According to an article on CalorieLab.com, Florida is one of the "Torpid Twenty." This means that Florida is one of the laziest states. Allegedly, the residents in these 20 states spend "more than the national average of 12 hours and 58 minutes per day essentially motionless." NCSL.org found that 25.2 percent of people in Florida were overweight. To tackle this, weight loss camps have become far more popular. There are many options for those looking to lose weight in Florida--not just through weight loss camps. Fitness retreats are another option, as well as special spas that focus on helping you achieve a balanced diet.
Weight Loss Camps
Weight loss camps are the best choice for those who want to lose weight and learn how to keep the weight off. In contrast to fat camps, you are educated on how to eat healthily and keep fit while still having fun. Wellspring Florida is the "first and only scientifically based summer fitness and weight loss camp in Florida." Professional staff help teach you how to control your weight in the long-term, rather than making you shed the pounds without educating you.
Typical Day at Wellspring
The typical day at a weight loss camp varies according to the camp you choose, but you'll find that the majority will follow a similar structure. If you were to choose Wellspring Florida, your typical day would consist of some light activity in the morning to start off your day, after which you would have a healthy meal. After breakfast you would begin exercising properly, followed by lunch. The ideal aspect of weight loss camps versus fat camps is that they offer group sessions, during which you share how you feel. The group sessions would be followed by a snack, more exercise and then dinner. By the time the evening rolls around, you are treated to whatever social event the camp plans for that day. It could be a movie night or a disco--the possibilities are endless.
Typical Day at Pritikin
At Pritikin, the layout is fairly similar wherein it follows the same structure of meal, exercise, meal. It also has a medical program and because it advertises itself as a spa, you are not only losing weight through the help you receive, but you are on holiday. Its experts in nutrition and medicine give lectures early on in the day, and you also have a cooking class to teach you healthy food preparation. Workshops and seminars are an essential part of the Pritikin program as you are taught how to keep the weight off even after you leave the weight loss camp.
Cost
Depending on the camp you choose, the price normally ranges from around $1,500 to $4,000 per week as of 2010. At Wellspring Florida, a four week camp session is typically $6,490, which works out to $1,622 per week. Pritikin is more expensive at $3,950 per week, but you are paying not only to lose weight but also to stay at a spa.
If you are only interested in losing weight regardless of the comforts, then you can opt for a more traditional weight loss camp. However, if money isn't an issue for you and you want to lose weight while feeling as though you are on holiday, then you can opt for the pricier choice. Keep in mind that the Pritikin also offers an extensive range of help through seminars, cooking classes and more, which is why it is more expensive.
Alternatives
Fat camps are an alternative to weight loss camps, but they might not be ideal. Fat camps focus specifically on getting you to lose the weight without actually teaching you how to keep it off in the long term. Florida Adventure Boot Camp helps you "lose weight, firm up and get fit with this four-week military-style cardiovascular, endurance, strength and fitness program," but it does not offer the same medical advice as Pritikin. The boot camp focuses on helping you lose weight and the routine would be a lot more rigorous--fun is an essential part of losing weight that weight loss camps offer, as not to give you a negative experience. The expected results at boot camps are impressive and you will lose weight. There is, however, no guarantee that you will be able to maintain your weight loss after you leave the boot camp.
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