Project Jumpstart 2014

One habit I want entrenched in my life in 2014 is the habit of fasting – both for its spiritual and health benefits. Reading the famous story of Daniel in the Bible, I note that he fasted off Nebuchadnezzar’s rich foods and ended up being the buffest, fittest, smartest of the trainees (cutting a long story short). I call this the "Daniel Dynamite" (dynamite because it blows all of your competition out of the water). I think that a fast is akin to a detox of sorts; although I have become aware that current medical researchers say that the detox fad has no basis in human biology (http://www.webmd.com/diet/detox-diets). Nevertheless, I still believe that there are some short term physical and mental benefits to be gained. Hence my desire and determination to fast ...detox...regularly in 2014! It is my opinion that the benefits of regular short term detox includes:

• Feel lighter and brighter
• Boost energy
• Improved sleep quality (This I really need)
• Better bowl movement
• Boost immunity
• Improved skin clarity (which lady would turn her nose on this?)
• Jumpstart metabolism (by jumpstart I mean, give it a well-deserved rest before you kick it up again – even cars benefit from this rest & rev action)

I’m sure you were expecting me to mention that one benefit of a detox is ridding the body of harmful toxins? Well, from what I gather it does not work like that. In actual sense the ‘detox’ is really not a ‘detoxification’ if you are splitting hairs and checking definitions– it’s rather a ‘jumpstart’ - your body, mind and spirit will be cleansed and re-booted resulting in a whole & healthy person. By person I mean me.

Anyway, the long and short of what I am trying to say is that I have chosen to start 2014 with a 7 day Jumpstart Detox – simply because I want to first get all of the benefits I have listed above and also clear & calibrate my mind for the new year. If I can get into the habit of doing this every quarter – I am sure I will be the better for it. And as I approach my 40^th birthday (go ahead and do the math...lol) in a couple of years this habit will stand me in good stead and make my 40 really be my new 20!

So as I engage Project Jumpstart 2014 I will be posting my daily diet and exercise regime in case anyone wants to work me. It will mostly fruits and veggies though – so be prepared! J I'm thinking kiwi, carrots, grapes, sour sop, pineapples, beets,  bananas, apples....yum!

Before I get ahead of myself I also need to admonish myself to be prepared because I know it will NOT be easy, I am counting on my accountability partners (and you) to keep me honest… hope I make it thorough to day 7. I will announce the start date on this blog - so keep following!

For those who want to Jumpstart with me, please contact me and let’s see how we can encourage and support one another.

 

Feel free to comment on the recipies and meal plans I recommend and on how easy or difficult it is/will be/has been (not sure which tenses work here – but you get what I mean, right?) to make the smoothies and juices I/we will be making/drinking.

Having said that I will be sharing recipes, I have to give credit to whom credit is due – most of the juice recipes I will use are from the Juice Masters’ recipe book (when you buy a Juice Master, it usually comes with a book on the history and benefits juicing and also full of fab recipes created by the juice master himself – Jason Vale) – some of the other juices and smoothies are my efforts at creating something unique that works for my health, for my palette, for me ...and from the fruits and veggies readily available in my local market.

With so many options to detox and jumpstart why did I opt for the fruits & veggies route? (for other options see http://life.gaiam.com/article/how-detox-your-body-outside) My reasons are quite simple –

1. I believe fruits & veg (natural foods) contain nature’s remedies for human ailments
2. I heard someone say fruits & veggies alone for one week could help me blast my tummy and reduce my muffin tops significantly (so I'm thinking...go for it girl!!)
3. I may, will, could indulge myself this Christmas (I am being HONEST!!!)– so I will need something real to knock any extra Christmas weight (fingers crossed)
4. Reduce any accumulated sugar in my system from my Christmas pudding (smiling) – I don’t know if sugar accumulates like this, but I’m going to keep this on my list of reasons just to make me feel better, and just in case it does.
5. Rebalance the good/bad bacteria in my tummy (a few years back one of my doctors said I had a helicobacter pylori infection – so I have become quite manic about supporting the good bacteria in my tummy)
6. To access my personal version of the Daniel Dynamite

Caveat Emptor/Buyer Beware!!!

If you are going to do this with me, please, please, please make sure you have your doctors (or a qualified medical practitioner’s nod to do so). If you have diabetes, ulcer and such I don’t think this is for you …sorry! Like I said earlier, there are other ways to get your jumpstart on, so explore them.

Also if you are doing this please keep the following tips in mind:

• Drink LOTS…LOTS and LOTS of water all through the day
• Avoid carbonated drinks like the plague (the caffeine will do you in …seriously)
• Stay away from packed juices and pastries
• Have fun with herbal teas
• Morning walks are very important – fresh air,vitamin D…need I say more?
• If you have to in the course of the day, nibble on nuts – almonds, cashews etc
• When you get lightheaded (note I said, when -not if – because you WILL get lightheaded at the start) reach for a banana or small apple, or some small piece of fruit.

You will need to get a blender or juicer (if you only have a blender - don't sweat it - simply blend your fruits and veggies in that and to get a smoother texture pass the pulp through a fine seive - PRESTO your juice!). If you like the pulp (it fills you up faster) that's ace, right?

 

You will also need some covered mugs or bottles to cart your juices and smoothies around in - again don't sweat it - if you don't have those cute plastic bottles use your regular empty bottled water bottles. All you have to do is keep the juices and smoothies in the fridge and they will stay fresh for that day.

 

I think that fresh juice and smoothies should be made fresh each day (serious time committment, I know) - so we are NOT going to make juices today and drink them tomorrow! That way you get all the vitamins and what not... 

 

To be frank, I am kind of dreading and anticipating Project Jumpstart 2014, it will not be easy – but I am determined. Good health don’t come easy right?

Do you have any plans, habits or resolutions for 2014 that you believe will result in a healthier, slimmer you come the end of the year? Can you share it with us? If you are shy, and want to communicate with me along use the ‘Contact Form’ on the right.

See you in January when we engage Project Jumpstart 2014!

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