The first casualty

I brought three pairs of athletic shoes and one pair of well-broken-in hiking boots but I have been alternating between the two older pairs of athletic shoes on the hikes. The newer pair is a little bit stiff yet, so I've been wearing those in the gym on the machines. Unfortunately, the hill I walk up also must be walked down, and I took off my shoe today to find a purple toenail and a blister under and around the nail. It will probably come off, but for now, I have duct tape over the nail and blisters. which will work just fine to protect it from anymore damage.

I felt quite good today, not tired, and much more cheerful than yesterday. In talking with my fellow fitness devotees, I found that Wednesdays tend to be "slump" days; muscle soreness has set in for everyone, and we're all flatulent and peeing every twenty minutes.

I should mention that there are really, really fit people here who came for a hiking vacation (though they are in the minority), other people with 20-30 lbs to lose, more with 50+ pounds to lose, and several who are so morbidly obese that their exercise is closely supervised by the staff. One guy has been here 8 weeks and has lost 60 lbs, wants to stay another 6 weeks and lose another 30. The management has made a pact with us all that if we put our goals in writing and achieve them on or before the date we specify before we leave, we can come back for a free week. That's a pretty good incentive to stick to new habits.

I should also mention that there are rewards for doing the whole program. For the first week, if you go to all the classes, hikes, lectures, and meals, you get a T-shirt. The second week, you get a bag; the third, a jacket, and the fourth, a $65 gift certificate.

Did I mention that there is a sauna, a steam room, and a hot tub? I love the hot tub.

Tomorrow's schedule:

6 Open Gym or Core training
7 Breakfast
8 Hike
10:30 Stretch class
11:15 Yoga or Pool aerobics
12:15 Lunch
1:15 lecture-Emotional Eating
1:45 Open Gym
2:30 Body Sculpt, Circuit Training, or Pool Workout
3:30 Living drum or Circuit Training
5:00 Dinner