Philippians 4:13 tells me that I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength.
Now that does not mean that I can go and be a doctor or lawyer now, or climb a mountain, but it does mean that whatever I have to do in life, I will be able to do it.
So on the 28th of December I started this cleanse, a journey that I would not have been ready for even as little as a month before that! But, as I sought the Lord, He helped me to change my attitude and He helped me to trust that this was going to be good for me. Could I do this in my own strength? No! And I did not need to. I had been promised His presence every step of the way as well as His ability to do the impossible. (This in my case was giving up sugar and grains.)
I had every intention of starting on the 2nd or 3rd of January, after all, it was New Year and I had to eat until the last moment, but as I was at the market on the 28th and I was buying vegetables, and at Super Store looking at some of the new foods suggested, I decided that this was the day to start. So I did.
Here is an idea of what a day during my cleanse looked like for me. The times are the general way it happened, but please be aware that I adapted according to the day as I needed to. For example, if I woke up later because it was weekend, then all happened later, and exercise often would take place later in the day, but the idea was to exercise at least 6 out of every 7 days and to take my supplements.
6am
For three weeks, the start to my day was to be with my Garden Trio from AIM (BarleyLife®, 1 Tbs, Just Carrots, 1 tsp, Redi Beets, ½ tsp) plus 3 Florafood, an excellent probiotic, 3 AIMega, for essential fats, and 1GlucoChrom. This all within a few minutes of rising and taken from my ready prepared
6.30am
Then half an hour later I had a scoop of fiber with a scoop of CalciAIM, (you could mix the CalciAim with your Garden Trio instead) followed by 2 tablespoons of ground flax seed hot on the heels of that.
Already I was feeling satisfied! And felt ready and able to do a workout… some exercise
7.30am
Downstairs to walk on the treadmill, or workout on the treadmill with Steve Phiester on www.liveexercise.com or maybe a walk with the dog, or dancing 20 minutes. So many things to choose from. I aimed at doing at least 30 minutes of movement 6 times a week, and did not get deterred if I could only do the exercise in 10 minute sessions.
8am
Time to make my breakfast smoothie! This is my favourite of the day. Thick and sweet, satisfying and oh so yummy. A banana, some other fruit (frozen or fresh) a half a cup of water or a little more as desired, a half a cup of Almond milk (unsweetened) though coconut or rice milk work too (watch for sugar), or even only water, a scoop each of Propeas and Fit ‘n Fiber plus a half a teaspoon CocaLeafGreens (optional). Then I take my stick mixer and blend it all together.
This satisfies me for 2-3 hours. Don’t forget the water. By this time I have had at least 2 glasses of water, sometimes even 4. I drink throughout the day, aiming to drink the bulk of my 13 glasses by 6pm. (That way I don’t get up so often at night.)
10/11am
Time for a snack, a few veggies, maybe an apple, a couple of nuts or some sunflower or pumpkin seeds. How about a little homemade hummus. (see the recipe blog coming soon) Another chug a lug on my bottle too.
12/1pm
Lunch time usually starts off with a tablespoon of BarleyLife and a scoop of Propeas mixed with water about half an hour before I eat. This is an amazing pick me up. Then I have one of my favourites: is a large plateful of the kale/apple salad, sprinkled with sunflower seeds and my mixture of balsamic vinegar with olive oil. This recipe is adapted from Celeste’s in her 3 Days of Raw booklet. If I am out of the house, I carefully put the dressing in a little container so the salad does not wilt. As well I have some nuts or some homemade hummus and some veggies. I try to have a different salad so as not to have the same salad for 2 days in a row, though my fave is tomato, onion, cucmber and olives and sometimes I eat it daily.
3/4pm
If I did not have my BarleyLife earlier, then I would have it now, like I said earlier, that is a great pick me up. I don’t forget to get more water in!
4/5pm
Time for some more fiber. This time I take it plain, i.e. no CalciAim. I drink it up and follow it with another glass of water. This is not my favourite drink, but the Herbal FiberBlend sure makes a huge difference with my digestion, so it is bottoms up for me!
5/6pm
Last meal of the day calls for a meal which is similar to lunch, but I try to make it resemble a regular meal. So a black bean burger, or nutty lentil burger (see recipe blog coming soon) with a nice large handful or 2 of spinach, topped with another favourite…tomato, onion and cucumber salad with a few olives and a little Himalayan Pink Salt.
Broccoli salad sometimes features too, or a lightly stir fried lot of veggies (still crunchy) on a bed of spinach, red lentil soup on a bed of chopped up broccoli are other ideas. (More to be shared in the recipe blog)
7pm
Hopefully I still have a few calories left (once I have entered all into My Fitness Pal) and can enjoy another piece of fruit, or a Yonanas (a machine that make “icecream” out of frozen fruit) or one of Celeste’s delicious deserts.
I aim to be in bed by 10pm with lights out by 10.30pm (though that is one of my weaknesses I am working on) and spray my Magnificence on my lower back, and or have a bath in the crystals. (2x a week).
That was an average day for me during my cleanse and even after with the introductions. I am looking forward to being able to tailor make my own eating plan for myself.
Till next time…be blessed. BB