Day 238 - Friday at the Biggest Loser Resort Niagara

I can’t believe today was the last full day of my vacation here at Biggest Loser Resort Niagara!  It was definitely jam packed.

6:00 Stretch – I really like waking up with a stretch class.  It is such a calm and peaceful way to start the day.  I want to figure out how to incorporate this when I get home.  I’m not sure how, but I will think about it!

8:00 Circuit Training – This was a little different than the strength classes we’ve had so far.  This time, we started with a cardio machine for two minutes (after warm up) and then switched to a strength machine for two 45 second intervals.  The back and forth between cardio and strength was definitely interesting. All in all, I really liked the class.

9:00 Spinning – I actually enjoyed today’s spinning class.  If I weren’t for the pain from the seat, I might consider trying it at home.  But, the pain from the seat is so hard to get past. I will definitely keep it as an option though.

10:30 Option:  Pool, Stretch or Cardio Intervals – I chose stretch again. After the spinning class, my legs were so tight and hurt so badly, it was really all I could do to drag myself to the studio to stretch.  And, if I haven’t said it, I really miss my yoga classes, and the stretch is the closest alternative.

12:45 Lecture:  Planning Strategies – This was a really good lecture.  It was more interactive than most of them so far.  It was also very practical.  Mostly, she focused on setting goals for ourselves once we get home, and strategies to meet those goals.  This was one of my favorite lectures.

2:00 Hike – There was an offsite hike this afternoon, but it was in the woods, and not free from ice and slush.  Given the fact that my knees were really sore from running yesterday, I didn’t want to take any chances with the terrain, or slipping on the ice.  Instead, I was able to stay in the gym.  I did an hour on the Octane Machine and then thirty minutes on the elliptical.  I also had my snack in between.  When the group came back, they said I probably made the right choice.  At least one person fell on the trail, and others said I probably would have had problems on the ice.  I’m glad I listened to my intuition and still got in a great workout.

4:15 Mini-Stretch – This was just a 15 minute class to work out the kinks after the hike.  In my case, it stretched me out after the cardio I did.  Even though it was short, it was worth it.

4:45 Lecture: Open Forum – This was just a question and answer session, with a lot of brainstorming.  I liked it.  And, I was even able to give one piece of advice or someone struggling with a goal.  That was a good feeling.

Overall, it was another really great day.  I did remember my coffee this morning, and that might have helped.  The interesting thing is, it’s past the time where I’ve collapsed in bed most nights, and I’m still awake.  I wonder if that means that my body is finally getting used to the level of exercise and providing a little more energy to compensate.  Whatever the reason, I like it!

Tomorrow will be a short day.  We only have classes in the morning, and no stretch class.  Then, most of the afternoon is free, with a ‘graduation’ ceremony at 4:00.  But, even though it’s a half day, the exercise on hand seems pretty rough.  I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow!

Day 237 - Thursday at the Biggest Loser Resort Niagara

So, every day can’t be perfect.  Today, I woke up early again, but totally forgot to brew a cup of coffee in my room.  The resort is caffeine free, but if you keep it in a private room, they don’t care.  But, since I didn’t get back to the room all morning, I was caffeine free for the day.  I’m not sure if that’s why it was more of an off day or not.  But, it wasn’t terrible, just not quite as joyful as the others.

6:00 Stretch – This was actually a great class.  It was more dynamic than the others, and I actually broke a sweat.  I left class feeling alive and ready for the day.

8:00 Total Tone – I did really well with this class.  It was very similar to my beloved Muscle Challenge class, and I did pretty well.  I wasn’t able to use as heavy weights as I am used to.  I think my muscles are just really tired from so much work with no rest.  Other than that, I might have learned a routine I can use on Wednesdays.

9:00 Treading – I had heard about this class and was a little afraid it would be really hard.  It was an intervals based class, but the heaviest work is front loaded.  We did a five minute warm up, five minutes hard, five minutes recovery, four minutes hard, four minutes recovery, etc, until a cooldown after the last hard minute.  I actually really liked it.  And, I noticed a major difference today.  At the beginning of the week, I could easily get my heart rate up past 85%.  Today, I couldn’t.  No matter how hard I worked, it stayed around 75%.  That has to mean that my heart is getting stronger.

10:30 Stretch  - I was really tired after the first two classes and decided a stretch class was the perfect choice for the choice class.  It was different from the others, and even incorporated more yoga like poses.  I really loved it.

12:40 Lecture – Labels and Portions  Not a whole lot new here, but some of the questions were interesting.

2:00 Trainer Outdoor Challenge Hike – I really, really, really did not want to go on this hike.  It was snowing, cold, and I just was tired.  I have never been so tempted to skip a class, but, I went.  It was very similar to the hike on Tuesday, but I did better today.  At one point, Betty challenged me to run up Betty’s Hill.  I didn’t really feel comfortable with that, but I compromised and told her I would run from the Hill station to the gym door for the next station.  I actually ran!  I don’t know how far it is, but I might do it again and ask someone to video it for me.  I was panting so hard that the trainer at the next station had to coach me through panic breathing.  Basically, breathe in deep through your nose and exhale through your mouth.  No so easy when you are gasping for air!

3:30 Ballistics – I wanted to give this class my best effort, but I had no gas left in the tank.  My stomach was a little upset and I just did the best I could.  When it came time to do arm exercises, I wimped out and chose light weights.  I’m glad I did, though.  It was the same set of arm exercises we had done in the total tone class in the morning, and I just wasn’t up to doing them twice with heavy weights.

4:45 Lecture – Pattern Portions, & Food Tips   This was more interesting.  The class came up with a lot of ideas for portion control during meals and snacks.  My favorite tip was to ask the butcher to pre-portion your meat for you.  Apparently, most butchers will do this, even if the meat is pre-packaged in the cooler.

Even though I don’t consider this to be a stellar day, looking back on it, it was pretty good.  I love the fact that I ran, even if I did get out of breath.  And, even though I was really tempted to skip a hike, I went anyway.  Overall, I’m still really proud of myself.  I will go to bed early tonight and make sure tomorrow is a fantastic day.  I’ll also make sure to remember the coffee in the room!

 

 

Day 236 - Wednesday at the Biggest Loser Resort Niagara

Today was amazing.  Beyond mind-boggling amazing.  I woke up this morning well ahead of the alarm.  I decided to just lie there and meditate for a while, and then get up.  In the shower, I realized I was happy, truly happy on the inside.  It’s been a long time since I really looked forward to a day, and just expected great things.  I want to keep this positive energy and pure joy in my life.

6:00 – Stretch.  Fantastic way to start the day.  I left feeling energized and ready to handle anything coming my way.

8:00 – Spinning.  I was so afraid of this class, but I ended up really enjoying it.  She mixed up the standing and sitting, different levels, hand positions, everything.  By the time class was over, I was dripping in sweat, but amazed that I did it.

9:00 – Mountain.  This was a hard class.  You set your machine to a level for warm up and then increase every three minutes for twelve increases.  At the end, a couple extra increases are thrown in for fun.  It was hard, but I kept up.  At each level he had a recommended calorie for hour reading on the machine, and most of the time, I was over that recommendation by a few hundred.  I was beyond proud of myself for this class.

10:30 – Strength Circuit.  We had a choice of stretch, pool, or this class.  I wanted to really push myself today, so I took the strength class.  It was the same idea as Monday, but with some TRX stations added.  I loved it!  At the end, we did an ab routine that was so hard.  But, again, I made some modifications, and did the best I could.  I am getting more and more confident of myself with every class.

12:45 – Emotional Eating.  There were some good tips for surrounding yourself with positive supports, and recognizing the difference between eating for hunger and eating for any other reason.  I figured I am mostly a stress eater, so that’s the part of the lecture I focused on.

2:00 – Hike!  I actually hiked for 3.2 miles today.  It was a hike down the road from the campus, and was absolutely beautiful.  There were some pretty steep hills, but I managed them.  I have a picture of me at the turn around post, just to prove that I made it.  I was the last person back for snack, but I made it.  There were others who bailed earlier, but I was much too stubborn to do that.  After snack, we were supposed to go back out and hike the trails or the paved trail for another 40 minutes.  I just couldn’t do it.  My feet were burning from the first hike.  So, I asked if I could finish the workout on a machine in the gym, and that’s what I did.  I absolutely LOVE that they are so flexible, and that I am so committed to finishing what I start.

4:15 – Abs.  This was an optional class, and there were only a handful of us there.  It was really good though.  It was the same trainer who did the strength circuit, so the same ab routine.  My stomach muscles were crying by the end, but I finished.  Then, she threw in a different exercise, and some stretching to finish it out.  Again, I was proud for going to the optional class, and not cutting any corners.  This is definitely a theme for me!

4:45 – Lecture.  This was a motivational story from one of the trainers.  He had lost over 100 pounds and looked amazing.  He shared his story with us, and I am really inspired by him.  One day, I will be there!

6:30 – Massage!  I had booked this massage before I got here.  When I walked down the stairs to the spa, my legs were so sore, I was seriously wondering how I would get back up the stairs.  When she finished, I felt completely revitalized and ready to tackle the rest of the week.  Definitely a great use of time!

Now, I am going to finish up for the day and just reflect a little.  Today I am feeling so strong and motivated – like I really can handle this.  During the final relaxation part of the stretch this morning, Betty wanted us to make ourselves a promise.  My promise was that I would finish this journey and get to my healthy weight.  Tonight, I know that I will keep that promise.

 

Day 235 - Tuesday at the Biggest Loser Resort Niagara!

Wow am I tired.  I thought I was exhausted after two hours of exercise.  Two days of 6 hours – I can’t even begin to describe the feeling.  I ache all over now, and hate to think what the morning is going to bring.  But, it’s actually kinda fun, and I am so proud of myself for what I was able to do today.  I’ll do a brief summary, but probably not as detailed as yesterday.

 6 am – Stretch class  -  If I could start every day with a 45 minute stretch class, life would be good.  She had the lights out; we were lying on the mats for a large part of class; and left for breakfast feeling less sore and ready to face the day.  Definite highlight of the day.

7 am – Breakfast – Yummy

8 am – First Chance Workout – This one was interesting.  The class was divided into two groups.  One group did exercises on the step (with one riser) and the other half used a bosu.  Then we switched.  It was 2 minutes at a time of intense exercise, with about 30 seconds of recovery in between.  The water breaks sprinkled through the class were wonderful. 

9 am – Cardio Intervals – This was a killer class.  We picked a machine and did huge intervals on it.  I decided to go with the elliptical.  Betty was great.  She knows I have problems with my knees, so she let me increase in smaller increments, and bump the intensity with speed.  So, I was able to follow along with all the intervals, get a wonderful workout, AND not get hurt.  At the end of the intervals, we all did a minute with the ropes.  After it was my turn I got the brilliant idea that I should have asked someone to video it for me.  So, I did it again.  If I can figure out how to post the video, I will.  The bad thing is I was already tired the second time, so I didn’t do as well.  But, it will definitely give you the idea!

Snack break!

10:30  - Choice of Stretch, Pool or Cinco Speed.  I chose stretch.  After the intensity of the first two classes, I just wasn’t up for another cardio class.  The stretch class was great.  I love how she mixed motivation in with the stretches.  Definitely a good choice!

11:45 – Lunch!

12:45 – Lecture – The Facts of Weight Loss  This was a good lecture.  It focused on sleep, digestion, and stress.  Not a whole lot I didn’t know already, but definitely a good use of time.

2 pm – Outdoor TOC Hike – TOC stands for trainer obstacle challenge.  The hike was all on paved trails, and most were clear of snow.  That was a big relief.  But, the obstacles were really, really challenging.  The hardest was a climb to the top of ‘Betty’s Hill’ that we had to do five times.  Some people walked up, some ran, and some carried Betty on their back.  I’d love to be able to do that one day!  The rest of the obstacles were more traditional – push ups, dips, weight bar presses/curles, squats, jumping jacks, crunches, etc.  After the hike was over I was dead. It was a good thing next up was a snack break!

3:30 – Total Body H2O – This was a great water class.  Lots of stuff that you would find in a typical water aerobics class, but some things that were more challenging.  We had a contest at the end to see who could swim the furthest underwater.  The winner got to be done and go to the hot tub.  The rest of us broke into two teams and had to collect dive rings from the opposite end of the pool.  Each ring had a number and the team with the highest total number was done next.  The losing team had to walk a long lap, and then they were done.  Another great class!  (Oh yeah, and the hot tub was wonderful)

4:45 – Lecture – Intuitive Eating.  This class had some good suggestions on how to deal with the various ways we eat, and how to be more in tune with our true hunger, and to really enjoy each meal.  It was definitely good.  What I got out of it the most was the HALT method.  If you are reaching or a snack, ask yourself these questions:  Are you HUNGRY?  Are you ANGRY?  Are you LONELY?  Are you tired?  Unless you’re actually hungry, walk away from the snack!

After that was dinner and free time.  Now, I’m just finishing this blog and getting ready for bed.  Tomorrow is going to be another long day.  There is a two hour hike in the afternoon.  I’m dreading that!

But, once again, I am so proud of myself for making it through the day.  This is so much more of a challenge than I have ever attempted before.  And, it’s not all physical.  So much of it is the mental game of pushing yourself just a little harder.  I have found that I really am stubborn.  Once I start something, I really don’t want to give up.  Before, I never would have started some of the things I’ve tried here.  Here, I just do it.  There are always modifications, if needed, but I do it.  I want to be someone who tries things, figures them out, and does the best she can.  That is a great lesson to take home with me.

Day 234 - Monday at the Biggest Loser Resort Niagara!

OK, I’m starting to see why there aren’t a lot of detailed accounts of the resort on the web.  I am so tired it is an effort to type!  I’m battling with myself right now because I should go hang out in the hot tub or sauna to relax my muscles, but I am so tired I just don’t have it in me to change, walk to the pool, change again, and walk back.  I know that sounds terrible, but that’s how tired I am.

The day started out with a ‘Know Your Gym’ class at 6am.  It was basically an introduction to the different machines in the gym.  I will try to get a picture tomorrow.  They have rowing machines, treadmills, octane machines (which are like recumbent elliptical machines), elliptical machines, and recumbent bikes.  Then there are a bunch of strength machines, a TRX setup, ropes, and free weights.  It really is quite impressive!

After the first class, we had breakfast.  I really hate that they don’t have coffee.  I know I shouldn’t be so addicted to it, but it’s hard to limit myself to just the one cup I can brew in my room before heading out the door. Other than that, breakfast was great.  All the food is great, actually.

Next was a class called ‘Cinco Speed’.  It was basically cardio intervals that added up to five minutes.  For example, 3 minutes hard, 2 minutes less hard.  Then 4 and 1, etc.  I tried using one of the octane machines since I had never tried one before.  I got my heart rate up to 95%  and quickly!  The trainer was great.  She was really motivating us to push as hard as we could, but there was no yelling or intimidation involved.  I did back off a little and kept my heart rate around 85% most of the class.  I just couldn’t keep up at a higher pace.

Next up was a core class.  As much as I hate to say it, it was probably my favorite class of the day.  It was 30 seconds each of two exercises, a water break, and then back to two more exercises.  We did three sets of each duo.  The first was full plank combined with supermans.  Because they were only thirty seconds, I was able to do the full plan and not put my knees down.  Yeah me!  Next was leg lifts and side planks.  I had to go to a knee on the side planks.  I’m just not strong enough to support my full weight with straight legs.  One day.  Next was a few different styles of sit ups.  I won’t go into the full detail, but it was intense.  I will definitely be feeling this class tomorrow!

After core was snack time and a group fun activity.  It was a get-to-know you thing where you pulled questions out of a bag and then answered it.  Mine was ‘If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?’  I like my name.  I always have.  So, I just said I’d re-pick my confirmation name, Elizabeth.  Most of the questions were better.  Oh, the one good thing about being over 250 pounds is that you get a larger snack.  So, I got a hard boiled egg, carrot sticks, and a tablespoon of almond butter.  I really enjoyed it!

The last class before lunch, you get to pick between three different classes.  The choices were:  Mountain (a really intense cardio session), Stretch (more relaxing than anything), and water aerobics.  I chose water aerobics.  It was a really hard workout.  Again, it was interval based, with some core at the end.  The good thing was that the pool was warm, so it wasn’t a huge shock getting in.  I’m glad I went to the pool class today, but I am not sure if I will pick it tomorrow when we get different choices.

After lunch we had a lecture.  It was mostly on the different aspects of the program here.  Some myth busting (all calories are NOT equal), and an introduction to why they set up the food program the way they did.  It was really interesting, but not a whole lot of new information.  It did seem new to a lot of the people there, so that was a good thing.

By far, the hardest thing of the day was the ‘baseline hike’.  Because of the snow we had a choice of either walking on paved trails or through the woods.  I chose the paved trails.  Even though they were paved, they were still snow covered and slippery.  One of the trainers actually fell.  Fortunately, I don’t think anyone else did.  But, even though I’ve been working out for so long, I don’t do a lot of full weight bearing exercise.  I was out of breath so fast it was depressing.   But, I did three loops around the track, and kept going the entire hour.  It was hard, really hard, but I did finish.  And, I didn’t stop.  Oh yeah, I didn’t cry either!

After the hide was another snack and then ‘Strength Circuit’.  I loved this class!  It was basically 90 seconds on each of the strength machines in the gym.  There were two trainers for about 15 of us and they really stayed on top of us.  The checked our settings, our form, and our weights!  I don’t know how they managed it, but they did.  I was really impressed at how gently they challenged us to increase our weights, and didn’t fuss if we needed to back down.  It’s a very subtle, but effective approach.

There was an optional stretch/ab class to end the day.  I was hoping it would be more stretch than abs, but it was exactly the opposite.  It was only half an hour and it seemed to fly by.  Lots of crunches, of varying formats.  It was good, but I was ready for it to end.  The stretch part was really nice, though.

Before we could celebrate the end of the workout day, there was another lecture.  It was all about the different macronutrients:  fats, carbs, and proteins.  It was really interesting, and I did get some good information.  They advocate filling your plate with 50% non-starchy veggies, 25% starchy veggies, and 25% protein.  Healthy fats being added for flavor and cooking.  It seemed really reasonable.

Dinner was delicious, as usual.  There were two chocolate covered strawberries for dessert.  I never thought I could stretch out and savor two strawberries as long as I did!  It’s amazing how you can deal with small portions and really enjoy them.

Now, I am back in the room.  Like I said, I should have gone to the sauna or the whirlpool, but I am going to bed.  It is going to feel so good to get a hot shower, relax, and go to bed.  I don’t care that it’s not even 8pm yet!

Day 233 - Checking Into the Biggest Loser Resort Niagara!

Well, today is the day!  I was planning on sleeping in this morning and then slowly driving the last 90 minutes to get to the resort in time for a 1:00 check in.  But, at 6:18 my eyes popped open and I was awake.  I couldn’t sit still so I decided to just get in the car and take my chances arriving early.  Fortunately, my room was ready and they let me check in early (around noon).  I was so happy. 

The first thing I did was unpack and get comfy in the room.  I set up my contraband coffee pot and started to calm down a little.  I took a couple pictures and skyped with Steve and Michael.  I have almost no phone signal here, so I won’t be making many phone calls.  But, the room is nice and everyone seems friendly, so that’s a great thing.

 

 

 

Once it was actually time to check in, I was able to do the full check in process for the program.  They weighed me on a high tech scale that measures weight, body fat, hydration, etc.  I’m not sure how much I trust the numbers.  I mean, I know the weight is accurate, but the rest, I’m not going to lose sleep over.  They also took measurements.  It will be great to see how I compare after the week.

After the weigh-in, I met with the nutritionist to go over my menu plan for the week.  They are great about food allergies!  When I made my reservation, they noted my allergies in the record, and my menu was all marked up to take them into account.  The great thing is, they are pretty much gluten free here, with the exception of the box lunch they give you on Sunday for lunch.  That makes me feel a lot better.

Next up was a quick tour of the campus.  It wasn’t the greatest tour in the world.  The sidewalks are all snowy and a little slippery, so it was a little nerve-wracking for me.  I know, it’s winter in Niagara.  I’m hoping that it’s a little less slippery tomorrow.  But, we did see the conference building, the gym, the fitness studio, and looked in the windows at the pool.  The pool is closed on Sundays, so we couldn’t go in.  Other than that, it was a pretty standard tour.

Next, we hung out in the lobby area and got to know each other a bit.  It was nice to talk with others, see what their journey is like, and make new friends.  It looks like there are only two ladies who stayed over from last week, and all but two of those starting this week are here for just one week.  So, we have a lot in common!

Dinner was actually really good.  They have a tiny salad bar with tiny plates and tiny little cups of dressing.  But, the food was really good.  There was even an oatmeal type bar for dessert.  I’m really relieved that they are great about food allergies.  It was nice to just enjoy the meal and not worry about if it would make me sick!

After dinner was an orientation session.  First we had an icebreaker activity in the lobby, and then went into the lecture hall for the presentation.  It was a slide show that told about the resort, it’s mission, etc.  It did answer a lot of questions, and I’m really excited for the week ahead.  Well, not so excited about the 5:15 wake up call.  But, I’m sure I’ll be fine.

I only took pictures of the welcome sign and the room today because it was so wet and snowy today.  Tomorrow, if it’s nice, I’ll take more pictures of the buildings and the main lobby.  It really is a beautiful location.

Day 231 - Packing to Go!

Excitement and anticipation have officially taken over.  I am almost packed and ready to get in the car tomorrow.  I can’t believe I am actually doing this!

But, I still need to report on today.  I was so sore today from my workout last night.  My thighs, my shoulders, even my abs have been complaining today.  But, not my knees.  I am so thankful for that.  I really, really love that the trainer knows how to give me an excellent workout without causing any damage to my knees, at all.  If anything, all the squats should make them stronger.

Since I was so sore, and because work was absolutely nuts today (it always is, right before you take off), I ended up only doing an hour and a half of exercise.  But, it was definitely time well spent.  I found some charcoal bamboo socks that I wanted to try out, so I used them and did a half hour on the elliptical.  Usually, by 20 minutes in, my feet are burning.  Today, I did the 30 minutes and my feet were fine.  It was great.  Then, I went to yoga tonight.  You all know how much I love my Friday night yoga class.  It really helped to end the week and get me started on this new adventure.

The best part of the day was just realizing that this is actually happening.  I am actually going on a fitness vacation.  I am not sure what I expect as far as the scale goes.  But, I do expect to push myself during the workouts, and to learn a lot.  I am hoping to really jump start the next phase of this journey.  Oh, and the other best part was realizing how much my husband loves me.  He made sure to get the car serviced before I left, and has been running around all day making sure I have everything I could possibly need.  When he found out the car needed new struts, they were done.  He says he doesn’t want to give me any excuses to not come back.  I feel very loved.  And excited.