Click here for profuse gushing about Detox Week One

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Today am finishing up Week One of the Whole Living Action detox program.  Well, actually, officially, the week ended yesterday.  But I had not finished sampling all the recipes in the magazine.  Pineapple and green juice still lurked in the refrigerator, so am happily extending the first week by one more day.

Some of you astute readers may recall that Week One involves eating only fruits and vegetables, lentils, healthy oils, nuts and seeds and seasonings.

(Week Two adds non-gluten grains, fish (not shellfish) and all legumes and beans.)

Even though we probably already eat really really healthy, I do believe it’s beneficial to engage in detox regimes if we sense our bodies need it.  My body has been giving signals lately– minor aches and pains, some rashes, OK, we won’t go into every little thing–that it wanted to press the re-start button.

Am here to gush profusely, so watch out.

Just wanted to show you a picture of what one feels like after Week 1

I FEEL GREAT!!  What a wonderful week this has been.  I would recommend a detox to everyone!  I could be a detox advocate and sell the program to the Universe!  (Except for those whose body says not now, can’t do, not interested.)

Here’s what happened in the last week.  First, it was easy to stick to the detox plan because the recipes offered by the magazine are soooo delicious.   As many of you know, when you start to eat really simple foods like fruits and vegetables for an extended period of time they start to taste like manna.  Our taste buds wake up.  They cease to long for, say, Hot Fudge Sundaes, and instead chew the carrot like it’s the sweetest dessert in the planet.  You drool over salads seasoned only with lemon and olive oil.  And I mean drool.

Carrots of the earth…

On Day 2 I experienced about two hours of headache and weakness.  Day 3 was not something to write home about it.  It was not pleasant.  It felt like Ms. Kathy had the flu.  Body aches, light headache, exhaustion, all-over not feeling so good.

The magazine article warned about this in the detox process.  This is what they said: “By midweek:  you’ll likely notice some unpleasant symptoms–fatigue, aches and pains, headache, bloat–as the body purges toxins.  This is normal, so don’t lose heart.  You should start to feel better by week’s end.”

Day 4 I woke up feeling just a little bit bouncier, and by Day 8 (that is today, isn’t it?) am feeling like Bouncy Kathy.  So much energy!  Haven’t felt this much energy since…um…well, since we did the Macrobiotic diet about seven years ago.

So, yes, the scales say I’m five pounds less, but that seems not as important as this feeling of vitality zinging inside.  The body is saying:  YES.  Thank you for listening, you caffeine-lover.  Thank you for listening, you who devoured that bar of chocolate in one sitting.   Thank you for easing up on the whole system.

Ladies support detox effort (tee hee)

Last night we went out to dinner.  Usually I like to enjoy a glass of wine.  Without missing a beat ordered a cup of herbal tea.  They brought an array of selections along with honey and lemon, and oh my reader, was the cup of Zen “Refresh” tea spiked with those accouterments heavenly!  I gushed to Barry six times.  He rolled his eyes.

(He has to listen to this obsessive detox talk because I listened to his knee trouble talk for two years.  He seems to be listening with interest, and has been enjoying some of the dishes, but isn’t jumping in to detox himself, silly fellow.)

Since it’s often hard to order detox fare on a menu, I was a tad nervous, but discovered a lovely apple-toasted walnut-baby green-blue cheese-chicken or shrimp salad with vinaigrette.  Ordered it without the blue cheese and meat.  Simply delightful.

Ode to sweet parsnip

OK, now, for the sake of Truth I shall state the weakness of the detox plan.  Have said six times to anyone who will listen, “I have never spent this much money to eat so little.”

If you eat every recipe the magazine offers you may go broke in three weeks.  It’s expensive to buy all the ingredients.  However, it would be quite possible to come up with your own inexpensive recipes.  (Just not as fun. I’m aiming for fun.)

It also takes time to organize the menus and shopping.  It’s something one must undertake with dedication and focus.

Have just typed over 700 words enthusing about this first week of detox, so better stop now.  Just want to say–again–it’s more than worth it!

Thank you for listening.

**P.S.  Am so far behind–again–responding to comments and reading other blogs that will not be responding to comments here.   Have a great day!