A live-in fitness and weight loss program works differently from a gym membership, a diet plan, or a typical wellness getaway. You stay on-site, and your meals, training, testing, and coaching are organized for you for the length of your stay.
Here is how the model works in practice, using Fitness Retreat in Scottsdale, Arizona, as the example: how your plan is set, how meals and training are handled, where you stay, what you arrange yourself, and what happens after you leave.
The Basic Model
A live-in program combines housing and a full daily program into one stay, usually booked by the week. At Fitness Retreat, the weekly rate covers housing, testing, a prescribed meal plan, five to seven hours of daily coached fitness, fitness and nutrition lectures, life coaching workshops, and a weekly weigh-in and body composition test.
Because everything runs on one schedule, you do not have to coordinate separate providers or plan your own days. For a breakdown of current rates and what affects the total, see how much a residential weight loss program costs.
How Your Plan Is Set
The plan starts with data rather than a template. On arrival day, guests complete four tests: hydrostatic body composition testing, a resting metabolic rate test, a VO2 Max test, and a 3D body scan. Together they measure body fat and lean mass, how many calories your body uses at rest, cardiovascular fitness, and body measurements and posture. You can read what each one measures on our testing page.
Those results set your calorie and macronutrient targets and your training intensity. Body composition is measured again every week, so the plan can be adjusted based on what is actually changing, not just the number on the scale.
How Meals Work
Meals are chef-prepared and measured to the protein, carbohydrates, and fats your plan calls for. Guests eat every three to four hours, which keeps energy steady through a full day of training.
Dietary needs are built into the plan, including vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free diets and food allergies. Guests also learn how to shop, prep, and eat at home, since the goal is to keep the habits going after the stay. More detail is on our nutrition and meals page.
How Training Works
Training runs five to seven hours a day, split into coached sessions that mix strength work, conditioning, mobility, hiking, and group classes. Coaches meet guests at their current level, so a beginner and an experienced exerciser can follow the same schedule at different intensities.
Lectures and life coaching sit alongside the workouts. They cover nutrition, training, and the habits and thought patterns that affect weight. You can see how the training side is structured on our workout plan page.
Where You Stay and How You Get Around
Retreat housing comes in three tiers: a shared room with a shared bathroom, a private room with a shared bathroom, and a private room with its own bathroom. Shuttles run between the residences and the training facility, known as the Hangar, for scheduled program activities.
Transportation outside the program schedule is not provided, so plan for your own rides for personal errands or appointments. Room details are on our retreat housing page.
Live-In or Live-Out
Not everyone needs on-site housing. Fitness Retreat also offers a Live-Out Program, which includes everything except accommodations, for guests who live nearby or want to arrange their own lodging. Individually curated housing is available as well. Both are priced by phone.
What You Arrange Yourself
A live-in program covers a lot, but not everything. Guests handle their own travel to Scottsdale, transportation outside scheduled activities, and any prescription medications, which are filled at a local pharmacy.
It is also worth understanding the policies before you book. Program fees become non-refundable once you check in, guests who miss days because of illness must notify the team, and returning to the program after an illness requires written clearance from a licensed doctor. Fitness Retreat strongly recommends travel insurance. The full details are in the travel and illness policy.
How Booking Works
There is no direct online checkout. Because each stay is built around the guest, booking starts with a short intake quiz and a consultation call to review your goals, room options, and stay length.
The call is also the time to ask about discounts. Fitness Retreat lists $100 per week off for military, first responders, teachers, students, and international travelers, and 5% off for returning guests. Add-ons such as massage or private sessions are available but never required.
What Happens After You Leave
The live-in portion is only part of the program. Graduates continue with Fit Culture aftercare, an app with workouts, meal plans, coaching resources, and tracking tools built from the data collected during the stay. It is only available to people who have completed the retreat.
Is a Live-In Program Right for You?
A live-in program suits people who want a dedicated block of time with the structure already in place: meals planned, workouts scheduled, and progress measured. It is less suited to someone who mainly wants a relaxing vacation or cannot step away from work and family for at least a week. If you have a medical condition or take medication that affects weight, talk with your doctor before starting any intensive exercise and nutrition program. For a full checklist of what to compare between programs, see what is included in a residential weight loss program.
If you want to know how a stay would work for your situation, talk with the Fitness Retreat team about room options, stay length, and the Live-Out Program.
