@#* the Cleanse!
It was a Sunday morning, after a late night of friends, music, …and Okanagan wine that I decided it would be smart to go on a cleanse. I had just finished reading “The Four Keys to a Long Life” by Ron Garner, and learned the importance of regular detoxification. The concept intrigued me, clearing the body of toxins and harmful substances for a renewed body and a fresh start.
The first time I paid attention to cleansing was during my training as a life coach. Many of the students were health conscience individuals, seeking natural and alternative ways to care for the body. But, I never tried it, because the thought of drinking only lemon water for fourteen days terrified me-oh the hunger!
So, my friend, Megan and I challenged one another and decided to try it out. We began researching different cleanses and chose one most appropriate to our lifestyle (i.e., I could still eat food). Seven days of purification.
Day one: “Informative Day”. We read label after label, dissecting ingredients, shopping only in the aisles of raw, wholesome goodness. We were ready to take it on!! Barley with steamed veggies and lemon juice! Wow. I could feel my organs coming back to life. In fact, I believed this could be the answer to the next area of my life. Forget the chocolate, the wine, the appie table at parties. It tasted ok and it was good for me. Why had I not thought of this sooner?
Day three: “Hump Day”. If we could make it past this day, it would be smooth sailing. Or so we thought. The headache was very apparent…as was the irritability (was my phone always so darn loud!!!). As expected, months of sugars, yeast, and other toxins were finding their way out, and affecting our sanity in the process. An email came in, from Megan, explaining that her co-worker offered to pay her-“if she would PLEASE, go off the cleanse and bring back “nice” Megan.” I understand cleansing is healthy, but I had no idea it was going to be an exorcism of toxic waste.
Day Five: “Oh no…Cravings Day”. Somebody please, find me a chocolate, a cookie, a teaspoon of sugar, or something. Something that tastes like anything!
Day 7: “Forget the Cleanse Day”. I woke up on day seven, hungry, tired. Using every bit of strength to remind myself why I was doing this- “Come on Desiree, this is a little dramatic…isn’t it? You are an active, young women, who makes healthy choices in life. A little cleanse only strengthens the spirit.” Visualizing a latte, while I sipped green tea, I opened my morning email-Megan’s name flashing violently at me. The subject read, in bold: #@* the cleanse!! – furthered by a little memo describing her morning scone and latte that she was savoring bite by bite.
I assumed she was done with it. I lasted until the end, but finished my day with a glass of wine. I was “clean” after all. So a little wine wouldn’t hurt. Megan and I talked of the experience afterwards. She questioned why she didn’t make it and why it was so hard? We both believed in how it would benefit our body. But sometimes it’s hard to see the bigger “picture” -when you are in the middle of the work. Megan also questioned her will power, as do we all, when we feel we didn’t achieve our goal. Yet, here is a girl who altered her entire life to run a half marathon and fundraise $6000 for diabetes. I assured her, she had will power. The thing is, when you want it badly enough…you do it. For Megan and I, healthy bodies are definitely a goal. Perhaps we’ll just have to take it one bite at a time.
© Desiree Daniel April 8, 2005
The first time I paid attention to cleansing was during my training as a life coach. Many of the students were health conscience individuals, seeking natural and alternative ways to care for the body. But, I never tried it, because the thought of drinking only lemon water for fourteen days terrified me-oh the hunger!
So, my friend, Megan and I challenged one another and decided to try it out. We began researching different cleanses and chose one most appropriate to our lifestyle (i.e., I could still eat food). Seven days of purification.
Day one: “Informative Day”. We read label after label, dissecting ingredients, shopping only in the aisles of raw, wholesome goodness. We were ready to take it on!! Barley with steamed veggies and lemon juice! Wow. I could feel my organs coming back to life. In fact, I believed this could be the answer to the next area of my life. Forget the chocolate, the wine, the appie table at parties. It tasted ok and it was good for me. Why had I not thought of this sooner?
Day three: “Hump Day”. If we could make it past this day, it would be smooth sailing. Or so we thought. The headache was very apparent…as was the irritability (was my phone always so darn loud!!!). As expected, months of sugars, yeast, and other toxins were finding their way out, and affecting our sanity in the process. An email came in, from Megan, explaining that her co-worker offered to pay her-“if she would PLEASE, go off the cleanse and bring back “nice” Megan.” I understand cleansing is healthy, but I had no idea it was going to be an exorcism of toxic waste.
Day Five: “Oh no…Cravings Day”. Somebody please, find me a chocolate, a cookie, a teaspoon of sugar, or something. Something that tastes like anything!
Day 7: “Forget the Cleanse Day”. I woke up on day seven, hungry, tired. Using every bit of strength to remind myself why I was doing this- “Come on Desiree, this is a little dramatic…isn’t it? You are an active, young women, who makes healthy choices in life. A little cleanse only strengthens the spirit.” Visualizing a latte, while I sipped green tea, I opened my morning email-Megan’s name flashing violently at me. The subject read, in bold: #@* the cleanse!! – furthered by a little memo describing her morning scone and latte that she was savoring bite by bite.
I assumed she was done with it. I lasted until the end, but finished my day with a glass of wine. I was “clean” after all. So a little wine wouldn’t hurt. Megan and I talked of the experience afterwards. She questioned why she didn’t make it and why it was so hard? We both believed in how it would benefit our body. But sometimes it’s hard to see the bigger “picture” -when you are in the middle of the work. Megan also questioned her will power, as do we all, when we feel we didn’t achieve our goal. Yet, here is a girl who altered her entire life to run a half marathon and fundraise $6000 for diabetes. I assured her, she had will power. The thing is, when you want it badly enough…you do it. For Megan and I, healthy bodies are definitely a goal. Perhaps we’ll just have to take it one bite at a time.
© Desiree Daniel April 8, 2005
posted by Desiree Daniel @ 11:01 AM
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