2009: What day are you on and how are you doing?

[LadyLemon]

DonnyL-.You too!!!...keep us posted on your progress. Welcome to the Back to Schoolers. !!!

[Evita]

That's great Beth! Yeah, I steeped it last night for 15 minutes but no saucer over top. It's got Senna in it so I don't know why it's not really working. The SWF does the job but I have no further bowel movements during the day after the SWF works its way through. Done with day 2. Felt a little more tired and my face is breaking out a little (normally have very clear skin). Did a yoga practice late this afternoon. My husband and I are doing this together and wanted to kill each other today but I think the detox symptoms probably make us more sensitive. Anyone else have this? Alright, time to make my tea and go to bed. Happy cleansing everyone and congrats!!! Day 3 tomorrow.

[debejay]

... Feeling a bit tired and grumpy but I know that's to be expected after everything I've read before starting so I'm not alarmed about it. Just aware.

Don't know how people do it on a 9-5 schedule. I feel so tired after the flush that I need to sleep. Being self-employed has it's benefits that's all I have to say. I get to dictate my own schedule. Hope everyone is having a great day!

Hey y'all ... Day 2 coming to a close - and I made it thru! Lots of temptations, but I did not succumb YAY! Felt VERY hungry all day today - tomorrow will be better.

Evita, I know what you mean - thank goodness I am self - employed! You're right, the grumpies do go away.

Beth - I haven't told a soul about this MC, 'cuz I got so many negatives the last time. I know how terrific this really is, so I'm glad for the lemonhead buddies!

Healthnut - hang in there! You will make it over the hump. I am SO glad Day 2 is over

Tessa - I'm cheering you on!

DonnyL - good for you! Keep us posted on your progress

'til tomorrow ....
dbj
:D

[undiscovred]

Day 1 of my first cleanse!!
Im a little nervous, but reading everyone elses post have calmed my nerves a bit. Ive got the SWF down and i'll start the lemonade shortly. Wish me luck!!! :)

[Tanyazl1]

Good Morning Day 10!!!! Whoohoo:D

I feel great and I cannot wait to eat...the MC soup that is 8)
I am thinking about doing a green smoothie challenge. I'll make my final decision on Friday.

You guys are awesome health enthusiasts, stay strong and keep on MCing :D

Tanya

[Evita]

That's awesome, Tanya! I am on day 3. I steeped 2 bags of the tea since one wasn't doing anything and got minor results but my SWF always works. I need to use one Tablespoon of sea salt for it to work but it works. Having limes instead of lemons for part of the day and then a yoga practice. Feeling chilly but I know everyone does. Felt weak this morning but after drinking some limeade that feeling is gone. I'm actually happy I don't have a scale while doing this and I literally haven't been weighed in years. I am recovering from bulimia so scales are a no no. I'm doing this for clarity, for a healthy state of mind and body. Weight loss is not on my radar and I'm happy about that. If I lose weight I guess I'd know by my clothes. Scales will never be a part of my life ever again. No point. Anyhow, happy cleansing!! I'll check in later. Hubby was going to give up yesterday but he's going strong today which is great. I'm so happy I have an organic food co-op within 2 minutes of my home!
Blessings to everyone!:D

[Donny L]

DonnyL-.You too!!!...keep us posted on your progress. Welcome to the Back to Schoolers. !!!

Thanks for your encouragment. I was going to give up last night . Then I saw your post and went out for more lemons instead. They are the sour/tartest lemons I've ever tasted but I'm still in and greatfull for the support from you and others.

[sweatpants]

I'm on day 3 right now. I wish I could say that I feel great, energized and all that but really, I feel quite run down. I haven't experienced much in the way of "cleansing" so far, just the "lemony butt pee" mainly :) This forum has made me feel more OK about that I guess; hearing others mentioning similar things. I'm really looking forward to the "big swoosh" and increased energy. One thing I've noticed is even drinking more than 80 oz. of the mix a day, I'm still fantasizing about grilling fish all the time. Love my fish. heh. Stay strong ya'll!

jim

[Le Mon]

Day 10. Boy, these ten days have gone by pretty fast. Last night before I went to sleep I told myself that I was going to come off just so I could eat me a big plate of mexican food, followed by some Krispy Kremes and big glass of milk...but then I remembered hearing on my first cleanse that if you think about food like that, you surely aren't ready to come off....woke up this morning and I'm not ready to come off! Feel better today, about to "go to the office", swf not really all that bad...I'm just really tired of the lemonade. Wish there were more options over here!!! Anyway, it is starting to get a little tough but I know it's only because my body (and mind) needed this pretty bad. Anyway, hang in there people. :)

[healthnut420]

Day 1 of my first cleanse!!
Im a little nervous, but reading everyone elses post have calmed my nerves a bit. Ive got the SWF down and i'll start the lemonade shortly. Wish me luck!!! :)

GOOD LUCK!! Today is my day 1 too!
I drank the tea last night, did the SWF this morning and just made my lemonade and drinking a cup right now. Whenever I burp after I drink my lemonade the cayenne pepper burns my throat all over again. I usually just dump a lot in a cup of my lemonade and chug it down, its freakin spicy but hey it works.
Last week I had a patient and I dont remember how we started talking about cayenne pepper but he told me all these benefits about it and so I went online and did some research and sure enough, its apparently really good for you.
I am off today and its going really good but I usually work from 7 until 4 and then I have classes in the evenings which start in a few days. I dont know how I'm going to find the time to squeeze lemons throughout the day but I'll figure something out. Maybe I'll make enough for half my day and then take a really late lunch at work and make some for the rest of the day.
The first time I attempted this cleanse I had the worst headache on the first day, it seriously felt like a migraine. It's cause I drink a couple cups of coffee everyday to keep my awake. But since my first attempt I've been drinking a lot less and today I dont have a headache or anything :-)
Anyway, I better shut up.

By the way, does anyone else watch youtube.com videos of other people who have done the cleanse? There's this one chick who did it for like 40 days. She said that instead of making her tired from not having food and stuff she was actually more alert in class. I hope this will be the case for me and I'll stop sleeping during class :-)

Guess I'll talk to you guys later! Thanks for all the support, it really helps!!! Sorry for babbling so much!!!

Oh and one more thing... this is a bit too much info. but will this cleanse help with constipation problems? Sometimes I dont go for more than a week if I dont drink a laxative. Its been like this since I can remember, and I eat plenty of fiber and lots of fruits and veggies. Its just how its always been for me. Where does all the crap stay? And I'm not overly obese or anything, just a bit chubby or curvy. It probably just sits there and rots on the days I dont go. That's sick.

[Evita]

Everyone is doing great! Remember it's our minds that tell us we can't do this. Cravings will pass. Detox symptoms will pass. I don't think I've hit my major detox symptoms yet but keep reading the posts and you'll see that everyone goes through difficult times. Right now I'm also craving a lot of things but remember that Days 2-3 are listed as the hardest and day 6 or 7. Milestones to a successful cleanse. I feel good. Did yoga, took a short hike. Now relaxing trying not to think about tofu but I guess there are worse things to think about:p

[Evita]

OK, today was OK. This evening my spirits really took a dive. I keep thinking 7 more days on this??? I have a mild headache but not too bad. I haven't socialized much so I know that being alone for long periods of time is difficult for me but I don't feel I could handle a social situation right now and not be tempted. I didn't feel this way this morning. I guess the boredom I'm feeling is another detox symptom. Can't wait for the evening to be over so I can drink my tea and go to bed. I can't even watch a movie because my disc drive is broken on my laptop..... oh well maybe youtube.... hope everyone is having a great day. Looking forward to starting another day. Tomorrow will be better I'm sure.:o

[debejay]

Today was really hard for me too (day 3). I did the salt water flush, and drank 5 glasses of lemonade - but now I cannot stand the SMELL of the lemon. Feeling really dizzy and HUNGRY! I would like to leave the house, but feel so dizzy that it's probably not a good idea. I wish it were time for bed !!!
dbj

[Le Mon]

Healthnut420 - Im not too sure how much the cleanse helps but I can say for sure that when you get off the cleanse go to GNC and buy you a big bottle of Colon Pure. Drink it. Your probs will be solved.

Anyway, day 10 is coming to a close, I didn't even get to my first lemonade until 6pm...oh well...feel pretty good, certainly don't have ANY energy but I am much better than I was before I got back on board....hope everyone had a good day and tomorrow is another notch to the goal!

[Evita]

debe, I know you're not getting enough lemonade in you. 6 is a minimum and if you workout then you really need to take that to heart. Maybe up your intake and see if that helps improve the dizziness. You could actually drink another glass of lemonade even if you don't want to to get the dizziness to go away. Also, you can use limes as well. I did limeade today and it was refreshing and different than lemons. Tomorrow I'll go back to lemons and then switch back and forth. Don't give up. Make sure you're getting enough nutrients otherwise you will feel dizzy. Also make sure you're getting enough water. Hang in there! Make sure you're getting enough inside of you. Switch to limes for a day. It helps. Maybe have some mint tea to cleanse your palate. You can do this!:D

[LadyLemon]

Hi All!

Day 2 coming to a close. Great to hear of the successes. Sick as it is, it is also to hear of the struggles because it gives me a sense of community. I've decided that we are in a battle like Good versus Evis, except ours is Toxins versus Our Will Power. The toxins taunt us and tempt us. WE CAN BEAT THE TOXINS!!
Today was a roller coaster. Energized this morning, then hard crash with no energy--moping--cravings. I was worried about letting doubt creep in and took an hour nap. I'm so glad I did. This afternoon and evening I felt my first rush of clarity and good energy. This is what we do this for! Breakthroughs are awesome. Now time to hunker down and prepare for the next challenge and dig my heels in as deeply as possible about staying the course! Can't wait to get tomorrow behind me.

Hang in there one and all. I love to hear how people overcome their struggles and live to conquer a new day.

DonnyL--thanks for letting me know that I was able to help and I am soooo glad you got more lemons. :D One day at a time!

Have a great night and good SWF in the morning y'all!

Beth

[healthnut420]

Healthnut420 - Im not too sure how much the cleanse helps but I can say for sure that when you get off the cleanse go to GNC and buy you a big bottle of Colon Pure. Drink it. Your probs will be solved.

Anyway, day 10 is coming to a close, I didn't even get to my first lemonade until 6pm...oh well...feel pretty good, certainly don't have ANY energy but I am much better than I was before I got back on board....hope everyone had a good day and tomorrow is another notch to the goal!

Hey thanks!! I'll definitely try it once I'm done with this cleanse.

I can't believe day one is pretty much over, I thought it would never end!! I am feeling pretty good but my stomach keeps making noises and I cant stop thinking about food. I keep craving carrot cake and then remembered that I had carrot cake a few days ago. They serve the best food at work and there are lots of healthy choices so you dont feel guilty for eating and it will be really hard not to eat but I have a genius plan!! I just wont bring my money with me to work :-)

My sisters are totally encouraging me too so its really great to have support. Some of my co workers think cleansing is a waste of time and blah blah blah so I guess I won't mention it this time.

Anyway, I'm ganna go make my lax tea and I have to get up at 3 to do the SWF and make it to work on time so I guess I better go to bed now. Stay strong everyone!!! Good luck!!
-Kristina

[Evita]

Thanks Beth. It really is sometimes a moment at a time. I know my day 3 is ending. Up early to do the SWF and get started with some lemonade tomorrow after doing lime today. Happy to hear you stayed the course! It really is about determination to get through so you can see the benefits. I spent half the day going through old threads to see how others did and it is helpful to know we're sharing a common goal and common difficulties. Gives me the courage to move forward as well. Have a great morning SWF yourself!

[Tanyazl1]

Everyone is doing great! Remember it's our minds that tell us we can't do this. Cravings will pass. Detox symptoms will pass. I don't think I've hit my major detox symptoms yet but keep reading the posts and you'll see that everyone goes through difficult times. Right now I'm also craving a lot of things but remember that Days 2-3 are listed as the hardest and day 6 or 7. Milestones to a successful cleanse. I feel good. Did yoga, took a short hike. Now relaxing trying not to think about tofu but I guess there are worse things to think about:p

Hey Evita! Way to go 8) I love your attitude...just think how much better some foods will taste after the MC, while others won't taste the same...listen to your taste buds and don't give into your memory/love of the food item...easier said than done, however. I take it one food choice at a time...got over my craving for fried chicken last year, whoohoo! Go Vegan:D

Tanya

[Tanyazl1]

Hello MCers!

Today was my 10th day! Time to transiton! I'll try to check-in on you now and then. My next MC will most likely be in January 2010!

Tanya

[Tanyazl1]

Hey Healthnut420,

Have you checked your water intake? Dehydration also causes constipation. Since you have a high fiber intake, try drinking 1/2 your body weight in ounces of fresh spring or purified water through out the day. I start each morning by drinking 32 ounces before I leave the house for work each morning.

You may want to search the link MC Library link in my signature line for dependency on lax tea for other suggestions.

As for having lots of energy on an extended cleanse...this was also true for me!

I wish you the best :)

Tanya

[Evita]

Thanks Tanya and congratulations on your last day! I figured a craving like tofu could have been worse? lol... Just swigged my SWF and am awaiting the following events. The tea even with double bags really doesn't do much for me. I do notice I have very small BM's and those have broken up bits so something must be working. Day 4 underway!

[pndrgn]

Hello everyone! I'm on my first day of the cleanse. I did it last year, but only got to day 4, I think it was. I quit because going to the bathroom about that fourth day was excruciating! It was the worse stomach pain I've ever felt in my life. It was like my colon was spasming out but nothing was happening. I assume I wasn't drinking enough water?

Also, I am a stay at home mom with two kids and a husband who require 3-4 meals a day. Anyone have any tips, tricks, similar stories to share? My willpower sucks as it is without having to prepare food for people during the process. :eek:

[Evita]

Yeah, day 4 underway and I have very low energy. I'm not used to that. I want to be able to get a yoga practice in today. I'm about halfway through my first batch of lemonade. I honestly have no idea how people do this with 9-5 jobs. I complain and I am self employed. Kudos for those of you that do this and still go on with the day jobs and have children. I'm 36, self employed and have no children. If other people with children and jobs can do this so can I. It's hard because I sing for a living so this technically isn't enough nutrition for me to sing the way I need to sing (opera singer) so that's something I have to be very conscious of. Voices don't just work on their own so that's scaring me a bit. Anyhow, hope everyone is having an amazing day. Just thought I'd vent a little:o

[healthnut420]

Hey Healthnut420,

Have you checked your water intake? Dehydration also causes constipation. Since you have a high fiber intake, try drinking 1/2 your body weight in ounces of fresh spring or purified water through out the day. I start each morning by drinking 32 ounces before I leave the house for work each morning.

You may want to search the link MC Library link in my signature line for dependency on lax tea for other suggestions.

As for having lots of energy on an extended cleanse...this was also true for me!

I wish you the best :)

Tanya

Hey Tanya!! Thanks for mentioning dehydration, that was what my doctor told me. So I went on amazon.com and bought one of those "8 cups in a bottle" water bottle to make sure I was getting enough water and I guess chugging all that water helped for some time and then my body went back to its old habit lol. I got tired of running to the restroom every half an hour too. But I'm thinking maybe this is just how its supposed to be for me? I'm pretty active and healthy and getting tired of worrying about it lol.
Man I'm so jealous that you're done. I'm only on day 2 and to be honest I am in a very good mood. Totally not hungry (yet). I slept in this morning so I didnt have time to do the SWF but I am about to drink a cup of lax tea although I feel like the lax does nothing but give me cramps. Because I slept in and was in a hurry I totally forgot to grab the cayenne pepper :-/ so I'm just drinking the lemonade for now and then once I get off work I guess I'll be sure to drink up with the cayenne.
I have lost 2 pounds since yesterday and that makes me happy although it could be just water weight or whatever. Anyway, I feel good. From my previous attemps Day 2 is when I've always gave in and ate but I'm not ganna let that happen today. Reading the posts on here really helps. I'm so glad we have each other :-)
-Kristina

[undiscovred]

So im only on day 2 but..i weigh the same as i did yesterday. i know this is about detoxing but i am slightly concerned im 5'6 119. is it possible that i could do this and not lose any weight?

P.S. -I dont think im fat but im a model and its been suggested that i loose a few pounds.:rolleyes:

[LadyLemon]

Hi All--

Day 3.

Tough, tough morning here. I was all ready for the day, drank down my SWF in a jiff, then went to rest and wait for the eruption, only this time the eruption was the wrong way. I vomited and vomited and dry heaved and dry heaved. I was so crushed. Rested for about 10 minutes and then remembered that it is ME AGAINST MY TOXINS. I didn't want to miss out on the flushing of the toxins--to me it is the biggest accomplishment and maybe the most productive thing we do each day. So I ventured back to the kitchen and drank one big glass. Held it down and managed to have a successful flush after that. YAY. BATTLE WON, WAR STILL ONGOING!

After that I was energized for several hours but tanked late afternoon, had a craviing or two, slept it off for a bit, and now am back to tackle the rest of the day.

Evita--I hope your day got better. If you are worried about nutrition for your voice maybe do more maple syrup or more drinks?

Tanya--Congrats on 10 days! Woo Hoo!

pndrgn--Welcome. Cooking food is difficult. I found that with the right mindset though, it can be good. I LOVE the smell and the sight, and watching others enjoy it. I replace the eating experience of tasting and chewing with the other senses of sight and smell. This works only if you have made the absolute decision that the tasting and chewing are not at all an option. Maybe this helps?

debejay--sorry day 3 was so tough. Is day 4 any better?

healthnut--keep pushing. Of course you can break past your previous pattern of quitting on day 2. Look at all the lemon head cheerleaders you have!!

Undiscovered--Hold steady and be patient. Some people do not lose weight but the vast majority do. My first one I swear I gained weight for about 5 days then all of a sudden weight started falling off day 6, and kept falling off after I completed my 10 days and was eating normally. Maybe read the weight loss thread if you haven't done so already. The patterns of loss vary so much. Plus of course you will feel like a million bucks no matter what.

okay folks. I'll check back later.

Hope your afternoons are holding strong. Remember, the toxins are messing with us, we have to recognize that and win!

Squeezing away,

Beth

[eflat123]

Hey All,
Partway through Day 1 here so thought I'd check in!! "Smooth Move" tea and swf did their jobs this morning. Feeling the hunger a bit. Absent-mindedly almost accepted a grape from my daughter.

This is my 2nd MC, though it's been many years since the first. Well, wish me skill. :)

[Evita]

I really hating the taste of this stuff right now. Maybe I need to add more cayenne? I had a fairly low day today but also had some major stressors. My husband is sailing through day 4 but he's getting out more than me. He feels more comfortable with it than I am. To me this is a deeply personal thing. Me against my demons. I am a recovering bulimic who has never been overweight so weight is not the issue here. I was never on a regular eating schedule, however, so this is my way of teaching me how to discern when I'm hungry and also not want to self-medicate with food when things get difficult. Obviously my self-medicating is different than others when it happens. I just don't feel ready to be social or be at social events. I am going to get a yoga practice in tonight in a short while so maybe that will help shift my energy. Also going to have some mint tea to cleanse my palate. I haven't had any yet so now might be a good time after yoga and a bath. Sorry to hear about the start of your day Beth. YUCK! I haven't felt the need to throw up yet but you never know. Day 5 tomorrow so maybe things will be better.:D

[CrazySingleMom]

*peeks in and looks around*

Been away for awhile .... but coming back soon :rolleyes:

I did a MC back in spring of '08 and was happy with the results. I know I can do it again :)

Planning to start again soon, but gotta wait for Maple Syrup so I can ... :o

Anyone else planning to start in 2-4 weeks or so?

*lurks off into the shadows again*

~Rachel

[Donny L]

Day 3 ,lost 5 lbs. so far. Right now I'm cooking dinner for my family and boy it smells good. Staying strong but struggeling. Praying to make it to the pillow w/o eating.

[Evita]

OK, so I did some light kickboxing and a yoga practice. Feel a bit more steady. Need to finish the rest of my limeade, take a shower and then get some tea. Day 4 almost to a close. Not the best day but I made it.:)

[Evita]

Nice to hear from everybody! Great job Donny, that's so awesome. If it wasn't for hearing from you guys and reading this board I don't know what I'd do. It's not that I'm craving anything, I think it's just mood/emotional stuff that's getting me today. Maybe need to up my intake of lemonade tomorrow and see if that improves things. Last night through today have been my hardest emotionally but I have been isolating a lot. I need to get outside. The weather is beautiful..

[freewitheft]

*peeks in and looks around*

Been away for awhile .... but coming back soon :rolleyes:

I did a MC back in spring of '08 and was happy with the results. I know I can do it again :)

Planning to start again soon, but gotta wait for Maple Syrup so I can ... :o

Anyone else planning to start in 2-4 weeks or so?

*lurks off into the shadows again*

~Rachel

*ahem* Another crazy single mom here. lol I'm planning to start around that time too! I just did a 20-day MC in July, but don't feel like I can wait til Oct or Nov, so maybe towards the end of Sept. I have MS and fasting is a big part of the healing process for me!

[sudzie]

Hello everyone!!! Back again for my third cleanse. Will be starting the week of the 14th. Probably the Thursday or Friday of that week - just because I know my day 2 and 4 are usually harder. That way I won't have to call in sick. Anyone else ready to start then?
I am also a single mom - but my kids are 19, 21 and 23. Two of them will do the cleanse with me. Usually they go for about 5 or 6 days. I know they are young yet - but hopefully this will stick with them as they grow older.
Let me know if anyone will be starting then. It is always nice to have a partner :rolleyes: Hope everyone is well. Take care

Sudzie

[Tanyazl1]

Hello everyone! I'm on my first day of the cleanse. I did it last year, but only got to day 4, I think it was. I quit because going to the bathroom about that fourth day was excruciating! It was the worse stomach pain I've ever felt in my life. It was like my colon was spasming out but nothing was happening. I assume I wasn't drinking enough water?

Also, I am a stay at home mom with two kids and a husband who require 3-4 meals a day. Anyone have any tips, tricks, similar stories to share? My willpower sucks as it is without having to prepare food for people during the process. :eek:

Use the link to the MC library link below: General Help for Newbies...lots of great information!

Tanya

[Donny L]

Day 3 almost over , WHEW ! Evita , definatly try upping you LM intake , I think it will help. Thanks for sharring about the emotional stuff. I thought it a bit wierd that a book I'm reading brought me to tears three times this afternoon . Aparentlly this clens goes far deeper than just physical and for that I'm greatfull.

[Evita]

Thanks for your kind words, Donny. It's amazing isn't it. I cried over things yesterday too. Well, getting ready to swig my SWF in the next few. I'll check in a little later this morning and I always check in a few times in the afternoon just to post or see if someone needs encouragement. I also read old threads as it helps if things get hard. I'm hoping to be a little more social today as I think this isolation for the 4 days was hard on me but necessary. Been asking myself a lot of personal questions which is hard but they're coming up so I'm looking at a lot of different things. Crazy nightmares last night. I slept well but that last one was a doozy! I hope everyone has a successful morning and know that I do get an opportunity to check in during the day so if you're having a tough time I'm around. OK, on to Day 5!8)

[paha]

Attempt #2, day #1. The last time I tried this cleanse I had to quit, very reluctantly, on day 4. I had such pains in my legs starting on day 3 that I couldn't sit or lay down. The only way that I was comfortable was if I was walking or in a hot tub. I had hoped that after the SWF on day 4 the pain would ease, but it got worse and I read in Peter's book that if detox symptoms don't go away after the next day's eliminations, you should quit. So I did. I spent the last couple of months eating more raw foods and I'm going to give it another try. Fingers crossed!

[Donny L]

day 4,SWF went well this morning. I was a bit surprised that there was some solids in the mix this morning .Feeling good energy today ,drinking my first LA and happy . No cravings yet but tonights dinner is in the crockpot and the smell of ckicken will soon be filling the house . I'll be checking in throught the day . Hoping all is well with my fellow lemonheads.

[healthnut420]

Day #3 for me today. Yesterday I got home from work around 6 and thought I'd take a little nap... I woke up at like 10 and went right back to sleep until 5 this morning! I haven't slept that long since like I was like 16! It felt so good lol.
Because I went to sleep so early, I didn't drink the lax tea and this morning I didn't have enough time to do the SWF. If I keep going like this my cleanse is ganna last a long time but I really can't afford to call in right now. I might just come in late when I do the SWF next week. I am working tomorrow so I can't do the SWF but I'll definitely drink the tea.
Has anyone else experienced like really major headaches?? They kept coming and going around 3 o'clock yesterday.
Also, I haven't been hungry at all, just major CRAVINGS. Especially when other people offer me food. :-/

[eflat123]

Starting day 2 -- cramps overnite, I think my lax tea brew was steeped too strong. Woke up thinking about what I was going to make myself for breakfast; SWF paled in comparison :D

Yesterday I swear I could smell french fries 2 1/2 blocks away...

[Evita]

Hey everybody! Yeah healthnut, I had headaches that would come and go. Everything you described is part of the detox. I don't know what I'd do without the SWF. The lax tea does little for me although I do pass solid matter with it rather than with the SWF. Ahhh... crock pot.. well I went out for mint tea this morning which was a good thing to do. I needed to get out. I put myself on lockdown for 4 days and that's not good for me. Going to meet a friend in a short bit and watch her eat lunch. She brings her baby so I'll just hold him:) Not going so bad. I got through 4 lemonade's this morning which is a GOOD thing. I've only managed 6 and I've been doing yoga and cardio on top of it so I need more than 6 for my mood to stabilize. I'll probably nurse the next batch (limeade!! my favorite!!!) and then add a bit more for the evening. Hang in there everybody. Day 5 in progress for me. I have pink patches on my tongue already and this is my first cleanse! I'll check in a bit later!! Be brave!!:D

[Donny L]

Hey Evita I'm glad to hear that your getting out and socializing,good for you. I tried to send you a private message but I type so slow that I think the system logged me out before I hit send. Let me know if you got it.

[Donny L]

headaches...yes ! I geuss hy caffien habbit was worse than I thought. My church has a cafe' / bookstoreand that's where I work. Making espresso's and drinking trippel shots on a regular basis.Not to mention the pastries,bagels,frapaccinos,fruit smoothies w/ whipcream and fresh cookies the size of your head. I kinda' dread going to work tomarrow but since I'm not a time traveler , I'll leave tomarrow to worry about itself and stay in today.

[Evita]

Hey Donny! No I didn't get it. That's OK, you can always try again. Well, the biggest thing I craved while she was eating was the salad she was eating. I wanted her tomato's so BAD! I guess that's real hunger from what the book says and not a craving. Feeling a bit tired in the late afternoon so may take a nap. I'm going to a play tonight. There's supposed to be a reception afterward but I don't think I'm up for that at all. We'll see. Just taking this day by day. The fact is I don't have weight to lose nor did I eat poorly. I am doing this for a change in perspective more than anything. An examination of emotions without food or drink around. Boy I could go for a nice micro brew about now! And to think I'm doing this over a holiday weekend.... ah well.... no time like the present. Hope everyone is OK!

[healthnut420]

I'm on lunch break right now at work and usually I don't just sit at the computer but I really needed to read some of the posts for encouragement. Today seems a bit harder than yesterday, maybe cause I didn't do the SWF?? I dunno but I feel starved and I know they're just cravings. I LOVE pastries and they make them really good here. Also, today is pasta Friday and they make it really really good too, that's why I'm staying at the computer. I dont trust myself out there right now lol.

I have a question and I think maybe it's answered in the book but I'm only a little bit halfway done with Peter's book and the other one I just bought yesterday. But my questions: what kind of mint tea can I drink?? Like is there a certain one I have to buy or what? To be honest, yesterday I had to pop in a peice of gum because I knew my breath stank. I didnt do it today because I brushed my teeth. I think I am screwing everything up :-/ maybe I shouldn't do this while working. I also forgot the cayenne pepper on the kitchen counter this morning. Ugh. I'm so moody. I was feeling great this morning and now I'm just like blah. Is this another detox symptom or am I just weird?

Hope everyone else's day is going good. Since Wednesday, I have lost 4 pounds. I was so happy this morning when I weighed myself :-D if I keep losing 2 pounds per day then I'll be at the same weight next week that I was last summer. Now I'm happy :-)

[undiscovred]

So... today is day three for me...the lax tea really did a number on my stomache, and ive been really tired all day. I worked out yesterday and wanted to again today but..i just dnt have the energy. I'm going to bed early tonight so hopefullly in a few hours day three will be at a close...

Ive been having cravings too, my sister didnt know i was on this and made my favorite lasagna last night...Ohhh it smelled so good! but i resisted.

mind over matter...

[LadyLemon]

Hi all!

Great job on the weight loss, Healthnut. That's surely motivation to keep going if you are trying to get back to last summer's weight. This day will pass and tomorrow may be better. Let's hope so anyway. I don't think I lost any yet, but that has happened to me every time.

Day 4 for me. I also got my "monthly friend" so that has made me a little crampy. I do not have super good energy or clarity like I have the past two cleanses on this day, but it's okay. No cravings. No hunger. No doubts about the cleanse. SWF went off like a snap this morning. MY SLEEP IS SO GOOD. I suffer from awful insomnia. I have never been one to take medicine unless I have to, so I have suffered along. It's why I am on the cleanse. To get some sleep. I fall asleep right away and aside from getting up to pee, I sleep the whole time. Also, last night was dream city! So many dreams!

Well, as we enter the weekend be prepared for all the temptations....if you are anything like me you'll be around all kinds of food and socializing. I think I am prepared for it but will keep my guard up.

Keep up the good work one and all! Also, thanks as always for all the posts they are a God-send.

xoxox,

Beth

[Evita]

Well, my energy is definitely flagging and I'm on day 5. I have a play to attend this eve which is good. I really am hungry. I know because I'm not craving junk (I didn't eat much anyway). I have been drinking lemonade like no tomorrow and my stomach feels like it has a hole in it. Healthnut: it can be any mint tea as long as it's just mint with no caffeine. I have been drinking water etc. My first two days were very easy and these last 3 days have been extremely difficult and getting harder. My SWF was very slow this morning. Normally it's over in an hour but today it was about an hour and a half before anything happened. Well, I'm trying. I really am. I don't really have anywhere to go this weekend so I won't be around food. Anyhow I'm going to shoot my stepson right now. Found a liquor bottle in his room that's 3/4 empty. Not happy about that. Super...

[CrazySingleMom]

freewitheft --
Yay ... nice to know theres more single moms on here!
I plan to start within 2-3 days of getting the syrup, but that could be a week or two yet as its not even shipped yet .. *sigh*

sudzie --
Double yay! ... wow ... 3 of us single moms going all at once? :D
If I can get my syrup quick enough I would love to join ya starting that weekend :D

My boys are still quite young so they will not be joining me for awhile yet ( theres 3 of um from 5-10).

I did have a question though .... I am currently taking Iodine for thyroid/adrenal support. I have both pills and liquid form. Has anyone else done the MC before and added in liquid Iodine?

Thanks,

~Rachel

[Donny L]

Day 4 almost over. Thought i was gonna give up for real . The smell of the family dinner was killing me . I was starving and out of lemons:eek: I held in there untill my wife got home and I ran out the door for the store. In the store I bumped into a guy who is co-owner of a restraunt I'm trying to get hired at.I've met his partner before but it was the first time I got to talk to him.I can see now how god worked the whole day to put me there at that time to get my lemons. Including a 15 minute rain shower that stopped me from going earlier.

[Donny L]

P.S. did I mention I live in Vegas and I can't remember the last time it rained here. Sweet God shot !

[Evita]

I am starving. That's all I have to say at this point. I am at the end of day 5. Getting ready to drink my lax tea. I don't know if I should do the SWF tomorrow. I'm frightened it might be too depleting given the way I'm feeling right now. I guess I'll have to assess in the morning. Maybe just take a break from eliminations tomorrow and start on Sunday again? It seems to make bodily sense to me. Well, day 6 tomorrow....:confused:

[Evita]

OK beginning of day 6. Feel slight cold symptoms but that's expected as a lot of people experience this from what I've read. Decided to do the SWF after all this morning. The SWF has worked faster today than on any other day I've done it. 30 minutes or less. It was darker than just bright orange or yellow so I guess that would be a sign of progress in some way. Feeling so tired. I know I should start making my lemonade but just feel little energy. Maybe I need to go back to sleep for a while and then make it.... anyhow, Day 6. I really hope it's different than yesterday but if it's not then I just have to be OK with that. I hope everyone has a lovely morning! Best to you.

[Evita]

Oh and my husband has been doing this with me. Day 2 was his hardest day. Since then he's been sailing through like it's been nothing. He's also a bit busier than I am right now so maybe that helps him. I'm really hoping to get a yoga practice in after having some LM and some water. I get a facial and a massage at 2 so I'm looking forward to that! It's ayurvedic so no added toxins, all natural oils used so that's a bonus right there. OK, swigging my first LM of the day. My husband has been having at least 9 a day. I've only managed 6 so maybe if I up my intake (it's been very hard to do) I'll have more energy. He actually had the worse diet than I did too and needs to drop about 20 pounds but he's had no detox day. I feel like everyday is a detox day and I was pretty much 80% vegetarian, no processed foods when I started this.... go figure:rolleyes:

[undiscovred]

Hey guys

Day 4 YAY!!

anyway ive been using iodidzed sea salt cause thats waht i had at the house. Have i totally ruined my cleanse :confused:...my swf has been working just fine every morning.. so... is it ok?

[mtmouse]

Congratulations!

If your salt simply has iodine in it then you should be fine.

However, if the salt has iodine added, then you should stop using it and switch to tea in the morning until you can find just plain ol' sea salt (but Celtic sea salt tastes the best). You haven't wrecked your cleanse, but you should not keep using it either.

Happy cleansing!

[Evita]

OK, finished a yoga practice and some light cardio. My tongue is like two different layers, literally. There's a bright pink one creeping up the front almost halfway up my tongue and then there are the coated parts towards the back. It's the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. Also the 'new tongue' feels more sensitive. Would this be what someone else has experienced? Need to get more LM and water down so I don't have to pee while I'm having my massage/facial...;)

[healthnut420]

P.S. did I mention I live in Vegas and I can't remember the last time it rained here. Sweet God shot !

Wow that is great to hear Donny!! :D God is so awesome!

Last night I went to bed early again, I have been sleeping A LOT. I left my window open and this morning I woke up to the pouring rain, so refreshing! I love the northwest weather!! I literally jumped out of bed and cheerfully got ready for work. Once I got ready I just stood outside in the rain for a few minutes before getting in my car, which I started ahead of time and turned on the seat warmer. So far, its been a really good day.

I have noticed a few things though: first of all, I've stopped chewing my nails. I've been biting them since I was a little kid. My mom gets her nails done now but when they're off she still bites them and she's turning 45 in a few days. I hope I've dropped this nasty habit for good!

Second thing, I've dropped another 2 lbs. So since Wednesday I've lost 6 pounds. If this keeps going I'll weight less than I was in high school!

And 3rd, this is really nasty but I want to know if anyone else has experienced this: I have a lot of sputum that gets really irritating so I have to cough it up and its freakin embarrassing but there's just so much. I can only do it in my car with no one with me to get real deep and get it out and then its the sickest thing cause I either have to open my door or swallow it. Where is it all coming from? Ugh! Hope I didnt gross anyone out, or maybe its a good thing if you're grossed out then you won't feel hungry haha!

Anyway, I can't believe I made it to day 4. I am only a bit hungry but mostly cravings. I keep thinking about my mom's cooking and all the Russian food I'm ganna ask her to make when I'm done with this. Oh and today after work, I'm definitely ganna get some mint tea!

[Donny L]

day 5 Thanks for the lagh Healthnut420 ! I wanna' eat !! I'm not going to but I wanna'. I'm down to 159 . That's 9 lbs gone. Huh...mabey I'll make it through work today. MUST RESIST COOKIES . LOL Stay strong all

[healthnut420]

day 5 Thanks for the lagh Healthnut420 ! I wanna' eat !! I'm not going to but I wanna'. I'm down to 159 . That's 9 lbs gone. Huh...mabey I'll make it through work today. MUST RESIST COOKIES . LOL Stay strong all

You too Donny!! Yesterday I said no to a cup cake and my co-worker's mouth dropped! She asked me if I was alright lol I've never been able to say no to sweets before. You can do it!!!:)

[Evita]

Healthnut and Donny: great jobs! I went to a play last night that had a reception afterward. I could literally smell a woman's glass of wine from 6 feet away... not even kidding! I didn't go anywhere near the food. I wasn't craving but I was experiencing real hunger. Not enough LM yesterday. It's weird. On the days I do yoga or cardio I am fine with just 6 LM but yesterday I decided to rest and was starved. I know that endorphins can decrease appetite for a while. Also it's good to get everything mobilized in my system so I can get it out. I can't believe I'm at day 6 since yesterday was so difficult.
I did a lot of socializing yesterday so maybe that made it harder. Today hasn't been as hard. I'm feeling a bit tired. I did get down 3 drinks and 3/4 of a liter of water but I can't drink anymore til my massage and facial are done or I'll never relax!!! I'll have to pee every two seconds. I'll have a round of limeade later this afternoon and catch up on my water intake then. That's not remotely gross healthnut, that's just a detox symptom. I have more mucous in my sinuses and some post nasal drip and that's not usual for me. Almost half of my tongue is bright pink! Unbelievable. I don't know if I've lost any weight. I don't own a scale and won't ever own one again. I don't need to lose weight. I am doing this for emotional/psychological clarity. Anyhow, I know I post a lot but it makes me feel better knowing you all are out there with me. Blessings!:p

[healthnut420]

Hey its okay I post like crazy too!! It definitely helps me keep going!! :)

[Le Mon]

Hey everyone....
Day 13...
about the mint tea, If you can find MetroMint water get some, it's grrrreaattt!!!
The past couple days I switched over from maple to molasses. I have to say, I read a lot about the molasses tasting bad, but really, it goes down much easier (for me at least) than the maple. I love it.
I really haven't been able to get much done this cleanse, but today I am going to try and pick it up a bit and do some things. I've been dragging pretty much. I made a promise to myself though that once I get to day 15 I will start being more active outdoors, it's just been soooo hot here lately. Had to take a sleeping pill last night (prescription, i have insomnia) which i REALLY didn't want to do, but for the past 4 or 5 days i haven't been able to get to bed until at least 3am or so...anyway, hang in there and keep on truckin'!
:)

[eflat123]

Day 3 - got started late this morning and skipped swf (excuses, excuses!) Dunno if that's why, but I'm not feeling very hungry today. I drink my drink and its fine, but not overly craving anything like I have been. Feeling a little tired and drained but I was feeling that before I started...and having a newborn may have something to do with that too!!!!!

[mtmouse]

Are you nursing? If so, you should not be doing the MC. See the thread about that here:

http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=646

:)

[Evita]

OK so I'm closing in on the end of day 6. Very depressed. Unable to socialize. Exhausted. Headache. None of this has improved for 4 days now. I thought the eliminations were supposed to help with this? I don't know. I read from a dr. that he's seen patients in the ER toxins in their systems. It actually creates a toxic system and crushes the metabolism. That is terrifying to read. I just don't know about this. I'm not feeling the wonderful energy that you're supposed to feel. I'm depressed, exhausted and isolated.

[otis]

Hi everyone!

I am getting ready to start my master cleanse tomorrow! Already had my tea and just downed a cheeseburger and fries...lol. I don't eat them often so I wanted to get that out of the way now.
This will be my 5th time. I love these cleanses.

Question... I have an ear infection and am on antibiotics for it. Ialso have pain medication that helps take the edge off but I can just deal with the pain if need be. Can I still take the antibiotic on the cleasnse?

Someone please advise me tonight, thank you!

I also saw a master cleanse book where it said you can take probiotics while on the cleanse as it aids in breaking down the drink but wondered if you really should??

Thank you!
Lynda

[LadyLemon]

Hi All!

Struggles galore out there. Here too. I've been grumpy all day but kept going all day and did all the stuff I had planned. I just got home from church and the pot roast I put in 8 hours ago for my bf smells divine. I am actually enjoying that a great deal and also glad to be home.

DonnyL--HANG IN THERE!!

Evita--so sorry you are feeling this way and having doubts. I hope you will decide to stick with it.

It's day 5 and the best part is that I am half way done! I am bored with the routine more this time than I was during cleanses in the past for some reason. My good friend who was cleansing with me was cheating along the way and totally bowed out today. :(

Also, like one of my other cleanses I have not yet lost any weight! Last time this happened I started losing on day 6 then kept losing after I completed, so I am keeping the faith.

Gotta run. We're watching Revolutionary Road while I sip on my LA, bf eats the roast, and I try to cheer up.

Hang tight, tomorrow is a new day folks! :)

xoxoxo,

Beth

[freewitheft]

Question... I have an ear infection and am on antibiotics for it. Ialso have pain medication that helps take the edge off but I can just deal with the pain if need be. Can I still take the antibiotic on the cleasnse?

Hi Lynda,

I'm not sure about the antibiotics but I wanted to tell you about something that might give you relief if you forego the pain meds. Try a couple drops of olive oil. If you have a dropper for the oil, warm it slightly by rubbing it between your palms for a few seconds first. Olive oil is antimicrobial and it can give relief because it's heavier than any fluid in the ear, so it will displace the fluid and relieve the pressure a bit. HTH!

[otis]

Thanks for the info! The pain is unbelievable. I have never had an ear infection before. In the book it states to discontinue all non-prescription medication so it would appear that the antibiotic should not interfere with the cleanse. I am ready to start tomorrow and don't want to put it off.
who knows how long it will take for the infection to clear up...

Lynda

[Evita]

Hi everybody. Thanks Beth for the words of encouragement. I am drinking my tea now. Have a headache, little energy, no lightness of being. My husband is on cloud 9. He hasn't had any major detox symptoms yet and this is the end of our day 6. He has a far worse diet than me, weight to lose... oh well, tomorrow is another day:rolleyes:

[CrazySingleMom]

Hi everyone!

...........Question... I have an ear infection and am on antibiotics for it. Ialso have pain medication that helps take the edge off but I can just deal with the pain if need be. Can I still take the antibiotic on the cleasnse?...............

Thank you!
Lynda

Ok ... gonna jump in here ....

*climbs on soapbox for a minute*

If you have an ear infection most the time antibiotics are NOT gonna help, and they do mess up your system!
ANY oil warmed up can help with the pain, but Tea Tree Oil (or Olive oil as already posted) warmed a bit and dropped into your ear will heal it, and relieve pain. Much better then taking systemic drugs that will suppress your immune system and wreck havoc on your digestive track.

*jumps down off soapbox*

Ok .. having ranted a bit ... if you are already taking those antibiotics you should finish the course. I would say it would be much better to wait til you are done to start your cleanse. The cleanse is to clean out toxins, and to do it while putting very toxic drugs (both the pain meds and the antibiotics) into your system at the same time just doens't make sense to me.

As for probiotics ... YES YES YES ... take them! ... but not at the same time you are cleansing. Your bodies digestive system basically shuts down while fasting (even this kind of a modified fast) and is flushing out. However after antibiotics probiotics are extremely helpful in beginning to restore a balance in your digestive system.

Hope I didn't blow ya away too bad ... ;)


Ok ... on to me ...
I have yet to hear back from the farm I am planning to order my maple syrup from, so it will be at least Tue. til it gets shipped out. Looks like I will be waiting til at least Wed. to start here.
I did go get tea, and lemons today though. (already have the cayenne and salt)

I am anxious to get started and be able to forget about eating again! Have picked up some very unhealthy habits in the last year and a half since I did my first MC and really want to get rid of them again.

To Peaceful, and Joyful Cleansing Ya'll!!

~Rachel

[Donny L]

Evita - Hang in there ! ;)
Healthnut420 - WOW, passed up a cupcake. I feel your pain. :D
Ladylemon- Thankyou for your continued encouragment. :)
As for me ,Day 5 almost over. I cant believe I've come this far. I don't have a set goal so I don't know how much longer the path in front of me is going to be . The weightloss and clensing of my system are nice benefits but I'm doing it moor as a spiritual journey.Looking forward to tomarrow. I can do it ! Phill. 4:13

[mvwilson]

I have just started day 2 and am hopeful that it will be better than day one. Day one started out great and then I developed a massive headache around 5pm which also made me feel nauseous until about 3:25 this morning. However, since I read about all of the side effects, I remain hopeful that things will improve.

[Evita]

Thanks Donny. I'm doing this more as a spiritual journey as well. I'm also on one medication that takes a very long time to come off as I've been on it so long. Klonopin (it's a benzodiazapine). I have been able to cut .5 off my dosage in the last 6 days. Start of day 7. Just did the SWF and am waiting for the results so to speak. I am thinking of cutting my klonopin dose another .5 tonight to see how that goes. I've been on it for 16 years now so you can't just come off or you'll die, pretty much. I am happy to get one mg down if I can. It's the only medication I take. I still believe I'm benefiting even if I can't come off this one med while doing this. Day 7. I'm going to rest today. No yoga or running around. I have been doing my usual workouts and I think they're zapping my energy. Maybe I'll see a turn in the road. I was ready to give up yesterday but I don't want to have missed something amazing that might happen to me spiritually or psychologically. I am with you Donny, it's not weight loss. I don't need to lose any weight. It's about clarity. Have a great morning everyone! I'll be in and out today. Hang on and hang in! You all have really helped me to get this far. Thank you. Woo-hoo SWF!!!:D

[looshia]

Good morning, my lemon friends

just checking in.. Day 6 today of my 3rd MC.
Feeling just a little tired, but mostly just bored with the cleanse. Down 7 lbs so far yay!

[Donny L]

Day 6 -up early for SWF and time for the results from that. Feeling good. Prayed , meditated and the word. It's off to work with a smile.

[Evita]

It will get better MV. I had headaches off and on. Depends on caffeine intake beforehand and other things. I have had off and on headaches, nothing too severe for a few days now. Today is day 7. Maybe it'll be different. Glad to see you Looshia and congrats on day 6. Glad your day is off with a smile Donny. I need to make some LM. I fell back to sleep after my SWF which is what I needed but am definitely needing to get something in my body. I'm just going one day at a time. I am hungry physically but not craving anything. I sat with friends last night at a bar. Lots of bar food around. Wasn't remotely interested even with people eating carrots and I LIKE carrots. That was a bizarre feeling. I wonder how long it takes to get your appetite back after this is all over? I didn't have a big one to begin with. Well, it's just right now. That's all we have. Blessings to everyone this morning.

[Evita]

Feeling a bit better today. Just making it almost a complete rest day. I haven't really done that. I exercised pretty intensely 5 days this week so my body was clearly screaming for a break even from my yoga practice. Well, it's practicing yoga when you listen to your body. Been tooling around online and will read a book I bought I while ago. Drink more LM and then switch to Lime later. Maybe have some mint tea as I haven't had any for a few days now. The front half of my tongue is entirely bright pink. The back part of my tongue is coated. It's weird. It's like it's peeling backward! Really strange to look at but must be a good sign! Hope everyone is doing OK!:)

[Evita]

Feeling REAL hunger right now. Just fixed my next 3 portions of limeade. I switched from lemon which I had this morning. Been getting plenty of water. I don't know how good my nutritional reserves were before I started this cleanse. Well, I'm just going to keep trying. That's all I can do. I know it's genuine hunger as I'm craving things like salad, hummus and things like that but these are things I'd normally eat for the most part. Maybe just a rough patch in the day. Anyway, late in the afternoon of day 7. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend and maybe we'll catch up later.

[CrazySingleMom]

Evita
Hang in there, this too shall pass. Sounds like your doing good.
Sure hope I have enough energy the first few days to exercise!
I really need to get more active again.

Hmm ... forgot about limes ... I will havta remember to pick some up tomorrow :rolleyes:

Happy Cleansing to ya!

~Rachel

[eflat123]

Day 4 - swf back in effect; kinda hungry but doing well considering; decided to try limes for the first time...nice change of pace.

[Donny L]

I made it through work. Had lots of energy and focus and thats good becease it was the busiest it's ever been. They sent me home with pounds of coldcuts,sandwiches and assorted begals. I walked in the house to the smell of lipton chicken soup and I'm starvin. I'm going to stay strong and make some LA. It's late into day 6 and although I don't know how long I'm going for ,I know today isn't the day to stop. I know stoping today would feel like quitting.

[Evita]

I wish I was experiencing the emotional uplift that everyone seems to be talking about. After almost 7 days I haven't really experienced a lift. My husband has been on cloud 9 since he started. I have no idea why?? He had weight to lose, had a far worse diet than me and he's ecstatic. I, on the other hand, have had a mostly vegetarian diet, work out and do yoga at least 5 days a week and I end up with all of this depression and emotional detoxing. It's very strange. I hope I experience the lift of day 8 that Peter talks about. I'm almost through 6 glasses. I just don't feel like making more. Honestly. I'm happy to hear that you had a great day Donny and eflat. That's wonderful. I'm stilling waiting for the emotional uplift/clarity..... I didn't do this to lose weight as I don't need to and I don't own a scale anyhow.... oh well... I'll check in a bit later. I understand how you feel Donny. I kept thinking '7 days is enough' but I would feel like such a quitter since I'm so close right now. I just keep thinking that something good will be coming around the corner soon. AND I've been reading these boards obsessively everyday. That's what's kept me going. Have a good eve all and I'll check in before bed. I'm looking forward to that tea! Maybe I should make myself a mint tea. I haven't had one and I do have mint tea downstairs. A bath might help too. Thanks for the encouragement everyone. You're all rockin' it out! That's awesome! I am too damn it! I'm still hanging!:D

[Donny L]

Hey Evita , I knew I'd be busy at work today so I doubled the syrup and used a whole lemon and half a lime in each drink. I think that had alot to do with my energy level today. Since your not trying to lose weaght mabey you could give it try. Also, a long hot soak in the tub is a great idea. I'll be doing that tonight FER SHER!! Igot some good epsome salt called "pepsome salt" . It's the same thing w/ a pepermint twist. It really helps the detox by drawing out the toxins and sooths all those littel eachs and pains. It also acts as a mild laxative to help the flush the next morning. Anyway that's my plan for the night.

[Donny L]

I just read some post's in " after the fast" and have a question. Whats up with probiotics? what are they? Do I need them to get off the fast? Or are they just for extended fasts? If so, how long is considered extended?

[Evita]

Probiotics come in powder form and contain a lot of super green enzymes. It helps with the digestive tract and also helps up the enzymes in the stomach after having fasted. They're awesome things all the way around. I bought mine today. Any supplement powder that says 'super green' or 'green' anything on it contains probiotics. Look at the back of the jar. I've always enjoyed taking them. They help for everything even when you're not cleansing. You almost don't need a multivitamin if you take probiotics regularly.

[Evita]

They also help restore natural bacteria to the digestive system. Makes the transition phase a lot easier for many people. Boosts immunity. They're really quite amazing.

[Donny L]

Where can I get some?

[freewitheft]

Where can I get some?

There are lots of probiotics on the market. At the health food store, or in the health food section of a grocery store, look in the refrigerated section for the best brands. Probiotics are also found in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and kombucha. I drink kombucha everyday since my first MC in the spring. It's full of B vitamins, antioxidants, enzymes, amino acids, etc in addition to the probiotics. The cleanse can be harsh on the normal flora of your intestinal tract so taking probiotics helps the good bugs get re-established. :)

[LadyLemon]

Hi Lemon Heads!

Kombucha? Is that easily found in stores? Can you tell me any more about Kombucha?

Today is day 6 and I was euphoric and energetic all day! Yay! I have been waiting for this feeling to kick in and it did. On previous cleanses it happened earlier but maybe I was super toxic this time or something.

Evita I am sorry you have had such a struggle but maybe you need the emotional detox. I get such benefits spiritually on the cleanse....grounded, calm, closer to God. So, I usually cleanse when I get a convergence of feeling physically toxic and a sense of confusion/frustration or face a major decision. With each experience I have gotten great benefit on both fronts.

Okay. It's been a busy, busy day and I am ready for PJs and a movie!

Have a terrific evening all!

Beth

[eflat123]

I wish I was experiencing the emotional uplift that everyone seems to be talking about. After almost 7 days I haven't really experienced a lift. My husband has been on cloud 9 since he started. I have no idea why?? He had weight to lose, had a far worse diet than me and he's ecstatic. I, on the other hand, have had a mostly vegetarian diet, work out and do yoga at least 5 days a week and I end up with all of this depression and emotional detoxing. It's very strange. I hope I experience the lift of day 8 that Peter talks about. I'm almost through 6 glasses. I just don't feel like making more. Honestly. I'm happy to hear that you had a great day Donny and eflat. That's wonderful. I'm stilling waiting for the emotional uplift/clarity..... I didn't do this to lose weight as I don't need to and I don't own a scale anyhow.... oh well... I'll check in a bit later. I understand how you feel Donny. I kept thinking '7 days is enough' but I would feel like such a quitter since I'm so close right now. I just keep thinking that something good will be coming around the corner soon. AND I've been reading these boards obsessively everyday. That's what's kept me going. Have a good eve all and I'll check in before bed. I'm looking forward to that tea! Maybe I should make myself a mint tea. I haven't had one and I do have mint tea downstairs. A bath might help too. Thanks for the encouragement everyone. You're all rockin' it out! That's awesome! I am too damn it! I'm still hanging!:D

Hey, Evita,
Hang in! It's natural to break out the yard stick, but we each have our own trip to make and it unfolds as it does to serve us individually. And I think mixing it up is a good idea, a way have some variety. Mint tea is a treat, or skip the cayenne occasionally, or try the limes!

A friend of mine who's done this a few times says he makes like 20 lemons worth of drink, keeps it in the fridge and drinks as desired (only add cayenne to the glass you're having).

[Evita]

Thanks everybody. I'm happy to hear about your day Beth. eflat, I've definitely been mixing it up with everything you suggested. Actually since I only drank 6 drinks and had low energy I thought I'd just take 2 TBSP of maple syrup. That helped a LOT. Blood sugar issues so I'm going to have to be a bit more vigilant about that. I actually rested quite a bit today. I am usually doing some light cardio and a regular vinyasa yoga practice. That actually helps but I felt the need to rest. I drank some mint tea and that was nice. Finished with my major water consumption of the evening as I don't want to be up all night peeing:) Will do my lax tea in the next hour and then read a bit and go to bed. I know this is the right thing for me. It's learning not to fight but surrender. Blessings to everyone tonight!

[Evita]

Thanks everybody. I'm happy to hear about your day Beth. eflat, I've definitely been mixing it up with everything you suggested. Actually since I only drank 6 drinks and had low energy I thought I'd just take 2 TBSP of maple syrup. That helped a LOT. Blood sugar issues so I'm going to have to be a bit more vigilant about that. I actually rested quite a bit today. I am usually doing some light cardio and a regular vinyasa yoga practice. That actually helps but I felt the need to rest. I drank some mint tea and that was nice. Finished with my major water consumption of the evening as I don't want to be up all night peeing:) Will do my lax tea in the next hour and then read a bit and go to bed. I know this is the right thing for me. It's learning not to fight but surrender. Blessings to everyone tonight!:o

[mvwilson]

I am on day 2 of the cleanse. I am guessing I must be very toxic. I have had severe headaches and nausea for the past 24-30 hours. I am still walking three miles in the morning and have all the appropriate eliminations. My concern is that the nausea makes me resist drinking the lemonade for fear of vomiting. I have drank maybe a fourth of what I should have today. I have not really experienced hunger, but have had cravings for crackers. Any advice?:confused:

[Evita]

Remember tomorrow is a new day and the headache will pass. The first few days are rough physically in some way for almost everybody and it's different for everyone. If you were a coffee drinker before the cleanse and didn't taper that can cause severe headaches. Low blood sugar. You can mix things up between lemon and lime. I find the lime more pleasant to drink as it's sweeter and less acidic. I do get lemon in in the a.m. but switch to lime. Try the mint tea for nausea. It's good for that and you're allowed to have it so make sure you do that. Also make sure you're drinking enough water. Dehydration can cause headaches to. Dividing your weight in half and drinking that many ounces of water on top of the 6 minimum. I carry a container with me everywhere so that I make sure I drink at least 2 of them. It's a 32 ounce container so if I drink two I'm getting the minimum. You can do it MV! I've had a very difficult emotional time. My husband hasn't had anything but a few mild headaches and he wasn't the best eater in the world, has high cholesterol, needs to lose a little weight. It will get better. Tomorrow is a new day. After the SWF I always feel like I have a new start. I tend to crash in the late afternoon but I know that's from low blood sugar so I'm addressing that and it helps. Best to you. Hope you rest well this evening.

[dancer76kk]

My husband and I just got all of our supplies this evening and we are ready to go! I am super excited about cleansing my body and getting off to a more healthy lifestyle! :)

QUESTION: I have read where mint tea is allowed. Is there a certain type of mint tea that is acceptable? Is mint green tea or mint black tea okay? What are some of you using?

Thanks!
K~

[mtmouse]

Welcome!

The tea has to be 100% peppermint. No black tea, no green tea allowed.

And we suggest you limit it to one cup a day or less.

Happy cleansing!

[Donny L]

End of day 6 .MAD cravings today! I survived , WHEW !

[eflat123]

The tea has to be 100% peppermint.
I imagine that spearmint would be fine as well...

[wildflowerdb]

Evita,
I don't see another post from you so, I hope you are feeling better. I strongly suggest you just experience what is happening to YOU and know that it is what you need to experience, regardless of what anyone else is experiencing. Each of my cleanses was different. Sometimes I needed a lot of rest, sometimes I had bound-less energy. Sometimes I was freezing cold, sometimes it felt like hot flashes. To add to eflat's advice, you can also put your lemonade in a blender with ice and drink it as a slushy....or put it in a margarita glass and pretend you are on a beach somewhere.


Hey, Evita,
Hang in! It's natural to break out the yard stick, but we each have our own trip to make and it unfolds as it does to serve us individually. And I think mixing it up is a good idea, a way have some variety. Mint tea is a treat, or skip the cayenne occasionally, or try the limes!

A friend of mine who's done this a few times says he makes like 20 lemons worth of drink, keeps it in the fridge and drinks as desired (only add cayenne to the glass you're having).


Thanks everybody. I'm happy to hear about your day Beth. eflat, I've definitely been mixing it up with everything you suggested. Actually since I only drank 6 drinks and had low energy I thought I'd just take 2 TBSP of maple syrup. That helped a LOT. Blood sugar issues so I'm going to have to be a bit more vigilant about that. I actually rested quite a bit today. I am usually doing some light cardio and a regular vinyasa yoga practice. That actually helps but I felt the need to rest. I drank some mint tea and that was nice. Finished with my major water consumption of the evening as I don't want to be up all night peeing:) Will do my lax tea in the next hour and then read a bit and go to bed. I know this is the right thing for me. It's learning not to fight but surrender. Blessings to everyone tonight!

[wildflowerdb]

Just finishing up my 4th MC. It was interesting, as always. To start, I did not have a computer to check in with y'all so, I was on my own. I only felt cold for 1 day, which was nice. I had cravings for the oddest things...meat! I haven't eaten meat in 25 years!! I guess 5 years of various cleanses is paying off; I think I have started cleaning out really old stuff from the old intestinal trac.:o I had hoped to go 21 days but, I have to travel for the next week and don't want tobe bothered with the carrying everything. I did that once and it was a real pain. Anyway, 14 days is good and I look forward to cleansing again before year end. Good luck to everyone!

[Evita]

Good morning everyone. Beginning of Day 8. Thanks, wildflower for your concern and reassurance. I do believe it's necessary for me to experience what I've been experiencing. The interesting thing is I'm recovering from bulimia (this has been a long term recovery so don't panic) and I have never felt hunger very well since (it was 22 years of bulimia). This has taught me that I DO experience real hunger and that real experience of hunger has been frightening. I used to eat by the clock. I HAVE to eat something for breakfast, I HAVE to each something for lunch, I HAVE to eat something for dinner. It wasn't free thinking or enjoyable. Something I had to learn how to do again and I hated every minute of it. And now I'm happy to have merely the LM or lime anytime of the day I feel hungry. It's very profound for me. Also fighting against everything. I made the decision to do this for very specific reasons. Sometimes it's learning to surrender. Well SWF has worked but will probably need to wait a little longer for the full effect, so to speak. I'm getting ready to have some mint tea before starting my LM. I'm still hanging in there and I hope everyone has a wonderful day! Thank you everyone for all of your encouragement. This has been a deeply introspective time for me. More emotional than physical. Again I am grateful. I don't know what I would have done without you but I give myself credit for making the decision to just say in the moment and take it one day at a time.
Blessings!;)

[Evita]

Oh and happy travels Wildflower!! That sounds wonderful. I need to travel soon just for the joy of it. And congrats on your finish!!!

[mvwilson]

Thanks so much for the advice, I am feeling much better and more hopeful today.. I am going to get some limes today to see if that makes a difference.

[missfae]

Good morning, missfae speaking.

I've just started today, or in about 1 hour to be precise. I was on the Master Cleanse about 4 years ago, I think it was, and dropped from 179 to 155. I kept the weight off for 2 years until I became ill, the doctors still don't know with me, and my weight jumped up to 189. Between the meds and my personal stresses, I am current at 195.8. So, I'm am going to return to the plan that was very successful for me.

The last time, I was on the Cleanse for 28 days and I could have gone longer, but I really wanted to chew something. I never really had hunger pains, but really wanted popcorn. So, I am going to have a big bowl today and that will be my memory to get me through. In celebration of my 50th birthday, I plan to stay on the fast for 50 days. So I need the wonderful members to send up good thoughts and prayers to keep me going. Diabetes and cancer runs in my family, and anything I can do to be as healthy as possible is a boon. http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/2593/dancingpeppere0dz3.gif

[Donny L]

Day 7 starting well. Lots of cravings yesterday afternoon/late evening. Lots of temptations. Even just driving around in Las Vegas is a temptation. There are bilboards with food everywhere. Food and half naked women,lol Praying you all have a blessed day. I'll check in later.

[freewitheft]

[SIZE="3"][B]Hi Lemon Heads!

Kombucha? Is that easily found in stores? Can you tell me any more about Kombucha?



It's becoming more popular and more easily found in health food stores. Even saw it in the natural foods section of a regular grocery store. Most common brand is GT's Synergy - I like the Gingerberry. :)

Basically, it's a fermented black tea of Chinese origins. The tea is fermented with white sugar and a kombucha "mushroom", which is a symbiotic growth of bacteria, yeast, fungi, etc. Don't worry, the white sugar is metabolized by the mushroom. ;) I forget how long it takes to ferment - at least a couple weeks I think. Anyways, the end product can be drank as is, or with juice or other tea added for flavor.

You can do this yourself and many do because the commercial stuff is expensive. You just have to ask around for a starter "baby" mushroom. However, this is one of those things I'm willing to spend the money on the bottled product. I just don't think I could drink it if I saw it being made. lol

[Dave252]

Hello to all, i just started my first MC today. I did the lax tea last night, and the flush this morning. My question is about the flush, it wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be. Is it ok to just slam it down or are you supposed to drink it slow? I've read that your stomach shrinks on the MC, but after i slammed down the SWF i felt extremely bloated, and my stomach streched to capacity.

Also is it ok to drink the lemonade at 10pm? Being this is my first MC I figured on drinking 8 glasses a day if I start at 8am and drink one every 2 hours the last one would be around 10pm. Or am i just supposed to drink one when i'm hungry?

Thanks for any advice, and good luck to all.

[mtmouse]

Hi thre Dave252,

You can drink the SWF at any speed that's comfortable to you.

As long as you get your minimum 6 glasses of lemonade and maximum of 12, you can have your lemonade at any time (except before the SWF, of course). So if you've had 6 or 7 by 10:00 and aren't hungry, then don't drink one at 10:00. Within those parameters, you should always have a glass of lemonade whenever you ARE hungry.

Be sure to drink plenty of plain pure water in between lemonades, too.

Enjoy!

[Dave252]

Hello to all, I started my first MC today. I drank the lax tea last night, and the SWF this morning. It wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be. my question is is it ok to slam the SWF, or are you supposed to drink it slow? I've read that your stomach shrinks on the MC, after slamming the SWF i felt extremely bloated and my stomach stetched to capacity. Is that normal?

Also is it ok to drink the lemonade drink at 10pm? Being my first MC I planned on drinking @ 8 glasses a day at 2 hour intervals. If I start at 8am the last lemonade would be around 10pm is this a problem? Or are you only supposed to drink one when your hungry?

Lastly, is it ok to make a batch for the whole day? I've read in some books on juicing that the nutrients break down after only a couple of minutes. So leaving it in the fridge for hours doesn't seem like a good idea?

Thanks in advance for any advice or comments, good luck to all.

[mvwilson]

I am now on Day 3 and feeling a hundred percent better. In order for the cleanse to be successful, do all the ingredients have to be mixed together or can they be taken separately. For example can I just put lemon in my water and then just eat the syrup and pepper? I am having a hard time with the lemonade as a whole. I am taking the advice I received earlier and will use limes instead of lemons.:rolleyes:

[missfae]

Hi thre Dave252,

You can drink the SWF at any speed that's comfortable to you.

As long as you get your minimum 6 glasses of lemonade and maximum of 12, you can have your lemonade at any time (except before the SWF, of course). So if you've had 6 or 7 by 10:00 and aren't hungry, then don't drink one at 10:00. Within those parameters, you should always have a glass of lemonade whenever you ARE hungry.

Be sure to drink plenty of plain pure water in between lemonades, too.

Enjoy!


My problem is that I've gotten used to eating at night. So is it okay to drink the lemonade at night or would water be better?

[LadyLemon]

Good Morning All!

Today is day 7 and I am feeling euphoric and energetic again today. I feel sooooooo great after the SWF each day. Plus the sleep I am getting is such a treat. I think I may go longer than the 10 days I originally mapped out. The trick is, get this, I am going on an alligator hunt next weekend in Louisianna. It will be very tricky to manage the SWF in particular plus all of the fluid intake all day out in the swamp. But I am trying to figure out if I can do it so I can keep going. I have managed it before while on business travel so I know it is possible if I put my mind to it.

Welcome to those of you who are just getting started again or for the first time! I look forward to keeping in touch with you all and hearing about your trials and tribulations!

Today is beautiful here so I plan to go for a long hike with my dog and enjoy the fresh air for a change!

Happy Squeezing!

Beth

[Donny L]

Missfae - welcome back to the MC. Happy Birthday! It's probbably the best gift you could give yourself. 50 day's is quite the goal to set for yourself. A day for every year. If I were to follow your lead I'd have to stay on it for 40 days. I don't have a finish date picked out but I and I don't want to set myself up for failure by setting one now. But who knows? Mabey I will make the long haul of 40 days,GOD willing, one day at a time.

[eflat123]

@evita - wonderful unfolding insights; the MC can be about much more than the technical process (but that's a start) and moreso about how we are with ourselves during it.

Day 5 - sleepily unfolding; hungry, off to my first batch...

[missfae]

Missfae - welcome back to the MC. Happy Birthday! It's probbably the best gift you could give yourself. 50 day's is quite the goal to set for yourself. A day for every year. If I were to follow your lead I'd have to stay on it for 40 days. I don't have a finish date picked out but I and I don't want to set myself up for failure by setting one now. But who knows? Mabey I will make the long haul of 40 days,GOD willing, one day at a time.


Thanks so much,it is good to be back. I am keeping my fingers crossed on the 50 days. As long as I stay busy, I'll be fine. And with school starting, I have lots to keep me busy. I think that I can do a strong 30 days, then after that, it'll be one day at a time. The problem is still having to cook for hubby, but he is starting an eating program. At least it won't be high calorie goodies that I have to fight against.

During this time, I hope to start back writing again, starting a weight journal and getting back into walking. I think that the detox will help me with all of this because when I became ill, I became depressed and just started putting all the wrong stuff in my body. However, I am back on track and looking forward to a successful year.

I post my web page as soon as I get more of my writings up. hugs...

[Donny L]

my wife just got home from the grocerey store. HELP ME..........it all looks so good. Day 7 might be my last day.

[Evita]

You can do it Donny!!! You will be in a LOT of pain if you just jump into food. It's almost your day 8!!! I know, I almost quit yesterday. Try some mint tea. Get out and take a walk. Drink some more lemonade or limeade. Add extra cayenne. Take a hot bath. Read something. I know exactly how you're feeling. The food will be there once this is over. It's not going anywhere. Relax. Breathe. Drink some water. I almost through it in yesterday too but remember that day 7 is the benchmark and everything is supposed to be better from here and it has been better for me today. Wait until day 8. The food will always be there.

[Evita]

Go and get some exercise. A brisk walk/run can get your endorphins going and you'll stop thinking about it.

[Jague]

Day 1. The salt water was the worst part so far, but it didn't taste too bad. I didn't have a bunch of eliminations after the SWF, hopefully tomorrow they start. I've had two so far: One right after drinking the salt water which may have been from the tea, and another one while I was in the middle of making my first glass of lemonade. All in all I think I'll be fine. Just got through glass #4, and I'm shooting for six glasses a day.


And is the lemonade supposed to taste this good? I was expecting it to be more spicy hah. I like it. I can see myself drinking it after the cleanse.

[looshia]

Day 7 today and I'm feeling blah..

This is the first time I've done the MC while my husband is home (usually I do it while he is away on business trips).

This MC is feeling particularly long and difficult for, probably because he is around me, eating and all.

I have a recipe list a mile long that I want to cook once off the MC.

Only 3 more days to go, God give me strength.

[Evita]

As for myself, I'm headed into the end of day 8. Did a yoga practice this afternoon. Feel very calm this late after/early eve. My husband is still going strong. He's doing more creative work right now and I'm needing to either rest and do a workout or yoga practice or just rest. I guess we're just different. I actually have dropped 1 mg off my klonopin prescription in the last 4 days. That's a big deal for me. I've been on it for a very long time. I've tried tapering before but for whatever reason being on this cleanse made it very simple to drop 1 mg. Usually it would take a month to do that! So down to 3 mg. This is an extremely difficult medication to come off and some people never get off so if I can keep it to 3 then I've made enormous progress without having any side effects. That's just bizarre.... Anyhow, I hope everyone is enjoying their afternoons. I'm just relaxin post vigorous yoga practice, having some limeade and water. Looking forward to a bath in a bit. I'll check in later. Best to everyone!

[Evita]

You can do it looshia! Remember that Peter says days 2/3/7 are the hardest. After that it's easier. Just remind yourself of that. You're almost to day 8! I'm almost done with day 8. Today has been a lot easier. Still going through emotional detox but I feel far more relaxed than I have on the entire time of this cleanse. My husband, fortunately, is doing it with me and sailing through. He's had nowhere near as difficult a time as I have but I had a lot of emotional toxicity from my perspective. I really got my butt kicked emotionally for 7 days. Today is slightly clearer and lighter for me. I know how you feel! I'll check in in a bit but I'm here for you.:)

[Evita]

OK, my stepson is going to have an organic flatbread pizza with whole wheat crust, fresh mozzarella and herbs... this is the FIRST time anything is going to be made in this house since we started the cleanse. I may have to seal myself in the bathroom with a lavender bath to drown out the smell!!!! Anyhow, I am feeling hungry. Finished my juice for the day. I've had 6 glasses and nearly 2 liters of water. I'm just waiting it out for my tea and then reading more on this site and off to bed. Phew! I really don't want to smell fresh herbs and spices right now lol:p

[looshia]

Thanks Evita. And congrats on your bog milestone!

I just crawled out of the bath with epsom salt.. little lavender vanilla candles..

It is amazing how much better I feel after taking the bath. I have had one every day of my cleanse and every time it works miracles.

Off for some senna tea and then bedtime.. I have to be up at 4am tomorrow to do the SWF and make it to work in time.

[Evita]

Alright, the flatbread organic pizza is safely in his room! I put a LOT of lavender bath salts in my bath so that's all I'm smelling right now! I'm also having an extra small cup of lemonade. Wow, we've had the luxury of going through most of this cleanse without food in the house. Well, he's in school until about 7.30 or 8 so I'm almost done with my day when he comes home. Waiting to have my tea in a shortish while. I'll check in in a bit to see how everyone is before going to bed. Has anyone done this twice a week just to keep moving towards a raw diet and also to help aid in getting off medications? I have reduced the dosage of a serious med by 1 mg in 4 days! If this helps me to keep going I might be able to get off this thing. I can't extend the cleanse because I'm running a bit low on nutritional reserves right now so I'll wait a bit before doing another. Probably before the Holidays or in the New Year. I'm just amazed at how it's helped me come down 1 mg with no effort. I've tried to do this a million times with no success. Anyhow check in later and any feedback would be appreciated:D

[Evita]

Awesome Looshia! I'm going to be having my tea very, very shortly and then off to bed with me.

[LadyLemon]

Hi All!

Day 7 coming to a close and I am still feeling very solid. Enjoyed the weather and my energy all day long! Though, I feel bloated, does anyone know why? :confused: I am puffing up as the day goes on then after the SWF each morning I lose a lot of the retained water. I don't remember this happening at all the last two cleanses.

Evita, that is terrific that you have managed to reduce your dosage. :D What a huge accomplishment especially in light of the fact that you have attempted to do so before! Great job!

I have to say my favorite part about my experience this time is the wonderful sleep I am able to get every night. Typically I get a sense of dread as bed time nears knowing that I will be awake all night wishing for sleep, which always eludes me. But on the cleanse I sleep so well, and dream up a storm. So, I'm trying to finish up my last glass of LA so I can get my tea and hit the pillow! :)

Donny, don't quit now! You have survived so many difficult temptations, and this is just another one that will pass as the others did!

Hang in there everyone!

Beth

[Donny L]

sorry gang, I cheated :confused: Now I wish I didn't. No physical pain but really feal down. Mabey I'll pick myself up and rejoin the ranks in the morning. I would like to. Any advice? I wish I would have gotten your post's before I fell off. I'll check in the morning for any input you might have for me. I feel like I let myself and my littel lemon team down.:(

[zartan]

I'm starting my 4th master cleanse tomorrow. I have been pretty tentative about it until tonight - I finally feel strong enough to see it through. I've already postponed it 1 week so there's no more putting it off. Is there anyone else out there who're starting their cleanse tomorrow? I'm in need of a cleansing buddy.

Stay strong everyone. Donny, I think you should jump back on the wagon. Good luck!

Oh... and I'm planning to use Agave nectar tomorrow. I've used it in the past, but not for more than 2 days at the end of a cleanse. Has anyone used it exclusively for their cleanse? Does it make you feel any more or less energetic than with the Maple B?

Thanks.

[Le Mon]

Hey Zartan it's funny you ask...I just bought a bottle of Agave and let me tell you, I love it. Here's how I would rank the three syrups I have used on this cleanse.
1. Agave
2. Molasses
3. Maple Syrup
Wish I would have done the Molasses and Agave sooner. Anyway, it's the end of Day 15 for me. I woke up this morning and really really wanted to come off, but I went to the store, bought fresh supplies and I'm feeling pretty good.
I know this sounds funny but the last two cleanses I have been on, after 10 days or so I start smelling garlic everywhere....I don't know WHAT it is. I smell it in the air, on family and friends' breath. It's horrible. Last year I could barely stay in the same room as people because the smell was so awful...I'm getting that again this time around....what is it? has anyone else experienced this or am I just turning into some crazy superhuman man with supersniffing dog powers?
later.

[mvwilson]

Okay, so it is the bottom of day 3 and I still can't make myself drink the lemonade even with limes. The thought of drinking it makes me very nauseated. I drank three glass today. I did drink more water and peppermint tea. I still am not hungry but as of this morning had lost 4.6lbs. I need to be able to work the rest of this week and am getting worried about my ability to do so. I am very tired and headachy in the afternoons and evenings.
Any advice

[CrazySingleMom]

................. Is there anyone else out there who're starting their cleanse tomorrow? I'm in need of a cleansing buddy............
Thanks.

Hi !

I am sorta starting tomorrow, going to do a fruit only day before easing into my 2nd cleanse.
I am also trying Agave this time around, partly because I don't have enough MS right now and don't want to wait to start til I can get more shipped here.

My YIM is on here, I also have MSN, Skype, and GoogleTalk. If you wanna keep in touch with me that would be great.

How long are you aiming to go?

I pulled my juicer out of the high cabinet, and gonna stick it in the dishwasher tonight so its all clean and ready to go. :D

Sure hope to have energy, so gonna ease into this cleanse a lot more then I did on my first one.

Peaceful cleansing to ya'll!!

~Rachel

[fauxbee]

Day, uh, 16 sort of, I ate some food tonight so I guess tomorrow is Day 1 again.

Feeling tired, feeling confused and groggy. I have yeast symptoms flaring up and considered stopping the cleanse, but will just keep going to see what happens.:eek:

[eflat123]

My end of Day 5...and I'm generally grumpy...thinking about how kooky this is...a little darkness comes up for light...surrender indeed...

[Evita]

Thanks Beth. Glad to hear you had a great day. Bloating?? Hmmm... are you drinking enough water? That's the only thing I can thing of. Is it hot where you are? Time of the month? Just some thoughts. Yeah Donny, I hope we see you back!! Well, I'm going to take my last pee of the evening and drink my tea and hit the hay! Day 9 tomorrow!! Never thought it would come and today was MUCH better.

[Evita]

Donny, just jump back in and add a day or two. You went 7 days so maybe start today and add 4 days instead of three. That's what I've been reading on other boards. And don't beat yourself up. It's counterproductive. We're still here for you so just jump back in and finish it up:) eflat, you know I understand entirely how you're feeling. I was in a hideous state the first 7 days but yesterday and the start of today things seem to be lifting. Beginning of day 9. Never thought I would see it. I felt like giving up so many times for various reasons (some legitimate) but have wanted to see this through. Recently I've had difficulty seeing things through so I think this was a commitment to see it through because I told myself and my husband I would. He's also on day 9 with me. Just downed the SWF, waiting for the results then onto the rest of the day. Donny, just pick up today and add a few days. You've come too far so get on the horse and start riding. Maybe have your end day as Friday or Saturday? Just thoughts. Anyhow, I always check in so if someone is writing S.O.S. I want to be here. I also have a flexible schedule being self employed so it makes it easier to check in and as you've seen just blab, blab blab:D

[ncgirl]

I'm starting my 4th master cleanse tomorrow. I have been pretty tentative about it until tonight - I finally feel strong enough to see it through. I've already postponed it 1 week so there's no more putting it off. Is there anyone else out there who're starting their cleanse tomorrow? I'm in need of a cleansing buddy.

Stay strong everyone. Donny, I think you should jump back on the wagon. Good luck!

Oh... and I'm planning to use Agave nectar tomorrow. I've used it in the past, but not for more than 2 days at the end of a cleanse. Has anyone used it exclusively for their cleanse? Does it make you feel any more or less energetic than with the Maple B?

Thanks.
I'm starting my 3rd MC today. As before, I'm excited to begin but know I will be miserable soon. However I've been so glad I've done it after it is over. First time that I've posted to the board and am excited to be part of the group.

[Dave252]

Hello all, starting day 2 of my first master cleanse. Had a couple of questions, my mouth was watering all day long? and my tongue had like a mucus film on it. is this normal? Also had hot flashes at the end of the night, but when in bed couldn't get warm. Kept getting the chills.
All else is ok so far. Its encouraging to read everyones tales or triumph and woes.
Good luck to all.
Thanks for any advice.

[LadyLemon]

Good Morning all!

Day 8 here and SWF underway. I slept like a baby again last night :D I am eager to tackle this new day!

MVWilson--for The Master Cleanse you need to find a way to get in at least 6 glasses. I imagine a big part of why you feel tired is because you are not getting nearly enough nutrition. If you keep going this way you will probably be unable to carry on with your work and life normally.

Donny--I'm with Evita, you might as well tack on a few more days at least for your own sense of accomplishment. Technically you are starting on day 1 today, but that's just a technicality! Anyway, keep in mind that 7 days is a HUGE thing to be proud of! Very few people could have done it but you did!

It's a short week so I want to make the best of it. I am feeling energized, clear-headed, and optimistic! Yay, the MC working it's wonders over here!!

Happy squeezing and have a terrific day!

Beth

[Evita]

Dave, everything you're experiencing is totally normal. Go to instant answers on the top of the page. Also read through the threads on this one starting at one. You will get a coated tongue, that's absolutely normal. It's part of the detox process. A pink tongue is the end result but some people decide to break at 10 days even though their tongue isn't entirely pink. Just brush you tongue and you'll feel better. Temperature changes are completely normal. You might feel sore throats, congestion, aches, pains, get a low grade fever, fatigue, headaches... it's different for everyone. Just remember it's a detox symptom and it will go away. Read as many posts as you can. This helped me a lot. I also have this book and 2 others about the MC. Information is power. Drink a lot of water, your minimum of LA of limeade and remember your first 3 days are the worst. Day 3 in particular. Day 7 is another milestone day. Everything will diminish over time including cravings. You'll realize that you can get past them. And they're are FAR more temporary than it seems at first. Beth, glad to hear about your cleanse being so awesome. I have come a LONG way and I did not feel better until yesterday, day 8. Welcome new MCer's and one's returning for their next cleanse. Day 9 for me is underway. I'll check in later this afternoon to see if anyone needs anything. Happy, healthy cleansing!

[Donny L]

OK , I'm back in. Should I do the salt water flush this morning or will it mess me up because I eat yesterday. Thank's for the kind words , it helped bunches.

[Dave252]

thanks evita, i will look at those posts. thanks for the kind advice.

[Jague]

Day 2, only one minor elimination from the SWF, but it was semi-solid and rather wet. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing, perhaps it's a good thing that I had an elimination at all heh. I really hope I'm getting the proportions right for that thing.

I love the lemonade more with every drink I have.

I press on.


On another note, I'm finding it easier to go to bed earlier than I have been and thus get up earlier. I feel a sense of accomplishment there.

[Laura27]

Hi all,

I'm on day 5, and haven't lost a pound. In fact, each day I averaged a 1-2 lb gain. I've followed all of the directions perfectly and drink6-8 lemonades per day, with many glasses of water in between.
I'm 5'8 , 132 lbs and pre cleanse taking in 2500-3500 calories per day (probably how I gained 10 lbs in the last 5 years), so I can't understand why the scale doesn't show any loss. I do feel puffy and bloated from the SWF, but its hard to believe that on days 11,12,13- when I stop the SWF, that I'll see a big loss. Any feedback would be appreciated. Its a bit discouraging, but I'm still commmited to the 10 days.
Thanks and good luck to everyone!

[sunnyrae]

I'm starting my 4th master cleanse tomorrow. I have been pretty tentative about it until tonight - I finally feel strong enough to see it through. I've already postponed it 1 week so there's no more putting it off. Is there anyone else out there who're starting their cleanse tomorrow? I'm in need of a cleansing buddy.

Stay strong everyone. Donny, I think you should jump back on the wagon. Good luck!

Oh... and I'm planning to use Agave nectar tomorrow. I've used it in the past, but not for more than 2 days at the end of a cleanse. Has anyone used it exclusively for their cleanse? Does it make you feel any more or less energetic than with the Maple B?

Thanks.

Hi Zarton!
today is day 1 for me also... we can be buddies! i plan on going 10 days on this one.
i usually use agave...just cant stand the MS :p ! but one thing i do notice is muscle aches at night after a few days. someone suggested adding in molasses to the mix, which i did, and the aches went away. i have read that the agave doesnt contain as many minerals and especially if you use the light agave ( i use the raw blue agave which is darker in color... i like the taste better)

good luck to you! :D
-sunnyrae
p.s i also like to use limes!!! :D :D

[Laura27]

I am having the same problem :( Day 5 and up 1 lb.

[Evita]

Donny, you could have done the salt water flush this morning. That would have been fine. Peter has said in the book that he and his wife do the salt water flush when the morning after they go out for a particularly heavy meal just to clean the system out. So, I hope you did that or got the answer you needed. Well, I'm over halfway into day 9 and I'm really exhausted and very hungry. Even with tea, water, extra MS and cayenne. I don't even have anything in particular in mind when it comes to food. Just very sharp hunger pangs. I am onto my next batch of limeade after having lemon. I really hope I get to exercise today but I feel a bit weak for that. I'll wait until I've had half this batch to see how I feel. Hope everyone is doing OK on their cleansing day. I'll check back in. Blessings:o

[LadyLemon]

Hi SunnyRae, we cleansed together earlier this year. Good to see you again! I'm on day 8 and having a terrific experience this time. Not sure how long I will go, a minimum of 10 days but not sure after that.

Does anyone know if Grade A Maple Syrup is okay? My friend bought it and I'm not sure if it will work.:confused:

[eflat123]

Day 6 well underway...feeling ok overal, but a little tired, although that probably has to do with "spending time" with our newborn overnight ;)

was wondering something...how do people experience stress differently while on the MC? I've got some work-related stress going on for a long while now. It's definitly still with me, but slightly decreased and with a little less of an edge to it. That's as best as I can describe, anyway.

Good day and happy cleansing to all.

[Evita]

Beth: in the Burroughs book in says you can use A or B but preferably B. So I don't see the problem with that. Glad you're still going strong.

eflat: I have had the same experience. I feel far more chill than I normally would over certain things that would have caused me to flip. I think giving the adrenals a rest and cleansing and also the lymphatic system helps the central nervous system. Does that make sense?

[zartan]

Hello All!

Sunnyrae and ncgirl -- you are my cleansing buddies! I've got to be honest though, I decided to postpone my start (yet again) until tomorrow because I don't have the proper supplies in the house. I was going to go out this morning and grab them, but I didn't -- nor did I successfully drink the tea last night (I can't stand chocolate Smooth Move -- must get the regular). SO anyway, tomorrow begins my MC journey. Doesn't mean I can't be a day behind and still keep up with the cleansing crew.

Based on several positive suggestions, I think I will be using agave nectar (I'll look for the blue that was mentioned in an earlier post).

Another question for those of you who use limes. I read recently about the mineral content in limes compared to lemons and it was (imho) significantly less in limes. Does this translate into a different feeling for you folks who use limes? Just wondering -- I'm a lemon girl myself.

Ok.. going to go get my supplies in a bit.

[Evita]

I switch off during the day. I'll start with lemon and then finish with lime. I couldn't do lemon all day. I need a taste difference. Not sure if it's made a difference for me. This is my first cleanse. Day 9. I would say that I tend to end the day with lime just because I like it. I also don't do my major physical activity after 4 so that's when I switch to lime. Hmmm.. next time around I'll try lime in the morning and see if it makes a difference. I don't weigh myself so I have no idea if it's affected anything in that department. I wish I could offer more help but that's all I've got right now. Happy cleansing!

[healthnut420]

Hey guys!! I have a confession to make :( I ate sushi on Sunday (it was my 5th day of the cleanse) and then I was ganna start again on Monday but it didn't work out and today didn't work out so I'm ganna start again tomorrow:D The only reason I failed is because every Sunday after church we always go out to eat (usually sushi YUM!) and I wasn't going to go but my sisters needed a ride and wanted me to pay for them. I didn't post that day or do the SWF so I wasn't really focused ughhhh anyway, starting again tomorrow.
There's this lady that works with me and she wants to do it too but she's ganna do it next Monday. I'm really happy cause now I have a buddy in real life who's going through what I am and she doesn't think I can do it cause she's never seen me refuse food so this is perfect because I'm ganna prove her wrong;)
Anyway, I'll post tomorrow, I hope everyone is having a good day!!! Happy cleansing!!

[healthnut420]

Quick question, how come under my name it says "Junior Member" and not just "Member" like everyone elses?? Whats up with that?

[Le Mon]

Day 16, feeling good.
Lady Lemon - Stay away from Grade A. At all costs. Grade B is good, Grade C is THE BEST.
I would check out using Blackstrap Molasses though. It's only 5 bucks for a pretty good size bottle and goes down smoother (in my opinion at least) you can find it at Central Market or Whole Foods.
You can also find Agave Syrup which is INCREDIBLE.
Anyway, I didn't go to bed until 7am this morning, I just was not tired. Thanks God there was a 6am Law and Order on! Anyway, hang tough everyone!

[Laura27]

Day 5 and struggling to get thru. Huge cravings, huge peripheral temptation to throw in the towel. Only 4 hours left in the day, so going to stick it out, but hope hope hope tomorrow isn't this bad.

[Jucy]

Hi Everyone, I'm on Day 2 of my first MC, i feel so envious of all you people on later days! time seems to be standing still a bit, trying to keep busy but all that I can think about is the fact that I'm doing the cleanse (and am only on day 2). Does anyone who has completed the MC have some inspirational stories about how great they felt once done and the benefits they experienced? (I don't have the book yet)
Great to know there are others exeperiencing the MC at the same time, I'm so glad I found this forum, thanks to evryone for taking the time to post!

[Evita]

Hi Laura, remember in the book that the days which are most difficult are going to be 2/3/7 and some of those in between days can be rough as well. They were very difficult for me. I haven't been socializing at all and I'm a person who is big on being around people. Let's see. Make sure you're drinking plenty of water along with your LA or Limeade. Have you tried a mint tea yet? Are you getting enough LA or limeade. Minimum is 6 and can go up to 12. Remember that this will pass. I have had a very difficult time altogether. Yesterday was easier but today was a struggle again and it's day 9. I'm not even craving anything in particular. I am hungry but I know I've felt this way before and it will pass. My evenings are the hardest by far. I did exercise a bit earlier which helped release some endorphins. I actually read through all the old posts and that is comforting and inspiring. I have been more calm the last few days as I've just remembered to keep surrendering to this process. You're halfway there. Remember that. Halfway. You can do it. I didn't think I'd be sitting at day 9. My detox has been largely emotional so I would have preferred physical symptoms in some way but this is what I've needed to experience. Just take it a moment at a time. Take a good walk. Get fresh air. If you do yoga that works wonders for moments like this. OK, I'll check in a bit later. Sorry if I gave misinformation Beth. I really thought the Burroughs book said you could use grade A.

[Laura27]

Thanks so much Evita. I don't know why today was so rough- your reply helps :)

[Evita]

I'm so happy Laura. Helping and supporting others through this process has helped me. When times got rough I came here and looked for people who needed help. Or just posted a rant. If you go back you'll see in the last 9 days I've posted over 50 times! lol Hey, whatever gets you through! And I'll be back to check in with all those who are finishing up around me including you! We're not that far apart and if I can cheer people through the end of their cleanses then we can plan to do it again together!:D

[Evita]

Jucy: read through the posts on this thread starting from one. You'll find a lot of inspiration. Read through the instant answers link at the top. Do searches. The more information you have the more you'll understand what's happening. Your day 3 is going to be difficult. Day 7 is another benchmark day. Things start happening when you're past day 7. That's what happened for me. It's still not easy but I'm getting more calm and getting to know myself a little better. This is my first time but I read Peter's book, the Burroughs book and that book no one should read ending in 'secrets'. If someone follows that book then they're not doing the MC. Information is power. Best to you! Hang in there! Go back and read some of my posts the last 9 days. I've been all over the place but I've proved to myself that I can do it.

[ncgirl]

Hello All!

Sunnyrae and ncgirl -- you are my cleansing buddies! I've got to be honest though, I decided to postpone my start (yet again) until tomorrow because I don't have the proper supplies in the house. I was going to go out this morning and grab them, but I didn't -- nor did I successfully drink the tea last night (I can't stand chocolate Smooth Move -- must get the regular). SO anyway, tomorrow begins my MC journey. Doesn't mean I can't be a day behind and still keep up with the cleansing crew.

Based on several positive suggestions, I think I will be using agave nectar (I'll look for the blue that was mentioned in an earlier post).

Another question for those of you who use limes. I read recently about the mineral content in limes compared to lemons and it was (imho) significantly less in limes. Does this translate into a different feeling for you folks who use limes? Just wondering -- I'm a lemon girl myself.

Ok.. going to go get my supplies in a bit.
Hi Sunnyrae and Zartan,

Day 1 almost done. Always a relief to be done with that. Zartan - I'm using the agave and have in all 3 of my cleanses in the past. The smell of maple syrup makes me want to vomit so obviously not a good option. I love the agave. I've just been using a straight Senna tea not brewed too strong. I found that in the past if I brew it too strong I have terrible cramping in the middle of the night. Good luck on your start tomorrow.

[KLP23]

I technically started last night with the laxative tea.. and so far so good, this day has been going pretty good. I messed up on the first drink.. I miscalculated a few things, so my first drink was a bit watery, lol.

Good luck to all of us newbies.. and thank goodness for this site. I don't feel so alone anymore.

[looshia]

Day 8 is winding down and I'm pretty calm. It was busy at work so the day flew buy.
John is having a glass of pale ale with Triscuits and cheddar cheese and it's funny how your reflex tells you to go and grab some..
2 more days left! Yippy!

[Evita]

Hey Looshia, top of day 8 to you! I'm almost to the end of my day 9. I totally understand where you're coming from. If there was a pale ale in front of me right now I'd be screaming for the door lol. I've been pretty fortunate in that we've only had to have food in the house over the last 2 days since having my stepson for our half of the week. Well, at least on the other side of this we get a free weekend! Definitely looking forward to some food! I'm not a junky eater by any means but hummus and broccoli sounds divine to me right now. Getting ready to have my lax tea (it does NOTHING for me) and have my last SWF tomorrow at 6.30 am!!!!! I learned a lot about myself doing this. I don't know about weight loss as I don't weigh myself. I'm sure I lost something but I didn't have to lose weight anyhow so that wasn't my reason for doing this. Will definitely be doing it again either between Holidays or in Jan for a new start to a new season (yoga season). Hope everyone is having a good eve. I'll check back in before I hit the hay!

[Jucy]

Evita - thanks for your message, this forum is great, i must have been on it for hours today and just went and bought the book so lots more reading for me - congratulations on completing day 9 and thanks for sharing your journey

[Evita]

Best to everyone starting the cleanse. End of day 9 for me. Having my lax tea and hitting the hay. Up at 6-6.30 for my last SWF. Last day of lemon/lime drinks. On to transitioning. I'm going to start probioticcs tomorrow to get a jump on my digestive system. It's always been slow so I think that would be a good idea for me before I transition. Good night and I'll check in in the am. Blessings

[LadyLemon]

Good Evening One and All!

Day 8 coming to a close. I'm sipping my tea as we speak. Another great day. Energetic. Focused. Upbeat. Grounded. Clear skin and eyes. No more bloating. Well rested from terrific sleep. Feeling light and lean and fresh.

Wow! What a tememndous day of posts. Lots of people getting started, lots of people in the middle, lots of people nearing their finish. I cherish the ability to come here and see what is happening and be part of this community. Thanks to all of you for answering questions and sharing experiences. No way could I do this without y'all. :)

My cleanse is not complete and I am still seriously considering going beyond my original 10 day plan. Trouble is, I've got this fabulous Alligator Hunt this weekend in Louisianna, and the circumstances are less than conducive to a MC! To say the least! It's not that I have to eat food. It's that the SWF is an issue. Also, even more so, all the fluids and frequent bathroom trips don't really work well out in the swamp with a bunch of guys! So I may have to do my best for the weekend and pick it up properly again when I get back. Last MC I did 20 days and it was perfect. So maybe I do this 10, go gator hunting while doing most elements of the MC, and pick up day 11 on Monday. It's a head scratcher, but that's what I'm thinkin! :D

For those of you who are not losing weight, I typically have that experience as well. I don't usually lose the kind of weight I hear about from others who post. I don't weigh myself, but typically I notice my clothes getting a little loose during the last couple of days of the cleanse. But, remember, it's really all about the detoxing and well worth it! There is a thread all about weight loss, you shoud read through that as it will give you an idea of the wide spectrum of experiences in that regard.

Good luck all and thanks again for all the encouragement and support.

Go Team Lemon!

Beth

[ncgirl]

Good morning fellow cleansers,

Day 2 and feeling GREAT. Didn't sleep well last night but woke up this morning feeling energized and dedicated to the goal. Thanks for you all sharing your experiences, it's inspirational. I'm just doing tea twice a day due to bad experiences with SWF on my last cleanse. Seems to have the same effect however. Off for my first LA. Power on!

[sunnyrae]

good morning lemon freshies!:)
morning of day 2. swf not wanting to stay down...using my sheer will to keep it down.:p
didnt sleep well...actually slept horribly.
had a headache all night and was up at 2 am with what i call a pre-elimination from the lax tea.
took an aspirin then just to try and get some shut eye. i dont usually take anything while cleansing (as we are instructed not to).
i know i didnt get enough drinks or water in, so thats what i get for that!
day 1 was rough towards the end. just goes to show ya...no 2 cleanses are alike and this is mc #6 for me.
lady lemon i do recognize you from last time...always good to see familiar cleansers on here! :D

keep up the posting everyone!

:D:):D:):D

[Evita]

Good to hear all is well, Beth. Yeah, I wouldn't want to have to do the SWF and be out in a swamp. You're making the right call with that one. I am on day 10 and do not wish to go any further. I don't think it would be that good for me at this point. I do plan on doing the cleanse again, however. Probably between Holidays or in January. Downed my last SWF. For whatever reason it's never been a problem. I just make sure the water is pretty warm and chug it down. Waiting for the SWF to kick in and then off with the day. The hard part is being an opera singer and trying to sing with little in the way or carbohydrates. I've had to be very careful and limit singing to 15 minutes a day. I'm happy I was in between gigs! Anyhow, I will be checking in throughout the day in case anybody needs help. It helps me! Blessings:D

[Laura27]

Hi Evita,
Congrats on day 10! What are your plans for breaking the cleanse? I will be curious to hear your results...did you achieve the pink tongue...how much did you lose...and what did you eat first!

[zartan]

Hello Fellow cleansers!

Day 1 has begun for me. I just chugged the SWF and now I'm waiting for it to kick in. I'm feeling good about this cleanse. It's more than needed and it'll be a great way to start the school year off. Sunnyrae and NCgirl, I love that you two are a day ahead of me.. it's like having the pacesetters in front of me and trying to keep up.

Ok, I'm psyched for today. I know there wil be rough points. I anticipate the 2-day headache I always get on days 1-3 because of my coffee habit -- but I'm always happy to bear it since it means only good things for my body. Oh man, I cannot wait for the euphoria and clearmindedness of the latter part of the cleanse. For now, it's a day at a time.

I'll also be trying out the agave nectar today. Looking forward to a productive 10-day cleanse. Cheers to all!

[CrazySingleMom]

*yawn*

Good morning lemonheads,

I am getting a very slow start to my fasting, sticking with fruit again today since I was out most the day yesterday, ended up getting a huge fruit smoothie in town. I am pushing the MC back a day and gonna eat this fruit I got for yesterday yet today and plan to start the MC tomorrow.
Feeling better already though, so thats encouraging, so looking forward to getting cleaned out!

Sounds like everyone who has started this week is doing great so far :D

~Rachel

[tata001]

Hello everyone, I am on the 1st day and everything is going smoothly. 8) This is my 2nd, 10 day mc. The first one was great I lost some unwanted lbs and felt awsome afterwards! Im not really looking to lose weight this time around. I have really awful stomach issues (bloating,irregularity, heavy feeling...) I am way more prepared this time so I hope it continues to go smoothly.

[LadyLemon]

Good Morning Lemon Gang!

Day 9! Continuing to feel absolutely terrific! I still sleep beautifully but not needing as much. Today I felt absolutely refreshed after 6 hours. Earlier in the cleanse I was sleeping 8 or 9 hours! In real life I have terrible insomnia :(.

Everyone sounds terrific! What a happy, upbeat bunch! Even those suffering with headaches and pains are positive! GOOD LEMON HEAD KARMA!!!!

Have a great day!

Beth

[skyle]

Hi Everyone,
I'm on day 5 of (I think) my 5th MC. I haven't cleansed since January 08. I'm feeling amazingly good this time around! I think it may be because I made a decision to stay in and be quiet at home rather than attending my normal functions. I never realized how torturous it was to watch my friends eating and drinking while I was on the cleanse. I've had tons of energy, and I've been getting some type of exercise every day, which I had almost completely let go prior to starting this cleanse. My goal is to be active every day in some form or fashion.

Okay, I need help with 2 things: I have never broken the fast properly before. I got to Day 10, then ended up making vegetable soup or eating a salad that night rather than drinking juice on Day 11, etc. Can someone share tips for getting motivated or staying committed to this? I really want to do it right this time.

2nd: I need to decide on a reasonable way to eat when I'm done. I don't think I can go raw and be successful. Does anyone else have suggestions on some type of structure I can implement when I break the fast? My normal diet consists of some healthy meals (fish, chicken, veggies, whole grains, etc), plus some junk (chips, cookies, diet coke, etc.) Thanks in advance for your help!

Sarah

[Jucy]

Hi Everyone
Skyle - I'm only on day 3 of my first MC but with regards to your second question I have gradually improved my diet over the past few years and I think that the key is to increase the good stuff (raw, organic) and decrease the not so good, I try not to think of any food as bad because guilt associated with food is not a good thing - if you want some chips just have a small amount and then see how they make you feel after. I usually find that after eating chips, sweets etc I don't feel that great so just try to remember the feeling for the next time I really want some. I've found that if I try to go too extreme and cut out all the not so good stuff I find it much more difficult to stick to a healthy diet. Be kind to yourself and do what makes you feel good! (This is usually the good healthy stuff anyway).
Congratulations on Day 5, can't wait to be there myself!

[Laura27]

Hi Everyone,

Closing on day 6 and have lost 0 lbs. So bummed. Anyone have any feedback?
Thanks, Laura

[undiscovred]

ITS DAY 8!!!

And im thrilled!! I didnt think i'd make it this far....i feel like just yesterday it was day 1 and i was like "if i can make it to DAY 5 i have a chance" :) two days left wow!! I dnt know what im going to eat when it ends...nothing i used to eat really seems right. I have a taste for something fresh and homemade!! Well... we'll see!

MARCH ON LEMON HEADS MARCH ON!!!!!!

[LadyLemon]

Skyle--on the second question I agree with Jucy for the most part--nothing too drastic and everything in moderation. However, I think it is okay to eliminate one or two things each cleanse. Like, for example, you might decide to eliminate foods with white flour. Or, coffee. Or whatever you are ready to let go of. Then, keep the other foods that aren't so healthy in check and follow Jucy's advice. I picked it up the idea from other cleansers on my first cleanse. Over time you may find yourself in a much healthier place food-wise.

On the first question, I hope someone answers you because I have also jumped almost right into veggie soup the first evening after finishing. Then very quickly into regular food shortly thereafter.

Good Questions!

[looshia]

Day 9 is ending and tomorrow is all I have to survive..
Out of 3 MC's this was the toughest one...

I'm glad I stuck with it!

[LadyLemon]

Looshia--We are on the same schedule! Day 9 ending for me as well but mine was not difficult so far this time. Congrats for making it through a tough one. We must have cleansed together at least once this year. Hope to see you again soon. In the meantime, hope all is healthy and well for you inbetween your MCs. Great Job!

[zartan]

Day 1 is coming to a close for me. I'm already using this site as a crutch.. however, I feel REALLY good about this cleanse.. probably because I've been food binging for the past 5 or so weeks off the heels of a really really healthful early summer.. I'm back! Healthful me is here!

Meantime, agave nectar gets two thumbs up! Maple B is good too, I have no problem with it, but I was looking for a cheaper alternative.. and agave nectar is it! It's got a clean, fresh taste. I highly recommend it and a I thank you fellow cleansers out there for encouraging me to try it (Sunnyrae, this means you :D)

Alright, good luck and good night!

[KaraBekah]

Hello fellow MCers! This will be my third attempt at the MC. My first MC was successful with 10 days and I felt great. My second MC crashed and burned on day three and ended up at McDonalds :o.

Now I am doing my third round and this is the end of day one for me. This cleanse is important to me because a year ago this month I finished 7 weeks of chemo to dissolve a persistant tumor from a molar pregnancy. I have never felt the same since doing the chemo and I knew it was time to take charge of my body, mind, and soul again. So here I am gagging through day 1 and I plan to go over 10 days until I feel that my body has repaired itself from that horrible treatment I put it through.

I personally hate the lemonade and I hold my nose while I gag down two servings at a time. My daughter saw me suffering through the drink with my nose pinched between my fingers and she very loudly told me with a worried look on her face, "stop drinking mommy!!" lol. But I remember how I felt after I did the first 10 day cleanse and I am ready to feel even better!!! Plus I have to get a bridesmaid dress to zip closed by the 26th of this month..oh dear :rolleyes:. So best of luck to all who are starting, I will be coming back for moral support and I offer my support as well! I look forward to meeting you and having a successful detox with you!! *Cheers*

[skyle]

Jucy and LadyLemon,
Thanks so much for your advice and encouragement! I'm finishing up Day 5 and so far things have been pretty easy. I do feel some emotional detox happening. I fired a client, said the F word to my 18 year old son, and bawled my eyes out twice. Then I thought, "Oh yeah, this must be the emotional detox setting in..." :)

Zartan, congrats on finishing day 1!! Best of luck to all of you tomorrow!

Sarah

[Tanyazl1]

Day 9 is ending and tomorrow is all I have to survive..
Out of 3 MC's this was the toughest one...

I'm glad I stuck with it!

CONGRATULATIONS! Remember to take it slow with transitioning and reentering the food consumption world. If you haven't already done so, visit the 'after the cleanse' thread.

Ciao

Tanya

[Tanyazl1]

Hi Everyone,

Okay, I need help with 2 things: I have never broken the fast properly before. I got to Day 10, then ended up making vegetable soup or eating a salad that night rather than drinking juice on Day 11, etc. Can someone share tips for getting motivated or staying committed to this? I really want to do it right this time.

2nd: I need to decide on a reasonable way to eat when I'm done. I don't think I can go raw and be successful. Does anyone else have suggestions on some type of structure I can implement when I break the fast? My normal diet consists of some healthy meals (fish, chicken, veggies, whole grains, etc), plus some junk (chips, cookies, diet coke, etc.) Thanks in advance for your help!

Sarah


Hi Sarah,

Here's a link to the best way to break the MC fast from the MC library http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/showpost.php?p=25587&postcount=28

Also, visit the 'after the cleanse' link for ideas. I start with one meal at a time and strive to maintain small portions. It is important to eat meals without distractions and to savor each bite chewing each one slowly and thoroughly. :) Don't forget to continue drinking plenty of water. Strive for 1/2 of your weight in ounces or drink four quarts of spring water daily.

Ciao,

Tanya

[sunnyrae]

good morning!
day 3 here. this cleanse has not been easy so far. hmmmmm
got in my 6la's yesterday and about 30oz of water. felt ok most of the day, a little sluggish and fighting a cold sore :eek:
then again in starting early eve...headache :( took a sea salt bath that only helped a little.
i usually have the habit of drinking the juice of 1 lemon or lime in water every morning when i wake up. had been slacking a bit on that and thats prob why more detox symptoms early on this cleanse compared to last. i'm not a caffeine drinker anymore unless in the form of occasional tea or a decaff mocha once in a while so i know its not that.
also...yesterday the flush went in and....never came out! blah! :eek::eek::eek: fingers crossed for todays flush. :p

feeling better right now, always best in the mornin'!
hope you all are hanging in there!! :D

amendment: ... the flush is coming!...the flush is flushing! (thank goodness!)

[sunnyrae]

Meantime, agave nectar gets two thumbs up! Maple B is good too, I have no problem with it, but I was looking for a cheaper alternative.. and agave nectar is it! It's got a clean, fresh taste. I highly recommend it and a I thank you fellow cleansers out there for encouraging me to try it (Sunnyrae, this means you :D)

Alright, good luck and good night!

glad you like it! and remember to get a some molasses in there once in a while for minerals. it makes a difference on how you feel, and i suspect on the swf. your body might try to hold onto the salt from the swf if your minerals are low. (just my theory!:D)

bottoms up! :eek: :D

[Dave252]

hello all, day 4 of my first mc. 2nd and 3rd day were difficult. worked a double yesterday so it helped keep my mind off of things. nice energy boost today. hunger pains not really there today so far....
my sense of smell seems to be hightened. i feel i can smell restaurants before i see them.
Is it ok to have the pulp of the lemons? or should we be limiting that? i had a weird craving for popcorn yesterday dont know what that was about?
Anyway looking forward to the rest of the day, good luck to all.

[zartan]

Day 2 here. Just downed the SWF. Yesterday was a great first cleanse day -- until the evening hit and the monster headache set in. I was kind of expecting it though, so no big surprise. I feel like my body is already in fasting mode even though its only day 2. I was also a little too ambitious yesterday and did a million things that were energy-consuming both mentally and physically.. so for these next 2 days, I'm going to take it easy -- at least physically -- I still have to get my work done (I'm a grad student).

Ok, I hope all you cleansers out there are embracing your detox symptoms as signs of improving health, and stay strong.

Here's to a wonderful day ahead!

[tata001]

On day 2...feeling a little grumpy this morning :mad: I am also having problems with the swf coming out!!! And I really want a giant cup of coffee! Im gonna hang in there though I kinda knew the first few days would be like this because Ive been eating nothing but junk this past couple of months. :eek:

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!

[LadyLemon]

Good Morning Lemon Heads!

DAY 10!!! This has been a terrific cleanse so far all the way around. A couple of random rough patches of cravings and lethargy and brain fogginess, but nothing to complain about. I am not done though. I know I am not fully cleansed. I've got to go on this alligator hunt, and am very excited about it but simply can not do the full regimen of the MC out there in the swamp with a bunch of men. I am going to try to do a modified version (not as much LA ecause I can't go to the bathroom all the time and maybe some OJ and raw veggies, no SWF) for 2 days and hit it again perfectly on Monday. So this streak will go for 11 days then I want to add more after the hunt. Wish me luck, it might be impossible to get started again like that. I know it's not ideal but I can't come up with a better solution after a lot of head scratching!

Keep up all the good work out there! Seems like everyone is going strong right now!

Beth

[LadyLemon]

Oh! I forgot to mention. To those of you wondering about weight loss. I really didn't lose weight on this. Maybe 2 lbs or something minor along those lines. I didn't do it to lose weight and am not overweight, but my other cleanses yeilded me maybe 5lb losses. I rink exactly 6 LAs a day and follow the regimen to a "T". So, it goes to show you that everyone's experience is different. The cleansing part of the experience has always been very good to me! COULD NOT FEEL BETTER! :D

[Laura27]

Day 7 at home which feels better. Was surprised and happy to see 131
this morning especially after taking in 5.5 lbs of liquid (2 of those
SWF) with no pooping and peeing only a few times. So maybe there will be
a loss at the end of the tunnel. Happy to be home so I can follow the
directions (at least I can't attribute no BM's to screwing up the SWF
time), and for the ability to keep myself distracted. When I wake up
tomorrow it will be day 8, and after I do the SWF I'll be able to say
only 2 more to go.

One thing I'm going to try not to do tomorrow is cruise the internet for
links on the best brownies and cookies, check out menus from favorite
restaurants, look up recipes etc. (I haven't cooked [well] in years).
Bad enough that I watch Hells Kitchen and last night, Top Chef- those
definitely not as bad as the internet searches. I also have been keeping
a list of the craving that I get which some how makes me feel better
like, 'OK, I'm wanting these things, and when I complete this, I can
have them.' Very few have been junky things- mostly basic meals, and
the occasional gourmet toss in- which is also funny because I never
order rich foods when we go out to eat). So its a little bit worrisome
that all this binge thinking seems to be seeping into to my brain, but
more important for me, is to get through the 10 days. I'll deal with how
to get thru the after cleanse without behaving like a beast later.

The last 2 days, days 5 & 6 were the worst, which I think had to do with
work, and the fact that I rewrote the schedule taking in double
lemonades in the am, nothing after 12pm, and the SWF at 5pm, followed by
the senna tea an hour later (the only way it has worked for me, plus
need to use 2 rounded tsp of salt in the SWF). I did this because the
SWF generally takes 4-5 hours to kick in and then when it does - takes
about 4 hours to complete wit a 2 hour respite, and then another 1.5
hours of 'we have to go home NOW' which happened at Trader Joes's while
buying more...take a guess.... yup, lemons. I made it.

Per the book, I'm attributing the intense cravings to the messed up
schedule, hence messed up eliminations. I have today off, and told my
co-workers I'd be working from home Friday, so with day 10 happening on
Sunday, I can wrap up the following days following the schedule the way
it's supposed to be.

On the no-weight-loss subject, I've dug and searched thru the threads,
which I'm not that adept at, and have found a scarce handful of people
that have had the same experience, which is hard to believe, because I
know I can't be that unique. I will admit, there have been moments where
I have started to flirt with throwing in the towel, but then I picture
picking up that bottle of wine, and having that incredible meal, and
then how I'd feel after- the wine and meal in my tummy, and all of this
hard work gone. I can picture so clearly, envision myself and how that
I would feel, and no gourmet meal would be worth it. Nothing would,
because nothing would bring back those days, and I think this is
especially important to me, as a 1st timer.

So this is a long, long post from a newbie amongst you seasoned and
accomplished veterans. The feedback I have gotten has been very helpful
and given me strength, and so have all of the postings even when that
didn't relate to my own experience. I have been keeping a journal
throughout which has been a great help. My boyfriend has been a saint
these last few days- eating his dinner 2 rooms away (I could still
smell it) etc. I bought this really cool software online called
Journal4 for $40. It's the collect thing ever, and lets you create all
kinds of things- lists, trackers, journal entries. You can paste in
pictures, clip art- kind of like a blog, only just for me. Check it
out if it sounds interesting- there's free trial you can download-
they don't ask for credit card information or anything like that.

Long post- my hope is that someone having a similar experience and
feelings will find it helpful, or encourage them to stick with it.
Thanks so much everyone for the support and sharing. The board has been essential to my commitment to plug on. Best to all for a great day, a better day than yesterday, a day of determination to stick with it even though you fee sick, fat, discouraged, cranky, cravey- whatever. Just remember, its only 10 days out of your life. That last part applies to me. I can do it and you can to.

Laura :)

[ncgirl]

Hello fellow lemonheads (that still makes me laugh),

Day 3 is going great so far, not much in the way of hunger, enough to keep me busy and my mind off it. Always the toughest part of my day is when I have to feed my 2 year old - it's so hard to eat yummy things when you are touching them. That PB&J that was on my fingers, well it killed me to wash it off. Oh well. Had to run out of a store to get to a toilet - always embarassing, but made it in time, the important thing. Sounds like everyone is doing great. Keep it up!

[missfae]

glad you like it! and remember to get a some molasses in there once in a while for minerals. it makes a difference on how you feel, and i suspect on the swf. your body might try to hold onto the salt from the swf if your minerals are low. (just my theory!:D)

bottoms up! :eek: :D



I just saw this posting and I was curious about it... are you suggesting molasses for the maple syrup? And what was the suggestion for the agave nectar. I am on day 4 and still doing fine. Had to take my pain meds today for my condition, but I will hang in there. hugs to this group, I really enjoy it here...

[missfae]

hello all, day 4 of my first mc. 2nd and 3rd day were difficult. worked a double yesterday so it helped keep my mind off of things. nice energy boost today. hunger pains not really there today so far....
my sense of smell seems to be hightened. i feel i can smell restaurants before i see them.
Is it ok to have the pulp of the lemons? or should we be limiting that? i had a weird craving for popcorn yesterday dont know what that was about?
Anyway looking forward to the rest of the day, good luck to all.



For the whole 28 days of my first cleanse, I craved popcorn. The smell was always around me and I could taste it. It was weird and it was the reason that I went 28 days instead of my planned 30. I had to have some. lol

[Laura27]

Now I'm craving popcorn too. OY

[undiscovred]

DAY 9

And terribly wishing it was day 10 :( not having a bad day just ready for it to be over....There is a box of cherios with my name on it!!!!

Congrats to LADYLEMON and EVITA!! DAY 10 has arrived. LADY LEMON good luck on trying to modify your cleanse I hope it works out.

To everyone else stick with it...it'll be over before you know it..and you will be very glad you did it!!

[eflat123]

Day 8 -- I was a little grumpy yesterday, better today. I'm not really having the cravings I had the first few days, but I'm a little annoyed when I can't have something. Like "Hmmm...that XYZ smells/looks good, but I can't have any." I'm not dying over it, but feel inconvenienced rather than deprived.

Hang in, those in the first days! You'll be veterans soon enough!

[zartan]

After reading a few earlier posts, I'd like to remind people of just how important drinking lots of water is to this cleanse. You'll flush more toxins, lose more weight, and get over your negative symptoms faster. Also, if you drink a bunch of water after your SWF (no earlier than 30 minutes though) it will make the movements happen sooner so you can go about your day a little earlier. Water water water! It is JUST as essential to this fast as the lemonade!!

Ok.. I'm telling myself this too.... Drink up all! :)

[Jucy]

Day 4 for me, better than day 1 but still a while to go! My sense of smell is so heightened - i can smell all sorts of nice (flowers, herbs, trees) and nasty (city pollution, bad breath) things that i didn't notice before. And i can smell lots of delicious food - help! Do any of the experienced MCrs have some tips on how to get through the weekend?

[LadyLemon]

Laura--Thanks for your long post! It's the very best kind of post when people open up and really share what is going on. Also, I think those posts are good for the writer....part of the emotional detox. You are doing great and providing the group with terrific insights. Best wishes for a great experience. Thanks again, you are a good Lemon Head. --Beth

[sunnyrae]

I just saw this posting and I was curious about it... are you suggesting molasses for the maple syrup? And what was the suggestion for the agave nectar. I am on day 4 and still doing fine. Had to take my pain meds today for my condition, but I will hang in there. hugs to this group, I really enjoy it here...

hi there missfae.
i was discussing using raw blue agave nectar instead of the MS. its been used as a sub for the MS by many cleansers. it is a low glycemic and whole raw food, but lower in mineral content. so i add in molasses once in a while to the regimen. i like the flavor much much much better :D
and....i'm a lime head! :eek: .... :D

cheers!
sunnyrae:D

[LadyLemon]

Well, well, well, Fellow Lemon Heads.

Day 10 is coming to a close. I feel great in so many ways. Grounded, focused, light, energized but calm, accomplished. I don't think I am done cleansing but for the moment I have to depart from the regimen. I'll do tea tonight and swf tomorrow and stick to the plan but the next day I can't because of the alligator hunt. My big concern is returning to the cleanse. I'd probably go 5 more days if I could keep going but if I have to stop then re-start I may need more. That is IF I can bring myself back. Very difficult. Anyway, I have met my base line goal of 10 days!

I hope to see y"all next week if I make it back. Hang tight, it's worth it. If I don't make it back thanks for everything. You Da Best :D

Happy cleansing and peace!

Beth

[LadyLemon]

Zartan thanks for the reminder on Water. I'm in a constant battle to get enough. And you are right. The more water, the better and faster the detox. Great post!

[skyle]

Tanya,
Thanks so much for your feedback about breaking the fast. I will check out the link you suggested.

LadyLemon, congrats on a great cleanse so far! Best of luck with your alligator hunt, and then getting back on the cleanse.

Laura, good luck with your next few days. Sounds like an incredible 1st cleanse!

Today was Day 6 for me. I have been GROUCHY!! I wanted to crunch on something, not because I was hungry but because I miss the process of eating. I am thinking a lot about finding a reasonable way of eating when I'm done with this cleanse. I just read the book Skinny Bitch; have any of you guys read it? It is actually amusing and pretty informative. Their whole premise is we should all be eating a vegan diet. I totally agree with their principles, but becoming vegan feels incredibly restrictive to me, which I think is a big setup for failure. Instead i think I can stick with the plan of eliminating processed foods and/or chemicals from my diet.

I'm hoping Day 7 symptoms just came 1 day early, and that tomorrow will be a little easier. I'm afraid I might be wrong about that though, since Day 7 is supposed to be one of the hardest! Have a great Friday everyone!

Sarah

[looshia]

Good morning, lemon friends!

This is Day 11 and I am done!

Congrats to those who are done and good luck for those in the middle.

I will see you in about 3 months or do :)

[Laura27]

HI all,
Day 8 and feeling a little 'Enough already...'. I'll get thru it though.

Looshia- Congrats!

Sarah- I hope day 7 is better for you. I had a similar crummy day 6- day 7 was a huge turn around. I'm going to check out Skinny Bitch.

If any one else has any health food books to reccomend, please forward them along. I generally eat healthfully but do not have much time for cooking, so I'm looking for something that will help me make meals that are quick to prepare (30 min -1 hr?) Thanks

[Evita]

Hi everybody! Congrats on to everyone whose finished, is nearing the finish and anyone who has just started. So, I'm having a LOT of difficulty with the transition. I have been sick to my stomach for 2 days. Ate the veg soup, took flora and everything came up yesterday. I'm going to try orange only today and see if that helps. I have been taking the probiotic but it doesn't seem to be helping. I really need to eat something. I feel terrible. Anyhow, I am not sure what to do. I don't have the flu. My husband just broke the fast and didn't even bother with the transition. He's totally fine. Why am I having so much trouble? OK thanks guys.

[sunnyrae]

Evita, the orange should help. And you can also try some lemonaid here and there to get some nutrients in.
Many ppl do the LA in the mornings as part of a maintenance. Burrows talks of this in his book.

Hope you feel better! :)
I am currently on a 2 day road trip...trapped in a car while my husband comlains about my dragon breath!!
Or...maybe he's the one trapped! :D:D

[CrazySingleMom]

Ok folks .... offically day 1 here !

After 3 days of nothing but fruit I finally am on to full MC ... had my tea last night ... (ouch .. little strong on a tummy with only fruit!) will have to watch how long I brew it ...
Drank my SWF and boy .. it works ... watermelon seeds from yesterday flushed out with nasty stinking stuff ... ok .. enough gross stuff ...

I am feeling great! ... already more energy, better smell, and clearer head.

Bring it on world .. I am ready today!!

Hope everyone is doing well!

~Rachel

[eflat123]

Hi everybody! Congrats on to everyone whose finished, is nearing the finish and anyone who has just started. So, I'm having a LOT of difficulty with the transition. I have been sick to my stomach for 2 days. Ate the veg soup, took flora and everything came up yesterday. I'm going to try orange only today and see if that helps. I have been taking the probiotic but it doesn't seem to be helping. I really need to eat something. I feel terrible. Anyhow, I am not sure what to do. I don't have the flu. My husband just broke the fast and didn't even bother with the transition. He's totally fine. Why am I having so much trouble? OK thanks guys.
Sorry to hear this. What have your past transitions been like? Perhaps there's a clue there. And while I haven't yet checked out the breaking the fast thread, I was under the impression that probiotics would be done not quite so early in the transition. Hope the oranges go well!

[zartan]

Day 3 is coming to a close for me. Sippin' on tea now . SWF did not come out today... makes me again wonder about the kind of sea salt I'm using. The only ingredient is natural sea salt so I assume it's not iodized or whatever... I used this salt last time too and had this problem on some days as well. I tamper with the salt levels and that doesn't seem to change anything.. any ideas?

Beyond that, it's been a most pleasant day 3. Surprisingly no caffeine withdrawal headache today -- it has lasted until day 3 on my past cleanses. Lots of energy and positive spirits! I hope everyone else is having similar great experiences. Be well.

[eflat123]

Day 3 is coming to a close for me. Sippin' on tea now . SWF did not come out today... makes me again wonder about the kind of sea salt I'm using. The only ingredient is natural sea salt so I assume it's not iodized or whatever... I used this salt last time too and had this problem on some days as well. I tamper with the salt levels and that doesn't seem to change anything.. any ideas?

Beyond that, it's been a most pleasant day 3. Surprisingly no caffeine withdrawal headache today -- it has lasted until day 3 on my past cleanses. Lots of energy and positive spirits! I hope everyone else is having similar great experiences. Be well.

You sound like you're doing well!! Since you've had the swf thing happen before, it would be interesting to see what happens on a different salt. Now that I think about it, I'm using a different salt than my first MC and this one is easier to take down. (I'm using a little jar of Sea Salt from Trader Joes')

Day 10 tomorrow - I am soooo ready to be done. Much more food around me at home this time than the first time. It doesn't so much make me pang as it annoys me. :p

[Tanyazl1]

HI all,
Day 8 and feeling a little 'Enough already...'. I'll get thru it though.

Looshia- Congrats!

Sarah- I hope day 7 is better for you. I had a similar crummy day 6- day 7 was a huge turn around. I'm going to check out Skinny Bitch.

If any one else has any health food books to reccomend, please forward them along. I generally eat healthfully but do not have much time for cooking, so I'm looking for something that will help me make meals that are quick to prepare (30 min -1 hr?) Thanks
Hi Laura27,

Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko is a great resource for green smoothies.

When I want something to chew I have finely chopped celery, chopped dates, and sliced bananas in almond milk for breakfast or snack. Also, sliced cucumbers and figs are a good snack.

Tanya

[Laura27]

Thanks Tanya. I'm heading to Barnes & Noble today and will check it out.
Evita- Hope you are feeling better...
Day 9, and white knuckling it :(

[missfae]

hi there missfae.
i was discussing using raw blue agave nectar instead of the MS. its been used as a sub for the MS by many cleansers. it is a low glycemic and whole raw food, but lower in mineral content. so i add in molasses once in a while to the regimen. i like the flavor much much much better :D
and....i'm a lime head! :eek: .... :D

cheers!
sunnyrae:D


Thank you, I'll have to give that a try on my next cleanse. So I would mix in the agave instead of lemon juice?

[missfae]

Hellooo,

Day 6 for me. I am a bit hungrier this time, but I might not be drinking enough of the juice. I am going to keep an eye on that in the future. And Zartan, is correct, water is important. But I *hate* drinking it; nevertheless, I am going to do it because I want to be healthier.

For Laura, I understand your frustration, during my first cleanse, I held out until day 10 to weigh myself, I think I dropped on pound. Talk about frustrated. I began to wonder if it was worth it, I mean, I denying myself all what I thought was the good stuff; however, I decided to give it more time. So, I stuck to it and five days later, when I weight myself again I had lost 7 pounds. At the end of my 28 days I was down from 179 to 162, and later I went down to 155.

That was back in 2006. This time, I'm on day 6 and I'm down from 196.5 to 188.2 as of yesterday. What is making the difference this time, I really don't know? I guess bodies are different.

Any way, hang in there, I'm sure that you'll start losing soon. hugs to you.

[tata001]

Hello everyone, its day 4 for me and Im feeling so much better than day 2 and 3! My body is in total detox mode and I am starting to feel a little more energetic aswell. I hope every one is hanging in there and is feeling as good as I do right now. HAVE A GREAT DAY :D

[zartan]

Thank you, I'll have to give that a try on my next cleanse. So I would mix in the agave instead of lemon juice?

Missfae - You'd replace the Maple syrup with the agave nectar and supplement with blackstrap molasses if you're feeling like you're being underserved in the trace mineral area. Agave nectar has several minerals in it, but not as much as the maple syrup.

tata001 - we're on the same day. It's nice to hear you're doing well.

So my conclusion with the saltwater not coming out yesterday has to do with what Sunnyrae said about the agave potentially not having enough minerals and so my body might be taking them from the sea salt. In which case, that might explain why the flush didn't flush out.

Everyone on here is so wonderful and supportive. Thanks for everything. Strength and will to all!

[Tanyazl1]

Thanks Tanya. I'm heading to Barnes & Noble today and will check it out.



You're welcome, Laura! I sent you a couple of emails, too!

[zartan]

I must say, I'm only on day 4, but I'm REALLY feeling the amazing effects of the cleanse -- already. For the past year or so, I've been exercising regularly, and with the exception of my coffee habit - which I refuse to relinquish - I maintain a healthy vegetarian diet. Lately, however, I had been eating the house down. There was always something in my mouth -- and I was feeling guilty, but I didn't really care. Until My clothes started looking funny when I wore them... and my stomach was in a constant state of bloat... I knew my cleansing time was coming up, and I am ever so glad to be following through with it.

On only day 4 -- I just looked in the mirror, and again see the person I'm used to seeing. My face is less chubby, and my body isn't carrying weird bulky chunks of fat around my midsection.

Though I didn't change my diet in preparation for the cleanse, I did restart my exercise regimen back up about a week before starting. I've continued to exercise daily, and will keep up my 6-day/wk low-impact workouts (FOREVER). In the past 5 weeks, I've fallen off of the exercise wagon too. I'm also doing my best to take advantage of the benefits of this cleanse. I've been taking aromatic baths daily, and drinking uber amounts of water along with my lemonade. I'm enforcing a strict no LA after 9 pm rule, which is no problem because then I can get more water into the system. I'm feeling and seeing incredible results already. Last cleanse I did, I wasn't taking advantage of the process in these ways, and after 9.5 days of cleansing (I broke on the 10th day to a huge cinnamon scone -:eek:), I didn't see as much of a change as I've seen in just 4 days on this cleanse.

Again, I attribute a lot of these benefits to my increase of water intake and increase in my daily activity. I leave this long post to inspire others, and to remind myself of why I'm pursuing such a challenging endeavor. Strength and wellness to all. :)

[KLP23]

Hello everyone! It's good to know that we're all doing good :)

I'm just finishing day 5 of the MC and I feel pretty good. I get cravings every now and then.. but that's only when I smell something delicious around me. My sister lives with me and she's an awesome cook.

I haven't really worked out in the past 5 days. But I have lost 1 pound. I have been kinda moody and irritable.. but that's probably due to not being able to eat what everyone else is eating, lol. Temptation has been knocking on my door, but I don't answer.

I've noticed that I have been yawning a little bit earlier than normally. Before the cleanse my bedtime was between midnight and 2 am. And now I'm feeling a wee bit tired around 10ish.

This is going to sound a bit gross, but I'm still having bm's... but they're watery of course. I figured I'd stop having bm's by now. I guess I have quite a bit of built up in my intestines. Ya learn something new every day I suppose. :)

Well I got 5 more days to go! Keep on keeping on everyone.

[sunnyrae]

HOORAY ZARTAN! :D
thank you for the post. its inspiring to read the good...and the bad both! (strange that)
:)
and now, a word from a fellow cleanser (me :) day5
as you may have read in a recent post. i went on a one night road trip (and back) with my husband.
i thought instead of the swf i would try the lax tea in the am too as i read in the book to do...and had not ever done.
wellllll....i was WRONG! ugh, i am just now at almost 9 pm feeling better from that fiasco and its time soon to drink the tea again.

when i take the tea at night maybe on rare occasion do i get mild cramping in the morning. but when i also took this morning instead of swf, ugh! horrible choice, over and over all day with the cramping.:(:(
just sharing (and venting) for any of you who may benefit from this info.
in much better energy and spirits now.

~thanks for posting you all, and giving me something to do besides daydream about...food!

[skyle]

Hi All!
Just finishing up Day 8. Overall it was a pretty good day except for a bit of grumpiness in the afternoon. However, that could've been due to the fact that I was moving my son into his 1st house and it was pouring down rain. Lots of logistical issues to contribute to the irritability factor.

Thanks for your encouragement, everyone!

Does anyone else have a suggestion for books I can read to get inspired about eating really clean when I'm done? Thanks!

Sarah

[janeezay]

Hi All!
This is my seventh master cleanse!
Wow -- can't believe it. I didn't realize it until right now that I've done this six times before.
I'm on day 4.
I'm trying to go for 12-14 days.
Best of luck to everyone.
Happy cleansing!
j9

[missfae]

Day 7 and this cleanse is worse than the last, but this may be due to the fact that I've really put my body through it these past couple of years. I have been very ill, eating horribly and drinking like a fish. My last fast I had no symptoms of hunger or lethargy, but this time, it is hitting me big time. I do feel better immediately after I drink the mixture then the symptoms come back later. I think that I have more toxins in my body than I did before and maybe these are some sort of withdrawal symptoms. I can only hope that it'll stop soon.

That's all for now... huggies

[zartan]

Hang in there Missfae! Day 7 is nothing to sneeze at and if you're doing a 10-day, then you're almost 70% of the way there!

Personally, I'm starting to wish I wasn't cleansing because there's a lot of temptation everywhere and time feels like its inching by. But this cleanse, I told myself I'd focus on appreciating the fact that I'm not polluting my body for only 10 days in its vast history. So I say to you Missfae, focus on the benefits for your body and mind, bask in the knowledge that your body isn't going to have to deal with the junk that those around you are putting into their sacred bodies.

Good luck, strength, and will to you.

[anyara]

holla!
Tomorrow starts my second MC. Last time, two years ago for 14 days. Now the plan is 10 days. Exited, but worried. Don't know how well will I do this time, as I am working on shifts and it is sometimes hard to do the SWF in the mornings (or I have to get up like 4am...). But we will see. Getting my first cup of senna with hint of liqourice root and tomorrow the big day :)

I wish I had done this last year too but was in a place where maple syrup was not available.

[peggysue]

Hello, This is my first time on the MC. It is day two for me and I'm ok. The first day I was feeling slow, rested alot and then in the evening I had a whopping headache. Continued today and have been doing ok with just a minor headache but I have had more energy. When I need to rest, I have been reading your book and everyone's experiences and it keeps me focused. I look forward to tomorrow. I fully intend to not put a experation on my cleanse. I intend to see how it goes from one day to another and may go way past the 10 days. Thank you for your book and all that encourage!


Peggysue;)

[missfae]

Hang in there Missfae! Day 7 is nothing to sneeze at and if you're doing a 10-day, then you're almost 70% of the way there!

Personally, I'm starting to wish I wasn't cleansing because there's a lot of temptation everywhere and time feels like its inching by. But this cleanse, I told myself I'd focus on appreciating the fact that I'm not polluting my body for only 10 days in its vast history. So I say to you Missfae, focus on the benefits for your body and mind, bask in the knowledge that your body isn't going to have to deal with the junk that those around you are putting into their sacred bodies.

Good luck, strength, and will to you.

Thank you for the encouragement. I just finished my SWF, I can't do it in the morning, no time before work, and I am feeling better both physically and mentally. I went 28 days the first time and I want to go at least 30 or more. But I am really feeling A LOT better and I think that I can hang in there. Hugs...

[skyle]

I'm finishing up Day 9 and have a whopping headache! Is this normal? I almost never have headaches, so this one caught me off guard. I've had plenty of water and lemonade today, so I don't think I'm dehydrated. Any suggestions, anyone?

It's 7:45 and I'm in my pj's already. One more day of cleansing, but I hope the headache is gone by tomorrow!

Sarah

[zartan]

I'm finishing up Day 9 and have a whopping headache! Is this normal? I almost never have headaches, so this one caught me off guard. I've had plenty of water and lemonade today, so I don't think I'm dehydrated. Any suggestions, anyone?

It's 7:45 and I'm in my pj's already. One more day of cleansing, but I hope the headache is gone by tomorrow!

Sarah

Day 9 = awesome! Way to go Skyle! As for your headache, I've read that our bodies have a 7-day cleansing cycle, so your day 9 is similar to what a day 2 would feel like -- and we all know, day 2 isn't a parade. Perhaps you're getting rid of some horrible toxin, and the headache is from it being in your bloodstream -- I dunno - -just speculating. You're almost there! Inspirational!! Keep up the goods.


As for me, I've been on this forum all day looking to read others' experiences while they're on this cleanse. I really need some social support right now. My husband is amazing, and absolutely respects my cleanse, but -- so much so -- that he chooses to only make healthy and nutritious food while I'm on it.. ALL I WANT IS HEALTHY NUTRITIOUS FOOD! I don't crave Cheetohs or french fries, I crave steamed broccoli and carrots, and butternut squash soup. Anyway, I'm still strong, I'll definitely make it the 10 days and I'll be breaking properly unlike last time...

I did the 30-day shred video today, and it didn't wipe me out (surprisingly) -- I am following through with my commitment to do something active every day of this cleanse (typically in the form of a workout vid). It feels good to keep something like that up even not on the cleanse, so while detoxing, it's feels ultra-refreshing to workout. And the showers afterward are quite the reward -- everytime I get out, I feel like I've shed a skin.

I bought blackstrap molasses today to supplement the agave nectar that I'm using instead of the maple syrup. It's very licorice-flavored, but not bad at all. I think it'll be worth it to have the extra minerals AND fewer calories/ tbsp. Everything is going swell. I wish more people would sign up and post their experiences instead of just viewing this thread....

strength to all

[bunny689]

starting again tomorrow! It will be my second cleanse. The last I did June1-June10 2009. I have been so dreading the SWF. I had my smoothmove tea just now, and ugh... bleh... tomorrow morning. The first few days of SWF are the worst!

[LadyLemon]

Hi Fellow Lemon Heads!

I just got back from alligator hunting. (We got 8 total, I shot 2). I did 11 days on the MC before departing on the trip and plan to resume again now that I am home. I was in the swamp all day for 2 days and just could not do the fluids to stay true to the MC. Kept to fruit, veggies and lots of water for the most part. Did not to SWF or tea. I will resume again Tuesday because I am not done cleansing! I have been feeling terrific along the way of this MC (after getting past the initial 3 days, but know that I have more to go.

So I am checking in now that I am home and see a few familiar faces, and a few new ones. I am looking forward to continuing my journey with you. We'll see if I willl be able to pick up where I left off.....I surely hope so!

In the meantime, terrific posts folks! Keep up the great work, your words are inspiring!

Talk to you tomorrow as I gather my next round of supplies and get back on track.

Beth

[Tanyazl1]

Hello MCers!

Here are a few tips on how long and how often to cleanse for Newbies http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/showpost.php?p=26416&postcount=31.

The MC Library of Tips, Questions and Answers can be found in the link General Help for Newbies located in my signature line.

Happy Cleansing to you all!:)

[anyara]

Day 1.

Salt water went down suprisingly easily, though not so much coming out...little bit anyway. I like a lot the taste of the lemonade. Missed it so happy to be drinking it again :D

I have some headache but I think it is the caffeine addict knocking.

It will all be alright.

[zartan]

Good Morning to all!

Day 6 here, and goin' strong (or so I'm telling myself). I just did the SWF and I'm waiting for the flush part to happen. I'm testing out Sunnyrae's theory today. Yesterday, I began using blackstrap molasses along with the agave nectar to try to get some of those nutrients in the mix. So if the theory is correct, my SWF should be more effective today because my body is not seeking nutrients from the salt. I'll get back to everyone on the results.

Meanwhile, this is my 4th cleanse, and I swear my body is reacting as if it's the first. I had the worst BM overnight -- one that I thought only carnivores might have.. so I know it's working. And I've not been tempted by the world of temptation out there -- so I know that my body is craving this resting/cleansing period.

Welcome back Lady Lemon!
Best to all.

[JamieP27]

Good Morning!!

Today is the first day, of my first cleanse. I'm extremely nervous since I work, and I'm not sure how things are going to shake out. I wasn't able to get to my tea last night, but I've done 1/2 of my salt water this morning. YUCK!!! :p I'll get used to it though. I may experiment with warm and cold...it might make a difference.

Anyone else starting today?

Jamie

[tata001]

Hey all, Im on day 6 and I still feel good. I am starting to feel a little tired but I think its the toxins coming out. Last night was the first night this mc that I actually thought I was gonna throw in the towel :eek: but I held strong! It took all my will power though lol. Im a little worried because these last couple of day after the swf Ive been feeling really nauseous! Its feeking me out.

Zartan I cant wait to here how the molasses works. My first mc the swf came right out but this time around its not the same.

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT DAY!!!:D

[zartan]

Zartan I cant wait to here how the molasses works. My first mc the swf came right out but this time around its not the same.

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT DAY!!!:D

The molasses maybe made a difference, but if so, it wasn't a significant one. The SWF came out, and came out much sooner than it usually comes out for me. However, it's still not like the very first time I did the SWF. I do feel pretty wonderful using the Molasses. I've read up on its benefits, and wowza! .. just have to get used to the taste... it's not bad.. just not better than the fresh taste of the agave. Cheers!

[Evita]

Hello everyone. After my 10th day Wednesday I've had a LOT of stomach problems. I've moved back to the lemonade today and will tack a few days on this week and then try again to taper off the cleanse. It's the only thing that makes sense to me at this point. Not sure how long I'll go but I think it best to do a few more days and try the taper again. I'll check in later. Best to everybody!:o

[JamieP27]

Could someone direct me to a place where I can read more about the agave nectar? I talked to my sister this morning, who's done this many times, and it's supposed to be better than the maple syrup...and then I read something too about the molasses?

Thanks!!!! :)