I decided to try the Master Cleanse again for a few reasons. The most important reason was that I wanted to prove it to myself that I could actually do this. It's was a 13 day commitment and there was a lot of temptation. The next most important reason was to lose the soft belly I somehow gained after having surgery. And finally, I wanted to rework my diet and eating habits. My friend, Summer, is a vegan and I've been secretly fascinated by the vegan lifestyle for quite a while. I'm not ready to commit to that yet, but I do want to limit certain products in my diet and find healthier alternatives. I need to educate myself more on how to substitute the foods I'm used to eating with better (yet still tasty) choices.
So, if you're reading this, I completed the 13 day cleanse!! It is considered to be one of the more 'drastic' cleanses but it really isn't all that dire. It's a fast, basically, but you are getting minimal nutrients. You can read about the entire process here: The Master Cleanse. There are highs and lows throughout the 2 week process but ultimately it is doable. While weight loss was not the main objective, I did lose 13 lbs. I will most likely gain it back over the next month or so - it's just a fact. What's important now is making better choices and finding a routine that works for me. I'm starting with a clean slate and it feels really good.
Another lesson learned throughout this process was that with a little discipline and an open mind, you really can accomplish whatever it is you set out to do. I think lack of confidence in the end result can sometimes slow me down. It's also nice to have someone to share your goals with, whether it's a friend, spouse, family member. Jeff is really the only person who knew I was doing a cleanse and he was incredibly supportive. When I got discouraged, he would remind me of what I was trying to accomplish and tell me how proud he was of me. He helped keep me accountable, even if he did it with mini chocolate chip cookies in his mouth.
Would I do it again? Maybe not this particular cleanse. I didn't end up feeling quite the way I had hoped when it concluded. Instead of feeling refreshed, I felt famished, light-headed, and lethargic. Now that I'm eating normally again, I feel so much better. It was a nice restart button for my diet though. Going forward I've adopted healthier eating habits, I'm drinking more water, I’m exercising, and realizing that I love food. All sorts of delicious food. I’m also being super diligent about knowing what’s IN my food and what ingredients I’m putting into my body. And after being hungry for 13 days, I can't stop thinking about food and what I'm going to eat next. Again, making better choices but still really excited for a cheeseburger. Veganism will have to wait.
Never underestimate the power of your intention.
