The Clean Slate Club, Retox/Detox, and starting over

I celebrated the HECK out of my 40th birthday up until Friday!Thanks to all of you who emailed or posted birthday wishes.It really felt good (and honestly, a little vulnerable) to be so loved + celebrated.I had a roller skating birthday party with girlfriends, just like when I was 12...had champagne, pizza, fresh fries, three kinds of cake (all gluten-free, of course)...long days, late nights, and lots of laughter with friends.And no birthday is complete without a gluten-free Minecraft cake topped with action figures! But today… I’m ready for a clean slate.A clean slate with food.In my Positive Psychology certification, I’ve studied the “fresh start effect.”These are timely landmarks we use to make a change in our lives or behavior.Turning 30, 40, or 50, or better (yes, I just got 2 emails from 80-year-young women who loved Women, Food, And Desire)...the change of seasons (yes, it’s actually spring)...New Year’s Day…It’s a symbolic, energetic new beginning.A break with the past, a declaration that the old way is over.I’ve mastered the art of giving myself a clean slate, a fresh start:I live my life by a diet of my own creation - I call it “detox/retox.”I eat good, fresh food that helps me stay healthy, feel the energy I crave, and stay well…80% of the time.20% of the time I party down shamelessly with great chocolate, popcorn, artisinal cheese, and the occasional Bloody Mary.I don’t feel guilty when I indulge for a night, a weekend, or even a few weeks.Because I know that I will hear my body’s message to get back to a clean slate…That shameless part?HUGE.When you make yourself bad for “eating wrong” or “falling off the food wagon,”you can’t really grow, because you always think of yourself as damaged.

Eating well + loving life is the goal.That means feeling really good, and enjoying foods that help you live a lifeand savor the flavors life has to offer.

Your body is wise, designed to feel + seek pleasure, and you deserve to feel great.But that's not how we feel, is it?Most of us were members of the “clean plate club” as kids -we were forced to eat our whole meal even if we felt full.That led most of us to mistrust our bodies, not recognize hunger, and put ourbody’s needs and desires second, after someone else’s expectations of us.                 Most of the time, feeling great means eating foods that rebuild your digestive system, which in turn create happy neurotransmitters, which in turn build a positive mood, confidence, and resilience to create, do, and stand for your desires in life.Sometimes great means clinking a wine glass (or three) with your dearest friends,celebrating each other and marking a great milestone.Most of the time, we need to eat from a clean slate, while holding the framethat “perfect” isn’t the goal, that we each have permission to be human.I think it’s time to give yourself a clean slate.To start fresh and begin anew with your body and food.Imagine your life is a white board, covered with the mean thoughts, words,and past “mistakes” you’ve made with food, dieting, and your body.You can start fresh + wipe that slate clean, and start over.

But I can only hand you the eraser...YOU have to do the work of getting clean.I can even stand next to you, encouraging you as you wipe your body, slate, and habitual thoughts clean -I can even hand you a nice fresh pen to rewrite your story.But you still need to show up and do the work.

Are you ready for a clean slate?If you are, join me and a growing community of women just like you in my “clean slate club” -

The Cravings Cleanse + Mindset Makeover.

This 8-week live coaching and online cleanse is the best program I’ve ever created to help you clean up your eating habits,while transforming how you talk to yourself in your head, and how you think about food, pleasure, and more.

Filled with simple to follow food-based cleanse, you will finally feel in your own body what foods are right or wrong for you.And you’ll get positive psychology tools to help you feel hopeful, strong, and oriented to grow.And you’ll get your clean slate.And feel like you truly deserve it.‘Cause you do.xo, Alexp.s. you can have a clean slate, a fresh start, any time you want. But doing it with a group of people, and a coach,are the best ways I know to really make it happen for you. Come with us: http://alexandrajamieson.com/cravings-cleanse/