Off to a good start

January is the time for "cleanses."  Runner* friend Megan challenged a group of buddies to a 21-day January cleanse.  This cleanse has a bit of the standard food focus but is presented with a wider lens and is really very simple:  Pick five things to eliminate or add.  Eliminate things that take a toll on you and add things that will make you smarter, stronger, better.

I like that it isn't preaching what is "good" or "bad" and is very personal.  I might add a daily salad but maybe you don't do so well with cold or raw foods in the winter.  On the flip side you might eliminate gluten but gluten is peachy fine by me.

I didn't pick anything earth shattering.  I didn't pick things that I want or need to commit to for more than a few weeks.  I picked things that I know have a better chance of setting me up to feel good, especially as we climb out of the darkest days of the year.

Columbia Gorge hike Spring of 2013.
Looking at this picture also makes me feel good.

What I chose for my 'cleanse':

• No wheat (other gluten OK)
• No refined white sugar
• No alcohol
• Run/walk/jog more than 1 mile every day
• Blog post every day!

Feeling good at the start of the year seems an excellent way to start out.

*"Runner friend" Megan could be "football friend" or "beer drinking friend" or "positive friend" but we first met running, do tend to do that together and she is pretty into running!