i'm cleansed.
detoxed.
freed from blech.
this may be the most annoying post ever but it's my blog and i want this documented.
in the end of August my neighbor Audrey asked me if i'd like to join her for a little detox program. i've never done anything like that before so i said yes. little did i know what i was signing up for. the next day she took me to whole foods, handed me a little book to read with the important pages dog eared and wished me luck. that next day- a saturday- i started the Fast Track Detox Diet as outlined by Ann Louise Gittleman in her book by the same name.
i kept track of everything over the next 12 days including my emotions and physical progression by writing it all down on a giant poster board taped to my fridge. i finally took it down last week but didn't have the heart to throw it away until i made permanent note of my journey. this is what i did (note- all produce was organic, the meat was organic/cage free/ free range/grass fed and the eggs were cage free):
day 1. brussel sprouts, beet greens, oj, garlic, onions, celery, beets, dandelion root tea (drt), pear, strawberries, salmon and turkey bacon. i was busy with a photo shoot so i didn't feel hungry and i even took my own tea and sweetener to the restaurant that night for dinner.
day 2. cauliflower, broccoli, kale, oj, onions, eggs, celery, drt, carrot, pear, turkey bacon and salmon. i had the WORST headache probably due to caffeine withdrawal. leaving church early to take an hour nap helped a lot. i had this weird super runny nose all day too.
day 3. brussel sprouts, kale, beet greens, oj, lemon, eggs, onions, a VERY dirty artichoke, carrot, strawberries, sliced turkey, chicken breast and turkey bacon. i started thinking more clearly about some of my root personal issues now that i didn't have food as a distraction.
day 4. broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, parsley, oj, lemon, eggs, onions, beets, asparagus, apple, carrot, pear, beef, turkey bacon and chicken breast. i finally pooped for the first time since day 1 and felt surges of energy all day. i got unusually excited about going grocery shopping.
day 5. broccoli, cauliflower, cilantro, oj, lemon, onions, garlic, eggs, artichoke, beets, strawberries, apple, turk bacon and beef. i was DYING for flavor. i snuck a handful of salted almonds and almost died with how good they tasted. i actually spit them out because i wanted to make it through this whole program without cheating. i was very physically weak today.
day 6. cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, chard, parsley, romaine lettuce, an orange, egg, garlic, beets, zucchini, tomatoes, squash, carrots, apple, flaxseed, turk bacon and chicken. i had much more energy and absolutely no headache. i felt tired only towards the end of the day when i should feel tired and i noticed that the eczema on my hands was dramatically clearing up. i also started noticing an extremely bad chemical taste in my mouth.
day 7. cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, parsley, oj, egg, onions, drt, flax seed, apple, raspberries, turkey burger and turkey bacon. i felt great!! the gross saliva taste got stronger.
day 8. detox day- drank the detox juice all day long. did not feel hungry until around 5pm.
day 9. cabbage, cilantro, oj, lemon, lime, eggs, onion, drt, celery, strawberries, flax seed, carrot, turk bacon, beef, chicken and yogurt.
day 10. cabbage, cilantro, chard, oj, lim, onion, daikon radish, garlic, artichoke, blueberries, carrot, flax seed, turkey burger, turkey bacon and yogurt.
day 11. cabbage, cilantro, oj, lemon, onion garlic, asparagus, eggs, green onion, turk bacon, chicken and yogurt. finally allowed myself some treats: goji berries, almonds, craisens, quinoa, figs and dried apricots.
day 12. i didn't keep record because i was sick of keeping record but i did stick to the plan.
results: this detox with intense work outs 4 days a week with my personal trainer- vin vallejo- put me in the best shape of my life. my skin is clear, my eye sight has improved, i'm in a better mood, i sleep more soundly at night and wake up refreshed, i'm not tired during the days, I HAVE NO HEADACHES, i feel more creative, my stomach feels and looks flatter, i don't feel bloated, i don't experience pms or menstrual cramping, i have several bm's throughout the day, i'm rarely hungry and i feel FREE.
moving forward: i am maintaining a diet rich in liver loving organic produce as well as eating healthy and lean meats and now i'm gluten and casein free as well. it was an extreme change to my lifestyle but i'm 2 months in and feel like a completely different person. obviously i've lost my sense of humor too as i've not made a single joke through this entire post.
it all started with a simple suggestion from a good friend and a really smart book- and i feel like a better heather.
