For all intents and purposes we are still in the throes of winter: it’s cold and miserable out and the ultimate in demoralising seasonal features – it appears to be eternally dark – not exactly a recipe for 6 am runs and a diet of raw vegetables.  Nonetheless, tradition dictates that this is a time for firm resolve and healthy intentions, and tradition is a far wiser mistress than our own predilection for duvets and sticky toffee pudding – it is hard to find a better time for a new start than a new year.

Of course, a resolution is easier made than done, and when it comes to losing weight few theories have proven more effective than the age-old adage – eat less, move more.

That said there is no point in losing weight if you don’t stay healthy at the same time – a diet of Haribo and vodka shots while dancing until the wee hours may have worked for the heroin-chic model era, but real women who do not want their insides to turn to a gelatinous medley of pickled additives and would rather resemble the enviably athletic physique of Elle Macpherson (aspiration is imperative – did you see her surfing this week?!) know that it takes a healthy lifestyle to make a longstanding difference.

Despite the general enthusiasm of the first few weeks of January however, it also seems a time of incredible self-flagellation – women in particular are guilty of comparing themselves to contemporaries and self-berating for all the things they are doing wrong.  A healthy lifestyle change should be a positive thing – it is supposed to be something that makes you feel good, so it is important it is also something you enjoy, and while we are all intelligent human beings perfectly capable of getting ourselves dressed in the morning, this is where we could often use a little help and advice.

The collective realisation that a new routine and the delicate restructuring of long term dietary hardwiring is the most effective way to lose weight and stay healthy may well explain the increasing popularity of bootcamps.  Naturally, the trend started with celebrities sweating in the Los Angeles sunshine, and it has now trickled down to us mere mortals – you know the idea: military style misery but you have abs like Jennifer Lopez come the end of it.

Well, not being at school any more we don’t see why exercise should be accompanied by cold showers and questionable food – we didn’t have a penchant for it then, and we don’t care much for it now.  Speak to any woman and she will be happy to put in the work to be in good shape, but not at the expense of her en-suite shower – exactly which Machiavellian gloomy-guts decided exercise should be some sort of cruel and unusual punishment anyway?

It’s this realisation that is now modifying old school techniques and turning bootcamps into a luxury option.  Residential Retreat in Essex, Hillmotts Spa & Fitness Retreat in Beaconsfield, and ReBoot bootcamp in Dorset are amongst a new trend for a rather more palatable take on the traditional model.  Each benefitting from picturesque locations – if you are going to go for a power walk, run, or in some cases a bit of a bounce on a space hopper, you might as well do it with a sea view; they offer nutritional advice which has the added benefit of teaching recipes that are easy to incorporate into everyday life; decadent accommodation; and perhaps most importantly of all, they offer on-going support after you leave.

If you think about it, this makes a lot of sense – if exercise and healthy eating is something you have positive associations with it is something you are more likely to stick to – it is about a healthy body and a healthy mind, and you can’t have any of that unless you are happy as well – after all it’s your lifestyle – enjoy it!

For bootcamp offers and options visit Spabreaks.com or contact our team on 0800 043 6600