Detox and weight loss retreat

If you are looking to boost your energy levels, feel good about yourself and maybe lose some weight then La Crisalida’s detox and weight loss program has been designed for you!

If you feel lethargic, grumpy, experience an afternoon slump (that sometimes lasts all day?), feel tired some (or all) of the time, it may be that your body is crying out for a chance to detox. A short detox can help to relieve all of these symptoms and leave you full of energy. Our nutritionist has designed juices and meals that cleanse and rebalance our bodies, whilst maximising the essential nutrients required by our bodies for good health. You have the option to juice or to eat during your stay at La Crisalida. Rather than adopting a starvation diet where you are always feeling hungry, all the food we serve support our bodies to cleanse and to help us move towards our ideal weight.

Detox: boost energy and feel good about yourself

One of the noticeable things at La Crisalida when you first arrive is that guests who have been with us for three or more days look radiant; their eyes are shining and their skin is clear and bright.

The detox retreat program at La Crisalida is designed to create health, vitality and energy in your body and your life, by clearing away physical toxins from the body and for some people, releasing emotional “toxins” that have built up in your life too. The most effective way to detox the body is to juice – drinking only our freshly prepared vegetable and fruit juices throughout the day – however, you will also detox by eating the alkaline food. For a detox, we recommend juicing for three days, but you are free to choose to juice for longer (or shorter).

Here at La Crisalida we provide you with an integrated supportive and nurturing environment to enable you to detox, body, mind and spirit. The food and juices work together with the activities, in particular rebounding, walking and yoga, to unclog your body systems and enable your health to improve. Everyone is different but typically, joint pain can reduce, eyes become brighter, memory function can improve and we just feel better all over. Sleep is also an important part, to allow your body chance to relax and let go.

Detox boost energy and feel good about yourself

Weight loss: let go and find your ideal weight

Here at La Crisalida, we see weight loss as a part of getting back into balance and back into good health overall. By following a healthy diet you will easily reach and maintain your ideal weight. However, sometimes life gets in the way, so, if you feel you need a kick start or a reboot, to get back into those healthy habits and shed a few kilos then our weight loss retreat can certainly help. By following our programme, you can leave feeling happier, healthier and carrying less weight than when you arrived. Of course, please remember that the effects of any weight loss at the retreat are likely to be reversed in the long run unless there is also a longer term diet and lifestyle change at home.

The best weight loss results come from those who chose to juice at the detox retreat. Juices are calorie controlled and keep your body feeling nutritionally satisfied for hours. We encourage you to juice for a minimum three days; after that, you can choose for each meal whether you want to juice or eat. We recommend that you take part in as many of the detox retreat programme activities as you can, particularly rebounding and walking. We also offer a cooking demonstration and a juice demonstration each week to give you tips and ideas to continue the lifestyle change at home, plus a range of educational DVDs and books to support and encourage you to make lasting change

More information

Q: What are the benefits of a detox and when will I see them?
A: Many benefits of a detox are seen immediately and some are seen in the longer term, particularly if you have a regular detox (or two) each year. These benefits include:
- Improve your skin quality – the skin is one way the body eliminates waste. Skin problems can indicate inner problems, so after a detox your skin will be brighter and clearer.
- Remove toxins from the body – toxins accumulate from what we breathe, eat, put on our skin and also waste products that our bodies produce that we need to be let go of. By changing what we eat, putting in healthy foods and juices, the body can start to release any accumulated toxins and feel healthy on the inside.
- Lose weight and reduce cellulite – toxins that are stored in fat cells are released and excreted from the body, which improves metabolism and wellbeing.
- Boost your immune system. We detox by flooding our bodies with vitamin- and mineral- packed juices and foods, full of anti-oxidants.
- Restore balance to all your body systems, including the endocrine system (responsible for hormone production) and the digestive system (including improved bowel function).
- Increased energy, and decreased sluggishness – you might find that you need less sleep.
- Prevent chronic diseases – antioxidants clear away the free-radicals that can cause chronic disease
- Slows the aging process – by getting rid of free radicals (responsible for aging) and heavy metals means that the aging process slows down
Q: How do I prepare for my detox and weight loss retreat?
Q: What are the side effects of a detox?

A: The common side effects of a detox tend to start within 12-24 hours and include headaches, tiredness, grumpiness, and occasional mild nausea. Some guests experience no or low side effects, and some guests can feel very strong headaches or other symptoms, including changes to bowel movements. It really is a personal experience. By 72 hours, practically all guests report increased energy and that their symptoms have gone. During the first 72 hours it is important to drink lots of water and take the opportunity to rest the body (and mind!). Lemon and ginger is provided, and is also helpful to reduce any side effects. You can also chat to one of our mentors, they have lots of tips to help!
Q: How long should I stay for weight loss?
Q: How long should I juice for weight loss?

A: We recommend three days in the first instance if you want to lose weight, or to detox your body; the longer you choose to juice, the more chance you have to lose the weight you want to. If you want to, you can choose to juice for two meals and eat for one meal – the flexibility at La Crisalida means you can choose what suits you. And, by eating for one meal, you get to sample some of the delicious healthy food that we serve, giving you ideas for meals when you return home!

Many of our previous guests have been amazed at their weight loss results because it has been so easy for them to stick to it in a supportive environment. Following a juice diet for a few days can help most people to lose over 1lb a day (1kilo over 2 days)! Remember that the more you take part in the activities the more likely you will achieve your goals. (Note, we cannot guarantee any specific results, as everyone is different). Juicing is a great way to kick start weight loss and to introduce some healthy habits, so that you can make a longer-term lifestyle change when you return home.
Q: What if I feel hungry?

A: Most of our guests who juice are often surprised to find that they feel very satisfied and do not feel hungry. Fresh fruit is always available. At La Crisalida detox and weight loss is not about starvation or “fasting”. Here we give you nutritionally balanced juices and foods. Most guests who choose to juice report that they do not feel hungry. If you do feel hungry, we can add avocado to your juices. Fruit is always available in the dining room or you can ask the kitchen for vegetables. If you choose to eat, there is plentiful food available at each meal, which is served buffet style so you can help yourself. You also have the option to eat, instead of juicing for any meal. If you wish to eat and juice at the same meal, there is a small supplement to pay.

Q: What is an acidic or alkaline diet and how does that relate to weight loss?

A: Many people who carry excess weight have acidic bodies – due to their diet and lifestyle. This acidic body comes about due to over consumption of coffee/tea, alcohol, refined and processed foods (containing excess sugar and salt), processed fats and insufficient green vegetables and juices. Having acid in the body also reduces the level of oxygen in the blood; without oxygen the metabolism slows. This means that foods digest more slowly, which leads to weight gain and sluggishness.

Here at La Crisalida Retreats, we strip out many of the acidic items from the diet and flood the body with live, nutrient packed foods to give you, your body and your health a boost. By eating foods that nourish the body, you support your body to balance its pH (acid-alkaline level), and gradually the excess weight will drop away. By making these changes to the diet, and in the longer term adopting a more balanced (less acidic) diet the weight will stay off as you reach the right weight for you. This is not a fad diet, but something that you can continue with when you return home, eating alkaline, nutrient rich food. This alkaline diet also helps with detoxing your body. Read more about an alkaline diet here.
Q: I have not exercised (much) for some time - should I be worried?

A: Some guests who come to stay have not done much exercise for some time. Some have not tried yoga or rebounding before at all. We encourage you to join in with as many activities as you can when you feel you are able to. We believe that it is better to go into a class and do five minutes, than to not join in at all. Take things at your own pace. If you have not exercised for a while, start with five minutes of rebounding, and you will be amazed at the improvement in your stamina and activity rate over a week. Yoga is a good addition to the weight loss programme, as it helps to increase flexibility and strength whilst toning and shaping your body. All of our teachers are knowledgeable and supportive. You can also choose to go for walks by yourself, or with other guests, outside of the class times. Overall, La Crisalida Retreats is a friendly and supportive environment in which to start exercising again, and try something new.
Q: Can I join in the Life makeover workshops?
Q: Do I have to juice for the detox program?

A: You do not have to juice to go through a detox at La Crisalida. The food served at the retreat also has a cleansing effect as we use food in its natural form (with little or no processing). However, juicing allows the detox to take place faster and gives your digestive system a rest, so if a detox is your main goal for your stay then we would recommend a three day juice detox.
Q: I want to detox but don't want to lose weight - can I come?

A: Yes, of course. If you decide to juice for three days to allow your body to detox, we can add extra avocado or bananas to your juices. We supply psyllium husk to add to your juices to provide fibre and other nutritional supplements (like wheatgrass and spirulina) are also available. If you choose to eat, the menu is carefully designed to provide everything that the body requires and portions are plentiful.
Q: Is juicing suitable for everyone?

A: We do not recommend juicing for anyone with a current or recently recovered eating disorder. We recommend that it is best to enjoy the plant-based menu in this instance. Some people under active medical care, on medication, or recently recovered from a serious medical condition might find their body is better supported by eating the plant-based food. We recommend you consult your doctor for your personal situation.

“The vegan diet at the retreat was all about fruits and veggies, excluding completely salt, sugar and caffeine. The perfect detox time I have ever had!”

Nicoleta A - October 2022

*Please be aware that we cannot guarantee any specific results as everyone is different and therefore results can vary.