To Detox, or Not to Detox

I could wax poetic just like Hamlet for quite a while about this topic... and yes, I think I will do just that, thanks.  I'll try to insert lots of great pictures of veggies to make it more fun.

I love Detox plans.  I love the idea of detoxing.  I think it is necessary in our world of being sedentary and breathing/eating/drinking/living pollutants.  I think it's a great opportunity to let your body get rid of some of the yuck.

From Pinterest

But I hate the actual practice of detoxing.  It's generally time consuming.  It can be expensive.  Your energy might suffer.  You might have to stay within a 25 yard dash of a bathroom, and hope that you have exclusive rights to the implied commode.  There is prepping, planning, work to be done when you detox.  It is not a simple thing, unlike what all of the books and blogs out there claim.

Not to mention that I kinda promised myself that I would not do anything that drastic with my health this year.  That I would make small, measurable changes that would yield big results in favor of the short term cleanse.

Yum-tastic greens

Best laid plans, yada, yada yada.  I can't resist a good cleanse.  They call to me.  Especially as we head into Spring, which is touted as being the best time to do a cleanse.  And there's the voice inside me that reminds me that there are detox strategies that don't require all liquid diets, colonics, and disgusting drinks.  There are strategies out there that I have been able to comply with, and even thrived on long term before.

Yes people, we're talking a bout a vegan diet.

The best part of the grocery store

I was a vegan for just over a year when I was 22.  Honestly, it was probably the best year of my life (from a health standpoint).  But, after that time the pressure of work, dating, life, caught up with me, and it just seemed like too much to continue preparing yummy vegan goodness for myself each and every day became a huge burden.  Fish came back fist, then dairy, then everything else.

I love bacon.  When bacon came back, I knew it was all over for me.

But when I think about that time, I really experienced all of the benefits that a good detox is supposed to provide you.  I slept well.  I had tons of energy.  I ate whenever I wanted.  My skin looked great.  I've never had a lower percentage of body fat, and I had no trouble rock climbing and hiking several days a week.

Hello tiny little vegan!

So what does all of this mean?  I am so, so, so tempted to do a 3 week vegan diet challenge.  I would love to try to sneak gluten free and caffeine free in there too, but that might be a little much.  But I'm still cautious;  it seems like a quick fix to a long standing problem.  If I do this, what changes am I going to make going forward that ensure I don't end up in the same place or worse in 6 months?  Wat are my motivations for doing a cleanse?  How often do I think it is acceptable for me to undertake a cleanse?  What expectations do I have for myself if I do this?

See all these questions?  See why I am so darn confused about all of this.  One way or another, I can't wait to share with you what I decide to do and how I'm going to make it happen!