Saturday - November 26, 2011
Schedule
Schedule
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Hike - Hidden Pinyon
11:15 AM Last Chance Workout (90 Minutes)
1:00 PM Lunch
2:00 PM Massage
4:00 PM Graduation (for those leaving)
6:00 PM Dinner
Meals
Breakfast Eggs & Toast 320 Calories
Lunch Roasted Pepper Soup 59 Calories
Asian Chicken Wrap 321 Calories
Dinner Cobb Salad 385 Calories
Banana Creme Pie 94 Calories
----------------
Total 1,179 Calories
Today we were able to choose which hike we wanted to go on. My initial thoughts were to take it easy so I could come back and put a lot into our last chance workout, but I reminded myself of why I am here and decided to take a more difficult hike. In the end, it was worth it.
I continue to do very well on the short inclines, downhills, and more even terrains. However, I still cannot catch my breath on the steep inclines. I know a lot of it is the altitude and my body still adjusting, but I need to keep working on my cardio. Our guides told us today that we were moving at such a fast pace that they had to make up new places to take us so we could fill the time. I guess that is a compliment. By the end of the hike, I had burned more than 1300 calories.
After returning from the hike, we had what they call The Last Chance Workout. It is 90 minutes of intense workouts at 10 different stations (1 minute each) with running laps in between. Sione, a Biggest Loser Contestant from Season 7 was one of our trainers for this workout. (He lost 146 pounds on the Biggest Loser.) Our stations included:
1. Bicep curls,
2, Wall sits,
3. Mountain climbers (where you are in push up position and then take one leg forward and then back very quickly, alternating legs) (KILLER),
4. Speed skating moves,
5. Step up on a step with knee lift (alternating feet and knees),
6. Kick a punching bag,
7. Ladder steps (hopscotch),
8. Throwing a medicine ball from a squat position,
9. Shoulder taps (in a push up position, lift arm and tap the opposite shoulder), and
10. Jump Rope.
We did each of these stations twice and were so exhausted. When you do these very quickly one right after the other while running in between, your heart rate is so high, your body is aching, and you are sweating like crazy! After doing this, we had to get a partner and pull them across the gym with a strap while they tried to resist you. We did this twice as well. We then finished with another lap and then by all coming together in the center of the gym with our hands in the middle and yell "Last Chance Workout"!
It is great to bond with other guests. There are people of all sizes and backgrounds here. I have met people from Louisiana, New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Colorado, New Jersey, Texas, England, Canada, Utah, California, Washington, Nevada, Florida, Washington D.C., and I am sure a lot more that I have forgotten! One of the great things about this resort is that almost everyone is super friendly and supportive. When it is time for a meal, I walk into the dining room and pretty much sit down wherever there is an open seat even if I do not know anyone around me. It is almost guaranteed that by the end of that meal I will have made a new friend. There are approximately 50-60 guests here at a time and I already know so many of them by name.
After the Last Chance Workout, I went to lunch and then to get a massage. I was supposed to get an 80-minute massage but they had a computer glitch with scheduling that cut into my time. They only had a 50-minute massage available now. I told them it was ok (even though I was disappointed -- but I didn't tell them that). Regardless, it was a wonderful massage and felt great on my aching muscles. When it was over, I went to the front desk to pay and they told me not to worry that they were taking care of it and again apologized for the mix-up. So I got a FREE massage! :) Yeeaahhh!
At 4:00 was graduation for all of those who were going home. Each week they make a video and picture slide show for the guests. It was great to relive the highlights of the week (even though some of the videos weren't so great of me as I was huffing and puffing away as I worked out). LOL They then let everyone say a few words. It was very emotional for a lot of people. It is amazing how everyone had only positive things to say about the resort and the guests. It was very inspirational.
Sundays are typically considered a day of rest for the people who stay over. However, I need to get to bed early tonight because I am going to Zion National Park tomorrow with some other guests. It is supposed to be absolutely beautiful there. http://www.zionnational-park.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment