The Juice Cleanse - The Finale

(The Juice Cleanse Intro can be found here, and Part One of my experience, here)

Here we are, waking up on the second day of the juice cleanse. Like any normal person after sleeping for a whopping 12 hours, I felt rested. I looked over at Sebastian and secretly hoped he would tell me we could put all of this behind us and pretend like it never happened. 

But if you knew anything about him, you'd know that's just not his style.

Off we went, spending about half the day preparing the juices not only for that day, but for the next too. It was time to reclaim our kitchen back - and when you live in a tiny shoebox apartment, you really need every inch of space you've got available. 

While I juiced, I drank. And whaddya know? The Green Juice wasn't half bad. (Okay - maybe half bad, but believe it or not, the taste improved!) Down the hatch it went. Followed by the second juice, and the eventual third. The headaches, the grumpiness, no where in sight. There was a little procrastination when it came to the fourth (beets, carrots, apple, ginger), which Sebastian actually enjoyed, but I spent my time practicing my breathing techniques until I finished it completely. 

Which makes you realize why the sixth and final drink of the day is Cashew Milk, because, let me tell you, this drink is liquid gold. It gives you that bit of fat and protein your body needs, but also tastes like dessert. I promise you I'm not just saying that because I know the ins and outs of The Green Juice. Literally.

For the most part, the second day of the cleanse went along without any problems. If I had any complaints, it would be the cravings. Our friend stopped by for a visit and mentioned a new burger joint that we should check out, and I swear, if he let me gnaw on his arm, I would have. All I wanted was junk. Cheese, fries, chocolate, candies, you name it! If it was bad for me, I wanted it. 

It made me realize just how much my body is addicted to all these sugars and fats. At times, it would really consume my mind, and even though I didn't actually feel hungry, I wanted to eat. It felt like I was putting myself through junk food rehab.

So what did I do to take my mind off it? I watched Hungry For Change. A documentary that deserves a whole lot more than a quick mention, but that's another topic for another day. (Seriously - just watch it. It will change your life!)

The third (and final!) day was more or less the same - a lot of craving, a lot of peeing, and the taste of each juice was better than the day before - but I won't bore you with the details.

My final thoughts? After completing the full three days, I didn't have any jolts of energy, I didn't feel more alive, and well, I didn't feel very different at all. What I can tell you, is that while I don't feel like a different person, I do notice the difference in my body.

In those three days, I lost just over 4 pounds (and I'm consistently maintaining my new weight), I no longer look and feel bloated, and just in general, everything is functioning better. 

I think it's important to not think of this as a "quick fix" - do it, be done with it, and go back to your old ways. If this cleanse is something you're seriously thinking about, do it to give yourself a kick start to an entirely new way of living. Throw your bad habits out the window, and adopt a new, healthier lifestyle.

Are you thinking that you would never have the willpower to do something like this? Well, you do. If you immediately think you can't do something, you've already put the nail in your coffin so-to-speak. I, for one, have approximately 5% of willpower, and 95% of "I do what I want!" So if you're like me then here's two simple things that worked for me...

1. Find a friend - Having Sebastian as my support system made all the difference. The first day was, without a doubt, the hardest thing to go through and then actually continue with the original plan. Without him, I would've given up. Plain and simple. Find someone who will push you and encourage you. And maybe even yell at you to finish that damn drink already. 

2. Get Motivated - When you're in a moment of desperation, or in this case, a moment of "hunger", it's easy to think of how amazing it will be to crack open a bag of chips and cheat just a little bit. Motivate yourself to stay on track. Watch Hungry for Change, read Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Diet, and understand all the real reasons why you're doing what you're doing.

By taking three days out of my life to dedicate to my health, I not only completed the juice cleanse, I educated myself on food, nutrition, and the power of thought, which has given me an entirely new outlook on what I put into my body and how it's going to effect me. This is, by far, the most fantastic "side-effect" that could have happened. One that's already changing my life for the better.

If you're interested in getting started, click "Read More" for a start-up shopping list and a quick peek inside my fridge...

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So, you want to give The Juice Cleanse a go? Hooray!!! Be prepared to have your own fridge look a little something like this...

To get started, here's what you'll need...

(This is for one person, for three days)

• 30 Ribs of Celery
• 6 Cucumbers
• 21 Green Apples
• 18 Kale Leaves
• 7 oz. Lemon Juice
• 6 handfuls Parsley
• 18 Romaine Leaves
• 6 handfuls Spinach
• 1 Pineapple
• Some Mint (only 3 pinches worth:)
• 9 - 12 Lemons (The Spicy Lemonade is really sour, so 9 was enough for me)
• Cayenne Pepper
• 6 tbsp Agave Nectar 
• 6 Beets, with greens on
• 9 Carrots
• 4-1/2 tbsp Ginger
• 12-15 oz. Raw Cashews
• Cinnamon (enough for 3 tsp)
• Vanilla Extract (enough for 3 tsp)

Please note that this cleanse may not be right for everyone. Nobody knows your body better than yourself. Listen to it, and do what's right for you, not necessarily what a book or post (ahem - like this one) tells you. Happy detoxing! 

Part One - Part Two