Don’t be deceived.  This may look resort-ish…but it’s not.  This may look like a great place to sun yourself while sipping on a pina coloda…but it’s not.  Such a thing is forbidden here.  No delightful drinks, and no lounging.  Looks are deceiving – for this is the “pool of death”.

Everyday, everyone gets their turn (in teams) in this dreadful “water chamber of torture” where for 45 minutes, we are put through the most difficult water exercises I’ve ever done.  As a matter of fact, some of the things we have to do I have never thought about nor would I think about doing to others – even on my most devious day.  The one exercise that is the most brutal is treading water in the deep end while keeping your hands above your head.  Unlike some of the people here, I don’t float.  I sink.  So trying to keep my head above the water without using  my hands is next to impossible.  And the trainers know my name, so I can’t get away with cheating.  They’re watching…with their bionic, beady eyes.

These classes in the pool are only one of four hour-long cardio or weight classes per day.  In addition to this, we hike anywhere from 5-8 miles each morning before breakfast on hikes that are harder than any hike I’ve ever taken (except this one 3 years ago), and I’ve taken quite a few around the state of New Mexico.  Needless to say, after a 2.5 hour hike and 4 hours of physically draining classes (including the pool of death), I’m shot by dinner.  I stay awake, though, as long as I can because sleep (no matter how much I want it) only leads to another day where it all starts over again.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m blessed to be here and am looking forward to the result of all this hard work at the end of the two weeks, but this is hard!  Hard exercise and hard not eating what I’m used to.  We’re only given 1200 calories per day (which is equal to one regular sized Oriental Grilled Chicken Salad at Applebees – which I love).  My hope is that my exercise regiment is enhanced and my food choices are changed after two weeks here.

Anyway…here are some more pictures.  You can click on them to see them bigger.