Master Cleanse

Okay.  So when I'm not pregnant, I decided I have Obesophobia which is the fear of gaining weight.  Yes, self diagnosed, but still.  I didn't gain unhealthy weight during my pregnancies, but I figured I would cut myself some slack when I stepped on the scale because I had a baby cookin.  For the past three years, I spent 28 months of it prego so I often found myself excusing the "occasional" fast food run and major chocolate binges with, "Eh, I'm pregnant".  Luckily, I can go back to eating whatever, whenever because we're expecting our fourth child in March 2013!! Yayy! 

...gotchyaaa!  Three is perfect plenty for the next four or five years.

So since I can't blame my kids anymore, food junkie girl has gotta go!  Brooklyn is barely 2 months old so luckily I haven't had too much time to get lazy with my diet.  After I received my "OB okay", I compiled a fitness plan which starts out with The Master Cleanse.  Ever heard of it?  It is a 10 day lemonade and tea detox.  I am on Day 3 right now and it has been surprisingly easier than I anticipated.  I wanted to start off this fitness plan of mine with a natural and organic detox, so I researched it quite a bit... well not really, that's a lie... but I read enough on it to where I figured I might as well try it out and see what happens.  For my experience so far, the only difficult side effect has been cheating on my food.  I love food and it loves me.  I haven't felt hunger, but I occasionally find myself zoning out when my eyes lock on the Berry Almond Chicken Salad picture plastered on Wendy's windows.  I am eating twenty of those when this crazy cleanse is up.

This is my current detox diet -

- 2 TB fresh squeezed lemons
- 2 TB Grade B maple syrup
- 1/10 tsp cayane pepper
- 10 ounces purified water

I drink at least 60 ounces of this lemonade each day and then a laxative tea 2x daily, one in the morning and one before bed.

Drastic, right?  My mom thinks so, but I feel like it depends on the intentions of using the cleanse.  Some people use it solely for the major weight lose in the short amount of time but then go straight back to their previous diets before the cleanse.  These guys are the ones that gain it all back - and then some!  Yes, the ten to twenty pounds shed in less than two weeks is an awesome benefit.  Most of it is compound fecal matter that has built up over the years, water weight, and a few pounds of fat.  Personally, I am using it to cleanse my body on the inside and prepare it for what's next to come in my fitness plan! (P90x babyyyy!)  However, the true weight loss comes when you finish the Master Cleanse.  In the long run, it actually promotes craving control!  The Master Cleanse requires much discipline in the first place and since that's what resisting cravings are all about, strengthening your self control over food is something that will carry on even when you aren't on the Master Cleanse.

Like I said... it's much easier than I thought it would be, but don't get me wrong - I still shed a tear when the kids are chowing on juicy BBQ grilled chicken, fresh steamed green beans and onions, and Uncle Gene's ambrosial garlic mashed potatoes..... uggh :_( okay, I'm done.  

Feeling ambitious?  Try out the Master Cleanse!  Here are some of my tips from my experience:

1. Buy more than 10 lemons.  I ran out on day two.  Don't believe everything you read on the internet - when life gives you a lemon, you're not gonna squeeze 4 Tablespoons outta it.  
2. Do not confuse the 1/4 teaspoon of cayane pepper for 1/4 Tablespoon of cayane pepper... trust me.
3. When your 18 month old toddler begs whines screams for a drinky-drink of your lemonade, and you've said "NO" a million times, resist from being the 'cause-effect' parent saying, "Fine, go ahead.  You'll see why I said 'no'."  Hagen was furious with me for about 20 minutes and fumed spit all over the room in retaliation.