Day 6

Day 6 Wednesday night 6.11.08 128 lbs

More than halfway there I’m ready to quit tomorrow. Honestly don’t think I’ll make it to day 10 but I won’t quit just yet. It’s not the hunger that I miss, it’s the boredom I feel everyday, at work, at home, unable to leave the house afraid of passing out or being tempted with food throughout the city. I have no regrets, no matter how many times I hear “that just doesn’t sound healthy” it somehow makes me even more dedicated to completing my detox.

My morning started off oddly bizarre, mostly due to the lack of stomach pains I usually get around 5-6am. I had hoped all throughout my commute, my stomach pains would at least wait till I got to the office. Surprisingly my stomach was acting up not only when I got to work but also throughout the afternoon. This may be due to my body having a harder time going through the cleansing process. Lunchtime I met with Patrick and watched him sip on coffee at Café Grumpy, one of my favorite cafes in the city. Here they grind and brew each cup of coffee only after ordered. The smells would usually be tempting but instead were too overpowering and distracting.

Other than the obvious weight loss, heightened sense of smell and how my face has cleared up, I’ve also noticed the change in my sex drive or lack thereof. I guess in my case this may be a good thing but different because of my general Scorpio nature. I’m sure that’ll all come back next week.

Day 5

Day 5 Tuesday Night 6.10.08 129 lbs

I’m halfway done and almost ready to quit. I woke up this morning confident today would be easy or at least easier than the last 4 days. I was far from wrong. I should have known better waking up to a nightmare of having eaten a cupcake and waking up in a sweat. It almost seemed too real.

I no longer have any breakfast cravings of carbs and coffee. Any sip of lemonade subsides any cravings of any kind but it never usually lasts for more than 30 mins. I was doing well all morning till I attended an hour and half meeting at work. There we were treated with free food: sandwiches, pasta and chips. Except I, trying not make a scene grabbed a plate, scooped some pasta and pretended that I’d save it for after the meeting. That probably was the most difficult 1.5 hours I’ve had so far. The chips just seem to call my name “open the bag…” “just one piece of pasta… just one.”Thankfully I survived but not without thinking about chicken and veggies the rest of the day.

My sense of smell has become more sensitive than usual. Usually this would be a good thing but not in NYC. Body odor in trains, trash on the street, the fresh smell of food at every corner, all leading to my failure. Hopefully tomorrow will be easier.

Day 4

Day 4 Monday 6.9.08 130 lbs

Almost halfway done with my cleanse, I feel more confident than ever about completing a full 10 days. I no longer have any hunger pains unless food is put directly in front me. I woke up at 5am this morning with the worse stomach pains. The tea seems to have more of an effect than before. Although i drank the tea at around 11pm the previous night, I found myself throughout the day constantly going to the bathroom. The pain was almost unbearable but gave me a sign of relief knowing I’m at least doing something right.

When I think about food, especially what my first fabulous meal would be, I think about vegetables mostly. a nice crisp salad, steamed veggies, bok choy and anything except beef or fried food. Another thing I’ve noticed is my sensitivity to getting bruised more easily. Nothing major to note, just small marks on my legs probably from my hectic commute every morning and afternoon. The 97 degree weather hasn’t made this any easier for me. Although I’ve never felt as though I was about to faint or pass out, I’m not one to brave 97 degree weather without any food in my system. A somewhat longer commute by taking the bus is worth avoiding a trip to the emergency room.

While on this cleanse I did make one exception; that I would continue to smoke cigarettes. So far I’ve only had 3 in this 4 day period but I figured I’ve gone this far, I should just quit while I’m ahead. So for the time being (5 days) I’ve decided to hold off on the cigarettes. No promises but it is something I will try out. I’ve never had that urge to quit “for the right reasons” this is mostly for the cleansing factor. I’m releasing toxins in my body so why put more in?

If I make it through tomorrow I will be half done! Can’t wait.

 

Day 3

Day 3 Sunday night 6.8.03 131 lbs

Today was definitely easier than yesterday. The only thing I’ll really be suffering is boredom and occasional cravings from random smells and sights of food around the city. I woke up today with stomach pains, mainly from the tea I drank the night before. At first I dismissed the pains, almost completely forgetting I was on the cleanse. This was the first morning I no longer have any solids in my body. Anything released throughout the day were toxins.

I feel better and healthier than I’ve been in a long time. However, the weather has been extremely hot in NYC. Mid 90’s to be exact. I took a little walk around the city, got a haircut and ran some errands, frantically looking for some more maple syrup. After 30 minutes of being in the sun, I started to feel weak. I took break and drank my lemonade. Last thing I wanted to happen was pass out on the street.

Back at home I spent most of the day more productive than usual. Continued one of the 5 books I had promised myself to finish, worked on my portfolio and even set up a little date for the afternoon. Thankfully he came up to visit or I would’ve passed out on the train.

Day 3: happy, healthy, hungry with no regrets

Day 2

Day 2 6.7.08 133 lbs

Waking up with stomach pains is never a good sign. Around 10am I finally get out of bed and start to prepare my lemonade. Not to forget my salt water flush like the previous night, I mix in 2 tsps of iodized salt water into lukewarm water. Disgusting. Unlike the lemonade and tea, this definitely would not be something I could swallow for the next 8 days. I drink as much as I can without throwing up but discard the rest. I’ll stick with the laxative tea the night before instead.

On my first day, smell provoked my hunger, this time any picture of any food sparked my appetite. Thankfully the weather was in the mid nineties, keeping me indoors and away from any inclination to buy food or drinks elsewhere. My main purpose today was to stay as far away from the kitchen as possible. I cleaned the whole house, did my laundry, stayed away from TV (food was everywhere!) and caught up on my reading. I was expecting to have cravings from this detox. In a couple other blogs, some had cravings of whatever they ate most before going on the cleanse. I, however want everything. Biscuits with honey, cornbread, a salad, steak, dessert, everything.

Other than the cravings, I’m feeling great. I have more energy than I thought I would without food. The only negative thing I can say about this detox is the boredom. One drink, one flavor. I’m bored out of my mind.

Starting Fresh Day 1

What better way to start off a blog with the first day of my detox with the master cleanser.

The Master Cleanser/Lemon Cleanse/ Maple Syrup Diet was created by Stanley Burroughs with the purpose of removing harmful toxins from your body, in turn creating more energy and weightloss.

For at least 10 days, drink 10 servings of the following:

• 2 Tablespoons (1 fluid ounce) fresh-squeezed lemon or lime juice NOT BOTTLED JUICE!! (approx. 1/2 lemon),
• 2 Tablespoons (1 fluid ounce) organic Grade B maple syrup,
• 1/10 Teaspoon or more cayenne pepper (hot red pepper), and
• 1 Cup (8 fluid ounces) purified or spring water, NOT fluoridated water.

with a Salt-Water Flush Recipe every morning

Upon rising drink a mixture of:

• 2 level teaspoons of uniodized sea salt to a…
• quart of lukewarm water

Herbal Laxative Tea (You can find this at most grocery stores) before going to bed. 

After gaining an additional 15 lbs this last year, mostly through stress, endless selection of carbs sold in NYC, excess alcohol and lack of exercise, I decided that I needed to get back in shape. After seeing the effects on a handful of friends, I decided to try it out for myself. Not only would I help myself internally but also mentally. 

Day 1. Thursday night 6.5.08 137 lbs.

Ate my last dinner. Delicious Indian food from Baluchi’s. End the night with 2 cherry wheat beers while watching the Laker game. I prepare my lemonade thinking, it’s not the hunger that’ll kill me, preparing this lemonade mixture every night wil. To my surprise, the lemonade tasted delicious, although I may not be able to drink/eat anything lemony after this diet. After I prepare my herbal laxative tea I relax on the couch and pass out, I was somewhat drunk when I got home. Not as tasty as the lemonade but definitely drinkable. 

I woke up later than usual from passing out, unable to start my salt water flush. Damn 9:30 meetings. I did notice a small difference in my bowels from the tea but nothing too relevant to mention. As soon as I sit at my desk, I feel the coffee and carb craving. If I actually get through this diet it will be the longest time I would’ve had without coffee. I immediately grab my bottle of lemonade and drink 1/5 of the 80 ounces I made for the day. Surprisingly helped my breakfast pains. Apparently, the cayenne pepper’s main purpose is to subside any cravings. Throughout the morning I continually drink small doses. Lunchtime arrives, as long as I’m at my desk I’m fine. Surround me with food vendors, fresh smell of nuts, Halal food, coffee… I’m screwed. However, I didn’t want to be confined at my desk all day so Mimi and I got a sandwich and relaxed at the park. While I watched her order her sandwich, I’m noticing foods I wouldn’t usually consider; Fresh vegetables, fruits and of course the brownies. As she’s about to pay, the cashier notices my water bottle and asks me if I’m on the maple syrup diet. I say yes, excited that I’m not the only insane person in the city crazy enough to try it. Unfortunately, she only made it to her third day but had absolutely no regrets, may even try it again someday.

After work I met with Do. Having not eaten for most of the day, I go with her to Chipotle. I’m staring at her burrito bowl all throughout our conversation, thinking, “one piece of lettuce won’t kill me.” Lettuce.  wow that’s a first. I take another sip of lemonade. Later we meet up with a couple more friends at Cafe Society who are having a drinks. Carbs, coffee and alcohol. If I can get through this day, I can get through 10 days. Mojitos and fruit cocktails show up on the table. My eyes wander from one drink to the next. Another sip of lemonade. Another sip of water. Whew… 

I arrived home around 7pm feeling I could sleep for the rest of the night. Around 9:30 I pass out not able to drink my laxative tea. I’ll make it up tomorrow with the salt water flush.