By Jennipher Walters for FitBottomedGirls.com
We’ve all heard about those beautiful spa and fitness resorts where you travel to a beautiful part of the country and spend a week eating only delicious, low-calorie 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 or you just don’t have a full week to dedicate? You create a weight-loss spa at home, that’s what!
The 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 plan for having the best and healthiest staycation ever, no matter your budget or timeline!
Your Weight-Loss Spa at Home Plan
8 am — Wake up, stretch and then head out for a walk to get your body going 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 little butter. This nutritious breakfast will jump-start your metabolism for the day, preventing you from overeating 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 of your neighborhood or a scenic park to mix up your routine and keep it exciting.
Noon — Facial time! 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 steaming washcloth. This is great for oily skin.
1 pm — It’s time to fuel up again. 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 try a free online podcast. This is great for both settling your mind and challenging 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.
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, along with quickly building your cardio endurance.
7 pm — For dinner, prepare a piece of grilled chicken with mango salsa. Be sure to watch the portions on your side dishes though. Try ½ cup of steamed brown rice and 1 cup of steamed zucchini with herbs to fill you up.
8 pm — Take some time to relax and wind down for the night. 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. You’ve earned it!
Sounds great, doesn’t it? A lovely day of activity, good food and spending time focusing on just you and your health!
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