Beer drinker’s detox and weight loss wellness retreat

I lived in Thailand for almost 3 years and visited several retreats, watching yoga people float through the air like a divine blessing and gift to their audience, I’ve tried a 100% vegetarian diet only to crap liquid blood out my ass and resort to strawberry flavoured kefir three times a day, and I can go on. But I found a mix that works for me: 

• heavy on quality meat, cooking with quality oils, low on the carbs, low in sugar and gluten free if possible;
• light exercise, comfortable walks;
• special snacks before sleep and on wakeup;
• moderate sips of low alcohol beer if I feel the urge.

It’s mostly about timing.

• What to have and do the first thing when you wake up.
• Stick to an easy routine every day but don’t sweat it if you ever deviate.

Life is too short to suffer and you can still enjoy yourself while maintaining a good appearance and healthy body.

The problem with a lot of these wellness resorts is that, not only are they exorbitantly expensive, but it is something that you will rarely take home with you. It is a once a year detox experience that you can feel good about yourself while cleaning out your wallet, but once you’re back home you just slide into your usual routine and all that effort slips away.

That is why I like to teach people how to make a realistic routine that is not painful, but an actual pleasure, that you can take home with you to continue with the advances you gained during your stay with me.

We have modest accommodation but there are resorts nearby. Everything is within 10km. The perfect distance for a daily stroll. Keep the bodily juices flowing lay on the beach to soak in some vitamin D (I never use sunblock and don’t believe in it – I believe in all organic and healthy living and eating).

I admit I’ve been big on sports my entire life, awesome abs during uni, but I’ve watched my body falter after years of neglect and watched it climb back into some shade of glory while enjoying moderate beer consumption and a pleasureful diet. Hey, even Jason Mamoa drank a pint of Guinness after a hard day of training for Aquaman. Diet is 85% of the key. Knock out the bread, indulge in some beer calories instead. Bread just fills you up and offers essentially no nutrients. There are much better ways.

I’m happy to teach others what I’ve learned as a digital nomad traveling to more than 40 countries in the world, and from listening to endless hours of PhD doctor and physiotherapist advice on youtube to help me fall asleep. I’ve experimented with many options and found something that works for me. If you’re a vegetarian, no problem, but that diet did not work for me. Especially now that I am over 60, I learned that I need more protein than ever, in combination with certain nutrients and various tricks to help my body absorb it, lest I suffer from muscle loss in the form of sarcopenia, and the dreaded daily fatigue I felt before I discovered all the tricks.

Come check us out, we’re not expensive!

Life of Milarepa

When I told my friend, who makes websites for wellness resorts, about my idea, he responded:

Hell yeah!

I think the straight forward honesty is the best selling point.

Have you read the “Life Of Milarepa” ?

One of Tibet’s greatest yogis who would meditate in a cave, without eating food, and only drink beer from time to time.  He may be your patron saint.

Found this reading on him, where beer is mentioned 20 times. Don’t forget that Trappist monks in Europe brew beer, some aged to as old as 100 years! In any case, I’m not trying to convince everyone to drink beer, I just love the liquid honey and have found a way to indulge in it modestly while maintaining good form and health, which I am happy to share with others. I myself prefer the locally brewed San Miguel Apple Flavored Beer. Only 3% alcohol and one needs a certain amount of carbs and calories to get through the day anyway.

Beer is not necessarily bad!

Throughout much of human history, alcoholic beverages like mead, beer, and wine played a key role in survival, particularly because they were often safer to drink than untreated water.

Here’s a breakdown of when and why alcohol became important for survival:

🔥 Why Alcohol Was Safer Than Water

In pre-modern societies, especially in densely populated areas:

• Water sources were frequently contaminated with human or animal waste, leading to waterborne diseases like cholera, dysentery, and typhoid.
• Alcohol kills many harmful microorganisms, and the fermentation process itself helps sanitize the liquid.
• Even low-alcohol drinks like “small beer” (around 1-2% ABV) were safer than water and could be consumed daily, even by children.
• And let’s not forget that fermentation is an important process for creating probiotics, which support gut and overall body and mental health.

🛡️ Notable Historical Examples

1. Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia

• Beer was a staple of daily life.
• Workers building the pyramids were paid in rations of beer and bread.
• Beer and wine were common because Nile water could be dangerously polluted.

2. Medieval Europe

• 

  “Small beer” and weak wines were consumed daily by nearly everyone, including children.

• Town water sources were often contaminated, so beer became a major source of hydration.
• Monasteries brewed beer and wine both for income and health.

3. The Age of Exploration (15th–18th centuries)

• Sailors were given daily rations of beer, wine, or rum because stored water quickly became stagnant on long sea voyages.
• Rum or grog (rum diluted with water and lime) was also used to prevent scurvy due to added citrus.

4. Northern and Eastern Europe

• In colder regions, mead (fermented honey water) and beer were safer alternatives to sometimes stagnant well water or frozen-over sources.
• Mead was also nutrient-rich, thanks to the honey content, making it valuable during long winters or sieges.

💡 So Was It About Getting Drunk?

No — most of the time, these historical beverages were:

• Low in alcohol compared to modern drinks.
• Consumed more for hydration and health than intoxication.
• Fermented just enough to kill bacteria, not enough to get people tipsy in everyday use.

⚠️ Important Caveat

In some rural or isolated areas, fresh spring water was clean and reliable, so alcohol wasn’t always necessary. But in urban or crowded conditions, fermented drinks were a safer and smarter bet.

🧭 Summary

Yes, mead and other fermented drinks were absolutely crucial to survival in many historical settings. They offered a safer, more reliable, and sometimes nourishing alternative to polluted water, especially before modern sanitation. Now isn’t all this information intoxicatingly interesting to you?

🍺 A Brief History of Beer: A Drink That Helped Humanity Survive

While modern health trends often paint beer as something to avoid, it’s worth remembering that beer has a long and meaningful history — one that goes beyond mere indulgence.

Long before water sanitation existed, beer was essential for survival. In ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, beer was safer to drink than contaminated river water. Even the workers who built the pyramids received daily rations of beer as both sustenance and hydration.

Throughout medieval Europe, especially in towns and cities where clean water was scarce, people — including children — consumed what was called “small beer”: a lightly fermented brew with low alcohol content. It was brewed not to intoxicate, but to protect health.

Beer was also a nutrient-rich beverage, full of calories and often safer to store than untreated water. Sailors during the Age of Exploration relied on it for hydration during long voyages. In some parts of Europe, mead, beer, and ale were the only reliable liquids available during harsh winters.

So if you’re a beer lover, you’re in good company — humanity literally survived thanks to it.

At our Beer Drinkers Detox and Weight Loss Wellness Retreat in Guimaras, we’re not here to shame your love for beer — we’re here to help you find balance, enjoy the journey, and embrace a healthier lifestyle while still appreciating the deeper story behind one of the world’s oldest and most celebrated drinks.

Things to do in Guimaras

Lots to see in Guimaras, a nice, quiet island perfect for long walks along country roads sparsely populated between the rich, green foliage. If you want to lose weight, walking is an excellent, light and enjoyable exercise since your thighs are your largest muscles and hence burn the most calories (fat) when being used.

Meanwhile, if you’d like to explore further, the nearby island of Panay also has lots to offer, such as the country’s most famous resort island of Boracay just to the north. Or further to the west, we organize a lot of tours in Palawan, considered the jewel of the country.

Accommodation and booking

We have limited space in our modest accommodation, if you are on a limited budget and would like to stay “close to the action”. Only 750p/night per person in our glamping tent shown here, next to outdoor toilet with shower and an outdoor bbq kitchen at your disposal.

We have a massive terrace where you can lounge and we work out, as you can see located in a nice nature setting away from the noise. Otherwise, there is a nice resort a short 6km walk away, or they can arrange for you a tricycle taxi.

And what should I charge for all my fantastic advice and motivation? I think I’ll just accept donations for that.

For more info, feel free to send us a note and I’d be happy to nurse you through what we have to offer 🙂

Frequently Asked Questions about the Beer Drinkers Detox, Weight Loss & Wellness Retreat in Guimaras

Espinosa Kosmans

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We are a family operation managing private custom boat tours in the beautiful Palawan area, and are happy to help travelers with their plans through the country, having traveled a lot of it ourselves and planning to visit it all.