| Detox is a word we hear all the time on the | | | | because it requires very little energy to digest |
| covers on health and beauty magazines. Many | | | | while still getting amazing nutrition and vitamins |
| programmes, pills and super-foods claim to have | | | | into the body. |
| detoxifying effects, but in truth you can create | | | | It's also an incredibly quick way to lose a few |
| your own pre-wedding detox very simply at | | | | pounds without starving yourself. You can drink as |
| home. Busy brides, or brides on a budget can get | | | | much juice as you like during a Juice Feast. Start |
| gorgeous health without investing a lot of time or | | | | with one day of just juice, and then increase a |
| money. | | | | day each time you do it. You might want to do |
| The benefits of such a programme can be weight | | | | this just before your wedding, or in preparation |
| loss, renewed energy, an increased feeling of | | | | for the honeymoon. Either way, it's a safe, |
| well-being, better skin and clearer eyes - all | | | | effective and very quick last minute wedding diet. |
| depending on how long and how deep you go into | | | | You may not want to do a juice feast, but you |
| a detox. This is brilliant as part of your bridal | | | | can still add in a fresh juice or smoothie to your |
| beauty preparation. | | | | daily routine. By drinking a lot of freshly made |
| Something to remember: food and expensive | | | | juice, you can make your skin look better, reduce |
| detox gadgets don't heal you, your body heals | | | | the appearance of cellulite and get increased |
| itself but only when it's free from the distractions | | | | energy. Freshly made is always better than store |
| of modern life, such as alcohol, processed food, | | | | bought, as they often have unwanted |
| copious amounts of fat and sugar, smoking and | | | | sweeteners, preservatives in them or they have |
| other lifestyle "habits". Busy brides are often | | | | been pasteurised (heat treated), which can |
| stressed too which can damage the body, | | | | destroy a lot of the nutrients. |
| hamper your ability to lose weight and ruin that | | | | Start with simple recipes with a base of |
| beautiful happy glow that all brides want. | | | | cucumber, celery and apple and then experiment |
| Detoxing is simply giving your body a break, and | | | | to your heart's desire. You only need a cheap |
| letting it use its own incredible powers to heal you | | | | juicer or blender to get started and there are |
| from the inside out. | | | | plenty of free juice recipes on the internet to try |
| Here are some simple ideas for your own | | | | out. |
| wedding diet detox programme: | | | | 4. Eat fresh and simple food |
| 1. Hydration is key for brides who want glowing | | | | During your detox only eat small amounts of |
| skin | | | | simple and real food, either just fresh and raw, or |
| We've all heard it plenty of times - drink more | | | | lightly steamed without condiments or sauces. |
| water. Most people are quite dehydrated, which | | | | Avoid anything fried, processed, baked, salted or |
| can show up in dry skin, increased appearance of | | | | microwaved. |
| wrinkles, bad breath and even mental fog | | | | Real food means anything that is instantly |
| (remember our brains are 80% water). | | | | recognisable as food and generally has one |
| Aim for 1-2 litres of fresh, clean water a day, and | | | | ingredient, such as fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts |
| always have a bottle with you so it becomes a | | | | and sprouts. Experiment with "mono-meals", which |
| habit to drink it, particularly at work. You can add | | | | is a simple meal of just one food - like eating as |
| in a slice of lemon, parsley or even cucumber to | | | | much watermelon as you'd like, or a whole bowl |
| make the water taste fresh and inviting. Tea, | | | | of delicious ripe tomatoes. |
| coffee and sugary drinks DO NOT count as your | | | | If you get hungry during the detox, drink as much |
| water intake for the day and can actually have an | | | | fresh raw juice as you'd like and get used to the |
| unintended effect of making you hungrier and | | | | feeling of "real hunger", unlike eating out of habit |
| thirstier. | | | | or boredom. |
| We also confuse the feeling of dehydration with | | | | It will be worth it - imagine walking down the aisle |
| hunger, so next time you feel hungry but you've | | | | in your gorgeous wedding dress! |
| already eaten, have a glass of water instead and | | | | 5. Being present and grateful for everything, not |
| see if the feeling passes. | | | | just the wedding |
| 2. Take a rest from the wedding | | | | How often do we think, "Life goes by so fast!"? |
| An effective detox is also a mental thing. If you | | | | Between obsessing about the past, and worrying |
| usually spend all weekend on the computer or | | | | about the future, it's rare for us to actually be |
| watching TV, try relaxing in a different way. Read | | | | present right now. Especially when you are |
| a book, do some gentle yoga, take a nice long | | | | planning for a wedding; life just feels like a prelude |
| bath, or laze around outside in the fresh air and | | | | to the big day. |
| sunshine. It gives your body a chance to regroup, | | | | Yoga, meditation or just simple breathing |
| revitalise and refresh for the week ahead. | | | | exercises can bring you into the present. Try |
| This also includes rest from any habits you know | | | | putting your hand on your heart right now and |
| in your heart are not serving you and your health | | | | taking in 3 deep and slow breaths. Doesn't that |
| including; smoking, drinking alcohol regularly, eating | | | | feel wonderful? |
| fatty, salty or sugary foods or even indulging in | | | | Before you go to bed at night, tell your partner 5 |
| activities like gossiping, watching trashy TV or | | | | things in your life that you are grateful for and |
| reading beauty magazines that make you feel | | | | ask them to do the same. I guarantee you go to |
| unworthy, fat or ugly. | | | | bed with a smile on your face. |
| Ban all wedding chores and discussions for your | | | | I hope you realise now that detoxing doesn't need |
| detox and try to resist thinking or obsessing | | | | to be complicated or expensive and you can do it |
| about all the things you still have to do before | | | | any time you like. You don't have to pay to go to |
| your big day. | | | | an expensive spa, or even do any special wedding |
| Give yourself a break from all of this, and you will | | | | preparation. A simple detox can be worth more |
| free some mental energy and who knows, might | | | | than any expensive pre-wedding regimes. |
| even unleash some hidden creativity or passion. | | | | You can repeat this simple detox over and over, |
| 3. Juice your way to good health | | | | and you can take it from a simple 2-3 day, into a |
| Some celebrities do a juice detox, known as a | | | | 30 day challenge, 100 days or beyond. Each time |
| "Juice Feast", eating no food, but drinking fresh | | | | will be a gift to your body and your health, not to |
| raw juice in unlimited quantities to get ready for a | | | | mention a fantastic investment in your wedding |
| red carpet, a photo shoot and even their own | | | | day body! |
| weddings. This is very gentle on the body | | | | |