800 calories a day: How did I try the diet that mimics fasting and what happened?

In Azerbaijan there is the city of Gabala on the outskirts of the Greater Caucasus. This is the center of one of the most beautiful regions of the country: everywhere there are mountains with steep peaks, dense pine forests, clear lakes. On the shore of one of these lakes rises a building made of wood and natural stone, reminiscent of a Swiss chalet – this is the Chenot Palace Gabala resort, where guests can try a unique wellness program. And believe me, the 800 calories a day mentioned in the title is just one part of this unconventional detox journey. We’re talking about this in first person.

Disclaimer: This editorial is not an endorsement of any product or service and is for informational purposes only. Attempting certain methods of losing weight on your own is dangerous for health and is allowed only under the strict supervision of a doctor.

The Magic Chenot Method or Journey from Switzerland to Azerbaijan

Let’s move from colorful Azerbaijan for a moment to equally picturesque Switzerland, where the flagship wellness center Henri Chenot has opened on the shores of Lake Lucerne, just at the foot of the Swiss Alps. Perhaps the name of this legendary doctor is familiar even to those who never counted calories, did not sweat in the gym, and did not measure their waist. A Frenchman of Catalan descent, he studied biology in the middle of the last century, and then became interested in psychology, Chinese medicine and natural remedies. The symbiosis of these fields later formed the basis of the unique Chenot Method, which combines exact science and alternative medicine.

After the resounding success of his method, Henri Chenot now considered creating a new Chenot healing center outside of Europe. Meanwhile, the center in Gabala was the first to be built specifically for the holidays and not included in the current projects. Thousands of proposals were sent to him from all over the world, but they were all rejected because they did not undergo a strict selection: either the weather conditions were not favorable enough, the doctors were not qualified then, or the landscapes were not picturesque. sufficient. The only point of interest to the meticulous doctor on the map was Azerbaijan. Henri Chenot came to the country personally and began to travel all over the region in search of that very ideal place, until he accidentally found himself on the shore of Lake Nohur in the Gabala region. Looking at the smooth surface of the water where the green mountains were reflected, he realized that Chenot’s second center must be here. And I was not wrong.

What is Chenot Palace Gabala? This is not just a hotel, resort or sanatorium, this is a place where you meet yourself: your body, your fears, your complexes and your hopes. The two main components of treatment are specialized nutrition and wellness procedures. Both of these may surprise a person unfamiliar with the Chenot Method. And so.

Biohacker Diet or no more than 800 calories per day

It is believed that the minimum time that your body manages to turn on the full reboot mode is four days. Typically, Chenot programs are designed for a week, a maximum of 12 days and include a special nutrition system – a diet that mimics hunger (Fast Mimic Diet), also called the biohacker diet. With this approach, the following are completely excluded: animal protein and fats, gluten, sugar, spices, almost no salt (the chef admitted that he only added it to the broth in microscopic doses, but nothing more). The number of calories consumed per day is reduced to 600-800. An approximate diet looks like this: a very modest breakfast of unsweetened cooked fruit or fruit puree; lunch – a salad of raw vegetables, the second – a light snack, hot cooked vegetables or quinoa-type cereals; dinner – salad, soup and hot in the same style as lunch. Of the drinks, only chamomile tea, barley coffee and water.

Honestly, we admit that such a menu at first caused an absolute shock. First of all, it’s not your stomach, your brain can’t stand small portions, a lack of seasonings and snacks. You don’t understand what to do with your hands, mouth, and time, and you soon begin to realize that in ordinary life you often eat not because you are hungry, but because you want to relieve boredom. In fact, the diet at Chenot Palace Gabala is as balanced as possible and is sufficient to maintain the health and vitality of an adult body. Well, it should be noted that local chefs “squeeze to the maximum” from unleavened vegetables and turn them into works of culinary art at the level of taste and aesthetics of high molecular cuisine.

Of course, such a nutrition program is possible only after consulting a doctor and under his careful supervision. For example, our runner editor was asked to either add protein to the menu or skip morning workouts (which burned half his daily calorie intake). Guests with low blood pressure were allowed to consume caffeine. So, at the heart of the Chenot method, of course, is an individual approach.

Energy massage and herbal mud therapy

The second component of the Chenot Palace Gabala wellness program is the private author procedures course. After a doctor’s consultation, which is mandatory for all guests, you will be assigned an individual program that may include massages (including lymphatic ones), body wraps, mud and thermal baths, acupuncture and other types of therapy. They also practice cryotherapy, antigravity parkour classes, electropulse therapy (electric shock), and dozens of other innovative treatments. The main task is to get rid of toxins, start the internal rehabilitation processes of the body, restore tone and energy to the body.

But the most interesting is the bioenergy research conducted according to the “Chenot method”. With the help of a special device that measures your biofield along the meridians, you can identify problem areas in the body and determine the probability of a particular disease in the early stages. In the test results, organs and regions with chronic problems will be identified in yellow, and acute ones that are currently in the active stage will be identified in red. In addition to such an examination, traditional Chinese medicine specialists can diagnose the condition of the pulse, tongue and nails, and you will be surprised how accurate this will be.

Top 3 treatments at Chenot Palace Gabala

Chenot energy massage

It is done with the help of currents and vacuum bowls along with a relaxing massage. The main influence is directed towards the energy meridians that run throughout the human body (our energy is believed to circulate through them). In 50 minutes, the body is completely renewed, the general tension disappears and a feeling of lightness appears.

Hydroaromatherapy + phyto-mud treatment

Two procedures that must be completed together to achieve a special effect. First, you are immersed in a warm bath, where water flowing at different speeds massages your entire body. Chenot brand aromatic oils are added to the water. Then the patient is sent for a mud wrap, which is done in a warm, non-contact therapeutic bath (it is comfortable, as in the cradle, it is impossible not to fall asleep). If desired, the procedure ends with a Charcot shower (though many skip this step). After this care, the skin is toned and moisturized.

Aerocryotherapy

A very powerful procedure for those who are overweight and suffer from a number of chronic diseases. Three rooms with different temperatures: – 35 degrees, – 60 degrees and the most extreme – 110 degrees. The patient in turn dives into them, allowing the body to get used to low temperatures (although it is unlikely to get used to it). The main thing is to strictly follow the doctor’s instructions and in no case go out in the sun and peel off after the procedure.

Who should go to Chenot Palace Gabala?

One of the key components of the Chenot Method is positive shock therapy. Normally accustomed to taking in cortisol and toxins, our body begins to experience positive stress from proper nutrition and procedures, and as a result, old negative bonds are destroyed. It’s like hitting the big red “emergency” button and rebooting the whole system. Either way, the experience is unique and unforgettable. The result of our editor’s four-day stay at Chenot Palace Gabala: minus 2kg, swelling and stress gone, plus deep sleep, toned skin and an overall feeling of lightness. And it’s worth it!

Note: Let us remind you once again that such a detox should never be done on your own, but only under the supervision of doctors and with their advice.