Like everyone else, I ate way too much during the holidays.
I had this thought in the back of my mind that once the New Year hit and I started my Kanye workout plan, I would be all good. I also knew I wouldn't be on the baked macaroni and sweet potato pie diet for days at a time. Still, we're getting further into the new year and my body is still crying for help.
My body told me in more ways than one I needed a major detox. I tried a few that I found on Pinterest, but nothing seemed to work. I was getting really discouraged as I realized my food was just not digesting properly. So, I went cold turkey (or I guess without turkey) and everything else except fruits and vegetables, for five days.
In a nutshell: my body was a victim of culture shock. It's not that I just ate so badly all the time. I never realized how much I needed to cleanse my body from certain foods that I did eat regularly. My experience during those five days was much different than I expected.
To be honest, I'm still not sure if this was the best way to go.
Day 1 & Day 2
The first day of my detox, which was a Friday, was proof that I needed one. I'm not quite sure how to put it into words, but let's just say I experienced immediate results. I was like, "If I keep at it, I'm about to lose five pounds in a week!" That didn't happen. Still, I can admit I was definitely feeling myself after Day 1. I started to think about embracing becoming a Vegan because I thought it was just that easy, especially since Day 2 was a breeze, too.
Day 3
While I was thankful I started at the top of the weekend and got the difficult days over with in the beginning, I started to feel the impact of this brief eating change that soon felt like forever on Day 3. I thought I had gotten into a nice rhythm the first couple of days and assumed I would coast for the rest of the week. Nope.
I had mixed vegetables for lunch that Sunday. Even though I was full at the time, anyone would know that's certainly not enough for a full day. I took a nap and woke up that evening STARVING. Like, dizzy, blurred vision and all. That's when it hit me that this isn't for the faint at heart.
Yes, I prepared the best I could. I stocked up on groceries because knowing myself, I was fully aware I couldn't do this on the fly, but there was nothing that could have prepared me for how I felt that night. Thankfully, I stuck to my fruits and vegetables menu but realized I needed some good protein that would stick to my stomach. I Googled, "What do Vegans eat for protein?" because this rookie had no clue what she was doing. After I found out that almonds were not a vegetable, mushrooms and asparagus became my best friends.
Day 4 & Day 5
Even though I felt better when I woke up on Day 4, I didn't work out like I normally do in the morning because I still felt a little weak. Clearly, my body was missing its protein so I tried to add even more into my regimen.
Interestingly enough, things took yet another unexpected turn for Day 5. I was back to my energetic self and even felt good enough to work out, but I realized my digestion issues had somehow resurfaced overnight because my mid-section seemed a little bigger. I stood on the scale and realized I had gained two pounds and was pretty much back where I started before I began this temporary diet cleanse.
I almost felt like it was all a waste.
Even though my body reacted so quickly to the cleanse during the first couple of days, I felt like the rest were unnecessary. I literally thought to myself, "I could've at least had a piece of fish and gotten these same results." I did a little more research and found that the best length of time to do the fruits and vegetables-only diet is for three days.
I would have to say the biggest lesson I learned is that there is a such thing as too much of a good thing; even when it comes to healthy foods. Yes, fruits and vegetables are the teacher's pets when it comes to the nutritional food groups, but they weren't enough to sustain me or even to keep my body cleaned out for longer than a couple of days.
Since then, instead of the temporary quick fix of a cleanse or a diet, I've decided to just embrace a healthier lifestyle altogether. I realized that I went from one extreme to another and I just needed a solid balance (and solid food). After this experience, I decided to cut out bread, sugar, pastas, and processed snacks.
It's certainly not as drastic as only fruits and vegetables, but I have a feeling my body will be thanking me much more for this lifestyle change in the end.
Have you ever tried a cleanse? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments down below.
- Fruit Flush Diet Plan Review: Detoxing With Fruit? ›
- Detoxing Guidelines: 16 Cleansing Foods ›
- The Fruit Flush Diet | Everyday Health ›
- The Best Fruits & Vegetables for Cleansing | LIVESTRONG.COM ›
- My 7-Day Fruit And Vegetable Cleanse, All in One Place | The Plant ... ›
- Plant-Based Whole Foods Diet: Cleanse Your System | 30-Day ... ›
- Food choices for a truly effective full body cleanse ›
- Will Eating Lots of Fruit and Vegetables Cleanse Your System ... ›
- Weekend Detox: Try This Healthy Vegetarian Cleanse - Vegetarian ... ›
- Urban Remedy: How To Do A Cleanse At Home ›
- How to Cleanse Your Body With Fresh Fruits and Vegetables ›
Charmaine Patterson is a journalist, lifestyle blogger, and a lover of all things pop culture. While she has much experience in covering top entertainment news stories, she aims to share her everyday life experiences, old and new, with other women who can relate, laugh, and love along with her. Follow Char on Twitter @charjpatterson, Instagram @charpatterson, and keep up with her journey at CharJPatterson.com .
Reset Your Relationship: How To Start 2025 Strong With Your Partner
As the calendar turns and a new year unfolds, many of us are laser-focused on our career goals, fitness resolutions, and vision boards that outline the journey to our best selves. But amidst all the planning and self-improvement, have you made room for another important part of your life? Your relationship.
It's easy for couples to fall into a routine, going through the motions and letting their connection sit on autopilot. While comfort is natural in a long-term relationship, it’s important to remember: that what you don’t nurture, eventually fades. So, why not make 2025 the year you reset your relationship? Here’s how to start the year with a renewed bond, reigniting the spark that brought you together.
Step 1: Schedule Your Reset Meeting
The first step to hitting the reset button is a State of the Union meeting with your partner. This is your chance to take a pulse on the relationship, discuss what's working, and identify areas that need attention. It’s all about creating space to reflect, without distractions.
Grab a pen and paper (or open a shared note on your phone) and come prepared to share your top 2-3 desires for your relationship.
What do you both want to feel more of in 2025? Maybe it’s feeling more appreciated, or perhaps you want to reignite the passion you had when you first started dating. Whatever it is, get clear about it, and make sure both of you are on the same page.
This isn’t just about listing your own wants, it’s also about discussing ways to nurture each other’s needs. Relationship goals should be focused on fostering deeper intimacy, trust, and mutual respect. Use this time to check in, not only with each other but with your individual feelings and expectations. Set the foundation for a fulfilling year ahead.
Step 2: Set A Date (Or Multiple!)
Having the meeting is only the first step. Now, it’s time to take action. One of the simplest ways to breathe new life into a relationship is by reintroducing consistent, intentional time spent together. For many couples, life gets busy, and date nights fall by the wayside. But dating doesn’t stop when you say "I do"—in fact, it’s even more essential.
During your reset meeting, lock in a regular date night that works for both of your schedules. This could be a weekly dinner date or an every-other-week adventure—whatever keeps things fresh. The goal is consistency. It’s easy to push date nights aside when life gets hectic, but if you set a specific date each week or month, you’re making your relationship a priority.
If you’re unsure what to do for your date nights, don’t worry! The key is creating new experiences together. This is what sparks excitement and brings you closer as a couple. Whether it’s cooking a new recipe together, trying a dance class, or exploring a nearby town, it’s about creating shared memories that build your connection.
Step 3: Find an Accountability Partner
Just like you might have a personal trainer to help you crush your fitness goals, an accountability partner for your relationship can do wonders for keeping both of you on track. Consider hiring a marriage coach or therapist—someone who can meet you where you are and guide you in strengthening your relationship.
When selecting a professional, it’s important to choose someone who truly wants the best for your marriage and can provide actionable advice.
Don’t be afraid to set high standards for your relationship, and seek guidance on how to keep it thriving for the long haul. In your reset meeting, discuss your commitment to growth, and be honest about areas where you may need support.
Marriage isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it endeavor—it’s an ongoing process. Regular check-ins with a professional can help keep your relationship in tip-top shape and “divorce-proof” by addressing issues before they become insurmountable.
Step 4: Try Something New Together
Stale routines can easily make a relationship feel monotonous. Spice things up by trying something new! Couples that explore new activities and create new memories together have stronger, more fulfilling bonds.
My husband and I host one of the top luxury marriage retreats, A Weekend For Love, designed to help couples experience new things together. From couples' workshops to outdoor adventures, the retreat provides a platform to rediscover each other and reconnect on a deeper level.
The element of surprise can reignite your connection. It’s exciting, fresh, and shows your partner that you’re committed to growing together. This doesn’t have to be a huge commitment—it could be as simple as trying a new hobby or planning an impromptu weekend getaway.
Your Relationship Should Be A Priority
As you start the year with personal goals in mind, don’t forget the importance of nurturing your relationship. It’s easy to get caught up in work, fitness, and family obligations, but your bond with your partner deserves to be at the top of your list. Resetting your relationship offers an opportunity to reignite that spark and remind each other why you fell in love in the first place.
In 2025, make a commitment to prioritize your partnership, to nurture it daily, and to invest in its growth. Take time to celebrate each other’s victories, support one another’s dreams, and build a foundation of love and respect. When you start the year with a clear focus on your relationship, you’re setting it up for success.
So, before you start mapping out your new workout plan or work goals, do yourself a favor: put your relationship at the top of that list. Your love story deserves a fresh start, too.
Happy New Year, and here’s to a love-filled 2025!
Couples, if you are ready to do the work and invest in your relationship register for A Weekend For Love: Heart Retreat Feb 21-23, 2025.
Featured image by zamrznutitonovi/Getty Images
Yara Shahidi Shares Her Formula For Manifesting The Career Of Her Dreams
Yara Shahidi is a walking testimony of what it looks like to live out your wildest dreams, and she has managed to do it all in the harsh limelight of Hollywood without selling her soul. From acting and producing to hosting The Optimist Project podcast with SiriusXM to being a full-time college student at Harvard, now graduate, the 24-year-old has built a career that inspires while staying true to her values.
But how does she balance such a demanding yet "well-rounded" life while continuing to manifest new opportunities?
In a recent episode of The School of Greatness podcast with Lewis Howes, Yara opened up about her unique formula that has been instrumental to her success: following her curiosity. When asked how she manifests things in her life, Yara explained to the host, “There are many different ways. For some of the bigger things, it really is kinda getting downloads and moments of like, ‘Oh, I think that’s next.’”
She added, “Chasing curiosity means that my purpose is constantly unfolding in front of me. All I have to do is pay attention.” She described these intuitive “downloads” as waves of excitement or curiosity, deeper than that, as moments that spark her interest and give her clues about what to pursue next.
"Chasing curiosity means that my purpose is constantly unfolding in front of me. All I have to do is pay attention."
“A lot of what I think I’m interested in tackling comes from a wave of curiosity,” she said. “Like, for some reason, this is grabbing my attention, and I really couldn’t tell you why.” For Yara, those seemingly random sparks often turn into something deeper and more meaningful for the Bloom actress. She even recalled her podcast The Optimist Project flourishing as a result of a seed planted in her mind as a result of those waves of curiosity.
Whether it’s exploring new roles in her career or partnerships in the world of fashion and endorsements, her method of following the lead of those curiosities has led to incredible results.
One story Yara shared illustrated the power of curiosity-driven manifestation. Seemingly out of nowhere, she wrote down every endorsement deal she thought of having, not as a goal-oriented thing, but more so just writing down on a whim different brands that came to her head as a result of the sparks she is often led by.
Two years later, she realized she and her team had accomplished every single one. “It truly starts as this vision board,” she explained as she recounted the power of her and her team’s alignment on their curiosities. By letting her curiosity guide her, she’s been able to align those visions with the right opportunities. “What do we see?” she asks herself and her team, emphasizing the importance of shared alignment and intention in calling in the right opportunities for her life.
Curiosity is more than just a passing feeling for Yara, in fact, it’s a practice. From her TED Talk on the subject to her daily approach to life, she’s made it clear that tuning into what sparks joy and excitement is her formula for success. She noted that the curiosities are the true start of it all and the analytics or the “how” of achieving the goal comes later.
For Yara, it’s simple: let curiosity lead and trust the path to reveal itself.
Her journey reminds us that curiosity is often the key to uncovering our true purpose. By paying attention to what excites us, we can create a life that aligns with our values and dreams. As Yara’s story shows, following our curiosity might just be the first step toward manifesting the career and life we’ve always imagined.
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Featured image by Cindy Ord/Getty Images