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Last week, Lemondrop blogger CJ Arabia tested the Master Cleanse -- all in the name of journalism. In short, it's a 10-day fast in which you consume nothing but a concoction of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and tea. While CJ felt weak, cold and hungry throughout the cleanse, she did say that her "pooper felt super-clean." And it's not like she cried about losing 10 lbs., either. We asked if you guys had ever tried this particular detox and, sure enough, you like to do weird things to your bodies too. Here are some of your testimonies:
"I did the Master Cleanse for 2 days. My migraines were so bad that I had to stop or call in sick. The latter wasn't an option." -- Vichica
"I did it too. I did it after my birthday this past summer and I figured I should cleanse from all the crap I ate then. I'm glad I did it, but man, I'll never do it again. The colon cleanse was the worse part. For me, the first few days were the easiest, the last few were the worst. I was so angry, haa haa! Also, my digestive problems as well as my sinus problems went away, but of course, now that I actually eat, they're back. But what I did learn was that I really didn't need that much food to get full or satisfied. But have I learned my lesson about being full? Um, no. I too lost 10 pounds and was looking pretty good and reaching my weight loss goal, but now it's the holidays and after two trips to places where food is plentiful and delicious, I've gained at least five pounds back. Not bad, eh? But yeah, I'm never doing it again. Its just not worth it. Also, I hated cayenne pepper before I started and now I can't even *think* about it with wanting to vomit." -- Andrea
"I did it last year. I lost a lot of weight, but I was so sick of lemonade when I got done. I couldn't even have anything with lemon it it for three months. LOL." -- Luckygirljen
"I too am on my 10th day of the Master Cleanse. Prior to this I did it several years ago for 13 days where I lost 25 lbs. Unlike the author, I am a fan of the diet. I always feel better afterward. This time I do not know how much I've lost because I don't have access to a scale but my goal was to get into a certain pair of pants of which I have. When I get hungry, I just drink more of the lemonade and the hunger goes away. I agree the salt water flush is the most unpleasant part of the program but instead of combining the flush and the herbal laxative tea in the morning, I did the tea just before going to bed as Burroughs suggested. It's not for everyone but I recommend it highly." -- Denise
"I've been doing this cleanse for years. I know what it feels like and what it can and can't do. It can't repair torn tendons or dislocated joints. Good luck with a pain where you've had an operation. It does help with arthritic pain. You feel tired and even dazed because of the poisons that hit your system all at once as your body begins eating itself. The lethargy DOES GO AWAY. But only after you've gotten rid of the crap. The more you have, the longer it takes. Your first time will/should logically be the longest.The mix is easier to make than a good breakfast. I make a gallon at a time so that I don't have to constantly be squeezing lemons and cleaning up. It does NOT just remove water weight. It DOES remove muscle, too, along with the fat. Therefore, do not do this to lose weight. You will be shooting yourself in the foot because you will gain the weight back afterward because muscle burns calories and you just lost an ally that was burning what you were taking in BEFORE you cleansed. Do this especially if you have digestion problems. It lets your system have a break and rest, repair, and recuperate. The tea is taken THE NIGHT BEFORE and the salt water in the morning. If you work during the cleanse, get up 2 hours early, so that you're ready for work on time. Start it Thursday night. Better if you have a 3 day, Monday off, weekend. Don't skip the tea and salt water. If you thought you felt lethargic with taking them, just wait and see how you feel without taking them. NO, YOU CAN'T SMOKE, DRINK ALCOHOL OR COFFEE. Actually, you can, just don't expect it to work properly and stop blaming the cleanse for your piss-poor performance on it. I don't agree with everything that Mr. Burroughs writes, but his cleanse is close to miraculous. And yes, this cleanse is worth the effort." -- Pete
Tell us: Do you regularly fast or cleanse your body? What other crazy-sounding cleanses have you tried that have worked for you?
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Tuesday 15 December
By Amy
A lot of my hippie-wannabe friends and acquaintances in college did fasts and cleanses. They always talked about how "clear" they felt, and how they felt so much better and healthier after not eating for days because of all the toxins they had purged. They got especially emphatic about this after about the fifth or seventh day, and that is when they started to sound like they were insane. They be standing their looking absolutely crazy, all wired and drained at the same time, with their sickly looking skin, telling me how good they felt after starving themselves for a week. I didn't believe them. I feel like people who haven't eaten for days aren't really properly able to analyze what is happening to them.
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Tuesday 15 December
By chris
i fast from time to time, and i always feel better afterward. it helps me with chronic gas, bloated feelings, most recently, i fasted prior to a liver/gall bladder flush (i've done 6 over the past 5 years and no longer have gall stones/gall pain).
fasting just prior to my period helps to mediate some of the menstrual cramping/full bowels feeling i get.
7th day adventists fast and they are some of the healthiest set of people in the US.
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Tuesday 26 January
By Sue
I have done this Master Cleanse twice. It is difficult at first, but the energy I felt was amazing. It greatly helped by digestive problems and I lost 8 lbs in 5 days. I had to quit after the 5th day because my legs became weak. But, the reason for doing this cleanse is not to lose weight! It is to give your organs a much needed rest so that they work better. I was relieved to get rid of the toxins and garbage in my system and it helped me have the discipline to fast periodically for 2-3 days. The cayenne pepper helps to scrap off the garbage from the wall of your intestine. And, I still love lemonade. Sue
Tuesday 15 December
By Myriad
I don't think that people should stick to the master cleanse "diet" because the same nutrients don't work/aren't enough for everybody. I know that sounds a bit odd but, I think, instead of going on a 10 day fast where you drink weird shit, just try to slowly replace some things with healthier alternatives. And drink a lot of juice.
I eat a bowl of wheaties and drink a lot of juice... I feel "cleansed" without going on the diet. No need to stop eating.
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Thursday 17 December
By MONICA MARIE
I did the Master Cleanse back in June. I was having issues with my stomache; bloating, swelling, even with my bowls, it was unusual and uncomfortable. I've never had problems with my stomache before. A doctor had wanted me to start taking everyday medication that had the side effect of diharrea- no joke. So.. I did my own research on hollistic medicine. I came across this "Master Cleanse". I was skeptical. I love food! And the thought of not eating for 10 days was just crazy to me. SO for about two weeks I read all about cleansings and the benefits they provide. It took about 3 weeks before I had enough balls to finally do it! And boy, I'm so glad I did! I lost 14 lbs. I drank the lemonade about 6 times a day along with lots of green tea and water. It was the hardest thing I've done but my stomache has yet to give me an issue. Its now december and I still havent put the weight back on. I'm also not a junk food eater either. I like my fruits, veggies and fish. I feel good. I would recommend this to anyone, you just have to have some serious will-power!
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Wednesday 16 December
By Keli Morris
Thanks for the feedback on this. I was just dicussing it with a friend last night, and I was curious about what people have experienced.
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Wednesday 16 December
By Paige
Could you please send me the recipe? Thanks!!!
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Wednesday 16 December
By Jana Lee
Not only do I do this cleanse, but, as an Alternative Health Care Provider, I recommend it to my patients who want to loose wieght or have digestive health issues. There is nothing wierd or new age about this cleanse and it is healthy for the body to fast occassionally. Of course I have a few tricks of the trade and modifications to make things a little more tolerable to those of us who can't do the cleanse as written. One is to measure out your morning water for the intestinal rinse, then pour out about 6 ounces into a seperate cup and add ALL of the sea salt to that. Drink as much of the large conatainer of pure water as you can without making yourself sick, wait a few seconds and then slam the salt water. Then you'll want to drink the rest of the fresh water to get the taste of the salt water out of your mouth. I also take a low heat cayenne pepper supplement instead of adding it to the lemonade.
For those who start to experience severe hunger, headaches or wooziness, after about the 3rd or 4th day try adding a small bowl of miso soup ( high in protein) or a small bowl of highly over cooked veggies (like broccoli, carrots, peppers, cauliflower, green beans - no starchy one like corn or potatoes) once a day. While steadfast cleansers feel this is cheating, I find it a safer and a more tolerable way for the general public to reap the benefits of a good cleanse without feeling like they are dying, and therefore they are more likely to do the entire 10 days.
Just remember, when ending the cleanse DO NOT just go back to eating food like you did before. Your digestive tract has had a vacation and needs time to re-adjust, so follow the instructions of drinking orange juice and then broth. For those who had to eat the bowl of veggies once a day, you can go straight to a overcooked veggie soup.
The first 3 days of the cleanse it is VITAL that you not eat and stay strictly with the salt water flush and the lemonade. If you can't stick to this you are wasting your time. The whole point behind this is to rinse out your intestines and to give your digestive tract a break, so that you can assimilate your nutrients better after the cleanse and get rid of the toxic (fecal) materials that have built up in your intestines seeping nastiness into your body.
It's always good to work with a licensed Alternative Healthcare Practitioner such as an Acupuncturist or Naturopath in conjunction with doing the cleanse so that they can supervise the process and help you deal with any other health related issues that you may want addressed. JUST REMEMBER to be smart and listen to your body. Research the things you do, but don't get scared off just because you think this is all strange woo woo stuff.
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Saturday 26 December
By Howard Hodges
Folks you do NOT have to "cleanse" your colon. That's along the same lines as checking the bumps on your head back in the early part of the century or the old chiropractic theory (other than minor back manipulation) of it "curing" anything. YOUR COLON WORKS NATURALLY, it does not need your assist or any UNscientific advice from UNlicensed so-called "health practioners." If you really think you have a medical problem -- go see a board-certified internal medicine practictioner (M.D.) If they haven't been to med school, you're not their "patient," you're their "guinea pig" and "bank depositor." People have gotten very ill and even have died from so-called "cleansings." There is no healthy quick answer to weight loss: it's calories in/calories out. Eat less (talk to any nutritionist, preferably a dietician), a well-balanced diet (less animal protein, more fruits and veggies) and EXERCISE (that dreaded word: it can be just walking 30-min on a regular basis every week. Just like you can't save yourself out of debt (if you have no income), you can't lose healthy weight (that is, not muscle weight) w/o eating less or increasing exercise. Ignore the Pathways-type "I'll read your iris, halos, vibs, colors, early life, tea leaves, kind of BSers." If it really was that effective, you'd be hearing about it in the nightly news -- not on some info-mercial at 3am~!
Wednesday 16 December
By pward
I have done a fast in the past via an ex-boyfriend. He does a fast 4 times a year for about 3-5 days. He says the headaches are caused by toxins leaving your body too fast and the way to get rid of them are to get rid of the watse materials. He does this by enemas. (That was going too far for me.) Well anyway--this guy looks so young. He has been fasting for the last 10 years. He is over 50 and looks 30! He always got carded when we visited casinos. Their mouths would drop open and they would pass his identification around. It's the rejuvenating of the liver that keeps a person youthful. The weight loss is just a side-effect.
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Wednesday 16 December
By Kellee
I have done the master cleanse many times, and I too can attest to it's abilities to help your body. Is it hard? Yes. Is it something you're not going to want to do? Yes. But so is EVERYTHING that leads to success. If being healthy and weighing the proper weight for your body type were EASY, EVERYONE would already be that. But we are so obsessed with quick, easy, lazy ways in this country we are always ready to bash something that does not fit that category. I have been told numerous times that "whatever you are looking for you will find." --So if you're looking for a reason not to do this cleanse, you'll definitely find it. People who talk about it being UNHEALTHY--please. McDonald's is unhealthy, yet there's one on every corner. Cigarettes are unhealthy yet you can get them anytime, anywhere. Everyday there's some new report on something else that gives you cancer, yet it's still mass produced and sold, not taken off shelves.
This cleanse is good for you, it helps you get to a point where you actually think about what you eat (if you're doing it for the right reasons, which is to CLEANSE your digestive tract, not lose weight fast), and it will help with other bodily malfunctions you have that stem from the toxins you put in your body. The worse you eat, the harder the first few days are gonna be. Try to increase your intake of veggies, leafy greens and lean protein the WEEK before you start-that way your body will have a heads up that change is coming. It may or may not help with the detox symptoms (headaches, bloating, icky-feeling). I did it for 21 days and I've never felt better in my life. I craved veggies, and if I put so much as a McDonalds french fry in my mouth, I gagged. Real potatoes, no problem. I am going to do it again after the holidays-because I have been eating lots of things the past 6 months that I shouldn't have, and my DT has been paying the price heavily. Bloated, constipated, can't fit my clothes, uncomfortable, etc.
If you're serious about cleansing your system, I say go for it, yet pay attention to your body--if you get to the point where you feel you are really not doing something right, consult a homeopathic doctor (regular md's will just tell you to eat again and give you a PILL for weight loss or IBS...hello alli?). If I had to work on a day I was doing it, I would puree carrots and eat that a little at a time-so the overcooked veggies suggestion from above is valid. I know people who have cleansed for 40 days. Start with 10 though. Good luck!
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Wednesday 16 December
By Ms cleanse
I am on the 8th day of the cleanse. It is difficult because of our habits not because you feel poorly. This is the second time I did it. The first time I was having major health issues so I cleansed to purify my body and help it heal itself. My doctor recommended a colonoscopy and the doctor who performed it said I had the cleanest colon he had ever seen. I felt healthier, younger and my skin looked better. I was lighter feeling and continued on a healthy path. Recently, due to several stresssful factors in my life, chips and fast food became my comfort and I am doing the fast again, not only to detoxify my body,
but also to readjust my mental attitude towards food. No longer do the ads for junk look appealing to me, I would die for a bowl of steamed spinach. When you become clean, you notice the difference and you will want to maintain it. It helped me just as much mentally as physically as well as having a sense of accomplishment that you did something so healthy for yourself.
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Wednesday 16 December
By Lauri
I did the Master Cleanse for 10 days. It was hard being hungry all the time, and by the 9th day, I had a hard time just getting up the stairs. I really liked how my digestive system was cleaned out, though. And once I went back to eating, I felt really energized and would just wake up early for no reason without having to set an alarm. So not like me normally. I would do it again.
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Thursday 17 December
By Antoinette Smith Genesis
Hey everyone, you've gotta remember that the 'bad feelings' you've experienced on the cleanse were simply from all the junk (poisons from chemicals, dyes, preservatives, etc.) that polluted your system and blood stream. Yes, sometimes you have to go thru Hell to get to Heaven; but at least you know there's something good awaiting you. You 'want' to get that stuff out and not put it back into your system if you want to live a healthy life (clean pipe system thru and thru). It's just logic people....been doing this since the late '70's when it wasn't even popular. The absolute best way to atone for all the bad eating done out of ignorance. I give Mother Nature a big thumbs up for working with us during the cleanse. Just stick w/ it and the benefits are priceless....
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Friday 18 December
By skeptic
Isn't Master Cleanse basically a formulaic way to be anorexic for 10 days? Most of my friends who had eating disorders used Master Cleanse once or twice, claiming it to be healthy when really they were using it to hide their other problems. Denying your body from nutrients will make you skinny, but so well exercise and eating right.
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Tuesday 22 December
By GSpencer
I tried the MC and made it to day 4. I quit because I was soo hungry and couldn't handle it but I can't handle being constantly bloated and feeling tired all the time. The MC is hard but in the few days I was able to do it I could see that it's the real deal. The tea is ok -- (I've been drinking it for years) but the salt water flush was crazy. The first day I drank it was a work day so I woke up at 4:30 am so that I wouldn't have any problems at work. It took about 2 hours to kick in but when it did -- OMG!. I going to try it again for the New Year and will incoporate some of the tips to keep me from being so hungry. I'm ready to take my lifestyle and life habits to a higher level.
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Thursday 24 December
By luckygirljen
I only have 50 lbs to go until my goal weight, and it is stubborn. I could not do the Master Cleanse again. However, I may try a jumpstart fast for a week. I thought of a juice and water fast.
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Friday 25 December
By Barbara Tjarks
This doesnt sound very good to me. I would suggest the cleanse I use from which the toxins are removed at a cellular level, which means your whole body is cleansed. Meanwhile you are getting all the nutrition your body needs and you may still lose 10 pds. And it tstes good too! barbchewey@aol.com
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Friday 25 December
By Marilynn
I have done a Master Cleanse many times. The only part I dislike is drinking the 32 ounces of salted water each day. Once you get to day 3-4 you will no longer have the headaches no feel hungry. The reason for the headaches during the first days, you are cleansing all toxins out of your body.
It truly works.
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Saturday 26 December
By jean
Why do people think these goofy combinations are going to really ultimately help them????? If you want to fast just quit eating for a day or two but drink plenty of pure water all the time anyway. Many people find fasting helpful and healthy but don't over do it. Sometimes a two meal day is the better answer. A good healthy breakfast with all the good nourishing things to last all through the early part of the day- then a modest lunch and maybe only a piece of fruit and toast for supper- one sleeps more soundly with a stomach that has emptied itself and can rest along with the rest of your body. Common sense. If you really want to know how to eat right, read the book titled The China Study by Dr. Colin Campbell- this information will change your life and may even save it.
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