Tag Archive for: cleanse

Day 3 of My Detox

Day 3 of my detox has been another new experience. The headaches have subsided, except for one very brief one. However, my tongue was heavily coated and white. It was quite disgusting and now I wish I had taken a photo of it.

The hunger wasn’t a problem at all but, I was sick of drinking the same thing. I realized I’m such a variety girl. I don’t do well eating or drinking the same foods over and over.  I love all juices but was losing my desire for these quickly. I made it through each of them deciding to pass on the final Mean Green juice. I skipped it and went to the almond Mylk which is the final drink of each day! It’s a wonderful blend of dates, almonds, vanilla and sea salt.

I decided to retire early as I knew when I would awaken that I could break the fast if I chose to.  Sleep and rest is so important during a fast. This is when the body and mind rebuild and repair. Unfortunately, I was wide awake and actually almost wired. It was as if I had drank caffeine! One theory is that fasting can create abnormal adrenaline secretion that can also cause insomnia.

Another concern with people detoxing is that they will spend the day in the bathroom. By day three the colon was moving more than in the previous two days but nothing that would impact my normal routine. When there isn’t much going in, there isn’t much coming out…besides liquids!

Day 4 wasn’t much different than the previous three. I wasn’t really that hungry so I added a half scoop of plant protein to my Mean Green juice. It was a whole lot more appealing this way!

So bottom-line, I would definitely do this cleanse again. If you have an organic juice bar in your town, take advantage of the convenience.  It was so easy having the juices pre-made and a detailed guide of what I needed to drink and when.

My positive results: 1) I was unable to eat as much as I had been when I returned to a whole food diet. 2) I lost about six pounds and 3) eliminated sugar cravings and 4) experienced a great sense of accomplishment in taking control of my eating habits!

Are you ready to drop the weight and lose the sugar cravings? Let me know as I’d love to help.

My 3-day Cleanse Journey – Day 2

Day 1 is done! So where do you think I struggled most? I caught myself in my daily habit of getting up from my desk to grab a snack. I realized that when I feel stressed, overwhelmed or anxious, I distract myself with a snack. Most of you know I am not grabbing a candy bar or cookie (we eat predominantly whole, clean) but, eating when your body doesn’t need food is not healthy! So how did I cope knowing that I couldn’t grab a snack? I decided to try some deep breathing and downloaded a meditation app. I believe this is a new healthy habit that I will incorporate long after the cleanse.

As far as detox symptoms, I dropped a couple pounds (toxins!) and had a few minor headaches throughout the day as well. My tongue has the usual thick white coating which is a sure sign of detoxing. But overall, I had great clarity and focus. My overall sense of well-being has improved. Less anxious. More calm.

My sugar cravings have subsided much faster than I imagined as well. The dark chocolate bar stashed in my freezer is no longer calling me!

The biggest benefit was not having to think about what we are having for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Then you have prep time, cook time and cleanup, so time savings was an unexpected positive benefit.

I was also blessed that my husband joined me, so the temptations were not there. If I had to prepare a meal for someone else, I’m sure it would have been a bit more challenging. If you have children heading to summer camp or, your hubby is traveling, this would be a great time to try a cleanse/fast.

I’m not sure I can say it was easy but, it wasn’t that hard. When you are drinking juice every 2 hours from 7am to 7pm, it helps you focus on that task. I rewarded myself at the end of the day with an organic bubble bath and some lavender essential oil. Sending a positive message to the brain is important when tackling something new or a bit more challenging then the norm.

 

My 3-day Cleanse Journey

It’s day one of my 3-day cleanse which started with a 2.5-mile walk on July 4th. What a perfect day to celebrate freedom from toxins! Instead of focusing on what I won’t be eating, I’m focusing on the benefits such as mental clarity, focus, and increased energy.

I prepared my body by eliminating meat and increased my consumption of fresh, raw organic fruits and vegetables. If you consume alcohol, caffeine, or dairy on a regular basis, I  would eliminate these products a few days before as well. Except for an occasional (organic) ice cream, I swore off these vices years ago. However, with dark chocolate, I still have issues!

I typically make my own juices but due to time constraints and the fact I sold my juicer a few years back (in lieu of a Vitamix), I purchased the organic juices from a local company called Sunshine Juice. I’m not being paid to endorse their products, I just wanted to share my experience with others. Their cleanse consists of seven juices per day which you consume every two hours.

It’s been several years since my husband and I fasted. He is a great support as he offered to join me…with modifications (as he tossed the pound of grass-fed beef back in the freezer). His modified liquid diet will consist of using our favorite plant-based powder, Juice Plus Complete, with almond milk. We’ve used the shakes for several years (love them) and this is what I will transition to prior to starting back on whole food.

I remember how much fun with had with it last time as we started to get a little slap-happy around the second and third day. Watching television wasn’t a good idea as we realized almost every commercial promoted food! Even though most of it isn’t stuff we would ever eat, it all started to look good. We decided that reading was our best bet and I spent lots of time in prayer and meditation.

For me, this isn’t about weight loss, although I put on a few extra pounds over the winter. Cleansing is more for the emotional and spiritual aspects of my life. Spending time with my creator without distractions is my ultimate goal.