DIY Weight Loss spa week?

Has anyone done an at home weight loss "spa" week? With healthy meals, planned exercise, and a daily schedule. I am thinking about taking a week off of work and going to my mom's house to do a jump start weight loss spa week for both of us. Has anyone done this? thoughts?

Or try all those things... For longer than a week....? ie a healthy lifestyle?

As luxurious as it sounds... unfortunately I do have other responsibilities and can not leave my job, children, and husband to only focus on me forever. ... but thanks for the suggestion!

What do you think will happen after this magical 1 week "spa" retreat if you don't make it a lifestyle change? Many of us have a zillion other responsibilities as well. We just have to carve in the time. Less than one hour a day is all it takes for me, for example, and that's only 4-5 days a week of exercising. Also, making better food choices takes no more time than overeating does, and should be done every day anyway.

"Lifestyle change" doesn't have to mean drastic. Just little bitty changes in our decisions is all it takes. :flowerforyou:

I've never thought about it, but love the idea! I exercise an hour a day at the gym after work every day. I'd love to take the 'after work' part out for a week and just treat myself! I love to cook, so I can't help but think of all of the healthy meals you could prepare.

My husband is going on a fishing trip in a month, maybe I'll have to take a couple of days off for this.

You didn't say a word about manicures, pedicures, massages and spa treatments in your original post. Those have zero to do with losing weight or making long term changes.

All implied by 'spa week'.

I think some people have read A LOT more into your original post. Many people go to weight loss 'spas' to spend time pampering themselves in a healthy way. Why spend the money when you can do it yourself?

Is it a 'long term' weight loss plan? Of course not. Is it a time to take care of yourself, and reflect on future goals...sure!

I'm still in! Thanks for the idea!

Limath .... You get me! LOL I guess I expect people to be able to understand what I mean, and respond appropriately, and most don't. Thanks so much for "getting it" I thought I was loosing it for a minute.

I agree - I think it's a great way to refocus on you! Too many people lose sight of themselves and this is a fantastic, inexpensive way to recommit to your healthy lifestyle goals. Plus you get to have fun with your mom, try new recipes and turn what people normally dread about vacations (splurging and indulgence) into a positive.

As a mother to 3 girls, this sounds like a great idea, I would have never thought of! Sounds like great mother/daughter bonding time, that I know is hard to make the time for sometimes. Life does get in the way and if you are able to take the time off from work and do it, thats awesome!!

I see nothing wrong with some home manis, pedis, home cooked meals, you guys could also make some meal plans for several weeks, research some new recipes, put some grocery lists together, prep meals that could be frozen, lunches for work, that you could take out of the freezer and right into your lunch bag.

That's the fun part about implying things...

They don't mean the same things to you as they mean to other people.

I worked in the spa industry and saw lots of women like you, OP.

Women who thought the "spa experience" of "pampering" would help them long term.

You'll relax and de-stress alright...for about a week.

Then you'll go back to the status quo and ultimately achieve nothing.

You'll lighten your wallet, I'll say that much.

I'm not down on relaxing or spa treatments, but they're a short term solution to a long term problem.

Having nice nails won't help you lose weight, no matter what the spa brochure says.

I'll be honest when I say that spas see people like you coming a mile away.

They want your money.

They set you up to fail so you'll keep spending money and come back.

I find it interesting that you wonder about people having "8 hours+" to devote on making appropriate food and exercise choices, but you have the time with all your responsibilities to take an entire week off to go to a spa.

So which is it?

Do you have no time to make better choices at home because you're super busy or do you have a week to spare to go to a spa?

It sounds like a great idea to give you time to gather your thoughts and really get organized. I am a single mom with a 7 year old son, he doesn't go anywhere so he's attached to my hip I feel! I agree that it really takes time to get started both meal wise and mentally. I have to take time on Sundays for meal prep, cooking, organizing or what not, and have often thought to myself if I took time to myself it would be so much easier! Even to sit and journal and write down your goals, short term and long term takes time! Enjoy your week!

I think it is a great idea. I have actually thought of it myself and talked about doing it with a few friends but it never panned out probably due to each of us having obligations and just never being able to all of our ducks in a row and get away at the same time The plan was to get a cabin at a national park no tvs no distractions and have some fun girl time while making it healthy as opposed to a fun girls weekend of eating out and consuming wine. Again the idea was to pamper ourselves and enjoy each other’s company in a healthy way as oppose to the more common unhealthy way. We were going to jump start with a DVD exercise program or c25k program that we could do together combined with some hiking and relaxing around a nice fire in the evening. We were all going to gather up a few new healthy recipes to take with us and try out while we were there.

Nevermind these guys.... Men never get why we go to the restroom in groups either. It is a girl thang

P.S. Just in case this never pans out for you either. We ended up signing up for a 5k fun run. I think the idea is that you have a deadline or a big kick off event to look forward to and to help get you motivated. Let’s face it exercising is fun and invigorating when you are in shape and are used to doing it. It is a de-stressor and it increases your energy level but making a change or STARTING an exercise program is not fun it is work and sometimes you can use a little something something to jumpstart you and get you out of your rut of bad habits. Everything is more fun with a friend... That’s why we all joined MFP, right?