July Monday July 23- Start of week 3

Hello everybody. Today I have no written my blog but rather have a quest writter. My new camper is an old frind from HS Rose Marie Abate Moeller. I am sure that you will enjoy her posting. I asked Ira if I could write the blog this evening so that his followers can get a fresh look at what he is going through down here through someone else's eyes. Earlier this year when I was speaking to Ira about the journey on which he was embarking, it sounded great to me, just what I needed to kick start my goal of giving myself the gift of great health and good form for my 49th birthday. So I signed up for a week. After all, how hard could it be for me? I work out regularly, eat right, and drink plenty of water. So this wouldn't be a huge departure from my normal life. Maybe I'll even learn something. Well I did learn something that I am not as fit as I thought I was! Today was my first day. It started at 7:15 with a 4 mile bike ride to a local park, where the trainers (who arrived at the park before us because they drove) had ample time to devise a series of circuits that would challenge every part of our body. Not only did the circuits challenge muscles in my body I didn't know existed, but, do you have any idea how hot it is in Florida in July? Hot enough to make you hurl up your breakfast (which I did after lugging 2 huge kettle bells back and forth across the park, and threw a 25 pound medicine ball against a wall while doing squats, pushups, dips, etc.) The torturous work out was followed by a 4 mile bike ride back to the camp (against the wind), 1 hour of aerobics, then an hour of weightlifting and finally a break. 30 minutes for lunch when they give us our ration of 300 calories and then back to work doing various forms of strength and aerobic training and then stretching through 2:30 when they gave us another ration of food. Did I mention that meals are: breakfast at 6, lunch at 10:30, dinner at 2:30 and then you get a protein shake at 6 pm? I was so hungry after lunch I convinced another camper to give me the leftover food she had in her refrigerator. When we got to her condo, we found that the cleaning staff had thrown the extra food away so everyone can stay on their 1200 calorie a day diet. I gotta give Ira a lot of credit, he did even more training than I did and several other activities that I didn't. I have to admit that I had trouble keeping up with him in the morning during the boot camp. As I sit here icing my shoulder and back and licking the cup that holds my protein shake so I get the benefit of every single calorie I am entitled to, I must say that I have a newfound respect for Ira and what he is putting himself through. The program is grueling, unforgiving and continuous. His commitment and determination are inspiring. I am hoping I make it through the next few days; I can't imagine doing this for 6 weeks like he is. Time for bed now, so I can get up at 6 am and do it all again!