Naked Indians and Pacman

Don't worry because I'll explain the title as the post unfolds.  However, first go check out the story in USA Today about the BLR.  Here is the link.

http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/story/2011/02/-Take-it-off-like-The-Biggest-Loser-/43265122/1

The reporter was here at the resort the week before I arrived, so I didn't get to see them.  If you watch the video, one of the staff members interviewed is a lady named Krista.  She went to the University of Texas for both undergrad and grad degrees.  Almost reminds me of another Krista from Austin.

For those of y'all who are fans of the Biggest Loser show, you know they are on Season 11.  At the beginning of this season, they added a twist with two new trainers.  I have not seen the show yet, but will start watching it online.  From what I hear on the first episode, each contestant either got to chose to work out with Bob and Jillian or the new trainers.  The group that chose the new trainers got to stay at the BLR where I am and work out in our gym.  There is a red barn just off the property here that contained the boxing ring.  If I was watching the show with some of y'all, I could point out which segments were shot here.

Now on to the hike.  As you know, I was worn out yesterday.  Actually it was my legs - they were almost like jello.  This morning's hike assignment was Zuma Ridge.  After the hike I would like to be able to walk, so I asked for an easier hike, and was assigned to a hike called CharmLee.

When we started the hike, the guide said that this place was owned by the Indians at one point and they had parties on the property where they danced naked.  I didn't buy the story at all, but who knows, maybe it is true.

The hike makes a big circle and we hiked the entire way.  At the furthest part of the circle is a place called ocean view.  This is not to be confused with the ocean view hike that I mentioned yesterday.  At the ocean view spot on today's hike, you can see Point Dume`, which is the top of the beach hike.

Here's a picture of Point Dume` from the ocean view spot on today's hike.

Looking the opposite way, we saw more of the Malibu hills next to the ocean and the big houses.  Here are some pictures and a zoomed in picture of a couple of the big houses.

At one point in the hike, we came across a bowl shaped cement structure that looked like it was used as a pool.  There were some rocks in the middle in a circle and in the middle some rocks spelled out an inappropriate word.

We all decided this just wasn't right and somehow decided to rearrange the rocks into a Pacman symbol complete with the ghost.  Here is a picture of the final product.

Later in the day we had Cardio Disco, and I had someone take a picture of me with the instructor.  Notice the disco ball necklace.  Here's the picture.

The last class of the day was in the pool and afterwords some of us gathered in the hot tub.  One lady said that on Friday afternoon, the nutritionist takes people that are leaving that week to the grocery store for a complete walk-through.  They apply everything that we have learned in the education classes so they can make better food choices at home.

It got me thinking that I have been in this "bubble" for two weeks now and this transformation is not only about the physical aspects, but about the mental aspects as well.  I have gone grocery shopping hundreds of times in my life and have a basic understanding of food and labels and marketing, but the classes here have a huge effect where it will make me stop and look more closely at the labels.  This piece of the puzzle is solved and the overall transformation is really happening.  It was a great way to end the day and finish the week.

Closing though for the day:  There is a saying that the devil is in the details.  When it comes to grocery shopping, this saying definitely applies.  An educated person has to sort through the marketing, ingredient list, and the label to determine if a food is really worth buying.  Right now I feel that I am that educated person.