spring cleansing
I came across an incredible woman who lives in NY a few weeks back, her name is Taryn Toomey. She is doing AMAZING things in the health world and it instantly inspired me. She worked along side a dietitian and created a detox called "the layer". It is a 10 day cleanse that reworks your interaction with food, following a Ayurvedic diet, trying to change the time and effort that you put into preparing your meals. Its about slowing down, and making sure that you know 100% what is in the things you're eating, simply by preparing them yourself. While the specific cleanse is $$$ that includes all the info you need and a special meal plan, I wanted to find out the foundation of the detox and do something that was similar. I began googling everything Taryn Toomey and read into everything that had to do with "the layer".
Perfect timing because I've done some sort of cleanse (usually standard process) for the last 6 years in the spring!
So here's what I gathered:
Diet: gluten free, dairy free, meat free, sugar free, alcohol and caffeine free.
Morning drink: Turmeric Tonic.
Quantity of food allotted: eat as much as you want but stop when you are 3/4 full and wait to see if you need more.
Life adjustments: take an Epsom salt bath every other day, use exfoliating mitts in shower, meditate for 10+ minutes before bed, workout regularly to decompress.
Cravings coping methods: jump squats, meditation, pulse arms up and down to music.
breakdown of 10 days-
1. first few days- addiction leaving the body.
2. middle couple of days- emotional layers behind the cravings
3. last few days- healing and repairing, connecting to the clear space within you that's been created.
The entire psychological side of this is what really impacted me. When I was actively thinking about why I eat certain things, and why I crave certain things, I was able to let them go, and this ended up being the easiest cleanse I have ever done. It was a process, of peeling back layers and feeling whole.
Below is my day to day journal entries of the process.
Day 1, Friday March 18th.
Funny that when I got off work around 2p I was ready for some lunch. MOD pizza was on the brain, French fries from Wendy's, Caesar chicken salad, goat cheese. I wanted it all, but was ok with not having any of it. I thought it was so interesting that what was fast, even though it might be a "healthier option" was what was first on my brain. And I realized that I often do that, I opt for what's quick, what's ready for me. I usually decide to figure out something to eat when I am my hungriest, which can happen within ten minutes of anytime LOL. I'll have a few potato chips or tortilla chips to tie me over. This cleanse should be really good because that's the whole point, is slowing down and being intentional about what goes in your mouth, making sure that you prepare it. Slow down life to invest in your quality of health. I ended up grocery shopping a little, and then having a green juice and a salad with sweet potatoes. It was nice to go through the process, purchasing the food, cutting it up, washing the veggies, drinking my tonic and just taking the time to create food that's a medicine for my body. This is easy so far and I'm excited.
Day 2, Saturday March 19th.
This weekend was an interesting choice to start. Having to just wake up and say TODAYS THE DAY (yesterday) is the only way that I know I am guaranteed to be successful with this. I've very against things like New Years resolutions and "start on a Monday" type things because when you want to do something I believe you should just go for it, start now. There's too much anxiety and stress that comes with planning on starting something, at least for me anyway. Besides the headaches, this ise a s y. There's times I want certain things but not bad enough to really feel like I'm deprived. My red wine consumption hasn't really changed, but I've only had about one cup (if that!) of coffee yesterday and today. Trying to ween myself off of that, but not 100% closing the door. Coffee helps me get things done and I generally love the taste. So if I'm not addicted to it, I think it's ok to jump start a task with a cup. And wine-- not technically supposed to have any but today and yesterday were full of family events and that's how we do lol. But none tomorrow. I had a black bean burger on lettuce, sweet potatoes and zucchini for dinner. It was very satisfying, and I didn't feel heavy after. I've been trying to drink more water too after having read about how detrimental drinking water is for us as humans (things you know but need to often be reminded of!). I've been reading and loving Cameron Diaz's book The Body Book; it's teaching me so much. The diet is easy, but the headaches are real.
Day 3, Sunday March 20th.
Woke up with the worst headache. Probably because of my sinus and the wine from last night, but nonetheless feels like a detox headache. I laid in bed from 9-11a with banana-egg pancakes, two water bottles and Tylenol. We ended up deciding to try a new church out, and then headed to trader joes. I found awesome black bean pasta and some Yerba mate which I had been craving for a few weeks. Delicious tea, with an earthy-robust flavor, very good for detoxing. No wine today and only 1/2 cup of coffee. 💪🏼 I feel very good about that. It's Sunday and we have no plans so I have the opportunity to really focus on cooking what j eat. I had some popcorn (skinny pop) as a snack the last two days and I was to steer clear of anything that comes out of a package. I did go swimming, for a nice evening walk and got a 20 min HIIT workout in and felt totally fine. Almost every detox I've done, working out is out of the question, I'm usually too weak and tired to do much of anything. So I love that it's not affecting me like that this time.
The first three days is the addiction leaving the body phase and I'm excited for tomorrow because maybe these headaches will subside! Tonight I will have a Epsom bath and exfoliate, especially after that hot tub 😷 I don't feel I've lost weight like I usually feel on day three, but I'm also the smallest I've ever been in the beginning of one of these cleanses. So I think that probably has something to do with it.
I feel good!
Day 4, Monday March 21st.
No headache this morning!!
I had a hard boiled egg, a few almonds and my tonic for breakfast. Then sat at my parents house from 930-630 waiting for my car to be looked at, and I did NOT plan well as far as food. No one is ever home at my parents therefore no one cooks or buys fresh groceries, so I had my bfast at home, went to their house, had an apple and pb at 11, and didn't eat till I got home at 715ish. I did some jump squats when the chocolate was looking me in the face in their kitchen, LOL funny because it worked. Ryan and I went out for Mexican and had veggie nachos without cheese. And rice and beans, and it was very satisfying, and I didn't eat a whole ton either, I drank lots of water too. Came home and tore apart a workout I put together. Having energy to workout during this is awesome and I know it's only because I have a few very hardy protein sources that I don't have on standard process (nuts and eggs and beans). I pushed myself in that workout, and ended it with a solid 5 min plank (YEAH I KNOW, and NO I COULD NOT FEEL MY UPPER BODY AFTERWARD). But I challenged myself, Ryan goes "HOW DID YOU DO THAT?!" And I said "I TOLD MYSELF I COULD". Removing those preconceived limits and believing that you CAN. It was really good. After that workout I am relaxed and ready to slumber.
Day four never felt so good.
Day 5, Tuesday March 22nd.
Today was--interesting. I woke up and I felt strong. I could feel my body, I was attune with every part of it in the sense that it felt whole. It was amazing. I can't remember ever really feeling like that. I woke up and had energy. I was a bit ambitious and wanted to workout, but instead I felt I should just do house duties since yesterday I was robbed of my time to do them. I had to work a double at work which typically means 8-10 hours of waitressing. Walking, standing, using brain power, so I was a little nervous about this infinite feeling I felt after waking up being sustained through my day. I had an egg, some blueberries and some leftover "veggie nachos" for bfast. I had my tonic on the way and a cup of black coffee when I arrived. I did really well. Honestly, working in a restaurant where a lot of the foods are whole and delicious but sometimes a little indulging, it can be so hard to feel balance when I'm detoxing there. I had a ginormous salad at about 2p for lunch, arugula, beets, apricots, marcona almonds, avocado, pears and a sherry vinaigrette. I sat down thinking I wouldn't make it through the whole thing and ...I did. I know I snacked on almonds pretty much all day, I can't remember if there were other things that I ate. But I don't think there was. I was invited out to the bar after and I honestly, reluctantly, said yes. I had a glass of wine and headed home. I want to workout but I didn't plan on working for ten hours today so I'll take that and feel ok that I skip out. I had an egg when I returned home and a few more bites of nachos LOL (yes they are gone now haha), took my Epsom bath and talked myself to sleep.
Day 6, Wednesday March 23rd.
Today was pretty good. It's amazing I wake up and I don't feel groggy or sluggish, I feel ready to make my tonic and get my day started. Which I guess I didn't know that I was feeling sluggish and groggy in the mornings, so it's news to me. Today was busy, but I definitely ate enough. This evening I opted for a second tonic instead of a coffee to keep me going to go to a college group and meet up with Ryan's siblings for a spontaneous date night. We went to red robin and it was 9p by the time we got there and I was HUNGRY. While I usually opt for sharing a royal burger on a GF bun with Ryan and eat my body weight in crispy fries, I had a glass of Merlot, a side of their black beans and sweet potato fries --I know, probably definitely NOT ok, but I've done so good thus far that if I was going to "cheat" this was the optimal way, I promise lol.
I planned on coming home and working out, but we were really tired and ready to relax. So movie and bed, excited for tomorrow.
Day 7, Thursday March 24th.
Woke up tired, but could have been the weather -I worked a double today. It was a long day and I stayed on point with the cleanse. I had a giant salad for lunch and was kept busy running around working. What I do notice is that I crave my tonic when I'm starting to feel anything less than great. Im so glad that's what's happening for me because it's a lot better for me then my hourly coffee intake! Got in a stellar workout tonight too. Day 7 you are good.
Day 8, Friday March 25th.
Today my husband and I have the day off together--a first! I had a hard boiled egg for breakfast and we headed to a coffee shop, I had an almond milk latte, unsweetened. Delicious and satisfying. We are good today, I made an awesome lunch and then also dinner. Eggs with sweet potatoes, greens with tomatoes and garlic grape seed oil as the dressing, then green cauliflower, sweet potatoes and avocado salsa for dinner. We took George on a nice long walk and just had great quality time, had my tonic mid day for a boost. My best friend stayed the night, so of course there was wine. Everything was great today. Oh and my husband treated me to a delicious Drought juice too! *heart eyes*
Day 9, Saturday March 26th.
Today I worked a double, 10 hours straight, not too bad because it's Saturday so we are a little busier but still a little slow because Easter is tomorrow. Stayed on the cleanse easily, there's so many healthy options on hand at my work so it's almost easier to be working during this thing, except that's not the point of all this!! It's about SLOWING down and making your own food and being intentional about the things that go in your body. I feel like I'm cheating when I eat at work even though it all fits the guidelines. But I am learning. I am aware. It's ok. Also one of my regulars at work told me I was GLOWINGLY and that's exciting.
Day 10, Easter Sunday March 27th.
HE IS RISEN. I found it kind of interesting that I was "fasting" during this time of year, around the time we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Seemed interesting that this time is all about redemption and becoming new, all the while that's what my body is doing. Being the last day of the cleanse, I was thinking about how much I am taking away from this. I am redeemed, I am renewed. I struggled for years with confidence and self worth and treating my body right. And after having gone to therapy I feel I've been treading to learn what balance really looks like since then (fall 2012). To know what a life or a routine looks like where I am happy and content but also healthy --truly healthy body and mind. I didn't realize that i have not actually known balance since walking away from it all four years ago. This cleanse has really made me aware. I can sit here today with a sigh of relief that I think I finally have this thing figured out. A weight lifted off my mind, the insecurity of "is this really healthy? Are you living healthily? Are you caring too much?". When you finish therapy for an eating disorder, you are trying to relearn what a life without control or limitations really looks like and it's a scary process because if you feel either of those two things at all, it's like touching fire-- you have to pull back with fear that you are not progressing. It's like for along time I had this mindset that I was fine with eating anything, because if I found something I actually didn't like it would be controlling what I ate and my progress would be undone. But it's ok to have an opinion! It's not a bad thing to not eat a certain thing or to not do a certain workout. The goal is health not deprivation! That's something I didn't once feel in this whole thing, deprivation.
It being Easter, the family gatherings with all the food were a little tough. But totally manageable. I had a bite of my grandmothers orange fluff she makes and a small bowl of my mother in laws mushroom Brie soup she made for me. But that was the extent of my indulgences. I managed to kill an awesome workout this morning too! I think when I'm done with this I will try to remain as vegan as possible until further notice, not restricting, but just striving to eat whole foods. Maybe meat once or twice a week, because if I can feel amazing without it why do I really need it? I'm a little fearful to reintroduce sugar and things back into my life because of the way it may make me feel. Tomorrow I am not rushing into anything. I do think dairy is a big thing for me that I should stay away from. I think dairy and sugar play a huge roll in me feeling sluggish in the morning and may be the cause for a constant bloating I was experiencing.
I highly recommend this cleanse to anyone!! It's so manageable and easy to do and the benefits are remarkable. I feel rejuvenated, ready to keep on pursuing myself through health. To treat my body right and to energize it naturally. I feel lighter mentally and physically, and I can't wait to live in these changes I've set myself up for!
Pursuing health with you,
Liv
