Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge?

[Cruise]

Hi all,

Been thinking about looking into spending some time at Fitness Ridge and was wondering if anyone here had been there before.

I've looked over their website, but it seems to be seriously lacking in real information - the kind of information you get from the DIS boards! For example, I can't even find a place on the website that says if the outdoor pool is heated year round or not. I would think that's pretty basic information.

I'm thinking of spending 4 weeks there later in the spring.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I've not heard of anyone who has gone. I'm interested to know if anyone has attended or what you think of it if you go.

 

[Cruise]

Well, I was finally able to find some information online. They have a facebook page called "Fitness Ridge Alumni" which has a discussion board. Interesting stuff on there.

I called this morning about booking some time and the woman said they first thing they had available was for August 29th. I was hoping to go in mid-April (end of tax season, so I get a break), so I got on the waiting list, but I'm not hopeful.

 

[heatherlynn444]

wow that's crazy they have a waiting list

 

[Cruise]

Hi all,

Just wanted to update that I did indeed go for a stay at the resort. I went for 4 weeks over Christmas and New Year's. It was hard and there were days I was in "what the heck??" mode, but after it was all said and done, I'm so glad I did it and I had a great time.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask.

Also, they have a past-guest referral program, so if anyone is thinking of booking, feel free to PM me and I'll send you my name to tell them. It will get you $100 off your stay. Every little bit helps.

 

[lisah0711]

Glad that you had a great time, Julie.

So what was a typical day like? Did you have any workouts that you really liked? Did they give you what you needed so you could continue to progress when you got home? And, most importantly, did you see the Biggest Loser folks?

I'm very curious even though the chances of me staying there are pretty remote.

 

[Cruise]

For a typical day, you'd want to be at breakfast at 7am. You don't want to miss breakfast. So I'd get up about 6:30am. Most people tended to shower at night before bed since you're gross from working out all day. And no use showering in the morning since all you're doing it setting out to get gross.

There's an optional class at 6am called Yogalates... combination of Yoga and Pilates or, straight up Yoga on Fridays. I did that a couple of days, but after that sleep won out. It was a nice stretch in the morning, but it was hard to make yourself get up for it.

After breakfast, you leave for the hike. They say they hike every day in every weather, except for lightening. That being said, you have the option to stay back and work out in the gym if you're not up to hiking. On days that many people stay back due to weather, they actually have trainers come in and do classes for that time period, so it's not like it's the easy way out. That's about 2.5 hours - either hiking or class.

After the hike, there is one class which varies depending on the "group" you're in, then lunch. After lunch, your schedule depends on where you are in your stay. During your first week, you have a lecture after lunch. If you're staying for multiple weeks, during your second week onward, you do a gym class instead of the lecture. These tended to be "easier/fun" things instead of the regular classes - things such as kickball, bike riding, etc.

After the afternoon lecture or gym class, you have 3 classes in a row. Each day you have one class in the gym, one class in the aerobics room, and one pool class. If you'd rather not do pool for whatever reason, you have the option of repeating your gym class again.

After the 3 afternoon classes is dinner followed by another lecture during your first week. By that time, it's about 7:30pm and you're ready to shower and get to bed.

It's pretty hardcore.

As for tools to help you after you get home, they also do departing guest lectures that you attend during your last week. If you only go for one week, then you do the arriving and departing lectures during that same week. the departing lectures are things like planning strategies, etc. They also have cookbooks for purchase that contain just about all the recipes of the meals you've been served.

I didn't see any of the former contestants while I was there. I was really hoping I would since I was there for 4 weeks AND I was there right after New Year's (they've had visits then before) AND I was there when the new season started (thought it would be good for a promo). But, alas, my perfect storm of timing was useless and no one visited while I was there.

 

[lisah0711]

Thanks for sharing!

Sounds like a lot of work outs! You must have been in fabulous condition when you left there! Hopefully the workouts weren't as dramatic as a BL last chance workout.

Too bad that you didn't see any of the BL folks. It would have been fun to say that you were there at the same time.

It seems like they were a bit light on the education aspect. I noticed that problem on last week's episode with the challenge.

I'm glad that you got to go and that you were glad that you did (even if you did wonder at times what you were doing -- I do that in my "real" life! )

Thanks for sharing?