Health

Detox Diaries: My One-Day Detox

A McDonald's-eating detox-newbie goes on her first cleanse. Can she do it? Will she change her fast food-eating ways? Find out

by Sharon J. Yi

3 of 11

Day 1: Give me caffeine, or give me death I'm bracing myself for the raging b-word within me to emerge. Deprived of my morning and mid-afternoon caffeine fix, I can feel my irritability growing. And like clockwork, after my lunch of a (healthy) chicken and kale salad, food coma hits at 3 p.m. and I start nodding off at my desk. Instead of going for my usual coffee run, I go to the kitchen to refill my water cup. I've been making a conscious effort to drink more water than I usually do, which is crucial when you're detoxing. Think about it, says Gittleman: All those toxins your body is releasing have to go somewhere, and ideally that somewhere is out of your body. I run into my co-worker, Zack, in the office kitchen as I'm filling up my eighth pint-size glass of water for the day. I complain a little to him about how zonked I'm feeling, and he suggests I shotgun a tall glass of water, which he says always gives him a quick energy boost. I take his advice and pound that pint of water like it's a beer on my 21st birthday. The coldness of the water jolts my system awake and I go back to work.

Then, the chocolate cravings hit.

I usually get my sugar fix from fruit juices and don't have much of a sweet tooth for cakes and chocolate. But right now, all I can envision is shoving a warm chocolate chip cookie into my mouth. Sadly, there really is no room in this detox for that. Sigh.

SEE NEXT PAGE: I cheated -- and got caught

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Older comments

REALLY loving this! I used to be a caffeine addict, but I switched to water in the school where I teach because it has no A/C and is hot year 'round (the heating is very intense and dry in the winter). I realized that I became "addicted" to water and can't really handle caffeine the way I used to; I like that.

by GigiSD Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 01:21PM Report as inappropriate

I appreciate the honest assessment.

by purple9a Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 05:53AM Report as inappropriate

I wanna try it... Sounds good!

by Zeaundra Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 09:21AM Report as inappropriate

This was great info, I was just looking into detoxing especially after all the crap I've ate during the Holidays!!!

by MizzPink Friday, January 4, 2013 at 07:17AM Report as inappropriate

Interesting article. I've been thinking about doing a detox, maybe now is the time!

by WiccanLady Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 04:16PM Report as inappropriate

I couldn't do it, I'd take death if I can't have my caffeine intake!

by yestfl Monday, November 19, 2012 at 01:53PM Report as inappropriate

That is so terrifying, but your detox is probably the only one I've read so far that I feel capable of doing.

by schien Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 05:37PM Report as inappropriate

I have begun a serious diet - I will add a Detox into it soon. I still stop for a fast food but no later than 3pm. Actually my life have been a continual diet.

by Janann Sunday, August 19, 2012 at 07:29PM Report as inappropriate

Interesting & well written. And definitely educational.

by tallredamanda Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 11:36AM Report as inappropriate

Thank you so much for this! You had to deal with a little torture! This sounds like a good detox, but I am one of the people who needs something with my medication (thank you for mentioning that by the way) but the pre-tox sounds interesting!

by powerwoman033 Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 02:41PM Report as inappropriate