Back home safe and sound!

Friday was the last full day of our holiday and my holidaymakers took a chair lift up a mountain, walked down to a hut for lunch and then relaxed in the afternoon ready for our final evening’s activity – the big Awards Ceremony.

Everyone on the holiday wins an award, from Slimmer of the Week to who caught the biggest fish when we went trout fishing. There were Bravery Awards for those scared of heights but who still made it in the cable car or a chair lift, Perseverance Awards, Awards for performances at the Concert, and so on. Everyone wins prizes and a jolly time is had by all and everyone is looking forward to next year. I do not know of any holiday that creates so much ‘good’ in people and where friendships are forged and barriers are broken down. It is unique and wonderful.

On Saturday we travelled back to Zurich by coach. To have 39 women arriving at an airport together, but dividing up to go to three different destinations, Manchester, Birmingham and Heathrow, takes some organising but, with the help of one of the guests and our holiday administrator, all of us had been checked in ‘on line’ the previous evening which meant that we could be issued with boarding passes and luggage labels as a group. The big bonus of doing it this way was that our cases weren’t weighed which was a miracle. Normally we have a real struggle with excess baggage as Swiss are so strict. Great result!

So, why does this holiday work so well for folk:

Almost everyone lost weight – one gained ½ lb, two stayed the same but everyone else lost. Our Slimmer of the Week lost 6.8 lbs, 2nd 6.6 lbs, 3rd 6.0 lbs. And that was after eating a very substantial breakfast, a variety of lunches and a four-course dinner each evening – plus alcohol (though Pat, who came 2nd, had not drunk throughout the week and lost 6.6 lbs). But most of the food was low-fat and that certainly helped to keep the calories down.
This was an activity holiday. There were at least two walks a day totalling around three hours in total. On top of that we had three aerobic/toning workouts for 45 minutes.
We had little time to sit down and do nothing. If we weren’t changing clothes for the next activity we were rehearsing for the concert or getting organised for our next activity.
There was plenty of tuition in the form of ‘talks’, and therefore understanding of how to lose weight and become fitter. When you hear it and then do it, it helps.
We were in it together. The group dynamics helped enormously and everyone was encouraging each other, being interested in one another’s situations back home. It was great therapy for everyone.
And everyone was rewarded. Whether it was on the scales, in the Awards, or just feeling fitter and healthier, we all felt better for our week - even the three of us who ran it. Whilst we are constantly on the go, to see the transformations of the guests over the week is hugely gratifying which is why we do it again, year after year.

I am very much aware that this holiday is not an option for many folks reading this but you can still benefit from the education, exercise classes, support and group activity by joining one of our classes. Many of our holidaymakers are members of Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs or rosemaryconleyonline. Check out our website if you need some help and support. That’s what we’re here for. www.rosemaryconley.com.

No one can put a value on feeling fit and healthy. It really is worth making an effort today.