If, like me, your idea of a January detox means swapping your G&T for a G&Slimline,
and white pasta for brown pasta (with loads of cheese to make it taste nice)
then this month probably hasn’t been the success you’d naively hoped it
would be.
Scales still stubbornly clinging on to those unwanted Christmas pounds?
Clothes still too tight? Feeling sluggish and tired? Yep, story of my life
every January.
But not this year. Oh no. This time I put myself in the hands of the experts
at Nosh Detox and begged them to help me kick start some healthy living,
2012 style.
Mel B and Miss Healthy Eating Gwyneth Paltrow are fans of Nosh’s well-being
plans and if it’s good enough for the A-List it’s good enough for me.
I opted for the ABC plan, which is a home delivery diet that promises to
“Alkalise, Balance and Cleanse” me.
I’ll receive a delivery of all my meals every two nights and the detox will
last six days.
I’m nervous, but Nosh assure me I won’t feel hungry, my immune stronger will
be stronger at the end of it and best of all a flat tummy is on the horizon!
What’s not to love? Move over Gywnnie…
Day one
Eek! My “meals” for today are all liquid, apart from my dinner. A combination
of smoothies, soup, fruit and vegetable juices, and an evening meal of three
bean ragout with quinoa.
I’m convinced I’ll be ravenous but strangely I’m not. It’s weird not chewing
anything all day though and I demolish my dinner. The portion size is around
half what I would normally serve myself but I’m full afterwards and go to
bed happy. This detoxing is a breeze!
Day two
Another 90% liquid day and I am really hungry by the time I leave work at 6.
The smoothies and juices are tasty but my corn chowder for lunch was a bit
bland and thin. So I’m seriously impressed I resisted the giant box of
Haribo jellies that was being passed round the office earlier. Who knew I
had such willpower?
Dinner tonight is polenta, which I’ve never had before, and grilled
aubergines. I have to Google what polenta is (cornmeal if you’re
interested…) and I’m definitely a convert. I usually always have meat or
fish with my dinner but I’m realising veggie meals can be satisfying and
resolve to have at least a couple of them a week in future.
I read online that you can even deep fry polenta and coat it in sugar, served
with ice-cream, but I’m not sure Nosh would approve of that serving
suggestion!
Day three
Feeling full of energy today and my skin is glowing and hair shiny. I
definitely feel healthier and my stomach is a bit flatter too.
Missing solid food during the daytime though, and I cheat this afternoon by
having a handful of grapes after my leek and fennel soup. Oops!
I’m pee-ing ALL the time at the moment which, Nosh tells me, is a sign I’m
flushing all the toxins out of my body. Hurrah!
I weigh myself before my evening meal (sweet and sour veg with hulled millet,
which is a grain) and I’ve lost two pounds in three days! The plan isn’t
specifically aimed at weightloss but living on a diet of fruit, veg and
grains I’m not surprised I’ve lost a few pounds.
Day four
I’ve been warned that day four is the hardest and I believe it this morning. I
wake up hungry and feeling quite weak. Things don’t improve when I see my
breakfast is porridge, the only food I hate!
I throw it out and substitute it with a box of blueberries (surely as a
superfood they’re ok?) and fill up on hot water and lemon.
I nearly cry with happiness when I discover lunch isn’t soup but a delicious
salad of leaves, carrot, pepper and cucumber with a nutty dressing. De-lish.
My afternoon snack is chickpeas in cardamom, and it’s so nice to be chewing
rather than slurping food again, I was starting to feel like a big baby!
Tonight is going to be a real challenge. I’m going out for dinner with friends
but have perused the menu in advance and decided on grilled fish with
vegetables. No sauce, no carbs and definitely no wine or pudding.
My friends look at me like I’ve two heads when I order and demand to know
where the “real Eimear” is who loves a chilled Sauvignon Blanc and never
passes on desserts. But I won’t be tempted. #willpower!
PS: Am I turning into one of those really annoying smug people who insist
they’d rather have a handful of almonds than a bar of chocolate??
Day five
Today passes pretty uneventfully until dinner time. It’s Friday night and
instead of tucking into a Chinese and a glass of wine after a busy week at
work, all I have to look forward to is lentil curry with yet another grain.
I feel a bit tearful as I eat it and it’s a real effort to finish it despite
the small portion size.I go to bed early to avoid the temptation of running
to the shop and buying twenty chocolate bars.
But I can’t help but dream of a Chinese banquet…crispy duck…mmm…
Day six
Today’s the last day and although there’ve been some tough moments, I’m really
glad I’ve stuck to the plan (more or less!) and am feeling the benefits.
I’ve lost four pounds, my stomach is flatter and I feel really healthy and
cleansed.
This plan isn’t the breeze I thought it would be, but it’s taught me some
better eating habits and given me the kick start I needed to carry on and
drop another few pounds.
At £248.82 for all my food (including delivery) it’s not cheap but it I found
it really helps you stick to a plan when you don’t have to go near a shop or
supermarket.
I’m planning to celebrate the end of the detox with a big juicy steak, but
then it’s back to healthy eating. I’m on a roll now!
- For more information go to Noshdetox.com
or call 0845 257 6674.
