This goes against
everything I do in my health and fitness career. I am my own guinea pig and have always tested my new plans, exercise routines and coaching drills on myself or my husband Ben before I ever give them to my clients. This way, I know how my clients may feel or what they might be thinking. Please Note - I have not created this cleanse but would really like to be able to tell my clients and others "MY" experience with it.
After some research I choose a local Canadian company called Total Cleanse www.TotalCleanse.ca
I chose this company for a few reasons:
1. It is local and they delver so I do not have to think at all and it makes it super easy.
2. It came highly recommended from some friends of mine.
3. It is a small business that was designed from the ground up by a strong woman entrepreneur which I love to support.
Why would you do a cleanse? I really like this quote from my Total Cleanse Guide:
"Each day, the food and drinks we consume pollute our bodies. Our bodies are neglected and our digestive systems become overloaded. Eventually, this culminates in a quasi-digestive failure which is characterized by a lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and bloating. We accumulate various toxins in our systems, this only compounds our bodies’ inability to detoxify and digest. Total Cleanse is Canada’s premier cleanse delivery service and provides the perfect variety of cleanses to help you regain your system’s alkaline balance; normalize your digestion and metabolism, detoxify your body and remedy the daily overload we have grown accustomed to."
I am doing a 3 day cleanse (you can do 1 - 7 days) and they delivered my full supply this morning.
Each pouch has the juice for the day with cooler packs to keep them cold.
According to the website, the benefits of a cleanse are:
Benefits
Our hydrating juices will provide you with natural energy and nutrients. While using Total Cleanse, you can remove chemically treated, processed, or otherwise unhealthy foods and beverages from your diet. Total Cleanse is designed for the average person who wants to give their body a rest without the intense side effects caused by other conventional cleanses or laxatives.
Benefits include: Increased energy levels, weight loss, improved sleep, boosted immune system, skin improvements, clarity of mind, elevates mood/positive outlook, better breath, more relaxed, less bloating.
I am excited to see what happens when I start tomorrow. I am a healthy eater overall but do enjoy a few glasses of wine and some other indulgences (Indian Take Out last night -- yummy). I am most excited to see the energy levels, improved sleep and less bloating. I will be keeping a detailed journal to share my results with you and others.
Getting ready for the cleanse, according to the website:
Preparing for your Cleanse
Preparing for your cleanse is an essential step in order to make your transition easier. Ideally, you should begin preparing at least 2 to 3 days in advance but the sooner you start the better. Replacing sugar, meat, dairy, alcohol and coffee with fresh vegetables, fruits, some nuts, seeds and fish is a must. Included in your Total Cleanse Guide is a sample menu for you to follow. We’ve also included a post cleanse menu which is beneficial to you after the completion of your cleanse.
Is it Safe?
Now I want to quickly point out that many Nutritionists do not support cleanses. This quote is from a Huffinton Post article called "Do Juice Cleanses Work?" http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/03/22/do-juice-cleanses-work_n_1372305.html
"Juicing is not better than whole fruits and vegetables. In fact, it removes some nutrients.
While the juice form does hydrate and supply nutrients, registered dietitian Jennifer Nelson says there’s no reliable scientific research to support claims that juicing your produce is healthier than eating it whole. Actually, the fiber and some of the antioxidants found in the skins and seeds of fruits and vegetables are often eliminated in the juicing process. For example, the white pulp in an orange provides flavonoids, but that’s usually left behind.
Because juice doesn’t offer the fiber contained in fruits and veggies, the body absorbs fructose sugar more easily, which can affect blood-sugar levels, according to Food Republic. If you do decide to try a juice cleanse, drink more veggie juices (carrots and beets not included) and limit fruit juice to one glass a day in order to avoid this potential side effect.
None of this means you shouldn’t drink juice. It simply means, instead of drinking only juice for weeks, a healthier route might just be including juices in a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains."
It is a good article that looks at the negatives that some people fail to research before starting a juice cleanse. I think this quote is the best:
Registered dietitian Katherine Zeratsky said it best on Mayo Clinic’s website: “The best diet is a healthy diet based on fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein.”
I agree with this 100% -- I want to explore all options so I can speak from my own experience BUT believe the best and most healthy option is real whole foods.
I will be sharing my experiences on my website and my Facebook page, please join me and and let me know what you think or if you have had your own experiences with juice cleanses.
To your success,
Lindsay Hack
Healthy Living Coach
416-994-2372
