KP's Experience with "The Master Cleanse Diet"

[kpholmes]

I did some searching around the Tailgate and found mention of a few diets that involved "cleansing," but nothing specific about The Master Cleanse Diet.

 

First a little bit about my health - I'm in my early 20's and just finished up my degree. At 6'3", my average weight throughout high school was around 160-170, and I could pretty much eat whatever I wanted. Upon starting college, my metabolism definitely shifted, and I was sitting stead around 190 - eating poorly and getting out and exercising 2-3 times a week. While I was not "overweight" at this point, the term I got from most my family was "filled out."

Weight has always been something my dad's side of the family has struggled with. My dad stands 6'7" and at one point was well above 300 lbs, none of which muscle. All four of his siblings fall into the category of "obese" as well as many of my cousins. My younger sister has had a constant battle with weight, and I knew eventually it would be something I'd have to start watching and fighting with as well.

Over the past year, my coursework got much more intense and I spent most of my days at work, in the classroom, or at my desk writing papers. I had very little time to make my own healthy food, which led to a lot of fast food. Also, I've had a very large struggle with will-power - limiting myself in proportions, as well as my selection of food when a healthy alternative is available. In addition to that, I wasn't getting enough time to go out and exercise and was very limited physically. While I've always wanted to be one of those guys who could just go for a run every time he was feeling he needed to lose a few, my asthma has really limited my long distance stamina. Needless to say, by the time I finished finals and school at the end of March and moved home, I was well into the 220 lb range, and receiving concerns from family and friends who were aware of my heavy genes.

 

My dad has done the Master Cleanse diet two or three times now, and has had great results every time. I figured I'm home and unemployed for the time being, and now is as good a time as any to try and get control over my weight and health before it gets too far out of hand.

 

The concept is that over time, all of the garbage you eat builds up in the pipes of your body, much like a sewage system, and begins to have a negative effect on you - and the goal of the diet is to clean it all out. Essentially, to detox your entire body. The other big part of the diet is re-gaining control over your diet and what you eat, rather than letting your stomach dictate. The diet lasts a minimum of ten days, and over those ten days you cannot eat anything, or drink anything other than directed. Every morning you drink 32oz of salt water to flush out your system, and then throughout the day you drink 8-12 glasses of a lemon juice/Cayenne pepper/organic maple syrup/water mix. The enzymes in the lemons break down the old waste, the syrup gives sugar for energy and minerals, and the pepper is used to break up mucus, dilate blood vessels, and ultimately accelerate the detoxification process.

 

Today is Day 6 of the diet for me. After five days, I went from 220 to 208, and have had a noticeable change in my health; I'm waking up earlier without an alarm and feeling more full of energy rather than a grogginess, and my allergies which are normally horrible in the beginning of spring have been very much alleviated, while others' are in full swing.

Day 1 wasn't so bad, but Day 2 and 3 are full of food cravings as the last bits of food are flushed from your system. While the lemon drink keeps me from ever feeling "hungry" I did have food cravings on those days. After Day 3 however, I didn't crave food so much as I just simply missed being able to eat it.

Another thing I've noticed is how it really limits social interaction. You don't really realize how much social relationships are based upon "getting a bite to eat" or "grabbing a drink" until you have to say "sorry, I can't."

So I'm losing about 2lbs a day, and have five full days left (minimum). We'll see how I'm doing, but I might like to push it another day or two and try to get myself back down to the 195 range.

 

Just wanted to share my experience with my Huddle brethren. It's been a very positive experiment thus far, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to better their health.

[Furd]

I ain't no doctor, but that sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me holmes. It certainly doesn't sound healthy. Sure you're going to lose weight if you don't eat, but I doubt that "flushing" regime provides any real benefit.

 

And what happens when you start eating again?

 

Have you tried the South Beach Diet? I've lost 25 pounds over the past six weeks (from 215 to 190) eating three real meals a day, every day.

Edited April 10, 2010 by Furd

[tosberg34]

I ain't no doctor, but that sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me holmes. It certainly doesn't sound healthy. Sure you're going to lose weight if you don't eat, but I doubt that "flushing" regime provides any real benefit.

 

And what happens when you start eating again?

 

Have you tried the South Beach Diet? I've lost 25 pounds over the past six weeks (from 215 to 190) eating three real meals a day, every day.

 

Hmmm...I could stand to lose about 30-40 lbs myself. Do you swear by this diet?

[kpholmes]

I ain't no doctor, but that sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me holmes. It certainly doesn't sound healthy. Sure you're going to lose weight if you don't eat, but I doubt that "flushing" regime provides any real benefit.

 

And what happens when you start eating again?

 

Have you tried the South Beach Diet? I've lost 25 pounds over the past six weeks (from 215 to 190) eating three real meals a day, every day.

I'm no doctor either, but for ten days it seems you get all the minerals you need. I'm sure there's things I'm lacking, but for ten days - I don't think it's the end of the world.

 

As for when you start eating again, you're supposed to take two days and ease into full on food. Start with orange juice and soups, etc... give your body a chance to re-adjust to digesting.

 

A number of books, as well as lots of forums on it. Thousands of people have tried it and all had great results. I'm sure it's no way to live permanently, but it seems like a pretty good way to re-adjust your eating habits.

[bushwacked]

Dude, that sounds like a fad diet that will result in rapid weight gain after you are done and it can't be healthy. Follow a sensible nutrition plan and get some exercise. There are a handful of us in the weight loss forum doing P90X, losing weight and getting healthy by making a lifestyle changes. The South Beach Diet that Furd refers to is also a good way to lose weight by not starving yourself.

[Furd]

Hmmm...I could stand to lose about 30-40 lbs myself. Do you swear by this diet?

 

Yes. I'm trying to talk my brother into trying it.

[bushwacked]

I'm no doctor either, but for ten days it seems you get all the minerals you need. I'm sure there's things I'm lacking, but for ten days - I don't think it's the end of the world.

 

Well, here is a thought of one nutritionist from Wiki:

 

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. 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. Some people might actually have watery bowel movements. This is actually fine but if it persists for more than 2 days or more, it is important to consult a medical professional. [11] People with intestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome may experience discomfort while on the cleanse.

 

Being a temporary anorexic can't be a good thing.

[Furd]

...it seems like a pretty good way to re-adjust your eating habits.

 

Really. How? What makes you think that you're not going to resume eating the way you were before?

 

To lose weight and keep it off requires a real lifestyle change. I just don't see how that regime brings it about.

[bushwacked]

Cleansing Diets maybe worthless and dangerous

 

Like other fad diets, detox regimens promise quick weight losses that are ultimately unsustainable, critics say. They’re based on “junk science” rather than a true understanding of how the body works. Worst of all, extreme diets like the Master Cleanse can cause serious side effects in vulnerable groups.

 

“These diets can give people a false sense of security, a feeling that they’ve been protective of their health,” Dawn Jackson-Blatner, a dietitian at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Wellness Institute and American Dietetic Association spokeswoman, tells WebMD. “Then, when the diet’s over, they go back to their normal way of eating.”

 

But the science behind the detox theory is deeply flawed, says Peter Pressman, MD, an internal medicine specialist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The body already has multiple systems in place -- including the liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract -- that do a perfectly good job of eliminating toxins from the body within hours of consumption.

 

“There’s no evidence at all that any of these approaches augment the body’s own mechanisms,” Pressman tells WebMD.

 

 

I would urge you to carefully consider stopping this right away.

Edited April 10, 2010 by bushwacked

[twiley]

Dude, that sounds like a fad diet that will result in rapid weight gain after you are done and it can't be healthy. Follow a sensible nutrition plan and get some exercise. There are a handful of us in the weight loss forum doing P90X, losing weight and getting healthy by making a lifestyle changes. The South Beach Diet that Furd refers to is also a good way to lose weight by not starving yourself.

+1

 

it's a lifestyle change that's going to make you keep it off. Sounds like another yo yo diet plan which in the long term could be doing some serious damage to your body. Be careful bro.

Edited April 10, 2010 by twiley

[Pope Flick]

I've done this once in the past, and went the full ten days. I would certainly say it isn't a diet, but simply a fast with the lemonade thrown in. The reason you're waking up full of energy after day 4 is that your body has begun burning muscle, not fat, because that's where your protein is stored. Be VERY careful coming off of it: do the veg broth and OJ. It is NOT a solution, and most of the "intestinal mucous" statements surrounding this are IMO semi-quackery.

 

Best diet is exercise regularly, and eat 3 decent sized meals a day, with a mid morning and afternoon snack. Don't eat after 7pm. If you do this 5-66 days a week then I'd say you can have 1 day a week where you break those rules. After all, you don't want your body to freak out if you have a slice of pizza, or other junk food.

[BillyBalata]

While the lemon drink keeps me from ever feeling "hungry" I did have food cravings on those days.

 

 

Please explain the difference between "feeling hungry" and having "food cravings". Seriously.

[kpholmes]

Be VERY careful coming off of it: do the veg broth and OJ. It is NOT a solution.

Already planned on doing this.

 

I would urge you to carefully consider stopping this right away.

I've got four days left, I'll see it through and come off of it and keep you posted.

I've already had a physical scheduled for next week, so I'll see what the doc has to say.

 

I've had my share of skepticism towards this diet as well, however after watching my father do it once a year, and keep the weight off that he looses rather than relapse and gain it back, I decided to give it a try. While I've never intended the Master Cleanse to be the end of my weight struggles, I can see how my original post has given that impression. In the past few weeks I've already started exercising more and eating better. While I can surely benefit from the weight loss, there is also a lot of intrigue for me in the actual "cleanse" process. I did refer to it in my original post as an experiment, which is a much more appropriate name for it than an actual diet.

 

I appreciate all the concern guys, and I've done my share of reading on it. I'll keep you posted on how it goes over the next few days.

Edited April 11, 2010 by kpholmes

[Chargerz]

While the likelihood of you doing serious harm to yourself in 10 days is slim with this diet, it does not have a particularly workable weight maintenance plan. I think you will tire of it over time.

 

As others in this thread have said, the best way to lose weight and keep it off is with a balanced diet and exercise.

[Caveman_Nick]

The Master Cleanse isn't about weight maintenance. As Pope said, it's essentially a fast. It's mostly geared towards cleansing the intestines.

 

10 days is a long fast. I couldn't do it. I have done three before....in my 20's.

[tazinib1]

Oh man Kyle. Thats no way to live bro...you need to eat brother.

[Riffraff]

Should have just done the Colon Blow. 2 Days for the intestinal cleanse.

Unofficially endorsed by SNL. and

Edited April 11, 2010 by Riffraff

[dmarc117]

a cleanse is not healthy. just eat healthier. you have more energy cause your not putting all the crap in your body. and your blood sugar levels are staying even keel.

[Pope Flick]

The Master Cleanse isn't about weight maintenance. As Pope said, it's essentially a fast. It's mostly geared towards cleansing the intestines.

 

10 days is a long fast. I couldn't do it. I have done three before....in my 20's.

 

 

Day 3 is the worst. But then your body takes a corner on days 4 and 5 and adjusts to burning muscle mass. In fact, when I hadn't eaten in 7 days the most alarming thing was how much energy I would wake up with. My mind was like what the f and it was a little disconcerting. One other thing is your sense of smell jacks up as well.

[Chargerz]

The Master Cleanse isn't about weight maintenance. As Pope said, it's essentially a fast. It's mostly geared towards cleansing the intestines.

A ridiculous concept. You can never clean out your intestines nor should you unless asked by a gastroenterologist to do so for a diagnostic procedure. According to my gastroenterology colleagues the whole idea of intestinal cleansing is supported by flawed data and should be avoided.

[Hugh 0ne]

Cleansing Diets maybe worthless and dangerous

 

You just linked to Foxnews.

[matt770]

In my mid-20's I had ballooned up to almost 280 from poor eating habits and never exercising. I finally decided I couldn't take it anymore and just forced myself to get moving. At first it was a half-mile walk every night, then it got progressively longer over a period of months until I was up to about 1.5-2 miles. Every other night I also did a short dumbbell workout, and I stopped eating fast food. The first 20 pounds melted away in about a month, the next 20 over about 3 months. I felt like the completely new person, tons more energy, and I had the confidence to actually approach women again. From that point on I worked out 7 days a week consistently and eventually made it down to 220, about the lowest I can go for my height and frame. To this day 12 years later, I don't feel right if I'm not working out regularly and my weight has remained steady in the upper 220's. I alternate 2.8 mile brisk walks with weight training at the Y.

[TimC]

I'm thinking of Burger King onion rings for lunch today followed by a nice deep cleansing around 3 PM.

[Caveman_Nick]

I'm thinking of Burger King onion rings for lunch today followed by a nice deep cleansing around 3 PM.

 

You could eat some quinoa, cantelope, farro, and lettuce and get things really scrubbing in there. Or if you are really ambitious, wolf down a plummelo.

[bushwacked]

You just linked to Foxnews.

 

 

Even though it was from WebMD and just linked on FoxNews.