The months leading up to bikini season leave us scrambling to lose those winter pounds. Simultaneously, Spring Cleaning has everyone running around like it’s the end of the world, cleaning up every nook and cranny in their home.
This year, resolve to clean your body and home.
Clean House
- Get Rid of Clutter: Have you become one of the many Americans who should be featured on the morbidly popular TV show “Hoarders?” Before you know it, you have magazines stacked a mile high on your bedside table and three of everything in your kitchen. To get rid of all of this excess stuff that you’ve accumulated, consider using the “three box” method: have a box for each – keep, toss/donate, store. By utilizing this method you won’t be tempted to keep anything unnecessary. Consider a garage sale with all the items you want to toss and donate — whatever is left over can be donated to The Salvation Army or Goodwill. Uncle Bob’s Self Storage is a leader in storage units and offers competitive rates, move-in specials and a variety of unit sizes. For rates, sizes and a location near you, click here.
- Clean Blinds and Ceiling Fans: For that pesky ceiling fan dirt, use a large pillow case. Put the open end of an old pillowcase over the fan blade and slowly squeeze the fan blade in-between the fabric of the pillowcase, pulling it off of the fan. All the dirt will fall inside the pillowcase instead of on you and the floor. You can then turn the pillowcase inside out and shake the dust out over your garbage can, and wash the pillowcase as you normally would. To clean the blinds, use a damp sock. Consider using vinegar with the sock for wooden blinds. Vinegar is a natural, all-purpose cleaner.
Green Eating
- Eat The Green Stuff: The Center for Disease Control says fruits and vegetables should take up the largest portion on your plate. Avocados, kiwi, spinach, brussel sprouts and kale are all super foods that provide nutrition and help fight disease. Everydayhealth.com says avocados contain a lot of healthy fat and by eating this power food, you lower your cholesterol and protect your eyes. When eating salad, opt for romaine instead of iceberg lettuce: the greener the better.
- Supplemental Vitamins: To promote a healthy immune system, take Vitamins A, C, E, and D as well as biotin and fish oil. Be sure to take the recommended dosage, as exceeding this amount could do your body more harm than good. Biotin promotes a healthy metabolism, producing glucose by converting the carbohydrates, fats and proteins in your body into energy. Biotin is also helpful for hair, skin and nails. Fish Oil is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids; important for preventing and managing heart disease. Vitamins A, C, E and D help protect your body from illness, diseases and cancers.
- Cleanse — Fruit Flush: According to nutritionist, Jay Robb, nutrients in fruit help dissolve toxic buildup in our bodies and the water and fiber content of fruit can flush it all out. “When you eat fruits, vegetables and lean protein for 36 hours you go into a fat burning mode, which preserves your muscle mass,” Robb says in his book Fruit Flush 3-Day Detox.
For a successful three day detox, here’s what Robb recommends:
- For the first day of the detox, drink protein shakes only.
- Days two and three should be followed by eating fresh fruit every two hours, plus a dinner of raw vegetables and a small amount of lean protein (like a portion of plain, grilled chicken) or a protein shake.
This cleanse provides about 900-1,000 calories each day, with about 100-125 grams of protein during day one and 50 grams of protein on days two and three, all depending on the type of protein powder you use. While on the cleanse, avoid dairy, caffeine (coffee and tea), soda, starches, cooked vegetables, juices and sweets.
The change of seasons gives you a great chance to make some positive changes in your life. Try a few of these tips and share your experiences in the comments below!