master cleanse ~ days seven & eight

the goods, canon digital rebel xt

Okay, so I love my marmie. Have I ever told you that before? She's absolutely wonderful and just said some pretty amazing things to me during our Sunday morning chat. You never really grow out of needing your parents to be proud of you. Somehow, my mother always knows what to say to put a soothing balm on my heart. She knows what I need more than I do at times.

She shared with me that she didn't feel good about what I said a few posts ago about me having the habit of not finishing things in my life. She told me I sold myself way too short. She said that she's always seen me as a go-getter, never a quitter and that when I've wanted something in my life with a passion, that I have gone full force into it with gusto. She shared that she's always been in awe of this quality and is so proud. She said a few more yummy things that I'll keep sacred.

She didn't realize that when she said this, I gulped down tears as I shared my gratitude and told her I needed to hear this.

When I really look back on my life, she is right. The things I didn't quite finish were the things I wasn't that passionate about. I wasn't willing to move forward with something that I didn't feel right about even if to others it appeared I was quitting. I just didn't want to settle. Having the courage to follow your heart can be challenging in a world that tends to focus on not following your heart.

I like this perspective better. It resonates more with the positive attitude I try to maintain. Thanks marmie for your deep love and gentle reminders!

Now onto the cleanse. Yesterday was day seven and was my toughest day yet. I woke up with a ton of mucus in my chest. It was sore, as was my throat and I had aches and pains everywhere. Later in the day I got a migraine. So, I spent most of the day in bed coughing and napping. The last time I felt like this was when I had pneumonia. I didn't have a fever, so both my hubs and I knew it was me detoxing. It was tempting to give up but that would defeat the purpose of this cleanse. Everyone detoxes differently. I wanted to ride it through because if I really have that many toxins, I want them OUT. So, I slept it off and drank a lot of hot tea and water and some of the lemon drink (although it burned my throat).

Yesterday evening we both went to a beautiful zen spa downtown. We treated ourselves to a clay body wrap and dry brushing, as well as 30 minutes in a steam room. That was the best thing I could have done for my body. The steam helped break up a lot of the mucus and my chest was less tight. So, last night before bed I felt so much better.

This morning, day eight, my chest pain is gone, as well as my aches and pains all over my body. No headache either. I am still coughing up mucus but it doesn't hurt as bad to cough. I still find it difficult to talk for some reason. It puts my chest and throat into a coughing spasm. I don't mind not talking. I can go hours and be silent. I've always been this way.

This morning I got on the scale and I have lost 10 pounds. So has my husband. Speaking of...he has been feeling fantastic. His tough detox days were in the beginning when he had headaches and a lot of mucus. So far he hasn't had any sinus problems (which he has had every day of his life) and he isn't snoring because he is finally breathing out of both nostrils. So, this means his allergies are from certain foods. When we gradually start eating again, we will pay attention to which foods trigger him and eliminate those foods from his diet.

Later this evening we are returning to the spa for a massage and more of the steam room. We realized how much our body needs this and it makes it a bit easier to treat ourselves like this around dinner time!

This spa is dimly lit with candles and zen music everywhere. They have the most soft and cushy robes I have ever worn. Their lounge room has two cushy velvety couches to rest on while sipping fruit water. It's the perfect oasis for anyone on a cleanse. We've been so focused and working hard to get through the tough moments. We felt we deserved some indulgence. ; )