‘On day 3, the sun gets to my head’

Completely reset your body and mind in seven days. Who wouldn’t want that? A week of juice cleanses in a beautiful location makes it possible, promises the organization Health Holidays. Food influencer Jet van Nieuwkerk (30) isn’t afraid of juice and booked a week in Portugal.

A six-pack in six weeks!’ ‘Kick your sugar addiction forever!’ ‘That belly fat will be gone within a month!’ Shouty slogans that promise all sorts of things are terribly tempting for most people. So it is for me too. And at Health Holidays, they promise all this. You’ll be doing a week-long juice fast in a beautiful location, and then you can ‘cleanse your stomach, take the time to taste what you’re eating, and learn to sense when you’ve had enough.’ And, also important: ‘Clear your head and gain new insights.’ Somewhere inside me, there’s a little voice that says: this isn’t possible, there’s no quick fix if you want to reset your body and mind. But I’m also curious. So, I’m booking that juice fasting week in the Algarve anyway.

JUICE DEMENTIA

In pitch darkness, a shuttle bus drops me off at the hotel. I’m given a wonderfully large room, a welcome apple and orange juice, a hot water bottle, and the message: “I’ll see you tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. on the mountain, that’s when the hike starts. Bodyshape starts at 10:30 a.m., and around 4 p.m. we’ll all go aqua jogging in the pool.” For the next seven days, I drink only freshly squeezed juice, water, and herbal tea. I’m not tempted by the nuts and figs at the market, not even by a custard roll smiling at me. Fruit juices in the morning, vegetable juices in the afternoon and evening, served in festive wine glasses—that’s quite something. And it’s possible. It’s actually unbelievable that your body can survive on juice, especially since we have a fairly busy workout schedule. The first few days are difficult. You can even suffer from “juice dementia,” we’re told. That means you’ve forgotten your room key, haven’t set your alarm, or don’t know what day it is. No big deal. Luckily, I don’t suffer much from it, but to be honest, I’m a bit weak with trembling knees. On the second day, as I lie on a sun lounger in my bathrobe, wearing big house socks, only one thought runs through my head: what the hell am I doing? Those thick socks must have looked funny, but I was just cold for the first three days. Those are the down days, I’m told. My taste has also changed. I only crave sweet drinks. Early in the afternoon, you get a juice made of tomato and cucumber. Normally, I love these vegetables, but this time I clenched my jaw in disgust. Of course, I dutifully persevere, because it’s better than nothing. After the vegetable juice, my energy level shoots up again, so I quickly forget the nasty taste.

FLAMINGOS

I’m in a group of ten, which is nice and manageable. Everyone’s here for a different reason: burnout, some want to lose weight, one participant is here to reset after a divorce, and several people just want “some time for themselves.” Every day there’s an exercise program, a trip to a village or a market, or a lovely walk along the coast. Every evening we gather for a vegetable juice and get information about the detox: what it does to your body and how you can maintain a healthy lifestyle at home. And there’s time to shop at one of the large shopping malls nearby. That provides a welcome distraction. I can’t imagine lounging by the pool between workouts—I’d be looking for a minibar. Still, the first few days are tough. But on day three, the sun finally shines in my head. I can think clearly again, and the big socks are exchanged for flip-flops. Every morning at seven o’clock I get out of bed for a walk past orange trees, through the dunes or through a wonderful nature reserve with flamingos.

ENERGY FOR TEN

Even before we board the plane home, an email arrives in our inbox with all the information about what we can eat when we get home. We have to build it up slowly. First, some pieces of fruit and vegetables, chewing frequently, the next day a salad with olives and goat cheese, and at the end of the week a small spoonful of rice. What I notice immediately: I wake up every day before the alarm with energy for ten. Just as the counselors had always told me: “Only when you’re home will you realize why you did this. Only then will you truly feel much better and have much more energy than before you left on your trip. Sometimes people leave here disappointed, boarding the plane feeling listless. They then loudly proclaim that they won’t be coming back. It’s precisely those people who show up again the next year.” I can only agree; I loved it. You have a week to focus on yourself (when is that possible?), to think things over, or to make plans. Every day, your bed is made with crisp, white sheets, and a personal trainer arrives at your door every morning (only Sylvie Meis has that). And you lose a few pounds. But that’s a bonus. Feeling so fit and clear is truly amazing.

KEEP MOVING

I’ve been home for two weeks now, but I still feel great. To be honest, I have to admit that the pounds I lost have come back. Not all of them, but half. And that’s understandable, because I’ve started eating solid food again. But I still wake up before my alarm, feel energetic, and the reset to take good care of myself (again) has definitely happened. And that’s exactly what I came for. Maintaining this good feeling won’t happen automatically, of course. Keeping moving, eating lots of vegetables, drinking water, and going to bed on time is essential. To a certain extent, of course. I’m keeping it fun!