finally blogging again about BLR...

I know that I said that I was going to post daily last week while I was at the BLR but obviously that did not happen.  Two reasons:  really tired in the evenings and I am not a fan of the "blogger" app , but really it was because I was just really tired.

I did have a really good week - Thursday was my worse day.  I was really tired that day.  I had really pushed it the day before on the hike - hardest hike I have ever done.  We climbed over 1700 feet at a tough incline at times and ther were no level points and no slight declines, just straight up!  I was in a group of 12 and I was in second.  I tried really hard to catch up with the first guest that was setting the pace, but she was a damn jack rabbit!!  This little, cute law student with short legs but damn, they could move!!  But I was very impressed that I stayed up behind her, a few minutes behind her.  After reaching the top, we returned to van by a different route (which had been moved by another guide).  It was technically mostly down but with some inclines - I basically ran (jog) back.  In an hour 4o minutes, I had my best calorie burn of the week.  I then did the afternoon classes.  So, I was just tired on Thursday.  

After having a somewhat crappy hike (started off at the head of the group but ended up near the rear bc I just could move that fast - could not get my heart rate), then had stretch, then had lunch.  I was still really tired and I just wanted to skip the afternoon classes.  If I had planned to stay a second week, I am sure that I would have - convincing myself that I had another week and I just needed the rest.  I made plans to meet a friend in Santa Monica and I considered "escaping or climbing over the wall" ealry.  I also had a personal training session set up before the afternoon classes, with Cameron Kline.  I wanted to skip that too, but I didn't and I am very glad that I didn't.  That workout totally changed my state of mind.  After beating me up for almost an hour, I was in a much better frame of mind and willing and able to get through the afternoon.  I think it was because we did the type of workout that I do with my trainer, Bobby Hall and it was what I needed.  I still "escaped" to Santa Monica and got my contraband of Diet Mountain Dew.

Sometimes you do need to know when to listen to your body and take it easy, but sometimes you also just need push through it.  The trick is figuring out which one is the right one! I do not have answer for that one - last Thursday I got lucky with my decision.  

Will post more tomorrow about the BLR.



Photo from hike on Thursday.  

Way I keep coming back to BLR...

There are five reasons why I came back to BLR in Malibu:

1. Hiking
2./ 3. Dr. Ray / Jonathan (can't really tell you who is #2 - depends on the day)
4. The Staff
5. The food

The hiking is great. The hiking guides are great - friendly and they do a wonderful job with encouraging and pushing you but they also know when to back off.

Today I went on the toughest hike that I have ever been on - straight up for an hour - no slight declines, no level plains, just straight up! We climbed a little over 1700 feet. We did not go straight down - we went a different way that was slightly downhill with a few inclines. I actually ran (jog) the declines and attempted to run a couple of the inclines. I had a HUGE calorie burn for one hour and 45 minutes - I basically kicked butt and took names!!

Tomorrow I will try to write about the other reasons why I come back to the BLR in Malibu, if I am not too tired. Last night I was just too tired to write.

First day - DONE!

Survived the first day and it was not that bad - certainly had worse days here. I do have my first blister here, so no more bragging about all the hiking I have done here and never gotten a blister. But it could be much worse and so far has not really held me back like they have for other people. Here's hoping that will continue!!

I thought having 76 guests would not be fun, but it has not been a problem, so far, except for at meals. Have to wait longer to get served - let me tell you, 76 hungry people at "fat camp" is not a pretty sight and may get ugly before the week is over! :)

Not many changes at all. I guess the biggest one is that the class that follows the hike, before lunch - you now get to choose between four different classes: pool, stretch, either some kind of cardio or weight training and then the 4th is some kind of educational class - an actual chance to sit down!!

I am tired, between the jet lag (been up since 4 am) and of course the workouts. So, I am off to bed! More tomorrow!

Back at the BLR

I'm back at the BLR - this time for a week and no, I will not be extending my trip like I did last time. I am excited to be here, especially now that I am here. All last week, I was having second thoughts about coming - nervous for a couple of reasons: 1) other than the staff, I do not know anybody here. Now you can say to me, "Kate, when you first arrived in the fall you did not know anyone, not even the staff.". Yes, that is true but I am only here for 6 days this time, and it will take me until Thursday or Friday to find people to buddy around with and then I am leaving Saturday - so, nervous! Also, I am missing my "posse" from my previous visit. Second, I know that the three afternoon classes are going to drive me crazy; well, two of the three. The cardio classes will be fine, but the so called "strength" classes will end up irritating me by the end of the week (for way too many reasons to list), and I just really HATE the pool classes, every aspect of them.

So, I was having second thoughts until this morning. Drove to Santa Monica and met up with one of BLR posse girls from the fall, Elizabeth Karam, who just moved to Santa Monica. We went for a hike on Zuma Ridge and then had lunch at this great healthy, organic restaurant and she got me hyped about coming back to BLR. It also helped to receive a really warm welcome from Meg, Alicia, Mimi, Jonathan, and Randy once I did arrive here.

One bad note: I got my first blister from the hike today - have done 7 weeks of hiking out here and never gotten a blister until today!!! Really????!!!!! Not even my first official day here - ugh!!!!!!

It is also full this week - 76 guests!! I think 78 is the max they can have. Just another reason why I am not going to be a fan of the afternoon classes - so many more people in the classes. In the fall, the guest numbers ranged from 38 to 50, depending on the week.

Tomorrow it starts at 6 am with stretch and Jake, one of my favorite trainers, and for sure, my favorite stretch/yoga instructor! Yay!!

I am excited to hike tomorrow!!

Pups are home!

Drove up north of Richmond to pick up the pups - saved a huge amount boarding them up there verses any place here in Raleigh. The trade off is that it is a little over three hour drive one way, but we all home now. Luke is the yellow lab and Lucy is the brown dog. I sure did miss them and happy to have them home!

I did back healthy snacks to take in the car and I did stop at Subway and got a turkey sub, no cheese, with mustard and veggies. NO DIET MT DEW nor any kind of diet soda - that alone was a huge accomplishment!! Just got to continue what I am doing - that is the trick!!

Home!!

Made it home late Monday night about 11 pm. It was GREAT to sleep in my bed again. Unfortunately I did not sleep well at all while I was CA. I think I literally got one decent night sleep the entire time I was gone - cant really tell you why but I can tell you that I did sleep last night.

Today I did do what I said I would do: workout twice - in the am and in the late afternoon. Did cardio intervals in the am - first time that I spent more than 20 minutes on a piece of cardio equipment ( in Raleigh) in the past year. In the afternoon I met with my trainer - warmed up on the arc trainer for 25 minutes and then we did a "viper" workout. You have probably seen them do a viper workout on the show Biggest Loser - if not," you tube" it. It is a killer workout! Spent another 15 min on the arc trainer after our session. I really do feel like I am back to my old self again and that is wonderful.

I did make it to Trader Joes where I purchased all healthy items. Today I have done well with what I have eaten and my calories intake - just hopes it continues!

Posted is a photo of me and Teri, one of the trainers at the BLR. Mt first week there, I watched and studied the trainers - they are all excellent, but Teri stood out to me -my first Monday in circuit training she corrected my posture - kept on me about my form - she reminded me of my trainer, Bobby Hall. I decided to do personal training with her. She trains like Bobby and I really enjoyed training with her - she was tough, but good and she kicked my butt as all trainers should do with their clients. Also posted me at the airport in Chicago.

And Oh, I had my hair colored and cut today, thank god!!!! It looks a ton better!!!

Tomorrow I go and pick up the pups in VA. Can't wait to see them!!!

BLR review

Right now I am at Chicago ORD airport killing time until my flt to Raleigh leaves - my flt out of LAX was delayed 2 hours bc of maintenance (had to change a tire) and I missed my connection. Hopefully, I will not lose this entry like I lost the one last night.

Already told you yesterday what I lost at the BLR, now for what I gained:

Knees - my knees are soooooo much better!! This past Saturday seemed to be a big turning point - kicked butt on the hike ( read saturday's post) and I noticed Saturday afternoon that I could go "bounding" down stairs again - did not feel the need to be careful or feel anything in the knees. I still have arthritis in the knees - no running for me, thank god, but I do feel like I have recovered from the knee surgery I had in August.

Flexibility - I am so much more flexible than I was 5 weeks ago. Have to give a special thanks to Jake Robinson for that (wrote a blog on him about 2 weeks ago). He was my favorite stretch/yoga leader at the BLR, also favorite hiking guide. He did a great job leading the stretch class and introducing us to basic yoga - might even do some yoga back in Raleigh.

Renewed interest in exercise - before I went to the BLR, had a very hard time exercising, hard time making myself workout - was only working out with my trainer 3 half hour sessions a week, if that and FYI, one and one-half hours of exercise a week is not enough! I knew I had to do something to get back into it again - i was on a very slippery slope and i needed to find some solid ground again and this trip did it. I am not worried about exercising when I get home.

Personal Trainer - I am now ready to go back to work again as a trainer. I had lost my desire to work as strainer this past year and was not sure what I was going to do. I know feel ready. Birth physically and mentally to go back to work in this field. Where I am going is still the question since my last gym has been sold, but I will figure hat out.

Feel better - I just feel better all he way around, both mentally and physically. I don't think I realized how hard this past year was because of the three surgeries and illness - it was gradual, but looking back on it, I see that it was a tough year. So, I am putting it behind me and moving on.

Continue reading because I have a few more entries to make about the BLR, but also because this blog is not just about the BLR (or I would have classed it "KRPT goes to fat camp" - its about this never ending journey of good health - besides still have a few lbs to lose, want to lose during holiday season - lets see if I can!

Biggest concern about coming home: eating! I hate to cook - hate everything about from going to the grocery store, figuring out what to cook, cooking it and of course cleaning up! I did meet with the nutritionist last week and she came up with a simple meal plans - meals that take less than 10 minutes to make. I was going to the grocery store tonight (that was when my flt got it in at 4:35 pm) but that will not be happening since I'm not getting in until 10 pm tonight.
Tomorrow: going to gym and then grocery store and then up to VA to get my pups!!