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

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What happens next? Before I started this detox, I thought I would go on a fast-food, carb-heavy, donut-eating rampage when it was over. But now, after forgoing those foods for nearly two weeks, I'm surprisingly not craving them at all. I do, however, head straight to Starbucks for a venti iced coffee and savor each deeply-missed sip on my drive to the office. Progress, not perfection, right?

My best advice to you if you're planning on following this detox diet or another one:

Do it in the summer. Is it hard to miss out on vodka-spiked watermelon at friends' BBQs? Sure. But Gittleman says your body is more relaxed from the heat during the summer months, and therefore better able to release toxins.

Listen to your body. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have done the juice fast. It was just too much on my body, and I suffered as a result. Gittleman agrees with this point, stressing that it's incredibly important to heed your body's signals before plowing through a set plan, which isn't what I did this time around.

Talk a friend into joining you. Luckily, my editor, Meghan, was on a detox diet around the same time I was, so we were able to commiserate. Check out her detox diary here.

As for me, I'm happy I got roped into this assignment after all. While it wasn't all fun, it certainly was enlightening -- and who knows, I may not even need someone to talk me into doing it again. If my coffee habit gets out of control and I find my car swinging through the drive-through too frequently, I may just dust off this book and have at it again.

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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