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.

Reflexologist in the House!

This week I got some great news. I finally got official notification that I am now a certified Reflexologist! It feels so good to be complete! I passed my practicum in early August and passed my written exam in early September....and finally the last piece of the jigsaw has fallen into place and now I await my certificate in the mail! Today I ordered my first batch of business cards. Ever. That's pretty exciting for me. It's a symbol of independence...it's official...I have the qualification, now I have to find the clients to treat! Here begins a whole new challenge and adventure. This is something completely new for me. I've been teaching yoga on and off for 5 years now. Hardly seems possible, but it's true. It takes time to build up a following and a reputation and I am still working on it but this is a step further. I intend to work from my home space and that requires some marketing.  My house is not a spa with a regular influx of clients....no...I shall need to advertise and explore new avenues that right now feel very unfamiliar and just a little daunting. But I'm excited. I feel passionately about the benefits reflexology can offer and I am looking forward to sharing my new skill!

Now....where is that Marketing Hat....

Summer Schedule

Hmmm. Another huge gap in blog posts. I blame the Summer! It's been wonderful! I've been busy finishing my reflexology case studies, taking my exams, spending time at the cottage and entertaining guests! The Summer has flown by and yet I'm perfectly satisfied with my Summer this year and I'm ready for Autumn. It is in the air, I can feel it. Crisp, cool mornings that give way to warm sunny days. I love this time of year. I love the transition from one season to the next. The trees are starting to change colour, in fact they started the last week of August while the sun was still very hot. Just a sign to let us know Autumn or Fall, is just around the corner.

So much to look forward to in the coming months. The beginning of a new business venture which feels exciting and naturally a little intimidating, but I'm working on that.

We've had our first visitors this year and when they booked in, they were to be our only visitors this year and yet now, just weeks later, we still have 2 more bookings! Say what you like, but I think it's the cottage...I think it is luring them over from the UK....and rightly so, it really is a little piece of paradise. I'm getting withdrawal symptoms this week and our schedule does not take us back this weekend either...such a simple luxury. I am so grateful for it and for the impact on our lives in this short time. Being in nature truly does nourish my soul and I cannot wait to witness another season from my Adirondack chair....

Connecting with Nature

I haven't felt like sharing my life with my blog audience lately. It's been too personal. Too raw. A time to go within and retreat or at least journal rather than blog. I can be fairly open on these pages, I have shared more on a blog than I ever thought I would, and yet there are times when it just won't do. It's not the time or the place.

Talking of places, The Cottage has been The Place this month. I knew it would fun and a great place to Be but really....within just 3 weeks it has proved to be a complete gift! It has exceeded my high expectations already. Perhaps it's just the honeymoon period. Maybe I'll get bored. Maybe, but I doubt it. What I find when I arrive at this beautiful, simple, yet comfortable retreat is oh-so-valuable. It's like my stress-o-meter re-sets to zero. It's almost instant upon arrival. I couldn't have predicted that. It feels great!

We arrived late on Friday, after a busy week, in our respective ways. The drive is straight forward in this weather, so we begin to relax on the journey and the promise of what's at the end of the road assists with that relaxation.

We don't notice how clear the night sky is when we are driving and when we arrive, the temperature feels perfect for sitting out on the deck with a welcome beverage. The air is cool, there does not appear to be a feeling of bugs in the air, just beautiful lake air, so we sit. As soon as our eyes adjust to the darkness, the night sky hits us. The sky is FULL of stars! Oh my....we don't exactly live in The City but I haven't seen a sky like this since I was in South Africa! Or at least that is what springs to mind. I saw my first shooting star! Can you  believe that? At my age, never seen one until now? It's true...but now I have and it was incredible. Such pure and simple joy! Inspired by nature.

Nature continued to inspire me all weekend. I've always said it feels great to be out in nature and that it nourishes my soul....but at the same time, I'd forgotten that lately. I have not been in nature enough. I  have not been feeling inspired...could the two be related? Surely just a "co-incidence".

The next morning I was encouraged to try the new kayak on the lake. I am quite sure there are not many people out there, especially living in Canada, who need to be encouraged or asked twice to go kayaking on the lake. Well, in my defense I'm neither Canadian nor a water-lover, so it was a fairly significant Moment for me. Getting in was a bit tricky but with some patient assistance I managed to remain calm and Step in...and....relax! Well, almost....once out on the water, it was so still and peaceful, it was a lot easier than I imagined, to let my guard down, let go of my well conditioned fear! I even found I could pretty much operate the paddle and head in the direction I intended to! It wasn't perfect of course, it was my first time (yes, another first!) but I was rather impressed and rather pleased with myself I have to tell you.  So there I was out kayaking on the lake....taking in the nature surrounding me. I saw my first Bullfrog! We have been hearing these little chaps for weeks now. At first wondering what on earth the noise was...it is quite distinctive and Very Loud! Anyway....there he was just sitting on the edge of the shore and he let me take a good look at him without leaping at me and causing me to topple the kayak. Oh so grateful for that!

I returned to shore to feel smug and pleased with myself and to read a little to take some photographs of other people kayaking. I was busy aiming my camera when I heard something else, very distinctive....it was a Hummingbird! He swooped in front of me....hovered....so I could get a good look and say Hi...but unfortunately he didn't stick around long enough for me to get a good shot, he was gone as quick as he appeared, but what beauty! Truly....I feel like I am gushing about nature here....OK, Yes, I admit it, I AM gushing about nature! So many of us take it for granted. We live on a stunning planet, full of beauty and wonder and yet so much of our time is spent completely blinkered to this beauty...the beauty that can trigger Joy, if you stay still just long enough.

I can't wait to return for another dose of inspiration!