Last Day of Detox

Well I did it. Today is my final day on the Wild Rose Detox programme. In summary, the first few days left me with zero energy and all I wanted to do was sleep. The remainder of the first week was challenging in places as I regained my energy and my belly adjusted to the high quantities of vegetables and fruit and the herbs. This week however, has been much easier. I have actually quite enjoyed eating so healthily, it feels good, I feel good! My energy levels are back and are better than they were before I began the detox. I haven't had the afternoon slump and it has been easier to get out of bed in the morning. I have been more focused on projects. More things have got done this week. I have procrastinated a little less.

The next challenge is to maintain and sustain a healthy balance. I have some new healthy recipes now that DO taste good and are filling AND my husband also likes them! He did not do the detox but he willingly ate some the evening meals I served up and enjoyed them...he didn't tolerate them, he enjoyed them :-)

So, I'm supposed to gradually re-introduce those "forbidden" foods back into my life...slowly...one at a time. I actually don't think it will be as difficult as I thought it might be because I feel good on this...I don't want it to end!  On the other hand, I am off to Montreal this weekend....so we'll see....

Detox Day 7 out of 12

I'm officially past the half way mark. Now at the end of Day 7.  The last 3 days have been much easier and felt more natural. My energy levels have increased too, thankfully. I think my body is over the initial shock now and has almost settled in to the way things are at the moment. I still find it hard to believe I have not craved coffee! There have been moments when I have thought it might be nice...but more to fill me up than for the taste of coffee. And out of habit. Habit is so strong! And there was me thinking I "needed" it, when I really don't. Fascinating. That is not to say I won't be drinking coffee in the future, because I will, but not purely out of habit, if I can help it.

I did find myself really fancying a glass of wine this evening, I must confess. And yesterday I did have quite a chocolate craving, but I told myself it's only another week to go. I will appreciate it all the more when the craving comes on a day when chocolate is back on the menu...it will be sooo delicious! 

I've lost a few pounds too. That's always a bonus, especially after 3 sets of visitors in 3 months. I've had a few more treats than usual recently, it has to be said. It feels good to feel good in my jeans again.

So, the countdown is on. I'm on the downhill slope...5 days of careful diet/meal planning remain and overall, I'm feeling good on it.

Life in Detox

So, Day 2 & 3 had their challenges but they weren't the challenges I was expecting. I had expected to crave and long for coffee and tea, but so far, that has not happened. I have been hungry, which needn't really happen on this detox because I can eat as much as I want, of certain foods that is, it just so happens there is only so much of those certain foods that I actually want to eat. I do need to get more creative, but I also think it has something to do with the fact that I am eating the same size portions that I normally eat, just cleaner food, which it seems does not fill me up for quite as long...and I cannot snack on sweet stuff. I don't eat a lot of sweet stuff...but I do definitely eat sweet stuff. A little square of chocolate here and there goes a long way I find to satisfy a need. This week and next however...no chocolate for me. That is what I am missing most so far. I guess that is not exactly a huge revelation though!

Energy has been low and challenged also. I found myself dancing level 1 in Nia class on Tuesday evening....I think I actually checked the clock during class...that never happens! And yesterday, was the worst day so far. I crashed in the afternoon. I actually fell asleep in a yoga pose. A Backbend of all poses...I was trying to restore some energy in a yin practice but I was simply too tired, so my next pose was restorative...and the next pose after that was sleep-asana, in the middle of the afternoon. Most unusual for me. I wondered if I was sickening for something...but today I awoke feeling OK. Not exactly bouncing out of bed yet but it was an improvement and today has been easier. I've been able to focus on writing and working on some things I have simply not felt up to since I started this thing. I am looking forward to tomorrow...hopefully Day 5 will bring a little more energy into my life....

Day 1 of My First Ever Detox

Moving in some of the circles I do these days, I'm kind of surprised I have never done a detox before. I've never wanted to. Never had the urge to. I like my food and I like what I like...I know what works for me, after years of intolerances and discomfort and I have a routine. I like my morning coffee. My afternoon tea. Life is good. However, I've had a few minor health concerns this year and I've started to look at my diet a bit differently in recent months. Nothing radical, just a few cutbacks and changes to see what difference they make and for some reason the time feels right to detox. My body feels...ready...I won't delve any deeper than that right now.

So. I got the kit, I got the downloadable recipe book. All a little bit last minute and I find myself not quite as well prepared as I would have liked but I've made a start. This is day 1. By some amazing miracle I did not wake up "needing" coffee or even tea this morning, so that was really helpful. I expect that need to surface at some point soon though. I attempted an oatmeal recipe from the book and I really tried to like it...I really did...I persisted with about a quarter of the serving but had to give up and do it again, my way. That was still a bit bland for my liking but it was edible so Yay...Success! Lunch on Mondays needs to be very early or light as I teach at 2pm, so today rather than a healthy portion of scrambled eggs and ezekiel toast I settled for a solitary boiled egg. I returned from class rather peckish though and all I could find to snack on (from the allowed list) was almonds. Truth be told, I have never liked almonds. However, it is amazing what one will do for hunger and I sense a need to develop a deep love of almonds and quick, as on this particular detox I can eat unlimited amounts of them.

Since mid afternoon I've been feeling a bit "odd". My body aches, especially my neck. I don't know if this is detox-related or not - it seems a bit soon, but I guess the herbs I am taking as part of this could be kicking in by now...

It felt like dinner time would never arrive. I was looking forward to it...nothing nasty about this meal. It turns out for some meals at least, I get to eat the sort of thing I love to eat, just minus the condiments and sauces. A nice piece of salmon, spinach and butternut squash. I piled my plate as high as is reasonable and savoured every bite. For a while I forgot about my aches and pains.

Now, at just 9pm I feel my bed is calling. I appear to be resisting though. It seems too early. I think I must go though....hopefully I will feel better in the morning. I'm hoping this is detox-related and nothing else...no flu bugs thank you!

And so to bed.