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Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Day Twenty Seven January 28, 2014

Today is day 27 of 'My Big Fat Juice Cleanse'.
I have been hearing from a lot of friends that they are interested in juice cleansing.  Adding juice to your diet is a no brainier, it is delicious, and makes you feel good...but, juice cleansing is a whole other animal.  Not that it can't be done...it just takes some planning.  I thought it might be useful to outline the steps I took before and during this cleanse to ensure my success.

The first tip is to find a buddy.  This is so much easier when you do it with someone.  Doing a juice cleanse can make you feel isolated socially...someone to share in this understanding helps a ton.

Make sure you explain what you are doing, and for how long, to your family and friends...less explaining, and puts their minds at ease...so they don't think you have developed an eating disorder...in my case...as if!

Be accountable for what you are doing...journal, blog, make a pact with your juice buddy, etc..  Voicing your plan makes it more real, even if it is just to yourself.

Reflect on your goal, or purpose for cleansing, daily...it will help reinforce your commitment during the brutal withdrawal phase.  Are you cleansing to lose weight, heal your body, detox, reboot?? Whatever your reason, know it, and reflect on it...it may start to change as time passes in the cleanse. One reason for embarking on this may grow into many as you experience the benefits of juicing.

Clean up your diet before you begin.  No processed food, sugar, wean off caffeine, limit meat...all of which I stupidly did not do, and ten days in with a caffeine withdrawal headache, I wished I had.

Abandon all vices...no over the counter meds...no caffeine...no cigarettes...this is a cleanse after all.

Know yourself, and how you handle stress...have coping mechanisms in place...this is not easy at the beginning.  Be kind and gentle with yourself...rest often...be a bit of a princess for a couple of days...your body deserves this.

Finally...if you are not sure if this is right for you, or if you really want to do this...ask yourself this question:  "If you knew today, that you will live to be 100 years old.  What would you do today?"  I heard this question in an interview with Dr. Fab Mancini...check him out...love this guy!  I know he meant it in a broader understanding, but...it also touches on what we are doing to improve our health, not just treating illness, but taking steps to be proactive.

If you have decided to do this...I wish you all the wonderful experiences it has brought to my life, and if I can support you in anyway, just ask :)


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