Millan is a very nice woman. She is very likable and knowledgeable regarding the plant-based…read morelifestyle.
Unfortunately, however, I cannot recommend her Fasting Retreat (A-One), because I did not meet my fasting goals as a result of investing time, energy, and money into her Retreat.
I lost 11 pounds during a 5-nights/6 days stay at her home/Retreat Center. However, my goal was a 40-day water fast, and Millan was made aware of my goals at the onset of our conversations.
During our initial conversations, I explained my desires and health goals to Millan. She encouraged me to attend her Retreat (she only had ONE SEAT OPEN, at a $100 discounted rate --- $1,850 for 5 nights/6 days, instead of $1,950 --- oh, boy!).
I was feeling ill from excessive food and spirits after the Holidays, and I wanted to cleanse. Millan quoted me a rate for 14 days and told me she would Coach me after I returned home for 30 days. With hesitation, I agreed.
There were faux pas with Bank transactions, which made me think God was trying to dissuade me from attending Millan's Retreat. This may have been the case, I do not know.
Milan's house is the Retreat Center. It is a nice house, but it is old, and it is extremely cold. I cut my 14-day stay short (reverting to 6 days) because I could not bear the coldness of the attached room of her house where I stayed, which she also uses as an Airbnb.
I told Millan that my reasons for leaving early were financial, but it was not. It was because her house was too cold. Her onsite Sauna does not get very hot, and the hot tub that she advertises in her initial literature was never turned on during my stay, although I specifically asked on one occasion.
Additionally, her two dogs are cute, but they are extremely invasive --- especially for people attempting the quietude necessary for a water fast. I like animals and pets, but by the end of my stay, I realized the need to ignore the dogs.
Her colonic services were good. The foot detox was good. The area surrounding her house includes a nice hiking trail with nice views.
I was not impressed with the $50 massage that she paid for at the local Chinese (or Thai, I cannot exactly recall) Massage Parlour. I am a former Licensed Massage Therapist, so for nearly $2,000, I expected a real massage at a genuine Spa from an advanced Massage Therapist, who could also provide deep tissue and Shiatsu. Instead, the woman who provided my "so-called" deep-tissue massage seemed like a new graduate from the local basic massage school. The massage was not good --- and Millan also left me responsibility for the tip, after only paying for my $50 massage. If the Massage had been acceptable, I would not have minded, but the Massage was not good, by my standards, and I was the client who needed to be pleased --- not Millan.
Every day, Millan has planned activities for attendees of the Retreat, including a morning (9 am) Zumba class, which she conducts in her small living room. For an 80-year-old woman, the Zuumba is impressive. However, for anyone under 60 who lives (and works and plays and exercises) in the real, everyday world? Millan's Zumba is okay, but not that impressive.
In truth, most people would simply prefer to be left alone while they are fasting.
I presume that many people who attend these types of Retreats know about health and fitness. At least this was the case while I was in attendance.
So, Millan's scheduled "lectures" and group film viewings (one of which she insisted was "mandatory," which is ridiculous since grown people have the right to do as they please during a Retreat for which they invest their own time and money).. are therefore irritating. Simply give people links to the videos, and allow them to view the material on their own time, but leaving people ALONE would be my recommendation.
I lost 11 pounds during the 5 nights/6 days of water fasting, but this is to be expected. Anyone who fasts on water (and tea) only will lose weight. It is a no-brainer, and no great accomplishment or feat on behalf of the Retreat facilitator other than the fact that they have charged money to share their time and space.
And, by the time I arrived at Millan's Retreat Center, her story regarding the 30 days of Coaching after I left the Retreat, had changed to an offer of only 10 days of Coaching. Since I had opted to leave after only 6 days, I did not barter with her regarding her after-departure Coaching services.
Again, I left after only 5 nights. I could not wait to get home since it was freezing in Millan's house. Then, within 2 or 3 days of Millan's "coaching," she suggested that I should think about receiving "the Holy Spirit."
Millan is a born-again Christian, and like all born-agains (I was raised by Evangelicals, so I know, and there is a REASON I converted to Catholicism and became a Metaphysician), Millan could not resist the urge to promote her religious preferences over others. I like prayer and the Bible, but I am not a "Born-again" Christian.
