A Women Only Spa Retreat in the South of France

We know that being overweight affects you both physically and psychologically. We also know that developing the motivation to do something about it can be overwhelming. Effective weight management requires a change in lifestyle and a change in your relationship with food.

It is easy to start a diet, but sticking to it is often difficult and frustrating. It is easy to become demoralized by the effort required to lose weight. At the Arc House, you will learn what, aside from hunger, triggers eating. We encourage a shift from negative associations of yourself and food, and fears of deprivation, to a belief in yourself and the possibility of change.

Our weight loss program is for women who have grown tired of failed diets and under-used gym memberships. Our main purpose is to help you to value and take care of yourself. We want you to lose weight, learn to love yourself and devote quality time to your personal satisfaction.

To help us to understand your requirements, your program will begin with a nutrition assessment and a body composition calculation . Thereafter, you will participate in a personalized plan that will integrate effective exercise, diet and behavioral modification.

An important part of our weight loss program are the 'Food & Feelings' sessions. Led by our experienced counselor, each session explores a different topic allowing you to make links between your eating behavior and related past and present life experiences.

For many of us, effective exercise can be a problem because we simply don't know what to do and how hard to exercise. At the Arc House, we help you to develop an effective exercise regime which will keep you motivated and keep you exercising!

You will also enjoy our escorted sightseeing and shopping expeditions.

By the end of your stay, you will be amazed at your ability to lose weight even in the midst of visiting a variety of fresh food markets stocked full of French cheeses, olives, country breads and full bodied wines. If French ladies can maintain their weight in this environment, you will have no problem when you return home!

Eating well is important.

Diets can fail because they often require you to eat in a way which is incompatible with your daily routines; or they simply offer too few calories. Either way, you are left with a constant feeling of hunger and a gradual erosion of your resolve. We approach food in a different way.

Although most people generally know what constitutes a healthy diet, fewer are aware of the impact of different types of diets on feelings of fullness and metabolism. Since we measure metabolic rate as part of your initial assessment, we can plan your meals more precisely and therefore maximize your likelihood of keeping to the program.

At the Arc House, you will be spoiled by our personal chef who will take the time to prepare foods that will stimulate your appetite and convince you that you are not on a 'diet'. Local dishes, succulently seasoned, such as duck confit with flageolet beans, goat's cheese and black olive pizza are all incorporated into your menu at the Arc House. You will even receive a glass of wine each evening!

A typical day at the Arc House may include the following:

9:15 a.m. - Breakfast

Enjoy a traditional European breakfast which includes a choice of French breads with fruit preserves, yogurt, seasonal fresh fruit and cereals.

10:00 a.m. - Morning Fitness

Nature walks or body conditioning

11:30 a.m. - Food and Feelings Work Time

Topics may include, 'Personal Relationships and my Weight', 'Why do I Need to Eat to Lose Weight?', 'Learning to Say No!', 'Assertion Skills and my Weight', 'Weight and Metabolism', and 'Exploring my Body Image Issues'.

1:00 p.m. - Lunch

Selections of lean meats, steamed fish, omelets, pizza, and organically grown salads and vegetables.

3:00 p.m. - Individual Sessions/Afternoon Fitness

Pre-arranged individual sessions with your counselor or a supervised session in the gym to include exercise on the Lifecycle and CYBEX weight circuit

5:00 p.m. - Relax in our 'Salle de Detente'

Take a steam, sauna or a balnéo session.

7:00 p.m. - Dinner

A three course nutritious, gourmet meal with wine and laughter!

8:00pm - Evening Activities

Watch a movie in your room, take a walk in the village or simply relax and enjoy an extended chat with other guests. Don't stay up too late though; you may need to get up early to go sightseeing in the beautiful Midi- Pyrenees region.