Spring Cleaning | The Cleanse

“So long as a person is capable of self-renewal, they are a living being.”

Henri Frederic Amiel

Spring has sprung; the thaw has begun, the layers are- slowly- beginning to come off and the time for skimpier clothes is almost upon us. I know for myself that the dawn of spring and the subsequent summer sends a small shiver up my spine; I, like many others, gain a little winter padding to help me through the winter months; if not for the lovely comfort foods, winter would be unbearable.

I will confidently admit that I eat my winter feelings.

After a lovely week in Mexico, that consisted of far too many Long Island Iced Teas and 4 meals a day, spring cleaning is taking on an entirely new meaning. I can be drastic at the best of times, and when I saw the number on the scale when I returned from Mexico, it had become the worst of times.

It is time to cleanse. My body is screaming out to me in the form of breakouts and side aches; and it has become time for action. Nature is renewing itself, and so must I!

When I proclaimed to my friends that I was taking on a 21 day cleanse, thoughts of lemon juice and cayenne pepper crossed people’s minds; but alas, I’m drastic, not crazy. And although the aforementioned cleanse “works”, I prefer to a) do this for health and not necessarily weight loss and b) avoid being unbearably cranky and mean, as I live with roommates and it is simply not an option.

I searched the internet’s many resources for a cleansing program that would work for me and my goals; and what I ended up doing, was taking parts from several cleanses and custom creating my own. My main goal was to get as many vegetables into my body, up my water intake and cut the white stuff- sugar and refined carbohydrates.

Here’s the breakdown

• As much green tea as I want and ½ gallon to gallon of water per day.

• Lean beef, skinless chicken, buffalo, flounder, sole or shrimp- cooked without the use of butter or oil. Seasoned with lemon, pepper, salt*, and any herb or spice I desire.

*maximum 1tbsp of salt per day, which I have found to be rather generous.

• Spinach, any type of lettuce, chard, beet greens, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, radishes, cucumber, asparagus and cabbage- steamed or grilled without the use of butter or oil.

• The only fruits are grapefruit, apples and strawberries.

• 30 minutes of brisk walking 3 days per week.

I am determined to attack this cleanse with taste in mind; I know most would look at the list of food and think “ damn that’s skimpy”, but I’ve got some tasty tricks up my sleeve, that should make this 3 weeks a delicious time.