The Detox Diaries: Radiance Program part 2

Lucinda Pitt

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The denial
Long-known fact: detox is another word for denial. So it’s no great surprise that for two weeks I am saying ‘NO!’ to most things fun and flavourful. If, like me, you prop yourself up with caffeine and a nightly gin bracer you will feel the loss in your frontal lobe for a day or four. Although drinking your two approved cups of green tea before midday can help take the edge off the headaches.

I was never left really hungry, although the monotony of soup and soup alone for dinner every night did mess with my mind for the first few and it’s impossible to attempt to eat out without waiters mistaking you for an obsessive, deprivational nut job – or Rachel Zoe. I

will never be able to set foot in the dining room at Penfolds Magill Estate in Adelaide after I refused all offers of their knockout vintage reds in favour of filtered water and the most expensive steamed vegetables ever. My dining party silently made the “loser” sign on their foreheads all night long.

The pay-off
By about day five, I felt fab. Like I could even continue on this soup-centred regime well past the 14-day mark. (I don’t. That would be far too Zoe.) Like I could walk past the boys at the coffee cart on the way to work and resist their caffeinated charms. (I can and I have for five weeks now, though it does feel like a lifetime.)

My skin looks plumper, the lines of the times have been blurred, my face is more contoured and yep, radiant. I definitely feel more energetic and find I can power through my consistently compromised sleep patterns (also known as “small child”) better than ever before.

Overall I’m now happiest when eating healthy, simple food – boring but true – and my chocolate cravings have been dulled if not banished.

While I may never truly win the battle with the bikini – are we ever satisifed on that score? – my “winter layers” have gone. Despite having done zero exercise, I’m down a few kilos and the high-waisted Chloe jeans on outnet.com don’t seem like such an overconfident call. In fact...add to cart, dammit!

The Radiance Program, $499, is exclusive to The Last Resort Day Spa (02 9300 6033). Price includes two nutritional assessments, a detox food plan, three colon hydrotherapy sessions and two lymphatic drainage massages. More: 02 9300 6033