day 3: veering off course

My teeth chattered as we rushed to the court for early morning stretch class. Steam swirled over the pool where warm water met chilly November air.

me: It’s so freaking cold.

Irina: I can see my breath.

me: What in the world? Why is it so cold???

Irina: Holy hell. Wait… what?? Is it starting to rain????? OMG… it’s raining. 

Both of us: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO {while sobbing uncontrollably}

It was barely spitting when we headed into stretch class, but by the time were walking back to our rooms, the drizzle was much more determined. Daybreak afforded us a good look at the ominous cloud cover above. There was no mistaking it: those skies were getting ready to open up and pour.

Not the actual Day 3 sky. The clouds were much darker that morning.

We discussed our options.

Neither of us wanted to bail on the hike, but we knew how miserable we’d be if we had to spend 2.5 hours hiking in wet boots and socks, with layers of cold, wet clothing stuck to our bodies.

The decision was made.

We advised our Van 6 hiking guides that we would be hitting the gym for 3 hours instead of joining them on the hike.

One hiking guide leaned in and whispered, “I wish I could join you“.

I felt a slight twinge of guilt that others were sucking it up and braving the elements while I chose the more comfortable option. I know Irina felt the same way. We vowed to really push ourselves and each other.

As hikers began loading into vans, we entered a quiet and chilly gym.

Well, I guess it’s just the two of us, she offered.

I felt another pang of guilt. Had we made the right decision to veer off course?

Everyone else chose to hike in the rain. We are such wusses. My negative talk-track started playing, right on cue.    

Just as I started down the rabbit hole of virtual self-flagellation, my phone buzzed, signaling a new text message. And, in a freakish show of inter-connectedness born of a 32-year relationship, my husband sent me the following:

Exactly what I needed at the exact moment I needed it. I passed my phone to Irina and we both gushed over what a sweet and tender gesture that was. I sent a quick text back thanking him for being so supportive and for lifting me up when I was feeling down.

Sentimental feelings were packaged up and put away. There was work to be done.

We mounted our treadmills, inserted our ear buds and started our indoor hikes by working out to the Hill Training program. Not more than 10 minutes later, a few other guests trickled in. A few minutes after that, a handful more.

It felt good to know we weren’t the only two who had bailed on the hikes. It was also nice to see so many ready to sweat so hard, with no trainers around, just because we held ourselves accountable.

This was my routine:

• 70 minutes hill training on the treadmill
• 10 minutes hill training on the elliptical
• 10 minutes on some contraption called a NUstep
• 10 minutes on the rowing machine

Just as I was heading back to the treadmill for another 40 minutes, trainer Cliff arrived.

Looking good, ladies! Nice to see you pushing yourselves! Since you’re already here and working up a sweat, who would be interested in a private HIIT class?, he asked.

I did the quick math in my head. I had just finished 100 minutes of cardio with no rest, and he was proposing running us through a 30 minute High Intensity Interval Training class.    

Without even having to consult with The Russian, I already knew what our answer would be.

Simultaneously we responded, “Sure, let’s do it!“.

Because we’re stupid like that.

Cliff showed no mercy. He took us through a crazy set of sprints on the treadmill that made my knees scream for mercy. Yes, those same knees I had ruined during Monday’s hike through sand dunes.

Half hour later, we were done. And by done, I mean TOTALLY FREAKING DONE. Done like dinner. Spent. Kaput.

My clothes were so wet, you would have thought I had gone hiking in the rain. Karmic justice, I suppose.

For any normal person completing 130 minutes of cardio exercise would be considered one helluva workout. Not so for guests of Movara Fitness Resort.

Our day was just beginning.

We had the luxury of a 20 minute break between our impromptu private class and our next gig: Hip Hop Burn, a Zumba-inspired program focused on one specific genre: Hip Hop.

Yay! More cardio! Kill. Me. Now.

It never ceases to amaze me how much work dancing is. Although, I use the term dancing very loosely.

After lunch, Cliff led a lecture on “Lasting Change“, where he shared his personal journey of weight loss. This marked my second cry of the week. Thanks a lot, Cliff.

After that it was back to the court for Kickboxing with Sharon.

Holy. Holy. Hell.

That woman takes no prisoners. Back sweat, boob sweat, knee sweat. I had all the sweats. Thanks a lot, Sharon.

No rest for the wicked: immediately after kickboxing came Strength Training, I’ve never been so happy to lift up heavy things. My legs were so happy, they were ready to send out thank you notes to anyone and everyone responsible for an agenda item that did not involve running or climbing.  

After dinner, the group lecture focused on Becoming a Realist – AKA: The Math of Weight Maintenance, featuring some very useful information. For instance, do you know your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)? It is the total number of calories you burn in a resting state. Meaning, if you didn’t move a muscle, this is how many calories your body would burn on its own in a day. Once you know this number, you can factor in the extra calorie burn from incremental exercise you do to get to your total daily calorie burn value. If you track the calories you consume, then it’s simple math; calories in versus calories out:

• Calories in > Calories out = You gain weight
• Calories in < Calories out = You lose weight
• Calories in = Calories out = You maintain current weight.

Once you take emotion out of the equation, it’s easy to see how cut and dried weight management really is.

The Lecture Hall. I’m sad we forgot to snap pics of guests (ourselves included) laden with bags of ice, attempting to heal injured body parts.

After the lecture, I rewarded myself with a 50 minute Swedish massage, by Scott, which rocked my world. Not in THAT way, you pervs. It just felt so good to be doing something kind to my body after the abuse I’d inflicted the previous 3 days.

Final stats for the day: 

• 29,720 steps*
• 13.1 miles
• 2,507 calories burned (vs. 1,200 consumed)
• 1 Swedish massage

*Note: both Irina’s and my stats for Day 3, the day we bailed on the hike and did our own things, delivered the most steps, mileage and calorie burn of any day that week, proving that we are are our own toughest personal trainers. Huzzah!

Ready to skip straight on over to Day 4? click here.

Keep moving,

xoxo nancy