Nutritional cleansing

[FiguringItOut]

Any suggestions on how to do it?

Pros and cons?

--------------

I'm in a rut.  Unhealthy foods, low energy, overall not feeling well, gained weight.

Every time I try to start nutrition plan I fail.  I feel like I need to detox my body before I can start on a plan.  My googling basically produces adds for Isagenix, which is MLM company.  However, I know someone who's done great with their cleanses.

What else is out there?

I'm looking for a boost to get me over the a huge hump.

[golden1]

I hear you. I had a rough fall and winter, and really got out of the habit of eating healthy foods and making it a priority.  My health suffered as a result.

I personally don't do well with the idea that I "can't" eat certain foods.  It psychologically sets me up for failure.  Instead, I am following my own tried and true plan of "I can have whatever I want, as long as I eat a serving of fruits and vegetables first." 

For example:

Breakfast:  Eat a fruit first before eating anything else.

Lunch:  Pack a small salad or a veggie soup and eat that first.

Dinner:  Big serving of veggies, eat that first.

It sounds stupid, but you fill up on the veggies, and you have less room for the rest of your meal.   After a few weeks of this, add protein to the list of things you eat first.   So I will do fruits and veggies, then protein, than the rest.   You can still have sweets, but you gradually will find yourself cutting down on them because you won't be hungry.  It also kind of resets your hunger signals because if you aren't hungry for fruits and veggies, you probably aren't actually hungry, just craving stuff. 

[FiguringItOut]

I hear you. I had a rough fall and winter, and really got out of the habit of eating healthy foods and making it a priority.  My health suffered as a result.

I personally don't do well with the idea that I "can't" eat certain foods.  It psychologically sets me up for failure.  Instead, I am following my own tried and true plan of "I can have whatever I want, as long as I eat a serving of fruits and vegetables first." 

For example:

Breakfast:  Eat a fruit first before eating anything else.

Lunch:  Pack a small salad or a veggie soup and eat that first.

Dinner:  Big serving of veggies, eat that first.

It sounds stupid, but you fill up on the veggies, and you have less room for the rest of your meal.   After a few weeks of this, add protein to the list of things you eat first.   So I will do fruits and veggies, then protein, than the rest.   You can still have sweets, but you gradually will find yourself cutting down on them because you won't be hungry.  It also kind of resets your hunger signals because if you aren't hungry for fruits and veggies, you probably aren't actually hungry, just craving stuff.

My general plan is veggies, fruits, limited carbs with emphasis on beans and healthy grains and less bread and sugar.  But right now I can't do it.  I need jump start.  Literally.  I need something that will sort of reboot my brain.  Then I can go with my usual plan.  Btw, I don't have anything that is off limits either.  That never works for me.

[limeandpepper]

A few years ago, a friend of mine bought a raw food book, and just for the heck of it, for a weekend we both went raw - the only exception was made for hot herbal tea - to see what it would be like. Basically we had plenty of fruit+veg smoothies, snacked on nuts, and also threw in a ceviche for something that felt more substantial. By the end of it, I did feel that "mental reset" that you say you are looking for: in fact, those mere two days had a pretty big (perhaps lifelong) impact as it inspired me to take up a habit of regularly drinking fruit+veg smoothies, which I still do, years after that fun weekend experiment!

[swick]

You might also want to check out the "Whole 30 Thread" It is detox and reset all rolled into tone with the purpose of figuring out if you have any food sensitivities going forward. You can buy the books if you want to, but all the info is out there for free. No MLMs or fake "food" required.

The thread is long, if you don't feel like wading through it, feel free to jump in on the last page. It is a super supportive group and an active thread :) And there hasn't been anyone who hasn't experienced some results, and many have been life-changing.
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/whole-30-starting-sept-8th-want-to-join-us

[FiguringItOut]

You might also want to check out the "Whole 30 Thread" It is detox and reset all rolled into tone with the purpose of figuring out if you have any food sensitivities going forward. You can buy the books if you want to, but all the info is out there for free. No MLMs or fake "food" required.

The thread is long, if you don't feel like wading through it, feel free to jump in on the last page. It is a super supportive group and an active thread :) And there hasn't been anyone who hasn't experienced some results, and many have been life-changing.
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/whole-30-starting-sept-8th-want-to-join-us

I'll check out Whole 30.  A very quick read on couple links that google just gave me look doable, however, I need to research it more.  I'll look through the thread you linked, although 40 pages feels daunting.

[golden1]

I've contemplated whole 30, and I could see doing that for about a week before killing all of my friends and family.  Too restrictive for me. 

I prefer to focus on positive diet changes and habits.  That's why the pre-emptive veggies and fruits works for me. 

[swick]

I've contemplated whole 30, and I could see doing that for about a week before killing all of my friends and family.  Too restrictive for me. 

I prefer to focus on positive diet changes and habits.  That's why the pre-emptive veggies and fruits works for me.

I use to think that way :) it took me a couple of years to get to the point where I was willing to actually do it. You have to sick and tired of being sick and tired.

It is a really good framework for creating the "space" mentally, emotionally, psychologically to create those positive diet changes and habits. It also provides context and data for how foods affect you personally that add significant insight and motivation when it comes to sticking with those good habits.

[zoltani]

http://thesupermandiet.com/detox/

[LadyStache in Baja]

zoltani! just started reading that, sounds extremely promising....could it possibly be real? Have you tried it?

[Forever Wednesday]

Any suggestions on how to do it?

Pros and cons?

--------------

I'm in a rut.  Unhealthy foods, low energy, overall not feeling well, gained weight.

Every time I try to start nutrition plan I fail.  I feel like I need to detox my body before I can start on a plan.  My googling basically produces adds for Isagenix, which is MLM company.  However, I know someone who's done great with their cleanses.

What else is out there?

I'm looking for a boost to get me over the a huge hump.

I'm not sure if this will help you, but I've had success following some general principles. I was doing a (poor) vegetarian / vegan diet for ~6 years and ended up with some nutritional deficiencies and excess weight which I have now corrected.

The following probably won't work for everyone (and so might not work for you!), and given the sheer amount of dietary resources out there which contradict one another on even basic principles I think the only thing you can really do is try out various approaches for yourself to see what works. It baffles me to no end how we talk of artificial intelligence and sending a guy to Mars, yet we still haven't figured out what we should be eating. :)

~~

Macro-nutrients: Majority of calories comes from fat and protein. I don't avoid carbs entirely, but the fat and protein is normally enough for me to reach satiety. Fruit and starchy veg are OK in moderation (typically these are slower burning carbs and so are more gentle on your blood sugar levels), but I avoid things like fruit juices and sugary snacks.

Foods to Avoid: Sources of gluten (including "healthy whole grains"), vegetable oils, refined sugar, beans & legumes (unless thoroughly prepared), dairy in excess.

Awesome Foods: Organ meats, oily fish, shellfish (mussels/oysters), eggs, fatty plant foods (avocado, olive oil, coconut, coconut oil), bone broths, dark chocolate, nuts (not peanuts!!!), as much non-starchy veg / plant matter as you can eat.

Supplements: Personally I supplement for Iodine and Magnesium. Whatever you do, I'm pretty sure your supplement profile should avoid: Multi-vitamins, vitamin-A, calcium.

~~

[Father Dougal]

Any suggestions on how to do it?

Pros and cons?

--------------

I'm in a rut.  Unhealthy foods, low energy, overall not feeling well, gained weight.

Every time I try to start nutrition plan I fail.  I feel like I need to detox my body before I can start on a plan.  My googling basically produces adds for Isagenix, which is MLM company.  However, I know someone who's done great with their cleanses.

What else is out there?

I'm looking for a boost to get me over the a huge hump.

You sound a bit depressed.  Don't complicate things by pinning hopes of a better life on some detox product!  What toxins are you hoping to remove?  I must be full of toxins, and I'm actually quite happy.

So, every time you start a nutrition plan, you fail?  And your answer is to start an other nutrition plan? By nutrition plan, do you mean a temporary diet change?  Don't do it.  They very rarely work.

I think you need a sustainable change in your life to make you happier.  That doesn't come from any MLM product.

You can do it!  Do any exercise?  If not, go for a walk.  Look at the sky.  It's a wonderful world.

Right.  I'm off to load up with a few toxins.  All the best.

[Morning Glory]

Any suggestions on how to do it?

Pros and cons?

--------------

I'm in a rut.  Unhealthy foods, low energy, overall not feeling well, gained weight.

Every time I try to start nutrition plan I fail.  I feel like I need to detox my body before I can start on a plan.  My googling basically produces adds for Isagenix, which is MLM company.  However, I know someone who's done great with their cleanses.

What else is out there?

I'm looking for a boost to get me over the a huge hump.

You sound a bit depressed.  Don't complicate things by pinning hopes of a better life on some detox product!  What toxins are you hoping to remove?  I must be full of toxins, and I'm actually quite happy.

So, every time you start a nutrition plan, you fail?  And your answer is to start an other nutrition plan? By nutrition plan, do you mean a temporary diet change?  Don't do it.  They very rarely work.

I think you need a sustainable change in your life to make you happier.  That doesn't come from any MLM product.

You can do it!  Do any exercise?  If not, go for a walk.  Look at the sky.  It's a wonderful world.

Right.  I'm off to load up with a few toxins.  All the best.

I agree that cleanses/detoxes are a bunch of crap, especially when there is a product involved. Of course the word "cleanse" gives me images of GoLytely or similar. Try to make some sustainable changes, like dropping coffee creamer or switching to whole wheat pasta. Don't go overboard and try to do everything at once, the "all or nothing" thinking is what makes most diets fail. If you can add some exercise, and avoid processed food 90% of the time, you are doing pretty good.

[wenchsenior]

Any suggestions on how to do it?

Pros and cons?

--------------

I'm in a rut.  Unhealthy foods, low energy, overall not feeling well, gained weight.

Every time I try to start nutrition plan I fail.  I feel like I need to detox my body before I can start on a plan.  My googling basically produces adds for Isagenix, which is MLM company.  However, I know someone who's done great with their cleanses.

What else is out there?

I'm looking for a boost to get me over the a huge hump.

You sound a bit depressed.  Don't complicate things by pinning hopes of a better life on some detox product!  What toxins are you hoping to remove?  I must be full of toxins, and I'm actually quite happy.

So, every time you start a nutrition plan, you fail?  And your answer is to start an other nutrition plan? By nutrition plan, do you mean a temporary diet change?  Don't do it.  They very rarely work.

I think you need a sustainable change in your life to make you happier.  That doesn't come from any MLM product.

You can do it!  Do any exercise?  If not, go for a walk.  Look at the sky.  It's a wonderful world.

Right.  I'm off to load up with a few toxins.  All the best.

I agree that cleanses/detoxes are a bunch of crap, especially when there is a product involved. Of course the word "cleanse" gives me images of GoLytely or similar. Try to make some sustainable changes, like dropping coffee creamer or switching to whole wheat pasta. Don't go overboard and try to do everything at once, the "all or nothing" thinking is what makes most diets fail. If you can add some exercise, and avoid processed food 90% of the time, you are doing pretty good.

+1000

[GuitarStv]

You don't need to detox, you need to gradually start to adopt a healthy lifestyle.  Eat more real food and reduce the amount of processed crap that you put away.  Get a little more exercise each day.  Eat out less, and learn to cook tasty things that aren't terrible for you.

Don't do things that will set yourself up for failure . . . like trying to reduce food quantity to the point that you're miserable and hungry, overdoing the exercise and hurting yourself, setting unattainable goals.  It's a marathon, not a sprint and you'll only learn by trial and error over a long period of time.

[brooklynmoney]

Just start slowly. Have a veggie and fruit protein smoothie every morning for a week as your first challenge. Then make a salad every day for lunch. Then cut out any liquids that aren't clear. You can do it just try to focus on one thing at a time not change all things at once.

[MrsDinero]

I cannot recommend Whole30 enough!  I started it in February and ended up doing 59 days + another 35 days of Paleo eating.  I'm starting another round next month.

I can honestly say completing Whole30 changed my life.  It changed how I look at food, weight loss, and how I feel.  It really forces you to focus on foods and read labels.  I've read labels my whole adult life, looking for calories, fat and carb content but I never focused on the ingredients.  Just having to read labels was an eye opening experience.  There is a thread on here that really inspired me to try it, but I can't find it.

[LadyStache in Baja]

I cannot recommend Whole30 enough!  I started it in February and ended up doing 59 days + another 35 days of Paleo eating.  I'm starting another round next month.

I can honestly say completing Whole30 changed my life.  It changed how I look at food, weight loss, and how I feel.  It really forces you to focus on foods and read labels.  I've read labels my whole adult life, looking for calories, fat and carb content but I never focused on the ingredients.  Just having to read labels was an eye opening experience.  There is a thread on here that really inspired me to try it, but I can't find it.

Yes, I loved the whole 30 as well. I haven't been able to complete a second one though! So frustrating! I'm so self-sabotaging! Why oh why can't I do this thing that makes me feel and look great?! Why do I value carrot cake for 5 minutes more than feeling good all day?!

[MrsDinero]

I cannot recommend Whole30 enough!  I started it in February and ended up doing 59 days + another 35 days of Paleo eating.  I'm starting another round next month.

I can honestly say completing Whole30 changed my life.  It changed how I look at food, weight loss, and how I feel.  It really forces you to focus on foods and read labels.  I've read labels my whole adult life, looking for calories, fat and carb content but I never focused on the ingredients.  Just having to read labels was an eye opening experience.  There is a thread on here that really inspired me to try it, but I can't find it.

Yes, I loved the whole 30 as well. I haven't been able to complete a second one though! So frustrating! I'm so self-sabotaging! Why oh why can't I do this thing that makes me feel and look great?! Why do I value carrot cake for 5 minutes more than feeling good all day?!

I've heard of people who have been on it for years and that seems crazy to me.   I too love carrot cake and ate 2 slices last week while on vacation! 

One of my friends eats Whole30 Monday-Friday then on the weekend gives herself leave to eat whatever she wants.  The first couple of weekends she went crazy eating but found her balance at 1 maybe 2 very non-compliant meals on the weekend, then Monday it is back to business. 

My balance is somewhere between Whole30 and Paleo.   My first round I lost all my remaining pregnancy weight.  This round I'm kicking off with starting half-marathon training and I'm hoping to lose more weight.  I'm done with being overweight.

[LadyStache in Baja]

Yay! Good for you! I'm going to try that weekends-off thing!

[Lis]

Plus one for "cleanses are crap." Don't buy into a juice cleanse, or something that so severely limits you for a short amount of time, promising you'll feel better because it "cleanses" you. Assuming that you're otherwise a decently healthy individual save for your diet, your body does the cleanses for you naturally.

I don't recommend jumping straight into Whole30 if you've failed "diets" before in the past. First of all, "diets" don't work and that word should just disappear forever. You need a lifestyle change, which Whole30 can provide. Look up the foods allowed and the foods not allowed, and start making small changes. Cut out or limit one or two crap foods. Promise to add more veggies to three meals a week. Give yourself the freedom to make mistakes.

Learning to eat healthy, when you've had an unhealthy food-lifestyle, is fucking hard. It's easy to say "just eat grilled chicken and veggies for forever!" but hard to do when pizza is fucking delicious. You gotta start small and work your way up. I see both my food-life and my financial-life similarly - a lot of the same rules apply. You're not gonna change overnight, your body isn't going to magically change after one healthy meal. You're gonna make mistakes and mess up your plan. And that's okay.

I was where you are and I know how shitty it feels. I've started my journey, but I'm no where near complete. You gotta learn, read, educate yourself on what is "healthy" - which really is a shit word. Honestly, figure out what baby steps work for you, and just do it.