Day 3 - Clean Up Your Act!

Our fellow cleanser Kathleen came up with the idea of clearing out some clutter while we cleanse. I asked her to share her thoughts about it and she was kind enough to add it to the Wednesday, September 1 post, "Goodbye, Sweet Summer." But you may not have seen it so I'm placing it right here...

"I am reading a book called 'Throw Out Fifty Things' by Gail Blanke. I am recycling, giving away things that I don't want or need. She writes a lot about emotional baggage attached to things. If something makes you feel bad get rid of it. A friend of mine hung onto a dress that she was wearing when her boyfriend broke up with her. She told me everytime she put it on she thought of the break-up. I think I finally talked her into giving it away. I think the key is to surround yourself with things that you like and make you feel good. I plan to go through my closets, drawers, car trunk, etc. during this cleanse to "Clean up my Act". Is anyone else in???? Kathleen"  

I know I am! In the last two days I've cleaned off my desk, pared down the number of emails in my In Box, and cleaned up a few drawers in my closet. Today I'm going to tackle my summer wardrobe and purge the things I didn't wear this season. For the next three weeks my goal is to keep my closet, desk and computer clutter free. I may add some other goals but for now I'm starting small. And I'm excited about having neater living and working environments!

Okay, now you! Kathleen asked, "Is anyone else in???" Are you? And what part of your act needs cleaning up?

Here's to a smooth Day 3!

Emergency Post - Caffeine

Right now, some of you might be hitting a wall. If you’re feeling sluggish, dopey, irritable, headachy and generally tapped out, you’re probably going through caffeine withdrawal.

Caffeine, while seemingly innocuous, is the most widely consumed mood altering drug in the world. Of course we don’t think of it as a drug – certainly not during the morning ritual of putting up the first pot or hitting the neighborhood coffee house for a double whackucino on the way to work. It never crosses our minds that we may be addicted when we gulp down a cola, an energy drink or another cup of coffee or tea during a morning break or on the way to the next meeting. And most of us don’t give a second thought to the caffeine content in the chocolate bar we ravage mid-afternoon – nothing like a caffeine and sugar high combined!

But the truth of the matter is caffeine has us by the short hairs – most American adults have fallen into its vicious cycle of dependence. You know what I’m talking about – you have a bad night of sleep so you wake yourself up with caffeine; you’re tired during the day so you spike up with some more; then you don’t sleep well that night. And on it goes until we don’t know any other way to live. But, when you think about it, being alternately tired or wired equates to low-grade manic depression.

And we can thank caffeine for the condition. Studies have shown that “caffeine can have a disruptive effect on your sleep. The most obvious effect is that it can make it hard for you to fall asleep. This will reduce your total sleep time. Caffeine also can reduce the amount of deep sleep that you enjoy.”1 Before you get all smug thinking, ‘I don’t have caffeine after 5:00 p.m.’ or even after noon, consider that “the effects of caffeine can last anywhere from 8 to 14 hours.”2

So now caffeine’s got you sleep-deprived, what’s next? Gulp down a few more cups and let the games begin – because this is where it gets good. “Studies have shown that high dietary doses of caffeine (200 mg or more)* increase anxiety ratings and induce panic attacks in the general population. Individuals with panic and anxiety disorders are especially sensitive to the effects of caffeine. Although highly anxious individuals tend to be more likely to limit their caffeine use, not all individuals with anxiety problems naturally avoid caffeine, and some may fail to recognize the role that caffeine is playing in their anxiety symptoms.”3

During my first cleanse my panic attacks disappeared. Since then I’ve stayed off caffeine and the panic attacks are a distant memory – it’s been over two years since I’ve had an incident!

You may be in a temporary slump right now, but in a few days you’ll be off the manic caffeine roller coaster for good. You’ll sleep more easily and deeply. You won’t need caffeine to wake up. And the cycle will be broken. Withdrawal typically lasts anywhere from two days to one week so there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there – some things you’ve just got to gut your way through. But, take it from one who knows – it’ll be worth it!

1,2 By Donald R. Townsend, PhD on www.sleepeducation.com
3 From the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center website, http://www.caffeinedependence.org/
*Approximately 2 6-oz cups of brewed coffee contain 200mg of caffeine

Day 1 - A Commitment to Yourself

Good Morning, Cleansers!


Today we begin a journey that will give us new insights on our relationships with food, alcohol, ourselves and others. And it may seem daunting as we take our first steps, but remember that we’re all here together to hold each other up, to share war stories and to celebrate little victories. So know that you’re not alone, and remember that you deserve to look and feel your absolute best!

We all deserve to be well taken care of, even if we're the ones who have to do it. And that's exactly what we're doing with this cleanse. It may feel a little awkward and challenging at first, but we'll all find our rhythm soon. So hang in there, have a great Day 1, and check in when you can.

Today I commit to putting myself first for the next 21 days. I can devote 5% of the year to me. I spend the other 95% worrying about someone or something else, skipping workouts to work late or drive the kids around, eating poorly when I’m crunched for time, sacrificing my time for family time. But for the next 21 days I’m going to prove to myself that it doesn’t always have to be that way. For 21 days I’m not going to be pulled by my life – I’m going to set its course. And during that time I will allow myself to believe I deserve to come first, that I deserve to be healthy, that I deserve to feel great, that I deserve to look good, that I deserve the time it takes to care for me.

The 2 Best Reasons to Cleanse

Photo by Stefano Valle

Most of us can come up a slew of reasons NOT to cleanse. It's time consuming, it's challenging, it's limiting and yadayaydayada. So why bother? I can think of two great reasons off the top of my head:

1.) To feel better.  Trust me on this one. After you go through the intial withdrawal from eliminating caffeine, sugar and alcohol, you'll feel more awake, alert, and energetic than you've felt in years. And instead of relying on outside sources to give you a kickstart, you'll be self-propelled. What a way to travel!

2.) Look better.  While you're cleansing you'll be eliminating foods that are difficult to digest (animal products), inflammatory (sugar, gluten), and toxic (caffeine, alcohol). And your body will thank you for it. Your cells are designed to heal and replenish themselves and by elminating foods that hinder the process, you'll allow them to do their job to the fullest. You'll probably notice that you feel less bloated. Your eyes might sparkle a little more than usual. And your skin might even become more radiant. Many people also report having stronger nails by the end of the cleanse. It's different for everyone, but chances are you'll see favorable results.

Okay, they're pretty simple reasons. But think about those days when you feel good and look good. I don't know about you, but those are the days when I feel invincible! Don't you think we all should have more days like that?