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Monday, January 18, 2016

7-Day Raw Green Smoothie Detox


Apple Banana Strawberry Cabbage Combo :)

For those who know me personally, they know that I have an active lifestyle and I'm conscious of the food  I eat. You'll seldom see me munching on fast food, junk foods or street foods, only on cheat days. I've been going through a lot these past months and just found myself eating the most unhealthy foods there are. I temporarily forgot the meaning of the phrase "in moderation". Eating unhealthily three times a day certainly's not the best decision I've made in this lifetime. I don't usually stare at myself in the mirror but when I did, after a long time, I barely recognized myself. For the first time, I didn't like what I saw. I gained more pounds than I thought I had, my skin's dull and rough and I don't have that sunny aura anymore. That's when I snapped, all these unhealthy eating has to stop. Now that the holidays are over,  It's time to get my life back, no more excuses. 

I decided to do a 7-day raw green smoothie detox. I drink lemon or cucumber water for detox almost everyday but it's my first time to do an all out raw detox. For seven days, I'll be replacing my meals with raw green smoothies. I did a lot of research, read a lot of blogs and articles regarding this kind of detox, what it does to your body and just what to expect. I didn't consult my physician before doing this, though, as prescribed by the articles. I guess I just know my body a little to much. It's also advisable to keep a journal of your detox experience on a daily basis. Here's mine. (Also, I'll be sharing my raw green smoothie combinations and recipes at the bottom of this blog.)

DAY 1: 
I woke up late so I skipped my breakfast smoothie. Lunch smoothie was alright, I was full but not for long. After two hours, my stomach was growling. I started salivating for the coconut pie and french fries on our dining table. Seeing your family eating to their hearts content while you're sipping your green smoothie, it felt like your being tortured. I fought the urge (soooo badly) to grab a handful of fries and just stuff them in  my mouth. I survived the same scenario during supper. The first night of the detox was just terrible, I had mild headaches every now and then and I just can't sleep. I was able to finally sleep at around 2 in the morning, just to woken up at 3am. Terrible, just terrible. I've read from an article that this is normal to feel these things for the first three days of the detox since the body is still adjusting and undergoing the withdrawal phase, so, moving on.

DAY 2:
I woke up earlier than expected, drank my pre-prepared smoothie and to my surprise, I was energized. I was able to do all the chores without feeling hungry or any cravings. Enjoyed my smoothies up to their last drop, had no headaches whatsoever. I guess my body's already getting used to it. Way to go!

DAY 3:
Today, I got out of bed really exhausted, my knees can barely support my weight. I wasn't sure if its due to the detox again or because I stayed up all night. I was light headed most of the time. Aside from that though, everything was alright. No cravings and I didn't feel hungry. Great news was, I saw a significant improvement on my mid section. No more protruding bloated belly. No significant changes on my arms, love handles and thighs, though.

DAY 4:
With everything that has been going on lately, I'm starting to feel a little loopy. Today, I decided to add a little more fruit on my lunch smoothie, just cause I badly needed sugar to finish all today's work. I miss eating normal food, but I'm not craving for meat or carbs, I'm happy on all the fibers I'm getting.

DAY 5:
This has to be the worst feeling I had since I started the detox. I was light headed the entire afternoon, so I had to chew on a few bites of trail food (yes, I stock them on  a regular basis, in case I had to go on an spur-of-the-moment hike) and it did the trick. Regardless, I'm still determined to finish my 7-day detox.
Friendly tip, surround yourself with people who fully understand and support your cleansing. As for me, my mom, despite knowing I'm under detox, bought me pizza and chicken for dinner. I'm not sure if she's being thoughtful or she's just teasing me.

DAY 6:
I woke up feeling okay. I looked in the mirror thinking if I'm just imagining things or am I really getting thinner. So I measured my arms and waist, I've lost an inch on both! It wasn't much, I know, but I guess that's all I needed. Now I'm much inspired to continue the detox. Who knows maybe I can go beyond 7-days. :)

DAY 7:
Alright. Last Day. Yep, I decided it will just be 7 days for now. I wanna start working out again and for that I guess I need to take in normal food to get all the nutrients I can  get to support my muscles. Good day today, I don't have any cravings but I'm excited to eat normal food again. Quite frankly, I'm not bothered by the taste o raw smoothies at all but I'm getting tired of the texture, so I'm pretty excited to try other textures in my palate again. :D

So there you go, I give you my one week detox diary and as I break my detox, let me share you a few of my favorite green smoothie combinations. Before I started my detox, I researched for possible recipes but realized that most of the ingredients are either not available in the Philippines or too expensive, i.e kale, berries, arugula, etc., so I came up with my own Filipino style detox recipes. Hope you'll try them. 

Greens: either Kangkong, Cabbage, Lettuce (any will do but I use romaine, leaf and iceburg) or mix of the three

1. Strawberry + Banana + Greens
2. Banana + Apple + Greens
3. Pineapple + Orange + Greens
4. Mango + Banana + Greens
5. Apple + Carrots + Greens
6. Pineapple + Carrots + Greens
7. Apple + Carrots + Pineapple + Greens
8. Apple + Strawberry + Greens


Note:
Ratio is 1/2 greens/veggies , 1/2 mixed fruits
Make sure to rotate your greens to avoid alkaline build up.
Once in a while I add celery or apple cider vinegar just because for added nutrients. 
If you're new to the raw taste of veggies, you can add a little of fruit juice mixed with water to balance the taste.
Don't forget to add just the right amount of water or tea to your smoothie. 

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