Day 6

Our hike was a 4 mile trail along West Canyon.  Here is some of what I saw...all beautiful:

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I didn't sleep much last night. 

I miss my 3 boys: Russ, Miles and Harrison.

I will probably cry a lot today. But, I won't eat pie. LOL

Day 5

So as it turns out, the older lady that was so afraid that I would keel over during my hike on Day 3, was also one of the guides today. Her name is Sue and she is 66 years old. Sue has climbed Camel Back 10 times before. She was like a little lizard on the mountain, hoping from rock to rock with ease. While talking to her, I learned that when she has to take the hike slowly because of the likes of me, Sue then swims laps in the pool in order to get a real workout! I knew how hard I was working. Yet, she was barely phased.  I do mean "phased" here because as I was going back and forth through phases of OMG! WTF? to I can do this, Sue remained calm and serene. No matter my mood, her consistent response was, "Yes, but wait until you reach the top".  This is really hard! Yes, but wait until you reach the top. Wow, water really can do some interesting things to sandstone. Yes, but wait until you reach the top!  

I decided that I want to be Sue in 20 years and I told her so. (She blushed.) Hopefully, it won't take me 20 years to undo the damage I've done to my body with my not so fabulous choices--stress eating and lack of enough activity. Sue has clearly made other choices; and it shows!

This afternoon, instead of a lecture, we had a session where people were encouraged to share what this week at Fitness Ridge has meant to them. It was very eye opening and inspiring, and also sad at times. Some people are afraid to leave the resort, knowing that food will be there and they feel powerless to make good choices once the real world takes over again with stress, tight schedules and no professional chef  cooking for you and telling you what you will be eating. Others are afraid that they would undo the gains made while here. There were tears of anger and regret about being in the predicament of having poor health and being overweight. 

I tried to stay positive about the fact that I am doing something now. I'd like to think that it's never too late to make changes as long as you are 6 feet above ground. 

However, an hour or so later, I did find myself spiraling into a depression worried that there would be no change on the scale after all of my hard work and that I may still fall prey to diabetes. Fortunately, there were no cherry crumb pies near by and I was able to pull myself out of it by remembering that I have climbed 2 mountains in the last 2 days. I am closer to NOT getting diabetes than I was last week. Right?

On a funny note: there is a guest here who is in my hiking group. (I can't tell you his name because I didn't get his permission to be included in my blog.)  Anyway, his wife is very overweight and he has let us know that he is not pleased and is running out of patience about the problem. Namely: her complaining, lost of vitality, etc.  He is here, mostly, in support of her. 

Anyway, while on our travels today, the van passed a small farm that had a well-hung donkey. There were jokes and laughs about Viagra and Cialis and about needing to call a doctor. This guy then asked if the driver would back up so he could take a picture of this donkey, so that his wife could see what she was missing. Then, he snickered. 

So, I was left wondering, was he referring to his wife missing the unusual sight of a donkey in Utah, or the sight of a well hung donkey. Through his sarcasm and frustration it's easy to tell that he is bothered and saddened by their lack of intimacy, so it could go either way. Right?

I will not be asking him to clarify!!! 

Day 5 Hike

 Today's hike was Camel Back. We drove to a height of 4,000 feet, then climbed another 800 ft.

Almost to the top! Only an hour and half to go.
Along the way. Notice the Horse and Rider on the rock? It's painted by weathering.
Closer.
Looking out, while catching my breath. Yes, it's a cinder volcano.
At the top!
 Still, at the top
It was worth the effort. I am glad I didn't give up! Just think! I use to think rock climbing and hiking were so stupid. Now, I see them as challenging puzzles.

Day 4--More Pictures!

Above: A Snow Canyon trail 2 days ago. 

Right: Piano Peak from afar.
Left: A lone cactus plant in Snow Canyon.

Day 4

 The Movie: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was shot in Snow Canyon.

It stopped raining and the natives went

wild. The guides took us OFF

trail. We hiked Snow Canyon. 

One of the most famous peaks is Piano Peak--because it looks like a baby grande piano from afar. THEY say, you haven't done Fitness Ridge until you've done Piano Peak. The elevation is 4,ooo ft. It was hard to climb. Fortunately, there is a nurse practitioner in my group (She is here with her 16 yr. old son.) who told me that she could hear my wheeze and that I needed to hit my inhaler BEFORE going up any further because the air would be colder. She waited for me until I could say the word SHIT. Yes, I am serious. Apparently, if you can say all the letter sounds of the word SHIT with emphasis, then your airways are good. I never knew that!

I made it to the top of several peaks and then down--sometimes purposely sliding on my butt, other times not.  But, it all felt amazing!! And really worked my core and glutes. I will be doing the Snow Canyon hike again, as many times as possible. 

My best workout today was something called Thursday Treading. It burns a tremendous amount of calories and blasts through any weight loss plateaus. It is recommended that you do it once a week--no more, or your body will get use to it. Thursday is the day that all Biggest Loser alum tread. So, here's how you tread: using the cardio machine of your choice you workout as hard as you can (level/speed) for 5 minutes. Then, you recover for 5 minutes. After you recover, you workout giving your all for 4 minutes, then recover for 4 minutes. Repeat same cycle for 3,2,1 minutes. Of course, THEY asked that we try to raise the level or speed with each cycle. I did just that. No, I didn't puke this time, not even a little. But, many folks did. By the way, around here, giving all you've got is "just short of puking." Meaning you feel like it, but you don't.

I will be treading next Thursday--twice. You should too--at least once!

My next favorite class was Ball. I am learning just how wicked that oversized rubber exercise ball can be. Try this ASAP. While standing, rest the ball directly in front of you. Now, with your arms stretched out straight, bounce the ball as fast as you can. Simple, right? Try it. If your triceps aren't burning and your heart rate up after 1 minute, then you aren't doing it right. 

For dessert tonight, we had a cobbler that was so fabulous it will replace my Just Pies addiction as soon as I can talk Chef Cameron into giving me the recipe. 

He taught us how to make a delicious Greek Pita. Of course, mine was without feta. We also learned how to make Banana Cream Pie and Egg Nog Shake with tofu. I will post those recipes soon. My notes are still in the laundry room.

Since the sun came out and the grey is gone, everyone is feeling fabulous, determined and energized. Including me.

Day 3

Sorry I couldn't give an update last night on Day 2.  The Internet was out in my room.
The power went out around 6PM today and just came back on 10 minutes ago.
The highlights from Day 2: everyone's emotions were/are running high. Several people have disappeared. I assume they are hiding in their rooms and will reappear when the weather is less horrible. Then again, I am finding that there are many Type A people here, people who want/need to be successful at everything they try and if they can't be fabulous, then scrap the whole thing.

I know. You're thinking: It takes one, to know one. And, you are absolutely right! However, I am learning that there is a middle ground and even if I can't workout for the entire hour at 100%, working out at 75% is better than nothing. I hope, I remember that when I get home and my head is full of excuses at 5:30AM, or after a long day of work. If nothing else, I have learned that I can still workout although I am tired. I have been doing it for more than 2 days now!!!

When I arrived this past Sunday, the locals were saying that it hadn't rained for 5 days in a row in 14+ years. But, now the shear volume of water has them remembering 5 years ago when many homes were washed away in the area--St. George. They are worried. However, the staff folks are still trying to put on a brave face for the rest of us and are repeatedly reminding us of why we signed up for this and not to let a bit of rain stop us. 

Highlights for Day 3:

• All hiking trails were breached by water. So, we hiked the neighboring streets. It was miserable. But, I made it to the bottom of Red Mountain. Getting there seemed to be a 45 degree angle all the way and the higher elevations felt like I was breathing with a pillow on my face. But, I MADE IT.  Actually, I sort of had to because one of the guides was a 65-70 year old woman, who felt compelled to keep checking on me. I couldn't die right in front of her. She was soooo concerned. I just smiled and said I was fine. Next thing you know, I was. I had survived.
• I rocked in all of my afternoon classes. 1 Kickboxing, which made Taebo laughable and 2 Mountain classes. In the Mountain class, you are working out on a cardio machine. (I chose an elliptical and then a recumbent bike.) You start in your low-medium range and then every 3 minutes you increase speed or resistance for a total of 12 increases. At the top of your mountain, you hang-out for an additional 3 minutes, giving it all you've got the last minute and half. I got up to level 13 on the elliptical, with speed 9....I threw up in my mouth a little bit when I finished. Yet, I was proud.

Here is the best part! I did all of that on 800 friggin' calories and was not hungry. I am beginning to belief that when you eat the right foods, they really do fuel your body.  This crazy little muffin, with a 1/2 cup of fruit kept me going through the 2.5 hr hike and an aerobics class. You gotta make them.

Chef Cameron's Muffins

3/4 C    oat flour

3/4 C    instant oats

1/2 tsp  baking soda

2 tsp     baking powder

1/4 C   dehydrated cane sugar

1/4 C   egg (1 large egg)

1 T      cinnamon

1 t       vanilla

1 T     pecans

1/3 C  frozen peaches chopped (you may use any fruit)

1/3 C  applesauce

2/3 C  apple juice

Mix well. Fill 6 jumbo muffin tins three qtrs full.

Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Check around 20 min for lower elevations.

Drizzle with small amount of honey on top. Serve warm.

They can be frozen for about a week.

Thanks to everyone cheering me on. I really do remind myself of your encouragement when I am ready to hide. (This is especially true because I doubt THEY would find me. Some of the THEY think my name is Cheryl, married to some guy name Larry. Larry's real wife's name is Keisha. LOL.)

Until tomorrow. Lord willing and the creek don't rise--some more!