The Wellspring Plan
Wellspring's approach to fitness and weight loss, called the Wellspring Plan, is based on decades of experience and research on what science has shown works for initial and long-term success. Wellspring is led by experts in the field, including Dr. Daniel Kirschenbaum, Wellspring's Clinical Director and professor from Northwestern University, a prestigious university in the United States. The approach is continually refined by scientific research, including the expertise of Wellspring's renowned Scientific Advisory Board with members from around the world.
Wellspring student results have been presented at international conferences for obesity as well as covered by newspapers and television programmes around the world. Why? Because our weight loss results are amazing.
Wellspring students have consistently lost an average of 2.0 kg. per week while at camp and 70% of students have maintained this weight loss or continued losing weight at home. These results are virtually unprecedented in the history of weight loss programmes for any age group. And the results are more than physical, as students often return home with improved self-confidence, outlook, and mood. To read some of these stories, click here.
The Wellspring Plan is based on simple, scientific, and sustainable changes, including:
Low-Fat, Low-Density Diet: Wellspring students enjoy a low-fat, low-density diet that is nutritious and delicious. This diet satisfies hunger and is the optimal diet to counteract the biological and environmental factors that contribute to weight gain. It's also a very simple diet which children and teens are able to follow themselves once they return home. Through our culinary and nutrition programme, students learn simple ways to prepare these foods at home, how to order this way at restaurants, and how to find these foods in their grocery stores.
Activity Management: Students achieve at least 10,000 steps each day through a range of exciting fitness activities, and learn how to set achievable daily fitness goals on their own. Many of our students exceed 20,000 or more steps per day and continue a very active lifestyle when they return home. See a typical day at weight loss camp.
Lifestyle Change: Unlike traditional weight loss camps or fat camps, Wellspring employs Masters- and Doctoral-level therapists trained in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) to help students make the changes in diet and activity permanent. This is done by helping students improve goal-setting, stress management skills, and coping skills for “bad days”. CBT has proven effective and vital to the successful long-term weight control of our students.
Family Involvement: Families are strongly encouraged to join us for the two-day Family Workshop designed to teach families about the biology of weight loss, the Wellspring fitness and weight loss approach, and most importantly about how you can support your son or daughter at home. Parents learn how to role model a healthy lifestyle at home, and often lose weight themselves in the process. We believe so strongly in the importance of family involvement that we offer a £250 Family Workshop Award if at least one family member attends if at least one family member attends.
Continuing Care: When Wellspring is over, the success and support do not end. Students participate in a Continuing Care programme that lasts until June 2012, continuing to work with their Behavioural Coach from camp, self-monitoring, and communicating with fellow students online. Our research indicates that this ongoing support makes a substantial difference in students' long-term success, so we award students who successfully complete the first 3 months of the programme by offering a £500 Continuing Care Award.
Every facet of the Wellspring programme — diet, activities, cognitive-behavioural therapy, family involvement, and continuing care — is based on decades of experience and research on what works for initial and sustained weight loss.
Wellspring is not a traditional weight loss camp or fat camp, but rather among the most effective options available to help your child return to a healthy weight.
