Hellooooo 2018!  As the new year dawns we all start feeling a little bit sluggish and slightly woeful about all the eggnog, cookies and champagne consumed during the holidays.  There is an inherent need to “get back on track”, “make some new goals”, “detox” and generally achieve more balance in our lives.  Personally, I started 2018 with a nice fruit and veggie smoothie, some avocado toast, a salad and then a really big cookie.  Hey, I said it was about balance!

Many people enter into the new year feeling like they need to detox and while some people jump right into a restrictive diet or cleanse, a better option is to detox gently and start creating habits that can stick with you through the year.  Plus, as we get back into the swing of things, we realize that we don’t have the time or the patience to spend on some big detox/cleanse plan.  If you are looking to ease into 2018 with a cleaner slate, here are a few ways you can easily detox from the holidays and start getting back on track!

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1. Drink 2L or 64 oz of water a day.  Grab super cute water bottle fill, refill and repeat.  Drinking a ton of water will keep you from being dehydrated, ward of illnesses, keep your digestion going and prevent you from feeling false hunger due to dehydration.  I started using the Waterlogged app to help track my water intake and it is both fun to hit my goal and see how I’m doing during the day.  I was not drinking nearly enough water before!!
2.  Take 5 minutes to meditate.  Clear the mind, clear the body of toxins.  Take just 5 minutes to clear your mind by meditating.  You could do this on your morning commute, right before bed or anytime you have just 5 minutes to spare.  I like the Omvana mobile app for quick but effective guided meditations.  I also recently started using the Inscape app.  Both have longer meditations if you have more time.  I particularly like how you can deal with a specific issue such as jet lag, fear of flying, insomnia or anxiety through these meditations.  Or just check out this quick guide on detox meditations.
3. Give up caffeine and alcohol.  This one is the hardest for me because I looooooove my coffee!  But, caffeine and the acidity in both coffee and alcohol do irritate my stomach, cause dehydration and generally aren’t great for my system (yes, I’ve heard of health benefits from both but we could all use a break!).  Give these up and focus instead on your water intake (see point 1).  A point of caution for coffee lovers, detoxing slowly is a good idea to avoid headaches and fatigue.
4. Focus on fruits, veggies and whole grains.  After completing my Nutrition and Wellness Consultant course, I’m really hesitant of detox plans that call for cutting out entire food groups (no gluten! no carbs! no meat! no dairy!).  The reason we have these food groups and recommended daily intake is because you derive nutrients from each of these groups that helps your body function.  Cutting out entire groups can mean cutting out essential nutrients that you need to live.  That being said, as a society we eat a lot more meat and processed foods than we need to and it can be detrimental to our bodies.  So for your detox plan (however long you decide to do it for), focus on getting in more fruits, veggies and whole grains.  Remember for most people that is 2 1/2 cups of fruits and 3 cups of veggies per day!  Also aim for about 3-6 servings of whole grains a day making sure it isn’t refined.  The brown grains are the best grains!  Need some recipes?  Head over to Cooking Light for a 3 Day Detox Plan.
5. Hit the gym!  Obviously!  You were wondering when this was going to come in!  Heading to the gym to sweat it out will help get your routine back on track and kickstart your metabolism.  If you took time off, make sure to ease back in so you don’t injure yourself.  Try some new classes or a new routine so you can find something that is motivating and will stick throughout the year.  Don’t forget that if you sign up for a year of BBF Streaming in the month of January, I’m giving you a free copy of my Clean Eating Guide with tons of recipes and a 30 Day Clean Eating Calendar!
6. Hit 10,000 steps!  I love love love tracking my steps using my Apple Watch. Although you don’t need to hit exactly 10,000 steps a day, it is a great goal and if you are looking to get back on track, I recommend aiming for that target or at least choosing something close to it (~8,000).  It’s amazing to see how much activity you really do throughout the day.  Plus, if you haven’t heard, sitting is the new smoking so it’s time to move!
7. Sleep for 8 hours.  Yes we would all love more sleep, who wouldn’t?!  But if you are really committed to detoxing, really try to aim for those 8 hours.  I use the Bedtime alarm on my iPhone to help me know when to call it quits for the night and when to get up.  I also really enjoy the wake up music!
8. Try aromatherapy.  Aromatherapy is believed to stimulate brain function and help with physical well-being.  I recently bought some essential oils and an awesome diffuser for my bedroom.  It pumps a such an amazing, but not overpowering, smell into my room.  I especially love using lavender (stress relief) at bedtime to help me relax and eucalyptus or tea tree (antiseptic, helps with respiratory issues, helps with oxygen to the lungs, boosts immune system) during my workouts or meditation.
9. Give your skin an uplift.  I’m all about the new sheet face masque craze.  They are so so easy and I love the results.  Unlike the clay masques that dry on your skin, the sheet masques keep in the moisture and products so I actually feel a big difference in the moisture of my skin.  I particularly love the Yes To Face Masques and Masque Bar.
10. Make my favorite Green Smoothie!  Start the day with a healthy kick getting in both fruits and veggies (bonus if you can do this instead of your morning coffee!).  Combine:
    1-2 cups of baby spinach
    1 plain non-fat Greek yogurt (I use Chobani)
    1 scoop of reduced fat peanut butter
    1 banana
    1/2 cup of milk
    3-4 ice cubes

    Blend and enjoy!

11. Spend 90 seconds a day Planking.  Planks are one of the best moves for toning your entire body so if you think you don’t have time, just hit a plank.  Think 90 seconds is too long?  Work up to it by starting small with this guide.
12. Clean out your life.  Those makeup brushes that are looking a little funky?  Clean them.  That closet that is overflowing?  Organize it.  Those purses that need the receipts fished out?  Just do it!  You don’t have to do everything at once but commit to doing a small amount over time and you’ll feel more organized, lighter and detoxed of clutter!

So detoxing is easy right!?  Just pick one or 12 of these that you want to accomplish and commit to it this 2018.  You can do it!  Hit me up if you give any of them try!