Get a detox - chapter 8

I woke up Tuesday morning in an ambivalent frame of mind.  It was early - 5.45am - the bed was warm and comfortable and as I stretched out I lazily ran my hands over my torso and knew without doubt that the Mrs-blubber-fat-suit was on the way out.  The was still an inch to pinch, but it was going south fast.  My whole body felt lighter, more supple, and just, healthier.  Today was the last day of the detox and I realised I would miss the easiness of the routine and cheapness of my shopping bill.  Cabbage is not expensive at all.   I realised that I actually like brown rice.  No coffee, no chocolate, no gluten, no diary. It had all contributed to feeling brighter, more energised, just.....more happy.  I knew it really, but it brought home to me how easy it is to fall into the trap of 'treats', aka booze, chocolate, fried stuff which does make us feel better but only for an instant.  I really did feel good and I wanted to keep that feeling going.

I sat down to my fruit for breakfast with a slight pang, hoping I wouldn't fall out of these good habits I had got myself into in just a week, too quickly.  At lunch I heaped my plate with the freshest, crunchiest, brightest salad and vegetables I could find.  I had a little houmous and gluten free pitta as a celebration.  I toasted myself with apricot juice.  After lunch I took a critical appraisal of myself in the mirror.  Was I kidding myself? Was this all just a bit of media brainwashing. Had I been sucked into some advertising hype by the fact of ensuing middle age?  There is no scientific evidence that suggests detoxing makes any difference at all.  Even being bright enough to have an MBA and having (almost finished) a PhD, had I just been dupped?

I learnt forward, closer.  I turned the centre light on in the room, I took the mirror to the window.  I would not run away, I would not pretend.  I was not scared to face the truth.  And the truth is that my skin DID look better, clearer, brighter.  The hoods of skin which I had seen starting to form over my eye lids in the last few years had receded and almost disappeared, the whites of my eyes sparkled.  I took a step back and noticed my waist seemed slimmer, my tummy smaller.  I looked good and I felt good.