Paleo Detox Diet: Day 0 - Prepare to be Cleansed

Oh, New Orleans. There is no trouble that you won't find, no concept of day and night, and no vegetable that hasn't been battered and deep fried. Basically - Bourbon Street is like Disneyland for adults (and I loved it). But after a week of hurricanes, jambalaya, and good old fried chicken, I fell out of my workout regimen and continued to eat poorly, even after I'd returned to reality. With work being incredibly busy, I put little effort on getting back on track and felt myself getting lazier and lazier by the day (ignorance is bliss). And then came the dreaded moment - hopping on the scale for the first time in weeks. 

The shenanigans one can find on Bourbon Street....

Yikes - the scale revealed I am five pounds over my happy weight. Besides the weight gain, my body just doesn't feel as good as it should - I've been feeling bloated, lethargic, and mentally cloudy for a while now (basically...I feel like crap because I've been eating crap). On top of that, my skin has broken out and looks dull and ashy. There's no question about it: it's time for a detox to reset my life. 

For the next week, I'll be recording everything from my grocery list to my results, and every detail in between - how hungry I am, dealing with temptations, my recipes, etc. - so you can follow my progress (or lack thereof). 

Here's my Paleo Detox Plan...

  The Goals  
 - Lose a few lbs
 - Detox my body to improve digestion, skin, etc.
 - Revamp my fitness routine to get back into shape

  The Diet

 - Apply David Kirsch's ABC's of dieting: no Alcohol, Bread, Carbs, or Dairy

 - Follow the Paleo rules of dieting and eliminate all processed ingredients: no artificial sugars, grains, soy, etc. 

 - Restrict intake of fruits and fat

  The Workout  

- 40 minutes of circuit training, followed by 20 minutes of low-impact cardio

- Circuit training should include strength training paired with short cardio intervals, or any activity that combines both such as kickboxing, power yoga, etc.

- Low-impact cardio options include stationary bike, walking/light jog, elliptical, etc. 

- Workouts can be split up into "two-a-days" as long as it all adds up to a total of 60 minutes

   The Prep   
   

1. Pick up Groceries

For my detox plan, Whole Foods is my one-stop-shop. While its a little (ok, a lot) on the expensive side, I know I can trust their produce and there is a store conveniently located a few blocks from my apartment. So, while it may put a dent in my paycheck, I headed here after work and went to town. Here's what I bought:

Greens: 1 bunch of spinach, 1 head of romaine, 1 bunch of parsley, pack of fresh basil

Fruits: 2 lemons, 2 limes, 1 carton of strawberries, 2 avocados

Veggies: 1 yellow onion, 1 green bell pepper, 1 red bell pepper, 1 jalapeno pepper, 1 bunch of celery, 1 medium chunk of ginger root

Protein: 2 chicken breasts, 2 salmon filets, 1 bag of Jay Robb's Vanilla Egg White Protein Powder, 1 large carton of eggs

Spreads: 1 jar of crunchy almond butter

Frozen: 1 bag of frozen mixed berries

Drinks: 1 large carton of coconut water, 1 box of herbal tea

Other ingredients I'll need, but have at home:

Salt, Pepper, Dried Herbs, Paprika, Olive Oil

     

2. Weigh In

I'll be keeping track of any weight that I lose by weighing in once a day. 

3. Do something relaxing

I want to be able to sleep well in preparation of my week of detox, so I am treating myself to a bath with calming lavender bath salts. 

Then it's time to get some rest. Tomorrow, the journey begins so now its time to catch some Zzzzzzs.