Today is Tuesday, November 11. I have been off of the cleanse for six days now. Here's how the past few days have gone:
Nov. 6 and 7
No more lemonade. I did do a saltwater flush the morning of the 6th as a last hoorah. I consumed only water and fresh-squeezed fruit and vegetable juices.
Nov. 8
I had a bowl of cream of spinach soup and one of vegetable broth. It didn't take much for me to be full. It felt good to taste something new.
Nov. 9
I had some baguette and goat cheese along with a thick lentil soup. No problems at all with the solid food.
Nov. 10
My first real meal was sashimi at the sushi restaurant around the block. I'd been looking forward to the meal ever since I started the cleanse. It did not disappoint. I still had a rather small appetite, but it was so good. I also drank two beers (how often can I get Sapporo on draft?) and it took me forever to consume them.
All in all, I'm glad to have done the cleanse. I didn't experience a dramatic increase in energy, but I definitely didn't experience a loss. I never once felt weak or hungry in my 10 days of the cleanse. I did start to feel that way on the 6th-9th, the days I was off of the lemonade but not yet solid food. Maybe there's something to the mixture of water, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. I ended up losing a total of 11 pounds and have been able to maintain a steady weight since I reintroduced food into my diet. I've been able to run with no more acid reflux incidents.
As crazy as it sounds, I'll probably continue to do the saltwater at least once a week. I did it the morning of the 10th. While it did get me going, it did not have the urgency of when I was on the cleanse. It was needed though. That has been the only time I've pooped since I stopped the cleanse. I guess that my body is holding onto the food for as long as it can. I'm sure that will change in time.
I'm also going to try and do the cleanse at least once a year. I'd like to try to do it even longer, maybe for a month. I really think that I could do it. I'm sure that Helen would kill me though. Maybe I can send her on a trip for a while. She thinks that I've developed an eating disorder. I've learned to eat when I'm hungry, and not when I'm craving something. I'm not denying my body anything, I'm just getting used to a new routine.
I'd like to thank those of you who have read these ramblings about crap. I'm more than happy to answer any questions regarding the Master Cleanse. If anyone would like to borrow the book, I'd be happy to loan it to you. The meat of the book takes about an hour to read.
In closing, I leave you this quote by Antonin Artoud: "Where there is a stink of shit there is a smell of being." Well, my friends, there was definitely some being in my bathroom and bowels.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Day 10, 11/05/08
Glasses of "lemonade" consumed: 7
Length of time to drink quart of saltwater: 5 minutes
Length of time between completion of salt water consumption and 1st trip to the bathroom: 17 minutes
Number of bowel movements: 3
Number of random objects expelled during said bowel movements: 0, but I'm convinced there's something in there
Weight lost since previous day: 0.4 lbs
Total weight lost: 9.0 lbs
It's over. Well, the actual cleanse, that is. I've got a few days before I still get back into solid food and then a few more until I'll start eating "regular" meals again. However, the lemonade during the day, saltwater in the morning, and senna laxative tea are no longer in the picture. I could not be happier. I will enjoy no longer waking up at 3:00 AM each day to stomach cramps and a trip to the bathroom.
I will continue to post over the next few days until I'm back to a normal eating routine. At the end of everything I'll sum up my experience with the Master Cleanse.
Length of time to drink quart of saltwater: 5 minutes
Length of time between completion of salt water consumption and 1st trip to the bathroom: 17 minutes
Number of bowel movements: 3
Number of random objects expelled during said bowel movements: 0, but I'm convinced there's something in there
Weight lost since previous day: 0.4 lbs
Total weight lost: 9.0 lbs
It's over. Well, the actual cleanse, that is. I've got a few days before I still get back into solid food and then a few more until I'll start eating "regular" meals again. However, the lemonade during the day, saltwater in the morning, and senna laxative tea are no longer in the picture. I could not be happier. I will enjoy no longer waking up at 3:00 AM each day to stomach cramps and a trip to the bathroom.
I will continue to post over the next few days until I'm back to a normal eating routine. At the end of everything I'll sum up my experience with the Master Cleanse.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Day 9, 11/04/08
Glasses of "lemonade" consumed: 7
Length of time to drink quart of saltwater: 9 minutes
Length of time between completion of salt water consumption and 1st trip to the bathroom: 8 minutes
Number of bowel movements: 4
Number of random objects expelled during said bowel movements: :(
Weight lost since previous day: 0.8 lbs
Total weight lost: 8.6 lbs
I was quite surprised to find that my morning movement produced something that resembled solid waste. Because I haven't seen solid crap in some time, I'll just go ahead and call it solid. This doesn't mean that it was your normal solid movement, but at this point anything solid is an amazing feat.
Still no hunger, which is good. It's hard to believe that this is almost over.
Length of time to drink quart of saltwater: 9 minutes
Length of time between completion of salt water consumption and 1st trip to the bathroom: 8 minutes
Number of bowel movements: 4
Number of random objects expelled during said bowel movements: :(
Weight lost since previous day: 0.8 lbs
Total weight lost: 8.6 lbs
I was quite surprised to find that my morning movement produced something that resembled solid waste. Because I haven't seen solid crap in some time, I'll just go ahead and call it solid. This doesn't mean that it was your normal solid movement, but at this point anything solid is an amazing feat.
Still no hunger, which is good. It's hard to believe that this is almost over.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Day 8, 11/03/04
Glasses of "lemonade" consumed: 7
Length of time to drink quart of saltwater: 8 minutes
Length of time between completion of salt water consumption and 1st trip to the bathroom: 8 minutes
Number of bowel movements: 6
Number of random objects expelled during said bowel movements: :(
Weight lost since previous day: 1.6 lbs
Total weight lost: 7.8 lbs
Another relatively easy day. Hunger was really never present. The weight loss is back. I don't know if it's because I've cut my lemonade consumption by one serving or because I started doing some exercises a few days ago. Probably the latter is helping me burn extra calories and speeding up the process.
Got to wake up early again to a slightly cramped stomach but at least there were some solids there. I wonder how long of a cleanse it would take in order for there to be no more crap coming out. The guy who wrote the book said he did one for 45 days. Hey, I'm 18% of the way to the length of his cleanse, so I should just keep going. It'll be nothing. I'd probably lose a girlfriend though.
Only 2 days left.
Length of time to drink quart of saltwater: 8 minutes
Length of time between completion of salt water consumption and 1st trip to the bathroom: 8 minutes
Number of bowel movements: 6
Number of random objects expelled during said bowel movements: :(
Weight lost since previous day: 1.6 lbs
Total weight lost: 7.8 lbs
Another relatively easy day. Hunger was really never present. The weight loss is back. I don't know if it's because I've cut my lemonade consumption by one serving or because I started doing some exercises a few days ago. Probably the latter is helping me burn extra calories and speeding up the process.
Got to wake up early again to a slightly cramped stomach but at least there were some solids there. I wonder how long of a cleanse it would take in order for there to be no more crap coming out. The guy who wrote the book said he did one for 45 days. Hey, I'm 18% of the way to the length of his cleanse, so I should just keep going. It'll be nothing. I'd probably lose a girlfriend though.
Only 2 days left.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Day 7, 11/02/08
Glasses of "lemonade" consumed: 7
Length of time to drink quart of saltwater: 7 minutes
Length of time between completion of salt water consumption and 1st trip to the bathroom: 30 minutes
Number of bowel movements: 5
Number of random objects expelled during said bowel movements: :(
Weight lost since previous day: 0.0
Total weight lost: 6.2 lbs.
Another average day. I got to wake up in the middle of the night to the senna tea telling me it was time to go and it was right. I'm guessing that's why the saltwater took a little longer to kick in.
The weight loss definitely seems to have slowed. I'll have to see how the last few days go. I might drink a serving of lemonade less if I'm not hungry to see if that helps.
Only 3 more days left, so I guess I'm on the homestretch. However, real meals probably won't start until next Monday. Before then it will be fresh juice, vegetable and chicken broth, and raw fruits and vegetables. I'm still planning my first meal back on the food wagon.
Length of time to drink quart of saltwater: 7 minutes
Length of time between completion of salt water consumption and 1st trip to the bathroom: 30 minutes
Number of bowel movements: 5
Number of random objects expelled during said bowel movements: :(
Weight lost since previous day: 0.0
Total weight lost: 6.2 lbs.
Another average day. I got to wake up in the middle of the night to the senna tea telling me it was time to go and it was right. I'm guessing that's why the saltwater took a little longer to kick in.
The weight loss definitely seems to have slowed. I'll have to see how the last few days go. I might drink a serving of lemonade less if I'm not hungry to see if that helps.
Only 3 more days left, so I guess I'm on the homestretch. However, real meals probably won't start until next Monday. Before then it will be fresh juice, vegetable and chicken broth, and raw fruits and vegetables. I'm still planning my first meal back on the food wagon.
Day 6, 11/01/08
Glasses of "lemonade" consumed: 8
Length of time to drink quart of saltwater: 2 minutes
Length of time between completion of salt water consumption and 1st trip to the bathroom: 3 minutes
Number of bowel movements: 3
Number of random objects expelled during said bowel movements: :(
Weight lost since previous day: 0.2
Total weight lost: 6.2 lbs.
The senna tea is really doing its job now. I have to go to the bathroom as soon as I wake up. However, it wasn't the explosion that I had been expecting/hoping for. Have no fear though, the saltwater flush still hits me too.
My first bathroom visit of the day is starting to have more sustenance to it. It's nothing major, but you I can definitely tell that waste is being removed from my linings. There's still hope that I'll find that random toy car that I never knew I ingested, which is what I'm hoping for.
I'm noticing the smell of food more, but I'm not hungry. I'm also craving a taste other than my lemonade, tea, and saltwater. Maybe I'm starting to see food more as a luxury than a necessity. That's not to say that I'm not going to eat when the cleanse is done, but maybe now I'll appreciate tastes more and take my time as opposed to just eating it and having taste as an afterthought.
My weight loss seems to be plateauing a bit. With four more days to go I'd like to lose at least two more pounds. The more I lose now, the more room I'll have to plateau at my ideal weight once I start eating again.
Length of time to drink quart of saltwater: 2 minutes
Length of time between completion of salt water consumption and 1st trip to the bathroom: 3 minutes
Number of bowel movements: 3
Number of random objects expelled during said bowel movements: :(
Weight lost since previous day: 0.2
Total weight lost: 6.2 lbs.
The senna tea is really doing its job now. I have to go to the bathroom as soon as I wake up. However, it wasn't the explosion that I had been expecting/hoping for. Have no fear though, the saltwater flush still hits me too.
My first bathroom visit of the day is starting to have more sustenance to it. It's nothing major, but you I can definitely tell that waste is being removed from my linings. There's still hope that I'll find that random toy car that I never knew I ingested, which is what I'm hoping for.
I'm noticing the smell of food more, but I'm not hungry. I'm also craving a taste other than my lemonade, tea, and saltwater. Maybe I'm starting to see food more as a luxury than a necessity. That's not to say that I'm not going to eat when the cleanse is done, but maybe now I'll appreciate tastes more and take my time as opposed to just eating it and having taste as an afterthought.
My weight loss seems to be plateauing a bit. With four more days to go I'd like to lose at least two more pounds. The more I lose now, the more room I'll have to plateau at my ideal weight once I start eating again.
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