Over the Hump Day Hikes, Thursday at BLR Fitness Ridge

This morning my hike group was going to conquer not one, but two smaller hikes today. Joy... I was feeling especially like crap and now I had two hikes to endure? yay... not! :) At least I was not feeling like I had been run over by a convoy of semi-trucks today. I officially made it past hump day, to live another day. The first hike up was to the beautiful Johnson's Arch.

Johnson's Arc

The hike was flat and sandy, until we reached the lava. That was slippery, pointy, and everything you would expect from walking up and down where molten lava engulfed the landscape. It was treacherous, especially since I was still sore, worn down, and not feeling 100%. We hiked up and down, climbed over rocks, navigated previously fallen boulders from the mountains above. Suddenly there we were, looking up at this amazing arch. That was easy. I was ready for more. Still ever so sore, but I had gained this sense of being able to accomplish anything, if i put in some effort. I felt like I was starting to find myself again. It was an awesome feeling.

I was glad to have the support of my hiking group. My new found friend Mrs. Purple really helped me get through this hike. There was an area that was quite high up and I am very much afraid of heights. Almost as much as I am afraid of spiders. Although my son is also afraid of spiders and I have been known to be brave enough to kill spiders for him. Now if he is wearing shoes he will sometimes take care of the spiders himself, sometimes. Anyways, back to the subject. I was feeling especially low, sore, and tired on this hike and Mrs. Purple's bright and shiny attitude really helped lift my spirits. We completed this hike together, with our group and the felling of support was overwhelming. These people that have only known me for a short time, really care about me, and want me to succeed. They pushed me when I had no push left in me. It was amazing! Mrs. Purple, you know who you are, thank you for your love and support. I wouldn't have been able to get though this hike today without you.

Hump Day at Fitness Ridge

My wake up call this morning worked! I begrudgingly made it to the 6 AM Stretch Class. Boy was I sore this morning! I felt like I had been run over by a convoy of semi-trucks and desperately needed coffee. Have I mentioned yet that the resort is caffeine free? Probably not, I cursed the world and wished for nothing more than food and a hot cup of Joe to get me through my day. I settled for a hot cup of Chai Spiced tea that was hardly the substitute I wanted, but it worked nonetheless.

I was so looking forward to the lectures that were on the schedule today. It was going to be a day of self-awareness. The lectures also looked appealing today because of how sore I was. Every step I took, I was crying on the inside. If I thought I wanted to give up on Monday, I was wrong. Stretch class helped loosen some of my screaming muscles, but I still wanted to crawl back into my bed and sleep it off. Today would really kill me. Kickboxing this afternoon was not sounding fun at all.

Breakfast was amazing as usual. The food here is seriously delicious. It is amazing how full you can feel when you are eating all the right things. Food will be part of my focus when I get home, even if I do not continue working out right away. I have to get my food right. The rest will follow. Today's hike is Three Ponds in Snow Canyon. The description this morning said lots of sand and some residual snow. Great. When I arrived at the van Mrs. Purple was there waiting for me. Looks like we get our own personal trail guides since it was just the two of us. 

Snow Canyon

Snow Canyon was beautiful again. I was starting to look forward to the daily hikes. There was something so peaceful and invigorating about being out in nature with your own thoughts. Its a good chance to clear your head and think about things that a hectic life does not allow you to do. The soreness I was feeling was exacerbated by hiking through sand and snow. They are not very forgiving mediums to walk on since they tend to move under your feet at every step. If it wasn't so cold, I would have removed my socks and shoes to enjoy the feeling of warm sand under my feet. That is not a feeling you get much of a chance to have here in the desert state of Utah. I suppose you could get a similar feeling by walking on the salt flats of the Great Salt Lake, but why would anyone do that. It doesn't sound appealing at all.

Here I was trudging away though the sand, bringing up the rear. Again. This is something I was becoming okay with. I may not be moving as fast as the trail guides, or even Mrs. Purple, but I was moving nonetheless. Movement is what counts. No matter how slow I go, I am still lapping everyone on the couch. As I was maneuvering through the sandy terrain I noticed that Mrs. Purple had stopped. I assumed it was to take some pictures, wait for me, or a snack time. She had actually stopped because we had reached Three Ponds, already. The more hiking I have been doing the easier it is becoming. I guess practice does make perfect. At risk of sounding like a broken record; it was beautiful. I stood there looking at it in awe.

Three Ponds

After the hike I was feeling good. Sore, but good. Must be all the endorphins from exercising that I have been hearing so much about. Today all the lectures were based on emotional health and emotional eating. Something I definitely need help with. I have come to terms recently that I am a very emotional eater. I need these set of lectures more than I need working out because they are addressing the root of my weight problem. I could always work out at home. If I don't fix my emotional issues then I can never truly get a grasp on my true reasons for weight loss. I am so glad I did attend those lectures today. I learned so much. Some of it was information that I already knew, but some of it was new ideas that were presented brilliantly. I took my anger, at myself, out on kickboxing class. Man, did that feel good. I decided that I would stop making excuses for everything in my life and start holding myself accountable. I can control myself and I needed to make changes in my life for my own sake. I was worth it. With every punch and kick I let another excuse go. Excuse, after excuse, after excuse. I need to get me back. The best me I can be. It all starts here. I go to bed tonight sore, exhausted, and determined. I got this! 

Tuesday at BLR Fitness Ridge

Red Hills Covered in Snow

I learned something useful today. Wake up calls do not roll over for the length of your stay. I did not even think of calling to set up another one and apparently I turned off my cell phone alarm in my sleep. Luckily I woke up at 7:15 AM and was able to make it to the dinning hall for breakfast before embarking on a hike called Red Hills. Although I had just woken up, I was excited for this hike because they placed everyone in groups with like abilities. These people would be my hike group for the next five days, and I was looking forward to being in a group that I could keep up with at least most of the time. Amid all my excitement there was also fear. The hike and workouts yesterday left me sore in muscles I did not know I had, especially in my right hip flexor. Since I slept in this morning, I missed out on the 6 AM stretch class and I was apprehensive about the hike due to the unknown terrain that lies ahead.

I really wished I wouldn't have missed stretch class, oh well, not much I could do about it at that point. I stretched out my hip flexor and just decided to take the hike slow until my muscles felt warmed up. We loaded up in the van and headed off to our destination the Red Hills.

Looking over St. George

The terrain looked less menacing than Monday's hike and I took it slow again. I was with a group of people that apparently had similar abilities to my own I was still bringing up the rear; at least at first. Once the terrain was less slopping sand and more red rock stepping I was able to catch up with one lady in my group. I'll call her Mrs. Purple, since that is the only color she was predominately wearing. Well Mrs. Purple and I got to talking while we were navigating the terrain with the help of one of the trail guides. She is a neat lady, let me tell ya. So optimistic and loud, and she had this infectious laughter. We clicked right away and I knew we would be fast friends even though she was staying at  the BLR for an entire month past my one week departure. The hike and the support was amazing. Today was starting to look up. The hike was amazingly invigorating and the views over St. George was breathtaking.

The view of St. George

After the hike we had the option to attend a Life Coaching Class, circuit training, or a stretch class. I chose to attend the Life Coach Class partly because I was sore and knew I had First Chance Workout and a water aerobics class later. The other reason I chose the class is because I knew this was not something I could do once I returned to my real life. I could workout when I was at home, but I could not get the life coaching information I really needed to make the changes in my life and make everything I learn here this week stick. If I was really going to change my lifestyle I needed to work on the emotional side. This was the side of weight loss that I had never tried to deal with. This is what caused me to fail to reach my goals. I was sabotaging myself, my life, and my efforts. I could no longer use excuses, I could not blame my circumstances on anyone but myself. It was only me standing in my own way of success. What was I so afraid of?

After lunch the rest of the day was kind of uneventful. I mean, first chance workout turned out to be much less intimidating than I had anticipated. I think I just expected to be pushed with a much higher intensity for a much longer period of time. Don't get me wrong; it was in no means easy. Once I was doing it, that was just it. I WAS DOING IT! That and  the water class I had to look forward to attending after Recharge. The night ended with me soaking my feet with Epsom salts and going to bed early. After I set my wake up call for Wednesday morning.

Monday at BLR Fitness Ridge

       This morning started way to early! Even with my college classes I never was up at 5:30 AM on purpose!!! I was up this early thanks to a wake up call and the hotel room phone being across the room. I may have to remember that one, I guess after you are out of your warm bed there is no use in getting back in it. I threw on my workout clothes, drank my water, and headed to my 6 AM stretch class. Stretch class was a heck of alot harder than it sounded. I was struggling and sweating and I felt like I was the only one who couldn't do everything that was being asked of me without some sort of modification. It was mortifying and I felt like everyone else was staring at me. Ugh! Why am I so hard and judgmental of my own capabilities or down falls.

The Gorgeous Red Rocks

After stretch was breakfast at 7 AM and then my first hike at 8 AM. I was so worried for the hike and it was hard. Especially because it was an assessment hike so we were just thrown into vans and taken on hikes at random. I brought up the tail end. My group went on a hike called Turtle Wall it was completely gorgeous, but it was very heart-wrenching. I was the last one, the slow one, the incapable one. There was one point that I wished I fell and broke my arm so I could go home because it was "that" hard and I felt like I could not do it. I felt so deflated and defeated. There were people older than me on the same hike and I could not even see them anymore. It was during this hike that I stared questioning me even being there. Why did I come? I can't do this. It was dumb of me to think I could do this.

The trail guide that helped motivate me.

 Then I had an epiphany! I WAS doing this! I CAN do this! Even though I was totally slower than everyone else I was completing it. I was not giving up. I was talking to one of the guides and he assured me that I was doing a good job. The hick they put me on was a little advanced, but I was doing it. I would only stop and rest when I felt that I needed it and the guide pointed out a few cool rock formations and wildlife that I would have completely missed because I was looking at my feet and having a pity party. I even though about writing a blog post just for the hike and titling it "Pity Party, Table for One". How lame am I? I needed to get over myself. I was blessed to win this contest and here I was wishing it away. Perhaps this was really a blessing in disguise. Maybe I won this opportunity because I had something that I needed to learn from this amazing experience to become a better me.

The Overlook

 It was when I started focusing on myself, my journey, and my accomplishments that I realized I had made it. In one hour of trudging along across the frozen red clay and rock formations, I had reached to overlook and its breathtaking beauty was amazing. I felt a sense of pride that I had not given up or broken my arm. Here I was, hiking, and I was doing it well. Once we reached the overlook it was time to turn around and I was suddenly filled with dread. You mean I have to walk all the way back to the van? That one more hour I would spend relentlessly hiking back to my destination. Again I was filled with all those emotions and feelings of worthlessness. I could never make it back there alive. I know what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but I really thought it would kill me and at this point I had more workout classes to attend after lunch. I could still break my arm couldn't I? Snap out of it Krystyn! You made it this far, you can make it back to the van, and I did! On the ride back to the ranch I was thinking about the hike and realized that I did do it! I accomplished something real a two hour hike and was still alive. I felt invigorated and ready to take on whatever the rest of the day had for me, and I could accomplish it. Must be all the endorphins in my system.

After the hike I attended an introductory lecture that was very informative followed by lunch. After lunch I attended a 45 minute Medicine Ball Core workout and the hike seemed like nothing compared to this class. My core was on fire. I tried to complete everything requested of me, but like stretch class this morning I had to do some modifications based on my current fitness level and my mood of not wanting to push myself to hard on the first day. I couldn't risk getting injured now even though I felt like I was going to die, figuratively. Luckily for me 45 minutes goes by much faster when you are thinking about other things, and I only had to make it through this class until recharge (snack time). During recharge I had an awesome protein shake that made me feel awesome. That stuff was like magic. Then it was off to 45 minutes of circuit training.

Circuit training. Just the name alone sounded completely menacing. However, once I started the class it was much easier then I had anticipated. Two minutes of cardio, followed by two minutes on a strength machine. Repeat, only on different cardio machines and strength machines each time. I actually enjoyed it and this made me focus and I felt like I was able to push myself harder. The trainer kept saying, "What can you do in two minutes to change your life?" This really stuck with me. What could I do to change my life and my body? Circuit training was my last workout class of the day, I had to push harder. I could push myself harder! I gave it all I could and in the end I felt like keeling over right there, but I didn't! Nothing could stop me now. At least until I woke up and did everything all over again.

Biggest Loser Resort

I won a contest from KSL Studio 5 to stay at The Biggest Loser Resort for one week. I just arrived and weighed in at 292.5 so even though I haven't weighed in in almost a month my weight did not creep up on me. Thats a non scale victory for sure!! I will be posting more of my struggles and victories throughout the week!! Here is to a healthier me!!!

Thursday's Weigh In

I am still in denial. I woke up this morning and remembered to weigh myself first thing. I gained just under a pound. I'm gonna go with that as my official weigh in. There were no other factors i just weighed in like i normally would. I expected a gain after this weekend for sure, but I really didn't think it would be THAT much of a gain as I saw on the scale yesterday. That is my denial and I am sticking to it. Here's to being more on track this week and a loss next week. I think a weekend gym session is in order.

Weigh in Wednesday Has Been Postponed

Look at me, I was doing so good getting back into the swing of things. Tracking my meals, and drinks. Working out, weighing in on Wednesday, and blogging about it. Until today. I tracked my food, I went to spin class today, I even weighed in today. I forgot until much later than normal though so now I am doubting what the scale said. I ate breakfast, showered, drank 2 glasses of water, then... oh shot! I forgot to weigh in. I dug out the scale and jumped on. I realize that I may have gained a bit back since I ate a bunch of crap and drank my calories all weekend long, but maybe by not weighing in first thing in the morning after using the bathroom and before anything else I skewed the results. Or maybe I just want to be in denial about how much I gained. Either way I plan on weighing in tomorrow morning and seeing if its all in my head or not. Either way I am responsible for my weight and the reasons that it may have gone up. I accept that and tomorrow is a new day, a new beginning.

Wednesdays Weigh In...Just A Little Late

I did it! I remembered to weigh in on Wednesday morning, and although it was a good one I totally spaced on Wednesday's update. Baby steps... :) 

On the bright side -2.8 pounds this week! YAY! As for my NSV, and for those that don't know it means non scale victory. There were two of them. First I was able to complete my spinning class and kept up with everybody else!!! Super excited! Second, I reached 12,000+ steps on Thursday, all thanks to Spinning class combined with 2+ hours of trick or treating with my son.

Also, I tracked my food on My Fitness Pal everyday for the past two weeks! Here is to another SV and NSV next week!