The Beauty of Detox (and bonus recipe!)

To detox or not detox that it the question. I am a fan of a challenge (tandem breast feeding... allowing laundry to reach to the ceiling...) so I decided to apply for Lisa Consiglio Ryan's 10-day spring renewal cleanse. She is a gem and was giving away some for free and I figured if I won that it would be a sign that I should give it my everything and if not, I would just keep on keeping on assuming that I eat for the most part "healthy". To my shock and joy, I won myself a cleanse (thank you Lisa) so I felt that it was time to truly walk the walk and reassess what I put into my body. Yes, I had a farewell ceremony for caffeine, bread and wine... my three favorite food groups.

While saying goodbye to substances you can't imagine living your life without is difficult, the pure joy of this particular cleanse is that the focus is not on what you can not have but on what you can. And that is the fuel that puts your body in its most positive light with good, clean whole foods (three meals and two snacks a day leaves little room for you to feel deprived, another bonus). Lisa does the prepwork, the legwork and the beautiful coaching with a side of a support network, before, during and after the renewal. She provides the shopping list, the 10-day meal plan and the (wonderfully good) recipes. Lisa is a goddess among us and she covers every last detail to encourage and motivate you to release your goddess (or god-like) self.

Meet Lisa Consiglio Ryan: certified health counselor, momma of two and all around goddess.

This cleanse is a grand exposure of the power that healthy seasonal food prepared in a healthy nurturing way can hold. While I lost a few pounds, what I gained was beyond what I could have ever expected. I feel lighter, my mind more focused and free from the daily headaches I had been experiencing and I feel inches smaller, yet my body feels stronger. I regained confidence that I hadn't even realized I had lost. The journey wasn't always easy, especially if you are a caffeine fanatic like myself (day 2 was a particular sluggish one for me when my tea withdrawal was at its highest point, which because of the support network on Lisa's blog I knew I wasn't alone). But like any mountain climb, the best part is when you reach the top and look down, in awe at how far you have come. I wish that I could bottle this feeling. With having her resources at my fingertips, I realize that I actually can.

I can not recommend this cleanse enough. Life feels too short to not push ourselves outside our comfort zones and to not just go through the motions of a processed, convenient world. Break the cycle. The only things you have to lose are the things that are holding you back. It is time to unveil your best warrior self. It is also not too late to do the cleanse; for more details about the program click here. Lisa is also holding an upcoming (and free) 3-day juice cleanse and offers a variety of personalized coaching programs as well. For all things healthy and inspiring, visit her at  www.wholehealthdesigns.com.

Here is a delicious sample recipe from the spring renewal collection:

Springtime Quinoa

Ingredients:

1⁄2 cup cooked quinoa (make ahead of time according to package directions) 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced 1 bunch asparagus, cut into 1⁄2-inch segments

1/2 cup fresh peas, rinsed 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 Tbsp. chopped chives

Directions:

Place a large pot over medium heat and cook garlic, asparagus, peas, and lemon juice in oil for 10 minutes. Stir often. Pour mixture over quinoa and top with chives. Serve.

Serves 1-2

I am raising my glass of popeye juice right now to your health...