Master Cleanse Forum - Master Cleanser Lemonade Diet

A few weeks ago, as I was getting ready for work, one of the morning shows was preparing to give some information about fasting, and a 'lemon fast.' I was unable to stay and watch the program, but I wrote a note to myself to look it up online. A couple of days later I went to Google and used the key words Lemon Fast. The first website that came up was full of very fascinating information.

However, I was a skeptic. How can one not eat for days and days...and yet feel no hunger? I wondered. Various members of my family had fasted for religious purposes, but even then I recall them eating small pieces of unleavened bread and taking small sips of juice. I imagined myself fasting, and being weak, tired, cranky, and feeling deprived and hungry.

Just before Christmas I purchased a juicer, lemons, and cayenne pepper. Unfortunately, I didn't take the directions for the cleanse with me, and bought molasses instead of maple syrup. (Oh dear, I'm afraid I would never survive a fast that included molasses!) After two glasses of this nasty concoction I decided that this lemon fast wasn't for me, and shelved the idea.

The thoughts about fasting didn't go away, though. So I decided that I should look up a bit more information before I just gave up completely. When I realized my mistake of buying the wrong syrup, I felt rather foolish, and was very glad I hadn't dismissed the idea altogether.

I told my family that I was going to be fasting for at least ten days, and to not give me any grief about it. (My boyfriend has a tendency to be my saboteur in matters of health, fitness, and diet...I wanted to diffuse him before he ever had opportunity to damage my willpower.) We enjoyed a nice dinner out together on Thursday January 4th, and that night I drank my first cup of tea.

The next morning when I mixed my first glass of lemonade, I was overjoyed with the lovely taste. I did, however, decide that I didn't like the taste of the cayenne pepper in my lemonade, so I came up with an alternative plan. That afternoon when I went home for lunch I mixed the cayenne in a little of the lemonade and drank it like a shot. Once that nasty bit of business was over, I was free to enjoy my lemonade.

I was on such a mental high all day that feelings of hunger didn't begin to nudge me until late that night. The next morning was very interesting though, as I woke up with a very grumbly tummy, and a voracious appetite. I merely had to remind myself of all the positive benefits of this cleanse, and the desire to have breakfast passed. The first 48 hours were the biggest challenge, but I never slipped or put anything into my mouth except water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, maple syrup..and ice.

At this point I will note something that some of you might have already noticed. I have not mentioned the saltwater flush. The reason for this is... I haven't done it. I thought I could get by without the SWF, but I began to suffer last night with terrible cramping and abdominal pains, and began to have diarrhea that lasted throughout the night and into the early morning. I know now that the SWF is imperative to this cleanse, as it helps your body rid itself of toxins and all the nasty things in your digestive system. For me...lesson learned. (Oh so painfully learned.)

So here I am on day 6, and I have to say this has been my most difficult day yet. I'm not really hungry, but my coworkers have been tempting me with chocolates from a chocolatier in our state. My stomach is still unhappy with me for not using the SWF, my back and shoulders are aching, and I have a nagging headache. I know, though, that this is just a phase, and that my body must be working very hard to rid itself of something toxic.

I wasn't sure I was going to be able to do this cleanse. I have a terrible habit of starting things and not finishing, but I have felt so good (until last night) that I've had no desire to quit. I'm 100% positive I wil make it through 10 days...and I'm considering 14 to 21 days. However, when I reach day 10 I'll determine then if I want to continue or not.

The positive effects of this cleanse are already noticeable:
-I have lost 14 pounds
-My blood pressure has drifted back into "normal" territory
-The edema and swelling I usually have in my legs is gone.
-My mood has been elevated so much that I feel as if I am on an antidepressant.
-My insomnia has all but disappeared.

I can't say enough about how wonderful this experience has been for me. Even the problems that I've experienced since last night have not dampened my spirits, because I know that it is my own fault, and not representative of how the cleanse usually works. (If I had followed the directions properly this never would have happened to me.)

Anyway, I just thought I'd share my story thus far, and you can bet I'll be back soon.

You Can Do It! I've been doing this cleanse once or twice yearly since 1972. I am currently on day 14. In my experience, average length of time to completion has been 40-53 days. Was lucky enough to meet Stanley Burroughs and his wife, Louise, in '72. Group fasted with Stanley and some of his friends. Reading and re reading his book is enlightening and supportive. That said, it is important to refer to the book constantly when starting out. Also important to eat light for a few days before beginning the fast. No meat, lots of fruit...especially apples. Take Your Smooth Move tea the night before and again the first morning. The tea should be brewed in 1 measuring cup of water for a full 10 minutes. The first day there is still too much undigested food in the intestine for the salt water to be effective. Start salt water the second morning. Make sure the water is a few degrees over body temperature and that the sea salt is well mixed. Keep a glass of fresh water close at hand. Standing at sink, take deep breaths, think of something salty that You enjoy, hold Your breath and take at least 20 deep swallows, still holding breath, rinse mouth with fresh water, spit it out and breathe. If there is a bit left over, don't worry about it. Be sure to get at least 6 lemonade drinks in a day. Never vary the recipe. 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1-2 Grade B Maple Syrup, 10 ounces warm/hot water and 1/10 teaspoon cayenne. Cayenne isn't hot until it hits a liquid...then the longer it sits the hotter it gets. So mix it in last and drink it all down immediately. Be sure to drink plenty of water in between. Water also helps get the toxins out. You will get to a point where the aroma of food is far more satisfying the the taste ever was! The idea of digesting it is repulsive. I make beautiful dinners for my husband and enjoy the detail work that it entails. Please focus on the cleansing aspects of this experience. The weightloss should be secondary to be successful. Disgusted with the media folk who have turned this cleanse into a weightloss fad. I have just noticed thru this site that the people who focus on the weightloss fall by the wayside. Please stay with us. Sounds like You have the right attitude for success! I am off to the beach. Take Care!

Thank you Allicsirp and Lynde for your support.

I'm still doing just fine on the MC. My plan to do the SWF was put aside until this morning. (I didn't want to be running back and forth to the restroom while I was at work, so I waited until I had a day off.)

I knew it was going to be bad...I even knew it was going to be really bad...I just didn't know it was going to be almost intolerable. I felt like I was drowning in the Gulf of Mexico. The taste was bad enough, but that feeling of having a lead weight in my belly was almost more than I could bear. It took almost 2 hours before there was any movement, and even then I didn't have quite the reaction I expected.

I don't know if I could do that every day, or even every other day. I have done so well in every other aspect of this cleanse, and I consider myself to be pretty strong...but that SWF is just almost more than I can take.

So today is my 8th day, and maybe it's a mental thing, but I have noticed that I've been thinking about food a lot more often. I'm still not hungry, but I've been thinking about how nice a bowl of MaltOMeal would taste. Or a baked potato. Or spinach artichoke dip with pita bread. Ok, really, I'm not 'hungry' but I think my body is ready to be done with this fast.

Monday is my day ten, and I'm wondering if I am supposed to begin breaking the fast that day (with the orange juice and broth), or if I am supposed to have a full ten day fast, and then on the eleventh day begin breaking the fast? I'll have to do a bit of reading and see if I can figure that out.

Things that I've noticed recently:
-My oily and acne-prone face is clearer than it has been in quite a while.
-I have had absolutely no problems with indigestin or acid reflux. (I know this is due to the fact that I have an empty stomach, but I'm sure my esophagus appreciates the break.)
-The small white bumps that I usually have on my arms are almost all gone. (Proof enough to me that I need to visit an allergist to determine what I eat that causes the bumps. I tend to think it's milk or whey.)
-I started my cycle during this fast and I have had almost no cramping or back ache. This is almost unbelievable to me, because I usually have almost intolerable cramping with every period. I have written a note to remind myself to talk to my doctor about this. If being on a fast will make my periods less painful, I will fast once a month!
-I still feel GREAT. I'll have to remember this. I don't want this to be my last fast.

If someone had told me before this fast that I could go 9 days without eating and not be hungry I would have called them a liar. The human body never ceases to amaze me. We truly are 'fearfully and wonderfully made.'

So I am at the very end of day 10. Tomorrow I'll start with the orange juice.

I have to say that for me the 9th and 10th days have been the most difficult. I am not physically hungry, but mentally I am ready to eat! I went to buy my oranges and some items for my soup tomorrow...and OH! I wanted to grab a handful of grapes and munch on them.

I thought for a while I might carry this fast out for 14 or 21 days, but I think 10 days is an excellent length for a first-timer. I think I'll do this again in the spring, but this winter cleanse is o-v-e-r for me.

I'll be so glad to not have to drink this nasty tea anymore. (Even though I've been adding about 1/2 a teaspoon of maple syrup to it to make it more palatable, it's still not something I'd drink for pleasure.) I'll also be glad to not have to do the SWF again (for the next few months anyway.)

I'm seriously looking forward to the OJ tomorrow, and some broth. (Actually I'd like to have some Lo Mein noodles and Sweet and Sour soup, but I'm trying to ignore those thoughts.) I'm really hoping that I don't have too many problems coming off of this fast. I was in a lot of discomfort a few days ago from not doing the SWF, and I just don't want to have to deal with any pain.

I have followed this cleanse to the T...and I will continue to do so.