New Friends had to leave us today! :(

Yes, we're sad that Margot and Lynne Bingham had to leave today. They were our close buds to hang with. So, these pix are for you! Kassie and I hope to see you guys in Penn and NYC! Love ya, Lynne and Margot!!!

BTW, go check out Margot B's website for her newest CD that is being released! www.margotb.com ... She is an amazing and upcoming "Super Star" (jazz hands raised)

Treading Thursdays and Zumba Fridays!

Pix from top to bottom: 1. Rene, Nancy, and Trevor after the last Treading class. 2. Kassie enjoying the Spin Bike during Treading with Gretchen. 3. Me being a dork! 4. Our Alumni class from last Jan that returned this year! 5. On Upper Gila with Kathy from Colorado, Linda Ash and me.

Sorry for not posting yesterday! I was so pooped out after a day full of exhausting hikes and Treading! After that slam packed day and eating dindin with my bestest roomie, Kassie Kay ... we went and sat in the hot tub and then back to the room where we fell asleep while watching "The Blind Side".

I can tell you this, Upper Gila hike is killer! I didn't think I would be able to finish it and still be alive! My heart rate was so high I thought for sure I'd have a heart attack, but I didn't and I'm glad I got to see such beautiful views! I burned 1250 calories on it!!! Then I topped it off by doing not one, but two Treading classes!!! I'm a nut case, right? You ask what is Treading ... you go your hardest on whatever cardio machine you want to use for 5 minutes, then cool down for 5 minutes. Then you go your hardest for 4 minutes, then rest for 4 minutes ... then 3 ... then 2 ... then 1. Then whoever the trainer might be throws in a surprise of some sort for another amount of time. It's a killer. I did my first class on the Recumbant Bike and the 2nd class on the Treadmill! Shew ...

Today I did the Stop Sign Hike, but only went to mini (3 miles) and then back down to total a 6 mile hike. I'm mad that I didn't burn as many calories on it though as I did yesterday on Upper Gila. I'm finding that I can get through the paved hikes quicker and easier, but my calorie burn isn't great enough to be happy about it! The off road climbing hikes are the way to go for a harsh calorie burn! After I got back from hiking and did lunch, I had a great time doing 3 classes of Zumba. I really like these classes! But then again, I am an ex-dancer!

Tomorrow's plan ... to leave from FR and walk down towards Kayenta and then on to Coyote Gulch to check it out and then walk back to FR. It's supposedly around 10 miles total to do that ... we'll see with my handy dandy new Polar GPS Watch! :) It calculates my hiking miles along with my speed of walking and my calories, heart rate, and time exercised. More on this hike tomorrow. :)

I hope you enjoy reading my blog ... anything special you want to hear about, let me know! :) Dee Dee

Still Cold in Utah!

I can tell you this much ... Utah is definitely a lot colder this year than last year! Snow on all the mountain tops! It's beautiful to look at, but not very fun to go hiking in. Due to a bad knee I got on Monday from hiking on the icy stuff and it getting sore yesterday on Scout Cave hike, I opted today to just walk on a paved route. I left from Fitness Ridge and walked to Kayenta and back which was 7 miles. Not as crazy as the climbing hikes, but something new.

I have a great idea for those of you craving something sweet while you're here! Have one of the waiters/waitresses bring you a ziploc baggie of sliced apples. Take that ziploc bag and sprinkle one packet of Truvia and some cinnamon on top of the apples then seal it and shake it up. Voila ... instant apple pie without the crust! Now everybody is doing it here. LOL It is good ... especially when you don't like something they're serving for a dessert ... like pineapple skewers. In my opinion, they aren't good! One girl tried it on a banana and liked it, but I don't know about that one ... I didn't try it as it didn't sound that appealing to me.

Just as a reminder to those that read this blog, FR does have a referral program. If you feel my blog has helped you out and answered some questions you might have had, please, tell them you heard about Fitness Ridge via Dee Dee Palmer! I could use the referral and if I'm not mistaken, you get something too. :)

I hope you like my blog and if you need any questions answered or if you have any ideas of things you'd like for me to blog about, please let me know! Peace Out!

I'm BAaaccCK!

Yup, I am back at the Biggest Loser at Fitness Ridge! This is my 3rd time here and I hope that I keep up my good work and eatting ethic! I went home Oct. 17th and did good. I lost 5 pounds then the holidays came along, but I still didn't gain, but maintained. I came back to BL@FR on Sunday, Jan. 2nd weighing in at the same weight that I left here with in October, but remember ... the weigh in was at 5:30 pm after eatting bad all day during the flight times!

I would like to say that when I got home from the BL@FR in October, that I started eatting the Biggest Loser Meal Plan online. It's very good food and easy to prepare (just like a tv dinner) and affordable! So, for those of you that are either cooking challenged or need help due to being so busy during the day ... this plan is for you! I highly recommend it!

I didn't get to write in the blog on Sunday or Monday as I was so darn tired that I couldn't stand myself! I might add, that it's snowing in Ivins, Utah!!! Unheard of so they say, but it's happening! Of course, my roomie, Kassie, just had to throw snow balls at me on the first day out hiking! I might add that she did it 3 times!!! I told her paybacks were a bitch! :) I did get one snowball back at her, but need to repay for the other 2 she got me with!

There have been more changes here AGAIN!!! There are no longer any awards (rewards) at the end of the week now! Your reward is what you learned while here and your DVD they shoot during the week ... that's it! So, no more tshirts or other goodies!

Also, we did a Hip Hop class during our Open Gym class today. The girl they got to teach was good as well. I wish they'd do more of that one! :) Can't wait for Friday to have Zumba classes!

I'm not blogging in my normal way any longer as everything else is the same! The foods are the same with 1200 or less calories for the day with getting either almonds or a boiled egg for extra snacks which are both 100 calories extra. The class schedules are the same each day as they were both back in Jan and Oct of 2010. So, I only want to write fun and different stuff.

So far this trip is great as we have a lot of our last year's alum back again! We have Lynne Bingham who brought her daughter. There's also Kim Corbin who brought her daughter. And, Tina who brought her daughter. Also here is Elizabeth and her mom, Jane as well as Linda Ash from Canada and Candace Hurley our Army girl! :) But most importantly ... how can I forget .... my roomie, Kassie Kay Farr from Texas??? She's the bomb diggity!!! :)

Snow or no snow ... the pool is open for classes! I'm so glad that I don't swim!

More later ... Peace Out!