On Our Radar: The Ranch at Live Oak, Four Seasons Westlake Village

Turning 50 is no joke. When I was in college, I remember when my mother turned 50. As I recall it, and my memory might be faulty on the details, she sat in her favorite chair for at least a week, while a parade of her girlfriends came through bringing offerings of wine and cheese while my mother muttered "I can't believe I'm half a century old" over and over.

I plan to do it a little differently. This June, just after the "big day" I will board a plane solo and head west to indulge in four days of, well, mostly non-indulgence at the The Ranch 4.0. This four-day program was created in partnership between The Ranch at Live Oak and California Health & Longevity Institute at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village -- two great things that go great together (see how I already have peanut butter cups on my mind?)

This four-day immersion promises to inform me about my current physical state of affairs, teach me sustainable nutritional habits and, hopefully, jump start my weight loss and fitness goals. I'm looking forward to 8-10 hours of exercise each day, a portion controlled, yummy vegetarian diet, perhaps a massage or two and lots of sleep. And, though the idea of being fully unplugged is appealing, I confess that evening access to wifi will let me stay in contact as needed.

While stepping away is never easy, I'm excited to go deep and kick my next half-century into high gear!