Leo Wilhelmi

Managing Director of Buchinger-Wilhelmi Lake Constance

Tell us about you and your company.

We were the first fasting clinic in the world (1920) and have been family-owned since the beginning. My great-grandfather—Dr Otto Buchinger—developed the Buchinger fasting method that still exists today. He cured himself of an acute rheumatic disease through fasting and established the first clinic in Überlingen at Lake Constance in 1953. The second clinic followed twenty years later in 1973 in Marbella, Spain. Three generations developed and expanded the Buchinger fasting method, as well as the clinics. We like to say that we are a mix between a clinic, a hotel and a monastery. Each person comes for different configurations of the three elements. Some for medical reasons, some for prevention and others to seek a more profound experience. 

Nowadays we treat about 6,000 patients per year. Our focus is on integrative medicine, a conventional medical approach combined with complementary medicine. We have published over 16 studies and try to make the powerful effects of fasting known throughout the world by sharing much of it on YouTube and social media. 

How do you encourage clients to take their learnings from the clinic back into their lives—at home and on the road?

We want to achieve a change in people’s lifestyles. Our program is multifaceted and aims to put people on the right path to lead a happy and, above all, healthy life. The cooking demonstrations are designed to prepare our patients for daily life after their stay and to help them implement healthy eating. We also offer doctors’ lectures for education as well as stress-reduction and yoga and meditation sessions. In order to sustain good health, we recommend intermittent fasting. We also recently launched a brand new Fasting Box (currently available in Europe and soon the UK), which offers the possibility of a fasting protocol according to Buchinger Wilhelmi in the comfort of your home.

It’s encouraging to know that many of our guests achieve true lifestyle changes after their stay with us. The best example is our champion guest, who is here currently for the 96th time. He is 92 and started coming when he was 40 years old. He has no treating doctor at home and comes twice a year for a general checkup. He’s probably the best example of how fasting can help you live long and in good health (longevity). We are doing a case study on him in 2022. 

Where in the world do you feel most revitalized?

In Germany, there are special locations that are considered inspirational, revitalizing and recovering locations to restore your energy and re-create a clear mind and space for oneself. They are called kraftort– places of power. 

My personal place of strength is a meditation center in Switzerland, the LaSalle Haus. Here I can recharge my batteries and find peace after particularly stressful periods. I also fast twice a year at our fasting clinic in Marbella. Fasting helps me to recharge my batteries and gives me new focus and a free mind to manage my tasks as the Managing Director at the clinic in Überlingen.

Other kraftort for me and my family are the south of France, a region that Yolanda and Matt love as well, called the Luberon. The air, light and rhythm is super inspiring. The Instagram account @provencallife captures the vibe perfectly. 

What are a few other favorite wellness destinations you enjoy and why? 

Being half Swiss, I love the beauty of the Swiss Alps. The mountains and the beautiful nature itself always get me into a relaxed mood. The Therme Vals is an architectural masterpiece and also a very high quality thermal spa. The spectacular alpine panorama and the charm of the region also mean wellness and relaxation for me. 

Another place I love to go with my family is the Bassin d’Arcachon. There is a hotel there right on the Dune de Pilat called La Corniche and they allow dogs. The climate of the Atlantic is super stimulating. 

Do you bring any supplements or nutritional/health aids with you when you travel?

I practice intermittent fasting. For me personally, this is the best way to stay focused during stressful journeys. It also has many other benefits such as regulating blood sugar levels, helping with weight loss and improving mental performance. If I feel undernourished, I look for a bio supermarket and make myself a muesli with fresh fruits, whole grains, rich fatty acid oils like linseed oil and a good yogurt. This way I also get to know the local bio scene and at least in Europe many brands are German so I don’t have to search very long for my regular products. 

How do you approach staying healthy and relaxed when you travel by plane? 

Traveling these days is very stressful and with a little baby we try to take the car as much as possible. If I have to fly, I try to drink a lot of water and avoid coffee. I reduce sweets and snacks of any kind. Jet lag is generally just a reprogramming of the inner clock. Living in the rhythm of new time zones is easier for me if I avoid eating and then adjust my meal habits to the new time zone. This helps me to shorten the jet lag and get into the new routine. 

What’s your game plan for eating healthfully in a foreign place? 

There is a saying: dom’t eat what your grandparents wouldn’t have recognized as food. If you are in foreign places, try and stick to eating lots of vegetables and less processed food. 

For those of us who like to explore the culinary scene of foreign countries and do not have the discipline to stick to everyday healthy eating habits, we can practice intermittent fasting. After a heavy dinner, it makes sense to eat the next day only when you are hungry, that is, when you feel physical hunger. This means simply skipping breakfast and starting the day with a light lunch at midday. It sounds so logical and simple, but it actually helps to find a proper balance. Other strategies in foreign countries include not eating bread, avoiding unnecessary calories and, of course, avoiding alcohol and sugary drinks. 

Are there any restaurants in the world that you love for their healthy cuisine?

We love the Hiltl Restaurant in Zurich for their vegetarian selections. Alain Passard’s Arpège in Paris is also very interesting for its vegetarian take on French cuisine. However, special mention should also be made for the Nordic gastro scene, which continues to set new standards in vegetarian cuisine. Noma has a vegetable menu and beautiful illustrations, and Geranium, the best restaurant of 2022, boasts a meatless menu. I also love the boom in organic wines. This holds an incredible amount of innovation for sommeliers around the world. 

What are a few things you always pack for your beauty/wellness routine?

Drinking plenty of water every day is one of my best beauty tips. Therefore, my Buchinger Wilhelmi water bottle is my constant companion. My On-shoes are also super practical, as they fit in any bag and are great for a workout during travel. They are also suitable at casual events. 

To get enough sleep, I always pack earplugs and a sleep mask in my luggage. 

Do you have any rituals you use while on a trip to reset and ground yourself in a new place?

I always try to get a feeling of my new environment and take a walk around in nature and visit the gym. If there is a lake or ocean around, I have to take a swim regardless of the temperature. 

Where are you dreaming of going next and why?

I am dreaming of going to Apulia, Italy, the country of my great grandmother.