Detox and the City

I’ve decided to go on a detox of sorts. This is not only something I want to do to get healthier, but really, it’s a test of my own will power. You see, trying to go on a diet, or detox is nothing new for me. I’ve tried many times, but I’ve never managed to do it all the way. In cases concerning diets, starting is definitely not the hardest part, it’s keeping it going until the end. The only time I managed to lose a significant enough amount of weight that people noticed was in my sophomore year of high school. That summer, I was inside, avoiding the heat and flipping through channels while conveniently sprawled out on my parents’ bed. By chance, I started watching a little old movie you might remember, by the name of “Center Stage.” If we’re going to hold it up to a bar ( no pun intended!), it’s definitely no where near a masterpiece. But nevertheless, it dealt with subject matter that I loved: ballet. That was all it took to get me to motivate myself to lose some weight. I not only watched what I ate, I took ballet classes once a week and walked the rest of the week. I think I lost 10 lbs by the time summer was over. But it didn’t last.

I’m not big by any means, really. I’ve got my height against me, because I’m short. If I was a few inches taller, I could eat whatever I wanted and not care. But unfortunately that’s not the case. Overall, I’d say I would like to and need to lose 15 lbs. Maybe 20.

I found a book I had bought years ago at a discount store called “Detox: Revitalize, Rejuvenate, Revive” by Sara Rose. The inner sleeve reads ” Do you ever feel that you body is tired of the fast food, quick snacks, free-flowing alcohol, choking cigarette smoke and constant stress that seems to be such a part of modern life?”

Yes, Sara, I do.

“If so, you will find within this book a complete guide to detox: the ancient practice by which you can cleanse your body of the toxins that leave you lazy and lethargic.”

Sara goes on to point out that the signs of toxic overload include dry, blotchy, spotty skin (check!), headaches (check!), lack of energy (check!), bloating and constipation (check!) and many more. There’s even a questionairre.

Do you feel tired when you wake up in the morning, even though you’ve had enough sleep? Yes.

Do you suffer from skin rashes, spots around the mouth or eczema? Yes.

Do you live or work in a city? Yes. I love how this is an indication of toxic overload.

Do you have mood swings. Yes, but then again, who doesn’t?

Do you crave certain foods, such as candy or bread? Totally.

Anyway, you get the picture. I’m full of toxins. I’m on toxic overload. I’m infected.

So, I’m going to detox. Whether I will succeed remains to be seen. I hope I make it across the toxic bridge to come out on the other side feeling better, healthier and accomplished. Sara recommends that I not eat any products that contain wheat, cow’s milk, tea, coffee, chocolate or alcohol. Wait a minute, tea?! I love tea. My day does not start or end without a cup of tea. How can this be, Sara? Well, she goes on to say that I can have herbal and green tea. I guess I can make do. She also suggests to replace sugar with pure organic honey or maple syrup.

So what can I eat? Apple, artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, carrot, cranberry, fennel, garlic, ginger, lemon and yogurt are all considered detox superfoods. She recommends blue-green algae, coenzyme Q10, dandelion, kelp and milk thistle as detox supplements.

This morning, I woke up and drank a glass of hot water with the juice of half a lemon squeezed in. This apparently helps flush out your liver. My breakfast consisted of maple pecan granola, with fat free vanilla yogurt and a sliced up saturn or “donut” peach and some grapes. It was delicious. I didn’t eat bread, or butter or honey, and although the yogurt is made from cow’s milk, it’s still a step in the right direction. I feel good.

Fruit Granola

2 - 3 tablespoons of Trader Joe’s Maple Pecan Granola

4 oz cup of Dannon Light & Fit Vanilla Yogurt

1 Saturn peach, sliced

Handful of grapes