I am not the type of person who would normally jump at the chance to do a cleanse. When my gym sent out a group email inviting everyone to participate I got a little excited. Perhaps it was the last of my Mom’s peanut brittle that pushed me over the edge but the chance to have a 7-day kick start on my healthy eating for 2018 sounded like something I could manage.
Hubby agreed to do with me. At the time I had no idea how much that would help me, but boy did it ever.
My gym uses Shaklee products and the trainer had already done this cleanse. Shaklee is a quality product I have used various products from for years. It was great my trainer had already done it because her advice was valuable. In addition, she added a private Facebook group for members doing the cleanse that helped a lot to make me feel like I wasn’t alone. I would encourage you to research the products before you jump in to ensure they are quality and it is safe. It’s a good idea to have your physician take a look at it to give you the thumbs up.
Lesson #1 – You can give up anything you want to.
Those closest to me know I normally refer to my love affair with diet coke as an addiction. I learned quickly; I am not addicted. This is the second time I have given it up for an extended amount of time. It was easily replaced with water from my soda stream. Bye-bye diet coke sniffle sniffle. The truth is I like diet coke. BIG difference. That means I can have 1 if I want but for now I am choosing not to. You too can give up any food or drink you think may be an addiction.
Lesson #2 – Plan for a partner to do it with you.
Hubby’s support meant everything to me. Since we work together and spend more waking hours together than is normal I sometimes forget I need him. I needed him. He reminded me daily I can do anything I want. Sharing our salad lunch and carrot stick snack together made it much more enjoyable. And Friday when we were both umm a little hangry we joked together about what we really wanted to eat and sailed through.
Lesson #3 – Better eating habits for the entire family.
Parents set the tone when it comes to food. Both our kids are healthy eaters. They like fruits and veggies and will eat them without begging. When we incorporated more veggies and fruit into our diet they did as well. We went through 6 pounds of carrots alone in 5 days. Last count for the strawberries, I had purchased 6 containers from the store. 5 heads of romaine lettuce were no match for our family and the 4 celeries were gone in a flash. Junk food snacking was decreased dramatically.
Lesson #4 – Plan your meals so you have some creative choices to keep you from repeating the same foods.
My gym’s private Facebook group was awesome for recipe stealing. Those ladies are seriously creative cooks. I am not☹ But the imagination on their plates was an inspiration for me and I quickly adapted. When I do cleanse again (yes, I really do plan another 7 days) I will have recipes ready to go from all the great posts.
Lesson #5 – Get some really quality spices that will keep your meals interesting.
The first few days I was afraid I would grab my salt shaker and pour it all in the pan. Thankfully a lady at the gym saved me. She sells Wildtree products, which are all-natural organic products and most importantly the one she let me sample didn’t include salt. It was delicious. Now I am anxiously waiting for my full size to arrive. Trader Joe’s has a great selection too.
Conclusion
If you are thinking about doing a cleanse it is a great experience. I lost my holiday weight and I feel great. Hubby lost a few pounds and learned he needs to eat more fruits and veggies. Kiddos added some good stuff into their snacking habits. It was a win-win for everyone!
Oops almost forgot, you might be curious what gym I belong to that is so awesome. It is Burn Bootcamp Mallard Creek. I have been a member for over 2 years. Seriously awesome owner who has an amazing team of trainers. I get burned out quickly doing the same thing and it is crazy but I have not ever done the same workout twice in there. Great place. If you are close check it out. If you live in another part of town there are other Burn Bootcamps you can check out.
Disclaimer – I am not a physician nor nutritionist. This post is to share ideas and thoughts.
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I’m Terry O’Connor, President and Founder of O’Connor Insurance Associates. I grew up in Pennsylvania, earned my bachelor’s degree at Edinboro University and my master’s at Gannon University, and in 1998 I traded snow for sunshine and moved to Charlotte. In January 2000, I started this agency on my own because I wanted to help people protect what matters most to them. More than two decades later, we’ve grown into an independent agency serving families and businesses across North Carolina, and we’ve been recognized as an IIABA Best Practices Agency every year since 2010, a distinction held by fewer than 1% of agencies nationwide.
I’ve seen firsthand how the right protection can change a family’s or a business owner’s life, and that’s why I lead with empathy, education and honest advice. As an independent agent, I work for you, not for one insurance company. I take the time to explain your options in plain language, and when you call our office, you reach a real person who knows your account.
Outside the office, you’ll usually find me outdoors hunting or fishing, or on the mat coaching wrestling as an assistant varsity coach at Mallard Creek High School. I’m also a proud supporter of the arts, usually in the front row cheering on my daughter in local theater productions. I’d be glad to review your coverage with you. Call me at 704-510-8884 or email terry@oianc.com.
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