detox

nothing but salad and fruits and noodles and such…
healthy stuff.

I am looking for the best way to pull the heavy metals out of my body. So far I’ve concluded that it’s important to clear the 2 pathways (kidney and liver). And I don’t want to do it quick and drastic ( like those juice fasting diets) Now I have 5 amalgam fillings in my mouth and I want to get them replaced with something healthier. Does anyone have any experience with this? Detoxing from mercury? I think it’s going to be a process of months and not days.. ( I’ve had those fillings for 10 years)

I want to kickstart healthy habits. Less sugar and cheese! More meditation and yoga! On Monday I am starting a three day detox/yoga retreat at home, courtesy of yoga journal and vegetarian times. (both websites might still have the articles in their archives. Saves buying a book with an agenda).

Basically, it’s three days of eating veggies, whole grains, drinking lemon water, yoga, meditation and journalling, plus epsom salts baths, saunas, etc. You get the idea.

I am fighting candida and arthritis (only 29!) and am in a major transition right now, having just finished my PhD and waiting for my viva. No idea what the future holds, but I do know that happiness requires ACTION and having done a sugar detox before and been inspired, I know detoxes can bring about major changes. I’ll let you know how it goes!

PLan to start a 3 day detox on friday. Looking forward to it I haven’t detoxed for 3 years, since college. Yay! See you next week for the update!

For 5 or 6 months

Detox accomplished, and I’m still waiting for my appetite to return, which is an unprecedented and quite welcome feeling, actually.

I’ve posted some of the things I learnt from this experience under my “crazy healthy June” goal, but a further pearl of wisdom that I picked up on is the massive importance of protein in one’s diet. When I was absolutely lagging behind energy-wise, some raw peanuts or avocado picked me right up.

Overall, I feel … empty, I suppose is the right word. I don’t have toxic preservatives or sugars coursing through my veins. Light and happy :)

Definitely a worthwhile experience. I’m going to do another round in six months’ time.

Today was harder than expected (coming off the high of the first day). _{Large part of this was probably self-inflicted, as I attempted cardio against express instructions to the contrary.}

My concentration levels were still remarkably good, given the fact that I’ve been subsisting on (largely) raw fruit and vegetables. This may be TMI, but I’m also starting to get that furry feeling in the mouth that is apparently a sign of the toxins fleeing from my body. The rather limited diet is, I must admit, getting a bit boring, but tomorrow is the last day and, after some reflection on healthy eating habits, I can get back to a smorgasbord of food choices.

Now to knock back two glasses of wine water, and head off to bed.

I very much wanted to update this goal last night, but my younger brother decided he simply had to go to bed there and then and, as the computer is in his room, it’s had to wait until now.

Day One was a success (with two minor aberrations – the first being when I couldn’t face eating raw mushrooms, so cooked them, and the second when I was too scared that I would lose a finger in the juicer if I attempted it without instructions – I resorted to bottled apple juice instead).

The good things. I went for a walk to a nearby park, and sat on a bench, watching the water and writing. I did some light weights in the evening.

Perhaps the best thing of all about Day One was gaining some insight about my relationship with food. It’s remarkable how many of my “future things to look forward to” are food/drink related. Having removed that from the equation, I was a little lost yesterday. It was an odd feeling. I’m starting to think that I’m guilty of trying to find some form of fleeting happiness in what I put in my mouth, which is illogical, because sense dictates that the happiness can only last for as long as the time I spend chewing. Surely there are other more constant, more sustaining sources of joy in my life than when I next get to rip open a packet of chips. Food for thought.

One of my worries with doing the detox this week was that I would be rendered hungry, distracted and unable to study. Wow – it was actually quite the opposite. Yesterday, my focus was sharp and I churned through my work, which leads me to think that not only my body, but also my mind, are able to function so much better when they’re not polluted with processed junk.

I’m pushing on to Day Two now, but want to come back and reflect more on what I’m learning by doing this detox – I feel like there are some little pearls of life-changing wisdom just waiting for me to reach out and grab them.

In the past, the only (ill-fated) detox programme I’ve embarked upon was the master cleanse. After the third horrid mixture of lemonade, maple syrup and cayenne pepper, my flatmate and I said “f#ck it”, and threw the towel in.

I am determined to be slightly more successful this time, and part of that is lowering the bar to a three day detox. I’m following the programme outlined here.

• oodles of fresh fruit and vegetables.
• nuts.
• a big water bottle that I can sip from at regular intervals.
• herbal teas. Thank goodness I’m now a fan of them.

Thoughts for while I’m on the detox
I’ll be starting tonight, before I go to bed, and finishing on Saturday evening.

Emotions et al
I know that people often talk about detoxing physically and mentally – they go hand-in-hand. I’m in a good place inside my head at the moment – my relationship with G was toxic, and was slowly poisoning me from the inside. With that over, I feel airy and light, and can taste freedom and fun again. There are areas, however, that I could be more aware of. I want to journal for at least half an hour every day for the next three days.

Exercise
Cardiovascular is out, but I can go for gentle 30 minute walks in each day, and do some non-intensive weights and stretching.

Indulgences
What better time to indulge, eh? I must admit that by far the most prevalent form of indulgence for me is by sampling something food-related, and (with that out of the picture), I’ll have to find other ways to treat myself. Hot baths, scented moisturizers, days spent studying out in the sun. Cartwheels on the lawn, belly laughs, facemasks – the possibilities are endless.

And my affirmation: I release negativity from all parts of myself and welcome freshness and light.

I haven’t yet done a full-on detox, I’ve been living at other people’s houses or travelling for 6 months and it hasn’t always been easy to get the right foods. I have barely touched alcohol in the 4 months I’ve been away which has been great, and I’ve been getting lots of exercise. In asia in particular though I’ve been eating too much friend stuff and meat. Now that I am back in the UK I am planning to go back to a largely vegetarian diet with little or no processed foods. I’m looking forward to fresh veggies and fruits and salads, wholegrain and nuts. If I can stick to a healthy diet and at the same time keep up my levels of exercise I’ll be happy with that.