Heather, I tried a cleanse like that last year, and what's funny is that I didn't feel any better or worse than I normally do! But then again, I've been vegetarian for 19 years, gave up caffeine 5 years ago, and eat very little gluten, and maybe didn't have as many toxins to dump as other people.

I find it fascinating how so many people are threatened by vegetarianism, yet everywhere I go, omnivores try to impress me with how little meat they eat. The minute I mention that I'm a vegetarian, a competition ensues among the meat-eaters to see who can prove they eat the least meat.

This is in huge contrast to the way it was back in the day when everyone assumed that we lived on alfalfa sprouts and must be starving all the time.

I have TONS of delicious, fun, and even decadent vegetarian and vegan recipes that have nothing to do with brown rice and steamed vegetables, if you ever need some ideas.

Best wishes on the cleanse. That sounds intriguing and I may look into that.

Out of my own curiosity (and to help shut up the people who think there's nothing to eat that doesn't involve cheese or beef), you could post about some of the things you're making, even a recipe for something you find particularly tasty.

Just a thought anyway. :)

I do so agree with you about caffeine. I was drinking a couple of coffees a day and they just got larger in size as time went on. Finally, the guy who plied me with this stuff left and I went cold turkey giving up fresh coffee.

I felt so much better afterwards that I've never gone back. Being English, I have to have my tea, but coffee is addictive and makes you jittery, especially the stuff we have here in France. It's lethal!

The funniest (ok, most annoying) comment I get over and over again when I say I don't eat meat, and try to give up fish as much as I humanly can, is "Oh but then what do you eat?". Hello?!? Even been to a market or supermarket? *rolls eyes*

I love the t-shirt!!!

When I read yesterday's post I went right on over to Oprah's site to check out what you were talking about. What's wrong with taking steps toward positive change? Nuddin. Jeeze Louise!

I'm super stoked to follow your adventures in cleansing here. Also, Coco's butt looks MARVY.

Denis Leary said it slightly less best than you. First entry and I'm hooked. Best of luck on your cleansing, I'll make sure I read your next one with a roast pig in my mouth and a latte-laced bottle of Jack in my hand.

As someone who's been a vegetarian for over a decade, and at one time was a vegan, I always try to make it a point not to say anything negative about else's diet, because I feel like it's expected of me. (I can be the Skittles and Diet Coke vegetarian, easy. I don't always have the greatest eating habits.) I live in the meat-loving midwest, so I'm constantly fielding stupid questions, which I try to answer as patiently as possible. Lately, it's become a non-issue.

I haven't done a cleanse, but I've gone on a modified Macrobiotic diet a few times, and felt great afterwords (minus the intense craving for sugar and caffeine.) Good luck!

I did a 7 day cleanse a few months ago, and while I craved cheese more than anything, I pretty much stuck with it. Best of luck on your 21 day cleanse!

What I found is that I appreciated simple food more after the cleanse. Perhaps you will find that too?

Sometimes, people get personal about the food they eat because they're not comfortable about the food they eat. Plus they think that your decision is somehow judging them. I'm giving the 'eating meat' thing a good bit of thought lately, too. The more I hear about the meat industry and how animals are treated, the more I don't want to support it.

All the best to you Heather in deciding what you need to do.

I was at a staff meeting where all but 2 or 3 people of the 15 were overweight or fat. We were provided fried chicken, mayo salads, cake, garlic bread, and some fruit for our working lunch.

A vegetarian runner quietly loaded her plate with fruit. When the grilling of her began, stated she had something in her office she would eat if she got hungry later.

You would have thought she just announced she was going to eat an infant by the reactions. All focus went to her.

Note, she did not care that other people were stuffing their faces with crap. She never said or announced anything. She got some fruit.

And it offended people.

She being a thin, healthy, runner. How dare she?

I think only because healthy people hold up a mirror. When you are 80 lbs over weight and have a plate o' fried chicken with mayonnaise salads and will make sweet love to a tub of icecream later that night...uh, maybe you are not making the healthy choices others make? No, No, dont examine that. Put the focus on tearing down the skinny girl.

Eat what you want. Threatened rude people will always be that. It is easier to yell at people than to prevent heart disease.

Congratulations on committing to the cleansing diet. I have considered it a million times over, but haven't done it yet. I also have felt like hell physically for awhile now and have friends who tell me that this is a great way to find out why.... Maybe when the boating season is over I will be willing to give up the hamburgers and alcohol. Oh wait, then it will be the holiday season here in the South. I'm screwed.

I'm headed to Destin today!!!!!!! I loved reading the posts of your trip. It is a beautiful place and full of so many memories. I've grown up going there and I guess I take it for granted. Sadness.....

It's me again. I went from reading you to one of my other favourites and says it all so much better than I do http://knittinglinguist.blogspot.com/2008/06/mileage.html

i love reading about things like this cleansing attempt. i love reading the posts my friends write about sticking to things that are hard, but personally rewarding. good for you, and i'm glad the headaches have gone away.

when i read the chapter about worker's lives working for Con Agra in Fast Food Nation, i made some lifestyle changes and have been happy with them ever since. while i don't want to give up meat (a perfectly cooked steak and frites is my idea of restoring humanity to myself after a rough day or week), i can make choices about what kinds of meat i buy, how often i consume it, and how thoughtful i am about that process and its preparation. so my partner and i eat less meat, we buy organic or humanely farmed meat, and we really think about what we're going to do with it instead of just treating it like something to stuff in our pie-holes. i realize not everyone can afford or choose to make these choices, but it's also been my choice to not have children (at least not yet), not eat out, not have cable or not have a mortgage, and so i can make these kinds of lifestyle concessions. while i've never been able to afford to totally shop in an organic market or co-op, or all at the farmer's market, i have been able to find out which is best to buy where. and the meat that i cook now? better tasting than it ever was buying at the normal grocery store or unorganic options. even my boyfriend likes chicken now.

You go girl!

I am neither vegan nor vegetarian. I am a carnivorous couch potato who used to laugh at my college roomates who thought Jane Fonda was their aerobic hero. Were it not for the extremely fortunate gene-pool from which I sprang, I would be 650 pounds of chocolate-craving fool.

But I learned long ago that my choices (as unhealthy and yet appetizing as they may seem to me) are not other people's choices. I wish others could do the same.

More power to the ones who can live their own lives despite the attempted interference from others. Thank you for speaking out against peer pressure and conformity.

And I hope you are feeling better, stronger, faster soon like the Wonder Woman you are. (or was that the Bionic Woman? whatever...)

-Candy McD

Giving all of that up at once is no joke. I don't even want to give up coffee, except I'm trying to get pregnant, so there's that.

It took me a long while to realize even one sip of alcohol made me feel like shit, but eventually figured it out. Now it's like an after-school special when I'm the only one out and about not drinking. Everyone has a problem with change. You just have to do your thing. But you already know that.

As a 16-year vegetarian (simply because I don't really LIKE meat, fish, or poultry all that much), I can tell you that I rarely miss it. But, honestly, I could never be a vegan. I like eggs, I like milk. I've come to terms with that.

But I AM very interested in hearing about this cleanse as you go through it, because I am certain I could handle 21 days as a vegan and begin to slowly rebuild. Is there any way you could add a small every-other-day feature like your photos where we can check on your status but those who are oh-so-offended don't have to read unless they click?

No way dude. You are totally doing the right thing.... This part you wrote yesterday... that is what we all want, and whatever it takes to get there, more power to you.

"I want to be a better wife, a more conscious and present mother, a more loyal friend, and a better listener. I'd like to handle my anxiety better. I also want to be more organized because I'm tired and fed up with not being able to find anything."

I'm really not sure why other people are concerned about your eating habits. As long as you HAVE eating habits, and that they are eating habits that do not involve copious amounts of KFC or McDeath, then I see no problem.
Hey man, if you can resist the smell of BBQ meat in the summertime, more power to ya!

After working in a steakhouse for a year, eating red meat everyday while drinking soda and gaining 30 lbs, I decided to do the cleanse. It was absolutely the best decision I ever made in my life! I felt amazing, dropped the 30 lbs, and have never looked better. I slowly added things back, and I don't think I will ever be completely meat free again, I learned that moderation is key. Good luck to you!!

Good for you Heather! I would love to do a cleanse but I am afraid.

I highly recommend reading In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollen, if you haven't already. A non-preachy dissection of food industry products as compares to what humans have eaten over the eons.

if a diet brings out angry comments, maybe ridding yourself of toxins is a metaphor.

I didn't go through all 360+ comments on this post, so if someone else mentioned it, I apologize. But, I received the vegan recipe book "Skinny Bitch in the Kitch" as a gift this past year and I think you should check it out. Not only is it written with an attitude I think you'd enjoy, but the recipes are also delish! Good luck with the lifestyle change!

I don't care if you eat nothing but toothpicks for the rest of your life. Do what'cha gotta do. But when you start using those stupid foot Japanese food pad things to rid yourself of toxins and blogging about it, then I am gonna have something to say about it.

LOL.

Good luck. If you make it 21 days you are a much stronger person than I. I tried giving up sugar and caffeine and it was the hardest 4 hours of my life.

As far as meat and vegans. Each to their own. I personally love meat and crave it. I however, think it's great when a person recognizes what their body needs.

I went vegan for 4 months and in the beginning had mad diarrhea for a week and nasty gas for about a month. But I felt great after that! Luckily I work from home, so I could run to the bathroom every hour. Is that too much information?

The biggest setback for me was eating dinner over other people's houses. I felt like I was putting them out having to request special dishes, so I would bring a vegan side dish and fill up at home before going to their house.

And I definitely don't judge anyone for their food choices. We all have our own personal journey - there is no right or wrong.

I think going on this cleanse is fantastic. Anything that, cleanses, re-invigorates, and raises your awareness cannot be bad! My best friend from college was a vegetarian, and when she met her now husband, she ventured into being a vegan. When she started she had a friend that would leave messages on her answering machine with statements, like..."Buttermilk Pancakes!", "Chocolate-Chip Cookies!", "Ralph's Butter Cream Frosting Cake!" Stuff like that. All I'm sayin, is it's something to think about....
Never, ever, ever will you be able to eat Chocolate!

I must admit, I was worried about the T-shirt. Glad to hear that you're keeping it!

(I'm a former vegetarian myself- 13 years strong, been eating meat for the past two. Good luck with the cleanse- it kinda sounds like a good idea!)

I understand "feeling like crap" for years, vaguely associating it with the food I ate and being desperate to do something about it. In my case, years of semi-illness, fatigue, depression and anxiety ultimately culminated in an acute medical crisis that resulted in my diagnosis of celiac disease. I've been gluten-free for twelve years and have never felt (or eaten) better. I hope you can find a solution to your specific issues and that the cleanse provides some relief and perspective.

However, as a health educator, it's my opinion that doing something like this without supervision from a doctor or a good dietitian is not the best route to addressing your issues. If there is a food intolerance, it will be difficult to tease out what it is without the knowledge that an educated and informed dietitian can provide. And there are food-related diseases, like celiac disease & gluten, that need a higher level of management and a definitive diagnosis. There is a simple blood test for celiac disease that can be administered by any primary care doctor, if you are interested they are listed in the following link:

http://www.bidmc.harvard.edu/display.asp?node_id=10686

Good luck,

Elise

Ok, but if Coco starts looking delicious, don't blame the naysayers!

Good for you. I've been a vegetarian for a longggggggg time, with a brief intermission in my late twenties. And I don't think of myself as a preachy vegetarian. Although sometimes I throw blood at the butcher at my local grocery store...(*)

*This is a joke for those who might have lost their humor.

I did a 30-day cleanse and it was the worst and best thing that I've ever done. The caffiene headache goes away after 4-6 days (worse for me was the sleepiness...I fell asleep at work REPEATEDLY), and your body will regulate itself eventually. I was sleeping by 8 every night for the first week. I craved sweet like crazy. I had wild mood swings, but by the end of the month I felt amazing. It's really easy too, to moderate your intake of alcohol, sugar, etc. when you're done, but if you don't continue to be a bit careful, you'll end up like me. Back on the caffiene/alcohol/meat/sugar wagon three months later. Good luck!

BACOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

That is all.

Go for it, dooce! My body has been slowly pushing me in the direction of no animal products (ta-dah! you're now lactose intolerant! ta-dah! beef makes you gassy!), and I may have to listen to the burning in my bosom (indigestion) and do the cleanse myself.

I did the 21 day cleanse. I felt god-awful for 4 days straight. On the fifth, I jumped out of bed like a Disney cartoon. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, I even broke into song... ok, maybe not THAT good, but still.

The change was amazing. For the first time in memory, I was able to sleep deeply, and wake up easily. I had energy and enthusiasm about mundane tasks. My mood was so good, my friends asked me if I got laid.

Since, I have been more conscientious about what I eat. Cola is a occasional treat, and french fries are off the diet completely. Meats and dairy are way down on the list dietary requirements.

Don't worry about the critics, I still get looks when I tell people that I limit my caffeine intake.

-Todd

Heh. It's amazing how much controversy a simple statement like "I don't eat meat" can generate. I can't even begin to describe how horrified/defensive/confrontational - without ANY provocation - my extended social circle became when I went vegan a few years ago. I was all, "Erm, ordering pad thai with tofu is not a personal attack on your dietary habits, yo." Still...madness.

Whatever the end result - veganism, carnivorism, etc. - I hope you get what you want out of this cleanse, Heather. Good luck! Oh, and Isa Chandra Moskowitz's cookbooks are the shit. Just saying.

Why does everybody have an opinion on your life? Why why why? Good luck on the cleanse, I've heard they're doozies (I'll probably never know personally because I'm entirely too lazy), but supposedly you're good as gold after the first three days. ;)

For those vegetarians who love bacon, I have a fantastic recommendation for you:

www.baconsalt.com

It's bacon flavored salt, and it's the best think since sliced....bacon.

Week 2 Day 4 of my cleanse... the first week was hell but it you can make it to the second week, it's gravy. Mine is the Swiss Detox Diet by Dr. Thomas Rau (no meat, no sugar, no cow dairy) which eliminates all the toxins/allergens in your diet. Enjoy! I cannot believe the amount of energy I have (and not feel like I want to crash on the couch in the afternoon).

LOL, people are so goofy sometimes (meaning the people who leave you negative reactions). We all take ourselves so seriously here in the States.

Look for brown rice pasta - it is delicious and is allowed on the detox - and is something we now use all the time even after doing the detox - my fussy husband even likes it better than white or wheat pasta...

Best of luck, Heather. I gave up soda years ago. No matter how "diet" a drink is, its still full of nasty stuff not made by nature.

The occasional drink (singular) with dinner is so incredibly welcome, as is the once-in-a-blue-moon, big, grilled burger (bacon!), but I have NO DOUBT that this cleanse will make you feel so much healthier.
After the initial wallop to the system, of course.

Here's to hatin' the Haters! Do what you need to for you!

There is a really great website for gluten-free recipes. Check it out!

http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!!

Heather

Wow, I didn't read any of the comments from yesterdays post but I found the post to be really inspiring.

Good luck on the cleanse! I hope you can continue to laugh at people's odd reactions. I recently did the no-sugar thing and it was hard but eye opening. Just wanted to also let you know that you have a least one reader out there who loves caffeine, alcohol, cursing, AND being vegan :)

Well, I still think what you're doing is wrong because according to Jessica Simpson's apparel: Real Women Eat Meat.
Yeah, that's right, Dooce, Jessica "Is this Chicken or Tuna Fish?" Simpson wore a t-shirt saying that and gosh darn it she's right!
teehee...sorry I couldn't help myself from making that reference.
For reals, though: rock on!

All this talk about meat and animal products is making me crave a cheese steak sandwich for lunch.

I've never understood why some people are upset by the choices other people make about their own lives! Look the other way, for crying out loud!

You should seriously sell the 32 oz rum-spiked Frappuchino to Starbucks. I would be all over that mutha!

All this talk about meat and animal products is making me crave a cheese steak sandwich for lunch.

I'm one of those selfish people that choose not to eat meat because of what it might do to ME, not because of the torture and killing of animals.

There, I said it. I think that's the first time I've admitted that in writing — I'm sure you're thrilled that this post has acted as my confessional.

I hate to be the one to say this (if it hasn't been said already), but if this cleanse becomes a permanent diet change, watch out for some menstrual changes that unavoidably lead to some fucked-up hormones. I can't tell you how many times I've caught myself in a rage because I couldn't poor juice into my glass without it spilling all over the counter top. But then again, that could just be my own tragic hand-eye coordination.

Best of luck to you, and thanks for letting us all live vicariously through you.

I have been doing something similar the past month or so (no sugar, alcohol, caffeine, wheat, corn, soy, dairy, eggs, meat, chocolate). Mostly to figure out what I might be allergic to. I'm supposed to now add back in things like wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, corn, one at a time and see what happens, but I'm feeling so good now I almost don't want to. Not having sugar (including artificial sweeteners, honey, maple syrup, etc) and caffeine for an entire month is huge for me, but I found that as long as I'm eating lots of greens, I don't really crave sugar anymore. I've been drinking lots of green smoothies (lots of fruit with a handful or two of baby spinach or kale - tastier than you might think. A Vitamix is a wonderful tool to have). May I recommend two books that have been extremely helpful for me? The Thrive Diet by Brendan Brazier (vegan triathlete) and Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook by Alissa Segersten and Tom Malterre (has 200 gluten free, egg free, dairy free recipes and everything I've tried has been really good!). Good luck! The headaches will go away. You will feel better. Sugar had a hold on me and I can't believe the difference in my mood and general outlook on life now that I'm avoiding it. I think my body likes this way of eating, and why shouldn't it? Everything I'm eating is actually food! What a concept! :-) Good luck to you!

After being an individual who sought after large steaks, big Macs, and creamy milkshakes on a daily basis, I became vegan over six months ago.

I have never felt so incredible in all my life - physically I'm at my greatest, mentally I feel fresh and happy. The fact that I'm living without harming other beings blows my mind, an idea I love and embrace.

Despite this I don't force my lifestyle on others. I gently voice my opinion but I refuse to stick it down others throats. I have my thoughts, they have theirs. I refuse to be a "preachy vegan". :P

Heather,

...........I LOVE the smell of bacon and coffee (and fresh bread). but more than a little of the above make me ill- so moderation is best, maybe that is what you are aiming for in your cleanse.

How about a ROOM SPRAY of bacon,coffee etc?

Hey Heather - My girlfriend Jody and I did end up going to the Ladies Who Launch event last night to Kathy Freston's book signing. I mentioned to her that you were also doing her fast and that you had received negative feed back from your readers. I wrote down your blog site for her so don't be surprised if she pays you a visit :-D

After hearing her talk about the book and concepts last night, I'm really looking forward to reading it. I blogged about our meeting this morning.

I never understood why people were so obsessed with what other people put into their bodies (or don't). My 10 years as a vegetarian were spent explaining to my grandma yes, I do see that they have baked potatoes on the menu, thank you. Although I'm not a vegetarian anymore, my husband and my kids are. God forbid we raise our kids with our own values! It's crazy, the questions people ask us about our kids' diets. Do they not look strong and healthy? Is the fact that they're both an entire head taller than their classmates not enough evidence that their diet is nutritionally sound? Good for you, and I hope you feel better at the end of this!

Omg, where you wrote "add gluten back in my diet" I was reading "glutton". And I was like "that's cool, I would too". figures.

Seriously, girl, what did Florida DO to you?
Interested to see where this goes. Your writing will always be edgy, even if you are clutching a teddy bear in one hand and a rosary in the other.
(By the way, I live in Florida, and the beach scenes are never that nice. Are you sure you didn't end up in California by mistake?)

Just the thought of all the toxins coming out of my body makes me want to hole-up w/ a vodka IV and a big gulp filled w/ sugar-coffee..

But when I get past that mental picture I wonder how I would feel afterwards - what would it be like? More energy? More endorphins being released? Oh, but the horror of the process. Can't they find a way to knock you out and de-toxify you?

You have my respect, girl, you really do. Good luck.

M-O-R-O-N-S.
What I've FINALLY discovered is that not every diet works for every person. Yeah, seems really obvious, but for me, my moment of enlightenment came when I started a diet completely devoid of CARBS. Being a diabetic, I had to come to the realization through personal experience that carbs are basically a poison to my system. The first 2 weeks were brutal, but I plowed though them. My carb cravings are so minimal, I'm amazed. And I'm going on ONE YEAR like this. I am no longer insulin-dependent :o), and I've lost almost 60 pounds! I feel better than I did in college, (20 years ago).

For you, Heather, this cleanse may be your "magic bullet" to feeling better and enjoying better health, and all I can say is ... "STICK WITH IT!" Give it time to work. After the 21 days, you will know if it's right for your or not.

Meanwhile, grab a bowl of veggies and enjoy reading all these crazy comments. I'll be sitting here doing the same with a big plate of B-A-C-O-N!!!

Good luck! I'm crossing my fingers you'll get to feeling better!

Good lord do I ever feel lucky that I can eat/drink most anything and still feel great. Viva la cast iron constitution.
That being said, all ya'll can eat what you want as long as you don't judge me for going to Steak n Shake. Oh, or judge me for making my kid Hamburger Helper. He loves it. I blame daycare.

Heather,

If you do become a vegetarian, that's your choice, but I will lose all respect for you if following that, these words ever appear on your blog: "How come I can't find a vegetarian *insert item name here* that tastes like meat?"

That is all

OK, as commenter # 412, this probably doesn't matter, but I applaud your cleansing diet. Twenty-one days is serious cleansing.

As far as becoming vegetarian goes, I just don't see the big deal. So what if you don't eat meat. We have a non-veg friend couple and a vegetarian friend couple and the non-veg couple always makes a big deal about where we're all going to eat when ever we all get together. I see it as a chance to explore new restaurants like the Ethiopian place or the new Moroccan place.

Ignore those crazies. They'll get over it and just find something else to freak out about.

359. Stacy said:
I went vegan for 4 months and in the beginning had mad diarrhea for a week and nasty gas for about a month. But I felt great after that! Luckily I work from home, so I could run to the bathroom every hour. Is that too much information?
The biggest setback for me was eating dinner over other people's houses. I felt like I was putting them out having to request special dishes, so I would bring a vegan side dish and fill up at home before going to their house.
And I definitely don't judge anyone for their food choices. We all have our own personal journey - there is no right or wrong.
************************************************
Thanks for your post, Stacy. I'm an omnivore and I don't have a problem with anyone who's vegetarian or vegan. The only difficulty I've run into with vegans is the one you mention. We have vegan houseguests every year and there is so little in our house that they will eat. We end up making special (and expensive) trips to whole foods to buy suitable food. Also, although there are more vegan restaurants popping up, it's still not that easy to find restaurants that serve meat and vegan food (I will say that Indian restaurants are a god send when dining with vegan friends). Finally, another thing that has crossed my mind is how difficult it would be to travel for a vegan. I'm sure Western Europe would be no different than the U.S., but anywhere off the beaten path (with some notable exceptions) would be really difficult for a vegan.

I think it rocks and I think it's inspiring. I will probably do what you are doing after I hear your experiences.

I don't think I have the willpower to do a cleanse...but ya never know. I hope you feel like a different woman!

Edamame is allowed if you're a vegan, so you'll do fine. ;)

Heather,

I've lurked on your website for quite some time without posting. I just wanted to recommend, if you haven't already read him, Michael Pollan. His book, The Omnivore's Dilemma has a wonderful take on diet that sounds pretty much in keeping with the questions you're asking right now. His recent book, In Defense of Food, is also pretty good. There's a special section in the Omnivore's Dilemma about veganism that I particularly enjoyed because I think it's a pretty balanced look at the actual movement.

That being said, good luck with your cleanse. I hope it makes you feel better. :)

-Rebecca

So this doesn't involve a colon cleansing?

And maybe before I go recommending things, I should actually, you know, READ other peoples' comments to see if they haven't already recommended the same thing. :)

Going gluten-free can be very difficult at first. My father was diagnosed with Celiac disease a few years ago, and I struggled with him to find things he could eat. There is gluten in SOOOO many things now, it's so tricky! For example, something listed with "food starch" in the ingredients could have wheat in it. Also, oats are off-limits unless they are certified GF. (I was temporarly put on a GF diet for health reasons, but my tests came back negative for celiac disease, so I ate a pizza.)

I would recommend celiac.org for info about what is gluten-free. I would also recommend you make sure you're getting enough fiber, as some people on GF diets don't eat enough veggies and safe grains to get adequate amounts. Packaged GF food tends to be highly processed.

Also, as a former vegan, current flexitarian, and former waitress living in Iowa (where the Pork council is), I can tell you that people get more irate about food than anything else. I've seen people become enraged over a dinner that didn't meet their approval. I've been harassed over not eating the chicken at work functions. I finally broke down and added a little poultry to my diet. It's tough!

I did this detox and like I may have said yesterday, at first it's pretty easy, but a lifetime without the delicious protein of beef? I don't think so. Not to mention Sushi in all it's wonderful varieties.

As the shirts say on the back of those Rudy's Barbecue t-shirts, "I did not climb my way to the top of the food chain to eat vegetables."

I think all cows and chicken should be tattooed with the words, "Eat Me!" and I will oblige them.

Just because you've given up EATING bacon doesn't mean you have to keep it out of your life altogether!

http://tinyurl.com/2whaoa

Best of luck to you on your journey. I didn't read the comments in the previous post yet, but I can only imagine what judgmental things were said (lol). It's your life, and if this is what you choose to do, then dammit, why must people give their unsolicited opinion about it? Hmph.
I've never heard of a 21 day cleanse though (damn, that's a long ass time) - I've only heard of a 10 day. Either way, I wish you luck!! :-)

I'm not reading yesterdays comments, or todays, and I have no "shock and awe" responses, I have just a request:

Would you please include, regularly, just what the heck you ARE eating? Because I'm someone who is aflicted with the monicker "finicky eater" (because I am one, not because someone snootier than me was throwing around monickers) and so I just don't think I could do such a diet because it would leave me with all of about 4 things that I actually like to eat. So I'm hoping if you include details about your meals you might supply me with some ideas I'd never think of.

And from one person who is caffeine's bitch to another I wish you good luck, my friend!!

Wow, so many of you hold bacon so dearly.

I've had an aversion of it and all other forms of pork since the womb. I can't even be in the room when it's being cooked.

That being said, I eat fish nearly every day, and I only like about 7 veggies in the whole world, but I eat them all the time and with gusto. Most fruits are welcome.

Am I just a freak? Any other omnis hate bacon too? Tell me I'm not alone!

Good luck with the Gluten Free! I do it because I have to for Celiac Disease and it is a lot harder than one might think it is. Gluten Free AND vegetarian is even harder because a lot of times if you (the plural you, not you Heather Armstrong specific) are using fake meat products, they bind it with gluten. Gluten Free Girl's website has a lot of recipes that would probably fulfill much of your dietary restrictions. http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/

Here in Seattle, I'm lucky, we have a lot of options available. I can go down the block from my apartment and get a gluten free vegan pizza if I were so inclined. I suspect your options in Utah aren't as available.

Heather,
Read Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin and you will never ever think the same way about food or meat again.

Keep going with what you are doing. What you are feeling is normal and you will come out the other side much better off. I am a mother of two little girls and I am extremely health conscious. I still enjoy myself and drink and all that but I am more aware after reading Skinny Bitch. I stopped dinking caffeine when I had days where I had to have it to keep going. Not a good feeling. I make conscious choices about what I put into my body at every meal. You need to think of this as not only becoming more healthy now but taking a preventative stance and doing this for your future.
Best of luck!

I got the same reaction when I went on my 30 day raw vegan diet. I find it astounding that anyone cares that much about what anyone else puts in their mouth (well, except for dead babies or fists full of lard...)

And why does everyone take pot shots at trying to be healthy? Suddenly everyone's an amateur nutritionist, even though they themselves have no idea if they have enough protein (calcium, iron, etc.) in their own diets.

Astounding... just astounding. Good for you for trying something new, testing your will, and wanting something better for your body.

I have only recently started reading your blog. I don't even really get blogs--they are not something my age group does in great numbers. However, since I read the article about you in the WSJ, I have been following your adventures.
I don't know if the cleasing will do anything for you, but maybe the effort will be psychologically satisfying, if not physically. You seem to have so much stress and that is not fun. I am old enough to be your mother, but I so remember those early childhood years with my two (now 30 and 25) and what a toll it takes in every way. Your husband seems like a wonderful person so lucky you for his support. All I can say is that I think you are a talented and gifted writer whose often naughty spin on life just cracks me up. I have read a bit of your archives and see that you have been through a lot in your life. Thanks for the enjoyment you have given me in the last few months. Good luck in your quest for that place you so want to be.

Well I hope that you stick to the diet. If it doesn't work out, so what, at least you can say you tried. All I know is that bacon will miss you. Bacon will miss you so much.

When I was 12 I decided not to eat red meat anymore. I stuck with it for 6 years and people gave me a hard time about it the entire time. At the time, I figured they thought I was just a kid and that it seemed weird for me to make such a big change on my own and for my own reasons and they just couldn't understand that. But now I know that people are just nosy, pushy, ignorant know-it-alls (irony?) with no sense of boundaries. It's sad, really.

Best of luck with the cleanse, I'm looking forward to seeing how it works for you! And I really hope the headache goes away shortly, there's nothing worse than a terrible headache :/

*chuckles* Of course people got all riled up. Yeah, it's a big whiney-pot of if you don't eat meat...then what about meeeeee???

Still...um...I forget.

Anyway...a big part of being healthy is listening to your body. And shutting up the craving part is a big deal. I personally can't DO something like that, not because of my willpower or lack of desire, but because of my stupid disease. (I have ulcerative colitis, an auto-immune disease. Basically my immune system is stupid and DEAF and it thinks my colon is a nasty invader come to slay us all. It is...a very painful disease actually and I currently have no coverage, so I'm...in alot of pain...all the time.)

I have a close friend and fuckbuddy whose whole family is veggie, but she grew up eating TONS of meat. And she's currently unhappy with her weight, so she's working the weight watchers thing...and it's funny to listen to our conversations. I can't eat easily or well right now, and even though I'm about 80 lbs over weight (something that I have no control over due to my disease fucking my metabolism permanently due to literal periods of malnutrition and starvation) I have to go for things that are full calorie, full fat type stuff. While she, is not overweight at all, but her pants aren't fitting right, and she worked really hard to get where she was, and she's whining about how she's hungry, and buying weight watchers stuff and watching her points...okay, so it's funny to us!!

Anyway...my long point is...fuck everyone else. The whole point of LIFE is that you do what is right for YOU. 21 day cleanse? Even if I was healthy it has the potential to send me into a flare. Veggie diet? No can do...my body does not take kindly to plant fibers. But I love hearing about other people...otherwise why would I spend so much time reading blogs??

*grins*

We need to hear ALL about this...so spare no details!!!

I am a total cynic with a dessicated black little heart. That makes me a wry, sarcastic writer. But. I have never met a dog whose belly I didn't yearn to scratch. In fact, it turns out that, though humans make me cranky, I love animals. And I love my kid, too.

I'm pretty sure I can become vegan (which I've been considering) and still be the bitch everyone needs and expects me to be. Which means it shouldn't surprise you people that Heather can become a mommy and a humantitarian and retain her edge. I'm not calling Heather a bitch, btw. Well, only in the nicest possible way.

Hi Heather,

Stumbled across your blog and love your dialogue. Don't worry about what others think. it's your body and you do what you think is right and healthy. vegan or not, i'm posting a blog of a lady who's husband was diagnosed with cancer very young and they completely changed their diet to vegan and he is now cancer free. he did chemo and treatments as well, but what you put in your body does affect you. hope you check it out. keep speaking your mind lady.
http://dinnersready.blogspot.com/

If you did become a vegan what would be your reason(s) for doing so? And would you still wear leather?

I've been vegetarian for more than twenty years and I would SO wear that T-shirt to a vegan restaurant.

My boyfriend has one that says "Omnivores have more fun". Whatever.

Dooce: please keep blogging about your cleanse. Me, I'm a vegan, so's my husband (not our cats; they'll wear your Tasty Murder shirt, or more likely throw up hairballs on it, but that's the next best thing, right?). We spend a lot of time trying to convince people that we're not big (ok, tiny), scary, vegangelists. We don't really care what anyone else eats (we just judge them at home, in private, like we do with everyone anyway :P). The more people blog about vegetarianism in a non-threatening way, the easier it is for vegetarians to go out to eat with people and not get nitpicked to death over the salad course.

So thanks for whatever you'll have to say in your wonderful, wacky way. And happy cleansing!

Good for you, Heather. What's wrong with trying something that might improve your health and well being? People need to just shut up!

As for the meat thing: I have not intentionally had an ounce of red meat since I was 26. (I ate rabbit pate on a cracker by accident a few years back, and almost puked when I realized it!) I do eat some chicken now, but am very on and off with it. I feel bad eating the flesh of a creature that was raised and killed just for my plate of food, ya know? Am I idealistic? Yes! Am I a hypoctite wearing leather shoes today? Yes! Are there animal products hiding in the other foods I eat? Probably! But, to eat the flesh of an animal that I would consider as a pet seems wrong to me, for me. Other people can do whatever they want, and I never judge.

Live the life you want, and tell everybody else to eff off.
Get healthy in the way you feel is right for you.

You go girl!!
I think that you are correct that us meat-eaters are always a little critical of people who choose to make a change in their diet and get a little bit defensive. Whatever Becky! I have read a lot about being a vegan and have no interest at this point in my life to move in that direction but I respect all of those people, including you, for taking control of your wellbeing and giving it a try. I look forward to the postings on your journey and who knows, maybe I will actually learn something. Ha.

Have a great day!

As long as you don't tell me NOT to eat meat, I won't tell you TO eat meat. :)

Dude, why do people think they can tell other people what to do?? What do you want to bet that all of the people who are telling you how you HAVE to live your life are the same people who get all "who the hell are they to tell me how to live?" when the same thing happens to them?

Giving up meat is the best thing I ever did. You should read the book Skinny Bitch-it's incredible! It's a book about living a vegan lifestyle. It makes not eating meat and processed food really eays because it talks about all of the DISGUSTING REVOLTING stuff they put into it.Check out their website- http://skinnybitch.net/

Heather, your website is amazing and I love it, and Leta, and Chuck. I'm still thinking about Coco. I'm not sure about her.

Are you drinking Yogi Peach Detox Tea during these 21 days? Its amazing and delicious and makes me feel better every time I drink it.

About the no meat/vegan thing - all I know is that I've read many things that demonstrated to me that in the long run it is healthier to have a bit of meat in your diet, even if it is only once a week or so. Just puttin' that out there...

I knew you'd get all kinds of "fun" email from your post - makes for good material for your posts later.
But seriously, how closed-minded or mentally challenged are people to think that 1) what you do with your body actually effects their lives to the point that it is acceptable to be mean to you and 2)that becoming a vegetarian will somehow suck your incredible writing skills out of you?
You're job in this life is to take of yourself and those you love and if by chance we are blessed with your talents, then we can just count ourselves as lucky.

Yes, 'that bizzare woman'.

Of course, I only know of your family what I've read here, but your daughter sounds to be very sincere, honest, and anxious to help. Having followed your blog for a bit it is obvious that it is not by accident, but rather thoughtful parenting.

I wish you and your husband every opportunity you desire to further expand and exercise your parental influence. Any child of yours would be a welcome friend to mine.

Given the current state of the typical american family, I think we could all use a bit more 'bizarre'.

Whatever changes you make or don't make, I think the sincerity of the effort is of the greatest importance.

Wait -- you mean you haven't been a vegetarian this whole time? I have been reading the blog of a MEAT-EATER? And ENJOYING IT? But -- but -- that lifestyle is different than mine! Had I but known, I could have spent lo these many years leaving judgmental comments about your eating habits! Now this opportunity is gone. GONE, I tell you! So many opportunities for righteous dietary indignation missed!

/sarcasm

I wonder if people would react the same way if you said you were giving up something that wasn't meat -- like sex, maybe, or wearing the color blue, or washing behind your ears. Whether or not you have sex or wear blue or have dirty filthy ears doesn't impact your readers any more or less than whether or not you eat meat... and yet somehow I don't see people getting quite as worked up over those other things. The herbivores, we are always taking the heat. I don't even use the word "vegetarian" to describe myself anymore... if I have to, I'll say I don't eat meat. Using the v-word (or the OTHER, WORSER v-word) is just an invitation for people to comment and criticize. I wouldn't ask a stranger questions about their birth control method at the dinner table, and I don't try to convert unwilling people to my religion. Why, then, is it open season on anyone's eating habits?

You know what fits into the cleanse diet... all natural corn chips with fresh guacamole and a non-alcoholic fresh crushed lime/orange/lemon and sparkling water drink. AHHHH it just feels like summer.

I hear you about going vegetarian (not vegan though. Me loves milk products too much).

I never was a huge meat fan (well unless it was attached to Russell Crowe--http://www.instantrimshot.com/) but now that I'm preggo (and yes it's a medical term) I'm 99% cured from meat.

Now my husband is Mr. Meat as in never eats a veggie or a fruit (esp. fruit) unless I sedate and IV him some pureed carrots. Looks like that insurance benefit will kick in by the time he's 40 at the rate he's going.

I've done a couple of these and they were AWESOME.

I started the first one becasue of a suspected wheat allergy and I can't belive how good I felt. After the second I felt so good I was able to have moderate amounts of wheat with no reaction.

I've spent the last four years pregnant or breastfeeding. As soon as my little one is weaned, I'll be starting a de-tox.

Good luck! The first two weeks are the worst.

I commend you, though I doubt I could last very long without caffeine and red wine. I think I would need to be pinned to the floor in a cave. I've never had the right self-discipline for diets -- I tried anorexia and that lasted about five minutes, really showed my lack of will power. But I am all for the cleanse...well done and good luck.

not eating meat is better for the environment and global warming than not driving an suv. - you can tell your mom that :)

I too, feel like crap a lot of days and I know it has to do with my diet. It's not so much the meat in my case, but the caffeine... Everyone I talk to who gives it up feels way better! hmm, too lofty to contemplate but someday soon! :) Good Luck to you! You'll do just great and am sure you'll feel better.

When I hear the word 'cleanse' it's all about the colon for me. Does any of this involve washing out your butt hole? I must tell you that you've peeked my intrest in the book. I'm all for self depravation and suffering to give me a leg up on all the other super moms out there.

Heather,

Hoorah! How wonderful that you are choosing to try something new to help you feel stronger and healthier. As for any negative opinions of others, well, life would be dull as dirt if we all agreed on what to think, feel, say, and eat. I gave up meat three months ago, as a means of supporting my eight-year old daughter. She gave up meat years ago, and I finally decided to join her.

I look forward to reading about your progress.

Mary

Your body is gonna love you!
I have been after myself to do the same cleanse... so far I can't give up the caffeine and alcohol, I love that morning cup of coffee and glass of wine with dinner--too much!

Interest. Nothing like a good m/s mixed with banter about butt holes to really question what kind of people are living on this planet with you. By the way, we live near Destin and it was a huge deal that you were there... we posted about it and everything. Isn't it HEAVEN!!? I mean, uh, celestial place, or mystical realm...

Those with celiac salute you and your cleanse.
I am inspired and strengthened by this site: http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/
It's hard, and harder to explain to ANY human as to why I choose to not only shy away from gluten products, but why I can't even have bread touch my toaster.
I'm interested to hear about how you fare on this cleanse. Once I got through with it, I had never felt worse in the first two weeks, slept better in the second two weeks, and had more energy in the last two weeks.
Kudos

It's amazing how the tweaks in your diet can make a difference. Like you, I also drank 4 cups of coffee a day and 2-3 cokes. I also skipped breakfast every day. I started having stomach discomfort and it finally got bad enough that I went to the doctor. I was told that I have gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD which is really just a fancy way of saying hey man, your diet sucks (or HMYDS if you're into acronyms). I cut out coffee and soft drinks completely, started eating breakfast, and ate more fruits and vegetables. I lost 13 lbs in 6 weeks and I've kept it off ever since by just sticking with my diet. I sleep better at night also. The first 10 days was the most terrible caffeine withdrawal headache but after that was gone, I felt great. Do whatever makes you feel better.

vegan, vegetarian, fruitarian, and then there's those folks who only eat raw things: raw-vores? ickyvores?

Whatever. How do you feel? Oh yeah, LIKE SHIT. But satisfied, it sounds like. Day 3, as I recall, is the worst re headaches and flu-like symptoms. Things get steadily better from here.

I once ended a cleanse by buying a Three Musketeers, I wanted the taste of chocolate so bad (and I was in Cortez, Colorado, so the choices were slim). I took a bite and nearly threw up. Ooopsie. In retrospect I should have known it would have been a bad idea, but I was all happy and high on life. Anyway, if you do decide to integrate a few things back in post-cleanse: baby steps.

You just made me love you even more than I already did.

I wish you the best of luck and strong will during your cleanse - YOU CAN DO IT!

YAY DOOCE! woot-woot!

Good for you, Heather. I know giving up any one of the things you have mentioned will probably make you feel great. I'm a firm believer in baby steps and have always found taking small steps leads to success and the more dramatic the change the less likely a person is to have long-term success. I learned that way back in college in a training, planning, and periodization class and it made sense to me so I live by it. If you can make these profound changes all at once and have long-term success with it then good for you! Who cares what anyone else thinks.

I gained a good bit of weight last year during a personal crisis. I have turned to weight watchers to shed it (damn you skinny bitches!). WW doesn't suggest not drinking diet soda but it does suggest drinking a lot of water which means I have no room left for coffee or soda. Just that small change has made a tremendous difference in how I feel, my energy level, and make skin looks fabulous.

I wish you luck and happiness.

I cant' stop thinking about putting some Malibu Rum in my Frappuccino...

To heck with the diet/cleanse thingy....I'm, like, totally afraid that you've bruised CoCo's poor, little psyche for life with that "hair-cut"!! Next time, try to feather it a little or something, pleeeeze?? No wonder Chuck looks so alarmed....he's, like, "Dude! If MY hairdresser did to me what yours did to you.....!"

I don't eat dairy or gluten not out of choice but because I have Celiac disease and am allergic to casein. So, anyone who takes the lifestyle up out of choice? Mad props to you, especially if you can maintain it. Ignore everyone else. It's your body, do what you want. :)

Personally, I'm an omnivore. Sometimes I consider going carnivore, but I really love my tomatoes. I couldn't go vegetarian and certainly not vegan, but if you can-more power to you. Hell, if you decided you wanted to forage for nuts in the woods, my opinion really wouldn't matter. I come here because your writing entertains me. I identify with a lot of it. I'm not so full of myself that I think that I can tell you how to live your life. I am just grateful that you share it with us. Thank you.

you rock.

i just wished we lived closer and you had more time for one more friend. i think we'd get along.

(i eat fish...pescetarian? or something like that. btw)

Good Onya, Heather. Please ignore the haters. People be crazy! I think there is a knee jerk reaction when people feel like they are being judged, and people are always feeling like they are being judged. What can you do?

Do what you feel is RIGHT for YOUR body!

Good for you for taking actual steps toward a positive change. Many people don't have the guts to actually change something that doesn't satisfy them.

I've been a vegetarian for about 5 months for reasons similar to yours. It is surprising how many great things you really can find to eat. You end up not missing the meat after a while. At this point, thinking of eating chunks of meat in any form is less-than-appetizing. I think the hardest part is the first month when you're changing your habit of eating meat.

On the other hand, when I became vegetarian I thought long and hard about becoming vegan. It is appealing in ways, but it just seemed too difficult to be healthy on that diet. I'm sure some would argue against that. But I remember hearing about a doctor who said that he could always pick out the vegans who came to his office--they looked less healthy than many other patients, no matter how hard they tried to eat healthily. If you do choose to be vegan, I hope you will be very responsible and carefully plan to get the right nutrition in your meals. The reason I chose to not be vegan is the health reason and that it does not require loss of life to produce animal products like milk and eggs (although, admittedly, I would like to see more humane regulations enforced on those industries).

I don't see how people can bash someone for wanting to be a more compassionate person trying to cut down on the gross and inhumane loss of life associated with the meat industry. Don't let close-minded people steal your joy of being a more compassionate human being.

Good luck!

Re: Daily Chuck

HAHA - YOU SOOOO WOULD DO THAT!

P.S. Your "cleansing" lunch looks delicious. You're not staying away from the raw tomatoes then?

"I'm posting about it here because I think I'll have more motivation to stick to the cleanse if I post about it publicly..."

As someone who has had issues in the past struggling to maintain a lifestyle based upon that of those who surrounded you and the anxiety which that created, I would think that using overly critical blog readers/commenters to keep you on the straight and narrow may not be the best thing.

Otherwise, good luck with your nutritional makeover and don't flog yourself too hard.

So wait... people are getting angry that you've decided NOT to eat animals? So, like, are you supposed to eat babies to make them happy?

P.S.- The hard corn tortilla is also known as a tostada. Just thought you'd like to know. ;P

Oh my!! First off, you probably won't read this far down, but what the hell anyway? I have to admit, when I read yesterdays post, I thought that you must have went to Florida for some radical lobotomy instead of Va-Ka!! You can do what ever you want, and I hope you're happy with whatever you decide. Just please don't get all preachy and 'in your face' about stuff! This is why I love your site so much because you don't do that and plus your funny as hell!! Stay real...in the words of Jack Black, 'You're not hardcore, unless you live hardcore!!! and you my friend are living hardcore..

I'm glad to hear your finding your diet easy to stick to. I know I was very concerned when I went gluten free that I would never be able to eat out again. Imagine my surprise when I realized just how much I could actually have.

Kudos to you for taking your health seriously!!

Thanks for sharing this. A lovely little piece of writing. I wish you lots of luck during your cleanse.

I don't know if it would be helpful, but I started a little blog to deal with my families recent conversion to vegetarianism and I try to post recipes that my 5 year old will eat and thoughts on the process. http://vegetarianmoms.wordpress.com.

If you or any other vegetarian/vegan moms have recipes to share, or thoughts and tips, I'd really love the input.

Hi Kristin #554!

Allison here (#3). I'm not a new reader and I'm not cynical. I'm actually a big dooce fan.

And I think Heather is a pioneer and a genius. She launched her blog way back because she she felt like. She doesn't need anyone's approval. And, as she has explained, this site supports her family. Lots (LOTS!) of loyal readers mean she can earn ad revenue. This is all good.

I wrote that she likely knew this would cause an uproar because she has witnessed dramatically polarizing reactions in the past with topics that were seemingly way more innocuous.

Her deserved success is, in my opinion, because she is a great writer who has insightful perspectives on myriad of things.

Well, now I'm on Day 3 since your post inspired me to get started, and I have two suggestions:

1) Lundberg Rice Chips. Some of the flavors are sweetened, but the original Sea Salt and Wasabi are not. Yum.

2) Peanut butter. That's what will get me through this challenge. Right now I'm eating miniature PB sandwiches made with slices of banana. Yesterday for breakfast, I had slices of apple dipped in peanut butter. It's all good.

While I'm not crazy that you've added another human to the world's population, I do support making a positive effort to feel better through changes in your diet.

A word on gluten: My fiance has to be a on a gluten-free diet for the most part. On occasion, I will partake of the gluten-free stuff and I have to say that when I do, I feel terrific! There are a lot of arguments for a gluten-free existence (Google away), one of them being that humans were never meant to eat all the wheat and corn products that we currently do. We've only been an agrarian society for a short blip of our existence. Our digestive systems were not meant to handle it, certainly not in the quantities most Americans ingest. And certainly not mixed with high fructose corn syrup and trans fats.

So good luck with that. I think if you stick with it, you'll see less allergies, colds, sinus infections, etc.

Oh man, after watching that awful nasty horrible video of cattle being mistreated I nearly lost my mind with sadness. Amazing what we overlook in everyday life because we don't imagine such atrocities being real enough to be vigilant about. Who knew people would be this awful? Well, I am a cynic, but I would like "everyday to be Florida" too, so I try to have faith - but that video...

I have decided to start small, like the cleanse-lady said. Now I have organic veggies and fruits, whole food peanut butter and jelly, home-made bread. I did have funerals for the meat in the fridge. The cat was very angry about this and to control her yowling I offered this: her fate relied on my ability to not see her as food. She left it alone after that.

This will be a difficult cleanse. I like caffeine. Is diet coke made of anything animal tainted?

HA HA - and btw: my captcha was "advice men"

this is a SUPER healthy diet and I'm stoked with you for taking it seriously.

definatly take a second to look around at foodfightgrocery.com it's a 100% VEGAN CONVENIENCE STORE!!!

it's pretty much the greatest invention ever.

take care!

that's funny that you're getting such a huge reaction for this. my husband and i have been vegan for about thirteen years now and we're raising our son (age 4) the same. it's hard sometimes with him but we're pretty much used to things now and people have adjusted comfortably around us (you know, after we unglued our peta videos from their eyes). it's amazing how many more options there are for us to eat now from when we first started (including going out to restaurants!). being vegan's a piece of cake. i mean, a piece of delicious animal by product free cake. good luck.

I couldn't agree with you more. If you ever want to see the positive benefits of a nutritious detox diet, watch the BCC America show, You Are What You Eat. I know you're not 350 pounds or anything, but likely you are nutrient deficient in some way. Most people are, and the people on the show are to the extreme. Either way the show is kind of shocking, and inspirational all at the same time. I hope you'll try and find it to watch.

Also...quinoa. You should totally try it. I put a recipe on my blog for a great quinoa breakfast recipe, although you can also use it in side dishes and salads too.

Good Luck to you on your detox.

I hope that you feel better too. It kind of is like getting a massage. Sometimes you feel achy after, then better after you drink alot of water because all of the toxins stored in your muscles are released.

Hi Heather,

Im not a vegetarian but i have gone on cleansing diets before where i ate only vegetables and fruits for 20 straight days and afterwards i felt so much better. It's impossible for me to be a strict vegetarian because i love meat so much but going on a fruit and vegetable diet for 20 days did make me feel a lot better.

Wow!! No caffenie for 21 days!! I could never do it..Good luck to ya Heather!!! I wish I had more self discipline cuz I would love to give my body a good cleansing.

I personally am interested to see how you do because I too have the funtimes addiction to caffeine (a coffee and a diet coke a day IS a problem, I think) and the alcohol. I like to say that since I'm single I can afford to be stupid and drink myself into a slobbering mess every once in a while, but with all the alcoholism in my family, it's like playing Russian roulette, and that's pretty stupid of me. I hope this cleanse DOES fix your every problem. Like, Leta starts making mud pies and playing with Legos instead of princesses (they're cheaper, right?), Coco stops eating her poop (and starts getting REAL!), and Hollywood comes and begs you to write a script of your life that will be turned into a greenlit movie titled "The Doocening." And then you are played by Amber Valetta because she looks so much like you. And then it wins the Palme D'Or and...stuff. You know, the usual.

In other news, my little spam-stopping word I have to type in? Ducey.

ignore everyone, you do what you want.

I'm a longtime reader, who thanks you for your entertaining writing and probably more importantly your frank sharing about both motherhood and depression. On more than one occasion you've made me feel less alone in my struggles with both.

Was prompted to delurk to give you an extra round of kudos for the tough skin you've undoubtedly had to nourish to embrace the lesser-than-constructive feedback. I wish I could say that I'm shocked by people going all nutso about your personal eating choices, but...

FWIW, my husband made the choice to become a vegetarian about 5 years ago and took the step to become vegan about 6 months ago. I have a lot of admiration for his choice (animal rights/suffering-based) and his ability to stick to it. I remain an omnivore in large part out of my own inability to commit to what is involved with not doing so -- it's not an easy thing to do in our society functionally (the amount of products we use and consume that incorporate some form of animal product is really overwhelming and arguably unnecessary). Also, while getting iron and protein are not as impossible as most people think for a vegetarian or vegan, it does require both effort and planning. Still, I'm most overwhelmed by the antagonism that he gets from folks who find out that he is vegan. He is not in any way loud or pushy about it, but let me tell you, some of the "omnivores" we've encountered most certainly are. People get ridiculous, nonsensical and downright ANGRY just hearing that he doesn't eat meat, and they are mostly people who don't have a freaking clue what they're talking about on either side of the issue.

Nutty, man, nutty.

The longest cleanse I have done was for 14 days during high school (Olive Branch, near your hometown). I was already vegetarian at the time. At first, the cleanse was prepare for being vegan and rid any toxins from my body. My friend also decided to do a cleanse at the same time but there was not a set number of days. It turned into a contest once he jumped onboard and we both decided to end it on day 14. I believe I had a salad

The first couple of days were the worst, but it got much better after the hunger went away. I will say that I have never felt as good as I did after that cleanse.

I've been vegetarian since 10th grade and I'm currently vegan (10+ years meat-free). No preaching here. I think everyone's diet is their own choice. My choice in diet was not due of animal cruelty, it was because I have never liked meat or the thought of it. I am also lactose intolerant so that helped with the decision to become vegan.

I hope your cleanse goes well and it works out to what you're looking for in it.

Tony
Memphis, TN

I hope my comment and book suggestion (Nina Planck) wasn't taken as a terrified reaction to your potential vegetarianism! To each her own, really!

Way to go on the cleanse, 4 days totally tops my 4 hour record!

I'm having a similar experience...

I had to give up all dairy (and believe me, there are milk by-products in EVERYTHING) because I'm breastfeeding and my baby is intolerant, and I'm shocked by how easy it's become. I'm cooking more than ever before, I've rediscovered all the yummy things that can be done with beans and rice and vegetables, and I feel better than I have in a long, long time. Granted, the fact that cheating on this diet will cause my child physical pain makes it a whole lot easier to stay on track, but still.

Anyway, good luck!

Not to make light of the subject, because I absolutely could not do what you are doing...I lack the will power, but if it works out for you and you feel better, maybe you should recommend it to Kathie Lee...she seems to need some help;)

Others have already suggested this, but I'll blow the trumpet a little louder. Read Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilema and In Defense of Food. Those books totally changed the way we cook and eat: much less meat, way more whole grains, lots of fruit and vegetables, as little processed food as possible... Namely, I try as hard as I can to eat real food now (as opposed to processed shit), even whole-fat stuff that I used to shun (it tends to have less additives, and we eat it in moderation). I did it to feel healthier, and I totally do. My bf has lost about 15 pounds, his blood pressure went from being too high to normal, and although he admits he can rarely recognize what he is eating these days (quinoa, wha?), he always enjoys it and is never hungry.

Oh, and your headaches are likely due to caffine AND sugar withdrawl. I used to eat a ton of sugar, and when I cut back, I had headaches and nausea.

hey good for you. i think a good portion of my morning sickness was caffeine withdrawal.

one of my favorite vegans calls himself a "freegan" he's vegan when he's buying but when he's a guest at someone Else's house (or whenever the food is free), he'll eat whatever is put in front of him. in those situations, it's more about the company than the meal. i just thought that was great.

and you can always try this, it's not vegan but it's veg

http://www.baconsalt.com/

Good for you! I personally love meat, but had to go veggie for a while because my digestive system is so messed up. I can eat that now, but still can't eat dairy. I also just started a gluten-free diet. The hardest part??? I LOVE bread. However, I have found that my favorite store (Trader Joe's) has so much to offer that is gluten free. I love it. Keep it up. I'm curious how you'll feel once your detox is over. I've realized how crappy gluten seriously makes me feel. Who knew?

I've done fasts just because it made me so aware of how I was eating out of habit. And it's usually the first 3 or 4 days of a detox that are the worst, after that you get a bit spacey and then you feel much much better. Good luck. I'm sure your sense of humor won't suffer a bit.

Though I am sort of interested in what wonderful, filling, diet meals you've been eating. But, I'm totally nosy that way.

Oh, man. Day 2 of giving up coffee was so painful. I felt flushed and my head was being crushed. But, it went away... Saw your tweet about your energy boost. Good for you.

My husband and daughter are gluten intolerant so we have a gluten free home. It can be very difficult as gluten can be found not only in premade sauces, and foods but also in things like vitamins and toothpaste. When you elimate gluten you are eating usually only the freshest and healthiest of foods so good for you doing this cleanse.
The Gluten Free Goddess is just one of many great bloggers that have some very tasty gluten free and vegetarian/vegan recipies.

I think you are hilarious and can't wait to read more about your journey and your comments on all those uptight know-it-all people who think they have a say on what you eat and how you live your life.

Best of Luck!

the masses are asses. except the masses of people above me saying things along the lines og "go you." it's the other, cirtical and lame masses i am referinf to.
so, you know. go you!

Wow, I didn't have time to read the 500+ comments, so I'm sure more than one person has mentioned this, but I'm saying it anyway! My sister-in-law did this diet and felt AWFUL the first few days, but then felt spectacular by the time she was done. She had awful cravings for sweets toward the end, but to make up for it she just bought everyone around her dessert so she could watch them eat it. :) At any rate, my SIL was so glad she did it, and I'm sure you will be too. Have fun buying your friends dessert!

Tammy (number 25) that's what I am: a baco-vegetarian. I didn't know you could be one of those. Actually I'm sure you can't but thank you for putting a term against my condition. I now go forward as a baco-vegetarian. I don't eat fish or eggs so I have bacon credits.