First and foremost let me say, I am not a nutritionist and I don't claim
to know everything. I just know how my body reacts to juicing and it's nice to
shed 5+ pounds when I'm feeling bloated and pudgy after some serious holiday
indulgence.
What
does a juice cleanse do to your body?
As I mentioned above, I'm not a
nutritionist so you should absolutely consult with one if needed. That said, my personal experience from juicing is as follows. The juices provide a huge dose of nutrients into my body which always makes me feel great physically and refreshed in my mind. It allows my body to reset when it comes to digestion. The extra dose of vitamins boosts my immune system and gives me way more energy
than usual.
How long
should you do a juice cleanse?
It's totally up to you. I find that I
get the best results when I juice for 3-4 days. You should keep in mind that on
top of those 3-4 juicing days, there is an optional pre and post period that
can be very beneficial. If I choose to do the pre and post period and I'm
juicing for 3 days, it really means the cleanse is 9 days... because of the 3
day pre cleanse and 3 day post cleanse schedule that I follow. The pre and post
cleanse process is optional and recommended based on preference and how your
body reacts to cleansing.
What
does a juice cleanse schedule look like?
During my 3-4 days of
"juicing" I drink about 6 glasses of juice a day and 6 glasses of
water. I make 3-4 kinds of juice and call them by name: GOGO Green
Juice (3 glasses daily, may substitute a Pearadise Punch for one of the
GOGO green), Beet Punch Juice (1 glass daily), Power Orange
Juice (2 glasses daily). And then I cap off the day with strawberry almond
milk which I find a perfect blend for right before bedtime.
So here's what a day would look like for me:
- 7:00 am wake up - drink some white ginger tea or hot lemon water
- 8:00 am – GOGO Green Juice #1 + Water
- 10:00 - Power Orange Juice #1 + Water
- 12:00 pm - GOGO Green Juice #2 + Water
- 2:00 pm - Beet Punch Juice #1+ Water
- 4:00 pm - GOGO Green Juice #3+ Water
- 6:00 pm - Power Orange Juice #2+ Water
- 8:00 pm - Strawberry Almond Milk and some more white ginger tea
- And that's about it. Then it's off to bed where my dreams are
usually filled with food. Just kidding, kinda, not really.
What do you eat for pre
and post juice cleanse?
Pre and Post juice cleanse steps require that I slowly work my body into and back out of normal food. Pre: I start decreasing carb intake
from starchy foods and eat raw fruits and vegetables. Post: I eat lots of raw
veggies to start and then slowly work in fruits, fish, quinoa etc. I usually
try to limit meat for a few more days because that's just my preference.
How do you feel during a
juice cleanse?
Day 1 is always the hardest for me because I am"head" hungry. Which basically means I think I'm hungry... but really I'm not. I'm just bored and want to eat. Truth is, I'm packing my body with so many micronutrients, it has plenty to run on.
By day 2 I feel like a million bucks. I sleep better at night, wake up in the morning ready to go. Things are sharp and crisp and you're just ready to take on the day!
So... you might be wondering why I juice? Well, I love it.
I do it about every 3-4 months as a way to re-set my body especially before or
after vacation, the holidays, or for special events. My longest fast has been
for 10 days but I have seen many others go even longer. Also, if you are the
type of person who “has” to eat a meal every day, you can add a light salad
with grilled chicken breast or a lean protein. If I choose to add this I make
sure to keep it light and minimal salad dressing and hold the croutons please!!
