How’s you’re eating plan coming along? Are you eating what your body loves?
Sometimes by this time of year some of my New Year’s Eve resolutions have worn off and what I said I was no longer going to eat has crept back into my diet. Has that happened to anyone else? OR, maybe you’ve done great with those resolutions and you’re ready to take the next step, a detox!
It’s time to start planning that spring time detox. It will have to be this month for 2 weeks. I’m thinking the last two weeks of this month starting on March 19th. That will give us a little time to get prepared get and maybe clear out a few things from the refrigerator and freezer (anyone want a few bags of chocolate chips). Maybe I’ll throw in a little spring cleaning for my house during those two weeks too. Yeah, that’s what I’m doing for sure. Spring Detox for the body and spring clear out for my house. Getting rid of all the junk that accumulates in both places.
OK, so will you be joining me for the spring detox? Maybe the spring clear out of the house too? Don’t be scared to detox but also don’t jump into one without knowing your body. You might want to talk with your doctor to make sure your body can handle it. I don’t do radical detox process. I start with really just getting rid of the things we know can adversely affect our bodies. If you know your body, design your own detox. Think about the things that you know if you didn’t put into your body would make your body very happy. That’s a great start.
My wonderful nutritionist friend Melissa McLean Jory works on this with her clients. She has shared some in her post Spring Renewal and Detox. I’ve taken that and made it work for me.
Diane’s Spring Detox:
No chemicals- this means eating organics and what people refer to as clean foods
No sugar unless in fruit and not much of that either
No processed foods from a box, bag, wrapper, can or anything manufactured
No alcohol
Not very much meats, condiment size portions and only organic poultry or wild caught seafood
Lots of organic green vegetables – love that fiber!
Lots of organic colors like beets, red cabbage, blueberries, pomegranates, radish and radiccho to name a few
Green smoothies daily- green juices if I had a juicer
Only green tea and no black tea with caffeine
Of course no gluten or dairy (easiest part for me) but I’m extending this to no grains or starches like potatoes, peas and beans
Daily movement to include dancing, yoga, walking
Daily meditation- I use a 5-10 minute meditation to reduce stress, longer some days
Drink lots of filtered water
Sleep 7-9 hours – this let’s the cleaning crew come in at night and clean up my body (wish they would do my windows)
This list may be too much or not enough depending on your current habits. Don’t be overwhelmed but pick which ones you can try and if you have more to add let me know!
I know at first I may be a little tired as my body is processing out the yuck but that’s what I want out and that is why I do a detox.
Be kind to yourself during this detox. Grab a friend and encourage each other. Make sure you get your rest. Take that nice long hot bath you keep threatening to take. Wrap yourself in those comfortable huggable clothes. And speaking of hugs make sure you’re giving and getting those daily too.
OK ready, set, go! Monday March 19th and we’re off and running! During these two weeks I’ll be sharing recipes of what I’m eating and resources for other recipe ideas. If you make a great smoothie or meal, please share it! I’ll also share a few extras in my newsletter this month, The WHOLE-istic Life so make sure you’re on the list.
Now I’d like to hear from you!
Have you tried any type of detox before?
What was it and how did you feel?
Which items on my list are you willing to give a try for just the two weeks?
I am in for the Spring Fling Detox!! I just did one of my 15 rooms in the house this weekend. Geez – at this rate, I may just be done by summer (when it will time to start cleaning out the house all over again). LOL
And after the girl's weekend, everyone is going to need to do a bit of detoxing of themselves! ;0)
xo
Oh Kim you have a great idea. Spring Fling Detox. I think we should do that every spring, maybe more than once. Congrats on getting that room cleared out. You are way ahead of the game. It usually takes me all year to get through all of my rooms. You might think I have lots of rooms but after just counting them I have 11 not counting the bathrooms. One a month and it could work.
Haha on Kim's comments on the girls' weekend … uh, yeah, maybe so. 😉 I'm totally in for both the body and the house detox–thank you and keep reminding us, Diane!
xo,
Shirley
Shirley I love the title too that Kim came up with. I think that should be done often during the spring. So what is easier, house or body detox?
Hi Diane
I love the idea of changing your life with small changes over time. That's such a great mantra. I just did my first detox, but only 5 days. I did try boosting my detox with exercise, hot baths and body masks. Anyway, I just wanted to say good luck with the spring detox and with the journey of change.
Champagne007
Good job on your 5 day detox. That's great. The hot baths and body masks sound wonderful too. Anytime we can pamper our body with what it needs is a good day. The more of those days we have the better. Great job!
Hi Diane I like this idea of a spring clean, but in my case it will be an 'autumn' clean, living in Australia!
Its good to start gradually too. I will aim to increase my water intake and fresh veg and fruit, I may even include some freshly juiced. As for eliminating, it needs to be sugar. I'm on Day 22 of my gluten free challenge by the way!
Good luck with your detox…..Clare
Clare love the autumn cleanse too! Great goals to eliminate sugar. It's that one thing that can really bite me. Congrats on day 22 of your gf challenge. What have you noticed that's different?
Hi Diane,
Ive noticed that I dont have the cravings that are out of control, I dont feel groggy in the morning and generally more alive, also less inflamation and pain in my back. Wheat used to make me feel a bit depressed and lack motivaton to do things. so overall huge benefits for me. Thanks for inspiring me to do the 30 day gluten free challenge Diane and for the encouragement I received from the other girls along the way I am very grateful! Thanks again. Up to Day 35 now!
Clare this is wonderful news! Thank you for sharing. I'm so happy you are feeling and seeing the results from making changes. Like you, once I gave it up and could feel and see the impact, I did not want to ever go back. Congratulations!
Congrats Clare! That is awesome. Once you make that connection, there really is no going back. It is just far too wonderful to feel good! Both you and Diane are an inspiration.
Clare, that is absolutely amazing! I am still in awe of what a diet change such as removing gluten can do for us! Congratulations for sticking with it and for now even going beyond your 30 days! You should be so proud of yourself!! Keep us posted here so we can all see how well you are doing! Thanks so much for this update, Clare! 😉
Thankyou Kim, Im so glad to know you girls are cheering me on XX
Clare, that is so awesome! Bravo to you, my dear! 🙂 I love reading about the progress you've seen thus far, especially your comment about feeling "more alive." How true that is for most of us who go gluten free! If we were near you, Clare, we'd have a big celebration–with all delicious gluten-free food, of course. 😉 Congrats, dear!
Shirley
Thanks Shirley, what fun that would be 😉
I am up for a Detox, too! And Clare … what a great report! Amazing how the right foods can make us feel. Keep on keepin' on : )
Yes so true! We just have to keep searching and the answers will come eventually. Thanks Lexie
Champagne – I need a body mask too!
Clare – this is awesome! Yay for seeing those positive results since going gluten-free. Keep it up, your body will thank you!
Diane – I'm all about some spring detox. I'm about 3 weeks in to refocusing on eating more cleanly myself. I already eat pretty clean, but now I've cut out processed sugar, really limited my (even the "healthy"ones) baked gluten-free goods and treats, and have incorporated more seafood instead of other animal proteins. (I find I digest fish more easily than chicken or beef – and it's nice that it's on sale right now because of Lent!)
Cleaning the house is a bit harder, but I did some of that last weekend too! Made me feel so much better to see the floors all nice and mopped, the kitchen all clean. Now, to tackle some of the junk I have tucked in various places!
Alta that is so great that you are listening to your body. We're all so unique and knowing that your body likes fish better is huge. Great job! Can you get wild caught fish where you live?
I can – it’s not always cheap and it’s often frozen. But I focus on sustainable and wild caught. Farm raised usually means cornfed, and that cannot be natural or good for fish (or most any animal I eat, for that matter)
Clare this is so great! Isn't it wonderful that you can literally change your health and take your life back by what you put into your mouth? Diane, you are a wonderful person and you should be so proud to have helped!
I love this! Perfect timing, too…we are starting a weight loss competition at work on the 20th, step 1: detox (BIG TIME!). 🙂 I’m happy to join in.
Wow, this spring detox is what I live every day of my life. lol