Continuing Weight Loss After The Cleanse

[jeffnj]

Hello fellow cleansers and weightloss seekers: I have been off of the fast since Jan 30th, and I am continuing to lose weight. I am reading all of your posts on this thread, and the shared knowledge and experience is very empowering. I have cointinued to eat very moderately since the cleanse, even while traveling on business twice during that time frame. Here's what I am doing: I am avoiding meat poultry and dairy for now, and am trying to stay with whole grains only for starches. I am using fruit or juice for the morning meal, a salad or Soup(made at home - no store bought soups- too much salt!!) I am focusing on eating vegetables and fruit as the main staple of my diet. I am having fish (generally steamed or poached for now) once a day and trying to keep the portions small about 4oz in a sitting. I have been drinking the occasional Jamba juice as a meal replacement. I only order the Vibrant C 16 oz which contains 210 calories(Ingredients: pineapple juice blend, freshly squeezed orange juice, frozen bananas, ice, vibrant C boost. ) as a morning meal. I am getting a juicer for home so I can make some of these things on my own and further control the quality of the ingredients. I am cooking home more and eating out less - trying to control my intake. The downside because of my schedule is that sometimes I end up eating later than I'd like because I have to prepare the food. If I feel I have eaten too much in a day, I just start the next day more determined to keep the intake low. I am noticing that I am not drinking enough water, and this is slowing my weightloss - so I am making a concerted effort to drink more. I use thin corn/rice cakes or rye crisps as my bread, and I will take beans and potatoes in small amounts escpecially in soups. Overall I am focused on using the time I spent shrinking my stomach(the organ - not the waistline) to my advantage in eating small healthful meals. My weightloss has slowed but continues. I am working out 3 or 4 times a week, trying to continue to burn extra calories.

Anyone else have ideas for healthful low calorie meals?

Keep focused on your goals, and remember - a temporary setback is not a reason to stop trying - it's a reason to try harder....

[jeffnj]

This thread started out with so much interest and excitement, and now it seems to be fizzling out! Â*For those of us who are weightloss minded, a place to discuss those issues, share triumps and failures, and to support each other in our ongoing efforts is a great idea, and from the posts Â*- it seemed like many others did as well...... Â*Come back weightloss seekers..... Â*I know you are out there lurking.... Â*

[OffBase]

Hey everyone...

I've been off the fast since January 16. It was my 4th cleanse in a year. I didn't do the cleanse specifically to lose weight, and found for the last 2 times that I basically hovered around what I consider to me my "ideal weight." Maybe I'd lose 2 or 3 pounds, but that's about it.

Since getting off the cleanse, things have been rough and I haven't been very careful with my eating. I've been feeling really tired and sluggish and I thought I may have put on a few pounds, so today I weighed myself.

*gulp*

Since getting off the cleanse on January 16, I have gained... almost 20 pounds. HOLY !@!!@$#@!#!!.

I feel so defeated. All my hard work all year seems to have been for nothing.

[jeffnj]

Hey offbase: I think the important thing is that you already have the keys to success. You have been able to - 4 times in a year - do something that many people wouldn't dream of - letting go of food for a period of time. With that in mind, build on that resolve, and apply it to your eating plan.

I think it's really important to set limits for yourself, and decide what is healthy and not healthy for you to eat. Once you've made that determination - then avoid the unhealthy choices the same way you resisted all food during the time you were on the cleanse. Harder and trickier - but do-able. One idea would be to cleanse once more, and have an eating plan ready for once you return to food.

It's not a failure - it's a detour.... Let it go and get back on your chosen path.

[OffBase]

jeffnj:
Thank you for your thoughtful and supportive comment!

I would love to do another Cleanse, but it feels like I would be turning to it now as a desperate "lose weight fast" solution. It would be for the wrong reasons.

Each time I've gone off the cleanse, I haven't been able to stick to any sort of eating plan, however well-intentioned. In the past, that hasn't really seemed to make too much of a difference, because I've basically been hovering within a few pounds of the same weight for a number of years and the most weight I've lost while fasting has been 7 pounds.

This time, I seem to have gained 20 lbs in 30 days. Not only is that demoralizing, it's kind of really freaking me out. I'm scared. I haven't weighed this 'much' in 15 years.

But, at the same time, I hear the wisdom in your words and I applaud your own efforts and success, on the cleanse, and after.

Onwards and upwards... thank you.

[jeffnj]

offbase: My thought on doing the cleanse again - even for a short time is to rid yourself of the "chemical" cravings for the stuff you are eating - the rest is really all mental.

I have probably gained and lost more weight in my life than your total body weight!!! It is only now that I feel like I am really in control for the first time in a very long time....

Anyway don't focus on the weightloss aspect of the cleanse think of it as a jumpstart toward a controlled eating plan... Good luck

[wfwdtp]

Hello eveyone, I posted the following on the Women's Thread, too:

"Hello LadyLemoners,

"Does anyone have any effective weight loss experience or advice for those of us in perimenopause (the transition from menses to menopause)?

"I am 14 days past a 10-day cleanse. Part of the reason I did the cleanse was to try to jump start some weight loss, but I only lost a couple of pounds.

"I am in perimenopause which means that my hormones are in flux, weight GAIN is easy and weight LOSS is difficult (due to a decrease in progesterone)! For the past 2 years, an extra 20 pounds have been impossible to lose! I do work out and exercise and am usually consistent with eating right. These measures always worked in the past, but in the past couple of years only keep me from gaining MORE, and are not enough to help me LOSE.

"My doctor has recommended exercising twice as much (morning and evening or twice as long in the morning), which I have tried before. This is effective, but much harder to keep consistent -- I simply can't keep up that schedule for very long with working, a teenage daughter, an elderly mother, and not to mention additional post-Katrina recovery responsibilities (we're displaced from New Orleans).

"Are there any foods, herbs, vitamins or other supplements or measures anyone has found effective for this? Any help, tips, or advice are appreciated!

WFW"

I admit that I am discouraged. I hate to even see myself in a mirror, I look so fat to myself and have to buy such big clothes. I want to lose AND KEEP OFF between 20-30 pounds and get back to an ideal weight by living a lifestyle that I can actually maintain. But this is beginning to seem impossible. Does anyone know if weight loss is easier AFTER menopause?

WFW

[Dreams]

Hello All!

Jeffnj - Way to go getting us all back into the conversation about continuing weight loss after the cleanse! I was one of those really excited about the thread at first and then just lurking after that!

You are doing so well in the changes you've made to the way you eat and in your attitude about it all!! YOU ARE AWESOME!

Offbase - I so feel for you right now!! I have been off the Cleanse for 11 days. I made it 29 days on my first Master Cleanse and lost 20 lbs during that time. I gained back 4 pounds in 4 days, eating only moderate amounts of fresh vegetables and fruits. I was SO disappointed at first. Then my guy hid the scale from me and I noticed there was no real change in the way my clothes were fitting. Didn't seem to be gaining any inches back right away.

Like a lot of us, I did not get into the Master Cleanse for a weight loss solution. I was after the deep tissue cleansing it offered. But I am 50 lbs overweight and standing on the edge of high blood pressure and diabetes right now. I got real attached to the weight loss right away. I think it is the one thing that drove me so far into my fasting. I don't think I would have gone past Day 24 if it weren't for the desire to lose more weight. Anyway, today I am unable to weigh myself at home still, but I just came from the doctor's office. His scale said I was 20 lbs lighter than 3 months ago! His scale said I went from 178 to 158. When I finished my MC, my scale said I weighed 150, so I don't know if I've gained 8 lbs back or if, as is usually the case, the doctor's scale is way different than what mine would be.

Anyway - I had really thought by the end of my MC I would have developed or designed a good, solid plan for eating. Something very different than before, and definately healthier and leaner and such. But somehow when I ended, I hadn't really prepared like I had wanted to. So I'm eating lots of fruit and vegetables for the most part. But I have added back in some other things that may not be so good.

Last night we went to celebrate a birthday with friends in a fabulous Mexican restaurant and I am literally in pain today from that one meal! I am bloated with gas and excess water and have pain in my back and abdomen. I feel totally constipated and very tired as well. I didn't really over indulge either. I put half of my food in a to go carton as soon as it was served. I ate only 5 or 6 chips with salsa before the meal, (a HUGE improvement over my previous 5 or 6 BASKETS of chips before the Cleanse). And I was really very carefull, (I thought), about what and how much I was eating. No more Mexican Food for me. I have learned something interesting about my body and my blood type and the foods I eat. Almost everything the Eat 4 your Type book says a Type O person should not eat was on my plate last night!! !!! And today I am truly able to feel the effects. No corn, no wheat, no dairy, no pinto beans, no avocado. These are a few of the things I am advised to avoid. And these are the things I ate last night anyway!! I can tell you it really hurts. In many ways. It hurts physically. But I think even more, it hurts my feelings that I did it at all. I mean, here we all are fasting and cleansing our bodies and ending up in a state of supreme health and energy. And then only 11 days later, I load my system full of all this heavy cheese and junk in the name of Mexican Food! What a shame!!

But like Jeffnj says, it's not a failure. Its a detour. ( I love that ) So back on track then. Today I am enjoying a few Texas Rio Grande Ruby Red Grapefruit, which are divine. No more heavy meals for awhile.

Good luck to every one. This is a great way for us to share our experiences, recipes, tips and tricks and such. Maybe hearing my story will keep somebody else from making a similar mistake. It really wasn't worth it. I honestly feel ill.

So onward then, towards our ultimate goals...~Dreams~

[Leah]

Hi Everyone,
I did pretty well on my last cleanse (MC4), and was planning on doing another soon but decided against it as I feel I'd be doing it for the wrong reasons. I've decided to take a 6 month (if i can!) hiatus....I guess I feel like I might be using it as too much of a crutch, and am worried about a yo-yo effect. ie - "that's okay, i can eat this, i'm going on the cleanse soon...." I always have good intentions coming off, especially this last time. A food diary helps A LOT it makes you much more conscious of what you are eating. My problem isn't overeating or even eating terrible foods, it's grazing, and eating when I'm not hungry - not quite emotional eating per se, more like eating out of boredom. And even if it's just carrots or strawberries that I'm munching on, it's still eating without purpose....anyways sorry there's my rant for the week. I haven't weighed myself in a while - plus I'm just finishing my period, not the best time to weigh myself....and who likes weighing themselves, really?! My measurements have stayed the same though....so maybe that's what i'll focus on. I've also always been really active, so....no more cleansing for me for a while.
Okay, back to reading this BORING journal article....

Leah

[jeffnj]

hi all: My weightloss had plateau'd for a few days - but it seems to be moving - very slowly - downward again. I dropped another 2 pounds this week. I feel like I have been snacking more - however I am only eating thin corn cakes or carrots for snacks. I have been trying to get in as much vegetables as possible, and saving my 4 oz. of protein(fish only) for dinner. I have been making and eating alot of soups and salads, and overall my body is not craving junk foods. I am exercising alot 4 times / week. Anyway Keep going everyone! Watch out for the stuff that throws you off-course. I keep focused by looking for new ways to eat/prepare vegetables so I don't get bored. Good luck all!