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!!

Last day...

I just spent 45 minutes writing this great post summing up my experience at the BLR and I lost it when I went to post some photos, DAMN IT!!!!! Got to get up early to catch my flt, like 4 am, so I am not rewriting - will do it tomorrow.

Final numbers:

Lost 18 pounds, 11.5 inches - 5 from stomach, 4 from hips, 2.5 from chest (where I didn't need to lose it!)

Photos:

Me and Lynn ( she was there for 8 weeks. Today was her last day too)
2 photos from yoga today - so much more flexible now!
Me and Elizabeth - been there for three weeks, has another two

Last workout day at BLR

Today was my final workout day at the BLR and it was a much better day than yesterday! I went on an extended hike, which means it was about an hour longer than normal - regular hikes you get back to the resort by 10:45, extended hikes by noon. The hike was to Sand Hills Peak which is the highest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains.

I kicked butt on this hike - best one of the past five weeks. My legs just worked great - knees felt great, legs did not feel heavy and was able to move half way fast. Great speed on the incline and managed to somewhat jog going downhill. On each hike, we have three guides, one is the lead, one in the middle and one as the sweeper. I have always been in the middle or close to the end, but not today - up with the leader the entire time! It was a great way to end the hikes here at BLR.

After a three hour break, we had a "Last Chance Workout" from 3:30 to 5 pm. Basically it was a boot camp class that we did outside. It was good and my knees still felt great.

Really feel like my last workout day went well and I am ending this on a good note! Do my fitness summary tomorrow morning. No matter what the results are, it has been worth it just because of my knees - so much better!

My flight out of LAX is not until early Monday morning. I will be heading to a hotel at LAX late tomorrow afternoon. I will be the day here tomorrow and heading to airport hotel at 5:30 pm.

Pictures from hike

2 days left!!

Today I hit my mental wall - I think I checked out mentally yesterday afternoon and today was just a hard day. Every thing just irritated the crap out of me. Went on the beach hike this am which is really a beach walk with a cliff we walk up and around. The tide was really high today so we could not really walk on the beach - had to walk through a neighborhood which might have been cool if we could have seen the houses. Instead just had views of gates and walls. My knees hate walking on pavement, too much pounding. They started hurting (really the first time all week); so, that just put me in an awful mood.

After lunch I did an individual kickboxing class which was really boxing - no kicking bc my knees were bothering me. So, it was really boxing which helped my mood - hitting someone for an hour!

I took the rest of the afternoon off bc I knew I would just get in that crappy mood again - should have done circuit training (description on Monday's blog) and then Zumba class and followed by either mountain cardio or pool. HATE both Zumba and mountain so I just took the afternoon off - helped with my frame of mind. I am sure I will be ready to attack my last day tomorrow.

Posted is a photo of me and TJ, the hiking manager. TJ is great at organizing the hikes, making sure there is plenty of different hikes to go on, and really working with all different hiking levels and injuries and/or issues. Also very good with advancing guests to different level hikes. She is very encouraging, nice and very funny - full of energy, non-stop energy! The hikes are one of my favorite experiences here and that is thanks to TJ and the great hiking guides!!!

Thanksgiving at the BLR

Today is Thursday and at the BLR, it is not a day about eating and football. It is just like any other Thursday - hike in the am followed by stretch or pool (I did stretch), i then did a personal training session followed by lunch. After lunch I had Treading Cardio and then Ball works followed by another cardio class.

Dinner was 6 oz grilled turkey steak, chipotle sweet potato purée with rosemary lemon gravy, broccoli and their version of pumpkin pie (some kind of tofu stuff with pumpkin) - all for 463 calories total. The meal was pretty good but next year I'm having a real thanksgiving dinner!!!

In case you want to know how to do Treading:

5 minute warm up at base line
5 minutes as hard and fast as you can go
5 minutes at base line
4 minutes as hard and fast as you can go
4 minutes at base line
3 minutes as hard and fast
3 minutes base line
2 minutes as hard and fast
2 minutes base line
1 minute sprint - hard and fast
1 minute base line
1 minute sprint again
Cool down

Treading is my favorite cardio class that I have done here - its hard, but u do have that break in between. For some reason we only do this class once at week here.

Ball works is a class with stability balls and each week I have had a different trainer leading the class and therefore the class itself has been different. It is probably my 2nd least favorite class.

2 days left - well, 2 workout days - not flying back to NC until Monday. I am ready to come home. Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Happy thanksgiving!!!

Wednesday

Worked very hard today. hike this am was beautiful - views of the ocean and mountains. After hike I went to stretch class, and then had a personal training session. I have been working out with a trainer two to three times a week to get weight training in. From PT, I went to spin class which is a great cardio burn. I then had about 30 minutes for my favorite lunch, Greek pita made with ground turkey, mushrooms, and feta - yum!

Afternoon classes should have been kickboxing, Mountain Cardio class and then Cardio intervals. As I said yesterday, I hate mountain. When I did it yesterday it just put me in a horrible mood. So because this is my last week, I decided that I am not doing mountain again - I did 2 rounds of kickboxing instead. Had to miss the third class bc of a chiropractor appt.

Not sure if I have written what Mountain Class is yet so here it is - try it bc you might like it.
Mountain cardio:
5 min warm-up
12 intervals, each one 3 minutes
You start at level 1
Each level increase the speed and or intensity.
Stop after 12, cool down!

Hope you enjoy it more than me!

Picture is from hike today

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Mountain class

Today was pretty much like yesterday except the afternoon classes are somewhat different. After lunch, I had Total Toning which is somewhat similar to boot camp. 10 stations were set up, different exercise/weight exercise, at each station. Perform the exercise for 1 minute, 30 sec rest, and then again for another minute. Then you switch to the next station.

After total toning, I had Cardio intervals. You are on a piece of cardio equipment, warm up for about 5 minutes at base line, then every 30 secs you increase the speed and/or the intensity 7 times. The 8th time you stay there for one minute, you then decrease the speed and/or intensity every 30 secs 7 more times. 2 minutes at base line. Then 1 minute sprint - has hard and fast as u can go for that minute, 1 minute base line, another sprint. Repeat all of that.

The third class was either mountain or pool - bc it is sooooo cold here, I choose mountain which is my very least favorite class here - had a hard time deciding what to do but being inside won out! The pool is heated but it is outside and the sun is almost down by the time the class starts - cold!!! It is warmer in NC than here! I will explain tomorrow how to do mountain cardio class - it just sucks!

Picture is from the hike today - really am enjoying the hikes!

Last week

Started my last week at the BLR - both happy and sad! I am looking forward to coming back home and getting back to normal life in NC, but this has been a really good place for me and I will miss the routine, the food that I did not have to cook and the great staff.

So, a refresher to what a week is like here and detailed explanation on the classes so you can do them where you are:
6 am 45 min stretch class
7:15 breakfast
8 am leave for hike - depending on drive time to your hike that day, hikes are 2 to 2.5 hours
1045 to 11am return from hike
11:15 either pool class or stretch class for 45 minutes - you can choose.
12:15 lunch
1:15 lecture if you are a new guest or open gym for stay over guests (I usually do weight training during this time).
2:30 to 3:15 pm first group fitness class of afternoon
3:30 to 4:15 pm 2nd group fitness class
4:30 to 5:15 pm 3rd class - can choose btw pool or a cardio class
5:30 dinner
6:15 lecture for new guests

Each class is lead by a trainer with a 2nd trainer there to assist and help. Afternoon classes change every day.

Today my afternoon classes were:
Circuit training - 2 minutes on cardio equipment going as hard as u can, then 45 secs on weight machine, 30 secs rest, 2nd 45 secs on weight machine, then back to cardio for 2 minutes, repeat several times for 45 minutes.
2nd class was Core Training - which is what it sounds like core exercises for 45 minutes. Each trainer has their own way to teach the core class - had a different trainer for this class every week so it has been different every time.
3rd class was Mountain Cardio, which is my least favorite. Today I was lucky and was able to skip bc I had a meeting with the nutritionist to set up a meal plan for when I leave.

Posted is photo of me and one of the trainers, John. John has been great with working with me and my knees issues - helping me to modify exercises and checking on me and how my knees were doing on a daily basis. They really do care and know what they are doing here. Like my hair in the photo??? Just finished working out, FYI.

Last week

Starting my last week at the BLR and I am ready to give it my all and finish strong! I'm feeling good - my knees are doing well. I am ready to kick butt and take names this week!

Today was cold and rainy - wanted to go to sight seeing but just hung out here instead. Did do stretch/yoga his am (see photos) and caught a movie this afternoon.

I am ready to get back to NC for the warmer weather - never thought I would say that while I am here!!

Posse

I have been really lucky here at the BLR with a great support group. When you first arrive, all "new guests" attend lectures together after every lunch and dinner. You are out in a hiking group all morning and also in a group fitness group all afternoon. When you spend 12 to 15 hours with a core group, you get to know them really well. The photo with 9 was my hiking group my first week and 7 of those became my core group - Allison, Cameron, Charlotte, Darrell, Laura, Nicole, and Vicki (Vicki and Darrell are married).

After the first week, there were 4 of us remaining - Cameron, Darrell (one with mustache), and Vicki. 4 of us became really close.

Darrell and Vicki were suppose to leave after 2 weeks. Vicki did leave, but Darrell extended his stay - originally for a third week and then for a 4th week.

Again, when u spend 12 to 15 hours a day for 4 weeks, you become really close, Cameron, Darrell and I have been together since the very beginning - same hiking group - we hiked at the same pace - we advanced each week together on the hikes. We have been in the same fitness group every week. These guys are great!! So funny, so entertaining!! They made me laugh - they made me laugh at myself! They really help keep me sane here. Working out 6 to 7 hours a day is hard especially when u add in a 1200 calorie diet. Having a core group or a posse is vital!!

I do have other friends here, but not like the two of them - no one to make me laugh the way they did! But I will make it through this last week.

Thank you to Allison, Charlotte, Nicole, Laura, and Vicki, but a big thank you to Cameron and Darrell!! I miss you all!!!

Beach day

Feeling much better today - Fridays are easier. Today we had a beach hike/walk - its an easy hike, 4th time that I have done it, but it is relaxing and somewhat spiritual for me. Today it was low tide and we saw some cool tidal pools and a sea cave (see pictures on Facebook).

Friday afternoons are on the easier side - circuit training, cardio disco jam and a choice btw pool and some kind of cardio class (today mountain). I HATE cardio disco jam so I always do circuit training twice and always do pool on Friday afternoons bc we play volleyball. So, it was a low key day which was nice!

Colder today bc the sun never came out. Suppose to be rainy all weekend, again!! But it is now finally colder in NC than it is in Malibu - yay!!!

Feeling much better

Took the morning off and it made a HUGE difference this afternoon. Felt much better and kick some butt this afternoon from 1:15 pm to 5:15 pm!! Personal training session, then treading ( cardio class), followed by "ball" class, and then cardio interval class. I will be hiking tomorrow.

Posted is a photo of a group of is in the hot tub. As I said day before yesterday, no place to hang out here so we spend a lot of time in the hot tub - more time in the past three and half weeks then I have my entire life!

Full day tomorrow!

Photo from yesterday

My post yesterday would not let me post 6 photos or more so below is photos from yesterday's hike. Earlier this year on valentine's day, this craving at the end of a fallen tree was found - was not there a few days before! How sweet!!

More photos of BLR

Below are more photos of BLR Malibu. One is the outside of the main building that houses the front desk, pro shop, dining room, offices and spa. Picture of dining room posted below. Also posted are pictures of pool, the gym, and aerobics room (gym and aerobics room are two separate buildings).

My only complaint about the resort is there is no place to hang out. The only seating areas are outside - in front of the main building or by the pool which is fine when the weather is nice but it is somewhat chilly during the day and down right cold at night. So after dinner if you do not have a spa appt, you whether go back to your room or hang out in the hot tub. There needs to be a rec room or a Movie room or something like that inside a building!

My posse has chosen the hot tub to hang out. I have spent more time in a hot tub in the past three and half weeks than I have my entire life. Besides the social element of the hot tub, it is really a necessity - working out 6 to 7 hours a day - muscles need the heat.

I apparently have hit a wall both physically and mentally - very tired, not sleeping well, thought I was getting sick. I did go on the hike today but it was awful - broke out in a cold sweat, thought I was working out really hard but could not get my heart rate up. Took the afternoon off and on the advice of chiropractor (Dr Ray or Dr Feel Good or The Healer or Miracle Worker or Dr Cute - just a few of his nick names - see earlier post), I am taking tomorrow morning off - not coming out of my room until noon! He did not get an argument from me. I do think I need a break so I can go hard next week, my final week.

So, Good Night!!

Rooms

Today is Monday and after a day and half of rest, I feel great!! It is amazing to me that here at the BLR, I look forward to Mondays - it is the best day of week here bc my body is refreshed and ready to go. So, yay for Mondays!

Had some questions about the rooms here so I have posted a few photos. We stay in "cabins" that are really trailers but they are fine. Somewhat small, but each has what one needs - double bed, full bath, wireless internet, TV with cable. I spend very little time in here - only in here long enough to change during the day (two to three times a day) and then about an hour before I go to sleep. Tomorrow photos of other parts of the resort.

Every Monday we go on an assessment hike. I went on the same hike today as I did last Monday - upper Latigo - actually it was the third time that I have done this hike. What was great about the hike today was how much faster I was today on it - how much better my legs felt. I do feel like I am getting back into my pre-surgeries shape. Yay!!! So it has been worth it!

Steve and Mimi / hit a wall

Steve is UFC fighter or trying to be one. When he is not training, he is a hiking guide and kickboxing instructor at BLR. We have kickboxing once a week on Wednesdays. Steve was great at modifying the workout for all of my injuries - knees and right wrist. I was so impressed with him that I have done a couple of individual kickboxing sessions with him. It is amazing how I have had no wrist issues with him - might be because he wraps my wrist before every session and puts real gloves on them. He is really good and will be heading to Canada in December to train full time to fight professionally in the UFC. I'm just glad he will be here for the next two weeks. He reminds me of my trainer, Bobby hall - full of energy and crazy at times!

Mimi is also a hiking guide and works at the front desk. Mimi always goes on the advance hikes and until this past week I had only dealings with her in role at the front desk. This past week I got moved up to the advance hikes. I liked Mimi until then - do not like hiking guide Mimi, just kidding, sort of. Actually she is really nice but on my first advance hike, my knees were not happy and I was at the back of the pack - I would get excited as I rounded a corner on the trail and saw Mimi and part of the group resting, but just as soon as I would get close, she would take off - no rest for me! Really?? Made me feel like I needed to go to fat camp - oh yeah, I am at fat camp!!! I have given her a hard time about that and she did get better about waiting for all of us the rest of the week.

Hit a mental wall this weekend - been pretty tired since last Wednesday and Saturday was just a crappy day all around. Cold and rainy and very windy - tried to go on a hike, but it was just awful. There were just 4 of us on his week - we all were miserable and cold. Luckily our guides took pity on of us and didn't make us do the whole thing. But the rest of the day was just crappy. Today has been better - day of rest - saw a movie last night and today - ready to start again tomorrow!

Staying for two more weeks

I am staying for an additional two weeks - will fly back on November 28.
Originally I wanted to stay for 4 weeks but hesitated for a couple of reasons: my knee - was not sure how it was going to do with 6 to 7 hours of exercise a day. I also had concerns about the workout programs here - worried that I would fine them lamed or that they would not be good about modifying exercises. I was presently surprise on both counts. Trainers here are great!!
My first week was just really hard - hard to adjust to all of the exercise, the pain in my knees, the lack of diet mt dew, etc. The second week was much better but still hard on my knees and i was still limited with what I could. This week I feel like I am starting to workout again at the level I use to - actually I really did not feel that way until today. I feel like I will get the most out of the program during the next two weeks.
At first I was just going to stay one additional week - BLR gives a discount for the 4th week. I then found out that if I stayed a 5th week, I get a huge tax credit towards the week. California has a hotel tax that is applied for any stay under 4 weeks. If your stay longer than 4 weeks then you are considered a resident and do not have to pay the tax. So, I got a refund of the tax that I had already paid - it was applied to the 5th week.
Yes, that does mean that I will be spending thanksgiving here - good thing about that is no overeating that holiday!!
Yes, I am coming home!
Pictures are from hike today - Upper Bulldog. We climbed 1400 ft up, elevations between 10 to 20%. I really do enjoy the hikes! Doing the advance hikes now and they are kicking my butt but they are great - beautiful scenery!

Dr Ray

Dr Ray is the chiropractor here at he BLR but he is really a miracle worker!! I thought I had a good chiropractor back in Raleigh until I saw Dr Ray.
When I first arrived, it was recommended that I see the chiropractor for my knee issues - see a chiropractor for my knees??? Really?? I decided to go because I didn't have anything to lose and I figured I needed an adjustment after the long flight. Dr. Ray did adjust my back but he did so much more - he did work on my knees and hips. He did major assisted stretches and "ironing" which is a crossed between deep tissue massage and stretching. He was unbelievable!! I could hardly walked when I went into his treatment room (the first full day thst i was here) and I felt so much better when I left. He is the big part of why my knees are doing soooo much better. I am trying to figure out how I am going to get him back to NC with me when I leave. It was been worth coming out here just to see him - that is how good he is!!
Today I went on one of the hardiest hikes that they have here - Calabashas motorway. Basically we hiked up a fire road that went around and up a mountain. We went straight up for about an hour and then came back down. The incline was between 15 to 20%. It was hard but I did it. Pictures below.
Good day but I was really tired this afternoon - had to take a nap.

Too tired!!

To tired to post tonight! Hard hike this am and was tired thr all the afternoon classes. Pictures posted are from hike this am.
Hopefully more tomorrow!

Great staff

This week I am going to talk about the staff here at the BLR. In one word - AWESOME! They really are great!! Very knowledge, very supportive and very motivating! They are also great at kicking butt!!
The first staff member/instructor that I had interaction with was Jake. He is a yoga instructor and here at BLR he is a hiking leader, teaches stretch/yoga. Today he just passed his NASM certification and is now a personal trainer (Congrats, Jake)!!!! He is the best stretch instructor here and I wish he taught all of the classes. He is very patience, very clear with his instructions, gives personal attention, and is fun and entertaining. I am actually considering do more yoga when I get home because of him. He introduces just enough yoga moves to peak our interest in it but keeps it simple and does not overwhelm us with it.
Jake lead the stretch class my first Monday at 6 am. He really made me realize that this was not such a scary place and I would survive.
The staff really does make the difference here - they are wonderful!!!