Can you just feel the relief coming from this picture now that my juice cleanse is finished? Ha! Today on the blog, I did a short recap of how the last three days went while it’s still fresh on my mind.
For me, juice cleanses have always been a great reset when some bad food habits set in. My latest has been nightly bowls of ice cream–so good, but so very bad for me! The juice cleanse really becomes a sugar buster and proof that I can live without it.
This is how a juice cleanse from Forest Greens Juice Bar in Lake Bluff works. Over the course of three days, you replace your food intake with juice. Each day, you’re allowed six juices and three shots of a ginger lemon mix. The juices are numbered and you space them out through your day, trying to stay ahead of your hunger. If you need something to munch on, Forest Greens suggests a handful of almonds or a few apple slices.
When I did this cleanse over the summer, I didn’t cheat at all. I stuck to just the juice. But for one reason or another, I was very hungry this time around at the end of Day 2 and Day 3, in spite of strategically making dinners for my family that I thought I could resist. On Day 2, I ate a cup of the pumpkin soup I made for dinner (recipe coming to the blog next week!). And at about 4 p.m. on Day 3, I was making some pretzel Halloween ghosts and I ate a couple of those suckers. (They totally hit the spot.)
While I’m a little disappointed that I wasn’t quite as strong as I was over the summer–I think the gray weather played into this a bit–I’m happy I did it. I feel lighter (down two pounds), less bloated, and I slept very soundly. I also have the motivation I need to be eating healthier–I don’t want to completely undo the hard work of the last three days.
Many of you reached out to me with questions about doing this cleanse and it’s length. In my opinion, I think you need to do at least three days to feel the benefits and to begin to change some habits. But there is an option to do a 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-day cleanse. The first day, I’m always super energized and gung-ho. The second day is the hardest because it’s no longer new and you still have a whole day to go. The third day I compare to mile 24 of a marathon. You still have a ways to go, but the end is in sight. My hat is off to anyone who can do this for five!
Speaking of exercise, I would go easy on yourself. I did workout on Days 1 and 3, but I was wiped out afterwards. Keep in mind that you’re operating on very few calories.
This whole experience has me thinking about that quote, “we can do hard things.” In the big picture, a juice cleanse isn’t really that hard, but it is proof that our minds are stronger than our bodies–we can do just about anything we set our minds to.
If you have any questions on tips for doing the cleanse, check out this story I posted in August. I share my tips and tricks, including not giving up coffee. I didn’t have a single headache while cleansing and I credit my two morning cups of coffee to this.
Also, feel free to message me. I’m happy to be your cheerleader if you need one.
xo,
Photo by Jenn Marie Edwards
Outfit details: Top, jeans, shoes, sunglasses
Congrats! It always feels good to do some kind of reset every once in a while! Perfect timing before the holidays!