Detox the body. Drop a Size. Look fabulous.
So here it is, the New Year. 2021 in all its glory! (We hope!) Even after the crazy year we had in 2020, I still felt that feeling of beginnings that the New Year often brings. Which I’m so grateful to feel as we all currently sit in uncertainty.
Yes our social feeds are jammed with weight loss, fitness and diets at this time of year. I’m not here to try and preach to you about yet another “fad” diet. I’m here to tell you that eating healthy can be a slow journey to figure it out or you can jump head first in and start a detox. I LOVE a good ol’ detox because it can be so healing mentally and physically. It really resets everything for me. It gives me that kick in the butt I need to stop eating everything and anything in sight. You might be asking why detox, what is the point?
A detox is a chance to reset your body, it’s a period where you commit to your eating habits, sticking to certain fruits, vegetables, juices, teas and of course lots of H20! For me, it’s not a period of fasting but more of a time where you substitute your usual suspects with something healthier! A detox can fire up that liver and say au revoir to toxins, improves circulation and provide your body with healthy, wholesome nutrients!
“Basically you have to take out any excuse and just start.”
Whenever I start a detox, I can get overwhelmed where to start or which one to do. There are so many types of detox from a Juice Cleanse to a liver detox to a colon cleanse to so many more. Don’t get me wrong, it took me a while and SO MUCH pep talk to get into detox mode! I knew I wanted to detox but did not want to give up some of my favourite foods. The benefit of a detox is restarting your metabolism, getting rid of unwanted toxins and giving your body a natural detox.
I love a good old sugar detox. So basically when we eat a lot of sugar, we get a build-up of yeast in our body from everyday foods like bread and sugary fruit (like watermelon and bananas. What we need to do is starve that yeast! You will see results and it keeps the blood sugar levels even. Don’t give it any of the food it loves - no sugar for the yeast beast. Sugar feeds the yeast which makes you feel bloated, tired, and unable to shed those extra pounds (especially around the belly).
My top tips to begin a detox to get that sugar out of your stomach:
DON’T eat all your fruit and veggies! Stick to vegetables, and for fruit, my rule of thumb is stick to the reds and blues. But make a note to avoid melon as they are high in sugar.
Say goodbye to dairy! Living dairy-free has really helped with the rule of thumb of low sugar. You’d be surprised at to learn that there can be a lot of sugars found in milks and cheese.
“Sweating like a pig” is a LIE! Fun fact: pig’s don’t sweat! So that means they are essentially filled with toxins! Not even organic pork is good for you! 30% of my diet is made up of lean meat and all of it is organic.
Plenty more fish in the sea! I eat only white fish and stay faaaaar, far away from fish with heavy mercury - here’s looking at you Tuna!
COCONUT Sugar, spice and everything nice! I don’t even bake with “real” sugar - aka from a sugar cane. I opt for coconut sugar which makes a world of difference! During detox I stay away from all sweet things.
Lastly, the thing that keeps you on your detox A-Game is to meal-prep! It leaves less room for “cheating”, we can all live busy lives and sometimes you’re so exhausted when dinner time comes that you can’t help but reach for the frozen ready meal or even worse - the take-out menu! You will be more intentional about what you are eating, you will be saving money and gaining time back! It’s a win-win! My meal-prep blog will make you a master in no-time!
Handy snacks that are like my LIFELINE:
Raw veggies like radishes and cucumbers!
Almonds (no sugar or honey ones guys!)
Kombucha
Purifying Infusion! ( It has Kola Nut, a fruit that BURNS FAT!)
Jerky
What helps me to focus on the detox and keep it going, is the benefits that come with it during and after your detox: better digestion, clearer skin, more energy, clear mind, brighter complexion, you discover food sensitivities, kick cravings in the butt , become less dependent on foods, make lasting changes and feel better physically and mentally! And of course, the main thing that the majority are after: shedding that excessive fat!
In the long run you will be eating wholesome, nutritious and healthy foods, you are avoiding processed foods and therefore avoiding toxins, drinking plenty of water, teas and juices. Getting your fix of vitamins and minerals also means you can experience less stress on the body and even improve your sleep.
If you REALLY want to get on the detox and clean eating train I’ve a whole section in my cookbook on the journey of detoxing with even more tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way, plus a Detox Soup to give you a head start into your journey! Simply Balanced is filled with clean but yummy recipes - ALL GUILT-FREE. (Or else I would be a constant, hangry Kindsey!)