The Master Cleanse post-game show.

Day 10 has come and gone.  I was completely ready to be finished with the fast.  Don't get me wrong, I am glad to have done it, and will do it again before the year is over, most likely.  It's just that I simply love food.  I love cooking it, smelling it, and of course, eating it.  I have to say that I very seldom actually got hungry during the fast, which is not to say that I was not craving food.  I kept my body fueled with ample calories, drank lots and lots of water, and had the occasional treat of herbal tea.  The majority of the problems I encountered were mental, not physical.  If a person can overcome the psychological part of it, the fast is actually a breeze.  Unfortunately, the psychological part is daunting at times.

Here are the facts as they stand at the finish line:
I lost 14 pounds, while Val lost 12.  I am now at 4 pounds under my high school graduation weight, which is a fact that I'm proud of, considering that I'm 50 years old.

We consumed a gallon of maple syrup ($$ Ouch!) and some 8 dozen lemons.

I have a heightened senses of smell and taste.

I feel great, which was the whole purpose of the cleanse.

I am noticing that I am eating less, while still being completely sated.

All in all, I believe the fast was completely successful for me, and am certain that Val feels the same way.  We have many friends here in town who are astounded by what we've done.  Many don't feel that there is any way that they could do it.  One friend likened it to 'swimming the English Channel'.  I will assure you, as I have assured those friends, that if we could do it, anyone could.  It is by no means Herculean or insurmountable.  A person on the Master Cleanse Fast can have as many calories as they feel they need in any given day.  If you're interested, here are a couple of links to check out:
The Master Cleanse Fast
The Master Cleanse Roadmap
Stanley Burroughs' book "The Master Cleanser"

If you decide to take yourself on the journey, check out as many resources as you can find.  The fast is individual to the experience. 

Good luck!

Day 8 of the Master Cleanse

I was able to sleep in a bit this morning, so I woke refreshed and ready for the day.  I've had my lemonade/maple syrup/cayenne concoction, and a cup of herbal tea.  I've just finished 20 minutes of yoga here in my living room.  Those of you who know me well might have laughed at that last, or at least raised an eyebrow.  I'm really not the yoga 'type', but I'm trying to keep myself limber and in shape.  Whenever I've tried yoga in the past, I've found myself getting bored during the session, but the next day or so, have discovered that there is a muscle here or there that is sore for some reason.  That tells me that, while yoga, on the surface, appears to be just sticking my butt in the air and breathing, there is something actually going on there.  So, I'm giving it a go for a while to see what happens.  Besides, doing yoga every morning will limit the time I spend on crack-book.

So now it's time to get myself together and start my day.  I'm working at the local brew pub again, and expect wonderful, savory aromas from the kitchen to be all around me all day.  I know that I'll be surrounded by food.  I'm not concerned by that.  I hesitate to speak too soon, but I feel like I'm over the worst of it all.

I'll let you know how it goes.  Thanks for reading.

Day 7 of the Master Cleanse.

We're going through a fair amount of lemons on this fast.  It was necessary for me to go the market again today for more.  As I walked in the door, there were the goodies I'd mentioned before.  I walked up to the display of pistachios, hefted a bag, and put them back with a smile on my face.  The roast chicken had been replaced by whole, cooked, spiral cut ham.  I could smell the smoky goodness.  I even perused the cheese fort on my way to the produce section.  Asiago, Cheddar, Blue Castello, Cream Havarti, Feta, Maribo, Neufchatel, Emmental, Camembert, Stilton, Parmesan, as well as rarities like Crotin du Chavignol.  (Tell me your mouth isn't watering.)  I was trying a new tactic.  Rather than try to ignore food, or to treat it as an enemy to be avoided, I wanted to acknowledge it, recognize that it wasn't going anywhere, and realize that I would be enjoying it again in a matter of days.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not being Zen here.  I wanted some of all of it.  I'm just not going to have any today, and I'm not going to bug out about it.  I'm on this fast for a reason, and I'll see it through to the end.  If I give it up now and return to my old eating habits, the past 7 days will have been a waste.  I would have been better off having made tasty lemonade, and pouring all that organic maple syrup on a heaping, Babel-esque tower of pancakes....and trust me, I'm saving some for just that purpose, except it'll only be a couple of pancakes instead of my usual gluttonous stack.  Plus, there's another treat waiting at the end of it all.  We've been zesting all the lemons we're using to make home made Lemoncello.  Won't that be delightful in a month or so?

Day 6 of the Master Cleanse

If you read yesterday's blog, you already know that I considered it a 'hurdle day' ....a day that was tough, but could be overcome.  So far, day 6 is shaping up to make yesterday look like a cake walk.  I worked at the local brewpub again today, and the cook was in the kitchen, cooking up a cornucopia of specials.  The aroma was almost maddening.  I walked by the kitchen at one point, and the cook asked if I wanted something for lunch.  I simply replied, "No, thanks.  I'm fine.  Smells good, though!"  At that point, I got the run-down on what the day's specials were.  Yes, all I needed were choices.  I again thanked him and told him that I was fine....after which, I was regaled with even MORE options that weren't on the menu.  He could whip me up something special, if I'd prefer.  I quickly walked away while telling him that I didn't need anything.

I am really craving protein today.  Even my boots are starting to look good at this point....you know, with just a dash of salt and some Melinda's Hot Sauce.....no...best not to even go there.   I know that when I make it to day 9, I will have no strong cravings for food.  It's just a matter of staying the course.  If I keep my tummy full of the lemonade/maple syrup/cayenne tea and water, I'll be fine.  Problem is, I'm having to pee about every 10 minutes or so.  Liquids seem to be absolutely fleeing my body.  I've already had two 2 liter bottles of liquid today, and it's only 3:30.  Makes me wonder about the old saw, "You are what you eat."  Does that also cover what you drink?  'Cause, right about now, I'm a long tall drink of water, if you catch my drift.

Typically for me, day 7 is a 'hurdle day'.  I have to wonder what is in store for me when I wake up, considering how today is going.

Friday will be the beginning of the end of the fast.  On that evening, Val and I will begin having orange juice.  We will be juicing veggies, as well....carrots, celery, beets, garlic, and spinach.  On Saturday, we will be enjoying broth, along with the juices I just mentioned.  We will continue on that course until Sunday evening, at which point we will begin having solid food once again.  Fortuitous, as Sunday is SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN NIGHT AT ESKE'S BREWPUB!  Say what you will....I will not miss fried chicken night.  Nuh-uh.  Not happenin'!

Day 5 of the Master Cleanse.

Today is the first real 'hurdle day' in this fast.  I didn't sleep well last night, and had super vivid dreams when I was sleeping.  When the alarm went off this morning, I was in a very deep sleep.  You might be wondering why in the world the alarm would go off on a Sunday morning.  I work at the local brewpub on Sunday mornings.  When I got to the pub in the wee hours, I was surrounded by yummy treats.  All kinds of snacky goodness.  A veritable cornucopia of tastiness.  Temptation was everywhere I looked.  So what did I do?  I had my herbal tea, several pints of water, my lemon/maple syrup/cayenne drink, and ignored the mound of oatmeal raisin cookies, the tower of double chocolate macadamia nut cookies, the burgeoning bucket of corn chips, and bag after bag of Ms. Vicki's sea salt and vinegar potato chips.  I averted my eyes from the colossal block of Swiss Cheese.  I denied the presence of shrimp.  I didn't even open the door to the walk-in refrigerator, knowing all might be lost if I did.  Beware all ye who enter here, and so forth.  No, I dutifully kept my mind on the task at hand and did my job as best I could, all the while turning a cold shoulder to the insistent rumble in my tummy.  When I finally finished up, clocked out,  and locked the door behind me, I felt a small sense of accomplishment......until I remembered that I was to stop at the supermarket for more lemons and cayenne pepper.  It wasn't over.  Not by a long shot.

In the parking lot of the supermarket, I bolstered myself for what lay inside.  I reminded myself that the spice aisle was adjacent to the produce, so I could grab cayenne and bolt to the lemon stand in just about a dozen steps.  I had forgotten what lay just inside the door.....pistachio nuts.....roast chicken....and an entire fort made of wonderful cheeses from around the world.  I was besieged by a feast!  An army of savory soldiers, all conspiring to lay waste to my resolve.  I charged ahead with a full-frontal assault, head down and fully determined to complete the mission as it was laid out for me.  The pistachios didn't stand a chance, even though they are one of my biggest weaknesses.  Upon closer inspection, the roast chicken looked dry and over-cooked...well past it's prime and in no condition to withstand my advance.  I even managed to skirt the fortress of delectable cheese without faltering significantly.  I was through the worst of it!  I rushed headlong into the spice aisle, rescued the imprisoned cayenne and turned for the produce section to free as many lemons as possible.  That's when I saw it......Cheetos (the crunchy ones, not those mamby pamby puffy ones) were on sale.  I felt my defenses begin to crumble like oyster crackers over New England Clam Chowder.  Even beset as I was, dear reader, I kept my head down and dashed to the lemon stand, ignoring carrots, celery, eggplant, and all the other goodness staring at me.  I scooped 2 dozen lemons into a bag and headed for the check-out without so much as a glance at the old world bread coming out of the ovens, or the well-lit case of donuts, crullers, and bear claws.
There was hardly another soul in the store, so I was through the check-out in a merciful amount of time and out the door.  I'd survived.

And now I'm once again in the safety of my own home with my plundered booty.
Crisis averted....for the time being.

The Master Cleanse Fast

I know that some of you who read this are going to think that I'm crazy, or that what I'm doing is unhealthy.  Here's a link to check out what I'm doing...
The Master Cleanse
The Master Cleanse consists of fresh squeezed lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper, along with as much water as you can possibly drink in a day.  You may also drink herbal tea.  Nothing else......no solid food, no juices....nothing.

Today is day 4.  Val and I started the cleanse on Wednesday.  Day one was a breeze.  I had no cravings for food, and felt sufficient energy all day long.  Day two was actually easier, with great energy and no cravings.  Day three was a bit of a hurdle.  At one point, I had a strong craving for eggs.  About an hour later, I was really craving a good BLT.  Other than that, I felt fine all day.  I'm having a cup of herbal tea this morning with organic maple syrup for breakfast.  I woke up with a mild craving for Eggs Benedict,  as Saturday is the day that Val and I normally go out to the Taos Diner for breakfast.

After the Bacchus-like over-indulgence of the holidays, I usually feel like I need a reset.  All the food and alcohol have packed on the pounds, and have turned me into an eating, imbibing machine.  It's a no-holds-barred kind of affair, with starchy, fatty, processed food....and then there's the parties.  So, to get things back to normal, I like to take 10 days or so to let my system get back to normal.

I can expect 2 more hurdle days before this is done.  Typically for me, days 5 and 7 are a bit tough.  But, once I have made it to day 9, I usually feel fantastic.  I'd compare it to a runner's high.  By then, my energy is very high, I have no cravings for food whatsoever, I'm able to think more clearly, my outlook is quite positive, and even my skin feels good!  Plus, I've lost a good portion of body fat in the process.   The way in which one ends this fast is critical.  Orange juice, then vegetable juices, then broth for at least three days before returning to solid food.
The upshot of returning to 'normal' food is that, by the time 10 days has passed,  a cup of broth tastes as good as the best meal I've ever eaten.

The hardest part of this kind of fast for me is making it past the toxins leaving my body.  I have gotten flu-like symptoms in the past when I have fasted.  When toxins leave our bodies, they can make us feel as ill as they did when they entered.  It's important to push past the feeling of getting sick and stay the course.  Once the bulk of the toxins have been eliminated, the feeling of well-being is almost euphoric.

I'll continue to let you know how this is progressing for me.  Please keep checking back, and of course, comments are always welcome.