Note: SKIP to page 13 for the most recent cleanse - this is an all-in-one blog for multiple Master Cleanses I have done
Alllrighty, I've decided to blog my first experience on the MC (or any for that matter) and I'll describe a few reasons why I have chosen to undertake this. Hopefully I keep this short and sweet, but sadly it usually ends up as a fairly long essay
First and foremost for the record, going to record my heigh/weight just so I have something to compare to in the end.
Height: 5'4
Weight: 155.5
Age: 23
Reasons why I am doing this:
Reason 1: To cleanse!
Yep - that's right, not doing it primarily for weight loss, although that is a nice side effect! It was not until I saw a picture of me during last year christmas time that I realised just how fast I was starting to let myself go... Coming from a steady 5 years of being at 112 pounds, 36,26,36 measurements without ever having tried and still eating junk food - to still eating the same but the body now being in the 20's and gaaaining the weight and having funny shapes and curves!
After soo many years of energy drinks, and fast food, I am no longer 'regular' am sick more often and gained weight on top of all that. I'm sure there is gunk inside of me that is making me ill as often as I am. After picking up soo many bad habits and eating pracitices, I wouldn't be surprised if there is a fair amount of toxicity that is bringing my energy down amongst other things.
Needless to say, once I noticed that the double chin had sneaked itself onto my face and I was muffin topping in my jeans, I knew it was time to change. I joined a gym, would go 3-5 times a week to swim/run. Did this for a few months and within 2 months dropped 15 pds, not bad. At this time I had joined diet.com's new years challenge, where you set goals and such.. ended up in 2nd place for their challenge (for amount of goals achieved, amount lost, participation on message boards etc)... That was kind of neat!
Then I ended up with an injury that put me out for a few months and I could hardly walk without limping, even while sitting - the pain was there, dull, and sharp at other times. After a few weeks of this going on I went to my doctor who sent me to a physiotherapist, again, first time for me! This physiotherapist was amazing! She explained why I was experiencing the knee pain, shin pain, etc, and it was all referred pain (that means the pain is caused by something somewhere else in the body) because one side of my body was tigher/toner than the other...for whatever reason...
Last month, the man and I had to head to BC (we live in canada) for a wedding, I tried an emergency cabbage soup diet to lose 5 pds before the wedding to get into a dress, boy, let me tell you, that diet gets bland very very.. VERY fast! Since our return I haven't done anything except buy health conscious foods and have yet to hit the gym/workout.
Also I forgot to mention - In Jan I quit smoking as well, cold turkey for 2 months, where, after, a few alch. beverages had me holding the nic stick... shame on me! Also I do enjoy my alcohol slightly more than most and would admit that probably has something to do with my gain to begin with - as such I have been cutting down as well...
So needless to say - That was not the only issue with me health wise (the knee/shin injury), very recently I have become more suseptable to being sick, developed an allergy, and it always seems like there is something ~wrong~ all the time, if it's not one thing it's another... at least thats what my man believes hehe. After reading a tonne on the digestive tract and what certain chemicals and whatnot do to the body, processed foods vs whole/organic, and soo on I have to say this year has been an amazing learning opportunity for me and I have become extremely conscious about my health...
That being said - Detoxing is my first priority and reason for embarking on my first detox/fast - ever. I know I may be considered by many to be young, but I would rather be proactive now, and take care of the only vehicle I have in this life
Reason 2: Mental/emotional/spiritual grounding.
Mentally, I used to be as sharp as a whistle, but for whatever reason I now have a hard time concentrating on anything, nevermind remembering....and to me, I find it a little alarming. Now whether that normal aging creeping up on me
or I killed a few braincells, or who knows. Anyway, if it has come to the point where my man calls my memory that of a goldfish, I know SOMETHING is up. Thus, I have read blog upon blog of people whom have found some mental clarity during this process and as such I would like to observe my thoughts and emotions and see if I can deal with old things still plaguing me and come at peace with body/mind/emotions... to learn to calm, and just 'be' again.
Spiritually, I would not call myself an athiest, but I sense that there is something (not saying it's sooomeoneee) going on that the eye can not see, that is intangible, and wish to explore that more as well. I used to be buddhist growing up - for 7 years - .. Yep the only little white girl in a buddhist temple haha, don't ask.. anyway, since then I have left that temple but am always open to new ideas, enjoy reading/researching about other beliefs, but never pursuing one... The human mind, spirit and all its other denominations have alllways fascinated me and as such I think I owe it tomyself to cross the old legs and maybe meditate and - relax
Oh, and I have never really given myself a 'challenge' per se to really prooove to myself that I can master, mind over matter anything. This will be my first real challenge to embark!
Reason 3: Weight loss/Health
Yep, the weight loss, above I have written in length my own physical history - I used to cross country run while in school, then I started smoking, discovered partying when I turned 18, and well before then discovered fast food.
Having always had a tiny frame I thought I could get away with it - aparantly not. Now, I am not obese, but according to the BMI and how I feeeel, this does not feel right for me, and I am just a bit over weight. I have noticed I have become more ill more often, more aches and pains, more pimples and whatnot that will just NOT go away, little things do add up! Now I may not go back to my svelt 112, but that was when I was still in the teens
... I'd be happy with a 130 (ideal to me)...
Back in January I taught myself about nutrition, sugar addiction, how to read labels, how some sugars are different than others... As such - I made many changes and became more aware of what i was putting in my mouth. So after this cleanse is done, I will embark on a healthier lifestyle! I like to think by doing this I am throwing a small sort of reset switch on the body
I have even thought of going to get a colon cleanse done professionally, but thought to try this instead! Yep, I am no longer regular and I think it has something to do with all the junk i've eatten and drank in the past 5 years.. I can feel my body isn't digesting/passing/moving things along at a satisfactory rate.
Anyway... I am rambling aren't I
I tried a 'taste test' last night of the MC mixture and although I do adore..and I mean love, my spices, the cayenne for whatever reason doesn't sit well with me in this mixture.... I think I will be going to find empty pill caplets and just putting the cayenne in there and taking the proper amount per day - just in pill form. Of course - still drinking pleeenty of the water/maple/lemon accordingly..
Secondly, I will be picking up epsom salts for baths. I have heard of people using this as another detox method, and as such, if I'm not going to have a traditional 'meal' I might as well use one of those for a bath...
Next, I will be looking for uniodized sea salt... found the iodized one at my major grocery store but nothing uniodized
I need to do a flush!
Today being day one, I really need to get going and make some MC mixture, find some caplettes so I can stuff cayenne into it, never thought I would have issues with cayenne, I loooove spices, love hot sauce, chili spiciness, asian hot sauces, hot sauce was the first thing in our fridge when we bought our first home a few months ago hehe. Anyway, I happen to be having issues with cayenne, worst case I just add it last before drinking it.
ANYWAY - rambling!
I have also noticed I maaaay have developed ADD... if it is not apparant in my writing, it will be at some point. My mind seems to be going a million miles an hour sometimes and I do not feel it at that precise moment... at least not until I re-read my essays
Alllriiight time to get dressed and pick up the goods - Helloooo day 1!