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Spring detox week one
continued from page 1
Day 3
Get moving
Half an hour of moderate exercise daily at least five times a week is enough to reap fitness benefits, so start making a habit of it - beginning today. Any form of exercise that makes you slightly breathless and sweaty is ideal, but it must be something you enjoy and can fit into your normal day. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of cancer and the government health recommendation is for women to do 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five times a week. Stuck for ideas? Walking, jogging, swimming, vigorous housework or gardening all fit the bill. Sex is pretty good too, as long as you're putting enough effort in!
Day 4
Try some affirmations
Affirmations aren't all weird mantras or chanting - you can simply use them as a way of reinforcing positive thought. 'An affirmation is just something you tell yourself out loud or in your head over and over,' says Jane Scrivner, author of Detox Yourself (Piatkus, #6.99). 'If you tell yourself something often enough you will believe it, and if you believe something it becomes real.'
What you decide to focus on is entirely personal, but here are some ideas:
'I am feeling great'
'I'm learning to love my body'
Whether you repeat your affirmations out loud or just in your head is up to you, but whichever you do, make sure you do it several times a day.
Day 5
Cut down on caffeine.
It's impossible (and unrealistic) to shake off all your bad habits at once. But if you're still downing gallons of coffee, now's the time to start cutting down slowly - by half a cup a day to avoid headache withdrawal symptoms.
Caffeine stimulates the release of hormones from the adrenal glands, which in turn raises blood sugar. But the long-term effect is counter-productive, because the boost is followed by a slump. The maximum safe intake for most people is four cups of coffee (or six cups of tea) a day - preferably less.
Day 6
Catch some sunlight.
According to Jennifer Eastwood of the Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Association, getting as much natural light as you can helps boost mood and make you feel more energised. But spring sunshine can be quite strong - remember to use an SPF 15 cream when you are in the sun.
Day 7
Take up skin-brushing
A daily skin-brushing habit will markedly improve texture and appearance by boosting circulation and lymph (cell waste) drainage. Use a natural bristle long-handled brush and make long sweeping strokes, always towards the heart. Afterwards, take a bath or shower.
Keep going - get ready forweek two of the Spring Detox
Day 3
Get moving
Half an hour of moderate exercise daily at least five times a week is enough to reap fitness benefits, so start making a habit of it - beginning today. Any form of exercise that makes you slightly breathless and sweaty is ideal, but it must be something you enjoy and can fit into your normal day. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of cancer and the government health recommendation is for women to do 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five times a week. Stuck for ideas? Walking, jogging, swimming, vigorous housework or gardening all fit the bill. Sex is pretty good too, as long as you're putting enough effort in!
Day 4
Try some affirmations
Affirmations aren't all weird mantras or chanting - you can simply use them as a way of reinforcing positive thought. 'An affirmation is just something you tell yourself out loud or in your head over and over,' says Jane Scrivner, author of Detox Yourself (Piatkus, #6.99). 'If you tell yourself something often enough you will believe it, and if you believe something it becomes real.'
What you decide to focus on is entirely personal, but here are some ideas:
'I am feeling great'
'I'm learning to love my body'
Whether you repeat your affirmations out loud or just in your head is up to you, but whichever you do, make sure you do it several times a day.
Day 5
Cut down on caffeine.
It's impossible (and unrealistic) to shake off all your bad habits at once. But if you're still downing gallons of coffee, now's the time to start cutting down slowly - by half a cup a day to avoid headache withdrawal symptoms.
Caffeine stimulates the release of hormones from the adrenal glands, which in turn raises blood sugar. But the long-term effect is counter-productive, because the boost is followed by a slump. The maximum safe intake for most people is four cups of coffee (or six cups of tea) a day - preferably less.
Day 6
Catch some sunlight.
According to Jennifer Eastwood of the Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Association, getting as much natural light as you can helps boost mood and make you feel more energised. But spring sunshine can be quite strong - remember to use an SPF 15 cream when you are in the sun.
Day 7
Take up skin-brushing
A daily skin-brushing habit will markedly improve texture and appearance by boosting circulation and lymph (cell waste) drainage. Use a natural bristle long-handled brush and make long sweeping strokes, always towards the heart. Afterwards, take a bath or shower.
Keep going - get ready for
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Created: 15/04/2003 Updated: 14/02/2007
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