Have You Ever Tried a Detox? I did!

I am continually looking for ways to improve and sustain my health.

I also truly believe that food has amazing healing powers.

I have experienced major changes in my mind, body, and outlook once before

(a long time ago) when I was (almost) a vegan.

It was the best I ever felt and looked...ever

(and it was not just because I was younger).

 

vanillaechoes / 123RF Stock Photo

I have struggled to get back even a piece of that feeling for years

(if you dare, you can read about my struggles with weight loss...and gain).

I could blame pregnancy or being a busy mom....

but other moms seem to overcome these obstacles.

I can truly only find fault and take responsibility myself.

Periodically I have made major gains and accomplished small feats...

but having struggled with some health issues and really need to make changes.

I was inspired by the journey of a long time friend LisaRenee.

Last year she transformed her life and is now a Holistic Health Coach who works with busy moms who have no energy or who have auto-immune issues. She is passionate about health and well being. I followed along as she made major changes in her life. 

(Medical disclaimer because I do not want to be sued: I am not a doctor. LisaRenee is not a doctor. You should consult a physician before making major changes to your diet especially if you have medical issues. THIS IS THE STORY OF MY EXPERIENCE DOING A DETOX.)

LisaRenee offers detox and cleanses as well as personalized coaching through her practice, Fountain of Health by LisaRenee.

At first, I will be honest...I thought..."NO WAY!"
All of the other detox programs I have seen or read about involved craziness -
drinking hot lemon juice while standing on your head
or milking agave plants...or something...

BUT THIS ONE WAS DIFFERENT!

This detox program involved real food.

Real, whole, nutritious food! Now that I can do!

Lisa's program was full of amazing recipes from smoothies to juices to soups and salads and snacks. I received a great guide to ease me into the detox and keep me on track as the days went by. Additionally, LisaRenee offers extra support and advice through a Facebook group. It was great to pop in every day and see how everyone was doing, share more recipes, and be supported.

Why I did the Detox?
I have felt tired and crummy and run down. I know what to do to be healthy...and do a lot of it...but something was not right. Too many pops and cracks and aches and pains. Of course losing some weight would be great, but my real motivation was to get my body feeling right.

The Detox
You start off slow by preparing for the detox for a few days. Once you have prepped...it is time to detox. You eat 5 times a day - nutritious natural whole foods - smoothies, salads, soups, and you can even include clean protein. There is no processed sugar, gluten, or dairy. I chose to do this detox vegetarian and did not include any clean animal protein. Once you are finished with the 7 day detox, there is a transition phase where you can slowly add back in other foods (healthy, whole foods). I first added in quinoa for a few days so that I could see if my body had a reaction to it. Then I added bean/legumes back in.

Doing the Detox...

• I eat most of these foods already. I make green smoothies, and eat at least one salad a day...HOWEVER it is what I unconsciously put into my mouth that is sabotaging my efforts to feel and look good...and my 27 cups of coffee.
• I was motivated for this detox! I prepped my meals ahead of time...chopped, pureed, you name it. The soup recipes lasted for 2-3 meals, and the salads were a breeze to throw together. I quickly found my favorite smoothies...including one with chocolate!
• My biggest obstacle...NO COFFEE! Well, that is not entirely true. One cup of organic coffee was allowed every day...but I usually drink 7+ cups a day. Big challenge for me...not gonna lie! 
• My second biggest obstacle...no bread or gluten...but that turned out to be a good thing.
• My third biggest obstacle...no (processed) sugar! I always think I do not eat much processed sugar...but I realized I do eat more than I thought.
• The first day was hard...I wanted to take a bath in coffee and just have one little piece and candy. I did have more than one cup...with almond milk (every day...but that is less than 7!)
• By the second I had a bit of a headache (caffeine withdrawals) and kind of felt crummy - almost flu-like, which is common as your body rids itself of toxins.
• Within a few days I started to feel great. I had tons of energy and started to look better and feel lighter (seriously)! By the end of the detox, my body felt better - the aches had almost completely stopped.

The Results

• By the end of the detox, I had strayed one day...but I did not dwell on it...I moved on. I made the choice to eat what I did and well...that is that! I moved on.
• So...drum roll please... the results. I only lost 5-6 pounds. I say only because I had higher expectations...but seriously, realistically, that is pretty good weight loss for that amount of time, and how my body felt...so worth it.
• What I did notice is that my middle (waist) started to re-emerge. I lost inches around my waist and through my torso. It was so nice to see that result.
• And might I add I did this detox while PMSing...so it is possible!

The best things this detox did...

• It made me pay attention to what I was eating. Not the meals...but all the crap I throw in my mouth as I bake and cook and chauffeur kids around. Bunny grahams, licks of the spatulas, the crust of the grilled cheese sandwich (that my daughter won't eat)...all that extra stuff I put into my mouth is counter-productive to the kale, avocado, fresh fruit and veggie goodness I eat for my meals and planned snacks
• I learned about my body was a surprise to me. I have had some aches and pains and uncomfortable feelings. I eliminated gluten from my diet during the detox and those aches and pains mostly went away.
• It got me started on a new path...I do have will power. I can be strong. I can walk away from the cookies, cupcakes, and coffee.

So what do you think? Sound crazy? Radical?

I assure you it is not...

it is about whole real food and how it affects your body and well being and life. 

LisaRenee has a Sensational Summer Detox starting soon!
If you are interested, pop over to read more about it!

If you have any questions...leave a comment or shoot me an email.
I will be in the hospital having surgery Tuesday morning...
but promise to get back to you asap!

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre