Week 2! Days 8-9

This is getting easy! No sweat! Bring on the raw fruits and veggies, supplements and herbal teas!

1+ week sans dairy, meat, coffee, sugar, wheat, etc – never thought I would actually try this.

Turns out it feels pretty good… Alert, calm, focused, good energy. Let’s hope this continues.

I need to consult the detox book to see what Phase 2 is all about – the detox focus switches to a different organ.

Interesting read today in the Times, ‘5 Easy Ways to Go Organic’.

Exercise notes – Bosu Challenge yesterday, stationary bike & toning weights today

Health notes – migraines & headaches have backed off, but some pain in right arm? (started keeping an offline health journal)

Days 6-7

One week down, three to go!

I’m starting to get the hang of this and generally feeling much better.

No dairy, meat*, booze, coffee, sugar, etc. for a week – a big step in the right direction.

Warings blender in the house, plus a Britta filter jug.

Overall, much more mindful about what I’m eating, in what order, etc.

* the book says you can have one dose of poultry/fish a week, if you must – for me, it was a fine piece of salmon, lightly cooked, overlooking the MOMA gardens yesterday afternoon, after taking in some de Koonig and Rothko. It was splendid.

Days 3-5

I’ve been slacking on the blog due to other income-producing activity.

The detox is going ok… for the most part, feeling good, although have had bouts of dull headache in the mornings and the occasional migraine tweak as well.

Gotta get that Waring blender this weekend!

A friend emailed me a list of detox-safe pit-stops in the the city. Here they are:

Angelica Kitchen-E 12th and Second Ave
-great spot with take out and communal table options

Temple in the Village- West 4th and Thompson
-self service salad bar

Village Natural- 46 Greenwich Ave
-diner-style health food restaurant

Souen- 6th Ave and Prince
-excellent restaurant

Candle Cafe- Third Ave at 76th
-best uptown

Gobo- 6th Ave and 8th Street
-vegetarian and healthy

I would also add RICE to this list, one of my favorite food joints in the city (they have raw cabbage salad, many different types of rice, etc).

Someone also mentioned Pure Food and Wine on University? Any others?

Only indiscretions have been the occasional small black tea (no more than one/day) and… oh yes, someone slipped some tuna in my lentil salad today at lunch!

Exercise notes: mellow bike/runs/rows each of past two days… seem to be hitting a wall around 7 or 8pm.

Day 2… with Eating Directions Cheat Sheet

Morning! I’ve just had my psyllium husks and I feel like Asterix!!

Here are the bare bones instructions I’ve gleaned from the book:

ALL DAY

Water – 3 cups w/ 8 drops of Cellfood… + 5-7 cups throughout day (drink water on empty stomach; also, no liquids 1/2-hour before/after meals)

Herbal teas… see the book for specific teas for each of the four phases/weeks (I just bought a general detox tea by Yogi for the whole 4-weeks to start with, although I might get more specific teas next time I head over to the health food store)

Lots of fresh/frozen, raw fruit (variety & organic)… top 25: almonds, apples, artichokes, avocados, bananas, beets, blueberries, cabbage, carrots, celery, cherries, cranberries, flax seeds, garlic, grapefruit, kale (?), legumes, lemons, olive oil, onions, raspberries, seaweed, spinach, watercress, watermelon

Eat 1-2 organic apples/day in phase 1.

Can mix in baked sweet potatoes, brown rice, brown rice pasta, bean salad, lentil dahl, etc. throughout program to stay sane. Book has some recipes in the back which – I might have to try a few this weekend.

Exercise (rebound, walk) each day for 30 mins away from high-traffic.

SUPPLEMENTS – AM

multi-vitamin – 1 @ b’fast or lunch

flora – 1/2 -1 teaspoon in pure water (or recommended pill #s) 10 mins post lemon juice

green food supplement – follow directions

psyllium/pectin powder -

SUPPLEMENTS – ALL DAY

digestive enzyme – 1/2 pills w/ each meal

cellfood – three times/day – see above

AM

1/2 lemon squeezed into 1 cup of warm water (spring or purified)

flora – see supplements

skin brush

rebound (if you have access to a trampoline)

1 teaspoon each of psyllium husk and pectin in 1 1/2 cups of water or unsweetened juice (cranberry diluted 1:4 with water or pure unsweetened apple juice in phase 1)

fruit & fruit juice all morning… fresh/frozen, raw & variety… every 1/2 – 1 hour… smoothies are good.

LUNCH

large green salad with veggies… use cold-pressed veggie/olive oil + natural apple vinegar + maple syrup/honey

AFTERNOON SNACK

celery sticks with almond butter… fruit… raw nuts… glass of soymilk, etc.

DINNER

large “meal-sized” salad… (I’m going to have to get very inventive with the salads to stay sane).

**

I’ll add to this list as I re-read the book. The book has a list of which foods are ok (grain-based breads with no flour) and which are not.

Day 1

All of a sudden, after a weekend of sin, Day 1 was upon me.

It went fine… although I did break down at about 1.30pm and have a Rishi Black Tea – damn, it was good.

The book, while providing a good detox primer, falls far short on user-friendliness for those who want to take the plunge.

Unfathomably, it does not provide an easy shopping & eating directions/cheat sheet, which makes it frustrating to get started. For example, it’s unclear to me if I can eat oatmeal for breakfast??

So, I’ve tried to make it easier by providing a shopping list.

And tomorrow, I will add the eating directions cheat sheet to the blog.

Health notes: mild, brief migraine today at noon. A little nauseous early afternoon.

Exercise notes: biked around to meetings, that’s it. Mild migraine around noon. I’m going to have to get inventive with the salads because I can’t imagine eating salad straight for 30 days.

A Skin Brush Virgin Gets… Brushed

The prep work continues…

Stopped by Williams-Sonoma to check out blenders (and a new coffee grinder, for post-detox!).

Also, hit Healthy Living or whatever it’s called (Hudson) to stock up on frozen fruit and veggies and other healthy snacks. God, the last time I ate a rice cookie was over 15 years ago in college when my girlfriend was on a diet.

This detoxing mentality is taking hold: I spent 3 hours today thoroughly cleaning out my kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. I tossed bags of stuff I never eat/ware/use and it feels great to have a CLEAN HOUSE.

The highlight of the day was using the skin brush pre-shower this AM. Wicked stuff! It’s supposed to improve the circulation & is prescribed by the detox book I’m using as a guide (The 4-week Detox Plan).

Continue to ease back on the coffee. Only 1/2 cup today – didn’t feel like finishing it??

My sense of taste (and smell) might also be getting more sensitive: I tried my usual favorite humus and it tasted much spicier than usual. I also tried some new black tea and it had a BIG range of taste.

Trying to remember to CHEW my food thoroughly (a biggie in the book).

I’m pretty much ready to roll…

Health notes:

No migraines yet today… I’ve been thinking about why my migraines have backed off since August when they were really bad and I was taking 4-6 Advils/day… what’s changed?

1. In Aug. I was riding 2-3 loops most evenings in Central Park, right alongside all the traffic/exhaust. I’m not doing this any more.
2. In Aug. I was experimenting with various synthetic fragrances with 2-3 sprays on my chest after showering (so, 4-9 sprays/day, depending on shower activity)
3. In Aug. I was eating my standard 2-3 apples/day, but I was not peeling them. I now peel my apples.

Overall, feelin’ good.

I weighed myself yesterday before working out at the gym – 182 lbs clothed. That seems light given all my muscles – the scale must be wrong.

Exercise notes:

Bike ride up to Central Park this AM, walking around…

A Weekend of Vice… Before Black Monday

Almost lift off, not quite… Day 1 will be Monday, Oct 15, 2007.

I chose Monday because I’ve got some eating & drinking to do this weekend:

1. my friend gave his one-month notice today at work and we’re going to celebrate tonight
2. I’m having lunch with friend #2 tomorrow in town for the weekend from Iceland
3. friend #3* said she would do this with me, but not before Monday

But I’m getting prepped… I’ve been easing back on the coffee (only two cups today), weaving in more tea, cutting back on dairy, etc.

I did make it to the Chelsea Market and Whole Foods to stack up on the shopping list. I got everything except the juicer (tomorrow’s task) and the trampoline (!)… $300 later.

Had some fun buying the supplements, etc. at Whole Body – love that place. Also, picked up a variety of loose-leaf teas – need something to replace all the coffee.

Health notes:

Mild migraine at about 5am – first one in a while. My migraines were off the charts in August… I think it has something to do with synthetic fragrance, which I no longer use.

Good productive day at work – no stress.

Overall, feeling good… heightened awareness going into this.

Exercise:

Yesterday, 25-min bike, light weights. Today, will take a walk along the Hudson before dinner.

* she’s a lazy New Yorker so she’s asked me to type up some directions re: what to eat when, etc. I’ll tackle that this weekend & stick it on my fridge

Shopping List

So here I go, my shopping list for tomorrow:

• 8-10 cups of purified water/day (add Cellfood to 3 cups)
• lots of raw, organic fruits and vegetables – fresh/frozen, raw & variety (see pgs. 134-135)
  • lemon, organic lettuce, organic apples, etc.
• cold-pressed vegetable, nut or seed oils
• apple cider vinegar
• stevia, raw honey or pure maple syrup
• brown rice, wild rice
• brown rice pasta
• oatmeal
• psyllium husks
• pectin
• 100% cranberry juice (phase 1)
• organic almond or peanut butter
• soymilk
• celtic sea salt
• herbal teas – read for more on best herbs for each weekly phase

Supplements (best quality, natural):

• multi-vitamin & mineral
• full-spectrum digestive enzyme
• potent flora supplement
• green food supplement
• Cellfood

Props:

• juicer
• natural-bristle skin brush
• rice-cooker
• tea strainer

Serious props:

• trampoline (rebound)

Starting Out

I’m going to try a detox program and I thought it might be interesting to blog about the experience.

I think I lead a pretty healthy life (diet and exercise) but I’ve been feeling more aches and pains than usual since August (migraines, chest pains, stiff hands, etc), so I’m interested to see if detoxing will help.

The main catalyst for detoxing is a book I read this summer called The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan. The book made me much more aware of toxins and the potential negative effect they can have on health.

Since reading it, I’ve replaced most of my cosmetics with natural alternatives from Whole Foods. I no longer spray fragrance on my skin (I’ve been experimenting with essential oils or spraying fragrance on my clothes). I buy more organic food. I peel my apples. I go out of my way to avoid car exhaust, etc.

More recently, I saw a plug on Daily Candy for a local detox service called Blue Print Cleanse, offering 1-, 3- or 5-day supplies for convenience-driven (lazy) NYCers like me. But I visited the Blue Print site and found it confusing and expensive. It’s geared for the DC audience.

(Blue Print does recommend a colonic – I’m not even sure what that is bu I’ll look into that in a bit and report back).

So I pulled out the book again because it seems more thorough and credible. Plus I’m kind of a DIY-er and like to learn as I go. I’ll use the book as my guideline.

But the book lacks a user-friendly shopping list or a suggested eating routine, which is a PITA – hah, I like that!