I stumbled on a book on the subway in Brooklyn. There was a woman on the platform with her head buried in it, totally oblivious to the flurry of train passengers flying by. I tried to take a mental snapshot of it, but I forgot in a few days.
Recently, I was gifted The 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse by Dawn Davis, publisher and vice president of 37 INK, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. It was the same exact book I saw on the train; I didn’t need a greater sign from the universe to know that it was time.
For weeks, I’d been feeling sluggish. Having always had an athletic build from high school basketball and excellent muscle memory, I could skip months of exercise, then get back in the groove and see toning and weight loss in a matter of days. I used to run 5ks, and I would run at least three miles a day while eating as much as I wanted at The Cheesecake Factory.
Since working a new job, I’ve been struggling to get back on track. The urge to move more frequently has grown with each month. I started walking more. I did a vegan diet for a month, as an experiment with discipline. I got more energy, lost weight, and actually craved crunchy broccoli and seasoned kale at noon; this is a feat for someone who daydreams of Red Lobster cheddar biscuits.
But, the time has come again to make another change–a permanent one.
Here’s why I’m doing The 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse by JJ Smith:
1. More Energy
It is proven that a clean, healthy diet supports the central nervous system for increased mental and physical energy. More energy improves focus and self-esteem, as tasks get accomplished and life feels like it is moving forward.
2. No More Thinking About Food
What to eat for lunch, breakfast, dinner, or snack? It’s too much. When I fasted months ago, not thinking about food was liberating. I realized how the body supports itself, and lets you know when it needs food. When it does need food, there is little deliberation for me.
3. It’s Cheaper Than Lunch
I save at least $200 from buying two to three meals a day, on this kind of cleanse. I can also cancel lunch and dinner dates without the guilt. At least two people will be disappointed this week, but my bank account is not. Smith includes a handy 10-day shopping list, split into five days. I ordered five days worth of fruits, veggies, and tea for a total of $125.
Then, it dawned on me that I chose the worst possible week to start; I had a breakfast to attend, a panel to moderate, and I would be quite active. I needed food!  But, I decided to stick with it. There’s never a really good time to do a cleanse, and if you can make it work in real life, then it is something that can fit your life.
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Maryann Reid is the digital managing editor of BlackEnterprise.com and the author of several books published by St. Martin’s Press. For more, please follow her @RealAlphanista.