I’ve almost finished 3 weeks of the cleanse and I feel great! Do you? My cravings for sugar have vanished, my elimination organs are working better than ever, and my sleep has improved. One more week and the cleanse will be “over.”
For the final week of the cleanse (starting on Thursday for me) we will go back to the Week 1 plan in general, but continue to stay with the increased amounts of fiber and acai. So, you will be having the cran-water in the morning and evening and before and after every meal. Flax or psyllium in the morning and evening (1 1/2 -2 tbsp) and afternoon acai powder (1 1/2 – 2 scoops).
We are still eliminating sugar, dairy, gluten and caffeine.
It’s only one more week and I know you can do it! Will post some comments about “what to expect” later this week.
Posts Tagged ‘acai’
3 Down, 1 to go!
Monday, May 3rd, 2010Week One Cleanse
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010Here’s the info for the first week of the cleanse. Remember to check in with the food choices, and to eliminate dairy, sugar, caffeine, sodas and gluten. I will be posting sample food ideas almost daily – some of my fav dishes!
For the first week:
1) First thing every morning have an 8 oz glass of room temp – warm water (filtered).
2) After your water, have another glass of room temp water with the juice of half a lemon. You may add stevia or other natural sweetener (lemonade, yum!)
3) Before breakfast, make a cranberry cocktail. Mix 1- 1.5 oz pure cranberry with 7 oz room temp water, add 1 tbsp ground flax meal. (Psyllium is fine for healthy individuals. If using psyllium, drink an additional glass of water following.) You may add a natural sweetener to this if needed.
4) Wait 10 – 15 min, Enjoy breakfast.
5) After breakfast, make another cranberry cocktail, but do not add flax or psyllium.
6) Mid-morning snack: enjoy a small food item from the list (berries, 9-10 almonds or seeds, etc.) with a cup of herbal or detox herbal tea (see options in Shopping List).
7) Before lunch, make a cranberry cocktail without adding flax or psyllium.
Enjoy lunch.
9) After lunch, make another cranberry cocktail.
10) Mid-day snack: incorporate 1 scoop of Acai powder (blend with water, rice milk, almond milk, veggie juice drink, etc) and have a full glass of room temperature, pure water.
11) Before dinner, make a cranberry cocktail.
12) Enjoy dinner.
13) After dinner, make another cranberry cocktail.
14) Before bed, make another cranberry cocktail and include 1 teaspoon (for beginners) or 1 tablespoon flax meal.
Use this pattern for the entire first week of the cleanse. If you have stomach discomfort, please reduce flax or psyllium usage to a minimum until your body becomes adjusted. There are plenty of foods to eat and I’ll post some creative ideas.
Here’s a breakfast idea to get you started: Half of an avocado with fresh chopped tomatoes, fresh baby spinach leaves and cooked egg whites in a corn tortilla shell. Add fresh garlic to taste!
Tips for Pre-Cleansing
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010I know you (Donna), you want to eat all the sweets and potato chips in the house before you “start” the 
cleanse. Humans have this funny thing called a ‘mind’ that tries to manipulate us with fear of loosing something – don’t fall for it! You are not going to starve, you are not going to be banned from sugar the rest of your life, you are not going to waste food in your pantry (give it away if you have to) and you are not going to fail this cleanse!! You can do it! One of the great things about this cleanse is that by the end of the 30 days, your body and mind will break the food addiction pattern. Cravings will cease and before long, you’ll have an organic lifestyle that is free of mental anguish, instead choosing to healthier options that will keep your body amazingly strong.
Here are some tips to consider before and during the cleanse – some are reminders.
1 – If you have sensitive teeth or weak enamel, drink the lemonade with a straw.
2 – While taking fiber supplements or teas, drink 2 glasses of pure water in addition to the water you drank with the fiber concoction. Herbal teas and our drink mixes on the cleanse do not count as pure water.
3 – If you are taking other supplements that are not necessary, discontinue for at least a week during the cleanse (week 2 or 3). Do not discontinue if you need supplements or other medication for health purposes.
4 – Addicted to coffee? Read the last post.
5 – Alcohol – a general no-no during a cleanse. A cheat of a wine spritzer (half glass wine, half seltzer) or similar is not going to ruin it, but will not help either. I suggest no alcohol.
6 – No store-bought fruit juices allowed except the pure cranberry. If you juice, green apple or berry juice in a mixed green juice is allowed.
7 – If you own a juicer, you can ramp up this cleanse by adding one afternoon juice cocktail of choice: kale, carrot, cucumber, green apple, ginger, celery, green bell pepper, etc.
8 – If you make smoothies and want to include fiber or acai in smoothies, no soy milk, bananas or vanilla/chocolate flavorings. Rice almond or hemp milk preferred.
9 – Try to get 7 1/2 – 8 1/2 hours of sleep every night.
10 – Light to moderate exercise ONLY.
The most important thing: DON’T give up! The first week is the hardest, week two you will start to see results and be encouraged, week three we’ll need to get creative and the fourth week – you’ll be feeling so great you won’t want it end!!
Spring Cleanse SHOPPING LIST!
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
Basket of veggies
A good way to prepare for the cleanse is to know what you will be leaving OUT of your diet. In some cases (like with sugar) there will be alternatives. Some people recommend prepping the diet before the cleanse starts, for example, getting off the caffeine and sugar a few days ahead of time. If you are an addict, please move gently through this. Try the substitutions and if there is a struggle, I’ve got some specific recommendations. (I was a HUGE caffeine junkie at one time. And sugar. I get it.)
BREAD WARNING: If you CANNOT live without some type of bread product, there are a couple that are allowed with moderation. The Baker, wheat-free breads (German style) or Grain alternatives listed below (NOT CANE JUICE SWEETENED. ONLY FRUIT JUICE SWEETENED GLUTEN-FREE BREADS).
NO DAIRY
NO REFINED SUGAR (see alternatives)
NO WHITE FOODS (bread, rice, pasta, crackers)
NO GLUTEN (wheat, barley, gluten products)
NO CAFFEINE (green or white tea the exception)
Specialty Items To Buy/Have on Hand
1. Lemons (a bag a week approx)
2. Pure Cranberry Juice (not concentrate, not ocean spray, it will say Just Cranberry or Pure Cranberry. There will be no sugar in it. Will need two 32 oz bottles)
3. Acai (powder or frozen)
4. Flaxseed Meal or Psyllium Seed Husks (*Only use psyllium if your bowel and elimination system is in great working condition. If you have constipation, colitis, spastic colon, polyps, irritable bowel or other weak bowel condition, do not use psyllium. If using psyllium, you must drink ample amount of water with and during day. I will be using Flax meal, as it is gentler on my system to cleanse and offers other health benefits. You may decide the same.)
5. Dandelion or Milk Thistle Tea. (Some people are sensitive to these teas if asthmatic or allergic or weak liver. Please use your discretion. If you have used either in the past, both are advised on this cleanse. Some tolerate Dandelion better than Milk Thistle. If sensitive, a general Detox Tea will suffice.)
6. Other teas recommended:
Ginger, Peppermint, Alfalfa, Detox, Red Clover, Burdock, Mullein, Green, White Tea (many of these are in combinations in store, or buy loose in bulk)
7. Filtered or Distilled Water. (If you don’t have a home filter, I suggest boiling your drinking water for 5 minutes throughout this cleanse.)
CAN DO FOODS
Oils
Olive Oil
Coconut Oil
Flax Oil
Beverages
Pure Water
Herbal Teas (listed above)
Coffee Alternatives (I love Teeccino)
Rice Milk (original, unsweetened)
Almond Milk (original, unsweetened)
Nuts/Seeds
Almonds (limited)
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Sugar Substitutes
Stevia
Zsweet
Maple Syrup (limited)
Raw Honey (limited)
Fresh Dates (limited)
Fruits
Green Apples
Grapefruit
Lemons
Limes
Blueberries
Raspberries
Strawberries
Pomegranate
All berries
Avocado (in moderation)
Raisins (very limited – per dish recommendations)
Legumes
Adzuki Beans
Garbanzo Beans
Kidney Beans
Lentils
Lima Beans
Mung Beans
Split Pea
Black Beans (moderation)
All sprouted beans
Fava beans
Grains/Flours
Gluten-free oats
Brown Rice
Amaranth
Buckwheat
Millet
Quinoa
Chickpea
Corn
Dal
Rice Bran
Lean Protein
Freshwater Fish
Turkey
Chicken
Lamb (limited)
Ocean Fish (limited)
Veggies
Green Beans
Kale
Lettuce
Parsley
Peas
Sweet Potatoes (limited)
Radishes
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Turnips
Watercress
Seaweed
Endive
Dandelion
Corn (limited)
Celery
Cauliflower
Carrots
Cabbage
Brussel Sprouts
Broccoli
Beets
Bell Peppers (limited)
Asparagus
Artichokes
Arugula
Spices/Herbs
Garlic
Clove
Mustard
Cinnamon
Cardamom
Cayenne
Dill
Oregano
Sage
Rosemary
Turmeric
Nutmeg
Fennel
Dill
Basil
Lovin’ It
Monday, February 1st, 2010
With V-Day right around the corner, I’ve got “Things I Love” on my mind. Being a passionista for healthy food, grass-roots ventures, and treats that don’t make me feel guilty, here’s a short list of some of my favs.
1) I love to eat. My winter fav of 2010: Organic, refried black beans with jalepenos over organic short-grain brown rice with a dollop of fresh sour cream.
2) I love my new bank. In the effort to “shop local” I just switched from a bohemoth Bank (no name slashing) to a local one. With a new checking account that earns 3.26% interest, return of all atm fees, free checks and personal service, I feel rich already.
3) I love putting olive oil on my face. I saved $30 on face creams this season, and have glowing skin as a result. Organic, extra virgin olive oil, applied nightly, is doing it for my daily glow.
4) I love sweets. And because I have this great gig of producer/host, I get to try lots of great products, including ZSweet. I’m in love with it. I’ve had cookies, hot chocolate milk, brownies and sweetened my tea with NO sugar, NO side affects and am living guilt free. Video coming shortly (plug)! It’s no joke, people – ZSweet will change your life!
5) I love to feel great. Instead of turning to OTC medications, unhealthy products that just mask symptoms or running to the doc for every sniffle, I LOVE that I have options of self-care. A little cough this week & headache led me to my cupboard for some tea (Breathe Easy is a good one), Acai (my new fav wonderfood), Umcka syrup and a powdered greens formula is whipping me right into shape.
The most fav of my favs is the peace of mind that comes from a healthy, positive way of life. Eat fresh, be natural and support your local community. LOVE IT.
Leah Guy is a Producer, TV Host, Writer and passionista for inspired, lifestyle content. In 2006 she created A Girl Named Guy Productions and hasn’t slept since. 
A Girl Named Guy Productions is a multi-media company that serves a variety of audiences. Who's On Deck is a new celebrity TV Show produced by the company and Modern Sage is a site geared toward women's wellness. Creator & CEO, Leah Guy, launched the company in 2006 with a goal to meet the demand for positive, inspired content for the mainstream audience. AGNG produces videos, 
