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DEL.ICIO.USWould you take a fitness vacation?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For the past six weeks, many of us have wrapped ourselves in a blanket of rich foods, second helpings, hot toddies or general inactivity. But this week’s pleasant temperatures reminded me that those forgiving wooly sweaters can’t be worn all year long. It’s time to snap out of it and get active again.
Most people don’t associate weight loss with a week at the beach, but a growing number of “fitness vacationers” are finding you can do just that. Fitness vacations vary in intensity, results and locales, but their general goal is to help you kick-start a new healthy lifestyle. While you can find really exotic places abroad to shed your poundage and bad habits, you need not look that far. The southeast offers quite a few fitness destinations of its own that range from rugged or pastoral to luxurious.
Below are a few that are within a few hours’ drive or a short plane trip from Atlanta. Be warned, however, some of these trips can be quite expensive and are not for the faint of wallet.
If you’re serious about major weight loss and lifestyle change, the Hilton Head Health Institute creates personalized nutrition and fitness plans for its guests. The program is designed to help guests lose weight during their stay and maintain the weight loss back at home. Costs start at $3,550 for a one-week stay, and include accommodations, healthy gourmet meals, lectures, demonstrations, blood screening, nutrition assessments, and use of all fitness and recreation facilities.
The Tennessee Fitness Spa also offers classes, lectures, healthy meals and fitness facilities in a rustic setting about 95 miles southwest of Nashville. Weekly rates begin at $785 if you’re willing to share a chalet-style room with three other guests.
I think vanity might prevent me from signing up for anything called “fatpacking”, but it sounds pretty fun. Of course, I love to hike, and that’s the crux of this program. You just walk your way to fitness through long, intense hikes, eating whatever you can fit it in your backpack. One and two-week wilderness hiking vacations are offered throughout the country, with two southeastern treks coming up in April. Prices for one week are about $900.
A trip to Ft. Lauderdale can help you shape up for swimsuit season if you enlist in the Beach Boot Camp at Bella Vita Retreat. For $2495 per week, guests take part in cardio, strength and agility sessions; receive nutrition analysis and fitness testing, as well as all meals in a resort setting on a beautiful beach.
Have you ever taken a fitness vacation? Have you been to any of the above facilities or do you know of others you might recommend in the Southeast? Were your results worth the money?
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By jess
January 9, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this
Better yet! Join the Marine Corps. 13 weeks of intense boot camp will leave you in peak condition. They will feed, clothe and house you, plus pay you to attend. Best fitness vacation you can ever imagine.
By Voice of Reason
January 9, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
If you’re a typical skinny person, you’ll probably consider a “fitness vacation” fun. But if you are prone to carrying weight—and even eating a salad makes you gain weight—going to these fat farm places work fine while you’re there. After a few weeks or months of being home again and back in your schedule, you’ll gain back the weight. Trust me; I’ve spent ~$20K at a remote diet center and today I weigh more than before. I might still go back, cuz I’ve made friends there—who also return (repeatedly!) That’s how those places stay in business. But now I go just for “camp” with fatties, and I’m kinda the ‘slim goody’ while I’m there :-)
By Huh
January 9, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
Better yet! Join the Marine Corps. 13 weeks of intense boot camp will leave you in peak condition. But will I be able to leave and go home after those 13 weeks? NO!! Stupid idea!
By One
January 9, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
Voice of Reason, you should try cinammon honey tea…….yahoo search it and check out all of the benefits, including weight loss. Might make a world of difference for you. Good luck!
By JJ
January 9, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
Oh no way in h3ll!!! I go on vacation to run away and escape everyday life…….why would I want to work out?
We take vacations to REST and RELAX.
By bring it on
January 9, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
Absolutely. I would love to go to one of those places (not the Marines, I don’t think. Too much tendonitis including wrists so can’t do pushups.) Light and healthy spa cuisine, beautiful surroundings with lovely maniucured walking trails, peace and quiet, physical and emotional health with others of like mind. No shopping, no gambling, no overpriced restaurants, no overweight hyperactive demanding tourists … ya, bring it on.
By Shawn
January 9, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
A fitness vacation??? Isn’t that an oxymoron… No way would I even give that idea a thought. That’s insane.
By Jason
January 9, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
I don’t know about exercising in the Marine Corps but I was a Peace Corps volunteer and I found a great way to keep in shape by simply using a deck of playing cards. I assigned exercises to the cards: Ace for abs, Two for push-ups, etc; I shuffled the deck and had a varied workout every time.
Now that I’m back in the States, I still stick with the same basic idea; however, I have my workout on my cell phone using a program called xFit. It gives me a full body workout without the need for weights or equipment, so I can do it anywhere.
If you’re interested, you can check it out at www.mobileXware.com
By Phalynn Powers
January 10, 2008 5:12 AM | Link to this
Two years ago I went to a fitness spa….a week of juicing, yoga, fitness classes and classes on nutrition…it was the best week I have ever spent and am still making positive changes in my life from what I learned. I also went before I had surgery - great move - I was so fit for a quicker recovery. Dont knock it until you tried it!
By DKay
January 10, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
Last year I won a 1-week vacation to a health spa called Rancho La Peurta in Mexico and I had an amazing experience. To this day I don’t think I would have ever considered taking a fitness vacation but it was a wonderful experience and I can’t wait to do it again!!