PHASE I Detox & Diet: The Power of the L.E.M.O.N.

Last night, my husband and I went grocery shopping and #1 on my list were…..LEMONS.  Thus, I have chosen to begin stage 1 of my detox and diet today!

PHASE  I: Start your day with a mug of hot water with lemon.

You are not cleansing unless toxins and waste are actually leaving your body. How you begin each and every day is important. It’s important to get in the habit of allowing yourself to have as complete an elimination as possible first thing in the morning.

This means that right when you wake up, you really shouldn’t eat anything immediately. If you do, part or the majority of your digestive fires will be directed at digesting the food you just put into your body, rather than focusing on your very important first (and maybe only) elimination of the day (!).

Here’s an excellent habit to get into:
Turn on your tea kettle first thing, then make yourself a cup of:
- Hot water**
- Fresh juice of a quarter of a lemon squeezed in

**Remember your water should be fairly hot but never boiling!!! Let it cool down before you squeeze the lemon in. Don’t kill all the enzymes and vitamins of the lemon!

This drink will help relax your bowels and promote elimination. The warm lemon water will also dissolve mucus in the body, flush and support the liver, and help with the absorption of minerals. So let this be the first thing that enters your lips in the morning- and don’t eat anything for at least one hour after you wake up, as your body can use this time to detox.

 To maximize cleansing benefits, get into the habit of drinking one hot mug of water with the juice of half a lemon squeezed in first thing in the morning. Refresh yourself throughout the day with cool lemon water. Something sweeter more your speed? Feel free to throw in some natural sugar, honey, stevia or xyitol for a lighter taste with the same benefits……or make tea with lemons.  To really cash in on the goodness of lemons, spritz a mix of lemon, apple cider vinegar, stevia (and sea salt/pepper to taste) on all your greens for the day.

Cleansing is one of the most powerful instruments we have in our toolbox to bring our bodies (and our minds) back into alignment. After all, balance is one of the most important things in our lives, right? The important thing to remember about this PHASE I cleansing step  is that it  is meant to instill long-term habits, which I want you to keep doing after this stage  is over.  On March 1^st, I intend to move on to PHASE II, which will build on to PHASE I.

Please note that this information has been obtained from various sources, including The Beauty Detox Solution by Kimberly Snyder.

My Journey Towards Cleansing, Nutrition and Optimal Health

It all started a month ago when I was flipping through the TV channels on an uneventful Saturday night.  PBS was doing another one of their pledge/money drives and had a man by the name of Joel Fuhrman on the screen, giving a presentation called “3 Steps to Incredible Health.”  Depending on the amount you pledged to give the TV station, you could get special DVDs and books from Joel Fuhrman to help you on your path to incredible health.  If you know me, you know that I always get dragged into these types of infomercial-type presentations.  He talked about how to naturally avoid and/or reverse the signs of aging and sickness.  He brought people on stage whose lives were changed by following his plan.  I was amazed!  I was so amazed that I stayed up later than normal, even though my husband was ready for bed.  However, I was not amazed enough to pledge $100 to PBS and receive this very special package Fuhrman was offering.  Instead, I did what any smart and frugal woman would do, I researched Fuhrman online and proceeded to reserve all of his books through the New York Public Library.  Why would I pay, when I can get his books and articles written about his health plan for free?  Duh!

Sign #2 came that very next Monday.  I woke up “sick” and had to call out of work that day.  A lady by the name of Kimberly Snyder was on one of the morning shows giving the very same message that Fuhrman was giving two nights before.  You can have optimal health, clear skin, reverse aging, etc., etc. simply by changing your diet.  According to both health experts the key to doing this, mainly, were green leafy vegetables.  Hey!  I like vegetables.  Tell me more.  So, I did what Faunya always does when new information comes to her attention.  I researched this lady online and reserved her book at the library.

Both books arrived at the library at the same time, but I chose to read Kimberly’s book first.  The reasons have more to do with library etiquette and aren’t that interesting.  However, I must say that I am so glad that I chose to read Kimberly’s book first.  It has been life changing.

Anyway, I want to go on this life changing journey towards total body cleansing and optimal health and I would like to take some people with me.  I would like each change that I make to be lifelong and so, therefore, I have decided to take it slow and make only 1-2 changes in my lifestyle per month.  Will you go with me?
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This is me.....Then

“This is me…..Then” is the third English-language album by Jennifer Lopez, released in November 2002.  I still remember the TV interview where Jennifer Lopez explained why she named her album, “This is me….Then.”  No matter what decisions she made in her life, no matter what the future held, she knew that she was making a record that could be looked back on (by herself, future children, family, friends, foes, etc.) and know that this album expressed who she was and how she felt at that point in time.

When deciding to start this blog, I tried to narrow down the subject matter that I would discuss.  Would it be my marriage and other relationships?  Would it be my spirituality?  Would it be my money/career musings?  Would it be related to pop culture?  My love for dance?  Health? Couponing?  WHAT?

I just couldn’t decide.  I have too much going on in this big head of mine.  I have too many interests and too many thoughts.  I just couldn’t narrow it down.

Then, my mind wandered to…..not one of my favorite singers…..but definitely one of my favorite celebrities.  She’s from the Bronx.  She’s gorgeous and she is one of the very few people in the world who’s body I would trade in for mine.  I admit.  I have a crush on Mrs. (soon to be Ms.) Jenny From The Block aka J.Lo aka Jennifer Lopez.

Anywho….this is how I came up with the title for my blog.  Enjoy all of my posts and musings with an understanding that the date for each post has an expiration of the point in time that I wrote it, because I am constantly evolving.  This is me……Then.