Friday, June 13, 2014

Qualities To Look For In Weight Loss Retreats For Adults

By Lila Bryant


Losing weight is a task that can be more challenging for some people than others. There are those who can shed extra pounds by dieting and increasing their physical activity level, while others need a bit of extra help along the way in terms of motivation and support, it is this latter group that can benefit most from weight loss retreats for adults. These getaways equip participants with educational and inspirational tools needed for losing weight and are set in a relaxing environment.

Some retreats only produce temporary results by putting their participants through an intensive work-out and diet regimen, but they do not address each individual's personal concerns and help arm them with the fundamentals of healthy living needed for them to continue practicing what they have learned after the retreat. Only those which produce permanent changes in one's thinking and behavior leading to weight loss are worth attending.

Fitness should not be the main focus of the program, although important, it is only one aspect needed for successful fat loss. Instead, the retreat should encourage individual, personal growth and self-discovery, enabling participants to identify and address the underlying issues causing over-eating, and it should also aim to replace these patterns with healthy new ones.

The particular setting of the retreat is another thing to consider. The atmosphere should be one that is notably different from one's usual environment, since this fact can help inspire change instead of nurturing old habits. Generally a more natural backdrop, for instance a peaceful countryside, is ideal, where the emphasis is on outdoor activity and living a healthy lifestyle, and there are not tempting places such as fast food restaurants all around.

Staff at the retreat should be fully qualified with a solid background in fitness and diet, however their relational skills to the participants are even more important. It's essential that a strong rapport and trust be established between the attendees and staff, with the former feeling they can view the latter as a friend who will support and encourage them through positive reinforcement, who has their best interest in mind at all times.

The approach to weight reduction should be a holistic one, which covers all aspects of the issue by focusing on the mind, body, and spirit. Addressing the "whole person" in this way turns the experience into a personal journey for every participant which if all goes well, produces permanent changes in attitude and behavior that will permanently impact future habits.

The retreat should be a learning experience, and it's a fact that different people learn best in different ways, so this must be incorporated into the nature of the program. Participants should be given a choice of educational and motivational tools they can work with depending on their particular learning style, such as seminars, counseling, behavior modification, and they should also have access to follow-up counseling.

People who wish to lose those stubborn extra pounds and are considering going to retreat, should be sure to do some research before deciding on a particular one as some offer more than others. Looking up reviews by people who have attended any retreat being considered is a good way to know if it makes the grade and will provide long-term success for those who attend it.




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