Saturday, June 19, 2010

DAY 3 FAST START IN UTAH


Hard to believe it's day 3 already and there was no better way to get it started than to get up at 5:30 am. After a quick shower it was off to breakfast and I must say it was extremely good. The best part was I didn't even think what am I doing up at 5:30am...finished a very healthy breakfast and got my camelback filled and it was off to meet our hike guides.


After a brief decription of the hike we were in the Resort van and off to our start point. It's already almost 90 and it's not even 7am yet...great day for a hike.


I was ready for a good hike and it was a fun filled hike over some nice cliffs, through some sand and up and down the sandstone. Todays hike was an enjoyable one of about 4 miles and with the terrain and keeping the group together it took about 2 hours. Awesome scenery and I will post some pictures as soon as I download from my camera.


Busy day today and I took in every class...after the hike had a stretch class, then lunch. After a great lunch...did I say the food was good here...only thing is there's alot of fiber...need I say more.


After lunch enjoyed about a half hour swim and then off to Aerobic Circuit Class, which kicked my butt...45 straight minutes of different cardio stations that had me soaking with sweat and ready to run...but instead after 10 minute break the next class was Core Strenghth. After 45 minutes of Cardio and 45 minutes of intense Core Strenghth Training I was ready for a pillow!


I looked outside and the Sun was shining and the temp was over 100 so I decided to take the Chi Ball Stretch Class. Great three classes that were taught by our trainer Robyn and this Chi Class was great...used two new things...sliders for your feet and a Abvantage Abdominal Trainer which was a great assistance with my neck and back problems. I bought one to take home to assist with the continuance of my journey.


Now just so you know the day was not all work and no play...after an awesome dinner which consisted of Elk, veggies, salad and soup...and yes I had a dessert...sorbet-truffle and a lime souffle' sampler it was off to the Texas HoldEm Tourney they had just for fun.


NOW- here is the most exciting news....after a great kick start at Red Mountain Resort tomorrow is the official check in at Fitness Ridge at 3 pm. Need I say I am extremely excited and can't wait to get moving at the Ridge...


Wish me Luck and I will keep you updated and post some pictures as soon as I can download them.


Friday, June 18, 2010

Utah Day 2

Well I made it to day 2 and after almost complete exhaustion from the past week and all the travel made for a tough morning. I had a minor meltdown and set my alrm for the wrong time...must have been the travellimg between three time zones. Alarm went off at 3 am and I thought I was dreaming...still dark and there is no way I am supposed to be up...reset alarm and past out until 7am mountain time.

I woke and was so pumped up to be here I couldn't waut to get moving. First line of duty was breakfast and I must say it was such an awesome feeling to see those beautiful Red Mountains as I walked to Breakfast. Great healthy meal with lots of great choices to get the day started. If I didn't mention it, I am at Red Mountain Resort until Sunday and then to Biggest Loser Ranch at Fitness Ridge.

Today I have a busy ME day planned to kickstart my journey here...started with a Wellness assessment with Brad, one of the trainers here. The Wellness Assessment measures your Actual Age by evaluating your Biaomarkers of Aging...OK I know I lost you...but if you have ever see on the Biggest Loser where the take the contestant and after testing let the know what the Body Age is according to the Biomarkers.

First good news...My heart age was 25 and my overall Actual age score put me at....DRUM ROLL PLEASE...48.2 years which is 6 years younger than I actually am...so Great News and hopefully after the next few weeks those numbers will change for the good!

And YES I made it to the gym and ran on the treadmill for about 15 minutes between appoin tments an then it was off to yes Lunch. Healthy lunch and made great choices...calories are a little out of wack for today, but all the right foods.

Today I also experienced and awesome session with a Shaman Life Coach named Betina Lindsey, who conducted an ancient spiritual reading to help ground me with the earth, nature and stillness of the heart mind and soul. It was an amazing experience and the healing energies of the ancient spirits is very hard to put into words...all I can say is I am focused and ready for my journey.

If you are reading this and saying well now what does that have to do with a health and wight loss journey...it has evrything to do with it. Until you are at peace with yourself and can focus on inner healing and letting go of everything that crates roadblocks to a healthy life...the YO YO will continue.

All in all...today was awesome, I had a helathy day with nutrition, a spiritual life path session, found out I am not as old as the clock says and most of all I Got a Haircut. Yes and it is a new doo and will make the 100 degree days a little cooler. No I didn't shave my head...maybe next time.

I ended my day with an awesome massage, called the Hikers Massage that did a detox of my legs and prepared them for the next three weeks of hiking and workouts.

So as it is almost 11pm here...5am is going to come early...till tomorrow... I will leave you with this from my session from today:
Emergence
When a soul emerges from the tunnels of night....so does peace. In Emergence all suffering is transformed into Peace!

Good Night All

Thursday, June 17, 2010

DAY 1 UTAH

ITS HERE!!!!

Start your engines...day 1 is here...my Southwest flight left Buffalo, NY on time and not soon enough. Great flight to Vegas and arrived over 30 minutes early.
I am beginning my Utah Wellness Journey with Anne Marie and after we picked up our bags it was off to the rental car facility. Keys in hand and off we went and it was almost lunch time...so...yes we had to have lunch in Vegas.
Paris for lunch and tryed to eat as heathy as possible...but had to have the cheese plate...and a piece of the baguette. Great summer salad and bottle of Perrier. And I almost forgot...not really...had a cold yellow tomato soup over heirloom tomato & crab meat. My last supper before going to Utah.
Well it was over a 100 degrees and it was time to head to Utah...the drive from Vegas is about 1 1/2 hours along route 15N through Arizona and into Utah and it is the most beautiful drive I have experienced. Anne Marie had to drive the Utah leg because after the last 4 days I think I have only slept about 6hrs total and have driven over a thousand mile and flew over 1500 miles and need I say more...
The most awesome site was the Welcome to Utah sign as we crossed over from Arizona to Utah and on to St George. WOW...I Love this place!!!! even though its over a 100 degrees.
Before heading to Red Mountain Resort for the first four days of our journey...dinner was in order and there is an awesome Mexican restaurant in St George that we had eaten at before so we decided to have dinner there. Salmon tacos on Corn tortillas and a sald was in order and it was delicious....OK OK OK there's the problem... I LOVE TO EAT! Hence Time For A Life Change...
Since I started this journey in January of this year, I have managed to drop almost 40 pounds and have returned to the gym and feel great.
My addiction to food will always be there and the STRESS from everyday life seems to trigger that little thing in my brain that says EAT and hence YO YO weight gain weight loss.
I will work through the barrier that has continued to sabotage my wellness journey and Be Healthy.
The biggest thing that has kept me on track is journalling my food and being honest about everything I put into my body...even the stick of gum that amounted to 5 calories. I have to work my budget and control my calories in and calories out in order to continue my weight loss journey. I use a program called LOSE It on my Itouch whic is very user friendly and easy to keep up with. Combined with my Body Bugg that registers my calorie burn and step count I can get a handle on my Budget and be Successful on my Journey.
It is almost 10 pm here in Ivins, Utah and I have a very busy day planned for tomorrow as I begin this wonderful journey that I have been Blessed to be able to take.
I will keep everyone informed of my progress and also post pictures of my Journey throughout the next 3 1/2 weeks.
Live in the Present and enjoy the gift of everyday and never have any regrets...as we can't change the past and we do not know what the future has in store so Live Everyday to the Fullest!
Till tomorrow...God Bless and Stay tuned for one heck of a journey!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge

After the week I have had and the stress and lack of sleep...I am ready for my Journey to begin. Tomorrow June 17, 2010 at 8:05am I will depart from Buffalo airport to begin my Journey to wellness.

After many years of yo-yo diets and weight roller coastering, I made a decision that my Life is important to me and the Body that God has given me, even though it has been badly broken many times....needs to be as healthy as I can physically and mentally work to make it.

I still have additional work to get done to begin my journey and it is 10pm and the day isn't over....TO BE Continued!