WELCOME TO HYGIENE HEAVEN
Fasting = Resting
Whether you wish to overcome a specific health issue, go through a detoxification, or just generally perk up your health and cleanse your system, the best way to do so is to take part in the deep rest known as fasting.
DR. GRAHAM'S GOAL IN SUPERVISING A FAST IS TO KEEP IT AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE WHILE MAKING SURE IT IS AS LONG AS NECESSARY.
To some extent, experience allows a fasting supervisor to give a rough estimate of how long a fast any particular individual would best benefit from, with the full understanding that we always fast just one day at a time, taking each day as it comes.
The idea is that your body works perfectly and knows what to do in regards to healing itself, and that it will do so perfectly if simply given the appropriate substances, forces, influences, and conditions. In Costa Rica this February, Dr. Graham will be giving you that opportunity.
Jan 24 - Mar 7, 2026
DR. GRAHAM WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE NUANCES, TRICKS OF THE TRADE, SPECIAL TECHNIQUES, AND THE CRITICAL DETAILS THAT MAKE FOR GUARANTEED SUCCESS.
Is fasting for you?
- Do you want to awaken refreshed each morning without an alarm clock?
- Do you suffer from a degenerative disease?
- Do you want to look healthier, younger, and more vibrant?
- Do you work a fast-paced job or live in a city?
- Do you have lifestyle habits you wish to change?
- Do you find yourself saying "I used to be able to" more often than you'd like?
- Do you want a new competitive edge in your chosen sport?
If you answered yes to any of these, you should consider a fast.
What will you experience?
Dr. Graham will be guiding a small group of health seekers through a supervised fasting experience.
Something special happens in a group fast setting. A sort of teamwork and mutual support develops that one does not experience at a typical fasting center.
Every faster will be monitored daily, but blood and other lab work will not be performed.
Re-feeding and fitness concerns will be addressed at the end of the fast. Many people wonder how long they can fast. On this 42-day trip, the maximum fast will be 28 days, and even shorter fasts may be appropriate.
All of your in-country transportation to and from our meeting at the airport hotel, accomodation expenses, supervision, classes, and meals during this retreat are covered in our all-inclusive fee.
Go home fitter, healthier, happier, and with much improved lifestyle habits than when you arrived, knowing how to create your optimum life. You will be well on your way toward replacing fitness, physique, and food issues with an endless stream of realized goals, high productivity, and boundless motivation.
The Environment
We will stay at private grounds in a rural part of Costa Rica. The facility is located at about 2,100 feet altitude in the foothills of the nation's highest mountain, Cerro Chirripo. The number of fasters (and/or interns) is limited to 8.
Enjoy lounging by the pool, appreciating all the flowers, watching the clouds, or just listening to the endless birdsong.
Temperatures in February tend to be in the high 70’s to low 80's all day but will quickly drop into the low 60's by nightfall, when warm clothes are absolutely necessary, especially for fasters. We should see sunny days and blue skies every day, but the occasional afternoon showers should also be expected.
The Fast
Each fast will be a custom designed, unique experience, as will your realimentation (refeeding) and recovery period, which generally lasts two weeks or more. There is no set length that one must fast. The length of your fast will be up to you, with the guidance of Dr. Graham.
Our staff will consist of both experienced and inexperienced interns. Interns will study the fasting process in the form of classes, lectures and first hand experience. Please refer to the fasting internship page for more information about this program.
"Once a day, talks were held in a large room of the house. Well tucked in by the interns and supplied with blankets, pillows and plenty of water, we would swim in and out of delicious, meditative dreams.
Dr. Graham taught us in his calm, fatherly tone, a little more each day about what was happening within our bodies and minds. He prepared us gently, alerting us to the various changes that we might expect. He told stories of fasters who had come before us and the amazing challenges that they had overcome.
He shared new perspectives on life and how to live and thrive more fully. Daily, he shared his time with us and guided us through the new territory that we were crossing together and alone."
The Food
When you decide to break your fast, a variety of delicious fruits and vegetables will be available for you to enjoy. Because it is currently very difficult to obtain 100% organic produce, we cannot guarantee all organic food at this event, though we will always select the highest-quality food possible. Several local farmers provide us with organic pineapple, banana, orange, lettuce, and several other fruits.
The transition process is directed by Dr. Graham and his staff. They will do all they can to meet your needs. Foods are chosen in a specific sequence, volume, and rotation, to ensure that your nutritional and physiological needs have been met before you head home. The realimentation period is considered to be a vital part of the fasting experience and will be supervised as rigorously as the rest of the fast.
FAQ
About Fasting
About Our Retreat
Why Do You Choose Costa Rica?
Costa Rica lends itself for a fasting retreat for a lot of reasons. With its high-quality food, predictably comfortable temperatures, virtually no rain during the dry season in December through April, and good infrastructure amongst largely natural surroundings, Costa Rica is providing a healthy environment for a more efficient fast.
Why Come To You for a Supervised Fast?
With numerous fasting retreats offering their services around the world, we certainly encourage you to consider why you might want to choose Dr. Graham’s supervision, or why you might not.
While some fasting centers provide medical supervision and bloodwork, you might be afraid of seeing your own blood, and trust Dr. Graham’s vast experience more than any other professional, regardless of their credentials. Most facilities host guests on an individual basis, while the FoodnSport retreats offer a group setting that results in great cohesion amongst all participants. Also, not all other fasting retreats refeed you on and teach you about low-fat raw vegan food, as well as incorporate the fitness aspect nearly to the extent that we at FoodnSport do.
Whether or not you choose to fast with us, we certainly recommend you only fast in the care of trusted supervision.
How Much Time Do You Spend with the Fasters Each Day?
On a daily basis, Dr. Graham will spend around 3 to 4 hours teaching, discussing, and addressing your concerns together with all the other fasters. Whenever particular issues and concerns need addressing, Dr. Graham will make himself available to you 1-on-1.
Besides that, at least twice a day a staff member will be with you and make sure your fasting experience is as safe and as restful as possible.
What Education Will I Receive?
The fasting retreat with Dr. Graham is designed in such a way that you gain confidence in your body’s capacity to run itself perfectly, given optimal conditions. During your fast, emphasis is on learning about the principles underlying how your body functions, addressing health concerns, and answering questions.
During the refeeding period we will teach you more about food, so that you may go home with both an appreciation for your body’s innate capacity to heal, as well as the knowledge on how to succeed eating 80/10/10 Raw Vegan.
How Much Work Will I Get Done? Can I Bring Family?
Taking more than a month off of what you’re usually doing might make you wonder if there is anything you can “get done” during your fast. While some people do get around to reading a book or two, some might find pleasure in watching the clouds.
Generally, we recommend you do not engage in activities of any kind that interfere with your rest. You may bring family and friends or have them visit you, but most people choose to bring social interactions to a minimum and prefer to just spend quiet time at the retreat to fully recuperate.
What Is the Daily Schedule?
When you join us for your fast, we will do everything we can to help you feel at ease throughout your entire journey. You can expect staff members to check in on you multiple times during the day, and take care of your needs.
Around mid-day, Dr. Graham invites you to join him for the educational part of the retreat to learn about Natural Hygiene, hear stories of people fasting, discuss concerns, and respond to any questions you might have. This goes on for three to four hours each day. We encourage you to take as much rest as you can during your fast, and participation in any group event is expressly optional.
What Is So Special About the Group Setting?
In most fasting facilities, fasters join an ongoing program, where as you begin your fast, other participants might be finishing their fast or leaving soon. This tends to create an atmosphere where everybody is there only for themselves.
In a group setting—like you find at our FoodnSport retreats—everybody arrives together, and forms bonds right from the start. This leads to fantastic group cohesion and support amongst everybody at the retreat grounds, and you can be assured you will not feel alone. Having run events both ways, Dr. Graham is convinced this immersive group setting is better for the interns, as well as the fasters.
Do You Fast With Your Fasters?
Dr. Graham has a full day every day running the retreat and will therefore not be fasting. As your fasting supervisor, he is giving daily presentations, coordinates the staff, corresponds with our hosts and suppliers, teaches fitness classes, and much more.
Dr. Graham and his staff might, however, eliminate certain food items, or up their fitness program to show support for our fasters.
What Is the Intern Program?
The Costa Rica Fasting Internship is a rewarding and exciting, hands-on approach to health education. You will see before your eyes the healing power of the body and finally experience what healthful living truly entails. As interns, you have the privilege of acting as a lifeline, in service to people seeking to regain their health. In addition, this program is designed to give an intensive education in health creation.
Who is Shari Leiterman? Meet Our Chef and Lead Intern
Shari Leiterman works as a holistic coach, raw food chef, educator, and inspiring speaker. Shari has known and worked with Dr. Graham for many years, and she will be our chef and lead intern at our coming Costa Rica fasting retreat. Experience her passion, enthusiasm, and knowledge of how to create delicious raw food dishes! Find out more about Shari at RawsomeLivingLLC.com
Blog Articles About Fasting and Additional FAQ