Weekend

Me and Seth, runner up Biggest Loser Season 2

Me and Erik, winner Biggest Loser season 3

Well, week two is officially over....and week three begins at 6:00 am tomorrow morning with Yogalates. Saturday was a great day for me. We all hiked the stop sign hike on Saturday morning, and I improved my time by exactly 10 minutes from the first day I hiked it. I was so pumped. I feel myself getting stronger and stronger each day....what I am starting to think about now is how to bring what I have learned back home to LA with me.

Saturday night the Resort brought someone in to do Karaoke with us. We had so much fun. Of course, I had to share my voice with everyone...and I sang Crocodile Rock by Elton John....we had a great time. They provide an activity for us every Saturday....not much to do here in St. George, Utah.

As much as I like it here, I am starting to miss everyone from back home and everything going on. But I know I will be back soon enough.

Marla

Week Two Almost Over

I cannot believe that I have been here almost two full weeks. Last week I was sore....tired.....and still in shock that I actually signed myself up to do this. But this week has been different. I have seen a change in my endurance and my strength. Everyday I am just amazed that I am able to do everything that I am doing. Today in one of my classes I was going almost 20 mph faster on the bike than I was last week....its changes like that that I am seeing.

I took a treading class today. Our trainer said that we should do this once a week (no more, no less). This is how it works: you pick a cardio machine. After warm ups....when she says go, you go as fast and strong as you can for 5 minutes....then you recover and go slow for 5 minutes....then you go as fast and strong as you can for 4 minutes...then you recover and go slow for 4 minutes....and so on till you get to 1 minute. She says it shocks your body and you get into your anaerobic state. She told us that she started doing this once a week in her personal workouts, and it has tremendously helped her race times.....

Thanks as always for all of the encouragement and prayers. I have felt it!! Thanks again!

Marla

Pics from the Week

The drawings are petraglifs (sp?) that were drawn by natives from the area years and years ago....

More Rain

So, everyone here keeps saying that it NEVER rains here....and yet again it is raining. Today was the hardest hike due to the rain...I was so cold...but I kept going (really dont have a choice...hehe). Here is what I did today:

6:00 am Yogalataes
7:00 Breakfast
8:00 Hike
11:15 Circuit Training
12:45 Lunch
2:30 Kickboxing
3:30 Mountain
4:30 Weight Circuit
5:45 Dinner
6:30 Yoga

Yesterday and today have been the most tired days for me. I feel like I have no energy....but I can definitely tell that I am getting stronger. Today I did something in the gym that I was not able to do last week....yay!

I am going to post some pics....I really only have a chance to take pics during hikes...that is why you only see pics of that....

Headed to Target. Will post pics later!

Marla

PS. Had ostrich stew for supper.....yes, I said ostrich....

Access Hollywood

PS. The bit about Fitness Ridge will not be showing until Tuesday, February 9 at 6:00 pm on channel 16 (Denham Springs channel). I don't know how long the bit will be...and I am not sure if I made it on tv....we will just have to watch!

Marla

The Weekend

The weekends around here are pretty chill. Saturday morning, everyone hikes the famous Stop Sign Hike together. Everyone does that hike every Monday and gets timed. So, they get you to do the hike again on Saturday to see if your time got any better. Well, unfortunately, because of the snow and sleet on top of the mountain, we were not able to finish the hike.

Every Saturday night is graduation. There is a slide show shown, and usually some type of activity. We went to the movies. NO, I did not eat any popcorn....even though I wanted to....and would have paid about $100 for a small...hahaha....

Sundays is an official day of rest. Of course, you always have the option to work out....but most people take it easy and rest up for the hard week ahead.

Thanks, as always, for the encouragement and prayers. Heading to bed soon to get ready for next week.

Marla

TGIF

Today I hiked Hidden Pinnon (sp?). It by far was the biggest accomplishment of the day. I have never hiked anything like this before. It was hard....but once again, we (me and my group) made it to the top.

I am exhausted tonite....headed to bed. Goodnight!

Marla

Rain Rain Rain

It has rained everyday since I have been here. All everyone keeps saying is that it NEVER rains here.....well, I have yet to see sunshine. But hopefully we will see the sun soon. Here is what I did today:

6:00 am Total Body Conditioning
7:00 Breakfast (honestly, I cannot remember what I ate)
8:00 Hike
11:15 Circuit Class
12:45 Lunch (french onion soup, salad, and half filled pita)
1:15 Cooking Demo
2:30 Ball Works
3:30 Treading
4:30 Circuit w/ Weights
5:45 Dinner
6:15 Menu Planning

So, Access Hollywood was here filming today. it was neat to be a part of that experience. The word is that it may air Tuesday, but that is not confirmed just yet. I was in two of the filming shots, so there is a small chance I may be on tv....

Today I could tell that I was getting stronger. Everything is still really hard, but I could tell during my hike today that I did better than just a few days ago. Everyone here says you will be amazed at how much stronger and more fit you will be just after one week....I guess we will have to see....

I am so tired right now....so I am going to get ready for bed. Thanks once again for your prayers and words of encouragement!

Marla

Still Pressing On

Mountain Class!!


An Example of the Menu


Pizza!!

They say that Wednesday is one of the hardest days. You are tired....sore.....and really missing your diet coke and big mac! But, once again, I survived the day. Here is what we did:

6:00 am Yogalates
7:00 Breakfast
8:00 Hike
11:!5 Core Workshop
12:30 Lunch
1:15 Lecture: Breaking Barriers
2:30 Step n Pump
3:30 Mountain
4:30 Pool (outside in the freezing weather with the snowy mountain in the background)
5:45 Dinner
6:15 Lecture: Nutrition

I think I am still in shock that I am here. I keep thinking to myself...."I have 3.5 weeks left....how in the world am I going to survive?" But the good thing about being here is that EVERYONE has those feelings.....everyone here is trying to get healthy. Everyone here has the same struggles...thoughts.....etc. You are able to talk more openly about things here than you may back home....so that has been cool.

Well, I am really tired tonight....so I am heading to bed. Thanks as always for the prayers!!!

Marla

PS. I am standing on the top of this mountain....you may have to look really close to see me thought....:)

Access Hollywood

So, yea...Access Hollywood is going to be here Thursday filming. Like I said earlier, Erik and Seth from the BL, seasons 2 and 3 are here...so Access is doing a piece on it. They asked people to volunteer to be in a "mock" workout class for filming purposes....and of course, absolutely 100% I signed up. I will let you know when it will air...

Below is my blog from today....

Day Two

I am hurting right now! My legs are tired! My feet hurt! But I know it is well worth it. Here is what I did today:

6:00 am Hardcore
7:00 am Breakfast (peach muffin, fruit)
8:00 am Hike
11:15 am Yoga Stretch
12:45 pm Lunch (tomato soup, and some grain thingy, like a lettuce wrap)
1:00 Calorie Challenge
1:30 Cooking Demo
2:30 Cardio Intervals
3:30 Total Toning
4:30 Pool
5:45 Dinner (shepherd's pie...trust me, unlike any shepherds pie you have ever had)
6:15 Spending your calories wisely

Because it is my first week, I have lectures. Starting next week, some of those lectures will be replaced with workout classes.

Again, I did things today that I never dreamed in a million years I would be capable of. They do not give you breaks. You go NON stop. I hiked over 6 miles today....uphill, uneven terrain....on rocks....and made it. The trainers are so encouraging...willing to chat with you anytime.

As i was hiking today, I was thinking about how I have done so much more than I ever dreamed I could. I never thought I could hike uphill as high or as long as I did. I never thought I would be able to bike for 45 minutes straight without stopping. It was painful...it hurt...but I just kept thinking of the end result. What would happen if we treated our spiritual lives the same way? What if we all let God "get in" our lives...take complete control and use us....what if we all actually used the gifts God gave us...what if we let God push us out of our comfort zone for something great? Sure, it may be awkward to share Christ with that person at school or work....but again, look at the end result. Just think about it.

Below are a few hiking pics from today. I will try to do better about taking pics at the ridge...






Me hiking....um yes, I was EXHAUSTED!!!
Marla

I'm Still Alive

Well, I survived day one. I have 100% NEVER experienced anything like what I did today. I played sports all of my life, and I don't think I was pushed as hard as I was today. After breakfast was the famous "stop sign hike". You do this every Monday and Saturday and are timed each time going up. It is 4.5 miles one way....and by the end of the hike, you are 1000 feet in elevation higher then when you started. Yep....1000 feet higher. I went into the hike thinking there was no way I would finish...but I DID...yay!





All day was just various classes that we did (kickboxing, circuit, and pool to name a few). Because it is my first week, I have to sit through lectures everyday, which are very interesting and useful.

There are two former BL contestants here right now: Erik Chopin (who won his season, not sure which one though) and Seth Word, which was a finalist on season 2. It has been neat to see them and hear tidbits of their experience while being on the Biggest Loser Show.

The food is good. We eat 1200 calories per day. I haven't been hungry once, and have liked everything that has been served. Below is a few of the meals we have been served:







I feel like there is so much to say, but I need to get to bed. I have a class at 6:00 am called Hardcore....sigh...

Thank to all of you who are praying for me. I need it a lot!

Marla

Oh My

What in the world was I thinking? Need to get to bed. Don't have time to write much tonight. Will have pics and details tomorrow!

Going Strong...So Far

Ok....so far so good. I have gone three days without a Diet Coke, and I actually feel fine. I have had a few cravings...and I have had to plan (like bringing water to work LSU Concessions)...but it has definitely been doable. I feel like I have accomplished something....and it is a good feeling. In a week I am going to have to give up most of the food I know, whether I am ready or not. There will be no McDonalds, Canes or any other fast food at Fitness Ridge. No sweets, ice cream, late night Taco Bell runs, candy bars, Pringles, cake, queso dip....ok you get the picture. So Sunday I have decided to start to cut out Fast Food. I will probably shed a tear....but hopefully by doing so I will begin to shed off some weight.

I am very excited about leaving...only 8 days!

And the Journey Begins

Well, exactly 10 days from today, I will be heading to the Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge to begin my healthy lifestyle. No, this is not the actual TV show, it is just the resort that Biggest Loser sponsors and endorses. Many people have told me they want to follow my journey, so I thought blogging would be a great idea (even though I like writing as much as I like shots). So, here it goes....

Today I began to ween myself off of Diet Drinks. So far so good. Of course, it is 12:33 am...which means I have gone 33 minutes without a diet drink. But hey, I have to start somewhere. There will be no cokes or artificial sweeteners at the Resort, so I thought I better start getting used to the idea of NO "Diet Dr. Pepper, add vanilla". From now on it will be "water with lemon, please". And the journey begins...