My Day of Rest

Trying to maintain the philosophy of Fitness Ridge (minus the full day of exercising), my Sundays have been designated as a day of rest. We trekked our way to HEB (this is fun for us, not work) for our weekly grocery shopping expedition and then headed off to Sunday service. I spent the afternoon, actually it was only two hours, preparing meals for the week. Choosing some of my favorite meals, I made the Turkey Meatloaf, Stuffed Chicken Breast, and a repeat performance of the Salmon Burgers. Alternating between these three entrees, as well as an occasional Havarti grilled cheese or BBQ Turkey Breast, makes for a much less stressful week.

I'll continue "my day of rest" with some minor housework until dinnertime arrives and hopefully have a few moments of peace before it's time to call it a day.

Sashimi and Three Pounds

I've been home from Fitness Ridge now for a week, back to my daily grind and evening workouts. We joined friends last night at Sushi Hana, our local favorite, for an evening of fun and unwinding from the week. My menu choice is now sashimi, unsalted edamame, and seaweed salad, a far cry from my old favorite of a sushi roll made with tempura shrimp and panko crumbs. Cutting down on the salt intake has eliminated the puffy hands and face I became accustomed to seeing every Saturday morning after our Friday night sushi (not a pretty picture).

Using the knowledge I gained from "two weeks at camp", as well as including more cardio in my regimen, I succeeded in losing another three pounds this week. One of the landmark events this week was being able to wear one of my blouses that I hadn't been able to fit into for some time. My next goal is to decrease a size in pants so I can wear the clothes I already own. It's so much cheaper to go shopping in your own closet.

My cardio of choice during the week has been cycling in the neighborhood, but now it's time to get serious. Armed with a printout of the Cardio Interval routine, my plan is to hit Lifetime Fitness this morning with gusto, push my limit for an hour, and head to the grocery store to stock up for this week's menu choices.

Back In The Swing

Monday, September 21, 2009

Sheer exhaustion has set in. Greg and I spent the afternoon preparing the Barbecued Chicken, Tuna Salad, and Salmon Patties, all of which turned out just as tasty as they were on the compound. There are many more recipes to try and I'm looking forward to all of them. If they turn out better than expected, I just might share a few with my support group.

Training with Chris tonight, as usual, but with much more drive than before. Now I know what I'm capable of and can push myself to reach new goals. Maintaining a diet of 1200 to 1300 calories and adding more cardio to my regimen will help me back into my size 6 clothes. I'd like to be there in four weeks...I'll keep you posted.

Homeward Bound

Sunday, September 20, 2009

I find myself at McCarren Airport with an empty stomach and an hour to kill before my flight boards. Starbucks seems like a reasonable choice, offering oatmeal and fresh fruit, so I make my way towards the counter. I'm standing behind what appears to be a Japanese tourist who knows little English other than "cafe latte" and "ice". Who knew Berlitz offered a course in Starbucks! The breakfast was perfect and thank goodness I was being good, I ran into Dana, a fellow guest from Fitness Ridge, and we both commented that Starbucks offered the best option for staying on our plan. She said she'd hate for me to have seen her with a Big Mac for breakfast instead of the yogurt she opted for.

After what seems like forever, I'm finally home. I missed my sweetheart so much and Cooper and Lacy were ecstatic to see me. I loved the Facebook messages from Liz, Deb and Elizabeth, your support really helped me to get through a very tough two weeks.

My first stop was for a mani/pedi, which I so desperately needed. After two arduous weeks at Fitness Ridge, I felt the need to be pampered.

Cheers

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Well, it has arrived...my final day here at Fitness Ridge. With no 6:00 a.m. class this morning, the first item on my agenda is my Test Out (weight, measurements, and body fat percentage). In order to put into perspective the sweat and tears (no blood, thankfully) I've spent these past two weeks, I feel compelled to share my final results:

Weight Lost.......7 pounds
Inches Lost........8 inches total (6 measurements)
Body Fat............4.3% decrease
BMI.....................1.1 decrease

My original goal was to lose ten pounds, but I couldn't be happier knowing I feel more fit than ever and am capable of pushing myself far beyond my own expectations.

While I thought the Stop Sign Hike (I set my final record today at 1:14:09) was the most difficult part of the Fitness Ridge experience, saying good-bye to so many new friends was harder than I expected.

Fitness Ridge - Micheline, John, Sharon, Tiffany and Robin are amazing! They all have a great spirit for teaching and the compassion we need to push us along. Your personalized service means so much to those of us who are susceptible to being homesick. As the song says,

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

Jane - one of my shuttle buddies, I wish you the best during your four week stay, as well as once you leave and begin the next exciting chapter in your life. You are about to embark on an adventure many people only dream of. Godspeed in your journey.

Dana - another one of my shuttle buddies, when Sharon asked you for more, you didn't hesitate to tell her you had no more to give, thank you for your honesty. There were times when I had no more to give halfway through the Stop Sign hike. I'll also enjoy the memory of when you told me your heart rate monitor told you to lie down and rest.

Beth - It was a pleasure to meet you and somehow I know we'll cross paths again in Houston. It really is a small world.

Pam - I wish you the very best for the remainder of your stay and beyond. Keep up the good fight and continue to set those records.

Susan and Brad - Susan, thank you for being a constant meal companion. I wish you the best in your new job. Brad, thank you for waiting on me during the final ascent of Stop Sign. You are a very kind young man and your parents should be very proud of you.

Jill, Karen and Loretta - Thank you for allowing me to join you for Aida, you were all great theater companions. It was the most amazing performance I've ever seen and will always be one of my favorite memories of my time at Fitness Ridge. Karen, look for an email from me when we visit Maui.

Jim and James - Thank you both for setting the pace and giving me the goal to catch up with you. The end always seems closer when you see someone else cross the finish line.

Doug - Thank you for giving me a reason to smile so many times. You are an absolute pleasure to be around and I look forward to seeing you again next year when we visit the D.C. area.

Daniella - Thank you for the push in Circuit Training...a bit of friendly competition can go a long way in pushing you beyond your known limits. I wish you the best in your move to California and the adventures that await you. You have a bright future ahead of you.

Karen - My Vegas roomie. Thank for making the hikes more tolerable with conversation, it took my mind off the pain. Your narrative during the Vegas skank walk will be one of my favorite memories. I would have paid the $30.00 I lost in slots just to sit there and watch the parade go by. Do those girls even have mothers?

Marcus and Sandie - I only wish I had met you during the first week and spent more time with both of you. You are amazing! I hope that my son and I are able to enjoy vacations together in future years like you do. Thank you again for allowing me to join you in Vegas...I had a great time.

Marcus, once I get over the fact that you're my brother's twin, I will never forget the monumental sacrifice I made of giving you my chocolate-covered strawberries. In turn, I will be expecting a list of wineries for my son's 21st birthday trip we're planning to California in 2011. Keep up the good fight, I know you'll have amazing results.

Sandie, thank you for sharing mother talk on our hikes. You are an absolute pleasure to spend time with and I look forward to seeing you when we visit California next summer. Let me know when you reach your goal, it's not that far away (unless you've already met it).

Until we all meet again, hopefully not at Fitness Ridge (unless we are back to break the 37 minute record on Stop Sign), I wish you all the very best in your journeys and may God bless you beyond your wildest dreams. Know your own strength and refuse to be broken.

We set off on our road trip to Vegas, calculating the daily caloric intake and expenditure it would take to lose another ten pounds. What happened to playing "I Spy"? I emailed a grocery list to Greg to stock us up for the week (Vegenaise is not so easy to find), most of which he was able to locate at HEB.

We make it to Sin City, settle in at the Hilton and after losing $30.00 at slots and watching the skank parade at the MGM Grand before the big fight, I turned in for the night at 9:30 and set my alarm for 6:15 a.m., knowing home was just around the corner.

Gettin' My Groove On

My apologies for the delay in posting...lack of time and sheer exhaustion had the better of me.

Friday, September 18, 2009

My final full day of classes has arrived. While bittersweet, I continue to look forward to repeating classes from last week and noting my improvements.

6:00 a.m. Kickboxing class today...let's roll. I have no idea how Micheline has so much energy at 6:00 a.m., but she does get us moving. 340 calories burned and I'm off to breakfast.

Today's breakfast was a Spanish Fritatta with Avocado, similar to last week's offering with the addition of avocado. The substantial serving was more than enough fuel for today's hike. Speaking of the hike, since tomorrow will be my last chance to improve my record on Stop Sign, I thought I could use the training and calorie burn by choosing Stop Sign for today. It didn't let me down. While I didn't time myself, I did burn over 1,000 calories and gave myself an edge for tomorrow. The better you get to know Stop Sign, the better your time will be come Saturday.

Lunch today was a Chicken Stew and Wheat Roll. I kept asking for butter for my roll but no one understood what "butter" is. This was absolutely one of my favorite lunches, coming as close to comfort food as I've tasted here.

My afternoon classes were scheduled to be Circuit Training, Living Drums, and then Cardio Disco Jam. Wanting to burn as many calories as possible for the day, I opted to sub a second Circuit Training class for the Living Drums. Daniella, 23, and I pushed each other on the cardio machines, practically racing on the treadmills. I was quite pleased with myself in that I was able to keep pace with someone half my age. Cardio Disco Jam was a blast this week, thanks in part to this being my second class and also for John tutoring my two left feet before class. I was actually able to keep pace and enjoy the entire class. I'll really miss seeing John each Thursday in his Funk disco shirt doing his signature move. You have to be there to really appreciate it.

Dinner was a Barbecued Chicken Sandwich with a Brownie for dessert. I asked if the sandwich recipe was in the cookbook and was told it was just a roasted skinless chicken mixed with Cattlemen's BBQ sauce, definitely one I'll be making at home. The brownie was quite good, but since I'm not one for sweets, I doubt I'll be making it myself.

After dinner we chilled at the rest stop and before I knew it, plans were being made for the weekend. Since I had a mani/pedi scheduled for 3:00 p.m. tomorrow, I planned on staying put and packing tomorrow night. Well, it didn't take much to persuade me to escape the compound with Marcus, Sandie and Karen for a trip to Vegas. I'm guessing the $8.00 I have left in laundry money won't last long, but at least there will be a change in scenery. Once plans were made, I headed off for my final deep tissue massage to help prepare for my final Stop Sign Hike, dead set to break my old record of 1:15:05. Tomorrow comes soon, so off to dreamland I go.

Thursday

Where did the time go this week? No exciting news today other than I successfully completed my second training session with Sharon this morning. What was I thinking, weight training first thing before breakfast?

I finally finished a hike other than stop sign today, Chuckwalla. We stopped at the top to take in the view and then made our way back to the shuttle. The entire round trip was about six miles and included quite a bit of sand along the way (sand = red socks).

The notables on today's menu included a Greek Pita sandwich with Sweet Potato Soup at lunch, both of which were quite tasty. This will definitely be one of the recipes I'll attempt at home.

Our afternoon training sessions included Ball Works, Treading and Stretch. I know I pushed myself in Treading today, burning almost 400 calories (I definitely felt the burn). The Polar watch was definitely a good investment.

As was the case last week, Lisa Jean Jewelry will be on display this evening. I splurged last week so I'll try to be good tonight, but no promises. I'm off to do some shopping.

Six Miles and Hawaiian Pizza

I made it to the Yogalates class this morning, stretching just a bit farther than I did in Monday's class. It's always nice to have breakfast after burning more calories than you'll be eating.

My choice for today's hike was West Canyon, a flat area on gravel road, which winds for 3.9 miles. In order to make it back to the parking lot for the shuttle I reversed course at three miles, culminating in a six mile hike for today. Back to campus for Stretch class and then Hawaiian Pizza for lunch. This was definitely the best of the three pizzas I've had since I've been here.

Afternoon classes (Mountain, Kickboxing, Stretch) were better than ever. I've got to find some classes at Lifetime that can compare to keep my momentum going. The 6:00 a.m. class has become a habit, which really does energize me for the day. This is one habit I'd definitely love to take home. The massages would be another, but I guess I can't have everything.

Tonight's dinner, Salmon with Israeli Couscous, was the best I've had since I've been here. The salmon was perfectly seasoned and the couscous was the ideal complement to the fish. No dessert tonight, but the meal was plenty to hold me over for breakfast. We have the option of having a piece of fruit to round out our 1200 calories each day, but I don't think I'll be needing it.
I have no massages scheduled, no Biggest Loser to watch, and other than finishing my laundry, a very uneventful night planned. I'm scheduled for a 6:30 a.m. training session with Sharon, so rest this evening is a great idea.

Enjoy your evening!

My Eagle Pose

I slept in today, getting up at 6:10 a.m. (how lazy is that?), missing the Hard Core class in favor of an extra hour of sleep. Besides, I knew I had a training session with Sharon today, what could be "funner" (Sharon's word for harder)?

Breakfast today was our standard fruit plate served alongside an apple muffin, plenty of carbs to move us on up the hikes. The hike I chose today was Annastasi, a hike located directly behind the campus, eliminating the need for the shuttle ride. With some moderate inclines, it was a more participatory hike for me than I've had since I've been here. Instead of just walking at the base, I was able to enjoy a glance into the valley below, as well as pose on some of the overhangs. If you look hard enough in the picture, you can see the eagle formation below me.

Without getting grotesque, I will admit to having my first sports injury since my arrival here at The Ridge, I'll be losing my left big toenail soon. I was so worried about blisters it never occurred to me the force of descending the eight degree incline would inflict significant jarring to my foot and cause this condition. Oh well, maybe I'll get a discount on my pedicure on Saturday.

Our post-hike class today was Alignment Yoga, a more in-depth instruction on how important Yoga is to maintain your body's alignment. After my power nap, I headed over to lunch, Turkey Sandwich and Tortilla Soup. The sandwich is definitely one of my favorite menu items of this week and last. After lunch I enjoyed a thirty-minute rest under the canopy, then moving on to my personal training session with Sharon. She's been training over twenty years and had a great deal of knowledge to share. I now have a new use for the Bosu Ball we invested in a few months ago, not a particularly fun use, but definitely one that will benefit me in building my core strength.

The afternoon classes (Cardio Intervals, Total Body Toning and Stretch) were all repeats from last week, but I did notice a significant improvement in each and every one of them. After a hard day of hiking, strength and endurance classes, we were treated to the much appreciated Chocolate Covered Strawberries for dessert. Nice touch!

I closed out the evening with a Swedish Massage and headed back to my room to finish off the season premiere of The Biggest Loser. I have a strange feeling that it will be especially poignant for me this season since I feel as if I've lived through what they're enduring each week. Now I can understand why you will oftentimes hear them say they're not ready to leave. The controlled environment keeps you focused without the distractions of everyday life. While we all have to go home some time, my hope is I will have the stamina to continue my fight. I know I have the support of my soul mate, my sweet Greg, I just have to continue drawing from my own strength to push forward.

Nine Minutes, Fifty Seconds

With one week behind me, today was the starting point for new achievements. Whether it's an exercise class, stretch or the hikes, my goal is to improve on everything.

Following breakfast, we headed off for our Monday Stop Sign Hike. After a much deserved day of rest on Sunday, culminating in the deep tissue massage, I'm not sure what else I could have done to prepare for today's hike. With iPod in place, I assumed the lead position for a short time, knowing I needed to start strong and continue strong to improve on my time. Eventually ten or so others passed me on the trail, but I was able to generate the momentum to bump it up to an occasional jog, which I had not done on my previous tries. With God watching over me, some great tunes on the iPod and some strong momentum, I am very happy to say I shaved off nine minutes and fifty seconds from my Saturday hike, bringing my time to one hour, fifteen minutes and five seconds. My original hike last Monday averaged a 21.62 minute mile, while today's averaged 17.44, a result I was definitely pleased with. With the adrenaline flowing, I was able to walk another 2.3 miles back down the course to meet one of our shuttles. I'm actually looking forward to returning to Stop Sign on Saturday to see if I can better today's time.

One of the benefits I have found of moving beyond the first week is I have the knowledge of what awaits me in each class, which buys a significant psychological advantage over being a newcomer. As much as I loved the Circuit Training last week, I enjoyed it even more this week and pushed myself harder on both the cardio and the strength training. Step and Pump was much more fun this week than last, likely because I didn't feel as clumsy and I knew what to expect. The Pool Class before dinner is a great way to end the afternoon class series, until you come out of the water and meet the chill of an early evening breeze.

After classes we were off to dinner, which tonight was Chicken with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus, which was quite tasty and at only 286 calories was surprisingly filling. The evening closed out with a class of Tai Chai and some chillin' in our rest area with the main topic of discussing being food. I've had a great time meeting some of the guests here and hope to stay in contact with many of them. It'll be great to see what components of The Ridge works for them at home.

I'm still debating on whether I'll join the optional 6:00 a.m. class tomorrow since it's scheduled to be Hard Core (appropriately named), which relies heavily on the exercise ball for core training. It's an extremely tough class (it killed me last week) to get through at 6:00 a.m., but I may push myself out of bed in the morning to keep my record going. If it doesn't kill me, it must make me stronger, right?

Don't forget, The Biggest Loser starts tomorrow night.

Much Deserved

Sundays are a day of rest here at The Ridge. Breakfast was served at your leisure between 7 and 9 a.m., which consisted of a fruit-topped waffle with syrup and a grapefruit half. A lunch sack was available to enjoy when you were ready, which for me was after a two and a half hour nap.

Dinner included introductions of the guests for this week, which included a handful of new guests, some returns, and the stay-overs. This is small group of 29, compared to last week's 47, should be even more conducive to allowing everyone the opportunity to get to know each other.

In order to get myself physically ready for tomorrow's Stop Sign Hike, I scheduled a deep tissue massage. When you have that much attention paid to each muscle in your body, you can't help but relax. I'm as ready as I'll ever be to meet that undulating path and eight degree incline.

Wish me well.

8 Minutes 32 Seconds, Aida, and Getting Stoned

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Saturday at The Ridge is a wind-down from the rest of the week. With no 6:00 a.m. optional class scheduled, I was able to sleep in and get to breakfast by 7:00 a.m. Today's hike was the Stop-Sign Hike for everyone, which is used for a comparison to your time on Monday. I am happy with my improvement of eight minutes and thirty-two seconds, finishing in one hour, twenty-four minutes and fifty-five seconds. My goal is to improve again tomorrow, which I am preparing for tonight with a deep-tissue massage.

Once we returned from the hike and completed our Stretch class and lunch, I headed off with a small group to visit Coyote Gulch, an enclave of art galleries, studios, café, gift and coffee shop. We had an hour and a half to browse, which was more than enough time. I had some down time in my room until the graduation ceremony at 4:45 p.m., which I spent simply relaxing The ceremony included a viewing of a dvd produced by Fitness Ridge of the week's activities, capturing some of our accomplishments, as well as some of the fun (Cardio Disco Jam) we had along the way. Each guest receives a copy of the dvd to take home, which is greatly appreciated since there is such incredible scenery to behold on the more advanced hikes that some of us did not see along our paths. My goal is to be able to see some of it for myself this week, I'll keep you posted. For those of us attending all classes, hikes and lectures during the week, we were presented with our weekly prize (1st week - t-shirt, 2nd week -bag, 3rd week - jacket, 4th week - $65 credit). I'm hoping to have the trainers sign my shirt over the next week with their words of inspiration.

Immediately after dinner I headed off for my treat of the week, a Hot Stone Massage. "Getting Stoned" has to be the most relaxing way to end your week here at The Ridge. Tyler, my masseuse, used hot stones and a Swedish massage to release all of my tensions from the week, turning me into complete mush.

My excursion for the week was with three of my new friends; Jill, Susan and Lorretta, heading off to see "Aida" at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre. First of all, the theater is absolutely breathtaking on its own. It's described as "a stage with an awesome backdrop of 1,500 foot red rock cliffs, and hearing the sounds of music echoing from the canyon walls". I cannot convey in words the experience I had at this theater, but it is something New York or Houston could never deliver. Who knew a theater in Ivins, Utah could outdo the big city productions? The music and storyline were extremely moving, but the tour de force was the set. Who would have ever expected the waterfall set into the cliffs to eventually flood the stage, or to see the soldiers riding stallions, or to see a camel, a ram, chickens, a pig, or a bunny? Did I mention the fireworks? The evening stars and the occasional lightning bug took it over the top for me. My next visit to Fitness Ridge will definitely include a return visit to the Tuacahn Amphitheatre.

One more item of note for today, John, our instructor for today's Stretch Class, closed out the session with us relaxing to the newest Whitney Houston single, "I Didn't Know My Own Strength". All I can say is that after a week of pushing myself far beyond my comfort zone and exceeding any expectations of myself, this song has become my new anthem.

I didn’t know my own strength
And I crashed down, and I tumbled
But I did not crumble
I got through all the pain
I didn’t know my own strength
Survived my darkest hour
My faith kept me alive
I picked myself back up
Hold my head up high
I was not built to break
I didn’t know my own strength

I hope your week has included some moments to remember.

The Tortoise and the Hare

Let me first of all start out with two very important items of note I failed to include in yesterday's blog. The first of which was dinner, which consisted of a stuffed bell pepper with real ground turkey, and a side of couscous. This meal is definitely at the top of my list for this week's menu. I also failed to mention a local jewelry crafter that had her wares on display for the guests. The items I purchased will remain a mystery until I return home, but I must mention that I did recall Greg's offer to spare no expense, so I didn't. How fun for me!

As has been the case this week, I was up at 5:00 a.m. and headed to the gym for this morning's class, Kickboxing. My walk was unusually quiet, I do believe the roosters and turkeys were sleeping in, but the North Star was beaming to light my way. Needless to say, Kickboxing in the morning (before breakfast) does not burn the same number of calories I spent in the afternoon class. Every muscle in my body was worked during the session, which helped to ready me for the hike.

This morning's breakfast was a Frittata, which was full of protein and carbs to fuel us for the hike. My tummy was full and I was ready to move it, move it.

I opted again for the Stop Sign Hike, but was only able to make it 2.25 miles in, my hip was giving me signals to turn around. With the round trip, as well as some additional walking at the end of the trail, I completed slightly over 4.5 miles. I'll be facing it again tomorrow, so I'll keep you updated on any progress I can make. I did capture some shots of the park's residents, Mr. Tortoise and Mr. Hare, of which I have selected Mr. Tortoise to be my mascot. At the rate I'm moving up the hill, he may just beat me.

The after lunch class today was Stretch, which is always welcome after the hike. Of course I followed it with the daily power nap, so I was ready to go when lunchtime arrived. Speaking of lunch, today we were treated to a Sloppy Joe (I think it was vegetarian) and a very tasty Tomato Soup.

Today's afternoon classes were more energetic and creative than we've experienced this week. We started off with a Living Drums (involves drumsticks, an exercise ball, and a lot of movement), Circuit (repeat from earlier in the week), and finally Cardio Disco Jam, where we had fun making fools out of ourselves. Since I have no rhythm whatsoever, it was hilarious to watch myself try to move to disco in a full length mirror. To top it off, the videographer captured us in motion, which will be recorded on a dvd we all receive at Saturday's graduation. Woo Hoo!

I must admit the kitchen outdid themselves today. With the aforementioned breakfast and lunch, we were treated to a Salmon Burger for dinner. It was a treat, but the natives did seem a bit restless when we found out there would be no dessert for a third night.

The Stop Sign Hike awaits me tomorrow, which helps us determine if we've improved our time since Monday. Since my hip continues to be a hindrance, and I have another week to work on my time, I'll do what I can and hope for the best.

Since I move at a slower pace today, I took my time to record the scenery in still shots. Enjoy!

Treading

Out of the room shortly before 6:00 a.m., in time to hear the roosters crowing and the turkeys clucking before sunrise. The Total Body Conditioning class is an incredible way to wake up every muscle in your body, and wake up they did.

Breakfast this morning was french toast with strawberries, along with a side of fruit...plenty of carbs to keep up the strength on the hike. Speaking of the hike, I opted for the Stop Sign Hike again, but was slowed down with a sore hip. My first stop back at the spa was to schedule a deep tissue massage for this evening. We'll be on the same hike again on Saturday, which will help us to see the progress we've made since our first hike on Monday. The cardio training throughout the week has to make a difference for a better finish, but my primary goal is to complete the hike.

Speaking of the hike, here's a funny story: I've finished the hike and I'm sitting in the van with an ice pack on my sore hip, waiting to leave and pick up the other hikers. Meanwhile, a couple of ladies (not Fitness Ridge guests) stop by to adjust their bikes and one of them says hello to me. We exchanged greetings, and after she noticed the name on the van, she says to me, "You're staying at that fat farm place, aren't ya?" I responded with "I'm at Fitness Ridge Resort", still shocked that she had asked the question, and she responded with "Good for you, have a great day." She then rode off into the sunset. God has planted yet another seed of motivation to help me reach my goals.

Back at the Ridge (not the "Fat Farm"), my post-hike class today was Yoga, which is just what the body needs after a hike. I felt much better afterwards and knew I could get through the day.

Today's lunch was broccoli soup and pizza. The broccoli soup was outstanding, but the pizza was not exactly something I'm looking forward to seeing on the menu next week. They do, however, do some amazing things with the menu here, which included chocolate-covered strawberries last night. See, it's not all veggie sandwiches and beet soup!

My afternoon classes consisted of Ball Works (too many new exercises for the ball to list), Treading, and a much needed Stretch class. Treading is probably the most feared of all the classes hear, which explains why after our cooking demo today the chef wished us good luck in Treading. The class requires you to choose one cardio machine that you'll use the entire session, you then start out with a ten minute warm-up, followed by five minutes of pushing yourself at max speed. The good news is that once you've completed the five minutes, you have five minutes of rest, the bad news is after the rest you'll have four minutes to go at max speed. You now have four minutes of rest, continuing the cycle and if you're lucky you'll stop after you reach one minute. We were "thrilled" today when our instructor, Sharon (who's absolutely fabulous), informed us we had a surprise at the end, which turned out to be another 80 second sprint at full speed. This was, without doubt, the hardest class I've experienced here, but I was able to run at max each session, so I'm very pleased with my performance. I actually can't wait until next week's Treading class to see how I've improved.

The trainers and staff here are outstanding and make it possible for us to push ourselves, while still allowing us to enjoy the spa aspects. They're all amazing at remembering our names, and the programs are very conducive to making new friends. With this support system, it's much easier to stay focused on your goal, whatever it may be for your time here.

I just finished the deep tissue massage and feel more than ready to crawl under the covers and call it a day. The roosters and turkeys will greet me soon enough, as will an energized instructor with a punching stand and boxing gloves.

Beet Soup and Kickboxing

Call me crazy, but I was up again for the 6:00 a.m. optional class. This morning it was Yogalates, and as the name implies, it is a combination of Yoga and Pilates, both of which are new to me. It was a great way to get the muscles warmed up for the daily hike, as well as stretch out some of yesterday's soreness.

My choice for today's hike was the beginner version, 101, which took us along a 4.5 mile flat stretch at the base of the mountain. I made it about two-thirds of the way through the hike and reversed course to make it back in time for the shuttle. I find myself having the endurance, it's the speed that's not quite what I need it to be to finish the hike in our allotted time. In time I'll get there, it's definitely a goal for me to reach before I leave next week.

Today's post-hike class was Core Training, an extremely informative session on how the core works and why it's important to keep it strong. Again, another goal for me to continue to work on. With all of the classes requiring a stable core, I must say it is the sorest of all my muscle groups. The soreness I have when laughing or coughing reminds me of the work I've been doing.

Due to having forty-five minutes available until lunch, I took advantage of the free time and had myself a power nap. A thirty minute power nap can can get you through just about anything.

Lunch today was beet soup and a vegetable sandwich, both of which were quite tasty. I never dreamed I would eat beets in any form, much less beet soup, but they can do wonders here with the food. I've ordered the cookbook and hope to use it on a frequent basis.

Afternoon classes included Aerobic Mountain (three minute periods with progressive increases in speed and resistance), Kickboxing and Pool. Of all the classes thus far, I was able to start strong and stay strong in Kickboxing, which I owe to our personal trainer, Chris Sambursky. His work with me over the past two years, including several kickboxing sessions, gave me the knowledge and strength to hold my own in this class. Thanks Chris.

Dinner was followed by a class on intuitive eating, which provided information everyone can use to determine why exactly it is we are eating. Emotion, upbringing, outside influences, and many other factors can play a part in why we eat, and it really does help to understand the issues you might have with food. Sounds like a counseling session, I know, but it really is beneficial information.

Based on the readings from my heart rate monitor, I've burned 3,842 calories today, so it has been a very good day.

It's only 8:40 p.m. and I do believe I am ready to call it a night. Total Body Conditioning awaits me tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. and I can't break my pattern of 6:00 a.m. classes just yet.

The Muffin

It was an option to attend a 6:00 a.m. class today, but I went for it with gusto and chose the Cardio Circuit, which was changed to a Core Training class. Who knew those large exercise balls could inflict so much pain? I have to remember that pain is nothing more than weakness leaving the body. Somehow I know I'll be referring back to those words of wisdom over the next two weeks.

After enduring the Core Training today, I moved myself on over to the dining hall. Today's breakfast consisted of mixed fruit and a muffin. I know what you're saying, how could we possibly survive until lunch on a muffin and fruit? Well, I honestly don't know what was in the muffin other than strawberries and bananas, but it must have been packed with some heavy duty complex carbs because I was not hungry until lunchtime. It definitely ranks at the top of my list of favorites from our menu thus far.

After breakfast we were off to our daily hike, with the choice I made today being the intermediate course. It was definitely challenging enough for me, but I will be opting for a flatter surface tomorrow. I have two weeks to build up my hiking skills, so there's no rush to overextend myself and I know I'll be burning plenty of calories on any trail I choose.

Once we made it back from the hike, which was followed by the yoga class, it was off to lunch, which consisted of mushroom soup, a turkey sandwich (yes, a whole sandwich), and a green salad with fruit. This was more food than I normally have at Panera, but it wasn't too filling and was very tasty...definitely two thumbs up.

After the cooking demonstration from Chef Cameron, it was time for the afternoon fun festivities to begin. First on the list was Cardio Intervals, which was the closest I've come thus far to tears. With each person on a cardio machine, we started at a low level and with eight periodic increases to our intensity "climbed the ladder", after which we decreased our intensity with eight reductions, followed by a two minute sprint at max speed, then repeated the process. I do believe this was the longest forty-five minutes of my life.

With the next two classes being a toning class with low weights, followed by a stretch class, it was the perfect way to push myself without major injury. Stretching really is the optimal way to end a day of intense activity.

The day's activities closed with a lecture on how to spend your calories wisely. It was very informative and I know we'll be implementing many of the components at home.

Having finished my first two days here at The Ridge, I decided to take Greg up on his offer to spare no expense and enjoy myself, which I did with a Swedish massage. The soreness is gone for now, but tomorrow looms just over the horizon.

I'm off to bed for now, Yogalates awaits me at 6:00 a.m.

First Steps

Monday, September 7, 2009

My internet connection was down last night, which is why this is a day late. Please forgive me.

My first full day at Fitness Ridge began with a 6:00 a.m. Intro to Circuit class with instructions on how to use each and every machine. Oh yes, there were two Bosu balls, my least favorite of the resistance training options.

After class, it was off to breakfast at 7:00 a.m., after which we boarded our shuttle buses for our Stop Sign Hike. We rode the shuttle to Snow Canyon State Park, heading off to our 4.3 mile hike which started with a paved trail, followed by a short distance on a paved road, ultimately finishing at the infamous Stop Sign. Since I live in Katy, I’m not accustomed to the altitude of 3100 feet, or the alternating inclines and declines along the way, but I did enjoy the humidity-free weather, which helped me to finish the hike in one hour and thirty-three minutes, twenty-seven seconds. It was a great starting point for me and I definitely plan to improve upon my results.

I feel obligated to share with anyone who hikes that Wright anti-friction socks is a wise investment. It’s the best helpful hint I was given for this trip.

I must say the scenery here is something to behold…the red rock is absolutely breathtaking. You’re surrounded throughout your excursion by these majestic mountains which are kind enough to provide some shade along the way, which is greatly appreciated.

Once we returned from the hike, we had our choice of a pool class or stretching, and I opted for the latter. It was a great way to unwind after the hike and I knew the time spent would significantly decrease the muscle soreness later. While you may wonder why I wouldn’t have opted for the pool, it was scheduled for an afternoon class for me as well, and since I don’t swim, one class in the water a day is enough for me to handle. If you didn’t know I can’t swim, you probably wonder why we have a pool. Who knows, swimming may become my next monumental goal to achieve…I’ll keep you posted.

Lunch was followed by the Budget Lecture, using the analogy of exercise as your income, calorie intake as your expense, and the difference representing your savings. When you have a weight loss goal, you have a “savings goal”. It can be an effective tool, but definitely requires planning, as would be the case with any budget. I did indulge in a twenty minute power nap after the lecture, which gave me the energy I knew I would need for what awaited me. The nap was lovely!

The afternoon was comprised of Circuit Training, Step and Pump, and the aforementioned pool class. While I had never experienced a Step class before, and I definitely enjoyed it, my favorite was the Circuit Training. The course is structured so that you spend two minutes on a cardio machine, then move on to the sequentially numbered resistance machine (two 45 second sets with 30 seconds rest between), moving through the circuit as you continue to alternate between cardio and resistance. Two minutes on each machine keeps it interesting and it allows you to push yourself beyond what you might normally do when you spend 30 to 45 minutes on one cardio machine. I rocked on the cardio!

It was a great day here at The Ridge and I’m looking forward to the 5:00 a.m. wakeup tomorrow as I ready myself for the Cardio Circuit class before breakfast. Am I crazy or what?
　
　
　

The Journey Begins

It's been five months since I made the commitment to visit Fitness Ridge and now the day has finally arrived. I can't believe I'm actually here. For those of you unfamiliar with Fitness Ridge, Greg and I discovered it when watching The Biggest Loser when it was awarded to Tara last season for winning a challenge. The Ridge is located in Ivins, Utah near St. George, an area known for breathtaking scenery and great hiking.

After leaving Houston at 9:15 this morning and following the two and a half hour shuttle drive from Vegas, I arrived at 3:15 this afternoon, along with a bevy of new friends I had met on the shuttle. With only enough time to unpack, I then headed off for my weigh-in, body composition, and BMI measurements. Suffice to say, some things are best left a mystery, so don't expect to see those numbers just yet. It did, however, help reinforce the reason I chose to be here, which is to improve myself in ways that will build a solid foundation for a long and healthy life.

With time to kill before dinner, I was off for a little cardio. The machines (Life Fitness) are exactly what I'm accustomed to at Lifetime, so that helps to make for a smooth transition. A little rest after cardio, and then off to dinner. Tonight's dinner was a Angel Hair Pasta with Pesto (355 calories) and Chocolate and Vanilla Marble Pie (155 calories). Both were delicious and looked to be recipes that could easily be made in the home kitchen. Dinner was followed by an orientation session which included an overview of what to expect and what is expected of you during the week, the additional services offered (massages, acupuncture, manicures, pedicures, all the good stuff), excursions available, and discussion of our upcoming hikes.

I've already met some great people from all over the country, and during tonight's intros we discovered a guest from Baghad, as well as a gentleman from Edinburgh, Scotland. The reasons for being here vary by person, including "it was my best friend's idea for us to visit," to "I saw it on Biggest Loser," to "it's a chance for me to make a serious change in my behavior." I'm really looking forward to hearing more of their stories. I feel like I'm back at summer camp, only this time there are much higher expectations of me than making a beaded necklace to take home.

Good night for now. The alarm is set for 5:00 a.m., with our first scheduled activity being a circuit training class at 6:00 a.m. A good night's sleep just might be the best preparation you can have for a day here at The Ridge.