Friday July 27- The end of Week 3- Weigh In-Monday

I am actually feeling stronger today after a slow start. I woke up not feeling well and was going to take the am off but after the van left I was able to rally myself and drive over and participate in the beach boot camp. We then went swimming and due to my shoulder all I can do is the breast stroke but I figured it would be harder just to kick with a kick board. I ended up doing 400yds (40 laps) and then I had PT with Doug.The most relaxing part was Yoga. We do restorative yoga which is very relaxing. We had a nice cooking class and I learned how to make spagetti squash. Then Rosie and I went shopping. My weakness is ice cream so when Rosie went to get ice cream I went to the car and put on the air as it was hot hot hot. Then I had to come back for a session with Halah. She is my toughest workout as she taxes my brain. I think that she is helping at least I hope that she is. Anyway I am excited as I will be having dinner with some great friends tomorrow but I am said that Rosie is leaving. My next guest is Dr Aaron Solomon who arrives on Tuesday. Big weigh in on Monday...Wish me luck.

July 25-26 Shoulder Holding up

Thanks to all those who contacted me regarding my shoulder. Thank God for Emily my massage therapist. She worked her magic on me and I am still going hard. Wed and Thursday have been very hard. Rosie and I are the only ones attending the majority of events so it like have having personal trainers all day long. Wednesday am we had a beach boot camp and learned what a "slush pipe" is. I can assure you it was not pleasant. Our beach boot camps are rough. I have never been a person who could jog and with a hip replacement you are not supposed to but do you think my trainers give a shit.....hell no but tats ok as now I can do interval jogging...not much but it is still progress. After boot camp we went on a 14.7 mile bike ride and then my favorite restorative yoga. What a relief but I fell asleep the last 15 minutes..it was really nice. Then we had pilates my favorite class...not. That shit is hard but Rosie was a natural at it. Then I had PT with John you know how those military types are they do not take no for an answer. Then back to my room for Emily to put me back together again and keep me going...what a blessing. Thursday is our late day and then we meet with Gay the nutritionist and we work out in the afternoon. I had PT with Doug. He likes numbers lots of them....He gave me 6 stations and told me I had to do 300 reps...yes I said 300 reps. But I did survive. Then we had kickboxing and NO ONE showed. Rosie needed a break so it was back to back PT with Doug. That's right 1 1/2 hours of personal training. We then went kayaking and needless to say my kayak was not behaving and I was out there for a long time but I guess it was worth it. I did get to kayak near some dolphins. Came back for Cardio Tennis and since it was only Rosie and I we got to have a little fun while still getting a great workout. Needless to say I am still hanging in there and am nervous about my Weigh in on Monday. Time for a epsom salt bath... Thanks for all the support you have no idea how much it means.

Tuesday July 24- May Not Make it

Rosie and I had a tough day today but we both survived. It is funny watching her survive on 1400 calories. I have re-injured my right shoulder. I have known for a long time that I need to have my AC joint scoped and I continually put it off. I am in some rough pain and I am hoping that it does not cut me short of my goal. The therapists have done a great job keeping me going and I will see how tomorrow goes. Sorry for such a short post but I am tired and in pain. Good Night

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!

Sunday July 22- 3 Weeks Done

It is Sunday morning and I am sitting in an Epsom salt bath resting my sore aching body. As many of you know I am competitive and do set goals for myself. I have a lofty goal while here at Core. I would like to lose between 45-50 pounds, so the trainers are pushing me hard. I realize that whatever I lose makes me a winner but it is nice to have goals. I have not written since Wednesday as I was just beat. Thursday is our late day as we have nutrition in the morning and we end with cardio tennis. I decided to do an extra cardio session(45 min)not knowing that no other campers would show up to kick boxing and I would have a private session with Doug. He just plain kicked my ass. After that I had a PT session with Sweet Sarah whom you know by now is not really sweet at least in the gym. Then I decided to attend water aerobics. I said to myself how hard could that be.....needless to say Sarah was teaching and she never got in the water just barked orders like a drill Sargent. So needless to say after two PT sessions and two cardio sessions and water aerobics and then 2 hours of cardio tennis I was ready for bed. Friday was more of the same. Saturday I woke up sick and could barely eat breakfast but I did and I went. We started with a beach boot camp. I have now graduated to a 30 pound kettle bell as my BFF. We had a series of drills that included suicides ( yes I did run) and squats and a whole host of things. The trainers are creative as it is tough to keep coming up with creative workouts without getting bored. They do a great job. After that workout we had a 15 mile bike ride. I did finally get sick and lost it. I found out latr that my trainers had a bet on whose exercise I would "Lose it" with. "Sweet Sarah" was the winner. Estée from Brooklyn left Saturday and Maria from Curaçao and Jackie from Tampa leave on Tuesday. We got one new camper Rosie. Today if my bones will allow I will get a little culture at the Dali museum. Thanks for all the support.

July 18- Day 16

Today started at 6am with John "Mr Cross Fit". It was 45 minutes of being pushed...not to my limits but close. I am definatly getting stronger. After that we were supposed to have a beach boot camp but alas it was raining so we had to have a parking garage boot camp. You may remember the last one kicked my ass. I actually think that the parking garage boot camps are tougher then the beach. After that I then went on a 12.6 mile bike ride. By 10am I was beat. I then had lunch and was supposed to have cardio and Pilates. I went for a 30 minute nap that turned into two hours as I was just physically exhausted. I actually missed my first class but I guess my body just needed the rest. All in all it was a good day. Tomorrow is a "late" day and we do not finish until 8pm with tennis.We did get a new camper today...I think her name is Jaclyn but not sure. I want to continue to thank all of you for the messages and well wishes.

July 17- Post Weigh-In Blues

So today was the day after the big weigh in and there was definatly a emotional let down. I struggled to get up this morning......but I did. I have not missed a class or boot camp yet other then when I was out of town. I am not very happy as tomorrow morning my PT starts at 6am. Means I will be going to bed early. Tomorrow is a brutal workout day. I am glad that I got my bike fixed as it was damaged when I fell on Saturday. My knees are killing me and I have difficulty walking down stairs. It is the only actual activity that makes me feel "old". So today we had a beach walk as we usually do but today was different for me. I actually did interval jogging which for me is huge as running is not my friend. Today was tennis day and we had a great workout. My PT was with "sweet Sarah". So get this the first thing she asks me is "does anything hurt" and I told her about my knees so what do think she made me do. Squats with dumb bells, and she made she made me jump over some bars. I kept trying to tell her that overweight white men can't jump. She just smiled and made me continue. She did have me do an exercise that for the first time I cold just not physically do so we needed to replace it. Tonight was "night out" where we go. To a restaurant and learn how to eat healthy. Was a great dinner and I am thankful I got up to work out. Thanks for all your support. Please sign up as a follower as I want to get to 210 which is my weight goal.