Weight loss is a health puzzle with lots of pieces. Because everyone is unique, the same solutions aren’t effective across the board. It’s important to adopt a holistic, integrated approach to healthy weight loss in the way that’s just right for you. We recommend ditching the all-or-nothing approach and replace it with a personalized program that takes into account all the specifics that are uniquely you.
We believe that positive change comes from within. No amount of dieting or exercise can cause a shift if you aren’t willing to look at the beliefs, habits and personal challenges that have gotten you to where you are today. We don’t believe in “boot camp.” We believe in loving and respecting yourself. You might think you need “tough love” but we have found that being harsh on yourself yields the exact opposite result of what you want. We recommend working with a team that treats you with respect by designing personalized solutions for four key areas that influence weight loss.
Training & Fitness
A qualified personal trainer has expertise in all the ways exercise impact your overall health. Your trainer will take into account your current weight challenges and future goals and develop a personalized fitness plan that is as fun as it is achievable. By working with a personal trainer, you hold yourself accountable to another person whose job is to provide encouragement during your journey. Trainers also introduce you to exciting and challenging new activities that make training something to look forward to, rather than something to dread.
Medical Evaluations
During every weight loss retreat, a naturopathic doctor evaluates each participant’s current health, risks and challenges. We believe in the importance of reviewing full blood panels to gain a greater understanding of what’s happening inside your body before making changes to outer behavior. Rather than limiting our understanding to simply what’s within “normal” range, our on-staff doctor employs a preventative, holistic approach by evaluating data from your physical exam, current weight, body composition, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio to form a complete picture of your overall health. We also look at muscular strength and endurance as well as posture alignment to get a clearer understanding of your capabilities before formulating your weight loss strategy. If you have no plans to visit a wellness retreat or weight loss luxury resort, speak to your personal physician about obtaining these evaluations.
Nutrition
At our weight loss retreats, we have seen enough real-life evidence to know that the phrase “you are what you eat” is more than a platitude—it’s a simple, succinct truth. You need high quality, nutrient dense foods to support your body’s process of detoxification. By balancing your macronutrient intake–the proteins, fats and carbohydrates necessary for optimal blood sugar regulation–you’ll end up with a well-tuned metabolism, the cornerstone of good health.
Work with a nutritionist to develop a personalized healthy eating plan that takes into account your lifestyle and family/work realities. Your nutritionist will also provide suggestions to integrate vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free alternative recipes into your daily diet and teach you how to prepare your own healthy weight loss snacks.
Behavioral Health
Becoming more self-aware and mindful is an important step to achieving your weight loss goals. Neglecting this aspect of yourself can quickly unravel your progress and leave you mystified as to why. Most programs at a weight loss resort stress the importance of changing self-defeating thought patterns and behaviors in conjunction with new eating and exercise habits because the two are closely intertwined.
Without the strong foundation of a healthy mental attitude, your chances of success in making other lifestyle changes are greatly limited. Consult a qualified therapist or weight loss counselor who will provide enlightening information and actionable tools to overcome emotional eating patterns that sabotage your progress–and your overall self-esteem.
By developing your own personalized approach to weight loss, you give yourself the best chance of reaching your goals. Rather than hopping between diet or fitness fads, pay attention to the four areas above to gain greater insight into the specific individual factors that might be holding back. When you adopt a four-pronged approach, you’ll set yourself up to make weight loss changes that last.
