master cleanse questions

[chocoholic]

Hi - I'd like to begin a master cleanse and have been reading old posts and various websites, but I still have a few questions...
I guess I'm kind of nervous and don't quite know what to expect. Anyone interested in giving me the gory details? What do I expect in the first few days? Will I be able to still exersize? Will I need to go to the bathroom all the time? How often? I read someone saying they sat on the pot for 2 hours every morning??? Has anyone felt unsafe to drive or things like that? How does the master cleanse affect your sleeping? I have some insomnia issues and am wondering what to expect - better sleep? Worse?
I've read a lot of places that the first 2 days are the worst - is that true for everyone? I guess I would feel better if I'm having a rough time during the first 2 days if I can tell myself that those are the worst and it gets easier.
THANKS!!!!!

[StarFire]

whew!! step one... BREATHE... ;)

okay... now... let's see.... when speaking about the Master Cleanse -- I post this first as an explanation:

THE MASTER CLEANSE:
This fast, adapted from Stanley Burrough's Master Cleanser (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0963926209?tag=thechiroprainf02&creative=373489&camp=211189&link_code=as3&creativeASIN=0963926209) Recipe, is a simple, yet demanding, cleanse that allows you to maintain a moderate level of energy while cleansing your liver and blood stream and eliminating toxins from your deep tissues and vital organs.

that is one reason why it is recommended (but not necessary) for 10 days if possible.

Second.... here are some websites to help you do some research ... and help you to understand a little more about the Master Cleanse... (btw -- I am not advocating you buy anything from these websites -- but the information that you will find is interesting and informative. Nor do I agree with all of it -- but it is just information -- okay?)


Master Cleanse Website
http://www.bc1.com/~vitagem/Master_Cleanser.htm (http://www.bc1.com/~vitagem/Master_Cleanser.htm)



Fasting and Cleansing benefits for the Spirit
http://www.fasting.com/spiritual.html (http://www.fasting.com/spiritual.html)



Health Benefits of Fasting
http://www.healthpromoting.com/Articles/articles/benefit.htm (http://www.healthpromoting.com/Articles/articles/benefit.htm)



Fasting and Master Cleanse
http://www.fasting.com/ (http://www.fasting.com/)



Nutritional program for fasting
http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?PageType=article&ID=1996 (http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?PageType=article&ID=1996)



Raw food explained (and some great articles about fasting and general health)
http://www.rawfoodexplained.com/index.html (http://www.rawfoodexplained.com/index.html)



Be warned!! This is gross but worth looking at… Colon Plaque
http://www.blessedherbs.com/photos2i.html (http://www.blessedherbs.com/photos2i.html)

[StarFire]

okay... now let's get up close and personal... how did the MC affect me and what can YOU expect...

well... every person is different so -- I cannot really tell yu what you can expect... it may affect you differently -- but I will share with you about my experiences....

first of all -- depending on what kind of a back ground you are coming from as far as nutrition is concerned. I've seen where long time vegans on fairly healthy diets had very little detox the first few days -- and none to speak of during the entire time they fasted.

I -- on the other hand -- coming from a background of 30+ years of smoking cigarettes and heavy alcohol... and full on SAD Food Abuse... well.. I was full of toxins and poisons to say the least. The first few days, I had a dull headache, I did suffer some tiredness, some achy bones... but I was surprised that the detox wasn't as bad as I thought it would be....

that's part of the beauty of the MC is that it is a cleanse - a little more intense than the simplicity of a 100% raw food diet ... and much less intense that a pure water fast... it's kind've in-between....

I like to rest and rest often when I am fasting... I get sleepy and I will lie down. But I did go to work everyday without any problems, when I would get a bit sleepy - I would get up and walk around - get some fresh air - take a short break.... and drink more MC drink....

I did very little exercise while I was on the MC. but that is just me.... i get tired very easily so maybe a gentle walk was the most exercise I did -- well... that and 6 hours of hula every monday....

HOWEVER.... some rawbies... like our very own MORN for example -- exercised like crazy... worked out -- and worked hard... loved every moment of it --- and was energized! wow... she's amazing! But see -- that was her... and the two of us --- our bodies reacted differently... so --- that's why I say -- it depends truly on how you will respond... no one can really say -- you will feel this or that - cuz it might be different for you.

I personally cannot do the Salt Water Flush... I swell up like a balloon and never have a bowel movement... so all those toxins that i was trying to flush out of my cells would get trapped and I would get horrible headaches and it was just terrible!!

so -- instead I use the Yogi Get Regular Tea... there are others out there too ... like the 'Smooth Move' Tea...

the herb Cascara Sagrada is also very helpful ... it stimulates the peristaltic action of your colon to help you have a BM. Taking this herb is nice cuz (for me) I can take it at night and have a BM in the morning. by using it carefully you can almost time your BM... which can be helpful if you work outside of your home or have kids that you must be attending to!

I never had any problems with driving,

Sleeping... well - I'm a bit of an insomniac... my sleeping didn't seem to change much -- I did want to take a few naps though like on the weekends... (which was actually kind of nice - cuz I never feel like I get enough sleep!)

for some the first two days are the worst... for others it's more like the first 3 to 4 days... then it's an easier cruise.

in reality chocoholic.... the bottom line is -- if you are feeling like you need to do a fast -- for whatever reason... make sure that you've done your research... and if you go thru the detox phases... imagine how awesome you will feel when you get all that gunk out of you... that's when the glow really starts to happen... and it is worth it...

blessings on your journey... I'm hope this info was of some help!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/Summer.gif ... RAWk on!!

[Gittel]

I'm on Day 5 of my MC. The worst part for me is the after-taste of the Salt Water Flush. I taste the salt ALL day. I wish that I could figure out how to eliminate that.

I find that I need to be in the vicinity of a bathroom (I prefer my bathroom) for the 1 1/2 hours after drinking the salt water. I'm not stationed in there. But I am at home. (Yesterday I had appointments in the morning away from home, so I passed on the SWF and drank laxative tea instead. I only used the bathroom once!)

I am more tired at night, so I've been falling asleep around 11 or 12. I am usually up until 1 or 2.

I hope this helps a little. Good luck!
Gittel

[LNdolls]

I have done the MC a few times, the longest being 40 days. I usually feel pretty cruddy for 3.5 days and then the fourth day there is a lift... and except for some short time detox moodiness - an hour or two now and then, I feel pretty fantastic on the MC; light, energetic and enthusiastic.
The first few hours in the morning with the salt water flush I need to be near a bathroom. And of course after drinking the lemonade, too. Otherwise pretty normal.
I am doing day one today. Don't feel great.

The main thing I think a person needs to thrive on the MC is a sincere appreciation for lemonade with cayenne. I love the stuff.

[StarFire]

The main thing I think a person needs to thrive on the MC is a sincere appreciation for lemonade with cayenne. I love the stuff.


http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/laugh.gif ... girl you crack me up!!! heheheheee!!

[LisaLisaSM]

i am brand new to this forum and haven't ever been a raw eater, but i plan to after i finish my master cleanse, at least for as long as i can. i am heading into day 23 of my first master cleanse. i plan to go for 30 days, but i suppose that could increase.

i have to tell you it is worlds easier than i ever thought it would be and i definitely have circumstances that would make it hard. i'll tell you i am a 31 yrs old and i'm a waitress at a very busy restaurant. the food where i work is amazing and i have full access to it all the time. i have worked 5 or 6 doubles since starting my cleanse (that would be 10 am to sometimes as late as 11 pm. as i said, my restaurant is very busy and we are almost always slammed. there is very little standing around time. you're constantly on your feet and constantly running around. its not an easy job and its large, so if you have the end of the lawn as your section, getting to and from the kitchen is no easy task. i have been able to do it all without any problem. i drink lots of water at work and have only had the minimum amount of lemonade every day (48 oz) and i reduced the maple syrup in half right from the start and now i have switched to agave nectar and use 1/3 the amount.

i ate terribly before my cleanse. came off years of high fat high protein atkins diets and was more than a regular drinker. a glass of wine or a vodka soda is the things i miss the most, but its really not that bad. i crave, but just because its around me. when i think about raw food, that definitely would satisfy me, so i know that when i come off of this i will be ok with raw for quite a while. i'll probably only dip off to have some meat on occasion because i have always been a big meat eater.

bottom line, though, had one really tough head ache day. don't think it came till around day 18. was really tired only once or twice, but i've always been kind of an insomniac. i still go to bed kinda late, but i wake up much earlier in the morning without much trouble and i definitely used to drink my share of coffee before. never had the caffine headache or trouble waking up without it. took a nap in the middle of the day once, but that was it. tomorrow will be my 4th day off since i started 23 days ago. i have been fine going about my busy life as normal.

i hang out with my friends still. even went out to dinner with one and just drank water. once you get past day 3 or 4 you are fine. i don't really see how people can just do a 10 day detox because i don't feel like i'm done yet and its 23 for me. i had mucus come out of me and only in the past 4 or 5 days am i starting to expel any kind of semi solid waste (not to be graphic). i guess it depends on what you ate pre cleanse, clearly, but i've never felt better. i haven't had any great moment of clarity, but i do feel amazing and incredibly proud of myself for being able to do this.

i do lax tea every night and salt water most mornings. sometimes i don't get up early enough to do it, so i just do tea again. it does make you have to go, but today i did it 45 mns before i had to leave and i had a 20 mn drive to work and i didn't explode in the car or anything. you can control yourself. i had to up the amount of salt to 3 teaspoons instead of 2 in order for it to work. you have to test your body and tweek it sometimes. i felt bloated for the first few days doing it, but now my body is used to it and its fine. dont be discouraged by things in the begining. i was retaining crazy water for the first 6 or 7 days and feeling hugely gross and just as fat as i ever was, and then all of a sudden everything fell into place and i've lost almost 20 lbs as of today. i know that was long and drawn out, but there is a lot to say. feel free to ask me anything else. i am all about the master cleanse.

-Lisa

[StarFire]

LisaLisaSM... you are doing fantastic for your first cleanse! I do understand how you can feel your body is still cleansing - even after 23 days... and you are right - it does depend on your 'pre-raw' habits. You should be really proud of what you have accomplished...

RAWk'n AWESOME lil Goddess!!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/Vacation.gif .........and so the journey continues!! enjoy your day off!!

[chocoholic]

thanks everyone! I really appreciate the info and honesty. This is exactly what I needed.