The program includes a seven-day prequel that leads up to a one-day fast, then ends with a three-day sequel when you're reintroducing foods into your diet. Unlike other detoxes, the Fast Track plan doesn't provide a strict diet menu. Gittleman simply lays out eight categories of foods that you have to consume every day, from the "liver-healing" foods (like Brussels sprouts and kale) to "colon-caring" foods (like apples and flaxseeds). You can, therefore, create your own menu and vary your meals as long as you incorporate each group and control your portions.
There are also the "Detox Detractors" that you must avoid, which include fats (think fried foods, sugar, and all processed foods), gluten, soy products, alcohol, and caffeine. While the advice in the book is to gently wean yourself off these detox no-nos, I (unwisely) ignored that advice. Turns out it's amazingly hard to not stop for a venti iced coffee when that's what you're used to doing every morning on your way to work. You'll see how my venti coffee habit turns me into a raging b-word on this detox diet next.
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My starting point
Weight: 108 pounds
Wrinkles: 17th percentile
Pores: 76th percentile
UV Spots: 43rd percentile
Red Areas: 78th percentile
Before starting, I go to the Murad Inclusive Health Spa to get my skin evaluated. Murad esthetician Lori Cahitas checks my intracellular water level, along with my wrinkles, pore size, sun damage, and more. The higher the percentile, the better, she says. For my age, my skin is faring pretty well -- except for my wrinkles. At 24, being in the 17th percentile for wrinkles scares the you-know-what out of me. What will I look like in five, 10, 20 years (Worst fear? An old leather couch!) if I don't do something now? And while my red areas aren't bad at all, Cahitas says there are many more UV spots than there should be at my age, maturing under my skin and waiting to surface. Despite my initial hesitation -- and alright, I'm woman enough to admit it, downright annoyance -- with having to try this detox diet, I'm ready. Note to all you other detox newbies out there: Get your skin checked out by a pro if you need a little motivation. Trust me, it'll probably be the kick in the booty you need.
You know that infuriatingly skinny woman who can eat whatever she wants and won't gain a pound?
Yeah, well, I'm that girl.
What can I say, I've been blessed with good genes and a fast metabolism that allows me to have a second (or third) helping of dessert without ever stepping foot in a gym. As if you aren't hating me enough right now, here's some more fodder for your envy: I consume caffeine around the clock, have McDonald's for breakfast on most days, and I usually eat a microwaveable burrito for lunch. Oh, and I've never been on a "diet," let alone a detox diet.
OK, before you start to conjure up thoughts of stoning me, let me tell you that my unhealthy ways were starting to catch up with me (no shocker, I realize). My stomach often hurt; I was always bloated; my memory was becoming fuzzy; I woke up with headaches every morning; and no matter how many hours of shut-eye I got, I still was dependent on multiple coffee runs to get through my day. So it was great timing when my editor gave me this assignment: Go on a detox diet and write about your experience. I was assigned to "The Fast Track Detox Diet" by Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman, which consists of 10 days of restricted eating and a one-day juice fast.
While I silently cursed my editor in the weeks leading up to my detox diet, I was intrigued by the health and beauty benefits it dangled in front of me. Glowing skin, a stronger liver, and no midday energy crash were just a few of the promises. Curious about how I did and whether it worked? Keep reading.
