Michelle Barber, Page 22 Author

My 21-day Quantum Wellness Cleanse ended on Friday. For three weeks, I abstained from sugar, caffeine, alcohol, meat, dairy and gluten. I developed a surprisingly delicious diet of vegetables, rice, beans, tofu, tea, water and assorted gluten-free products.

On Saturday morning, I weighed 6 lbs lighter than I did 21 days ago and lost 1.5 inches from around my stomach. The most dramatic effects were in the first week, although finally being able to get back to the gym this third week nudged along further weight loss.

You can read more about the journey in these blog entries:

• My reasons for starting the Quantum Wellness Cleanse

• Week 1

• Week 2

This past, final week, I actually had to give up my watered-down decaf coffee. I could even feel the effects of that minimal amount of caffeine on my heart. I switched to decaf tea and the jittery feeling went away.

I also came to terms with the fact that when I’m upset, I want to eat junk food. A lot of it. I didn’t crave anything so much as I craved the idea of lots of it. I abstained and rediscovered that going to the gym, working up a sweat and spending some time in the sauna provided not only the exertion my stress needed, but also an excellent and spacious transition from work to home.

I feel relieved that a lot of my unhealthy food habits seem broken. I enjoy making and eating breakfast at home now, instead of grabbing something on the go. I’ve stopped snacking at work, even when I’m working on an exciting project, which is an odd habit I discovered in Week 1. I haven’t craved Diet. Mt. Dew or too much coffee or sugar in the 21 days. The fact that this is an all-or-nothing type of cleanse really worked for me.

I ended the Quantum Wellness Cleanse yesterday, by having lunch with a friend at August First in Burlington. I ordered a Tofu Salad sandwich and nibbled on the bread.  Surprisingly, the bread held little charm for me after this cleanse, although I could taste that it was good bread. The tofu was much more to my liking.  Later that evening, I had a beer from The Alchemist (a Heady Topper) and about 6 oz. of Nutty Steph’s chocolate at home.

And while The Alchemist never ceases to amaze me, it was all rather anti-climatic. My taste buds have come to appreciate much more subtle flavors, textures and, especially, spices as opposed to the overwhelming nature of caffeine, sugar, alcohol, animal products and gluten. I wouldn’t have been able to learn that had I just cut back on sugar or breads. A whole-system reset was in order for my body to actually taste and feel the negative affects of, say, caffeine (heart-stopping!).

So it looks like much of this Cleanse has become a lifestyle! For my own health, I’m excited, but it’s also exciting because of the environmental and other positive effects a mostly vegan, gluten-free lifestyle can have. Here are some fun resources I’ve found on my journey:

• Kathy Freston, the author of the Quantum Wellness Cleanse: http://www.kathyfreston.com/.
• Jennifer Thompson, a raw food and fasting resource, on Twitter @rawfoodbliss.
• Farm Sanctuary, an organization that rescues and advocates for factory farmed animals: http://www.farmsanctuary.org/.
• Meatless Monday, a non-profit encouraging us to go meatless one day a week, on Twitter @MeatlessMonday.

My next indulgence will be a (decaf) Maple Latte and some toffee from Espresso Bueno, but I’m not in a rush. I actually need to make breakfast now: a tofu scramble with lots of veggies and spices!