I've always been a fasting dabbler; 1 day of no eating to reset the digestive system, 2 days because getting to 3 days was too tough, 3 days because I loved the fasting high that arrived after 56 hours of restriction. When my friend Becki—an incredible Pilates teacher I met in Bali—suggested joining her at the Sumberkima Hill resort in the north of the island for a 10-day water fast, I decided to throw caution to the wind and make my way to her.

Why Sumberkima?
Sumberkima Hill is a haven: private villas nestled in nature, two shalas for movement and meditation, and two tranquil swimming pools—an ideal location to retreat myself. My first attempt at a 10-day fast the previous month in Ubud had ended after measly four days. The constant hum of traffic, overwhelming smells, and chaotic energy of the town put my nervous system on edge. Sumberkima offered the peace I needed to fully immerse myself in the process.
Setting My Intentions
I embarked on this fast with clear goals:
Connect to Spirit: Create space for deeper spiritual awareness.
Anti-Aging and Detox: Experience the regenerative benefits of fasting.
Reset My Eating Habits: Break free from unhealthy patterns I’d picked up.
Heal and Rest: Give my digestive system a much-needed pause.
Challenge Myself: See if I could push through the mental and physical barriers.
A Rocky Start
Before arriving at Sumberkima, I’d gone out with friends dancing until the early hours. The next day’s six-hour journey to the resort—winding through Bali’s bustling roads—was far from ideal preparation.
When I arrived, I presented Becki with a small “fasting essentials” kit: natural lemongrass soap to aid detox through the skin, a candle for meditation, and homemade edible face oil made from rosehip, jojoba, frankincense, lavender, myrrh, and calendula.
The First Few Days
The initial days were tough. Hunger came in waves, especially around 4 PM, and herbal teas became a comforting distraction. Despite the beauty around me, exhaustion set in quickly. By the second day, walking anywhere was out of the question, so I relied on Sumberkima’s shuttle service. I spent most of my time lying on the floor.. Occasionally, I made it to the pool, but even stretching and Pilates—a routine I’d hoped to maintain—became impossible by day five.
Unearthing Old Memories
Unlike previous fasts where hunger subsided by day three, making way for a spiritual high and rain man-esque thinking, this experience was particularly gruelling. Constant hunger, an inability to walk or even hold my head up, alongside my motorless brain meant that any high was out of the question. I wrote the following passage
"This fast is unearthing so many deeply buried memories.
Memories of lying on the floor in excruciating agony, screaming, with no one being able to help me up. My entire spine locked in the most painful, relentless spasm, so intense that even breathing was a struggle. I was completely incapacitated.
I remember enduring the torment of the operation, which left me unable to walk for a month, only to face more spasms during and after the recovery process
The heartbreak of my water polo career coming to an end.
The endless days spent lying down, unable to do anything because of the sheer pain—yet even lying down was painful.
The frustration of being unable to pursue the athletic life I dreamed of.
Looking back, I understand that I had to experience all of this in my life. Perhaps I even “chose” it.
I am proud of myself for finding my own magic formula to break free from the constant cycle of breaking and fixing."
The fast forced me to slow down, made me cry and triggered these emotional insights; ones that were buried deep, but needed to come up. I have now huge gratitude for the sheer resilience, grit and determination I have shown either through my sports career, the subsequent injury, physical healing and now emotional clearing.
The Challenges and Breakthroughs
By day eight, exhaustion peaked. I collapsed several times, my legs giving out beneath me. Despite the physical struggle, my mind felt determined to continue. The exhaustion ultimately led me to end the fast on day 10, but not without gratitude for the experience.
The highlight? Sparkling water. After days of nothing but still water, it tasted like the most luxurious treat in the world.
Breaking the Fast
Integration is as important as the fast itself. I began with small amounts of watermelon and coconut water (consuming anything with melon is a huge digestive nightmare), savouring every bite and sip. Each day, I gradually introduced other fruits, slowly increasing portions. By the end of the first week, my strength returned, and I could walk longer distances.
Side not: I once did a 3 day fast and decided to eat the leftover stir fry in my fridge. This was a terrible idea - and I had digestive problems and bloated stomach for a whole 6 weeks after that experience.
Lessons Learned
Supervision is Key: Long fasts are intense, and having someone nearby is essential.
Rest and Retreat: The peace of Sumberkima made this fast possible. A supportive environment is crucial.
Listen to Your Body: While I intended to connect spiritually, my energy was too low for deep meditation. Instead, I learned to honour where I was in the moment.
The Power of Integration: Breaking the fast mindfully ensured I reaped the benefits without shocking my system.
Gratitude for Simplicity: The taste of fresh fruit and sparkling water became profound reminders of life’s simple joys.
The Science of Fasting
Fasting triggers a cascade of processes in your body, each with unique benefits. Here's what happens, hour by hour, during a water fast:
0-4 Hours
Digestive Phase: Your body is actively digesting and absorbing nutrients from your last meal. Insulin levels rise to process glucose for energy.
4-12 Hours
Transition Phase: Blood sugar begins to drop as glucose is used up for energy. Your body shifts to using glycogen stored in the liver and muscles for fuel.
Hunger Pangs: Ghrelin, the hunger hormone, peaks. These cravings are often more habitual than actual starvation.
12-16 Hours
Fat Burning Begins: Glycogen stores deplete, and your body starts breaking down fat for energy. Lipolysis releases fatty acids, which are converted into ketones.\n
Autophagy Initiates: The body begins cleaning up damaged cells, removing waste, and recycling cellular components.
16-24 Hours
Metabolic Switch: Ketone production ramps up, providing a cleaner, more efficient energy source for the brain.
Insulin Levels Drop: Lower insulin levels trigger fat breakdown and reduce inflammation.
24-48 Hours
Full Ketosis: Your body is now fully running on ketones. This provides sustained energy and mental clarity.
Autophagy Peaks: Cellular repair is in full swing, clearing out old proteins and regenerating cells.
48-72 Hours
Growth Hormone Surge: Growth hormone levels increase dramatically, aiding in muscle preservation and fat metabolism.
Stem Cell Activation: Stem cells begin regenerating in the gut and other tissues, promoting healing and longevity.
3-5 Days
Deep Healing: Ketones protect brain cells and reduce oxidative stress. Inflammation continues to decrease, and the immune system gets a reset.
Gut Repair: The digestive system rests, allowing the gut lining to regenerate and improve nutrient absorption.
5-10 Days
Anti-Aging Benefits: Increased autophagy and stem cell production repair damage on a cellular level, potentially slowing aging.
Mental Clarity: Enhanced ketone production supports focus and cognition. Emotional and spiritual insights often emerge as the mind detaches from physical cravings.
10+ Days
Extended Cellular Rejuvenation: Prolonged fasting amplifies anti-aging effects and metabolic resets. It requires extreme care and supervision but can be transformative for deep healing.
Contraindications of Extended Water Fasts
Whilst the benefits of extended fasts are numerous, they're not for everyone. I've even heard of stories of a water fasting retreat in Panama where a participant unfortunately died. I would recommend working with a trained specialist if you were considering an extended fast, and I would hope that they would check you your system for the following things:
Adrenal Fatigue: If your adrenals are weak, fasting may worsen fatigue, dizziness, and low blood pressure. In fact, an extended fast can really do a number of your adrenals if they are already struggling (which a lot of us are in our stressful modern coffee-laden society)
Poor Kidney Filtration: Fasting relies on strong kidneys to detox effectively. One should test their urine in the mornings to check for filtration.
Hormonal Imbalances: Fasting can disrupt menstrual cycles and hormones, especially in women. In fact, most scientific studies on fasting have been done on men - so proceed with caution.
Mental Health Concerns: Fasting can heighten anxiety or worsen eating disorders.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Pre-existing deficiencies may worsen during prolonged fasting. Fruit fasting and juicing with herbal supplements is suggested.
Chronic Illness or Medications: Conditions like diabetes or hypertension need close supervision.
Pregnancy or Breastfeeding: Nutrient needs are too high during these stages for fasting.
Would I do a 10 Day Fast Again?
Absolutely not!
Every fast is different, I know that. A fast this long isn't for the feint of heart. I am so proud that I managed to not eat for 10 days, and that I looked to have aged backwards. Whilst the fast deepened my relationship with my body, unearthed emotional wounds, and reminded me of the resilience within; the exhaustion was just too much for me.

Next time, I plan to try a grape juice fast based on Dr. Morse’s techniques, whom I have studied with. Juice fasting offers added detox benefits as the fruits and herbs support the body in detoxing while providing enough energy for longer durations, and meditation.
Final Thoughts
Fasting definitely isn’t for everyone, it can be a transformative tool for those prepared to approach it with care and intention. I would always recommend working with someone who has some level of training and experience in extended fasting protocols. Send me a message for any recommendations.