Life’s Lessons: A Detox Cleanse Just Isn’t For Me

Otherwise known as why I gave up on the cleanse. Or how I suck and have no willpower. But I swear that’s not all there is to it!

1. I decided to try a detoxifying spring cleanse diet for 10 days.

2. I thought this would jump-start weight loss that was stalled (or some days moving in the wrong direction!).

3. Keep in mind that I’m a bit of a picky eater. I eat more fruits and veggies than I did as a kid, but there are still several I don’t like.

4. I started the cleanse last Saturday. I’m actually glad that I started on the weekend because I had time to do the grocery shopping and prepare the foods I was supposed to be eating.

5. I didn’t feel great on Saturday, but not as bad as I expected. And when I stepped on the scale on Sunday morning and learned I lost 2 1/2 pounds, I felt motivated to stick with it.

6. I was modifying the recommended recipes and picking and choosing the ones that included ingredients I was willing to eat. I’m fine with apples, bananas, lots of fresh lemon juice, spinach. But I don’t like many nuts, except peanuts, which weren’t on the allowed list. And the biggest problem? I don’t like any beans. I think they’re all gross.

7. My modifications basically meant I was eating the same thing each day. But that was okay with me.

8. By the end of the third day (Monday – my first attempt at the diet on a work day), I was starting to think I just really needed to eat a bit more. I realized what I was missing in my modified version of the cleanse. Protein. I pretty much wasn’t getting any protein since I cut out the nuts and beans. And I was constantly thinking about food and cheating on the diet.

9. So Tuesday I decided to give up. Sort of. I’m trying to stick with some of the super-healthy cleanse foods for breakfast and lunch and then eat a small portion of whatever the family’s having for dinner because one of the things I didn’t like during the 3 1/2 days I managed it was eating a separate meal from my family. Taking the time to prepare a meal for them and then a separate meal for myself.

10. I wasn’t convinced that I really needed the detox for my body. I don’t drink or smoke. I don’t really do anything that terrible for my body, though I know some would argue that a lot of the processed foods I eat aren’t good for me. So I’m okay with the fact that I kind of quit since my main purpose was weight loss, and I’m still eating a modified diet which should result in the last bit of weight loss I want to achieve.

11. I’ve lost 4 pounds in 6 days, so I’m pretty pleased with my results. Now if I could manage to exercise, I might actually get rid of the baby belly that’s still hanging around.

Linking up with Rach for Life’s Lessons:

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