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The Body Retreat

The Body Retreat

Women Only Weight Loss & Wellbeing Retreats

Signs That You Need A Holiday

Do You Need A Holiday?

We all know the feeling.

You have been working for months now, working longer, harder and trying to work smarter but are beginning to feel a little jaded.  You enjoy your work but you feel listless, tired and generally, dream of a lottery win that would allow you to jet off and have some time to relax. You feel you need a holiday but you seem stuck.

Getting away can be restorative and help counterbalance our busy work lives. In fact a recent survey by DWP said that in the current economic times that work levels and work stresses growing bigger that taking time off work should be seen as a necessity, not a luxury.

10 Signs That You Need A Holiday.

  1. You feel your temper rising.  You find your anger rising in small situations like a queue in the supermarket not moving or someone stepping in front of you as you board the train.
  2. You feel exhausted on Friday afternoon.  But just as tired on Monday morning.  Sleep just doesn’t seem to be helping to lift you feeling of general fatigue you feel.
  3. You get tearful at silly TV shows or adverts.
  4. Your to –do list leaves you cold.  You once were enthusiastic about the challenges in front of you …now they just feel like a never-ending uphill struggle.
  5. You cannot remember the last time you had fun.  When did you last really let your hair down and have a big old belly laugh?
  6. You can’t face the phone.  When you get home from work you feel all talked out, so you switch your personal mobile to silent.
  7. Comfort eating is your crutch.  You can’t seem to get through the day without some little treat
  8. Caffeine is your saviour. There is just no way you would make it through a whole day without caffeine.
  9. Your hair/nails/skin is a mess.  You have little time or interest for self-care, even shaving your legs is a chore.
  10. You have begun to notice health niggles. Over-working depresses your immune system, making it more likely you will catch a cold or the flu or develop aches and pains and struggle to sleep.

 

Getting away, even for a short period, can do wonders for both body and mind.
But sometimes just getting away isn’t enough.

Did you know that according to a recent survey by the Post Office that men also find it easier to leave it all behind than women, who take longer to relax once they do get away? Women find it harder to just switch off and do nothing…so lying by a pool with a book sounds like a great break but the reality is that after a day or two the stress levels start to rise again.

The answer could be to have an active healthy holiday, when you are able to get away from it all, have time to relax and recharge the batteries but not so much time that your head starts to whirl round that to do list on a loop.

This is a big part of what brings women to our Healthy Holidays in France, Spain and Wales each year.  It’s about having a mental and physical break.  It is the perfect balance of structure and freedom, fun and fitness, relaxation and time to refocus on what is important to you in the long term.

Still not convinced? Here are 5 great reasons why you need to break free from the daily grind and book yourself a Healthy Holiday.

5 Great Things that happen when on a Healthy Holiday.

  • You get some sleep.  You might feel tired, but a physical tiredness not mental, and this tiredness leads to natural restful sleep.
  • Your stress levels reduce. Stress is a true physiological response originally meant to help us and keep us safe. It releases hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine for the fight or flight response that was necessary for early man. However, in modern society, chronic stress can be destructive to our bodies. Getting away and leaving your everyday stresses gives you a break from the constant high levels of these hormones and a chance to repair some of the damage
  • You meet new people and have fun. Travel allows you to meet people from all over the world. Socialising is great therapy.  Spending a week with a small group of like-minded women, who have no expectations or demands for you is liberating.
  • You can get outdoors and be active.  This means you’ll be out in the fresh air, enjoying the outdoors and breathing more deeply, re-oxygenating your blood.  You’ll also gain benefits from the exposure to sunlight,  An added bonus is that most women leave us a dress size smaller at the end of their holiday.
  • You get your spark back. Travelling to new locations gives you an opportunity to spend quality time to focus on yourself, without the intrusion of day to day responsibility.

 

If you need a holiday then why not join us.

We still have availability on selected Healthy Holiday dates in France & Wales this summer.

If you fancy a holiday with a difference where you don’t feel you need another holiday to recover from your annual vacation then this is the holiday for you.  As experts in women’s health and with 6 years experience of residential retreating under our belt we promise that you will return home lighter, brighter and tighter with energy and enthusiasm restored.

Don’t delay, our next three retreats are sold out, so if you like the sound of this healthy holiday or just want to know more then Click Here and arrange a call back at a time that suits you.

 

Charity Bootcamp Day 2014

Charity Day with The Body Retreat

For the second year now we were delighted to host a mixed Charity Bootcamp Day in aid of the two charities that we support Breakthrough Breast Cancer and The Eve Appeal.  Both charities are very close to us at The Body Retreat and the concept of the bootcamp day was actually inspired by our friend and supporter Lulu (Louise Wisson) who is currently on her journey to beat stage 4 ovarian cancer.

Building on the success of last years event this year we wanted to create an event that was bigger and better than before. Our aim is to create a day that is filled with Fun, Fitness, Friendship & Fundraising and this year thanks to everyone who turned up on the day, donated a prize, baked a cake or donated to the Just Giving Pages we really ticked every box.

The Charity Bootcamp Day took place on Sunday 9th November at the Olympic venue Eton Dorney Rowing Centre.

Numbers might have been low but spirit and fun were high helped by the varied schedule of activities.

IMG_3826Our Dance instructors Irem and Martine donated their time to come along and put us through our paces in both Zumba & Fitsteps class, Julie B had developed a circuit class that contained all her favourite exercises and there was a 5k dash around the lake.


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The highlight of the day has to be the Boat Race up the Olympic Lake.  Despite it being November and having a dreary weather forecast the sun shone on the day itself and so we were able to actually get out on the the olympic lake itself for a dragon boat race.  Divided into two teams (Team One :  Deidre, Prem, Alison, Wendy, Gene, Daksha & Jeanne.  Team Two: Julie B, Juls, Emma, Lulu, Mike, Carol & Amanda….Teresa stayed on solid ground to act as official photographer) we set off, one boat up the lake the other on a zig zag course that saw us clobber every buoy and worry every duck on the lake…it turned out that team number one had a secret weapon at the helm in the shape of Jeanne who had sailing experience under her belt.  Needless to say team one were the winners, but we are all now honorary Olympians having raced on the lake 😉

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We were amazed and delighted by the selection and variety of prizes donated for our raffle. From a 5 Day Body Retreat, a years supply of Jaffa Cakes, Microsoft Office for mac or pc, digital photo frame, bottles of wine, a baking lesson with Louise Wisson, beauty products, hair care products, Mio high intensity products, Greens Powder, frying pan…the list went on and on…the only thing missing was a cuddly toy (must get that sorted for next year!!)

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After a delicious healthy two course lunch there was little chance of an afternoon slump,but just incase we ended the day with Afternoon Tea Bootcamp Style.  We had asked the bakers in our community to bake us some teatime treats with a “healthy” twist.  We were not disappointed. We had everything your taste buds could desire, carrot cakes, scones, paleo cookies, courgette cake, apple cake, brownies, blackbean cake and Julie’s latest creation Millionaire Jacks.

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Thanks to the generosity of everyone who joined us on the day and those who donated from home we raised £870 on the day.  We are going to top that up to a nice even £900 so that is £450 for each charity.  In addition we raised £235 for The Eve Appeal and £65 for Breakthrough Breastcancer on the Just Giving pages.

So the final scores on the doors for the day are £1,200!!  Huge, Huge Huge Thank YOU to everyone who made this possible.

If you missed this year…don’t worry. We are already planning next years charity bootcamp day and will be sending out a Save the Date sooner rather than later.  Please watch out for that and support us and our two charities by booking your place.

See you there is not before xx

What to expect at a Women Only Weight Loss Retreat

If you are thinking about attending a women’s weight loss retreat (not just a Body Retreat one… although of course we think we are the best), you will probably have a few questions as to whether it will be suitable for you,  There a lot of options out there, from weight loss bootcamp to weight loss holiday the choice seems vast so the following information may help you make your decision.

First of all, note that a “women’s weight loss retreat will mean different things to different people, no matter whether they are running the retreat or attending it! We all have different ideas and expectations, so, you will need to do your research first to ensure you find the retreat that is most suitable for you.

Questions to Consider when choosing a Weight Loss Retreat:

  • What sort of events / activities will you be taking part in? Are they a mix of cardio, plus high and low impact exercise to not only burn those calories off, but shape and tone your body too? A variety of exercises and activities will help keep you engaged in what you are doing, so you (should!) enjoy them more;
  • How big are the groups at each retreat? Obviously, the smaller the groups, the more personalised and individual attention you will get – helping you to achieve your goals that much quicker and prevent the likelihood of injury;
  • Also who else is attending the retreat?  Often the staff on Women Only Retreats are male and its not unheard of for advertised women only to take men, so ask the question.  Is it a mixed retreat, could you be the only female in the group?  Will you be in good company that can help and support you or is the environment competitive and strict?
  • What sort of diet will you be on? Some retreats will severely restrict your calories or put you on to a liquid only diet. Others, such as ourselves, provide tasty and nutritionally sound meals that provide the foundations to helping you shed the unnecessary weight – and maintain that weight loss;
  • Is the focus purely on losing weight, or does the retreat programme include looking at all areas of your health and well-being? For example, our weight loss retreats are designed to help you think about the relationship between your lifestyle, weight, nutrition and health – and creating a balance.
  • What is the age range on the retreat? Not only of the clients but also the instructors and experts.  You will want to feel comfortable and have common ground with those around you.
  • And last but by no means least, what results can you expect to gain and maintain?  This is an important question because the truth is that when you eat less and move more you will lose weight, but will you continue to lose or maintain the weight loss?  Read the testimonials, ask to speak to a past client so you can find out for yourself what the post programme support helped them to achieve.

What happens at The Body Retreat Weight Loss Retreat?

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There are a few things that make our retreats different to some others – our groups are small for a personalised service and we have an online support community after the event where you can talk to other women who have been, or are going on, the same life changing journey as you.

Ours is a holistic approach, and all our retreats are based on our 4 Pillars of Wellbeing, they are Behaviour, Nutrition, Exercise and R&R so our days are balanced to ensure that you have the time you need to not only make change but to really embed it so that it becomes habitual.

The experts we have chosen to support us on our retreat are women who have studied female health and wellbeing extensively, they have years of experience and more than that as all our team are women they understand the nuances of the journey each women makes to achieving the body and fitness she wants and deserves.  You can be confident that you are always in the very best care.

And last but by no means least The Body Retreat venues offer you every comfort and luxury you would expect at a spa retreat, from the spa facilities,  power showers and deep bath tubs, fluffy bathrobes and towels through to beautiful healthy food that not only is a delight for your eyes and tastebuds.  We have designed a unique retreat experience that is based on results but hasn’t neglected pleasure and relaxation.

What is a typical day like on Weight Loss Retreat?

Depending on the type of weight loss retreat you are attending, a typical day may consist of around 8 hours of different activities – for example, a variety of toning and cardio activities such as circuits, Nordic walking, kettlebells, pilates, yoga, and boxing etc as well as health, nutrition and well- being workshops. Most retreats will have an early start with exercise before breakfast, we start our days with our Wake Up Workout, a short and snappy workout deigned to wake your metabolism and get you into fat burning straight away.

On some retreats you will be exercising outside all day.  We try to get outdoors as much as possible (weather permitting) and show you how you can exercise and get fit without the need for lots of equipment or gym memberships. We are also lucky to have indoor exercise areas so that if…or should that be when the good old British weather lets us down we can still follow a full programme dry and safe from the elements.

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Our  venues have a pool and most have sauna, hot tub and steam room, so as well as take part in aqua aerobics sessions or pool workouts  you can also have a leisurely swim and relax those muscles at the end of the day.

R&R is a very important part of making change stick, you will work hard on a Weight Loss Retreat and there will be challenges and change to overcome, so having time every day to relax, enjoy a complimentary massage treatment, have time to reflect on your decision to join the retreat, just have time for you …when was the last time you had time just for you?

While the other ladies at the weight loss retreat will be people just like you, you don’t have to worry about needing your own space. It is up to you as to how sociable you are during your free time. Some of our ladies will go off to their room for a hot bath and to watch the TV while others may sit together and chat over a herbal tea – it’s your choice!

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At The Body Retreat, we don’t advocate any diet, diets do not work!  What does work is making a healthy conscious choice that is just right for you and your body.  Making a positive healthy choice because you want to, because you care about your body. And anyway, life is too short to spend it worrying about what to eat and not eat…or worse eating bland tasteless food in the quest for weight loss.  When I hear of the latest Diet trend I’m always reminded of a great quote by Dolly Parton

 

I tried every diet in the book. I tried some that weren’t in the book.

I tried eating the book. It tasted better than most of the diets.”

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Our retreat workshops will help you identify just what aspects of your life are influencing your weight and fitness choices. Lifestyle is a generic concept that encompasses a range of factors, all of which are important to understand and take control of if you are to start to improve your body and the way you feel about it.

There is more to a Weight Loss Retreat than “Eat Less & Move More”

So,  you see a Weight Loss Retreat is more than simply doing exercises and learning about eating the right sort of foodstuffs. It is about establishing mechanisms to empower you to start having more self-confidence and to do things differently in terms of your overall lifestyle.

If this all sounds a little theoretical, then be reassured that at our retreats there’s lots of emphasis on fun and practicality! This is about groups of women coming together to participate in sessions that have been designed by women and for women, with the ultimate objective of helping you achieve your goals.

Whatever your age or fitness level ,or long term goal you are likely to find the approach here at The Body Retreat to be thorough, practical and above all enjoyable!

I hope you found this article helpful to support you in asking the right questions and making the right choice for a Weight Loss Retreat that works for you.

And if you ave any questions about our women only weight loss retreat, don’t hesitate to ask 🙂

 Good Luck

Weight Loss Retreat or Boot camp?

There are so many residential weight loss programmes to choice from these days, weight loss retreat, fat camp, fit camp, fat farm, bootcamp.

So many names but are they really the same or different?  Surely it’s just the same horse with a different jockey?

How do you decide which is the right residential weight loss option for you?

When choosing a residential retreat to support your weight loss goals there are a number of factors to help answer this question.

Are you looking for a quick fix or changes for life?

Are you looking to shift a few pounds before an upcoming event, slim into your swimsuit for a holiday?  Or perhaps you are looking to lose a more substantial amount of weight? Perhaps your health has begun to be affected by your current lifestyle?

Many bootcamps still work of the old adage “eat less, move more” they promote rapid weight loss through low calorie diets and intensive training.  While at the opposite end some venues focus on restrictive diet plans, removing whole food groups or supplemented juice plans supported by “optional” activity programmes.

While any approach that reduces calorie intake will promote short term weight loss these programmes are not relevant to real life, are not sustainable and can negatively impact health in the long term.

Are you looking for single sex or mixed groups?

Many boot camps are run by men, to be more precise ex-military or active service men, while they can have an understanding of the health and fitness needs and requirements for other service men, when it comes to delicate balance for womens health, unless they have studied this in particular then they may be applying a “one size fits all” approach to health and fitness.

Also, ask yourself if you want to work out in a mixed group or would you feel more comfortable in a single sex group. When you are learning new techniques, new exercises and learning to stretch your own limits then you want to be free from any negative self chatter or self limiting beliefs.  Also do you want to compete with the boys, is that a realistic model for you or would it feel intimidating?

Are you looking to address not only the physical but the psychological and emotional aspects of weight loss?

For many women the links between psychological and physical hunger are inexplicably linked.  If you are prone to emotional or comfort eating, cravings, binges or have concerns about control over food then when looking at weight loss retreats look at the qualifications and experiences of the team who will support you to work on this area and if they are not listed on the website then ask.  Are the tools and resources on offer going to support you in the longer term?

Is food important to you?

For some food is purely fuel, for others it is pleasure.  Very often the two seem to be mutually exclusive, but it doesn’t have to be that way.  Just like a fad diet a poorly designed nutrition plan, a low fat/no fat, low calorie type plan will only provide temporary results.

Look at the style of food you will be served, is there variety? Is the menu designed to promote optimum health? Is the type of food something you would like to eat for life?

Why is The Body Retreat different from Bootcamp?

While The Body Retreat does run weight loss retreats we don’t advocate a focus on quick fix weight loss or becoming obsessive on the number on the scale, rather we use weight as an indicator of health and of progress but its not the only one.

The journey to health and wellbeing should be a pleasure not a chore, if its aggressive, austere, complicated, or just too hard then it is not suitable for the long term.  So The Body Retreat is about balance not quick fix, it’s about respecting and protecting your body for life.

 

Our Four Pillars at The Body Retreat are:

Mindset, Thoughts become actions and actions become behaviours, which in turn drives results, get this right the rest will follow. All our retreats have behavioural change at their heart. We work content free, so no “happy clappy group sharing sessions here” this means you can sure of safety and privacy while you address self-sabotaging behaviours.  Our behaviour coach is onsite all day every day.

Menu, you cannot out train a bad diet, so getting the right nutrition is paramount and also you will find that the body can do amazing things to heal and support itself with the right fuel.  Our eminently qualified Nutritional Therapist has created a suite of workshops that are practical and relevant for today’s modern woman.

Movement, this is different from exercise, we encourage women to aim to be active every day for good overall health but to exercise with purpose for fitness, strength and weight management. Our lead trainer is a weight loss and obesity specialist and has decades of experience working with women at all stages of their lives.

Maintenance, Rest and Regeneration, one of the best parts of The Body Retreat, the reward for the hard work in other areas, the time when changes are embedded and strengthened, the key to making changes for life. Not finding time but making time to care for your body and mind to ensure good health today and every day.  We have joined forces with Mio skincare to promote fit skin for life and work with some amazing local therapists to provide a variety of complimentary treatments on retreat.

Can a week on retreat really change your life? 

We believe it can and we have almost 12 years experience and hundreds of success stories of women whom we have helped to lose the fear of food, find the strength to reclaim their health and to achieve the body and fitness they both want and deserve.  But more importantly our weight loss retreats are designed to promote sustainable lifestyle changes and so avoid the rebound effect of weight gain post retreat.

So when it comes to making the investment of both time and money in choosing a residential weight loss event take the time to find the answers you need.

The NEW Fat Camp by Healthista

As we return from our latest Andalusian Weight Loss Retreat (did we mention an average weight loss of 9.2lbs?!) we have seen this fabulous article courtesy of Healthista, leading heath channel for women.

Click Here to read their experience of The Body Retreat.