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The most challenging time of year to eat clean
The final week of my detox was hard.
I mostly craved personal favorites: burgers, “Crumbl” cookies, and quest bars (which aren’t the worst, but they’re loaded with additives).
But….
I survived and refrained from them, which built my discipline muscles.
Why A Holiday Detox?
I usually commence my detox in January of every year, but this time, I decided to start my detox early.
Why not prepare for the new year, with a demanding self-discipline exercise and during the toughest season of the year that is filled with delectable foods that are frequently seasonal?
During this holiday detox, I learned a lot – five things, to be specific, which I will share with you in this article.
5 Lessons From My Holiday Detox
1. Self-Discipline Must Be Built
It doesn’t make sense to conduct a detox at the end of the year because this is when all of the best foods come into play.
But, I was willing to give it up because I knew that the satisfaction from food is temporary (outside of the memories).
I can always acquire another good food memory; I knew I’d survive.
Self-discipline can be built over time, but it can also be built quickly by intensifying the level of difficulty and intensity you invest in an exercise.
Since I’m a foodie and enjoy the treats around the holidays, this exercise took willpower.
But I noticed my productivity, focus, and discipline increased the further along I went into the detox.
2. Cravings Don’t Always Go Away
In the beginning, the cravings weren’t so bad; they essentially disappeared, but as I reached the end of my detox, they started to pick up.
I did want to give in, but I’ve chosen to stick with it. There is only one day left.
The longer I go, the less severe the cravings will become.
Earlier this year, I completed a 2–3 month detox, and 99% of my cravings disappeared after completing the first month.
I even debated whether I should break the detox because I no longer had cravings.
If you stay away from certain foods, desserts, and beverages long enough, your body will no longer desire them as frequently.
3. Everyone Else Will Likely Not Join You
Most people around me continued eating whatever they desired, which was 100% fine.
I don’t mind doing self-discipline exercises alone; completing this kind of detox along and during the holidays only heightens the intensity of the exercise and creates a more self-disciplined mind.
Hopefully, I was able to inspire anyone around me to be healthier and not throw away all of their healthy habits just because it’s the holidays.
Whenever you complete a detox or self-discipline exercise, you need to be comfortable sticking to it whether the people around you are doing the same or the opposite; this is the whole point of an exercise….
Being a leader and following through on your goals.
4. People Will Question You
What are you eating?
Do you want some of [insert treat]?
Do you want to go out to eat?
Do you want some of the cookies?
Want to go out for burgers?
Want to go out for drinks?
And the invitations went on.
The answer to these questions was no; every time, or if I did go out, I refrained from partaking in the things that deviated from my detox plan.
5. You Will Want To Quit
There were a couple of times when I debated quitting. I started at the end of November and thought to myself, since I started early, I should be able to quit early, right? Then I can get that burger.
The primary thing that made us want to quit more than anything was burgers (I’m a big fan).
The holidays are a great time to commence a detox because it helps you practice staying focused amid the average person throwing away their health habits down the drain, making the exercise much more difficult.
Got detox tips? Share them in the comments. Happy Detoxing!
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.