For my 30th birthday, I decided to give myself the gift of health, because health is wealth, after all! I did a 30-day no-alcohol cleanse and ended it with a 4-day juice cleanse.
Now don't get me wrong, prior to this cleanse I had done many periods where I would barely drink for weeks on end, but had I ever done a full 30-day detox? No ma'am. Having a good time and a couple of drinks (ok maybe more than a couple) is a large part of who I am, so somehow, the drinks are always there to be enjoyed!
The transformation was real. A large part of the credit has to be given to Raw Generation Juices whose 3-day Skinny Cleanse I did over about 4-5 days. There really are that many juices where I was able to extend the cycle a bit, and totally by accident. At the end of day 4 & lightly on day 5 I reintegrated food, trying to be conscious of content and size to keep my stomach lining as clean as possible.
While the physical transformation was apparent and the juice cleanse really did work, it is the mental clarity that I gained from my period of no alcohol that was the greatest relief. By week 3 I had complete mental clarity. There was absolutely no trace of brain fog and I could feel my mental synapsis firing on all cylinders.
By week 4, I was really proud of myself for followng through on my committment. Will I make this an annual thing and join the leagues of "dry January"? Absolutely not. But I will always know that I can do another 30 day detox if I really feel I need it.
Of course there are many celebs and individuals who don't drink at all like J. Lo and Gweneth Paltrow, because of the damaging effects alcohol has on the body. Tthis was definitely a lifestyle change I was considering. It's a little aspirational those who can completely forgo alcohol for years on end by choice. But life is too short to deprive yourself; and for me, missing out on the good times with close friends, the celebratory cheers, the NYC bar hopping afternoons, and the gentle unwind my favorite cocktails or a glass of wine can facilitate, is worth the long-term side effects. And I'm pretty sure my skincare regimen, healthy eating habits, and joyful attitude will keep me "young" for as long I like.
So cheers to being 30 years young and knowing there is so much life to be lived.
