The Master Cleanse? (lemonade diet) - Page 2

[xenabyte]

Well, I'm on Day 4 of the Master Cleanse and WOW. I've always had some sort of 'post nasal' drip during the spring, and this is the best I've ever felt.

One thing supposedly about cleanses, is they give your digestive system a 'rest'. Supposedly the 'energy' saved from creating enzymes and digesting food, allows your body to put that 'energy' towards healing and rebuilding. Tearing out the old, and rebuilding new, healthy cells.

The combination of fresh, organic lemon juice and a whole sugar with minerals intact, allows you to not have severe hunger, and it provides all the nutrients you need for the given time frame suggested (10 days).

Here is what's happened so far for me:

Day 1:
Felt kinda hungry, but nothing too bad, did 8 'lemonad drinks', water 'to thirst' and evening tea of 'Smooth Move' with touch of the maple syrup.
Fellt ok.
Sinus's congested with lots of pressure from 'lingering' sinus infection.
Weight 164 (my scales, doc's office says 165). Size 14/12 depending on item.
Hips Measured at 42 inches, waist 33.5", Below belly button 'tummy bulge' at 39"

Day 2:
Had lost 4 pounds when I weighed in morning. (Felt great, broke into a new 'zone' weight-wise.
Felt ok. Not very energetic, but ok enough to do typical 'mom' stuff and laundry and cleaned the house. Sinus were 'draining' clear stuff, but lots there when I did my 'neti pot' wash morning and night.
Was a little tired during day, was hard to not 'snack' when I was feeding the kids. But not 'real' hunger pains, just habits.
Had morning 'SM' drink. Drank 6 lemonad drinks, and water during day. Then had 'SM' tea at night.. Had one cup 'mint' tea for the 'chlorophyll' to help bind any toxins released.

Day 3:
Had lost 2 more pounds when I weighed in morning. (Super stoked).
Drank my first SWF (Salt water flush) and it worked in 15 minutes. Not painful, not so urgent I was uncomfortable. It was hard to drink that much water (1 qt) first thing in the morning though. But worked like a CHARM!
Not hungry at all. But that night, sinuses were clogged again (think I was cleansing mucus via the nose).
Drank my 6 (minumim) dose of lemonaid mix, did one cup mint tea, and SM tea at night. Slept really good that night.

Day 4:
Lost 1 pound, and measured again for curiosity and:
Hips are now 40.5 inches, waist 33, lower waist *mamma tummy bulge area* down to 37.5 and an old 'tight' pair of size 12 pants 'fit' with room to spare in tummy area! (they are the high waisted kind that usually don't fit after having kids).
Did SM tea instead of the SWF, working on 8 lemonaids, and doing more water alternately. Cleaned house and sinuses feel absolutely clear.
Feel REALLY energetic. Took a walk, did errands, and have not felt 'hungry', though the spouse and kids had pizza for dinner and that was hard. So here I am typing while they eat..haha

Working towards the recommeded '10 days' to get full benefits.

So, it's ancedotal for my personal experience. But I'm laying it out, with all the weights and measurements and such. So if anyone is interested, I would recommend it just from how good I'm feeling and I'm in the 150s again...hoping to hit the 140s (marriage weight). I'm 5'7" tall, if that helps anyone curious for figuring out height/weight issues. I've been reading the more weight you have to loose, the easier it is.

I think Peter's site is great for help with questions and such. OH, if you can't stand the taste of 'cayenne' in your lemonaid, do a 'shooter glass' with some lemonaid and the cayenne in it. THEN you can drink the rest of your lemonaid with no 'spicy' taste to it.

I'm going to be the 'reverend' for my sister's wedding June 11th, so I'm trying to drop those 'baby weight' pounds and THEN some! If anyone else is going to try this, perhaps we can start a new thread in 'weight loss' area and provide 'moral support!'

Edited to update:

Day 5:
Weight now 156, Hips 40", Waist 32", 'belly bulge' 37 and 'flatter'!!
Feeling fine. DH had pizza last night, that was HARD, it smelled yummy!
Doing typical lemonaid and will have tea later tonight.

Day 6:
Weight 155, Hips 39.5, Waist 31, "Bulge" 36.5

Day 7: Am not going for 10 days, decided to 'break' fast.
Drinking orange juice today.
Baby decided to keep on 'nursing'. He'd cut down to once in morn, and once in evening. But while I was doing the fast, he seemed to like nursing EVEN MORE!
I am feeling good, but dont want to push the nutrient issue with 14 mo old trying to 'up' his intake. FYI he seems fine, and seems to LOVE nursing after I drink the lemonade.
I also had been, and will continue to do so, add in 'chlorella' suppliment (liquid) to 'absorb' and pass any toxins I am releasing, to help prevent them in my BM.
During the fast, I nursed him before the SM tea at night. I also Nursed him in morning AFTER doing the SWF, or before the SM tea, if that was what I did for that particular morning.

I feel like I should go for the three extra days, but Dh said maybe next time. Plus, with 14mo old wanting to nurse more, I didn't want to push it.

I'm very happy. I am wearing 'loose baggy' jeans that were tight only a week ago. My skin literally is 'glowing' and I feel really good! It REALLY puts you in touch with cravings, true hunger, and will power! It was an interesting experience and I will probably do it again in a month, if only for 3-7 days. I think I will wait to do 10 day or longer fasts once the toddler finishes his nursing needs.

Just my experience!

[iwearredsocks]

>>Long<<

The quackwatch guy says: A person who retained wastes and toxins would be very ill and could die if not treated. The whole concept is irrational and unscientific.

Well maybe this is too simplistic, but so many are ill and so many die due to poor diet/lifestyle. If he wants irrational he should consider how silly it is to dismiss the potential harm that toxins and waste may be doing to his body and that of others.

Thanks for the PDF book - I'll check it out.

Edited: I read the book last night, thanks again. A couple quotes struck me as odd: Lemons and limes are the richest source of minerals and vitamins of any food or foods known to man . . .
I guess I would have put broccoli, kale or something green and slimy at the top of that list

The author refers to the contents of the citrus as these fantastic new wonder chemicals :LOL

Finally: Our system goes through a cleansing process from twelve midnight until twelve noon, and a building program from twelve noon to twelve midnight

My favorite quote from someone who did the cleanse (kinda gross):

This cleanse is strange because you keep on pooping about five days in. That's where the weirdness comes in. I don't eat, yet I poop and poop and poo.. You start to wonder what the hell else is hidden inside your meaty colon. It's disgusting, you are full of it, literally, me, you, all of us chunky Americans. . . The last time I cleansed I found a set of car keys to my 1986 Dodge Omni, a couple of White Castle wrappers and 6 bucks in change, oh and a girls phone number. How did that get there?

More practical tips on doing the cleanse: http://www.circle-of-life.net/lemonade_cleanse.html

I'm still in research mode, but leaning toward giving it a shot.
PS. Xenabyte, congrats on the progress - good luck with the next 5 days!

[xenabyte]

Updated for day 7 on my post.

I am 'breaking' the fast today with OJ. I will start juicing raw carrot, celery and beet juice for a few days, with some 'broth' added to diet. I might do a 'liver flush' later this week. It's been a good experience so far.

[WendyLouWho]

Originally Posted by iwearredsocks

Edited: I read the book last night, thanks again. A couple quotes struck me as odd: Lemons and limes are the richest source of minerals and vitamins of any food or foods known to man . . .
I guess I would have put broccoli, kale or something green and slimy at the top of that list

The author refers to the contents of the citrus as these fantastic new wonder chemicals :LOL

Isn't that a hoot? Remember the book was published in the 70's...we've come a long way since then.

I'm on day 4 of a small fast. After several rough starts last week (two cheats) I'm just going to 5 days this week. I'll do some blessed herbs cleanses over the summer and another fast after those.

If you can get past the hunger, the benefits are huge. Weight loss is a plus, but you will put most (if not all) of it back on. After coming off a fast, your metabolism is slower than normal. I've read it can take up to 8 weeks to regulate after a fast.

Just fasting these few days (I think 4 total days last week and 4 days this week with a cheat inbetween and a small break) here are some of the benefits I've seen:
~glowing face
~more energy
~my knee doesn't hurt when I run
~A ganglion cyst on my wrist is decreasing in size
~My libido has returned (after three children, a current nursing 2.5 yo and I don't know how many years of being pregnant and nursing, this is a HUGE deal)
~I have more patience and am more even keeled throughout the day
~I've kicked my coffee addiction (for now)

You don't have to do the salt water, but I found on the days I've done it, it's easier.

I've read some theories about the SWF taking toxins out of your system faster so you don't feel as bad during detox and I believe it.

[xenabyte]

I agree about the SWF. I was feeling 'icky' after eating a heavy meal this week. So I did the SWF in the morning and BAM...cleared me out and feeling great. Btw, I only have put back on two of the almost 10 pounds lost. And the pants are still fitting nice

I might do a series of three day MC fasts just because it realy does make your skin glow and feel good. I agree about the libedo thing too....

[iwearredsocks]

Thanks for sharing y'alls experience on the Lemondade diet! For what it's worth, here's my logbook from the first three days:

Day 1 - Wed.
* Not too hungry, a little stomach growling. The first three times I forgot the cayenne pepper . . .when I added it to the next batch - Yuck!
* I'm doing only 1 tablespoon of maple syrup (instead of 2) to help "reduce" or lose weight.

Day 2 - Thurs.
* Yesterday and today I feel like a hypo-glycemic! For 45 minutes to 1 hour after drinking my lemondade, I feel fine and alert. But then . . .crash. I start yawning, get soo sleepy, the bed calls my name. This lasts all through the day. Just tired; until I drink more lemonade.
* So, I started looking for information on the maple syrup and didn't like what I found. 65% of it is absorbed directly through the intestinal wall into the blood, giving a sugar high. Maybe that's part of what Burroughs means when he calls maple syrup a "balanced form of positive and negative sugar ". Well I don't need the negative!
* Today for the first time in months? years? my nose isn't kind of clogged up. Usually I can't smell things, but I can now - exciting!
* I cooked a delicious brazilian bean and vegetable soup for DW and DS - that really got my stomach rumbling. But I didn't give in!

Day 3 - Fri.
* This morning my urine reeked of cayenne pepper - ughh. Speaking of which, I quit including it (cayenne pepper, not urine ) in my cleanse regimen. Mr. Burroughs says, "Adding the cayenne pepper is necessary as it breaks up mucus and increases warmth by building the blood for an additional lift. It also adds many of the B and C vitamins." That sounds great, but I just can't stomach the taste. I'll have to do without the warmth, extra lift, and some of the vitamins. Here's hoping the lemon juice is breaking up enough mucus on its own.
* Based on my experience and reading on the maple syrup, I've cut back to 1/2 teaspoon each time. Mr. B says, "The ability of the elements in the lemon and the maple syrup working together creates these desired results", but I can't have another day like the first two. Maybe I should try the blackstap mollasses as he recommends for diabetics, but it, too has a lot of direct absorbstion into the blood.
* How will I know when I'm detoxed? How about if I skip underarm deodorant and see if my sweat still stinks? If it does not, then I know I'm cleaned out. What do you think?

[akmeg]

Hi all,
I was the original poster of this thread a few weeks back, and I just came back in here this week to see that we've got a great discussion going on here. I wasn't very decided at first as to whether I should do this cleanse, but after reading everyone's experience with it, I decided to give it a try. So today is my first day of it, and I'm sitting here drinking my first "lemonade." It's not too bad!

iwearredsocks......I'm wondering also how to know when I'm detoxed. From reading the PDF book, it says optimally to go to day 10. How long are you planning on? I'm shooting for 7 days.

xenabyte......Thanks for your daily log too! I'm planning on keeping a log also, if anyone would like I could post it here too.

Well, good luck to all you cleansers out there! And wish me luck too! It was very difficult to go grocery shopping this morning and buy yummy food for dd and dh! I don't know how I'm going to prepare food during the day for dd if I'm hungry, hopefully the lemonade will keep me satisfied enough. We can do it!

[akmeg]

So I'm at the end of my first day of cleansing and I'm feeling really spacey and irritable! I hope you guys are right about the benefits of this because food is sounding really good right now! This paragraph I've quoted is what turned me off from this cleanse in the first place. It's the very last paragraph in his book, the PDF book Master Cleanse. What do you guys think? Don't you think it's so poorly worded? It makes me wonder how well put together his whole program is. I've noticed quite a bit of sloppy writing and odd phrases. He seems to make a lot of claims without giving evidence. That's one thing I love about Sally Fallon, I love how she backs up everything in her book with tons and tons of references.


"After dedicating a goodly share of my past life in perfection and simplifying a system of healing that is
completely free from error and side effects at a very low cost I was forced to overcome many difficult
obstacles that often threatened to stop me but I persisted in spite of the Medical and legal attacks. I was
told in each case—I was doing to much good and to keep me from giving the help that solved their
health problems I was sent to prison so I couldn’ t help any one any more. But it didn’ t work that way
because while in prison I was allowed to help every one. It was legal to help people in prison but no
outside. Many of the guards, nurses and even doctors came to me for help that no other system could
do. In prison, I was not competing with their Medical rackets but on the outside I hurt their con games. If
my system was made legal the Medical system would be of no further need. Test my work to it’ s fullness
and it will prove superior to any other system."

[danieliausmama]

I don't know much about master cleanse, but I fast once a week with distilled water, and sometimes add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey to it, but no more than to 3 cups, others just water. Since I am nursing my 19 mo old, I do just 24 hours. Really good!

[iwearredsocks]

After three complete days I stopped my lemonade diet. I inadvertently told my FIL I'd help move and clean out his large basement on Saturday. Friday night I remembered, and realized there was no way I could do it in my weakened state.

He mentions in the book he's known laborers to work all day with vigor while on the diet?

Anyway, I didn't get much out of it. The third day was better for sugar highs after nearly eliminating the maple syrup, but speaking of elimination, there wasn't much or any after the first day. Maybe I'm just not clogged up

I do have to say that by Sunday my nasal stuffiness was back

[xenabyte]

Here are a couple of things to help:

If you HATE the cayenne, put a 'shot glass' of the lemonad in a small glass with the pinch or 1/10th tsp cayenne. Drink that in a 'shot'. Then you can drink your lemonade without it in it (well, the rest of the glass). Some folks 'freeze' the lemonad to slushy stage for a flavor difference.

Another thing, if you are not doing the Salt Water Flush in the morning (on empty stomach) and the nightly 'Smooth Move' tea, then there will not be as much of an 'elimination'. Watery stools are still considered 'eliminations'. Also, the cayenne helps break stuff down (tear it out) for the flushes to work even better.

If the SWF makes you gag, try this: Use 'Real Salt' brand sea salt (best flavor imo), NOT the celtic Gray stuff...(gag). Use 2 level teaspoons (NOT TBS, as some I've heard do by accident). Mix with 4 cups water (filtered, fresh, lukewarm). Mix well, then pour into 3-4 small glasses (chug size). You can easily chug a cupful of stuff, and get it 'down'. Then breath, and chug next one. Once you are done, at least you are done for day and you will feel SO cleaned out and energetic!

He also mentions 'fresh sugar cane juice' instead of maply syrup. You can use 8 oz water, 2 oz granulated 'rapadura' or another high quality organic dehydrated cane juice, if you don't like the maple syrup, then shake with your 2 TBS lemon juice. I was curious if 'agave nectar, dark (amber)' would work. It's another 'low glycemic index' food.

I agree he has some unusual opinions, and it was written in the 70s, but it really does work for alot of people. I am two weeks, and a few days, off the fast. I've only gained back 2 of the 10 pounds lost. I am still sinus 'clear'. I am avoiding all dairy (with occasional tid-bit snack of cheese, spoon lick of yogurt). I'm sure that's helping me too. I did do 7 days, plus two more days of OJ drinking.

Everyone I've read that's done this fast that has had the best results usually goes 10 + days, up to 40!! OMG, what a thought.

I am looking forward to doing it again, but my birthday is coming up fast, and DH is taking me out to eat. So it will have to wait, then there is a wedding and two cook outs with the family, and THEN Dh Birthday. I will probably start a fast again around May 11th. If anyone else wants to time it and do it with me

Btw, hope not too graphic. But before cleanse, felt digestive system was 'bogged down'...and now, WOW, things moving amazingly well. I"m eating lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds also. Up from 1x a day, to 3-4 times...I'm still down 2.5 inches in hips, thighs firmer and smooth (smaller, but I didn't measure ) and tummy flatter than it's been since before two kids

Here is a link to a site with LOTS of folks on the cleanse and there is some good info for 'unusual' results or questions:

http://www.therawfoodsite.com/cgi-bi...=mastercleanse

[Hibou]

Heather, did you take a chlorella supplement while doing the fast or find out any more about this?

[iwearredsocks]

Good suggestions. I will do another fast, I'm just not sure if it will be the LD. If so, I will try the agave nectar. I didn't do the saltwater flush (did the tea, however) . . .it sounds like that would make a difference.

Congrats on keeping the benefits you got from the fast.

If you were going to do a fast besides this one, which one(s) would you choose?

[DarkHorseMama]

: (No lemonade-drinking smilie :LOL)

Subscribing and getting ready to do this fast myself. Any updates to share?

[xenabyte]

During first fast, I bought some 'Sun Chlorella' (it's the expensive, supposedly the 'best' kind available, though). I put a tiny bit of one little packet (they are in long, finger sized tubes) in some 'mint' tea (which is allowed, as it has naturally high chlorella levels.

You want chlorella, but not enough to make you start 'digesting'. That's what causes hunger pains and diverts energy from healing / repairing to 'breaking down' foods and digestive processes.

You can just make sure you drink a cup of mint tea in morning (after any SWF or Smooth Move tea) and then again at night. I think this would bind excess toxins and help them move out faster. There are 'liquid' chlorella suppliments available, but they kinda pricey. Of course, this is really only needed if you are still Breastfeeding, and don't want to have too many toxins coming out in your milk. Another thing to do, is eat 'raw' fruits and veges a week before doing the MC, then the detox is greatly lessoned.

I am doing another fast, I started yesterday, April 27th, after being 'mostly raw' and vegan for the time in between. I did have a little cooked brown rice, and some steamed kale, but hey, it was soo good I eat a raw breakfast, and lunch, and dinner sometimes has a bit of cooked stuff, so I can only make one thing for family. But it has been vegetarian!

About two days ago, after not having any dairy, I had some ice cream at a get together...Man, I paid for it. I was instantly clogged in my sinus'.....

Ergo, starting another cleanse so soon, as today is my birthday, and I would never have started a cleanse during this time....but I can't smell anything and food does not sound good. I've had like 10 lemonades already, and the DH is cooking so I can stay out of the kitchen. In many ways, Day 2 is worse than Day 1 (which is hard, as you try to keep to it). Day 3 is usually a bit better, as you are more 'commited' and hunger pangs subside.

Ok, so you'd think I wouldn't have hardly any 'water weight' to lose, from having done it so recently and being really good about my diet, but sure enough, I'm down 4 pounds again after the first day. I need to measure before I go too long on it.

I'm in to a size 10 pants now, that I'd bought as 'inspiration' pants! I think I need the next size down, cause these are loose already! I held all inch loss, though, after the fast, and I figured the two pounds is from water 'glycogen stores' and intestine contents. But it's nice to feel like I lost inches again.

Oh, sorry, one more thing. A lady had her doctor do a full BMI and body fat percentile before doing the MC. She lost 24 pounds, then went in again to be tested to see if she lost fat, muscle, or just water. (she did a 14 day fast).

She lost 18 pounds of pure fat
She lost 5 pounds of water/bowl contents
She lost 1 pounds of muscle, but she didn't exercise at all, not even walking.

Very interesting info! I personally have noticed more definition in my legs and arms, and the muscle still seems fine...but I'm 'working out' with house chores, laundry, going up and down the stairs, cleaning, cooking, etc...I do walk a local trail whenever the weather is nice to help as well.

[TopazBlueMama]

Hey heather, you are on day 2? me too! It's almost over, thankgoodness. Are you planning on going the full ten days? Yesterday was easy, but today afternoon I was very tempted to break the fast, but I kept going!

I actually did this cleanse about 3 years ago, but I only got to day three, then quit because I started feeling VERY sick, lightheaded, weak, etc. It scared me too bad so I swore I'd never try it again. But here I am again. Ideally, I wanted to to a juice fast, but I can't do all that work juicing so many times a day. It's easy to mix the lemonade and not think about what to make. I'm just hoping to get through day three this time. I'm hoping it won't be as bad for me now.
I don't know, I've just felt like doing something extreme lately. This will be great to get me back into gear in the healthy eating mode. I hadn't realized how much I've been mindlessly grazing.
Evenings are really hard though to keep going. I'm totally fine until about 2:00, then I start getting hungry.
The good thing is that I love the lemonade, and I love herbal tea too. The SWF is hard, but I've been doing it.
Well, good luck! That was interesting about the loosing mostly fat that that lady lost. Good to hear.

[4cornersmamma]

Heather - your results are just amazing.

I think I will have to wait until I am done nursing to do the MC - I need to, I just know I have all kinds of yucky's in my bowels. I get sooooo hungry nursing that I think I would end up messing up if I did the MC right now.

For now, I may try just doing some 24 hour fasts like below until the suckleboy slows down his intake.

Originally Posted by danieliausmama

I don't know much about master cleanse, but I fast once a week with distilled water, and sometimes add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey to it, but no more than to 3 cups, others just water. Since I am nursing my 19 mo old, I do just 24 hours. Really good!

[tofumama]

:

[tboroson]

I see that several of you are doing fasts while nursing. At what point during a nursing relationship would it be no longer non-advisable to fast? I know I could really benefit from one, but Anika is still nursing exclusively, so I'm not sure it would be a good idea. But, I'm planning ahead here... when could I consider doing this?

Thank you!

[Vicitoria]

This is an interesting thread I just got a chance to read. I've been doing Fit for Life which is all about cleansing on a daily basis. I know it's not the lemonaid diet but it sounds like some people here may benefit from the cleansing part of the diet. It's very easy. The theory is the body goes through detox from 4am til noon so only eat fruit until noon. There is much more to it but the book reccomends that you do a fruit fast on a regular basis, they call it an all fruit day so you can really mix it up. The first few days I ate only fruit until dinner. Now I eat fruit til lunch and have veg/raw veg lunch and dinner (and a few cheats). You do get a lot more energy from it because you get the sugar from the fruit which is easily made into glucose to feed the body and then the body can use the extra energy on detox instead of digestion. It's not as harsh as the lemonaid diet sounds but still works if you do it on a daily basis.