Continuing Weight Loss After The Cleanse

[melrohner]

I started the MC as a way to (hopefully) begin to change my eating habits. Having the people on this board for encouragement helped me make it through my first MC - 10 days! After the cleanse, I was really very sad to lose this resource, this little community. So I thought that maybe those of us who want to continue to lose weight could use a thread to post our general weight loss concerns, share ideas, etc. So, I hope to see some of you here!

Melissa

[diana]

Hi, Melrohner! Tomorrow (day 16) is my last day, although I want to do another cleanse at the end of February. I'm also interested in changing my eating habits for continued weight loss. This board was so much help with the cleanse, I would love to stay connected to it - what a great idea!

[lakehillgardens]

Hi, I love this idea too! I am still on the cleanse, day 15, and am not sure how long I'll go (tongue still pretty coated, though not as bad as it's been). I am hoping to really change things too. Last year I did the cleanse for the first time, and became vegan afterwards, this time I'd like to try raw...we'll see...they say the pounds just melt away!!!
One thing that may be of interest as far as losing stubborn fat deposits is essential oils. I've been massaging my stomach with a blend of oils mixed in organic sesame oil. Fennel and grapefruit are especially helpful for this purpose. You can usually get them in any heathfood store. The essential oils are expensive, but a little goes a long way. I put about 10 drops each in a 4 ounce bottle of 'carrier' oil, the choices are endless. You can use sesame, sweet almond, avocado, even olive oil.
Anyway, I thought it might help! Good Luck all! Lake

[jeffnj]

Great thread idea melrohner, I started the cleanse also with the idea that it would help me eliminate the stuff that makes me crave bad foods. I needed to lose about 100lbs, and this cleanse has already taken off 25. I want it to keep going after the return to food. I am on day 21 of MC 1, and I feel great. I am also planning my eating program for when I get off the cleanse(not sure when that will be yet). I was reading the MC book, and in the back are suggested menus and recipes. I was thinking of loosley following that plan. I am not ready to completely go raw food vegetarian. but I do want to stay away from beef, pork and poultry for now. I am thinking I will juice in the morning (fruit/veg), a salad for lunch, and some fish and veggies for dinner. I am also planning to avoid processed grains and stick with rye, buckwheat, and other healthier grains for my carbs. Anyone else planning their return to food? Would love to hear your thoughts and ideas. One thing I know for sure - I don't need as much food as I thought I did. I am living very happily on 600 calories a day or less on the cleanse.

[ladydi]

Hello all!

Great idea to have this thread melrohner. Thanks!

Lake - thanks for the 'recipe' for the oil rub for the tummy. That is one of my problem areas, along with my thighs. Would this work on them as well?

I am on my last day (16) of the cleanse (#5). The last cleanse I did was for 10 days in Oct./Nov. I was down to 128 and rebounded to 131 which I was able to maintain for awhile. I was eating fresh fruit during the day and a large salad of mixed fresh veggies, sliced black olives, chickpeas and 1 or 2 chopped hard cooked eggs for dinner with my own homemade dressings. I was doing well until middle/late Dec. when I started to eat badly (sweets, my own homemade goodies) and carbs (my own homemade whole wheat bread). I am pretty carb sensitive so I ended up at 140 lbs. when I started this cleanse on 1/9. I am now down to 127.5 lbs. and intend to go back to the fruits and salads as before, so this thread would be invaluable in helping to keep me 'honest'. Thanks again.

[fancy1]

Melrohner... what a wonderful Idea....
Although you can also check out the Raw Food Site on this BB... lots of good info there too..

[gattitta34]

Hi all,

Thks Melrohner for starting the thread.

I am still on the cleanse, day 18, hoping to get to 30, but ultimately want to continue with the weightloss after the cleanse.

I am not going to go completly raw, but want to eat more fish, fruit and veg. As well as cut out processed food, I was a TV dinner girl as i work long hours. I want to start cooking and eating healthy instead of taking the easy option.

x
gattitta

[Guest]

Hi everyone! Thank you for the great idea to continue progress after the cleanse! I have done cleanses before and it really helps to know that you can get through this - then you can get through almost anything! In terms of long-term weight loss, everyone knows how it is best not to eat after 6 pm. This in itself helps the body to cleanse before the next day and you loose pounds just by doing it, even if you allow yourself to indulge in something once in a while (a croissant or an organic ice-cream, etc.).
I can also add one good recipe: to help the elimination process do skin-brushing and then rub your body (when it is still dry, while standing in a bathtub) with a mix of olive oil and sea salt. This is the best exfoliator one can find and your skin feels like a baby's after this for a few days. Of course, wash everything away in the shower and try to repeat twice a week. It does wonders and helps the skin stay firm, as it is known that on weight-loss plans our skin looses elasticity and can get a bit wobbly, etc.
Hope this is useful and look forward to learning more about what everyone says - it's so beneficial to exchange opinions on the way to changing our lifestyles for good!

[Dreams]

Hi Everybody!

Thanks to melrohner for starting this incredible thread!

I am MC1/Day 16 and didn't initially intend for my MC experience to be about my weight. I have been told by a specialist I am standing on the doorstep to Diabetes and need to lose 50 lbs to try and avoid developing it. My only sister died of complications from Diabetes 3 yrs. ago and my brother already has it also! So I thought the MC would be a good way to begin to change my relationship with food so I can then explore a new way of cooking and eating. I have lost 11 lbs so far and am really concerned about gaining it back right away when I finish the cleanse.

This will be a great source of support as we all continue our jouneys into our weight loss and commit to the changes in our lifestyles that will be required to maintain our detoxed healthy bodies!

I intend to do the MC 3 times this first year for periods of 14 to 21 days and then hopefully twice a year for 10 days each time thereafter.

This will be so great to have the continuing support here! I have gotten really attached to the BB and all the wonderful people here!

Thanks again, melrohner! Great Idea! ~ Dreams ~

[devans00]

I finished my 13 day cleanse on January 13th, so I can give you about 12 days worth of post cleanse experience. Even though I am not going 100% raw, I did pick up some great points on the lifestyle from The Raw Food Detox Diet -- by Natalia Rose that have helped my clothes stay loose.

The book guides you on how to maximize your raw food intake during the day plus how to combine food types to encourage your body to get rid of what you eat as quickly as possible. By eating this way, your body can expend more energy on detoxing and getting rid of a lifetime of toxins. I love that the book is very realistic and reasonable about what you can expect from yourself. For a chocolate fan like me, I couldn't ask for anything better.

To sum up, my recommendation would be to read up on alternatives to the Standard American Diet. Either through books or websites. I recommend the ones described as guiding you through a transition to Raw, Vegan or Vegetarian, so you can ease into the new lifestyle. Most people cannot just flip a switch on a lifetime of eating habits. Reading material that expect you to be perfect in the new diet right away are setting you up for failure. Plus it's always good to read up on both the pros and cons of Raw, Vegan or Vegetarian so you can have a more informed opinion. Build on your personal experience from the Master Cleanse.

Remember, improving your diet is a long term goal, not something that's going to change with no problems immediately after the MC. Changing food lifestyles is expensive. Expensive in both in food and supplies. If you go the clean slate route, you may get rid of perfectly serviceable food that you already bought & were going to eat. Unless you were already a chef or gourmet, you may need to buy cooking equipment (such as a food processor, more fruit bowls or a mandolin) and utensils (better knives) to support the new food diet.

As many people know, cheaper food tends to be the most toxic (example=McDonalds). So you have to readjust your expectations of what it costs to feed yourself. True, you could buy a fatty, processed muffin for $2 and be on your way. Or you can invest in your body's long term health and search out more wholesome, nutritional food that costs more and is more of a pain in the butt to get.

I still get minor versions of the Master Cleanse detox symptoms (random pimples, informative elmininations). It motivates me to keep going with the semi-Raw diet, even though my brain wants to claim I'm being deprived. Anyway, except for chocolate, I've lost my taste for a lot of the garbage I loved B4 the cleanse.