Back in Utah

I hope, for more love, more joy and laughter

I hope, we'll have more than we'll ever need

I hope, we'll have more happy ever after

I hope, we can all live more fearlessly

And we can lose all the pain and misery

I hope, I hope

Dixie Chicks

So I had an awfully quick trip to Madison, but have made it back to the Utah desert for 3 more weeks of Fitness Bliss. A big week upcoming for the Ridge as they will be undergoing a name change on the 6th of October and a partnership with NBC and The Biggest Loser TV show. Don't quote me but I believe starting Tuesday I will be one of the first campers at The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge.

Here's one of the people responsible for the change so if you don't like the new name send Eric, my hiking partner, and the GM at the Ridge your emails. Seriously there is always trepidation when it comes to making a major change in a successful program and I know they have struggled with this decision, but my hope is that it encourages more people that really need the help that the Ridge can offer you to sign on. I will be spending a future blog or two describing how the ridge can help accommodate and and how they can really help people of size that may be afraid to undertake the challenge here.

?Here is my view on most Monday mornings as Eric's butt slowly gets smaller and finally disappears from view as I chase him up the mountain. This shot is shortly after you turn onto the road and start the most grueling 1.5 miles of this hike.

No question that the biggest improvement at the Ridge has been the overhauling of the Reservations department. And let's face it they will have their work cut out for them when the announcement rolls on The Biggest Loser next week. This is Nancy but kudos to Trevor and Katie as well. I used to hear people bitch incessantly about how they had problems with their reservations but now I never hear anyone say a bad word about this office. And don't forget to tell them how much you love the blog when you book your trip :)

Everyday in the dining hall you get a posting of the days food with the calorie counts for each meal. The muffin was good , the tuna was great, the veggie lasagna was dreadful and clearly an insult to all those cheesy, meaty, saucy, lasagnas that wear the name with pride.

This is the Tuna Nicoise salad. It was a new meal for me and I loved it. Filling and tasty, really all I ask out of my meals. Tuna, Greens, olives and even a slice or two of potato. Big thumbs up here.

What all the cool kids at the Ridge are wearing again this year. Jen from Denver, life coach extraordinaire, and my lap swimming sprint partner yesterday. I am always so happy when I can drag someone into the pool with me for some laps, especially if they will push me to sprint. Jen made me huffing chasing her down the pool. Freestyle, Breast, and Butterfly had me behind her but thanks to a slight wardrobe malfunction and knee injury I ruled in the backstroke.

Here's Jen at the stop sign Monday following a quick ascent up the hill. The official time was 1:00:24 but a) the guy working the stopwatch wasn't paying attention, and b) we like to round down here so my official time for her was 59:59 and under the hour she was aiming for. And best of all I am quite certain that no grandmother beat her up the hill this week, she didn't throw up, and like a true champion sucked it up for a picture with sweaty Jim who wore his sweatshirt for the 4.5 mile jaunt.

Francis, Cathy and I at the stop sign. Both these campers were here for one or two of my previous visits. The friendships you make and rekindle each time you come to the Ridge are without a doubt that greatest experience being here. I don't care how fast you make it to the top, how much weight you lose, or how great you feel when you are done, nothing compares to the people that you meet here. It's the one reward you don't know that awaits you when you sign up.

Cathy also sporting a cool shirt. She sent me a picture from this summer of her crossing the finish line of a race wearing the happy peace sign. I'm not sure it makes you run faster but I know it makes you feel better carrying that tie-dye peace sign on your runs.

I hope everyone has an awesome week. I have a couple off road hikes scheduled this week. I got a really. really cool present this morning I will share with you next blog. I promise an in-depth look at the schedule, a review of Applebees which is tomorrow's off campus lunch trip, and exciting news about the coolest person ever from Biggest Loser making an appearance at the Ridge next week. Peace Love and Losers, Jim