Great day today --- stayed out talking with new friends tonight --- will post more tomorrow.

Great day today --- I am yet again amazed at how fast a week can go by, when some minutes seem to drag on.  I finished my last full day here at the ridge for this week today, since Saturdays are just half days.  I am amazed at how the human body is so kind and resiliant and ready to respond as necessary if we ask it to.  I look at my progress from the last visit to my current visit, and from Monday of this week til today and am in awe.  I have worked at changing up the machines and actually spent a little more time on the elliptical by choice --- I have no idea why that one machine kicks makes me huff and puff so much quicker than the others --- it can be the change it up I need with plateaus maybe.

The hike today was the infamous stopsign hike --- still just as uphill as the last two times I did the hike.  I was thrilled on Tuesday when I realized stopsign was at the end of the week --- in retrospect I may like it near the front of the week when I'm not quite as spent.  My time today was 92 minutes --- which is my slowest time of the three --- my two times in February were 90 min and 87 min --- so still in the same ballpark.  I chose to go back down and made it back to the Hidden Pinyon stop with time to spare, but not enough time to make it to the next one down.

Food :  breakfast was pancakes and turkey sausage along with the cut fruit.  Lunch, Tomatillo soup (which I want more of so will think about making that one at home) and a turkey salad stuffed pita with a small side salad.  Dinner, Salmon burger with a side of snap peas. Dessert, fruit skewer with a berry drizzle.  (side note : I tasted some of the roasted red pepper and basil hummus tonight too --- excellent).

I went to the fitness topics lecture today which was given by Nicole, a lot to think about --- the parts I get to look at better are the RMR, and how the HR and body adjusts to becoming more fit.  Alot of good information.

Classes :  Cardio Intervals , Zumba ( I actually had more coordination in this class this time which isn't saying much, I was able to keep up with some of it, and had quite the sweat by the time we finished), Circuit, and finished the day with a pool class --- we had a great meditation exercise at the end of class floating in the pool on the noodles, a nice way to end the day for me.

Talk to you all soon.

Another nice day --- the weather was ever changing --- still cool, and later in the day rainy but only for my last class which was in the pool --- I was wet anyway.  We hiked Lower Gila, I even managed for a single geocache grab --- had I ventured off course I could have maybe grabbed one more, but I stayed on course with the plan.  The only terrain I seem to dislike is the sandy ones --- I appreciate that it rained yesterday because the sand was easier to manage with a little moisture added.  Easier hike for me than Upper Gila last trip, not quite as visually stunning, but enjoyable -- it really is nice to get out first thing in the morning.

I attended a cooking demo by Chef today.  I really enjoy that class, it definately makes a difference at the way I look at things.  Simple changes can make a big difference in the scheme of calories.  One of the changes I have picked up since my first trip was mixing Nayonaisse (at 10 calories per Tablespoon) with a low cal mayo (chef uses Veganaisse) -- nayonaisse doesn't have a very good flavor alone, but when mixed picks up the other flavor, and keeps the texture the same.  Another tip that I may try at home is baking whole wheat tortillas to use as a pizza crust --- we had those the other day -- not quite pizza but still manages the same flavor profiles as pizza does with a thin crust. I also took a class on label reading --- I have so much to learn, its also posted on the Fitness Ridge facebook page --- so glad I can get the other segments of this lecture too.

The fitness classes today, Stretch, treading -- still my favorite interval class , I love how I can push myself in that class.  Total Body H20 which I took twice instead of ballworks.  Great classes --- aside for the 15 minutes it rained hard while in the pool, but that actually wasn't too bad either -- I have to admit its interesting being in the pool during a rainstorm --- it passed and class continued.  The hottub was a nice way to warm back up and sooth some sore muscles after the day.

Breakfast was warmed museli --- eggs and toast for me.  Lunch was a Turkey sandwich --- I took the opportunity to try the tuna sandwich everyone raves about --- it was okay and something to try, I know its there in the future. (Still want to have the hummus again at some point though). Dinner was stuffed peppers -- I think its one of my favorites here.

Another short post tonight, I am so ready for a little more sleep tonight.  Have a good one all, and catch you tomorrow.

 

Short post tonight I'm ready for bed --- literally in bed with this laptop.  The massage was great, and I know it made today much easier --- definately feeling muscles but in a good way for the most part.  The hike today was temple quarry --- much different than the usual temple quarry trail I do up north.  I never knew the St. George temple was built on marshy land and prior to building they pounded the volcanic rock into the ground as a stable base --- so we were in the lava fields today, I liked it.  I got back a little early so walked in a neighborhood for awhile until everyone was back --- really interesting house --- I think the intent was a zen garden style, but very interesting to see a large scale budda in a front yard.

 

Food today -- Breakfast - french toast, scrambled egg and turkey sausage.  Lunch was pesto pizza and beet soup.  Dinner was the cafe salad --- wheat tortilla, chikcen, black beans, rice greens, pico and a tomatillo dressing --- still one of my favorite meals.

I took the Health and Wellness lecture today (had a choice between that and stretch -- it was a lecture I hadn't had before).

Fitness classes --- Deep Water Suspension (a big cardio workout today), Open Gym I managed a mile on a bike before I got really nauseated so ended up taking a 30 minute nap to recoup.  I followed that with Water circuit (the trainers were brutal today).  Kickboxing, which surprisingly I was more coordinated this visit with, go figure --- not sure where that came from, but still not loving it.  Last class of the day was mountain --- managed to  finish that one biking level 13 at 80 rpms and a heart rate of a mere 180 --- can I say thank goodness we finally reached that peak, the last few inclines were simply mind over matter, closing my eyes and peddling fast.

I still maintain that Wednesday is the toughest day here --- I plan on having a nice tomorrow so it is true.

Catch you all tomorrow.

T

The bulk of today is over --- at least the hard part.  In 90 minutes I get my massage this week --- I called and had it put on the schedule as early as I could -- I highly suggest it as a way to get through a week here.  I definately feel many muscles --- but not nearly as bad as the first time around --- which to me is good news, it means that I kept a lot of my strength.  I am working at a higher level than last time here, my all has improved as I have,  I still have a long ways to go, but one step (or minute) at a time and its mine. 

The food today : Breakfast , a smoothie and english muffin --- I substituted for eggs and toast.
Lunch : Butternut squash soup and sloppy Joe with a side salad of greens, apples, walnuts and a berry dressing of some sort. Dinner : Chicken with a tomato meat sauce over spaghetti squash --- and go figure I didn't mind the brussel sprouts as a side ( maybe if I eat enough of them Ill like them?). Dessert was the famed chocolate covered strawberries --- you know I like those a lot.  I think I will made them for bookclub next month so I have a reason to melt enough chocolate and not eat all the results.

The hike today was trail walk/job --- west canyon which is a service road --- my group spread out pretty well but found the perfect buddy who hikes the same speed as me --- it was really nice. The day was overcast and cool -- its May and rumor has it snowing in northern Utah, possible rain here the next two days.

Classes: Strength circuit which wasn't an option for me before --- I really liked it, and was able to use most of the machines all in an hour at 1 minute apeice. H20 circuit -- pool class. Cardio Intervals --- ramping up then down 30 seconds at a time with a 2 min and 1 min sprint at the top --- brutal. Total Toning -- I appreciated this class a lot more this visit -- mostly because I can do more now, I see that I am getting stronger (my arms still need alot of work). Deep water suspension --- we used the belts today, it made it much easier to keep my head above water -- I do wish I could swim better than I do. Ended up in the hot tub after the 2 water classes to warm up after moving from a warmish pool to cold outside weather --- so nice.

The nicest part of the day is the massage I get shortly. (Okay in the long run the nicest is learning what I'm learning --- but short term --- Im excited for the massage).

Til tomorrow.

Just completed my first day back at Fitness Ridge --- Summer schedule is a little different, I like it, hike starts earlier --- and I got an extra hour of fitness training.  As you know I hate mornings, that will probably never change, however once I get going they can be quite nice.  This morning my alarm clock went off way too early --- I hadn't set it up for a snooze possibility, however my roomy is a morning person (and from the East Coast) so I did get my snooze time which was perfect.  We met at 615 for our hike schedules and left at 630.  Today I got a really nice hike called Barrell Roll nice hard trail (read no sand) -- ups and downs and some beautiful scenery -- I ended up middle range in a group of 5 hikers, although I spent most of my time somewhat solo, I could see people ahead and behind --- but I was spaced just enough to see the rabbits that the first group had moving.  I also had all sorts of lizards scurrying around.  The blossoms on the cactus (and even some sort of purple morning glory), along with other wildflowers were beautiful --- I will get around to posting a few pics at a later time.  All in all I went about 6.3 miles.

We came back to breakfast of an egg mcmuffin and cut fruit.  Following breakfast was a choice between a class or mountain --- I was crazy and chose mountain, if I didn't explain it earlier in the blog that is the interval class that starts at one spot and increases incline and/or speed every 3 minutes 12-13 times until class is done, I lost count, my glutes didn't as I am very aware of them as I climb the stairs to my room. The next class was stretch, which is always welcome -- work out some of the kinks.

Lunch came next which was a vegetable soup, followed by a chile verde style chicken, brown rice and grilled skewer veggies.  It was about this time that one of my fellow friends mentioned the extra hour of class that we get come summer time and early start times --- sure enough, we still had three classes to go.  Make that four since I had been here before I can redo a lecture, or go to open gym --- I ended up spending 6 miles on a stationary bike followed by a mile on the elliptical machine --- one day I may like that machine, but not today.   The next class was core training, followed by a water class --- I still like the water -- I get to remedy that when I get home and actually just buy a gym membership I suppose.  My final class was circuit --- 2 min on a cardio machine followed by 2 - 45second stints on weights.  I started down the row on treadmills --- which alternated with ellipticals on the cardio part --- never did make it to the bikes.  Did I mention earlier that I don't really care for ellipticals --- I spent good time on them today pushing it hard --- out of my comfort zone, but in a good way. I really love the trainers here, they are great motivators.

Dinner followed, it was a turkey chili --- I will have to remember to make that at home, it was really good to me tonight.  Dessert was pineapple with a raspberry drizzle. 

They had a special guest speaker tonight --- Sarah from the current season of Biggest Loser.  She told her story and answered questions --- very interesting.

Anyway --- tomorrow is coming soon --- so I am off to bed.  Take care all and talk to you soon.

What a few months this has been --- Life has been crazy and I have managed to get swept away.  The good news is that I have managed to mostly maintain, Im up a little but still down from when I got here in Feb.  The better news is that I am back at the Ridge -- I arrived today. It was sort of like coming home, I really do like it here.  As I arrived I ran into Renee, who was here during my last trip, she is here with her neice this week, Regina will be here next week (though I unfortunately wont be).  Rumors have it that come November there will be at least a few more with me that I know too --- but thats another trip.

I am yellow team again this week, which is really neither here nor there, the schedule looks a little different with a few extra choices that I don't remember from last time, so I am eager to see what that holds.  It is summer rotation now, and that means I have to be ready for the hike descriptions come 615 am, however we will be home for breakfast at 930 which is really about when I like a little something anyway, and the hike will be done before the hotter part of the day.  I can live with that.

Turkey Stroganoff for dinner, I am thinking that I picked up the same week of an 8 week food rotation as last time, not that I really mind.  I have been enjoying the cookbooks, and excited for the cooking demos this time through too.  I get to work on better follow thru this time here.  The 90-10 rule started o ut well, but ended up more like a 70-30 rule.  But still better than the 20-80 rule I started with.  (the premise is that if you make the best choices 90% of the time, the 10% can be whatever).

I will report back tomorrow, I have the clothes layed out already and the basics packed (it allows me a few extra minutes in bed in the morning).

Till tomorrow then.