Gone to an adult "Fat Camp", Fitness, Weightloss Camp??

What do you think a weightloss camp could provide that you can't do on your own? Especially for $5000? The thing about shows like biggest loser is that they put the people on a severly restricted diet and work out every day for hours. Yes, you would lose the weight, but what does it teach you about eating healthy in real life. Your schedule looks hectic and who's to say after you get back, you wouldn't feel pressed to grab a big mac meal for lunch or a pizza for dinner?

I don't want to come across as a downer, but I'm curious.

I don't think a "fat camp" is the way to go but if you want it, at $2500 it is just $48 a week. OK, it may take you 2 years to get there (saving $24 a week). You can start by dedicating yourself to MFP and eating properly with a balanced diet. Next make the time to walk 4 miles a day. (approx 10k steps. For me that takes about 2 hours). Make sure you eat most of your exercise cals so your body is still nourished. At the end of the week use the money you have saved by not going to fast food restaurants, or clipping coupons, maybe extra job, into a special vacation account. Don't worry about the scale at this point. The 2 hours of dedicated exercise will help you get in shape for your "fat camp" experience. Yes, they do work you hard and you would not want to get there only to not be able to "cut the mustard". So, decide on a goal weight, start doing the work here, and look toward your goal. You may just find that the dedicated work you do here may be enough and you will have a healthy savings account for a real family vacation with enough left over for new clothes to fit that newly toned body.

This is great. In the time you take saving, keep working on your own and by the time it comes time to go, you may not even want to anymore.

It would also be terrible to spend 5k and then quit because it was too intense.

Instead of a weight loss retreat, what about a spa retreat or an outdoors wellness retreat? Something where healthy meals and activity is a part of the experience but so is peace, self-focus, and relaxation (painting, hot tub, whatever.)

http://spas.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=spas&cdn=travel&tm=86&f=10&su=p284.13.342.ip_p531.56.342.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http://www.deerfieldspa.com/

Weight loss spas are the better route as far as developing a total awareness of yourself. Beyond diet and exercise, they help regain peace and show you different ways of exercising as opposed to strictly aerobics or weight training.

I totally get what you mean about going away to a dedicated place for weight loss, but perhaps there are other options? I think a personal trainer is a better use of money, but why not go on a walking holiday to kick start it? I don't know about in the States,but they are very common in the UK and would be far cheaper.

For me, personally, I'm using this as a jumping off point for a cross country adventure (lots of hiking and activity!) I've already started changing my habits, sticking to a reasonable eating plan, and moving more. BUT, I've isolated myself for a long time, and am very anxious around people bc I've been overweight, and a hermit for so long. For me, a "fat camp" seems like a safe place to start interacting with people again, plus, after working on my own for a couple of months, a little push from my peers and trainers will help me take things to the next level. It IS very pricey, but a family member offered to cover the cost, so I'll take advantage of the opportunity!

Edit to add: another reason this is better than being home... Is that at home it's a lot easier to put things off til tomorrow!

I know someone who went for a month and lost loads of weight but once they came back they put it all back on again- I dont think they carried on exercising or eating well but if I had the money I would go to one

Have you considered taking a two-week cruise, instead? You can find cruises specials for $100 dollars a day. Most cruises have full exercise rooms, plus several exercise classes a day. The onboard chefs are very accommodating to special food requests, so you could easily tailor your food to meet your calorie goals. The cruise would provide you with the get-away you need and let you just concentrate on yourself for a fraction of the cost. And with what you save, you could also indulge in massages and other utra-luxury items that aren't included in the Biggest Loser-type getaways.

You could probably visit some cruise forum sites and seek other people who want to do a weight-loss getaway cruise and find some people to travel with you.

There's also special weight loss cruises, but they can be as pricey as the "fat camps."

Just a thought.

Have you considered taking a two-week cruise, instead? You can find cruises specials for $100 dollars a day. Most cruises have full exercise rooms, plus several exercise classes a day. The onboard chefs are very accommodating to special food requests, so you could easily tailor your food to meet your calorie goals. The cruise would provide you with the get-away you need and let you just concentrate on yourself for a fraction of the cost. And with what you save, you could also indulge in massages and other utra-luxury items that aren't included in the Biggest Loser-type getaways.

You could probably visit some cruise forum sites and seek other people who want to do a weight-loss getaway cruise and find some people to travel with you.

There's also special weight loss cruises, but they can be as pricey as the "fat camps."

Just a thought.

:flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou:


I'm not the OP, but have been thinking about this myself and NEVER thought of this...I LOVE IT! Thanks so much for posting--you ROCK!!!!!! Woot!

i know this is an old thread, but it came up in my topics... in my last comment i had mentioned looking into Hilton Head Health.
I went.
IT WAS AWESOME.

certainly not cheap at about $3000 a week, but if i had the money, i would go every year. hell, i'd go back now and I was just there in September.

What can you get there that you cant get at home with the right resources... it's a great question. you get FOCUS. You get a dedicated amount of time to think about nothing but your health and your goals. you get the opportunity to establish good habits daily, all day, every day. Getting a trainer once a week at your local gym is great... if you have the will to get your *kitten* to the gym several more times that same week without the motivation of an appointment you paid for. Having a healthy dinner is great, but if you are struggling to do that at home regularly, well, 1 healthy meal a day isn't going to balance out 2 unhealthy meals and "bad" snacking. Or one great day isn't going to balance out a few days of being out of control. Forming new good habits take repetition, lots of repetition. Going to "fat camp" gives you that.

other things you may get out of it: imagine spending some time around people who ALL understand your struggle?
imagine going into the pool, or the hot tub, and not feeling like "the fat girl". It was the first time I went swimming in at least 6 years. Imagine going to a fitness class, and not feeling like the only one who is as out of shape as you are? I KNOW that lots of us refuse to go to a gym because we feel like we don't belong there. You may still feel out of shape compared to many when you return home from a health retreat after a couple of weeks, but you will have the confidence to know you can get through a class, and its not going to kill you, and hey, you've been working your tail off and who cares if you're the slow one? you learn that its actually YOU who should be admired for showing up. It's easy (well easier) for the fit ones.

The two weeks I spent at Hilton Head Health were seriously some of the best of my adult life. I met great people, I learned a LOT about health and nutrition, and i learned that we really can do this.

I "only" lost 7 pounds in the 2 weeks I was there, but I had already been on a 1200-1300 calorie plan before i left and was already down 30 pounds in 3 months prior. So, that's actually pretty amazing. It's true, in 2 weeks at fat camp you aren't going to lose a lot of weight, or get toned. That isn't really what it's for. It's to help you learn and establish habits for a lifetime.

for the record, I don't work for or represent H3, I'm just someone whose life was changed by going there.

If anyone wants to know anything about it, feel free to message me.


I just want to comment about the cruise idea: i think if it is a health-related cruise that might be great but, most cruises have all-inclusive meals and drinking, so, you are going to be in a situation where there is amazing, high calorie food available to you all day, every day. I suspect that would be even harder to resist that the stuff in my fridge at home.

ETA: i've lost another 40+ pounds since my 2 weeks there

i know this is an old thread, but it came up in my topics... in my last comment i had mentioned looking into Hilton Head Health.
I went.
IT WAS AWESOME.

certainly not cheap at about $3000 a week, but if i had the money, i would go every year. hell, i'd go back now and I was just there in September.

What can you get there that you cant get at home with the right resources... it's a great question. you get FOCUS. You get a dedicated amount of time to think about nothing but your health and your goals. you get the opportunity to establish good habits daily, all day, every day. Getting a trainer once a week at your local gym is great... if you have the will to get your *kitten* to the gym several more times that same week without the motivation of an appointment you paid for. Having a healthy dinner is great, but if you are struggling to do that at home regularly, well, 1 healthy meal a day isn't going to balance out 2 unhealthy meals and "bad" snacking. Or one great day isn't going to balance out a few days of being out of control. Forming new good habits take repetition, lots of repetition. Going to "fat camp" gives you that.

other things you may get out of it: imagine spending some time around people who ALL understand your struggle?
imagine going into the pool, or the hot tub, and not feeling like "the fat girl". It was the first time I went swimming in at least 6 years. Imagine going to a fitness class, and not feeling like the only one who is as out of shape as you are? I KNOW that lots of us refuse to go to a gym because we feel like we don't belong there. You may still feel out of shape compared to many when you return home from a health retreat after a couple of weeks, but you will have the confidence to know you can get through a class, and its not going to kill you, and hey, you've been working your tail off and who cares if you're the slow one? you learn that its actually YOU who should be admired for showing up. It's easy (well easier) for the fit ones.

The two weeks I spent at Hilton Head Health were seriously some of the best of my adult life. I met great people, I learned a LOT about health and nutrition, and i learned that we really can do this.

I "only" lost 7 pounds in the 2 weeks I was there, but I had already been on a 1200-1300 calorie plan before i left and was already down 30 pounds in 3 months prior. So, that's actually pretty amazing. It's true, in 2 weeks at fat camp you aren't going to lose a lot of weight, or get toned. That isn't really what it's for. It's to help you learn and establish habits for a lifetime.

for the record, I don't work for or represent H3, I'm just someone whose life was changed by going there.

If anyone wants to know anything about it, feel free to message me.


I just want to comment about the cruise idea: i think if it is a health-related cruise that might be great but, most cruises have all-inclusive meals and drinking, so, you are going to be in a situation where there is amazing, high calorie food available to you all day, every day. I suspect that would be even harder to resist that the stuff in my fridge at home.

ETA: i've lost another 40+ pounds since my 2 weeks there

Super congrats on your success and thanks so much for replying--it's VERY encouraging! Sounds like your stay was somewhat of a "Sabbatical" of sorts...that's tremendous to me!