fbpx
info@thebodyretreat.co.uk
Call us today on:   +44 (0)203 701 1603
The Body Retreat

The Body Retreat

Women Only Weight Loss & Wellbeing Retreats

Author: Jabernet

Ditch the Crazy Quick Fix Diets

Its Silly Season For Weightloss Diets

Some women will go to extreme lengths to become slimmer versions of themselves. Just have a look at the weight loss products advertised at this time of year – everything from miracle diet shakes, detox drinks made with lemon and pepper to Brazilian berries and slimming tea – just to name a few.

Now we see the evolution of the 5:2 diet, it seems the diet industry knows the importance of continuous movement to keep its products fresh.  The newspapers and magazines are full of “get thin quick” diets.

The promise of the new year and a new you.  At The Body Retreat, we hate that phrase, New You, it implies there is something wrong with the old you, it makes people feel that they are some how not right.

At The Body Retreat we encourage our women to be the Best You, rather than a new you.

In an attempt to become the New You that the magazines offer most people will try any quick-fix miracle weight loss aid or quick fix diet that promises to do the trick.

These crazy gimmick diets play on the hope that we have that maybe this time the miracle will work.

To compound matters in the beginning they do seem to be keeping their promise, when you make a change to the diet you follow a certain amount of weight will be lost, but why do so many women find themselves on new years day looking for yet another miracle… because whatever the quick fix diet, the shake, the pill, the juice,  they are no substitute for a healthy banned diet.   One that is based on solid nutritional principles to not only hep you to lose the fat you want to shed but to promote strength, energy and health.

The Danger of Quick Fix Diets

The truth is that quick fix diets can actually be harmful to your health in the sort term as they rob you of vital nutrients for daily health as well as leaving your energy levels in the toilet.

In the long term many quick fix diets relay on serious calorie deficits and so place your body into a starvation mode, which in turn slows your metabolic rate, this means that when you do eventually fall of the quick fix wagon you actually starts to store the extra foods you have consumed directly as fat.

That’s not even the worst case scenarios… quick fix diets can upset your appetite and satiety hormones meaning that they are out of balance for up to 2 years.

Ditch The Diets

Ditch the Quick Fix Diets and instead find a nutrition plan that suits your body and your lifestyle and you will never diet again.

We work with you in making a plan that works for where you are right now, where you want to be and factors in your likes and dislikes, your time commitments and budget constraints.  There is no other take home plan that is as tailored.

Thats why at The Body Retreat we work with you to change your mindset and behaviour, to make  healthy choices so that you can enjoy a balanced lifestyle, that you can enjoy occasional treats without guilt and without increasing your waistline. You start to find it easier and easier to make the choices that are what your body really wants and needs right now.

If you have decided that this is the year when you are going to lose the weight that is unnecessary for you then you may find you will succeed in your goal with the right support and guidance.

Thats were the Body Retreats unique Weight Loss Retreat can help.

Our luxury weight loss retreat will change your relationship with food while at the same time boost your energy and fitness levels, so you return home stronger, leaner,  healthier having lost up to 10lbs.*

We have helped hundreds of women ditch the crazy quick fix diets that promise so much and deliver so little.

We keep our retreat numbers small so that you get the best individual attention to ensure that you leave us in the best possible shape with the right tools, resources and midst to succeed in your goal and active the body and fitness you want and deserve.

Contact us to set up a time to chat through exactly how we can help you to turn your back on quick fix dieting for good.

 

* Average weight loss at our weight loss retreats.

Healthy 3 Course Winter Menu – Pudding

Christmas is a time for celebration, for spending time with friends and family , its also a time to enjoy a few splurges through the month.  At The Body Retreat we know that t can be a worry how you entertain while still maintain your waistline.  It can be hard to combine celebration and moderation.  This well balanced three course winter menu is perfect when you want to serve a delicious meal for friends or family during the winter.

Starting the meal with a light but warming Parsnip and Lemon soup will help you to feel fuller sooner and while help to moderate your appetite fort the rest of the meal. Main course is Spiced Pork Casserole served with Couscous which is a rich and opulent and will impress your guests, who will never guess that it only took you 15 mins to prepare.  Then we finish the meal with Plum and Almond Meringue

Plum & Almond Meringue
Serves 4
  • 1lb Plums
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2tbsp ground almonds
  • 3 eggs
  • 40gm caster sugar

Method

Oven at 180

Halve and stone the luis and slice.  Place in a pan with the honey and gently simmer for about 5/6 mins until the plums soften but before they turn pulpy.  Transfer to four individual ramekin dishes. Sprinkle each dish with ground almonds.

Separate the eggs and whisk the whites until stiff, then beat in the caster sugar until glossy. Pile or pipe the meringue on top of the plum and almonds.

Bake in the oven for 10 mins until golden.

Healthy 3 Course Winter Menu – Main Course

Christmas is a time for celebration, for spending time with friends and family , its also a time to enjoy a few splurges through the month.  At The Body Retreat we know that t can be a worry how you entertain while still maintain your waistline.  It can be hard to combine celebration and moderation.  This well balanced three course winter menu is perfect when you want to serve a delicious meal for friends or family during the winter.

Starting the meal with a light but warming Parsnip and Lemon soup will help you to feel fuller sooner and while help to moderate your appetite fort the rest of the meal. Main course is Spiced Pork Casserole served with Couscous which is a rich and opulent and will impress your guests, who will never guess that it only took you 15 mins to prepare.  Then we finish the meal with Plum and Almond Meringue

Spiced Pork with Cous Cous  
Serves 4
  • 1 tsp of each of the following spices : Ground Ginger, Ground Coriander, Sweet Paprika
  • 1/2 tsp of each of the following spices : Cinnamon, All Spice
  • 1lbs of pork shoulder steak
  • 200 mls red wine
  • Juice of half an orange and one strip of peel
  • 2 tbsp rapeseed oil
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tbsp plain flour
  • 1 bulb fennel, trimmed and sliced
  • 1 carrot, sliced
  • 100gms dried apricots
  • 50gm whole almonds
  • 1tbsp honey
  • 1 spring fresh rosemary
  • 80gm Cous Cous
  • 1/2 pomegranate
  • small handful of chopped fresh parsley

Method

Preheat Oven to 150

Trim the meat and cut into large chunks, then heat the oil in a large frying pan and brown the meat in batches.  Transfer the meat to an ovenproof casserole dish.

In the frying pan saute the onion and garlic.  Add the flour and spices and then cook out for a further minute. add the wine, vegetables, orange juice and peel, honey, rosemary.  Simmer for a couple of minutes.  then add the fruit and nuts, stir through and then pour over the meat in the casserole dish.  Transfer to the oven and cook covered for 90 mins, checking at 1 hr if the meat is tender and the sauce is beginning to thicken.  If sauce hasn’t thicken then remove lid for last 1–15 mins of cooking time.

Prepare the cous cous to the preparation guidelines, and before service stir through the pomegranate seeds and chopped parsley.

 

Healthy 3 Course Winter Menu Starter

Christmas is a time for celebration, for spending time with friends and family , its also a time to enjoy a few splurges through the month.  At The Body Retreat we know that t can be a worry how you entertain while still maintain your waistline.  It can be hard to combine celebration and moderation.  This well balanced three course winter menu is perfect when you want to serve a delicious meal for friends or family during the winter.

Starting the meal with a light but warming Parsnip and Lemon soup will help you to feel fuller sooner and while help to moderate your appetite fort the rest of the meal. Main course is Spiced Pork Casserole served with Couscous which is a rich and opulent and will impress your guests, who will never guess that it only took you 15 mins to prepare.  Then we finish the meal with Plum and Almond Meringue

Parsnip and Lemon Soup
Serves 4
  • 1tbp rapeseed oil
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 2 leeks, sliced (only use the white of the leek)
  • 2 celery sticks, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 4 medium parsnips, chopped
  • 1 inch of ginger, peeled and grated
  • 1ltr chicken stock
  • 1 lemon
  • 80 mls single cream
  • Chopped Chives and Parsnip Crisps to garnish

 

Method

In a large pot heat the oil, add the vegetables and ginger, give a sprinkle of salt.  Gently sauté for 5 mins until the vegetables begin to soften but not brown.

Add the stock and the half the lemon and simmer for 20 mins.

Once cooked, remove the lemon half and blend the soup until silky and smooth.

Stir through the cream and season with salt and white pepper to taste.

When ready to serve, gentle reheat.  Serve topped with a squeeze of lemon, a sprinkle of chopped chives and a garnish of parsnip crisps.

 

Carrot Burgers

Perfect for Meat Free Mondays or in fact any day of the week these super tasty Carrot Burgers are a big hit on every retreat.  I defy even the most hardy meat eater to not be satisfied with one of these.

Serves 6
  • 750g carrots , peeled and grated
  • 410g can chickpeas , drained and rinsed
  • 1 small onion , roughly chopped
  • 2 tbsp tahini paste , plus 1 tsp to serve
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbp fresh coriander chopped
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tbsp rapeseed oil
  • 100g Quinoa Flakes or use ryebread flakes
  • zest 1 lemon , plus 1 tsp juice
  • 50ml pot natural yogurt
  • 3 tbsp sesame seeds

 

Making these carrot burgers take only a few minutes if you have a food processor, but you can make them with a hand grater its just an extra work out.

  • Put a third of the grated carrot in a food processor with the chickpeas, onion, 2 tbsp tahini, cumin coriander and egg. Whizz to a thick paste, then scrape into a large bowl.
  • Heat 1 tbsp oil in your largest frying pan, tip in the remaining carrot and cook for 8-10 mins, stirring until the carrot is softened – it will become more golden as it is cooked. Add this cooked carrot to the whizzed paste with the breadcrumbs, lemon zest and sesame seeds. Add seasoning, then mix together well with your hands.
  • Divide the mixture into 6, then using wet hands shape into burgers. Cover and chill until serving.
  • To make the dressing mix the yogurt with the remaining tahini and lemon juice, then chill.

 

To cook, heat a non-stick frying pan and brush the burgers with the remaining oil. Cook the burgers for 5 mins on each side, until golden and crisp and then transfer to a warm over for up to 10 mins while you get on with preparing the salad.

 

If you want to freeze these Carrot Burgers do so after you have moulded them into the burger shape, just place a little bit of baking paper between each burger and then pop into a freezer bag or box.  They will keep for up to three months in freezer and are a perfect stand by meal as you can cook the Carrot Burger straight from frozen, just follow the same steps above nut keep int eh over for 15 minutes to ensure they are warmed the whole way through before serving.