With summer well on its way, the gyms are teeming with guys and gals, trying desperately to shed off the winter weight in time for beach weather. I live right on the water, on a seawall that stretches nearly 15km down the beach and around a large
urban park. I work as a freelance writer and virtual
executive assistant for a local travel firm, so I every morning, I walk out onto my balcony every morning, bring my laptop and a cup of tea, and watch the gaggle of joggers, speed walkers, cyclists, dog-walkers and leisurely strollers pass me by. I love this city in the warm months, and I love to see people out there, filling their lungs with the fresh sea air.
Personally, I've always been of the belief that a balanced diet and regular exercise is the key to staying healthy and at an ideal weight. Some of my girlfriends, however, prefer to put themselves on crash diets and
Cleanses. A good friend of mine put herself on one cleanse in particular called the Wild Rose Cleanse, an herbal solution that is meant to detoxify your body over the course of 12 days. The side effects of this cleanse can be pretty grim, and can include headaches, body aches, rashes, mood swings, and nausea. Hmmm, doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun, does it? Okay, look, losing weight and getting in shape is no easy task. It's not
always fun. But I tell you what,
working out doesn't make me feel miserable, it makes me feel renewed!
Did you know that there is very little scientific evidence that actually proves that going on a cleanse actually detoxifies the body? Renowned dietician
Sina Teskey, at Region's Hospital in Saint Paul, Minnesota says that detox diets do not detox the body and in they contribute to nutritional deficiencies because of a significant lack of calories and nutrients. Most people who put themselves on cleanses, rarely consult with their physician beforehand, and this is one of the reasons why they feel like crawling into a ball over the course of the cleanse.
Think long and hard before you start leaching your body of nutrients and minerals. Taking short cuts when it comes to your health, is
never a good idea.
