Along the FitPath

New ideas for Mountain Trek

The beauty about running a Mountain Trek satellite program in North Carolina is we are able to make changes to the program. For example, this year we decided to have one dinner seating at 5:15 followed by the evening fitness program at 6:05. This change allowed everyone to attend the evening fitness class except two guests who were receiving massages. It was great to have everyone at dinner recounting the day's hiking adventures as well as motivating each other for the upcoming class. From the numbers regarding weight loss recorded, male and female guests lost almost a pound more per week than our average. Perhaps, these changes impacted those numbers.  

Massages started later to accommodate the one dinner seating and lessen the number of guests who would have to exercise after a massage.We also wanted to encourage a good night's sleep thus our last massage was scheduled at 9 pm.  For our guests At MT, 9 pm is late, at least that is what we discovered. Our hard working guests commented that as much as they enjoyed having a massage just before bed, well, 9 pm was a bit of a push. 

Also incorporated was a small walkabout just after lunch before the new guests settled in for an afternoon's lecture on nutrition. And because we had less traveling time to get to the awesome trails in the Pisgah National Forest, our guests had some down time before dinner to relax before the afternoon lectures. 

All in all, it was great learning experience for Mountain Trek. A big thanks for our guests who came to the North Carolina as your feedback to the changes were greatly appreciated. 

jp 

Thanksgiving Traveling

I sit here 33,000 feet in the air surrounded by my fellow travelers making their way to loved ones and a home cooked Thanksgiving dinner (I love WIFI while flying). It is the  busiest travel day in the US and thus so far Jeff and I have found it effortless. With the North Carolina program behind us we are both able to relax and enjoy our travel day. Being experienced travelers or maybe it's being familiar with the airline offerings of MM's, Pringles and other snacks, we avoided blood sugar disaster by bringing our own food. The day's travel menu consists of almonds/pecans as well apples, bananas, and figs. Oh yes, we do have some chocolate chunks with our nut mix. Although not completely ideal, it is ideal travel food for us for the day as it is easy for us to eat and we enjoy it. I personally find if I'm not prepared ahead of time with food, flying can be a challenging experience for me especially with no time in between changing flights to find an opportunity to sit down and eat "real" food. Cranky can be a word to describe me if my sugar levels suffer which makes flying really not all that great. I become miserable and a miserable traveling companion. Just ask Jeff, he has traveled with me enough to make sure we are well prepared for our flights. 

While traveling, I have become more sensitive to the struggles of our guests who travel a great deal for work. Airport food while it has improved somewhat (as in salads and fruit being available), but with limited time between flights, it can be easy to grab those carbs that are easy and quick to eat but leaving you hankering for something else. Or a Diet Coke (which by the way is the most ordered drink on airline flights...Jeff asked the flight attendant). Prevention is the key. Know what works for you and keep it simple. 

And remember to drink plenty of water. 

Enjoy the holiday season! 

jp 

North Carolina is AWESOME!!

It feels great returning to Asheville to hike these amazing trails with old friends and new guests.  It's night three of the program and everyone is settling into the groove of the Carolina program.   Whilst the competition is hot around the pool table at night, the laughs flow through the sweat on the trails with us guides and then in the gym with the crew from Underdog Fitness.  Tomorrow we're off to the Appalachian Trail and then later this week to hike in the Great Smokey National Park!  Ahhhh what a "job".........

Cya on the next trail!
Jeff