If Day 1 was difficult, Day 3 was my most umcomfortable day on the cleanse. It didn’t help that work chose Day 3 to order in ‘witchcraft sandwiches and Magnolia Bakery cupcakes. But more than that, I had taken an herbal laxative on Night 2 (in lieu of the suggested colonic recommended on a cleanse) which caused terrible stomach cramping. Day 3 was also more stressful than usual for me at work and I didn’t drink as much water as I should have. By the end of the day, I felt drained and lighheaded and looked skinny and drawn.
I enjoyed my dinner of spicy raw chili and greens with goddess dressing and wished there were more of it. The chocolate mousse paled in comparison to the cinnamon and pumpkin mousse from the previous two days but it was still tasty. I took a much-needed detox bath in Epsom salts and lavendar essential oil and after felt very relaxed.
I ordered an extra day of the cleanse, which arrived yesterday, thinking that if I enjoyed my experience, I would extend it another day but worst case scenario I could use it to ease myself out of the cleanse. Note: preparation and coming off of a cleanse are a crucial part of any cleanse no matter its length. Feeling hungry around midnight and unable to sleep, I munched on the snack bar and then fell into a deep and restful sleep.
Following a six mile run this morning, as I was packing my juice and food into the handy carry-all provided by the nice people at BPC, I noticed a different instruction card that made the timing of the juices seem more clear to me than the card I had received with my first three days of supplies.
This is the card I referred to during my cleanse:
This is the one that to me – for whatever reason – spoke to me more clearly.
Today, I will transition off of my cleanse and I’m very much looking forward to eating clean, healthy food again. For lunch I’ll enjoy raw spicy red pepper soup and refried bean wraps and for dinner a salad with lots of veggies.
Although my experience on this cleanse wasn’t optimal, that doesn’t mean it isn’t the right cleanse for someone else – that’s the beauty of bio-individuality! The Blue Print Cleanse is a fun and easy cleanse especially for busy city dwellers and the owners really know their stuff — I’m now reading their book, The 3-Day Cleanse. I feel very fortunate for the opportunity to try a cleanse and for a strong and healthy body that can support me through one.
In January, I tried a whole/clean foods cleanse and posted about it. That cleanse turned out to be too much food for me where the Blue Print Cleanse was too little food. My general belief about cleansing is this: If 90 percent of the time you eat a clean diet of organic whole foods that is mostly plant-based and includes fresh raw juices to rid your body of toxins, there is little need for cleansing.
Of course, cleansing can be beneficial in some cases and right now it seems to be trendy so if you are going to embark on a cleanse, follow these guidelines:
1. Do your research and find the cleanse that is right for you: Not all cleanses are created equal.
2. Ask yourself why you are doing the cleanse: If it’s for a quick fix because you overindulge on drugs, alcohol and unhealthy foods more often than you’d like to admit, a cleanse is probably not your best option. If it’s solely for weight loss, think again. If it’s to kick start some weight loss and an overall change in lifestyle and food choices, you’re on the right path.
3. Prepare, prepare, prepare: This goes for before and after. Your body will find a way to reject the cleanse and what you put into it after if you skip these important steps.
4. Listen to your body: Know what feels good and what doesn’t and when to come off a cleanse that isn’t right for you. A cleanse is not about willpower and deprivation. It’s about doing something to benefit yourself and your body.
5. Don’t forget the water!
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