Saturday

We made it home today after a long night.  Yesterday was weigh/test out.  I lost 5.2 pounds on the scale my body fat % went down showing a loss of 7 pounds of body fat and lowered my BMI and lost inches.  We then spent an exciting day hiking at Zion's National Park.  Boy was it cold when we started.  Elyse and I spent some time alone discovering this new place.  She really pushed me and I loved having a week this special to share with her.  After our day at Zion's we went back to the house, showered, finished packing, and had a delicious BBQ Chicken Pizza for dinner, one this I can say this week was the food was excellent.  After dinner we had to say goodbye to our new friends and head to the Las Vegas Airport.  The 2 hour ride was quiet, suprisingly it was very easy getting checked in and through security so since we got there at 8:30 and our flight wasn't until 11:30 we had time to kill.  I hope I remember never to book a red eye again, because they truly stink.  We boarded the plane, and thank God pretty much slept the whole way to Altanta.  Landing in Atlanta at 6:15 Eastern time, 4:15 Mountain time, and 3:15 Pacific time our bodies had NO idea what time it was.  We didn't take off again until around 10:00 ET.  So we slept in the airport on those chairs.  Suprisingly pretty well, then slept the flight from Atlanta to home, and at noon we were comfortably back in our own house. (We haven't unloaded the care yet).  Elyse is taking a nap and then heading to the gym, I may try to go with her, let's see how I feel, I think my body can use a day of rest, but I want the results to keep coming so its push push push.  Mac sure was happy to see us.  So its menu planning for food, gym for exercise, grocery store to buy the food, and lots of prayers that I can keep it up! 

Friday Already!

I can hardly believe it's Friday already.  Wow how quickly the week goes when you are having to work really hard.  Did the hardest and best hike yet today.  I have done portions of it before, but this one was longer and harder.  I can hardly wait for dinner I am starving.  Hopefully tonight will be filling and consist of something other than broccoli.  I have had more than my fair share this week.  Tomorrow morning is weigh and measure to see how great we have done!  Then it is off to Zion's National Park, for a pleasurable day of hiking and site seeing.  7:00 pm shuttle to Vegas to take the 11:45 red eye.  Hopefully Elyse and I will be able to sleep since it has been a long week and we will be tired.  Can't wait to fill everyone in on how great we did!

Thursday, November 10th

So, I am sitting here, excited about a shower and another massage this evening.  Today was a great day, but the hike was mediocre at best.  I love the more challenging hikes that give you a sense of accomplishment!  This morning started out with a chocolate protein shake, then on to Body Balance, its a killer almost 500 calories burned in that class alone.  Then it was our hike, lunch of bean soup and fruit, off to the gym for the rest of the afternoon, crossfit class, spinning, and water aerobics.  Great afternoon, feeling wonderful, but I am hungry!  Tonight is tuna melt which sounds delicious right now.  Hoping to hear dinner's ready soon.  Cannot believe that our week here is almost over.  This week we have truly enjoyed our new friends from Texas and California.  Jen has been here for 3 1/2 weeks and has lost 18 pounds, pretty amazing.  I truly enjoy getting to meet others, and getting to know them from this type of experience.  This brings people closer.  I hope Elyse isn't getting tired of being stuck with me.  I have enjoyed the one on one time and truly appreciate the amazing young woman that she is.  She truly is something special and I thank God every day for her.  Hopefully I will get to have a similar experience with Ash.  Miss you all!

Is it Wednesday already?

Yesterday was hit the wall day, and I mean hit the wall hard.  Getting out of bed seemed to expend most of my energy.  We did a body balance class led by an 85 year old woman and I could only hope to look as good as she does at 45.  That was 400 calories burned.  Back to the house and go on the hike.  The hike was really hard today.  The hardest part besides the screaming muscles were my ears which were freezing.  The hike burned 1200 calories.  Back for lunch which we helped make, raspberry tilapia, broccoli and these amazing little rolls, calorie count 365 total.  After lunch was relaxation time for 45 minutes, then to zumba.  Now I have never done zumba and boy did it kick my butt.  600 calories burned during this 45 minute class pretty scary.  Then it was pool class 400 calories and hot tub, then walk back to the house.  Once back at the house the total count of calories was 3035, amazing.  So lets see how today goes. 

Monday, November 8, 2010

The day started bright and early.  Elyse and I were up at 6:00 am to go to The Summit Gym for our first weigh in and measurements.  This will let us know on Saturday how well we have done this week.  After the weigh in, we came back to the house for breakfast which was a large bowl of oatmeal and fruit.  Breakfast was filling, and we were going to need a full stomach for the day ahead of us.  We left for our first hike shortly after breakfast.  We hiked Third Ravine which involved rock scaling, loose rock, up hill and down hill.  There were times when my rain jacket was needed for there was a little rain and a lot of wind.  I am very happy I bought a  good rain jacket, as the wind and rain didn't bother me at all.  After hiking it was back to change quickly so that we could then go to water aerobics.  This is always one of my favorite workouts because you don't realize how hard you are working until you get out of the water.  Lunch was one of the prettiest salads I have ever had.  I couldn't finish my plate because all of this exercise makes you less hungry, or maybe its the altitude.  After lunch we got to take a break.  I had a short little nap and then it was back to the gym for circuit training.  I have never worked out on air resistance machines before, they were really tough.  Walking as if my legs were jello we then went on what they call the "Tower Run."  I couldn't run it but it was one mile completely uphill with a steep incline of atleast 80 degrees.  This was pretty rough, I wasn't sure I was going to make it to the top.  But this week is not for quitters, so I pushed through the pain, made it to the top and the view was worth it all.  From the top you could see Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, and of course other parts of Utah.  When we came back to the house dinner was being prepared, turkey meatballs and vegetable pasta.  Elyse was served tofu meatballs that were divine.  So now its 7:30 we are exhausted, and its off to bed soon! 

Saint George

Elyse and I have arrived safely in Saint George!  We truly ejoyed our time in Vegas.  The house we are staying in is beautiful, we have 3 other room mates and it looks like we will be having fun.  Tomorrow morning starts early at 6:30 with the weigh in and measuring, 7:30 hike, and lots of working out.  Supposed to be a high of 59 tomorrow, with a chance of rain.  To bed early for a night of rest so that we are ready for our fun filled day.

The Journey Begins

Elyse and I leave tomorrow.  The first two days will be spent relaxing in Las Vegas, our first time there.  So we will get to relax before the real work begins.  I think Elyse may be rethinking this journey as she has realized how much work she will have to make up just for missing 4 days of AP Biology.  So once we finish packing (what a procrastinator I am) go to work/school in the morning we will be more than ready to hit the road.