GETTING STARTED!
BIG energy this last week, we've been loving all your pictures, everyones food has been looking on point! It’s been a pleasure to share this experience with you so far, and we’re excited to keep things moving as we venture deeper into the realm of deep detox together.
We want to start by reminding you that this process is very individual - everyone’s body and mind does require a slightly different approach.
Our suggestions are tailored to the group, and obviously it’s a group full of individuals. If you feel something isn’t quite working for you, or doesn’t suit you, let us know, and we can talk about it - to make any adjustments that might be necessary.
WHAT ARE WE DOING THIS WEEK?
Well first of all, as a baseline, we’re going to continue doing what we’re currently doing each day food wise, and then some days you may want to explore some other approaches that will take you deeper into detox.
So your foundation is to continue doing what you’ve been doing already, use the approach to food/juicing that has felt good for you. And if you like, you can build upon it by experimenting with some deeper approaches that we’re going to look at now.
We’re introducing you to a variety of things related to food (and some non-food related too) that can help you deepen your detox. Move deeper if you feel it’s appropriate for you, if it feels too much, please don’t force anything.
It’s essential you make the decisions that are best for YOU - don’t compare yourself to others in the group, do what feels right and manageable for you, only going as far out of your comfort zone as YOU feel is possible, based on your feelings, and what’s going on in your life.
We will be outlining how best to use some different practices and approaches (this week, and during the following weeks), and if you DO decide to work with them, please try to follow the guidelines and suggestions to the best of your ability, because doing so will help you get the most out of your experience, and will also help to avoid throwing your body out of balance (detox is a delicate process).
OPTIONS TO EXPLORE THIS WEEK
If you’re feeling the call to dig a little deeper with your detox, this week we look at 4 approaches to food that can help you take things further.
We also introduce enemas (see additional tools page) & will start taking all our supplements.
Everyone supplements will come in different strengths & quantities, see the supplements page for some instructions, and if there is no suggested dose, follow the direction on your own supplement.
With all of our suggestions, we don’t expect you to force yourself to eat / drink - meaning, you don’t need to be chugging liquids or eating more food if your body really isn’t feeling it. If something from the guidelines feels like it’s not suiting you, adapt to what suits you, or we can talk about it and make adjustments.
If you tend to get bloated, and just feel satisfied eating less whilst doing plenty of hydration, that's fine. The main thing is we don’t want you to feel hungry, if you feel hungry, that can be a sign your body isn’t getting enough calories.
Ok, so let’s have a look at these different options.
If anything isn’t clear, or you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us in the group!
ONE MAIN MEAL PER DAY
OPTION 1
The first option, which is one that we both love to work with, involves taking just one main cooked meal with a salad each day between 4-7:30pm. You can use this approach up to 5 times (days) this week.
This means taking juices, smoothies and fruits all day (your choice of which), and then having one main meal later in the day.
An example day could look like this:
First thing: water / herbs / supplements.
750ml - 1L lemon water.
1L apple, cucumber, celery, cilantro and parsley juice
1L banana, mango, blueberry & spinach smoothie
Fruits, or more juices / smoothies of your choice throughout the day until you’re ready for your final meal.
Dinner - Baked regular or sweet potatoes (or both), steamed asparagus, half an avocado, arugula, grated cabbage, lentil sprouts (or any sprouts), diced cucumber, ¼ finely chopped red onion, handful of cherry tomatoes, and a dressing from the recipes.
If you’re hungry, go heavy on the carbs at dinner, you can make this a larger portion than what you might usually eat. If you’re not super hungry, eat what you feel is appropriate for you.
For those with digestive issues, constipation, or lots of bloating (especially if you don’t have appetite), here is another slightly modified approach that may really help you).
It simply involves drinking 2.5-4 litres of juice throughout the day (quantity depends on hunger/appetite/activity level), alongside water/herbal teas, and then doing that same 1 main meal later in the day.
This can really help the body get digestion moving properly again, and you can do this anywhere from 1-5 days.
OPTION 2
RAW FOOD DAYS
The next option is taking 1-3 days eating only raw foods (see recipes for inspo).
Again a lot of focus on hydration in the mornings, lunch can be fruit, juice, smoothie or a raw food meal, and dinner we suggest a raw food meal.
So, how could that look?
First thing - water / herbs / supplements
750ml - 1L lemon water
1L of orange, carrot & ginger juice
Fruit snacks until lunch.
Lunch options:
1-2L smoothie (depending on hunger).
or
1.5-2L juice
or
Big raw salad (see recipes).
Afternoon snack if hungry:
Guacamole with veggie sticks
Dinner:
Another big salad (see recipes)
OPTION 3
fruit only days
You may take 1 or 2 days this week to eat only fruits, juices and smoothies, if it feels like something that you want to try out.
There is no limit to how much you can drink or eat, simply follow your body, if you feel hungry - eat or drink, as much or as little as directed.
Try to follow proper fruit combining from the chart we will share.
If you notice you are very hungry, particularly in the later part of the day, you probably didn’t eat enough during the day. Bananas, dates, persimmons & dried fruits are all more calorically dense.
An example day could be:
Water / herbs / supplements.
750ml - 1L lemon water
1.5-2L green juice for breakfast.
1.5-2L smoothie for lunch (can be split into two smaller “lunches”).
Mono meals, or mixed fruit meals all afternoon.
These will likely be very simple days of eating, eat to your desire, if you feel hungry, eat more, when satisfied, stop, it’s as simple as that. Although bear in mind with fruits, you will likely have to eat more than just 3 “meals” in a day. As a fruit meal doesn’t equate calorically to a normal meal of sweet potato & avocado lets say.
You can try doing an enema on this day, the best time would be some time in the morning after drinking your juice (see additional tools page).
OPTION 4
juice day
You also have the option to take 1 day this week just drinking juices - no solid foods.
I suggest you aim to drink 4L of juice minimum (make 4L of juice in the morning, if you don’t/can't finish it, you can drink it the next day).
If you can’t drink all of that quantity, it’s okay, but start drinking early in the morning, and sip on juices throughout the day. If you find yourself hungry later in the day and you’ve finished all your juices, make more juice :)
This is a great option for anyone who’s been feeling very constipated, has been having trouble with their digestion, or has had headaches - it can be a huge help.
Taking a day off of solid foods can be a really nice break for both the body and mind. The digestive system and organs get a rest, but also the mind doesn’t have to think about what to eat, when to eat, what to prepare - you simply have your juices made from the morning, and you’re good to go.
It’s interesting to observe how much more time we have when we’re not eating - of course it’s no bad thing to invest our time into making and eating food, but it’s very fascinating when we step away from that and we see how huge a part it plays in structuring our day.
If you decide to do a juice day, you may experiment with an enema on this day too, it can be any time in the day, as long as you’ve already drank some juice (see additional tools page).
Some general tips / useful info for this week
Keep focusing on slowing down when you eat, and chewing your food well - I know it can be hard to remember, but it plays a HUGE role in digestion.
Keep your journal close! Write as often as you can about what’s going on in your world, mornings and evenings are a great time to reflect and connect, don’t worry about what to write, just start and see what comes out.
Sip your juices slowly, and if you get bloated from your juices, here’s two things to try: first, split each litre of juice into two 500ml portions, and drink them separately with a little time between. Secondly, try to “chew” each mouthful of juice, to mix a little saliva into it.
Stop drinking water 20 minutes before eating complex meals (doesn’t apply to fruit or smoothies), but you can take supplements with a single mouthful of water 5-10 minutes before your meal.
Keep the fats lower this week, especially the nuts and seeds, as this will help the liver detoxify more efficiently.
Include plenty of sprouts in your meals if you can.
The cooked foods that tend to keep people satisfied for longest, that are well suited to the detox are as follows: sweet potatoes, potatoes, pumpkin, squashes, quinoa, millets, chickpeas, lentils, kamut, spelt, teff & wild rice.
Try to get good quality sleep, if you can, stay away from screens for the 90 minutes before you go to sleep, and make your room as dark as you can.
START THE DAY WITH 750ml or 1l LEMON WATER and Your supplements (as suggested on supplement page)
1L OF ANY TYPE OF JUICE (CELERY, GREEN, ORANGE, ETC)
select one of the options and apply those instructions for the rest of the day
Some ideas and inspiration to get you cooking and preparing amazing, healthy and delicious food :)