Detoxes and fasts are considered to be traditional ways to lose weight without exercise. Juggling an exercise routine and a job during the school year, can be a burden. Fortunately, there are ways to jumpstart a detox before any school the holiday without too much disruption. We all want to be able to relax on the beach during our downtime and look great, but it takes two things: patience and a plan.
Don’t be too hard on yourself if you can’t manage more than 3 days on a detox. Your goal should be to pick one that is manageable, affordable and transportable. A detox plan does you no good if it can’t go where you want to go.
Additionally, please ensure that you do through research on the detox that you are hoping to try in order to determine if it is best for you. It helps to speak to your health professional if you have any questions and concerns as to how a detox can impact your health.
Here are some ideas to help you get started quickly:
Veggie Stock
Prepare a stock of your favourite vegetables on a Saturday before work on Sunday. Carrots, cabbage, spinach, and leeks are plentiful this time of year. Add garlic and a bay leaf to give the stock taste. Place it in a thermos, this will allow you to sip throughout the day and reheat when needed. Place any leftovers in the fridge, tightly sealed, for daily refills. You can do this for 3-5 days. This will help clean toxins from your system while replenishing it with nutrients. In the evening, enjoy a simple dinner of brown rice and chicken with ginger and scallions. It is important that you always check with your medical provider if you are diabetic or take medication before embarking on any reduced calorie plan.
Master Cleanse
Probably the simplest and hardest detox available, yet the most popular. It is simple to make: several lemons, cayenne pepper and grade B maple syrup. The ingredients may be easy to grasp, but takes a strict resolve to commit to 3, 7, or even 21 days. However, there are thousands of reports online that taut its miraculous benefits. Purists of the Master Cleanse warn not to eat anything else during that time.
Juice Fast
Does the thought of drinking vegetables and lemonade all day already have you feeling hungry? A juice fast gives you the option to make different choices and enjoy daily variety. This is the most time consuming option, and requires quite a bit of cleanup. Keep your juices to two ingredients to save time. Some ideas are apple and carrot, pineapple and kale, and cucumber and celery.
Detoxes on the job can slow you down because of the reduced calories, especially if you are a first timer. Make sure you take your vitamins, and include mindfulness activities like reading or writing to help you stay focused. Posting your progress online or inviting a friend to join you can be the ultimate motivator.
A well-planned 7-10 day detox before the holidays can help you to make smarter food choices and flaunt the results of your detox well into the Year. It may just inspire someone else to start something new.
By Maryann Reid
