No Boot Camp - Day 3 (or 1 depending on how you look at it)

Sooooo, I wake up today with a pinched nerve and a sore IT band. What is going to happen to me TODAY at Boot Camp?? I am going to end up in a wheelchair. I decided not to go to Boot Camp this evening and give my crippling body a day to rest.

Even if I am crippled tomorrow I will probably go and just walk the track. I will check with Kerry to see what he thinks. I hate missing a day since I paid for it, but the holidays are coming and I need to NOT be in traction.

I really do run around a lot at work -
Calorie burn today - 2391


Kris

Boot Camp - Day 2

Woke up today with my IT band so tight. I know I can work it out tonight but until then I am limping, and yes people are noticing.
Today boot camp was held at Klein Stadium. I knew what this meant, sprints and bleachers and I was not wrong. After a brief warm up, we jogged a lap around the field and then lined up on the end zone for sprints. Then we moved to chariot, one person is holding another person back while they run across the field. hmmm I seem to have tweaked something in my back - shooting pains....
During bleacher run Kerry, the trainer, was dogging my running shoes. I asked what was wrong with them and he said "they're Nike's". OMG I love my Nike's. He said they would give me shin splints. They haven't yet.
I didn't make it to work today, had errands to take care of so my calorie burn was lower today than yesterday.

Calorie burn - 2583


Kris

Boot Camp - Day 1

I took the week off to rest and started Boot Camp at a place I found on-line that is near my office. It is from 7-8ish every night for 2 weeks. Bionik - I also joined for 3 months to see if I like working out near work. If not, I will move on to something else.

Tonight I was pacing myself and doing well until we had to lift logs. They ran out of the smaller ones and 5 girls ended up on the much larger heavier one. It was heavy and also quite large so that our hands did not fit on them. More than once I said I couldn't do anymore. But I powered through (and now my hip hurts). Time to take some Advil.

We are supposed to take photos of everything we eat and post it on the Facebook page. We'll see how that goes.

I ran around a lot at work today so am not surprised by the high number
Calorie burn today - 3158


Total weight loss to date - 30 pounds!!!!! I was so shocked by this number that I weighed myself 3 times.

Kris

Day 29 - traveling

Dad surprised me at the airport. He was sick too. The ride home was not great. We each had our own spit cups. LOVELY!

We were so miserable we decided to drive straight through - we drove right through the night - 22.5 hours.

Dad collapsed when we got to the house and didn't get up for 2 days. I spent the next day with mom, going to lunch (although I did not eat) and did some Christmas and grocery shopping.

On my way home now. I am going to take some time off to get well and settled back in at home and work.

I did lose some more weight - Cam was right. Total weight loss = 26.7 pounds!!!!

Kris

Day 28 - Weigh out

We said goodnight to friends last night and today is just about weighing out, packing and traveling.

My final weight loss - 23.7 pounds - Cam told me that since I was sick I will lose more when I get home. Inches lost - 9

Now to the airport to drop Jeff off and pick up my dad for the ride home. I am going to surprise him that I am sick.

No calorie count today

Kris

Day 27 - Recovery and Graduation

I spent most of today in bed. I tried to swallow a pill and it lodged in my swollen glands. I drank half a liter of water trying to dislodge it but screw it, it can stay.

I managed to make it to graduation, my last one and Sarah was kind enough to zap me some tomato soup because I could not eat the dinner. I had to cancel my last spa appointment but did not care because I felt so crappy.

There was a LOVELY photo of me in the video from Thanksgiving dinner when I was not feeling well. I looked horrible. I will find it and post it here. It is pretty sad.

Again no calorie count today.

Kris

Day 26 - Mumps

Yesterday I managed to make it to Thanksgiving dinner even though I was feeling icky. My throat this morning is making it impossible to swallow water and I am freezing! I am wearing 3 layers and have my heat on 80.

I trek down to the local CVS Minute Clinic and upon seeing the doc (?) she immediately tells me what is NOT wrong with me and tells me I probably have a virus. THEN she asks me what she is treating me for. I told her a sinus infection and she tells me I don't have that. I am too sick to move, which is a good thing because I might have slugged her. I repeat that I have a sinus infection and suggest she examine me - what a concept! Lo and behold I have a severe sinus infection complete with 102 fever and glands so swollen it looks like I have the mumps. THEN she asks me what medicine I would like. I was going to have to get stitches soon from biting my lip. Anyway....I ended up with a Zpak and back to bed to sweat it off. Hey at least I was sweating and not working out.

I had complained about the no choc covered strawberries this week and they added them today. Cathy brought me some and I tried to eat them but alas was not able and what I did eat did not really have a taste.

No calorie count today.

Kris

Day 25 - Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Turkey Day!


We actually got a thanksgiving meal for dinner - but the pumpkin pie was as I suspected, pumpkin flavored tofu on mushy cereal.

When they made the van announcements I was shocked. My van was assigned to Zuma Ridge. That is harder than baby Zuma that I did last week. We got there and the climb was 2.9 miles up and then 2.9 miles back. I like that kind of climb personally because you get all the hard parts over with and there are no surprise hills at the end. It was super windy though and my ears were stinging. I had my scarf wrapped around my head. At times I stood in the wind on the hill to see if it could hold me up. Only once did a side wind almost knock me over. I did hit one corner and get nailed by flying rocks (pebbles) in the face and legs and had to turn my back for a minute. Once I got to the top I decided to jog down and I jogged most of the way down. The view was amazing!

Turkey Dinner

I started feeling bad after the hike. I think the cold wind got to me so after stretch and a lecture for departing guests I took a nap. zzzz I am going to medicate and go to bed early because I heard we are doing Solstice tomorrow. Hooray! Another difficult hike that I like because it is uphill on the way up and downhill on the way back.

Calorie burn today - 3571

Kris

Day 24 - What happened to the chocolate covered strawberries???

Tuesdays are generally chocolate covered strawberry day but we missed out. They moved it to Thursday this week but Thursday is Thanksgiving so they are replacing it with pumpkin pie. REALLY? dark chocolate covered strawberries or tofu pumpkin on mushy Kashi cereal? REALLY? There is going to be a mutiny and I am starting it!

If you read my blog yesterday you will find this next bit of news ironic - my old van went to Backbone which is a really hard trail and my new van went to the beach. HAHAHAHA

They were shooting a commercial - again

My friends John and Inga were interviewed by NBC news LA. It came on after the Biggest Loser last night but that was past my pumpkin hour so I found the link on the website:
Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge | NBC Los Angeles*

Did I mention that I am getting robbed of chocolate covered strawberries? I told all the newbies that we were getting them and now I am a liar.

All 4 week guests get a trip to the grocery store with the on-site dietitian. Jessica took Bob, Jeff, Tracy and I to Vons (Safeway). We walked around and found healthy alternatives to food we normally buy. It was interesting. I bought peanut butter, jelly, bread and Triscuits. After my massage I made myself dinner and was VERY happy. I don't like salmon so I was happy to skip dinner and chocolate coconut sorbet (ew).

I did not go to the gym after my massage because I was tooooooo relaxed, so...
Calorie burn today was low - 2792

Kris

Day 23 - Finding my Winding Way

Well today was extremely frustrating. My first week on the hikes I was placed in the lowest van and kept telling myself that week 4 I was going to be rocking the hikes. The second week I thought I was going to get moved up because I thought I did well on the assessment hike. I was not, so I decided to start running the trails. The third week I was bumped up 2 vans and was loving it. Week 4 comes along and I do pretty well on the assessment hike and GET BUMPED DOWN A VAN! I was so frustrated but had not been on the hike so I was (sort of) giving it a chance. I ended up at the back of the group (it appears I was stewing, or pouting). We got to the turn around point which is a nice little waterfall and I thought "this is it?" I was so angry that I wanted to cry. How after all this time do I end up here? So instead of stewing - I took off, jogged past everyone including the guides and high tailed it back to the van with a guide chasing after me telling me to slow down so we can all stay together. I did this for ~2.5 miles. First one back to the van. Guess what van I am in now??????

Today's menu

Waterfall

Moral of the story - don't get mad, jog.

Calorie burn today - 3722

Kris

Day 22 - Newton

Today we woke up and there was ice on the ground - in Malibu!

CA showing its quirky side

Today's menu:

We get chicken with asparagus a lot

Today was assessment hike day, as is every Monday, and I got to go somewhere new - Newton. It is part of backbone but a different path. I really liked this path. It had a lot of ups and downs and reliefs.

Look how red my cheeks are

The afternoon classes were tough. Step and Pump kicked my booty big time. It needed a kicking.

After lunch we had a new lecture - label reading and on Wednesday all 4 week guests get to go to the grocery storey with the on-site dietitian. I signed up - might learn something.

The van assignments went up at dinner and are really strange. 3 of the fastest hikers are in 3 different vans. I am not sure what is going on. I am not in a van with anyone I know but know I am not in the slowest van.

For some reason today I am starving. That has not really happened since I have been here. I scarfed down my almonds (extra 100 calories) so that should hold me. My foot is feeling a little better today. I am glad because if I ended up in a slower van, I am jogging tomorrow!

I went to the gym after dinner to burn some extra calories. My goal this week is not to come back to my room until I burn at least 3,500 calories.

Calorie burn today - 3,763

Kris

Day 21 - Harry Potter!

I have decided to start tracking my calories by taking a photo of the board each day. It contains the menu and calorie count.

Today's menu - with a glare - I love almond butter and jelly day!

Today we said goodbye to John and Inga :( our hiking, dining and shopping buddies.

Bob and Jeff and I are consoling ourselves by going to the movies. Bob and I are going to see Harry Potter and Jeff is going to see Unstoppable.

I was not expecting a high number since my calorie burns were lower this week. As you get more fit it takes more to burn the calories. (darn it)

Weigh in - 4.2 pounds for a 3 week total of 16.7 pounds. That is an average of 5.5 pounds per week. Not too shabby! My goal this week - 8.3 pounds which would give me a total loss of 25 pounds. It is my last week here so time to kick it up a notch or two.

Kris

Day 20 - Rain rain go away

We woke up to rain and the option to hike. I was surprised that 2 vans went out. I did not. They said it did not rain at the beach, but I don't believe them.

The rest of us stayed in the gym for cardio. We did circuit training and cardio circuit and my favorite - stretch class.

Then I took a nap zzzzz

Later Inga and I went to Nordies for our goodies. We pre-purchased perfume and got lots of fun giveaways. We also did a little Christmas shopping.

Tomorrow lots of friends leave it will be strange this last week but a few are sticking around as well.

Pics -

Sam from Biggest Loser season 9

Biggest Loser Production Crew on Strike

Me and Nicole

Stairs down to the beach - whew!

Calorie burn today - 2,050 (what a difference the hikes make)

Kris

Day 19 - Can you OD on Ben Gay patches?

Today is take it easy Friday and as a reward for all our hard work during the week we got to walk the beach. I love Point Dume. The dolphins were out playing and jumping. A couple of them were following a paddle boarder. The weather was icky but I have been there when the weather was great so no loss for me.
They were shooting several things on the beach today so that was fun to watch.

The rest of the day I spent in the gym. My favorite class was today - Cardio Circuit - so I did that 3 times in a row. HOORAY.

My foot is still killing me but I hope the day and a half off this weekend will do it some good. A lot of people are leaving this week so I will meet a bunch of new people. Fun Fun. It is supposed to rain this weekend and early part of next week. Not fun. I guess we are stuck in the gym if it rains too hard.

Calorie burn - 3059

Kris

Day 18 - Castro's Crest

What is it about Thursdays and walls for me? I hit another one today that started with me waking up and aching all over. My eyelashes hurt. I opened one eye and did the one eye assessment and decided not to go to Core class before breakfast.

We headed out for Castro's crest and my legs would not go. I fought the whole time. At least this week I was struggling on a hard trail and not like last week when my hard day was on an easy hike. I was much more frustrated last week. This week I just powered through it and my friends came back into the hike to finish with me. Ahhhh

No pictures today because I forgot my phone.

Another low calorie burn for me today - 2669

Tomorrow is a new day.

Kris

Day 17 - Reagan Ranch

Today's hike was at Reagan Ranch. We even hiked over and did part of Malibu Creek where I ran into my old van peeps. It was great to see them. I was excited because I got to take a picture of my favorite sign and I kept forgetting.

LOOKOUT!!!!! TRAIL!!!!!

I just think this is funny, but it may be delirium

We hiked over to where they filmed part of Planet of the Apes

And the original Tarzan TV show

We use arrows to show the group what direction we are going in as we are a no trace hiking group. We have to reset the sticks and rocks after the hike.

Go that way

My foot was killing me from the jogging on the trails so I was looking forward to a little nap after lunch. Then I treated my sore aching body to a massage. zzzz Well deserved!

There is a van that goes to Target every Wednesday but I decided that they probably were gone longer than I planned on staying awake so I ran to CVS. TIP - keep your toenails short. Downhill trails are not kind on toenails.

So far this week I have been on 3 new hikes and am pretty excited about it and very tired from them. Dinner was fabulous so a great end to a tiring day.

Low calorie burn as I missed 2 afternoon classes. One because my foot was killing me and one for my massage.

Calories burned today - 3246

Kris

Day 16 - Careful what you wish for

Well I wanted to move up vans this week and got what I wanted and boy did I get it. There is a trail called Switchback or Baby Zuma and since the Resort opened there has only been 3 groups that have done this hike. I was in the 3rd group today. The hardest part of the hike is ending on a long uphill when you are spent. I did my best, even ran a little and ended up last at the van, but only because the 3 behind me took a short cut back to the van. I had sweat pouring down my face into my sunglasses but it was great. My heel is killing me but I am icing it and moving on. Tomorrow is day 2 in the new van. I wonder where we will go tomorrow?

I have to find a way to keep up my calorie burn this week since the Biggest Losers are gone and their trainer will not be teaching kickboxing. I guess it is time to hit the gym on my own.

Calorie burn today - 3527

Kris

Day 15 - Muscle memory

Today was assessment day again and we got a new hiking guide - Sam from BL 9.
I was hoping that he was on my van but alas not this time. I am sure in the next 2 weeks he will be on one of my hikes since he is in training and has to do all the trails.
Today we went to Backbone which some people call broke back mountain, not because there are gay sheep herders, but because it is a lot of uphill right at the beginning. I was worried but really wanted to step it up this week so I had a plan.

I have not done really well on the hills and had been trying to pace myself evenly on the flats and hills. Well not today! I sucked as usual on the hills and jogged on all the flats and downhills. I rocked that hike. It was kind of weird once I started running I felt like comfortable, like I remembered this feeling once a long time ago. And my body responded; I even started running UP some of the hills. These are ones I would normally have a hard time walking up. It is a good thing my body remembers, because my mind has forgotten. Tomorrow should be interesting.

I was moved up a van this week. I am so excited but I feel nervous like I did on the first week because I know I will be the slowest in this new van. But, I do not care. I am only worried about me right now.

AND, someone walked up to me in the gym and said - Oh my God you have lost weight. You can totally tell in your face and chest. (a girl - not a guy looking). HOORAY!

Nope - my boobs look the same to me. I think I got some sun on my face that made me look thinner, because you know my mantra is "tan fat looks better than white fat".

Wish me luck tomorrow.

Calories burned today - 3627

Kris

Day 14 - Lakers and results

Today is Sunday which means rest day. First I weighed in and then Inga and I went to NORDIES!!

Inga and I brought our sack lunches from the resort with us to the mall and ate outside. The black bean hummus was yummy. 

We were there for the last day of the half yearly sale but neither of us bought pants because we are still here and losing weight and inches. I did buy a jacket and some awesome boots to wear to the Lakers game. Inga brought her Eat This Not That with her to the game so we would know what to eat at Staples. True dedication.

A group of 8 of us got tickets and a limo to take us to the game. We were really high up. The Lakers played the Suns and lost. Their 2nd loss this year. The Suns were on fire with their 3 point game. It was still fun. 

OK - now what you have all been waiting for - weight loss this week - 6.5 pounds for a 2 week total of 12.5 pounds

Now I will really have to kick it up a notch to keep this up.

Kris

Day 13 - Solstice

Today was optional hike day but most people sign up. I decided to challenge myself and signed up for  Solstice. It was challenging but so rewarding. Everyone had warned me about the hike so I was ready for torture. But I was pleasantly surprised. Don't get me wrong, it was really really hard but I really enjoyed it. I was slow but consistent. I never stopped. I even did the optional hike up to the chimney and ran the last few steps when someone told me there was donuts. (They lied!) I definitely felt like it was God's country.

Waterfall at the bottom of Solstice - we have 'em bigger in Texas

After the hike I went and relaxed on Point Dume beach - love this place

It was alot more crowded today.



A few pics from the week:

A helping hand

Point Dume

Charmlee

From last week - Beach optional hike

Ferrari car chase - James Caan movie

Me cheese smile & Bob

 I want to climb up! (in blue pointing up)



Calorie burn today - 3012

Day 12 - Charmlee and Disco

I have partially climbed the wall I slammed into yesterday. I dressed warmly and NO winds. Well it was a little windy but it was not the Santa Ana's. I was HOT. I enjoyed the hike even if I thought it was hard at times and  might have complained a little.

Unfortunately I was hiking with the hiking manager and I was not doing really well. I will never move up vans. I did hear that I was in the 2nd to lowest hiking group and not the lowest. Great. (sarcasm)

We had a new class today - Cardio Disco Jam - 4 of the Biggest Loser contestants joined in and it was fun. Here is the instructor - John

Tomorrow is an optional hike and I decided to try a hard one that I have not done yet. Solstice. Wish me luck.

Calorie burn today - 3616

Kris

Day 11 - Who put that wall there?

Yesterday was a day packed with exercise and I loved every minute of it...yesterday. Today I feel like I am walking like Herman Munster. Legs like bricks. As well as my hike yesterday went, today's was the polar opposite. Slam! Right into a wall. I am usually limited by my heart rate and lung capacity. That was not the problem today. My legs would not move. One of the hiking guides told me that because I had been pushing so hard it was probably built up lactic acid. I came back to the room and took a little nap. I did not even hear the phone ring the 2 times it did with my lunch buddies looking for me. The third time it rang from the front desk, they check in on you if you don't make it to class, it was 3 hours later. WOW - I guess I needed some sleep. Except I missed lunch so I grabbed some crackers from the trip here.

The hike was around the Calamigos property and then across Mulholland to Rocky Oaks.

AHHHHHH

Tonight is laundry, then a shower (now that they fixed the propane tank) and nighty night. I sure hope I get over this wall I hit by tomorrow.

Calorie burn is low today but not surprising - 3509

Kris

Day 10 - Returns

Today started out with aches and pains. I went to stretch at 8am and still was so stiff and not sure if I was going to make it on the hike. I rolled my back out on the roller and took off.
We returned to Malibu Creek (you can see the MASH site) and I took off fast because I wanted to make it to MASH. But NO, Peter said we were going to the dam instead. I got kind of grumpy about it and hightailed it from the dam back toward the van. And the next thing you know the jogging returned. And I jogged and I jogged. Peter had me turn around going back up the hills 3 times and even took me on an optional trail. And then I started jogging again - - - - I was back at the van 15 minutes early.

I still had the same aches and and pains. I returned to a second stretch class and after the roller I was a little better.

A group of us hired a personal trainer for an hour after lunch. Then I did Mountain and I was wiped. My aches and pains returned full force.

After a nap and dinner - I returned to Jonathan for a massage. MUCH better now.

After my massage it was the return of the Biggest Loser workout. Two of the Biggest Loser trainers gave us a workout tonight and the Biggest Loser season 11 contestants were on hand, well some of them. It was a great workout. A guy from the brown team was my sparing partner and he gave me tips on my shadow boxing. I thought that was very nice of him.

Brett

I got back to room to no hot water and went down to the spa to shower. My grumpiness returned.

All in all it is always a good day when you get a massage and get to work out not like but with the Biggest Losers.

Return of the high calorie burn - 3927

Kris

Day 9 - Peek a Boo

Here I am watching the Biggest Loser, my inspiration reflecting on my day. In an earlier post I wondered where the inner jogger was hiding. Well it played peek a boo today on the beach hike. Yes, I was placed in the slow van again. I don't understand why so I decided to run today. It started with someone on the van saying they were thinking about running and I decided to join in. We jogged, did sprints and raced. We also took time for a photo op out on the cliff. It was pretty fun. We jogged through a movie set where they were shooting a movie starring James Caan. We did not see him.  We went right past the Ferrari they used later in a chase scene. Someone who was dolled up like a movie star went by in a Ford Focus (she was in the passenger seat). We thought it was funny. Must be a low budget flick. Later jogging through the neighborhood I saw a lady "walking" her dogs, well they were walking and she was in a golf cart.

Don't look down

I must have spent all my energy on the hike because the rest of the day was tough. By the last class my back was killing me so I went back to the room and iced it.

Lunch was yummy - quinoa lettuce wraps and tomato soup. Dinner was OK - Shepard's pie with the highlight of the week - chocolate covered strawberries!

At lunch we played the calorie challenge again. Last week my team lost horribly and this week we won! Whoo hoo!

At dinner they made a fabulous announcement. The Biggest Loser contestants had left but came back due to technical difficulties and they announced that their trainer was giving his kickboxing class again tomorrow night. Great calorie burn. My back has to be better by then. Time to break out the Biofreeze!

Calorie burn today - 3572

Kris

Day 8 - What a difference a week makes

I am not sure if it is the cold snap, that I am off my antibiotics, the added electrolytes or that I worked out so hard last week, but I felt so energized today. I have energy now I am typing this and am generally thinking about bedtime. The hike went well. We went to Latigo Canyon. It was a lot of incline variations but in a good way. On the last incline up to the van I really pushed it and my heart rate got up to 177. My guide thought that was a little high but I felt OK. I think I got moved up a van but it is hard to tell since someone who was in my van last time is in my group again. I think she got moved up as well. Hooray for us.

We had a new class today that totally made you work hard and sweat. Step and Pump. I worked it baby. Then I did 2 Cardio Intervals. As a second week or greater guest you are required to do an extra class or hour of exercise. I went to the optional stretch class in the morning and then did 50 minutes extra during open gym.

The Biggest Loser season 11 contestants left today. Good Luck at the Ranch guys. They are a strong team and are going to rock that place.

I hope this energy stays around for a couple of days.

Calories burned today - 3919

Kris

Day 7 - And on the seventh day she...

Today I got up early for breakfast and to see all my new friends off that were leaving. Sorry to see them go! I did get some free shampoo and conditioner out of the deal - heehee. Thanks Diana. I will miss everyone.
Then I got my sack lunch and was SUPER stoked because it was almond butter and jelly sandwiches and I am the QUEEN of peanut butter and jelly. I could have eaten 2 or 3. (they were small)
I hung around an weighed in. They say to wait until you leave to weigh in so you can see your total results and not get upset. I lost 6 pounds!!! Nothing to get upset about.
Then I took a nap zzzzz and ran to the store for tea. I do not like the tea selection they have here. I got Lipton Bavarian Wild Berry - very yummy. I am glad my dad left his Thermos behind it comes in handy for my tea.
I came back to 2,000 Harley's that were here for a Love Ride to raise money for autism. Robby Krieger of The Doors played.

I talked to several friends on Skype and then tried to get my mom on but her password wouldn't work. I will try again tomorrow.

I walked around and welcomed all the new people I could. I know everyone was nice to me on my first day so I wanted to pay it forward.

That was when I saw Dr. H from the Biggest Loser.

At dinner Inga came up with an ice breaker and John and Bob and I played along. We asked to be first in the introductions and Bob and John and I went first to set the tone. Then Inga started to speak and sincerely told everyone to dig deep down and ask themselves "Do you want it, do you want it, do you really really want it?" Then the 3 of us jumped up and yelled "We want it, we want it, we really really want it!" It was hysterical. Some of the repeat guests chanted with us. It was great. GO INGA!

That chant is from a class here so sort of an inside joke. heehee

Did I mention I lost 6 pounds AND got peanut butter and jelly?

Tomorrow is assessment day for hiking. I am going to try electrolytes in my water and see if that gives me the boost I am looking for.

Kris