Back to Week 1

Stay On Track
Continue with the detox meal plan, varying the grains, legumes, and veggies if you like. Exercise for a half-hour, and stick to the media detox. 

Reflect
Take 20 minutes to write about how stress affects you. Without judgment, answer the following questions: What are your main day-to-day stressors? On a scale of one to 10, how stressed do you feel? What are your methods for dealing with stress? Do you feel these methods are healthy or unhealthy? What, if anything, would you like to change about how you react to and deal with stress?

Purifying Bath
If you have a tub, make your own purifying bath salts by combining 3/4 cup Epsom salts, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 4 drops of grapefruit essential oil. Pour under warm running water and soak for 20 minutes. If you don't have a tub, add enough almond or jojoba oil to the above mixture to make a paste; sit on a towel and apply the mixture to your body (avoiding your face), using gentle scrubbing motions. Rinse in a warm water shower. Be very careful not to slip! 

Clean the shower after you're finished as well so the next person who showers doesn't slip. People with high blood pressure, heart conditions, or diabetes should not use Epsom salts or take hot baths.

Detox Tips
Skip Raw Foods
If you're tempted to eat a salad to get your veggies, think twice. Cooked foods are easier to digest and often yield more nutrients than raw foods, says Cathy Wong. Plus, this time of year your body especially needs warm, nourishing foods. 

Go Whole
Some whole grains can take a while to cook, but resist the urge to sub in Uncle Ben's for brown rice. Fiber helps your body "grab onto" the toxins in your intestines, says Wong, so eating plenty of fiber-rich whole grains is important during a detox. In addition to brown rice, whole grains include foods like wild rice, quinoa, and barley. 

Eat Your Beans
Alhough skipping animal proteins for a few days gives your digestion a rest, your liver needs protein to function properly, says Wong, so legumes (e.g., lentils, kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas) are an essential part of the plan. They also serve as an excellent source of fiber. Reconstituting dried legumes is ideal, says Wong; lentils and split peas are especially quick-cooking and easily digestible. For larger legumes, like white beans, soak them overnight. If you use canned beans, rinse off the liquid before cooking them. If you're not used to eating legumes, keep a ready supply of Beano on hand; it can help alleviate abdominal discomfort. 

Find Sweet Substitutes
A lot of people find going without sugar difficult, says Wong. Try sipping teas that contain naturally sweet herbs, like cinnamon and licorice. 

Tune In to Yourself
Throughout the cleanse, pay attention to how you feel. What foods do you miss? Do you feel better not eating certain foods? How does it feel not to watch the news every day? Maybe you're surprised that chai tea satisfies a morning craving for sweets. Perhaps you normally feel sluggish after lunch, but this week you feel fine. Maybe you feel calmer and thus sleep better now that you haven't browsed the web before bed.