How to do a Detox/Cleanse without spending a ton of money!!

So you want to do a cleanse?

Great!!

Juice Cleanse...
Smoothie Cleanse...
Water Cleanse...
Green tea Cleanse...
Detox diets...
Raw Foods Cleanse...
Colon Cleanse...
Liver Cleanse...
Master Cleanse...

And that's just the tip of the iceberg!!!

Wait, is there an Iceberg lettuce cleanse???

Probably!!! 😂😂😂

Not to mention all the different prepackaged cleanses on the market!

With all these different kinds of cleanses how do you know which one is best for you?

I could ask you a ton of questions, and prescribe some specific detailed concoction of one part ACV (apple cider vinegar), one part water with lemon, one part ginger, and a dash of eye of newt, tell you to drink it on the full moon while standing on your head naked in the back yard chanting Peter Paul and Mary classics... and you might even try it... but I'm not a big fan of complicated bullshit, so for now let's not go there, hmmm???

Most of us - when we decide to do a cleanse or detox - choose to because

• A) We've just come back from vacation, drank like a fish, and ate like someone who just completed a 21 day Naked and Afraid challenge
• B) We indulged like crazy at that family reunion, BBQ, holiday party, or binged on our kid's Easter baskets or Halloween candy
• C) We're looking for a quick fix for that high school reunion, or to fit into a great outfit for an upcoming insert-your-event-here
• or D) We're finally ready to commit to a long term healthy lifestyle and want to eliminate all the junk in our systems much like we're eliminating all the Doritos, Fruity Pebbles, Ben & Jerry's and Twix bars from our pantry

Whatever your motivation - unless it's something doctor recommended (in which case your doctor should be the one telling you what to do; not me), your approach - and your results - should be pretty much the same.

SO what approach is that, Sandi?

Oh, I'm so glad you asked 😏

And if you're anything like me, you want the answer to be simple - AND budget friendly.

So - here you go:

• Step 1: Stop eating junk! No joke. Just eliminate the crap-ola from your diet. Ditch the processed foods, and start eating real, whole foods. ESPECIALLY fruits and veggies!

• Step 2: Start drinking water. LOTS of it. Drink water in the morning. Drink water before you eat. Drink water after you eat. Drink water in the morning, afternoon and evening. Just. Drink. Water.

• Step 3: STOP drinking soda (including diet), and alcohol (because after all, detoxification is the opposite of intoxication!!)!

Here's a newsflash for you: Your body "cleanses" itself naturally - and it works pretty effectively, provided you aren't constantly introducing more toxins. Cleansing is legit the job of your kidneys and liver. If you just let them do their job (by not clogging them up and bogging them down), you're well on your way.

Oh, and the water thing - that part is SUPER important. I mean, you wash the outside of your body (I hope), so why wouldn't you wash the inside? Think of it as an internal bath. Here's the deal - your body is made up of like 70% water. But you're constantly sweating it out, breathing it out, crying it out, peeing it out! So if you're not putting fresh water into your body to replenish it, then what's left? Essentially, pond scum. 

YUP! 

Have you ever looked at the greenish gross tinge the top of a pond gets when the water level gets low, and we haven't had any rain for a while? 

That's what your internal hydration (or lack there-of) looks like if you aren't adding back in what your body eliminates!

And that shit is effing TOXIC! You need the fresh water to flush out all that crap, just like a pond, lake or stream needs fresh water feeding into it, to stay - well - FRESH!

Not to mention all the other great things water does for our insides!

Yup, ALL that and more!

So yeah, if you just drink lots and lots of water (and by lots, I mean LOTS!!! I drink at least 80-100 oz a day!), stop eating (and drinking) crap, and feed your body lots of veggies and fruits, you'll be on the road  to feeling less bloated, more energized, and - let's just say - CLEAN! from the inside, out!

OK, I get it, that's not gonna work for everyone. Some people just need a more regimented, really specific "do this on this day, drink this at this time, eat that at the other time, and do it for X number of days" kind of plan to follow.

I hear 👂 ya! The more regimented, and structured, my approach to food is, be it a cleanse or my daily diet, the more likely I am to pay attention, stick to it, and achieve the results I'm after.

So if that's what you're after, then I do have another suggestion for you - Only 3 days - and each time I've done it, I've lost between 3 and 5 pounds, and an overall average of 3-5 inches of bloat too - the perfect solution to fit into that dress, look great on the beach in your new bikini 👙, or wow all your old classmates at your 20 year reunion!

If you need that regimented quick fix, then I'm a firm believer in the 3-Day Refresh. It's a simple to follow kind of thing that lets you eat real food multiple times a day so you don't feel like you're starving - and since it's only three days, you don't feel destined to Hell either! Got questions about it or want to join one of my support groups for it, so you don't have to go it alone? Email me - I can help!

But let me caution you: if you want those results to stick - whether it be from option A (just putting better stuff in your body, and eliminating the bad stuff so your liver and kidneys can do their jobs), or option B (the 3-Day Refresh), unless you follow it up with a healthy lifestyle, the results aren't going to last!

Yup, as soon as you go back to drinking sugar and caffeine instead of nice clean water, and putting processed garbage in your gut, the weight, the bloat, the sluggishness - it's all gonna come back. That, you can count on. 💯%

Want to learn more about healthy living, weight loss, fitness, and the formerly morbidly obese girl turned health coach?

Follow me here, on Facebook, or on Instagram, or send me an email with your questions, stories, struggles and successes! I'd love to hear from you!

Are You Chronically Dehydrated?

12 Symptoms of Chronic Dehydration

It is estimated that more than 50% of Americans suffer from dehydration and don't even realize it!!

Following are 12 of the more common symptoms of chronic dehydration:

1. Fatigue. Water is the most important source of energy in the body. Dehydration causes the enzymatic activity in the body to slow down, producing tiredness and fatigue. Thus, one of the earliest signs of chronic dehydration is fatigue.
2. Constipation. The colon is one of the first places the body pulls water when it is short of water in order to provide fluids for other critical functions in the body. Without adequate water, wastes move through the large intestines much more slowly. In fact, sometimes they don’t move at all. Thus, constipation is almost always one of the primary symptoms of chronic dehydration.
3. High blood pressure. The blood is normally about 94 percent water when the body is fully hydrated. When dehydrated, the blood is thicker causing resistance to blood flow, which thus can raise blood pressure.
4. High cholesterol. When the body is dehydrated, it will produce more cholesterol to seal off water loss from the cells. Cholesterol deposits within the cell membrane act to prevent additional cell water loss, ultimately for survival.
5. Acid-alkaline imbalance. The ideal environment for the health of the body is slightly alkaline. Our blood, in fact, is always slightly alkaline, usually ranging between 7.3 and 7.4 pH (7.0 being neutral). Dehydration significantly reduces the ability of the body to eliminate acid wastes.
6. Digestive disorders. The body needs an adequate supply of water to produce a wide array of digestive juices. A shortage of water and alkaline minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, can lead to a host of digestive disorders, including ulcers, gastritis and acid reflux.
7. Asthma and allergies. Another way the body rations water when dehydrated, as a survival mechanism, is by restricting airways. Respiratory problems are key symptoms of chronic dehydration. The rate of histamine produced by the body increases exponentially as the body loses more and more water. According to Water for Health, for Healing, for Life, chronic dehydration "is the primary cause of allergies and asthma in the human body." Drinking plenty of water is the single most important natural remedy for asthma. 
8. Weight gain. When dehydrated, cells are depleted of energy. They then have to rely on energy generation from food rather than water. People thus tend to eat more when, in reality, the body is thirsty. In addition, the body will not metabolize fat unless the body is adequately hydrated to safely remove dangerous toxins that are often stored in fat cells.
9. Skin disorders. The skin is the largest elimination organ in the human body. In a dehydrated body, the first site for water conservation is the skin. Dehydration impairs the elimination of toxins through the skin and makes it more vulnerable to all types of skin disorders, including dermatitis and psoriasis, as well as premature wrinkling and discoloration.
10. Joint pain or stiffness. All joints have cartilage padding, which covers the bone structures in the joint, providing necessary lubrication. The cartilage itself is composed mainly of water. When the body is dehydrated, cartilage is weakened and joint repair is slow. According to Dr. Batmanghelidj, the joints in which the pain is felt depends on where the localized drought has set in.
11. Bladder or kidney problems. As with all of the organs of elimination, when the body is dehydrated, toxins are not eliminated as well. The accumulation of toxins and acid waste create an environment where bacteria thrive. Thus, when dehydrated the bladder and kidney become more prone to infection, inflammation and pain.
12. Premature aging. When the body is chronically dehydrated, the skin begins to wrinkle prematurely. More importantly, what we don’t see is the same wrinkling and withering effect on the internal organs. The most effective and the most inexpensive way (by far!) to slow the aging process is to drink enough water, especially as we get older.

So my question is - what are you going to do about it?

Do you know how much water you should be drinking?

(If you answered 6-8 glasses a day, you are probably wrong)

Do you have an aversion to drinking plain water? 

(I do - but I have tips and secrets to share about how I've overcome it)

Do you know why your body needs so much water?

(Knowing why is half the battle!)

From August 7th - August 13th, I will be hosting a 7 day free group on Facebook where you will learn the answers to these questions and MUCH MORE!

Join us HERE

Interested in other health and fitness related issues? Find me on Facebook, or email me!