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I want to lose weight
Whether you would just like to lose a few pounds, or are concerned about being overweight, slimming to a sensible weight and improving your lifestyle will give you more energy, make you healthier and help you feel better about yourself.
Whilst many spas offer treatments designed to shed the pounds, the results may only last a very short time – perfect for a quick fix or a special occasion, but not conducive to a long-term change. A spa is fundamentally a place for relaxation. But, in between lolling by the pool and floating around in a robe cocooned in a bubble of bliss, there are a number of opportunities to tone up and slim down.
For the benefit of all you lovely spa-goers who are looking to lose weight, the Spa Spies have been wrapped and steamed, worked out and nutritionally balanced -- all in the name of research -- to bring you this guide on how to lose weight and look great!
Healthy eatingExercise
Classes
Dedicated weight-loss camps
Treatments
Healthy eating
Many day spas and hotel spas, and almost all spa retreats, offer healthy food options as well as decadent treats, giving you the choice to start your weight-loss regime on the right track, or keep up your good intentions during a relaxing break. Macrobiotic dining, raw food options, delicious salads, iced water and steamed food are often available, should you choose to steer clear of the chocolate cake...
Exercise
Yes. The dreaded "e" word. We're sorry to break it to you, but there really are no miracle tricks. If you want to lose weight, you are going to have to get on your feet and get your heart pumping. The gym is a good place to start, but it's certainly not the only way you can exercise whilst spa-ing.
A gym can be a daunting place for a newcomer –- full of strange-looking equipment, people in Lycra and personal trainers –- but, we promise you, gyms aren't half as scary as they first appear! The best way to get initiated is to organise an induction. This will give you the opportunity to learn about the available equipment, as well as get some advice about what to use to help you achieve your desired results. Once you know your way around and have been taught a few basics, you are free to roam, using the equipment in any order you fancy and, of course, (Spa Rule Number One) keeping nicely hydrated at all times!
If the gym just isn't for you, or you want to vary your exercise to keep yourself motivated, there are other options. The pool offers the most obvious opportunity, with swimming being a fantastic form of exercise that is suitable for almost everyone. Water provides support for your body, which lessens the impact on joints and a freedom that allows for fluid movement. Gentle swimming, or a beginners' aqua-aerobics class are a good starting point, with the option to diversify into other classes and lane swimming once you get into it. Getting the swim-bug will allow you to keep up your healthy campaign regularly, even if you don't have a spa on your doorstep –- most towns and cities have public swimming baths, many of which run classes and have dedicated adult-only times.
A word of warning: if you want to take your swimming seriously, contact your chosen spa to find out their timetable. Remember that it's difficult to practice your butterfly stroke when you are sharing the space with a whole host of over-excited children or a water-polo class!
Many spas are nestled within the idyllic British countryside, and so opportunities to fill your lungs with country air abound. Whilst at a countryside or coastal spa, the partaking of a bracing cliff-top walk, a forest hike or even a simple stroll around the grounds are not to be missed. Even 20 minutes of gentle walking three times a week can make a difference, so why not start as you mean to go on?
Classes
We are sure there are very few of you who haven't bought (or been bought) an exercise video or DVD at some point. We're also sure that those videos have now been relegated to a cupboard somewhere, or have since been donated to the local charity shop. Staying motivated has a lot to do with encouragement, and jumping on and off a step in your front room is unlikely to keep you engaged for very long.
Taking part in a class is a fantastic way to improve your fitness, lose weight, meet people and stay motivated. A class is more than just an opportunity to "get your sweat on". A class is a supportive environment filled with like-minded folk and run by a trained professional –- making it much more likely that you will stick with the class regularly, see results, and avoid injury.
There is a class out there for practically everyone, and whilst fitness fads will come and go, there will always be the opportunity to try yoga, Pilates, aerobics, combat classes or dance classes at most good spas.
Dedicated weight-loss camps
Sometimes a day spa simply isn't enough. If you want to commit some serious time to changing your lifestyle and losing weight, there are programmes available at dedicated retreats. These programmes offer a tailored weight-loss plan that combines full days of activities and guided meals to help re-educate you about portions and nutrition and motivate you to get moving.
A typical programme may combine exercise, games, classes, sessions, talks and supervised dining with the additional support of professional trainers, nutritionists, dieticians, and sometimes even a hypnotherapist!
Not all of these camps involve backbreaking workouts and macrobiotic meals. Some spas offer a combination of exercise, nutrition and indulgent treatments, designed to ease your tired muscles and keep you focused, without leaving you too exhausted!
Treatments
As we've mentioned, many spa treatments that claim to trim inches, whilst often effective, are not long-lasting. Many of these slimming treatments rely on dehydration to give the illusion of weight loss. Wraps can be just perfect for a special occasion –- plus, they are incredibly easy, painless and very relaxing. Try a weight-loss wrap for instant results!
Spa treatments complement a weight-loss plan perfectly when combined with exercise and healthy eating. Regular body treatments like massage and scrubs will help to get your circulation going, encouraging your body to expel waste and circulate nutrients. This will, in turn, help with your slimming as you will have increased energy levels for exercising, and it will help you digest your food properly.
However, if you are looking for a more instant solution without the hard work, you may have to walk away from the pool and find yourself a medi-spa -- and a deep pocket! Medi-spas offer procedures like Smart Lipo, Bodysculpting and VASER, all of which are designed to help you lose inches, either by "melting" fat with specially tuned lasers, or emulsifying and removing fat using ultrasound or other energy frequencies. Medi-spa procedures are often significantly less invasive than major surgery, with less downtime.
However you choose to start your new regime, we wish you the best of luck! Fitness, health and a good body image are integral to inner peace, and whether you use a spa to kick start a diet, get you moving or as a treat when you reach your target, be sure to enjoy yourself. Take a few hours to lay back, relax and enjoy some me-time, after all, beauty starts on the inside!
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