6-Day Fast and Feast: Detox Your Body and Your Mind Weight Loss Retreat

Now taking Bookings for 2025’s two Retreats starting on Saturday the 24th of May and Saturday the 18th of October

Do you dream of a world where your metabolism is as fast as your Wi-Fi connection?

Are you tired of constantly counting calories, weighing portions, feeling guilty, sluggish, weighed down, constantly fatigued and obsessing about that slice of cake you’ve been denying yourself? Well, put down your fork and pay close attention because this retreat is for you if you want to permanently lose the weight that has crept on, but don’t want to harm your body while you shed the kilos.

You definitely don’t want to reduce your body’s resistance to infection. You want to eat healthily, building your body’s natural immunity, while you get rid of the excess weight that puts you at risk of a variety of diseases, including COVID.

This is your opportunity to test-drive intermittent fasting, aka time-restricted eating, to find out if it suits you, while at the same time detoxing your body and your mind, while walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostella. During this 6-day retreat, hosted in the foothills of the mighty Pyrenées mountains in the sun-blessed south of France, and have all your questions will be answered by Dr Margaretha Montagu, a medical doctor who has been living this lifestyle herself for several years.

The Fast and Feast: Detox Your Body Detox Your Mind Weight Loss retreat is the perfect way to kick-start a weight loss program that will enable you to lose weight and keep it off permanently! So…

Are you ready for a weight loss retreat that will leave you feeling vibrantly alive, full of joie de vivre, deliciously indulged and profoundly relaxed from the top of your head to the tips of your toes?

Imagine sitting under 200-year-old lime trees, comfortably ensconced in a sun-lounger, listening to the birds chatting away happily in the trees, sipping a scrumptious, ice-cold glass of fresh-pressed juice with the perfume of wildflowers and herbs scenting the air…

…and your most pressing problem this difficult decision: should you get up and go for a leisurely walk through the vineyards, meadows and sunflower fields surrounding you or should you stay exactly where you are and meditate some more about how intensely grateful you are to be right here, right now?

It is easy to START a diet. STAYING on a weight loss program is much more difficult.

It is easy to START an exercise program. Exercising regularly for the rest of your life is much more challenging.

The problem is, if you want to lose weight, you have to eat less and exercise more and if you want to keep that weight off permanently you will have to stick to a weight management and a regular exercise program.

At this retreat, you won’t be navigating this reset alone. With expert guidance and personalised care, you’ll have everything you need to rebuild your health in a tranquil, distraction-free environment.

If you are ready to discover a way of eating and exercising that you can easily incorporate into your daily life, that will allow you to lose weight steadily and keep it off permanently, that will not be detrimental to your health but will leave you feeling healthy and full of energy, then the Fast and Feast: Detox Your Body Detox Your Mind Weight Loss Retreat is exactly what you have been looking for.

Intermittent Fasting has many benefits. Evidence-based research has demonstrated that it may

help you lose weight and keep it off forever
extend your lifespan, helping you to live healthily for longer
make you more resistant to infections, including viral infections
help you sleep better
reduce insulin resistance, lowering your risk of type 2 diabetes
reduce inflammation that causes or worsens many chronic diseases like arthritis

Retreat Description

I want more than just a (temporary) detox and weight loss for my guests. I want to empower and educate my guests to be able to keep the weight off permanently and develop a long-term exercise program that will improve their health, lower their stress levels and decrease their risk of developing various acute and chronic diseases. I know personal weight loss is a challenge that requires support and guidance and this is why this retreat provides mental, emotional, physical, and nutritional guidance and support.

I designed this retreat in 2019, a year after I started intermittent fasting myself. I am a medical doctor with many years of experience in helping people lose weight and maintain their weight loss. I chose to host these weight loss retreats in a part of the world where inhabitants live the longest, healthiest and fittest lives in Europe, despite eating substantial amounts of rich food and drinking copious amounts of wine. As well as being a medical hypnotherapist and a certified master NLP practitioner, I am also a certified equine-assisted experiential learning coach. I am convinced that mindful eating, combined with intermittent fasting, is the secret of losing weight and keeping it off permanently.

The easiest way to get here is to fly to Toulouse, take the train to Auch, and visit the glorious cathedral with its exceptional hand-carved choir – the Camino de Santiago goes through Auch and many walkers stop at this famous cathedral. You can check your luggage into temporary storage at the station. When you have had a scrumptious lunch at one of the sidewalk bistros on the square in front of the cathedral, you take the bus to Nogaro. The bus station is right next to the train station.

The most effortless way to get here is to rent a car, or take a taxi and the most entertaining and cheapest way to get here is by getting a lift from the carpooling site, BlaBlaCar(dot)fr.

The retreats start on Saturdays at 18h00 and end on Thursdays at 11h00.

A warm welcome awaits you at this 200-year-old authentic Landaise farmhouse amidst the Armagnac and Cotes de Gascogne vineyards in the sun-blessed southwest of France!

Testimonials

I have experienced dietary issues for as long as I can remember and earlier this year I began to explore Intermittent Fasting as a solution to help me on my journey to better understanding my body. I chose this retreat as I hoped it would be a direct-to-source way of gaining more reliable knowledge about intermittent fasting; its benefits, and challenges, as well as tips and tricks on how to introduce it into my lifestyle in the smoothest way possible. I felt from Margaretha’s profile that she had the experience to effectively answer any questions I may have. Within 24 hours of meeting Margaretha I felt confident that the intermittent fasting lifestyle was the right solution for me. All of our conversations on the topic were open, informative and above all realistic, as we discussed how to make Intermittent Fasting work in line with a busy social life.

The Intermittent Fasting education aside, I really enjoyed so many other parts of this retreat; not least spending quality time with Margaretha over dinner where we shared life experiences and connected beyond our shared interest in Intermittent Fasting. I also grabbed with both hands the opportunity to walk parts of the Camino de Santiago – something I have been drawn to for some time – and I can safely say it did not disappoint. Overall I had a really enjoyable few days with Margaretha in her home in beautiful french countryside and I would recommend anyone who has been thinking about Intermittent Fasting to join this retreat for a few days of education, relaxation (the daily massages were dreamy) and also great company. J Butterfield (review posted on Bookretreats.com)

Thank you so much Margaretha for a very special 14 days. It was a joy to meet you, other guests, your friends, the horses and not forgetting the cats! I felt peaceful and relaxed and learnt so much after trying many diets over the years. Choosing to stay longer proved to be invaluable during my introduction to Intermittent fasting. It gave me time to readjust and the 16/8 plan suits me perfectly. Our in-depth discussions have helped me to accept realistic weight loss targets and eating healthier foods now should enable me to lose weight permanently.

I also had the opportunity to walk two stretches of the Camino de Santiago which was an experience not to be missed. Margaretha, your kind words of guidance helped it to be a very rewarding experience and I can’t thank you enough. Marilyn E. (review posted on Bookeretreats.com

Loads more testimonials

Program

During the retreat, we will keep to a 16/8 or 18/6 window.

Day 1: Arrive after 18h00, in time for a scrumptious welcome dinner

Day 2: On the first walking day, guests walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostella from EAUZE to MANCIET. This section is about 11 km long and takes about 2,5 – 4 hours to walk. The walk meanders through woods, vineyards, meadows, orchards and sunflower fields from the Roman and cathedral city of Eauze towards Manciet, a small market town with a beautifully preserved lavoir.

Day 3: Intermittent Fasting Instruction and Discussion

Day 4: On the second walking day, guests walk from MANCIET to NOGARO. The route continues past an ancient church that once belonged to the Order of the Knights of Malta and an 18th-century milestone with a Maltese cross to Nogaro or Nogarium, which means ‘a place planted with walnut trees.’ This small town was established in the 11th century and has a fine Romanesque church. The walk takes about 2,5-4 hours to walk and is about 10km.

Day 5: Intermittent Fasting Instruction and Discussion

Day 6: Leave after brunch, before 11h.

Distances are approximate. The program is not set in stone and may be altered according to circumstances ex. inclement weather.

Food

Esprit Meraki’s food is simple but delicious and a celebration of the wonderful variety of fresh local produce available from our garden as well as from the local weekly fresh food markets.

We’ll keep to a 8:16 or 6:18 eating window.

In the morning we serve you a scrumptious brunch buffet, consisting of cereal, fruit, bread, confiture, honey, milk, yoghurt, typical cheeses and patés of the region. Tea and coffee are available from early, and throughout the day. You can also make sandwiches and take some fruit/yoghurt with you, to eat during your walk.

Dinner is served early (within your eating window) and consists of a homemade soup (hot/cold depending on the season,) a healthy and hearty main course, often vegetarian and often heavily influenced by the cuisine of our Spanish neighbours. Only water is served at the table.

Dinner on day 5 we have at a local restaurant to help regenerate the local economy post-COVID. The cost of this meal is not included – usually 15-30 euros, depending on your choices.

What’s Included In this Package

5 nights accommodation in an authentic half-timbered landaise farmhouse
Wholesome brunches, and delicious dinners (except dinner on day 5) during a 8:16 or 6:18 window. You can also make sandwiches and take some fruit/yoghurt with you, to eat during your walk.
Intermittent Fasting Instruction and a Personal Plan to continue when you get home.
2 unforgettable days walking the Camino de Santiago (optional.)
Introduction to Walking and Writing Meditation
Introduction to the Meraki Morning Program
Transport to and from the starting and end points of the Camino on each walking day

What’s Not Included In this Package

Transport costs to local airports (flights)
Transport from local airports to local train stations (ex. Auch) to Nogaro
Personal Health Insurance and/or Travel Insurance (we highly recommend insurance cover in case you need to cancel)
Additional activities not included in the itinerary
Personal or Group Life Transition coaching (might be available at an additional fee)
Dinner on days 5 ~ we have this meal at restaurants nearby to support local small business owners (15-30€, depending on your choices)
Alcoholic beverages

When can you come to a Fast and Feast: Detox Your Body and Your Mind Weight Loss Retreat?

I’d love to welcome you to my little part of paradise here in the sun-blessed southwest of France twice a year on the third Saturday of April and the third Saturday of October. The retreat starts at 18h on Saturdays and ends at 11h on Thursdays.

How much does a Fast and Feast: Detox Your Body and Your Mind Weight Loss Retreat cost?

Only a limited number of participants will be able to attend a Detox and Introduction to Intermittent Fasting Weight Loss Retreat every year. To ensure everyone gets individual, quality attention and the time to ask questions, I limit the size of my groups to 4 – which means you will need to reserve early to be one of the few fortunate guests who come here this year.

This potentially life-changing 6-day 5-night retreat includes accommodation, instruction, meals, and transport to and from the Camino and costs 1399€ for a single bedroom and €2499 for 2 people in a double bedroom. (2 people travelling together)

Please read the Cancellation Policy and Terms and Conditions before booking.
Full payment is due 30 days before the retreat starts. The minimum number of bookings for the retreat to go ahead is 2, please do not book flights until this has been confirmed.

It’s time to invest in yourself. Give your body the reset it deserves and return home with renewed energy, a balanced digestive system, and a clearer mind.

In only a few other places you will find all the ingredients of a perfect holiday combined with such abundance as in Gascony: fabulous food, outstanding wine, generous people and the breathtaking beauty of mountains, rivers, lakes and medieval villages perched on hilltops.

So seize this exceptional opportunity to spend a few nights here NOW…a warm welcome awaits you amidst the Armagnac and Cotes de Gascogne vineyards in the sun-blessed southwest of France.

Are you ready for an unforgettable retreat that will leave you feeling vibrantly alive, full of joie de vivre, deliciously indulged and profoundly relaxed from the top of your head to the tips of your toes? Contact me at welcome2gascony@gmail.com to inquire about availability and to pay your deposit to secure your spot.

Imagine how different your life will be in a year’s time if you decide to change your life by attending this retreat.

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