Home at last after an awesome week!

I am home now after an amazing week at the Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge. The results are in - I lost 7 pounds and one percent body fat. I am excited!!!! It was the best week!! I loved the whole week of hiking and working out, taking classes and learning how to eat healthy. I actually am excited to go back in August. The Resort gives you a compilation of photos and video taken during the week set to some awesome pumped up music. I just shared that with Steve and it was really a neat moment.  Now I need to focus on working out at least five times a week and eating a healthy balanced diet - they recommended that your plate be 1/4 protein, 1/4 whole grain complex carbs and the other have vegetables. So, I am going to shoot for that - I made a menu plan for this week and went shopping for food already. My next hurdle is a big, big one - the Mud Run next weekend!! Based on my performance on the hikes the Mud Run will be an extreme challenge for me. But, I AM going to do it. I might be the last one over the finish line, but I will finish!! Tonight some rest in my own bed and some exercise in the morning before the last weigh in of the family Biggest Loser contest. I don’t think I was able to make up enough pounds last week to win, but we shall see.

Another awesome hike today!

Another awesome hike today! Up at the crack of dawn again today and out for hike at 6:30 a.m. for 21/2 hours - it was great - much better than the first day. My crazy self portrait with the sun on my head - wierd, huh? Then after the hike we had breakfast and then the rest of the day was free - thank goodness. I got a manicure and an emotional release massage. That was avery interesting experience - it was a massage but then the massage therapist would touch you in a certain place and she actually knew things that were bothering you or things that you were emotional about. She was exactly correct when she identified two areas that I am not complete in. It was extremely healing and cathartic for me - which according the the therapist should help me in releasing my weight. So, that is exciting. Then tonight we had "graduation" where we watched a video of the week and everyone sweating their buns off. LOL! Some people announced how much they lost while they were here - my roommate lost 19 pounds in four weeks, another lady lost 28 pounds in four weeks. So, that was pretty encouraging. I will be weighing in tomorrow morning and I will report what my results were tomorrow. After I eat my breakfast then I am off for my five plus hour drive home. Can't wait to see hubby and Cleo!!!

Really cool hike today

Today I went on a really cool hike called the Butterfly hike, as you can see by the photo these rocks look like butterfly wings, hence the name. It was a nice hike and we also went to a cave, the other photo - kinda scary huh? - where hikers shimmy down in and hike out the other side - our hike guide was engaged there. Crazy, huh? Then there was a stretch class, counseling for going home, lunch, another kick butt pool class, circuit training, and disco dance class. So, another full day. Oh and also a class on the importance of calories in vs. calories out in order to loose weight. I calculated my resting metabolic rate - how many calories I burn just laying around all day in order to find out how much I would have to eat and exercise to loose weight. It takes a 3500 calorie deficit to loose one pound - I knew this fact before, but never really figured out how much I could eat to loose, etc. But, now I am figuring that out so when I get home I will be very aware of calories in and calories out to release some more pounds.  No more wild sushi or pasta nights for me for awhile unless I am willing to exercise a ton the next day, argh! It is all good I am coming home with a plan and I have learned that I like hiking,  swimming,   and kickboxing. Anyone want to go? Oh yes, and some yoga or stretching too!

The Blister

I guess the title today say it all. Argh! Today was what they call here the stop sign hike up a grade for many miles to a couple of stop signs, but  making it there is a prize. I made it to the first one and all the way back down to the van that brings us to and from the hikes. The last mile or so I was dying because I now am the proud owner of a huge blister on the ball of my foot. Argh! But, I made it the whole 5 1/2 miles. Not so sure about tomorrow though with this darn thing. We shall see. Pray for a miracle and that it is gone in the morning or at least enough better to be able to do the hike. Again today the scenary was gorgeous, no photos though sorry. After that we had open breakfast and another lecture and then open gym where we could do whatever we wanted - I did the treadmill a some weights. Then it was into the pool - who would think that a pool exercise class would be so darn hard. Then lunch and another lecture on what to do at home. Then a class called Ball Works - oh my gosh who knew you could torture someone so much with one of those big inflated balls, I forget what they are called. Anyway, tons of sweat. LOL! Then a class they call treading where you do balls out cardio for five minutes then rest, then four minutes then rest on down until you are doing one minute of hard core cardio and one minute of rest. I thought I was going to die. I had to do the stationary bike - the only good thing about the blister is that I couldn't do the treadmill. LOL! Then back into the pool - which was a relief after the other class. Then dinner and some menu planning strategies - boy is Steve going to experience some new healthy eating. And, now I am in my room writing this blog at 8 p.m. I haven't even commented on how nice and sincere and caring everyone here is. It is interesting how so much of being overweight is emotional - well I guess I already knew that.

Fourth day...and a whole lot more exercise

Here is a photo of one of the places we hiked. Today was similar to the other days so far - it is already starting to seem like the movie Ground Hog Day. LOL! A hike, and four exercise classes, including kick boxing - which I loved. I am going to have to incorporate that into my exercise repitoir when I get home. And, hiking too. I will be doing the Claremont Wilderness Trail for sure now. Anyone game to go on that hike? We also had several lectures about eating and emotions and other topics, but one interesting thing that someone said was that "Whether you think you can or you think you can't you are right." Hmmmmm...Didn't I post that on an early blog and don't I talk about that quite a bit. Well, all my thoughts were totally reinforced again in a completely good way. YEAH! And, on my hike this morning I hiked with one of the hike guides and we talked about all kinds of very interesting things that also made me know tht I am on the right track. I did get a blister though...