Green Lemonade

This weekend I completed Dr. Alejandro Junger’s Clean Program. As many of you know this 21 day detox program can be completed at home with no additional money invested (other than groceries) or you can purchase a breakfast and dinner meal replacement kit if you would like a bit more structure. Never heard of this program? Learn more about the details here. You might also be interested in what a sample day on the Clean program looks like.

In general, there were no major surprises for me over the course of the 21 days. Some days (especially during the first week) were harder than others as I adjusted to the program. But I think that is pretty typical when a change in habits is involved. During the tough moments, I found that heading out on a walk usually helped. More than anything I missed some of my favorite little tasty indulgences here and there (almond milk banana smoothies, baked sweet potatoes with butter and a touch of honey, a few nibbles of a good dark chocolate). But change is good and I was happy to have this healthy, dietary “reset.” I feel light and refreshed and upbeat about continuing to eat more natural, whole foods that make me feel good. I will admit though that before the summer is over, I do plan to head back to the Crow’s Nest Restaurant out here in Montauk for a few nibbles of their chocolate brioche pudding before summer ends….all good things in moderation!

My strategy on the Clean Program

During my 3 weeks on the Clean Program I had a three small daily goals. They were as follows:

1. Be open to a few more “walks”, even if they only last 5-10 minutes. During the tough moments (like when I wanted a tasty snack), I found that heading out on a walk for a change of scenery and focus usually helped with emotional cravings. When I was truly hungry, I would have a snack however.
2. Stay as true to the program as possible. In general, I tried to stay as true to the Clean program structure as possible. I didn’t have too many snacks, and tried to stick to the suggested 3 meals per day. I also found that planning my lunch meals in advance really helped me to avoid overeating (and subsequently ending up with a stomach ache or falling asleep at my desk!)
3. Loosely adhere to food combining principles. While not a prerequisite on the Clean program, I have found that food combining is actually a nice way to think about portion control. There are a lot of nuances that can be folded into the concept of food combining, but again I like to think about food combining more like built in portion control Vs getting bogged down into the nuances of what to eat and what NOT to eat together. There are bigger things to worry about when it comes to eating healthy and feeling great. And in fact for many people, their digestive systems are strong enough that some of these quite strict food combining rules are not necessary to feel great and to have good digestion and healthy eliminations (good eliminations of course are key to good health).

Moving forward after the Clean Program

The Clean Program was a nice break and reset for me. I found that I had been snacking a little bit more than I wanted to, and was enjoying something sweet after just about every meal (dark chocolate is so good!). The Clean Program helped me get my sweet tooth back in line. I’ve also found a renewed appreciation and perspective on smaller – yet satisfying portions. I continue to be a healthy eater and enjoy all foods including meat, dairy and sweets – in moderation. I am a firm believer in moderation.

I would definitely recommend the Clean Program to anyone looking to reset and get on a healthier lifestyle track. Everyone falls off the healthy eating track sometimes and what is great about this program is that there is a nice structure and a good support network of other women and men going through the same adjustment as you are on the program. There is also a nice fluidity to the program, where you can customize and adjust it for what feels right for you. Remember, there is a broad spectrum when it comes to healthy eating and living. It’s all about figuring out what feels great for you.

These articles on cleansing may also be useful to you

1. Should you do a cleanse?
2. Why Is Cleansing and Fasting Popular Today?
3. Eat More Real Foods To Cleanse, Lose Weight, Gain Energy and Feel Better
4. Learn More About Whole Body Cleansing
5. Whole Body Cleansing – A Broad Spectrum
6. Cleansing + Constipation (Yikes)
7. Cleansing + Your Metabolism
8. Cleansing + Weight Loss
9. Learn More About The Real Foods Movement and Green Lemonade