The Best Detox and Cleanse for Older Women

Is a Cleanse for You?

Sometimes I do things way before the masses do. Like a cleanse. Lots of people do a cleanse around the first of the year. For me, I like to prepare for the coming year by clearing my mind, body and spirit.

DISCLAIMER: I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on television or the movies. The information  contained in this post and throughout my blog is based on my experience, opinion, perspective and point of view. It is NOT meant to viewed as medical advice.

Usually, the first question someone asks is this, “Is a cleanse for me?”

Here are a few indications if doing a cleanse is meant for you.

If you feel bloated a great deal of the time, a cleanse may be a good idea.

If you have a lot of embarrassing gas (and when is gas NOT embarrassing LOL) a cleanse may be for you.
 

What’s the Best Cleanse To Do?

 
The big question many women have is, “What’s the best cleanse to do?” Truth be told, there are several that are really good and others, not so much.

Over the last few decades, I’ve tried several. Some have been great and others that have been substandard.

Truth be told, I like the way a good detox makes me feel. When I say detox, I’m referring to one around food. The detox is not from alcohol in that I have not had a drop of alcohol for 33 years. That’s right. Thirty-three years.

I gave up alcohol to have a quality of life that was impossible for someone like me who has a severe allergy to alcohol. It made me break out in falling down a lot and very sociably unacceptable behaviors. LOL

Truth be told, I just wanted a life. And drinking booze didn’t give me a life worth living. But that’s a story for a different time and it’s my story. I’m not saying anyone need give up alcohol, I just knew I needed to.

But for now, let’s talk about a detox to cleanse my body, give my digestive track a break and increase energy. A cleanse for a few days also gets me more connected spiritually. After all, there’s a level of awareness one gets when they are not unconsciously eating.

As I get ready to embark on yet another one, I’m excited about what the next ten days will bring. Yep! It’s a ten day cleanse/detox. Mind you, I’ll be eating during the cleanse, but there are specific foods I’m focusing on eating. More on that later.

One thing you’ll soon discover with my posts on Passion for Thriving; I will be transparent with them. I figure, if I’m going to show you what drives AND gives me a very high quality life in my sixties, I need to be open. After all, the reason I decided to put effort into creating a strong community is to show, by example, what is possible as we age.

Back to the cleanse

 
I find the process incredibly interesting. And if you feel like it, I would love for you to join me on this journey.

Over the years, I’ve done just about every detox and diet known to woman. LOL I’m very certain some were not the healthiest and yet, the older I get, the more I focus on doing what’s healthy, not fashionable.

With all the toxins in virtually everything we put in our bodies, it’s nice to give the digestive track a rest.

In the past, I did a few cleanses and diets that were more along the starvation mode than healthy eating. That’s just plain ridiculous. Most experts agree with this.

“During a detox, it’s important to have a solid, healthy meal for lunch. Aim for variety, and take care not to supersize your portions. A lunch salad might include 4 ounces of protein, 1/2 cup of grains, greens, a cup or two of vegetables, a tablespoon of oil, and several herbs and spices.” Read full article at http://www.wholeliving.com/134319/action-plan-detox-foods-eat-foods-avoid.
 

Eat clean

A few of the recommendations to get the most out of a cleanse is to eat as clean as possible. What that means is, if possible, eat organic. It also means you should eliminate processed sugar, breads, pastas, processed foods and all packaged foods. Keep in mind, the cleanse is not for the rest of your life, but is can sure impact the rest of your life.

My body’s response to detoxes and cleanses is very different today than in the past. There are several reasons for this with the main one being I live at a higher consciousness than in the past. I am more aware and knowledgeable about what is healthy in the long-term and what is an unhealthy quick fix.

When I was eating extremely unhealthy I used cleanses to lose weight. Today, I use them to get my mind clear, get grounded in my spiritual practices and become more aware of how conscious (or unconscious) I am about what I eat.
 

Cleanses are Spiritual

 
It’s amazing how different the experiences is as a result of the reason for the cleanse. By using a cleanse as a spiritual practice, I find it is not a tough process at all. As a matter of fact, it allows me to breathe into the experience, take more time for reflection, meditate more deeply and sleep more soundly.

If you’re like me, you may find it difficult to concentrate for more than a few minutes while trying to meditate. Within a few days, my focus increases substantially, making the process of meditating much easier.
<  h3>What Product I am Using

 
I have tried various products to aid in the process. For this cleanse, I’m using Garden of Life 10 Day Perfect Cleanse. I’ve used Garden of Life products in the past and found them to agree with my system. However, I’ve not used the 10 Day Perfect Cleanse. I’ll be sure to let you know what I think.

What I like about the 10 Day Perfect Cleanse is the recommendation to eat enough during the process rather than eliminating meals.

I also like that it’s relatively inexpensive. I paid $24 at a local vitamin store. You can get it for around $17 on Amazon. If you’re a prime member, it’s likely you won’t pay shipping.

You can even set up an autoship every three months. That way, if you are inclined, you can do quarterly cleanses.
 

Avoid Starvation

 
According to certified personal trainer, Shannon Sukovaty, it’s best not to do a detox that puts your body in starvation mode.

Shannon writes, “Some detox diets recommend only juice and water, while others allow whole foods that are easy to digest. You want a detox that meets your basic nutritional needs.”

Shannon is definitely of the belief that when following a detox diet, avoid all processed and refined foods, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, chemically enhanced foods, artificial flavors and sweeteners and trans fats.
 

Before starting

 
It’s important to get your head in the right space for a detox. Avoid a spur of the minute choice. Think it through, prepare for it and make sure you are setting yourself up for a successful experience.

Make a solid commitment to your health and prepare your environment (like your kitchen) for a successful experience.

If you get triggered by “temptation” foods, get rid of them before your cleanse. These might include chips, cookies, ice cream, cheese, bread, pasta or anything that you know is not healthy for you.

Remember, your cleanse is for a short period. It’s not forever. Most people can do anything for a few days. It’s a matter of how much you want an outcome.
 

Make a Real Commitment

 
Several months ago, I was facilitating a mastermind with a group of my high-end clients. One conversation was about 30 day challenges. The challenge I invited my clients to participate in was a 30-day blog challenge.

Kimberly asked if I would also do a 30-day blog challenge. Without hesitation, I agreed. Before I knew it, Kimberly put a piece of paper in front of me. I signed the document to show my sincerity. There was something to be said for a written goal. Add to that my signature and I was definitely in the game.

Little did I know all the benefits of sticking with the challenge for the full 30 days. Not only did I get some great content for my blog, I came up with a plan and several modules for my newly released program, Book Accelerator.

You might be wondering what a blog challenge has in common with a cleanse. In a word; commitment. Commitment to myself. Commitment to the people I gave my word to.

Thus, my commitment in doing this cleanse is to give you insights into what to expect if you decide to do the same.

Keep in mind, I am not a medical professional. Nor am I giving any type of medical advice. What I am is this; a woman of a certain age who is committed to living fully, living with passion, living on purpose.

If you should decide to do a cleanse, you may want to check with your doctor to make sure all is okay for you do to so.
 

Prepare for Success

 
If you’re going to have the greatest chance for success, there are a few things you need to prepare for.

If your plan, like mine, is to eat lots of fruits and veggies, be sure to have plenty on hand. The more you minimize any obstacles to success, the better.

As I mentioned earlier, there are “must avoid” foods for a successful cleanse.

• Breads
• Pasta
• Processed foods
• Packaged foods
• Caffeine (darn, I love a morning cup of Lipton tea).
• Alcohol (no biggie on this end. I gave it up 33 years ago)
• Processed sugar

Implement accountability measures

 
To create the greatest chance for success, get an accountability buddy. About a year and a half ago, I started exercising on a regular basis. My good friend, Pat, was committed to exercising on a regular basis. We decided to support one another by becoming accountability buddies. What a great choice this was.

We cheered each other on, listened when things got rough and were there to push one another to the next level. Oh yes, Pat is in her mid sixties.
 

The next 10 days

 
DAY ONE: My official start date is on Monday, November 14th. However, I did use Sunday as a “jump-start” day with juicing. This gives me a head start on the process. Unlike other cleanses, where you take supplements, up to three times a day, with the Garden of Life 10 Day Perfect Cleanse you take supplements only in the evening. I’ll be interested to see how that works.

Overall, it was a relatively easing day. I juiced until dinner.  I did notice conditioned behaviors around 7 p.m. This is one of my “tough” times. When I am not paying attention I can get a lot of unnecessary calories in my system at a time I don’t need them. Recognizing this allows me to make necessary changes in my actions.

DAY TWO: Woke up very early, 4:30 a.m. Yes, feeling great. As is my habit, one of the first things I began doing was to make a cup of Lipton tea. I can drink all the designer teas, but much prefer Lipton. It didn’t take but a moment to realize I made a commitment to give up tea with caffeine for the ten day process. I chose Chopra Center Organic Soothing Tea.

Had a bit of a struggle with cravings in the afternoon, but talked myself through grabbing something to eat that was not on my cleanse. I have to say, the conversation in my head was quite interesting.

“You don’t really need it,” my rational side said.

“But it’s just one protein bar,” my non-conforming to the cleanse side said.

“Your craving will pass. Besides, it’s not really a craving,” my rational side continued.

“Come on. It’s just one thing,” my non-conforming to the cleanse side continued.

“But I’m only in day one officially,” I reasoned.

“You can officially start tomorrow,” was the response my non-conforming side pushed.

After a bit of back and forth, my rational side won. And this morning, upon waking, I was very grateful.

What I know to be true is this; there will ALWAYS be temptation. That’s not the issue. What is the issue is what I do with the temptation.

DAY THREE: Holy moly. Day 3. Woke up in a brain fog. Not feeling very energized or with much energy at 5:30 when I decided to head downstairs. Fortunately, the dogs decided to sleep in.

I did my morning meditation and a bit of journaling. Headed out for a short run. My worst time in a long time 14 1/2 minutes per mile. Yuk! And yet, I did it. I got my behind out of the house and made myself take a run. Managed to get 2 1/2 miles under my belt.

As I recall from previous cleanses, Day 3 is often the most challenging. As long as I can remember that I am fine.

DAY FOUR: A much better day than day three. I had to drive from where I live to Portland and overall, an easy drive with ample energy. I needed the energy for the day in that I was attending three meetings while in the area. One, eWomenNetwork luncheon.

The other, a walk through at a location I am hosting a live event in December. The third, a coffee (well it took place at Peet’s even though I don’t drink coffee) meeting with a woman who runs two meetup groups in Portland.

I’m happy to report that my energy was great all day long. Even for the 2 1/1 hour drive home during rush hour traffic.

For lunch, I made sure to only eat those foods that are healthy and on my own approved eating list for my cleanse. It was not difficult at all.

One thing I know for sure…drink plenty of water.

Slept really deeply until about 1 a.m. Woke up and did a couple hours of writing for my other blog.

DAY FIVE: Woke up very sluggish. Almost caved in on the desire to have a cup of Lipton tea, but resisted the temptation. What I realize is that temptation will always be around. It’s not that cleansing makes it disappear. Actually, quite the opposite. It shows up big time. And it’s up to me what I do with the temptation.

Passed on running or going to the gym due to low energy. I’m sure it has to do with my body detoxing. Need to conserve my energy. Sunday, I have a 10k run. That should be interesting. I will likely do some GU in order to get some carbs in my system.

Overall, it’s been a very productive day. Again, I have to remember to drink more water than usual.

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