Jump Start New York

About Jump Start New York

Jump Start Weight Loss and Wellness is an all-inclusive weight loss resort in the Catskill Mountains of New York that has been in operation for more than 15 years. Guests come here for quick and healthy weight loss, smart fitness, and recuperation from stress. The program includes fitness, nutrition, and educational modules for behavior modification in an intimate group setting.

Jump Start advertises results in a matter of days using a combination of a detoxifying diet, fresh air, and exercise to promote the regulation of hormones and kickstart weight loss. Part of the program includes making a plan for clean living for guests to follow after they have returned home.

The education modules include both talks and workshops focusing on aspects of health such as how to understand food labels, balancing the pH in the body, and which foods are the best for promoting weight loss. Jump Start approaches nutrition and health from a holistic alternative medicine perspective.

There are 3-day (minimum stay) and 1–3 week-long flexible program options, any of which can be extended. Jump Start is open year-round, and programs can be started on any day of the week. Potential guests should make sure to check availability as spaces are limited due to the small-group structure of the program. Guests must be 18 years or older unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Accommodations

Jump Start New York’s accommodations are located in the Summer House Guest House, a Victorian estate built in 1896. This estate featuring luxurious private rooms with en suite shower/baths and accompanying amenities.

Each room overlooks the Forever Wild Park Preserve of the Catskill Mountains. Rooms vary in size, and guests may be paired for double occupancy, although availability cannot be guaranteed. Each room is richly decorated in a style befitting an updated Victorian country estate—with classic furniture, dark wood, and a little bit of chintz.

There are some first-floor rooms available. There is also one room for those guests who want to bring a pet along. Complimentary WiFi is available throughout the facilities.

Fitness

Guests of Jump Start can expect to start each day’s fitness regimen with a 1.5-hour walk through the park preserve in the morning before breakfast. Before lunch, there is an hour of yoga with a focus on stretching and posture. At 3:30 p.m., guests are led in an hour-long cardio workout. In total, each day can consist of up to 3.5 hours of fitness, although participation, while encouraged, is not mandatory.

The program can be tailored to suit both athletes and less active participants, and the small group size means certified trainers and guides are able to accommodate the fitness level of each individual.

Food

This FitStay gives special emphasis to nutrition geared towards detoxifying and cleansing. Juicing in particular is promoted as an effective method of restoring nutritional balance and maximizing rapid weight loss.

A typical day consists of the following nutritional plan:

• Green superfood drink before the morning walk
• “Clean” breakfast of fresh-squeezed, energizing juices with several flavor options
• Detoxing apple cider vinegar drink that balances the body’s pH
• Lunch—a vegan and gluten-free high-protein smoothie
• Low-calorie snack that varies with the season—options include tea, trail mix, and vegetable broth
• An early dinner of a vegan salad of raw vegetables and homemade dressing or veggie juice; juice is recommended for maximum weight-loss results
• While coffee is not served, there are coffee substitutions and herbal teas available throughout the day

Extras

While the Jump Start New York website emphasizes that it is not a health spa, there are a wide variety of spa services available for purchase. These include hot stone, internal organ, deep tissue, and lymphatic drainage massage; reflexology, and massage therapy.

In the winter season, skiing and snowboarding are possible at the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center, which is a 10-minute drive away. At the same location, guests can attend the Belleayre Music Festival concert series in the summer. The nostalgic town of Woodstock, which the famous 1969 festival was named for, is a 35-minute drive away and can be visited year-round.

Location

Jump Start New York is located in Roxbury in southern New York State, west of New York City (about 2.5 hours from downtown Manhattan). Guests must drive over 30 miles through the mountains in order to arrive, and the facilities are located on 23 acres of undeveloped countryside. However, the website assures that guests arriving by car will not face difficulty on any backcountry roads.

The closest airport is Stewart International, which is 1.5 hours south in Newburgh. Albany International is 15 minutes further away and to the north. New York City airports are about 3 hours away by car. Guests arriving by air must arrange their own rental or private car service to reach Jump Start facilities.

Once guests have arrived at Jump Start, no car is required as there is a shuttle service available to and from nearby attractions.

Pricing

A minimum stay of three nights will run singles $1,425 and doubles $1,935. For one week, singles pay $3,325, and doubles pay $4,172. For three weeks (which comes with the option for an extension), singles pay $9,975, and doubles pay $12,516. All prices include accommodations, food, workouts, educational modules, and consultations.

Summary

Jump Start Weight Loss in New York is recommended for those seeking a holistic, alternative medicine approach to health and fast weight loss, especially guests seeking a juicing-focused resort. While the website insists that participants will not go hungry, this FitStay is not recommended for guests who enjoy their three balanced meals a day.