Let the cleanse begin....

After finishing the book Crazy Sexy Diet, the next step was to begin the 21 day cleanse. With a bundle of emotions ranging from excitement to apprehension to worrisome (the cost of the food products including a pricey juicer!), my sister Ang, Tara Lynn, and I decided to embark on this journey together. Having the support of those two eased a lot of my anxiousness. The cleanse requires the elimination of all dairy, meat, gluten, processed foods, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine. It consists of a lot of fruits and veggies, including juicing them in the morning.

The first thing was to purchase a juicer. Ironically, my favorite fitness magazine, Oxygen, had a feature article on Juicers. I felt it was a sign that the book I was reading Crazy Sexy Diet and the article I was reading both talked about the health benefits of juicing. So I went ahead and purchased the Native Juicer. All I had to do now was wait and plan.

The weekend before the cleanse started I knew what I wanted to eat: a Phil's Corner store Turkey breast and provolone cheese hoagie with a side of Ranch Doritos! It was the best last meal I have ever had. And then Ang and I ordered a Dominos pizza late night. Hey, why not go out with a bang right?!

Fast forward to today- Day 9. The first week was not as bad as I thought. Well..... except getting down the first green juice ( I had to hold my nose because I couldn't stand the smell! See video below. lol) "Make Juice, Not War Green Juice" consists of 2 large cucumbers, 4-5 stalks kale, 4-5 romaine leaves, 4 stalks celery, 1-2 pears, 1" piece of ginger root. So each morning we juice that yummy concoction of fruits and veggies. Thank goodness for Tara Lynn who suggested adding a quarter of lemon and 1 apple to take away some of the bitterness!

Yesterday was my first day I actually had a craving for food I was not able to have. I was craving Highland House Pizza and an ice cold beer!! For those of you who have experienced this delicious pizza, you should understand! Fortunately I had the will power and support of the girls to help me get through those cravings. It was also difficult to be in a social setting with girls this past weekend and not have one drink of alcohol. But I managed to sip aqua with lemon the entire night. (hardest temptation thus far!) No hangover the next morning was definitely my reward!

Tomorrow we reach double digits and I am so thrilled to already see the amazing benefits: baby soft skin, an abundance of energy, decreased appetite, exposure to new foods and recipes. I am so delighted that I decided to do this and explore new avenues of healthy living. I can honestly say that I feel the best I have ever felt in my life!