4 Day Juice Cleanse Wrap Up

 Last week I did a 4 day cleanse using Simplifast’s Juice Diet Shots. 

If you’re just joining me, check out my posts about each day:

Never say never... Juice Cleanse: Day 1.

Juice Cleanse: Day 2 
Juice Cleanse: Day 3 & SJP  

Juice Cleanse: Day 4

Initially, I had agreed to do a cleanse with a couple girls from the office. I had a hard time believing that I could actually stick to it – I was really scared that I would fall off the wagon half way through! By the end of the cleanse, I felt like I could keep going because I wasn’t hungry and I genuinely felt better overall.

My best advice to you if you’re considering doing a cleanse: Easing off of a cleanse is important. The night I finished the cleanse, I had a piece of pizza and a few drinks. I got so sick, never ever do that! The day after the cleanse, I started the day with a juice (I actually woke up craving one!), then later had some fruit, veggies and soup. I found that I got full really quickly.

Even 3 days after I finished the cleanse, I notice my appetite isn’t as out of control as it was after the holidays. I have lost a few pounds and I hope they stay off. This week I am planning to stick to a plant based diet with the occasional protein thrown in there. For example, this morning I had  2 kiwis for breakfast, a big salad for lunch with tofu and some cherry tomatoes & cucumber slices for an afternoon snack. I’d also like to only have 1 cup of coffee today as I found I didn’t need it like I thought I did – I just missed the taste & experience of a good cup of coffee.

To find out more about Simplifast, check out their site http://www.simplifast.com/ I recommend ordering on Amazon or waiting for a deal site to feature the products for a lower price!

I am interested in doing another cleanse the last week of January. Do you have any recommendations?

Never say never... Juice Cleanse: Day 1.

Yes, I did write a whole post about how I could never, ever, ever do a cleanse and I thought they were stupid. (See here: To Cleanse, Or Not to Cleanse? )

Yes, I have been known to vow that I love food too much to do a cleanse.

Yes, I have silently ridiculed others for doing cleanses.

Yes, I really do think that some cleanses are stupid.

BUT, today I started the Simplifast Juice Cleanse.

I’m not going to lie – I am doing the cleanse to lose weight and not to “rid my body of toxins” (a common fib). Over the holidays I was a garbage disposal and ate everything I could get my hands on (think chocolate, coffee with Baileys, pizza, Chinese food) . It was like every meal was my last. Shameful. To repent and get myself a little slimmer before my Europe trip I thought this would be a cool thing to try.

I found a deal site voucher where I could get 24 juice shots for $24.99 + $12 shipping. A couple girls from work jumped on the bandwagon so I have some moral support. Basically, you mix 1 shot with 12oz of water and sip 4 servings throughout the day in place of meals, drink at least 48oz of water and eat fresh fruits / vegetables if needed. I am planning on adding some veggies and broth to this to keep me sane.

From their site, some benefits:

Increased Energy

Increased Immunity – right…

Enhanced Liver Function – right…

Reduced Allergy Symptoms – right…

Increased Metabolism

Rapid Weight Loss

Improved Digestive Function

Reduced Joint Aches and Pains

Improved Sleep

Heightened Mental Clarity, Focus, and Memory

Improved Stability of Moods and Balance

Feeling of Calmness and Peace – right…

Reduced Appetite, Food, Alcohol, and Nicotine Cravings (I don’t know about this one – I could use a drink)

3 Delicious Flavors: Lemon Citrus, Orange Pomegranate, Strawberry Mango

So far today I have had the lemon citrus shot and an orange pomegranate. They were lying about the “delicious” part. Bleck.

Learn more here - http://www.simplifast.com

Last night I watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and it was pretty motivating. You can watch this for free on Hulu or on Netflicks. I am definitely considering buying a juicer and doing a 10 day green juice cleanse. Have you seen this movie? The total transformation that the both Phil and Joe make was incredible. Watch it.

Each day I’ll update how I’m doing on the cleanse.

So far today:

Energy Level – Normal considering it is my first day back to work after a long break for the holidays. (2 ½ weeks!) I am a bit tired, but I think that is a combination of not being used to waking up to an alarm for weeks and the fact that I haven’t had a cup of coffee, only mint herbal tea.

Exercise – I might go to the gym tonight, but the cleanse recommends only light exercise. Perhaps yoga.

Sleep – We will find out tonight.

Feeling – Tired. I’d like a coffee and a sandwich, please. The weird thing is, I don’t really feel hungry. I kind of just want something real because I am used to it.

Hopefully I can stick to this. Tonight I am planning on having some vegetable broth and maybe a small salad depending on my hunger levels. Wish me luck!

Have you ever done a juice cleanse?

Green Monster

A friend of mine from Canada gave me 2 packs of  Raw Greens Meal Saeng-Shik. After sitting in my pantry for over 1 year, I decided it was time to try it. The package recommends mixing with water and drinking a 1-2 times a day. If you’d like to substitute this for a meal, you can mix it with a banana.  

Product description:

Raw Greens were developed from the simple belief that we should consume wholesome foods in their natural states without cooking or artificially modifying them. This way, we can be sure that we are getting the best source of nutrients in a way that our bodies can use them. GMF (God-Made Food) uses a freeze-drying method to conserve the original raw natural state of enzymes, vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, fibrin and all other nutritious ingredients.

god made food? okay.... lol

 Ingredients:

Rice (Brown rice, White rice), Barley, Freeze-ried soy milk, Xylitol, Fructooligosaccharide, Glutinous brown rice, Kale, White sesame, Potato, Rice bran, Angelicus utilis, Pumpkin, Carrot, Millet, Shiitake mushroom, Sea tangle, Japanese chlorella (cracked cell), Spirulina, Indian millet, Glutinous millet, Job's tears, Black sesame, Brown seaweed, Barley grass, Wild parsley, Radish, Cabbage, Laver, Pine needles, Sedum, Radish leaves, Lotus root, Burdock, Cordyceps, Ganoderma mushroom, Malt, Carrot leaves, Sweet potato, Plum, Garlic, Yam, Mugwort, Lactic ferments, Citron.

 

That’s a lot of stuff in one little package!

lots of ingredients - note seaweed, radish leaves and what the heck is burdock?

Not much to it

 My opinion – it tasted like grassy chalk on ice. It smelled like dirt, almost like a barn but not quite as bad. I'm getting the heebie jeebies just thinking about it.

At first I tried mixing it with water & ice in my magic bullet. Nasty. How could my Magic Bullet betray me like this?

Next I tried fixing it by adding some frozen berries. Ewwwww. Still nasty.

Then I tried adding more water and some plain Greek yogurt. Yup, still nasty. So, so bad. 

 This was still gross, powdery and bland, but I drank it anyways.I was hungry again in about an hour. #failure lol.

I don’t know if I’m cut out for this kind of drink but, hey, at least I finally tried it.

 I have had real green juice and I actually like it a lot. I think I"ll just stick to the fresh stuff!

 

 Do you own a juicer? Can you recommend any very healthy breakfast mixes that will keep me full and do not taste like abso*f-ing*lutely terrible??