Before I get started I just want to make sure it is known that I did not do this to loose weight quick, but to attempt to flush out toxins in my body, get this water weight off, and jump start healthy eating (and to make my pants fit a little better :)). One of the worst feelings to me is when my pants/clothes are snug and then start to get tight to where I’m uncomfortable. I’ve never been one to buy new clothes a bigger size when mine get tight. After my pregnancies I would wear my maternity clothes until I lost the weight. That was a motivator for me to continue toward my goal weight. I have recently gained some weight (and no I did not think I was fat) but I was uncomfortable to the point of my pants being too snug for my liking. I actually rarely weigh myself because to me my goal weight is: being able to fit into my clothes and feel good. I did weigh myself for this challenge for the fact that I could share that it’s not all about how much you weigh but about muscle mass over fat. I think that one of the most important things is that we love ourselves in the here and now and if there are goals that we want to achieve then go for them and be your own motivation! I don’t always “feel like” exercising and I don’t always “feel like” eating healthy, but I know what the outcome feels like if I do and I never regret doing it! I do have to say there were times during my cleanse (mostly during the day) that I was hungry…but it’s ok to be hungry. And there were also times that I realized that I wanted to eat because of stress, bordem, kids driving me crazy, etc…
After our recent vacation and just eating unhealthy more than I should, I wanted to try a cleanse. I know there are tons of cleanses out there and some of them you probably actually feel like you are starving. I wanted to come up with my own where I could actually still eat everyday and not feel like I was so deprived that I couldn’t make it for 3 days. This is the first cleanse that I’ve ever done and I loved it! No, the smoothie drinks were not the best tasting thing but I thought hey, “for 3 days?” I can do it! As one of the powders in the cleanse is alot of freeze dried grasses, I joked with my kids that I was drinking “my barnyard smoothie”. I looked at some of the other cleanses out there and came up with this:
I love shopping at Sprouts! Their produce is great and it’s fairly well priced. Ultimately you can get your ingredients from other places but this is where I got all of my stuff! Here are some photos throughout my cleanse (and No, I wasn’t pushing my stomach out in the first one). It’s encouraging to take photos during as it helps for motivation to continue! The abs I have gained from planks and trying to live a healthy lifestyle, but I put photos on to show what a cleanse can accomplish in uncovering our muscles! Here goes… My results: I lost 3 pounds (most of which could be water weight), my pants aren’t tight anymore (YAY!!!!!!), and I feel great!
DAY 1:
DAY 2:
DAY 3:
I was kind of nervous as I thought, “what if I don’t finish this cleanse and I just announced that I’m doing one?”, but that is actually what helped me stay on track and continue on…being held accountable by my blog. So if you are wanting to do a cleanse I strongly recommend doing it with someone else, that way you can hold each other accountable!
This is how my days looked on my cleanse:
I would start my day with a cup of decaffeinated Green Tea. I did sweeten mine with a little stevia, but that is also optional. Also important is that you remember to drink 64 ounces (at least) of water a day!
Breakfast: Smoothie made with one scoop of Sprouts Protein powder flavor of choice (powder comes sweetened with stevia), one scoop of “Green Vibrance”, a cup of ice (or however much you prefer), and 6-8 ounces of water. Blend and enjoy…or don’t enjoy and just drink! 🙂 Sometimes I used less water if I didn’t feel like drinking quite as much. I did also drink these smoothies without ice if I was making them at work. I know, not great but more convenient. If you read the label on the green vibrance, it shows all of the fabulous ingredients along with 25 billion probiotics per serving! There have been many stories of people with illnesses, cancer, etc. using this powder and getting great results! It’s called a “superfood!” You can also get it on Amazon and read hundreds of customer reviews of how it has helped different people! MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE GREEN VIBRANCE IN THE FREEZER IF POSSIBLE! This helps the probiotics to stay alive!
Lunch: Smoothie same as breakfast AND one Ultimate Flora (50 Billion Probiotics) pill. I also took another one of these pills after dinner.
Afternoon snack: Smoothie same as breakfast and (if desired) one serving of veggie, fruit, or half an avocado. That’s one…not all three of those. I would also have another cup of decaffeinated Green Tea when I desired, in the afternoon.
Dinner: All organic if possible: A large bowl of salad with chicken breast (or fish), with tons of veggies! I used: bell peppers, another spicy pepper I’m not sure the name of, grape tomatoes from our garden, jalepenos from our garden, avacado, and sliced mushroom. Be creative and try new veggies! One of the important parts is that you don’t use dressing unless it is a vinegar. I used white balsamic vinegar for dressing. There are lots of tasty vinegars out there! I took another Ultimate Flora pill (50 Billion Probiotics) after dinner as well.
I also used distilled water for drinking and for my tea throughout my entire cleanse! And remember since you are taking in less calories than normal, if you are going to workout…do a lighter workout! The exercises that I did during my cleanse were: walking, jogging for no more than 10 or 15 min, and a little yoga.
CLEANSE GROCERY LIST:
- Decaffeinated Green Tea bags
- Sprouts Chocolate or Vanilla Protein powder
- “Green Vibrance”
- Vitamin B12 (gives energy- but optional to take during cleanse)
- Garlic Supplement (it’s a great immunity booster)
- Ultimate Flora (50 billion Probiotics)
- Organic Salad Mix of Spinach and Baby greens
- Lots of organic veggies to go on your salad
- Chicken Breast (organic if possible and cooked in water)
- Grilled Fish (if preferred)
- Distilled Water
- Vinegar if desired for salad dressing
I honestly have to say, I am so amazed at the results that a cleanse can bring to your body and life! I have had so much energy the last 3 days, my mind is more clear, I don’t have those awful blood sugar spikes, my sinus infection went away with no meds, and I don’t get hungry after dinner (believe it or not)! I’d say that’s pretty amazing! I accomplished what I wanted through this cleanse. This is not a “diet” and should not be completed long term as the calories are so low for your optimal health. But like I said, “hey, it’s only 3 days!” The key is to continue with healthy eating after and to try to keep those carbs at bay! Remember…”EAT FROM THE FRIDGE, NOT THE FOOD CUPBOARD!”
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