Hitting the Reset Button (on Life)

Oh, big news. I think my work lifestyle has caught up with me and I need to stop and hit the reset button.

Too many weeks of traveling, indulging in wonderful meals and magical wines has taken its toll on me. Which is odd -- I used to "abuse" my body like this before. Maybe its age (ha, it can't be...) or being back in the city, but in more ways than one my body has been screaming to me "Stop the drinking! Stop the eating! Stop the running! Escape to the ocean! Sleep all day!" Sorry body. I love you, but I've got a job to do here.

Now I already eat awfully clean already. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains (and the occasional burger and fries), low-fat dairy, and my favorite -- grass-fed meat. Over the years I've noticed how sugar leaves me with a horrible sore throat and congested sinuses... and then there is wine. Initially, it'd leave me groggy sounding and congested, but two weeks ago, it caused me to break out in hives. My one favorite thing. Hives. REALLY??? And I'm not a teetotaller, mind you. I just enjoy my nightly glass of vin rouge to settle down...

I could spend days detoxing with vegetables, but knowing me, I need something, like a class, to really make me focus. And a juice cleanse was just the thing. I'm not looking to lose weight, but heal my body now (granted, there is some stuff that I could lose, but it's so stubborn I figure it'll go when I've hit the dietary-jackpot). Example A: The "allergies" that have morphed into congestion with a tickle in the lungs. Time to undo all that abuse. Enter: The Blueprint Cleanse.

Tomorrow is day one of my juices. A green juice, then a pineapple-apple-mint juice, two more greens with a spicy lemonade in there, and the day is capped off with a creamy cashew milk before bed. I'm so excited to begin, and am hoping my caffeine withdrawal won't be bad (thus why I started on a weekend... caffeine is essential prior to heading to the office). I've been preparing since Wednesday, cutting first the meat, then cutting back on dairy, amping up the veggies and fruit, and transitioning to only plant-based foods today and a final liquid meal of homemade tomato soup and a kombucha. So far, so good (though I've got green tea and celery on hand, just in case).

Now, when I report back tomorrow, I may have something else to say. I'm sure I'll be grumpy and crabby and irritable (definitely emotional), but it's all that nastiness flushing it's way out of my life. Considering where the light at the end of the tunnel will lead me, I think I can deal with that.