Adrian: Day 22, Just water, thanks.

So, one of the things we've all had to do for this project is to abstain from juice, soda, and other beverages with calories higher than zero. This wasn't too hard for me, because I never frequented cafes much, and don't drink much alcohol. Prior to starting the PCP, I was probably averaging 1 beer and .25 lattes a month. I've had maybe 3 sodas in the past year. But the thing I had to quit cold turkey, and still miss at times, is juice.

I loved my juices. Especially Kern's guava nectar. My parents have always had this in their fridge when I come over to visit, and I could easily drink a whole quart of the stuff, straight out of the box(sorry ma & pa). I could never get enough. But I'm pretty shocked that I ever drank as much of this stuff as I did, because a large cup of nectar is basically equivalent to breakfast. In 11.5 oz of Kern's guava nectar there are 210 calories, 53g of carbs, 10mg of sodium and 49g of sugar.

So, my choices for liquid refreshment have been limited, but actually that's a good thing. Because I'm remembering how much I love water. It's all the refreshment I need. Nothing else (maybe some cucumbers). Water is miraculous. We can drink as much of it as we want without ever becoming sick* or inebriated, we clean ourselves and our things with it, it comes out of us when we're hot, and then we go and swim in it. Diving into it is an amazing sport.

It's been so incredibly hot and humid here in Oakland that I've been drinking my water and then pouring it on myself afterwards. I couldn't do that with guava nectar. I'd get all sticky and the ants would eat me alive. Viva la agua!

*Actually its possible to overdose, so don't try and drink more than 3 gallons in five minutes. Seriously, don't do it. I'm warning you!

Emiko: Day 17, A New Yearn For The Burn

Today was the first day since Day 8 (the first day of weighing-out our food) that I really screwed up my diet. I wasn't on track this morning when I first got up before work, and only managed to eat the egg before I left. Once at work, I ate a 100g bowl of Vanilla Almond coconut-flakey granola (yum) with 150ml milk at about 8:30am, and then some carrots, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes with a little baba ghanoush around 11am. All of this space in between my "breakfast" didn't feel right. The Sunday morning shift is the busiest of the week, so I was feeling the pressure to even find time to stop and eat.

One thing I will pause to tell you about is the amazingness of cucumber water! Some of my coworkers and I have become really excited about it, and put a pitcher of it out for customers to drink. I made some for Adrian the other day, and he liked it too. All you have to do is slice some cucumbers, put them in your glass and pour water over them. I like to add a little ice to bring out the cucumbery flavor. It is so refreshing!

Anyways, I should also mention the new, harderrrr exercises! Right before the new exercises came a couple of days ago, I was just starting to feel comfortable with most of the old ones. So of course we are offered a bigger challenge! Yesterday I surprised myself and did really well with the jumpropes. I did a couple sets of 200 or so jumps, then a set of 404 and finally a last set of over 500! I kind of shocked myself with that one. Today's jumps were not so crazy, but I made it over the required 1,500.

I also struggled through a lot of my work out today (Week 3, Work out 2). My shoulders had proved weak weak weak during last week's work outs, but the new Shoulder Press exercise was more manageable. I was really burning by the 10th rep, but I kept sticking it out until rep 15. My face looked like a radish, it was so red. But TRIUMPH! That is all that matters! Similar cases with the Ski Jumper and Leg Ups. But somehow I maxed out all of the exercises! What?!? I was confused when I realized that I had gone to the maximum set of reps for all of them. 

HOW? I thought. But I guess my will-power is getting stronger. I know that I often find myself thinking, "I'll be one step closer to Peak Condition if I keep going!"