It’s the week following my 7 Day Healthy Cleanse and I thought I would do a post to summarize what I learned. As stated in my last post, I was very nervous about committing to eating only fruits and veggies for 7 days. Don’t be! Here’s why:
- It’s not nearly as hard as you think! My husband and I eat generally eat healthy to begin with….or at least I do. My husband tends to be more lax, but he was ready to try this and I was more than willing to support him! As you probably know by now, I LOVE binging on veggies so I loved this idea! However, I was still a bit scared of having to be so strict and to skip protein altogether. Don’t be afraid! It was actually not that big of a deal!
- Don’t look for excuses! There is really never a good time for a cleanse. I mean we all have stuff going on such as business luncheons, birthday parties, donuts at work, travel, lots of Thanksgiving leftovers
, etc. Instead of making an excuse not to do it, I decided to view this as a great way to start the holiday season on a healthy note. And I wanted to support my husband! - Going along with what many others said “don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good” is a good mantra for a cleanse. This was my husband’s first cleanse and even though he had his morning coffee and some protein occasionally, he didn’t quit! He wasn’t perfect but committed! He lost 9 pounds and two inches and feels amazing. Going forward his goal is another 10 pounds and he is making better choices which is why this cleanse is so effective. It resets your body, and your tastebuds!
- Don’t expect to do hard workouts while doing a cleanse. I certainly felt this by Friday. I tried to run a bit longer on Friday which is my usual routine. Big mistake. Even with lighter runs and workouts, I could feel the impact of low-protein on my muscles. So for people who want to do a cleanse but also work out, plan accordingly to reduce intensity of workouts and reduce strength training during your cleanse week. Working out too hard while on this program can lead to injury.
- I promise you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and more in control when you do a cleanse. My husband lost his willpower to eat healthier throughout the day. He started snacking more on empty carbs and needed to do something a bit more challenging to get him back on track. He enjoyed the experience and feels much more in control of his choices. You will too!
In summary, this was a great experience for both my husband and I and even though it was a lot of prep work, it was well-worth the effort. It’s so freeing to go into the Christmas and the New Year feeling healthier too. We both loved and actually looked forward to our meals every day. Some recipes were new such as this cauliflower oatmeal I shared here. And I made cauliflower popcorn every day
.
We also fell in love with this Cauliflower Tabbouleh. 
Thank you all for going on this journey with me. At a time of year when many people are over-indulging and building post-holiday regret, my husband, myself and you made a commitment to your body and your health that should make you proud.
I encourage you to try this cleanse if you have not. Commit to a few new healthy choices that you will take with you through the holiday season or beyond. You don’t have to go overboard, but use this accomplishment to help you make a couple habitual decisions that will make you proud come January.
CAULIFLOWER TABBOULEH
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 head cauliflower pulsed in food processor to be size of rice or quinoa
- 1 English cucumber diced small
- 1 tomato cut in half, seeded and diced or grape tomatoes
- 1/2 – 1 cup of chopped parsley
- 1/2 cup chopped mint
- 2 spring onions diced small or red onion diced small
FOR DRESSING:
- juice of two lemons
- 6-7 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp diced garlic
- 1/4 tsp pepper
DIRECTIONS:
- Break the cauliflower into smaller pieces and place in the food processor. Pulse it 5-10 times depending on the desired size.
- Add all ingredients up to dressing and toss. Put all dressing ingredients into a jar and shake well. Dress salad and taste. Add more pepper and lemon as needed.
- ENJOY
[reminder]What’s your favorite vegetable? Do you prefer raw, roasted, or steamed veggies? Have you tried a cleanse? [/reminder]
Leave a Reply