First time cleansing, keep this in mind

Welcome everyone!

I wanted to share today a little bit about cleansing and as I thought about what I wanted to share, I realized I have so much to say because I have done various cleanses over the past 16 years.  So, having said that, I will break down all of my cleansing experiences into a few blog posts.

Today I will write about first time cleansing.  So I just came off a 7 day cleanse, it had been about 2 years since my last cleanse. While I was cleansing my partner joined me doing his first cleanse ever. As the days passed I was reminded of the basics about cleansing.

First of all…listen to your body.  Do you ‘think’ you should do a cleanse, or does your body feel a bit heavy, is your energy low or your mind not quite a clear as it could be? these are good reasons to do a cleanse. Next you want to consider how long feels do-able for you? what do you feel you can live without during your first cleanse? One of the most important lessons I have learned over my years of cleansing is this: taylor it to suit you.  Not everyone may be ready to cut out all caffeine or all sugar.  It’s important to remember that you can create a cleansing diet that will work for you for a period of time that you choose, you do not need to buy a cleanse but of course you can if that is what speaks to you.  Be prepared. If you are thinking of doing a cleanse, then spend a good 1-2 weeks mentally preparing for it, decide what you will eat, clear out your fridge of foods you will not be consuming, make a shopping list and clear your calendar of social plans, unless it’s a tea date with a friend.  You never know how you will feel from one day to the next so be ready for anything and choose a time where your work schedule is not too busy if possible.  I suggest is using your cook books or Pinterest to find some healthy recipes and create your cleansing menu for the length of your cleanse.  I also recommend making double the food your normally make because lighter food has no fillers or crap that normally fills you up and you will be hungry. If you work your cleanse this way for the first time, I really believe you will be more successful in completing it.

Lastly, if you have never done a cleanse before, please  do not do a water or juice fast for your first cleanse, it’s way too extreme.  Remember, you are cleansing to release toxins in your body. If you have never cleansed before, you will have a lot of toxicity, we all do. Eating a clean diet for a good 5-7 days will release A LOT of toxins.  A water or juice fast is very advanced cleansing and you would do one of those IF and WHEN your body suggests it to you and in that case, it will feel really right for you.  I know people who have done a water or juice fast for their first cleanse with disastrous results. The reason for that is because if your body is very toxic, meaning you have consumed sugar, caffeine, meat, dairy, processed foods, alcohol, pain killers etc your whole life up until this first cleanse, there is some work to do. Think of it this way, eating clean for a time will gradually help your body release some toxins, water or juice fasting will release way more toxins and your body literally cannot handle so much trauma at one time. What can often happen if you do an extreme water or juice fast right off the bat is that your body cannot release so much toxins at one time, so the toxins are reabsorbed back into your body and your body holds onto the toxins, your body becomes shocked and often weight gain is the result.  Less is more in cleansing.  If you cleanse once, you will most likely, I hope cleanse again the next year and so on or cleanse twice per year or again, when you feel you need it. Each time you cleanse, you will release more old toxins, it will not happen with one cleanse.

If you have any questions about cleansing, I would love to hear from you. Thanks for reading, here’s to your health, Lara

About Lara Catherine