The Home Stretch- Day 5

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This morning started off with a pretty darn aggressive ‘warm up’ with a lesson in kick boxing. Then it was off to the park to do a repeat of the 5K we did on Monday, our first day. When I arrived that first day, I was just able to power-walk the 5K, but it took me 52 minutes. Today, I jogged it at 38. That is not fast by the standards of some, but I was able to shave 14 minutes off my time AFTER: The equivalent exercise time and steps of TWO FULL marathons, AND a weeks worth of walking endless times back and forth the quarter mile between the room and the workout areas. I think that is a darn big accomplishment!

It didn’t stop there though…oh no! The 5K was followed by timed exercises: jumping jacks, squats, lunges, ‘get-ups’ and burpees, as many as we could in the allocated time (called AMRAP:as many repetitions as possible). Then back to the resort, for class and lunch, and class. Then 45 minutes in the pool. This is NOT paddling about people! This is intense, heart-pumping, cardio for 45 straight minutes. That was followed by a Zumba class, another 45 minutes of sweat and panting.

I confess, I’m pooped out. I am treating myself to a massage tonight, and my tired, sore, cranky body is going to be much happier with me later tonight. I’m just more than a little nervous about the kickboxing tomorrow. It’s our ‘last chance workout’ and I have a feeling you are supposed to leave it ‘all on the table’!

What an experience this has been. I had no idea what to expect, I don’t watch the show.  The trainers here have totally made the experience amazing. This has been the best ’50th’ Birthday gift ever from my family (who was supportive and held down the fort while I was gone) and for myself. What I found was that I am stronger and have more endurance than I thought. Not only have we have done the equivalent of half marathons each day, five days in a row, but even the trainers who all have to go through the program, say it’s hard. Yes, they kick the intensity up for themselves, but it IS HARD!

I’ll post my final thoughts tomorrow, and maybe an update or two. We have a few extra minutes today between classes and dinner, so I sat down to put this up. I’m afraid I won’t have the energy to post tonight!

Oh yeah baby, I’m in the home stretch.

The Groove. Day 4

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This morning the storms that rolled through the night before left us with gloriously perfect exercise weather: crystal blue skies, warm sunshine, low humidity, and soft cool breezes. Simply perfect for working hard, sweating and a temperature that isn’t draining. I personally woke up in a GREAT mood. The lethargy of ‘hump-day’ had moved on with the storm, leaving me energized and ready for action. 

Today started off, as all mornings, with a nice warm-up prior to breakfast. Today was a new variation of dynamic stretch. The motivational calming stretch time of yesterday was a wonderful pause on hump-day, but this morning I was raring to go, so great music and energetic stretching was right where I wanted to be. 

After breakfast it was off to a wonderful park for a super fun circuit. We had 4 stations about a 1/4 mile apart that we traveled up and down for nearly 2 hours. When done, we had nearly 4 miles under our belts, as well as some really tough station workouts.

Classes, lunch and dinner, dumb bell workouts and intense circuits in the pool rounded out our day. I feel GREAT!  

Today I was – ‘In The Groove’. 

Day Two: The Biggest Loser Resort-Chicago

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I apologize for no post on day one, I was more than a little overwhelmed!. So here is a brief summary.

Day One: 

Started off with my alarm going off 2 minutes prior to when the group was supposed to meet. Ummm, yeah, not so good. (Note to self, put glasses on when setting iPhone alarm…am is NOT pm!)

After dashing down to them meeting in the ‘Pavilion’, (it literally took me less than 5 minutes to be up, dressed and out the door) I discovered that the distance between our rooms and the pavilion (where many of the classes are held) is 1/4 distance. 

Oh yeah baby! I probably logged 2 miles, AT LEAST, going back and forth to my room during the day! 

After breakfast we started the morning with a 5K run/power-walk (whatever you could do), for which the trainers timed us doing. Then endurance exercises in the park, to see where we were in our ‘fitness’ level. 

The days here seem to be an hour of exercise/warmup before breakfast, followed by 2-3 hours exercise in the late morning, then a class, lunch, then another class followed by 2+ hours of exercise, then another class,  and finally dinner. 

Last night we had the opportunity to go bowling. I thought it would be a great opportunity to get to know some of the other ‘campers’, despite the fact my caboose was dragging. This is a great group of people who have a great attitude and focus to get fit and healthy. 

Then, honestly, I went to bed. My head hit that pillow at 9:30pm and I was out like a light. 

Day Two:

Today started with an hour walk through the golf course doing exercises and warming up. Yep. Check. I was warm. 

Then it was breakfast. I chose a smoothie today, because the oatmeal yesterday was runny. I love chia in my breakfasts, which it had, but not runny tasteless oatmeal. Todays choice was much better. The smoothie was full of protein and was easily digestible. That worked to my advantage when we then went off to a local park to sweat and breath hard for the next 2 hours. There is nothing worse than working out hard, and having a partially digested meal come back to haunt you. 

Then back for a class (thank goodness for the cool-down time!), then lunch. 

I’ll be honest. I’ve been disappointed with the food. Not that I had high expectations that it would be uber flavorful. This is a no salt, very little fat menu. But I cook. As such, I know that one can make food flavorful with the addition of fresh ingredients, flavorful herbs and the use of vinegars and citrus to mimic that sensation of ‘salty’. 

As such, it was not only disappointing in flavor, but it was not hot (which has me a little concerned about WHEN they have prepared it, and how long its been held at that temp) and the presentation was downright gross tonight. 

Chicken Jambalaya does not have to look like slop. There are easy ways to portion and present, but that seems to be lost on the kitchen staff here. If it doesn’t get better tomorrow, I might have to say something. I understand this is the opening month, but I can’t imagine the head chef of the company would be happy with this presentation as well as inferiorly presented vegetables. I am not posting a picture, you can find that on my FB page. (see FB  ‘like’ link button) I have been so busy, I have forgotten to take pictures of some of my food. I might do a post at the end with the meals I have photographed. I think that would be the best time, since I don’t have alot of time at night before I fall in to bed exhausted!

So, that is day two in a nut shell. It’s already 9:30pm and I’m exhausted! Tomorrow, if I survive the workouts, I’ll post again.