Fat Camp vs Health Retreat

Friday, August 1, 2014 Permalink

I’ve talked before about my experiences at Fat Camp (where I lost nearly 15kg in a month). My feelings about the time are mixed. I know eating 700-900 calories a day and doing 5hrs of exercise is not even vaguely sustainable. Or healthy. But sometimes now – when I feel really desperate to do something about my weight and my health quickly… I wonder whether I’d return there. I hated much about the place, but it achieved results. Briefly.

Fortunately I don’t spend long pondering because IΒ can’t afford it anymore anyway.Β But the other day I was doing that thing we all do from time to time….

“If I won a million dollars I would….”Β 

And of course the one thing I’d want to do would be to address my weight. Or at least have someone else address it for me. πŸ˜‰

In all seriousness I wouldn’t return to Fat Camp. The one I attended was based on The Biggest Loser. Most of the exercise was far from fun and involved burpees, moving large tyres and logs, running hills and climbing gazillions of steps. Hardly the stuff of dreams.

Source: southparkstudios.com

Source: southparkstudios.com

I would however, return to a health retreat. Many moons ago when I was more financially flush (and working overseas) I spent three weeks at the (former) Golden Door Health Retreat in the Gold Coast Hinterland. I was very stressed, unhealthy and overworked at the time and the experience was life-changing. I returned a couple of years later for a week (less financially flush obviously) and still found the experience beneficial – but not as much so as my longer time there.

The second time I was there I came across a long-termer. A stupendously wealthy person who was there for a few months.

So if I won a million dollars that’s what I’d do now. I couldn’t return to the Golden Door near the Gold Coast as it’s now a Biggest Loser style camp. Blech! But I know there are others there – Camp Eden and Gwinganna. I can’t even afford a week there now but a girl can dream and if when I will those millions, I’ll be there – with bells on. Checking in for a couple of months.

Gwinganna - pic from perthnow.com

Gwinganna – pic from perthnow.com

Unlike the Fat Camp / Biggest Loser style places, a health retreat is more nurturing in nature. It’s not about breaking you down and building you up again. Health retreats aren’t meant to be demoralising. There’s generally as much focus on pampering and nourishing as there is on healthy food and exercise. One can actually enjoy being at a health retreat. It’s a pleasure not a punishment.

And that’s where my mindset’s changed a lot over recent years.

I (mostly) no longer believe I deserve to be punished because of my weight. Sure I need to make some changes, but I need to be supported to do that: not yelled at; not made to run up a hill when I can’t; and not starved.

So… if when I win that one million dollars you’ll know where to find me!

What would you do with $1m?Β 

Flogging my blog With Some Grace.

31 Comments
  • Sanch @ Living my Imperfect Life
    August 1, 2014

    Holy shit! 5 hours of exercise! How is that even sustainable in the real world? I mean, I love exercising but no way would I be doing 5 hours a day! I haven’t ever been to a health retreat…

    1 million — hmmm…I could do a lot. I’d probably pay off the unit, reduce my days at work to 3 or 4, travel a bit and write.

    Now to just go and buy that lotto ticket…

    • Debbish
      August 1, 2014

      I know. I fantasise (occasionally) about winning money but don’t ever buy lotto tickets etc. (And no longer work in a way that I’m likely to earn it!!!)

  • Pinky Poinker
    August 1, 2014

    I investigated the Eden retreat once and seriously thought about it but stayed at my parents place instead. That’s like a health retreat as they don’t drink and only have healthy food and make you go on lots of walks sight seeing. It was much cheaper!

    • Debbish
      August 1, 2014

      Oh I can imagine. Those health retreats are bloody expensive! (Which is why I chose Fat Camp for a month in 2009 and it still cost me a small fortune!)

    • Debbish
      August 1, 2014

      PS. When I went to The Golden Door for 3wks in 2001 I used money I’d put aside for a month in Italy (as it was about the same amount – incl. flights). I decided I was too stressed and unhealthy to enjoy a ‘trip’ anywhere and needed to focus on my health instead!

  • Trish
    August 1, 2014

    i think I would join you at that Health Retreat – I’ve been Googling a few related especially to focusing on Cancer and health.
    Then I’d hire a personal trainer to teach me the right running form.

    • Debbish
      August 2, 2014

      Oh yes, you certainly deserve a break Trish. On my first visit to the Golden Door there was a guy who took private breathing lessons (Feldenkrais I think?) and everyone raved about him – how he helped with breathing and movement. There was also a swim coach to help with correct technique. Quite frankly I was happy with the basics – gym classes, some dance, fitball classes etc. (Not to mention the massages and facial included in the package!)

  • Jess
    August 1, 2014

    I would totally join you on the health retreat, sounds amazing! Shame of the cost

    • Debbish
      August 2, 2014

      Absolutely! I think some allow you to do shorter stays nowadays but I’m not sure I’d benefit from 3 days of a ‘healthier’ me. No habits changed in that time!

  • Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me
    August 1, 2014

    Yes being yelled at is not great. I have started group PT and our trainer doesn’t yell, she targets exercises for us. I have lost 10kg in 6 weeks, but it was for my wedding. It is not something that is sustainable in every day. I also had no children. Slow and steady wins the race I reckon. Can I come to that retreat with you? Now how do we get rich quick? Have a great weekend Deb x

    • Debbish
      August 2, 2014

      Still working on that get-rich-quick thing. Obviously. #hmmmm

  • Alix @ Fabufitmum
    August 1, 2014

    Oh my God, how amazing would being a long termer be! Going somewhere like Gwinganna is definitely on my bucket list πŸ™‚

    • Debbish
      August 2, 2014

      The guy I mentioned at the Golden Door was in the midst of a 9mth stay – which was quite ridiculous really as he (apparently) often left for weekends and then returned. By the time I got there he barely participated in any group activities and I think he did some work during the day and private training sessions (add-ons) and just joined us all for meals.

  • Lee-Anne
    August 2, 2014

    The health camp sounds great in THEORY, just not sure I’m disciplined enough to give up my vices for a good cause…

    BTW just tagged you in an award post Deb – http://bit.ly/1kbSfEs Don’t feel pressured to respond, just wanted to give you the ‘heads up’. Compliments are nice in any form! πŸ™‚

    • Debbish
      August 2, 2014

      Touch wood – I’ve actually not detoxed too badly (despite my love of diet coke and all-things-bad-for-me) but others there have struggled. At the health retreat I went to they also try to avoid medications to treat you…. I recall the dandelion tea was supposed to help. (PS. I didn’t touch the stuff!)

  • Kathy
    August 2, 2014

    I’m coveting that health retreat at Gwinganna too and it’s right on my doorstep (I live on the Gold Coast) just tempting me, if I won some sort of fortune. It’s yoga all the way for me right now – I have lost 5kg over the last few months, would like to lose another 5kg but the main things is how much I love what I do.

    • Debbish
      August 2, 2014

      Oh wow, that’s great Kathy. I do yoga, but not as often as I should. Even when I wasn’t previously doing other (any cardio) exercise, I used to do pilates twice a week and generally felt quite strong (even if very overweight). I think yoga will give the same sensation if I can get there more than once a week or fortnight.

  • EssentiallyJess
    August 2, 2014

    I think I’d join you from the sounds of this πŸ™‚
    Honestly I have no idea what I’d do with a million dollars. A whole lot of things probably.

    • Debbish
      August 3, 2014

      Yes… am fairly sure I’d find other ways to spend it as well. πŸ™‚

  • Susan Lattwein
    August 3, 2014

    It would be great to be rich enough to employ a cook who dished up healthy, delectable food.
    A million dollars? What a nice problem, what fun to trawl through the options… πŸ™‚

    • Debbish
      August 3, 2014

      Oh I know – like celebrities who have trainers and cooks. Mind you, I guess some of them struggle with their weight (unless they have someone following them around slapping food out of their hands!).

  • Lisa@RandomActsOfZen
    August 3, 2014

    Deb, I’ll be right there with you! It’s been on my list for a long time, now I just need that million! x

    • Debbish
      August 3, 2014

      Yep, me too. It’s the only thing holding me back! πŸ™‚

  • Grace
    August 3, 2014

    I’ve heard of Gwinganna and its inflated prices.
    If I had a million bucks, I’d head to Bali, buy my own place in Ubud among the rice fields and have my own health retreat. Eat clean, mediate every day and walk everywhere.

    • Debbish
      August 4, 2014

      Ah yes…. but I need someone to control me! πŸ™

  • Jo Tracey
    August 3, 2014

    I’d normally say travel, but right now what I need is quiet. I just had a couple of days in the bush with family & in the breaks between endless & loud re-runs of ninja turtle movies (played for my 3 year old nephew) & multiple meal sittings, I’d sit outside in the snow & the cold & let my mind just sit. That’s what I want- a whole week where I can get up & go to bed when I want, with no alarm clock, no decisions, no noise. Then I can miss the noise & come back home & start all over again.

    • Debbish
      August 4, 2014

      I’ve kinda done that on a lot of my holidays Jo. Just not-worked. Stayed at home with no plans. Just me and the peace and quiet!

  • Vanessa
    August 10, 2014

    I can’t stand the biggest loser/yelling PT stereotype stuff. If that’s truly what works for you, then fine, but I don’t believe it would work for many. I’d rather be spoken to as an equal, not yelled at like a child…

    • Debbish
      August 10, 2014

      Yes, I cringe now when I look at pictures of people lugging tyres about. #ugh

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