So, I’m on my last day of the detox with The BodyLab. Done and done. Was it worth it? The question du jour. I think that I can’t answer that question fully or without a doubt. 1. I have no clue what the aftermath of my insides will be. I might blow up (I mean in terms of weight, in terms of digestive comfort, in terms of my bad habits that I’ve successfully suppressed–and maybe Ultra Clear is directly related to the instances of spontaneous combustion). 2. I don’t know what the lasting benefits of this detox will be for me. 3. I don’t know how much I will continue to apply to my life, despite my good intentions.

Short term, it was definitely worth it. I have been incredibly mindful about food for quite some time. I’m well-versed in the common fallacies having to do food and I’m pretty savvy when it comes to choosing healthy, nutritious, balanced meals. After logging hours and hours of reading labels and learning which brands tend to be good and which items tend to work for me, I can hit the grocery store with some relative ease. I mean, if you want to know about bread–holler. I know that carrots tend to stay on me longer than a snap pea. I know that almond milk-cocoanut blend tastes sweeter than either on its own and only has a single carb. I know that an entire tub of fat free Cool Whip has about 300 calories in it. I know that it takes me about 10 minutes to burn 100 calories when I’m doing cardio. I’m also resolute on buy items with very few ingredients in them. And, that I should stop eating fruit no later than 3 p.m.–unless I will have a lot of protein with it and it’s berries.

To a certain degree, I knew what I felt I needed. But, I had no clue how much further I could or could want to take it. I am so much more familiar with grains, specifically, and gluten, indicators I should watch out for with meat and what products to watch out for when I’m trying to avoid diary (aside from the obvious). I’m much more in-tune with the different types of oil available to me–and how to cook with them. And, I know what to buy organically, and what isn’t as necessary. A simple rule for this as it pertains to produce is whether or not it has a peel that you will eat. Think of an orange peel as it’s protector from pesticides. So, if you can’t get an organic orange that’s not as bad as an apple that isn’t organic. It’s not a hard rule, but it is a fast one. Plums, nectarines, peaches, pears, berries–go organic. Surprisingly, sweet potatoes, asparagus and mushrooms generally have lower pesticides, so you don’t have to worry about them as much either. Sara Peternell has a really cute PDF on this shiz. Holler at her if you want to chat detox.

See? This is me in the future. I’m a farmer.

Days 11, 12 & 13 Lows
-I am so tired.
-I’m feeling very anxious to be done with it.
-I am having a lot of food fantasies.

Days 11, 12 & 13 Highs
-Booze? What booze? I kept myself sufficiently busy for two weeks without any booze.
-I’m now know without a doubt, I will be a farmer in my next lifetime.
-I have a much greater understanding of breakfast and how slow-moving carbs will set me up for success throughout the day (a concept that Mary, my estranged nutritionist has been trying to teach me forever).
-I’m pretty sure I convinced some people who thought they could never do something like abstain from booze, sugar, caffeine and white carbs in general that they could for sure do this cleanse.
-It sounds weird, but based on the color of my excrement…I know I’ve been cleaned out. No gut rot here (not that girls get gut rot).
-The only thing that sounds good to me is continuing to apply these habits. I don’t want pizza or a hamburger. I don’t want to eat a piece of cake or gummies. Though, I would like some chocolate.

Laura Standley is the editor in chief of 303 Magazine. She’s been blogging about fitness since January 2011. To read her past blog posts, click here.