It is time: time for a detoxing purification--a cleanse--of the mind and soul and body with no caffeine, no alcohol, and no bread, rice, etc.
For just as I still apparently do not fully grasp how the Euro is real US money out of my US bank account when the US credit card is used in a foreign country, I also cannot seem to wrap my head around the fact that even though one is enjoying exciting food opportunities and exploring poignant corners of Paris for obscure wine bars, all that food and wine fun will still turn to fat, just like in the US--unless it is monitored strictly and mitigated with frequent running or cycling routines.
So I saw Eleanor today, who is the practitioner rebuilding my adrenal system and naturally balancing ye olde hormones. Today's visit was for her to get me set up for another 21-day detox/purification regime.
I did the first cleanse/detox/purification back between Thanksgiving and Christmas 2012. Recall it is a "cleanse" with a lot of vegetables, some cleansing supplements, and with the protein intake still high and good (protein shakes)--with actual protein added back on Day 11. Last time I did it, I felt like a million bucks: I slept like a baby, had tons of energy, thought big creative thoughts for work, and felt calm and at peace. I drank like a gallon of water a day. Friends told me my face looked great. And I lost 10 pounds. Sign me up for all of the above, like now.
We first talked about the usual array of things with which Eleanor helps me tremendously: how I was feeling generally, hormonally speaking mostly, and how I was managing work load and social and other commitments to try to slow down my life. She was forgiving and understanding about the 4 weeks in France and was glad I had a great time. (Though when she travels, she has a lot of protein bars and protein shakes.)
Cute little proscuitto cups for the Austin Angers Music reception chez moi, for Germain Kpakou. It's like using bacon as a bowl pretty much. Filled them with healthy diced pears tossed in lemon juice. See the recipe here.
Then she asked me:
E: So how much do you weigh now?
GM: Uhhhh...Let's just say [...].
E: No, really, how much?
GM: I don't want to look. I haven't looked. My jeans barely fit, ok? Let's leave it at that. But I am doing much better than the day of my return when I resorted to yoga pants and tennis shoes for the trip back home. And I'm working out again, and swimming, etc.
E picks up the scale in her office, telling me it's best to weigh oneself in the morning, naked, after going to the bathroom. I coud not agree more. I figure she is going to tell me to weigh the next morning at home and take note so we can track how I do this time around on the cleanse.
She tells me to follow her, out into the lobby.
GM: Seriously? You're actually going to weigh me? Here?
E: Sure. I won't tell you if you don't want to know. Now get over here.
GM: Oh fine.
E: So we take off a couple of pounds for it being the middle of the day and other extraneous extenuating circumstances and there you are.
GM: Well, that's not so bad. Bad, but not that bad. I'm glad we did that actually. Brutal, but feels good.
Being on the cleanse is like going to a uniform school. You don't have to decide what to wear every day. With this, I do not have to think too much on what to eat everyday. I make a protein shake. And/or I head for the veggie drawer and consume the day's plastic bin of lettuce with enormous quanities of cruciferous vegetables and a great olive oil-based dressing. Or roast some vegetables. Or grill some asparagus with lemon and butter. It is not deprivation of all food by any means (don't forget the no caffeine and no alcohol, which includes wine--that is deprivation). But it does take some strength of will. Apparently I thrive on structure. In small intense doses.
I already can't wait for the last day of when there is no more such structure and I will break the cleanse with the first post-cleanse glass of red wine.
Last time the breaking-of-the-cleanse was at Justine's for escargots and red wine. And that is sounding pretty good for the next one too. In like ... 22 days.
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