Cleanse: Day 1 Final Update

My head is aching so much I am nauseous. I can barely think.

Is this really about a lack of caffeine? Good lord!

Cleanse: Day 1 Update 4

4:30pm - Life without caffeine is maddening. I only have 1 shot of espresso (50mg caffeine) a day so I am shocked that going without it is having such an impact. I feel like I am walking around in a fog. I have a headache that is getting worse by the minute.

Twice today I have thought of throwing in the towel but my friend is going to join me starting tomorrow and I want to tell her that you can, in fact, survive day one.

Also, I have been drinking a ton of water, hoping to help flush all the junk out of my system.

Cleanse: Day 1 Update 3

2pm - all day I have been looking forward to my salad at lunch. Lettuce, avocado, peaches, craisings, almonds and chick peas with an olive oil based vinaigrette. Only I don't have slivered almonds or check peas. So it was really just a fruit and veggie salad with no protein. I have to say, I am not fulfilled, at least in the traditional sense that I am fulfilled after lunch.

I am wondering if this will be an experience in learning what true fullness (as opposed to stuffed-ness or feeling full of carbs) feels like.

The most unpleasant part so far is the caffeine headache. It's not a brutal one, but it is omni-present. Like a little nat buzzing in my ear.

Cleanse: Day 1 Update 2

Just got back from Ben's first day of preschool. He has one of my absolute favorite teachers this year so it is exciting for me to have him back in the swing of things. He's going to have a great year. I wish my kids' entire life could be like their days at this school.

I was definitely feeling the hunger during preschool (parents stayed today). My mind kept thinking, well after this I'll go get my latte or go get a bagel. I automatically go for the carbs for that nice, full feeling. I can get full on fruits and veggies, but it's really the carbs that make me have that full, content, ahhh, all is well feeling. Almost like endorphins are released.

Anyway, I digress. I made it home from preschool, definitely jonesing for a coffee, but grabbing instead a pint of raspberries. I just popped them in my mouth and drank a glass of water while I was checking email. I'm not necessarily hungry anymore but I certainly do not feel full or content. Still thinking about that next meal.

CleanseL Day 1 Update 1

7am - Hungry. Instead of ignoring it and waiting until I can get my morning latte, I reach for a banana.

Going without the latte will be the hardest part of the cleanse, I believe. I don't think it's the caffeine, although we shall see if I get the dreaded caffeine headache, but rather the sheer indulgence of walking into a store and having someone else make me a soothing drink which I could easily make for myself. It is my single indulgence in the day and I look forward to it and savor it.

The Evening Before

So, with a little encouragement from my friend Mel, I am starting my cleanse tomorrow. She will be joining me on Tuesday. My goal is to do the cleanse for 3 weeks. The alcohol will be no problem as I rarely ever drink. The dairy won't be a problem b/c the only place I regularly consume it is in my daily latte. But the no wheat, no added sugars and no caffeine? Lord have mercy!

Today I thoroughly enjoyed a triple-shot whole milk latte at starbucks AND a glazed donut AND a bowl of ice cream after dinner. All 3 were divine, especially the latte.

My outrageously fabulous and supportive neighbor took Ben for me this afternoon so I got a fabulous and totally unexpected break. (Sam was at a bday party, Jack went to a Giants game with Aaron.) I hit the grocery store and planned out some of my meals.

Breakfast will be rice chex cereal with rice milk. (When Sam was a baby I was on a no dairy diet for a while and found this breakfast to be pretty tolerable). Lunch will be an enormous salad with my favorite home made vinaigrette dressing. I will miss the blue cheese in the salad but will revel in the avocado. Dinner will be pork tenderloin in an orange ginger marinade.

I spent far too much money on fruits and vegetables at the market but how wonderful it will feel to fill my body with these real foods.

Thoughts

1) My f-ing back is f-ing hurting again. What the hell. Tell me this is not what happens when you hit 40.

2) I am thinking of doing a 3 week cleanse. No caffeine, no added sugar, no wheat, no dairy, no alcohol. Basically, fruits, veggies, nuts, protein. Thoughts?