Doing a Detox or a "Cleanse"

Right before the last holiday season, I decided I needed a "cleanse". I am a "Sugar Mama" as, Tali, my health and wellness counselor would say. I have carb and chocolate cravings all the time and love wine. Being in my fifties and menopausal makes my sugar addiction even more challenging. According to the website by Women to Women http://www.womentowomen.com/insulinresistance/cravings.asp

sugar cravings are typical when hormone levels change. During the holidays when levels of stress tend to rise and there is a veritable smorgasborg of sugar offerings at every turn, most of us who are menopausal are destined for hot flash hell. And those of us who are not menopausal but otherwise sugar addicted are destined for weight gain, discomfort and a general malaise from sugar toxification.

Now, on the subject of hot flashes, please forgive me for this little diversion. Most of us don't particularly like hot flashes. Here's what happens for those of you who are neophytes to this age bracket. You are in a business meeting in a conference room. First you break into a sweat, your body gets completely drenched sometimes, ruining your $500.00 MaxMara blouse or worse, your $1000.00 jacket. Beads of sweat appear on your upper lip and a quick surreptitious swipe with a kleenex removes your "stay all day" lipstick. You try to remain calm in the face of a room full of young, mostly male co-workers who wouldn't have a clue what you're experiencing because no-one discusses this part of life until they are in it. Or worse yet, they've seen their mother throw off her sweater in disgust and think it represents an off-balance mental condition. You don't dare ask "Is it hot in here?" because you know the answer will be no. So you suffer in silence until low-and-behold you are now freezing, with actual gooseflesh, compelling you to reach for your $5.00, street-purchased, pashmina. Then, you grab a cup of hot, caffinated coffee and whatever continental breakfast confection is sitting right next to it and the cycle begins again in about 15 minutes.


Fun, huh? Not really. I was determined to conquer this problem once and for all without the use of drugs. That in itself is a whole other story which I'll share in my next posting about going "cold turkey" from HRT. For those men who are reading this, rest assured this blog isn't going to be just about menopause. You have to admit though, its incredibly interesting. And, it could help you better understand your significant other, which is always a good idea. When I told my ex-husband I did this cleanse, he listened with rapt attention and took notes. Bear with me, I'm getting to the cleanse part.

Somewhere along the line in my travels through Whole Foods or GMC looking for miracle and natural hot flash removal ministrations, I got the idea of detoxing my body or doing a "cleanse." I discussed this with Tali, my wellness counselor, a couple of weeks before Christmas. I had been travelling non-stop for about 3 months, had just been to Italy to visit a dying cousin who I was very close to and who was my age, work stress was at an all time high, and I had lots of family, including ex-husband with his wife, coming to see my new house over the holidays. Needless to say my body was an insulin resistant, hormonally out of balance, toxified machine complete with hot steam. So, I asked Tali, what is a "cleanse" and could I do one quickly before the first guest arrived?

She jumped on this, at-the-ready with exactly how to de-tox. She even knew the healthfood store in my town, The Four Seasons, where I could get the required supplies. She prescribed a regimen of vegetable juice, steamed vegetables, some supplements, and massages for 6 days straight. I could do this! Especially the massage part. I live in a spa city where the number of massage therapists far outnumbers the numbers of corporate executives. There at least 20 of them who charge under $75.00 for a 45 minute massage. So, I took copious notes while Tali gave me the instructions and the right side of my brain kicked into high gear. I loved following new solution-oriented instructions. I was her star pupil, her teacher's pet. Bring on the cleanse.


Stay tuned. I'll give you the complete cleanse instructions tomorrow....Bye for now.