The word detox strikes fear in the hearts of all food loving, coffee craving, wine drinking women, but when it comes to walking down the aisle the motivation to look and feel our best seems to have the power to override even the biggest chocoholics. Instead of giving up on a healthy eating plan as soon as somebody utters the word cupcake, brides have a sense of determination and willpower that no amount of Camembert cheese can mess with.
And while this kind of determination can be a good thing, it shouldn’t mean starving yourself or running out to buy the latest fat burning bills and funky coloured drink. There is a natural and healthy way to detox should you choose to before your wedding day and you can even customise your own eating plan according to your lifestyle and the results you want to achieve. Detoxing the right way can help to aid weight loss, improve energy levels and give you great looking skin. So without further ado, here are some guidelines to help you detox before you say, ‘I do’.
Avoid
•Alcohol
•Cigarettes
•Coffee
•Milk products (milk, yoghurt, cheese, butter)
•Sugar (lollies, chocolate, jam, artificial sweeteners)
•Wheat (bread, biscuits, cakes, pasta, rice)
•Fast food
•Protein (beef, pork, turkey, chicken and preserved meats)
Enjoy
•Fresh fruit and vegetables
•Seafood (salmon, tuna, oysters, whiting, prawns)
•Tofu
•Legumes (dried or canned, examples are kidney beans, chickpeas and lentils)
•Eggs
•Extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil
•Nuts (almonds, walnuts, macadamias and cashews)
•Seeds (sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds)
Drink only
•Water
•Green tea
•Nutrient dense green juice
Guidelines
Stick to three meals a day, plus one snack and try to space them out so you’re eating roughly every four hours (sleeping doesn’t count). Eat as many vegetables as you like with each meal, but try to portion your seafood, tofu, beans etc to approximately 200g. Drink plenty of water.
Example of a detox day
Breakfast
2 scrambled egg whites with sautéed baby spinach and mushrooms.
Snack
Celery and carrot sticks with hummus OR one piece of fruit.
Lunch
Tuna green salad, made with unflavoured canned tuna, watercress, rocket, avocado and snow peas.
Dinner
200g salmon fillet with asparagus and sweet potato.
Top tips for detoxing
•Make sure you’re getting at least eight hours of sleep each night.
•Start each day with a cup of warm water with a squeeze of lemon to kick-start your metabolism.
•If you’re going to exercise keep it to a maximum of 30 minutes per day and stick to gentle exercise such as walking and yoga.
•Be prepared to feel lethargic for the first couple of days. If you usually drink a lot of coffee, try lowering your intake before you start your detox to avoid nausea and headaches.
•Plan ahead and do your detox during a time where you have no social engagements to avoid temptation.
•Plan your meals.
•Detox for at least seven days in order to see results and no longer than six weeks.
Note: Always consult your doctor before doing a detox. Don’t detox if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have high blood pressure or are underweight.
Have you ever tried a detox eating plan? Or any detox drinks/supplements? How did you prepare your body for your wedding day?
