[Day 21]: How NOT To Solve Your Biggest Problems With A Cleanse
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I don't know where you're at with the topic/trend/hoopla surrounding cleanses.
Maybe you've tried one and seen some interesting results, maybe lost some weight, maybe felt a little lighter and more alive. Perhaps you've even changed your whole lifestyle to integrate cleanses and detoxing on a regular basis.
Or maybe you've never tried one, think they're bogus and are kinda wishing you weren't so intrigued by this article.
Today, we're going to go after the "why" behind cleanses, detoxing and juicing.
There is mega controversy surrounding these topics and yet I'm happy to share my thoughts on the subject.
Personally, I've been continually intrigued by cleanses. This multi-million dollar industry has blown up in the last few years. In my city alone, there are over 10 cold-pressed juice companies that offer detox packs of their juices. People spend their hard earned cash on this stuff. So I'm convinced they must be getting something out of it.
The Point?
The real question is this: what are people getting out of a cleanse or cold-pressed juice binge?
[I'll be covering the science behind detox effectiveness in a follow up article, so stay tuned for that.]
For now we are going to dive into the brain; the reasoning behind our infatuation with this subject!
What are we looking for when we make that purchase of a detox supplement or $10-12 juice?
Health.
This ideal. The journey. The pursuit. Of being healthy, vibrant and full of life. It's by nature one of the most honourable pursuits. But might we be looking in the wrong places.
You see, our society does something stupid, all the time:
we go extreme about almost everything!
Again looking at the trend here, it would be logical to suppose that if people are spending $100s of dollars on a product, it must work. And yet continually we are tricked. Media tells promises one thing and we see another. Diets tell us skinny is possible in 10 days, and so we try it, see some results and gain it all back within 1 month.
My Stance
I'm prepared to be shot, but I need to make this statement: Detoxes, cleanses and juicing are all part of an elaborate fad that is financed by the internal desire to be healthy paired with a lack of motivation to put in the work to get there.
Long story short... we still want a quick-fix and once again, have not found it.
Let me elaborate.
Here are some of the health claims commonly associated with cleansing:
- increase absorption of your nutrients by taking out all that fibre from your fruits and vegetables
- help to detox your liver, kidneys, colon and digestive system
- lose weight
- feel better, more alive, full of energy
- reset your metabolism
- give your body a break, it works so hard and needs it!
We see these statements, get pumped up and say... "just take my money already!!!"
But running after these things does something to us, affects our thinking more than we know.
It seems as if the majority of us walk through life and are constantly looking for a "health saviour."
Always with an open ear to the latest thing. What will finally fix all the problems I have with my body for good?!
The truth is that the majority of us already know how to solve our problems, we just don't like the reality of the solution... sacrifice of our built-up addiction to comfort, laziness and tasty food!
Now I am likely preaching to the choir here. You're reading a health blog and are highly motivated to get healthy. But even I can admit to moments of weakness where dipping into comfort foods in abundance absolutely consumes me.
Listen though, I'm not saying that you shouldn't juice. I am saying you need to set up some ground-rules with yourself first.
5 Criteria Before You Buy The Juice...
You're doing your best to eat over 5 servings of vegetables per day
Exercise is a regular part of your routine (recommended 3-5 days per week, don't worry too much about what you do as long as you move)
You can afford it
Losing weight quickly or easily isn't in your mind
You're not just justifying bad choices that you willingly made and now want to make up for it
I'm fine with you drinking cold-pressed juice.
It's tasty and has some good nutrients in it.
But set your standards higher before you use this as cop-out for a real pursuit of fitness and nutritious eating!
I'll be the first to say that there are days when my thinking does still go down these rabbit trails.
Where I hope and pray for the magic pill, where I would rather not eat veggies but rather pie, rather watch Netflix than go to the gym, spend my money on expensive food because it fills some unknown hole in my soul, making me feel like I'm somehow "with the times."
And what's the point of sharing all this? To continually spur you on and encourage you to think differently about your health journey.
Discipline never hurt anyone. In fact, it is likely the secret sauce or magic pill we've all been looking for. We've just continually told ourselves that seeking comfort is the secret sauce and that for everyone else but us, staying healthy is easy. So we're doomed and we can't do anything about it.
Shifting Options
Let me end with a fitting yet uncanny example.
We all know who Jesus is. The best dude ever. Sinless, blameless and set a pretty freakin' high standard. He had something about peace and love figured out that no one before him had even come close to mastering.
So the question is, how did he do it?
Besides the fact that He is God, he also NEVER tried to sin and get away with it. This defined his legacy. To us it looks like discipline, but to him, it looked as if there wasn't any other way.
Real talk... what would your life look like if there simply wasn't another way besides healthy living?
I want you to live in a legacy of health. The legacy of a long life filled with many years with your grandkids, family and friends. Where your mind stays sharp and you can get off the toilet forever without help!
If you're running away from hunkering down, making a commitment to good choices and putting in your best effort to live well, then stop buying into detoxes and cleanses.
Start living well and find a way to get motivated :)
If you're kinda still wondering how to get motivated, or if a suggestion of more veggies and a bit of exercise isn't quite enough, Illuminate happens to help people with that daily in our Living Well Solution.
No obligations, we are just here to help!
Feel free to apply here for more info: