All passion spent

The week is over, we're back in civilization, and the results are in: Betsy down 2 pounds and 2=inches off the waist; me down 6 pounds (finally back below 200 again) and also 2-inches less on the waist.

Definitely worth it. We signed up to return but not sure yet whether it will be in 12months or 24 months. Highly recommended - www.fitnessridge.com - in Utah. If you're looking for an "active" holiday, our "compassionate bootcamp" is for you!

Last full day - time has really flown. The guy on the ground was nice but he just couldn't keep up!



A few people we'd met before here, and some new folks. I hope that we get to stay in touch.


It's been a hard week, but I could easily get used to this lifestyle! Heading home tomorrow.

Top of the world, ma!

Another great day.

Fabulous hike to the top of an extinct volcano - 5 miles and 4,500 ft up. Worth about 1,00 calories! Lots of loose lava rock around and it's really nasty stuff - as one of the guides said "it came out of the ground angry and has stayed pissed for 1,000 years". It catches your shoes, slides away from under your feet, and is really, really sharp. I have a different view of lava anything after today.

Looking forward to tomorrow.

Calories in, calories out

Sorry to report, but no silver bullets or amazing weight loss revelations - it's still if you put more into your body than you burn up, then you're going to put on
weight. If you put into your body less than you burn up then you'll lose weight.

But how many calories does your body actually need? One of the key numbers to know is your Resting Metabolic Rate, your RMR. Yuur RMR is the number of calories your body needs to sustain itself, without doing any physical work. Betsy's is around 1,000 calores; mine is around 1700. So I get to eat more!

As 1 pound = 3500 calories, it's obvious that it's better not to put too much stuff in your body, and then try to exercise it off. Especially when it takes only 30 seconds to inhale that oversize 250-calorie cookie with embedded M&Ms and 30 minutes of reasonably exerting exercise to lose it!

You can find an RMR calculator at Shapeup.org. And you all have a great day!

Pinnacle Peak, Snow Canyon, Utah

I don't recall being as sore or as tired as this in our previous visits here but perhaps i didn't get up to 4,000 ft last time!






Thank God for the hot tub - my new definition of heaven.

Watched Biggest Loser tonight while at Biggest Loser. Life imitating art imitating life - or vice versa. Pretty wierd. More tomorrow.

First day back (again)

First day over at Fitness Ridge and t was great to see all the wonderful trainers again and very gratifying to be recognized and welcomed back by all the staff. The facility is still in great shape and the new gym and extension are nearing completion. Can't wait to see it next year. They are definitely straining at the seams since their alliance with the Biggest Loser program and the extra space is very much needed.

The basic philosophy of "compassionate bootcamp" has not changed but there have been several changes to the program with different hikes and different assessments, and many more guides. Day 1 hike was to assess us regarding our abilities in terms of speed and terrain and and of course I had to get competitive so I've been put in the fast group for the rest of the week. Not one of my smartest moves. We went really fast today and at one point were running not hiking - something I had to put a stop to right away!

We met up with several people that we had seen on previous trips and it was wonderful to see Liz from New York again who had arranged her trip to coincide with ours. We also bumped into Max (the brother of the dad and the brother who were on Biggest Loser last year) and he looked incredible - taller if you can believe that.

Food is way better than previous years. Each class is still a stretch, especially the stretch classes (ha ha) which I find the hardest of all - bodies should just not be asked to be put in those positions. Absolutely exhausted but loving it here. Now we just have to figure out a way to see the Royal Wedding this week - is it really going to be worth getting up at 1:00 in the morning?

Return to the Ridge

Well it's that time of year again - if it's the end of April it must be time for Fitness Ridge. Currently getting together new socks, moleskin, Camelback, and all things medicinal for our annual pilgrimage to Utah.

Get ready for postings next week. So looking forward to it!

Ray