I just returned from 10 days in New Mexico, Utah, Arizona and Colorado.  I am officially in love with the Four Corners area of our Southwest.  What beautiful country, what wonderful people, and what a great experience to be able to move freely hiking, climbing and just living at between 5000 and 10, 000 foot elevation for 10 days and do absolutely anything I chose to do, with no ill effects.

At 66 years young I was worried that I might have some issues being at high elevations for 10 days.  I live at sea level, at the beach as a matter of fact.  Breathing is very important to me after all.  I made sure I was super hydrated (4 liters of water each day) and ate protein first at all meals and had no issues of significance.  If I got a bit of a headache beginning, or a bit of light headedness I quickly sipped my ever present water bottle and if that didn’t resolve it, I had some protein out of my WLS Success Matters Box.  (Jerky and protein bars)

Here’s how the trip went:

• Day one flew into Albuquerque - elevation 5200 feet
• Day 2 woke up to catch a balloon ride beginning from the foothills around Sandia peak - elevation about 6200 feet
• Balloon ride cancelled so we took the tram to the top of Sandia Peak - elevation 10,378 feet
• At 10,378 feet hiked around and investigated the woodlands and the local flora and fauna and had a great time for several hours.
• Back to Albuquerque for walking around Old Town and just checking things out
• Day 3 did 30 minutes on the elliptical in Albuquerque - was slower but finished my 30 minutes - elevation 5200 feet
• Drove to visit friends in Kirtland, NM and celebrate our 50^th High School Reunion - we went to Sheepshead Bay High School in Brooklyn, NY but decided not to go into NY, but have our own reunion instead - elevation 5200 feet
• Left Kirtland NM for Monument Valley AZ -elevation of the desert floor is about the same 5200 feet.  Hiked around and gawked at the views with ease.
• Spent the night in Kayenta, AZ - elevation 5300 feet, taught a Back on Track class, and then back to the Navajo restaurant THE VIEW at Monument Valley for dinner.
• Did 30 minutes on one of the two ellipticals at the hotel in Kayenta in the morning and then headed out for Durango, CO - elevation 6512 feet
• Walked all over downtown Durango, up and down hills with no ill effects after dinner at Steamworks.
• Next morning up super early to take the Narrow Gauge Railroad from Durango to Silverton - elevation 9308 feet
• Walked around Silverton for a bit with no issues- up and down hills and then returned to Durango
• Dinner at the Dixie Belle Saloon in Durango - what a hoot, they mock up a gunfight in the street, then walking up and down the hills of old town Durango with no ill effects
• Off to Mesa Verde to visit the cliff dwellings the next morning - elevation 7000 - 8500 feet
• Walked up and down hills, got to the highest point (a fire lookout) and hiked up to it with no ill effects - elevation 8500 feet
• Toured the Cliff Palace dwellings described as a strenuous tour.  Cliff Palace, at about 150 rooms, is the largest cliff dwelling in the park.  The one-hour, ranger-guided tour involves 120 uneven stone steps and climbing five, 8-10 foot (2.6-3m) ladders on a 100 foot (30m) vertical climb.  No ill effects - elevation 7000 feet
• After a swim for 30 minutes, left the next morning for Ojo Caliente just outside of Taos, NM - elevation 6967 feet
• Got up at 4:30 for yet another attempt at my hot air balloon ride- this time over the Rio Grande Gorge - that one was cancelled too LOL
• Balloon ride cancelled - grabbed breakfast and then drove to Santa Fe.  Walked all over old town with no ill effects, and had the best chicken mole I have ever tasted - elevation 7199 feet
• Back to Ojo Caliente and took advantage of all their mineral soaking pools for the rest of the day.  Had a fabulous shared filet for dinner, a couple of glasses of wine, and watched a thunder and lightning storm about 7 miles away while sitting on our front porch after sunset.
• Up the next morning to soak first and then pack and leave the beautiful New Mexico vistas behind us as we headed home.

I was overjoyed with the level of physical activity of both myself, and my husband.  We worked out mornings when we were able, walked and hiked day after day, and saw some amazing sites, ate some delicious food (my chicken mole came with rice and beans, and I just ordered it without).  Navajo tacos were great, but I left the Navajo fry bread without eating it.  I must admit I did eat one of the blue corn tortillas that my sunnyside up Huevos Rancheros were served on. 

I was active each and every day, moving my 66 year young body, living at elevations up to 10,629 feet with no altitude sickness, no shortness of breath and never stopped till well after sunset with my days often starting at sunrise.  I came home and got on the scale and found I had lost ½ pound to boot.  What a joy.  LIVING, truly participating in my life each and every day instead of standing next to my car watching it all unfold around me.

What a difference shedding 264 pounds (today’s total) can make.  I am grateful each and every day for my Lap Band.