8 Things to Look For in a Detox, Cleanse, or Weight Loss Plan
Use some of these important markers to determine if a weight loss plan is the right cleanse or detox for you.
1. Do you get to eat real food?
If the diet plan you are looking at is full of packaged bars and shakes then chances are it is not the real deal. Most shakes and bars are full of rancid over processed soy and whey, and sweetened with GMO corn or beets. Your body may have the opposite reaction of what you are looking for and even gain weight from the stress these altered foods put on your system.
2. Do you get to eat regular meals?
In most people skipping meals causes a major cortisol spikes and blood sugar dips. The body tends to eat it’s own lean muscle if it when people are in a starvation mode so the weight people lose will be the wrong kind. There is nothing more alarming to your system than starving to death, so don’t make the mistake of skipping meals to lose weight. Your body will put on the breaks on weight loss to keep you what it perceives as a mortal danger (starving).
*Note: Once you have been on a good program for a while it is okay to skip a meal now and then once your body has adjusted to being a fat burner, but this takes several weeks to achieve.
3. Is the diet sustainable?
Is the plan you are looking at something you can stick with for many years through traveling and all the ups and downs life throws at you? Can you go out to eat and still do it? Can you get together with friends and family and stick with the plan? Will it give you the energy you need for you to still workout and be active?
4. Does it offer variety?
Are there a million combinations of foods that you can eat and be full and happy? Can you make hundreds of different meals with unique flavors from different ethnic cuisines and never get bored? Are there hundreds of free tasty recipes you can use online to support your program?
5. Does it remove common food allergens?Â
Chronic disease has it’s roots in vitamin and mineral deficiencies which is often caused by foods that create chronic intestinal inflammation making us unable to absorb the nutrients from our food. A good diet plan will minimize these foods to allow the gut to heal creating a space where the body can rejuvenate itself. When we remove the inflammatory foods and fill our bellies with the right fuel amazing changes happen: such as muscle building, less fatigue, and weight loss.
6. Is there a realistic exercise component?
Feeling like you have to go from the couch to running a marathon can be daunting, also unhealthy and unnecessary. Some of the stuff you see on the web where people are climbing ropes and picking up a 300 lb bars over their heads can also make it seem impossible to get started. It is a good idea to exercise but in a manageable way. Spending hours on the treadmill or doing possibly dangerous exercise is not right for the beginner. You want to look for a program that ramps up slowly and offers exercises you can do at home or outside without expensive memberships or equipment.
7. Is the food nutrient dense?
Many times sugar and carb cravings are signals your body is crying our for minerals and vitamins but the wires get crossed along with the message. What our body really wants is nutrient dense traditional foods like our great grandmothers ate, not store bought fat-free boxed crap. In order to satisfy those cravings we have to change the nutritional information we are providing with each bite. Without nutrient dense traditional foods like our ancestors are the likelihood of long term success is minimal to none.
8. Does the plan support your blood sugar?
Without a normalized blood sugar in a healthy range we will feel moody, angry and tired (about 80-120 mg/dl). When we feel crappy it is more likely we are going to binge on junk food in an attempt to make us feel better. A plan that does not support an even blood sugar will also create insulin resistance which over can create diabetes, a condition now affecting 100 millions Americans! Many liquid only diets and juice fasts do not support this stable blood sugar. Even diets with 6 meals and lots of complex carbs will spike the blood sugar up over 200 mg/dl several times a day which will wear out the pancreas and create diabetes.
Bonus Tip:
Does the plan offer support?
In many programs you are on your own and have no support. It is important to create community so you don’t feel alone so you can stay motivated. There are millions of other people doing what you are doing. Tap into Facebook groups, Meetup.com, online forums or find a coach who can hold you accountable.
Are you ready to get fit the right way?
 Two Options: Get healthy plans that will fit every budget:
Guess what me and my friend Mary have cooked up to help you get the body of your dreams in 2013?!
January JumpStart Body/Lifestyle Makeover
Brought to you by Mary Vance, NC and Caitlin Weeks, NC (aka: Grass Fed Girl)
Begins Wednesday January 8, 2013 at 7pm PST
Are you ready for a fresh start?
Join nutrition consultants Mary & Caitlin for this virtual 3-class workshop series to help you jumpstart weight loss and make over body and lifestyle so you can reach your wellness goals in 2013!
We have designed this workshop with a holistic focus to help you lose weight, break sugar/carb cravings, reduce stress, exercise properly (hint: we don’t want you out there pounding the pavement for hours every day!), sleep like a baby, and eat delicious REAL food.
No fads, no fasting, no funny stuff. Learn the foods you should be eating to boost energy, lose weight and thrive.
Here is what you’ll get:
3 hour-long group tele-seminars (so you can attend by phone from anywhere in the world) hosted by certified nutritionists.
Class 1 will give you all the details you need to know to kick off your
jumpstart: what to eat and what to ditch and our top tips to stay on track.
Class 2 covers the lifestyle factors you must have in place to be healthy and reduce sugar cravings. Plus, the best types of exercise for health and weight loss.
Class 3 will give you all the tips you need to make your awesome results stick. AND you’ll get a manual filled with all the information we cover + tips and easy recipes AND a customized workout plan designed by personal trainer Caitlin Weeks.
PLUS you’ll have access to your nutritionists throughout the program so you can ask us your questions. We’ll set up a forum where everyone can share recipes, tips, and talk about fun wellness topics.
The best part? You get all this for $97!
Class dates:
Wednesday evenings at 7pm PST
January 9, 16, and 23
Join from your home or office by phone from anywhere.
Sign up now to secure your spot!
Registration is limited so we can give everyone personalized attention.
- Very nutrient dense
About the Author: Caitlin Weeks
Caitlin Weeks, BA, Certified Nutrition Consultant, C.H.E.K. Holistic Lifestyle Coach, and NASM Certified Personal Trainer is a San Francisco based Holistic Nutritionist serving clients locally and beyond (US & international) via phone and Skype consultations. Since 2001 Caitlin has had success conquering obesity after a lifelong struggle with her weight. Since 2009 she has been winning the battle over Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis by managing stress and using a paleo diet. She is committed to educating others about the benefits of traditional foods and efficient exercise. She writes weekly articles about health and nutrition on her blog: www.grassfedgirl.com
Caitlin Weeks
Caitlin Weeks, BA, Certified Nutrition Consultant, C.H.E.K. Holistic Lifestyle Coach, and NASM Certified Personal Trainer is a San Francisco based Holistic Nutritionist serving clients locally and beyond (US & international) via phone and Skype consultations. Since 2001 Caitlin has had success conquering obesity after a lifelong struggle with her weight. Since 2009 she has been winning the battle over Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis by managing stress and using a paleo diet. She is committed to educating others about the benefits of traditional foods and efficient exercise. She writes weekly articles about health and nutrition on her blog: www.grassfedgirl.com
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