"One of the most historically significant houses in the country", as Sir Niklaus Pevsner pens it, is home, by a country mile, to the most luxurious boot camp in England. The moment you open the door, it feels like an honour to be staying there - and that feeling never ever goes away. To be in residence at Halswell House, as you may have gathered, is a memorable experience just in itself. All we need to know now is whether Fitstart Weight Loss Retreat is a worthy occupant. Fortunately, it is. 

Nubeginnings, before anyone else in England, ran the first leg of this new holistic approach to weight loss; Fitstart has taken up the baton. Younger than Nubeginnings by about a year, it has some catching up to do. But once David Cox gears up his administration to running camps with more regularity, and particularly once the new sauna/pool/jacuzzi complex comes on stream, Fitstart has the potential to become more than the equal of Nubeginnings. Although it was Nikki Waterman, media celebrity on Fitness & Health and personal trainer to the stars, who designed all the physical input to Fitstart's programme, co-owner David Cox is the beating heart of the company. Down from 18st to 14st in only 11 months, he learned along the way that the yo-yo-boot-camping that some people were going in for was, effectively, and uselessly, no better than pin-ball dieting; that real, long-lasting weight-loss only begins when you realise that a bit of you is starving - and it's not for food.

Fitstart is going to fix your emotional eating for you once and for all: David Cox really does not want to see you again. Until, that is, Fitstart's Annual Christmas Party in London - arguably, pound for pound, the most self-congratulatory event in town that night. 

Yet during your time at Fitstart, spectacular short-term weight loss is not their principal aim. Inevtiably, by the simple equation of calories-in vs. calories-out and no alcohol, you're more than likely to lose to 1/2 stone anyway - but gloriously free from all the breath-taking hassle of most boot camps, starting at 7am and finishing at 5pm, granted plenty of downtime and coached (a bonus to some) by easily the two most glamorously watchable boot camp trainers in England: Jackie Diss and her assistant, Kelly Reid. Pleasing on the eye though the website might show them to be, don't be lulled into thinking that these two entertaining and enthusiastic media-celeb PTI's are going to go that easy on you. Moreover, in putting you through your paces, they make the most possible use of all the home-gym equipment Fitstart allows you to take away with you. This is an intelligent and thoughtful feature: no more gym membership needed and always something to exercise with when you travel. 

Evenings, too, are well conceived at Fitstart. For example, Gary, the lively local historian, tells you all about Halswell House and its surrounding region at the start of the week -  just so that you can appreciate the features of where you're staying right from the off. Although the Style Consultancy Evening, something offered by too few bootcamps, is stimulating and has the effect of turning everyone pleasingly in on themselves, Fitstart's Nutritionist is the one to watch out for. She provided one of the most apocalyptic moments of my entire weight-loss boot camp research when she brought forth, and then let us all feel for ourselves, a model replica, exact in every respect, of one pound of fat. Put that up prominently somewhere in the kitchen, and you've got the most graphic and acute deterrent to ever putting on weight again that I've ever seen. And, what's more, David Cox - in cruel-to-be-kind mode - has thoughtfully arranged for you each to take one home with you. Only when you see one will you understand what I'm banging on about! 

As for prices, Fitstart's £1725 single is not that much above the £1650 asked by boot camps far inferior to it; and its room sharing at £1092 has got to be one of the best deals in the country. In the end, though,I can only finish where I began: Halswell House is utterly compelling, a church to the spirit of Old England, and totally lethal to a sucker for historical ambience like me. If you fall into that category too, then there can be no other choice in England:  Fitstart Weight Loss Retreat is the only one that's really going to do it for you.  

• Accommodation: Halswell House, a truly magnificent Historical Mansion, Grade 1 Listed & overlooking the countryside way beyond the private lakes, lawns & streams of Halswell Park. Priviliged interior, bedrooms are huge, antique suites. Pool/sauna/  jacuzzi complex from September; hot-tub on the roof now. 
• Capacity:  20. Mixed M/F. 
• Duration:  6 nts. (12.0 Sunday - Saturday 10am). 
• Cost:  £1725(sgle) & £1092(sharing). All rooms are en-suite.  
• Price includes:  All food, lodging & activities which typically include: gym-style work-outs plus cycling, yoga, pilates, Tai Chi, boxing, Coastal & Quantock Hill Hiking, aerobic/resistance swimming pool sessions (as of September ' 09), 3 Nutrition Seminars, 3 NLP Goal Setting Workshops, 1 Acupuncture session, 2 Hypnotherapy sessions, 2 Massages, a personal CD of your week, a track-suit, a T-shirt & equipment for a home-gym to take away with you. Evening Events:  nightly e.g. Style Consultancy, Holistic Treatments (as above), Talk on House & Surrounding Region, Film Night, Final Gala Dinner Night with champagne. Optional extras: Flexible & up to you: e.g. acupuncture, hypnotherapy, 1:1 PT, whatever - but all at £40/1hr.                       

5 STAR RATINGS 

LOCATION:  * * * * 

ACCOMMODATION:  * * * * * 

FOOD:  * * * 

STAFF & ACTIVITIES:  * * * * 

VALUE FOR MONEY:  * * * * 

LIFE CHANGING POTENTIAL * * * *

 

Fitstart website.

Written by  Graeme Harwood.

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