Day 22 - Monday, January 3, 2011

It snowed overnight here & there was more snow than the other few dustings...but nothing like the snow we get at home!  The hikes this morning were either in town or to Anasazi Ridge (which is just behind the resort).  I chose the latter of the two hikes & it looked quite different with snow!  I enjoyed hiking in the snow - it's better than the rain or sleet & it isn't inside one of the numerous machines!!

On the way back from my hike, I noticed the shin on my left leg started to hurt.  No big deal, there always a few places that kind of groan with use.  I went on about my day, but in the afternoon classes, the shin really hurt when I was on the treadmill.  I tried the elliptical & the recumbent bike & I didn't have any problems, so I stuck with those.

Good day overall, but the shin thing was bugging me...

Here are some photos from our snowy hike today:

 The river below was flooded 2 weeks ago after ONE WEEK of solid rain!

 Note how well you can see the hiking guide in the neon green jacket!

 Here are some more petroglyphs:

Day 21 - January 2, 2011

I was able to add some photos to my blog today.  Still can't believe it took me as long as it did, but that is another story!  Please scroll down & see the new photos (starting from 12/13)!  There are some shots from some the hikes that I have taken and also there are some menu photos to show what it is that they are feeding us everyday.

Tonight a big group of newbies has joined us.  Last week, the stayover guests outnumbered the newbies...but not tonight.  In the past four weeks, there has been no one else from my state, although there have been a few from my home state.  Seems to be a number of Canadians & Texans this week...

My thigh feels fine & I am ready to start my final week!  Gonna burn a lot of calories, go on some challenging hikes & learn as much as I can!

Here's the menu for the day:

Day 20 - January 1, 2011

Happy New Year!

This morning I went on a hike called Lower Gella.  This was the one someone warned me about yesterday.  I talked to one of the guides this morning & he said there was some moderate inclines & some declines, but nothing too much.  Okay, well his definition of "moderate" is certainly different than mine!!  Apparently it was somewhere around 7 miles.  It was a good hike & I really enjoyed it, but I wouldn't call it "moderate"!  Actually, I liked the rocks, sand & uneven surfaces.  Our group split into two groups and I was in the faster group, but I was the slowest.  Not a big deal to me, except I found it frustrating as they would leave as soon as I caught up to them!  On the way back, my foot stayed on a rock a little longer than it should have & I pulled my quad muscle as I climbed down from the rock.  Luckily after the hike we had a really good stretch class!  I put some ice on it this afternoon & I know it will be fine by Monday.  Actually that is the closest thing to an "injury" that I have had since I have been here.  Sore muscles, you bet...but no debilitating injuries!

I was talking with one of the guides on the way back today & I told her I want to do more hikes like the Lower Gella.  I want to be challenged more and be at the back of the group, rather than be in the front with an easier hike.  Last week, when I went on the 3rd Ravine hike, I was in front with the guide.  We were cruising along & then we would wait to make sure the others could see us.  One of the advantages of being in the front was that I got a couple of chances to catch my breath.

Earlier this week when I did the infamous "stop sign" hike, I had a guide with me for the last mile (by far the most difficult).  I told him to just keep telling me stories as I could not carry on any type of conversation.  He kept asking me if I wanted to stop & rest and I wanted to yell "NO!" but all I could do was shake my head vigorously.  He did a great job of distracting me while I kept going up the steep incline, but I wanted him to do was to walk a little faster, so I would challenge myself more.

We had the weekly graduation ceremony tonight & then we had karaoke night.  It was fun to sit back & listen to the songs & sing along WITHOUT a mike in front of me!

That's it for now...time for bed!

Here are some photos from my hike today:

Day 19 - Friday, December 31, 2010

Here's the menu from yesterday:

It's the last day of the year...and as we were reminded numerous times today...we have been living our new year's resolution all week...or 3 weeks in my case!

As it is Friday, it was yet another chance for ZUMBA!  I decided to give it another go...because if I didn't it meant another hour of cardio intervals!  It went a little better this week, but I confess that I was lost once she played the "I Played Chicken with a Train" song!!  Who knew?  There also seemed to be a latin version of the macarena dance in there as well.

I won't be up to celebrate New Year's here...gotta hike in the a.m.  Trying to decide which hike to do in the morning.  One is on pavement & I have done it 3 times already...so that is out.  Another is the infamous "stop sign" which I did earlier this week (1000 foot incline, it's very tough at the end).  The other sounded interesting as there are some rocks involved...guess I need to ask around about that one.  One person's definition of tough is very different from another person's version.

My family gave me a gift certificate to get a massage, so I had my first one tonight!  It was WONDERFUL!  I now understand why everyone raves about them!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Mitzi

Day 16 - Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Another good day here at the resort!  It is past my bedtime, but here's a quick update of my day:

Calories burned (so far):  4431
Calories consumed:  1285
Steps taken (so far):  24,997
  **turns out my bodymedia thingy doesn't record steps if I am riding the bike!**

Here's the menu for the day:

Here was my schedule:

6:00 open gym - cardio workout on my own
7:00 breakfast
8:00 Hike  (found our 1st geocache in Utah today)
11:15 Free Weights Workshop
12:15 lunch
1:30 Rode bikes around local neighborhood!
2:30 Cardio Intervals (8 increases & then some sprints...basically sweat & try to breath!!)
3:30 Cardio Intervals (yes, a 2nd time...I wimped out on going to the pool...)
4:30 Total Toning (= hand weights + weighted bar + every imaginable way for us to work muscles all over our body)
5:30 Dinner
6:15 Discussion group

Gotta go get some sleep so I am ready to go again tomorrow!!

Mitzi

Here are some photos from my hike today:
In the middle on the far right, you will see a tiny green speck...that is one of the hiking guides with other guests that were behind us.  It may not look like it from here, but from where we are standing, it was a steep climb up out of the "bowl".

 Now the green speck of a hiking guide is in the lower middle part of the photo:

 The green speck & 2 navy ones are very difficult to see now in the center...so just admire the view!

 This rock formation is referred to as Whale's mouth...

 Look at all the different types of geography...amazing!

 This is probably one of my favorite photos...but it seems like the middle layer of green was greener and the lower layer of red rock was redder when I took the photo!

Day 15 - Monday, December 27, 2010

Today was challenging, but very productive!  My energy level was high and I was a very active participant.  One of the trainers saw the "fire" in my eyes & said, "this is going to be your week!"  If the rest of the week goes as well as today, then I would wholeheartedly agree!!

Here are some photos from my hike today:

 This one was actually taken in front of the resort.

 This is the house across the street from the resort...what a view from their yard!

Here's my schedule for the day:

6:00 open gym (walked on the treadmill)
7:00 breakfast
8:00 hike (around Ivins)
11:15 Mountain (challenging cardio w/13 increases along the way!)
12:15 Lunch
1:15 Kickball at a local park!!
2:30 Circuit Training (alternate between the cardio & circuit machines)
3:30 Core Training
4:30 Circuit Training (chose to repeat the class rather than get in the pool)

Here's the menu for the day:

Although I don't have the final numbers for the day...as of 6:45 pm, here is how it stands:

Steps (so far):  32,834
Calories Burned (so far):  5067!!
Calories Eaten:  1325
Calorie Deficit:  3742
Since it takes 3500 calories to burn one pound...I should have lost a pound just from today's workout!!

I am tired, but not as worn out as my first Monday here.  I feel like some of the pieces are starting to click inside my brain...thus it is a REALLY good thing that I am here for 4 weeks, rather than just one!!

That's about it for now...need to head back to my room & get ready for bed...it's been a loooong day!

Mitzi

2 Weeks Down, 2 Weeks to Go...

I am at the halfway point in my journey here at Fitness Ridge in Utah. I'm looking forward to the next 2 weeks and all the calories that will be burned here!

Christmas Eve turned out to be different than all of us thought it would be!  My parents ended up driving back early to beat the snow storm that was headed across the country.  Friday afternoon, my husband found out that their early morning flight to FL was cancelled...so he gave my daughters 10 minutes to finish packing & then they left for the airport!  They arrived in time to make the 5:45 flight & arrived safely later on that night.

At dinner time, I was invited to go to a Christmas Eve service at the St. George Tabernacle Church.  It was a really nice program with a sing along, some beautiful soloists & a nice Christmas message.  It was the first time I had ever attended a Morman service.  Afterwards, we drove by the Temple (see photo below) in town & then a quick trip to Walgreen's before heading back to Fitness Ridge.

Christmas morning we got up and went for a 2 hour hike.  It was really nice & I FINALLY felt strong again!  I can honestly say I have never taken a hike on Christmas morning before!!

Here's the menu from Christmas Day:

The egg nog milkshake was actually quite good!

Here's today's menu:

Mitzi