Well, since my Facebook page has been getting lots of attention due to the fact that I’ve been on a 3 day juice cleanse I figured I might as well address all the questions here. First off I want to say that I am not a nutrition expert or health care professional. I’m just a mom that likes to read about diet and nutrition. I am in good health and I am not overweight. Those are things that before you begin any type of nutrition or diet program should be cleared with your doctor. That being said, here is what I have done for the last 3 days and why I did it.
For the last two years I’ve been struggling with food related issues and I’ve not been feeling well. To make a long story short I finally have confirmed that I have some dairy and gluten issues. Not enough to make me “allergic” by any medical means, but enough that I can feel the changes in my body when I’ve had certain foods. I’m not perfect and at times I can’t resist having a bit more of something than I should have and end up feeling bloated. This does not feel good. The Summer has killed my exercise program due to the fact that I don’t have a nanny and my kids aren’t at camp. I woke up one day and made the choice to reclaim what it is that I really want. That’s to feel energized, happy, healthy and lean. I wanted to start a new exercise program, but my body didn’t feel ready. So, before I began I decided to take 3 days to juice and relax.
Here is what I did in a nutshell:
I juiced and drank lots of water. I relaxed and got the most amazing sleep.
What you want to know:
I juiced fresh greens everyday. No, fruit smoothies don’t count! Not only are they high in sugar and carbs, but they can make you more hungry. I filled up on green juice which contains protein, calcium and everything your body needs except for B-12. ( Take a supplement for that! B-12 keeps you sharp energized and helps with metabolism.) You need to drink about 32-48 ounces of juice daily. I stayed closer to 32. I drank lots of water! Tons of water and it should ideally be room temperature. Throw some lemon or strawberries in it and it’s a bit of a treat. The lemons actually aid in digestion. I posted a while ago my recipe for Yummy Green Juice and that’s the one I used everyday. I did make others depending on what veggies I had available because of our CSA. I also had one Vega Energizing Smoothie a day as well because I was reviewing it for this blog. It’s great for a grab and go snack when I couldn’t juice. It’s entirely plant based and fit into my schedule. Another important fact is that I did all of my juicing in the morning for the day or the night before. If you have a high quality juicer you can do this and it saves you time.
I also enjoyed a cup of coffee in the morning. The biggest mistake people make before going on a cleanse is not weaning themselves off caffeine. The withdrawal can cause headaches and fatigue. I chose to savor my one cup and not give it up.
Buying a juicer:
I highly recommend that if this is your first go at juicing to hot your local Salvation Army and thrift stores to buy one. That’s what I did and my mom as well. We now both own high quality juicers because it worked for us. This is one of 2 appliances that I would purchase second hand because people get them, use them a few times and then it collects dust. Be fore warned that juicers are a pain in the ass to clean and that’s one of the biggest complaints I hear from people. Oh and before you ask-no you can’t use a blender! That would make a smoothie. A blender does not have a fast enough centrifuge to produce the nutrients created from a juicer.
Recipes and More Information:
People have been asking me for recipes and such, but you really need to make what appeals to you. I love my green juice. If you need a planned out program with recipes visit www. jointhereboot.com. It’s free and it not only contains recipes and different plans that include juicing, but you can also join forums where you can talk to other people and see what they are doing. Right now you can even view the Joe Cross film Fat, Sick &Nearly Dead for free! This is the film that made me run out and get a juicer! The film documents Joe Cross’s journey through a 60 day juice fast to save his deteriorating health. You won’t want to miss it.
My Outcome:
Three days have passed and I feel great. Today I started my new exercise program and I was ready for it. I still had my green juice in the morning, but have introduced foods. I feel great and not bloated. I lost 6 pounds. Now, I’m only going to count 2 pounds as real weight loss due to the fact that I was extremely bloated when I began and I realize that was just water weight. This was the right choice for me.
Disclosure: I received information and product about Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead and the Reboot by being a BzzAgent. All thoughts and of course the cleanse experience is my own!
melissa says
Thanks for the post. I went shopping today and I am ready for it. Might be silly for me to choose and weekend for this, and if I have to I will restart on monday. i mean I can not say no to a meal out with the husband. That being said its so nice to hear that you savor your one cup of coffee in the am. I worked my way down from 5 cups a day to 1-2 and i prob will stick to just 1 while doing this. glad to hear you feel great!
Patty says
I have thought of doing a juice cleanse for a while, so thank you for posting this! I have been medically tested for lactose intolerance and am lactose intolerant. I agree totally with the bloated feeling and feel great when I have eaten meals prepared at home, but one meal out and I can feel a difference. This may inspire me to green clean myself!
Martha says
Great site! I’m on day two and feel so bloated. Is it normal or too much fruit? The only fruits have been Apples though.
beyourbestmom says
What greens are you juicing? Broccoli and such can cause bloating. For some people the concentration of fresh juice can take some time to adjust.
Martha says
Hello! I’m using spinach, carrots, celery mostly… The first day I used kale and it was too gross tasting for me. 🙂 I lost three pounds in three days. Not too shabby, but not really going to the bathroom for bowels.