On a detox retreat with Health Holidays

Day 1

After arriving at the beautiful, sun-drenched Club Barbarossa, it was time for our first introduction to the staff and the other 19 detoxers—a diverse group of men and women of various ages, yet all equally enthusiastic and motivated—while enjoying our first juice.
The first exercise class was also on the agenda: aqua aerobics in the clear blue water—bikini on, and let’s go!
After my evening drink, I enjoyed the beautiful view and the sunset, and then decided to head to bed; it had been a long and stimulating day.

Day 2

We completed our first running session; the whole group walked the 5.7-kilometer route, and it felt great. The temperature was still cool, allowing me to set my own pace, and the trek through the mountains was a breeze. Back at the hotel, our “breakfast” was already waiting for us. My energy levels weren’t particularly high, so I really appreciated the healthy sugar boost from the lemon and fruit juices. The body-shaping class went well, too—every muscle in my body was engaged.

After this class, I went with two other detoxers to the hammam offered by Health Holidays—towels in our bags and ready to enjoy this delightful Turkish wellness experience. We were back by 4:00 PM for the aqua aerobics class; I didn’t fare quite as well as the day before, but hey—stay positive—at least I was there.

Day 3

Also known as a “dip day”—oh boy, this was going to be rough. I had hoped I’d be spared, but unfortunately, I got hit too. A headache set in, and I just couldn’t get moving. It’s something I—usually a bundle of energy—never really suffer from, but oh, I was really struggling. (Shame on me.)

I dreaded the morning run, but thanks to my fellow group members and the instructors, I managed to get through it—though that was about all I could muster. After the morning juice, I retreated to my room; I was certain of one thing: this was not my day! I was determined to stay in bed all day. There was no way I was going to join the 10:00 a.m. body-shaping class or the 4:00 p.m. aqua aerobics session. “If I just pretend I’ve fallen asleep, I can get out of doing anything for the rest of the day,” I thought—but things turned out quite differently.

At 10:00 AM, one of my fitness instructors knocked on the door with a friendly request for me to join in after all. There was no getting out of it now (SHIT); I had to do it. But lo and behold, after the class, energy started flowing through my body again. A huge shout-out to the fitness instructors! Without them, I might still be lying in bed right now, feeling lazy and lethargic.

I was the first one in the water for the 4 p.m. aqua aerobics class, and I felt absolutely fantastic. Wow, I’m still amazed by this boost—and I have to say, I might be getting a bit too enthusiastic, but if things keep going like this, I’ll be unstoppable by the end of the week and swim all the way home. 😉

“Whereas I used to feel constant stress coursing through my body, I already notice that I am calmer—both physically and mentally. Another benefit is that I’ve already lost some weight. I wonder what the next effects of this regimen will be? I’m curious and will keep you posted!”

I’m getting the hang of this detox and exercise lifestyle more and more each day… (Yeah, yeah, I know—I really struggled at the start). I never would have imagined saying this, but I’m starting to get used to this juice-based lifestyle; my craving for solid food is diminishing by the day. Take, for instance, the longing for a delicious chicken fillet sandwich, or how about *filet américain*, or an exquisite salad with chicken teriyaki, walnuts, and goat cheese—or mmm…

Okay, I’ll stop there. Of course, the craving for solid food is still there (I am human, after all), but it’s diminishing day by day. ‘Eating’ is becoming less important. But that’s not all; the cleanse is bringing about many other positive effects for me, too. I’ll come back to that later, though.

Day 4

The daily structure is starting to have an effect on me. Normally, my life lacks structure (read: chaos). I’ve noticed that the Health Holidays daily schedule brings a sense of calm to my mind; I also feel energetic, my skin is glowing, and I feel incredibly well-rested today! During the day, I did some intense exercise, chilled out, and really enjoyed the sunshine. After my evening juice, I walked into the center of Kaş with a fellow group member (a really fun person, too)—something I couldn’t even have imagined doing just two days ago. Kaş is a charming town with lots of shops and RESTAURANTS. Yes, restaurants—you read that right; that was my reaction too (we’d better steer clear of those).

Unlike back at the accommodation, the plates here were piled high with the most delicious-looking dishes; would it be weird to ask for just a tiny, teeny taste? Yeah, right—think about it: very weird! Fortunately, I quickly came to my senses and managed to ignore that impulsive thought! We walked on, and I focused on the many shops—something I, as a ‘woman,’ could also get plenty of satisfaction from.

Day 5

It was excursion day, but first came the usual running routine; this time, I was up and raring to go at 6:30 a.m.—wide awake and full of energy. I decided to do the run solo, with music in my ears, simply enjoying the rising sun and the beautiful scenery. After the morning juice and the body-shaping session, the itinerary included Xanthos and Saklikent. Saklikent is a stunning gorge that the guides insisted was a must-see—and they were right. It was certainly worth it: an hour of hiking and trudging through a magnificent gorge alongside the other detoxers. After surviving the gorge, the bus dropped us back off in time for our evening juice; the group was becoming more sociable by the day, and we chatted late into the evening.

Day 6

Instead of the walking workout, the day started this time with a body-shaping class—a Yoga/Pilates session with a sea view (what more could I ask for?). After the class, we got ready to head to the market in Kaş. We walked into the town center as a group. It was a bustling market with a wide variety of stalls. Naturally, my eyes were immediately drawn to the food stalls, and—NO—I didn’t skip them this time; I happily stocked up on the most delicious herbs, spices, and nuts—not to eat right away, but to take back home to the Netherlands.

To be honest—yes, I did briefly hesitate about eating it—but I had a goal and wanted to stick to it. I carefully packed it away in my suitcase and enjoyed my final day at the beautiful accommodation.

Day 7

So that was the final official detox day; I can certainly call it euphoric—I did it!!!! It is so deeply satisfying. I am proud of myself and the other group members; it was a test for me, and sure enough, I made it through—with the result that…

• I’m bursting with energy.
• My skin is glowing.
• My mind is at ease.
• I’m super happy.
• I am proud.
• I have met some nice and interesting new people.
• I feel like a winner. (It’s a bit weird, but I really outdid myself, haha.)

As I said, tomorrow it’s already time to go home. Tomorrow is also the outtake; during this session, my current stats—such as blood pressure and weight—will be compared with those from my intake. While these figures are less important to me—and certainly don’t outweigh (haha) the feeling I’m experiencing right now—it’s a nice bonus.