Wellspring UK students change their lives in dramatic ways when they lose weight and get fit. Students experience greater confidence, new friends, better health, increased energy, and a much improved outlook. Below are a few of the many Wellspring UK success stories.
Daniela G., New York, NY
Lost 28 pounds at camp and continued to lose weight at home.
PROUD OF HER CHANGE…
After losing 5 clothes sizes and 74 pounds, I can definitely say that Wellspring changed my life! Wellspring taught me not only dieting and exercising but also exposed me to a whole new lifestyle and way of behaviour!
I feel so much better about myself, and more confident of how I look and behave. I'm proud of myself for making the change! It's totally worth it!
Jamie T, Glasgow, Scotland
Lost 25 pounds at Wellspring UK and has continued to lose weight at home.
FROM JAMIE'S FATHER:
I'm so pleased with the Jamie I got back. Not only is he thinner, but his whole attitude has changed. He is a much more confident kid who's totally committed to the program. Thanks to you and all the team at Wellspring!
-Gary T., father of Jamie
Darcey H., London, England
Lost 43 pounds at Wellspring UK and an additional 32 pounds (and counting!) at home.
FROM DARCEY'S MOTHER:
This has been an amazing experience for Darcey. She looked so well (that healthy outdoor glow I don't remember since she was about 6!) and slimmer and most importantly happier and more mature. You guys are amazing.
Once again thanks so much for everything. I will be recommending Wellspring to everyone and anyone who will listen. You and your team have done a stupendous job.
A million thanks.
-Susanne, mother of Darcey
Abdullah B., Kuwait
Lost 16 pounds at Wellspring UK and has continued to lose weight at home.
FROM ABDULLAH'S AUNT:
Your camp sincerely is the greatest success for a child and the family that I have ever known about , I have recommended you to lots of people and some of my friends took their kids in California camp and they are also happy .
Thanks for everything and god bless you all.
-Lidia T., Aunt of Abdullah
Ashley C, Aylesford, Hampshire
Lost 28 pounds at Wellspring UK and has continued to lose weight at home.
CONFIDENCE AND PERSONALITY SHINE…
Wellspring is primarily a weight loss camp, but it is also a confidence boosting camp.
One of the things I've noticed the most is that people's confidence and personality is showing through so much more.
When I first went to Wellspring, I was so shy and found it hard to talk to people, but gradually, as time went on, my confidence grew. I was able to talk to campers more and now I have some fantastic friends that I hope to stay friends with after camp.
MOST REWARDING AND FUN EXPERIENCE…
I would like to say a special thanks to them and all the leaders that have helped me through the hard times here, especially my team leaders, Sophie and Jo.
From the start, they guided me and made me feel so at home here even though I was so homesick.
Overall, I think that my summer here has been the most rewarding and fun experience of my life. Thank you!
FROM ASHLEY'S DAD…
Ashley started at 207 lbs and now weighs 177 pounds, losing 28 pounds at Wellspring in 8 weeks and another 2 pounds in her first week home, making 30 lbs altogether. We have been walking everyday since she returned and have rejoined our local gym and have been going to teen fit together.
- Ian C., Dad of Ashley
Susan K., London, UK
Lost 33 pounds at Wellspring UK and has continued to lose weight at home.
A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE…
Thank You so much for sending my before and after pictures; can't believe the difference, my home Wellspring programme is going ok, I am still losing weight, and have taken everything that I have learnt at Wellspring on board.
Wellspring has definitely put me on the right path. I do have my up's and down's but I'm coping! Thank you again, Wellspring staff for all you have done for me...I am truly grateful. I hope you are all well, and continue on helping people like myself to have a second chance at life....thank you!
Wellspring United Kingdom campers say…
"The staff has been a great help towards my weight loss. Camp overall has been good and I loved the final result of the programme. I am hoping to carry on and to lose another stone when I'm at home."
"I really loved everything at Wellspring, and I tried my best. I think it is really great to just come here and be overweight and feel accepted because you're not the only one. It really encouraged me to lose weight when I knew I could be a role model to other people. Thanks!"
Comments from Wellspring UK Parents…
Ashley started at 207 lbs and now weighs 177 pounds, losing 28 pounds at Wellspring in eight-weeks and another 2 pounds in her first week home, making 30 lbs altogether. We have been walking everyday since she returned and have rejoined our local gym and have been going to teen fit together.
Jackie and Ian C., Aylesford, Hampshire
Last year, our son George was going nowhere, his activity levels were non-existent and he spent the days just watching television and playing computer games. He was becoming depressed, irritable and his self-esteem was rock bottom. We had tried everything but it was an absolute battle to get him to get up and moving or have any enthusiasm for anything at all! So in desperation my husband and I scanned the internet for health camps or anything that might be of help and thank goodness we came across Wellspring UK.
Although George knew he had to do something, he was full of trepidation and as we waved goodbye to a very miserable, but hopeful, boy we had tears in our eyes. The four weeks went by quite quickly and one of us went up to the Lakes for the Family Workshop which was invaluable. It was a very humbling experience watching the kids working so hard together and achieving so much. I had nothing but admiration for them and for the dedicated Wellspring Team.
The camaraderie was very touching. Seeing George up at camp as well was amazing - a different boy greeted me. He was standing proud, tall and with a big 'Georgie' smile on his face (the one we thought he had lost forever!!)
George is now back home and back at school and what a difference. No more grumpiness, he is full of energy and is back to sports full-time. He is now more accepted amongst his peers and is included in social outings. Just recently he was selected to play fly half for the U15's at London Irish - no mean achievement.
We are so very grateful to Wellspring for helping George to find the path to health and fitness again and we would have no hesitation in recommending your programme.
Andrew Q., FRCS and Deborah Q., RGN, Ewshot Nr Farham, Surrey
I am so impressed with Wellspring UK's organisation, communication and planning from the ‘concerned parent left at home' point of view. At first the thought of no communication from our offspring was very daunting (tho I understand why it was necessary) but then.... the website photos and announcements became wonderful viewing.
I log on every night for the update and it's lovely to see so many laughing faces and have an idea what is going on. Also your Emails explaining the process have been very informative. Well done to all of you.
Carol K., Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
Just wanted to send a message to thank you & all the team so much for providing such a professional, caring and safe environment for Caroline to take on the Wellspring UK challenge for the past month. I have been SO impressed and will have no hesitation in recommending you to others.
As a parent of an older camper, it has been really great and such a support to know that this age of young adult has been considered important to cater to within Wellspring Camps. I myself struggled at this age and Caroline has found this period of her life very, very hard at times with the transition from university student to being out in the world and other issues.
I have so enjoyed reading all the announcements on a daily basis and looking at the photos. The way you have set the scene has been really excellent.
My visit to the Family Workshop was a really great experience. I had such a good time and the staff were all so courteous, welcoming and friendly which was another huge plus.
I work as a counsellor in a youth agency and I know from some of the young people I see, as well as with Caroline, what a struggle & heartache the weight issue is and this has been such a brilliant & fresh way of approaching the issue.
Many thanks again.
Julie D., Kent, England, United Kingdom
I would just like to thank you all for helping my daughter thru a very hard time in her life.
Whilst I am in Australia and have not seen her, I know from our short conversations that Wellspring will stay in her heart for a long time and I am sure there have been many changes in Alice not just physically but mentally as well.
Her quote to me was "I can't wait to get home to start my life again the Wellspring way."
That in itself is endorsement that you do make a difference and all the members of our household thank you for that.
Feel good about yourselves!
Terry C., Perth, Australia
Thank you very much for everything you have done for John this summer, it wasn't only the weight loss; it was the whole experience that changed his life and ours. You—all of you—had a great influence on him, showed him that everything is possible if you have the right training and the people to support you.
It was a lifetime experience for John, he has grown and matured, he is less angry and he doesn't get that easily upset, maybe because he has more self confidence and self esteem. You made an excellent job, you gave him a new image, a new self, and our family life has changed for the better too, since it was one of our major worries and a constant reason to fight with John.
All this past month he has been trying hard to keep up with his diet and self monitoring, he hasn't put any weight – he claims he had lost 4 pounds- I will be happy if he manages to keep his weight. He is definitely aware of what he eats and of the amount of fat he consumes and knows how to balance his food- all thanks to you and the training he had. He is more active, walking and playing sports and he finally understood the value of keeping his self fit.
Also, the training I had at the Family Workshop was excellent, it helped me understand a lot about the mistakes I made with John and how to really help him with his diet, cook the right things for him and be there to support him. All of my doubts and fears are gone, sending him to your programme was the best decision I ever made and I really want to thank you for helping him and being there for him.
I can never thank you enough for everything you done for him and our family! I just wish you – all of you- all the best and keep on doing this great job with the same enthusiasm and the same sense of duty. Thank you very much.
Katherina K., Thessaloniki, Greece
When we arrived to drop Lisa off, we were immediately swept up in the good humour, enthusiasm and obvious warmth of everyone we met, and I left feeling sure that, if Lisa had any problems at all, she would be better than well looked after. And so it turned out. I couldn't wait to hear from Lisa and every time I did she was even more enthusiastic than the last. When the time came to go to collect her, I found Lisa radiant, obviously fit, healthy and unrecognisable as the rather shy girl I had left behind. I was introduced to everyone, and invited to stay to lunch, which was positively sumptuous. Leaving was a terrible wrench for her.
She found the sports programme amazing, and told tales of camping, abseiling, canoeing, hiking, and the great thrill of reaching the summit of Skiddaw, the fourth highest mountain in England. There were so many activities she was still remembering another one after a month back home!
She is still enthusiastically teaching me what she learnt at Wellspring. We are still at the stage of having to do lots of sums when preparing meals, but will no doubt get used to it soon. I have already lost a kilo under Lisa's direction, and she is getting me used to the idea of doing lots more exercise.
I just wanted to write to thank you all for your effort and enthusiasm. Lisa had what she describes as the best time of her life. In fact, when we were half way home she was begging to come back. She misses you all terribly, and is plotting a reunion - be warned!
I wanted particularly to thank you for the stunning improvement in Lisa not just physically, but in her self-esteem and confidence. I have never seen her so physically fit and so keen to exercise (she is jogging three miles a day, and cycling and swimming....); she is in terrific shape and determined to remain so. But the most striking difference is in her personal confidence. She is so much livelier and incredibly outgoing, no longer shy and retiring.
Whatever it is you guys are doing, and I assume it is a combination of techniques, you can certainly count my daughter among your most resounding successes. So thanks to all of you, administrators, instructors and fellow students. Lisa thinks of you all as really good friends, and I am deeply grateful to you for everything you have done for her. I find it hard to put into words how warmly I would recommend the Wellspring programme. Only time will tell, but I feel (and Lisa agrees) that it was a life changing experience – and very definitely for the better.
Eileen H., Tervuren, Belgium
I would like to thank you and your team for the wonderful help and support you gave Henry during his 6 weeks at Wellspring this summer. Thank you for giving my Henry back to me – I have a lump in my throat as I write this as, every morning I wake up with joy as we plan our day, counting, walking, talking and embracing the change in the way of life as we now know it. The confidence, happiness and hope in the future which I see in his face is priceless.
He has been logging on daily since he left and, because I have been self monitoring, he has kept it up too. He is completely hooked on climbing now and I have made an appointment for him to be assessed at a local climbing range so that he can continue to do so, we are going up to the rugby club this weekend so that he can speak to them about joining and he also expressed an interest in joining the hockey team. He is out walking every day and he has placed the incentive on himself that he cannot even turn on the computer until he has done 10,000 steps!
The miracle of Wellspring is not that it is a fad or a wonder diet, but that in teaching the students to recognise and understand why, they can then do the how. Self empowerment is the aim; you have just given them, and us, the tools. The Family Workshop helped me understand how, even though I was doing lots of right things with Henry, the wrong things negated the right and that we, as parents, can share our hopes, fears, frustrations and expectations with each other and gaining support when you feel so alone. The ethos of Wellspring should be embedded in government policy – they then might stop building on school playing fields!
Kindest regards to you and the team.
Nicky R., Aldershot, Hants
Kristi and myself do not forget Wellspring even a single day. Since we got to know the programme it became a part of our life for the whole family. We feel so lucky that we got to know Wellspring from the Internet and have sent Kristi to the camp. Me and my husband feel that sending Kristi to the camp was the best investment we could have made for our daughter's future.
As you know Kristi had been trying to lose weight since she was 9 years old. We had tried many diets but no one seemed to work for her. We were very worried and thought she could never succeed in losing substantial weight and feeling normal. At the age of 16 she had become overweight, depressed, did not want to go out with friends or shopping for clothes. At first we were sceptical of sending her and once there, the beginning was difficult for all of us. But after attending Wellspring for 6 weeks she managed to lose substantial weight for the first time and not only that.
She had a great time and made new friends. She became happier; she is more outgoing and likes herself. She now has a more positive attitude towards life and appreciates herself and others. Kristi has now become the person she wanted to be and we enjoy seeing her!
Our experience with Wellspring camp is something which we truly recommend other families to follow. We thank you and the rest of the team for the great work you have done for our Kristi.
Athena A., Nicosia, Cyprus
The Wellspring UK camp certainly has made a big change to Camilla's life. After just some few days she realized the importance of nearly eliminating fat in her food intake AND being active would enable her to reduce weight. The first week, she lost 8 lbs. Fantastic! During the 4 weeks at Wellspring she had a great time, she got many new friends, friends who she even have visited after the camp. Always enough food, never hungry, plenty of steps and WHAT a result: Camilla lost 26 lbs during the camp – a great start of a new lifestyle.
Coming back to Norway, Camilla has bravely managed to continue her awareness of what she eats as well as the need for 10,000 steps per day, which has resulted in a further weight reduction for Camilla. She is happier and healthier now, THANKS to what she learnt Wellspring UK.
Lars B., Olso, Norway
I thought I would write a few lines about how sending Abbey to Wellspring UK changed her life and probably made it longer. Losing nearly 3 stones in eight weeks gave Abbey the boost of confidence and an attitude in which she started to believe in herself. In educating Abbey in terms of healthy eating and exercise, she has come home a new and healthier young lady; she no longer sits in her room and eats bar after bar of chocolate or sneaks out to the sweet shop.
She now walks to school and goes to the gym which I never thought I would see. Thank you to everyone at the camp. You were all great; she made some great friends and I know she misses everyone. The changes have affected our whole family and we are all a little bit lighter. Thank you all again.
Jayne P., Whittle Bay, Tyne and Wear
