You want me to eat what? Prep Day

I know, I know... I voluntarily signed myself up for this gig.  But as I prepped for the big start date, I became more and more nervous when looking at the shopping list.  Ginger, cilantro, beets, fennel, kale.... the list of vegetables went on and on.  Sure, there was fruit on the list and a couple nuts and seeds but otherwise, that was it. Vegetables.  And vegetables are for rabbits.

Don't get me wrong, I like vegetables.  I often enjoy a big salad, fill my plate with broccoli at dinner and snack on carrots at work.  But to eat pretty much just vegetables for seven days seemed impossible.  How would I survive?  Would I faint from lack of nutrients?  And so, unintentionally, my last day before the big cleanse turned into a binge day.  Hamburgers, coffee, one last cookie (that I didn't even want).  Figured I had to conserve energy though since I am, in fact, not a rabbit.

Wish me luck!

To cleanse or not to cleanse

That IS the question... but first, time for some catch up.

38 years young as I like to think of myself but lately battling some serious energy and pain issues.  For the first time in my life, I actually feel my age if not older.  After begging my doctor for a solution, she decided to run some lab work to check for autoimmune, thyroid or infection issues.  After a couple days of anxious waiting (and speculating how I was to break the tragic news to my loved ones) the test results came back normal.  NORMAL?!?  Hard to believe but I was actually a little disappointed.  I'm sure you are scratching your head thinking, "Really lady? You're bummed that your labs are normal?" but I honestly felt like there HAD to be something wrong with me to feel this awful.  I was sure there was a hidden tumor or autoimmune disease lurking deep within my body and maybe they just didn't find it on this go-around.  Tempted to call my doctor back and request a full body scan, I instead stumbled upon a post from my good friends at Simple Green Smoothies.  I had just completed a 30 day green smoothie challenge sponsored by them so took note when I saw them post something about a "Cleanse". 

I've heard a lot of about "cleanses" and, up until this point, thought they were utterly ridiculous.  Most of the ones I've heard of are sold by companies that are anxious to sell you their line of products, touting how they are the ones who will turn your life around if you take their supplements and follow their plan.  Well, this skeptic has been around the block a few times (and have even invested in some of those schemes) and firmly believed that "its just about diet and exercise".  No magic pill, no miraculous way to lose weight, just hard work and discipline.  Period. Stop trying to sell me your stuff.

Whew! Now that I have that off my chest... back to the cleanse.  What caught my eye about Simply Green Smoothie's cleanse what first, that is was not about weight loss but rather a healthy way of living and second, it was focused on eating whole, organic, natural foods.  I was immediately captivated. Created by a holistic nutritionist, this plan is about ridding your body of toxins that build up from eating processed foods in an effort to reduce general inflammation, clear up your skin, live healthy and as an added bonus maybe drop a few pounds if you have some to lose.  You mean I don't have to drink your powdered drinks or take your pills?  I can just focus the same foods my caveman ancestors ate?  I'm in.  

I purchased my $45 ebook and was off.  You don't have to buy the book I suppose but it is a unbelievable resource for recipes and FAQ's and lasts a lifetime.  And, if you buy the book, you are allowed access to their private Facebook page for support.  Well worth the investment.  There... that's my pitch for Simple Green Smoothies.   Check them out here. 

And so that was it, I was invested.  I'll post my progress on my journey and we can learn together whether this whole cleanse fad is worth anything. Wish me luck!