Hello. I’m Dr. Tallis Barker
I’ve successfully guided over 900 clients from across the world (US, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia) through water fasts of 3-40 days. Having regularly fasted for 15 years, I became a water fasting coach after experiencing the deep cleansing and healing in my own body.
Although I coach fasts undertaken for numerous reasons (both physical and spiritual), I specialise in helping people heal from chronic illness such as:
- Long Covid
- Gut issues such as IBS, SIBO and ulcerative colitis
- Autoimmune issues such as allergies, asthma, chronic fatigue (CFS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Hormonal issues such as insulin resistance, adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism
- Fibroids, ovarian cysts and even cancer
OVER 900 CLIENTS
Successfully coached through 3 to 40 day fasts
For people unfamiliar with water fasting, the idea of giving up food can be frightening. But the fact is that homo sapiens have been successfully fasting for millennia.
Many people today practice intermittent fasting as a basic lifestyle, but longer fasts are also possible in order to go much deeper into healing.
Gut / Digestive illness
Long Covid
Autoimmune issues
Hormonal imbalances
You can completely recalibrate your body from the ground up, allowing yourself to heal. The way to do this is through water fasting.
Water fasting is completely safe for the vast majority of people. With guidance from an expert, you too can make the most of your fast and begin your healing journey.
FASTING TRIVIA
We all know the most famous examples of religious 40-day fasts, but you probably haven’t heard others.
For example, the Greek mathematician Pythagoras demanded that all his students undertake a 40-day fast in order to sharpen their minds!
CHOOSING THE RIGHT FAST
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3
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7-10
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14-40
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extended healing fasts
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I feel very lucky to have come across Tallis's website some time in 2021 and to have learned more about the benefits of water fasting. I have done two water fasts coached by him - a 12 day fast and a 20 day fast. I don't think I would have felt confident enough to complete these long fasts on my own, that have brought me so much healing. For the first 12 day fast (which took place 14 months ago) I had 4 months earlier come off an anti-depressant. The withdrawal side effects of the drug were still quite unpleasant and so I did the fast in the hopes of healing them. I'm happy to say I did not suffer from any withdrawal again after that. More recently I did a 20 day fast with Tallis guiding me. I did this long fast because I was diagnosed with a serious autoimmune condition 2.5 years ago. I have seen significant change in my body (and psyche) since, and I now have more energy and stamina throughout the day, and I don't need as much rest as I did before the fast. Tallis's service is unique and I'm grateful to have been able to fast at home with his guidance. It's clear that he has a wealth of knowledge and experience about the physical aspects of fasting, as well as the spiritual side of it. I felt he had my best interests in mind throughout. He respected my intuitive sense around what was right for me. He's kind and a good listener. I especially valued the advice around re-feeding after a long fast, and the transition from fasting to eating again went without a hitch. I highly recommend Tallis as a fasting coach!
Anna Sayce9 March 2024Tallis is great. I have worked with other fasting coaches, but he is a notch above the others I have worked with in many ways. He actually listens and gives the kind of support I need. He serves as a knowledgeable coach, and cheerleader. I also like his overall philosophy of not being dogmatic but focusing on what works. It is also nice the way he is right on time when calling, and he is the one who takes on the rather complicated task I imagine of translating different time zones into his own time zone. Highly recommended, five stars.
Joel Steingold16 February 2024Water Fasting with the help of Tallis has been a very interesting experience. Tallis adapted to each and every step I took, listened carefully, gave me advice, didn't judge me when I fell, motived me when I needed support and accountability. I went in, thinking almost exclusively about losing weight, and came back with a lot more. My addiction to sugar and salt are gone, and more importantly I understood their root cause. Digging deep inside myself and understanding why I ate, what I really enjoyed eating (I don't really enjoy the taste of refined sugar, which was news to me), I was able to lay all my eating habits down on the table, and watch them from a distance. Despite having done alone a couple of extended Water Fasts in the past, this experience was complelety different. If you feel the need for a Change in your life, in your eating habits, and have trouble implementing it, trust Tallis and go for it. Thanks again for your help.
Rêveur15 January 2024Both my mother (57) and I (34) completed a 21 day water fast with Tallis and we couldn't be happier! In our first consultation meeting with Tallis I, mentioned that I suffer from chronic and severe asthma and a wide range of allergies, that I am hoping to stop (or at least reduce) the dosage of medication that I've been on daily for over a decade, before my partner and I try for a pregnancy. My mother on the other hand, with no specific medical status, was convinced that it's a good time to detox and 'get rid' of unknown issues (prevent rather than cure). From the first moment, it didn’t take us long to understand that Tallis is extremely professional, knowledgeable and very enthusiastic about his job consulting people on their water fast journey. After answering all our questions and explaining thoroughly the process, we had no doubt that we were lucky to have found him. Not surprisingly, as the fast went on, as stages in the detox grew and our bodies started to react to the process and change, Tallis never ceased to amaze us with his knowledge, instructions and solutions to ease and help and just his ability to explain everything in such detail- biologically, chemically, physically and emotionally. Throughout the whole fast and the refeeding week, we felt comfortable bringing anything that came up from our side, safe!, heard and we felt NORMAL and that everything was OK! Words, feelings and ideas were never put in our mouths and his professionalism (and big smile) cheered us on. We can't recommend Tallis enough! Having done a few short fasts (up to a week) in the past myself, looking back at the past month it’s clearer than ever that when going through such an extreme and intense reset to the body and soul, relaying on unreliable and mountains of misinformation in the internet is dangerous, waste of time and plain stupidity. Finding such a gem, you want to scream it out to the world and let everyone know! Thank you Tallis, it was an absolute pleasure! We will meet again :) Oh and as for the asthma and allergies, I've been off my medication completely for over a month now!! When in the past, after only just a day, I would have suffered from shortness of breath- today NOTHING! And as of my mother, some real, intense and a little violent healing crisis- things have been eliminated for good, that's for sure! (we might just never actually know what).
Maayan16 December 2023Tallis is a blessing from God. He coached me thru a very difficult 28-day water fast; skillfully keeping me encouraged and confident in my ability to complete it despite its many challenges. He began each session with such sincere compassion, smiling gently and asking...How are you doing? Tell me all about it. He was genuinely interested and listened patiently to all my whining and complaining about this and that; and, after I finally ran out of steam, would clearly and succinctly explain exactly what was happening, why it was happening, how long it would be before it would change, and what I could look forward to next. He'd reassure me it was completely normal and expected, he'd seen it many times, then tell me what I could do to make it more bearable. There's no possibility at all I'd ever have gotten thru this on my own, but with Tallis in my corner I wasn't worried about what was happening, and only once did I even consider quitting (just in the beginning and also at the beginning of some very significant symptoms). I'm so grateful there just aren't words. Thank you, Tallis. You truly are a blessing.
diana stark12 December 2023Tallis was fantastic support and coach during my 14 day water fast & 1 wk refeed. He has huge expertise to deal with any detox symptoms and ability to spot any pitfall and guide you in right direction. My experience with Tallis was outstanding and I will highly recommend him to anyone who is thinking to start water fast. Again, I can’t thank you enough and looking forward to have another water fast with you next year.
Silva vlah24 November 2023Tallis is a rare coach, filled with the wisdom of experiental knowledge complemented with the explicit knowledge in different fields. He guides with love for his fellow men and a sincere passion for what he does. And thereby, fasting in itself is an extremely potent healing tool.
daan rijnvis19 November 2023My husband John had a great experience with Tallis. He had done various forms of fasting for years. Intermittent, 1, 2, or 3 day fasts, etc. But when he decided to do an extended water only fast for 7 days he knew he needed insight into how to properly execute it. During some online research of fasting coaches, he found Tallis. He watched Tallis’s videos and found him to be both knowledgeable and easy to understand. He scheduled a single session to gather info on how to prep for the fast as well as what to expect during it and how to come off it. Literally everything Tallis told him to do or expect to happen, happened. And he never got hungry. Even on day 1! With Tallis’s guidance it was literally simple for him to complete the 7 days. We can’t recommend Tallis highly enough.
SUZANNE LUNA31 August 2023Tallis’ guidance before, during and after my first 28-day water fast was invaluable to me. Previously, I had done a great deal of research and did several shorter fasts on my own, yet I learned a great deal from him. I found the 28-day fast with his coaching less difficult to do than my solo shorter fasts. He is very present and listens well, is patient, compassionate, conscientious, trustworthy and extremely knowledgeable. I felt he considered my own individual needs and did not apply a one-size-fits-all approach. I felt safe in his hands. He also encouraged me to listen to the wisdom of my own body which helped engender a sense of confidence in the process. I plan on coaching with him again in the future and highly recommend him.
Suzanne Costallos13 August 2023
ONLINE COURSE
Complete a 3-day water fast
This video + pdf bundle provides you with all you need to know in order to safely, successfully and smoothly carry out your first 3-day water fast. If you already have a little experience, there are plenty of additional tips to help you go deeper into water fasting.
Watch my videos and read my articles for more information
FREE VIDEO FAQ’S
- Is water fasting safe?
- Water fasts versus juice fasts: how are they different, and what are the pros and cons of each?
- Water fasting for weight loss: does it work?
- Can I work during a water fast?
- Dry fasts versus water fasts: how are they different in terms of cleansing, detox and healing?
- Does healing continue after a fast?
- Can I work out and exercise during a water fast?
BENEFITS OF FASTING
- Cleansing and detox: how water fasting works and why it benefits you
If you’re really serious about cleansing, the most powerful method is and always has been water fasting. Why? Because only through sustaining a zero caloric intake can you fully unlock the body’s healing metabolism. This takes place in two steps… - Overcoming addictions through water fasting
Water fasting is an extremely powerful tool to help overcome addictions caused by smoking, drinking and drugs in general, as well as any food addictions, such as those caused by sugar, salt, caffeine, chocolate and flavour enhancers. Unfortunately, the list is almost endless. On a physical level, addictive substances cause changes to your biochemistry… - A stronger immune system with water fasting
If you suffer from a weak immune system, water fasting is one of the best things you can do to strengthen it. Similarly, water fasting is one of the oldest and most effective methods to regain health if your immune system is facing an infection such the flu… - Self-healing through water fasting: more powerful than any pill
I became a convert to water fasting after experiencing firsthand the miraculous self-healing powers of the body. It happened many years ago on the last day of my first 7-day fast. For about a decade I had suffered from debilitating…
CASE REPORTS
- Healing SIBO (gut dysbiosis) with water fasting
This case report follows 3 people through extended water fasts as they heal from SIBO and gut dysbiosis, illustrating the factors which… - Healing from Long Covid with water fasting
This article presents two case reports documenting how an extended water fast can heal Long Covid (post-acute Covid-19 syndrome). Since late 2020, I have been approached by… - Healing ovarian cysts with water fasting
This case study documents a 21-day water fast to successfully heal ovarian cysts. Water fasts can also facilitate the healing of PCOM, PCOS and uterine fibroids.
DIET AND RECIPES
- Comforting kitchari stew with cauliflower
This stew provides a comforting and delicious way to break fasts of up to 3 days. After longer fasts, it is perfect for reintroducing grains and legumes. Consisting of primarily mung beans and rice… - Summer smoothie to break a fast
A week ago I used this smoothie to break my 5 day dry fast with 2 day water fast introduction. Normally I prefer to break my fasts with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, but unfortunately orange season has long since past by this… Read more: Summer smoothie to break a fast - Pure and perfect tomato soup to break a fast
This recipe is always a favourite at the end of a fast: warming, comforting and nutritionally perfect, packed with a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants (such as lycopene, beta-carotene, potassium, Vitamins C and K). It’s so well loved that I found myself with… Read more: Pure and perfect tomato soup to break a fast - Tasty, tangy sauerkraut soup
This is a tasty, tangy soup I enjoy especially after winter fasts – including the 7-day water fast I just finished yesterday. Before global trade overpowered local economies and foods, winter was always the time to eat preserved vegetables such as sauerkraut – especially in… Read more: Tasty, tangy sauerkraut soup - Go-to green smoothie recipe to break a fast
After any fast of more than a day or so, it’s important how you re-introduce food back into your diet. Oranges are a great way to break any fast, as the citrus content helps to provide a final element of detox as well as to… Read more: Go-to green smoothie recipe to break a fast
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (recent comments)
Hi Chris, Thanks for writing, and apologies for the slow response – I’m in the middle of moving house! I’m…
Hi Kaola Mom, Thanks for writing, and apologies for the slow response – I’m in the middle of moving house!…
Hi Krisztina, The Russian doctor you’re thinking about is almost certainly Dr Sergei Filonov. Yes, Filonov’s protocol emphasises starting with…
Hi Tallis. I would like to do 1 day dry fast and 3 days water fast. I remember once I…
Check out the webshop on waterfasting.org
The webshop offers downloadable fasting plans and guides to help make your water fast a success.
VIDEO LECTURES
- How to prevent overeating after a water fast
One of the biggest problems people have with fasting is the temptation to overeat afterwards. Things can very easily end up getting out of control, which not only overtaxes the digestive system but also potentially distorts eating patterns in the future. This video examines the whole issue and offers numerous practical solutions, ensuring the smoothest… Read more: How to prevent overeating after a water fast - Dealing with insomnia and sleep issues while water fasting
Video lecture Almost everyone experiences major changes to the way they sleep while water fasting. In fact, many people find it one of the most disturbing aspects of fasting. It doesn’t have to be a source of concern, though, if you understand why these processes are taking place and what you can do to help… Read more: Dealing with insomnia and sleep issues while water fasting
FITNESS AND HEALTH
- Healing from Long Covid with water fastingThis article presents two case reports documenting how an extended water fast can heal Long Covid (post-acute Covid-19 syndrome). Since late 2020, I have been approached by…
- Fasting against coronavirus (Covid-19): how to boost immunity and maximize health
For water fasting to heal Long Covid, please click on the link below for my more recent article:Healing from Long Covid with water fasting Written at the start of the pandemic, the extended article below argues that the best thing you can do to strengthen… Read more: Fasting against coronavirus (Covid-19): how to boost immunity and maximize health - Diets, fasts and healing injuries for runners
When most people think of diets or fasting, they usually have weight loss in mind. Even at the best of times this is a dubious practice. Changing the way you eat by reducing calories usually results in the body conserving energy and using calories more… Read more: Diets, fasts and healing injuries for runners - Pills, powders and potions: the reality of taking supplements while fasting
One question which persistently recurs on waterfasting.org is whether or not you should take supplements while water fasting. The majority of people want to know about vitamin supplements and, occasionally, even protein supplements. In this article I’ll deal with both, as well as other kinds… Read more: Pills, powders and potions: the reality of taking supplements while fasting - Fasting as a healing modality to treat cancer
This video features an interview with Dr. Valter Longo, who is one of the world’s leading researchers in the use of fasting as a healing modality to treat cancer. Although the preventative effects of fasting have been well known in relation to a number of… Read more: Fasting as a healing modality to treat cancer - Fasting as a means to improve athletic performance in endurance sports
I’m sitting down to write this having had breakfast for the first time in a week… Lately, I’ve been practising “intermittent fasting”, which revolves around lengthening the time between your last meal in the evening and your first meal the following day. It’s one of… Read more: Fasting as a means to improve athletic performance in endurance sports
“Let us fast from self-love not self-punishment!”
Dr Tallis Barker
SPIRIT AND SOUL
- Spiritual fasting in Lent (or any other time)
25th February, 2020Tomorrow marks the beginning of what for many people is the most important time of the year in terms of spiritual fasting. For Christians, Lent constitutes the 40-day period prior to Easter, serving as a reminder of both Jesus’ 40-day fast in the… Read more: Spiritual fasting in Lent (or any other time) - Physical and spiritual cleansing: from fear to love
Does the thought of water fasting frighten you? It’s completely natural to feel fear before and even during your first few water fasts. After all, unlike our ancestors, you’ve probably never gone without food for more than a few hours, let alone a few days. … Read more: Physical and spiritual cleansing: from fear to love - Facing your ego through water fasting
As important as any physical cleansing, water fasting also challenges you with emotional and spiritual blocks, bringing you face to face with your ego and fears. In a way, your journey through water fasting mirrors the entire spiritual path: both within each fast, as well… Read more: Facing your ego through water fasting - Deeper states of consciousness while fasting
One of my favourite things to ‘do’ while water fasting is to find a spot in nature and simply sit, doing nothing, just being, staring out into the environment, remaining present and aware. Quickly, I become one with myself and the world around me. Time… Read more: Deeper states of consciousness while fasting - Who am I?
Many spiritual traditions encourage you to ask the question: ‘Who am I?’ Perhaps most famously, Ramana Maharshi taught that this is all you need to do in order to experience your true self and enlightenment. Just keep asking yourself, honestly, from the depths of your… Read more: Who am I?
DRY FASTING AND ALTERNATIVE METHODS
- Dry fasting: fact and fiction
The biggest hurdle to understanding dry fasting comes from the completely logical idea that if you’re not drinking, how can you flush out toxins? In fact… - Juice fasting
If you don’t feel ready to try out water fasting, then juice fasting is a great place to start. Otherwise known as a “juice diet”, it involves the elimination of solid food from your daily consumption. In other words, instead of eating and drinking, you… Read more: Juice fasting - Shankaprakshalana: intestinal wash as preparation
What on earth does an intestinal wash have to do with water fasting?In one sense, nothing. But… after you get over the shock of it :-), there are certainly good reasons to contemplate such a cleanse before undertaking a water fast, especially in the case… Read more: Shankaprakshalana: intestinal wash as preparation - Intermittent fasting
If a one-day water fast feels too frightening, beyond reach, that’s totally okay. Today in the modern world many people feel the same. Rather than pushing yourself into something you’re not ready for, intermittent fasting is a less extreme, more easily achievable goal – and… Read more: Intermittent fasting - 5 day dry fast with 2 day introductory water fast
ARTICLE SECTIONS: The following article outlines the experience of my first 5-day dry fast. I do not recommend such a long dry fast to anyone, unless they already have plenty of experience with both 7-day water fasts as well as 3-day dry fasts! Intro A… Read more: 5 day dry fast with 2 day introductory water fast - 3.5 / 4 day dry fast with introductory water fast
I’ve always approached dry fasting carefully. As a generally healthy person, I’ve never had any therapeutic need to jump into a radically long fast. Also, having experienced firsthand how much stronger the detox of dry fasting is compared to water fasting, I’ve always felt that… Read more: 3.5 / 4 day dry fast with introductory water fast - 2.5 day dry fast: dehydration as detox
This article describes my first experience of a 2.5-day dry fast. For more information about dry fasts in general click here, and for my experience with shorter 36-hour dry fasts click here. Dehydration as detox: the phrase came to mind soon after finishing my fast… Read more: 2.5 day dry fast: dehydration as detox - 36-hour dry fast
Originally written several years ago, this article describes my first experiences with 36-hour dry fasts. Over the weekend I did another 36-hour dry fast: my second in just over a month. In this article I’ll lay out my experiences and impressions of both. For general… Read more: 36-hour dry fast
MISCELLANEOUS
- Dry fasting and the Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei
One of the most extreme forms of fasting concerns the so-called Marathon Monks (gyoja) of Mt. Hiei, Japan. This article will describe the practice in full, but first it’s important to know that the fasting itself forms only one part of an almost superhuman seven-year… Read more: Dry fasting and the Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei - Telling friends and family about your fast (or not)
Whether or not to tell friends and family you’re fasting can often be a huge dilemma. Just this last week, several visitors to waterfasting.org have brought up the subject in some shape or form. It usually goes like this: “I can’t tell anyone I know… Read more: Telling friends and family about your fast (or not) - Enjoy the gift of food!
I’ll keep this short and sweet :-). If you want to enjoy the gift of food, if you really want to appreciate the taste of every bite you eat, there’s nothing better than a water fast. It’s only by taking away food for a while… Read more: Enjoy the gift of food! - Fasting in a time of lockdown
‘This is the perfect time to fast…’ I’ve heard this sentence, again and again, repeated verbatim by numerous clients since most of the world went into lockdown earlier this year as a result of Covid 19. Now that many of us are slowly returning to… Read more: Fasting in a time of lockdown
BUY COURSES OR PDF-S ONLINE
The 3-day water fast Online Course with distance coaching videos
Dealing with detox symptoms while water fasting
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Plan, Prepare
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Pdf Bundle:
The Complete 3 Day Water Fasting Plan
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How to break any water fast and manage refeeding
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PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
JOURNAL
My 21-day water fast
day by day
I began a journey into what I can only describe as one of the special events of my life: a 21-day water fast. Even now, it remains as fresh and vivid in my memory as if it were yesterday…
Hi Evan, Thanks for writing, and apologies for the slow response – I’m in the middle of moving house! Glad…