As some of you know, or maybe you weren’t aware and that’s cool too, I recently committed myself to a 30-day detox program leading up to my 31st birthday, which was this past Friday the 25th. Surprisingly enough, or again, maybe not surprising at all if you really know me well, this was the first time that I’ve actually successfully completed a “detox” program.
You see, those who only see my exterior through Instagram or brief moments in passing maybe assume that I’m a super healthy eater because I teach yoga. Those who know me well know that I really, really love pizza and beer. And those who know me deepest know that I have a bit of a complicated relationship with food as well as anything related to a ‘diet’ or a ‘detox,’ because, well… the last time I did a ‘diet’ it became an obsession that led to years of depression, disordered eating, and a few weeks in a treatment center after graduating from high school. But I think I’ll save that story for another post…
Anyways, back to my point — detoxes were never really my thing. After ‘recovering’ from my disordered eating (and I put that in quotations because do you ever fully recover from it? And that’s a genuine question…) anything relating to detox or diet or restrictive eating immediately triggered me. When people around me would begin to talk about their current diet or how much they ate that day or what they currently are/aren’t eating, I learned I just had to step away from the conversation and not be involved. Over time I finally started finding the joy of eating again — without worry or stress or fear — and I was finally able to allow myself to enjoy all of the food that I told myself I could never eat again.
But, as with anything in life, we must try to enjoy all things in moderation. And like many of us, this covid-19 quarantine found me indulging in the pizza, beer, and sweets far too often than I would have preferred. I noticed that, in return, I was feeling sluggish, lethargic, irritable, and just, off. I felt like I really needed a reset.
Now, before I go into the list of things I learned from my detox, I first just want to highlight the shift in mindset that’s come along with age and a dedicated yoga/introspection practice. When I was 15, I was way more focused on how I appeared. Thinking back to the day I started that damn ‘diet’ that nearly killed me in high school, I never remember ever thinking that I wanted to do this for me. It was never to become a healthier version of myself… No way! My entire mindset was focused on looking good for other people: To make girls jealous and to attract boys. That focus has now shifted from the exterior to the interior (thank goodness) and my health and wellness goals are more geared towards feeling good on the inside, which is always reflected on the outside.
So, here they are. A few things that I learned from my first, healthy detox:
Eat enough!
Eating small, regular, and ideally balanced, whole-food meals every couple of hours has been a game-changer when it comes to regulating and maintaining my mood & energy levels throughout the day. And not only did I find that eating throughout the day helps keep my energy up, I also find it helped keep me from eating a lot right before I went to bed, which can have some negative effects on sleep and digestion, from triggering nighttime asthma to acid reflux and indigestion.
Establish a morning routine.
It really is such a great way to set the tone for your day and I swear it encourages you to make more positive and more mindful decisions throughout your day. I just recently read The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod and it’s gotten me stoked on reinforcing a solid morning routine of movement, meditation, journaling, and a few other mindfulness/self-development techniques. I’m starting to feel like why shouldn’t I (and we all) be trying to maximize each and every day, ya know? Who knows what is possible!?
Toxins can come in many forms.
Some of these are more out of our control than others (ie: outdoor pollution vs. indoor pollution), so minimize what you can. My teacher, Tiffany, suggests taking a look at your “Total Load,” a technique she learned from Dr. Frank Lipman, MD, in which you assess potential burdens to your system and look at what you can change to help lighten the “load” on your body and improve your health.
Likewise, nourishment can come in many forms — not just food!
It’s multidimensional. We can nourish body, mind, and soul. Lately, I’ve been finding nourishment through reading, waking up for the sunrise, applying a face mask once a week, drinking enough water, making time to get outside, and repeating affirmations. I recommend keeping your inner-body awareness sparked and don’t be afraid to ask yourself, “What do I need in this moment?” Then go do it!!
None of this really matters if you don’t get enough sleep or learn how to, and prioritize, managing your stress.
Luckily I’ve got the sleep thing down. I am grateful to have no trouble falling or staying asleep. But the managing stress part, let’s just say that that’s a work in progress. But, thank goodness for my yoga, pranayama, and meditation practices that give me tools to help down-regulate my nervous system in the face of stress. Now I’m just working on pulling those tools out a little faster before that stress response kicks in. If you’re unsure of where to start with this one, check out this short, 6minute tutorial I recorded: A Simple Breathing Technique to Calm the Nerves. This is one of my go-to breathing exercises when I’m feeling stressed.
So, for those of you curious as to what program I followed: I used my yoga teacher, Tiffany Cruikshank’s book, Optimal Health for a Vibrant Life: A 30-Day Program to Detoxify and Replenish Body and Mind. The reason that I followed this program is because, one, I trust Tiffany’s guidance and knowledge, and two, it is accessible and easy to mold to your schedule and needs. You can go hardcore 30-days no booze, caffeine, sugar, wheat, and dairy… Or, if you’re like me and a little unsure/nervous/never really done this before, you can use her recommendations to help ween yourself off (and do the best you can). And the best part about this program is that she approaches optimal health from a holistic viewpoint and includes daily yoga, meditation, pranayama, natural supplements, and other helpful detoxification techniques and protocols. This is not an ad, but my personal recommendation. The clarity I gained from this detox is helping me to continue to heal my relationship with food while better understanding how to better fuel and take care of my body and mind.
Hope this was helpful! And hope you are well.