Yesterday I got to “eat” orange juice in the morning and soup for lunch and dinner… My veggie soup kind of turned into a chowder because the rice soaked up all the broth. But it was still the best soup I’ve ever had in my life! I just got some organic vegetable broth (no MSG or salt or anything) and water; then I started throwing in potatoes, carrots, celery, cauliflower, rice, cabbage, and a few other things i don’t remember… some spices, and voila! Homemade veggie soup! It was really good, needed a little big of salt but otherwise good. I ate about 5 bites and I was full. I love shrunken stomachs!

I had the soup for lunch yesterday, dinner last night, lunch to day and I am having a “veggie” salad tonight for dinner. Yum! I need to remember to eat less, though, I kind of disregarded the directions about eating slowly, etc. and overate, and felt kinda sick after. (And by overeating I mean 7 bites instead of 5). Something to remember!

Tomorrow is the big day, get to introduce meat back into my diet… Gallagher’s Buffalo Chicken Wrap, here I come!

I did it! I finished the cleanse, no cheating!

I went grocery shopping tonight to get the ingredients to make my soup that I can eat tomorrow, and let me tell you… I don’t advise going shopping (by yourself) when you haven’t eaten in 10 days. I still saved 63% though!

What an interesting journey… never thought I could do it, I have absolutely no will power… but I did and (well, we’ll see after tomorrow morning) lost 13 pounds total. I fit into my skinny Paris jeans today! (The ones I bought in Paris 6 years ago and haven’t fit into in about 5 years)… I’m so proud of myself!!!!!

Almost at the finish line………lost another 1/2 lb, so 12 lbs total. I have noticed that my stomach is a lot flatter, I’m assuming because the stuff that’s been pushing it out is gone (not because I’ve been doing crunches or anything…)

I’ve been craving food a lot the last couple days – dreaming about what my first dinner will be (Olive Garden Tour of Italy, split with Ben, bottomless salad and a glass of wine); or my first lunch (stuffed baked potato from the Barbecue Company); or my first dessert (Milky Way bar that’s been sitting on top of the microwave tempting me). I almost cheated yesterday when Ben walked in with Taco Bell and a large Dr. Pepper (thanks honey), but then I realized that I only have 2 MORE DAYS (1 MORE after today) and I can stick to it! It will make victory that much sweeter!

Lost another 1/2 pound, down 11.5. It looks like it’s slowing down, hopefully most of the crap is gone…only 2 days to go… Almost done!

My friend Beth started on Saturday and is having a hard time… You can do it Beth! Don’t give up, you’ll feel so much better at the end!

10 families yesterday for the open house, 16 for today (2 down, 14 to go!)

7:28 pm
Long day for the open house, ended up with 11 families who showed. I didn’t mind the ones who called and canceled, but the no shows were kind of frustrating… I could have filled the spots… I’ll have to figure out a way next year to minimize that. Overall, a good day! I am very tired though… and having a hard time with the cleanse… all I want is a sonic burger and some tots. And a Dr. Pepper. ARGH!

Lost another pound… that’s 11 so far…

Today’s gonna be a busy day! I have my photography open house, everything’s set up in the garage, ready to go! Can’t wait to start seeing my families! I hope I remember to “eat”…

I’m officially in the double digits! Lost another pound last night, I’m up to 10 lbs lost. I played volleyball last night, and noticed I was really jumping because I couldn’t get in sync with the ball! I guess that’s what happens when you let go of the 10 pound weight you’re holding…

Tonight threw me for a loop… I was doing good all day, I actually got super busy in the afternoon at work so I didn’t get to drink all my drinks (I’ll have to make up for it tonight) but then I told Ben I would make him dinner… and man that sure smelled good… I was considering going longer than 10 days (see what happens from day 1 to now!) but I don’t think I will be able to. I miss my food too much!

I found a link to the book by Stanley Burroughs, who “invented” this cleanse: http://healthandlight.com/TheMasterCleanse.pdf

I’m halfway through!!!! Weighed myself this morning, down another pound… Feeling good, this is sure a test of my will power though… We decided not to get any candy this year to hand out to the kids so there wouldn’t be any left over, knowing I was starting on Halloween night. That was a great decision, less temptation…..

Lost another pound, that brings me up to 8. I feel good today, I’m getting into the groove of making a drink when I start to feel hungry so I haven’t really been “hungry” today. I had really bad cotton mouth yesterday so I emailed Dr. Reed, he said that’s normal, means the toxins are eliminating or whatever, and that means it’s working… had it again today, I also started breaking out a little on my face. My tongue is white (DR said that might happen), I was gonna post a picture but… um… it just looks gross Almost halfway done!

We had a birthday party for Donna at work, usually I’m the one who finishes what everyone else doesn’t eat, but I stuck to my guns (although I did take 2 pieces of pie and throw them in the freezer for a rainy day…). I think my stomach is probably shrinking, which is good!

It is true what they say, it is definately getting easier. I stepped on the scale this morning and I am down 7 pounds since Sunday. 7 POUNDS in 2 days, I’m sure it is mostly just water weight. I feel better, not bloated at all, my clothes fit just a tad bit looser and I really have no hunger pains at all. Now I just need to maintain this for the next 7 days…

This really has been an emotional roller coaster, as silly as that may sound. I never realized how much of a routine I had with food, now it’s not really the lack of solid food that bugs me, it’s going away from the norm. We’re just so used to getting up and eating, lunchtime eating, getting home and making dinner… it’s just something to get used to, ya know?

After being constantly sick these last 8 months with one ailment or another (nothing serious, just the usual sinus/allergy stuff), I decided to try a Master Cleanse that my chiropractor (Dr. David Reed, awesome guy and doctor)  suggested. I started on Saturday night, and it has so far been an emotional roller coaster. It really is a mind over manner thing and I hope I am able to get through it…

Night before Day 1 (Saturday, 10/31):
Drank Smooth Move Tea before I went to bed, not too bad tasting but definately a little more bitter than I’m used to (I like to sugar my tea up…) Weighed myself before I went to bed.

Day 1 (Sunday, 11/1):
Went to church first thing in the morning, about 3/4 way through felt the tea start…um… “working”. Got home in time . Drank 32 ounces of salt water, that was the hardest part so far. I gagged every time I had to swallow it. That’s just not natural.   BUT I drank the whole thing. It says that you should have an “intense cleansing” within 1-2 hours… um, try like 20 minutes for me…

After that I started drinking the Lemonade concoction every couple hours, whenever I started to feel hungry. I went with Vibrant Cleanse, which is in a powdered form. Very convenient. Not too bad tasting. I ended up drinking it 6 times on Sunday. I got a migraine around 7 pm though so went to bed early.

Emotionally, I went from “Yay, I can do this! 10 days is not that bad… it’s not even 2 weeks…” in the morning to “Hmmm… 10 days actually is a long time, I will shoot for 5. That way I get through one jar of the powder…” to “There’s no way I am making it past 3 days. I will shoot for that” by the time I went to bed.

Day 2 (Monday 11/2, today):
Woke up feeling better, headache was gone, hunger pains were mostly gone. Got to work, made my first drink, everything’s great. I can do this for 10 days! Got some helpful advice and support from co-workers and some not so helpful criticism from other co-workers. To each his own, I guess. All I have to say is, if you don’t believe in it or think it sounds “crazy”, then don’t do it. But you don’t have to criticize others for something you haven’t done any research on and know nothing about. Period. Off soapbox.

I am trying to do 3 drinks in the morning, 3 in the afternoon and then 2 when I get home from work and before I go to bed. So far, it’s been easy to follow. Have to ignore the hunger pains though. I think I can I think I can I think I can!

As promised in a previous post, I am going to tackle the issue of cleanses and detoxes.  First and foremost want to be clear that I do not want to offend anyone. Let me explain:

Fundamental Foundational Beliefs

When I was in university I took this awesome course in Philosophy of Religion.  My professor was Peter Horban if I remember correctly, and it was actually his intelligence and sense of humor that helped make this lesson one that I have never forgotten (that and the 80 hours I had to be there).  The idea behind the course was that it may not even make sense for people who believe in God to argue with people who don’t.  There is no shared language of discussion because of fundamental foundational beliefs.  At the core of people’s belief systems are ideas that actually frame the way we perceive the world.  Two rational people with different fundamental foundational beliefs can agree on all of the facts and still disagree on the conclusions.  When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense.  You may know many very bright, very intelligent people who disagree fundamentally on things like religion.  They could sit down and hash out all of the facts and still not agree.

After doing research into cleanses and detoxes I have to say that I think that is one of the issues at the core of this debate, fundamental differences of in beliefs on health.  That is why I ask that no one be offended.  I won’t be able to prove that cleanses don’t work.  I won’t be able to prove that vague toxins don’t exist.  To people who want to believe WITH NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IT, that cleanses and detoxes are healthy, or in any way help in weight loss, I won’t be able to say anything that will change your belief.  There is no new research here at all.  Just a discussion of the known facts.

My only interest is to help people lose weight.  I am hoping to share some of the things that I discovered while getting fit, some of the solutions for us ‘unfit’ people.  I didn’t use any cleanses, or any diets, any Ab Doers or Ab Circle Pros.  None of these things are going to help you get fit.  They just aren’t.  I hope that you can see this, but if you can’t I bear you no ill will or mean feelings.

2 Parts to Fitness

There really are 2 parts to getting fit.  They are equally important and without both, you won’t get fit.  The first part is knowledge of nutrition and exercise.  The second part is knowledge of yourself and knowing how to include those items in your life.  The first part is what you find so often in your fitness books and your diet and nutrition books.  It is where the arguments over ‘whether carbs are healthier to eat than proteins’ are fought.  It is where the arguments over ‘resistance training and cardio’ rage on.  Still, it is only part of the discussion.  People have always thought the 2 issues with living healthy are diet and exercise.  This isn’t correct.  The 2 issues are knowing what is healthy and not and knowing what you can live with and what you can’t.  This is fundamentally why ‘You Are Not A Fit Person’ is different from the other diet products on the market.  Not only does it treat the issues of healthy diet and exercise as the cornerstone to fitness (no debate about which, it is both), but more importantly it finds ways for ‘us’, the chronically diet resistant people in society to include these activities in our life.

What are Cleanses and Detoxes

The issue of cleanses and detoxes falls into the first category: The knowledge of weight loss and fitness.  There has been so much confusion in this area that I do understand why people don’t believe what reports say. I have explained this before here, but a major part of the problem is how the media reports the outcome of scientific studies.  They boldly state that something is good for you, or will cause weight to melt off, when the study that they are referencing doesn’t support this.  We get confused as to what is helpful and that creates an environment in which confusion and superstition flourish.  Don’t let yourself be confused.  The reality is that the recommendations from health professionals actually hasn’t changed as much as you think over the years.

Half of all respondents said they thought scientists and doctors were constantly changing their minds about healthy living advice, although in reality, healthy living advice hasn’t changed at all for at least a decade (don’t smoke, do some exercise, eat more fruit and veg). And a quarter of all respondents said that because scientists keep changing their minds, you might as well eat whatever you want, because it won’t make any difference anyway. Have another pastry and put the telly on.

Ben Goldacre-Bad Science Blog

So with the intent of shedding some light on what cleanses and detoxification drugs and diets are, I am bringing in Wikipedia to help.  First, cleanses and detoxes are 2 separate things.  According to Wikipedia, a colon cleanse is:

Colon cleansing (colon therapy) encompasses a number of alternative medical therapies intended to remove fecal waste and unidentified toxins from the colon and intestinal tract. Colon cleansing may take the form of colon hydrotherapy (also called colonics or colonic irrigation) or oral cleansing regimens.

And also according to Wikipedia detoxification is:

Body cleansing or detoxification is a treatment in alternative medicine which proponents claim rid the body of accumulated harmful substances that exert a negative effect on individual health.

What I am arguing against is the oral cleansing regimens and detoxification diets.  I have to tell you it is so hard to argue against these items because there is NO argument for them.  Really, I know it sounds absurd, but I have been doing my best to find any sensible argument for them so I could create a counter argument.  I really wish I could have found an actual argument (by argument I mean actual supported claim, not a baseless statement) for colon cleanses and detoxes.  Don’t get me wrong, there are many people out there advocating these things.  Many.  But all they do is make groundless claims.  You can see what Wikipedia has to say here.

I will comment on 3 specific cleanses and detoxes here though as it would be impossible for me to encompass all of them with my comments:

Jillian Michaels Triple Process Total Body Detox & Cleanse Plus Probiotic Replenishment™

The claim:

It will help reduce belly bloat, reduce body waste buildup, support your colon and digestive system, help support the liver’s natural detoxification process, and help you feel lighter and more energized.

Response:

The claims of Jillian Michaels Triple Detox and Cleanse are so vague as to be meaningless. Belly bloat?  Waste buildup?  ‘Support’ your colon, digestive system and liver?  Feel lighter?

Belly Bloat:

This morning I was talking to my injury prevention coach, a doctor and I asked him, seriously, is there any such thing as belly bloat.  I know that I have lost respect in his eyes for even asking him that question, because it is obvious there is no such thing, but after he stopped laughing, he looked at me with a huge grin on his face, and then did a double take with a much more sedate look and said, ‘oh, wait a minute, were you trying to seriously ask me that?’.  It is absurd to even use a term like that.  What does it mean?  Do the users of it mean that your colon is so full of waste that it is making your otherwise toned stomach appear soft, mushy and distended?  The colon is on the other side of your stomach muscles, so that just can’t happen.  Do they mean that some part of your body, between your muscles and your epidermis (outermost layer of skin) gets bigger because of unnamed toxins?  There is a layer between your muscles and your skin by the way, it is a fat layer and it gets bigger and bigger over the years precisely because your colon and liver work as well as they do.  That is a infinitely more likely explanation of belly bloat.  In fact, no scientific study has found this mysterious ‘belly bloat’, but many have found this fat layer (as well, there is a visceral fat layer, below your stomach muscles that can cause the abdomen to protrude excessively).  I am not entirely sure that it isn’t just water retention/bloating around the abdomen area that they are referring to, or if it isn’t excessive gas in the intestinal tracts (this is Wikipedia’s definitely of bloat).  I actually have no idea what it is that this product reduces to be honest with you.

Waste Buildup:

It just doesn’t happen, except in extreme cases of colon blockage.  I assume we aren’t recommending these cleanses for medical treatment of colon blockages, so I will dispense with that.  Otherwise all evidence points to the colon being a perfectly good functioning part of the human body, that operates best without cleaning.  I defy you to go to your doctor and suggest, although you have no symptoms, you feel that you must have a buildup of waste in your colon, as you haven’t cleaned it lately…  I know it is an appealing idea to think that it will work better if you clean it, that everything will go back to operating the way it used to, when you were young.  I know when I get my car tuned up, it operates better, so I understand where the basis of this comes from.  The problem is, we aren’t mechanical machines, we are biological machines.  The system that we have is designed to clean itself.  Imagine if, in a few years, someone recommended going in for dialysis twice a year.  After all, you need to clean your blood to operate the way you used to.  You wouldn’t do that would you?  Please tell me you wouldn’t….

Supporting Organ Function:

This claim is just so vague I don’t know what to say.  How do you support organ function when presumably the organ is functioning perfectly already?  Some studies have shown chemicals and quite possibly herbs that help organs function when they are damaged, but no study has shown that taking supplements helps your organs to function better when they are healthy.  Why would you think that organs need support?  Even if you did, wouldn’t you want products that have been PROVEN to show that they do this?  I would.  I would want to know that studies exist support these claims.  After all, how do we know what supports an organ and what doesn’t.  It is intensely complicated.  Without research it is like throwing darts at the worlds biggest dartboard, 100 meters away, blindfolded in the dark and expecting to hit the miniscule bulls eye.  The thing is, nobody is asking you to get tested to see if any of your organs aren’t functioning 100% perfectly, and then to use this as a medical solution (please, for the love of god, do not do this, if you have any problems with the functioning of any of your organs, please see a physician).

Feel Lighter:

This is the most pernicious claim of the diet cleanses and the detoxes.  You will be coming down off of a serious diet regiment or a pill regiment that probably made you feel lousy.  You will probably have lost a lot of water weight if the detox or cleanse you took contained a diuretic or a laxative.  You will probably even be lighter, but that doesn’t mean anything at all.  You might have just emptied your body of much of the water it uses to function.  You have to see that this isn’t the kind of lighter you would have wanted.  This will in no way, jumpstart you onto weight loss, as your body will restore the waste and water that was in your system first thing and you will actually gain weight as you being your diet regiment.

Conclusion:

I can’t say that the product doesn’t do what it claims, because I am still not sure what in the world it is claiming…  I think this is the most damning thing about this product.

Top Secret Fat Loss Secret:

The Claim:

The Reason You Can’t Lose Weight has Nothing to Do With Your Will-Power, Over-Eating or the Right Diet! … The Reason You are Fat and Unhealthy is Because You Have Disgusting Plaque and Horrible Little ‘CRITTERS’ Living in Your Guts!

Dr. Suzanne Gudakunst is your only friend in the world according to this site, and everyone else is out to poison you, or so it would seem.  In what is one of the most questionable and laughable conspiracy theory rants to do with weightloss.  I have no idea what her product is, but if you pay for the top secret, the one that physicians may well be trying to kill her to keep secret

“…And Now I’m Going to Show You How to Get Rid of All of It so You Can Shed 10 lbs, 25 lbs, 50 lbs even 100 lbs or more – and Keep It Off FOREVER!!”

The website shows pictures of diseased colons and other things, I have no idea what, but they do look disgusting, and blown up parasites.  The idea is to scare you into thinking that your bowels are a disease pit of fighting parasites and rotten flesh.  It is stupid and foolish and her methods of solving this problem are unknown.  Again, like the previous cleanse, it is really hard to comment on whether the results are likely or possible because I have no idea how this ‘Top Secret’ actually works.  This one though, I am betting is an out and out scam.  I would use harsher words, but I am actually worried that these guys might sue someone for defamation if they think they can.  I can’t imagine that they are making much on their ridiculous claims, so that actually may be their business plan.

The Master Cleanse:

The Claim:

According to Wikipedia: The Master Cleanse will eliminate toxins (pesticides, hormones, prescription drugs, chemical fertilizers, heavy metals) and congestion that have built up in the body.[2]

The Response:

Again, I am going to quote Wikipedia:

For people in good health, the body is designed to eliminate normal everyday toxins from itself through the lungs, kidneys, liver, and other eliminator organs.[5] As with other detox diets, there is no peer-reviewed scientific evidence of any positive effect.[4]

Nutritionist Jane Clark points to a lack of essential nutrients in this program, citing a deficiency of protein, vitamins, and minerals in the regimen[6] although dietary deficiencies in protein may not lead to the individual showing signs of protein deficiency if it is followed only for a short time. As a result of these deficiencies, including far fewer calories than the recommended amount for health and optimum functioning, individuals on the diet may experience headaches and a variety of other symptoms in the short term.[6] Dr. Joel Fuhrman attributes these effects to detoxification, which he says passes after the toxins are eliminated.[7] Many authors assert the benefits of fasting are related to its lack of nutrients, particularly macronutrients.[7][8][9][10] It could be dangerous if followed in the long term.[6]

Clark also believes that the saltwater “flush” may remove both harmful and beneficial bacteria from the body[6]. A no-food diet may cause the gut to stop passing food, resulting in constipation, or may make the consumption of food immediately after the cleanse painful. People with intestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome may experience discomfort while on the cleanse. Some people who have followed the cleanse feel that a 14-day regimen of the program will eliminate that condition altogether; however, this may be a manifestation of the placebo effect, as there is no peer-reviewed scientific evidence of this possible outcome.

Many proponents of the cleanse do not recommend it solely for weight loss, instead mentioning its purported detoxifying properties, however Dr. Sunil Patel of Halifax’s QEII Health Sciences Centre says the cleanse operates as a placebo and has no other health benefits.[11] When following the Master Cleanse, people will certainly lose weight.[12]

Medical authorities say that those who try the Master Cleanse to lose weight will gain it back in time.[13]

Okay, maybe I could have reviewed all of the cleanses and detoxes with just one review.  Vague and ineffective and none of them offer any long term help.  That to me is the most damning thing with these cleanses.  They are short term fixes.  They will never help you lose weight and again, there is no evidence to support the claims they are making.  Why would this work?  Seriously, ask yourself with each and every one of these cleanses, why would they work?  Exercise and healthy eating have been shown in study after study to result in longer life and lower weight as an outcome.   To quote my injury prevention coach, Jason, ‘There are at least 100,000 ideas out there on health and fitness .  Some of them have been proven to work and others haven’t.  Why wouldn’t you pick the items that have been show to work?” If that makes sense to you, then pick up a copy of ‘You Are Not A Fit Person’ because I know incorporating exercise and diet into your lifestyle is no easy task.  That is the missing lesson here.  That is what I think the focus of the diet and fitness world will be on over the next few years.

So I’m in this contest. It wasn’t suppose to be a contest to begin with. My friend was just wanting to have someone to lean on. Someone to be accountable to. That to me sounds like a challenge. So it is a contest. I’m still trying to think of a really good winning prize. It maybe that she has to dye her hair pink? Still working the kinks out on that one.

I love a challenge. So I was ready to begin that day! She informed me that you can’t start in the middle of the day because there is prep work to do. The laxative tea in the evening before bed. Empty stomach to start on. Thats fine, I’d like to eat another meal anyway.

The best part is that she decided not to start the same day that I did. She hasd”big plans” the starting weekend. Her friend had been planning this for 6 months. She had been preparing food and wonderfulness. The most of what I gathered was enchiladas. MMMMMmmm. So fine, I started without her.

I can’t wait to quit on the same day she does and wait to see how long it takes her to realize that I began 4 days in front of her. I’m sure it will just be a second. Since I plan to remind her of it constantly. I also plan to badger her with food and smells. No reason not to, its a contest right?

I do have another one up on her too. I don’t know when I’m hungry. My system is so screwed up. At one time in my life I was trying to figure out who I was and I wasn’t eating. That may not make sense. I had someone telling me that I was a fatty so I was trying to fix it. And I like to fix things quick.  Just in case you’re wondering, I did figure out who I am. I’m a gal who likes to eat. I like food and the way it tastes way more than a super skinny waist. I also am not a size 00. I like to have an ass as well as boobs. All good things.

I recently learned she reads my blogs, so when you talk to “her” just pretend it was about someone else completely.

I must say that on this glorious day I may have started with the delusions? This morning in the shower I lathered up my loofa with shampoo instead of soap. And when I fixed the issue. By rinsing and lathering with my actual soap. It occurred to me that I may have done the same thing yesterday and not even realized it.

Also, I felt like my armpits were really stinky. I am addicted to deodorant, so I don’t usually smell the skin or anything. I don’t want to take the chance of any odor at all. Like I said, my brain is a little off so it could all be in my head. Still, I used my face wash with the micro beads to give them a good scrub down just to make sure.

Oh, yes one other thing. I felt like I may be having a heart attack. Hubbie is watching me closely, I don’t think he really trusts it or something? Like you need food to survive or something. So when I told him about the heart attack he asked, “Really?!?” I said no, not really. But my chest was tight. Which is weird. Hard to breathe and such. Ah well, it went away and on with the contest!!

When I first heard of this “detox” I knew there were things about it that just seemed completely bogus. Stanley Burroughs is the one who invented it. Originally to cure some ulcers. Come to find out it does so much more…

Lets start with the no food thing. Ok, really. If I just didn’t eat food for 10 days and drank a gallon of Pepsi a day, don’t you think it would have the same effect? I’d probably drop the lbs. just the same. Be crapping constantly, but possibly black instead of yellow.  I suppose I may die, because there aren’t any nutrients in it though. Ok, Stan. Ya got me there.

It also claims that you will not even want to eat junk foods or oily eatables hereafter. I gotta say, I’m fairly sure that stuff  will still taste just the same. Unless, the real excess amont of lemon is going to eat off my taste buds. I’m gonna eat it. It’s good! I’m sure the makers of all the goodies will come out with some other good stuff that I never even dreamed would taste so lovely. I will eat those too. I can’t take that kind of gamble. To say that I won’t even want to eat junk?!? Its not worth it.

It also says many people turn vegetarian after it. Wow. Really? How does that even work? Eat a steak today, no more meat tomorrow? I love meat, how can people go on without eating meat? I understand it takes longer to digest. Even if you had to cut it down to twice a week or something. It would be worth it. For the taste of the meat.

Stan says that the body was never made to digest meat. This is a whole different blog for a different day. I could go on for quite a while on that. I’m not even sure which side I’m on. But I need more readers for that one. Cause I need opinions.

Speaking of the taste of meat, I had the best burger the other day. From Hardee’s?!? Weird, really weird. It was so juicy and the edges were crispy. I’ve never had one as wonderful. I got the mushroom swiss. You should go there and get whatever you choose. Really take the time to taste the burger though. Don’t go when you’re in a hurry. Take your time.

Sorry, lost track…

At least 10 days is recommended. 10 days is hardly worth it. I’d say. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a challenge for me. Thats different from being all these other people who do it just to be “healthy” and lose weight. Just doesn’t seem worth it. I mean you don’t eat anything at all. Nothing. Just drink, salty breakfast and sour water for the rest of the day. Pretty crappy deal.

The next thing that made me a bit skeptical was he claims you can really go to 40 days. 10 is recommended, but you can do 40. Let alone all of the reasons I used for the 10 days. Stanely said this idea is based upon the concept that Jesus fasted for 40 days after attaining baptism…….. Uhhhhhhhh, ok? Please do not get me wrong here. I am a born again believer. But this is ludacris. Man, I love Ludacris he can really throw out some goodies. Anyway, what does this concept have to do with this cleanse?!? Nuff said.

One more minimal side effect. Hair loss. So let me grasp this one. You’ll clean your guts of all the poo and such. That really doesn’t bother a soul or can even be seen. Buuut its possible you’ll lose your hair. Now I’m guessing this isn’t like chemo loss. I’d say its more like pregnancy loss. Still, is this worth it? Unless of course, you’re trying to win a challenge. This reminds me of the other day when I wore my hair au naturel. Hubbie commented on how he liked it, said it looked like feathers. You’re wondering, the feathers. You know! Feathers, those fake feathers. Cause I do so much to my hair that my ends are split and fuzzy!! Geeze, how can I not  love that man.

Last in line is that you are recommended to take the 10 or however many days off work. LOL, chea! No kidding, who wants to camp by the bathroom with his paperwork. And I know not a soul wants to be in that bathroom after you leave!! I try to manage mine the best I can. Using a bathroom that nobody will have the desire to use for quite some time. Seems they get the desire from seeing me exit, lately. I leave the fan on and the window open though, just in case.

Oh wait, I forgot one. Delusions. Nothing to say about them except for I can’t wait!!

Although, I must say. My brain is not really working to its fullest ability. I

I tried to challenge hubbie to join in. He loves to win. But after all the research, we decided he would be crapping his pants through all his travels and have to take fellow workers out for a lemonade. Now that I think about it, I’m so glad.  We can’t both afford to be disgusting for that amount of time. As long as one of us is lovely, that one being him. There’s no way he can realize how nasty I currenlty am. I am very thankful for that.

At some quitting point I am truly looking forward to the alert, fresh, active, confident, and happier promises that come along with this detox. Mostly the fresh and confident. I’m assuming the confident is that my breath doesn’t stink and my skin isn’t oozing grossness.

The draw to the cleanse is that it will help you look younger and increase your strength and stamina.

I gotta say that the only thing that may make me look younger is the fact that I can’t leave the house so I’m in my p.j.’s all day long. I bathe and then get into more p.j.’s. As many times as I go to the bathroom I’m not really diggin the victoria’s secret lounge wear. Besides, I don’t think victoria would want me advertising that way anyhow. Not really feeling the girly gown either. Although it’s not sounding like a bad idea now, easy access. For the toilet, not the hubbie.

As far as my strength goes. I’ve lost 4 lbs. since yesterday. So I’m thinking I don’t really feel stronger. I’d like to say I do. I really would. I even want to feel stronger. Truth be told I’m a little drowsy.

Hopefully once I start eating solid foods again I will have the strength to beef up the skeleton I’m left with. Know that I am soooo kidding about this. The skeleton part anyway.  I could really stand to lose 40 lbs. Don’t think I’m killing myself just to win a challenge. Although I would, and if it comes down to it. I will.

As far as stamina goes. Well, it doesn’t even matter. I’m out of commission for the next few days anyway, monthly. I really think this whole thing is making my deal last longer.  I also hear that this thing makes your breath stink and it comes out of your pores while you’re sleeping. I’m not really sure if thats true yet, but either way! That’s not really helping much.  I do plan on doing a breath test at some point though. I will wait till it just feels like it smells horrid and then find a testee.

Heeh, testee…

Those were the draws. Look younger, increase strength and stamina. The downside is it is a detox. Not a diet. So expect some discomfort.

The one thing I notice that wasn’t in the info is that I am so thirsty. Really thirsty. Yes, I just drink more lemonade, but it doesn’t help. I figured I’d try gum today and accidently swallowed it. Super anxious to see how that turns out!!

I’d say so far the most discomfort I have is making the kids stay right were they are so I can galavant off to the bathroom. The good thing is, it never takes long. Its quicker than a pee.

It eliminates any toxins and congestion that is stored  in any and every part of your body. It cleanses the digestive system and your kidneys. It clears all cells throughout your body and it assists in building a healthy blood stream.

I sure hope my ocd doesn’t take over and make me want to clean my body all the time too. I’ll have to cleanse once a month right after I get the house absolutely perfect. Not sure if thats healthy or not. I could do solid food every other two weeks, I suppose…

Ok, I was driving with my good gal pal the other day and she started an odd topic.  It’s weird how some of this stuff comes up. We can start with the best kiss we ever had and end with the demise of the world. Not sure what we started with on this particular day. I do know that it ended with the “Master Cleanse” diet.

I know this, because we are still on the topic. Seems most people have heard of it. “The Master Cleanse.” All you have to do is say it, and it has some kind of reverence. Now when you dig deeper, most of them have never tried it. Or really seem interested. It has a good idea behind it though, and does some good things.

Seems that when done correctly, it clears your body of all toxins. Toxins, you say? Yes, toxins. Come to find out your intestines are about 30 ft. long, stuffed into a square foot of room. Gross. You’re supposed to think about all the creases and crevices and wrinkles that are in there.

I’m about to be really blunt here. And probably for the next few days too. Not sure if I’ll blog solely on the cleanse, depends on if it tears me up like it does everyone else. If you know me at all, I get every single side effect there is on anything. Thats why I don’t take any antidepressants. Can’t take the chance of the possibly killing yourself, side effect. It’s just too much of a gamble for me. Just kidding, I’m not depressed. Turns out thats the only way you should make fun of depression, is if you have it. So, for a second there I just pretended. Hey, don’t get offended. I frowned while typing.

Sorry, back to the point. Blunt. Intestines, crevices, folds. Gross. When you take a dump, it all just runs through the lines. Leaving the excess in the crevices. Super gross. From what I have learned it is where any imperfection that your body shows, comes from. All the way down to the little bumps on your skin.

The whole health thing and the fact that she was telling me that most people can’t make it past 3 days. That in itself is a challenge to me. I thrive on surviving the beating of life. Its what keeps me going.  The Cleanse is my current. Sure to be a good one too.

When she started the intro to the Cleanse, she was in search of someone to do it with so she had some accountability.  Evidently she’s started it twice and then decided it was better to be a quitter instead. So I challenged her. I will do it with her and I will do it longer than she can keep to it. I will win. I like to win. I have to win.

I’m not too much of a health nut. But I am way too much of a competitor. Hopefully that will get me through. And possibly clear up my skin, leave me glowing and with a smaller waist too. BONUS!!

I started today. This diet involves no food. Only liquids.

I drank a laxative tea last night before I went to bed. It was supposed to give me terrible cramps and wake me up to be groggy and possibly crap my pants. I slept like a baby all through the night.

First thing in the morning you have to chug a huge glass of purified water with 2 tsp. sea salt. Nothing like chugging the ocean water. It was horrible. And I gotta admit, it was more like 3 big swallows at a time. Took me about an hour to finally finish it, and I did have to scoot on to the toilet twice before I was even through it! The added bonus to this is, after salting your tongue down seems you don’t really want to taste anything. Plus, my gut is so full I couldn’t even think of eating.

My next step is drinking this lemonade that I had to specially make. It was pretty easy, but kinda expensive. Seems only wealthy people can afford to be healthy and cleansed. I’m going to cut back on the grocery bill and use that towards my challenge. Which is way better than putting extra money towards an actual diet.

Lemons are not cheap and you must have a whole one for each glass you  consume. Around 8 – 10 glasses a day. You have to have maple syrup of a certain grade. Purified water, not a huge expense but adds up after a gallon a day. I didn’t have to buy the cayenne pepper cause my girl had some. And thats pretty much it. What I will live on for the next, however many days I can survive it.

Hasn’t been bad so far. Although it is only 9am and I’ve been to the bathroom 3 times already. Hmm, wonder what the rest of my day consists of. I guess I may have to skip the weekly nursing home visit to gramma. Unless I can plan it just right, and snatch some depends while I’m there. Then I’ll be home free!!

More side affects to come!!!

The  Master Cleanse program came from Stanley Burroughs in 1941. He also promoted pressure points and color therapy which has become more mainstream in natural therapy now. The Master Cleanse keeps becoming more and more popular as more people see the positive effects from it.  Our bodies are full of toxins that we obtain through the over consumption of food and the unhealthy eating habits we have pertaining to the type of food we are eating. Because of this our bodies have to work harder to keep us healthy because it’s working so hard on pushing processed food with additives through us.

When we help flush our bodies out and give them a break from our constant eating we are not only removing toxins but we are boosting our overall health. The Master Cleanse was intended for this very thing.

Many celebrities like Beyonce have given their support of this program because it actually works. The Master Cleanse program is actually a diet consisting of a lemonade mixture taken for a minimum of ten days. Some people can go longer on the cleanse but those people have generally done the cleanse a few times and know their bodies can handle it.

The lemonade is mixed with maple syrup which actually gives you all the essential nutrients and minerals required by your body when you are fasting. Lemon juice is used because it contains potassium and maple syrup contains sucrose. Another benefit of lemon juice is that it is an antioxidant which helps the body remove free radicals which are bad for our health.

Another importance ingredient is the Cayenne powder.  The really hot stuff in Cayenne scientifically named as Capsaicin, helps to increase the body metabolism rate. Our bodies will automatically slow down when on a fast because it needs to conserve energy. The Cayenne powder also helps to dilute your blood so as to promote better circulatory flow of the blood in your body. Harmful toxins are expelled faster which is the ultimate expectation of the master cleanse.

You can only take between 6 to 12 glasses of this special lemonade every day. It’s also recommended to do a salt water flush to help aid the body in cleansing all the accumulated waste inside your body. Believe me you are going to be eliminating some serious waste with the salt water flush.

The Master cleanse is not for everybody. If you are pregnant or are on medication, its best that you consult your regular physician before doing the Master Cleanse program.

There are many people talking about the master cleanse but by far this book provides the most in-depth analysis answers to all your questions about the Master Cleanse program.

You! That’s right, a detoxing cleanse is right for just about anyone. You may feel relatively healthy, but if you suffer from headaches, acne and other skin problems, fatigue or lethargy, sluggish bowels, or any of a long list of other health problems, your body may need a kick-start to get itself back to its normal, healthy condition.

Why you ask? Because if you live like the rest of us, you’re exposed to toxins that can slow you down every single day. The food you eat, for instance, may be full of pesticides, insecticides, additives, unhealthy fats, sugar, and pharmaceuticals, all of which act on your internal organs. Likewise with the products we apply to our bodies everyday—from lotion to hairspray to facial cream to deodorant. Most conventional personal care products are loaded with toxins that can seriously compromise your immune system, your reproductive function, your lungs, and your nervous system.

And don’t forget the air we breathe—and we’re not just talking about smog-filled outdoor air. The air inside our homes can be 100 times more toxic then that found outside due to paints, stains, glues, adhesives, fabric treatments, dry cleaning fumes, household cleanings products, and much more. These products add volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) and particulate matter to our indoor air, causing respiratory and nervous system problems.

Of course, some toxins come from our own internal systems, too. Negative emotions, for example, can create internal toxins. Additionally, when our bodies process food, they can create toxins that are normally eliminated through the digestive tract. But when these toxins build-up due to an overwhelming consumption or production of them, our internal organs can’t keep up with the demand!

How to Support your Body By Doing a Regular Detox

If you want to experience optimum health, a detox may be just the thing you’ve been looking for. More than simply a way to lose weight, a detox is a highly effective solution for supporting and cleansing your elimination organs, including your skin, your colon, your liver, and your kidneys. A detox will also help to flush toxins out of the fat stores in your body, since that’s where toxins are often stored.

Using specifically chosen foods, herbal, antioxidant, and vitamin supplements, internal and external treatments such as saunas and massage, as well as colonics, and chelation therapy you can begin to rid your body of the toxins that have dragged it down over the years. Through the process of a cleanse or detox, you’ll find that your colon will be cleaned out and your digestion will normalize, your skin will become clearer, your circulation will increase, your energy levels will shoot up dramatically, your lymphatic system will be drained, and yes, you’ll likely lose a bit of weight.

The end result is a more vital, positive life-force and the ability to take control of your life once again. So get back the life you deserve—start your detox today!

What do you need to get started on a Detox or a Master Cleanse? You can find everything you’ll need to do a cleanse or detox by going to The-Master-Cleanse.net or DetoxBetter.com. These sites contain the Master Cleanse recipes, tips and tricks, instructions, and all of the resources you’ll need for a successful detox or cleanse. Enjoy!

Eliminate Internal Waste And Experience Beautiful Health

Discover how you can transform your body in just 10 days…

It’s called THE MASTER CLEANSE , and for more then 50 years it’s been used for rapid weight loss… rejuvenation… and to make health problems vanish

If you’re thinking about trying the Master Cleanse take a moment to read this important letter and see if the diet is right for you.   It’s true the Master Cleanse can help you lose up to 20 pounds, look younger, ease chronic pain, cleanse your body of internal waste, and boost your energy levels in 10 days but…

Most People Don’t Last 1 Day On The Master Cleanse

You know the saying – “if it was easy everyone would be doing it”. Well dear reader that saying holds true with the Master Cleanse as well. Now don’t up and leave this site just yet because I’m going to be showing you how to make the Master Cleanse much more “doable”.   I’ve shared these tips with people who could never come close to finishing the Master Cleanse, and they went on to breeze right through the entire 10 days.   You won’t find this information any place else.  But before we get to that lets take a closer look at how the Master Cleanse works and what it can do for you.  The Master Cleanse Recipe – How To Make The Lemonade

Here’s the recipe for making the Master Cleanse lemonade:

* 2 Tablespoons of organic lemon juice

* 2 Tablespoons of organic grade B maple syrup

* 1/10 Teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

* 10 oz of filtered water

That recipe is for a single serving of lemonade, and you should drink 6-12 servings a day. You can also make up a big batch by multiplying that recipe by however many servings you plan on drinking which is what I like to do. Just make sure you keep it refrigerated, and don’t make more then one days supply because you want the lemonade to be as fresh as possible when you drink it.

You might be wondering about how the lemonade tastes.   The cayenne pepper is a real concern for some people, but the lemonade is surprisingly tasty. The cayenne pepper gives the lemonade a nice kick.

What if you don’t like spicy drinks ?  Here’s a tip:

Take two cayenne pepper capsules with each glass of lemonade instead of mixing the ground cayenne pepper into the drink. You can find cayenne pepper capsules at most health food and vitamin stores for around $5 a bottle.

Now most people will take that recipe and jump right in to the Master Cleanse. That’s a big mistake.

There’s more to the Master Cleanse then the average person might think. Before you decide to try the Master Cleanse you need to know:

How to prepare yourself before starting the cleanse

What to do during the Master Cleanse to reduce side effects, or avoid them all together.  What to do after the Master Cleanse because you defiantly don’t want to go back to your old diet right after the cleanse

And finally, how to keep the results you got long after you’ve finished the Master Cleanse – this ones important!

When you know all these things you’ll have a much easier time finishing the Master Cleanse, and you’ll benefit more then those who don’t.   Speaking of benefits let’s take a look at what the Master Cleanse can do for you.

10 Days To A Whole New You

As soon as you start the Master Cleanse your body will begin a process of rapid detoxing and rejuvenation. The changes you’ll experience happen fast–so fast you’re bound to get the WOW! response from the people you know.   Don’t be surprised if a few people pull you aside and secretly ask if you’ve had some “work done”.   Like I said the changes happen FAST.

Here’s what you can expect :

You’ll normalize your appetite and metabolism so your body can comfortably adjust to it’s ideal weight for your size naturally

Your suppressed hormone levels will be restored so every cell in your body will be charged with youth giving and feel good hormones

There will be a natural shift away from unhealthy habits–without will power

You’ll cleanse and detox your entire body–the pounds of waste built up over the years will be released in just 10 days

Reduced internal inflammation, which will ease aching joints

Your energy levels will sore

And much more…

It’s dieting on a budget at its best! The Master Cleanse Diet (aka the Lemonade Diet, the Maple Syrup Detox, Beyonce Diet, or the Cayenne Pepper Diet) is one of the most inexpensive, simple diets that you can do. It’ll have you losing weight in no time (does 10 pounds in 10 days sound good to you?) and at very little cost to you.

This highly effective diet helped Beyonce lose 20 pounds in 10 short days in preparation for her role in Dreamgirls. And she’s not the only celebrity using the Master Cleanse Diet to drop pounds in a very short period of time.

So we know that the Master Cleanse is an effective diet, but how does it save you money?

Low-Cost Ingredients

The Master Cleanse Diet also requires very little in the way of ingredients to get you going. In fact, since you’ll be fasting for the 10-day period during the Master Cleanse except for a few inexpensive ingredients, you may actually end up saving money while on the Master Cleanse!

All you’ll need for this diet are some organic lemons, filtered water, organic cayenne pepper, organic Grade B maple syrup, uniodized sea salt, and laxative tea. These simple ingredients are easy to prepare and won’t cost you a bundle. Read the full direction for the master cleanse.

No Gym Membership

Many diet experts encourage people to go to the gym to work out and get fit in order to lose weight. While living an active lifestyle is important, having a gym membership can be expensive, especially if you don’t use the membership on a regular basis. With the Master Cleanse Diet, there are no monthly fees for an expensive gym membership!

No Diet Membership

Just like you won’t need a gym membership, you also won’t have to shell out a bunch of cash for a diet center membership. With the Master Cleanse, you’ll experience rapid, safe weight loss that you can maintain with a healthy diet and exercise when you’re done, without the help of a diet center.

No Restaurant Bills

Since you won’t be eating during your Master Cleanse experience, you’ll also be able to save on restaurant bills. And you can’t drink alcohol either, so your bar bills will be pretty small as well.

All of these savings add up to a great way to lose weight without the cost of traditional weight loss systems. We encourage you to explore the Master Cleanse Diet at The-Master-Cleanse.net for more information on this innovative and low-cost diet method.

People are raving about the benefits experienced on the Master Cleanse. From having higher levels of energy to a clearer complexion, there are many positive improvements you’ll experience as a result of going through the 10 day Master Cleanse experience.

Want a better idea of the kinds of physical changes you’ll experience by going on the Master Cleanse?

Weight Loss with the Master Cleanse

Most people experience fast, effective weight loss while on the Master Cleanse. In fact, on average, people lose about 10-14 pounds in 10 days while on this diet. Beyonce even experienced a drop of 20 pounds in just 10 days when she was preparing for her role in Dreamgirls.

Clearer Complexion with the Master Cleanse

During the normal course of living, we intake a lot of toxins that can cause us to look and feel worse than we’d like. In particular, many of us experience acne, even after going through puberty! This is often due to the build-up of toxins in our bodies.

The Master Cleanse Diet will support your kidneys, colon, liver, lymphatic system, lungs, and skin as they dissolve and mobilize these toxins that contribute to acne. As a result, many Master Cleanse participants report experiencing clearer, glowing skin at the end of the cleanse.

Increased Energy with the Master Cleanse

Without a doubt, you’ll experience a boost in your energy levels on the Master Cleanse. As toxins are drained from your body, your internal organs will be able to function more naturally and efficiently, and as a result, you’ll feel energized and revitalized. The Master Cleanse reduces the pressure on your nervous and circulatory systems and eliminates unusable waste material from muscles and joints, allowing you to move from one activity to another with ease and vitality. Your feelings of fatigue will disappear.

Additional Benefits You’ll Experience with the Master Cleanse

In addition to all of the benefits already noted, you may also experience a reduction in allergies, headaches, hair loss, and depression. Just remember: things may be worse before they get better. As with many healthful journeys in life, you often have to see a dip in wellbeing before you get to the good stuff. So stick it out and wait patiently. You’ll be impressed by the benefits of the Master Cleanse Diet if you can just see it through to the end.

Need more information on how to go through the Master Cleanse Diet? If so, surf over to www.The-Master-Cleanse.net for lots of tips, instructions, best practices, and hints for getting through the Master Cleanse and achieving the best results possible on the Master Cleanse Diet.

If you’ve been looking for a way to increase your energy and get your life back, look no further. The Master Cleanse Diet (sometimes called the Lemonade Cleanse, the Maple Syrup Diet, or the Beyonce Diet) is one of the fastest, least expensive ways to boost your energy levels naturally. It also comes with a ton of side benefits, including better health, clearer skin, fewer headaches, and more.

You may be wondering, though: How do we become so fatigued and worn out? Over time, our bodies are exposed to a wide range of toxins from a variety of sources—our food, our air, and our environment. These toxins build up in our bodies and as they increase in concentration, they demand more and more internal energy. Our bodies actually have to work at keeping these toxins from damaging our bodies.

Unfortunately, sometimes they begin to pollute us from the inside out, and in the process damage our internal organs, making them less effective at doing their jobs. Our hearts, lungs, kidneys, livers, skin, and many other organs are no longer working at peak efficiency because of these toxins. As a result, our overall energy levels are severely reduced. But you don’t have to stand for this!

You can do something about your waning energy levels by going on the Master Cleanse Diet.

But how can the Master Cleanse Diet—which is a 10-day fast—actually give you more energy? It doesn’t seem to make sense, does it?

Well, actually, the concept is fairly simple. By participating in the Master Cleanse Diet, you are actually assisting your body in eliminating the toxins that are bogging you down. By taking a few simple ingredients and abstaining from food for 10 days, you give your elimination systems the space they need to get rid of the toxins that have been building up for so long. As your body mobilizes these toxins and pumps them out of your system, your internal organs begin to work more efficiently, unimpeded by the toxins that were weighing them down.

But the Master Cleanse helps you with energy in two other ways. It helps you to lose weight, which we all know will increase your energy levels. It also increases your metabolism so that your body can produce more energy all of the time.

In the end, you feel energized and revitalized so that you can get up off of the couch and get moving! After all, you’ve got a lot to accomplish. So what are you waiting for do the Master Cleanse for increased energy!

Want to know more about the Master Cleanse Diet? Check out www.The-Master-Cleanse.net for a whole host of tips and tricks for getting your energy levels kick-started.

We are bombarded with toxins every single day. Vehicle exhaust, commercial processes, energy production, agriculture, and more all contribute to poor air outdoor quality that can poison our bodies. Not only that, our homes are filled with toxins—from the furniture we use every day to the clothes we wear. They all contribute to poor indoor air quality that can make us sick with a variety of ailments, including asthma, allergies, headaches, fatigue, and more.

• Irregular or painful bowel movements, including regular constipation and diarrhea.
• Regular bouts of acne or a sallow complexion.
• Inability to lose weight.
• Body odor or bad breath.
• Headaches, allergies, or asthma.

These can all be signs that your body is not able to keep up with the toxins being introduced to your body.

Free Yourself from Toxins with the Master Cleanse

If you said yes to any of the above symptoms, you may be in need of a detox, and the Master Cleanse is one of the best systems for naturally cleansing your body of these substances. At www.The-Master-Cleanse.net we’ve gathered together the best expert information on the web about the Master Cleanse Diet and put in one place so that you can find everything you need to begin to experience better health and greater vitality. Come on over and get excited about the possibility of new-found health with the Master Cleanse Detox Diet!

“I just moved back to Burlington after being in New York City for 2 years and you’re doing the cleanse? For real?”

Yes, my best friend and favorite person ever, Bess is on day SIX of the MASTER CLEANSE. For those who don’t know, the MASTER CLEANSE consists of not eating or drinking anything but some liquid concoction of water, lemons, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup. She has been drinking this mixture for 5 days now. She has to start every morning with a “salt bath,” which I suppose is the whole cleansing aspect of the 10 day trip. Oh and she can drink water and peppermint tea, as well. Nonetheless, beer, BBQs, and even vodkawaters are not allowed. She is doing the cleanse for herself. Nobody else.

This past weekend was my first weekend back in Burlington, Vermont after living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for the past two years of my life. I could not of asked for a better weekend. We hung at the beach, we drank PBRs by noon, BBQ’d, and hung at the Burton Bowl. We caught up with old friends and laughed till our stomache’s hurt. Some of us “blonde moshed” and some of us ate rise-and-shiners (bacon egg and cheese/hash brown delights from kountry kart deli) at 2 a.m. If felt like 2006. It felt like home.

Bess Aili hung out with us…the entire time. She packed her cooler of concoctions and sipped on maple-lemon water for hours on end. She saved my life when I was too drunk to keep going and she drank peppermint tea when we all ate hungover herby turkeys from Breugger’s Bagel. When we went BBQ shopping, she bought lemons and syrup. She stayed strong and she kept on the cleanse. She was hungry and I’m sure she wanted to sling back a jack and coke, but she didn’t.

You know how someone always has a story of a friend that tried to do it, but only got to day 3 or 4. Well, I already have a friend that got past that. And I know I will soon have a friend that successfully completed THE MASTER CLEANSE. I am proud of Bess for many a things. This is just one more success she can add to her achievements. She is amazing. She is Bess.