HAPPY THURSDAY!
Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and I hope you have something fun planned -- even if it's just looking towards January 1 when you can hunker down and focus on YOU for the next 31-days. As I encouraged you from yesterday's email -- sit with whatever feelings you have. Grief is not only a bag of emotions wrapped up in normal loss but you may be feeling anxious, nervous, excited, etc. Feel the feels and sit with it. We have over 350 signed up so far so just take a deep breathe and remain present. This is just a challenge -- so challenge yourself -- and remember you have a very large group of people on the same path as you :)
If you've missed the previous 3 emails sent (with awesome links to resources) click HERE to review them.
What to expect:
- In all seriousness, please do not expect that this challenge is just going to fit right in to your normal daily activities. I hope you're planning on just being chill and recognizing you don't know what to expect. To get through the next month you will have to plan and prepare.
- It will get worse before it gets better :) By the 2nd half of the month and FOR SURE by the 3rd week you will be coming out of a fog if you've adhered diligently. In all honesty, you're going to feel great. I cannot say the same for the first couple of weeks.
- I strongly encourage you to understand that a detox is allowing your body (your engine) to work through the "muck" so it can correct itself. By removing the abundance of added sweeteners, alcohol and synthetics, your metabolism will be able to work its magic and will be pulling all the crap out of your system (a job it wasn't able to do before because it was inundated on a daily basis) and throwing it into your blood so you can excrete it. This is why we feel icky. Just roll with it. Don't over-exert yourself, be OK with not feeling good, and if you're tired...know it's part of the process. It may feel a bit like a flu for some people. That means it's working!
- You will most likely not feel well, and you'll be grumpy. You'll be angry and you'll try to bargain with yourself that "this isn't worth it" and "to hell with this." I encourage you to know that's totally normal. Our brains work through some fantastic ups and downs as we regulate our systems (remember your head is connected to your body so when you clean out the body you're also cleaning out the brain).
- Do not relapse just because you slip. Try not to bargain with yourself that if something happens you're just going to throw in the towel. Remember, it's great if you can make it the entire 31-days -- but this challenge will be a different experience for everyone so don't make it black and white. I hope you've prepped and are ready for 31-days of no slips...but if you do slip just reflect on the "why?" and plan for what you'll do next time to not slip because that situation is bound to present itself again.
- If you're not prepared, be prepared to fail. Review how to recognize added sweetener and synthetics from the links to the handouts in previous emails and from your confirmation email. Remember to EAT! Have food with you and have a plan for meals and snacks. Don't be HUNGRY! Look ahead and plan accordingly. This is NOT about deprivation. This is just about taking 31-days to reset, recharge and rejuvenate. You will learn something that will carry over into your lifestyle. It's a win-win.
- As I teach my tobacco users trying to quit their nicotine addiction -- the urge will pass whether you succumb to weakness or not. An urge will usually pass within 2-5 minutes. So, use the 3As and the 4Ds to get through your weak moments. For specific situations you can either Avoid, Alter or find an Alternative (plan this out for certain situations, like the work break room or a birthday party you can't get out of, etc.) and use Deep breaths, Distraction, Delay (counting to 300) or Drinking water in the moment to get through urges.
- Additional resources are always encouraged -- maybe it's time to try that meditation app or practice better sleep hygiene. Whatever additional tools you can use to focus and pay more attention to you, anything helps. Just avoid more stress by trying to fit in a gazillion other health goals. I promise you that by Feb. 1 you're going to be so much better prepared to move forward with other health goals, like weight loss, if that's what you want, but for January keep it simple. One thing at a time. And, this "thing" is a great foundation for other health goals.
More tomorrow on final thoughts before Jan. 1. Please note I won't be emailing you everyday during January (just one or 2x/week) but will be posting daily in the private FB group. If you have FB click below!
Happy Thursday peeps!
Jaime
