I don’t usually write about weight loss because I truly believe:

Size does not matter.

Every body shape is beautiful.

Diets don’t work.

Health can be achieved at any size.

That about sums up my beliefs on the matter.  However, it took me a decade to really believe those statements.  In fact, it wasn’t until I stopped trying to change my body that my body began to transform. It wasn’t until I started EATING REAL FOOD and stopped dieting, that I actually lost weight.  Diets DO NOT work. They never will so it’s better to give it up right now.  Don’t waste another second starving yourself.  There’s an easier way.

Today I want to share with you one of my top wellness habits.  This habit keeps me feeling great…and also keeps my body in top shape.  The body I have now in my 30s is 20 pounds lighter than the one I had in my 20s.  I don’t care about the weight loss as much as I care about the fact that in my 30s I have: more energy, better sleep, improved mood, NO food cravings and overall better HEALTH than I did in my 20s.  So while I’m a decade older now, I feel a decade younger.  I’m going to tell you what I do 1-2 times a year to keep me feeling great.  Hint: it involves a twice yearly detox— but not the kind I used to do in my 20s!

How Liquid-only Cleanses Wrecked my Metabolism

During my twenties I used to participate in a twice yearly “cleanse” that consisted of liquid meals for breakfast and lunch and a dinner of steamed vegetables. Every year I would announce I felt “toxic” and would decide that “cleansing” was the best way to “detox.” Side note…here’s a great post about the real signs you might need a detox.

These words are all in quotes because secretly I just wanted to lose weight. And I thought starving my body for a few days would do the trick.

I’d call my naturopath and order up a big batch of UltraClear (a meal replacement drink that supports organ detoxification) and ask him to send me the detox protocol. I’d suffer through 3-5 days of drinking mostly liquid while my blood sugar levels went whacko (technical term), my metabolism tanked, my hormones went haywire and my immune function declined. (Side note, my ND had a great program that encouraged actually eating during the day, but I always skipped that part)

Then at the end of my 3-5 day detox, down 5 pounds of water weight, I’d celebrate with a round of cocktails with my girlfriends and gain those 5 right back in the span of 48 hours.

Did I mention I was extremely out of touch with my body for the first 30 years of my life?

I was also 20 pounds heavier than I am today.

Here I am in my 20s (pre-babies, while working on a cruise ship indulging in FAKE food and ENDLESS cocktail hours).

 

Here I am in my 30s (post-babies, eating REAL food and indulging in occasional cocktail hours ;)).

I don’t think one body size is better than the other, but I will say I FEEL much better now than I did in my 20s.  I have more energy, I move better, I sleep better, and I don’t suffer from any of the food cravings I had in my 20s.  Life feels better in my 30-something body.

I could write for days about my journey towards body love, healthy eating, and true self-acceptance. Maybe one day I will. For now I’ll say the turning point for me was going to graduate school and learning about how food really impacts our bodies. While at the same time I did a lot of emotional and spiritual work. For me, the two were completely intertwined. Now I eat to NOURISH and CARE for my body.  I also started doing twice a year real food detox programs because our bodies need extra TLC to stay happy, functioning and feeling great.

Why I still DETOX (and how I do it)

Now when I feel that my body needs a re-set, or detox, it’s not to lose weight, but to help aid my liver and detoxification systems to clear out the heavy metals, pesticides, and other environmental contaminants that exist in our world today (whether we like it or not). Even though I am careful about eating organically, filtering my water, using safe personal care products, etc….I still share the same air and land as the rest of the world and unfortunately this means I am in contact with an array of pollutants on a daily basis. So 1-2 times a year I still do a detox, but these days I skip the liquid only varieties because really, the only thing you get from a liquid-only cleanse is a messed up metabolism, immune system and THYROID. And you’re a real HANGRY b#$ch too.

What do I do instead? I’m happy you asked!

Now I do real food detoxes–no liquid-only craziness.  And this is my FAVORITE program: The Superwoman Slimdown.  I like this program because it lasts for 3 weeks (long enough to give your body a real chance to detoxify) and uses a FOOD-based approach.  I know to keep my body feeling great, I need to take it in for a “tune-up”a few times a year—and this real food detox does the trick.

Here are the details so you can see for yourself why I love it so much.

SUPERWOMAN SLIM DOWN

This program is a fully-supported, REAL FOOD, 21 day program led by experienced registered nurse, certified health and wellness coach, and certified specialist in fitness nutrition, Kristen Boucher. Kristen is pretty amazing.  She writes over at Mix |Wellness Solutions for a Balanced Life about everything holistic health from how to kick sugar cravings to how to detoxify your home.  In Kristin’s detox program you will learn how to:

• Increase energy
• Eliminate brain fog
• Shed pounds 
• Improve sleep
• Identify food sensitivities and allergies (use this program as your own elimination diet!)
• Eliminate cravings
• Improve digestion
• Kick start your metabolism

This program is on sale right now. Usually it’s $347, but Kristen is running a sale of $147!  Learn more here.

What’s included in the Superwoman Detox Program?

• Three recorded training calls with Kristen to listen to at your convenience delivered over three weeks so that you are updated each week with what to do next ($300 value)

• Sample Menu Plans complete with 3 meals per day & list of snacks that you can eat to keep the hunger at bay ($100 value)

• Preparation Checklist with a list of suggested items to have in your fridge, pantry, and home to follow the plan ($100 value)

• Recipes For Radiance Cookbook which includes over 75 delicious, whole food recipes outlined in the Menu Plan ($50 value)

• Detailed Detox Guidebook with all the info and resources you’ll need and then some ($100 value)

• Workbook and personal assessment guide that will serve to show you how far you’ve come once you complete the program and help you to play detective to learn if you have any food allergies or sensitivities ($50 value)

• Cooking and Food Preparation Tips and Tools Guide ($10 value)

• Toxin Reduction Tips and Tools Guide ($10 value)

• Meal Planning and Shopping List Fun Sheets ($10 value)

• A 4-Week Detox Calendar laying out every step of the program, what to, and when to do it ($10 value)

• Email support during the cleanse ($100 value)

• Lifetime access to all materials, including updates for future programs ($100 value)

That’s a lot of bang for your buck! Who’s IN? This year give your body the GIFT of feeling energized and YOUNGER.  Sign up HERE!