Detox

I’ve decided to jump start my weight loss and fitness goals with a food-based detox program. I sort of stumbled across it when I picked up a copy of February’s "Whole Living" magazine at the grocery store the other day. I’ve been feeling pretty low this past week. Just tired and cranky and generally unpleasant, and I think taking a few weeks to get back on track would be a good idea. I’d especially like to be rid of the headaches that have plagued me the last few days, and hopefully this will help.

Week 1 essentially cuts out all the bad stuff. I’ll eliminate caffeine, added sugar, processed foods, wheat/gluten, alcohol, eggs, dairy, peanut products, fruit juices, soy, and corn. I can still eat lean meats for protein, but the majority of my food will be fresh, whole plants. I don’t think I’ll be too tempted by Alan’s more processed diet because things like oatmeal and cereal aren’t things I generally eat, so there won’t be a craving for them. What I think will present the biggest issue is the desire for butter, pasta, and cheese, as well as the impulse to run down to the store and get a candy bar every now and then. The plan also includes some light exercise, walking and stretching and strengthening. Nothing too strenuous, because I’ll probably have some energy issues at first.

Week 2 is still detox, but beginning to add some things back in, like dairy and whole wheat. The point is to understand my bodies reactions to those things, since some people can be sensitive to them without being exactly allergic. On the plus side, I already know that I’m sensitive to soy so I don’t have to worry about bothering to figure that one out. It also increases the exercise a bit.

Week 3 is all about intensifying the workouts and adding in nutrition, basically by swapping out the less nutritious foods for new ones.

Week 4 is about making the changes permanent and to increase the plant-to-animal ratio in my diet and to ramp up my workouts even more.

After that, the goal is to keep eating mindfully and to keep working out. Occasional sweets, caffeine, and alcohol aren’t a problem, as long as it stays occasional and I don’t let one slip-up throw me off track. And I know my body. I know that once I get started, I don’t have to be a food Nazi about it. My body really loves to move and responds very well to exercise. It’s just that lately I haven’t been treating myself so well.

One thing that concerns me is the cost of all this. I can get some of what I need at the commissary, but by no means all of it, which means I’ll have to go to Whole Foods for some of these ingredients. And that gets expensive. On the plus side, Alan will be spending at least some of this time out in the field for training, so I’ll only have to shop for myself. That helps. And Alan is finally on board with the whole "let’s stop buying things because I’m tired of being poor" program. It’s taken him a while to see my point, but at last it’s sunk in.

If anyone wants to join me in my detox and fitness jump start, you can find the whole program here: Whole Living Action Plan: 28-Day Challenge

~Liz