Detoxing without realising you're detoxing

Its been the season of food babies. We have had Christmas, New Years and Australia Day. There's been excessive food eaten, copious amounts of alcohol and a drop in exercise. It probably all got put in the too hard basket because 'It's holidays' and you could deal with it later.

All I have heard lately is how everyone is feeling disgusting from the blow outs and they can't wait to start losing the excess weight they gained but it's all a little overwhelming.

I started a detox about a week and a half ago. It's not an insane one, It's through a nutritionist and really its basically just very clean eating and it's most definitely working.

When I tell people I'm on a detox they look at me like I'm a complete idiot. I'm not living on a celery stick and water people!! I did it for my health, not to be some rake thin starved girl. I've been taunted by photos of a delicious plate of bacon, eggs and pancakes. Donuts placed in front of my face with excessive noise about how great they taste. Stories of the best combination of cold rock. (Just these instances have all been purely from my boyfriend by the way!) But to be honest the detox hasn't been too hard.
Starting your own detox is simple enough and generally you can start one without even realising you're on one. A few simple changes to your day and your body will thank you for it. It will reboot your system after you have been, well, less than healthy.

H2O IS THE GO - Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water. The average person requires 2L a day to keep them from being dehydrated. Struggle drinking water? Add fresh lemon or berries for a bit of taste. Sip the water rather than sculling and it will help to keep you from running to the toilet every 5 minutes.

START WITH A HEALTHY BREAKFAST - Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It keeps you fuller for longer and stops you starting to snack on some bad food all day. My favourite breakfast is a smoothie. It's so quick and easy to make, delicious and keeps me full for hours.
Blend coconut water, baby spinach, banana, mixed berries, cacao, honey and ice in a blender. Add some avocado if you want to make it thick and creamy. Mixing in some oats for extra fibre is also a great way to keep you fuller for longer.

GO GREEN - Remember when your mum told you to eat your greens because they are good for you? She wasn't kidding. Load up on all the greens like spinach, kale, broccoli, beans, zucchini. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre, protein and all the good stuff you need to cleanse out the body.

EXERCISE - Your body eliminates toxins by sweating. Getting your heart rate up will get your blood pumping and get your sweat on. Also try a fat burning walk in the morning before you eat. Because you have been fasting all night your body will start burning the fat after 20 minutes. Try a 40-45 minute walk most mornings and you will feel energised and great for the day.

EPSOM SALT BATHS - A bath is not only relaxing but can be so great on the skin. Add a couple of handfuls of epsom salts (can be found in the supermarket or health food shop) to warm water and soak in there for atleast 15-20 minutes. Taking an epsom salt bath helps restore magnesium and sulfate in your system because they can be absorbed through the skin.

VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS - My favourite vitamin supplements at the moment are magnesium and zinc. Magnesium is important as it helps keep the enzyme activity regular in your body, it helps your bodily functions to run a bit more smoothly, its also great for muscle recovery. Take magnesium at night to help you have a great night sleep. Zinc is a new favourite. It's really great for boosting your immune system and keeping your skin clear. Can't decide what vitamins to take? You can't go wrong with a good multivitamin.