❤ 30 days Clean Detox Program

If we're connected via Facebook, then you already know. I'm gearing up for 30 days of Loving-kindness Clean Detox Program filled with meditation and yoga in October. Yes, I guess you could say I caught the meditation bug which in my opinion is the best kind of bug to catch! I was introduced to meditation by my ever faithful personal yoga guru. It is said that the sound and pronunciation of sanskrit mantras can lead to a transformation within. There are really so many benefits to chanting.

As with anything we do, it is all energy. And the type of energy we put out in the world is the type of energy we will receive. The vibrations of your practice will have a ripple effect. You may begin to see the world through fresh new eyes. You may begin to be more conscious of the things you do and say. These are just some of the shifts that can happen from consistently practicing.

Anyway, you can follow my 30 day challenge right here, I shall be posting photos, blog post, recipes etc. So ensure you're receiving updates by signing up through my RSS feed and/or email alerts.

So, what's a detox?

Detox. It's a word that carries so much hope for some  -- and so much fear to others . Detox the smart way and you're in for clearer skin, more energy, and a smaller number on the scale. Detox drastically and you're likely to do more harm than good. But with so many detox plans out there, and so much conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of each, how's a girl to choose the cleanse that's right for her? 

And boy, do I need one right now. Lots of work, not enough time to shop for (and prepare) healthy foods, and a jam-packed social calendar has caused me to rely on all the wrong things. I haven't eaten correctly for more than I could recall. I finally put my foot down "stomp!" lol and created a daily detox plan for myself. I'm also hoping to get my after birth tummy down as much as I can. "phew..talk about up-coming pressure!"

Ready, Set, Action Plan: Prep Days

Start by Sipping Water

Starting a detox isn't easy, especially if you're not accustomed to eating this way daily. That's why I have built 8 bonus days of Action Plan prep into the calendar: The eight days before you officially begin your plan.), So starting on Monday, 23rd, September, 2013 use these tips to prepare for your 30-day plan. I always suggest slowly cutting these foods out of your diet (caffeine, wheat, dairy, sugar, alcohol, eggs, and meat) so that Day 1 of your detox isn't so shocking -- both physically and emotionally. 

• Start by purchasing a juicer. I have been juicing for a number of years and so I've gone through quite a bit of juicers. And this is what I've learnt, choosing a juicer depends on your lifestyle.Ask yourself a few questions; What do you want in a juicer? What is your lifestyle–are you busy or do you have more time to spend juicing? Is juicing a casual thing or part of your daily routine? Do you want to be able to juice wheatgrass or would it be mainly veggies?
  
  Based on your answers, here are my recommendations:
  If you want a centrifugal juicer, I would recommend the Omega 330 Mega Mouth Juicer.
  If you want a masticating type of juicer that cold presses the juice and one that will juice wheatgrass, the best model I’ve found is the Omega 8005 Juicer.
  If you are looking for a reasonable juicer, my top pic is the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor 67601
  If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to ask. 

Juicing Tips;

1. Focus on vegetables, but include some fruit. I’ve found that one small apple makes a huge difference in flavor. 
2. Include 1-2 root vegetables–such as carrots or beets–to add additional flavor and antioxidants. I like to include either 2 small carrots (1 large) or 2 small beets (1 large). These tend to contribute a tad more sugar and a nice earthy flavor, adding complexity.
3. Add at least one leafy green vegetable.I love using broccoli and spinach, but others likely work as well.
4. Include one watery vegetable. Cucumber, celery and other watery vegetables help dilute the too-strong flavors of the previous 3 ingredients. This can make a big difference in drinkability, while adding some nice flavor and additional vitamins.
5. Don’t forget a garnish. A small amount of a strong flavored item such as ginger, lemon, mint or other herb can make your juice a real pleasure to drink while adding highly concentrated antioxidants.
6. Consider adding back a few scoops of the fiber that is filtered out by the juicer. This will make your juice more filling.

• Rid your kitchen of junk. Is it heartbreaking to toss all of that delicious food? You bet. But I'm telling you -- if those chocolate covered raisins are on your shelf, and the frozen pizza is sitting in your freezer, you will reach for them in a moment of weakness. And those moments of weakness will happen. 
• Stock your kitchen with staples. Here's a quick run-down of the staples that will get me through this detox: wild mountain rice, almond butter, agave nectar, steel cut oatmeal, organic nuts, organic raisins, avocados, every kind of organic vegetable and fruit you can imagine and tofu. (to name a few). 
• How fresh are your cooking oils and spices? If you don't remember when you purchased them, now's a good time to upgrade to fresher, healthier options. Remember, these changes aren't just for the next four weeks, but will hopefully become healthy habits for life.
• Also, before your plan begins, start your day with a glass of hot water and fresh lemon juice. This can aid in the detoxification process you'll be following in the coming week. Make sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. If you're a coffee drinker, start to wean off; swap one cup out for green or white tea. I don't ever consume coffee, I prefer to make a body scrub or soap with coffee than ingest it. 

The plan;

Here's the low-down on this detox: It's a low-fat, vegan diet that includes whole (organic) foods, low-glycemic fruits, raw veggies, and lean vegetarian sources of protein (think beans and tofu) to balance your body's pH and rid your body of toxins. The plan includes drinking two green juice's one on morning and ideally, another one every afternoon.

In the coming weeks, we'll be doing meditation and yoga, the routines will be perfect for beginners and don't require any technical equipment, but you should have clothing you feel comfortable moving around in. I do yoga barefeet but, If you prefer there are no-slip yoga socks you can purchase. When I just started practising yoga I bought from Gaiam .. they are comfortable and just fabulous!.

Stay tuned for part 2!

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