Notes From the Cleanse (Day 2)

We're on Day 2 of the Conscious Cleanse I posted about on Monday, and here's what I've learned so far.

1) It's really hard for me to drink a lot of water. I'm totally failing this part of the cleanse, actually. I'm supposed to drink a quart of lemon water in the morning before I eat anything. I can manage a fourth of that. I made this wonderful spa water I found on Pinterest, and it makes it so much easier to keep drinking throughout the day, but still. If I drink anywhere near what I'm supposed to, I start to feel all bloaty and sloshy inside.

Source: mamaearth.ca via Alison on Pinterest

2) If you feed a 16-year-old boy only whole foods with no gluten, he will be hungry All. The. Time. Even Ben didn't have any idea how much he was filling up on junk (crackers and so forth). I can't keep up with him!

3) If you make a big salad with lots of stuff in it for lunch, teen and tween boys will wolf it down. (And then they will want lunch again, 10 minutes later.)

4) Green smoothies are da bomb! I've been resistant for so long, but like everybody told me, it works. Great way to start the day, and my boy who doesn't like to eat breakfast has drunk every single one I've made with enthusiasm.

5) If you leave a green smoothie sitting on the table for a while, its green-ness will rise to the top, making it much less appetizing.

6) I have far more willpower than I gave myself credit for. (We'll see what I have to say about that on day 6).

7) That said... I have my limits.
I didn't read the list of No foods carefully enough. I got the basics--no dairy, soy, gluten, sugar. I got some of the add-ons, which are typical allergenic foods--no tomatoes, potatoes, oranges.
I missed "No Strawberries." Just discovered it today. My reaction? "Are you out of your mind?"

Any other time of year, I'd be fine with giving up strawberries for 2 weeks, but not in June. No way. Oregon Hood strawberry time is a season that Oregonians look forward to all year, right up there with birthdays and holidays. These berries are sweet like candy, juicy as can be, and when they're gone (it'll be any day now) they're gone.

So, yeah, I won't be giving up strawberries. I'm confident that they don't pose a problem for me (surely I'd notice, since we go without them for months in the winter and then gorge ourselves on them in June). I will forgo chocolate chip cookies, coffee, and even my beloved cheese for 2 weeks, but don't you dare mess with my strawberry season bliss!

Photo courtesy of www.tillamook.com