The Master Cleanser

I'm on day 6. I wanted my appetite to shrink before starting a moderate calorie-restricted regimen. I'd been cleaning my toddler's plate and not watching my own portions and I'd gained back 10 of the 30 pounds I lost postpartum.

I had no expectations for this regimen, and I don't really believe in its detox claims. I figured if I felt tired or miserable I'd just quit; a couple of days of abstinence would still serve my purpose of shrinking my appetite.

I am very surprised to find that 8 pounds (my long term goal is 16) have dropped off, and that I feel fine and am able to do my usual 6 mile runs. The only problem is it's really boring; I really like cooking and eating and the social interaction that come with them. I plan to finish the 10 days and then restart my old system of exercise and moderate calorie restriction, which should then feel pretty indulgent. I'm curious to find out how many of these pounds stay off.

Oh, it's true, the salt water is nasty. It's easier to dissolve the 2t in 1 cup and drink that, and then to immediately chug 3 c water. The lemonade is fine if you mix in the cayenne at the last second; if you make it ahead of time it's bitter and harsh.

I just finished the Lemonade Diet. This is my second 10-day stint in 3 months (I had some extra time off work so I decided to try it again earlier than planned). Although each time I have lost around 20 lbs, I'm not doing it for just weight loss. I have been on dialysis for 3 years, and like someone posted earlier, I'm trying to help my body repair itself for what my kidneys can no longer do. There's a small shred of hope that I maintain that my detoxing might preserve my kidneys that much longer or even better reverse some of the effects of my kidney disease. Whether it happens or not, I know I need to develop way better eating habits. I realize my eating is largely emotional. The detox among other things has taught me about willpower, giving me the confidence to reinvent my approach to eating in general. Now I have a fresh start to healthy cooking and eating and definitiely cutting out the soda, chips and fast food. And since I look noticeably better, that'll give me the extra incentive to get back into the gym (BTW--three years ago when I was diagnosed, I weighed 354 lbs and my weight goal was 260; today I weigh 245 lbs and now my ultimate goal is 200). Wish me luck!

Is the saline was really necessary?

I meant saline wash....

I am on day 8 of the cleanse right now and I feel really good. Not only do I have a greater sense on clarity, i feel as though I have done something that many people (most of my peers) have deemed impossible. This "diet", if anything else, is an outstanding mental check. I believe it not only aids in physical, but mental well being (which i suppose are closely connected) as well. During the cleanse, I was still able to exercise regulary (if not more than usual) and keep my normal schedule of sleeping, working and socializing. Sure there are some discouraging side effect's such as stomach aches, and irritability, but the positives definitely outway the negatives in the long term. I would recommend this program to anyone, as I believe it offers a safe, contructive approach to overall health and well being.

Then again I am only on day 8, so we will see how I feel once I return to my normal diet 4 or 5 days from now.

Salt water sucks A.....

I can't believe how many Athiest are in this world. Not 1 person mentioned the FACT that Jesus, our savior, fasted for 40 days and for 40 nights without any problems and even suggested fasting for certain power.
My wife and I have been doing the master cleanse for years and we have never gained any weight back. We eat healthy and we excersize most daily. It is not a fad, it's a way to give your digestive system a rest and cleanse your organs. I know for a fact that it works and it is the most spiritual thing doing it. I'm pretty sure that most people not in agreement with the fast are probably not Christians either. :)

Christopher & Amani, I'm pretty sure Jesus wasn't drinking maple syrup during his fast. And are you actually comparing yourself to Jesus? The lenght of his fast was mentioned as part of the proof he is divine. So unless you are divine, I don't think you should be fasting for 40 days.

I think the only people who should comment on the detox are people who have actually done the detox,then you would know how it feels to have your body rid of all it's toxins.I did it to help my health and it worked.I was never able to sleep for 8 hours a night until I did this detox.My skin has always been a problem for me too,it was dry and just not good looking.This detox actually gave my skin a glow it hasnt had in a loooong time!If you feel better doing the detox and you know it's doing wonders for body then you should not read the reviews of people putting it down.Why are all these people so against it,it cant hurt your body.Also it helped my boyfriend stop smoking,he had toxins that were in his body from smoking.If you are addicted to something it's hard to stop,it's in your blood stream and you will have withdrawl because your body thinks it needs it.The master cleanser cleans out your blood and he didnt even want to smoke any more.Most people who read the book realize how meat effects your body and they have no desire to eat it again.This is healthy for your heart and a great way to jump start a healthy life style.The people who do this just to lose weight probably had a difficult time losing weight with other methods and are looking for a quick fix.Thats not going to happen.And to promote eating pounds of meat instead,and letting your liver do all the work with no help,that is the most stupid comment of all.Maybe your on the wrong diet,try the atkins diet and you WILL lose weight and gain a heart attack.This detox is HARD to stick to but if you do,you know that it pays to eat healthy and exercise and you will want to! Dont listen to these people who have no self control with food and complain about the detox just as another excuse to why they cant lose weight.It takes alot of will power to do this detox.So just face the facts,that if you had will power you wouldnt be looking to lose weight!!!!

I like the last post from Alexis. It is true, u should only critic something if you have completed it.

As for the question of if i'm comparing myself to Jesus, once again we're dealing with someone not too versed on the scriptures. When the disciples tried to cast a demon from a man and the man whipped the disciples out of their cloths, Jesus told the disciples, "these come but through fasting and prayer"! I cant count all of the hundreds of scriptures that tell us to be Christ like, Jesus himself told us that we had the same power that he had and commanded us to do as he did. To lay hands on the sick, to raise the dead, ect..... We have the same power today as 2000 years ago. Fasting works.

Religious fasting is usually a one-day long thing, Christopher, or it is a partial thing (ramadan) and unless they had maple trees I'm unaware of in Israel, have nothing to do with The Master Cleanse. Jesus fasted, so you drink maple syrup, pepper and lemon juice for "religious reasons" - how does that make sense? If you wanted to be religious, you'd fast and just take water. What is next, a colonic in the name of the Lord?

Alexis, I think it is people who can't allow themselves a single bite of solid food to lose weight, doing a juice fast instead, that lack self-control. People who manage to lose and maintain weight through portion control have a whole lot more self-control than people who keep going on and off food. The Atkins diet has several flaws, but at least it is a diet people are supposed to be on forever, contrary to this crash diet sold under the guise of "cleaning your system" you love so much.

Jan,what is wrong with you ? Why are you soooo upset with this detox program ? It's not a diet so why do you keep calling it that ? The reason they use lemons and maple is because it has natural vitamins and minerals,did you even read the book or do the detox ? I mean if you didnt than why are you even on this site ? You write comments like "are you comparing your self to Jesus " and write that Atkins has flaws and compare detoxing to a crash diet.I mean who do you think you are,you're not a doctor are you ? Or is this something you like to do in your spare time,go on sites and comment on things you know nothing about.This wasnt a crash diet for me ,I have been very sick and depressed since my mom died and I didnt feel good untill this detox helped give me energy and motivation.So if you think that this "crash diet" is no good then dont do it,but dont assume you know everything you are not god! and no one cares what you think anyway! You need a hobby

My friend fasted on water 40 days twice (for spiritual reasons). The first time went well, but the second time it ended up being way too much and she ended up loosing a lot of muscle. Now she isn't very toned and it probably wasn't a good idea.
I've started the master cleanse and so many people that I've talked to about it have positive things to say, I'm suprised by all the negativity posted. It's almost supernatural how many friends are wanting to do this with me and already know about it. I'm on my second day now and feel fantastic, I really needed to do something this beneficial for myself.

Alexis, if you can say people are going to get heart attacks from Atkins, I can offer my opinion. Or are you a doctor yourself? That is all everyone does here, they offer their opinion. If you can't take any criticism of this "diet", then you should be on the official forum for it, where any criticism gets deleted. This is an unbiased site.

I have nothing against this cleanse or even against people deciding to go 80 days on water only. I disagree, however, with someone like Christopher coming here to promote this diet using completely made-up religious reasons, and with you saying that people who don't go on this "diet" lack self-control. Read everyone else's posts. Did anyone who dislikes this diet say anything like that, such as "anyone who goes on this diet is a moron"? No. But you did. I dislike falsehoods and I dislike rudeness.

I still dont know why you keep writing in? Why do you care what anyone's reason is ? mind your own buisness

Spectra said:
if you eat enough fiber and drink enough water, you're colon cleans itself out. It's lined with mucus and eating fiber helps clear any debris out of there. [...]

I am trying this to try and get the walls of my colon clean and live a normal life again. Sure the weight loss would be a bonus, but we're on day 5 now and I've only lost maybe a pound (I had a colonoscopy before I started so the prep made me lose all the water weight I'd imagine). I personally have GI issues and will go to the bathroom once every week or week and a half. I eat Fiber One cereal, I've taken Fiber tablets, capsules, milk of magnesia-- you name it! The only thing that works is taking 3 extra strength laxatives.

Ross said:
How can consuming zero nutrition alongside 12 servings of pure sugar (in the form of syrup) be healthy? [...]

Actually 2 TBSP of syrup (the amount for each glass) is only half a serving. So even if you drink the maximum (12 glasses) you only drink six servings. I can't even get six down most days so I'm consuming 3 servings max.

Most of the comments here disparaging the Master Cleanse strike me as a bit hypocritical, as most of them haven't even TRIED it. Come on, cowards, why not at least go the 10 days and see for yourself how miraculously (and inexpensive) this cleanse can impact your life. My wife and I are just completing our second 10-day cleanse in the last 8 months and feel incredible. Give it a chance and you will be rewarded. If you haven't done it, then please STFU.

Educate yourself, READ THE BOOKS.... IT IS A 'REDUCING DIET'... HELLLO AFTER A FEW DAYS IT USES ALL YOUR FAT TISSUE FOR ENERGY.

IT 'IS' A REDUCING DIET AS WELL AS A HEALTH BENEFIT PROGRAM FOR AILMENTS AND CURING SOME DISEASES.

I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE TELLING OTHERS "OOOH!!! IT'S NOT USED FOR WEIGHT LOSS, NO ONE SHOULD USE THIS DIET FOR WEIGHT LOSS!!!"

I am completing my third Master Cleanse in 2 years today and I've never had a problem, only benefits. It's a detox cleanse AND reducing diet, but your focus should be more on the former, less on the latter. Loosing weight is like a good side effect.
I do the cleanse because I love to eat the worst foods-pasta, bread, cheese, chocolate, beef-and when I start to crave/eat fast food & junk food on a daily basis, I know it's time to cleanse my pallette (hopefully that's spelled right for all you grammer check sticklers!).
For those curious about the weight loss, I did the Cleanse for 12 days the first two times and lost 12 pounds both times. This time I did 14 days and had a different reaction-15 pounds in the first 5 days and then tapered off to only 5 more pounds by the end. And even though my diet hasn't been the healthiest in the past, I've never ballooned afterwards. This time though, I'm starting a healthy regime and exercise plan coming out of the Cleanse. Many fitness experts who believe in fasting/detoxing will tell you it's good to do this when beginning a healthy diet ("diet" meaning your regular food intake, not trying to loose weight).
P.S. For the Bible scholars talking about church fasts, my church is ending a 5 day fast tomorrow - they do go more than 1 day sometimes :-)
Be Blessed!

Spectra said:
I would hate this master cleanse thing. Seriously, if you eat enough fiber and drink enough water, you're colon cleans itself out. It's lined with mucus and eating fiber helps clear any debris out of there. Plus, your liver/kidneys takes care of most toxins in your body. The only reason it makes you lose weight is because there's no food matter in [...]

Hi actually not true.. you should visit blessedherbs.com and see really what your colon, intestines and such are coated with that your body cant expell on its own... it will really gross you out... everyone should colon cleanse, juice fast at least once a year to detox... we'd all look and feel better too.

actually you should all visit blessedherbs.com and see really what your body cant expell on its own,, its really gross. Everyone should Colon Cleanse and Juice fast at least once a year... go to the site check it out you will be amazed.

I have been hearing many people say things such as, 'it's only starvation, you're only losing weight because there's no food in your system, and 'no medical professional supports it.' Yes, you may lose weight on a longer-period detox, but it's mostly water weight and fecal matter. Also, some people have severe digestion problems due to poor diet and lifestyle, so just eating more fiber does not help them out. I used to be one of those people. I have been smoke/alcohol free for over five years, exercise 4-5 days a week (yoga, pilates, light weight training, jogging), and eat a very balanced diet and try to stay away from processed foods. I have still been very 'clogged' up and have had horrible acid reflux, chronic constipation, and I've tried all the bulk fibers, including the psyllium fiber shakes, cleansing products, and still never had permanent results. My skin has suffered because my body has been toxic on the inside. Your internal organs can only do so much, yes they all have 'detoxing' duties, but if you're body is overly toxic, then something else has to be done. If you believe in what the Bible says, then you know that people in that time period talked of fasting quite often to heal themselves, and fasting isn't just a 'thing' of that time period neither.

The detox is simply that...not a DIET, not intended for weight loss. I have done it for ten days and yes, lost a few pounds, but mostly water and hardened fecal matter which would have never come out on its own and probably would have been great breeding grounds for cancerous cells later on in life as well as other health problems. Doctors in this country aren't going to tell you to detox, they will send you the pharmacy and tell you to spend lots of money on a prescription that only covers up your symptoms rather than heals the actual problem. That's part of the reason I've had so many health problems at such a young age. If we all turn to detoxing and other hollistic medicines and practices, our government doesn't benefit financially from any of that. Money comes from 'Big Pharma.'

The detox isn't for everyone and you should definitely talk to professionals or at least do your own homework very thoroughly before you jump into it. Do it because you truly need to, not because you want to lose weight. There's no magic for weight loss...use common sense...break your bad eating habits and get more exercise. No stupid carb counting (the weight will come back if you resort to old eating habits), no pills, none of that crap. Try to avoid processed foods and fast foods...they contain ingredients that aren't food at all and your body isn't designed to degest them properly. Most of all, find what works for you and make sure it's healthy, something that won't harm you in the long run. Every person's body is different!

Anyhow, as far as my own experience with this particular detox, I felt much better toward the end of the cleanse. It's hard not to eat, but it makes you a stronger person physically and mentally for it. My skin has cleared up and looks great. I have a lot of energy, and I'm getting better rest at night. My sugar cravings have gone down a lot as well, and I crave a lot of fruit all the time now. Your body knows what it needs to properly function at it's highest level, but when you 'junk' it up by eating poorly too often and not being active enough, it doesn't crave the proper things.

hi,

does anyone know can you drink soup broth or miso with the lemon/syrup clense??

I'm currently on Day 9 of the master cleanse and feel FANTASTIC. Soft skin, soft hair, and tons of energy (I'm training for a marathon in May). I'm planning to do it for 30 days.
It's not for everyone, but considering we are the fattest and most toxic nation on earth I don't think the idea of detoxing is such a bad one for a lot of people. We shove fast food loaded with fake fat and chemicals into our mouths, sit around warthing TV and yapping on cell phones, and wonder why the health care industry is costing us hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer dollars. I think more people inthis country would benefit from the master cleanse than be harmed by it. Listen to those who have actually done the cleanse.

No-I asked (check out www.rawfoodsite.com) and the bottom line is if it isn't in the book, it isn't in the cleanse. So that means nothing but the lemonade drink, laxative tea, salt water, and an occasional mint tea

No "medical experts" support the Master Cleanser (or any other "holistic" healing practices for that matter) because they are not formally educated in such matters. The mainstream medical community is unconcerned with true healing and deals entirely with the masking of symptoms. As they should, for they are technitions, not healers. Don't get me wrong: trained medical doctors are essential for a healthy society, but one must recognize the potential of the human body to heal itself and the responsibility we all ultimately have for our own physical health. Furthermore, the presence of impacted fecal matter and intestinal plaque in everyone is a medial fact, and it must be eliminated in one way or another (several times a year) to achieve physical wellness. In my personal non-medical, done-it-a-million-times opinon, the Master Cleanser is an inexpensive and safe way to detoxify the colon. Skeptics need only try it for themselves and reap the benefits.

Hi Rj,

Thanks for the update... ok so Im new to the whole cleanse thing and checking it out before I decided to try it.
What is the purpose of the Salt Water? Laxative tea is obvious and how much am I supposed to drink of that??? More drinking huh....

Keisha, I agree. I had the same experience. It bothers me that people are so ready to put something down when they haven't experienced it. People are more accepting of cosmetic surgery. I fasted for 10 days and felt better than I did when I was a teenager. My eyesight even improved. I was much more alert. I lost 10 pounds and kept it off, because I maintained a healthy diet. I had many compliments from strangers that I hadn't had in years. People told me how beautiful I was and how pretty my hair was! If there's something wrong with that, then I like being wrong!

eh, i'm ready to try this! =D
losing weight, nicer skin, cleaning my body?!
hah. it's a great idea.

Silly person, there are many Christians who don't fast, or if they do, they don't do it for health reasons. That has to do with their understanding or lack thereof, of nutrition and health. Jesus as a man was a MAN, although Divine in nature; I am convinced that he prepared his body ahead of time for the lengthy fast(s). I am interested in the cleansing part of this program, and hope that it will help me with my candidiasis, and what my doctor calls "leaky gut syndrome", which has to do with colon issues. I hope it works for me.

christopher & Amani - Seattle said:
I can't believe how many Athiest are in this world. Not 1 person mentioned the FACT that Jesus, our savior, fasted for 40 days and for 40 nights without any problems and even suggested fasting for certain power. My wife and I have been doing the master cleanse for years and we have never gained any weight back. We eat healthy and we excersize most daily. It is not a fad, it's a way to give your digestive system a rest and cleanse your organs. I know for a fact that it works and it is the most spiritual thing doing it. I'm pretty sure that most people not in agreement with the fast are probably not Christians either. :)[...]

I'm on my 5th day of the and I was invited to a dinner party where it will be rude not to eat something.

Would it be OK for me to eat a very small meal, mostly salad, which I am bringing, and continue the cleanse?

I'm afraid my stomach will get very upset and I'm afraid I'll lose all the benefits.

help?

Well, they say not to comment on this fast unless you've already done it, but I am still in the research stage, and starting to purchase the supplies. However, since time seems to be of the essence, I'm commenting anyway. From what I've read in many places, you would be making a HUGE mistake to interrupt the process at this point. Take a decorative glass along with you, and make your "drink" look like something special, then sip it throughout the event. I HAVE done other fasts before, and by the 5th day, you should be able to do this without feeling deprived. Others should not feel offended when they realize that you are doing this for health reasons. Do what you have to do for YOU!

The Lemonade Diet was great for 2 days. I'm now on day 5 but I have to admit, on day 3 I had 1/4 of a muffin and 1/2 a steamed apple. I decided what the hek, what would happen if I have a small snack each day, well I have and I feel great. My main reason for starting the diet was to lose weight and so far I have dropped 7lbs. Oh I almost forgot,I did not do the sea salt. I plan to continue my way until this Wed. day 10. maybe in the future I will follow the plan as I should.

I'm on it right now (day 5) on the recommendation from a friend who just finished. I laugh at most of the posters here who haven't tried it but think it MUST be hogwash. Well, when my friend said he went 10 days without eating I thought he was crazy. Then he told me that the first two days he felt like s**t while his body detoxed from caffeine and wine and whatever else he eats that isn't 'healthy'. After that he said he felt great, had plenty of energy - more than usual - and his other senses were on hypo drive.
My experience is I felt terrible for 3 days and just ok yesterday. However my body wasn't flushing everything out. Today it did and I feel really good. I won't say great yet but really good. Oh by the way, I'm 5'10" and 230 lbs - so you KNOW I love to eat; well I can tell you I have not been hungry for one moment. So far so good. I think I am going to do this for 10 days and then maybe for 3 days every 6 months or so.

How about reading the book before making all these ignorant comments!!! The fast is not meant to be a weight loss program! If you read the book you would know that. The book also teaches that you should go on a strict vegetarian lifestyle once coming off the fast. Actually, this is not even a true fast... you can live off of this lemonade juice for months!!! However, you will lose weight due to not eating food.

A true fast is abstaining from food and water the way nature intended it. You ever notice when you get sick you lose your appetite for 3-4 days, and you have to force yourself to drink water. Guess what? Your body just took its own FAST!!! Herbs and diet pills and diet programs are worthless!!! Keep your hard earned money in your pocket and stop listening to these Snake Oil Salesman who get rich off your ignorance.

Learn everything you can about Fasting and you can achieve great health. The healthiest people on the planet eat once every few days. The worst feeling in the world is when yor sick. Everything else has failed, so why not try it natures way... FAST!!!

p.s The Hunza people are the healthiest people on the planet.

My name is Raylen Sterling and I publish the Master Cleanse Secrets Newsletter which is read by over 23,000 amazing people who are passionate about their health. Every day my email box rings with heart felt letters of gratitude form people who've experienced miraculous results with the Master Cleanse even when conventional medicine and other natural remedies failed them.

It's amazing what people say when they don't fully know what they're talking about. The diet contains all of the nutients and vitamins one needs to maintain the body while on the diet. The maple syrup is in the raw form and has no sugar added to it. The purpose of the diet is not for losing weight, although some find that that is a beneficial side effect. You won't lose weight unless you are over weight. I did the diet last year, I'm 6' 150 lbs. I did it because I felt tired and sluggish all day and was craving caffine daily. After 8 days of the diet (I couldn't make it 10 days) I had more energy, my allergies were reduced significantly, my skin was clearer and softer, I could think more clearly, and I only lost 1 pound drinking 10-11 glasses daily. And very importantly I had no desire for caffine, alchohol or sugar, which makes it easier to eat healthy and maintain the positive effects of the diet. It's a great way for people to get off of their dependence on caffine, sugar, and alchohol to make themselves feel good and start eating healthy. If people think this is a placebo, then it's their loss.

Does age make a difference with the detox?

I have done the cleanse once in 2005 and am currently doing my second. I am a fitness professional and a healthy eater most of the time. I abstain from fast foods but do eat a balanced diet with meat and dairy as part of my diet. I also consume sodas, beer and wine on occasion. I guess what I'm trying to say is that although I'm a fitness professional I do enjoy life but not in excess. I decided to try this CLEANSE as I heard of the potential benefits from a friend. I bought the book and read it. I used my basic understanding of health and fitness and nutrition and I researched it as best as I could through the internet. Based on this information I chose to try it. My only desire was to find out if the benefits people expressed were true. As it turned out they were. I had all the benefits that have been expressed by others. Loss of aches and pains, clearer skin and shinnier hair (just wish there was more of it!). The greatest benefit was the increase in energy and an even greater desire to live a cleaner lifesyle. The benefit that came as a complete surprise was the clearer thinking and mental processing that I felt I had. I hope that at sometime someone will perform cognitive tests on people doing the CLEANSE. I did lose some weight but it wasn't much (10 lbs) and I attribute that to all the impacted fecal matter and intestinal plaque that I had accumulated over my 40 years that my body couldn't remove itself. One of my initial bowel movements during my first CLEANSE looked exactly like my intestines. To say that this was a positive endeavor would be an understatement.

In my line of profession I am constantly thriving to assist people in meeting their fitness goals be they an increase in strength and speed, endurance or just weight loss. The barometer I use for success is the perception of the individuals I work with. If they feel that they are meeting their fitness goals and are better for the experience then I have done my job. For all the success I may feel I've given them their perception is the true measure.

To all of the naysayers out there who think this is total BS I would just like to tell them that a mind is like a book, it only works when it is open. For all those considering doing this I would say, read the book, research the net and then make your own decision on whether or not you want to do it. It did wonders for me.

All my best.

Hopster

Hopster said:
One of my initial bowel movements during my first CLEANSE looked exactly like my intestines. To say that this was a positive endeavor would be an understatement. [...]

Ok, that's just WAY too much information.

Well, I tried this out for a few days. I know it's meant to be a CLEANSE/DETOX, NOT A WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM.

I'm a middle-aged guy.. work out modestly a few days/week, eat very carefully and need to shed some weight (maybe 20 lbs)...

I don't have an addictive personality. I have never smoked, used drugs and drink very moderately. (red wine mostly) By the end of day two I must say a was very depressed.

I came back to this site and read the above comments.

I decided that I'm going to lose this weight through exercise and cutting down on simple carbs more aggressively...

This Master Cleanse is having a negative effect on my emotional state which is sure to effect my work.. something I cannot afford...

Basically, I don't think I'm in the right place in my life to attempt something like this for 7-10 days.

Anyway.. good luck to those of you who are and take it to the limit....

Looking forward to reading more feedback...