When the body says stop: the beginning of my quest for meaning
It all started in 2017. I was at my wit's end, stuck in a job where I was being bullied. My very first position, after 7 years of marketing studies. A slap in the face. A big one. I ended up getting fired, and in hindsight, it was maybe the best thing that could have happened to me. Because in the six months that followed, I left everything: my city, my life, my bearings, and I decided to move to Montreal. I was a shadow of myself, empty, lacking confidence.
My encounter with therapeutic fasting
And then one day, at the library, I came across a book. I read it in one sitting, in one day: The Art of Fasting: The Buchinger Manual of Therapeutic Fasting. It was a revelation. What I was looking for was emptiness. A space to find myself. To start anew, body and soul.
My first fast: 5 days to come back to myself
I followed the book's instructions to the letter. A 5-day juice fast. Structured, supervised, reassuring. And it did me a world of good. Since then, I've done it almost every year. For different reasons: after stopping the pill, when I felt bloated, or to soothe my relationship with food. One year, I even did it twice, in the spring and fall.
To avoid experiencing it alone (and to avoid fainting on my own), I often took people with me. It challenged me. Often, it was their first time. And I understood very quickly: fasting is a deeply personal journey. We can't count on others to guide us. You have to be minded, really committed to yourself, and do your research beforehand. Read, listen to yourself, prepare. Because each person experiences their own thing, with their emotions, their body, their mind. And the space around it must respect that.
The Challenges of Fasting: When It Doesn't Go as Planned
The fast that traumatized me
But it hasn't always been smooth sailing. Two years ago, I had an experience that affected me so much that I stopped fasting for a long time. It wasn't anyone's fault. But I realized one essential thing: you don't fast with just anyone.
On the last day, I had two arguments. One face-to-face, the other over the phone. My already vulnerable body was swept through an emotional storm. The next day, I broke the fast in this state. Bad timing. I ate my emotions, didn't eat properly, and it left a bitter taste. I, who loved this practice so much, had come to dread it.
Fasting during COVID: a bad idea
A year later, I tried fasting again. I had COVID, isolated at home for 10 days. Bad idea. The stress of being locked down, the loneliness… I ended up calling resources who told me to stop immediately. Maybe I owe them for avoiding a real crash. Fasting is not nothing. It's powerful. And it can be dangerous under certain conditions.
2025: my 9th fast, and a deep reconnection
And here I am today. My ninth fast since 2017. An inner calling manifested itself. After a long period of stress, I felt it was time. This time, I was ready. The fear was gone. The excitement had returned.
I went with my friend and colleague Amandine (our 3rd fast together), this time I was going for 5 days of water. No alcohol, no more animal protein, zero processed products the week before. Two days of mono diet (one day potatoes, one day fruit) to gently prepare my digestive system. We put down our suitcases in an old sanatorium surrounded by nature, cats, llamas and a horse. A place where art and care come together. Perfect.
A day-by-day fast
- Day 1: Purging and Calming
A glass of magnesium sulfate (yuck) to flush it all out. And off we go. I slow down. I walk. I read. I do reflexology points to support elimination. I listen to myself. - Day 2: Enema and letting go
It's the bottom purge (yes, with an enema bag, always glamorous). And from then on, no more feeling of hunger. Just calm. Bath, herbal teas concocted by Amandine, animal therapy, rest, reflexology. Hot water bottle on the stomach, morning-noon-evening. - Day 3: Mental Clarity
My mind is crystal clear. I sort through my collage folders, my files, my phone. I move forward in a state of profound calm. I become myself again. - Day 4: Supermarket shock
We anticipate the end of the fast. We go shopping. And then, bam. The abundance of food, the smells, the consumerism… it almost hurts. A real slap in the face. I feel how society pushes us to do too much, too fast, too much. This contrast fascinates me every time. - Day 5: Gratitude and pampering
I'm making the most of this last day. A bubble bath to conclude this ritual. I love this moment between two worlds: the desire to eat returns, but I'm still at peace, connected, aligned. - The Breakup: The Magic Apple
The next morning, I break my fast with an apple and four cashews. An explosion of flavors. Every bite is a celebration. At noon, a freshly squeezed juice. And it's back to Montreal.
Technically, the real refeeding begins the day after you resume eating, and lasts 3 to 5 days. I reintroduce food groups one by one. Slowly, respectfully. For example, animal proteins only on the 5th day.
I feel grounded, calm. My relationship with food is gentle, clear, and peaceful. I just notice that if I delay eating, I can relapse into a chewing speed I want to avoid. So I remain vigilant.
What fasting teaches me, even today
Every fast is a unique rebirth. And fasting isn't right for everyone. It has to call to you, you have to be prepared, informed, and supported if necessary. There are clinics and support available. And it's not to be taken lightly. It can be a wonderful, but intense, journey.
For me, it's a deep cleansing: from cells to emotions, from stomach to mind. A reconnection to oneself, an inner journey, a space to slow down, cleanse, and realign. A privilege. A space outside of time where I slow down, where I nourish myself differently: with silence, light, and nature. And reflexology plays a precious role in this: it supports the process, amplifies the benefits, and helps me stay in tune with my body throughout the adventure.
Are you considering fasting? Would you like to discuss it or be supported in a more comprehensive approach to well-being? Don't hesitate to contact me.
And if you want to discover my approach to reflexology or make an appointment: www.heleneguayreflexo.com
My fast in pictures
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