Weight Loss Camp

How's the Food?

Unless you are looking for a camp that caters to a specific diet, you will find numerous camps from which to choose. There are many camps that provide a traditionally healthy, well-balanced diet. And that is one of the primary considerations when choosing a camp: will their menu meet nutritional needs while limiting calories, and is their menu flexible enough to allow for individual tastes and needs? Menus should offer a minimum of 1500 calories a day, and should be designed to minimize hunger and fatigue, while maximizing weight loss. Menus that offer fortified foods or vitamin supplementation are a plus.

How Flexible Are They?

Another consideration when choosing a destination is the specific approach to weight loss. Does the establishment stress gradual weight loss, with a goal of no more than one to two pounds of loss per week, and is the program flexible in its regimen? Camps with rigid rituals and no room for individual pursuits or choice of activities will not serve you as well as camps that teach you how to find activities and hobbies that appeal to you. This is important since many people become overweight due to emotional or boredom eating; finding alternatives to eating as a coping mechanism, therefore, is crucial to ongoing success.

Who's on Staff?

Besides a competent chef and a capable housekeeping and administrative staff, you want to look for a professional component to the staff. Is there a medical doctor, registered nurse, and/or registered dietician available? Personal trainers or well-trained fitness personnel are also important, as increasing physical activity is important to long-term maintenance of weight loss. A psychological expert on staff to guide people through mental blocks to weight loss is an excellent bonus. If there is not a psychological expert available, then you may want to make sure there are trained counselors who can help identify and offer solutions to such obstacles as emotional eating or other eating disorders.

Not All About the Food

Besides offering healthful food choices, a good weight-loss camp will offer workshops, one-on-one or group counseling, and informational sessions to teach beneficial lifestyle habits. The goal is not just to lose weight, but to improve overall health by learning appropriate strategies for exercise, stress reduction, and getting adequate rest. It is important to review these additional benefits and find a camp that matches your interests and needs.

Do They Work?

Most participants will lose weight. More importantly, those who are able to continue the lifestyle changes once they return to their daily lives are usually able to keep the weight off and to continue their loss to a healthy level. Many people have reported having learned new skills or discovered new hobbies that they find fulfilling and help them continue with the diet and exercise habits they practised at camp.

How Long?

Most camps provide varying lengths of stay, from one to four weeks. In general, if a person can only get away for one week, they will at least learn the theory of what they need to do and experience the effects of making healthful changes in their lifestyle. Those who can stay longer report finding it easier to continue with their healthful behaviours and to maintain the lower-calorie, more healthful diet, because they have more time to practise the good habits. Studies have shown that it takes some 21 repetitions, or three weeks of consistent behaviour, to establish a habit. So it makes sense that you should try to stay two to three weeks if you can.

How Much Does Weight Loss Camp Cost?

Costs for camps vary with the length of time you stay, and with the type of program you choose. There are more than 8500 weight loss camps in America alone. The average cost for a one-week stay is approximately $3000 for one week. Some camps offer specials during the off-season and discounts if you share a room. These kinds of specials and discounts can reduce the cost of a one-week stay to as little as $1800. There's a cumulative effect on price if you choose a longer stay; a three-week stay at one popular camp was $5000 if you shared a room.

Related Links

• Weight Loss Spas
• Diet and Fitness
• Diet and Nutrition
• Healthy Eating Habits
• Eating a Healthy Diet: The Basics