Preparation for the program is done in three steps.
- Preparing your mind: easing into the program
- Preparing your life: schedule and home
- Preparing your body: eliminating irritants
Instead of just ditching your current eating habits and going cold-turkey, Dr. Junger wrote that you should begin with the elimination diet for three to four days if you currently follow a whole-food diet with minimal meat, dairy, and wheat products. If you typically eat packaged foods, red meat, baked goods, dairy products, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol, you should follow the elimination diet for one week before starting the Clean Program. If you consume a lot of fast foods, packaged foods, soda, and junk food you should follow the elimination diet for two weeks before starting the program.
In order to get the maximum benefits of the program Dr. Junger also wrote that you should plan for the program in advance. Note when you'll start the elimination diet phase, and mark out week one, two, and three of the program. Next, you'll need to set up your kitchen in order to prepare the food you'll be eating during the program. Look at the foods you currently have, read the ingredients, and then get rid of the stuff that will tempt you to stray from the program. Be sure to have a blender on hand to make the shakes and soups, a juicer is optional, and a pure water source. Finally, eliminate and reduce the toxins in your environment such as dry-cleaning products, cleaning supplies, gardening and lawn chemicals, lead paint, and Teflon pots and pans.