What Fitness Ridge did for Me

It has been one and a half months since coming home from one month at The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge. A month of working out was substantial. Working out 5 and a half days a week, six to eight hours a day was substantial. I want ruminate and elucidate  how this experience has changed me, my daily life, my thought life.

I have been attending and participating in a cycling class. I had read that one could burn 500 calories in cycling class. I am close- I burn around 400, but when the instructor says turn it up a notch and go faster, I turn it up half a notch and go as fast as I can, which isn’t a 500 calorie push. That 500 calorie burn is something to aspire to. I know that after class I am shaking because I push hard. Either before or after classes I lift weights. Which schedule is best is debated. I try to lift after  cardio when I can just because the big, beautiful trainer who tried to sell me his services told me to during our free consultation. Either, or, I spend about 2 hours in the gym four to six days a week.

Two hours.

I recently read in SEVERAL magazines and on AOL, that one hour a day is enough. Trend. It is a trend. Not too long ago I read in the same publications that and hour and a half was the minimum. What to believe? I recently worked out 6 to 8 hours a day and lived to tell. This lifestyle changed my appearance, my health, and my mind. Several Fitness Ridge alumni, okay a lot of Fitness Ridge alumni, go on to participate in races, triathlons and marathons. Training for those events takes a lot of  time and dedication. Apparently, for many Fitness Ridgers, this working out thing…sticks. For me, it has become a part of me as well. Two hours compared to eight is nothing! Some days I spend three hours there because I go to the classes available. My favorite so far is Latin Heat, a spin off of Zumba I am guessing. It was so much fun and I burned 450 calories! I miss John’s Cardio Disco Jam, but Latin Heat is a great replacement. And that folks is the key: to take what I experienced at the Ridge and create it here at my gym.

I tread on Thursdays. Even though I am “alone” at my gym, I hear Sharon et al yelling at me, telling me I can do anything for 60 seconds! Even though I am “alone” I am with others all over the country, Canada and soon Australia. who are doing the same workout, hearing the same inner voices! I am good with that.  An i-pod or pad conference would be a great futuristic tool to place on our treadmills…maybe we can link up through cyber space! For now, my own head is party enough!  The one HUGE thing that I know has changed with me is that I am now equipped and able to work out harder than ever before. I paid for four weeks at Fitness Ridge, and in return I have been able to integrate and carry with me most everything I learned. I bought a great product. It was the best money I ever spent…excluding of course any money spent on growing my kids…I mean on ME personally. I count it as a part of my education.

The main ingredient to this whole experience is that I learned I can have a fit, muscular body and live a fit muscular lifestyle. I CAN! I CAN! I CAN! Walking feels different now. There is strength in my gait.

I admit this feeling, this body is closer to what I have dreamed of my entire life- or at least from about age 15 on! Why did it take me so long to to put into practice all of the stuff the fit lifestyle is made of? Maybe because I never felt worthy of it. Yeah, self-esteem can erode like rust on iron…grwoing deeper and darker with time. Thank God I found the inner okay to go get polished up! I learned that fitness SHOULD be scheduled into my day like I schedule everything else. I learned I am worth the effort, and with that effort comes better health and much more promising future. If you are sitting on your couch feeling the burn of your muscles dying, jump up and go for a walk NOW! That was my wake-up call and first step before calling the resort.

Since I left The Ridge I find I miss the darned place. I never went to summer camp, but I am going to take a wild guess that maybe I had a really groovy camp experience! I learned new things and made new friends. Which brings me to the alumni of The Ridge. A lot of people go back for seconds, thirds, fourths. Why? It is a place where we can dig deep within and find strength both physically and mentally to complete each day. I wonder if this experience compares just an iota to what the Marines feel…you know, like if there was a wheel o’ experience and the Ridge and Marines are in the same sector. The few, the proud, the Fitness Ridgers!

Please do not get offended if you are a marine or know and love someone who is. I just notice this brotherhood of people who have gone through the fire of training and come out on the other side ready- proud of themselves and their mission. Of course their mission is highly important…a daughter and ex-wife of soldiers, I know. So go the next step with me here…

Those of us who share in our individual journeys at The Ridge form a bit of a brotherhood/sisterhood. 

I already signed up for two weeks next summer. A lot of us are booking the same week as we all enjoyed each other a lot. I get it that we sound a bit fanatical, but don’t knock this unless you experienced it…if you experienced it and cannot relate to what I am writing about AT ALL…well, I wonder how deep you went into yourself to really find that polished iron- the strength to be all you know you can be. That is the jewel in this program- period.

Play big alumni, as playing small never suited any of us! Got to love those trainerisms!!!

Lakewood Church “Rocks”

I finally did it. I got up and got my happy butt to Lakewood Church, home of my favorite pastor Joel Osteen. I was skeptical about him at first, I have had too many experiences that have been overtly negative with the church… and pastors. I have watched as tele-evangelists have not only been knocked from their pulpits, they have been exposed as the LAST people on EARTH to take Biblical advice from, at all. Who can forget Swaggert? He was a porn freak. Recently, Ted, a drugged out homosexual who I hear is now living right- good for you, Ted. Jim Baker drugged and raped his secretary, stole from his followers and well, maybe you remember the rest. There are others. I was told once as a brand new Christian to watch the lives of others, their truth will show.

So, I watch. One thing I have noticed is that to whom much is given, much is expected. I have also noticed that men, with the power of the pulpit are going to be tested. Thank you God for exposing the men allowed to preach…keep exposing… PLEASE! I feel for the Catholic Church, over and over priests are being outed for their crimes, but so many are allowed to continue them. Yep, I mistrust the preacher. Sorry, but I do. To speak and have a ‘following’ is heady stuff. The temptations must be plentiful and designed specifically for each person behind the pit. Women and money sum up a lot- but it is all under the umbrella of ‘POWER’.

I watched and listened to Osteen with mistrusting eyes and ears. I still watch closely…but, I think this guy may be for real. I would hate to be wrong, it has taken forever for me to walk into a church again. Gandhi said,  “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” We sure do fall short, but when it is super evident is when we believe that God is going to kill a preacher if he doesn’t get 8 million dollars. God is not a circus act. So when I went to Lakewood and sat in the arena for myself, I hoped and prayed there would be no ring leaders, no pitch men, criers or clowns. I literally get sick to my stomach when I am around people who try and make God into an act…threw up once at a healing. The “healer” said that he had just heard God say that anyone who gave him a 20 dollar bill would never have to have another surgery in their life. I puked. Later I saw him on 60 minutes. He was a bad guy. God was not telling him anything, some guy in the back was reading the cards filled out by the audience.

Charlie and I got to Lakewood on time and we started to sing with the band. Awesome band. The words were available on the monitors, large enough for all of us to see. After lots of singing Victoria came out and talked about family and how she encourages us all to ‘pray a hedge’ of safety around our families. I have done that since before my babies were born. She also guided the offering. She said that God wanted us to give happily and if we aren’t happy about it- not to give. I have not really cared for Victoria’s delivery in the past, but she did okay and I appreciated what she said. I just wish she could speak without the ‘preachy-voice’. Like, when one orders a cup of coffee from Starbucks you don’t have “preachy-voice’ and add ten ‘Thank you Fathers’. Just talk to me Victoria, that is enough!

Then it was Joel’s turn. I recently read his book, Become a Better You. And since he was the only preacher on TV I trust, it was nice to see him. He gets criticized for not preaching the ‘other side’. You know, the “we are all dirty rags, we need to repent, we are unworthy, we are sinners, we are the only ones who will make it to heaven.” After 30 years of hearing those messages, I was done. I want to live my life with my head held up. Apparently I was worthy enough in Jesus’s eye to be the recipient of His grace.

About 10 years or so ago I was at my father’s house. My step-monster had every TV on in the house to a preacher she just loved. I couldn’t escape his wrath. I ended up with my dad in the den. “What do you think of him, Kim?” My dad asked. He pointed to the television and then added that the preacher was Step-monsters favorite.

“Dad, I have heard the same thing over and over. I am not worthy. The only way is Jesus. I am going to hell if I don’t accept Jesus. I better tithe or God will TAKE it from me. God is ready to test me with awful things if I do not repent.”  This preacher was spitting mad, red-faced and full of fire and brimstone. I then told my dad, “I need to hear HOW to live. What would it be like to hear what it MEANS to ‘follow’ Jesus. What does that really mean, Dad? Or to trust Him? How? I get it, I need to, but this pastor sure isn’t helping me with the next steps.”

Dad looked at me, and get this, agreed I had a point.

I wanted out of the words and into life. Tell me how preacher, advise me how. Oh, and quit yelling at me.

Joel gives good advice. He uses the Bible and stays positive, much to the chagrin of those who think the only way to spread the Word is through Hell’s Kitchen. Cook up the scary message and people will freak and give their money. Ahh…recipe for success!

I guess since Joel is using a different recipe he is wrong? According to Joel’s naysayers, Joel is very wrong. Too positive, and get this, Joel won’t say whether or not certain groups of people will be in Heaven. See, I dig the fact that this preacher isn’t playing God…and maybe because he is NOT playing GOD he won’t fall like the others who have.

Let God judge, let Jesus save and let believers try their best on their own terms with their personal God.

Thanks Joel and Victoria for being positive. I never puke when I watch you- discernment is a promise!