Day 14-- My Last Day at The Ridge

Last night was graduation. There, each person had an opportunity to share what the experience at Fitness Ridge has meant to him/her. Again, there were tears. Some because of dashed expectations. Having not lost as much weight as expected. Some times it's hard to remember that every body is different. A body that is usually sedentary will shed more poundage when thrown into a program like this than one that is use to some working out. Plus, there are various factors that affect the number on the scale. For example, when most of us weighed in on our initial Sunday, it was in the evening after traveling and eating all day. Eating that probably included airport fare. On the final weigh-in, we were encouraged to weigh on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Yes, I am still clogged and bloated. There weren't any pointers on how to account for that. LOL. Those differences matter. But, there are times when a person doesn't want to hear that. Right? So, I kept my mouth shut.

But, mostly there were tears and expressions of joy last night. Joy of personal commitment. This truly is a commitment of energy, time and money. Joy of personal triumphs, which goes to show that I was not the only one surprised that I could actually climb a mountain--not to mention survive 2 weeks away from my 3 boys!!!

This morning was my final weigh-in, or weigh-out, depending on how you look at it! I will NOT share my final numbers because Fitness Ridge is about so much more than that. I do not want my numbers to motivate, nor discourage anyone from investing in themselves and the experience.
I will say that I am happy with my results and proud of my efforts. I giggle each time I look down and can see more of my feet! All mothers can relate to this!! I love that I can sit crossed-leg in a chair, if I wanted! I can feel my hip bone! My shoes are bigger! Yep, who would have thought? But, about 5 other women and I noticed this phenomenon. Best of all: I had to dry the jeans that I wore here...on HIGH....twice! In hopes that they would shrink. I am so much hotter, my Rusty may self-combust when he sees me.

I am leaving The Biggest Loser Fitness Ridge smarter, stronger, braver, healthier and more experienced than when I came. I've already paid for 2 more weeks to be used in the future. Who's coming with me???? Russ is. He just doesn't know it yet.
When you schedule your stay, mention my name--Monica Fillmore--and we will both get $100 off. That's good for a fabulous massage, at the very least. You'll need it and deserve it!!!

Thanks to everyone who encouraged me and cheered for me on this journey!
Heading Home...

Day 12

This morning THEY encouraged me to forgo the hike because of the extreme cold. I have to admit that it was a bad idea for me to go on the hike since I had already had some asthma issues going to Yogalates early this morning. But, THEY didn't know that. I guess THEY were trying to avoid a 911 situation. I was more concerned with not appearing wimpy and wanted to make up for yesterday.

No hiking meant that I had 2 hours of Cardio Blast. This time no burping acid--although, I am not completely unclogged.

I am thinking that I wasn't the only one slacking yesterday because today all of the trainers decided to work us through advanced versions of Mountain and Cardio Intervals. In Advanced Mountain class, the idea is to cut the mountain into quarters and jump 25% with each increase and spend 5 minutes there--instead of increasing a level every 3 minutes as in Basic Mountain.  In other words, I began on the elliptical at level 8 (2 levels up from last week. Go me!) Then, I jumped to level 12, then 16, then 20. At the top of the mountain, we went full speed for 5 minutes. Then backed down to 75% for 5 minutes. Then back to the top for 4 minutes. Back to 75% for 4 minutes. Then, back and forth for 3,2,1 minutes. 

It is a tough workout. I highly recommend it. You will burn major calories.

I rocked in Advanced Cardio Intervals. Then I took 2 Zumba classes. The guest instructor assumed that I had taken many classes before. LOL. Probably for the same reason that some of the housekeeping staff thought I spoke Spanish. Not the first time!!! 

In our lecture for departing guests, we discussed our RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate). This is the amount of energy (aka amount of calories) your body needs to complete the basic functions of breathing, keeping your heart beating, etc, with very little activity.  Any energy (calories) taken in above that means a potential weight gain for the day. So, a mere 500 extra calories a day will mean a one pound weight gain each week. (3,500 calories = one pound). 

We also talked about how easy it is to take in 500 extra calories especially since so many of us are accustomed to eating several servings of any given item. For example,  how many servings of cereal does your favorite bowl hold? I can't wait to see how many servings of JoeO's  I actually eat in the morning.

(Of course, if you are very active, then you will have to account for that extra fuel/calories needed in order not to lose weight.)

To figure out your RMR you can go to Shapeup.org 

After you figure out your current RMR, given your sex, weight, height and age, enter the same information, but with your goal weight. That will tell you how many calories you should eat to reach/maintain that weight. In other words, if I wanted to weigh 125 lbs, as I did on my wedding day, then I need to eat like a 125 lbs girl. 

When it's all said and done, it's just a math problem. Calories In v.s Calories Out. Right?

It also seems that after a few weeks of weighing, measuring and calculating calories, it should become easier since most people eat the same 10-12 things over and over.

At least that's what I'm telling myself. I will have to get back to you on that!!!

By the way, 2 chocolate covered strawberries is 90-100 calories. Bummer huh? I could eat those my the handful. I guess that's another reason to give up Mt. Dew. At 110 calories a can, I'd rather have chocolate covered strawberries.

Until tomorrow...2 days to go!

Day 11

I have to say that today totally sucked. The suckfest began first thing this morning when the results of too much fiber and too little water became evident. Things began slowing down several days ago, at which point I began drinking more water, SmoothMove Tea and taking Phillips.
All to no avail!! So, I think the problem could also be a faux period. All the women here seem to be "synching up". Although, I don't have girly periods any more, I seem to still get the other side effects.

Whatever the reason, the bottom line is that I woke up this morning fully stopped, clogged, backed-up, (aka full-of-shit)! Let me be the first to tell you that being constipated and working out 6-7 hours a day is the definition of Hell. (Up until now, I thought it was catering to psycho parents, who don't want to hear the truth about their little darlings.) During Cardio Blast, which I chose instead of hiking this morning, I kept burping up acid. "Yum! And can I have more?"
Gum and water did not help.

I knew I was in real trouble when the dark Monica surfaced. I kept thinking rude comments about anyone who was larger or smaller than I am. Plus, I wanted to stab my trainer. I mean I've thought about it before--especially since all the trainers here seemed to have gone to the Jane Fonda school of counting, meaning there are 5-6 counts between our usual ordinal numbers: 8, 7, 6, etc. and when I've clearly completed 20 reps, they yell out 7--but, today I even visualized the stabbing. I was spiraling.

After lunch, I was still miserable. I didn't eat much. It seemed counter productive and would only add to the problem. The mushroom soup was tasty. I got my 12 almonds, but didn't eat them.
I bombed BALL class. Just ask the french-fry sized trainer who seemed to be looking right at me saying, "don't let a little burn stop you. You must not want it bad enough."
I forced myself through TREADING--could have done better. Was bummed about it. Still am!

Before dinner I took desperate measures. LOL. I gave myself a soap suppository. I had seen my mother give by baby brother one many times before.... It felt like someone stuck a red-hot poker in my rear. I wouldn't recommend it! On the other hand, it got the job done. Things are moving. Hopefully, they will continue to do so. Wish me luck. I don't want to have 5 extra pounds of crap screwing up my Sunday weigh-out.

I can't eat cherry crumb pie to make myself feel better. But, I can do the next best thing because there is a jewelry artist her peddling her wares; And, there is always QVC. Shopping is awesome.
Russ: Consider this a warning!
Until tomorrow.

Day 10

I'm sorry I didn't get to post last night. I went to a group therapy session after dinner with the life coach on staff.  Afterwards, I did laundry. Then, crashed.

The therapy session was more of the same: People are nervous--or even afraid--to leave because they are unable to trust themselves around food and won't be able to exercise for 7 hours a day.  I am not nervous. Maybe, I am being naive. But, I don't think food has that much power over me. I just need to get organized and cook more meals--instead of mostly snacking all day. Well, that and to follow the carbohydrates, protein and fat combination rule at each meal. I can't believe how few calories I need eating this way.

It's cold and rainy again. In fact, it's snowing. 

Just like early last week, I am miserable. I hate hiking in the rain and going from class to class in the cold. One would think that because I am already wet with sweat that it wouldn't matter. But, it does. aargh!

Plus, I now have standard issue jungle rot on my feet--since they are wet 10 plus hours a day.

Burning, peeling and itchy feet seem to make the classes harder. LOL.

Ok, enough whining. Thanks for listening.

My situation could be worse. Several people were injured yesterday and today while hiking--sprain ankles, torn ligaments, etc. Thank goodness, I am not one of them! One lady planned to stay for another week. But, she has to reschedule for October after letting her knee heal. She is bummed big time.

Anyway, I plan to keep working hard. Although tomorrow, I will do 2.5 hours in the gym doing cardio, instead of hiking. I just CAN'T hike tomorrow in this weather.

I feel like my body is changing. 

4 more days...to make magic happen.

Day 8

I made a bad move this morning: I didn't eat all of my 1/2 C. of fruit with breakfast. It was rather bland and tasteless and the open-face whole wheat english muffin sandwiches with turkey bacon and scrambled eggs seemed filling enough. So, I passed on the fruit. BAD IDEA because half-way through my morning hike my blood sugar crashed. I saw silver sparkles and had the shakes. This was happening at the top of a very, very high cliff.  I was worried. Fortunately, I had brought an extra pack of EmergenC. Taking a break to drink that, and have 12 almonds, saved me. I did not want to be the only ever helicopter rescue. How embarrassing would that have been--just because I didn't eat my fruit like THEY told me on the first day!

Besides, almost passing out from lack of energy, today's hike was quite an adventure for several other reasons. First of all, we hiked Gila Trail in Red Desert. Somewhere along the way, we found ourselves on top of a series of boulders that had about a 12-14 inch wide walking space with a VERY HARD and VERY LONG fall into a deep canyon to the left and the right. My only options were to hold in my core muscles and focus on getting back to Miles and Harrison...Sorry Rusty, didn't think about you until later! But, you're still my favorite husband. 

(I wish that I had pictures for you, but my camera was dead. No worries! I have it all charged for tomorrow's hike.) Secondly, all of this was happening with a very full bladder. You know how I said yesterday that I was going to kick it up a notch and drink twice as much water? Well, that left me needing to go the the bathroom 30 minutes into the hike, although I had just gone less than 30 minutes beforehand.  There was no trees in sight, just low growing shrubs--yucca and cactus. It was then that I realized that I have NEVER tinkled outside. I am not sure that I have that skill set. I could see myself going down in a low squat,  but never getting up again. And how do you not tinkle on your britches? These are all the things that ran through my mind. Well, up to and then after the boulders. There's something about a life and death situation that puts your bladder on hold. 

Clearly, I made it back in one piece. What a day, huh?

From my morning fruit fiasco I realized that if I am going to have the energy that I have here when I return to the real world, then I must have complex carbs, a protein and a fat at each meal--with 40-50% of it being complex carbs. Also I  found that Propel water helped me get my mojo back for the rest of the day's workouts following my morning sugar crash. Just having lunch didn't help. When that happens back home, I usually grab chocolate. Not any more!!! 

The newbies look scared out of their wits. I imagined that I looked the same last Monday. So, I just smile and answer questions when I can. I hope none of them disappear!  I can understand the desire to quit, but it seems ashame to pay all this money and then come all the way to Utah just to quit the first week.  

It's time for my facial...Until tomorrow! 

Day 7-- An Off Day!

Today I was invited to take a trip to Bryce Canyon to see the Hoodoos. Unfortunately, it was cloud covered and in the midst of a snow storm, so the trails were closed. We couldn't see a thing. On the way back, we drove through Red Canyon and Zion Park. Again, I was in awe of my surroundings.

Tonight I have to regroup for another week. I am excited. It's not nearly as frightening as last Sunday when I wasn't sure that I could pull this all off.  Now, I know that I can.  This week I plan to work out harder and drink 2x as much water.

Christmas Dinner

Christmas Dinner Menu:

• Grilled Turkey Steak
• Chipotle Sweet Potato Puree
• Broccoli w/Pineapple Orange Cranberry Sauce
• No Bake Pumpkin Pie or Nog Shake

The Recipes:

Pineapple Orange Cranberry Sauce

Serves 8

Serving size 1 ounce

1 C.     fresh cranberries

1/2 C. pineapple juice

1 tsp.  orange zest

1 T.     balsamic vinegar

1 T.     Truvia

1 1/2 T. honey

Add all ingredients to a sauce pan and stir. Simmer for approximately 5-10 minutes until the sauce reduces to half. Blend until smooth and cool down in refrigerator.

No Bake Pumpkin Pie

Serves 12

Serving Size: 1-2"x2" square

calories: 88

1 1/2 C. Grape Nuts

2 blocks of Mori Nu silken light tofu

2T.   water

2 vanilla Mori Nu pudding mix

1 C. pumpkin filling unsweetened

1 T.  vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon

In a 9x9 pan add the Grape Nuts so that the bottom of the pan is evenly coated. In a blender, add tofu, water, and pudding mix. Blend until smooth. In a medium bowl, stir together the blended pudding mix, pumpkin filling, vanilla, and cinnamon. Slowly add the mixture to the top of the Grape Nuts (be careful not move the crust around). Smooth it out with a spatula. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 days so the pudding can soak into the Grape Nuts.

If you don't mind crunchy Grape Nut texture you can eat before 2 days. Cut into 12 pieces.

EggNog Shake

serves: 8

Serving size: 1 cup

Calories: 109

4 C. ice

3 C. Silk Nog (only 90 calories per cup)

3 medium bananas, peeled, frozen

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 T. vanilla exract

2 T. Truvia

In a blender add all the ingredient together. Then blend until smooth--a milkshake like consistency. Split the mixture between 8 small glasses. Garnish with cinnamon.