I did a Hormone Balancing Detox and Here’s What Happened
Last month I spent 30 days without any of my favorite vices. Wine, cheese, and sugar to name a few. Now I’ve heard about all kinds of juice cleanses, soup diets and of course the horror stories of trying to do Whole 30. And never once did I think I would actually try any of them. I imagined they meant spending a week to 30 days not having any fun, obsessing over everything I ate, and avoiding all social interaction like the plague. Yet for some reason Dr. Brighten’s Beyond the Pill program struck a chord with me. Perhaps it was because I spent 12 years of my life on hormonal birth control completely unaware of the long-term effects it would have on my body. Or maybe because I turned 30 this year and was already starting to panic about my ability to have children in the future. Or maybe it was because in her book she explains that all the PMS symptoms I’d thought were a normal part of being a woman, were in fact hormone imbalances that could be remedied by taking care of my health.
Most likely it was the combination of all three. That, and my general curiosity about all things health and wellness related. Whatever the reason, I decided to go for it during Virgo season. So for 30 days, I was to go without all grains, refined sugars, inflammatory fats, alcohol, and dairy. I would also take supplements every day, and eat a ton of foods that support liver function.
Disclaimer: restrictive eating has never been my thing. I’m not one for diets, and actually find the whole diet culture to be incredibly damaging. I am passionate about health, but also a baker who loves sweets, also wine. So instead of approaching this with my usual perfectionist tendency. I decided to make it an experiment, a game if you will. Of course, I had things I hoped would happen, but instead of trying to force results, I decided to just see what I could learn from this experience. And learn I did.
Here’s how it went:
1. I was not perfect. Not even close. About halfway through I went to a wedding at which I drank entirely too much and enjoyed eating whatever I wanted. It was wonderful. I regret nothing.
2. I did not work out every day. I am a fairly active person, and my apple watch likes to keep track of how much exercise I get. Some days were better than others.
3. I did eat when I was hungry. I am not one of those people who feels good when fasting. I get HANGRY. So I snacked, a lot. A huge part of my success with this program was having healthy snacks on hand that I actually want to eat. Also chocolate. Copious amounts of dark chocolate.
4. I did go out to brunch. Almost every Sunday actually. And while I did try to order within the confines of the detox, I didn’t beat myself up if it wasn’t cooked in coconut oil.
5. I did not always follow my meal plan. One side effect I hadn’t counted on was that I remembered how much I love cooking dinner, meal prepping, and having fresh foods daily. I learned a lot of new recipes that I’ll continue to use often. But I also improvised and made things my own.
6. I did learn I like sardines! I was kinda scared to try them, but I’ve heard they are nutrient packed and thought it was worth giving ‘em a try. Turns out they smell just like canned tuna, which is an extra benefit since most tuna has high levels of mercury these days.
7. I did push myself out of my comfort zone. One of my biggest fears for this detox was being able to handle social situations without drinking. I began using alcohol as a social lubricant in college. As an you introvert who moved a thousand miles from everyone she knew, social anxiety became a real challenge as I tried to make new friends while figuring out who I was. Alcohol became my liquid courage, giving me the confidence to put myself out there. Fast forward 10 years later and its now become a security blanket. This month I not only handled a party full of drunk people and a concert of band I’d never heard, but I also managed to get up on a stage and sing in front of people. Something that usually only occurs once I’m a couple shots deep.
8. I did lose 9lbs. The biggest tangible change was the weight that seem to fall off like magic. Now I knew weight loss was a possible effect, but I didn’t get my hopes up that it would be much. Losing almost 10lbs in a month is probably enough to make other women try this program, but that really isn’t the point.
9. I did reduce PMS symptoms. This was the main goal of the program and the best indication that it was having an effect. Breast tenderness, irritability, digestive issues, and being emotionally sensitive were all reduced as a result of the program.
10. I did not stop loving wine and cheese. I will gladly give up everything else from the detox, including grains and sugar, if it means I can keep wine and cheese. What’s the point of living if you can’t enjoy life??
Overall, it was a great experience, and definitely one I’ll do again. I might make it a habit every Spring and Fall to give my system a reset. The best thing about it is I didn’t have any crazy crashes or withdrawal symptoms that can be common with detoxing. Although I won’t continue this strict of a diet all the time, I will make an effort to reduce the foods I now know affect me. Except, of course, wine and cheese!