Day Fifty-Two: "Ireland"

The United Nations of veggie variety continues with "Ireland": broccoli, carrot, and burdock root (gobou in Japanese). Nobody eats burdock back in North America.

"OK gang!" I am going to keep this short and sweet today in the interests of getting to bed before eleven PM. After my little down day on Saturday, the indulgence and everyone's encouragement helped me to get back on my feet Sunday and I had a better day.

 I woke up early this morning in the rain (which later turned to snow again--what's going on, Japan? When is spring coming?) and got the jump rope done. A few usual morning trips but I skip much better outside in the mornings than inside. I've figured out that much. It was cold today, though--cold enough to snow. Found a roof under which I could skip just outside my back entrance. Back when I first started, I'd be hitting the roof with my rope in this sort of space. Not anymore. Skipping done and dusted, I went straight to 8-minute abs. "We're having fun!"

Patrick has mentioned the Japanese breakfast a few times on the question threads and emails and Molly posted a nice youtube clip way back in the beginning about the differences between Western and Japanese diets. Well, this week I am on protein for breakfast as well, so the grilled fish comes right into it. The milk is a touch unusual I suppose, the broccoli definitely is (it's more likely to be boiled spinach in soy sauce), my rice is brown genmai instead of polished white, and the miso soup is missing, but I'd say this is a pretty Japanese breakfast. And I'd also say it was pretty delicious, too. The fish was wild buri (Japanese amberjack), and no flavouring was needed. Good just as is.

This may present a stark contrast from my burger yesterday, but I have always loved Japanese breakfasts. We'd have them at my grandparents' house in Hokkaido whenever I went to visit (though we'd also often have ham or sausage as well) or when we went to onsen hot springs, where there is a more elaborate spread. My grandpa was very fit and had strong muscles always and he was eating this sort of thing, so I think those who say the traditional Japanese diet was lacking in protein may have been wrong. Lacking in red meat perhaps, but good fish, rice, veggies, and lots of exercise/working outdoors was plenty enough to get an old school PCP body. It's a good reminder of those possibilities--and it's in my genes. Good to know.

And here is the obligatory Week 7 photo. Off to bed and will be a day late posting Day 53's entry as tomorrow night, I am going out to see some more real peak condition bodies in action for a little inspiration. Will tell you all about it soon. Good night, "gang!"