Solutions to common cleansing diet difficulties

So, you decided to do it.  You’ve purchased your cleansing diet or researched one on the web.  You’ve committed to this cleansing diet to rid your body of built up toxins or to aid in your smoking cessation or weight loss.  You’re bound and determined to do this cleansing diet!

Cleansing diet day1

You woke up a bit late, but that’s okay, you’re still going to do it.  You drink the hot tea with lemon water and look longingly across the kitchen at the donut box.  You don’t cave!  Good for you, you surpassed breakfast on a cleansing diet.

Now, you zip out the door.  You forgot, big meeting today to discuss the project launch.

Weak and weary from nothing to eat, lunch time rolls around and you feel like beating down your co-worker for his hoagie sandwich he so blatantly flaunts in front of you.  Oh well, you think, he’ll be the one with the clogged arteries.  I’m on a cleansing diet! (Though the salami does smell wonderful!) 

You drink your mug of Yogi tea, nibble the grapes and cheat a little by licking the cake lid box left on the conference room table.  Don’t worry, I’m sure nobody saw you.

You arrive home, too tired to do the meditation.  A nap is in order, but wait!  You have that project to begin.  Oh, for the love of God!  This cleansing diet is for people who don’t live real lives.  You need food, you need sustenance, you need a flippin’ steak, a glass of wine and a cigarette!

Cleansing diet day 2

Day Two????

All joking aside, these really are common mistakes made when embarking on a cleansing diet.  A cleansing diet isn’t easy, but it can in fact make you feel fantastic and improve your overall health.  What you really need here is some planning and a little more realistic goals.

First of all, you need to dump all the junk.  You can’t expect to resist foods you love when you’re on a cleansing diet.  You’re going to be hungry because, well, you’re not eating much? 

You’ll be at your weakest especially on day one in terms of cravings.  Clean out that pantry and keep only what you need for the cleansing diet.  Store unused cake mixes and other pantry items at a friends house.  (preferably the super skinny one who wears the teeny tiny t-shirts!)

Next, make sure you plan for you cleansing diet when you don’t have a mountain of projects or other stressful events going on.  You need to put all your energies into finding strength to stick with the cleansing diet and stress from a heavy work load is only going to sabotage your efforts.

As well, you should probably plan this cleansing diet for a time that you can be at home, especially if it’s longer than 24-48 hours.  You may even feel a little weak by day three as well as a little yucky from the sudden changes in your body.

And last but not least, don’t try a cleansing diet that is too strict.  Most cleansing diets do offer quite a bit of fruits, vegetables and even a few whole grain products as well as the funky teas.  Opt for these, not the ones that a Buddhist monk may find difficult!

A cleansing diet isn’t for everybody and though it is a good way to kick off a weight loss plan or shorten the withdrawal symptoms from quitting cigarettes, you may need to explore other less radical methods.