a little help please

[natnat122]

HI, this is the first master cleanse I have ever done (second if you count last year, but I only made it to day 5 and then vaccummed down every solid thing in the house in like 2 seconds), and I'm on day 6 going for day 14. I just have a few questions if any1 could be so kind as to answer them, I'd be veerrrry grateful! :) Thanks. HEre goes:

1. Yesterday I had some gum (Sugarfree, Trident Splash) and mints (Altoids), does that mean I interrupted my cleansing process and have to start all over again? This is my 6th day and I'm planning to go for 14.

2. The cleansing process of this whole thing is great but my main reason for doing it is weight loss (I know I know, I shouldn't be doing this for weight loss, please spare the lectures :)) but I haven't seen any except for like 1 or 2 lbs. Before I started this cleanse, I was on the low carbohydrate diet for 2 months and lost 32 pounds, and there's this halloween costume party coming up (Oct. 27) and I want to be a bellydancer. I would have continued the low carb but I find that I only lose alot of weight with it when I combine it with exercise (mainly cardio), which I can't do for about another 2 weeks or so because I sprained my ankle.. So when I read in a magazine that Beyonce recenly lost 20 lbs in 14 days doing the MC I decided to try it again. I just haven't been able to run so I've been doing crunches for the past week. When should I expect to see results? Are there instances where people do this for 2 wks and don't lose any weight? Dear God I hope that's not me :( Also, after I break the fast, I was planning to go back to the low carb diet and eventually transfer to the South Beach, but after reading a few posts (I"m a new memeber) it looks like the reason I'm having such a hard time was because there was an overload of protein in my body (Low carb diet esp. atkins the one I was on emphasizes eating alot of protein and very little carbs a day), so is this a bad plan?

3. I remember reading that cravings should go away within 2 - 4 days. but I'm still craving all the foods I've been craving since the first day, and it makes it harder to want to continue.. Any tips?

[peachie]

Wow, you've got a lot going on. I am certainly no expert; I'm only on my 2nd MC (did first last month). So, I won't even try to answer some of your questions. My hunch is that you might not be well into detox mode yet; what exactly are you doing - give us a day in the life of "Nat" - including every single thing you put in your mouth, and are you having BM's??? Are you having any detox or other "symptoms" that would indicate what your body is doing? With you still having cravings, I am wondering if you aren't "cheating" a little here and there, maybe? The gum and mints could be the culprit. I take a xylitol sweetened mint if I have to be around someone else (to spare them my stinky breath), but have only maybe 2 a day, and not even everyday (brushing tongue is probably better).

Since you're doing/have done the Atkins, have you tried his FAT FAST? It, too, is low-calorie (like this), but if you're stuck, it might be something worth trying. But, read what Dr. Atkins has written about it BEFORE you do it. Whatever you decide to do, commit to doing it precisely following the directions, and stick with it, as you are doing. (Who knows, maybe day 8 or day 12 is when you'll see it kick in?)

Can I be blunt, and direct with you? I'll assume you said yes (while remembering what my HS teacher used to say: when you assume you make an "ass" of "u" and "me" both, so please pardon me for assuming). I think you may be too focused on the weight loss, and not focused enough on taking care of you, your body, mind and soul. Only you know the answer to that, though. I just see so much of how I was in what you say.

Sometimes, I have found, when I want something so bad, so desparately, I find it harder to get/have. You've probably heard the saying that goes something like this: when you're looking for a mate, you'll never find one; it's when you let go (stop obsessing) that you're able to find what you were seeking. Maybe try relaxing about it, and treating it with a sense of curiosity might help (Hmmm...I wonder what's going on here?). I find that if I relax about stuff, it helps a bunch. If you're following the program, I don't see why you wouldn't have detox results, and weight loss as a by-product.

I hope this was of some tiny bit of help to you.
Keep on keepin' on!

[natnat122]

Thanks for replying!
No, I'm not cheating at all, which is why I'm kind of frustrated. The most cheating I've done is at night when I dream about eating a whole buffet of food lol.
Day of Nat lol ok but it pretty boring for now as I haven't been working for 2 wks (workers comp, that's another funny story hehe) due to my ankle sprain but here it is:

I usually wake up around 6 or 7 in the morning (not by choice my body just wakes up early) and lay around for like 1/2 hr or so. Then I get up and drink my SWF and dedicate the next 1 or 2 hrs to staying by a toilet. After that, I drink like 6 - 8 glasses of the lemonade throughout the day. Yesterday I only had about 3 glasses and forgot to take the Smooth MOve laxative last night. I also forgot to take the laxative the night before starting the fast but other than that, I've been pretty good with it. I make the drink all at once, not glass by glass so I squeeze 6 lemons (they said half of a lemon makes 1 glass so I use 6 to make 12 glasses but can never drink 12, I usually average about 6 a day maybe 7) add 6 tablespoons of maple syrup (less 4 wt loss I know it should be 12), and cayenne pepper to taste, then fill the pitcher to 12 glasses worth. But like I said I only average around 6 so I could be drinking too little maybe?? And I don't drink water besides the lemonde because I just feel like if I drink anymore I'll burst.
Yesterday and I think on day 2 or 3 were the only days that I had gum and I started chewing Altoids yesterday (I had alot I admit like 5 or 6) and they're not sugar free like 2 g for 3 pieces. So have you found any flaws yet? Because if I am doing something wrong I'd like to correct it.

I've never heard of the FAT FAST, thanks for bringing it up, I'll do some more research on it.. And yes, you're right, I am focusing way too much on weight loss, but it's like second nature to me I don't know how to stop it I've been this way for a long time (I'm 21 as of last wk)...

But thanks for the great advice, it's really uplifting! About the relaxing part, I dunno I'm kind of a compulsive worrier lol when I want something but I'll give it a shot what the hay :) Thanks again!

[bayareababe]

Thanks for replying!
No, I'm not cheating at all, which is why I'm kind of frustrated. The most cheating I've done is at night when I dream about eating a whole buffet of food lol.
Day of Nat lol ok but it pretty boring for now as I haven't been working for 2 wks (workers comp, that's another funny story hehe) due to my ankle sprain but here it is:

I usually wake up around 6 or 7 in the morning (not by choice my body just wakes up early) and lay around for like 1/2 hr or so. Then I get up and drink my SWF and dedicate the next 1 or 2 hrs to staying by a toilet. After that, I drink like 6 - 8 glasses of the lemonade throughout the day. Yesterday I only had about 3 glasses and forgot to take the Smooth MOve laxative last night. I also forgot to take the laxative the night before starting the fast but other than that, I've been pretty good with it. I make the drink all at once, not glass by glass so I squeeze 6 lemons (they said half of a lemon makes 1 glass so I use 6 to make 12 glasses but can never drink 12, I usually average about 6 a day maybe 7) add 6 tablespoons of maple syrup (less 4 wt loss I know it should be 12), and cayenne pepper to taste, then fill the pitcher to 12 glasses worth. But like I said I only average around 6 so I could be drinking too little maybe?? And I don't drink water besides the lemonde because I just feel like if I drink anymore I'll burst.
Yesterday and I think on day 2 or 3 were the only days that I had gum and I started chewing Altoids yesterday (I had alot I admit like 5 or 6) and they're not sugar free like 2 g for 3 pieces. So have you found any flaws yet? Because if I am doing something wrong I'd like to correct it.

I've never heard of the FAT FAST, thanks for bringing it up, I'll do some more research on it.. And yes, you're right, I am focusing way too much on weight loss, but it's like second nature to me I don't know how to stop it I've been this way for a long time (I'm 21 as of last wk)...

But thanks for the great advice, it's really uplifting! About the relaxing part, I dunno I'm kind of a compulsive worrier lol when I want something but I'll give it a shot what the hay :) Thanks again!

Hi nat.. no to gum and altoids. You might want to add an extra day on your cleanse, since your body had to amp up again to digest the sugars. The gum is NOT good since it stimulated digestion, and the point of the MC is to slow digestion down so it can remove toxins and detoxify. You need to drink water to help flush things out, it is very important. Also, you can drink mint tea ocassionally if you feel your breath is less than nice, no, no mints no gum, nada. You might want to up your MS, if you are feeling hungry. You WILL still lose weight. I lost 18 pounds on my MC1. Weight loss comes off more slowly than others, but you will also be losing inches.

Drink atleast 6 drinks AND remember to drink your lax tea, since it is helping get rid off the toxins. You don't want them hanging inside! You should measure your lemon juice, since all lemons are different and sometimes it takes more to get the 2 tbsp per glass!


hope this helps.

babe8)
MC1 10 days... MC2 14 days... MC3 just completed 22 days
:eek:

[peachie]

Hey Nat,
I agree with bayareababe - you need to measure your lemon juice, and all the other great suggestions she made.

The one thing that really stood out to me is that you may not be drinking enough of the lemonade. I understand about focusing on weight loss being second nature; been there done that (and still do, but not near as bad). I'm in my 30's (pushing 40 :eek: ) and I have struggled with this stuff (weight/food) nearly all my life. So, I have done all kinds of diets, studied up on nutrition, healthy eating, supplements, etc., and have made lots of progress, thank the Lord. I'm much kinder to myself now, and I still stumble, and still fall, but not as often, nor as hard, and I'm better able to get up, dust myself off, and keep on going (no blame game allowed!). My point is, there IS hope; keep working at it; you can get to a place of peace.

Anyway, I got off track there. What I was wanting to say is that you may not be giving your body enough calories, and it's gone into conservation mode - holding onto every calorie it gets, because it thinks "I'm starving!". Also, the liquids (lemonade, water, tea) help to keep the toxins flushing out. I pee all the time, it seems, and remind myself that though it's a hassle, it's also GOOD - flush those toxins, baby!

When you go on a fast (I've been on a juice fast, never done just water), it's important to keep active, and with your sprained ankle, well, that makes it difficult. Yes, you're fasting, but you don't want your body to think you're starving, and can't find food, and that's what activity does is help to keep your body from thinking it's starving. Now, I'm not an expert on this stuff, by any means, and this may not be a real good explanation (it's certainly not a good technical explanation of what the body is doing in "fast" mode), but maybe it'll be of some help for you; give you a general idea of what's going on.

Somewhere on here today I posted a reply where I talked about that I'm doing Weight Watchers, and how this diet is fitting right in to the points plan (I'd do the MC even if it didn't, though). I am not sure where it is, or how to get to it, but you might want to try looking it up. I am drinking the same number of "points" that I eat each week, but losing more weight. It's really strange, but must have to do with the toxin-dumping mode my body is in right now.

Glad you were uplifted by the advice; I appreciate the feedback. Hang in there, and just keep sticking to it - you can do it, Nat!