no point really

Ok, so I’ve been really disappointed lately with my diet and weight loss program. About a year ago, I lost 80 pounds and it wasn’t an easy task: gym (hundreds of dollars on the gym and thousands on a trainer), diet, water, no Starbucks, no soda, lots of small meals, etc. But, it only works when you have the time to devote to it. I’m a busy guy and have lots going on and don’t always have the time to fit in 6 small meals a day. Also, after losing all that weight, your body apparently becomes more efficient and burns less calories than when I was bigger, which meant eating even less! All of this was fine with me: I can eat less. I can give up Starbucks specialty drinks (touch my black coffee and you’ll be pulling back a bloody stub). I can eat healthy and not out all the time. But, there has to be an easier way! There has to be a great “lose-lots-quick” diet! Right?!

No, there isn’t. There isn’t anything you can do (that is 100% healthy/good for you) that can get you to lose weight and keep it off. But, there are things you can do that will jump-start the process and give you a “clean slate” to work with. That’s when I found out about (cue the ‘eureka moment’ music) the Master Cleanse. So as not to bore you to death, I won’t go into great detail and I’ll let you read my links on your own. Oh, here’s some more info.

The Master Cleanse program is meant to “eliminate toxins and congestion that have built up in the body.” By removing these toxins, you can start fresh with a diet plan/workout regiment that can help you lose weight. Notice that I did not say the program is designed to get you to lose weight, but rather to cleanse the system so you can begin to lose weight. Taking that into consideration, any weight that you lose doing the detox program is an added benefit and not an expectation. For the benefit of being fair and balanced, there are people both that have and have not tried it that are against the detox.

How does it work? I asked the same thing when my friend Jenn said she was doing it. I was instantly skeptical and against the idea, but have since come around. The Master Cleanse is based on solely eating/drinking a lemon mixture throughout the day, every day, for 14 days (claimed safe for up to 40 days).

Making the drink (recipe taken from here):

2 tablespoons FRESH squeezed lemon (approx. 1/2 lemon)
2 tablespoons genuine organic maple syrup, Grade B (the darker the better)
1/10 teaspoon (a small pinch!) cayenne pepper, add to taste
10-14 oz of pure water
Drink one glass of laxative tea per night

Mix 2 tablespoons fresh (and organic, if possible) lemon (absolutely no canned or frozen juice), 2 tablespoons real (and organic, if possible) grade B or C maple syrup. (Don’t use Grade A maple syrup or maple-flavored syrup. They are over-refined, which means that they are mostly refined sugars and lack essential minerals), and a small pinch of cayenne pepper (to taste) in a 10-ounce glass with 8 ounces of spring or purified room temperature water. Mix thoroughly by stirring or shaking, and drink (7 to 10 separate mixtures) throughout the day. It is preferred that you don’t mix it up in the morning for the whole day. You can, however, squeeze your lemons in the morning and measure out the 2 tablespoons when needed.

I, of course, could never do just that. I have, and have always had, certain hyperglycemic reactions when I don’t eat enough balanced foods throughout the day. That’s why I created the Keifer Master Cleanse (yes, I used my name LOL). I’m going to follow the directions above, but slightly change the fact that you’re eating nothing else. Throughout the day, when water and the lemon drink aren’t enough, I’ll also eat some cheese, boiled eggs, dried fruit, and carrots/celery (all as organic and natural as Trader Joe’s and Sprouts can get). And, instead of doing this for 14 days, I’m going to start with 7 days and see what happens.

What else does this mean? No soda, no other foods, no other drinks (yup, not even coffee), and no vitamins/minerals/herbal supplements.

My whole reason for this post is to invite you to take the ‘Keifer Master Cleanse’ challenge with me and let me know how you’re doing. I’m going to try my hardest to post my thoughts every day, to the Master Cleanse category here on my blog and update on my thoughts about the detox. Also, let me know if you’re doing it!

Posted by Nathaniel Keifer.