The last supper

You will probably think this sounds a little crazy, just as I did when the retreat coordinator asked me how long I had fasted for previously (serves me right for not reading the details properly), but theres a first time for everything. To kick off my solo journey I signed up for an 8 day fasting detox at Ananda Wellness Resort located on Koh Phangan.

The idea is that it takes 7 days to cleanse the bloodstream and lymph system of toxins. Fasting is the quickest way to eradicate toxic materials out of your body, eliminating fat mucus and diseased cells. The body will still hold on to important vitamins and minerals. It was certainly not my intention to lose any weight from this retreat, unfortunately it is unavoidable but will predominantly be fat loss, averaging 4 - 6kg per person.

My favourite part about the time here is that you get to spend it with like minded people who can share their experience and are all having a tube shoved up your bum hole twice a day for an internal shower. The colonic irrigation or colema used an alternation between warm coffee or garlic laced water that was self administered and as well as clearing the toxins, helped to discharge a build up of harmful matter that has been collecting inside the bowel walls.

Although it was my first time experimenting with the process, I had taken an interest a couple of years ago when I read this article about Anthony, who after swallowing a marble as a child, passed it 22 years later after a butt flush at a health retreat in Thailand. Apparently you could have undigested food lodged in your colon, rotting in to a toxic time bomb. Feel free to ask if you would like to discuss any finer details of the colonic process.

Not surprisingly most conversations seemed to drift toward food, no matter how innocent they had started. We would find ourselves sitting around the detox bar or floating in the pool discussing the most unusual food combination we had ever tried or debating what our first meal would be, even though we were very aware spending this long not eating would be a slow process easing back in to the world of food, staring with a few days of fresh fruit and veggies only.

Supporting the lack of intake, we had to adhere to a rigerous routine of herbs (37 herbal pills every day!), shakes (Psyllium Husk and Hydrated Bentonite) and probiotics. On top of the 15 colonic irrigation's, there was a daily massage, herbal sauna and yoga class. I also elected for the optional liver / gallbladder cleanse and anti-parasite course after my recent infection in Nepal.

It was recommended to start prefasting 2 - 14 days before the retreat, yet my diet over the past month had been mediocre at best although it turns out this did not seem to disadvantage me in any way. Days 2 and 3 were the hardest with a general lack of energy, craving food and an intense head spin every time I stood up. Although I don't believe the food cravings were due to my body actually being hungry, it was more a case of thinking about the food that I could not have and weening my body away from the recent sugar and salt fuelled eating bonanza. Some of the food being craved is not even something I would generally eat or had eaten for years, all the same a big greasy Maccas burger dripping with fatty oil did sound appealing. Dreams also became quite strange and vivid most nights of the detox, as you might have guessed they were a constant reminder of all the delicious foods I would not be eating that week.

My biggest pickups from the retreat were to CHEW YOUR FOOD AT LEAST 30 TIMES, examine your poo carefully (its a great indication of your digestive health) and to give a good intestine massage daily to ensure smooth flow. So I lost a total of 7.3kg, but that's clearing out a LOT of shit and I don't anticipate it will take me long to put it back on. My aim is to try and stick to a diet consisting of fruit and vegetables for as long as I can hold out to see how my body reacts, still a long way off from being a declared vegetarian!!