- Jun 9th, 2011
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- written by Chris Buckley
A lot of people have been asking me to elaborate about the detox program that was in the flyer insert on in my last newsletter. In a nutshell, it’s kind of the same premise (simply put…cleaning you out) as all the other detox programs out there, just a lot healthier to do. Most of the detox programs out there simply make you starve yourself, fast, whatever….and the magic ingredient is lemon rinds or some ridiculous spice from Madagascar.
You remember that Mathew Broderick movie back in the 80’s “The Road To Wellville” about John Harvey Kellogg (the dude that invented Kellogg’s cereals)? Might very well be the worst movie ever made (I think I fell asleep). Anyway, the movie centered around Kellogg’s belief in colonics and the health benefits that come with them. I think of that movie every time I talk about the detox. The problem with a lot of these hokey “cleanses” or “fasts” is that you don’t get all the nutrients you need because of the fact that they are centered around calorie deprivation. The fact is that in order for your body to “detox” properly, it WILL need vital nutrients to do so.
Invariably your calories will take a bit of a dip during your detox week with the protocol I use. This of course depends on where your caloric intake is now, but….you are not sacrificing vital nutrients as the supplements are aplenty, especially protein (which you can use in shake form). And truth be told you can keep your calories up if you are able to eat a ton of veggies and approved fruits. (most of which are on the high fiber side…obviously).
The whole idea behind a good detox is to clear out the colon and eliminate much of the buildup of waste in the colon. The fact is that much of the nutrients that we absorb are done so through the colon. Through many factors, buildup in the colon occurs through years and years of eating garbage food (mainly along the processed front). Good nutrients find it difficult to absorb through a bunch of “crap”. Pardon the pun. In many cases, even people who eat a lot of good food too are short changing themselves, as much of the nutrients they think they are getting are not actually being utilized by the body.
So a few questions I’ve been getting…
1) Is it hard to do/get through? – Why yes, it is! Especially if you are a caffeine addict. Get ready for headaches, though they will subside after a few days. I would suggest weaning yourself leading up to your first day of the detox. You might even feel as if you are sick and want to sleep all day. The reason – toxins being released. Clear em out, feel great afterwards! Plus coffee will give you a buzz if you wait a few weeks before drinking it again. Pretty cool J
2) Will I lose weight? – Probably, but I wouldn’t bet on much. If you are doing a detox with this as you primary goal, then I would suggest doing another one. Now, what it will do is put your body in a state that will help you fire on all cylinders. When you cut out all the junk and allow your body to absorb good nutrients, wonderful things start to happen. Metabolism kicks up, fat starts to be metabolized better, and yes…that means weight can drop. The best part is that you will lose any natural bloat from all the foods that we do not tolerate very well (ie grains, processed foods, etc), and that alone will make you look leaner.
3) Will I be on the toilet all day? – Maybe/Probably/Absolutely, depending on how much is in there. It’s usually only the worst for the first few days. I didn’t find it to be all that intrusive. Plus, if you are drinking as much water as you should be, then the toilet trips will be frequent anyway.
4) I don’t like any of the fruits and vegetables that are suggested…Can I still do the detox? – Maybe, but you’ll need to find some other high fiber green leafies. You will probably find it harder to get through as the suggested ones are your staples, meaning that it might be hard to keep yourself full.
5) Does it get easier to do as the week goes on? – Yes, once a good bit of the toxins are eliminated and you hit the point when you are allowed to consume a bit more food (ie the wild fish), then it’s smooth sailin’ till the end of the week. I’ve always heard that this is tougher on guys anyway because we usually eat more food as a whole, and its tougher to keep our calories up from what we are used to.
You’ve heard me say time and time again to limit or eliminate altogether processed foods (ie foods in a box or can). Regardless of whether or not that is difficult for you to do, the fact remains that that is one of the main reasons why you are fat (sorry to be so blunt). So a detox is just an extension of that premise…to clear yourself of all the crap. And it’s also the single reason why you feel like a million bucks when your week is over. You cut out the processed! Novel idea!
Now, I could care less whether or not you do my recommended detox (and I am not prescribing it for the record). I can only speak from experience about how it worked for me and how it made me feel (as well as many of my other one on one clients in the past). I guess the whole point is to “get yourself clean”, even if it means in little spurts, or a gradual shift to eating foods that don’t have a wrapper. Sometimes even a simple change in your diet like adding more fiber is in and of itself kind of a mini-detox. Just keep in mind that it doesn’t do much good to do a detox, clean yourself out, then go back to your old habits. Build upon a good start by continuing the process of eating “clean”.
Happy Thursday (Go Heat!!!)
Chris
Chris Buckley, B.S. Exercise Science, is a certified Fitness Trainer and exercise physiologist, graduate of the University of Florida and fitness professional located in Roswell, GA. Buckley is the owner of BodyBack! Women’s Fitness Boot Camps…serving Roswell, Woodstock, Milton, and NE Marietta, and has posted more information on his website, www.RoswellBootCamps.com. To try a trial week of his fat churning, calorie burning boot camp…click on the registration link at http://www.roswellbootcampsforwomen.com/roswell-boot-camp-registration.html
