I’ve been getting a lot of search terms and hits to do with Kimberly Snyder’s Beauty Detox Solution lately. People want to see before and after shots of others who have undertaken Kimberly’s diet recommendations, and even more people just want to know, plain and simple, if the program works. Should they buy the book? Should they make the Probiotic and Enzyme Salad (aka Countertop Sauerkraut) recipe? Are Glowing Green Smoothies delicious or gross-tasting? Do they really need a Vita-Mix blender?
I started the Beauty Detox Solution program last April (2011), and I even set up a separate page on my blog so I could document my progress and keep all of my posts on that topic in one, easy-to-access hub. I gradually started incorporating Kimberly’s principles into my lifestyle and noticed both subtle and significant changes in my health almost immediately. Weight was lost. Skin was cleared up. Energy levels were boosted. Sleep was sound and restful. Digestion and elimination became efficient to super-heroine levels.
And then I got sidetracked– seriously— when my work took over my existence last summer. (Excuses, excuses– I know.) I abandoned most of the specific principles of the Beauty Detox Solution and many of the foundational tenets of Basic, Commonsense Nutrition as well. Take-out food was consumed every day. Not surprisingly, weight was gained– a lot of it, too: 20-odd pounds! Sleep was sacrificed. Energy levels were in the dumps. Skin still looked okay (because I maintained my no-dairy stance), but everything else related to my body was terrible.
Well. Heroic journeys are all about redemption after descending into darkness, right?
I have ever so slowly started back on my Personal Beauty Detox journey; however, I’m not the most dedicated pupil and still retain a lot of flexibility (cheating?) regarding what I eat. (Diet Vigilantes would call it cheating– I’m calling it “moderation”.)
When we first moved to the cabin in December, I felt very chilly every day, so the thought of consuming Green Smoothies and raw salads was incredibly unappealing. (In the spirit of listening to my body, homemade soups and steamed vegetables over grains became my go-to meals of choice.) Besides, I was still weaning myself off of copious amounts of sugar, salt, and fats from those wretched summer months, so unfortunately, whole foods seemed kind of bland for a while. I needed a serious Palate Cleansing/Overhaul. But lo! Things are getting better and I am feeling much peppier these days, health-wise and energy-wise.
What Principles of the Beauty Detox Solution Am I Following?
1. Zero dairy in my diet.
I started this process a year before the BDS book was released and have reaped incredible rewards (significant weight loss, complete elimination of my acne, better digestion, and way less congestion) because of it. I’m not going to lie– taking dairy out of the diet completely is hard, especially if you buy any pre-packaged foods or restaurant meals whatsoever. (Of if you love cheese, which I did x 1000.) Dairy is in everything! However, it’s not impossible to do and I am a firm believer that the benefits are well worth the challenge. Seriously.
2. Slim-to-none amounts of caffeine and zero meat in my diet.
I have some green tea that I got as a gift, so I drink a cup of it every now and then. Also, I’m still eating local, free-range, organic eggs on occasion. I could take them out of my diet if I really wanted to, but I happen to like eating eggs every once in a while. So there! 🙂
3. Soaking grains, nuts, and seeds before consuming them.
I confess that I never used to soak anything before eating or cooking it. Now, I’ve gotten into the habit of soaking things overnight (or for 24 hours) before I need them in recipes. Do I notice a difference? In texture, yes, but in terms of digestion, not really. Maybe it’s just me?
4. Taking out as much soy as possible.
I’m not a soy person in general. However, this summer involved a whirlwind rebound relationship with soy milk, facilitated by our matchmaker, Starbucks. The truth is that soy milk makes me feel *almost* as gross as cow milk does– I get super phlegmy, bloated, and congested when I drink it. (Alas, Starbucks was only a skip away from our harbour booth, and I had a summer filled with the sickening convenience of Soy Coffee Fraps. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed and hope that this never happens again!) Soy is mostly out again, save for some dashes of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos and miso.
5. Glowing Green Smoothies/Probiotic and Enzyme Salad consumption.
After recovering from the initial shock of the fresh mountain air up here, I’ve started drinking between 3 and 5 Green Smoothies a week, and I also have a 1/2 cup of Probiotic and Enzyme Salad (aka raw sauerkraut) every few days. Both of these recipes make me feel incredibly clean and healthy; however, I still haven’t worked up to consuming either of them on a daily basis. Confession: as much as I love the green smoothies in particular, I find it challenging to drink them and still have enough time left over to eat all of the other meals I want to on a given day! (I’ve been sleeping in like a sloth every day, so by the time I eat breakfast, most people are just about ready for lunch. That doesn’t leave a girl a lot of time to down her soups, salads, and other delectable food items before dark! So much delicious, homemade food– so little time!)
6. Focusing on the process vs. on the end result.
The Beauty Detox Solution isn’t a race or a competition. I don’t feel pressure to incorporate all of Kimberly’s principles right away or even ever. I’m just doing what works for me and feeling thankful for the health I have because of it. I know that I could be “more successful” (read: thinner, toned, famous, and probably rich, too) if I were to stick very closely to the program. Certainly, I could lose more weight, feel super-human amounts of energy, and feel rested on 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night. I just don’t feel the need to get there just yet– for once, I’m actually fine with who I am, as I am right now. Go, me!
I'm OK, You're OK!
So Does It Work?
In a word: yes. I believe that any move toward a plant-based, whole foods diet will yield significant health benefits, and The Beauty Detox Solution is one way to get there. If people are just looking for an easy, quick-fix solution to weight issues alone, and are wondering if a diet of 100% Green Smoothies can do the trick, the BDS can still work, but undertaking it specifically to LOSE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF WEIGHT, RIGHT NOW! is really missing the point. This is a gradual (and hopefully permanent) shift in lifestyle. Yes, it works, but you do have to be invested in the principles that underpin it first. After reading this book, and now The China Study, I am really beginning to sense the urgency of maintaining a plant-based, whole foods diet for overall health and quality of life. It just makes sense on so many levels (but maybe I’m more receptive to this message, having been a vegetarian for most of my life and having already taken dairy out before the Beauty Detox Solution book came out).
Do You Have Any Before/After Photos?
Hmmm… I looked through our archives and noted with suspicion that I had “lost” or “accidentally deleted” most of the less-than-flattering pics of myself. (Either that, or I’m not exactly jumping in front of the camera when my clothes aren’t fitting properly. Look at my thighs! They’re gigantic!!)
That said, you can get a really good “before” shot of my acne-ridden complexion in this post. (My “after” skin shot is just up above in the current post– that shot was taken a few days ago.) I still consider myself to be in the early phases of the program, especially because I started and then stopped so spectacularly for half a year. Maybe I should take a current, full-length pic and use it as my “before” shot. Fabulous, fashionable “after” shots will come in a few months, then. 😉
I hope this information helps! As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me in the comments section or e-mail me privately. I’m happy to share my personal experiences and pitfalls in the spirit of making the journey that much easier for somebody else. 🙂
zona pellucida 
About this vita-mixer…what’s the ups and downs and cost? we have a kitchenaid blended andirons is amazing but was also expensive so thank God it was a gift. But how does the vita-mixer measure up? I don’t want to get one if its not worth it…
I guess I didn’t address the Vita-Mix at all in this post! I haven’t tried many high-caliber blenders, but my experience with the Vita-Mix suggests that it is very well worth the steep cost. I have had cheap blenders before that worked pretty terribly, especially when it came to blending ice or frozen foods. The Vita-Mix can make *anything* smooth and creamy, and it also ruptures the cell walls of your food so that you maximize the nutritional content.
I have friends who patiently chop up their Green Smoothie ingredients into tiny pieces, blend smaller portions at a time, and then *still* have to chew their way through what is supposed to be a milkshake-like confection of green goodness. Personally, I wouldn’t be able to tolerate any grainy texture when it came to Green Smoothies, so the Vita-Mix has been worth its weight in gold in this respect. I also make almond milk every week in the Vita-Mix, blend the brine for raw sauerkraut, make other fruit smoothies, and I’ve even tried nut butters! It’s super expensive, yes, but for people like me who are very particular about textures (or for anyone who wants to save a ton of time and reap the most nutritional benefits from their foods), I’d highly recommend them.
I bought a vita mix about two years ago, and am sad to report that if we had a fire, instead of running to grab the family photo albums, I would run to the kitchen and rescue my vitamix blender..lol, but true!
I’ve been trying to experiment with fermenting my cabage. When it was done it was yellow and smelled really bad. And, I guess i wan’t sure it was suppose to be like that or not. The mason jar poped when I opened it so I believe it was air tight. And, I let it sit for five days.
Hey Christen– it does turn yellowish and smell bad when it’s been fermented properly. As long as there is no black mould or suspicious slimy coating on your kraut, you should be fine. Just test a small amount in your mouth first. It will most likely be a different taste than you expected– thankfully, kraut doesn’t taste as bad as it smells. 🙂 Good luck!
Thank You so much for your input. I will certaintly try it again. Hopefully it truely helps my digestive system. I look forward to learning more about health on your blog.
I’ve had good results using a more moderate approach (Dr. Oz’s grocery shopping and eating tips). When I eat right, and eat those “beauty superfoods” I really can see a difference. But, I’m skeptical about cutting out major food groups like dairy all together. For one thing, I LOVE cheese! I mean, some days it’s my best friend. LOL But, I really enjoyed reading your blog on this and will follow your progress…good luck! 🙂
Hey, thanks for the comment! Dairy and I were literally BFFs for my whole life until 2010. I couldn’t get enough of it. Acne was the main reason why I took it out of my diet, but since then, I have also read a lot about the sinister underbelly of my former favorite food group (leaching calcium out of our bones, anyone?). “The China Study” is particularly enlightening about dairy, and it was written by a scientist who grew up on a dairy farm.
Anyway, for me– taking dairy out of my diet completely has been the single best thing I’ve *ever* done for my body, hands down. Yes, my mind still rebels and asks for cheesecake every now and then, but my body now knows that even a little bit of dairy is too much for me.
This lady (Kris Carr) eats just like you’re describing and credits it for keeping her stage 4 cancer at bay…there definitely is something to it! http://crazysexylife.com/about/
I wouldn’t doubt it. I think there’s a lot to be said for a ‘green’ diet, not just for cancer prevention, but to help with general health as well (cardiovascular, immune, etc.) Thanks for sharing the link!
Great post, Dana. I have radically changed my diet beginning at the end of November–returning to my more healthy eating. I could easily do without meat, but Sara can not, so I consume some, but not a lot. I work out 6 days a week, etc.
I’m afraid I got lazy after we can home from Haiti, and my body has shown it. I bet I gained 20 pounds, as well. It’s coming off, however.
I enjoyed this post, but don’t know that I could do the green smootie thing, myself.
Hugs,
Kathy
Hi Kathy, Simple is best when it comes to health, isn’t it? And why is it that 20 pounds add up so quickly, but it takes way more work to get them off again?? 🙂
Green smoothies were definitely more of a mental hurdle for me than anything. If you were to take a sip of one from a dark cup, not knowing what was inside, you would probably enjoy it. They taste mostly like bananas and berries. But I totally understand your trepidation.
I’m a vegetarian so meat isn’t an issue, but I’d have a hard time giving up caffeine and cheese. Without cheese I’m not sure I could find meaning in my life.
Didn’t they tell you? Cheese is laced with heroin, making its consumption a habit that’s nearly impossible to break. It’s funny– most of the veg people I know have no problems giving up milk, yogurt, ice cream, and things like cottage cheese, but actual, slice-able cheese? Over their dead bodies! It must be crack.
Thanks for sharing your tips on this detox plan. I can see how it would be easy to get sidetracked, given no dairy (ackk that would be so hard!), but am glad you got back on track. Rah rah!
I’m pretty committed to not having dairy now. Even when I got sidetracked last summer, it wasn’t by re-incorporating dairy. It was by eating lots of (vegan-ish) take out food, baked goods, and those wretched Starbucks Fraps (dairy free). I’m at the point now where any dairy in my diet– even butter– makes me feel terrible, so it’s not so difficult to avoid anymore.
I think it’s great when you find a program that works for you! I wish the “no dairy” thing or the “no gluten” thing had worked for me. Alas….everyone will respond differently. I think there is something to be said for moderation too. Like the “no sugar” thing we did. Rather than eliminating it completely (which was torture) it’s better to take it in moderation. There is no sense in torturing yourself.
So true, Jabba. I tend to get sucked into the ALL OR NOTHING mentality when it comes to a lot of eating plans, but moderation is truly the best policy. That and honesty. 😉
I’ve decided the heroin in cheese is largely the fat. Though I’m by no means anti-cheese, since it would be pretty hypocritical of me, sometimes that helps me feel like I’m missing out less.
Though my green smoothies are less green than yours I have to agree on how good they make me feel. Even psychologically it’s worth it. If only I could live on green smoothies and chocolate alone 😦
I tried living off of green smoothies, carob chips, and sushi this summer. I think the carob had something to do with those pesky pounds I put on. That, or vats and vats of rice. Not the smoothies, though– those things are delicious!
I am very inspired by this post. When my gall bladder went bad, I cleaned up major league for a couple of years, but have now fallen off track. The hardest challenge? Giving up caffeine. I know I should. My body does not feel good when I drink it, but… do you have any tips to help giving up caffeine? Otherwise, trying to reconnect to a healthier way of eating.
I know it’s not the easiest tip, but I’ve always found that just taking caffeine out, cold turkey, works the best for me. I used to drink coffee (and a lot of it) every day, and then I stopped abruptly. I had a brutal migraine for the first two days and then everything was fine after that. (It also helped to cut it out when I had a bit of a head cold, because I was suffering from congestion and crankiness already, so the caffeine withdrawal only upped my symptoms a tiny bit instead of a ton).
Marty has tried many times– unsuccessfully– to gradually cut back on coffee. He gets to a certain point just fine, but then his intake always goes up again for one reason or another. I would recommend just TAKING IT ALL OUT. Hot water with fresh lemon juice, chunks of fresh ginger, and a swirl of cayenne pepper also works wonders. It just feels healthy and detoxifying. Good luck! 🙂
It may be the mycotoxins in the coffee. Try bullet proof coffee. I couldn’t get my husband off coffee but switched to this brand. His bad reactions immediately stopped and instead of 4 or 5 cups a day, one will satisfy him and get him going. http://www.bulletproofexec.com/coffee/
This is fascinating! I am bookmarking. Thank you so much for sharing.
I miss you, Kathy! I”m so behind on my entire non-working life right now, but I want you to know that I think of you often and can’t wait to get back to reading your wonderful blog. Hope everything is well with you!
Everything is more than wonderful, Dana. Like you, I’ve experienced a profound shift. It’s been impossible to write about it yet. Take your time and don’t worry about the blogs. They’ll be here when the Life-that-is-you wants to read them again.
I’ll have to check that coffee out as well. Marty is still on his daily caffeine fix, full force! Thanks for the recommendation.
I LOVE this post, Dana! You sound a lot like me. It’s been years (10 or so) since I consumed any caffeine (I gave up coffee when I started working in a coffee shop in college and caffeined tea soon after that) and people are always shocked by that fact. Do you get that from people too? I absolutely love that my energy levels stay so constant throughout the day compared to my friends and co-workers who have high and low swings based on their caffeine intake throughout the day. It’s liberating not being dependent on a latte 🙂
So true, Christina! There have been times of high stress when I’ve “comforted” myself with a coffee (!!), but caffeine for the most part makes me feel gross (and not at all comforted!). I prefer to keep my energy levels steady as well. That said, I do enjoy chocolate every now and then and just tell myself it doesn’t contain caffeine. 🙂
The more I learn about food, the more I discover that my body HATES the standard North American diet. It can be challenging to eat the way I do (especially when I’m eating out or traveling, as I’m sure you find, too), but partaking in the meat-based, over-processed, over-salted, and over-sugared “food” doesn’t do my body any favors. I’d rather eat plain lettuce!
Heh…the allure of chocolate. The caffeine is quite minimal (in comparison to coffee and tea) so I think it’s perfectly acceptable to tell yourself that it’s caffeine free 😛
Way back when, I used to prefer milk chocolate and thought dark chocolate was bitter and gross tasting. When I cut out dairy from my diet in Jan 2010, I just assumed I would have to cut out chocolate as well. Not so! Unfortunately for me, dark chocolate is actually DELICIOUS! Who knew?
I guess we all have our vices…
Me too!!!! I could not handle my dark chocolate in my younger days…actually, come to think of it, I think it was when I went vegan that I began to truly appreciate dark chocolate. Haha! Yes, we all have our vices…and if chocolate is all you’ve got, I’d say you’re doing pretty well 🙂
Hello, I just googled beauty detox and am reading your thoughts on caffeine and chocolate. I have became vegan again which was easy and then slowly changing how I eat by refencing the beauty detox. At thispoint I think I could give up almost anything however chai tea, chocolate, good beer, and then oysters and seafood are the hardest for me. I love the green smoothie with bananas it is like starting the day with dessert!
Thanks for the comment, Angie! I am a fellow lover of chai tea, and I actually am ‘addicted’ to the rooibos chai tea now, which is caffeine free and full of antioxidants. I mix it up with some unsweetened almond milk and voila! Deliciousness in a mug. 🙂
Slow and steady is a great idea, though. When I first started out, I wanted to incorporate everything all at once, and then I fell off the wagon hard. Even now, I’m not doing 100% of what Kimberly suggests– just what feels right for me and my body. Best of luck with your journey!
I keep trying to love the GGS but cant! I made it to one portion since my blender (which does make it smooth!) only does 32 ounces and it is awful…any tips to make it more enjoyable?!?!?!
Hey there! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I would try using lighter-tasting greens (like romaine or spinach– not kale!) and stronger-tasting fruits (like raspberries or even pineapple). I find that pear and apple aren’t strong enough in flavor to cut through the taste of the greens, which do take a bit (or a lot!) of getting used to. I find if I take frozen raspberries, defrost them overnight, and then add them to the GGS in the morning, the juices are flavorful enough to make the whole drink taste like fruit. Bananas work well, too. You can also try increasing the fruit to greens ratio to start out. I don’t mind the taste of the greens now, but when I started out, I had a hard time getting over the COLOR of the drink. Good luck!
Love my Vita-Mix. Have been wanting one for years…finally got one for Mother’s Day. We were spending a small fortune at the smoothie shops, now I refuse to pay so much for something I can make myself. I found adding blueberries to my green smoothie masks the green color and makes it purple-ish. Even was able to get my very picky, fruit-and-veggie shunning kids to drink some. I threw in what I had and liked it, though not sure if it is undermining me with all the fruit sugars? I use carrots, kale, spinach, plain greek yogurt, frozen banana, frozen mango, frozen pineapple, frozen blueberries and flax meal. Sometimes add half an orange or half a granny smith apple.
Question about giving up dairy and soy…I thought I was doing a good thing by moving more to soy milk, but you don’t drink that either? In giving up dairy, where does your bone-building calcium and muscle-building protein come from?
I read further posts and see you make nut milk and nut butter. 🙂
But I was wondering what you consider your main sources of protein and calcium? I don’t have the phlegm and congestion problems, but I can’t figure out what is causing my stomach issues. Seems like everything and anything.
Hey DeAnna,
My main sources of both protein and calcium are plants! Leafy greens contain a ton of protein in the form of amino acids, and quinoa is a big staple in my diet as well. It’s a HUGE myth that dairy is needed to build strong bones. The fact of the matter is, dairy is so acid-forming in the body that it actually *leaches* calcium out of your bones in an attempt to neutralize the pH in the system! The cultures that consume the highest amounts of dairy in the world (esp. North Americans) also have the highest incidences of osteoporosis and other bone-density problems. Coincidence? Not likely. Unfortunately, dairy is such a big industry so we (as a culture) aren’t informed about the actual risks of dairy consumption.
More info about the dairy-osteoporosis connection can be found in the wonderful book, “The China Study”. I’d highly recommend reading it– it was written by a former dairy farmer turned respected scientist. Kimberly Snyder, who wrote “The Beauty Detox Solution”, also draws heavily from this research, which was conducted over nearly 3 decades in rural China. It’s a must read!
PS: “The China Study” also talks about the strong correlations between animal protein consumption (dairy included) and all sorts of health conditions (heart problems, autoimmune disease, cancer, diabetes, etc.) Our culture has been obsessed with low-carb diets and low-fat diets before, but nobody has ever really challenged the prevailing notion that we need gigantic amounts of (animal) protein every day to stay healthy. From what I have read, as long as you are consuming enough total calories in your diet (and you eat something besides sugar, obviously), you are definitely getting enough protein in your diet. 🙂
I hope this info helps! Taking dairy out of the diet can be challenging, but it has rewards on so many levels. All it takes is an open mind and a willingness to see beyond what we’ve all been taught since we were little kids (i.e. “milk builds strong bones and muscles!”).
Thanks so much for your post! I’m very much into nutrition and have been slowly changing my diet (which used to be a binge-eating ridden orgy or white flour, candy, and processed food) over the past 2-3 years into a whole-foods based diet. I came across your post when I was searching for reviews on the Beauty Detox Solution. I plan on starting to read it today! I wanted to ask you a question about dairy- I just decided to give up dairy a week ago and so far have done pretty well. However, I am terrified to go out to eat. Do you specifically ask if they use butter in the prep? How do you navigate that awkward situation? Also do people give you s*** for not eating dairy? I was thinking about lying and just telling people I’m lactose intolerant…
….although, maybe I actually am lactose intolerant? Perhaps I should get tested? It does make me bloat up like I’m 6 months pregnant. I call it my food baby.
It’s totally possible. I believe (as does Kimberly Snyder) that a great majority of the population is lactose intolerant. We’re just brought up as a society to believe that milk makes us grow big and strong, but really– only baby cows need cow milk. (And bloating up is a sure sign that *something* isn’t right!)
You can try getting tested, or you could take the route I did, which was this: 1. Have terrible acne 2. Try taking dairy out of the diet 3. Notice dramatic improvements in skin and general health 4. Conclude that dairy was the culprit 5. Self-diagnose as lactose intolerant
(Actually, I recently went in for food sensitivity testing and learned that I was not only sensitive to milk sugar– lactose– but also intolerant of milk proteins– casein. Go figure! The test told me what I already knew through experience, so you might find the same thing.)
> Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:01:46 +0000 > To: dana_lupypciw@hotmail.com >
Hey Dana! (So nice to hear from another Dana)
Going out to eat is sort of a drag at first, but I just grabbed that bull by the horns and decided I wasn’t going to pay good money for any meal that contained ingredients I wasn’t interested in consuming. Most restaurants are super helpful and go out of their way to make sure your meals don’t contain any dairy, especially if you claim (like I do) a dairy allergy (which isn’t a stretch at all. I might not go into anaphylactic shock if I consume a pat of butter, but it sure makes me feel terrible!) In fact, I’ve only ever had one problem at a restaurant with dairy, which happened when somebody randomly put goat cheese on my teriyaki stirfry (wtf?)
https://zonapellucida.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/one-of-these-things-doesnt-belong-here/
Otherwise, I’m a champion at asking whether any meals contain dairy or seeing if the server can suggest a vegetarian, non-dairy option from their menu. Yes, some people give you sh*t, but I’d rather get razzed by people than eat something that makes my body feel terrible and my skin break out. Good luck with the journey! (It’s not as awkward as it seems, I promise.)
> Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:38:46 +0000 > To: dana_lupypciw@hotmail.com >
Hi I really appreciate you sharing your journey. I have BTS and have never been able to stick to it. I am eating healthier and have been making the green smooties and I do feel and look better. I have made the probiotic enzyme salad. It will be ready to eat in a get days. I wonder how that will be? I am curious as well.
Hey Brigitte! Sorry for the super late response to your comment. 🙂 I have been on and off of the BDS eating plan for a few years now, but one of the best parts of it is the Probiotic and Enzyme Salad! I had a hard time with it at first, but now I crave the raw kraut. Good luck on your journey!
Wow, marvelous weblog format! How lengthy have you ever been blogging for?
you made running a blog look easy. The whole look of
your website is magnificent, let alone the content material!
Desirable part of articles. I just now located your site plus accession capital to get that I get involved truth cherished account a person’s website threads. Any way I will be registering to your own provides nourishment to as well as I personally satisfaction you can get the ways to access regularly promptly.
I appreciate your #6 especially. I’m sort of beginning that journey and I swing back and forth from feeling gung-ho to thinking it’s major overkill. I think it’s a lot to take on, so I’m doing it a step at a time, mainly just reducing my animal product intake for now and keeping the food combining and light-to-heavy principles in the back of my mind. I figure just moving toward a plant based diet will surely make some improvements in and of itself!
The beauty detox solution works as does any vegan diet really. However, she really points out food pairing, and some other tips that are really helpful. I have always had problems with food addiction and recently slumped back into some poor eating habits, and it really shows in my looks, and my mood. If you have had a poor diet like myself then it is a plan to ease yourself into a bit at a time.
Hello! I am really aware I need to make a change in my diet for all the reasons mentioned except weight loss. I lost weight when I did a similar nutritional diet last year and now can not afford to lose any more. I want to increase energy and just gain the feeling of well-being but am unsure if I can take on this approach. Would you have any comment for my concern?
Dear Dana,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this program. Just bought the book 2 days ago and I’m halfway done reading it.
I have a question – did you feel tired at first? I became tired almost instantly when I started this.
I’m happy to say that I’ve already seen results, and this is without feeling deprived which is lovely (but fatigued).
but I feel that if I stray just a little I will never lose weight.
I actually get scared of eating when I read it. All of a sudden I feel that there are no things left that are not dangerous for me to put in my mouth which is disturbing.
No dairy (which I had cut out already), no meat, no fruit if I want to go on the blossoming beauty program for 1-2 months, no caffeine, no alcohol. I mean – I do live in a civilized world, not as a gorilla in a jungle, and temptation is everywhere!
And not eating eggs or meat is a challenge.
Thanks for taking time to read this!
Olivia
Hey Olivia,
Thanks for reading and for commenting! I can relate to your feelings of overwhelm when it comes to the list of foods that are “not allowed” on the program. I did really well at following the “rules” for a while but then totally rebelled. (I probably ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread because I am such a rebel badass… haha… And then I felt like crap and cursed myself because I totally knew better.)
Anyway. Here’s what I have come to realize in the four or so years that I’ve been following Kim’s work:
1. Kim writes her books and offers her nutritional guidelines out of love, and even though it might seem like a restrictive set of rules to follow, I don’t believe that this is her intention at all. She wants us all to thrive, and her books put forth the information she’s discovered to help put her on a path of vibrant health.
However:
2. Trusting your own body is the best (and maybe even the only) way to move forward and thrive! This took me forever to learn, and I am still learning it on a daily basis– but no book, person, or program can ever know what’s best and right for YOU personally. If you are feeling fatigued on this program, TRUST THAT and see if your intuition can tell you what you need to thrive. Make peace with yourself– your body knows exactly what it needs, and even if that falls outside of a typical program or nutritional theory, go for it. (For my sister, it ended up being bone broths after a decade of vegetarianism; for me, it ended up being way more cooked foods, especially soups and stews. A raw food diet is totally not healing for me! Both of us rebelled and thought we “should” be eating something different, but lo and behold… our bodies knew best.)
Obviously, eating refined and processed foods isn’t good for anyone, but as long as you are focused on whole foods and choose local and/or organic whenever possible, run with it and give your body what it asks for!
I hope this helps, and best of luck on your journey! xo, Dana
Pingback: » Blog Archive » The Beauty Detox Solution
Pingback: Beauty Detox Solution Diet | nursesbeauty.com
Pingback: Build Mma Cleanser | Grappling, BJJ & MMA Training Tips, News and More
Pingback: Beauty Detox Solution Blog | beauty nr
Awesome blog post! Very helpful! I just recently stumbled upon th beauty detox solution & an toying with the idea of buying the book. I was recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and have sicnce become more in tune with my body, how it responds to foods, etc. I have eliminated 95% of dairy from my diet already but am struggling with the idea of eliminating meat. Is this a necessity in her solution? I have started to naturally gravitate away from chicken and meats at meals but lately have discovered that my iron is very low and despite supplements I am struggling to bring it up so I am reluctant to eliminate red meat from my diet. I consume it probably once every other day so it is not a high intake – definitely in moderation. Wondering what your thoughts are on this? Thank you thank you! Also, now that Kimberly has three books out .. Which would you recommend for beginners? BDS?
Here’s the most valuable information you will get about this diet. It does not work, in fact it makes you sick. I used to be a frequent visitor of the forums and I have seen many people complain about their health declining on the diet or the person getting very sick.