Detoxing (again)

If you have been following this blog for a while you know that I went gluten free after a variety of health issues combined to make life miserable.  (If you haven’t read my Gluten Free Living Story you can see my 1.5 year review here.)

I’ve been Gluten Free for…. five years? (Did I do the math right?  December 2012 – June 2017 = 4.5 years… WOW!)

Okay, so four and a half years… and yes, life is absolutely better without the wheat and the awfulness that come with eating it.  The food world has changed quite a bit in the last 4.5 years.  Gluten Free food is available nearly everywhere and many restaurants have gluten free menus, or at least have a vague understanding when you tell them that you can’t eat gluten.  Grocery stores have dedicated Gluten Free isles and more and more products are clearly labeled. It makes finding food so much easier…. and I think that may be part of my problem.  I’ve found a lot of gluten free replacement foods… high in carbs and sugar and low in real nutrition.

You see…. I’ve been feeling ‘off’ for a while now.  I’m so tired.  Even though I think I’m sleeping through the night I have zero energy during the day.  I’ve been having more headaches and my tummy has been making random comments about food again.  It’s not the gluten, I know I’m not getting into that…. but there’s something that’s messing with me.  I’m just not sure what….

I know what I need to do… eliminate the ‘big uglies’ and detox.  Then reintroduce foods and see what is causing the problem.  I know I need to do it…… but….

Apparently the Universe has had enough of my whining and not working on a solution.  I was roaming through CostCo when I saw a giant box of energy drink fizzies… you know, the kind you add to a bottle of water…  and I was reading the label to see if it was GF and if there was possibly enough caffeine to get me through an afternoon.  A lady stood across from me reading the back of another box of fizzies… “I just wanted to see what they use for the caffeine,” she said, leaning past me to stick it back on the pile, “Arbonne sells something similar.”  Before long we were exchanging business cards, chatting about Yoga and Gluten Free Living and discovering that we live in the same neighborhood.  (I knew that CostCo has everything, but I didn’t know that you could go there to find new friends!)

I left our first Starbucks date with a bag of Arbonne goodies, a scheduled Jamberry play date and an order of the Arbonne Detox Kit.

Did you know that Arbonne has a Detox Program?  I didn’t… I thought Arbonne was just skin care.  So the Universe has sent me a friendly neighbor to tell me to shut up a figure out what is the problem.  (The Universe told me to shut up, not my neighbor.)

I liked that the Arbonne products are all Gluten Free.  (Yay, one concern already covered.) I also liked that everything came together in one kit/program.  Yes, I could find a protein drink and a tea and vitamins and fizzies and whatever else on my own and possibly save a bit of money (Arbonne isn’t cheap), but I’m tired… so so tired.  I also like that it also comes with a person.  Someone I can text and talk to… someone who knows I’m supposed to be doing this detox and will probably ask me how I’m doing… and could quite possible catch me stuffing a cheeseburger and fries in my face….. They call it “accountability,” but we all know they mean “guilt.” There’s also a private Facebook group to chat with other people who are starting the program at the same time…..  that could be good… of course, we all could be really bitchy at the same time since we’re eliminating a bunch of foods…. which is why its better that its an online group and not a face to face meeting.

STEP 1 – Eliminate common allergens and non-healthy ingredients. • Wheat/gluten • Dairy • Refined sugar • Alcohol • Soy • Corn

I’m really not excited about eliminating Dairy…. I like cheese… no, I LOVE cheese.  Cheese goes in everything.  (Which is probably a sign that dairy is a problem for me.)  I’ve already eliminated Gluten, so I’m ahead of the game.  Alcohol is a bummer, but really I just drink an occasional glass of wine, so its not a huge deal.  Sugar is gonna suck.  If we’re eliminating Soy and Corn too, that pretty much means anything that comes in a box.  Which I know is a good thing….. did I mention that I’m just so damn tired? Fortunately Brian and Mom are going to give the program a try too, so I won’t need to make different meals for them.  Its only 30 days and hopefully I start to perk up quickly like I did when I quit gluten.  After the initial 30 days I can start to reintroduce foods and see if there was a specific food (I really, really hope it’s not cheese) that was bothering me.

Have you tried the Arbonne Detox Program?  Got any tips for me?

Okay, here we go…. cross your fingers for me and follow along on Instagram and/or Facebook for photos and updates.