Seasonal Cleanse FAQ’s
What will I eat?
This answer will be different for all of us. You get to design the cleanse that fits your life. You will learn about the different options during our first call and using the workbook. I will guide you in designing the version that fits your life. If your regular diet is a lot of processed foods, you might want to start with adding in more whole foods. You may gravitate toward juicing, smoothies, or living soups if you’re currently eating a primarily vegetarian or vegan diet. Or you may choose a mono-diet, eating kitchari for your meals. The bottom line is that it’s not about starving yourself; it’s about simplifying your digestion and finding a deeper level of self-care.
What if I’m traveling or have a wedding/special event during the Seasonal Cleanse dates?
You have the choice of delaying your start date. For example, you can attend the calls, plan your cleanse, start it on the date that works for you, and then continue past our end date. Another option is to get creative. I’ve known many people who have gotten very resourceful in traveling with their cleanse foods, a blender, etc., or they’ve made special food to take along to a family event or planned their meals for around the event.
Do I need to starve myself to be successful?
First, the definition of success comes back to your WHAT and your WHY—your reasons for joining the cleanse. Only you can decide what “successful” means to you. It may be feeling a sense of ease, improving your digestion, feeling less bloated, feeling less stressed or anxious, losing a few pounds, or something else. Most importantly, remember that it’s never about being perfect.
Secondly, the Seasonal Cleanse is not about starving or depriving yourself. You may have experienced a cleanse or detox that focused on not eating a lot or restricting your food. My Seasonal Cleanse is about nourishing your cells by adding in healthier options. You may have as a goal to not eat junk food, etc., but it can be helpful to focus on the things you’re adding in–more water, more vibrant, colorful fruits and vegetables that are full of prana (life force), more time in nature, etc.
How will the 21 days be organized?
Week 1 – I’ll guide you in designing your cleanse, and you’ll ease into the cleanse
Week 2 – We go a little deeper into the cleanse.
Week 3 – We gently emerge from the cleanse.
If I’m currently eating a clean diet, do I still need to detox?
There are many variations to the cleanse. So even if you’re eating what you consider to be a clean diet, you will find an option that fits where you are and can allow you to find a deeper level of digestion and detoxification for your body, mind, and spirit.
When we cleanse, we simplify our digestion, but not just of food. We can also streamline other things we take in through our senses–conversations, media, the news, etc. For example, you might choose to be more intentional about the types of entertainment that you take in (especially avoiding violent movies, music, and news).
We can also extend our focus to creating more ease in our lives. It can be a beautiful time of focusing more on self-care, which often gets put on the back burner. You may choose to look at your calendar and give yourself some extra space for self-massage, yoga, journaling, or meditation. You might schedule some bodywork or other healing practices.
During the cleanse, pay attention to what you’re saying, “Yes” to. Every time you say “yes” to something, consider what it is that you’re saying “no” to.
It’s also a great time to focus on spending less time on devices, social media, or in front of screens.
Self-care practices are just as important as the foods we eat.
What if I mess up or give in to temptation and eat something that I “shouldn’t”?
Pick yourself up and keep going. It can be easy to get stuck in all-or-nothing thinking and decide to throw in the towel when you feel like you didn’t do something perfectly. The invitation here is to go for a B- instead of aiming for an A+. Throw away that idea of needing to be perfect–none of us are! Perfection ends up holding us back from what we want.
You might even want to share your experience with the group. Chances are you’ll find that others had a similar struggle, and by sharing it, everyone in the group benefits.
Should I take my vitamins, minerals, etc., during the cleanse?
Unless they are prescription or under your physician’s recommendation, you may want to discontinue taking any supplements during the cleanse. This will allow you to simplify your digestion and get the nourishment you need from the foods you are eating. It will also allow you to add them back in one at a time to observe how they affect you and whether you need them daily.
Can I still drink coffee or tea?
There is no one thing that you NEED to exclude during your cleanse. I recommend drinking more water—room temperature or warm water (with or without a splash of lemon or lime). Many people are dehydrated from not drinking enough water. Caffeine can exacerbate this.
During my first detox, I ended up quitting coffee without really trying. I made my focus to drink warm water in the morning before reaching for a cup of coffee, and I haven’t looked back. And not to minimize it, at the time, I was drinking several cups of coffee during the day (far more than I really should have been).
You may or may not want to quit caffeine. If you have headaches or trouble sleeping, it may be time to stop or cut back. Either way, start your day with a cup of warm water to stimulate elimination. Then, if you want a cup of coffee or tea, go for it.
Why warm water instead of cold?
Cold water dampens your digestive fire. It’s basically like throwing water on a fire—it goes out! It forces your digestive system to have to work harder at its job of turning your food into you. So, if you want optimal digestion, absorption, and assimilation, stick to warm water. Trust me. I resisted switching to warm water—I always drank ice-cold water, even in the winter. But drinking warm water was a game-changer for me and my digestion.
What should I do if I want a snack?
First, have a cup of warm water. Often, we confuse hunger with thirst. I recommend sipping on warm water about every 20 minutes between meals. If you still feel hungry. Go for a walk, call a friend, or find another activity that you enjoy. If you still feel hungry, we need to examine how much you’re taking in each meal to determine if you should experiment with making changes.
What if I don’t have a lot of time to prepare my food?
The best time to prepare your food is in the morning. If this isn’t possible, prepare your food the night before. You could also use a slow cooker or pressure cooker to make a soup or kitchari overnight. Eating the same thing for all three meals or at least for lunch and dinner can help simplify food prep as well.