The Simple Slice

Become a Lean Mean CLEAN Machine

"Clean" is the Cleanse I Recommend

INTRO TO CLEAN

I recently completed a 21-day detox program called “Clean” by Dr. Alexander Junger.  I love this program, and it has jump-started a new way for me of looking at life and eating.  I did it about 4 years ago as well, and loved the results.  I was ready once again to change some of my habits and create a happier healthier me.

Feeling good after "Clean" on the Oregon Coast.

There are a lot of cleanses out there and ways to detoxify your body, and I’ve looked at many.  I believe Clean to be the best-rounded, simplest and user friendly system out there.  I like that you eat real food and you can tailor it to make it workable for you.  I loved Dr. Junger’s own story and experiences as well as his well-researched information on food, toxicity and how our bodies work.  The book itself is an education and well worth the read.  I re-read it prior to beginning the 21-day program for the 2^nd time – it’s that worthwhile.

 

It’s so easy to slip into habits that aren’t optimal for our health and I had certainly done that.  I was putting food in my mouth that I wasn’t really thinking about; I just wanted.  I was snacking more on sugar and salty foods and not foods I knew were good for me. 

Prior to Clean, I had put on 5-6 pounds that I couldn’t shake; they became my new normal.  I was looking and feeling bloated and puffy.  I was hovering around 140/141; and I feel my best around 135.  I was also suffering from headaches that I would get every 2-3 weeks.  I wasn’t sure if it was caffeine withdrawals, (as I didn’t drink it every day), sugar, or if it was food related at all.  I just wasn’t looking or feeling my best.  I was ready for a change.

CLEANSE OVERVIEW

The Clean book by Dr. Junger is amazing and filled with tons of information on our bodies, the food we eat, the environment, and how it all works together. 

The Clean Program helps you to understand how toxic our food and our planet is, and how unconscious we’ve become about what we put in our mouths.  Further, it explains how our bodies are designed for health with a wonderful detoxification system that restores our body to optimal well-being.  

The challenge is that this detoxification system is over-burdened and doesn’t get the opportunity to “clean” out the toxins and heal itself.  It doesn’t have the time and energy to do what it’s designed to do as we are constantly feeding ourselves and feeding ourselves poorly. 

Consequently, we begin a vicious cycle where we eat poorly, feel badly, get sick, medicate, and ultimately resign ourselves to feeling and looking sluggish and sometimes downright ill.  Dr. Junger explains that we absolutely have an alternative to this routine.  The Clean Program awakens you, educates you, and shows you another way.  It excites you about the possibility of how your body can heal itself.  Our bodies our designed for health, but we must educate ourselves and use our minds to help our bodies do what it was created to do. 

THE PROGRAM IN A NUTSHELL

On Clean, you eat from a specific list of foods that are known to be non-allergic, anti-inflammatory and healthy for the body.  This is called the Elimination List.  There is no refined sugar, gluten, alcohol, caffeine etc., but that’s only the beginning.  You are encouraged to begin eating from this list a week or two before you begin the actual program depending on how poor your diet is, to help prepare your body; as getting off some of these foods can cause your body to have a reaction like withdrawals and you can feel pretty bad. 

When you begin the program, the basic outline is to have a smoothie, juice, or soup for the morning and the evening meal, and a solid meal from the “Elimination List” for lunch.  You must wait 12 hours from the time you eat at night until the time you eat again in the morning.  Therefore, if you eat dinner at 6:00 pm, you cannot eat again until 6:00 am; this allows the body to digest the food in your body and allow the detoxification system to kick in and get to work cleaning out old “debris”. 

That’s the basic program.  Of course, there are lots of other suggestions to create the optimal plan for you, but in a nutshell, that’s it.  And in my opinion, if you just do that, you will be successful. 

WHAT I DID

The book gives you lots of recipes for creating yummy meals, planning ideas etc., but for me, I kept it super simple.  I did a smoothie every morning, a salad almost every day for lunch and a soup every evening.  (The book will give you more ideas on making sure you get all the nutrients you need, there are even supplements you can purchase, and an on-line community to support your success).  I sometimes snacked on nuts or fruit if I was hungry.  As I do not like spending a lot of time in the kitchen, this plan was actually enjoyable for me. 

I did not do the Elimination Diet prior to beginning but I did begin watching what I ate and started eliminating certain things to prepare.  However, I don’t eat a lot of refined sugar or packaged foods to begin with, so I didn’t suffer too badly from withdrawals. 

I recommend that you consider implementing some of the following added practices if you give Clean a try.  The book gives you more suggestions; these are the ones that I liked. 

• Keep a journal – Keep it simple, but do keep track of your weight every day, how you feel, what you ate etc., and whatever else you want to track.  Don’t expect to feel great right out the gate or every day; remember, this is a 21 day program. 
• Take photos – I didn’t do this and I regret it.  The book suggests that you take photos in the same place from the same angle.  I would at least do 3 – the beginning, the middle and the end. 
• Move – Get on some sort of movement plan if you aren’t already doing one.  I walked most days and felt that was sufficient as I wasn’t up for a lot of strenuous exercise. 
• Meditate – Get quiet at some point in the day.  I would set my timer and enjoy some quiet time.  At least 8 minutes was my daily goal.  Try the book “8 Minute Meditation” by Victor Davich.
• Attitude – Set in your mind that this is something you WANT to do.  Get your mind excited about your endeavor and make it a positive.  Look forward to it.  Be inquisitive about what you’re learning about yourself.  Be proud that you are making positive changes.  Create and say affirmations about what you want to accomplish.  “I feel and look great!”  “I love eating healthy!”  “I can do this!”

There are many good suggestions throughout the book, but I believe those to be the most beneficial and helpful in keeping ME successful and on track. 

Finally, ease yourself back into eating some of your “old” foods, after the 21 days.  Just as you ease in, you need to transition out.  There’s also an amazing section in the book on re-introducing foods back into your diet to discover what you are allergic to or what doesn’t work for your body. 

RESULTS

My results from Clean were definitely positive.  It got me back on track eating a lot healthier, feeling better, thinking clearer and becoming more conscience of my body, mind and environment.  I lost a total of 9 pounds and it helped me to define how I want to live and eat going forward.  

Since completing the 21-day program, my health and food goals are:

•         Maintain a healthy weight, between 135 – 137
•         Eat predominately fruits and veggies
•         Eat as much raw food as I can
•         Keep meat, dairy, gluten, sugar and caffeine to a minimum
•         Eliminate toxicity in my environment where I can
•         Exercise and enjoy an active lifestyle
•         Meditate and practice kindness, love and understanding

 As you can see, Clean is not only about losing weight or eating better; it opens your mind to personal and global issues of toxicity and how it effects ourselves and the entire planet.  In my opinion you would benefit greatly by reading this amazing book and educating and empowering yourself to take control of your health and well-being.  Your body is waiting to help you with all your health goals. 

Give this program a try, Simple Slicers; I know you won’t regret it!  Good luck! 

As always, don’t forget to appreciate the JOY-ney!