Previously I wrote the introduction to my “Six Things I Hate About You” article. Today I want to look at the first two quotes that got me thinking last week.
Ok, there are a couple of things that intrigued me about this. First, the issue of expense. I get this a lot. I honestly don’t think that eating healthily has to be expensive. Like anything, stocking up can be pricey and buying fresh food regularly costs a little more. But if you’re not purchasing your grande cafe mocha every day, removing the Chinese takeaway from speed dial and no longer zipping out for a bottle of wine and crisps then it balances out. As for coconut oil itself, well yes it can seem expensive (although some larger supermarkets sell it for a better price than the health food shops) but it lasts ages. I use it every single day (both for cooking and as part of my skin care) and I reckon a tub lasts around 6 months.
2) “I’m going to do your Cleanse in May.”
This kind of follows on from the previous comment and the idea of Cleanse just being for a set period of time. If viewed as simply 28 days then Cleanse amounts to little more than any other “diet” you care to name (although I still maintain that 28 days of eating 100% clean would be much kinder to your body than 28 days of eating anything else). The point of Cleanse is to educate people, change habits and give them tools and ideas for a way of life. Of course I don’t expect people to eat 100% clean, 100% of the time for all eternity. I don’t! We all like the occasional drink, a nice cup of coffee and a really good pud after a meal out. So why do I ask for 28 days of strict adherence?
There are several reasons really:
– To create new, healthy habits
– To remove all toxins, cravings and dependencies
– To ensure people get maximum benefits.
If people just dabbled with eating clean, they’d be giving themselves permission to eat rubbish still. They also wouldn’t start reaping all the benefits of having a truly well functioning system. Sure, eliminating wheat and wheat alone is better than not doing anything (and in fact should have a greatly positive impact on your health), but embracing the Cleanse fully and treating your body to some real nourishment is the only way to completely get rid of addictions and dependencies. You see, often people tell me they couldn’t function without caffeine. But half the time the only reason they feel so lethargic in the first place is down to their high consumption of wheat, which – given the rather unnatural state of modern “wheat” – causes all sorts of gastrointestinal issues, energy slumps and irritability. But I could write a whole other blog about that. An entire book, in fact. For anyone interested, you should check out “WHEAT BELLY” by Dr William Davis.
Anyway, back to the point… After 28 days of strict adherence, you should feel brilliant: Perkier, brighter and usually smaller! You will also have had your eyes opened to a more varied way of eating; one you want to stick to. The idea is not to then return to old habits of cereal / sandwiches / pasta and diet coke. As I said, of course it is expected that certain items will feature in your normal diet every now and then. But following Cleanse should change the way you shop, the way you stock up your fridge and cupboards, and the way you cook. You’ll notice that, with a complete range of nutrients in your diet, you don’t get as hungry anymore, so your portion sizes tend to naturally shrink. You won’t feel the urge to snack and you won’t need to reach for the chocolate bar due to mid afternoon energy slumps. Yes this takes time, but that’s what the initial 28 days are for. After that, you might well tuck into a piece of cake for your mate’s birthday. But it will be because you want to and you’ll savour it, rather than mindless eating of cake just because it’s there.
That wraps up today’s musings. Back soon!