After our delicious meal last night at Sargasso we called Dr. Junger on a speaker phone so everyone could hear. He mentioned how he really would have loved to Skype with us so that he could see everyone's smiling faces, and that before the next cleanse he wants to Skype with us to start us off and answer any questions. So we are planning on it!
Here were the questions and an overview of his answers. His answers were pretty long, but I included the main points that he made:
1. Now that we are finished with the cleanse, what are most toxic foods that we should keep out of our diets?
Answer: Now that your system has been cleaned out, you need to be very careful about adding un-clean foods back into your diet because you need to be able to track which foods cause you trouble. Add one food at a time and pay attention to how your body reacts to that food. You will be able to see if your body has a negative reaction - then you will know which foods you may be allergic to or that just irritate your digestive system.
2. How often should people do the cleanse?
It really depends upon how you live your life when you are NOT on the cleanse. It's like taking a shower - you need to take showers more often if you get really dirty every day. So if you eat really badly on a consistent basis, you should probably do a cleanse every 2-3 months. If you are a very healthy eater and follow the elimination diet, then maybe only once a year.
3. How often do you do the cleanse?
I am not perfect, and definitely have my trigger foods. About 90 percent of the time I eat clean foods, and the other percent I don't. I do the cleanse 2-3 times a year.
4. What are your trigger foods?
Gluten and dairy. I also like sugar. I don't drink coffee or alcohol because they don't agree with my body at all.
5. What is so bad about tomatoes?
They can be very irritating to your digestive system, just like all nightshade vegetables. But this will vary person-to-person, but in general they are irritating.
6. Are we the largest group to ever do your cleanse?
You are the second largest group. There was a group of 120 doing it in Uruguay (where Dr. Junger is from) and there is also a group in Georgia who does the cleanse through a yoga studio and they had a group of 70. I just talked to them earlier today and congratulated them!
He wrapped it up saying that he looks forward to talking to skyping with us at the beginning of the next cleanse. He made it very clear that he wants to SEE us next time. : )
Monday, January 28, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Post-Cleanse groceries and restaurants
Are you both terrified and ecstatically happy at the thought of ending the cleanse? What are you going to indulge in first? Is it possible to put coffee, chocolate and wine in your mouth all at the same time? Haha! I read your mind. Well, of course it is smart to take it slowly. After all of this hard work, it is really helpful to be able to evaluate how you feel after eating certain foods. If at all possible, add one vice at a time to see how it affects your body.
Many of us have a pretty good idea what the foods and drinks are that do not agree with our bodies, and commonly those are the things that we crave the most. During your last few days of the cleanse, write down the way that you would like to eat after the cleanse is over. While you still have your rational mind, know that you are not going to eat perfectly, but perhaps try to make some changes from the way that you were eating before. Pay special attention to your eating HABITS - when you eat out of habit, rather than out of hunger. The difference between the two becomes quite clear during the cleanse, and if you can maintain your recognition of those feelings, it will be a very effective tool to maintain the weight loss that you may have had during these past three weeks. In other words, try to think before eating.
If you got the Sargasso meals during the Cleanse, the question is, how do you make these wonderful meals on your own? I am going to provide you with a shopping list - and I hope that many of you who review it will add your own grocery ideas that I have forgotten. But these are the ingredients for many of the recipes in the Clean book. Yes, you will be cooking in a way that you may never have cooked before. But that doesn't make it hard, necessarily, just different. And very soon it will become "your new normal." So stock up your pantry with these healthy foods, and you'll be able to make most of the clean recipes that you find in the book and online. Here is the link to more clean recipes online:
http://support.cleanprogram.com/forums/168415-meal-recipes
Many of us have a pretty good idea what the foods and drinks are that do not agree with our bodies, and commonly those are the things that we crave the most. During your last few days of the cleanse, write down the way that you would like to eat after the cleanse is over. While you still have your rational mind, know that you are not going to eat perfectly, but perhaps try to make some changes from the way that you were eating before. Pay special attention to your eating HABITS - when you eat out of habit, rather than out of hunger. The difference between the two becomes quite clear during the cleanse, and if you can maintain your recognition of those feelings, it will be a very effective tool to maintain the weight loss that you may have had during these past three weeks. In other words, try to think before eating.
If you got the Sargasso meals during the Cleanse, the question is, how do you make these wonderful meals on your own? I am going to provide you with a shopping list - and I hope that many of you who review it will add your own grocery ideas that I have forgotten. But these are the ingredients for many of the recipes in the Clean book. Yes, you will be cooking in a way that you may never have cooked before. But that doesn't make it hard, necessarily, just different. And very soon it will become "your new normal." So stock up your pantry with these healthy foods, and you'll be able to make most of the clean recipes that you find in the book and online. Here is the link to more clean recipes online:
http://support.cleanprogram.com/forums/168415-meal-recipes
ELIMINATION DIET GROCERY LIST
Always buy organic whenever you can. Also, try to avoid canned foods - buy dry beans and soak them overnight and then cook the next day. They taste so much better and you don't have as much sodium or yucky chemicals from the can leeching into your food.
unsweetened almond milk
coconut water - this is a really nice alternative beverage
raw almonds
raw almond butter
organic raw cocoa
chia seeds
flax seeds
sesame seeds
raw cashews
walnuts
frozen organic blueberries, raspberries, peaches
coconut palm nectar
quinoa
brown rice
carrots
lettuce - use different types and mix together for various tastes
spinach
green apples
avocados
dates
currants
garlic
scallions
high quality olive oil
grapeseed oil
cold pressed sesame oil
sea salt - there are many different types out there with different flavors
kale - really any cooked greens are great for your body
kalamata olives
parsley
sprouts
lemons and limes
green tea (if you are using caffeine)
herbal tea
Perrier (I believe the only carbonated water that doesn't have carbonation added but I could be wrong)
Lara Bars - many of them only have clean ingredients
garbanzo beans
adzuki beans
black beans
organic chicken, lamb, venison (if eating meat)
wild caught salmon, halibut, sole
hemp or rice protein powder
rice crackers
seed crackers (Mary's Gone)
gluten free bread - be sure to read ingredients because some gf breads are highly processed
rice or quinoa pasta
nori seaweed sheets (the kind used to roll sushi) these are great as a substitute for a tortilla to make a wrap.
TIPS
- If you want consistent protein, it is good to cut up and cook some meat (chicken breasts or other) at the beginning of the week to put on/in recipes during the week. An easy meal is the Big Green Salad in the book with chicken or extra nuts on it. Or do the same with quinoa or brown rice - throw a bunch of veggies in, add olive oil, salt, pepper and combine. Simple and delicious.
- It helps to carry something that could be a snack in case you get stuck somewhere without being able to eat. Lara Bars or Odwalla Juices can help in an emergency.
- Nori seaweed Sheets are great to make a wrap. If you have leftover salad from the night before, put some hummus (or any dip) on the nori sheet, then put the salad inside and wrap. Really, it works with nearly any ingredients.
CLEAN-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS
Sargasso
Terra Cafe
Cafe of India
Yama
Black Bear
Any sushi place if you are eating fish - just be careful which fish you order
Kenyan Cafe (last night we learned the sauces are gluten free there)
I invite you all to please add more ingredients, tips, ideas, recipes, restaurants and more! Hopefully we can all learn from one another how to maintain this sort of lifestyle.
Cheers
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Day 14: Be Kind To Your Mother
So now that (hopefully) many of you are feeling cleaner and clearer, what did you need to put in your bodies in order to make this change happen?
We are eating the foods that are bodies are created to digest - energy from Mother Earth. Our body has a difficult time processing ingredients that it doesn't recognize - which are the same items that you can't pronounce (partially hydrogenated? malodextrin?).
I was talking to someone doing the cleanse, and she said, "I think my body isn't very hungry during this because it is finally getting all of the nutrients that it needs during the meals. Before, I would eat foods that weren't nutritious, and my body was still hungry because it wasn't getting what it needed. So then I would be craving something... but I didn't know what."
So how did we get so far away from understanding what we need to eat? Well, our bodies haven't adapted much since caveman times when we would have a big meal, and afterwards maybe wouldn't eat for a few days. When we taste salt, sugar or fats, our taste buds are programmed to eat as much of them as possible in order to survive, in preparation for going without food for many days. However, we aren't starving anymore - quite the opposite. So if our taste buds want sugar, salt and fat and we are surrounded by those things constantly, it can make a person pretty confused and crazy.
But figuring out what to eat is really quite simple: anything that came directly from the Earth. However, like Dr. Junger said, the Earth is sick, and it is because of humans. In order to raise pristine foods to consume, you need beautiful land, large farms, clean air and water and a balanced ecosystem. All of us are in control of this because we create the pollution. Example: if you were to keep your garbage at your house for six months, what would that look like? When you throw your garbage away, it does not disappear. It goes somewhere else on the Earth. Being more mindful about solid waste, electrical waste, and water waste can make an enormous difference in our planet's health. Yes, you are one person, but there are others making changes too, and that results in progress.
Some small things you can do around the house to minimize your ecological footprint:
- use cloth napkins at dinners instead of paper (and this is also much more dignified) Ha!
- only use paper towels as an exception - keep rags and old cloth napkins in the kitchen to wipe up spills and wipe of dirty hands
- don't buy plastic bags - instead use the ones from buying produce to wrap up items
- buy washable containers for your child's lunches
- Use the free app irecycle to recyclable everything! You type something in - it tells you where to recycle it locally. Beyond the regular items like cardboard and glass - take old toys and clothes to Goodwill rather than throwing them away, recycle old electronics and construction materials too.
I figure since some of us have one more week left without cooking, we could use that extra time be kinder to our Mother. Cheers!
We are eating the foods that are bodies are created to digest - energy from Mother Earth. Our body has a difficult time processing ingredients that it doesn't recognize - which are the same items that you can't pronounce (partially hydrogenated? malodextrin?).
I was talking to someone doing the cleanse, and she said, "I think my body isn't very hungry during this because it is finally getting all of the nutrients that it needs during the meals. Before, I would eat foods that weren't nutritious, and my body was still hungry because it wasn't getting what it needed. So then I would be craving something... but I didn't know what."
So how did we get so far away from understanding what we need to eat? Well, our bodies haven't adapted much since caveman times when we would have a big meal, and afterwards maybe wouldn't eat for a few days. When we taste salt, sugar or fats, our taste buds are programmed to eat as much of them as possible in order to survive, in preparation for going without food for many days. However, we aren't starving anymore - quite the opposite. So if our taste buds want sugar, salt and fat and we are surrounded by those things constantly, it can make a person pretty confused and crazy.
But figuring out what to eat is really quite simple: anything that came directly from the Earth. However, like Dr. Junger said, the Earth is sick, and it is because of humans. In order to raise pristine foods to consume, you need beautiful land, large farms, clean air and water and a balanced ecosystem. All of us are in control of this because we create the pollution. Example: if you were to keep your garbage at your house for six months, what would that look like? When you throw your garbage away, it does not disappear. It goes somewhere else on the Earth. Being more mindful about solid waste, electrical waste, and water waste can make an enormous difference in our planet's health. Yes, you are one person, but there are others making changes too, and that results in progress.
Some small things you can do around the house to minimize your ecological footprint:
- use cloth napkins at dinners instead of paper (and this is also much more dignified) Ha!
- only use paper towels as an exception - keep rags and old cloth napkins in the kitchen to wipe up spills and wipe of dirty hands
- don't buy plastic bags - instead use the ones from buying produce to wrap up items
- buy washable containers for your child's lunches
- minimize plastic in your house (cups, plates, tupperware) most of these are recyclable. The jury is still out about how much of it leaches into our foods
- try to minimize excess water usage
- recycle plastic bags at the grocery store (they all have drop off bins)- Use the free app irecycle to recyclable everything! You type something in - it tells you where to recycle it locally. Beyond the regular items like cardboard and glass - take old toys and clothes to Goodwill rather than throwing them away, recycle old electronics and construction materials too.
I figure since some of us have one more week left without cooking, we could use that extra time be kinder to our Mother. Cheers!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
MORE than half way - and a sinful smoothie recipe
Twenty-one days is a long time. That's what I was thinking a couple of days ago when I was in a terrible mood, and was feeling guilty because I am sacrificing so much right now: Shouldn't I feel great and happy?! Dr. Junger says that the deep detoxification begins during week two:
"Now that you have gotten used to some new habits and to dealing with hunger, week two is when much of the adaptation happens inside. It can be inspiring or unsettling. Your body is adapting to a new state, reclaiming energy from digestion and starting some restoration work. Patterns can get disturbed (sleep, bowel movements, appetite, emotions). Change is happening." (page 194)
He goes on to list some things that commonly happen: bad dreams, headaches, and energy surges. I highly recommend reading these sections if you are experiencing these issues. It is about the body shifting in a major way and good things will come of it.
We are already to day eleven - almost to the end of week two! Week three being the best part of the cleanse, where you really begin to reap the benefits of all the hard work that you have put into this experience, "you feel the natural high that comes with detoxification; your skin glows, your eyes are whiter, your clothes are a little looser, and friends ask if you've just been on vacation." How's that for inspiration?
And if you need a little bit of short-term inspiration, here is a sinful smoothie recipe that is incredibly delicious:
Raspberry Chocolate Mousse:
1 avocado
1 cup raspberries
1 tbsp . organic cocoa
2 tbsp. sweetener
1/4 c. coconut milk
almond milk - enough to mix it all up
"Now that you have gotten used to some new habits and to dealing with hunger, week two is when much of the adaptation happens inside. It can be inspiring or unsettling. Your body is adapting to a new state, reclaiming energy from digestion and starting some restoration work. Patterns can get disturbed (sleep, bowel movements, appetite, emotions). Change is happening." (page 194)
He goes on to list some things that commonly happen: bad dreams, headaches, and energy surges. I highly recommend reading these sections if you are experiencing these issues. It is about the body shifting in a major way and good things will come of it.
We are already to day eleven - almost to the end of week two! Week three being the best part of the cleanse, where you really begin to reap the benefits of all the hard work that you have put into this experience, "you feel the natural high that comes with detoxification; your skin glows, your eyes are whiter, your clothes are a little looser, and friends ask if you've just been on vacation." How's that for inspiration?
And if you need a little bit of short-term inspiration, here is a sinful smoothie recipe that is incredibly delicious:
Raspberry Chocolate Mousse:
1 avocado
1 cup raspberries
1 tbsp . organic cocoa
2 tbsp. sweetener
1/4 c. coconut milk
almond milk - enough to mix it all up
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Day Nine: Mucus and Fat
I never have known why, but nearly every morning I have a
runny nose. But after the first week of the cleanse, I usually don't have one.
If you have read the section in the Clean book on mucus and puffiness
(starts on page 66) I now realize why. My body is usually trying to detoxify
in the evenings, and mucus is one way that toxins or irritants exit your
body.
Have you ever had a day or night when you ate and drank things that you knew were bad for you? The next day you might feel puffy and sluggish with circles under your eyes. This is your body's way of trying to deal with all of the irritants. Puffiness and mucus are related - puffiness is mucus trapped deep inside of your body. If you habitually treat your body poorly, you might feel this puffiness as bloating in your entire body in the form of extra pounds that you just can't lose, no matter what you do. Dr. Junger: "When you eat sparingly, take in nutrients that promote detoxification, and start exercising, you 'de-puff.' Not surprisingly, a sense of clarity and lightness return to the body and mind."
In other words, you shed a layer of mucus. I have most certainly felt myself "de-puff." And with this physical transformation comes a mental one. Patience, calm and happiness are more readily available than they were before. You might even be sleeping better and your skin is clearer.
I have also talked to some of you about the large amount of fat that we are allowed to eat during the cleanse. Coconut milk, avocado, nuts and lots of olive oil are just a few examples. I emailed The Clean Program about that, and this is what Jessi, the health coach, told me:
"Good quality fats like avocados and coconut oil are great to incorporate, helping to metabolize fats and storing as energy in the body rather than fat- and keeping nuts to a minimum is often helpful for weight loss. Of course, the right amount of fat for everyone will be different, so you can do some experimenting to see what a good amount is for you. Keep moving-at least 20 minutes a day of stretching, dancing, walking, anything to move your body around-it doesn't have to be super intense- just get that lymph flowing and muscles active so you can burn more fat and amp up sluggish blood!"
So those of you who are cleansing, eat your healthy fats and get your body moving to release that mucus! Isn't that a lovely thought?
Have you ever had a day or night when you ate and drank things that you knew were bad for you? The next day you might feel puffy and sluggish with circles under your eyes. This is your body's way of trying to deal with all of the irritants. Puffiness and mucus are related - puffiness is mucus trapped deep inside of your body. If you habitually treat your body poorly, you might feel this puffiness as bloating in your entire body in the form of extra pounds that you just can't lose, no matter what you do. Dr. Junger: "When you eat sparingly, take in nutrients that promote detoxification, and start exercising, you 'de-puff.' Not surprisingly, a sense of clarity and lightness return to the body and mind."
In other words, you shed a layer of mucus. I have most certainly felt myself "de-puff." And with this physical transformation comes a mental one. Patience, calm and happiness are more readily available than they were before. You might even be sleeping better and your skin is clearer.
I have also talked to some of you about the large amount of fat that we are allowed to eat during the cleanse. Coconut milk, avocado, nuts and lots of olive oil are just a few examples. I emailed The Clean Program about that, and this is what Jessi, the health coach, told me:
"Good quality fats like avocados and coconut oil are great to incorporate, helping to metabolize fats and storing as energy in the body rather than fat- and keeping nuts to a minimum is often helpful for weight loss. Of course, the right amount of fat for everyone will be different, so you can do some experimenting to see what a good amount is for you. Keep moving-at least 20 minutes a day of stretching, dancing, walking, anything to move your body around-it doesn't have to be super intense- just get that lymph flowing and muscles active so you can burn more fat and amp up sluggish blood!"
So those of you who are cleansing, eat your healthy fats and get your body moving to release that mucus! Isn't that a lovely thought?
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Recipe Share!
Now that we have had our first day of cooking, I wanted to provide a spot where we could share some of the food and smoothie recipes that we liked.
Tonight we made a Warm Apple Smoothie that was absolutely delicious.
For two people:
4 Apples
cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves
About a cup of almond milk
Walnuts
Flax seeds
1-2 dates
protein powder (optional)
Slice apple and put in saucepan with almond milk. Add spices, then slowly cook until apples are soft. Once soft, put in blender with the rest of the ingredients. Add more almond milk if it is too thick for your liking. YUM.
Tonight we made a Warm Apple Smoothie that was absolutely delicious.
For two people:
4 Apples
cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves
About a cup of almond milk
Walnuts
Flax seeds
1-2 dates
protein powder (optional)
Slice apple and put in saucepan with almond milk. Add spices, then slowly cook until apples are soft. Once soft, put in blender with the rest of the ingredients. Add more almond milk if it is too thick for your liking. YUM.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Finding your true nature
Making the commitment to do a 21 day cleanse is a big decision. Now that we are in the throes of full cleansing, it's healthy to take time to reflect on how it is affecting you. What do you miss most? What do you notice has changed about yourself? Many times the cleansing that we experience begins physically and extends into other parts of your life. Are you happier? More focused? Do you feel refreshed? Lighter? Are you nicer to those around you? More patient?
In Dr. Junger's book he talks about the difference between humans and all other animals:
"No other animal eats every other living species on the planet. No wild animal eats for fun or out of sadness. No other mammals continue to drink milk after they stop breastfeeding. No animal in the wild is obese, and diseases are rare, mostly a result of exposure to our chemical poisoning of the planet."
When we are able to live eat in a way that is more in tune with our bodies necessities, rather than our desires, we find enduring joy. It is undeniable that we are animals who are connected to nature. When we veer too far away from our natural instincts and mask them with sugar, alcohol, caffeine and processed food, we are not able to listen to the quiet messages that our bodies are trying to send to us. Many times when we eat we are not even truly hungry. In an odd way, it's nice to hear my stomach rumbling when I am hungry because I haven't heard that noise in such a long time!
Another interesting quote from Dr. Junger is when he defines real health from a Tibetan Buddhist point of view:
"...real health, durable and joyous, comes from detoxification, removal of the poisons by wisdom, insight into the true nature of reality, the experience of the self being one with the universe, filled with energy and bliss, not needing to be greedy, not fearing or hating anyone, but being joyfully compassionate to all..."
When you are able to think clearly and get in touch with your true nature, you find the energy and bliss mentioned above. Take time to reflect and journal during this time. Write down how you are feeling physically and mentally. Maybe these journal entries will serve as encouragement to do the cleanse again! Okay, I know, let's not talk about the next time just yet - let's get through this one first.
In Dr. Junger's book he talks about the difference between humans and all other animals:
"No other animal eats every other living species on the planet. No wild animal eats for fun or out of sadness. No other mammals continue to drink milk after they stop breastfeeding. No animal in the wild is obese, and diseases are rare, mostly a result of exposure to our chemical poisoning of the planet."
When we are able to live eat in a way that is more in tune with our bodies necessities, rather than our desires, we find enduring joy. It is undeniable that we are animals who are connected to nature. When we veer too far away from our natural instincts and mask them with sugar, alcohol, caffeine and processed food, we are not able to listen to the quiet messages that our bodies are trying to send to us. Many times when we eat we are not even truly hungry. In an odd way, it's nice to hear my stomach rumbling when I am hungry because I haven't heard that noise in such a long time!
Another interesting quote from Dr. Junger is when he defines real health from a Tibetan Buddhist point of view:
"...real health, durable and joyous, comes from detoxification, removal of the poisons by wisdom, insight into the true nature of reality, the experience of the self being one with the universe, filled with energy and bliss, not needing to be greedy, not fearing or hating anyone, but being joyfully compassionate to all..."
When you are able to think clearly and get in touch with your true nature, you find the energy and bliss mentioned above. Take time to reflect and journal during this time. Write down how you are feeling physically and mentally. Maybe these journal entries will serve as encouragement to do the cleanse again! Okay, I know, let's not talk about the next time just yet - let's get through this one first.
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