CLEAN: Completed!!!

   So I realized I need to cap off the end of my detox posts. Clean was finished Sunday night of Jan 23rd. Quite possibly the most joyous and anticipated day of my existence. Ok, well not really, but I was ready to be done!

    Clean was a truly good program. By the end of the third week I felt energetic, healthy, and resumed a normal exercise routine. The third and final week of the cleanse I was a good 6 lbs down from my normal weight. The neat thing is that Dr. Junger says your body adjusts itself on the cleanse and tries to find a state of balance. Therefore, if you need to loose weight you will probably loose more than if you are at a healthy weight and just doing the program for detox purposes. Since I wasn't trying to loose weight, I ate lots of nuts (almonds and pecans) for my snacks and didn't loose substantial weight. I also slept really well at night and felt well rested in the mornings. My appetite was smaller as well.

   The downside: I literally DOVE out of cleansing mode. I ate whatever I wanted in any quantity that I desired. I was so pumped to be able to have dinner, brownies, and white carbs. It was truly like being reunite with a lost love. The truth is though: this is NOT a good idea. All of last week I had a low-grade stomach ache and felt sluggish. My body seemed to be reminding me that it did not appreciate all the toxins I was pouring into it. Many people asked if this defeated the purpose of Clean. For some people it would be counter-productive, but I was doing it more as an experiment in personal discipline. Also, every day on Clean has it's own benefits to my health and are not wasted days. 

   By doing clean I acquired some good habits that I will continue to carry over into my daily life. For instance: SMOOTHIES. So healthy! and because it is blended it delivers nutrients in a fuel-injected way that is easier for the body to digest. Even just having a smoothie for breakfast is a great place to start. Another thing I discovered is AGAVE SYRUP which is healthier than sugars and is added to all the smoothies on Clean as a natural sweetener- very good ingredient to have on hand. QUINOA is another staple. It is similar to rice, but is plant based and a complete protein. I like it as much as rice and eat it with everything. LENTILS are other find. These high fiber babies are delish and easy to eat in soups and pair with anything. WATER is another important discovery. Why? you might ask: because you need to drink a lot! It flushes out the system and is vital for proper body function. I now carry a $7 Target water bottle with me wherever I go to have it on hand.

   So........ am I glad I did Clean? Absolutely. Will I do it next year? I can hope so. Should YOU try it? Yes.

CLEAN: An update!!!!! Day 13

Ok! Day 13 of the 21 day cleanse and going strong! Many of you have sent me messages asking for more information. I would love to talk to anyone about it, but a few posts down I write more about the program... Scroll down and take a look, but: Here is a quick update:

-Day 3: Dad drops off (it’s ok, we forced you to begin the cleanse against your own will anyways).

-Day 5: Mom caves and has a cupcake while baking for dad’s birthday (to be fair, she did jump back on the bandwagon the next day)

-Day 7: Paul quits (he has lost 7 lbs in one week and doesn’t want to loose more. He also confesses he was only doing the cleanse for moral support… If that isn’t love I don’t know what is ;) ). Paul still eats breakfast and lunch with me but eats dinner instead of a smoothie.

   As for myself, I am going to be honest. At about a week into the cleanse I would feel emotional around dinner-time. I literally felt like crying as I watched my family enjoy my favorite meal of the day. I also was more emotional (poor Paul- I have had to apologize a lot!). It has been kind of liberating in a sense that I realize how food motivated I am and want to purpose to not be so controlled by my love for food.

   The first few days I felt a definite dip in my energy levels. I didn’t work out and went to bed really early (partly to keep myself from eating after my dinner smoothie). I am happy to report that I now have increased energy levels and do not struggle feeling hungry like I did at the beginning. I have also learned many healthy ways of cooking veggies that I will carry over into after the cleanse. Luckily, my fantasies about brownies and pasta seem to be less frequent. I am also learning to love green tea instead of lattes when we go to Starbucks. I frequently skim the first few chapters of “Clean” to keep myself motivated and remind myself why I am suffering through.

CLEAN: The Detox!

   Around Thanksgiving, I read a book that inspired a very big goal for 2011: to complete a 21 day detox. "Clean" is by Dr. Alejandro Junger and gives insight into how the digestive system can rid the body of ailments that plague it when given the proper nutrients and time to kick into hyper-drive. The program consists of having 2 meals a day as liquid meals- either a smoothie or soup. The liquid meals must be consumed for breakfast and dinner with the solid meal being eaten at lunch. This way the detox has the whole evening to kick in and rid itself of harmful toxins instead of digesting so much food. The liquid meals are blended organic fruits and veggies with no diary. Instead we use coconut or almond milk. You also are supposed to drink large quantities of water (a good indicator is having to pee every hour). The reason Clean is so effective is that it is gives the body a break from digesting tons of food in order that it can eliminate toxins and mucus, thus allowing itself to restore and heal naturally.

   So YES! I am doing it. I am on day 3 and going strong! Luckily both my parents and Paul are showing me moral support by doing the cleanse as well- so we are all in this together! Below is a picture of Paul and I after our Whole Foods/Trader Joe's trip to get all the ingredients for the cleanse. Look how happy we look... We'll see how we feel at about day 12. Hopefully, I still have friends and am speaking with my family members...

 

   Also this brings me to my next point. The blessed blessing that is making this whole cleanse possible is my Vitamix blender that I got from Christmas from my parents... This gift ranks up there with the day I brought home my Dyson vacuum cleaner- SHEER ECSTACY. You may think I am being dramatic, but I am not. This bad boy can crush a HALF GALLON of ice in 3 seconds, make hot soup in minutes, and blend smoothies, juices, and mixed drinks. It's that powerful. I'm convinced it's God's gift to man. Though the price is steep, the investment in your health is worth it. I don't regret having one for one minute.

   Isn't it beautiful? Anyways, the cleanse is going well. I'm not as hungry as I was yesterday, and I will be reporting back on the changes I see. I Emily Lanphier, will do this cleanse for all of you readers out there to let you know if it is worth the hunger, discomfort, and expense (it's not cheap to live off organic folks). Until then, buy the book if you are interested and let me know what you think.