Day 2 and 3 completed

I need to start by saying that this is the greatest place for fitness that I have ever been. The staff is so incredibly accommodating. Day two started out with a hike that was beautiful, but also challenging. I had 5 people on my hike with 3 guides (the guides are fabulous). It was approximately 3 miles. Back to Fitness Ridge for a 45 minute stretching class. I stretched areas that I didn't know needed to be stretched, it was great. After lunch we had a cooking demo from Chef Cameron where he showed us how he made salmon burgers, and a homemade dressing from mango's, vinegar, sesame oil, and water (yummy). Total toning class was next, it is nothing but a step w/risers, a weight bar, and weights. This class kicked my butt, but I know it will help tighten muscles that I didn't know I had. Pool was next and can I just say that I LOVE the pool classes. The water is warm and the air cool and the class really gives you a great workout. Fifteen minutes later I was in a circuit interval class where you pick a cardio machine and every 30 seconds you need to increase either your speed or your level. You do that 8 times and then decrease every 30 seconds until you get to the lowest level. Then you do an all out sprint for 2 minutes, rest for 2 minutes, all out sprint for 1 minute and then start the process all over again. It was a great workout and my legs were shaking when we done. After dinner we had a lecture on nutrition that was very enlightening. I will be changing some things when I get home on how my family eats. (get ready family..lol),

Day 3:  I started the day out in the gym doing my own thing for approximately 15 minutes to get warmed up for the hike.  We headed out to vans to go to the starting point of our hikes.  My hike was called Barrel Roll due to all the barrel cactus.  It was very skinny trail that just wound around and up and down.  I'm struggling today because I'm so tired...I haven't been sleeping well and they also say that day three is usually a day you hit a wall.  Got back to the ridge and went to a circuit class.  After lunch I did my first ever kick boxing class..WOW it is a workout, but I loved it.  We were paired with a person for one part of it where one person would hold the bag while the other person hit the bag as fast and hard as they could for 30 seconds.  Then we would switch.  My partner was Brittney from season 5 of the Biggest Loser..She is here for 3 weeks and we are getting to know each other pretty well.  FUN!  Next class was 15 minutes later and it was cardio machine for 45 min. and every 4 minutes increasing the level intensity.  The last class was pool..I love the pool!  

The meals here are fantastic.  I have posted some pictures of what I'm eating, and some landscaping scenes.  It is 8:30 and I'm going to bed.  

Maybe I will get better at posting pictures before this trip is over.

1st day completed

Well today was my first full day at fitness ridge.  It started out at 6am for a intro to circuit training (it was to show us how all the equipment worked).  Then breakfast which was a bowl of berries and melon and a frittata, it was very good and filling.  We were then assigned a hike to go on and mine was really beautiful.  I hiked for 5 miles.  After arriving back to Fitness Ridge I went to a class called "Mountain", it is a class where you get on an cardio machine and every three minutes you increase the intensity.  It was great and I rode 7.5 miles on the incumbent bike.  Lunch was next and it was a really tasty bean and rice burrito, salad, and ginger carrot soup (yum).  We then had a lecture on food budget...calories in verses burned.  It was then time for the pool...It was rainy, windy and very cold, but that doesn't stop the class from going on.  The water was warm and the workout was very good (I would have to say that I loved it).  I was then in circuit training and the last class was step and pump (it kicked my butt).   I burned over 32oo calories today.  Dinner was a salmon burger with brussel sprouts (excellent).  And, then a lecture on nutrition.  Very tired, but also proud of myself that I accomplished all of that in one day.  On a side note:  Brittney from Biggest Loser season 5 is here also and she will be here for 5 weeks.  She is in my group and so we had all our classes together today.  I forgot to take my camera with me today so I have no pictures, but I will try to get some for tomorrows post.  Well it is 8:30 and I'm going to bed...Very tired.  

So much love and support

I boarded the plane early yesterday morning for my flight out to Las Vegas.  Bob works for the airline so he was able to walk down to the gate to give me one last hug and words of encouragement before I took off.  I had an entire row to myself so it was a very comfortable flight.  When I arrived in Vegas I was getting on the escalator to get my bags and I spottted my Dad at the bottom waiting for me.  What a wonderful sight..Mom was standing at the baggage carousel waiting for my bag.  Hugs all around.  We spent a few hours at the outlet center in Vegas before making the drive to St. George.  I found some great flip flops at the Croc store that I will be able to wear to the pool at Fitness Ridge.    Upon arriving at my parents home I walked into the spare room that I will be calling my own for the month and I see all kinds of emotional support hanging on the walls.  

I went to the computer to look at e-mails, etc. when my mom told me that she had something to show me...I walked back into the room and there on the dresser were three baskets full of little gifts, poems, cards, letters, and a lot of love.   My parents, and 3 sisters had each made a basket filled with their encouragement for me.  I was so overwhelmed by their love and support that it was difficult to even get through the letter that said "open me first".  I would like them to know that their love and support mean everything to me and I love them very much.  I would also like to tell my husband Bob and children Jessica and Alex that I will miss them very much and that I know they are with me in spirit.  Also, a big thank you to all you following this blog for your encouraging words and support.  I start my Fitness Ridge journey in 4 hours.  

thanks for all the support

Today is my day to get all the last minute shopping done and get it into the suitcase. So excited that I am able to stay with my parents for the month. It is great that I will have people at Fitness Ridge with the same goals as mine, but I'm also so grateful for two great parents and their support. It will really be nice to be in their home and have them all to myself for 4 weeks. Thanks Mom and Dad for always being there for me. I'm flying out on Saturday to start my 4 week adventure. I know that is going to be hard and challenging, but I am determined to push myself and get to a place where I know that I can continue this at home. I have given myself this year to get healthy and lose all those unwanted pounds. Thanks to everyone that is in my corner, I couldn't do without all of you. Love to you all.

getting ready

Flying out next Saturday to attend Biggest Loser Fitness Ridge for one month. I am so excited to do something good for me. I started to lay out all the things that I will taking with me today and making a last minute list and checking it twice. I have spent some time this afternoon downloading some more tunes on my IPOD. This last week at work has been extremely busy and it has been a real struggle to get my exercise in. Usually when I get so busy I tend to put myself last, but not this time. I am learning that delegating is not a bad thing. My new motto is "Put yourself 1st" and I know that everything else will fall into place. I would like to thank Cat and Annalise for their posts on their blogs. They are so motivating and it just confirms to me that I'm not alone in this battle. I feel that I have a lot of cyber friends out there and it motivates me more that you can imagine. Every time I step on the scale I say "goodbye" to that number forever because I don't intend to ever see it again. This time is different for me because I feel that I have a more realistic goal and I don't expect it to happen overnight. I will be taking it one day at a time and will see this journey through. Off to walk now!

another good walk

Went out yesterday and did the same beautiful walk that I found on Sunday. It goes through the woods and I don't have to hear all the road noise. Took my husband with me this time and he also loved the new trail. The weather couldn't have been better..sunny here in Minnesota. Every time that I take a long walk outside I feel stronger that I did the day before. I'm hoping that by the time I arrive at FR I will be strong enough to do the stop sign hike. The air is thinner out there due the the altitude and I have the biggest problem with my breathing when walking up hill. I'm trying to breath in through my nose and out through my mouth. It feels funny to have to continually think about the way that I'm breathing. I need to plan my meals better than I'm doing now. It's been a long day and I need to try to get at least 7 hours of sleep so I'm going to say hello to my pillow. I will taking my before pictures this week and hopefully I will be brave enough to post them. I really want to be able to see some difference after my 4 weeks at FR.

It's been a long week

I'm working 6 days this week and as each day passes it feels like I'm getting farther and farther behind. It is spring hiring time and I'm trying to train a new HR Manager at another store. So much on my plate right now. I am getting so excited to be at Fitness Ridge. I'm trying to get up early each day and do some kind of exercise even if it is only 20 minutes. It does make my day get of to a better start. Usually exhausted by the time I get home each night. Thanks to everyone out there who is reading and commenting on my blog. It helps to know that you have a lot of support from friends and family. Love to you all. Have to go to bed now.