So you've been having digestive problems, have belly bloat that never seems to go away, or are looking to lose weight fast and you've heard a juice cleanse might be the answer. What is all the talk about juice cleanses anyway? Drinking only juice for all your meals? That sounds horrible... right? Well- I decided to do one the first week of January. It was horrible then great but- is it in fact what you're looking for?

Why I Chose To Do A Juice Cleanse

First, let me begin by stating if you are looking to do a juice cleanse for a quick fix for weight loss or to lose body fat, this is not the answer. Speak to a personal trainer or nutritionist at your gym for helpful advice and programs that can help you achieve your health and fitness goals. Your body is your most priceless possession. You should be in love with it and take care of it.

Next, if you are thinking about doing a juice cleanse you need to ask yourself, “How would I benefit from a juice cleanse or would I be a good candidate for a cleanse?” Research shows if you are pregnant, nursing, or are a diabetic, a juice cleanse would not be for you. Juice cleanses are also not intended for permanent weight or body fat loss. If you still are interested in reading, look at this as a research study or trial of sorts. I am not a professional or expert but if your issues sound familiar to mine and are at a standstill with what to do about your stomach bloating or digestive issues that can’t seem to be solved and are sick of taking medication, this might be something to approach your doctor or a certified health professional about.

The purpose of my juice cleanse is as follows: I am looking to rest my stomach and gut, rest the liver, and allow my body to maximize the detoxification process. Toxic foods can not only destroy the intestines function but if there is an overload of toxins in your body, the liver won’t be able to reach all of them before passing through. On a cleanse, the toxin-free and juice dense in nutrients can help repair the gut while giving your stomach and liver a rest. It’ll also help you recognize what foods ail you when reintroducing them into your diet. Keeping a food diary after your cleanse finishes is recommended.

A little background on my issue: For years I’ve had problems with digestion and foods. After 10 years of taking tums after every meal, gluten was the contributing factor. Now, my diet is gluten free, I hardly have any dairy, non GMO, all organic, no refined sugars, no caffeine, you get the point. So at the beginning of December when I started having issues with stomach bloating and distention I was left with a lot of unanswered questions. At first I thought maybe my body was still reacting to gluten contaminated food I ate after ordering a GF meal in November. But - after a few more days the bloating was not subsiding. I then thought maybe I could have a stomach virus, so I started to cut back on my protein and eat more bland. This didn’t help either. I was still exercising a few times a week, drinking enough water, and eating healthy. This continued on for weeks. The bloating would be so bad I'd look 5-6 months pregnant. No joke. It was bad. One day I would be 121lbs and the next day I’d be 128lbs. This was a red flag for me since it would be nearly impossible for me or anyone to gain that much weight so quickly especially since I saw my abs at the beginning of the month! I saw my doctor and I tried several medications. I was put on anti-spasmodic meds (two different types, neither worked), and I was taking gas-x. I even had x-rays done on my stomach to see if everything was normal with my bowels. When it seemed as if I had tried everything and we couldn't come up with a solution, my doctor recommended I see a GI Specialist. I love my doctor and really like that she didn’t just want to throw me on yet another pill.

Already dealing with acid reflux, gluten intolerance, and IBS with none of those contributing to my issue, I didn't want to go to another doctor if it wasn't necessary. I thought to myself, maybe I just needed a reset or maybe another food is bothering me. I had been eating more junk than normal with the holidays, traveling a lot, and had been sick on and off. Maybe I just need to cleanse my system of whatever toxins were contributing to my problem.

Again- I am no expert nor am I a professional when it comes to juicing. Juice cleanses can have different results for each individual and might not be the healthiest option for you. I want to make sure it is clear that I did not do this for weight loss. I was skeptical if this would even help eliminate my bloating since nothing was working so I decided to document everything as if it were a research study.

Beginning A Juice Cleanse

Before you begin, if you've never tried raw juice before - do so before you begin the cleanse. Since I’ve been drinking raw juice every now and then on top of my regular meals for years, I dove right into the cleanse. You don't need a juicer to do the cleanse either. If you live near a Whole Foods, they have a juice bar or juices readily available to purchase. If you own a juicer or are interested in using your own, juice recipes can be found easily online.

The cleanse I am doing is a mixture between the beginning of one of Danette May's plans and other things I’ve tried. Juice cleanses can be 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, you name it. I chose to do a 5 day cleanse. On this cleanse I drank raw juice for all meals only Days 1-2 and introduced food on Day 3.

The Cleanse

Day 1

Weight 121

Juice 1: Cucumber, Kale, Apple and Pear

Juice 2 & 3 : Kale Apple Pineapple Pear Lemon

Notes: By the end of the day, I had a bad headache and cravings for everything!

Day 2

Weight: 119

Juice 1: Orange, Kale, Apple, Pear, Pineapple

Juice 2 & 3: Kale Apple Cucumber Lemon Ginger (made fresh at Whole Foods)

Notes: At the beginning of the day, I waited too long to drink my first juice. I experienced a lot of nausea as my body had started the detoxification process. I thought I was going to throw up while driving to work. As soon as I got to work I slowly drank my first juice and followed that with a chamomile tea. By lunch time - my nausea had subsided, I was feeling more alert, and had minimal cravings. For my last juice, I actually could only drink 8 ounces instead of 12-16 before feeling full. However I cheated and had one spoonful of homemade mashed potatoes that were looking so good and sitting in the kitchen. Oops. I also experienced more headaches and acne appeared as my body detoxed. FYI you will have to pee A LOT while doing this.

Day 3

Weight: 118

Juice 1: Pineapple, Apple, Mint (Blueprint Juice)

Juice 2: Apple Lemon Cayenne Ginger (Blueprint Juice)

Dinner: Quinoa and Kale sauteed in coconut oil seasoned with apple cider vinegar, red pepper, cumin, garlic and salt. 1 Banana nut muffin.

Notes: Woke up feeling like myself again! For the first time in a month I hardly had any bloating, my body felt lighter, my mind was clear, and I could button my pants without having to force myself into them! I'm no longer having cravings for chocolate or sugary items. My stomach felt empty instead of full of gas.

Day 4

Weight:117.5

Breakfast: 1/2 cup of cooked quinoa w/ maple syrup & cinnamon, 1 apple maple chicken sausage

Juice 1: Apple Lemon Cayenne Ginger (Blueprint Juice)

Juice 2: Pineapple, Apple, Mint (Blueprint Juice)

Notes: Woke up feeling better than ever! Still less bloat and

Day 5

Weight: 117.0

Breakfast: ½ cup cooked quinoa w/ maple syrup, cinnamon, 2 apple maple chicken sausage

Lunch: Pineapple, Apple, Mint (Blueprint Juice)

Dinner: Chicken Breast and fresh green beans

Notes: bloating is still gone. Full feeling quicker when eating. No digestive issues.

For me- the juice cleanse seemed to be the solution to my problem, I must have been to wreck-less with my food choices and too many toxins entered into my body. I listened to what my body was telling me to do which was needed a reset. But this might not be the solution for everyone. I encourage anyone experiencing health issues to speak to a professional first before trying something like this but medications or other products that claim to help defeat bloat or weight loss. Start paying attention to what you are eating and notice how it makes your body feel. Don’t do something drastic if it may only be a small change you need to make in your lifestyle.