post christmas detox: step two – add + reduce

;

How are you feeling today? Better I hope! My stomach isn’t protesting as much, although still sore, it’s gone down heaps. Like I said in my previous post, rather than dive head first into a full on detox that will leave you feeling tired, more toxic than ever and crappy, start the slow way.

So today, we add + reduce

This is what I have been doing since my last post and I am already noticing a difference in my body. Looking at the reducing list first, I am lucky that drinking is not something I do often. I had two drinking nights over the holidays – Christmas Eve + New Years Eve. It cemented in my head how awful alcohol is and I can’t understand how people drink.

;

Although I was lucky to not have the hangover, alcohol contains many preservatives that can irritate the hell out of people. Intolerant to amines like myself? Well, alcohol is full of them!

Need a little more motivation because that Christmas cake tastes so damn good? Well here is me on the 01/01/13, compared to today after my walk 03/01/13. HUGE difference in belly bloat

I did another video blog this morning recounting what I am going to say if you prefer to watch/listen rather than read, but in short:

Add

1. Water: Aim for 2 litres of pure water a day. No cordial, no soft drinks no caffeinated tea. Add lemon if you like, it helps to alkalise the body too.

2. Vegetable Juice: Notice how I said vegetable juice. Add a bit of fruit to sweeten if you like but the most I add is one piece. Add some super greens too like kale or parsley.

3. Greens: Easy if you are juicing as you have already added what you need. Aim for greens on your plate at dinner in the way of beans, asparagus, brocollini or even spinach.

4. Movement: Choose movements that feel best for how your body feels that day. Not feeling the best as you slept badly due to a detox? Then opt for a stroll, Pilates or Yoga class.

Reduce

1. Alcohol: As said above, extremely toxic and limit where possible. Try to cut down your alcohol consumption by at least half and when you are comfortable limit further.

2. Caffeine: When you’re feeling crap, it’s easy to rely on a coffee to give you that much needed pep. Try herbal teas to substitute.

3. Refined Sugar: Who needs this? Look at the bad rap refined sugar has in the media lately. This is also why raw food rocks. I have been using a lot of coconut sugar and manuka honey in my raw desserts lately.

4. Allergins: Whatever the hell irritates you, limit it! For me it’s milk and gluten and I should stick to a lower amine diet. I switched up my spelt toast breakfast for a raw smoothie. Although spelt is nutritious, it contains gluten, so be mindful.

Last but not least, me in video form!