I have just wrapped up the Crazy Sexy Diet 21-day cleanse. I promise it is not as crazy as it sounds, but I do feel pretty amazing. The cleanse is supposed to be 21-days. I cleansed for 10. In my last post, Pretty Clean Already? I mentioned a few benefits I had been feeling and was not feeling that motivated to carry on. Well I marched on, and I am so glad I did.

From days 5 to 10, I feel it really ‘kicked in’ for me. I enjoyed taking extra time for nurturing my body and mind. Focusing on my mind and general well-being during this cleanse was probably the most beneficial part for me. Once I got the hang of meditating regularly I actually started to look forward to it and was able to find myself in a completely relaxed state. In addition to the benefits  I felt on the inside, I lost over 2.5″ overall, bonus!

clean. 

• improved digestion
• clearer skin
• solid sleep
• mental clarity
• better focus
• more productive
• happier

With no sugar (crack) in my diet regulating my mood, I felt at ease, friendlier and an overwhelming sense of well-being. I noticed I was smiling more at people on the street, talking to people more – a simple ‘hello’ or ‘have a nice day’ in the elevator really goes a long way. I noticed the look on people’s faces when I made an effort to reach out and be kind, some people lit right up and flashed warm smiles back at me. In turn making me feel even better that I helped brighten someones day.

 

clean food = clean body = happy mind = better world?

 

Maybe, it’s a thought worth contemplating for a while. We know that sugar causes a high, and then a crash. Kids are very sensitive to this crash and burn cycle, I have watched it happen when the kids have something sugary. In adults it can be a little more subtle. We know that sugar affects the mood of adults too. We are hard-wired to crave the stuff. We feel good when we eat sugar, then we come down off of our high. We crave more, we get headaches, our mood shifts to irritability, even depression.

Imagine if more people ate more clean food, their bodies and minds would be more at ease – with this, people would be happier, maybe even kinder…is that the recipe for a better world? With more raw mood-food in my body and less chemicals in the form of caffeine, sugar and alcohol, I was a happier person. If I am happier, those around me will be happier. If those around me are happier, I am happier feeding off that energy.

To ease out of the cleanse, I lit a candle, poured a glass of organic red wine and enjoyed a little raw chocolate. I am definitely going to incorporate some things I learned on this recent journey.

learn.

• stop eating 3 hours before bedtime
• lattes no more than once or twice a week
• wine (organic) and chocolate (raw) two days a week – note to self: try making raw chocolate - recipes to follow!
• meditate a few times a week, read that book of 100 days of meditation that has been sitting on the bookshelf for months
• do a sinus rinse most days of the week
• breath deeply, often
• continue to incorporate more raw foods into my diet
• smile more