I couldn’t help but notice mention of “detoxing” today on Facebook, blogs, the news, etc.
See, I kind of have a problem with this.
On Thanksgiving we find many people piling their plates, saying it’s okay to have second and third helpings, and the next day it’s raw veggies and water only so that they can feel healthy again.
Where’s the balance in that?
I’m not going to say I didn’t enjoy a slice or two of pecan pie on Thanksgiving, but I also made sure to have a serving of every vegetable I saw on the table. And I definitely drank my fair share of wine but I made sure to drink enough water too.
But what I’m trying to say is, even if you didn’t attempt to eat remotely healthy on Thanksgiving, your body is an amazingly well-oiled machine and can put it self back to normal without you depriving it of essential nutrients. Your kidneys and liver (if functioning in a non-diseased state) do a fabulous job of “detoxing” without you even noticing it.
And while I think it’s fair to be a little extra conscious of how much excess sugar you’re consuming or how much water you’re drinking after a holiday, there comes a point when it’s gone too far. Cutting out whole food groups or completely fasting is totally unnecessary.
The definition of healthy, per Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
enjoying health and vigor of body, mind and spirit
You enjoyed those extra calories at the time of consumption probably because you had faith in the fact that your body will eventually find its way back to normalcy. And whether you want to believe it or not, you’re still healthy, even after all the pumpkin pie and dessert wine.
And if you’re over there giving me the stink eye because you think I’m crazy well then so be it, but I personally think it’s healthier to indulge than to deprive.
So instead of a “detox”, what are things you can do to enjoy your health a little more this week?
- drink more water
- add a few extra minutes of cardio
- eat high proteins breakfasts
- sleep 30 minutes more each night
- get at least 5 servings of fruit & veggies a day
- cook your favorite “healthy” dinner
You tell me, what’s something you could do?
Have Your Cake and... 
Very well said!
Nailed it! Everything in moderation goes a long way. I went for my faves (pumpkin pie, stuffing, pumpkin ale), but grabbed extra helpings of salad, green beans and sweet potatoes, too!
MODERATION, YES! You get me! 100% on my level
Amen girl. Totally agree with every word of this. After being in Hawaii for a week and eating my fair share of desserts/drinking cocktails every day, I have no interest in detoxing in any way. Being healthy this week for me is just eating extra fruits and veggies with my meals since I hardly had any last week, but trying to make up for extra calories or whatever is what leads to people having unhealthy mindsets this time of year.
Yes! And not to mention it is very triggering for any past-behaviors of disordered eating
Emily, this is so spot-on. Everything in moderation! Our bodies are much more capable than we give ’em credit for.
Absolutely! We gotta have a little more faith in our guts 😉
Thank you thank you thank you! I was nervous when I first opened this post because of the title but I think you said it perfectly. So many people are talking about “detoxing” post holiday when we really shouldn’t be. Who cares if we spent a week eating less than healthy? We get back on track the following week and don’t worry about it! It’s absolutely not worth the added stress.
Haha I wanted rope in people who think detoxing is necessary to read the post expecting tips and tricks but surprise them with what I really had to say 😉