really tough. Not sure if it was the heat but barely finished on Saturday and through in the towel on Sunday. Perhaps it's best to just stick with the program for now?

Either way - a college professor once told me 'begin with the end in mind...' It's worked for me in life on many occasions. I'm looking for great results in August. I want to wish everyone the best of luck.  Some of the results I've seen from the guys around me at work are astonishing. I'm looking forward to celebrating with all of you at the finishing line in late August. If you're ever feeling weak and need someone to talk you off the ledge... if you're ever wishing you could tuck into a chicken and mushroom pie - or you're missing that after work cocktail... email me - you're probably not alone! All the best guys - see you on the other side...