After a one week Yin toxin fast, I just finished my first week on the Clean program. (This great article from Outside magazine explains it more.) It took the detox sitch to a whole new level, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But, I wasn’t really expecting this.
Monday: More energy than I have had in a veeeeeeery long time. Felt outstanding during a challenging yoga class.
Tuesday: A little sluggish, but in a super-happy mood.
Wednesday: Energy tanked, big time. Dizzy in a very easy yoga class.
Thursday: Detox-headache from hell returned.
Friday: Dragged myself through the day, and through an even easier yoga class.
Weekend: Slept for 11 hours a night, took a nap both days, and STILL feel exhausted.
Here’s the thing…it’s hard work for your body, detox. I’m told by the support staff at the Clean program through their stellar support community site that this is completely normal. My body is just diverting energy from my muscles to my organs, doing the clean-up work that needs to be done. Which is A-OK with me, because in the long run, while I don’t feel awesome and energetic right now, I WILL feel awesome and energetic very soon.
Part of the challenge has become making sure I’m getting ENOUGH calories (at least 1,200-1,500 for me), which is probably a first in my lifetime. And it’s extremely difficult to get enough protein on this program, unless you love the taste of rice protein powder, which I think just makes my smoothies taste like crap. I make sure my one solid-food meal of lunch every day is high-protein, and that my snacks are, too, but am still undoubtedly deficient. Last night, I had some fish with my green juice dinner, to ensure adequate protein, which is technically off program; but the last thing I want to do is start losing what little muscle mass I have.
In spite of that, this was almost certainly the best-nourished week of my life, with TONS of dark green veggies and beautiful fresh fruits incorporated.
Weight loss wise, it’s been underwhelming too. I’m still down 8 pounds from where I started two weeks ago, but didn’t lose any additional weight during the first week of Clean. I’m told this, too, is not unusual. My body is adapting and my digestion is still trying desperately to right itself, with a lot of support from me, good nutrition, supplements and as much rest as I can possibly finagle.
Week 2 is *supposed* to be better, and I’m completely committed to sticking it out through this week to see if it is.
Later this week, I’ll need to decide if I’m going to have Clean vacation next week, or a Dirty vacation. : ] I suspect and hope that by then I’ll be feeling good enough that I’ll want to just keep going.
Thoughts? Questions? Suggestions? Leave them below.
Keep it clean.
