Cleansing: Is it for you?

Twice a year I usually try to cut out diary (mainly cheese), bread (and anything with gluten), sugar, and wine. On this diet plan I can eat all the fruit and veggies I like, organic meat and increase my fibre.  My current dilemma has been should I take supplements at the same time to encourage my body to rid it self of toxins.  I have done the Wild Rose Cleanse many times, but I find the supplements too harsh for my system.  I am currently trying Botanica's Restorative Cleanse, and so far I am very pleased!  There are only 2 supplements that you have to take per day for 2 weeks.  In particular there is one compound for skin.  Our skin can often be the last organ that our body treats.  It can become dry in the winter and is responsible for protecting us for the toxins from the air.

Why do I do it?
I find cleansing re-sets my clock and cycle.  When too many toxins build up I feel bloated and tired. There are times where I like to throw caution to the wind and eat and drink whatever I please. All of a sudden eating cheese and crackers between meals becomes a routine.  So, naturally a few pounds creep on. If 5 -10 pounds creep on every year in 3 years that could be 30 pounds. That is not a place I want to go to.

Each time I do a cleanse I feel great and I eat better after as well.  I am not craving as much bread and cheese. I can't say the same for wine; I always like my wine!

My ultimate goal is to maintain a balance and eat according to my cleanse Monday to Friday and treat my self on the weekends. This is a great way to maintain weight and have treats too!  However, over the holidays (and then some) my regular healthy diet crashed a bit.  Who wants to join me as I reset my diet?

I will outline my 14 day meal plan as I go along (maybe I will have the strength to go for 3 weeks):

Day 1
Water Plan: Cucumber infused water (if you had vegetables or fruit to your water it will be more enjoyable)
Breakfast: 2 poaches eggs, smoothie (1/2 banana*, water, berries and pineapple).

*some cleanses will say to stay away from tropical fruit.  You do have to be careful not to have too much because of the sugar content.

Lunch: Salad in a Mason Jar!!  It is so fancy that you have to love it!!  The night before we had roasted carrots and beets, so that started my salad! I added lettuce and tomato as well.  Dressing: lemon, olive oil, dill, salt and pepper.  I also found that Simply Natural's Organic Stone Ground Mustard doesn't have any sugar.  If you are avoiding vinegar than you have to say away from this one This salad lasted me 3 mini meals through out the day: 11am, 1pm and 5 pm snack. I am grazier and like to keep my energy levels up.

Dinner: Casey's Chicken Stew
Beverage: lemon infused water.

Plan ahead! I cut some apples and put them in a pot with lemon and cinnamon.  I cooked them until it looked like apple sauce without sugar.  This is a great topping for your oatmeal!

Day 2:
Breakfast: Oatmeal with my no sugar apple sauce that I made the night ahead.
Snack:1 hard boiled egg
Lunch: Casey's Chicken Stew
Snack: 3 handfuls of popcorn with pepper
Dinner: Salad: blueberries, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, kale and cucumber
Beverage: 1 pomegranate squeezed into a large picture.

Day 3
I am going skiing today, so I need to fuel myself before I go.
Breakfast: Oatmeal with No sugar apple sauce.  Blueberry, banana and water smoothie.
Lunch: Ahhh lunch on the mountain.  I was planning for trouble here.  I ended up with a vegetarian and gluten free soup.  It was a spicy, yam, curry and lime soup.  I also got a side of edamame beans. Paired with 2 large glasses of water.
Snack: 1/2 bar Energy Bar from Nita lake Lodge (nuts, seeds, cranberries, raisins)  It was definitely a rich treat for an apres ski treat. I will be staying away from that one unless I exercise.
Snack: Sauted Kale with butter and salt and pepper
Dinner: Spaghetti Squash with a chicken, onion, tomato and rosemary.  This was pretty satisfying!
Water: infused with berries today.

Day 4
Today I am filled with positivity and feeling great!  So far I am really enjoying this cleanse.  My skin looks great and my energy levels are up.  The scale is going in the right direction at a good pace.  My belief that healthy weight loss should be 1-2 pounds per week.
Breakfast: Omelette 2 eggs and mushrooms.  For some reason the mushrooms tasted so rich and I didn't have or want any cheese.
Green Tea
Lunch: Spaghetti Squash with a chicken, onion, tomato and rosemary.
Snack: Lightly panfried kale
Dinner: Stirfry

Day 5:
Water infusion: MINT It is so refreshing and I am drinking a lot of it!
Breakfast: blueberry and banana smoothie
Lunch: Left over Stirfry spilt into 2 meals: 11am and 2pm
Dinner: Ashley and Matt's creation

Day 6:
Breakfast: Eggs