My Lemonade Cleanse

Forget it!

I’m done with this lemon obsession.

I just want to go back to food with color.

I want to poop because my body wants to, not because a tea forces me too. I’d also like to go back to having more than a 45 second countdown before I have to get to the bowl, or else…

I just want to feel like a normal human again.

Someone who sees colors and eats them.

I said I would try this and I did, and it helped me to really simplify things and get my attention off food.  I’m definitely going to be making some changes to my diet from here on out.  I think less fruit and more greens, but I’ve had enough lemons to last me until winter.

I’ve always said the best knowledge is that gained through personal observation. If anyone wants my opinion on the Master Cleanse, I’ll tell them what I think. Take a 7 Day Detox instead!

I’m outta here with cucumber kisses and leafy green love!

Tera

I can feel this time is so different than the other 20 times I tried to do this.

The great Master Cleanse book I’m reading even says that if you start on a whim, you’ll jump off on a whim just as quickly. That’s certainly been the case for me. This morning I was weak. I drank a “detox” tea, instead of a “laxative tea” because I’ve got some concerns about laxative teas.

Anyway, this morning I went to get some laxative tea, ‘cuz stuff ain’t moving through the pipes the way it should.

But you know what I really like about this… since I’m not eating to keep myself awake at night, I went to bed early and read a book, then just turned out the light and crawled under the sheets. I know it might sound like nothing terribly extraordinary to you, but these are the things I just NEVER do.

I’m excited and loving my early bed times. It’s one of the biggest reasons I started this little lemony adventure–just to get my attention off of food and onto other things. Like the upcoming Green Smoothie Queen Challenge! It’s going to be a doozy, but I’ve got lots to do to get ready. Back later with lemony love…

Okay, so the announcement was made and it’s taken me a few days to get organized, get some things in place for this to actually happen, but it IS happening. And today was Day One!

My nose is a bit runny. I think Keely passed on her sniffles to me in The Powder Room. Anyway, I managed to go for a half hour run, and would have liked to have gone on further, but had lots to get done.

In the past I’ve not been successful in sticking to this for a few reasons:

1. I didn’t know what the heck I was doing.

I just found the lemonade recipe and decided to start drinking it. But I actually learned a whole lot from the book that Katy Joy sent to me in the mail. Things like:

• leaving your lemons on the counter and NOT in the fridge because it’s better for enzyme activity
• making your drink and drinking it within 10 minutes is best. If you can’t do that, then pack the lemon juice and maple syrup together, then add water when it’s time to drink it.
• only buy enough lemons for about 3 days at a time

I went out and got some organic, cayenne and it’s really nice, too and I read a lot more about the ingredients, what they do, why this works, and why doing anything other than what is there DOES NOT WORK!

For instance, dipping my fingers in the honey jar as a maple syrup substitute just isn’t going to cut the mustard. I really found that any deviation, however slight, makes for trouble. So…

It’s 9:00p.m.

I did it. My first day. All I have to do now, is finish my next consultation, then brush my teeth, take out my contacts and GO TO BED!

Ohhhh please lemony powers that be… PULEEEASE help me get to bed and stay there!

Muuuah!

Lemony kisses and cayenne cuddles,

Tera

p.s. I went for a run for the second day in a row. That feels grrreat!xoxox

Well, last night I realized I need help.

While I was yo-yoing on the Master Cleanse, I was actually feeling very good. The best I’ve felt in a long time.

I was going to bed! I wasn’t eating late at night.

But the bottom line is that I wasn’t informed about the cleanse. I hadn’t read any books yet, or really investigated what this was all about, and so, over the last few days I’ve taken the time to do that. I’m now ready to make this work.

I realize I have to do something for myself, and this is a tool I’ve not yet given a fair chance. It’s a tool that works for a lot of people.

I’ve tried water fasting and I just can’t do it and function effectively at the same time.

So to be honest, today I’m not feeling great, but I know that by the end of the day I’ll be feeling much clearer and more confident. I need to do something to pamper myself and put myself as the priority again.

Today I’m spring cleaning the house. I’m changing my sheets, washing the floors, throwing out the old and making room for some new energy and positive change!

It’s Spring! I’ve been helping lots of people detox and prepare for bikini season, but have neglected my own needs in that department. So, here I am determined to bust my perpetual Day 3 and go way, way beyond.

You see, by Day 3 I’m feeling good and I usually just decide I don’t “need” to cleanse anymore.

Pshaw! Well, I’m going to grit my teeth, go for walks and do what it takes, because I WANT this experience for myself.

I’ll keep you posted.

Ha! Ha! Amy. Love the teasing. Really, I totally deserved it.

Well, I guess it’s true. I never quite did get past Day 3. But I feel great. And I’m still largely on lemonade. I’m not done yet, either. In fact, I’ve got about half a case of lemons to get through, so I’m not stopping until I’m done.

I’ve probably had 5 or 6 meals in the last 2 and a half weeks. A few nibbles here and there.

I’ve definitely lost some weight, and could lose more without complaining, but I love, love, love not having my attention on food.

I love not being food obsessed.

I admit, I’ve not managed to get through the whole detoxing adventure of 10 days with nothing in the gut, and I’m sure it would be incredible, but as it happens, if you read the Raw Mom blog, you’ll know that there’s a certain Frenchman coming this weekend to visit me, and so I’m not for a moment going to be grinning at him from across the table with a furry, white detox tongue. NO THANKS!

I do love drinking the lemonade and will continue doing so until it no longer gives me as much pleasure as it does right now.

I’d love to have the drive and determination to get through 10 days straight… maybe when Mansoir leaves I’ll try again. But truth be told, I realize more and more how little I really need to feel good.

I think overeating causes a lot more problems than many of us admit. Whether it’s cooked food or raw food. I feel better undereating on cooked food than I do overeating on raw food. Just a thought and observation.

Anyway, I do so hope that if you’re reading this you’ll take the time to visit other detoxers who are making their way through this adventure and living the benefits of it.

As for me, I’m enjoying my love affair with lemonade and will do so until it seems less enticing as it does to me know.

Love and hugs,

Tera

Hi everyone!  Amy here on Tera’s behalf… Well, as many of you already know, poor Tera’s computer went for a permanent sleep last night.  She’ll be offline for a few days, so I’m poking my nose in to all that has been going on while I’ve been busy in the background.

So what about Tera and her Master Cleanse?  Well, only she can say for sure, but I think she may be caught up in a bit of a 3 day groundhog day rotation!  She must REALLY like this lemonade, because every time she hits day 3, she starts at 1 again!  Hehehe!  Sorry Tera!  You know I’m just teasing! 

4 more months ’till I pop this baby out, and then another bunch breastfeeding and then I’ll have to put my money where my mouth is (boy, this gets me into trouble a lot)!  Until then, I am challenging you to get through this cleanse from beginning to end, starting the day you get back online!

And Bob?  What about Bob?  He’s planning to get started tomorrow.  We’ll be watching Bob!  I wonder if Keely will enjoy as much abuse from you as I did from Tera.  All I have to say is, "Thank Goodness I don’t live with her!"

Katy Joy, Congratulations on completing your full cleanse!  What an inspiration you are!  The timing is perfect for your Mono Meal Cleanse starting today and I just wanted to thank you for sharing your experiences!

If you have been following this blog and didn’t realize that our other Master Cleanser have their own pages, I’d like to invite you to check out the "Pages" links towards the top left corner of this blog to access and follow along with their experiences.

If you’re coming off of your own cleanse (master or otherwise), The Raw Divas invite you to finish it off with our FREE 7 Day Detox.  This would is a great 7 day program and would ease you back into a simple and healthy raw food diet with lots of support, guidance and community.

All the best to all of your Raw Divas out there!

Amy

I am officially detoxing.

While yesterday walking outside was actually quite blissful and almost surreal, I have the patience of a two year old and some people are paying the price.

Sorry, Amy.

Sorry, Mika.

I’m sure I think I’m quite rational at the time, but the truth is, there’s a sort of emotional and physical purge going on, and it’s quite evident.

I love feeling closer to my real me. The layer of “extra” I didn’t need is disappearing.

There’s a thick blanket of cotton lining the inside of my mouth, but I keep a toothbrush and toothsoap beside me all the time.

Elimination has been disgusting frankly. Just a tip, if you have the urge to release wind, DON’T DO IT!!!

It’s NOT wind.

Ahhh… the gory details of detox.

There is a MAJOR difference between doing this at 90% ot 100%. It’s really not the same game at all. So, I can only say this is Day Three. But I guess I needed a good week of working up to this.

There is no part of me that wants to stop, at all. It’s so clear that whatever is coming out right now is best left to do so.

I do have to watch my patience. Especially given that there are 4 kids in my space right now.

It’s really important for me to drink enough. As luck would have it, I’m all out of maple syrup this morning. I’m going to have to convince my sidekicks to pack up and head out with me. There’s no way I’ll suvive the day without more maple syrup.

Okay, lots to do. I’m not going to edit this, so if they’re mistakes, blame them on detox.

I’d kiss you, but with this furry mouth, I don’t think you’d want me to.

So, sending you lemony love instead looking forward to euphoria.

Tera

Grrrr…

I’m achy, I’m grumpy, I’m crabby, I’m crusty.

I’m flabby and puffy and I swear my bones are yelling at me.

I’m not hungry, though.

I can feel the toxins creeping out of their nasty little hiding places coming to be released. But where? When? and who will have to put up with me when they finally escape?

The alterego has surfaced for a day time appearance, it seems. Though she’s not eating, just being a nuissance.

I’m going to get out of my own way, now and know that this, too, shall pass.

I can’t say how long I’ve been doing this, but I guess “perfectly” only 2 days. Largely perfectly, about 10. But the thing is, I think unless you’re doing it perfectly, you’re not detoxing in the same way. I mean, I really feel the cloudy crustiness take me over when I make that lead into full blown lemon to bust.

And, Peter on his call said that Day 2, 3 and 7 were the worst.

Bracing myself…

Laxative love to you all,

Tera, the crusty princess who lives on Lemon Lane

If she had a name I’d call her Julie. Julie the insatiable late night eating MONSTER!

Good thing I’ve been going on a major cleaning BLITZ because there’s not a thing left to eat in my house that isn’t maple syrup or limes or cayenne pepper! But the kids get home tomorrow night, so I need at least one 100% successful day under my belt before the gang invades.

I will say that I feel amazing. Apart from some weird fatique that hit me at about 9:30pm last night (and I should really have listened) I am feeling really focused. I mean, I have no desire to eat food. My skin looks nice, my body feels good.

I am having a great time and feeling really quite good. I know I could step it up a notch in detox intensity by taking it to 100%. And I’m trying, but Julie keeps sabotaging me after 11:00pm. Just gotta get tuck her in early and she’ll be fine.

Lemony hugs and cayenne kisses,

Tera

Three strikes and I’m out. This is my last chance.

Hehe… just kidding. No ultimatums. But even though I’ve not been sticking to this lemony adventure 100%, I’ve still been doing a lot of lemonade and have drastically reduced my calories and that alone is feeling great. I feel clearer and have been naturally driven to do some major organization and cleaning.

Some say the way a person’s space and objects are managed determines a lot about how they manage their thoughts. Well, it’s definitely have a ripple effect into my space.

I absolutely love my lemonade drinks, and finally got the laxative tea, which is just as Yummy! I do find at the end of the evening, I’d like something more, something different.

It’s hard to believe that this is Day One, because for over a week now I’ve been incorporating a whole lot of lemonade. I guess this is just going to be the final step that takes it into the deep cleaning this “cleanse” is supposed to be doing for me.

I’m looking forward to the process.

The coating on my tongue last time disappeared as soon as I started eating solid food again. I’ve never quite had anything like that before. It was fascinating. I’d like to be running and jogging more, but need to improve my number of hours spent nestled under the sheets before I add that one to the to do list. In the meantime, I’ve been getting in some great long walks with the kids, and that helps.

I would love to start doing pilates again, too, and start strengthening my core muscles.

Okay, just a little love note on a sunny Sunday to say all is well, and I’m off to get things done!

More tomorrow!

oxo

Tera