About two month ago I decided that I would need to do some serious work if I wanted to make the 190-199lbs weight class for my first Jiu-Jitsu tournament. I knew I could do it, but I didn't want to approach it in an unhealthy manner where I would gain most of the weight back afterward and not really learn anything from the process as well. I had one month, and when I stepped on the scale Monday morning, it read 219lbs (body fat at 15.4%).
So hears what I decided to do. I chose, upon the challenge of one of my clients who had just finished it, to do a all natural cleansing/detox for one week. It would be made up of a pretty serious regiment of vegetable juices, fruit smoothies, and macrobiotic meals along with daily exfoliation, enemas and relaxation practices. I was excited that this particular detox was based off of the macrobiotic philosophy which is something my Mother had dedicated herself to for so many years of her life as a healing process for cancer. I read through all the material and went out to shop for all my needs.
With a fridge filed with organic greens and apples, a shelf stocked with probiotics and natural liver cleansers and a bathroom covered in exfoliation devices and other devices that really don't need to be explained in detail, I got started. Five days of organic vegi juice (3-4 a day), one day of organic berry smoothies and one day of vegi and grain based macrobiotic meals. I had plenty of lemon water and herbal tea as well and when I hoped on the scale the next Monday, I weighed in at 204lbs and 13.3% body fat.
This obviously didn't last very long as the second I began to consume solid food I gained 4 pounds back, but that was expected. But here are a few things that came out of that week: I slept like a baby and woke up happy every day. I actually caught myself singing as I walked to work at 5:30 in the morning. I got hungry but never really lost a ton of energy. My skin cleared up and my normal aches and pains started to bother me less. When I began to consume normal food again, i felt the effects of each nutrient and it opened my eyes so much to what was good for my body and what was bad. What an amazing amount to learn about yourself in just 7 days!
Through normal workouts and clean eating habits I was able to keep my weight around 204-206lbs over the next two weeks. I could have been more regimented with my diet, but with the amount I work out on a regular basis, plus the added Jiu-Jitsu work, I was feeling very hungry all the time. The day of the weight-ins is written about a couple posts before this one, so check that out for the details; but, to make a long story short, I weighed in at 198 and finished with a body fat % of around 12.2. Not to bad for a months work.
Now, a month afterwards, I sit around 205lbs with just under 13% body fat and am very happy knowing that the tough week of cleansing really helped to change my perspective of what it means to take care of oneself. I am now reading a collection of books on macrobiotics and really making an effort to eat as clean and organically as possible. I hope that I can help others do the same.
Never Stop, GET FIT.
Josh Courage
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