My Stay at Vivamayr Altaussee: Day 7
As my final doctor’s appointments are early, I am up and about by 6 a.m. Because I knew I had to be up sharp, I’m not sure I ever actually achieved sleep. But never mind — I’ve generally rested well here at Vivamayr, and with any luck I’ll be able to keep this up at home. For now, I subject myself to one last teaspoon’s worth of mouth oil, one last glass of Glauber salts, and then swallow whatever else I am required to swallow before heading down to the medical reception for my appointments.
Dr Brauer comes and retrieves me one last time. I must say, I’ll miss the pleasantly ritualistic nature of it all, even if I won’t miss all the poking and prodding. She notices that I sound nasal and, after assuring her that it’s probably just an ordinary cold as opposed to the dreaded Coronavirus which has fast become the talk of the place, she says she isn’t surprised. Apparently my perilously low vitamin D levels mean that I will be susceptible to all sorts until I can build them back up. I mean, is it really advisable that I leave? Perhaps I really should move to California after all…
It isn’t all bad, anyway. I have lost about a kilo since I arrived, but then this is neither here not there given that I didn’t come to Vivamayr to lose weight. My acidity is also low, which is good, as the Mayr method is all about alkalisation. But, seeing as my antioxidant and vitamin D levels are both very low, Dr Brauer arms me with stacks of supplements to take home. We go over how many I’m supposed to take, and when, and what with, and then it is time for my final abdominal treatment. Though these treatments are undoubtedly uncomfortable, they really do help with one’s digestion, and I’m sure I’ll come to miss the benefits. At the end, Dr Brauer wishes me well and urges me to keep in touch, and I genuinely feel quite sad when we part ways.
After I’ve been thoroughly assessed, I head down to breakfast. I go for manchego cheese and potatoes again because, well, why not? It is my last breakfast after all. I gobble it up quickly, as I have yet to make any real attempts at packing, and I really need to rectify that. There are three of us scheduled to leave on the same transfer to Salzburg’s W. A. Mozart Airport at noon, and I don’t want to be responsible for causing any delays, especially as I’ve still got a nutritional consultation to attend. Fortunately, packing to return home is generally more straightforward than the reverse, although it does take me a while to squeeze all the supplements into my relatively small suitcase.
At around 11, I head back to the medical reception and am met by Alexandra Schmidt, one of Vivamayr’s resident nutritionists. The purpose of this nutritional consultation is to enable me to carry the principles of the Mayr method over into how I eat at home, and to prevent me lapsing back into a routine filled with copious amounts of pizza and caffeine. Alexandra is approachable, engaging and friendly, and I learn more about nutrition in the forty-five minutes I spend with her than I thought was actually possible. For example, I discover that millet is a “neutral” grain, whereas most other grains are more on the acidic side. I also learn that the ideal diet consists of 70% alkaline food and 30% acidic, and she is kind enough to furnish me with a list of examples before I leave.
Once I’ve finished with Alexandra, it is time to set off. I am sharing the transfer with Sarah and Vicky, two lovely American ladies who were also on the same flight out (well, the London to Salzburg leg that is. I don’t know how many people come to Vivamayr from Newcastle). We each get a packed lunch for the journey, comprising three items of our choice. Mine consists of yet more manchego cheese and potatoes, obviously, with a bonus helping of poached chicken. The Vivamayr team really want you to keep up with your improved eating habits, so the packed lunch minimises the risk of us falling foul of bad airport food.
The journey takes just under ninety minutes, and as we wend our way through the mountains of Austria, I can’t help but wonder what sort of life I will be returning to. When I booked my stay at Vivamayr back in January, it was predominantly for the sake of my physical health, but after going through a break-up and abruptly losing my job in the week leading up to it, I arrived in need of psychological unburdening as much as anything else. I’m still surprised I got on the plane at all, however I’m very pleased I did. I would like to thank everyone at Vivamayr Altaussee for looking after me when I was undoubtedly at my lowest. I’m sure I’ll be back some day.
This piece was originally published on Part Time Beauty in 2020.