The Master Cleanse

Happy New Year! 

I hope everyone has gotten off to a good start in 2011. As tradition would beckon, I have once again begun the Master Cleanse. I think I’ve done this cleanse the past 3 new years in a row. I also did the cleanse in  June 2010 and can’t tell you how many amazing benefits I saw as a result of the cleanse.

To gain a better understanding of what the master cleanse is. Please click on the link and read all about it. The web is full of information on the master cleanse.

In a nutshell, the Master Cleanse is this:

§                         The diet takes at least 10 days (up to 40 days, the period of time that Jesus fasted after his baptism, as Burroughs points out)

§                         The only nourishment that you take is a special lemonade concoction made from the Master Cleanse ingredients: lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water, six to twelve glasses per day, each glass containing about 110 calories in sugar carbohydrates

§                         An herbal laxative tea is drunk at night and a quart of salt water is drunk first thing in the morning, resulting in several liquid bowel movements every day — you need to always be near a toilet when you do this diet, and you need to stock up on toilet paper

§                         You come off the diet by transitioning to solid food over a few days, ideally becoming a raw food vegetarian in Stanley Burroughs’ version of the diet.

Why am I doing the master cleanse?

I’ll tell you.

Over the past year and a half I have cut out the majority of my vices. I quit drinking. I quit using mood altering substances, and I quit smoking. But when I cut everything out, my body began to crave sugar. More sugar than normal. In fact, I have eaten more sugar over the past 6 months than I probably ever have in my life. And I’m not just talking about a sweet tooth, I’m talking about butt- loads of candy.

This, as you may guess, is not a good thing.

My remedy to get off of sugar is the Master Cleanse.

I am vowing to stay away from sugar for all of 2011.

Yes, I realize that it may be pushing the envelope a bit but I have found that once I begin to eat sugar (like most everything else in my life) I can’t stop on my own. I am just as addicted to sugar as I was to alcohol and drugs.

So, the master cleanse isn’t really about losing weight for me (although I am elated to drop a few of the 15 pounds I gained during the months of November and December) it’s more about embracing a new life style …a healthier lifestyle. One that does not include sugar.

I will be cleansing from Jan 1^st (today) to January 14^th. I will gradually transition back to solid food beginning January 15^th. I have never done the cleanse for longer than 10 days but I’m really “feeling” it this time. So, I’m going to stretch my limit.

Am I crazy?

Hell yes.

But if you know me, then you already knew that.

 I'm looking forward to spending a lot of time in prayer and meditation for the new year as I cleanse. I'm also excited about reading a book my mother gave me, Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamott.

Here’s to a new year, a new me, and a new you.

Happy 2011!

Irwin

If you can’t already tell, I am OBSESSED with my nephew;) I can not tell you how much joy this little boy has brought to all our lives…especially his aunt jen jen’s. my sister surprised me today by bringing him to see me…since I’m all done with school (yay!). and of course I have to show him off

my beautiful mother (Tallulah is her grandmother name)

 and of course we made a trip over to my workplace Anthropologie to see all our friends.. especially Kellie Dooley

and my dear friend Lydia had two of her friends visiting and it was so lovely to meet them and have lunch at Rainbow.

here's me and my baby

so, that was my day. i had a lot of fun. got to hang out with all my favorite people. and am getting ready for dinner tonight with Lydia at Walkers! so, another blog will be underway soon, i'm sure.

happy almost christmas time everyone!

(yes, i really am that crazy)