Day 22: That Which is Long Overdue

6:30AM: Hike (I went to the gym)
9:30AM: Breakfast
10:15AM: Stretch
11:15AM: Total Body H20
12:15PM: Lunch
1:15PM: Lecture: Budget
1:45PM: Open Gym
2:30PM: Deep Water Suspension
3:30PM: Circuit Training
4:30PM: Step-n-Pump
5:15PM: Dinner

So it's been quite a long hiatus! Sorry folks but life really did get in the way for the past few weeks. Firstly, not for it to be a spoiler or anything but I really did try my best during my last week at FR to attend every single class. Hence the no posts for the week because during the week I was so exhausted that I was collapsing into bed every night!!

After leaving FR, I had quite a long journey home and then once you get home, the FR bubble pops and reality smacks you in the face and you have tons of stuff to do. So once again, this is written in retrospect and my sincere apologies for it. Pardon the rambly nature of the post, I realize it's a bit disjointed. Once I've caught up with everything, (did you think I was going to stop blogging once I left FR? Mais non!) I will really try to blog every few days or so... because my journey has continued... and it's still tons of fun. ;)

So! Let's do the time warp again!!! ::spins around::

On this lovely last Monday at FR, I had lots of things to tie up... and if you're at FR for any extended period of time, you'll have stuff to tie up as well. Trust me!

I opted to go to the gym this morning because I had to squeeze in a post office run during the morning-time when a friend was free to take me there. I also had to skip breakfast because of my post office run but managed to grab my always handy portable breakfast friend, Mr. Banana, beforehand. (I'm always very careful nowadays to always get something to eat when I'm supposed to after my 1st superfit roomie warned us about our bodies hitting starvation phase and not losing any weight because of it)

After hitting the gym and doing myself 'Proud,' BLR-style, I headed back to my room and started packing up lots of toiletries that I had brought with me to FR but barely or didn't use at all. (This is why I recommend you pack light and really go travel-size on nearly everything you think you'll need. You can always borrow or hit Target while you're here) I filled up one of those large flat rate boxes that they supply at the post office with said toiletries and stuffed in some clothes and tons of tampons I had brought but not used as padding. No need for packing peanuts for moi!

The post office is relatively close to FR, just down a hill into the tiny town of Santa Clara. As John, my favorite hiking guide said, "Pay attention! This is Santa Clara, blink and you'll miss it." It's a small town with a few houses and small municipal buildings and not much else. What I found to be very amusing on my ride back was the fact that I saw some over-zealous FR first weekers pushing their bikes up the hill BACK to FR after riding, or attempting to, ride into town. (By the way folks, you can do it, just expect to be very very tired when you get back. ;) )

Went to stretch class but because I was a bit late because of my post office run, I had to use one of those toning rope things instead of a yoga strap while stretching because they ran out. It kinda hurt to be honest. Like stretching a giant rubber band on your foot. :P I tried putting my foot into the loop instead. I just looked silly. Made me wonder if anyone's been filching the yoga straps because there wasn't any yoga strap shortages before. Hmph.

While in stretch, I thought I was seeing a ghost or maybe someone's sister because one of the guests who was here for my first 2 weeks and then went home my third week, was back! She had colored her hair right before she left but it was back to her natural hue as well. (she said the color had gone off, so she dyed it back) Turns out that it was a spur of the moment thing but FR had an opening and she hopped on a plane and flew right back! Talk about FR love! She's a nice girl though so it's all good.

So after stretch I opted to do Total Body H20 instead of Mountain. I highly dislike Mountain class with a passion. To me, it's even tougher than treading but not everyone feels the same as I do.

Since we've started the summer schedule, all our former 'pool' classes have fancy new names. I will say that they pretty much seem like our old pool classes though, maybe just a tad bit more difficult with a stronger emphasis on weights and cardio in the pool as opposed to 'frolicking.' Poo. I like frolicking.

Lunch was pretty good. We had tilapia tacos and tomato soup. I didn't taste any fish though, it tasted more like turkey. I can eat quite fishy tasting fish (yum mackeral!) and have actually missed seafood since I've been here. We have chicken and turkey a lot but fish only a few times. Seafood, after all, is very light on the calories (though in some cases, heavier on cholesterol) and therefore good for our waist lines. I guess it's because of the cost? Dunno but I was thinking of having a seafood-palooza once I got home until 'N' reminded me that most of seafood probably isn't too safe to eat right now because of that oil cap thing in the Gulf. :(

During lunch today, I talked to Paige about my desire to do Stop Sign one more time before I leave and my desire for flatter hikes. My last week here I'd like to do some hikes before I leave... cuz there aren't any red mountains in New Jersey as far as I know!

I've found out that a lot of my foot/leg troubles at FR have really stemmed from the non-paved, rocky terrain hikes which are bad if you've got plantar fasciitis. Which I think I have. So even hikes like West Canyon which I enjoyed were mainly the hikes that were giving me issues. She agreed to keep that in mind for me.

I made it to open gym after lunch and RAN this time. Not for long but I ran!! lol. I ran .25 miles continuously and then rested for 2 minutes and kept doing that over and over until open gym was over. :)  I was very happy. It's not a mile but .25 is one full circle around a track! For the longest time I could only do a straight away before I had to rest.

I don't know why but whenever I see open gym on the schedule it seems like more of an optional class to me. A lot of people do skip it because, to be honest because they don't always check our name tags while we're in there. (since I've mentioned this, they may change that! so be forewarned!) Also, since we're on this summer schedule, the morning classes like yogalates, etc; haven't been offered so all you're offered to do is open gym if you're here for more than one week.

Was worried a bit about deep water suspension but once again you don't have to go to the deep end if you don't want to. In this class, everyone is given a floatation belt and encouraged to go to the deep end to do cardio and weights. I put on a floatation belt and sat on a chubby noodle and participated. The chubby noodles (they only have a few!) are great to sit on in the water if you're not comfortable in the water, they make you feel more secure. :)

Enjoyed circuit class and was about to die once again in Step-n-Pump but what kept me going was the thought that it was my LAST Step-N-Pump so I'd better give it my all. So I did. I grunted and heaved and ho'ed and got the class done. Don't worry if you need to grunt or yell through your workouts, a lot of people do here and it's totally acceptable.

So I made an effort to be more social today at all my meals even though it felt odd. Thankfully we have a great bunch here this week with everyone in great spirits and happy to be here, so it helped. Before I hit the hay, I went to the front desk and scheduled my first spa appointments for this week. I really want to make sure I get to try some of this stuff out because who knows if I'll ever get any of this stuff done ever again! I've never had the nerve to get massages or anything done before at home because I'm very self conscious about my body. The thought of someone rubbing my gut or fat rolls seriously terrified me. Here though, I don't feel that way. If one thing stays with me about FR is just that I've never felt so comfortable and free in my skin ever before. During my time here, I have honestly not felt body conscious at all. No one looks, no one judges. We're all there and in the same place, you know? If only the rest of the world was like this!

So I scheduled:

1. Purifying facial
2. 50 minute massage with Trevor (I heard he's the best!)
3. Body Polish

Looking forward to all 3!

So I went to all of my classes today. I'm extremely sore and very very very tired. My roomie said she's proud of me. I'm proud of me too. Now I'm off to bed but I'm going to leave you with a tidbit. Both my roomie and I discussed what was our mental turning point of when we realized that we got heavy and were at the point of holy schnikes. It was the same for the both of us! When did our lightbulbs go off??

When our stomachs grew past our lady lumps!!

I always thought to myself that it would never happen to me but it did. Not by too much but I had actually gotten to the point where my belly stuck out further than my chest. Mentally it was disturbing because it was as if my fat had eaten my femininity. Especially since I'm not a flat-chested girl. Anyhow, what brought about the conversation was the fact that since we've both been here... our 'girls' have surpassed our bellies again. The fat has receded. :) I can now tie my shoes again without taking a deep breath beforehand. All is well with the world. :)

Now I'm off to bed. ;) Night!

Calories burned today: 3335 not counting pool class.