Cleanse Recap

Farmer's Market Cleanse

All fruits and veg, NO caffiene

Day One

The first day was pretty easy. My green breakfast smoothie was delicious and even my kids drank it. Major mothering high for tricking my kids into drinking half a pound of leafy greens! I was expecting major cravings but all I got was a mild headache and a grumbly stomach. I ate SO much produce but was starving. It takes a lot more food to get the calories you need when all you're eating is fruits and vegetables. I had trouble getting to sleep beacuse all I could think about was food!

Day Two
I felt a little sluggish but nothing a brisk walk couldn't fix. I was feeling so proud and so in control. No cheats. I had some major cravings this day though. I thought I would be lusting after chocolate and soda but what I really wanted was bread. A big hunk of hot sourdough with butter to be exact. It didn't help when we had dinner at a local bakery and my yummy vegetarian salad was served with two hunks of just such bread which my husband quickly nabbed from my plate in order to "save me from myself." It was hard to watch my family munching on fresh baked bread but I held firm and when we left I felt so good about myself. Whaddya know? I do have self control!

Day Three
And good times continue. I may have been imaginging things but I swear I looked healthier. My skin looked.....glowy. I was still hungry a lot. I feel like I spent most of the day eating to keep the grumbles away but I look and feel so fabulous I don't care!! And there's something highly satisfying about being able to eat a HUGE plate of food and not feel the least bit guilty about it.  Hubby made Morrocan chicken that looked and smelled divine but I stuck to my guns and ate my baked potato with broccoli and mushrooms.

Today is a transition day in which I slowly transition out of the cleanse by adding things back in to my diet. Today, I'm adding grains so I can finally have that yummy slice of sourdough I've been wanting! Then, in a couple of days, I'll add back dairy and lastly, meat. This cleanse has truly shown me how good nutrition directly influences the way you feel on a day to day basis. Here are few of the new habits that will become permanent parts of my daily life.

• Green smoothies. Easy, yummy, and so so good for you!
• Flax oil. I used it to make my salad dressings and put it in my smoothies.
• No soda. Well, at least less soda. As in once or twice a week instead of once or twice a day.
• Minimal processed food. I can't believe how different I feel after only three days of wholesome food!

I highy encourage you to try a whole foods cleanse. Really. I look and feel like a million bucks. Do it! You won't be sorry! It's only three days. You can do anything for three days. And if you feel like you just have to have McDonald's when you're done, by all means head for the golden arches. I'm sure I'll venture back there sooner or later. But first, feel what it's like to be full of nothing but goodness. It'll make you think twice before you eat that McNugget...