What unexpected benefits can you get from a detox? Suzanne’s experience with our healthRESET® detox program was so transformational she asked if she could share her journey to inspire others to jump in and find out. Read on to find out just what she means, as she talks it through with our Nutrition Programs Director.
Romilly: What made you want to do a detox? How did you get to the point of deciding to ‘jump in?’
Suzanne: I knew the day was coming when I had to hit the pause button in my life and take a good look at exactly what it was I was ingesting that was causing excess mucus every morning and a stuffy nose all day long. More importantly, the question I had to ask myself was, “Do I want to keep drinking wine every night and feel crappy every morning?” Also, what the heck was causing that burning feeling in my throat down to my stomach- was it the wine?
I knew I was going to have to give up the wine to find out.
I heard about the healthRESET program from someone I trusted that purchased the paleo version of the program and loved it. I was intrigued 6 months before I decided to do the vegan version myself.
As good fortune would have it, my husband Alex, was about to set off for a week of mountain biking with his buddies, which left me with our beautiful home in the woods all to myself. That would be the time for the adventure into what I thought would be a difficult cleanse- let Alex enjoy a week away without watching me sacrifice my wine and dairy items and perhaps avoid my cranky disposition. I wished him a fabulous week away and inwardly felt free and excited to explore on my own, what has turned out to be a pivotal dietary awakening experience for me.
I have been a vegetarian for 30 years, gluten-free for 4 years and so the additional foods I had to forgo for 6 days were dairy products and wine.
More importantly the question I had to ask myself was, “Do I want to keep drinking wine every night and feel crappy every morning?”
Romilly: What was it like going through the 6-day program?
Suzanne: As soon as Alex’s car left the driveway I felt like I was in my very own personal spa retreat center. I thoroughly read and re-read the healthRESET instructions and looked at my menu options. Having grocery shopped the day before, I was ready to begin.
Making my first shake was actually the first time I had taken the time to blend ingredients together – I usually just added the basic water, used a shaker cup and chugged it down. Instead I added fresh blueberries and organic almond butter. I was stunned by how satisfied I felt and I didn’t feel hungry for hours.
The lunches and dinners I made myself during the week were spectacular- not only were they fun to prepare, it felt like for the first time in my life I was nourishing myself. Truly nourishing myself. Not just eating some food per usual, but taking the time to prepare ingredients just for me. I realized that in all my years of raising a family and caring for many others, I absolutely had never slowed down enough to ask myself what did I really want to eat? What tasty meal could I cook for myself? As I explained to the nutritionist I spoke to after doing the cleanse, I felt like I was consciously cooking for myself. And it felt like heaven.
I realized that in all my years of raising a family and caring for many others, I absolutely had never slowed down enough to ask myself what did I really want to eat?
Romilly: Were there any surprises?
Suzanne: I had several aha moments during the 6 days of feeding myself and caring for myself so lovingly. I realized what self-care actually means- Even though I have been practicing kindness and have intended to be as loving as possible for many years now as a spiritual practice out in the world (and to myself the hardest piece), I had never connected the dots until now.
For the first time I wasn’t hungry, or wondering what I would eat next. The foods I ate ‘fed’ all of me. Nourishing myself with food, I think, was the previous missing piece for me.
I hope this makes sense. Maybe if I explain that I have been one to strive all my life, to work hard and accept great challenges and then feed myself what I thought was the right foods- food that would keep me from gaining weight.
On this amazing cleanse I didn’t count calories, look at a scale, or worry about eating too much. I used all the oils that previously never thought to “indulge” in for fear of getting fat.
I felt full for the very first time in my life. Full of nourishing foods I had made for myself without fear of gaining weight.
My biggest aha was that I was making myself healthier and I was feeling happier as each day passed on this plan. The mucus in my nose cleared up and the miracle I had hoped for happened- the burning in my throat I had been feeling for months -stopped.
I had several aha moments during the 6 days of feeding myself and caring for myself so lovingly. I realized what self-care actually means.
Romilly: What did you get out of the program?
Suzanne: I really got that making the decision to care and feed myself by removing alcohol and dairy from my diet was huge. It has taken a very long time and a lot of soul searching to get to a place where I would ‘sacrifice’ those items for the sake of feeling better in a whole different way.
What I experienced is a shift in my perception of what taking care of your self first actually means and what it feels like- it’s exquisite.
How can I fully give of myself to anything or anybody when I am not full or nourished?
I understood why I didn’t take time in my life to really nourish myself- I did not have any training on how to do that. When I saw other people doing it, I judged them as being self-centered. Now I see that it is the least selfish thing in the world.
Romilly: What is different now, after you’ve finished the program?
Suzanne: I am keeping the recipes close at hand and choosing the same foods that were on the plan to continue eating and I ordered more of the shakes and probiotics that I used with the plan.
My life has become softer and more gentle- no more harsh foods for example.
I am so totally enjoying consciously cooking for myself for the first time in my life.
I understood why I didn’t take time in my life to really nourish myself- I did not have any training on how to do that. When I saw other people doing it, I judged them as being self-centered. Now I see that it is the least selfish thing in the world.
A beautiful and truly miraculous side note- Alex came home from his trip and I explained what I had been doing all week down to every detail- he actually decided that he, my meat and potato king, was going to drop the items in his diet that were keeping him from feeling his best. He asked me to buy grass fed beef and to make him cookies with honey rather than sugar etc.
So not only do I get to treat myself well, I get to support Alex and up the quality of his food. Wow- I never expected that. Instead of my now taking time to also care for myself being a huge change in our relationship, it has become an opportunity to be more conscious together. Plus when I am happy, Alex is happy. It’s a beautiful thing!
For more testimonials from others who have done the healthRESET program click here.
Ready to jump in and experience it for yourself? Click here to get started.