Awakened Bliss Spring Cleanse – My Experience
Hello beauties J I’ve just begun a Spring cleanse (I started on Monday), and there's already been lot's of emotional, energetic and physical movement. The cleanse I chose was the Awakened Bliss Spring Cleanse, by Jasmine Matthews (http://simplyreplenished.com/seasonal-cleansing/). I chose this particular one because it is predominantly a food based programme. It also focuses on other aspects of cleansing, such as cleaning up the toxins in your home and beauty routine, and most importantly to me it focuses on cleaning up your mental toxins by using meditation and being conscious of your thoughts.
Hello beauties J I’ve just begun a Spring cleanse (I started on Monday), and there's already been lot's of emotional, energetic and physical movement. The cleanse I chose was the Awakened Bliss Spring Cleanse, by Jasmine Matthews (http://simplyreplenished.com/seasonal-cleansing/). I chose this particular one because it is predominantly a food based programme. It also focuses on other aspects of cleansing, such as cleaning up the toxins in your home and beauty routine, and most importantly to me it focuses on cleaning up your mental toxins by using meditation and being conscious of your thoughts.
This particular cleanse is quite different to a lot of others, in that there are no prescribed supplements, and its more about giving yourself time to detoxify and move through the process. It’s focus is on eating foods from the earth, lots of fresh green leafies, juices, smoothies, soups and salads. There are no grains (quinoa and buckwheat are included, as these are not grains as such), no animal products including dairy, no processed foods at all and no caffeine, stimulants or alcohol.
There is plenty of delicious food, snacks like apples smothered with almond cacao butter, flaxseed crackers with hommus and berry chia puddings. Beautiful roasted root vegetables, and nourishing fresh green salads. There is also the invitation to create space in your day to reflect, time to meditate and grow through the process. Not only do you lose excess toxins, but you also lose excess mental baggage and old emotional patterns that may no longer serve you.
Jasmine has put together a beautiful package that explains to you why we cleanse, and I can highly recommend this for first time cleansers or those wanting to know more about the reasons behind a cleanse.
You might be wondering why I’m choosing to do a cleanse. A lot of people think that because you are a naturopath, and you eat a healthy diet and live a moderately clean lifestyle, that there is no reason for you to detox. I had a lot of comments such as ‘what are you detoxing from?’, and ‘ don’t you know that having 1 coffee a day is good for you?’. Hehe, it makes me smile. The reality is that I do enjoy a daily coffee (sometimes 2), and although I do have a well balanced diet I am tired a lot of the time. I'm also exposed to modern toxins in our air, water and soil just like the rest of us. However given my lifestyle, I don’t feel that I should be experiencing this fatigue. This was my main detox prompt. I also wanted to feel more motivation, have a time without caffeine to see how that changed my energy, and open myself up more to life emotionally, energetically and physically. Time to slow down and just be was a very attractive part of my decision to detox as well.
Some of you know, and others may not, but I had an operation and general anaesthetic early this year due to a condition called ‘Molar Pregnancy’. It’s a complicated condition, but that left me with hyperthyroid for a time, and some other health issues to work through. Much of my fatigue this year has stemmed from this experience, and I had what I affectionately call ‘anaesthetic brain’ as well, where I would not be able to think of the word that I needed. Hah. That was fun.
So far I’ve done almost 3 days on the cleanse, and I’ve outlined below what I’ve been eating and how I’m feeling.
There is plenty of delicious food, snacks like apples smothered with almond cacao butter, flaxseed crackers with hommus and berry chia puddings. Beautiful roasted root vegetables, and nourishing fresh green salads. There is also the invitation to create space in your day to reflect, time to meditate and grow through the process. Not only do you lose excess toxins, but you also lose excess mental baggage and old emotional patterns that may no longer serve you.
Jasmine has put together a beautiful package that explains to you why we cleanse, and I can highly recommend this for first time cleansers or those wanting to know more about the reasons behind a cleanse.
You might be wondering why I’m choosing to do a cleanse. A lot of people think that because you are a naturopath, and you eat a healthy diet and live a moderately clean lifestyle, that there is no reason for you to detox. I had a lot of comments such as ‘what are you detoxing from?’, and ‘ don’t you know that having 1 coffee a day is good for you?’. Hehe, it makes me smile. The reality is that I do enjoy a daily coffee (sometimes 2), and although I do have a well balanced diet I am tired a lot of the time. I'm also exposed to modern toxins in our air, water and soil just like the rest of us. However given my lifestyle, I don’t feel that I should be experiencing this fatigue. This was my main detox prompt. I also wanted to feel more motivation, have a time without caffeine to see how that changed my energy, and open myself up more to life emotionally, energetically and physically. Time to slow down and just be was a very attractive part of my decision to detox as well.
Some of you know, and others may not, but I had an operation and general anaesthetic early this year due to a condition called ‘Molar Pregnancy’. It’s a complicated condition, but that left me with hyperthyroid for a time, and some other health issues to work through. Much of my fatigue this year has stemmed from this experience, and I had what I affectionately call ‘anaesthetic brain’ as well, where I would not be able to think of the word that I needed. Hah. That was fun.
So far I’ve done almost 3 days on the cleanse, and I’ve outlined below what I’ve been eating and how I’m feeling.
| Day 1. B.fast - Detox juice with carrot, orange, celery, apple and turmeric Goji Quinoa flake bowl made with almond milk. Morning tea - Smoothie with berries, avocado, lemon juice and greens. Lunch - Cooked Quinoa with greens, tomato and blackbeans. Arvo tea – apple with hazelnut butter Dinner - Roasted veggie bowl with buckwheat, coriander and lemon juice. Today I really struggled. I had great intentions, and had begun juicing and having decaf coffee a few days prior to the cleanse. During the afternoon of day 1 I had a fabulous headache, and also a full day of patients booked in. In hindsight it was not the best choice to start a cleanse during the week! I tried having a decaf latte to see if it would help the headache, and it didn’t at all. I had a restful night on Monday, but I did feel quite emotional and there was a lot of shifting within me. Shifting of toxins but also of thoughts and emotions and energy. This detox business is quite powerful, and definitely uncomfortable. It’s so worth it though, great growth is bred from this experience. | Day 2. B.fast -Minty green juice with Kale, cucumber, apple, celery and mint. Mushrooms sauted with garlic, avocado and snow pea sprouts. Morning tea - Mint chip smoothie with cacao nibs. Lunch - Roasted vegies and buckwheat left overs Arvo tea - Pesto almonds, yum! And dandelion root tea with almond milk Dinner – sautéed greens with garlic. Quinoa salad with pesto dressing. Roasted pumpkin and greens salad with honey and tamari dressing Today I felt much better in myself. More balanced in the morning, and no headache throughout the day. However I was incredibly tired. I went home early from work, had a nap and an Epsom salt bath which was just lovely J Then I had my angel girl tribe over for dinner. It’s just been a full moon, and we are all feeling quite emotional and there are a lot of things coming up and being released. It was a lovely evening, and we ended with a beautiful soulful meditation. Just what the doctor ordered J |
So now its day 3!
Day 3
B/fast: I diverted a bit and had some gluten free toast this morning. It’s best to avoid grains on a cleanse as they can be hard to digest. (Quinoa and buckwheat are not grains in the traditional sense, so they are included in some detox plans) I put black tahini on my toast, and my body was so grateful.
Morning tea – Minty fresh juice & chia pudding
Lunch – left over salads from last night - YUM
Arvo tea – green smoothie with mango, chia seeds and kale
I also had a dandelion root tea.
Dinner – sweet potato and coconut soup.
This morning, I was very tired. I think that’s why my body wanted the toast, and I did thoroughly enjoy it with the black tahini. Yum! I’ve sort of felt like I have a cloud over my head today, foggy. No headache, just that fog and feeling quite slow and sleepy. I’ve felt very emotional today as well, dissatisfied I would say. I’m really looking forward to getting home tonight, having a yummy dinner and just relaxing. Nothing to do, nowhere else to be, just stillness and quiet time to chill J
During this cleanse I've been mindful to have a lot of water to move toxins out of my system, and I'm enjoying some nice herbal teas as well. I'm someone who loves my warm drinks, they are like a comfort, so I've just adapted them to be caffeine free. Over the last few days I've had roobois tea, dandelion root tea with almond milk, cinnamon tea, skin bliss detox tea and some cacao with almond milk.
I've also been doing dry skin brushing, with stimulates your lymphatic system to move junk through your system and out.
So that's it so far, what my cleanse has looked like on a plate and how I've felt. Its been an interesting journey, and I'm looking forward to continuing and coming out the other side with renewed energy and enthusiasm. Lets see how it goes :)
Wholesome Chick xoxo
Day 3
B/fast: I diverted a bit and had some gluten free toast this morning. It’s best to avoid grains on a cleanse as they can be hard to digest. (Quinoa and buckwheat are not grains in the traditional sense, so they are included in some detox plans) I put black tahini on my toast, and my body was so grateful.
Morning tea – Minty fresh juice & chia pudding
Lunch – left over salads from last night - YUM
Arvo tea – green smoothie with mango, chia seeds and kale
I also had a dandelion root tea.
Dinner – sweet potato and coconut soup.
This morning, I was very tired. I think that’s why my body wanted the toast, and I did thoroughly enjoy it with the black tahini. Yum! I’ve sort of felt like I have a cloud over my head today, foggy. No headache, just that fog and feeling quite slow and sleepy. I’ve felt very emotional today as well, dissatisfied I would say. I’m really looking forward to getting home tonight, having a yummy dinner and just relaxing. Nothing to do, nowhere else to be, just stillness and quiet time to chill J
During this cleanse I've been mindful to have a lot of water to move toxins out of my system, and I'm enjoying some nice herbal teas as well. I'm someone who loves my warm drinks, they are like a comfort, so I've just adapted them to be caffeine free. Over the last few days I've had roobois tea, dandelion root tea with almond milk, cinnamon tea, skin bliss detox tea and some cacao with almond milk.
I've also been doing dry skin brushing, with stimulates your lymphatic system to move junk through your system and out.
So that's it so far, what my cleanse has looked like on a plate and how I've felt. Its been an interesting journey, and I'm looking forward to continuing and coming out the other side with renewed energy and enthusiasm. Lets see how it goes :)
Wholesome Chick xoxo
