Do you feel like you are in a battle to lose weight after the holidays? You are not alone! Many people gain weight over the last two months of the year and start the New Year off struggling to try and lose those extra pounds.

A great way to kick-start the weight loss process is to do a body cleanse. A body cleanse detoxifies your body by removing stored toxins in your organs and tissue. Fat is a great place for toxins to hide and once released, may begin to melt away.

While there are other important factors in weight-loss, like what you eat, how much you eat and your emotions surrounding food and relationships, body cleansing is an important part of maintaining a healthy body. I recommend cleansing your body at least two times a year; but preferably with the change of seasons.

Body cleansing can be simple if you understand the basics. First, it is important you choose the right cleanse product. There are many on the market, some of which are rather harsh. I like the simple “3-step” cleanse products that not only extract toxins; but also effectively trap and remove them from your body. Second, it is important to drink lots of water. You should drink more than half your body weight daily to help flush out the toxins. Third, it is important you don’t re-pollute your body with toxic food. In order to give your body the nutrition it needs for the cleanse and beyond, you should focus on whole, unprocessed foods like vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes. You don’t have to restrict your meat consumption; but it can be a very rewarding experience if you do. The most important thing is to avoid processed sugar, hydrogenated oils, artificial dyes and preservatives, alcohol and caffeine. The final component to cleansing is to get plenty of rest. Cleansing can be kind of like fighting off a virus and, therefore, it is working very hard. It is important to rest and allow your body time to repair.

As wonderful as body cleansing is, it can actually cause a myriad of side-effects if you are not careful. You may experience fatigue, irritability or brain fog, which are all minor symptoms. However, you may also experience flu-like symptoms, nausea, diarrhea, heart palpitations or other more severe symptoms. The trick is in knowing how to mitigate them. I don’t mean to scare you away; but instead educate you, so that you have a positive experience. I have had many clients go through this process the right way and have amazing results. Nevertheless, it is best to do your research and fully understand the process for before committing to do a cleanse.

You can also seek the help of a professional who can help you be successful in your cleansing process. Working with a professional is very different that simply going on a diet or trying a program you read about. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that personal attention you deserve? Getting personal attention and some “hand holding” can make all the difference in your quest to lose weight and get healthy.

Whatever you chose to do, just know you are a special, unique individual who deserves to be healthy! Best wishes to you for a wonderful New Year!