Ranch, Day 3
I'm tuckered, so this'll hopefully be brief.
Got up around 6:30 am. Met down at the barn for "Cowboy Boot Camp" at 7:00 am. Who knew you could use a hay bale to do so many exercises with? We sat on the bale and did leg lifts, lifted the bale (I borrowed some gloves) onto our thighs and did knee bends, put our hands on the bale and did push-ups, and one or two other things as well. Then we went out to the corral area, where the 3-rail metal fences are. The bottom rung was probably 16" or so off the ground, a bit of a step-up. We stepped onto and off the bottom rail several times, we got onto the bottom rail & hung onto the top rail, and scooted down the fence by sliding our feet apart and together. I couldn't go very far, but at least I tried! Then we had a race-walk from the corral area all the way down the road to the main gate (which is flanked by two cowboy cutouts) and from there up to the dining hall, since it was nearly time for breakfast at 8:00am. Phew!
After breakfast, we drove back out to the park for another Death March... I mean, long hike! We got there at 8:45 am. Three of us (me, April, and Brooke) took the easier (aka flatter) trail; the rest of the group (Mary - the leader - plus ChiChi, Nick, and Barbara) took the harder (aka hillier) trail. We all walked for the better part of three hours. Yes, I had to take short breaks here and there (I'd say anywhere from 1-5 minutes) because hello - HIKING - and the trails are not flat, nor especially easy on the feet, as there are a LOT of loose rocks and little dips and things to look out for. At least it was pretty, and I had my baseball cap to keep the sun off of my face, and a bottle of water, plus my glucometer & glucose tablets just in case. Anyway - hiking, 3 hours, approximately 4 to 4.5 miles, best guestimate. PHEW.
We got back to camp just in time for lunch at 12:00 pm, which was a small portion of boneless chicken breast (maybe 3 oz) plus some veggie lasagna, and salad. At 1:30 we did water aerobics with Mary. I think I like the water aerobics best. At 3:00 pm we had a hypnotherapy session with Pat, which was at least relaxing as we got to lie down on mats on the floor and just listen to her talk to our subconscious, or whatever. She said we need to make positive statements starting with "I am" or "I can" - as in, "I am an artist," or "I can avoid fast food," that sort of thing. There was other stuff, but you get the idea.
At 4:15 I had a Pilates class, which I liked a little better than the Yoga sort of thing - more stretching, less weird poses. The instructor was sort of new, but she did okay, despite having to keep checking her note cards.
After that, I napped for about 30 minutes, then we had dinner at 6:00pm - spinach lasagna roll-ups, salad, plus another slice of the chocolate angel food cake. It wasn't intended that we have lasagna twice in one day, but apparently when Darlene asked what we'd had for lunch, Brooke told her "chicken" (omitting the veggie lasagna, even though Brooke at it too) so Darlene made the lasagna roll-ups for dinner. Not that I'm complaining, because it was yummy. We also had some air-popped popcorn as a light snack this evening (no salt or buttery stuff) while watching a movie here in the fitness lounge.
And now, it's time for bed. Goodnight!
Got up around 6:30 am. Met down at the barn for "Cowboy Boot Camp" at 7:00 am. Who knew you could use a hay bale to do so many exercises with? We sat on the bale and did leg lifts, lifted the bale (I borrowed some gloves) onto our thighs and did knee bends, put our hands on the bale and did push-ups, and one or two other things as well. Then we went out to the corral area, where the 3-rail metal fences are. The bottom rung was probably 16" or so off the ground, a bit of a step-up. We stepped onto and off the bottom rail several times, we got onto the bottom rail & hung onto the top rail, and scooted down the fence by sliding our feet apart and together. I couldn't go very far, but at least I tried! Then we had a race-walk from the corral area all the way down the road to the main gate (which is flanked by two cowboy cutouts) and from there up to the dining hall, since it was nearly time for breakfast at 8:00am. Phew!
After breakfast, we drove back out to the park for another Death March... I mean, long hike! We got there at 8:45 am. Three of us (me, April, and Brooke) took the easier (aka flatter) trail; the rest of the group (Mary - the leader - plus ChiChi, Nick, and Barbara) took the harder (aka hillier) trail. We all walked for the better part of three hours. Yes, I had to take short breaks here and there (I'd say anywhere from 1-5 minutes) because hello - HIKING - and the trails are not flat, nor especially easy on the feet, as there are a LOT of loose rocks and little dips and things to look out for. At least it was pretty, and I had my baseball cap to keep the sun off of my face, and a bottle of water, plus my glucometer & glucose tablets just in case. Anyway - hiking, 3 hours, approximately 4 to 4.5 miles, best guestimate. PHEW.
We got back to camp just in time for lunch at 12:00 pm, which was a small portion of boneless chicken breast (maybe 3 oz) plus some veggie lasagna, and salad. At 1:30 we did water aerobics with Mary. I think I like the water aerobics best. At 3:00 pm we had a hypnotherapy session with Pat, which was at least relaxing as we got to lie down on mats on the floor and just listen to her talk to our subconscious, or whatever. She said we need to make positive statements starting with "I am" or "I can" - as in, "I am an artist," or "I can avoid fast food," that sort of thing. There was other stuff, but you get the idea.
At 4:15 I had a Pilates class, which I liked a little better than the Yoga sort of thing - more stretching, less weird poses. The instructor was sort of new, but she did okay, despite having to keep checking her note cards.
After that, I napped for about 30 minutes, then we had dinner at 6:00pm - spinach lasagna roll-ups, salad, plus another slice of the chocolate angel food cake. It wasn't intended that we have lasagna twice in one day, but apparently when Darlene asked what we'd had for lunch, Brooke told her "chicken" (omitting the veggie lasagna, even though Brooke at it too) so Darlene made the lasagna roll-ups for dinner. Not that I'm complaining, because it was yummy. We also had some air-popped popcorn as a light snack this evening (no salt or buttery stuff) while watching a movie here in the fitness lounge.
And now, it's time for bed. Goodnight!