After my juice detox I managed to give up the fags — yet again

Five days fasting in a health spa on a veg juice diet left me feeling tip top — and tobacco free, writes Louise Roseingrave

‘The initial day or two can bring on mood swings but it’s nothing a swim in the sparkling sea won’t cure’

ILOST eight pounds in five days at a health spa in the Algarve two weeks ago. And I felt good.

However, following the past week of eating everything in sight I imagine at least half that weight is back on again.

Going out there I knew there were some reputable experts who question this type of treatment but I have to say I’ve become a convert, not only for weight loss, which should be regarded as a bonus, but for the physical and emotional full system reboot.

I’ll be honest. The real reason I went was to ditch the cigarettes, something that many of us will be trying this New Year. When you’re depriving yourself of pretty much everything else, it’s not a huge leap to cut out smoking, too.

The retreat is run by Vitalise Portugal and takes place at Vila Mimosa, near the coastal village of Gale, 5km west of Albufeira.

Staff conduct a full health check at the start of the fast.

I weighed 135lb on arrival and lost 8lbs over five days of juice-only fasting, before opting for ‘mild fasting’ (tiny, raw vegan meals) for the final two days. My goals were to cut out sugar and nicotine. On day two of the fast I ran out of cigarettes and haven’t smoked since. I have the odd craving but I don’t miss them.

I was there because I won a prize in a competition which gave me a 50pc discount. I paid €627 plus €100 for a return flight with Ryanair to Faro, so it’s not cheap.

Full disclosure here. This was my second visit to Vila Mimosa. The first time more than a year ago I lost 7lbs and I gave up smoking for three wonderful months until my home was burgled and the stress drove me back into the clutches of nicotine. Second time lucky, I hope.

The theory behind the detox is that abstaining from food allows the body to put its energy into healing itself, as opposed to diverting all resources into dealing with sugary overindulgence, or whatever your guilty pleasure may be.

It is true that studies are increasingly pointing to links between gut health and overall well-being. Some advocates suggest that fasting is a free weapon in the fight to stay healthy.

In a world where we are consistently told we need to eat three times a day plus snacks, the choice not to eat feels almost revolutionary.

I certainly felt good after it. There was a lightness of step and a clarity of mind and a tingling of appreciation for the world and the opportunities it presents.

But you need to persevere and commit to the programme. The most frequently asked question I hear is: “Is it really tough?” The answer is no, not really.

On the vegetable juice only fast, calories are limited to 250 per day, comprising three juices daily and a bowl of soup.

It begins with a wake-up call at 7am, followed by a blood pressure reading and morning stretch before the group departs for a five kilometre walk as the winter sun rises overhead.

‘Breakfast’ follows in the form of juice or a ‘mild fasting’ raw vegan meal at 10am.

Guests can then take a rest, read a book or sit by the log fire before the next item on the schedule, a body-toning class before lunch. Temperatures typically reach up to the high teens in the Algarve at this time of year, so the afternoon is an optimal time to sit by the pool in the sunshine and soak up some Vitamin D.

I defy anyone not to laugh during the hilarious aqua-jogging class in the pool. None of the day’s activities are compulsory; guests can opt in or out as they wish. A stint in the steam room or sauna aids the detox process which is followed by another juice concoction, and then yoga or pilates in the evening.

At 7pm it’s time to sit down for ‘The Soup’, the evening wind-down ritual designed to warm the belly and encourage sleep. Before bed, the piece de resistance arrives, a hot water bottle to place over the liver to encourage detoxification.

It’s a bit like living on a day ward at a luxury hotel. There are no big decisions to be made, no hectic schedule, no pressure.

The initial day or two can bring on mood swings as toxins leave your system, proponents say, but it’s nothing a swim in the sparkling sea won’t cure.

While all guests lose varying amounts of weight, staff report the collective effects in terms of brighter eyes and clearer skin.

People did look a lot better at the finish than they did at the start.

On the final night we get to celebrate by dining out. There is little in this world to top the feeling of absolute joy that comes with tasting proper food again for the first time in a week.