Amanda Leigh Tyson
remember that time i went to malibu and told ya’ll i would make daily video updates? well, THAT didn’t happen. not even ONE video was made! i was really excited about that, too. but i just didn’t have enough time! SO, here is your one blog recapping the last 2 weeks!
i already updated you on the first couple days but i feel like there is soooo much more that i need to say! let me start with this:
my week in malibu & 3 days in arizona changed my life.
when i boarded my plane to malibu, i thought i was crazy for even going. my mind was racing. how in the world would i EVER be able to workout for 7 hours a day?! how would i survive on 1,200 calories?! how would i function without caffeine?!
i was filled with anxiety and fear of the unknown!
but you know what? as soon as i got out of the car and walked into the lobby of the biggest loser resort at fitness ridge, all of my worries were instantly gone. vanished. i was greeted by a number of people and felt at home within the first 5 minutes!
i was treated like royalty by the staff from that moment on. i didn’t have to lift a finger! (except in the gym where i lifted a lot more than a finger!)
here are some of the highlights of my vacation:
hiking — oh hiking. we had such a love/hate relationship. by the end of day 2 i was ready to give up. i went to this resort to challenge myself so i asked to join van 4. i was originally in van 1 and wasn’t aware that moving up a couple groups would be such a drastic change! but you know what? i am SO glad i did!! this was the best decision i made all week. the people in my group have become life long friends: courtney, heather, kim, keith. we were the “back of the van” people. i couldn’t have gotten through the hikes without their support! they were there for me when i wanted to give up. they literally pushed me to my limits and beyond. thursday was the hardest hike for me. i wish i could remember which hike it was… it might have been ocean view? they all kind of blend together. but this particular hike KILLED me. i was in the very back of the group and couldn’t keep up with them for the life of me. it was uphill the entire way and i kept saying “i can’t do this” — but i DID do it.
(i need to give credit to my amazing hiking guide from that day, zoe. she stayed in the back with me and wouldn’t let me give up. she was doing everything in her power to get my mind off the pain i was feeling. she asked me ridiculous questions and it actually worked! with her help, i was able to finish that hikewithout giving up!)
stretch class — one of my favorite times of the day. it came right after the hike and oh booooyyy did i need that! my muscles were usually so sore following the hike that stretching had never felt better! oh and not to mention the AMAZING music that was played during this class — there was some mumford & sons and the civil wars! love.
breakfast, lunch & dinner — as i mentioned before, we were eating an average of 1,200 calories per day. at home i was probably eating close to double this amount! the amazing part? i was NEVER hungry. the food was absolutely incredible and i left every single mean completely satisfied! my favorites from the week were: shepards pie, chocolate covered strawberries, dessert parfait, turkey burger, chicken & rice bowl and ALL of the soups. okay, i basically loved everything they served me!
the parsnip soup (aka parsnip snoup) was fabulous. (i don’t even know what parsnips are to be completely honest!) and the tomato soup was to die for! and also the calliflower soup!! SO delicious. the head chef and all of the kitchen staff were the GREATEST. absolutely no complaints!
the support system — i think the best part about my stay at the BLR was the friendships i made. these people are going to be in my life forever. most of them know what its like to struggle with weight and i felt this unspoken bond with them because of it. no, none of us are perfect, but we are doing everything in our power to make sure we make ourselves proud each and every day.
i’ve always struggled with giving myself credit for the things i accomplish… but the people at the resort changed that! i can’t even describe the pride i felt in the gym on a daily basis. the support was over flowing. i could cry just thinking about it!
**FAVORITE HIGHLIGHT: we’d do this thing in the gym where half of the group sprints as fast as they can for 1 minute while the other half yells and screams and cheers us on as loud as they can. (i really am getting choked up right now!) — every single one of us in that gym pushed as hard as we could! all pain and injuries were put aside and for that ONE minute, we were UNSTOPPABLE. we were PROUD.
i wish i could have gotten moments like that on video. i will never forget that feeling of pure joy and happiness. there were high fives and hugs all around the room. i felt on top of the world.
the biggest thing i took away from the biggest loser resort is that i can do ANYTHING i put my mind to. i no longer say “i CAN’T” anymore because i know i CAN. and i know YOU can, too! it’s all in our minds. it’s a mental game. physically, we can do anything for a minute. you just have to decide that you WANT to.
for example, i was scared to death of the jacobs ladder. i’d never used that machine before! i’d only seen it on the biggest loser show… but on saturday, arthur told me to get on it. he demanded. so i did. his goal for me was 30 seconds… i wentBEYOND one minute without wanting to give up!
i have complete faith that YOU and myself can reach our goals. we are capable of so much more than we think. just remember that when you want to give up, DON’T. because there is more fight left inside of you! push to your limits then push a little more past that! you’ll be shocked at what you can accomplish. and you will be proud of what you did.
the biggest loser resort at fitness ridge gave me a new found joy for life. it gave me hope for a better future. it provided me with the tools i needed to continue this healthy lifestyle at home. i will never forget my time spent at this amazing place. as soon as i start making some money, this is the first place i will go back to. everyone needs to go for at least a week! it WILL change your life.
i am worth it. and YOU are worth it.
