Martha Stewart Says She Was 'Dragged into Solitary' in Prison and Had No Food or Water for 24 Hours

Martha Stewart’s stay in federal prison was no cakewalk.

The lifestyle mogul spent five months in West Virginia’s Alderson federal prison (nicknamed Camp Cupcake) after being found guilty of charges including conspiracy and obstruction of justice related to the stock sale. New Netflix documentary Marta (out October 30) looks at his “terrible” time there.

Stewart, 83, gave director RJ Cutler personal letters she wrote throughout her life, some behind bars. A spoken voice reads the letters Marta.

On the first of 150 days in prison, Stewart writes: “Physical exam, all clothes off. Squat, arms out, cough – uncomfortable.”

Martha Stewart leaves prison in her poncho.

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Stewart is also interviewed in the documentary. “I had to do all this crap you see in the movies. You can’t even believe that’s what you’re going through,” she said.

The letters reveal a conflict with two prison guards that landed Stewart in trouble.

“Today I saw two very well dressed ladies walking and I rushed past them, noting how beautiful it was a warm morning and how beautiful they looked. When I realized they were security guards by the large silver key chain, I lightly brushed the chain,” she wrote. “I was called later to be told to never, ever touch a guard without expecting a stern reprimand.”

Martha Stewart speaks candidly about the ups and downs of her celebrated life

Stewart recalls that she apologized, but because “the incident was so insignificant when it happened,” she forgot about it — until the sentence came.

They dragged me into solitary for touching a police officer, Stewart said to the camera. “No food or water for a day. This was Camp Cake, remember? That was the nickname. Camp Cupcake. It wasn’t a cake.”

A representative for the Alderson federal prison did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Alderson Federal Prison Camp.

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Stewart describes his prison cell. “My room contains an old metal box spring with a bunk bed and a metal frame,” she wrote. “The springs are very limp and therefore an unhealthy set of beds. I’d actually prefer the upper one, but over 62 you automatically get the lower bunk.”

America’s first female billionaire recalls waking up at 4:00 a.m. to begin her daily routine there.

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“What worries me is the very poor quality of food and the unavailability of everything fresh because there is a lot of starch and a lot of carbohydrates, a lot of fatty food. There is nothing clean,” she wrote.

“Everything was horrible,” adds Stewart.

Martha Stewart leaves prison with her daughter Alexis.

JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images

Marta follows her escape from prison (in her famous handmade poncho) and her eventual return.

“I just hope that everyone takes a few life lessons from the movie tonight and understands what’s going on,” she told PEOPLE at the Oct. 21 premiere.

Marta airs on Netflix on October 30.

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