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Can a fit and healthy person ben~ Mt from a four-day retreat to cleanse ( hetefe^dy? Sam Murphy fjnHo m if
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routine and I'm 5lb lighter. Here's how that transformation happened...
DAY ONE
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' have always said 'no thanks' to detox invitations, figuring restriction and denial aren't necessary if you're an active person I who eats healthily. So I'm not really sure what made me sign up for a four-day Yeotox at Yeotown health retreat in Devon. Whatever it was, I'm grateful, because it achieved the most crucial result of any health-oriented holiday-lasting change. Two months after returning from my trip, I no longer eat the same marathon-runnersize portions as my husband, I've broken out of my pasta-and-potatoes rut and I've become less reliant on my 'crutches' (ie, coffee, tea, Kettle Chips and pinot noir). The result? I have more energy than before, I'm back on track with my fitness
94 Health & Fitness // hedthandfitnessonline.rn.uk
It has been almost 12 hours since I defiantly consumed a croissant and large latte at London's Paddington station. Since then I've been weighed and measured, drunk a gallon of herbal tea, done a six-mile hike and a yoga class. My stomach is wondering if my throat's been cut, such has been the lack of betweenmeal nibbling, and my caffeine withdrawal headache has progressed from a dull ache to a clanging throb. I'm uncomfortable with the growing realisation that being an action woman doesn't necessarily mean I can eat and drink whatever I like, especially when a busy period at work and a stubborn injury have put the dampeners on my fitness regime. After dinner - surprisingly delicious, . given the number of outlawed foods: meat, dairy, salt, sugar, potatoes, wheat, eggs - the nutritionist gives a talk on the ethos behind the Yeotox menu. It's geared toward three goals: liver support, steady blood sugar levels and easy digestion. Then we have one-to-one consultations. I'm told to step up my B vitamins and omega-3s :o support my
high level of exercise, while plenty of water and vitamin C should cure the headache. We have free run of the lovingly restored 18th-century farmhouse for the evening. Every room exudes quiet luxury. I sit in front of a fire with a liquorice tea but my grumbling tummy and head send me to bed soon after.
DAY TWO I wake up groggy and join the eight other guests for hot lemon juice and ginger before morning yoga. The class is led by Mercedes
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Ngoh, co-owner of Yeotown with Simon Sieff and a sought-after yoga teacher in London. She fosters Just the right attitude, blending the spiritual with the practical, and by the time I get up from savasana I feel as if I got out of bed on the right side. After that it's time for our morning smoothie, which is thick and incredibly filling, although I still crave something to get my teeth into. Then we're off on our daily hike, involving some rather precipitous climbs. We're all more than ready for lunch on our return, and chef Julia's salmon teriyaki doesn't disappoint, although I'd have liked more. However, as soon as I go for a walk in the 50-acre grounds, I forget I'm hungry.
DAY THREE We start the day in the now-familiar pattern: hot lemon juice, yoga, smoothie. The yoga seems a little easier today and I feel more positive. Seven-mile hike? Bring it onl It's a stunning walk. We catch our breath at the crest of a hill, looking out over a sparkling sea. It's only then I realise my headache has gone. There's time to chill out before lunch, and roommate Emily and I lie on our beds fantasising about coffee and Devon scones. There's no respite in the afternoon, though. The sun's out and ex-Marine Jason puts us through our paces in the grounds. Our competitive instincts are unleashed and we all end up glowing with sweat and laughter. The reward for another hard day's detoxing is a thorough deep-tissue massage. I'm so spent afterwards that I go straight to bed.
Travel Walk Mallorca If you're craving sun and fresh air, Inntravel's seven-night Citrus Groves & Dramatic Coast easy self-guided walking break in north-west Mallorca sounds perfect. Take in the stunning views of the Tramuntana mountains, orange and lemon groves and sea as you walk routes lasting two-and-a-half to five hours. You'll stay in four-star hotels, with breakfasts, two dinners and three picnics included. Prices start at £628 based on two people sharing, excluding flights. See inntravel.co.uk.
Cycle safari If going on safari is a bit sedentary for you, try a cycling version. On Intrepid's 13-day trip to Tanzania you can watch for giraffes, ostriches and gazelles on a ride across the Maasai plains, or pink flamingoes, zebras and wildebeest near Lake Manyara. You'll also get a chance to see the 'Big Five' (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo) on a 4x4 safari in the Serengeti. You'll stay in a hotel for two nights and a camp for 10 nights, with most meals included. It costs from £1,280, excluding flights. See intrepidtravel.com.
DAYFOUR Our last day dawns wet and windy, and we don our waterproofs. I notice how well everyone looks - bright eyes, clear skin and healthy glows all round. We make it back for lunch in good spirits, discussing what we'll change when we get home. For some • participants, the physical activity has been the biggest challenge. But for me, the hardest thing has been handing over control of what I eat - and don't eat - to someone else, and accepting that they might know better. Sieff congratulates us on completing the four days. 'It's not easy to do a detox,' he tells us. 'Everyone finds the experience challenging. It's not a holiday.' Yet strangely, I leave Yeotown feeling as if I've had one.
TRAVEL INFO
A four-day Yeotox at Yeotown retreat costs £1,575 including accommodation, meals, a nutritional consultation, two massages, all activities and transfer to and fromTiverton Parkway station. Accommodation is shared (single rooms are available at additional cost). For more information, go to yeotown.com.
Matt Carroll's Escape Routes (Punk Publishing, £16.95) You'll be champing at the bit to explore new places on your bike this autumn and beyond thanks to the lovely pictures, engaging text and easy-to-follow maps in this book. The 60 routes throughout England vary from seven to 20 miles and feature tempting places to stop along the way, including village tearooms, castles and cottage B&Bs. A fantastic inspiration for beginners and intermediates.
VOLUNTEER IN VIETNAM Fancy helping others while you're on' holiday? Try a two- to six-week trip to southern Vietnam, where you'll help to build houses for the underprivileged. You'll build your muscles too on this physical i to i project 70km from Ho Chi Minh City while you make new friends, learn about a vibrant country and have an amazingly rewarding experience. The package costs from £699 for two weeks in shared accommodation in a volunteer house or hotel, plus £120 for each subsequent week, excluding flights. See i-to-i.com for details.