Dan Hellman's Blog

Hi everyone,

First, thank you for following along and the inspirational words of encouragement. Writing these daily notes is as much for my own sanity as it is for sharing the ride. Fasting is uncharted territory for me, and staying busy keeps me grounded. Many of you have asked about the experience, so if these updates help or inspire you in any way, consider me your humble guide.

Morning Vital Signs

Day 4 flew by in a snap. At 7 a.m. the nurse checked my vitals: blood pressure 108/68, pulse 53. A urine test confirmed I’m in ketosis, and—shockingly—my weight has dropped to 171.5 lbs. Looks like I’m losing that bet with the G.O.A.T.

Qi Gong by the Sea

From there I hopped on the bus to Marbella for Qi Gong on the beach. The rhythmic lap of the Mediterranean against the shore was pure bliss—a melody that hums through your whole body.

Espresso Pilgrimage

After class I strolled a mile and a half to Cult Espresso Bar, a tiny café that was absolutely worth every step. That single, velvety shot of espresso reminded me how magical good coffee can be. I’m grateful the clinic doesn’t outlaw espresso; that little cup was pure joy. I walked the two miles back to Buchinger under a flawless sky with a smile on my face.

Strength & Sweetness

Back at the clinic I hit the gym for an intense weight-lifting session that left me slightly shaky. The Buchinger clinic encourages workouts. In fact I am told by the fourth or fifth day I should feel relatively strong, because my body is now using fat as energy. The staff encourages a touch of honey if you work out aggressively, so I treated myself to an apple-cinnamon tea with a drizzle of honey. That instantly took away the shakiness.

Body Check &…Real Life

Next came a DEXA scan—my first. It measures bone density, body fat, and muscle mass; results will come during my doctor follow-up.
Then, the less glamorous side of fasting: the scheduled enema. It’s every other day to keep things moving and help clear toxins. Let’s just say it went smoothly – leave it at that and spare any photos.

Midday Pause

Lunch was my usual half-and-half of soup and gazpacho, savored while chatting with a nice man from Guatemala. Afterward I indulged in a 45-minute nap with a warm liver pack—surprisingly comforting and the perfect excuse to doze.

Evening Reflections

The afternoon brought excellent news: every marker on my bloodwork came back normal. We’re just waiting on PSA and gluten-sensitivity results.

Later I crossed the street to Antares, the clinic’s serene meditation house, for yoga and breathing exercises. It’s meant to be a no-talk zone—though a few visitors apparently missed that memo and the blatant signs saying “quiet zone.”

The day wrapped up with a welcome meeting for new guests. One veteran attendee, here for his tenth stay and a scientist who researches fasting in animals, gave an inspiring talk on the body’s ability to heal. Others shared stories of fasting helping with everything from heart disease to menstrual issues—fascinating and motivating.

Dinner, as always, was two half-servings of soup—simple and delicious. I’m honestly amazed how natural it feels to go without solid food now.

I’ll finish the evening with some reading and journaling on my terrace, the Spanish twilight settling in around me. Here is today’s photo.

Until tomorrow,

Dan