5.28.2009

{ time to cleanse + BLOOM }




Pictures from my fridge.

I generally take a week in the spring (a bit delayed this year due to some travel)...to cleanse the system...and practice some extreme self-care. This may not be for everyone and that's fine. I am not a doctor, so don't take any of this as medical advice. This is just what I do and what works for my body and mind.

So, this will take a week total...so if you want to participate, schedule a week that works for you - when you are home a bunch, have some extra time, aren't traveling, etc. This will also cost you some extra $ (yoga class, massage, sauna visit, extra food & veggies, colon cleanse session(s), dry brush, and supplies for the people's chemist cleanse). You will also need a juicer and a blender. I should mention that I don't do this for weight loss, I do it to give my digestive system a break. It spends a lot of time working hard and it gives my body a break and a chance to start fresh again. It also helps jump start healthier eating habits (especially after all of the traveling we've been doing) and detoxify my body. I eat really healthy throughout the year so this isn't probably totally necessary but I feel like it helps give my system a little more breathing room. I'm not going to go into detail about colon therapy sessions - there is a ton of information on the internet about it, but I am a fan (a one-two times a year fan). I like the therapists ability to tell what is going on with my body and to give dietary and lifestyle advice about what might help my body process food better in the future (eg. proteins earlier in the day, but not late in the evening; more water!!, etc.) Begin and end each day this week, with 5-10 minutes of quiet meditation, stretching or prayer.

Day 1. Clean out your fridge & pantry. Seriously people, get rid of the crap. Get rid of the caffeine, the cookies, the processed food once and for all. This will take 2-4 hours depending on how much work you have to do. Drink plenty of water with fresh lemon throughout the day. Schedule your massage, yoga class, sauna visit and colon therapy session (I prefer to do this at the end of the week or you can do it first and see what cleanse or eating habits your colon therapist wants you to do). Again, this is what works for ME.

Day 2. Grocery Shop for this juice/raw food cleanse and TPC cleanse. Lots of fresh smoothies, veggie juices, water and big green salads loaded with fresh, organic veggies (chewed well and slowly). Restock your fridge and pantry with FRESH food, real food. Prepare the veggies and fruits in individual ziploc bags for faster prep time before meals. Freshly prepared juice should be drunk immediately. Drink lots of water, don't put any crap into your body today (caffeine or processed food). Begin daily dry brushing - Your skin needs to breathe too so dry-brush it with a natural bristle brush (which you can find at any natural health food store). It helps keep the skin pathways clean and clear so waste can leave the body easily.

Day 3. Do the TCP cleanse. Drink lots of water. Eat clean again - eliminate the crap and start hydrating your body and dry brushing (see above tips).

Day 4. Begin juice cleanse. This is the one I like from breathe yoga studio, but there are tons of options out there. (I also adjust this a bit and have Health-FX whey protein in with the smoothies as I need protein). Go to a yoga class today (preferably a hot one which will aid in the detoxification of your body). If you can't make it to a yoga class do these poses.

Day 5. Continue juice cleanse and schedule a sauna visit (at your local gym or spa). Drink lots of water today. I generally sit for 10 minutes in the sauna, take a break and do 2 more 10 minute sessions. Again, listen to your body and do what works for you. Sweat out the toxins!

Day 6. Continue juice cleanse (last day) and have a bit hearty veggie salad for an early dinner. Schedule your massage for today. Massages are great or moving blockages, stimulating energy flow and creating better circulation and lyph drainage. That night, soak in an epsom salt bath for at least 1/2 hour, this is great for detoxification also.

Day 7. Colon Therapy Session. Ease back into a healthy eating pattern with clean, organic foods.

And there you have it, your summer cleanse so you can BLOOM. :)

* I'll answer your questions in the comments section of this post. Thanks!

9 comments:

Wilcox Family said...

YOUR the best friend a girl could have and we've never met, I LOVE this! Just what I was thinking but wasn't quite sure how to go about it...Thanks! Jana

LobotoME said...

Hi Jana - You are so cute! Let me know if you have any questions! J :)

LobotoME said...

And to answer some of the other email questions I've gotten...
1) This is not a FAST. I can't go without sustenance for more than a few hours! This is about eating / drinking easily digestible foods for a few days to help your system get back into shape.
2) Getting your colon cleansed does not hurt - there is some mild cramping/discomfort as water is gently pushed through your colon and stuff starts to come out.
3) It is not gross - at least I didn't find it gross...I thought it was interesting seeing what {gunk} comes out of your body. It is an eye opening experience for sure! :)
4) Sometimes, my husband participates (I like him too) but he wasn't interested this go around - he is super busy with race season so the timing for him isn't the best. So I prepare dinners for him that I don't like - that way I'm not tempted to eat and cheat! :) Sam drinks some of the smoothies with me and green juice but I just feed the kids their regular healthy meals.
5) The colon therapist I go to charges $70 per session. She generally recommends two back to back sessions and from there will tell you if she wants you back again or if you are good to go for awhile. I generally go 2x a year.
6) Yes, that is my refrigerator and yes, those are the things that are always found in it - I find that if there is temptation in the house (cookies, ice cream, etc. I WILL EAT IT. I know myself well enough to know that I don't have enough self control! ;-) - so I just don't buy it. For sweet summer treats, I make homemade popsicles (basically smoothies with whey protein frozen into popsicle molds).

Let me know if y'all have any other questions. I'll answer them in the comments section.

J :)

Anonymous said...

Yes! this make total sense. I think I mistakenly used the word FAST is my comment a few days ago. I have never done the colon cleanse. Kinda freaks me out. I like that you add protein to your smoothies. I forget did you say what kind of protein powder you use? whey?

thanks. good info.

LobotoME said...

Hi Denise - Yes, I use whey protein from Health FX (www.thepeopleschemist.com) and yes, this is not a fast, just a cleanse!

J :)

Miss | A said...

Wow. Looks intense :)

Hey I never got your package. Did I ever get you my address. Thought so but yikes maybe not? Let me know. Cheers. Miss aimee

TitansFan said...

I have been using my Infared Sauna for about a year now and it works great for weight loss. The colon cleansing thing sounds interesting.Never had one but my curiosity is peeked.

Anonymous said...

Yay jenny! I'm so glad you posted this. I've been meaning to get my tail in gear and do a small spring cleanse - thanks for being the motivating force! Here's my question though - whenever I've tried doing juice cleanses in the past, I always end up SUPER hungry, and I never make it past the first day. (I'll eat healthy stuff, but just not solely juice.) Maybe I'll just up the avocado to get through the first few days? What else do you do? xoxo

LobotoME said...

Hi sarah! I know, I get STARVING TOO! ;-) I'm used to eating WAY more than that...I try just to make another juice or another smoothie when i get hungry. I do sometimes cheat and grab a handful of almonds or whole fruit (apples & peaches or grapes). I know you have that awesome HUGE juicer so get to it girl! Miss you!

J :)