TURBO DETOX INFORMATION
We’re delighted to hear that you have booked on our Turbo Detox Retreat at Champneys! We have worked closely with the Champneys team to develop a programme that will help cleanse, detox and inspire you. The following pack will help you to prepare for the weekend; any specific questions then please do not email our event co-ordinator, heather@amandahamilton.co.uk I look forward to meeting you at Champneys in due course! All the best,
Champneys is delighted to welcome you to our new programme of Turbo Detox weekends that we have developed with Amanda and her team. We hope that you have a fantastic and inspiring weekend and that I will have the chance to meet you at some point. Have a wonderful time! Louise Day Wellbeing Director Champneys
Your programme at Champneys The detox and body cleanse “core” Your programme combines natural therapies and supplements with a functional food programme to deliver enzyme-rich, mineral-balancing foods – both of which deliver results fast. Clients can expect to lose around 1lb per day, although it is often more. The detox is designed to shift pounds, boost energy and vitality and according to a recent guest, “look and feel 10 years younger”. Your supplement regime is a key component of your body cleanse programme and it consists of two main parts: digestive support and liver detoxification support. Dr Lawrence Plaskett developed the two formulae that we use on the course: Colon Support Formula and Detox Formula. He had a noteworthy career which ranged from a first class Cambridge degree, pioneering medical research, as a scientific writer and Professor of his own Nutritional Medicine courses. COLON SUPPORT FORMULA Psyllium Husk, Bentonite Clay, Garlic, Cloves, Citrus Pectin, Slippery Elm, Barberry. Raspberry Leaves, Oregon Grape Root, Fennel Seed, Rhubarb Root, Burdock Root, Buckthorn Bark, Cayenne, Ginger Root. DETOX SUPPORT FORMULA Magnesium, Beta Caroten, Vitamin E, Choline, L-Glutamine, Glycine, L-Cystein, Vitamin C, L-Glutamic Acid, L-Methionne, Zinc, Selenium, Niacin, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2, Coeznyme Q10, Manganese, Copper, Folacin, Vitamin A And Vitamin B12.
Boosting digestion The body cleanse will help to boost digestive function and aids the removal of toxic waste through a colon hydrotherapy treatment. Suggestions on longer-term digestive support will be given during your session as this is personalized to your body and your lifestyle.
Boosting your liver function The liver is the largest organ in the body and performs up to 500 functions, which range from storing vitamins to detoxifying and eliminating wastes from the body and breaking down fat.
What this means is that a toxic or overloaded liver (sometimes called a ‘sluggish’ liver) can actually cause weight gain. The liver needs a substance called bile (that yellowish green substance) to emulsify and absorb fats. If this bile lacks nutrients, gets congested or if the bile ducts themselves become blocked then you have what is called a ‘sluggish’ or ‘fatty’ liver. The liver is not able to work effectively if it lacks certain nutrients from the food you eat or if it is congested with man-made chemicals. The body cleansing programme provides your liver with the essential nutrients needed to optimise its functioning.
Eating Your daily diet will consist of a blend of delicious detox meals and a wide range of fresh juices and broths during the detox days. All the foods have been selected for their beneficial effects on the body – not least for their support of the liver – essential to detox and weight loss. This programme is different to the vast majority of diets that calorie count, yet fail to count nutrient value. Without essential nutrients the key systems, glands and organs of the body that are our main players in weight loss are depleted of their energy. When the body is lacking in essential nutrients such as zinc, chromium, magnesium and manganese, we also are more likely to crave foods such as refined sugars and carbohydrate which can lead to eventual weight gain.
Exercise During a cleanse programme your body is working hard to heal and rejuvenate, therefore the maxim “less is more” applies. Choosing a gentle exercise programme at Champneys is recommended!
Preparation In order to maximise the effects of the programme it is suggested that you undertake some gentle preparation. Although it is not essential, it can help boost the benefits you can achieve. Generally speaking, five to seven days of following a pre-cleanse diet is ideal and there are two main steps needed to prepare your body to ensure that you get the most out of the programme; hydration and diet. Many clients begin to look and feel significantly better with these steps alone!
Hydration Around 90% of us are dehydrated to some extent. Symptoms include constipation, fluid retention, dry skin, dry eyes, inflammation, low energy and immune dysfunction. Even mild dehydration will slow down the body’s metabolism by 3% and a lack of water is the number one trigger of daytime fatigue. Actions Start the day with a glass of warm or hot water with a slice of lemon that will aid both the bowel and the liver function. Throughout the rest of the day, drink a minimum of 4 pints of un-carbonated mineral/filtered/distilled water. You will need more if you exercise. You should also cut out diuretic drinks such as coffee, tea, cola, and alcohol – indeed; if you still consume these then drink one extra glass of water per drink. Caffeine We are all familiar with the ‘buzz’ that caffeine can give. Many products are marketed solely on the basis of this false energy kick, but that lively feeling is actually the sensation of adrenaline being pumped around the body as a result of the caffeine hit. However, the adrenal glands tire of constant stimulation and when the inevitable adrenal fatigue kicks in it leads to a slow-down in the conversion of stored fats (and proteins and carbohydrates) into energy. We experience this failure in the energy chain as a craving for more stimulants in the form of more caffeine from another cup of tea, coffee, cola drink or caffeinated beverage or a quick sugar hit. Caffeinated drinks are often the cause of mineral depletion in the body and can adversely affect bone density. Try to cut down caffeine intake, or ideally cut it out altogether, prior to your turbo-detox weekend. If you find caffeine a difficult habit to break, cut down gradually and switch to good quality decaf. In the UK, Café Nero sells a decaf coffee that is processed without chemicals – just don’t supersize!
Diet Give your body a break! The less dietary stress you place on your body during a precleanse the better so if you take steps to cut down or cut out the most common ‘problem’ foods the better off your body will be. WHEAT Cutting down on wheat means avoiding biscuits, bread, cakes and pasta, and learning to read the labels on the food you buy, because wheat is found in many processed foods. Even if you are not intolerant to wheat, its gluten content means that it remains one of the most difficult foods to digest. What is more, wheat products are almost always refined, which means that any goodness has been taken out and replaced by chemical additives and preservatives. Instead, eat oatcakes, rice cakes, rye bread, wheat-free bread, rice, quinoa, buckwheat and spelt. DAIRY Dairy products are often the cause, hidden or otherwise, of food intolerances and allergies and can be mucous forming in the body. Dairy means products from a cow such as milk, cheese, and ice cream or cream. Don’t worry about your calcium intake, as an adult who has already stopped growing, you get a sufficient amount of calcium from green vegetables. Using small amounts of butter, organic if possible, is fine and organic milk is preferential to other types. You may wish to take the opportunity to try soya milk, rice milk, oat milk or almond milk as dairy alternatives if you have not done so already, but be sure the product is not sweetened. Goats’ products, such as feta cheese, can still be used sparingly as it is easier to digest. Finally, natural, unsweetened yoghurt is fine in moderation. SUGAR Simple carbohydrates promote weight gain whereas complex carbohydrates help you maintain steady energy. Sugar – white or brown – is a simple carbohydrate. Examples of other simple carbohydrates include fruit juice, milk, yogurt, honey, molasses and maple syrup. Simple carbohydrates, which are also known as refined sugars, are often hidden within ‘diet’ or ‘low fat’ products, so you must get label-savvy in order to detect them. These simple carbohydrates are broken down and digested very quickly, and contain very few essential vitamins and minerals.
Examples of complex carbohydrates include vegetables, wholegrain breads, legumes, brown rice and wholemeal pasta. Complex carbohydrates take longer to digest and are packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals – all of which are helpful for sustained weight loss. During your body cleanse, all sources of simple carbohydrate are removed except for fresh juices which deliver incredible amounts of nutrients whilst placing no stress on the digestion. The inclusion of psyllium husks, a soluble fibre, and the specialist supplements slow their release of sugar down. SALT The organic salt or sodium found naturally in plants is not the same as the salt or sodium chloride that is used in food manufacturing or table salt. Processed salt displaces or ‘washes out’ other nutrients from the body’s cells. These nutrients are needed for blood sugar control and water balance, so after consuming salt you are much more likely to crave substances that give you a ‘quick fix’ and you will feel thirsty. Thirst is often mistaken for hunger so - guess what - you eat more! Excess salt is also known to contribute towards high blood pressure. No salt is added during your body-cleansing programme but plenty of organic sodium is consumed via fresh fruit and vegetables. The cuisine will use a diverse range of herbs and spices to create healthy, natural flavour. ALCOHOL As far as your body is concerned, alcohol is chemically similar to sugar, so drinking any form of alcohol will set off the blood sugar seesaw that promotes weight gain. And that’s before you even begin to consider the calorie content of the drink itself, which is likely to be a very high and devoid of any nutritional benefit – so called ‘empty calories’. What’s more, alcohol acts as a potent appetite booster, so more alcohol = more food consumed. However, excessive calories are not the sole reason behind alcohol’s ‘beer belly’ effect. What alcohol does is reduce the amount of fat your body burns for energy, while preventing the absorption of many of the essential nutrients needed for successful weight loss, particularly the B vitamins and vitamin C. Try to cut out or cut down alcohol in the pre-cleanse programme. No alcohol is consumed during the programme itself.
Daily Schedule Each of our clients will follow a daily programme with plenty of “downtime” built in. Every day you will follow your ‘daily schedule’ and programme of events, many of which are optional (it is essential that you do what feels right for you). Many people report an upward shift in energy and vitality – not surprising given the increase in nutrients to your body! Therapies and gentle exercise such as tai chi, pilates and yoga are included in your programme.
Champneys itself A member of the Champneys team will attend the welcome and you will find the spa a lovely and easy to navigate place for your retreat. Guests are provided with dressing gowns and slippers which you are free to walk around in, the environment being very relaxed and peaceful. The on-site spa shop offers an array of skin care and relaxed clothing should you need to top up what you bring.
What to bring Guests are provided with robes which you are free to walk around in, the environment being very relaxed and peaceful. The on-site spa shop offers an array of Decleor skin care if you need to top up what you bring. What you need to bring to Champneys: Comfy clothes, shoes and slippers/flip flops! Outdoor shoes, fleece and waterproof jacket Gym gear (tracksuit and shoes) Swimming costume Notebook or diary Camera to keep the memory!