Day 7 – Chill Out!

“Yes, you have to live your life with all its regular demands, but you also have to give yourself the time and space to heal.” Kathy tells us, "Do what you have to do to keep your life running, but make a point to take some time to rest during the cleanse.”

Your body is extremely busy getting rid of toxins and resetting your digestive system, so go easy on yourself.  You could need a little more rest than usual. 

According to Freston (as well as Ayurvedic practices), your body does most of its healing, detoxifying, metabolism burning, and rebalancing work while you sleep.  Aim for 7-8 hours each night.

• Sleep refreshes the nervous system.

• HGH (human growth hormone) is produced during deep sleep.  Not only is HGH critical for restoration and maintenance of bones, tissue, and muscles, but according to Jillian Michaels, it also helps us build muscle and burn fat.  You must sleep deeply to get the full benefit.

• Sleeping regularly and deeply regulates hormones like adrenaline and corticosteroids, relaxing us.  Testosterone and fertility hormones are secreted while we sleep, as well (upping sex drive).

And here’s a fun fact you can take to the beach: “An annual vacation has been shown to cut the risk of heart attack in men by 30 percent and in women who take two vacations a year by 50 percent.”  Vacations reverse burnout, which is real and very bad for your body.  Any questions?  Now go!

"Homework":
Kathy writes, “Go to bed early with a good book, and sleep in as much as you can during these twenty-one days.” 

In the interest of rest, here’s an easy-peasy dinner: 

Full disclosure: In case you noticed that the pic is a bit grainy...This is a recipe that I’ve made several times and it’s delicious.  The picture is a picture from my Food Network Magazine.  Appropriately as this is rest day, I will be on a short getaway with my husband and we will be dining out.  (That was not planned – very cool how things work out!) 

Mango Black Bean Sweet Potato
15 oz can black beans (drained & rinsed)
1 diced mango
½ cup diced tomato
1 minced jalapeno
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons red onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
Juice of 2 limes

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and serve over baked sweet potatoes.  Yum!

How to bake sweet potatoes:  Bake 50 minutes (or until tender) at 400 F (205 C).  Split open, fluff with a fork, and stuff with mixture above.

This is perfect with a salad.  This recipe serves four, so I find that I usually have enough topping to put on lettuce and it pretty much works as the dressing, too.  I like to dice avocado for the salad and add cumin, peanut or canola oil, chili powder, and salt with a little more lime juice as dressing, but it’s not necessary.

Recipe from Food Network Magazine

Meditation:
“Take a few minutes to sit in the sunshine- or in a beautiful spot out in nature- and soak in the beauty.  Look around and see how life thrives without our pushing it to do so.  The trees grow and flowers bloom; day turns to night, the seasons change, and the complex ecology thrives on its own.  Notice how life as a cycle of pushing forward and resting, of action followed by stillness.”

Your body is processing to let go of the old, healing and rejuvenating.

Today, focus on saying to yourself, “I trust the intelligence of my body.”