Master Cleanse

What wiki says about master cleanse

"There is no scientific evidence that the diet removes any toxins, or that it achieves anything beyond temporary weight loss. Though unlikely to be harmful over the short term it can be harmful over the long term. Short term side effects include fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and dehydration, while long term harm includes loss of muscle mass.[3]"

i know wiki isnt the source of all knowledge but its enough to put me off.

No wait, the idea of no solid food and a laxative tea was enough to put me off.

Why are you trying it again if you have concerns and it made you feel so ill before?

I did a cleanse once, same one as Beyonce and other celebs. Lemon water, tsp of syrup, cayenne pepper. Crazy mixture but didn't taste bad. I did it for 5 days, no solid foods, just that drink all day long for 5 days straight. Lost 6 pounds in one week but guess what? It is only a temporary fix, that 6 pounds was back on as soon as I started eating solid foods. It's so not worth it. Cleansing is a good thing to do every now and then, but not for days at time. I've learned that you need to cleanse every now and then to maintain health, not to lose weight. I'm just saying.......

If you got sick the first time, why are you trying it again?

Why are you trying it in the first place? It does nothing for you but deprive you of nutrients you need. If you eat whole, un-processed foods, exercise and drink lots of water your body will naturally cleanse itself. You don't need to do crazy things to cleans these imaginary toxins out of your body.

Any weight lost will be gained right back after you're done.

Why are you trying it again if you have concerns and it made you feel so ill before?

nobody likes a quitter

In general it is always best to talk to your doctor before trying something like this, ESPECIALLY if you have pre-existing conditions.
After having said that I've always been into natural healing and natural preventative methods. I've always wanted to do a detox, but was always scared to making the commitment.
When I first heard about the master cleanse I thought it sounded like a crazy fad weight loss scheme (that was last year when I first heard about it). Since then, I've decided to do the master cleanse after doing a lot of research on it it does seem to make a lot of sense (the ingredients and their purpose, the fact that you are getting calories in, and the methods to help expel the build up of toxins)

Anyway I plan to drink a minimum of 12 glasses so that I know I'm getting 1200 calories or more in. Another side note, headaches and some discomfort on SOME days are normal because the toxins come into our blood stream to be released through urine, sweat etc. The toxins being released are the things causing the temporary side affects not the cleanse itself. Also fat cells store excess toxins that our body hasnt been able to expel yet so as you burn the fat you are also releasing the toxins.

I'm not telling you or anybody to do the cleanse because that is not my place. I just wanted to say to everyone that you should do research and know what something is about before you knock it totally. There are many people out there that have done the cleanse and it's worked wonders. If you do lose weight while on the cleanse, then after the cleanse go back to eating junk on a regular then of course you will gain the weight back, that's common sense.

I am starting the Master Cleanse this morning. I tried 2 days ago and made it until 9 pm and then had to eat something. I thought the main problem would be hunger but the headaches were horrible. I have trouble with migraines, sinus issues, & chronic ear infections in my left ear. Half way through the day, about 3 1/2 cups of lemonade in, I started sweating, my ears, eyes, and nose began watering, and the headache began. I also had very bad pain in my left ear. I couldnt do anything but lie in the bed. The salt water flush concerns me as well. Seems like an excessive amount of sodium.

Hi! I am currently on the Master Cleanse, day 9, but have "cheated" many times. My cheats have been healthy like baked salmon and chicken. I still exercise 3-5 times a week, so I wanted to make sure that I am getting enough protein while exercising. I don't want to lose any muscle mass. I too suffer from severe headaches, but fortunately I have not experienced any so far while on the cleanse. While I was preparing for the cleanse, I took B-5 or Pantothenic Acid which is suppose to help eliminate headaches while you wean yourself from caffeine and prepare for the cleanse. It totally worked for me, plus it gave me an insane amount of energy. My house was so clean!!! I realize you said you decided to not try the cleanse again, but I thought I would share a positive experience with you. I will admit the cleanse was very hard at first, but like many things, each day gets a little easier. By the way, I have not done the salt water bath. It sounds absolutely horrible. I drink an herbal laxative tea at night and it is pretty gentle.

I agree. This does sound horrible.

This is only a "Master" at cleansing your wallet for the hard earned money you paid for it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal & Group FitnessTrainer
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Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I am starting the Master Cleanse this morning. I tried 2 days ago and made it until 9 pm and then had to eat something. I thought the main problem would be hunger but the headaches were horrible. I have trouble with migraines, sinus issues, & chronic ear infections in my left ear. Half way through the day, about 3 1/2 cups of lemonade in, I started sweating, my ears, eyes, and nose began watering, and the headache began. I also had very bad pain in my left ear. I couldnt do anything but lie in the bed. The salt water flush concerns me as well. Seems like an excessive amount of sodium.

I think the idea of there being "toxins" in your body that can or need to be "flushed" is not based on any scientific evidence at all. It is true that we've all got traces of chemicals and stuff in our bodies - particularly people who ate paint chips as a child. :laugh: But, I don't think we can "flush" them by putting things into our mouths or sweating or whatever. Our livers and kidneys do these things, so long as they're functioning regularly.

I am starting the Master Cleanse this morning. I tried 2 days ago and made it until 9 pm and then had to eat something. I thought the main problem would be hunger but the headaches were horrible. I have trouble with migraines, sinus issues, & chronic ear infections in my left ear. Half way through the day, about 3 1/2 cups of lemonade in, I started sweating, my ears, eyes, and nose began watering, and the headache began. I also had very bad pain in my left ear. I couldnt do anything but lie in the bed. The salt water flush concerns me as well. Seems like an excessive amount of sodium.

So ... why are you trying again?

I have decided not to do it. Thanks guys for all the good advice. Going to just keep on with the ecercise and eating healthy!

Thata Girl!!!

That sounds like a frightening diet. It's good to hear that you are not doing it!

I would cleanse, but I have a healthy liver and kidneys, so I just let them take care of the junk my body doesn't need or has already used.

Cleanses like this have no proven benefits and are not recommended by medical professionals. I know a woman who has done the MC multiple times over the past several years. I remember her before she started 'cleansing,' and although she was maybe a little bit chubby, she was still a pretty, healthy woman with a normal weight. Every time she did the MC she put on more weight and is now morbidly obese. She looks old for her age, and has a multitude of health issues, including needing to have her pancreas REMOVED as a result of the damage she's done to her body. Despite having a very healthy diet now, she can no longer lose or keep weight off. I don't understand why anyone would do something like that to their body... not to mention it sounds terrible!