Day 4 - Getting my groove back

I am not a fan of the eggs here, so I had a bagel thin with peanut butter instead

Today's hike was Hiden Pinion , I enjoyed it so much more than yesterdays even though there was more elevation, sand and climbing up rocks.  The scenary was beautiful and everyone in my van enjoyed themselves.  I spoke to one of the hike guides Tracy and she said she was afraid driving back to the resort after yesterday's hike, everyone was so quiet she was afraid she was going to get stabbed after how everyone felt about the hike....of course she was kidding but that's the kind of morning yesterday was.

Van 6 sitting pretty

Feeling like we are on top of the world!

One of my hike guides Tracy
She loves getting hold of my camera and snapping pictures

Forgot to write yesterday that we had a Q&A in the evening with Sarah Nitta, she is a Biggest Loser contestant from last year and currently employed by Fitness Ridge as Social Media director and motivator.
One thing I took away from what she said was 'Getting your mind in the right place and your body will follow"
I thought that was a pretty accurate thing on what I am working on.

Today there is a transition happening with departing guests and stay-over guests.  They offer lectures on preparing you for going home and since I have another week here and I did not want to go to the cooking demonstration after lunch I went and did Gym class which was in the new building that they have added on since my last visit.  I had a blast playing badminton, the other half of the gym they were playing something called Pickle Ball, which I am sure I will experience in the next week.

The day rounded out with Ball class, which is not as easy as it sounds and then Treading which is a cardio class.  Again I did not go in the pool, but did a double Treading class....I was tired when I finished.

I can't believe tomorrow is friday already...

Day 3 - Wednesday Blah

Well, the hike today was not one of my favorites here.  It was called Brooks Pond and I am not sure if it was because it was wednesday and just exhaustion or what, but nobody on my van enjoyed it really,  I think the front hike guide may have gone out too fast and we spent most of the time watching our feet to make sure we didn't slip and fall.

The good thing was that the day got better as it went.  After talking to a couple of the trainers here about some stuff I started feeling better.  On top of that today I had my favorite class, Kickboxing with Sharon.  It is a great way to get rid of some frustration, by punching and kicking a heavy bag.

It cooled down today, I think It only got up to 14 or 15C, so I did not go to pool class (the pool is heated and they have pool class all year round...even if it is snowing), but its the getting out that is not fun.  Now I didn't get to freely skip a class and take a nap, instead I double up on my cardio class...mountain.

Here is hoping that tomorrow's hike is better than todays and that I am not as sore and tired.

Day 2

My new friend Barb from Alberta being goofy in the morning

So, another day of getting my butt kicked, and I survived.
Well, the morning hike was in Snow Canyon, called White Rock.  Another amazing and beautiful hike.

My great group, Van #6

Butterfly rock

Shadow puppets....Having fun on the hike!

Pulling a Julia Roberts on Piano Rock

So,  the hike I went out to a few places like "Stair Mistress", which seemed to be straight up (well, maybe a bit of an exaggeration) and Piano rock, which you can see I had fun at.

After the hike I went to stretch class which was taught by the new trainer here, Sione, who is a previous Biggest Loser contestant on Season 7, and not too hard on the eyes.
The rest of the day was rounded off by Deep Water Suspension, Cardio Interval and Total Toning as well as 2 lectures...man I have to say I am tired and sore today.
The one thing I am glad about is that a had a really good night sleep last night, which was really great.

Well, I think that is it for tonight as I am writing this while I am watching the Biggest Loser on TV in our lovely new lounge, flat screen tv and butter soft leather couches.

Round 2 - Day 1.....I'm Back!!!!!!

Well, I am back for my second visit to Fitness Ridge here in beautiful Utah.

I spent Saturday night in Las Vegas, staying at the Trump Towers.  It was a nice hotel  and for me I liked the fact that it does not have a casino in it,so it is not all smokey and I didn't gamble any way.

I arrived in Utah on Sunday and I think I was in the pool and enjoying the lovely 28C sunny weather within an hour on arriving here, very nice!

Monday arrived and I started my day at 6am with a yogalates stretch class...it was nice to stretch my muscles out.  After breakfast I headed out for my assessment hike called Anastasi, It was a nice hike.

Beautiful Red Mountains

You can see my resort there on the right from my hike

Some Petrogliffs on the rocks

 The hike went well, except I started feeling my left knee acting up....not happy.  I iced my knee after lunch and supper, so all is well.
I rounded out my day with a couple lectures and 3 more hours of working out.  I think the Core class with Nicole was my favorite, it kicked my butt and it felt great!
Now dinner was another story, not that it wasn't really good, but I sat down to eat it and I had no appetite.  I think I am a bit dehydrated from the working out , the 3000ft elevation here and my recent plane ride.  But, I forced myself to slowly eat it and I did because I know how important it is to eat the food they give you here.

Yummy Chicken and Polenta 

Funny, I had no problem eating this at  all!!

 Well, that is if for today, I am tired and trying to fend out dehydration and the bed it calling me.

Wrapping it up and Referrals

I know, I know I have been home for a 2 weeks now and I haven't posted a wrap up blog of my trip.
So, here it goes.

Sunday I slept in a bit, I think it was 7, which after getting up @ 0530 was great. I "tested out" at 730 and these are my results:
         weight loss = 16lbs
         inches loss = 10 inches between my chest, waist
                              and hips
         body fat % = down 2.3%
         BMI = down 2.9

Overall I am happy with the results, but lets be realistic, of course I wanted more.  But hey this is my journey and though my 4 weeks at Fitness Ridge are over I am not done with working on myself.

Nicole (one of the trainers) and myself at graduation Saturday night.

 The flight home on Sunday was uneventful and I was home by 2am.  The good thing was that Monday was a holiday so I had the day to rest up and get organized for work on Tuesday.

One thing I wanted to mention is the Referral Program they have at Fitness Ridge.  If you decide to go to The Biggest Loser at Fitness Ridge in either Utah or Malibu and mention that I referred you then you will get $100 off your trip and I will get $100 off a future trip of mine, so a win for both of us.
And yes, I have already booked my next trip.  I will be going the last week of October and first week of November.  No Cuba trip for me this year for my birthday, instead I will be in Utah for an early birthday present to myself.

The 4 weeks  I spent in Utah were just amazing.  Oh they were tough, I was exhausted, sore, in pain, emotional...think I shed a tear or two.  But oh so rewarding and I was so glad I had the courage to venture out into the unknown and get my butt kicked from here to Utah and back! The entire staff is great and the trainers are just awesome, they are so encouraging, supportive and motivational.  So, If anyone is thinking 'should I go, should I spend the money and be away from my family', the answer is a resounding YES, you are worth it....!

Day 27 - Last Workout day!

So today is my last day, and because it is Saturday, it is only half a day.

Dinner was very good.

Today I chose to do West Canyon hike.  It is a nice hike, not too difficult, but you go at your own pace.  Today I felt my tank was running on empty, I was so exhausted, so my hiking was not at a quick pace at all.

I finished off the day with a stretch class and somehow was able to do a mountain class.

View I have when I am on the treadmill

You can't beat the view, looking out at the beautiful mountains.

Saturday night is graduation night.  They show us a dvd of some video and pictures of the past week and we all get a copy of it.  They do a really good job of putting it together.  Afterwards they pass the microphone around and ask you to say a few words of something about your week if you wish.  I passed on saying anything in previous weeks, but spoke today and maybe shed a tear.

Tomorrow I "test out", I get weighed, measured and body fat percentage all get redone.  Then I fly home

Day 26 - Final Friday!

Today was my last full day here.  The hike I went on today was Scout Cave, which I did a couple days ago, but it is a beautiful hike and I really enjoyed it.

Salmon burger, so good!

I had a great stretch class after breakfast, which was well needed.  The afternoon consisted of circuit class, zumba and then a pool class.  Originally I was planning on doing double circuit class followed by pool, therefore skipping zumba.  But I ended up giving it all in curcuit class and therefore no energy to do another one, so zumba it was.  I didn' t think I would enjoy zumba, but I had a lot of fun. Even better than that I had a great surprise, my friend Emily who I met here my first 2 weeks popped in for a quick visit.  Her daughter is doing a mini - triathlon in the area.  She then came back in the evening and we sat and talked for about an hour, it was so nice to see her.