I have been hearing about the Master Cleanse on and off for the past couple of years now. I only thought really stupid people did it and it was just another crazy diet fad. Well, last week I came across it again and was more sold than ever that this was something I needed to do. I want to lose a few pounds and have been eating nothing but crap for the past few weeks (thanks to lots of birthday parties with cake and ice cream) and felt my body could use a "cleansing".
The Master Cleanse is also know as the "Lemonade Diet" and for a minimum of 10 days, up to 40, you basically live off of water, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper...no joke.
Since I had gotten in my head that I must try this diet (after browsing youtube for videos of successful master cleansers) I ran to the store and purchased all the ingredients:
Lemons
Cayenne pepper
Grade B Maple Syrup
Non iodized sea salt
The catch of this cleanse it that you also must do a daily "Salt Water Flush" to eliminate toxins from your body since you aren't eating any actual food.
The night before my Master Cleanse I went to Burger King and pigged out. I figured if I couldn't eat food for 10 days I might as well go out with a bang. We hardly ever eat BK, and it was SO GOOD.
Next morning I wake up to my first Salt Water Flush. All I can say is the SWF is brutal. You need to consume 1 liter of water mixed with 2 teaspoon of non iodized sea salt. Ack! It makes me nauseous just thinking about it. Anyway, I pushed forward and drank my liter of salt water which I believe was successful. It was then time to make my "lemonade" for the day.
Basically you take 2 liters of water and mix it with 12 TBS lemon juice, 12 TBS Grade B Maple Syrup, and ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper. Believe it or not this concoction tastes rather good and I happily drank it through out the day. Day one was successful for me.
Day 2 on the other hand, not so much. I again did the salt water flush in the morning and then by afternoon I decided this diet wasn't for me and had a green smoothie. Later that evening I gave in to dinner and had some fish, beans and rice, and now I am drinking a big glass of Sangria.
SO I failed the Master Cleanse. I am obviously not a strong willed person as the temptation of food was just too much for me.
Iva @ Horizontal Yo-Yo
My thinking on the whole master cleansing thing is - do we even need it? I mean, our bodies are finely tuned machines. And I have to wonder about the SWF. That sounds brutal.
But you know what? At least you know.
A friend and I contemplated drinking apple cider vinegar to aid in our weight loss - but I just could not do it. I'm all about comfort...and drinking vinegar is definitely out of my comfort zone! LOL
Iva @ Horizontal Yo-Yo’s last blog post..Happy Birthday to Me
Leanne
Ha - I am so much like you in that regard. I've heard so much about cleansings lately and mostly from the medical side that they're just not needed. I know my body and cravings well enough to know I could NEVER exist for 10 days on a liquid only diet. Like you, maybe I could make it for one day. The only diet that has ever been successful for me has been the traditional low calorie/high protein with lots of meaningful exercise (combo of cardio and weights). It takes time especially the older we get but it works.
Leanne’s last blog post..Go Magic!
Amanda Petite Mommy
Um, I don't think it's that you are not strong willed, I just think this is a horrible idea for a diet and I could never do it. I gag at the thought of drinking salt water.
I eat whatever I want as long as I'm exercising. Seriously - turn on your favorite music and do 45 minutes of Kenpo or something similar. Its been working for me.
Master Cleanse
The diet sure is a tough thing for the food lovers and the body has to go through a lot... but i guess its worth it if one can shed 10-14 pounds in just 10 days.
cheap iphone
Thank you for sharing !thinner lighter faster ipad 2 is a great improvement in the high technology times !It is greater than you dream it about !I got one last week , it is amazing.