Wedding Blog

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As part of spring cleaning, and just a new found motivation to get in shape and be more active, I decided to get on the bandwagon and do the Blueprint Cleanse. To be honest, I’ve never been a fan of cleanses or fasts. I’ve witnessed a few of my friends on the Master Cleanse– the maple syrup concoction did not seem at all appetizing to me. But after some thorough research and reading the info-packed Blueprint Cleanse site, I decided to give it a shot. What sold me was that the program was not about fasting, but more about replacing solid food with fresh and unpasteurized juices to detox your system.

I selected the five-day Renovation Cleanse– which just means more fruit infused drinks and fewer “green” drinks. It’s not cheating, but for first timers, the Blueprint staff told me that the Renovation is the way to go.

As the week leading up to my cleanse approached I did try to eat less red meat and add in more veggies… but I was at a work trade show the week before, and well, I didn’t stick to the plan entirely! Still, I was feeling positive about the whole thing and thought that my sheer willpower would get me through day one.

The juices arrived on Sunday night. They’re numbered from 1 - 6. I put them right into the fridge as instructed. They came in cute insulated cooler bags (which I have been toting around to work) and even a little cheat card in case I do feel the need to chew on something. The card lists a few “safe” food options if you can’t hold out.

I started off Day One with a green drink that did not taste as bad as I expected. In fact, it didn’t taste bad at all. It was like a lemony-salad. I continued every two hours with new drinks that included a delicious pineapple mix and another lemonade-like drink. It wasn’t until the afternoon that I started to feel the hunger pangs. By 4PM I had a mean headache and was super crabby. My stomach made loud, grumbling noises. I had a class that night at 6:30PM and just decided to cancel because all I could think about was food! I had my second to last juice of the day, which was a beet mix that wasn’t so bad, but still wasn’t satiating me. That night I went home and hoped that I wouldn’t succumb and start to stuff my face with chips or anything I could lay my hands on. I waited until it was time to have my last drink, the infamous Cashew Nut Milk… wow, was it worth it. It is still my favorite drink of the program. It’s a nutty and cinnamon flavored with a smoothie texture. After the last bottle, I was feeling a lot better and almost satiated. I am proud to say I made it through that night without caving and eating like a maniac.

Today I’m on Day Four. Despite the minor meltdown on Day One, I haven’t felt better. With my normal routine, I am usually hungry the minute I wake up. This has always been the case since I was a child. I wake up and have a big hearty breakfast. But these past few days, I’ve woken up and not felt hungry at all! I drink my first bottle before leaving the house and then parcel out the rest throughout the day. I don’t even check the clock anymore. My body has adjusted to the rhythms of the program and I head to the fridge for another bottle when I feel the need to refuel. I was able to continue with all my daily activities, including rigorous Pilates classes in the evenings, without a hitch.

I feel energized. I sleep better (without any sleep aids—once in a while, I take a Benadryl Allergy to help me sleep). I’ve lost 8 lbs. since Monday. And the biggest triumph? As an avid caffeine addict, I haven’t had any coffee since Sunday, and I’m still OK. I am most surprised that I’m not hungry and I don’t crave food as much. On Day One, you realize how much of your day revolves around food: planning your next meal, eating out with friends, even all the TV commercials! Now I feel more immune to it. I can even read Gourmet magazine without any tummy grumbles!

One side effect is that I tend to go to the bathroom to pee more. Aside from that, everything else is fine.

So for anyone looking for a way to jumpstart your system, I highly recommend Blueprint Cleanse. They deliver to your door if you’re local to New York (even to Connecticut) and they also ship nationwide. It’s on the pricey side, but I figured it’s five days of food replacement, so the math worked out OK to me. If you’ve got a few friends interested, discounts are offered for groups of three or more.

Have you tried a detox system like Blueprint or the Master Cleanse? Did you stick with it? What were your results?