I have a confession to make: I've been not really talking much about PCP among other people. My husband, my parents, some close friends who live far away, my two immediate office mates, and my language teacher. Eight people, none of them have the address of this blog.
Patrick preaches the gospel of openness and accountability, but I hate the feeling of being visually weighed by people I'm not close to. Especially here in Hong Kong. The Chinese are not shy about commenting on others' weight, and I just don't think I'm up to it in the early days, before progress is particularly visible.
So far it's been easy to wriggle out of social invitations or wrench them into something I can do. I know there's no way to maintain any kind of social life and keep up the secrecy, so I guess I'll be coming out soon. Is it wrong that I'm hoping another week or two will pass first?
Hey Kim - I can totally relate. In the first month or so, I didn't advertise this experience to very many people. In conversation, it sometimes came up, sometimes not. As time has gone on, I've told more friends and family about the PCP, but I still haven't given the blog out to very many people. In part because what I'm blogging about seems pretty specific to the PCP community. But, my family and a few close friends are reading it now.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's *necessary* to give out the blog to everyone you know. I do think that as time goes on and your body changes more and more, the opportunity to talk about the PCP will keep presenting itself. Your comfort level with the whole thing will also change.
PS - You live in Hong Kong?!? Wow - what do you do there, and for how long have you lived there? I spent a semester during college teaching English at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Shatin, NT, HK. I hear ya about the Chinese feeling free to comment on physical appearances...I had forgotten about that until you mentioned it!
I understand how you feel too. Everybody has an opinion of what you should be doing to get in shape, and some people can be really aggressive about telling you. I felt embarrassed to tell people what I was doing because I didn't want to be the crazy neurotic person who was only eating egg whites for supper. But I did find that most people were really supportive. I think as more changes become visible to others, you'll feel more comfortable sharing what you're doing.
ReplyDeletetotally in your boat Kim! Not that many people know about the pcp or the blog. I heard resistance from some folks when I was considering doing it and that's just negativity I don't want to deal with. Not to mention I had some issues with old dudes pseudo-stalking me so definitely the fewer people I tell outside of the immediate circle, the better. No need for people to be able to see pics of me in a bathing suit.
ReplyDeletetrue story about my Chinese mom: my friend michelle was picking me up and mom greeted her at the door with "michelle, you've gained weight. me too. we should do something about it." she didn't intend to be mean. it was a matter-of-fact statement but I was mortified especially since Michelle had actually lost 20 pounds. sigh.. not a whole lot you can do to keep my peeps from commenting that way. :P
Share! You have nothing to hide you're doing a great thing!
ReplyDeleteI let everyone know at Facebook and mixi ( Japanese social networking site) that I am starting the PCP. I don't know how many of my friends are following my blog but some of them tell me that they are impressed with my effort even I was in NYC, I did my workout and kept the diet as much as possible.
ReplyDeletePeople around me knowing what I am doing is a positive pressure so that I can't give it up.
But this is my style and a lot to do with my age.
I am going to be 53 and our generation have some issues with health one way or another, such as overweight, high blood pressure, so they understand why I chose to do this program.
There are many people who would benefit from doing this program, but this program requires commitment. And you're actually doing it is great!