On My Way Home!

Well, I'm sitting in the airport in Las Vegas and getting excited to be home. I'm a little upset that I had to leave early, but excited to see my hubby and doggies. I did do my test out today and got my numbers ... here they are:

Weight on Jan 2nd: 194 Weight on Jan 29th: 180 For a loss of 14 #
Chest on arrival: 46" Chest on Departure: 42" For a loss of 4"
Waist on Arrival: 42" Waist on Departure: 37" For a loss of 5"
Hips on Arrival: 44" Hips on Departure: 38" For a loss of 6"
Thigh on Arrival: 23.75 Thigh on Departure: 21" For a loss of 2.75"
Calf on Arrival: 17" Calf on Departure: 15" For a loss of 2"
Arm on Arrival: 13" Arm on Departure: 12.5" For a loss of .5"
Body Fat Arrival: 36.8 Body Fat Departure: 34.3 For a loss of 2.5
BMI Arrival: 30.4 BMI Departure: 28.2 For a loss of 2.2

So, I lost 14 lbs and a whopping 20.25 inches!!! Inches mean a lot more than the pounds to me as I know I gained a lot of muscle while at FR! I'm really proud of myself for what I accomplished while at FR! I hope all of you coming in will remember what I've said ... don't worry about the pounds lost, but the inches lost at the end! I brought a pair of jeans here, but didn't try them on this week. BUT, I'm excited to say that I did buy a new pair of jeans in the airport ... I was wearing a size 14 when I left home ... I bought a pair of size 10's!!! Yahoo! I was ecstatic! So, enjoy your stay at FR ... get the most of it ... don't wimp out ... don't make excuses as to not doing your workouts, but just work out hard!

More to come in a week! I'm getting ready to board my flight!

Top pic: Me on departure day with Sara Howe from Virginia
2nd pic: Me on departure day with Katie from Texas (NOT CALIF AS I STATED YESTERDAY!) She looks like she should be my daughter, doesn't she! She's been at FR now for 7 or 8 weeks and has lost over 25 pounds!!! Awesome feat!

Going Home!

Top Pic: My new roomie this week, Lisa from Oregon and me
2nd Pic: Sharon teaching Pool class
3rd Pic: Nicole ... such a cutie!
4th Pic: My gang at lunch ... Me, Mike from NY, Jim from Colorado, Brad from Canada, Dirk from Colorado, and Sara from Virginia

Well, I had to bite the bullet after limping around here for several days and make the horrible decision to go home early. At least it was only 2.5 days early! I'm in dire pain with my knee and need to just relax and put my feet up for a few days. My hubby asked me to come on home so he could pamper me and get me a doctor appointment on Monday. So, home I go in the morning! I leave FR at 8:20 am and catch my flight out of Vegas at 1:30 pm to get into Orlando at 11:00 pm ... in other words, a very long day of flying (and having to eat airport food). I'm testing out with Sharon in the morning, so I'll give further updates on my weight loss and inches lost sometime or another tomorrow.

I want everyone to know that I totally loved it here at FR! I learned so much and came to the realization that I can do a lot more than I ever thought I could ... I am woman ... hear me roar! :) I have my reservation for me and my husband to return next year on January 2nd for one week. I want him to see what I did but for 4 weeks! My blister problems and knee problems were no fault of FR but my own. So, protect your feet (even though I did with Body Glide and Wigwam Hiking socks and duct tape) and if you do get a bad blister ... DON'T GO IN THE POOL OR HOT TUB!!! Supposedly, that was my cause of the infection in my little toe. Open sore (blister) + hot tub/pool = infections. However, I didn't get a blister until I decided to go get some Wright's anti-friction socks and use them. So, who knows what happened, but it did and I've learned! I hope you readers will do the same if coming here to FR.

I met so many friends that I will never forget! Too many to mention, but I know I have a great new friend in my old roomie, Sandy from Tampa! I miss you terribly and I hope to see you soon! And, to Jim and Dirk from Colorado and Brad and Sat from Canada! Muah! Denise from Utah, Sara from Virginia, Kassie Kay from Texas, and Katie from Texas ... you all rock! Again ... I met many others, but these guys were always with me at breakfast, lunch, dinner, hikes, & classes. Oh, and Mike from New York ... I will say my prayers for your wife and hope she gets into remission real soon! Thanks for walking that last 11.7 miles with me! Seth and Eric ... you were so real and sweet and I hope you lose your weight again and get back to that person you want to be on the outside, but please know that you are sweethearts on the inside!

The trainers here at FR are awesome!!! Sharon is my all time hero for getting in my face and being "my Jillian" ... Tiffany and Robin were so sweet and easy to talk to ... Marjorie's smile lights up the room and it never disappears plus I get a kick out of watching her jog up and down the aisle as you do cardio intervals ... John is hysterical especially in Cardio Disco Jam ... Nicole is such a sweetheart and plays great music ... Anne Marie is a delight and I'll never forget the "Titanic with the frozen people in the water" during our pool class as well as "tiny bubbles" ... Paige is so petite and helpful on the Quizno's and Albertson's runs. At the front office, you can always count on great help from Cody! He's just the best! Heather is a sweetheart! And, Travis ... you're so darn cute! Loved those Target trips! Trevor is nice and hunky! :) Hope I didn't embarrass you, Trevor! Glen who went through the program while I was in it is incredibly sweet! Like father, like son. Cameron is like his Dad, Glen. He is both adorably cute and sweet! Renee is always bubbly! And in reservations, I WILL NEVER FORGET my girl, Nancy! She got me here for my 3rd and 4th week after being on the Waiting List like forever! You Rock! The kitchen staff was awesome and always accommodating! Thank you Chef Cameron and Jennifer ... and to my girl, Gretchen! The food at FR is unbelievable! And, last, but definitely not least ... Brenda Cunningham is the best darn massage therapist ever! You made me feel like melted butter. When you go to FR ... please, tell her Dee Dee recommended her! Get her deep tissue or hot rock or whatever massage as she does them all well! Thank you for working out my kinks and frustrations!

So, I'll keep updating the blog but not daily ... I'll let you know how I'm doing on my weight loss. Don't worry ... I will continue working out and eating healthy as I don't want to be this overweight person any more! I know I came here to FR with knowing I had to lose 40 pounds ... this definitely got me on my way. So, Tom (my trainer at home) I'm ready to bust my butt and get in shape again!

Talk to you all again soon! (D2Dancer@aol.com or Dee Dee Palmer on Facebook)

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

This pic is from our Kickboxing Class ... I was partnered up with Ephraim and this is me trying to hold his boxing bag still so he can have his one minute of punch time! Too funny! Our trainer, Sharon, was wanting a camera, so she grabbed mine. We had a great time!

Well, another day of this messy rainy weather. Needless to say, I didn't do the hike as it was pouring this morning. So many people didn't hike, that they put a trainer, Marjorie, in the gym with us and she killed us! She did one hour of "Mountain" with us followed by 30 minutes of Cardio Intervals followed by 30 minutes of Weight Machine Intervals and ended our time with 30 minutes of Core and Stretch. Yup, we definitely burned some calories!

My knee is still out of whack and my little toe is still swollen and blue in color. I've been taking the antibiotics, but it doesn't seem to be helping me much! I soaked it in Epsom Salt tonight with a little bit of Betadine in it and then put straight Betadine on it afterwards too. I'm trying anything and everything for this swelling to go away.

I'm at my halfway mark for my final week! I only have 2.5 days left here and then I leave on Sunday! I can't wait to see my honey bunny! And, my little pooches of course! I'm excited. 4 weeks away is a long time! I think if I do this again, it would only be for 2 or 3 weeks, but not 4! I'm falling apart it seems.

Today's Schedule:

6:00 am Yogalates or Open Gym (I chose Open Gym)
7:00 am BREAKFAST (Italian Frittata and Fruit)
8:00 am Leave for Hike (I stayed in gym as described above)
11:15 am Pool or Core Workshop or Circuit (I did Circuit)
12:30 pm LUNCH (Beet Soup and BBQ Pizza)
1:15 pm Trip to Albertson's (by invitation ... for 3rd or 4th weekers)
2:30 pm Kickboxing
3:30 pm Mountain
4:30 pm Weight Circuit (in lieu of pool due to weather)
5:30 pm DINNER (Cafe Salad and Coconut Sorbet)

I came back to my room ... took a shower ... and went next door with my neighbors and watched a movie, "August Rush". Such a sweet movie, but we're so tired from this day that we almost didn't make it through it! :)

Okay ... hopefully things will be better tomorrow!

Terrible Tuesday!

Pic is of Ephraim Salaam and his wife, Renace with me. Here I am a big major Bucs fan and taking a pic with a Texans player. LOL :) But, they are both so sweet and kind. Nice people! He's hysterical in classes with music he likes. You should have heard him sing the theme song to "Married with Children" ... Love and Marriage! Too funny! Ephraim also told me that blisters in a pool or hot tub have caused some serious infections within the football team! The doc told me yesterday that that combination could have caused mersa! So, when coming here ... BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR BLISTERS (they're open sores and take in germs that can be lurking in the water).

Well, I didn't get to go on a hike today. My little toe is still purple and swollen. The antibiotics haven't helped it go down any or change in any way. My knee is dying and I just stayed in the gym and rode the recumbant bike for 1.5 hours followed by 45 minutes of working on the weight machines.

I did get to go ride on one of the StreetStrider bikes (eliptical bike) though this afternoon to see if it's a possibility for me to ride one of those during the hike time tomorrow. It did hurt my knee a little bit though. Mine will be delivered this Friday (I bought a raspberry one). So, I will have it when I get home! Yeah! I can't wait! I'm still wanting to go hiking up to Stop Sign though tomorrow.

I was asked by a follower of my blog as to what my favorite and least favorite hikes were. Let me tell you there are so many favorites! Utah is a beautiful place and it's hard to name just one, but my top 3 fav's are: Hidden Pinyon into Piano Rock ... Fern Gulley ... and Slots! My least favorite is West Canyon Road and Stop Sign. HOWEVER ... I know that my biggest calorie burn is when I do Stop Sign and that's why I wanted to do it everyday this week for my "last chance workout". On Monday, I burned 1500 calories doing Stop Sign all the way up to the top then walking back to Fitness Ridge which was 11.7 miles!!! So, for the calorie burn ... it's Stop Sign, but it's not scenic nor adventurous. I think while here in Utah, everyone should see "God's country" as it's spectacular here!

Today's Schedule:

6:00 am Hardcore Abs or Open Gym (optional ... I did Hardcore)
7:00 am BREAKFAST (Muesli with Fruit and Almond Milk)
8:00 am Leave for Hikes (I stayed in the gym)
11:15 am Yoga Stretch (I stayed in the gym on the bike)
12:30 pm LUNCH (Squash Soup and Italian Tomato Sandwich with Salad)
1:00 pm Calorie Challenge
1:30 pm Lecture for departing guests
2:30 pm Cardio Intervals
3:30 pm Total Toning
4:30 pm Pool (But I did a 2nd Cardio Intervals)
5:30 pm DINNER (Ostrich Stew and 2 Chocolate Covered Strawberries)

Only 4 days of workout left! I need to kick some serious a**! I leave on Sunday! The people that work here at Fitness Ridge are so understanding, loving, and kind. 99% of the Guests are the same ... only a couple that should have stayed home. LOL :) Negativity doesn't work here, so leave it at home! Come here with a clear head and a clear understanding that you are here to work out 7-8 hours a day and not to lay around and be at Club Med. When you get on those weight machines, don't pull just 2.5 - 5 lbs of weights ... otherwise, what good is it doing you? Work hard and you'll get good results! Enough said... :)

Stop Sign Monday!

UPDATE: The Access Hollywood Airing of Eric & Seth here at FR has been postponed until Feb. 9th. They felt they would be a good "sweeps week" airing! So, you'll have to wait until then ... :)

Well, I didn't have such a great day today, except for my time on my Stop Sign Hike! I cut off 9 minutes from my 1st week's time of 1:32 and 1:27! Today's time up to the sign ... (drum roll please) ... 1:18! Woohoo! I was ecstatic! My new roommate did it in 1:10! She was running the treadmill all day as well! She'll do good this week! Then some of us that went up to Stop Sign got a ride back down to mini stop sign and walked all the way back to FR! That's a whopping 11.7 miles! However, I was in major pain on the last 2 or so miles.

When I got back to FR I was in dire pain (my knees and my left little toe). One of the new ladies here this week is a nurse practitioner and told me my little toe was infected. This goes back to week one for me when I had a major water blister on my toe and after a week of it, I popped it! It was "okay" during my 2nd and 3rd week, but really was painful today! It's swollen up like the size of 2 toes and now a little purple. So, I went to the Urgent Care ... yup, a staff infection of all things! I got a $100 prescription of Clindamycin and a major lecture from the doctor. So ... here's his input: He feels like the FR guests aren't educated properly enough on blister prevention. That we should be told to put moleskin on our hot spots (vs duct tape) and to have lots of it handy. He also told me to stay out of the pool and hot tub as chlorine doesn't kill all the little germs that could get into blisters and cause staff infections. I'm not infectious (unless it begins to puss ... which it never did). As far as my knee is concerned, he wants me to NOT HIKE 11.7 miles for the next few days ... right! This is my last week and I'm considering it "my last chance workout". LOL :) So, I don't know what tomorrow morning will bring, but I hope I can hike the Stop Sign in maybe flip flops or my Cross Training Shoes. I just won't be able to wear my hiking shoes for a few days until this swelling goes down! :(

Today's Schedule:

6:00 am Yogalates
7:00 am BREAKFAST (Egg Sandwich & Fruit Dish)
8:00 am Leave for Hike (Stop Sign)
11:15 am Pool or Mountain (I walked back from Stop Sign instead)
12:30 pm LUNCH (Chili & Cornbread ... the best)
1:45 pm Open Gym (I stayed in my room with ice on my knees!)
2:30 pm Circuit
3:30 pm Step-n-Pump (I left to go to Urgent Care during this one)
4:30 pm Pool (I was still gone to Urgent Care)
5:30 pm DINNER (Chicken w/ Potatoes and Asparagus & Grilled Pineapple)
6:30 pm Tai Chi (Went back to my room with ice bags again)

I'm still in bed with ice on my knees! That's how bad they hurt! My new piece of advice ... bring Icy Hot back patches. Cut them in half and put one on each knee when they hurt and it definitely helps out getting through the hikes! That's what I've been doing the last 2 hikes! They don't sell those patches here at the shop, but I got them at the local drug store! Definitely worth having some here with you!

Okay ... I'm off to bed ... more tomorrow!

P.S., Miss ya' roomie! I hope you had a good flight home and that the kids were still up for ya' when you got home! :)

New Roomie!

Well, my new roomie got here today around 2:00. Her name is Lisa and she's from Oregon. Lisa is a 34 year old mom of 3 and is very nice so far. Thank goodness, she likes Desperate Housewives, The Bachelor, The Biggest Loser, and Grey's Anatomy! Otherwise, I'd go crazy. Sandy and I always looked towards watching those shows on Sun, Mon, Tues, and Thurs nights. So, all's good with the new roomie so far.

Ephraim Salaam from the Houston Texans and his wife (ex professional dancer) are here starting today as well. He's really tall ... Can't wait to see them in the classes. More info on that later! I did google him and found that he also played for:
Atlanta Falcons (1998–2001)
Denver Broncos (2002–2003)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2004–2005)
Houston Texans (2006–2008)
Detroit Lions (2009)
Houston Texans (2009–present)
In case anyone wanted to know. :)

Someone asked to see pix of the rooms, I didn't really take any just of that, but I do have some pix that were taken in my room. So, here we go: One pic is of the dresser you'll share with a roomie with a tv on it. What you don't see is to the right of that is a desk and chair with an alarm clock on it and a phone. The other pic is of the queen size beds with a night stand in the middle with 2 lamps for each person. I didn't take a pic of the closet. It's 2 sides with no doors. The bathroom is a tub/shower (however some people only have a shower), toilet, 1 sink with big counter. Outside of the bathroom is another smaller counter with a sink and behind the door is a bench seat with a hook above it for hanging your robes. I hope this helped! :)

Sad Sunday ... Bye Sandy!

Top Pic: Stacy, Sandy, and Me (always goofing off) at Fern Gulley
Middle Pic: My swollen feet this past week! I no longer eat salt on foods or take the electrolytes in my water!!!
Bottom Pic: The roadrunner we encountered on one of our hikes. Sandy trying to get it to come to her! :)

Well, I got up with Sandy this morning to go weigh in with her. Then we ate breakfast. Came back to the room and watched her pack her remaining things up to get ready to leave. I feel bad that I didn't walk up to the front office with her and wait there for her shuttle, but I honestly was afraid to go because I didn't want to cry when she left. I hated seeing her go home ... as I really want to go home too. I must say, I'm very homesick right now. 3 weeks is a long time to be away from my hubby and pooches. And, I have 1 more week to go yet! Ahhhhh! I can only hope that this week goes fast and that I kick some serious butt this week on my weight loss! I didn't do so good today on the scale and I know it must be due to not hiking on Monday and Tuesday. Seriously, those hikes are the cardio burn of all cardio burns! You don't want to miss out on them. So, I've made a pact with Brad, Jim, Dirk, and Katie to stick with them all of this upcoming week and do nothing but The Stop Sign Hike and walk all the way back with them to Fitness Ridge daily. I can only hope that my blisters will be gone by tomorrow and cooperate with me to allow me to do that hike daily. Those guys (except for Katie) loose double digits weekly! Katie is doing awesome too with never lower than 5 lbs. So, I'm sticking with my inspirational winners! :)

So, I'll be getting a new roommate in a few hours. I'm just chilling out today in my room, playing on the computer, writing my Thank You cards to some of the staff here, and dreaming of home and what hubby might be up to. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a good roommate. However, I don't think anyone could ever compare to my girl, Sandy! Miss You Already, Girlfriend!

I have a massage at 3:00 again with Brenda ... who is the bomb! She helped me out last weekend to get through this past week and I just know she'll do it again today for me! I'll just veg out all day! Of course, we have to be at dinner at 5:30 for Orientation of the Newbies. So, I'll get up and dressed for that.

Until tomorrow ...