Master Cleanse??

NewYearsBride7

Morning ladies...

Anyone done the Master Cleanse? How was it?  Did you last the whole 10 days?

Just wondering about some honest feedback rather than the Google reviews, I'm thinking about trying it next week, maybe only 5 days tho and seeing how it goes.

Thanks in advance.  

PeonyPrincesskdd

Honest Advice would be that it's dumb.  I never tried it personally but all those cleanses are a gimmick.  You will lose some exess water weight/bloating but it will come right back in a few days. 

It's def NOT the way to go

Depriving yourself of much needed nutritents and calories is a big mistake.  Your body will go into starvation mode and not know what to do.  Your body will take your valuable muscle and use it as an energy store.  Your metabolism will get lower.  It's just not healthy at all. 

Exercise and diet are key and while on this cleanse you wont even be able to work out because you will be so faint/dizzy from starvation that you will want to faint.

You need to adapt a clean eating attitude eating no sugar no white flour, no fried no processed foods.. and small portion sizes and lots and lots of exercise.  At least a half hour everyday is what I would recommend.  It depends on the person though.

Cleanses are just not the way to go.

FavoriteOne

You want to cleanse? Drink more water. Cut out processed foods. Eat whole grains, fresh produce, and lean protein. Your body will do the work itself.

raynes

The Master Cleanse is literally a starvation diet.  NOT a sustainable way to lose weight.  If you do lose weight, it'll be poop and water and will alllllll come back as soon as you stop.  That, and it's apparently gross.

There's no real reason to do a "cleanse".  Our bodies are incredibly efficient at processing food.  As FavoriteOne said, if you want to "clease" stop eating processed crap and drink more water.

suze423

I did it for 2 weeks, the weight didn't come back BUT I had an eating disorder at the time and thought it was the best thing ever.

My advice - don't do it.  It will make you feel crappy and zap you of all your energy.  The salt water flush is beyond disgusting and your bowels with hate you for it.  It's like peeing out your butt.  Gross but true.

PeonyPrincesskdd

Yeah I don't know why people think they can do a cleanse and think they are losing weight.  You do know that the weight you lost is not fat but its your muscle stores and water weight.  Your clothes will obviously feel a little loser because your lost that water weight and muscle tone.  But it's not healthy because someone on that cleanse will never look like a fit person on the cover of shape magazine.  They will look like that girl from Blue Crush except not have the super toned surfer body in which she had to gain 20 lbs of muscle to get.. now that girl is thin as a rail and doesn't look healthy at all.. what is her name.. she was in the movie 21 too.. Kate Bosworth.. here is her then

http://www.moviewallpaper.net/wpp/Kate_Bosworth_in_Blue_Crush_Wallpaper_2_1024.jpg

and here is her now
http://backseatcuddler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/kate-bosworth-bikini-3.jpg

and the 2nd one is not even the worst pic.. I've seen other pics where she is just deathly sickly thin. 

If you want to look like a top shape surfer chick or tennis player athlete you need to eat right and exercise..

a cleanse will just make you look weak and no muscle and gross

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I tried it twice a long time ago and it was awful. I did not make it through the 10 days either time. People say after the first few days you aren't hungry - that's because you go into starvation mode. Really, don't bother. Just eat healthy and exercise.

tychandler

There is science behind some of these cleanses while others are just made up.  So I think anyone considering one should really do their homework.  Keep in mind the master cleanse was originally designed by a practitioner in alternative medicine who wanted to help extremely obese people lose weight quickly.  The alternate day fasting diet I found very interesting.  There is a lot of research on the benefits of intermittent fasting as opposed to long term fasting.  We hear all the time eat 5 to 6 meals a day, but humans have never eaten that way until recently, because food was not that plentiful.  

Losing weight is hard and eat right and workout is easier said than done.  If you want to do this to get a kick start go for it.  Most diets like Atkins, South Beach and Fat Smash all involve a detox period which is so restrictive it actually is fasting because you are cutting out so much of your normal diet.  While you experience a lot of weight loss during the detox you tend to adjust your eating to some normal level for continued weight loss.  The master cleanse could be used in that manner, to kick off your weight loss and then  adopting a good habits after. Sometimes you just have to feel like you had a challenge and accomplished something, so 10 days on the master cleanse is a test of your will, if you did that you can now stick to a more reasonable diet.  Only you know what works for you.  I have signed up for weight watchers online off and on dozens of times over the years and I never keep with it because its too easy to do and too easy not to do.  If done corectly, a fast or cleanse won't hurt your health, as I said before there are many scientifically proven benefits of fasting. 


  I just think you should do what works for you. 

raynes

Fasting for religious reasons is one thing, fasting to lost weight is another thing all together.

Yes, fasting dates back to biblical times, but do you know what?  It usually corresponded to times of famine.  It's kinda hard to eat when there's not a lot of food.

Here's a post from a while ago that's got our resident GIS nurse chiming in about how a cleanse is not at all medically necessary: http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_thursday-new-member-cleanse

What's wrong with a cleanse is that someone might lose a few pounds, but they're not learning new habits.  If you don't learn to eat smaller portions and healthy foods, you will remain unhealthy and more than likely gain back any weight.

tychandler, if you hang around here for any length of time at all, you'd see that people aren't coming here to learn about the spiritual benefits of doing a "cleanse" or fasting.  Sure, yeah, some people might be interested in that, but do you know what?  The Getting In Shape board isn't where they're going to come for that advice.  People coming here to ask about a cleanse are doing it because they heard that Demi Moore lost weight doing it, so hey, they can too.

tychandler

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_master-cleanse-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:ece4afb3-3ac5-4428-9948-fd2923f851faPost:497761c6-baae-40e9-a8a9-82100874e5b6">Re: Master Cleanse??</a>:
[QUOTE]Fasting for religious reasons is one thing, fasting to lost weight is another thing all together. Yes, fasting dates back to biblical times, but do you know what?  It usually corresponded to times of famine.  It's kinda hard to eat when there's not a lot of food. Here's a post from a while ago that's got our resident GIS nurse chiming in about how a cleanse is not at all medically necessary: <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_thursday-new-member-cleanse" rel="nofollow">http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_thursday-new-member-cleanse</a> What's wrong with a cleanse is that someone might lose a few pounds, but they're not learning new habits.  If you don't learn to eat smaller portions and healthy foods, you will remain unhealthy and more than likely gain back any weight. tychandler, if you hang around here for any length of time at all, you'd see that people aren't coming here to learn about the spiritual benefits of doing a "cleanse" or fasting.  Sure, yeah, some people might be interested in that, but do you know what?  The Getting In Shape board isn't where they're going to come for that advice.  People coming here to ask about a cleanse are doing it because they heard that Demi Moore lost weight doing it, so hey, they can too.
Posted by raynes[/QUOTE]

I have been around this board since June,  long enough to know that when someone has an opinion different than yours it won't be respected.  You said there is "NEVER" a good reason to do a cleanse and clearly that is not the case.  If you reread my post I didn't suggest someone do a cleanse for spiritual purposes, I was pointing out to those that are skeptical about the risks of it that it can be done and is done all the time without any detrimental effects.  Fasting is not about famine, but self-control and discipline.  Anyone on a getting in shape board is probably here because we have at some point problems with self-control

 I'm glad you have a nurse friend that disagrees about fasting the health community has varying views on this. If you again read my post instead of attack it, you would see that I said alternative medicine embraces fasting and cleanses.  (Many in the medical community even find colon cleanses useless when there is a lot of evidence of its benefits in overall health)I have a friend too, she happens to be a Naturopathic Doctor.   Regardless of which side you are on, the evidence is overwhelming that fasting improves immunity, lowers cholesterol, blood pressure and removes toxins from the body.  The drawback is it can slow the metabolism.  I have never said fasting should be used long term.  I just think its a decision that shouldn't be made lightly.

The bottom line is, the master cleanse won't kill you,  you won't starve,  your body can last for weeks on no food, and the master cleanse is still providing some level of sustenance.  If you want long term weight loss, then you should eat sensibly and workout when you are done.  There are other cleanses and fasts out there that are better or worse than the master cleanse. 

I do find it disturbing that as moderator of this board, you can't be more open minded to view points that differ from yours. I have seen your rude and critical remarks to posters in the past, even nitpicking at grammar and spelling.  We are all adults here, that is very unnecessary.  There are many roads to get in shape, we don't all take the same ones, the point is we get there.  Telling everyone over and over eat small portions and workout sounds easy enough, but it is hard to stay consistent.  Doctors can't even agree if we should eat 6 small meals a day or 3 big ones.  If you truly care about knotties getting in shape you won't be so dismissive

tychandler

Peony Princess, a raw food diet would be a fast.  An absolute fast means no food at all but anytime you cut out a fspecific food for a period of time you are fasting. The detox phase of most major diets like Atkins, South Beach and Fat Smash are cleanses.  Remember cleanses and fasts come in varying extremes.  Its not always about eating nothing. 

raynes

I'm not saying that fasting is evil and that no one should do it, but fasting for weight loss purposes is a bad idea.  Yes, you will lose weight, but what happens after?

The Master Cleanse isn't suggested for weight loss.  I mean, you are literally starving yourself.  With the it you are to only have a ion of water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper.  Where's the protein?  Where are the necessary fats?  That is not a sustainable way to lose weight.  Things like that and their quick fixes are what's wrong with the stupid weight loss industry.

I push portion control and exercise because they work.  Yes, people have difficulty with discipline, but real, sustainable weight loss comes from correcting the poor behaviour most of us have lived with our entire lives.

I'm sorry that you've got an issue with me and how I roll.

PeonyPrincesskdd

 the master cleanse won't kill you,  you won't starve,  your body can last for weeks on no food, and the master cleanse is still providing some level of sustenance.Posted by tychandler[/QUOTE]

Weeks without food?  The master cleanse is still providing some level of sustenance? You need more than some level of sustenance.  You need to eat what your body requires to function.  How can anyone get through a day by doing the master cleanse is what I'd like to know.

PeonyPrincesskdd

Telling everyone over and over eat small portions and workout sounds easy enough, but it is hard to stay consistent.  Posted by tychandler[/QUOTE]

That's the whole entire point.  We have to be consistent and make it a LIFESTYLE, a way to live always.  You can't just be healthy for 12 weeks or so and lose the weight and then go back to eating 1,000 calories serving fries at Five Guys or a 2,000 calorie dinner meal at cheese cake factory etc.  You should never eat 2,000 calories in one sitting.  That is at times more calories one should have in one day. 

It is very smart to say that a healthy lifestyle person will never eat 1,000 worth of fries in one sitting.  They might want to pick at them and share them with a group or not order them at all.  etc. 

Americans are really getting too fattening.  An appetizer used to be enough for the whole table to share, a group of 4. Now if your on a double date I notice a lot of times that the one couple gets an app and the other couple gets an app. And families of 4 sometimes even 2-3 apps per table. 

An appetizer is supposed to be a little bite before the main course.  Not a pre-meal before the real meal.

Anyway when someone gets off a diet, they need to make a life style change and live a certain way for life.  Not going back to old ways.  I can't say enough how true that is. 

tychandler

Peony Princess, ln response to how to your question how can anyone get through the day without food:

Fasting actually begins within the first 12 -- 24 hours of not eating, when the body begins to chemically break down fat to use as energy. Some people fast for only one day each week, during which time they might go without eating just certain foods like prepared or junk foods. Other people go on a longer fast at least once or twice each year. The general consensus seems to be that long fasts are more beneficial for healing than short fasts. Individuals who fast for more than a day say that they usually stop feeling hungry after about the third day. Yet those who fast report having more energy than normal despite not feeling hungry. However, even people who fast several times each year say that when hunger returns, it's time to break the fast....

Health experts say that most healthy individuals have enough fat stored in the body to live without food for several weeks, as long as they keep themselves well hydrated. Starvation only occurs when the body has exhausted its fat reserves and must use tissue from vital organs as a source of energy to survive. Yet because of the many potential benefits, the medical community continues to study the effects of fasting for enhancing immune function. Since even animals

Read more: Benefits of Fasting | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_4615273_benefits-of-fasting.html#ixzz11R02HpXc instinctively fast when they are sick or injured, a person's loss of appetite may well be a normal, as well as an effective response to illness.

Read more: Benefits of Fasting | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_4615273_benefits-of-fasting.html#ixzz11QzLe6mr

I am not a doctor or a scientist.  I don't fast personally because I am hypoglycemic, but I know people who have found success with it.  I do hope to get my hypoglycemia under control  where I can participate in fasts in the future.  The master cleanse is about 2 weeks and that's not long enough for you to starve to death in 10 days. Beyonce lost 20lbs in 2 weeks on the master cleanse to film Dreamgirls, she lived to talk about it.  Also, not all fasts or cleanses are created equally.

Again,  I never said someone should fast or cleanse for an extended period of time and not adopt healthy eating habits. I do believe it can be a good way to kick off your weight loss.  Fitness Goddess Jillian Michaels even bought into it, she sells a 14 day cleanse system. We are a people that thrive on results.  When you work your ass off in the gym and deprive yourself of everything you enjoy only to get on the scale and it hasn't moved or barely move, it is very discouraging, especially in the first few weeks.  The fasts/cleanses give you that inital drop in weight that for some people is the encouragement they need to go on.  If you can make it through this very challenging 2 week period,  you can handle smaller portions and exercise.  Its mind over matter.  This is why they work for some people, not all but some people who need to challenge themselves, feel like they accomplished a small goal so they have the drive to go after the long term goal. 

bellaxanthe

tychandler -
I like what you have to say. It has been thoughtful and intelligently stated. You have obviously done some research regarding the matter.  I appreciate your point of view. Thank you.

I have attempted a cleanse as recommended by my doctor in order to help with some gastrointestinal problems I was having. It was helpful, difficult, and honestly very thought provoking. It helped as a jumping off point for weight loss for me but that  was not the reason I was doing it. I don't know that I would do it on a regular basis or would I attempt the Master cleanse again.  But I do know that it helped my problem. 

tychandler

Thanik you bellaxanthe