Create a Weight-Loss Spa—at Home

Stretching at Shane Diet Resorts

We’ve all heard about those fancy spa and fitness resorts where you travel to a beautiful part of the country and spend a week or so eating only delicious, organic food, working out with fun and unique activities, and spending a lot of time just relaxing with a massage or some meditation. Ah, it just sounds glorious. But what if a fitness spa retreat isn’t in your summer vacation budget? We have an answer for that!

The good people over at Shane Diet Resorts, a weight-loss spa located 90 minutes from New York City in the Catskill mountains, recently released a guide to re-creating a day at their resort at home. Read on for an hour-by-hour game plan for having the best and healthiest staycation ever, no matter your budget!

How To Create Your Weight-Loss Spa Experience

8 am—Wake up,  stretch and then head out for a refreshing walk to get your body ready for the day. Walking is the single best activity for losing weight. Bring along your iPod to listen to a book or your favorite music.

9 am—Eat a healthy breakfast of two scrambled eggs, a banana, and a piece of whole wheat toast with jelly and a pat of butter. This satisfying breakfast will jump-start your metabolism for the day, preventing you from over-eating later.

10 am—Take a long bike ride. If you don’t own a bike, rent one. (You can spring for the rental cost for a few hours, since you didn’t splurge on a trip to the resort, after all!) Try exploring a new area or a park to mix up your routine and keep it exciting.

Noon—Create your own facial. Mix a ripe banana with 1 teaspoon of honey and a few drops of lemon juice. Then, apply to your face for 15 minutes and rinse with a steamingwashcloth. This is great for oily skin.

1 pm—Prepare a healthy lunch of Greek salad with low-fat dressing and a whole wheat pita. Opt for a fresh peach as your dessert.

2 pm—Practice yoga. Clear your mind with a class at your local gym, or there try a free online podcast. This is great for both your mind and your body.

3 pm—At Shane Diet Resorts, guests take classes to learn techniques for healthy food preparation at home. Try cooking a new recipe for fun, such as banana bran muffins to have for breakfast the rest of the week. Check out some of the delicious recipes from the resort here.

5 pm—Try interval running either on a treadmill or outdoors. Alternate 1-minute intervals of fast sprinting with a 1-minute recovery jog in between. This type of training enables you to burn more calories in less time.

7 pm—For dinner, prepare a piece of grilled chicken with mango salsa. Be sure to watch the portions on your side dishes—try a ½ cup of steamed brown rice and 1 cup of steamed zucchini with herbs.

8 pm—Take some time to relax. See a movie with a friend, or dive into a favorite novel followed by a warm bath. And lastly, get a good night’s sleep!

That’s it! A lovely day of activity,good food and spending time focusing on one thing and one thing only—you!  A big thanks to Shane Diet Resorts for the tips! —Jenn