The Cleanse

I've had a few peeps ask me what EXACTLY we're doing on our cleanse...so here it is. (ps-I'm not a doctor so don't sue me if you try it and don't like it--I say that with so much love!)

21 Day Cleanse


First let me say...Yayyy!!!! I'm so glad you're interested in doing this cleanse! We're on day 11 now and we feel so much better with each new day. Every day brings more clarity, focus, alertness and energy!!! If you decide to do it, don't wait too long or you'll talk yourself out of it. We decided two days before we took the plunge...

Here's what we're doing:

For 21 days we will eliminate all sugar, animal products, stimulants and alcohol. We will eat a plant based diet and supplement with green power. We'll drink 2 liters of water per day.

During the 21 days by eating simply and cleanly as a commitment to our health we'll:

· Feel lighter, more energized and alive.
· Sleep better and feel rested.
· Lower blood pressure and Lower stress.
· Clean out your system and give your metabolism a welcome rest.
· Discover intuitive eating that is in sync with your bodies needs.
· Change your patterns and attitudes about food as it relates to your body AND your psyche.
· Become more aware of everything going on
· Lose weight and develop lean muscle.
· Feel satisfied with REAL food without additives and processing.
· Eat clean, live clean and thrive

Our "cook book" will present a detox based on:

· Week one: Plant based food
· Week two: Raw food
· Week Three: Liquid Food

We'll also commit to:

· 1/2 hour minimum exercise every day
· 1/2 hour minimum quiet meditation



(Based on the 21 day detox developed by Richard DeAndrea, MD, ND and John Wood, ND)


Tips!! (Things I've figured out as we've gone along)

Get a good vegan supplement powder to add to your shakes, so you get all your vitamins/minerals. (We've found an AWESOME one called Vega, that is also Raw, so it works for all three weeks of this cleanse. It was created by a gold medal Ironman triathlete who happens to be vegan, and it tastes incredible too. But it's kind of pricey so look for one that works for you.) Click here to go to the Vega site.

Get a good B12 supplement. (I've learned that the one thing vegetarians don't get enough of is B12, so you should be supplementing. You get what you pay for in the vitamin department, so don't buy the 4 dollar bottle if you can swing it.)

Read The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone. (You won't be able to put it down and it makes doing the cleanse SO much easier.)

Spend 15-20 minutes every day looking for new recipes. (The quickest way to feel unsatisfied is to keep eating the same thing. Be creative, there are so many ways to make healthy food!)

Make sure you bring snacks with you if you leave the house so you don't get stuck starving with only McDonald's in sight!


Week 1

This week you can still cook your food, so eat as much brown rice, quinoa, barley, millet etc. as you can so you feel really warm and full while you are letting go of all the other stuff. We ate A LOT of super clean vegetable stews with wild rice, southern style beans and rice (without the sugar filled seasonings, but fresh or dried herbs and a little salt). Try to soak your beans for 24 hours before cooking. It really helps digestion. Also, you can have herbal tea.

There is an incredible vegetarian restaurant in Ithaca, NY called Moosewood that has great recipes you can use this week. Click here for an archive.

Week 2

Check out the raw websites and look for good, EASY recipes that you can make quickly without too much preparation. This is the key to not getting burnt out while detoxing. Also, be aware that raw foods can still be warmed over the stove. Finding that little gem out made me so happy!!! You just can't cook it so warm it on low heat just until its comforting... Once it hits 105 degrees it starts to cook and thats a no no. This week you can't have prepared tea because its been heated, but you can put fresh herbs in hot (not boiling) water. We just cut mint and lavender and chamomile right out of the garden. It's awesome.

Raw food recipes

Gourmet Raw food recipes -if you're really into it!


Week 3

We're not there yet so I'll keep you posted!!