Thank you so much to all of you who have been so supportive about my cleanse "experiment." Really, your words of encouragement kept me going during the cleanse and your kindness since I've completed it have me just beaming with pride.
Many of you have commented that you, too, are interested in starting the cleanse in hopes of reaching your own higher level of wellness. So first let me say, "Whoo Hoo!!" Honestly, I gained so much from those 3 short weeks, I just want to shout it from the rooftops. If you're sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, I highly recommend giving yourself the gift of this cleanse.
To that end, I'm here to help you get started. First I recommend you purchase Kathy Freston's book, "The Quantum Wellness Cleanse."
Or, at the very least, reserve a copy from the library. And, no, she's not paying me to say that!! But the info she has in the book about WHY you're restricting what she's asking you to is invaluable and more that what I have or will cover on this blog. She walks you through every day of the cleanse and seems to have an uncanny way of saying exactly what you need to hear on that day. It's kinda eery, in that sense, but extremely helpful.
You could also purchase the companion book, "Quantum Wellness" if you're interested in delving deeper into the spiritual aspects of the cleanse. I have not read that book, however, so can't really comment on it's content. But I assume it would give you a more well-rounded approach to living your life with purpose and wellness.
So, after you've gotten the book, what's the first thing you'll want to do? Well, first, read it all the way through. It's a pretty short read, given that the last 50-75 pages or so are dedicated to recipes you can enjoy while on the cleanse. You don't even have to read every page thoroughly, but it does help to get an idea of what's to come.
Next up, time to go shopping!
Kathy gives a nice shopping list in the book as well as here on her website. I found it to be very helpful to think of all the wonderful food I could have, instead of focusing on the things I couldn't. To her list I would add the following items (just from my own personal experience):
- Rice cakes (get the unsalted, unflavored kind - yuck on their own, but great with peanut or almond butter)
- Brown rice multi-seed crackers - my favorite are these by CrunchMaster; they sell them at Costco. Really good with hummus or white bean dip.
- Trio granola bars - I kept one of these in my purse and in the car at all times. Great for when I felt like cheating while I was on the go. Also available at Costco.
- Any of the sprouted grain products by Ezekiel 4:9 - tortillas, burger buns, bread, english muffins. For those days when you just want a friggin' sandwich!
- Black bean burgers
- Canned pumpkin - great for mixing into oatmeal
- Veggie soups, like minestrone, potato or pumpkin and legume soups like black bean and lentil. Great for quick and easy lunches. Make sure to read the label, though and look for no added sugars or wheat products.
- Herbal tea - make it as iced tea if you're tired of drinking plain water all the time
- Mott's Calcium Fortified, No Sugar Added applesauce
- Calcium fortified orange juice
- Pumpkin seeds in the shell
- Black olives
- Pre-popped popcorn - organic Target brand
So that should get you started. Next time we'll talk about cookbooks you might want to check out. There were a few I found invaluable through the duration of the cleanse and will be purchasing now to keep the healthy eating going.
Above all else, I want to wish those of you embarking on this journey the best - I truly hope you find it as beneficial to you as I have, and I believe you will. For those that are still skeptical, I know how you feel. I was, too. So if you have questions, please feel free to post a comment. I read them and will gladly answer them as best as I can.
Wishing all of you health and happiness!
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