The Last Straw Continued: 30 Day Detox and Diet Plan

As promised, here is the next phase of the detox and diet plan.

I struggled with how to present this here. I wanted to be detailed, but too much detail gets boring and restrictive. I wanted to share tons of information, but who has the time to write it all out, let alone read it. Then it dawned on me - communicate the premise, provide some recipes and let people have fun with it.

So here we go...

First, I hate that "diets" revolve around food. I feel like we revolve too much around food (e.g., social events, celebrations, recreational activities). We really shouldn't be so preoccupied with what we are having for supper or if they "are feeding us" at the event. But we do, and our obsession with what to eat gets worse when we are limiting our intake. So do yourself a favour, take my advice in the 2 day detox plan and rid your cupboards of all the tempting crap of canned, processed and easy to prepare junk.

Second, remember, it takes just as long to prepare a large salad as it takes to boil some KD. It takes less time (and money) to prepare a couple days worth of protein than it takes to order out. Speaking of take out - I don't care that it`s a salad, it`s probably full of cheese and 5 servings of oil. Make your own and bring it with you.

Lastly, this plan has 3 rules - Drink 2 liters of water a day, take 1.5oz pure cranberry each morning, eat if you are hungry.
It also has 3 restrictions - No Wheat, No Sugar (including artificial sweeteners), No Dairy. Simple.

But I know people will panic, èverything has wheat in it`they will say. `What will I eat", they will lament. No worries, here are some ideas to keep you on track. You'll be amazed at all the things you can eat!

• Vegetables - no holds barred. Eat up. Experiment. Yum!! (No corn or legumes though).
• Fruit - apples, grapes and bananas are your friend. They are filling and full of good stuff.
• Sweet potatoes and white potatoes
• Brown Rice
• Quinoa
• Rice noodles
• Goat milk products (yogurt, milk, cheese)
• Tofu
• Whey powder
• Nuts, nut milks, butters, and waters
• Herbs
• Oil based dressings (or homemade creamy dressings with goat products)
• Poultry
• Fish
• Black decaf coffee, Green tea, Herbal teas

Ok, ok. Some of you may still be looking at that list and thinking, "damn, that's small", but if you really take time to think about it, the possibilities are endless. For example:

Breakfast = Smoothie, piece of fruit, tea/coffee

Snack = nuts and dried fruit

Lunch = Large salad with tuna or chopped chicken on top, dressing, 

Snack = Smoothie and/or nuts

Dinner = 1/4 chicken, sweet potato, steamed veggies

Snack = Smoothie or Peanut butter on a spoon

See... it's super easy! You really shouldn't be hungry on this plan and the urge to have a hamburger or a bagel or some ice cream will pass in the first week. You will survive, and just to drive the point home, if you want to have some real fun with this, check our recipes that comes from the Middle East, Greece, Turkey, Africa, Japan and Thailand. You really shouldn't be bored with your menu choices, you have so much variety at your disposal.

But as I mentioned earlier, this is not all about food. The plan will rid your body of stored toxins, gases, and fluids. It will balance your metabolism and your sugars. You will feel more energetic. But in order to reap the most benefits, there are some things not food related that you need to do to take care of you and look your best.

Daily
- 30 minutes exercise (minimum)
- 10 minutes relaxation/ stretching/ meditation/ deep breathing (pick one or do more than one)

Weekly
- Epsom salts bath
- Facial steam
- massage (self or by another person)

So I hope this is enough to get you started. Based on the feedback I've received so far, I may need to create a separate recipe blog... who knows what I'll do next!

Best wishes and don't be afraid to ask me questions.

The Last Straw- My Detox Journey

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought (or exclaimed) 'Oh, HELL no' at your reflection? Painful isn't it? Just the other day, after a shower and during a depressing one over in the full length, I had one of those moments. But this time, it was more than just scrutiny - for me it was the last straw.

I stood there and noticed all the usual signs of aging. Things just aren't where they used to be. But I also noticed that there was a lot more of me... a heck of alot more, and I was becoming oddly shaped too. I thought back to 5 years ago when I met my Fiance. I remembered that I wasn't entirely thrilled with my body back then either, but at least I had a clavicle and a rib cage. I frowned as I realized these familiar and sexy bones were now gone from sight, replaced with softness and what looks suspiciously like a beer belly. Wait... beer belly? Could it be? I pressed down on my hard and bloated stomach. I turned to the side and had deja vu of being 9 months pregnant with my second child. My gut was huge.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't know how this happened. It isn't caused by beer (per se) but mostly by wheat and processed sugars. My body treats these two substances like the toxins they are, and the symptoms of my slow poisoning are flab, bloat, eczema, headaches, rashes, brittle hair and nails, fatigue and irritability.Not a good time.

So as I said, the last straw had arrived. Why was I poisoning myself with things I know are harmful to my health and body type? Was 20 minutes in hamburger heaven worth not looking great in my clothes? Were the multitude of adverse symptoms I was suffering - because I wasn't disciplined enough to eliminate wheat and processed sugars from my diet- worth all those little treats? A resounding HELL NO is the answer.

So, what did I do and what am I doing to change it? I'll tell you. I'll tell you because if you are reading this you may be in the same situation. Maybe you don't have all the symptoms of wheat belly, but you know it affects you. Maybe you just want to be healthier. Maybe you are just curious. Maybe you are just trolling the internet looking for something to criticize. Who knows? But in any event, I'll tell you.

But before we start, I have a disclaimer. I'm not a nutritionist or a dietician. I have no certifiable credentials and no authority on the matter of health and weightloss. So if you want to try this, you do so like taking diet tips from a good friend. What I do have to offer is an insight into how my body works, 20 years of personal research on diet techniques and fitness plans, and enough University level training in hormones, neurology, and molecular biology to know my way around the science of it all... also, I've done this before with outstanding results. My current need to do it again is because I got lazy and undisciplined. Simple as that.

To give you an example of how much water weight and bloat we carry, I want to share my results of just two days on detox. When I did this 8 years ago, I lost 25 lbs in 2 days. No, you did not read that incorrectly. I was weighed at a popular weight loss program on a Wednesday and went back on the Friday and asked to be weighed again. There was 25 lbs in the difference. They were amazed, and so was I. But keep in mind, this was not actual fat loss. This was 25lbs of crap in my intestinal tract, water and whatever else the body retains. Additionally, my stomach was flatter and I felt like a million bucks!

Fast forward to today. I no longer weigh myself because I'm personally more concerned with inches. So Thursday June 20th I took my measurements for my neck, chest, waist, hips, and thighs. This morning, Saturday June 22nd, I took the exact same measurement and here are my results:

• Neck - 0.5 inches lost
• Chest - 1.0 inch lost
• Arms - no change
• Waist - 1.5 inches lost
• Hips - 1 inch lost
• Thighs - 0.5 inches lost

Much like my results 8 years ago, I know this is water weight and the elimination of the accumulation of stuff in my intestinal tract, but the tape measure doesn't lie. Regardless of what was lost, I am less bloated, less gassy, and feeling like a million bucks! So if you're still with me. Let's get started!

The first phase is a detox stage to right the blood chemistry. If you do this right, you shouldn't be hungry, but I will warn you, over the first two days, your body will mutiny and try every trick to get you to fall back into bad habits. If you think a handful of chips, one cookie, or a donair won't hurt, you are sorely mistaken. The goal of this first phase is not only to reset your body, but also to condition the mind.

The second phase is to change your eating habits, but also to completely rid yourself of the toxins and symptoms associated with massive wheat and sugar consumption. Food can still be tasty, enjoyable, beautiful and satisfying without being laden with Wheat, Sugars, Dairy and Fats. Don't tell yourself you are limiting or depriving. You are not on a diet. This is day one to a lifestyle change.

Some preliminary steps:
1. If you are able, rid yourself of all crap in your fridge and cupboards.
This may not be feasible for people who live with others or have children (although, do your kids really need store bought crap when you could easily find healthy snack recipes online?). But if you can, give any unopened processed food to the food bank (can soups, powdered soup mixes, can beans, etc) and ask your friends if they want your wheat flour, cow milk, yogurt, cheeses, chips, cake, etc. If you can't rid your pantry and fridge of these items, you must be able to resist temptation and any little tricks your mind will play to convince you to ingest these things.

2. Go grocery shopping.
Lots of people find it hard to eat right because fresh food is not always convenient and foods laden with the crap are usually cheap and easy to prepare. I feel your pain and understand why you have that perception. But the next 30 days should change that. (See below for the detox shopping list).

3. Prepare yourself.
I'm going to be honest with you. There will be side effects to the detox and subsequent 'cleansing plan'. On day one of detox, about half way through the day you may experience an unbearable hunger. It will pass and you will live. Just don't give in. You can satisfy this with an "allowed food" even though your mind with tell you that the apple just doesn't cut it, or that a handful of nuts isn't really what you want. On day two, you may experience headaches and mild to moderate irritation. This can increase exponentially if you are a caffeine addict (coffee, soda, black tea). Be prepared for this. Warn loved ones and get outside and do something. Sit in a park and read. Go for a swim. Throw on some runners and your earphones and go for a walk. This too will pass and you will live through it. You may also feel tired. If this is the case, sleep if you can.

Now that we know what to expect, here is the grocery list and meal plan for your first two days. I'll be updating the plan for the next 28 days tomorrow. Best wishes!

Detox Grocery List (some items will also be used in the 28 day 'cleanse')
Bag carrots
1 - 2 Cucumbers
1 Green Pepper
Lettuce
Baby spinach
6 Apples
4 Bananas
Strawberries
Grapes
1 Bottle pure Cranberry Juice (unsweetened)
Pure Orange juice
1 canister Whey protein powder
2 large cans coconut water (e.g.,Blue Monkey)
Honey
Dried fruit: Raisins, figs, apricots, prunes, etc
Nuts: Almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts
Peanut butter (or Almond, sesame, etc)
1 small roasting chicken
Olive oil based salad dressing (Zesty Italian or homemade)
Green Tea

Day 1 and 2
Breakfast
Smoothie: 1 cup coconut water, 1 banana, 1 tsp honey, 1 scoop whey powder, Ice
1.5 oz (shot glass) Cranberry juice
15 grapes
Green Tea

Snack
Apple
Nut butter
16oz Water

Lunch
Smoothie: 1 cup coconut water, 1/2 cup spinach, 3 strawberries, 1 tsp honey, 1 scoop whey powder, ice
Large salad with dressing
16 oz Water

Snack
Nuts and dried fruit (about 1/2 cup total)
Green Tea
16 oz Water

Dinner
1/4 small rotisserie chicken (no skin)
Large salad with dressing (Lettuce, cucumber, carrot, celery, peppers, etc)
4 oz Orange juice
Smoothie: 1 cup coconut water, 1 banana, 1 tsp honey, 1 Tbsp peanut butter,1 scoop whey powder, Ice

Snack
Dried Fruit
16oz Water