My Detox Retreat Weight Loss Experience at Slimmeria

I've been promising to mail my detox retreat weight loss experience review for a while now… many of you take told me yous're very bully to read it!

To summarise: I spent 5 days and half-dozen nights at Slimmeria, a vegan detox retreat in North Devon, at the end of last month. A place to get your heed, body and soul in social club – it's described as a "weight loss and rejuvenation retreat". So, in a nutshell, how exactly was the experience I hear you enquire?

It was tough, it was barbarous, information technology was eye-opening. But quite simply, it was 1 of the BEST experiences of my unabridged life…

I loved every unmarried infinitesimal of it.

I'm glad to say I Too had some incredibly positive results at the finish of the stay which I shall share with you lot later in the post. But first, let'southward talk well-nigh exactly what I'd let myself in for and why I went… I hope you'll notice information technology a fascinating read. It may not exist what yous're expecting (information technology certainly wasn't what I was expecting).

Disclosure: I was not compensated for writing this post but I was gifted the Slimmeria feel in exchange for a review. Everything I've written is 100% my own opinion and Slimmeria had no control over what I wrote.

Slimmeria: what it is, and why I went

Slimmeria is run by the magnificent Galia Granger (some of y'all may have seen her in Aqueduct 4's Extreme Diet Hotel on TV a few weeks ago) and there are two retreats: one in Ilfracombe, North Devon (where I went) and the other in Hye House, East Sussex. The affair to remember is that it's non simply a "weight loss retreat". Galia'due south aim is to go yous to retrain your manner of thinking about food, almost do, and about cocky-intendance. Yes, you can potentially lose upward to 12lbs (or fifty-fifty a little more) in six days.

But and so much more than that, the betoken is to go you to come away feeling refreshed, energised, incentivised, and positive.

At the end of my six days I came away feeling all those things, and More.

Merlin Court, Ilfracombe, Due north Devon – photo by Slimmeria

Galia is what you call a strength of nature. She'south every bit strict every bit she needs to be to get you doing and thinking the right things, but she'south incredibly kind and understanding with it. There'd be no point having someone run the identify who was a pushover, would at that place? I loved her the moment I met her.

What I didn't expect was how much time she'd spend with u.s.. She was there every step of the manner (though manifestly she's not looking over your shoulder or breathing downwardly your neck every second of the day…) and nosotros saw her every morning and every lunchtime. Her presence was a perfect residuum, and what she does so well is to encourage you when she's around, just also to encourage y'all to self-motivate when she's Not.

She said on our first day about extra walks in the afternoon that aren't scheduled: "The afternoon walks are non obligatory, merely they ARE mandatory…!"

The reason I went was that, since my operation in January, my fitness levels take plummetted and my relationship with food has deteriorated. I'd been steadily putting on weight since I first had the problems with my leg dorsum in 2015, only when I had the op I thought I'd snap dorsum into my good habits, discover my mojo, and start dorsum on my route to existence a fit, stiff woman once more.

This didn't happen. In fact, the OPPOSITE happened.

I think I'd got so far downwards the route of comfort eating and snuggling on the sofa that trying to recuperate subsequently surgery tipped me over the edge, making me more tired, lethargic and lazy than always before. Pizzas became a weekly care for rather than a few-times-a-year treat. The endless good atmospheric condition this summer meant that a whole lot more beer, gin & tonics and cold spectacles of rosé were consumed than normal. Chocolate bars and treats became a daily part of my diet.

What I concluded up with was three-twenty-four hour period headaches several times a calendar month, regularly blocked upwardly sinuses, daily languor and the inability to crouch down to pick something up from the floor without feeling similar I had ninety-twelvemonth-erstwhile legs. Therefore when the adventure to become to Slimmeria was offered I practically leapt through the computer to snatch it out of the hands of the unsuspecting PR who got in touch… information technology was equally if the blogging gods heard my prayers.

My goal was to lose weight, experience stronger and to protect my futurity wellness. Fitting into all the clothes I could no longer fit into would just be a huge bonus and make me feel positive mentally besides.

Check-in and the weigh-in

Upon arrival at Slimmeria on the Sunday afternoon, I was shown to my room on the acme floor of a stunning renovated listed building with incredible views of Ilfracombe. My room was very pretty with my own individual ensuite and a comfy bed… I knew I was going to exist happy there for half dozen nights.

There were five other ladies and myself – six turned out to be a perfect number to make a strong, supportive team. Introductions were made, a bout of the building was given, and instructions for the calendar week ahead were discussed. The retreat itself is stunning; at that place's a spa room, gym (weights and mats more often than not, no large equipment like treadmills or rowing machines), a "chill out" room, dining room, etc.

Nosotros each then had ourselves weighed and measurements taken. We were asked to hand over whatever contraband (ANY food or drinkable – even tea bags for instance), though I think most of what we'd brought was eaten on the journeying up to the retreat…!

To backtrack a little… I was emailed a welcome pack a couple of weeks beforehand which gave communication on how to prep for the detox: Cut downwardly on sugar and processed foods, alcohol, tea, java and fizzy drinks, and drinkable plenty of water. None of those things were a problem for me as I consume very picayune of whatever of those things (with the exception of sugar: I eat all the naughty cakes and biscuits on tiptop of all the healthy stuff). Just I don't drink annihilation with caffeine in it, and very picayune alcohol. So ii weeks before I went I was eating reasonably make clean, the week before I was eatingvery clean. I felt prepared, and absolutely raring to get started.

We didn't have to look long: there was enough time that evening to take our first delicious dinner and go for a long walk around Ilfracombe and downward to the harbour. Sounds like a nice stroll? No… Ilfracombe is Full of steep streets. The hills are barbarous, even round the town centre. We walked up and down Capstone Hill (which looks over the body of water) three times in a row and my legs and lungs nearly died. But what fabricated it worthwhile was the view and the sunset; it was upwardly at that place in my superlative five of Most Amazing Sunsets I've Ever Seen.

The daily routine

This was ane of the best parts of the calendar week: the fact that nosotros had an almost-identical schedule every single 24-hour interval. A typical twenty-four hours looked like this:

7:30am Wake up (a bong is rung in case you lot slumber in)
8:00am Lemon tonic
8:15am Briefing
8:30am Walk (with the coastal paths and hills it's really a brutal two-60 minutes hike, accompanied by Galia)
x:30am Breakfast
11:00am Fettle (circuit and strength training)
12:00pm Yoga or pilates
1:00pm Lunch
3-4:00pm Afternoon tea
(Spa treatments and another afternoon walk of your choosing were fitted in between lunch and dinner)
6:30pm Dinner
7:15pm Evening class of e.m. dance, self-defense, mindfulness, etc.
nine:00pm Bed

So yous tin can see information technology was really well structured. We all got used to our daily routine, and I really thrived on this part of the week. Working late, eating belatedly (or not eating at all!), going to bed late… these were all bad habits I wanted to kick. Having structure and a routine is And then important, and I'm not maxim you lot tin can exercise for six hours a mean solar day in your normal everyday life, merely this was all most getting into good habits.

I found it made me work especially hard knowing that lunch was going to be at 1 pm.

I found it fabricated me accept the time to relax and enjoy my spa treatment because I knew it was coming up at 4:30pm.

And boy, did I need to go to bed by 9pm. Work that hard and yous NEED all the time in bed you tin become. I loved the fact that the communal areas had lights switched out at 9pm so you were forced to retire to your room, accept a read of your book, and then switch out the lights.

The food – a vegan menu

This is the role that is probably what most people are curious (and scared) about – the menu. Yep, it'due south vegan, and designed to cleanse out your arrangement. At Ilfracombe, the calorie intake is a little higher than at the Hye Firm location equally at that place are serious hills to climb and you're therefore burning more calories. And yes, the calorie intake is only around 500 a day.

Now this is the role that most people I've spoken to (earlier and since) react with horror about: How can you survive on 500 calories a day? There's no fashion in the globe I could exercise that.

Firstly… you Can. Information technology's only five full days. Five days out of your whole life. And secondly – the food is absolutely DELICIOUS.

I can honestly say, with hand on heart, that the food was amazing (hats off to Alla the chef/housekeeper) – nosotros all cleaned our plates on nearly every occasion. I didn't leave one scrap of nutrient the whole week – not considering I was so hungry I would eat annihilation put in front of me, just because I loved the food so much. (But and then I also love pretty much all food anyway… I'm an like shooting fish in a barrel-to-delight dinner invitee.) Here are some examples of the meals we had:

In that location were apparently a lot of vegetables, simply too pearl barley, buckwheat, rice, seeds, nuts, etc. "Afternoon tea" was non what you're probably thinking (no Devon cream teas of course) – usually fruit and nuts or raisins. Breakfast was ever juice (carrot and celery or grapefruit and orangish). Lunch was ordinarily cold and raw, dinner was ordinarily something warm and cooked. But it was all very flavoursome with onions, garlic, chilli and seasonings.

And so forget those dreaded visions of boiled cabbage and dark-green juices… it couldn't have been more dissimilar.

As far as hunger went, I only really ever felt hungry in the morning on our walks, and even then it didn't last long. Only a bit of a stomach rumble. Just to be honest when you lot've got such a full schedule you lot just don't have time to sit down and think about how hungry you might be. Even so, what was the primary topic of conversation amongst the group? That's right – FOOD. I think nearly xc% of our conversations revolved effectually food – expert food, naughty food, alcohol consumption, our attitudes towards food. But in a mode, it was skillful that we did considering talking about your relationship with food openly with like-minded women really helped.

The walking and fitness program

This was perhaps the toughest part. Fettle is a MAJOR part of the calendar week because in social club to lose weight y'all demand to burn far more calories than you're consuming. Galia puts a huge emphasis on walking outdoors and its health benefits (I didn't need whatsoever convincing near that office every bit I hold 100%). We were lucky plenty to take the most glorious week of sunshine and mild temperatures, but at Slimmeria you walk all twelvemonth round, come up rain or polish. In that location are no fitness machines or treadmills. You accept walking boots (an absolute must), indoor trainers and outdoor trainers. You lot need to accept countless changes of fettle dress because past midday you'll be sweating profusely and will want to change into something fresh and dry.

Our morning time walks were my favourite part of the day. To get out into the fresh air and sunshine, to run across the well-nigh incredible scenery (the sea views on the littoral paths are stunning) and to go your middle beating and your blood pumping produces an awful lot of endorphins. All those factors areguaranteed to produce positive mental results. What Galia fabricated the states practise was to walk at our ain step, so for those in the group that concluded up further alee, we'd walk back to join the others, give high fives all round for encouragement and then keep to walk on.

Team spirit was ane of the all-time things well-nigh the week: connecting with a fabled grouping of women who all had a similar goal (and who weren't naysaying with"Oh simply you look fine, you lot don't need to lose weight…") was So brilliant and Then encouraging. Existence a team player was vital to the success of our week, especially where tough workouts and steep hills came into information technology.

Photo by Slimmeria

We walked somewhere different every day and climbed hills, trekked over coastal paths, visited tiny littoral villages, walked amid cows and breathed in body of water air. As nosotros were free to walk on our own or with others in the afternoons we did something different each time; Woolacombe embankment (a brusk drive abroad) – being sandy, apartment and three miles long – was a favourite.

The fitness, pilates, dance, etc. classes were all taken by professionals: personal trainers (ex-military) and qualified instructors. The classes were pretty tough, but still a lot of fun. We were lucky plenty to do circuit training outside on the terrace in the sunshine nearly every solar day, adding to the positivity. By the end of the week my musculus-memory had kicked in and I felt stronger and leaner. I establish a new passion for pilates (I likened it to a faster, more than move-y yoga if that makes sense).

The location (Ilfracombe, North Devon)

This was SUCH a massive bonus: Ilfracombe itself. There are good and bad points well-nigh being in such a picturesque, coastal on the beautiful Northward Devon coast, even so.

The skilful: the scenery is stunning. There are loads of wonderful shops, fine art galleries (I may have spent a fair fleck of money on some fine art for our new business firm…), independent boutiques and astonishing-looking cafes and restaurants.

The "bad": In that location are loads of amazing-looking cafes and restaurants. I say amazing looking because obviously there is the temptation of walking and passing all the bacon and fish and chips and bread smells. (Personally, I wouldn't DREAM of going to the retreat and undoing all my difficult work by popping in for a cream tea or fish and chips, simply people have in the past apparently?! Our group was solid and supportive plenty to brand sure no i strayed. Nosotros were there for each other.)

The fact that Ilfracombe is so hilly is a huge bonus; your thighs and calves become the ultimate workout even just from walking daily. If nosotros walked round the town we unremarkably fabricated sure nosotros left our wallets at home to avoid temptation of eating/drinking anything naughty.

The harbour is particularly fabulous – information technology boasts the controversial statue "Verity" by British contemporary artist Damien Hirst. She's in bronze, naked and heavily pregnant, holding a sword upwardly to the heaven in i hand and a set of scales in the other. However, in truthful Damien Hirst fashion you lot get to run across inside her every bit well as outside… she's a dear-her-or-hate-her work of art – we all LOVED how empowering she is.

So Ilfracombe is somewhere I want to go dorsum to presently only to experience it every bit a littoral town on a weekend abroad. Admittedly I want to try all the restaurants and cafes: the seafood places especially. When I'm leaner and fitter I will… I'1000 drastic for Keith to visit it with me.

How I felt daily from Monday to Sabbatum

For me personally, I recollect because I was a very fit person until recently and I didn't accept a huge amount of weight to lose and the fact that I already don't swallow, tea, coffee, much booze, fizzy drinks meant I didn't get the headaches or suffer from sugar withdrawal. If yous're a caffeine and saccharide aficionado I can imagine it will hitting yous hard, then prepping yourself in accelerate by cutting them down every bit much equally possible would make a huge difference I'm certain.

I was admittedly exhausted at the stop of Monday (the first full day). Merely with each day I felt gradually fitter and stronger, and autonomously from my one blip (encounter highs and lows beneath) I didn't endure any side furnishings. By the end of Wednesday I was already feeling the positive furnishings and could meet that my prone-to-bloating tummy had gone right back to being flat.

On Th afternoon I tackled Capstone Loma over again by myself: the difference in my fitness levels was remarkable. On the start night I was wheezing and had to end many times on the style up; by Thursday I practically raced up it without stopping for breath. I also found myself literally RUNNING upwards the 3 flights of stairs to my room to go something but before dinner one evening at the end of the week – without even thinking about information technology. At the commencement of the week I was out of breath by the commencement flooring, and about dead going upwards the final, 3rd (fourth?) flying.

The difference in how I felt from Lord's day to Sat was ENORMOUS.

The highs – and the ane low

I'll offset with the 1 depression, and it actually was pocket-sized. Galia warned the states that mid-week was the betoken where you lot might feel depression or pretty rough, just it would be the turning signal for sure. My only "bleep" was on Wednesday after we'd been doing circuit training on our cores outside in the lord's day on the terrace. I was hot, tired and actually, Really didn't experience similar doing pilates direct after as I was aching from all the practise nosotros'd done upwardly to that point – but I got through it. Once I had lunch my mind switched (oh, the ability of a skilful meal!) and from and so on information technology was onwards and upwards for the residuum of the week.

But it goes to show that this is not a sustainable diet/fitness routine, and it's not designed to exist. Every bit Galia says, it's a short, sharp shock to the system to kickstart adept habits. No one should consume so few calories and do that much exercise for more than one week, nor should they do it unsupervised.

So that was the simply (modest) depression, and so what most the highs? Where do I brainstorm…

~ The food was tasty and beautifully cooked. I absolutely can't error it.

~ The days were well structured and gave us picayune time to get bored or give in to temptation. Plenty of rest time was scheduled in besides as the fitness authorities.

~ The fitness was a perfect blend of strength training, calorie called-for and walking – and fabricated you feel Amazing afterwards.

~ I complimentary spa treatment (massages, facials, etc.) was included with my stay, and you can then book more than if you wish. I had two deep tissue massages and 2 relaxation massages, and the old were cruel (a give-and-take I know I've been using in this post a lot) and the latter were heaven. Only they were truly needed considering I had really aching shoulders (more my legs similar the residual of the grouping) and I'm then glad I had them.

~ The scenery: the walks and the surrounding countryside, seascapes and landscapes were out of this world. So many unlike walks, then many routes, so much to see you'll never get bored of where you are.

~ The team spirit was everything and I loved the group of ladies I was with. I've made friends for life – nosotros'd find ourselves hooting with laughter every single mealtime (and perchance even through fitness classes a flake too, oops). We at present have a Whatsapp grouping to proceed to support each other and speak to each other about days.

~ The weather was simply glorious. I know it's not something that can be controlled, and you do go out in all weathers to walk all year circular, only we had a calendar week of Indian summertime at the end of September and boy, did it help with the endorphins.

~ It made me appreciate everything then much more and be thankful for what I accept in life. Non that I was taking anything for granted before per se, simply in that location'southward so much fourth dimension for reflection (we had a mindfulness class and it really got me thinking) and relaxation that life becomes clearer. The stuff that had been weighing me downwardly before seemed to ebb away day by day.

I came away feeling totally refreshed mentally equally well every bit physically. I've honestly never felt better – and I'm 46. I've been very slim and very fit before, but much of that was due to stress and unhappiness in my life. This was the fourth dimension to get both correct at the same time.

The results (and the bonuses)

So here we go… what were my results at Slimmeria? To exist honest, I felt Then astonishing at the cease of my week that in a mode the potential weight loss was secondary to how adept I FELT. Only obviously weight loss, when you've been piling on the pounds for so long, is a massive bonus and something of a reward at the stop for all your hard work.

Pulsate ROLL…

In the end I lost a total of 8lbs and lost 3″ off my boobs and three.five″ off my waist (3.6kg, seven.5cm and 9cm)… Issue!! Pleased? You bet. So proud of myself.

So information technology proves what tin can be accomplished in merely five days when you put your listen to it. I'll say it over again… this is non meant to be a sustainable diet and fitness regime. It'due south a KICKSTART.

The rest of the group did brilliantly also: 6lbs, 10lbs, 12lbs, 13lbs and 14lbs were lost by the others, and up to 6″ off waists were achieved. We were incredibly proud of ourselves. It's safe to say we all left on deject nine.

As far as my health went, I wasn't getting headaches and I slept similar a infant (nearly) every dark, waking automatically at 6am just before my alarm would get off. I've had bunged up sinuses for absolutely ages, going to bed and waking every morning with a stuffed upwards nose. That before long went – someone in the grouping suggested cutting out dairy may well have been a factor, so I was pleased about that likewise (and am sworn off dairy as much as possible from at present on).

I woke up on the last 24-hour interval (Saturday) feeling full of beans, incredibly positive (a bit pitiful that it was nearly all over though) and craving fresh food similar eggs, lean craven, and fish with lots and lots of vegetables. Rather than coming abroad wanting to eat all the chocolate and cake I could get my hands on, I but wanted fresh, clean nutrient.

In fact, I was and so desperate for eggs I asked Keith to bring a boiled egg in the car with him when he picked me up from the station…!

And finally: the pain in my leg which has plagued me for and so long seems to have (=she knocks on wood=) disappeared. At that place would take been NO Mode I could have done all that exercise last twelvemonth (pre-op) without my leg going into spasm or causing me severe pain, so getting back into practice has made all the difference. I'k stunned at how my leg has improved.

The promises I have made to myself

I was total of ideas for my new healthy life past the terminate of the calendar week. I pledged to practise the following:

1. Look into getting a personal trainer for one session a week (I'm waiting to hear dorsum from those I've contacted). I want to "report" to someone while I proceed the good habits.
2. Continue with pilates by signing up to classes at my local gym which is a 3-minute walk from our new house.
3. Book fortnightly deep-tissue massages every bit recommend by the masseuse.
4. Go back to regular running like I used to. I e'er enjoyed it and I miss it.
5. Go for a fast, fat-burning walk early every forenoon before Keith goes to work – again, this was a addiction that lapsed. Riley is erstwhile and ho-hum so canis familiaris walking isn't any sort of fat burner for me unfortunately.
6. Get to bed early, and cease working at 6pm. I want to structure my days much better so that I'm non working late into the night and and so find myself too tired to kickoff early on.
7. Treat myself at the weekends with a little nighttime chocolate. Ilfracombe has the well-nigh incredible artisan chocolate shop where they make everything on site (oh, the irony) – I bought a ton of small, individually wrapped dark chocolate treats to eat at weekends but. Night chocolate isn't moreish like sickly milk chocolate then a footling one time a week will more satisfy me.

It felt good to brand these promises to myself. I may well do a follow upward post in a calendar month or two to allow you know how I got on with all these things. To showtime, these were the kickoff meals I cooked on my return…

Exactly the food I was peckish. I can't tell you how my eating habits have changed since I've been back.

Slimmeria prices and availability

In that location are several dissimilar packages and prices bachelor at Slimmeria, and y'all'll find they offer a lot of deals and discounted prices so it's worth keeping an middle on their Hot Deals page. For example, prices start at £795 for an "Indian Summer madness" deal for vii days with two spa treatments at Hye House. Y'all can also do brusque breaks if a calendar week is too long for y'all… there is loads of choice.

Something to note: the Ilfracombe retreat closes this month for winter and reopens in March, but Hye House is open all yr round. If you lot remember what is offered to you and what yous get out of this retreat when compared to a stay in an average hotel, information technology's VERY good value for money (and y'all'll feel then much healthier at the end).

My conclusions about Slimmeria

I think y'all can tell that I thoroughly enjoyed my calendar week, and I was incredibly proud of my achievements. I came away with so much more than than three inches off my waist and 8lbs off my frame; I came away with experiences I'll never forget, a refreshed, revitalised body and heed AND friends for life.

I get that it wouldn't be for anybody, I'm definitely non saying that. BUT if your goal is to remotivate yourself, to go your head sorted and to kicking bad habits into the ground, then this is an astonishing fashion to do it.

If you lot ARE thinking of embarking on a Slimmeria retreat, for goodness sake brand sure you visit your doctor first. If you have any underlying wellness problems then information technology'due south very important that they're addressed because the farthermost calorie burning and the low-calorie nutrition may cause yous more problems.

Finally: I desire to thank Galia and everyone involved in making this happen – and for making information technology so special for me (they know who they are). Fifty-fifty to Keith for taking the calendar week off work to await after Riley so I could go. It was a week I'one thousand non going to forget in a hurry.

Yes, I lost 8lbs which is incredible… but the experience meant then, SO much more than that to me. It's up in that location in my top v life experiences, that's for sure.

#GushOver

Tell me your thoughts on my experience in the comments… Would you consider going to a Slimmeria retreat? What are YOUR wellness and fitness goals? Do share!

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Source: https://www.notdressedaslamb.com/2018/10/detox-retreat-weight-loss-experience-at-slimmeria.html

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