Drastic health measures were called for before I went home to family I insisted. Don’t need mom eyeing my behind, or any sly comments from sis. And a bit less dramatic, I do like juice. I just like solid foods too. A lot. So here goes my tale of what happened when things got juicy for three days straight:
Day 1
Woke up tired. The “decaf” coffee at dinner last night clearly wasn’t. Can I face the day without my morning java? I decide to suck it up and go for it.
First juice of the day is the green juice. Not as bad as I expected, in fact, it’s quite tasty. I still miss my coffee though.
I have 6 juices and 2 waters…ergh! It’s a math problem to figure out how to space them through the day. Energy is surprisingly high – though I do feel a bit sleepy.
Juice 2 – trinity twist. This one is beets, carrots, apples and lemon. Surprisingly sweet, and again very tasty.
I’ve had small hunger pangs, which went away when I drank a juice, or hot mint tea. Despite that, I do have mental cravings. My body wants to munch on something. Also, I’m craving something warm – like a baked potato, or soup. Since I don’t feel hungry, I power through.
The aloe water is very refreshing, and I’m told it’s really good for my skin.
By 5pm, I have a raging headache. Surely this is caffeine withdrawal. Quitting coffee cold turkey may not be the best idea. I pop some Advil, and soon the pain subsides. Should I grab a small coffee or perhaps a hot tea in the morning? I’ll try to avoid it, but if the headache returns, I’ll reconsider.
At 6:45pm I realize I have 3 juices and 1 water left. I’m supposed to finish everything 2 hours before bedtime. Oops! I’ll drink the Master Cleanse now that we’ve all heard about. It might be my favorite – just like lemonade with a tiny cayenne kick.
I have plans with friends to see a show. I figure it’ll be easy to juice in a dark theater – no temptations. Uh-oh. It’s a DINNER theater. I’m surrounded by people drinking tasty looking cocktails – and the waiters rush past me with plates full of pizzas and burgers and fries. The smell is killing me. I have willpower, but Wonder Woman couldn’t hold out in these conditions. I break down and order a salad – it’s arugula, fruit, and quinoa with a lemon vinaigrette. It’s healthy, and light, and I feel only a slight amount of guilt for enjoying it.
I do manage to forego a drink, opting to have my Cider instead. It’s very tasty – apples and cinnamon, and nothing else.
I get home at 10:30 and start my final juice. It’s got green peppers in it – the flavor just doesn’t sit well, and I don’t finish it. And, I still have one more water. I’ll save it for tomorrow, and plan to re-adjust the the timing of each juice. It occurs to me that I should drink the pepper juice earlier in the day – when it has less potential to cause indigestion.
All in all – Day 1 went pretty well! Good Night!
Day 2
Wow – I slept great! I wake up refreshed and alert. I could sleep a bit longer, and I see why Adam recommended cleansing over the weekend, but I’m ready for the day. The coffee craving begins, but it’s much less than Day 1. I still want it, but I find that I’m no longer distressed that I can’t have it. It’s more mental – like missing a good friend. I have mild hunger, but I drink the leftover Aloe Water from yesterday, and I feel sated.
The Green Juice goes down easier today – possibly because I’m not comparing it to coffee. It’s fresh and light, and it seems to have a bit more fennel today. That’s the fun part – everything is squeezed fresh daily, so the flavors change slightly from bottle to bottle.
The Trinity Twist is just as sweet and delicious as yesterday. I reach a surprising realization. I eat more because I’m bored, or because “it’s time” than I do because I’m hungry. Obviously the juices are providing nutrition that satisfies the appetite and palate, and under normal circumstances, I don’t think I’d miss eating.
But these are not normal circumstances. It’s December, and everyone I know – from friends to co-workers – are making holiday treats, throwing holiday parties, and extending invitations for holiday cocktails.
Clearly, unless you have unbendable, iron-clad willpower, cleansing during the holidays is just a bad idea. The “What have I done?” moment for today came when the tamales arrive. One of our fabulous co-workers makes them every year – it’s an office tradition, and they are amazingly delicious. Temptation at every turn. I’m about to give in and devour a plate full of tamales, when a co-worker suggests that I wrap them up, and wait til my cleanse is over to eat them. Crisis averted, but as I ogle my plate, I grab another juice to tide me over.
Oh good, it’s the “Skinny” juice. A refreshing blend of Cantaloupe, Carrot and ginger. I like this one quite a lot, and I stop pouting over the tamales. They can wait.
I make it through the rest of my day. The “Glow” juice is slightly better when I have it at 5pm. But, I have to say, given a choice, I would not pick a bell pepper juice again.
I have the “Master Cleanse” for dinner, but I need something more. Perhaps because I’ve denied myself all day, I find that I can’t say no again. While I’m not hungry, per se, I need to chew something, and I’m craving a warm meal. So, I opt to heat a serving of butternut squash. Again, I feel only a slight amount of guilt – it’s a veggie, and it’s easily digested.
I use the “Cider” for my dessert. Sweet and satisfying. And, hey, I just realized I didn’t get a headache today. Cool.
Oops! I discover why you should finish your juice 2 hours before you go to bed. I wake up all night, in need of the loo… sigh. I’ll remember this for tomorrow.
Day 3
This is it. The last day of my cleanse.
I slept great. I feel great. I feel alert…without coffee. It’s a miracle! As I brush my teeth, I get a good look at my face. My eyes are brighter, and my skin is glowing. I didn’t think it was possible, but the first 2 days have already made a big difference. Now I see why people swear by the juice cleanse. And, I’m wondering if I should go get more juice and push for 5 full days. As much as I’d like to, I realize with my holiday weekend plans, it’s just not practical. But I am already looking at my calendar to see if I can plan a week in January – as a refreshing reboot for the new year.
At work, I’m tempted at every turn. There are cookies and candy on every desk! Yeah, this is harder than I thought. Sure, it’s a bit of a win – since the juice is a far superior nutritional choice; but, it’s also a lose, since I’m missing out on traditional treats and eats.
By 3pm, I have a slight headache. Is it caffeine withdrawal? or have I been staring at the computer too long? Time to grab another juice and step away from the screen for a while.
At 6:30 I get home, and I am starving! Weird. I have 2 juices to go. Can I hold out without a meal? I get some water; that seems to help. But, this nagging need for something warm won’t go away. It’s the last day. I should hold out. I drink the Master Cleanse. It’s sweet and spicy and delicious. But, I just can’t get past the need for something hot. I pull out a serving of quinoa and butternut squash and heat it up. It doesn’t take much, about a cup, before I feel full. Sigh. I honestly think if I hadn’t denied myself goodies for 3 days straight, I could’ve skipped this meal. It’s almost more of a mental thing, than a physical one.
I have my final Cider for dessert. I feel good. I did it. Sure, I ate a small something on everyday, but I don’t feel like I failed. I can feel the difference in my body – flooding it with nutrients, and vitamins from living fruits and veggies has increased my energy and I certainly feel healthier in just 3 days.
Day 4 & 5
I still feel good the next day. I’m even able to skip coffee again. I find myself craving the green juice instead.
I see why people are eager to do a 5 day cleanse. The first 2 days are about detoxing and withdrawal. Day 3 is the day when things begin to turn around. I can only imagine the benefits that would come from Days 4 & 5.
I can’t get to Kreation Juicery this weekend, so I grab a green juice at the grocery store. I know it’s pasteurized and not as healthy as fresh pressed, but it’s something. Ugh! There’s no comparison. I can’t even drink the store-bought juice.
On Day 5, I’m back to my coffee. I guess nutrients in the juice are key for me – for both mental alertness and to keep craving/withdrawal at bay.
After my Christmas vacation, I know I’ll be adding at least one juice per day to my diet; perhaps 2. I put Kreation Juicery on speed dial, and add an internet bookmark; and I begin to research cold press juicers, and juice recipes.
