Nothing start off the day like a nice bowl of oatmeal with beans. I know many of you are asking, “so what is he eating on the cleansing spree, and what is that smell? He says no coffee, no chocolate, no beers or wines, and reduced calorie intake? What does all this mean?”

Well, first off - I am making an exception to the chocolate rule, I am allowing myself chocolate flavored tea, chocolate flavored fat free yogurt and of course chocolate ice cream. However, another piece I may have missed is that I am eliminating soda, with the exception of maybe some bubbly water. Also, I’m staying away (as I usually try to do) from artificial sweeteners.

Okay, here is an example of my daily menu:

• Breakfast, 7:30am: Start with a tall glass of water, about a cup and a half. Then a bowl of instant plain oatmeal - 1/2 cup of oatmeal, 1/2 cup of skim milk. Mix with that 1/2 cup of some sort of bean, dark red kidney, light red kidney, white kidney, pinto, black, etc. Top with a heaping teaspoon of ground flax seed and microwave for a minute. On the side I’ll have another 1/2 cup of skim milk and a cup of green tea, unsweetened. Finish it all off with another cup and a half of water.
• Second Breakfast, 9:30am: More water, another 3 cups before lunch. Also, another cup of tea. I have been drinking green tea, but am starting to switch to something completely decaf (Trader Joe’s Chocolate Tea, made with decaf black tea leaves - still a little intsy bitsy bit of caffeine). For snack I have an apple.
• Lunch, 12pm: More water, another 3 cups. I’ve been having a half turkey sandwich for lunch these days. Two slices of whole wheat bread, two slices of deli turkey, slice and a half of cheese (american, cheddar, swiss, etc.) lettuce, mustard, cut in half. On the side I’ll have a Stonyfield Farms fat free yogurt, any flavor, and some baby carrots.
• Afternoon snack, 3pm: More water, another 3 cups. Green tea (I’m dying without a little caffeine in the afternoon). For snack I have a banana.
• Dinner, 6pm: More water, cup and a half before, and another after. I’ll start of with a cup of low-fat low-sodium chicken broth, with a 1/2 cup of beans. Then, 3oz. of grilled marinated chicken breast, 4 jalapeno stuffed olives, about a cup of fresh steamed green beans, about a half cup of brown rice, lettuce/greens salad, no dressing and grape tomatoes.
• Dessert, 10pm: More water, at least a cup and a half. Cup of tea, something decaf. The main kicker: 1/2 cup of Edy’s slow churned ice cream, current favorite is chocolate brownie. Have a banana or apple on the side. I froze a banana last night, might try that!

That’s it folks. When I’m done eating I brush my teeth, and that’s it. The end. No straying, stay focused.