MENDOCINO, CALIFORNIA, USA -- It's hard to keep to a weight loss plan when you're on vacation. It's vacation -- the very word evokes thoughts of anything goes. After all, you work hard throughout the year and vacation should be just that. Right?

Well, another way of looking at it is that you've worked hard on your health and fitness goals, and you don't want to risk backsliding into old unhealthy habits. Or perhaps you've been putting off starting a healthy regime. So you've essentially already been on an "eating vacation" all along.

Either way, the Auberge Mendocino Seaside Inn & Cottages has what you need. Their Atkins Diet Retreats allow you to escape the hustle and bustle and relax on the breathtaking Mendocino Coast, while maintaining a low carb diet and losing weight!

Inn owner Richard Grabow credits the Atkins plan with saving his life. Now slim and trim, Grabow works the program along with his guests, sharing tips and insights for maintaining a healthy low carb lifestyle.

You'll receive a welcome package at the retreat's orientation meeting that contains a schedule of activities, an Atkins Advantage shake, a copy of the Atkins Diet book, a carb counter book and, most importantly, your own Atkins Diet journal where you'll track your progress at the retreat and after you return home.

We've all heard the advice for years, although if you're like me, you never actually follow it. But if the Aubrger Atkins retreat taught me one thing, it's the importance of writing it down. It's not so much that I wasn't aware of what I was eating, it's that the shame of actually putting it in writing is often enough to deter me from overindulging.

In the mornings, everyone meets for breakfast. The Auberge's chef, Karinna Ulrich has come up with a selection of low carb recipes for the retreats and she really shines at breakfast -- a meal many low carbers find challenging. With Richard as host, guests share comments, questions, encouragement and progress during the retreat's morning meals.

After breakfast came our favorite part of the retreats -- a daily guided hike with wellness consultant Ryanne Snow. The Mendocino coast offers a varied array of ways to get back to nature, from tall tree forests, to rolling meadows to the famous rugged coast, and Snow knows them all intimately well. A true renaissance man, it seems like there's nothing he can't do or hasn't done. A calm gentle soul with an almost hypnotic voice, spending time with Ryanne is so fun and interesting, you'll forget you're actually getting exercise. In addition to guided the hikes, he also gives retreat guests classes in relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation and visualization, and even came and joined in on the Swing Dance Richard arranged one evening.

After the daily hike, guests return to the inn for one of Karina's low carb lunches. Not only will you learn what to eat on a low carb plan (retreat guests will be following the strict induction phase of the Atkins diet), you'll also learn about portion control. Although the Atkins diet allows it, Richard doesn't believe in lots of high fat fare like bacon and steaks. The low carb meals at Auberge are low carb and low fat. If you find you're not getting enough food for your energy level, just let Richard know and they'll get you more. We can think of no better way of going through the diet's most restrictive phase than in the camaraderie of a group.

While the program is semi-structured, guests still get lots of time to explore the area on their own. The towns of Mendocino and nearby Fort Bragg are charming, filled with unique shops to explore and sights to see. The coast here, which resembles New England rather than what we typically think of as California, is dotted with inns, spas, and wineries. Use free afternoons to indulge in a massage or facial or explore the nearby lighthouses or perhaps even take a ride on the Skunk Train railroad that winds through a spectacular Redwoods forest.

Atkins retreats guests have the option of joining Richard for a casual supper of meat and cheese roll-ups, or they can opt to test their low carb dieting skills at area restaurants. We did the latter and found fabulous low carb fare (steaks, seafood, even venison) at the Mendocino Hotel, Little River Inn and especially Café Beaujolais (our best new restaurant find of the year!). If you order carefully, you can find something low carb to eat in almost any restaurant, and most restaurants are happy to accommodate special requests such as no potatoes, extra vegetables.

On the final night of the retreat, Richard took the entire group out for a grand low carb dinner at the nearby Little River Inn. One of Mendocino's premier resorts, the Inn's hillside location affords visitors stunning views of the coast. Their outstanding garden view dining is happy to cater to low carbing diners anytime (you don't need to be a hotel guest). The farewell meal was lots of fun with everyone sharing tips and experiences before saying goodbye to their newfound friends.

So stop putting off losing weight. The Atkins Retreats are a wonderful way to jump-start your low carb program in a beautiful environment that encourages mind, body and soul to be healthy and active.

Low Carb Breakfast Recipes from Auberge Mendocino Chef Karina Ulrich

• Ham & Egg Nests
• Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon
• Ricotta & Leek Frittata

Practicalities

In 2004, the five-night Atkins retreats begin Sundays on October 10, November 7 and December 12. Graduates of previous retreats will celebrate the program's first anniversary during Halloween weekend, October 29-31.

The retreat features hiking, exercise and stress-reduction sessions, visits to galleries, a salsa dance class and a cooking class by the Inn's chef.

Five-day packages begin at $775 per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy starts at $922. Participants enjoy healthy meals including gourmet breakfasts, lunches, light suppers and dinners at nearby restaurants.

If you have a group of friends and family members who want to get with the program, so much the better. In addition to being an inn, Auberge also offers several vacation house rentals that are perfect for a small group of tight knit friends to a large extended family or multi-family vacation. Also keep in mind that whether the Atkins retreats are on or not, Auberge always offers great dining (for non-dieters) and romantic accommodations.

For more information or to make reservations, visit the Auberge website at www.aubergemendocino.com.

Getting There
From Santa Rosa take highway 101 to Cloverdale, turn west on Highway 128 which meanders through the beautiful Anderson Valley. When you get to Highway 1, go north 10 miles to the town of Mendocino.

Mendocino Tourism
For more information on the Mendocino Coast and any of its many festivals, as well as tourism information, call the Mendocino County Alliance toll free at 866-466-3636 or visit their website at www.gomendo.com.

In the nearby area:

• Wild Mushrooms, Fine Wine and Crabs on the Mendocino Coast
  .

  Cheri Sicard, in addition to being the editor of FabulousTravel.com and its sister site, Fabulous Foods.com is the author of The Great American Handbook: What You Can Do For Your Country Today and Every Day and The Low Carb Restaurant Guide, and the co-author of US Citizenship for Dummies. To learn more about Cheri, click here.