Welcome back everyone!
After a nice long summer vacation, I'm
back to talk with you about anything you want :)
This week I had an interesting question
from a client about doing a cleanse. My answer to her is that I
don't recommend doing any harsh cleanse program. Our bodies aren't
like a dryer vent that you can blow the lint and dust out the end and
be "clean". Our bodies are more like engines, needing a
daily flow of clean oil through built in filtration systems to
maintain high performance.
My answer to the cleanse question is to
establish daily habits that will continually support our body's
perfectly programmed, perpetual cleansing process for highest
performance!
You've heard me talk about being aware
of the toxic load you are encountering, and really that is why people
even consider a cleanse. It turns out that trying to unload all your
toxins in one fell swoop is extremely uncomfortable, painful even and
often dangerous (many require physician supervision!) and rarely
accomplishes what you wanted it to.
When we support our bodies on a daily
basis though, the natural cleansing processes work like magic. No
pain or discomfort and you end up feeling great all the time, not
bouncing up and down with mood swings, energy spikes and crashes.
So, how do you do this magical daily
cleansing? It's super easy!
Drink clean water, eat whole foods,
avoid chemicals, move your body and foster your spirit.
I know this can actually be harder than
it sounds, that is why we start where you are and build on it, one
step at a time.
I often suggest something really
simple, that you probably did as a kid.
Put a glass of water by your bed at
night and drink it all first thing in the morning.
Maybe you already have the habit of
that glass of water on your nightstand, that's great! As you're
rolling out of bed in the morning, chug it down.
Doesn't that sound like the easiest
thing you can do for yourself? To make it even easier keep a gallon
(or 2) of spring water by the bed so it is super easy to fill that
glass at night before falling asleep.
This is the key of habit building -
make it super easy for yourself.
As I work with clients we continue to
add small habits weekly. I find that adding a new habit to your
schedule at the end of your week usually works best. Starting a new
habit on Monday sounds like a great idea, but how many Monday
mornings do you have plenty of time to add new things? If you're like
me and everyone else I know, never.
So, we start on Friday or Saturday
because you usually have a little more free time and 2 full days to
iron out the details before diving in to the work week again.
To get you started here are a few more
really easy and body cleansing, health supporting habits that I know
you'll love. Each one builds on the previous one to add quick habits
through the day that make a huge difference in your health:
Stretch before you get out of bed. (let
me count the ways this is good for you...flexibility in your body,
helps cleanse lymph and calms nervous system!) First thing in the
morning, before you get out of bed, do a simple stretch. This can
take 2 seconds or 2 minutes - you make the call. I suggest at least
hugging your knees into your chest and then stretching full out long
with your hands above your head and pointing your toes to make your
body as long as you can. If you want to do more and have the room,
sit up and stretch anything you can. Do straddle stretches, touch
your toes and try a gentle spinal twist even. For more, check out a
Tara Stiles video on doing yoga in bed. http://youtu.be/1Vw7dQz505o
http://youtu.be/C7P6dzVf0ug (no affiliation, I just like these)
Drink a glass of water first thing.
Before or after you're stretched, drink that glass of water we talked
about.
Meditate. Again, this can be 30
seconds or 30 minutes. It's always going to help. I suggest to just
sit cross legged in bed with your eyes closed and hands on your legs
and breathe deeply, counting silently as you breathe in and out. If
you really dig this, there are many meditation styles to explore but
a few focused breaths first thing in the morning is a really soothing
way to start the day, gets oxygen flowing to your brain so you can
think better and keeps the chaos at bay...at least for a little bit!
Breakfast. Basically, find something
you like to have for breakfast and find the easiest way to get it.
It can be a smoothie, Larabar or a full on farmer's feast. Here are 3
ideas: Larabar or trail mix because they are made from whole foods
and are super portable. Avoid any breakfast or protein bar that has
manufactured ingredients! Those are not cleansing or supportive.
Another favorite is a hemp smoothie (bonus recipe below). Hemp is a
complete plant protein which is super easy on digestion with many
health benefits. And no, it won't get you high - that's a complete
myth!! If you need something heartier, it takes about 2 minutes to
make your own egg & cheese sandwich. Don't you dare do a drive
through for one! You'll save time and money making it yourself and
know what's in it (horrors of fast food another time). I've also had
clients rave about doing a batch of breakfast casserole on the
weekend by whisking together some eggs, cheese, breakfast meat,
shredded potatoes, onions and other veggies then either putting it in
the crock pot for a couple hours or baking in muffin pans for 20 mins
at 400 degrees (can you say mini-quiche?). Bonus: mini quiche can be
frozen in individual servings for a quick zap and go in the A.M.
Now you're out the door feeling capable
and nourished! Your liver loves you because you gave it clean water
first thing to clear the junk it's been filtering out of your blood
all night. Your brain loves you for the burst of oxygen from that
deep breathing. Your guts love you for getting them a little massage
first thing. Every cell loves you for the nourishing breakfast that
is giving you great energy too.
Please let me know in the comments
below what your experience is with healthy habit building. I'd love
to hear about it!
Tune in next time for Phase 2 - habits
you can easily fit in throughout the day to keep it going.
Here's my favorite hemp smoothie
recipe:
1 scoop hemp powder
1 scoop raw cacao powder
1 cup chai tea (cooled)
1 cup coconut milk
1 banana
10 frozen cherries or a couple ice
cubes
1-2 Tablespoons maple syrup
blend together and drink.
I use a magic bullet because the single
size cups are just right and portable. No affiliation here either!
