Water Fast Coaching and Articles

Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip., NA.Dip., Naturopathic Water Fasting Consultant & Coach

Reclaim Your Health | 1:1 Water Fast Coaching with Expert Dr Tallis Barker

Looking for expert water fasting support?

Whether you’re preparing for your first 3-day fast or seeking help with a 40-day healing journey, Dr. Tallis Barker offers one-on-one coaching tailored to your body, health history, and goals. With deep experience in fasting science and clinical practice, Tallis helps you fast safely, manage symptoms, and refeed effectively.

Start with a 60-minute consultation – or scroll down to explore full coaching options.

BOOK YOUR CONSULTATION

Embarking on a water fasting journey is a profound step toward healing.
With the right guidance you can navigate this path safely, effectively and most powerfully.

Why Work With a Fasting Coach?

Many people try fasting on their own… and fail.
Others never start—because they’re unsure, anxious, or overwhelmed.

With expert coaching, you can:

➢ Avoid common mistakes picked up from the internet – including from AI

➢ Manage detox symptoms and navigate fasting challenges with confidence

➢ Optimize healing from chronic conditions including digestive, hormonal, and autoimmune disorders

➢ Refeed correctly to lock in the long-term benefits of fasting

➢ Stay accountable and supported with expert guidance every step of the way

Have You Experienced Any of These Fasting Challenges?

You’re not alone. Many people have:

✦ Tried fasting but felt weak, dizzy, or too hungry to continue
✦ Experienced unpleasant detox symptoms that made you quit early
✦ Broken a fast incorrectly and felt bloated, unwell, or lost the benefits
✦ Struggled with accountability and motivation to complete a long fast

…then you’re not alone.

With personalized coaching, you’ll receive expert guidance and support to ensure your fasting protocol is safe, effective, and fully optimized for YOUR body, health history, and healing goals.

Book a one-on-one Consultation Now

Your Coaching Journey – Simple & Clear

Step 1: Book a Consultation – $140 USD

• 60-minute video call (Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp or Telegram)
• Personalized advice based on your body, history, and goals
• Email follow-up for additional questions
• Fee deducted if you continue with full coaching

Step 2: Choose Full Coaching for Your Fast

• Daily support, refeeding guidance, emergency access
• Coaching options for 3 to 40-day fasts
• Payment plans available

Need urgent help? Premium consultations ($220) available within 24–48 hrs.

You can either proceed with full coaching after your consultation or simply use the one-time session for guidance and stop there—in all cases, the process begins with an upfront $140 payment.

Book in Two Simple Steps

  1. Complete the $140 USD Payment:
    Secure your consultation by making the upfront payment.
  2. Schedule Your Session:
    Dr. Tallis will contact you personally within 24 hours to arrange a convenient time for your consultation. Alternatively, you can reach out to him via the email address provided on your receipt.
Start Your Personalized Fasting Journey – Book a Consultation Now

Can’t I Just Fast on My Own? Do I Really Need Coaching?

Fasting seems simple. Just stop eating, drink water, and wait. How hard can it be?

However, many people fail to fully complete their fast. Why?

• They experienced unexpected detox symptoms.
• They felt too weak or dizzy and panicked.
• They second-guessed whether they were doing it right.
• They gave in to cravings or anxieties about the fast.

Fasting is easy—until it isn’t.

And when you’re deep in the process, you need more than just willpower.

You need a roadmap, a strategy, and an expert on your side.

Get Expert Guidance & Prepare Your Body for Success

Meet Dr. Tallis Barker
– Your Water Fasting Coach

Dr Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip., NA.Dip., is a leading international authority on water fasting, a registered Associate Naturopath, and Nutritional Advisor. He specializes in water fasting for deep healing, metabolic renewal, and long-term health.

With over 15 years personal fasting practice and 10 years coaching experience, he has guided over 1,000 clients worldwide through fasts ranging from 3 to 40 days—helping them safely unlock the deep detoxification, healing, and metabolic reset that fasting offers.

OVER 1000 CLIENTS
Successfully coached through 3 to 40 day fasts

What Makes Dr. Tallis’s Approach Different?

✔ This isn’t about generic fasting advice. His coaching is clinically-proven, deeply personalized, and grounded in real experience—not myths from the internet.
✔ Fast safely and effectively while avoiding common mistakes.
✔ Optimize your health outcome with a fasting protocol tailored to YOU and your needs.
✔ Manage detox symptoms and navigate fasting challenges with confidence.
✔ Refeed correctly to maximize the long-term benefits of your fast.
✔ Stay accountable and supported with expert guidance every step of the way.

 Start Your Personalized Fasting Journey with Dr. Tallis Today

QUICK FAQs:

Do I really need fasting coaching?

Yes—if you want to avoid serious mistakes, manage symptoms safely, and fully benefit from your fast. Many who try fasting alone quit early or damage their health by refeeding incorrectly.

How long should I fast for?

That depends on your goals, health status, and experience. Dr. Tallis will help you determine the ideal length during your consultation.

What does full coaching include?

Daily video check-ins, unlimited messaging/email support, emergency phone access, refeeding plans, and 3 practical guides.

Can fasting help my condition?

Dr. Tallis has helped clients with Long COVID, autoimmune disease, digestive disorders, hormonal imbalances, and more. Book a consultation to discuss your case.

Book your consultation

Testimonials:

Additional expert content you may find useful

Dr Barker regularly speaks at international forums on water fasting. Below you’ll find his lecture for The Real Truth About Health conference, as well as a panel conversation with Dr. Alan Goldhamer – one of the most recognised names in the field.

Healing chronic illness with water fasting: the ultimate holistic journey

Panel Discussion with Alan Goldhamer D.C. and Dr Tallis Barker – Water Fasting: Life-Changing Health Benefits

Specializing in Healing Chronic Illness Through Fasting

Fasting is powerful for weight loss, longevity, and spiritual clarity, but Dr. Tallis specializes in fasting to heal chronic health conditions, including:

✔ Long Covid – Helping clients recover from post-viral symptoms, inflammation & fatigue
✔ Gut Issues – IBS, SIBO, ulcerative colitis, leaky gut & chronic bloating
✔ Autoimmune Disorders – Asthma, allergies, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
✔ Hormonal Imbalances – Insulin resistance, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and hypothyroidism
✔ Reproductive Health Conditions – Fibroids, ovarian cysts, and hormonal irregularities
✔ Cancer – Fasting to support the body autophagize tumors and heal

Get Expert Coaching to Heal Through Fasting

How Fasting Coaching Works

Step 1: Single Online Consultation – $140 USD

Your First Step Towards a Safe & Effective Water Fast

  • 1:1 Video Consultation – 60 min. via WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype, or Zoom
  • Follow-up Email Support – Ask additional questions after your consultation
  • Personalized Fasting Advice – Ideal for general fasting questions or planning a specific fast
  • Option to Upgrade to Full Coaching – If you decide to continue, simply pay the difference

💡 Who Is This For?

Planning a Fast? Get expert advice on all aspects of your upcoming fast.
Already fasting by yourself? Get answers for all your unresolved questions.
Managing Chronic Illness? Understand specifically how fasting will help YOU.
Need Post-Fast Guidance? Develop a plan for the future, including recommendations on diet.

PREMIUM CONSULTATIONS AVAILABLE – $220 USD

⚠ Need urgent support? Fasting emergency? 60-min. consultation available within 24-48 hours (workdays only).
⚠ Includes ongoing text support until the issue is resolved.

Book a PREMIUM Consultation Now

Step 2: Full Coaching for Any Length of Water Fast

Before the Fast:

✔ Book a single consultation to develop your personalized fasting plan.

During the Fast:

✔ Daily Check-in Video Calls – 15-20 min. every day (except Wednesdays & Sundays), plus live chat on Wednesdays
✔ Unlimited Email & Text Support – Ask questions & get guidance anytime
✔ Emergency Contact Access – Direct phone number for urgent issues

After the Fast:

✔ Ongoing Support During Refeeding – Price of coaching includes both the fast and refeeding
✔ Smooth Transition Back to Eating – Personalized refeeding protocol

🎁 BONUS: 3 FREE PDFs

• Products & Procedures – Essentials for comfort & safety
• How to Break a Water Fast – Step-by-step refeeding guide
• Dealing with Detox Symptoms – How to navigate issues including nausea and headache

Book a Consultation & Start Your Fasting Journey

Prices:

CONSULTATION PRICES

Single consultation: $140
Premium consultation: $220

FULL COACHING PRICES

Each coaching package includes:
• daily phone check-ins throughout the fast,
• plus ongoing daily support during refeeding (roughly a third of the length of your fast).

Example: For a 14-day fast, payment covers both the fast itself as well as about five days of refeeding afterwards. No further payments are required once the fast has ended and refeeding begins.

The cost of your initial consultation is deducted from the total coaching fees below.

Length of fastPrice
(includes the refeeding period)
3-day fast (+ refeeding)$350
5-day fast (+ refeeding)$400
7-day fast (+ refeeding)$500
10-day fast (+ refeeding)$650
14-day fast (+ refeeding)$850
21-day fast (+ refeeding)$1200
28-day fast (+ refeeding)$1500
30-day fast (+ refeeding)$1600
40-day fast (+ refeeding)$2000
Other lengths of fastPrice to be agreed

Already booked a single consultation? Your $140 fee will still be deducted from any full coaching programme!

* PRICE INCLUDES BOTH THE FAST AND THE REFEEDING PERIOD AFTERWARDS
* Payment plans available

Secure Your Spot Now!

Ask Dr. Tallis – Get Your Fasting Questions Answered!

Not ready to commit yet? Have questions about fasting?

Leave a comment below! Dr. Tallis personally answers as many as he can.

Important: Asking questions does not replace personalized coaching—but it’s a great place to start!

Just scroll down and ask! Your fasting journey starts with the right knowledge.

DO YOU NEED INSTANT ACCESS TO DISTANCE COACHING?

Check out the
Complete a 3-day water fast
Online Course!

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.

CHECK IT OUT

Dr. Tallis Barker

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88 responses to “Reclaim Your Health | 1:1 Water Fast Coaching with Expert Dr Tallis Barker”

  1. Dina Avatar
    Dina

    Hi, was recommended by my sister to see if water fasting could help me. I have now read through more or less your whole website but not found the issue I’m interested in.
    Before I sign up for a 1:1 consultation – I have a vesicovaginal fistula due to radiation treatment many years ago. Do you think fasting can help with tissue regeneration/closing the whole?
    Thanks,
    Dina

    Reply
    1. Dr. Tallis Barker Avatar
      Dr. Tallis Barker

      Hi Dina,
      Thanks for writing. To answer your question, I think there are different layers of likelihood concerning how quickly fasting can help you. Tissue regeneration is more likely to occur before closing of the fistula, and the whole pace of healing for an issue like this is going to be determined by more fundamental factors, including your general state of health: both past and present. Sorry not to be able to be more specific here, but we’d need to delve into the details to get a better idea. At the very least, fasting is going to lower the likelihood of infection and other complications in the future, and in the best case scenario it might be able to close the fistula itself. (Again, we’d need to talk about the specifics of your case to get a better idea how likely this is, and how much fasting you’d need.)
      Hope this helps,
      Tallis

      Reply
      1. Dina Avatar
        Dina

        Thanks for such a fast response! I need to think some more…

        Reply
  2. Ana Avatar
    Ana

    Hi D.Barker,
    I found your yt and your website two days ago and it’s amazing. I’ve just completed 17 days wf on my own, but about 11 months ago I did 26 days under Loren Lockman’s supervision, so I had some knowledge to try one on my own. I’m 28 years old but I developed a lot of issues over the last 8 years (PCOS, skin issues, achne, hormonal disbalans and more). I healed a lot but my main health problem is dysbiosis, IBS with almost constant painful bloating and discomfort. It really ruins my life. I’m comming from disfunctional family and my mother died from cancer in 2020 and it was a big trauma for me. Is it possible that I can’t heal myself from digestive issues with wf and raw food diet because the cause is mental aspect? I think we heal a lot of emotional trauma with wf, and I consider doing another one under your supervision as soon as I recover from the last wf, maybe in the summer. What do you think? What is your experience with patients with severe IBS and how long do I need to fast to heal it? (Sorry for my english, it’s not good but I’m trying my best!). Thanks for answer and your precios time, in advance! Much Love, Ana

    Reply
    1. Dr. Tallis Barker Avatar
      Dr. Tallis Barker

      Hi Ana,
      Thanks for writing – there’s no need to apologise for your English. You express yourself perfectly clearly. I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been suffering from so many health issues at such a young age. Yes, emotional/psychological elements often do lie underneath physical illness, but my experience is that the vast majority of my clients can heal from IBS IF – and this is a big ‘if’ – they get both their dietary and fasting protocols right. In fact, an article of mine recently appeared in a peer-reviewed journal on this subject:
      https://jpmhh.org/archive/volume/11/issue/2/article/25641 (Journal of Preventive Medicine and Holistic Health)

      I’ve had many clients come to me after having had no success with water fasting, either by themselves or under the supervision of someone who has very fixed ideas about diet and fasting. This includes clients who first worked with Loren. My experience is that no single diet is the best for all people at all times. You have to look at the individual client, their individual symptoms, and put aside dogma. The same applies to fasting protocol – you can’t just follow the same plan for everyone and expect optimal results!

      If your last extended fast was ‘only’ 17 days, there shouldn’t be a need to wait much longer before considering another extended fast. However, if you’ve been suffering from chronic IBS and if your current diet isn’t working for you, it’s true that you could be suffering from absorption issues which might complicate your fast. This would require a longer discussion (which also includes a more in-depth look at your past health issues) more appropriate in a full consultation. If you’d like to do so, you can sign up here:
      https://waterfasting.org/online-coaching-and-consultations-for-water-fasting/

      I do think you have every reason to be hopeful about using water fasting to help you recover your health. However, it really is important to go about this in an individualised manner!

      All the best,
      Tallis

      Reply
      1. Ana Avatar
        Ana

        Thank you very much for your quick response and kind words. I really appreciate every help in this moment. I’m not ready for the new fast because I finished one a few days before, 17 days on my own. I think it wasnt enough and one longer will help me overcome this terrible issue. I really believe in natural hygiene and to me it is clear that if all other spaces don’t cook ther food, why would it be appropriate to men. But maybe you are right that there is a place and time to adopt that diet. I’m only sure that I’ll never again eat animal products, they destroyed my health in many ways. I woder does your refeeding plan contain animal products? I’ve read the article and saw that you started with carrot juice with the female with Sibo. That makes sense. I also agree that Loren has the same refeeding plan for everyone and his plan made me sick and in pain for four months after fast. After this last fast I feel better eating orangies and cucumbers, but still have discomfort and pain in my gut. Because of all that, I started doubting water fast and you gave me a hope, because I really tried everything over the past 5 years and nothing really worked. The goal is not only to be simptom free, but to maintain the highest levels of health to the end of the life. Thanks for everything and I will continue to follow everything you do and in few months when I recover from the last fast, hope to work with you.
        Much love,
        Ana

        Reply
        1. Dr. Tallis Barker Avatar
          Dr. Tallis Barker

          Hi again Ana,
          The natural hygiene arguments make a lot of sense theoretically – the problem mainly tends to occur when applying them to someone whose health has already been damaged. Yes, it logically makes sense that if all other animals eat raw, then we should too. However, for many people with gut issues, raw food is harder to digest than cooked food (this is a gross simplification, but more or less true). And then there are food sensitivities, some of which can be worse or better when eating raw or cooked. The reality is that homo sapiens (and neanderthals) have used fire – presumable also to cook – for hundreds of thousands of years. Over that time we’ve adapted, using cooked food to increase the spectrum of our diet.

          Also, some of the hygienist theories are unfortunately inconsistent and simply untrue. For instance, if you want to argue that we should never eat meat because of our human biology, then how do you explain the fact that our closest evolutionary cousins – chimpanzees – not only eat grubs but also go out on concerted hunts for meat? Yes, of course they’re primarily vegans, but they don’t exclude animal flesh as a matter of principle – ie dogma. My own clinical observations are that some people can thrive on 100% fully plant-based, but other people do need a certain amount of quality animal products in order to thrive. The problem occurs when our minds get clouded by dogma, and we ignore what our bodies are saying to us. For example, I have a recent client, a long-term vegan, who actually started strongly craving meat after her fast. She tried it, felt really good physically. And now she’s in a huge dilemma, because it’s become clear that her fully plant-based diet is part of the cause of her health issues…

          My own refeeding approach is to start with fruit and vegetables, and then see where the body wants to go. If I have any dogma at all, it’s to try and avoid dogma, and listen instead to what the body is saying – because a lot (if not most) of the time we believe we’re listening to our bodies but actually we’re not!

          Looking forward to hearing from you again when the time is right for you to be thinking about another fast,
          Tallis

          Reply
          1. Ana Avatar
            Ana

            Thanks again, Tallis.
            No doubt you have a lot of knowledge and experience and thanks for sharing with us. Me personally never crave meat, egs and dairy since I stopped having them. They always made me constipated. Sometimes I crave cooked potaoes or other vegetables when I cook for my husband but I think it is mental, emotional think, the smells remembers me of my childhood and the times when my mother cooked foor me. I really enjoy being raw vegan but I just wonder if my gut can hendle it. On some days I feel great eating whatever of raw food I want, on some days it makes me terribly painfully bloated, so I must stay in the bed. Sometimes I think it’s not about food I eat, but about my digestion mood on that day. That confuses me a lot. Anyways, I think the water fast is the way so as soon as I get better, I’ll do another, longer one! Thanks a lot again!
            With love,
            Ana

            Reply
  3. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Hi! The last time I did a seven day fast, I lost a lot of hair (it was coming out by the handful). It took over a year for it to grow back. I’m wondering what you suggest so that this doesn’t happen in the future?

    Reply
    1. Dr. Tallis Barker Avatar
      Dr. Tallis Barker

      Hi Anonymous,
      Thanks for writing. There can be multiple reasons for hair loss through fasting. Some come from the positive impact on stem cell regeneration, but hair loss can also occur as a negative symptom driven by hormonal or nutritional deficiency. Given that in your case a 7-day fast caused hair loss (it happens more frequently after 21-40 day fasts), I’d definitely want to exclude the negative possibilities before you think about fasting again. However, to get to the bottom of this issue would require a much longer conversation – the kind we’d have on a full consultation.
      All the best,
      Tallis

      Reply
  4. Antom Avatar
    Antom

    Good day my son has just finished a 14 day water fast he now seems very anxious slow moving and lacks drive he doesn’t even wants to take a shower, also he seems to have a slow reaction to questions. Should i be concerned???

    Reply
    1. Dr. Tallis Barker Avatar
      Dr. Tallis Barker

      Hi Antom,
      Thanks for writing. I’m afraid it’s very difficult for me to say anything without having worked together with your son through his fast, and without knowing his full health background. In general, energy should start picking up soon after breaking the fast. If this doesn’t happen, it usually indicates a problem with either (1) the refeeding protocol, (2) breaking the fast at the wrong time, or (3) health issues prior to the fast which have not fully resolved through the fast and which are now becoming aggravated by returning to a regular diet.

      Besides this, I’d need to have a full discussion with your son in order to understand what’s going on. The bottom line is that fasting can and should be a powerful force for positive change. But equally, it can and often does get complicated when someone – especially someone with health issues – is fasting without adequate knowledge.
      Hope this helps,
      Tallis

      Reply
  5. jon whitehouse Avatar
    jon whitehouse

    hi
    not sure if you can help,but if so i,ll be happy to enroll
    male 67,on no medication,non smoker,non drinker for some years now
    but have nerve problems in feet/calves
    had every test going but nothing is showing as relevant
    recent bloods all normal apart from low tsh
    suffer and have done so with anxiety for many years and feel everything is amplified with anxiety
    question,,,,would fasting be helpful with this and the neuropathy
    thank you
    jon

    Reply
    1. Dr. Tallis Barker Avatar
      Dr. Tallis Barker

      Hi Jon,
      Thanks for writing, and sorry about the slow response. I just got back from summer vacation. I’ve worked with many clients suffering from peripheral neuropathy issues, and fasting tends to offer a lot of relief for many people. I recently had a client similar in age and lifestyle to yourself (no meds, no smoking/drinking) who healed from similar symptoms on a 21-day fast. I know thqt probably sounds like a long time, but he even did it with no prior fasting experience. I wouldn’t want to suggest that you need exactly the same protocol – we’d need to look into your case history in a lot more detail first – but I do want to motivate you towards fasting, and experiencing the powerful healing which extended fasting can offer.

      If you’d like to set up a consultation to discuss things further, you can reach me via the coaching page of the website here:
      https://waterfasting.org/online-coaching-and-consultations-for-water-fasting/

      All the best,
      Tallis

      Reply
  6. Arif Ali Avatar
    Arif Ali

    Hi Dr. Barker,

    On Tuesday night I came down with the flu. It’s not a stomach flu but I lost my appetite. I thought it would be a good chance to try a water fast. So all I’ve had since Wednesday at noon is water, unsweetened electrolytes, and some mineral drops, some homeopathic medicine (ColdCalm)

    It’s now early Saturday morning and I realized that I haven’t taken my antidepressants or BP medication since Wednesday.

    I suffer from high blood pressure which has gotten pretty unpredictable over the past few months. I’ve had increasing issues with random dizziness which does not seem to be related to a drop in blood pressure. I have issues with digestion where I seem to get bloated no matter what I eat. And, while my body tends to run hot, recently I have felt an overheated sensation which doesn’t go away! (Separate from the low fever I had/have with the flu.)

    I’m wondering if you could comment on how many errors in judgement I’ve made, but I do feel that I’m listening to my body.

    Thanks,

    Arif

    Reply
    1. Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip. Avatar
      Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip.

      Hi Arif,
      Thanks for writing, and apologies for the delay in responding. Fasting with meds is always potentially tricky, and should ideally involve guidance both from your doctor as well as from a water fasting expert like myself. The fasting symptoms you describe (such as dizziness) can involve multiple causes, and blood pressure may or may not be involved.
      Listening to your body is extremely important both in fasting and in life! The difficulty is that most of us have already lost a lot of that connection and either can’t feel or misinterpret what the body is actually saying.
      Hope you’ve recovered from the flu by now!
      All the best,
      Tallis

      Reply
      1. Arif Ali Avatar
        Arif Ali

        Thanks for your reply Dr. Barker,

        tldr: My unplanned 4-day water-fast had dramatic effects on my weight management and eating habits. Cold-turkey withdrawal from an anti-depressant is continuing.

        Before I go into the results of my actions from last week, I wanted to clarify that there are only two types of dizziness that I was referring to above. Neither are related to fasting.

        One is something I had been experiencing with increasing frequency over the past 2 years. At first it seemed to be related to a drop in blood pressure, but with a BP cuff I learned that my blood pressure always went up during those episodes. It could be some kind of vertigo too – not sure. I have been pursuing medical assistance with that but there are no answers yet. I haven’t experienced this again since completing the fast.

        I attribute the other dizziness I mentioned to the deliriousness that accompanies a fever during the period I was unwell last week. But it could also be contributed to by the antidepressant withdrawal.

        Moving on to the fast: I fasted for four days. It was an unplanned fast that I decided to take on when I realized I didn’t have much appetite, which I attributed to the flu. I had never specifically intended to go into ketosis but clearly that happened.

        I added unsweetened electrolytes and baking soda to the regimen. I started the electrolytes on day one. The choice to use baking soda came on day three when I suspected that the kidney pains I was experiencing were due to acid in my urine from high ketone levels. That seems to be helping

        By day four, my face had lost a lot of the doughboy appearance I’ve developed over the last few years. After breaking my fast, I noticed a dramatic difference in what it means to be hungry and what it means to eat. What I mean is, I was fortunate not to have hunger pangs at any time during the fast. And now, I still haven’t been eating in response to hunger. Ok, there is a certain craving to put something in my mouth sometimes. But it’s not connected directly to sensations in my body. So I’m cautiously trying to avoiding eating except when I think I’m actually hungry. My caloric intake is still rather low, but there is no deprivation going on. I have a lot of extra weight to lose (if I want to) so there isn’t really a pressing need to eat calories. So far I’ve been consuming salad, protein/fat (tuna, chicken, salami, cheese, olive oil), some broths, carefully selected health bars that don’t have preservatives (I bought IQ Bars and Aloha bars in the stores last week). I did eat a small amount rice the last couple of days. I continue to drink lots of water as I fight off the residual congestion and dry sinuses from the flu (or from the keto flu, or whatever).

        I am having trouble sleeping: I attribute this mostly to the withdrawal from antidepressants and to having a residual cough from last week. I don’t realy have any evidence that the “withdrawal” is responsible for poor sleep.

        I am currently taking no medications (even ones I’ve been prescribed). Let’s see how that works out!

        Reply
  7. David Avatar
    David

    I am finishing a 10 day water fast tomorrow and considering going right into a 30 day diet of intermittent fasting 20 with a 4 hour eating window. Does this work or should I take some time to adjust after reintroducing food?

    Also,I have been considering doing a keto/paleo/carnivore diet (not sure how strict yet) to stay in ketosis.

    Reply
    1. Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip. Avatar
      Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip.

      Hi David,
      Thanks for writing. Congratulations on finishing your 10-day water fast. When I’m working with clients, I put a big emphasis on ‘listening to your body’ – and especially during refeeding. Having a ‘plan’ for what to do after a fast is a mental construct which may or may not have anything to do with what your body actually wants. Truly listening to your body isn’t easy, though, when there are habits, plans and other distractions of life clouding your mind. In short, you could try IF, but it’s not for me to say whether it’s what your body actually wants.

      In terms of wanting to stay in ketosis after the fast: that also sounds like a mental construct… One thing I’ll say is that there’s no need to stay in dietary ketosis when you’ve already become much more deeply fat-adapted through your fast.

      Hope this helps,
      Tallis

      Reply
  8. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    How can water fasting make a bladder infection worse at first ? Why does that happen I just want to understand it so I know what I’m getting myself into

    Reply
    1. Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip. Avatar
      Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip.

      This is a very complicated question which I can’t answer fully here, as the situation really varies from person to person – and I don’t want readers to draw general conclusions from individual cases. To summarise, though, the symptoms of a bladder / UTI infection can worsen due to the fast eliciting additional acidity and general toxicity passing through the urine or as a quasi Herxheimer reaction. It’s extremely important to be able to know how far to allow symptoms to develop. In an ideal world you push through and allow the healing process to lead to a recover, but this isn’t always possible – in which case pushing too hard can lead to a deterioration of the underlying situation.
      Tallis

      Reply
      1. Nicole Avatar
        Nicole

        That makes perfect sense thankyou! That’s why when I did a 6 day water fast it wasn’t getting better and felt kinda worse bc all of those acids being released since I know I have lots and lots of toxins stored within me
        So is water fasting a good idea for me at all right now ? I really don’t know how else to get rid of this infection though

        Reply
        1. Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip. Avatar
          Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip.

          Hi again,
          Like I said in the last reply: this is a complicated question which I can’t answer fully here, as the situation really varies from person to person. This is exactly where a full consultation should come into play – in order to look at the full range of factors driving your specific case. Only after taking the full picture into consideration would it be responsible for me to say whether water fasting might be a good idea for you right now.
          Hope this helps,
          Tallis

          Reply
  9. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    I’ve had a chronic bladder infection that doesn’t go away nothing has worked only managed.. could fasting rid it for good ?

    Reply
    1. Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip. Avatar
      Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip.

      Hi Nicole,
      Thanks for writing. Fasting can certainly help to resolve chronic bladder infections. However, as is true for any form of UTI, things can also get tricky when fasting, with symptoms often worsening before they get better. When I’m working with a client, it’s important to be able to distinguish when you should push through and when you should stop, and this is something which is hard for someone to assess alone.
      Hope this helps,
      Tallis

      Reply
  10. DEB Avatar
    DEB

    I’ve heard mixed reviews on the impact of fasting on bone health. As an experienced faster and also one recently diagnosed with osteoporosis, now I’m concerned about attempting an extended fast. I would think that fasting would improve bone density? Your comments would be most helpful going forward.

    Reply
    1. Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip. Avatar
      Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip.

      Hi DEB,
      Thanks for writing. You’re right about the pros and cons of fasting on bone health. Although the final results of an extended fast are likely to lead to higher bone density (due to stimulating osteoblasts), the fast itself is likely to draw on it. This is because the body uses bone tissue to balance acids in the blood (using the phosphate ion of the calcium phosphate which comprises bone tissue). One underlying reason for osteoporosis is chronic tissue acidity, which forces the body to constantly draw on bone tissue – and during the fast itself this process becomes intensified. However, fasting is likely to lead to a long-term reduction of tissue acidity after the fast, allowing the body to subsequently accumulate more bone tissue in the future – also combined with the beneficial effects of fasting on osteoblasts: the cell which lays down bone in the first place. It would be a question of understanding the specifics of your case in order to determine the best approach to fasting: to find the safest and most effective middle road to future bone health.

      All the best,
      Tallis

      Reply
      1. Deb Avatar
        Deb

        Thank you so much for this clarification! I can now do the research necessary before I proceed. I sincerely appreciate your knowledge and insight. And your willingness to share.

        Reply
        1. Deb Avatar
          Deb

          I’ve recently completed a 3 day fast, trying to rekindle my fasting practice. I was derailed by covid 3 + years ago and now some long covid issues. Along with other general health issues, and knowing that a truly long fast will not be supported in my circumstances, I am wondering if a series of shorter fasts of,say, 7-14 days will eventually arrive at the level of healing experienced during the prolonged fasts of 20+ days.

          Reply
          1. Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip. Avatar
            Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip.

            Hi Deb,
            Without having the in-depth knowledge acquired through a full consultation, it’s very hard to say anything definitive. For someone who is totally healthy, I’d say that two 14-day fasts are broadly ‘equivalent’ to a single 21-day fast. But when there are complex, chronic health issues involved, it’s also going to be influenced by the specific symptoms involved. Some symptoms really do need a longer fast in order to heal. Perhaps most importantly, though, some people with chronic health issues such as Long Covid can actually do damage to themselves by fasting for too long, pushing their already burdened immune systems beyond the limit. So, for someone like you, it’s going to be a complex situation which needs a lot of thought in getting it right!
            Tallis

            Reply
  11. Christopher Robert Graham Avatar
    Christopher Robert Graham

    How do you regualte the amount of water intake is required during a water fast? What about eliminating mucoid plauque during your fasts, do you see these eliminations?

    Reply
    1. Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip. Avatar
      Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., Nat.Dip.

      Hi Christopher,

      Thanks for your questions. The whole point is NOT to ‘regulate’ water intake. It’s to get out of your head – and what it ‘thinks’ is right – and listen to your body. The problem is that most people have largely lost a good, solid connection with what their body wants – and this includes water intake. It’s my job to help clients tune into this, so they do know how much to drink! There’s no fixed amount. It’s largely individual, and it also fluctuates from day to day.

      Mucoid plaque can be eliminated on fasts, but it tends to take place beyond the first two weeks of fasting, if at all – because not everybody carries mucoid plaque.

      Hope this helps,
      Tallis

      Reply

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