Anyone ever done the Master Cleanse?

[Nom]

No flames or debate please! Anyone ever do The Master Cleanse here? I am recovering from a breakup, and have been pretty depressed and un-focussed and eating a lot of yucky 'comfort' food. I've gained about 15 pds over the last 6 months, and am not fitting into my clothes, but am having a hard time breaking the junk food habit.

I am going to start the cleanse tomorrow as I have read that it really helps, both physically and mentally, so equalize you.

Anyone here every do it? I am starting with a goal of 5 days (because I have an evening event wed night and don't think I will be able to get away with not eating).
If so, how did it work for you? what was the hardest part? How did you get through social occasions where you were expected to eat? I would like to do the full 10 days but I don't know how to handle wed night. How did you feel after?

TIA for anything you can share! And for anyone curious, here is some info on the cleanse:

http://themastercleanse.org/

 

[wvjules]

Sounds like hogwash to me. This is the kind of "diet" that sets you up for failure. Change your eating habits - eat healthy foods, exercise, etc. It will eventually pay off and not set you up for a crash and failure. Starving yourself is never the answer, even if they have a "program" and website.

 

[Sparx]

Sounds like hogwash to me. This is the kind of "diet" that sets you up for failure. Change your eating habits - eat healthy foods, exercise, etc. It will eventually pay off and not set you up for a crash and failure. Starving yourself is never the answer, even if they have a "program" and website.

i completely agree

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It sounds repulsive to me, thus I've never tried it. And there is controversy associated with it.

I did South Beach and found that enough of a cleanse for--to cleanse me of my sugar addiction. It is very helpful if you find you have been eating junk--and no longer wish to do that.


Water is a natural "cleanser" of the body and there are certain fruits and vegetables that faciliated--cleansing.

But if you empty your bowels daily, drink lots of water---you don't need the master cleanse.

And lemonade and cayenne pepper--does not make for a yummy drink.

 

[Nom]

Sounds like hogwash to me. This is the kind of "diet" that sets you up for failure. Change your eating habits - eat healthy foods, exercise, etc. It will eventually pay off and not set you up for a crash and failure. Starving yourself is never the answer, even if they have a "program" and website.

thanks for your opinion... I'm not doing it as a diet though. I'm tall, so even though I have gained about 15 pds I don't feel 'fat' and am not trying to 'diet'- it's more that I feel 'bound up' sometimes if you know what I mean without being TMI! Also I think I would feel better if I just was overall more healthy- not that I am looking to do a formal diet. Does that make sense at all? I know how to lose weight when I have to- I have lost 50 pds w Weight Watchers in the past... but it's more than that that I am looking for right now.

It's more the overall mental and physical benefits some people state they have felt from it. I'm in a mental rut, as well as in the junk food rut, so I was hoping to see more than weight loss- rather, an overall balancing effect.

I'll see how the drink is tomorrow, when I start- I am more nervous about the salt water cleanses, to be honest.

So I'm more looking for input from anyone who has done it. thanks!

 

[chisnpeke]

I lost 17 pounds in the spring by watching what I ate and exercising. I gained 7-10 pounds back because I slacked off but it does work! I use caloriecounter.about.com to track calories.

I don't believe fad diets ever work and I don't think that they are healthy.

 

[LindaR]

Does this "cleanse" the colon? I would do ALOT of independent research (not from the company website) on this BEFORE you do it.

Pretty horrific stuff.

 

[Nom]

Yes, it is supposed to cleanse the toxins from your system.

I would do ALOT of independent research (not from the company website) on this BEFORE you do it.

I'm not really trying to defend the cleanse, because I know that a lot of people will have a lot of different opinions, and they are not going to change... but it is not a company website- there is no 'company', it's a cleanse that has been around since the 70s, and it's just lemon, water, cayenne pepper and maple syrup. So it's not a 'company' trying to make money off it (for once!).

 

[LindaR]

You are gonna do whatever you wanna do! I like to read about.....well.....ANYTHING! And I have read and seen pretty graphic photos of what exits your body (and you cannot flush down the toilet).

I was just advising you to do your OWN research and not rely upon any sort of "advertisement" that may not give you an honest and complete picture of what will/may happen.

Good luck!

 

[autumnpalm]

Honestly, I wouldn't do it. I would drink lots of water, avoid salty foods, eat lots of fruits and veggies and exercise (cardio, mostly). I know that's kind of the boring, standard reply to weight loss but IMO that is because it is the only sensible way to do it. Cleanses and fasts just mess with your metabolism and the weight usually comes right back on. If you want to be more "regular", get more fiber... I am just very wary of crash diets like these. No flaming, just wanted to add my 0.02!

 

[Scurvy]

I'm not really trying to defend the cleanse, because I know that a lot of people will have a lot of different opinions, and they are not going to change... but it is not a company website- there is no 'company', it's a cleanse that has been around since the 70s, and it's just lemon, water, cayenne pepper and maple syrup. So it's not a 'company' trying to make money off it (for once!).

I am not going to try to change you mind about this "cleanse" or lecture you about the dangers because it seems you are not likely to change your mind. Plus you are certainly able to do your own research and I assume you are aware of the risks and are choosing to do this anyway, I do want to warn you, though, to be careful to watch for the signs of dehydration. A friend of mine tried this recently and ended up in the hospital for her severe dehydration that was a direct result of this "cleanse". I also wanted to warn you that if you try to eat any rich foods at your event, it might not end well. After not eating for 5 days (and the intestinal issues that you will experience) your stomach will not react well to many foods. In addition, the lethargy and other symptoms of this "cleanse" might make you less than stellar company for the event.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My final word--do some research on south beach. It is completely safe (it isn't carb counting) and folks have improvement in much of the areas that you are seeking to improve with the master cleanse.

There is a detoxification of sorts with south beach as your body is purged of the cravings for junk--and phase I can be shortened, especially since your goal is not weight lost.

The way you are feeling is due to all the crap you are eating--and stopping eating it, well improve how you feel.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I've never done the Master Cleanse (only because Jillian Michaels talks so badly about anything that requires you to stop eating and the damaging effects it has on your body; she has a health/wellness radio show that you can download for free through iTunes). She recommends that if you're looking to lose 5 lbs. in a few days (which would be mostly water weight) and/or to feel healthier to drink the following recipe daily:

Get 60 ounces of distilled water...
Add a tablespoon of sugar free cranberry juice...
Add 1 dandelion root tea bag and...
Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

She says it tastes AWFUL but it does help lose weight (she also says your body does a good job already of getting toxins out of your body) in a few days as long as you eat clean (stay on track of your calories and eat healthily). She also says DO NOT stay on this for longer than a week as prolonged drinking of distilled water will do damage to your bones (but she said the distilled water is key as it draws sodium out or something like that).

 

[Nom]

I do want to warn you, though, to be careful to watch for the signs of dehydration. A friend of mine tried this recently and ended up in the hospital for her severe dehydration that was a direct result of this "cleanse".

Wow, that is scary! Did the drs in the ED totally disapprove of the cleanse? That is what I was looking for, more experiences of people who have actually tried it.

I also wanted to warn you that if you try to eat any rich foods at your event, it might not end well. After not eating for 5 days (and the intestinal issues that you will experience) your stomach will not react well to many foods.

That is my other concern, ending up at the end of it more constipated than I was initially. Even if you eat healthy after the cleanse, this is a reported concern if you go back to normal eating too fast- and to be honest this is my biggest concern about the whole thing!

South Beach- I am afraid that if I am eating normal food, it won't help me break my bad habits. What is the phase I like? I'll do some research on that as well.

thanks everyone for your input!

 

[WDWisOurHappyPlace]

This was on Dr. Oz's question segment today:

http://doctoroz.com/videos/ask-oz-colon-cleansing-working-out-over-40-and-why-easier-men-lose-weight

 

[GoodFairies]

If you feel "bound up" you need more fiber in your diet. You said you eat a lot of junk food so start by cutting that out. In a couple of days you won't even crave it anymore. Don't bother with a cleanse that can range from
"doing nothing" to "doing harm." Use common sense.

 

[Green Tea]

You are gonna do whatever you wanna do! I like to read about.....well.....ANYTHING! And I have read and seen pretty graphic photos of what exits your body (and you cannot flush down the toilet).

!

OMG - Ok. You have me completely intrigued here in an ambulance chaser kind of way. WHAT comes out that can't be flushed?????

 

[Scurvy]

Wow, that is scary! Did the drs in the ED totally disapprove of the cleanse? That is what I was looking for, more experiences of people who have actually tried it.

I didn't go with her, so I didn't hear what they said, but apparently they did not approve. She did say she wasn't going to risk doing it again. Apparently this isn't an unusual problem for someone to have on these diets - it throws off your electrolytes and makes you dehydrate even though you are drinking.

She's gotten really into exercise lately - is training for a half marathon right now - and I think that has helped with her weight and attitude more than the cleanse would have. I think many of us tend to look for something that we can do that will be like flipping a switch - like going through one really unpleasant weekend and somehow eliminating all those cravings for things we should avoid - and from what I've heard most of those things just don't work well. (For a few days, maybe, but not long term.) Unfortunately the thing that seems to work best is just trying to change your lifestyle. I'm still working on that (can't seem to get motivated), but after the dehydration thing my friend has gotten really serious about eating "healthy" and running and she is really seeing results.

ETA - After re-reading, I'm afraid that last part might sound too "preachy", and I don't mean it to. But I have heard (and my friend has also been saying) that it takes longer than one of these cleanses to really re-train your body. I think transitioning slowly by eating healthier and excercising has a better long term success rate than the cleanses do, even if you don't have health problems from the cleanse itself.

 

[Va-bear]

OMG - Ok. You have me completely intrigued here in an ambulance chaser kind of way. WHAT comes out that can't be flushed?????

Yeah....she was me wondering too....

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

OMG - Ok. You have me completely intrigued here in an ambulance chaser kind of way. WHAT comes out that can't be flushed?????

It's nasty--if you can google you can find images. (google master cleanse pictures)


But imagine the tongs used in a buffet line to serve your food.

Those type of tongs are what folks use to get these things out of the toilet that cannot be flushed. It looks like the shape of your colin and is really long.

As much of that as is coming out of the bottoms of these people--it makes me wonder if it is a "Bigfoot" kind of thing. To be THAT stopped up and it taking 2 weeks of a cleanse to get all that come out looking so dang perfect...it just blows my mind.