I tried a juice cleanse, and I (sorta) liked it

A few weeks ago, I tried the Total Cleanse for two days.

Yes, me. The one who adores food.

I was curious to see how it’d make me feel and to see if I had the resolve.

I chose the Energize version from Total Cleanse as the six juices a day offered the most variety (compared to their other two versions), so I knew it’d be easier for me as the idea of the same juice over and over makes me want to weep. Energize consists of one berry, one cashew milk, two lemonade-type drinks and two green drinks daily (you can find more info on each of the juices on the Total Cleanse site). Here’s a brief diary of my weekend juice cleanse:

Saturday

12:05PM: “I guess I should get up.” (I slept in as late as possible so I could have fewer hours in the day thinking obsessively about food).

12:06PM: Fed the cats. “At least you get to eat something, you lucky B@#*$.”

12:10PM: “OK, let’s give this scary green juice a try. Phew, it tastes OK! Mostly spinach and cucumber.”

12:33PM: “Time for some bacon. Oh. Wait. Right…”

12:45: “Some granola and yogurt would hit the spot. Oh, yes. Right. No food.”

2:14PM: “About time for juice #2, hooray!”

2:46PM: “How about some toast? Crapola. Juice cleanse.”

3:20PM: “You know what sucks? Not eating kinda sucks.”

And so on and so on. At about 6PM on Saturday, I broke down — I really missed the feeling of having something solid in my tummy — and I devoured a handful of almonds.

Other lessons I learned over my juice cleanse weekend:

1. Planning to do a juice cleanse on a weekend so you can stay home and taking it easy all day long is not ideal: Why not? You  have access to food that’s already paid for and readily available for you to eat. And having nothin’ to do just gives you more time to constantly think about the food you are not eating. I found  Sunday easier to deal with the cleanse when I left the house and saw some friends in the afternoon and went to a movie in the evening.
2. Walking and juice cleanses do not jive well. I walked several kilometres doing errands on both days. Walking when you’ve got that much liquid in you makes feel like you’ve gotta pee real fast and real often. Public washrooms (shudder) became musts.
3. Six of these juices a day will fill you up. When I really thought about it, I never felt absolutely ravenous. I did really miss the sensation and flavours of eating and having solid food, though. Oh, I also drink rather slowly so while I was supposed to also drink water and herbal tea as well during the cleanse, I just couldn’t do it — the idea of even more fluid sloshing around in my belly added to the fact I didn’t really have a moment to have more beverages (by the time I finished one juice, it was almost time for the next juice!) was too much for me to handle.
4. I think about food a helluva lot. So I surely eat a lot of things mindlessly. Gotta keep that in check.

Have you tried a juice cleanse? How did you like it?

Oh, I was also curious as to what a registered dietitian would have to say about this cleanse — check out what Nicole Yuen’s verdict is in my post on thekit.ca!

3 Comments December 13, 2011

New gluten-free beauty products

I’ve got detoxes and elimination diets on the brain lately–what with one friend on a detox diet and the Consonant Body Healthy Skin  Detox for Face Kit giveaway I currently have on the go (have ya entered yet??)–and these gluten-free product launches from Green Beaver landed on my desk.

Even though gluten protein is too large to be absorbed through the skin, it seems that many peeps with celiac disease and gluten sensitivites still seek out gluten-free skincare–as a way of preventing cross contamination. So you folks will be glad to hear that Canadian company Green Beaver are launching in March the first certified organic gluten-free personal care products. The range includes shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion (each $9.99) and lip balm ($5.99).

I’m a bring-on-the-gluten kinda girl when it comes to my diet, and, it turns out, when it comes to my body lotion, too. I tested out GB’s new lotion and while it definitely has a pleasant light feel and great hydrating properties–it even managed to moisturize my crazy parched skin–its’ citrus fresh scent is a bit strong for my taste, and a tad peculiar to my nose (perhaps the turmeric in it?)–think spicy lemon cough drop.

Leave a Comment January 20, 2011

Giveaway: Win a Consonant Body Healthy Skin Detox for Face Kit!

I’ve never done a detox diet, and doubt I could last  more than one day on one.

But the Consonant Body Health Skin Detox for Face Kit (available from BeautyMark.ca) is one detox regime I could happily stick to (there’s a reason it made my list of holiday beauty swellness!). Their organic products are staples in my routine.

And because I bet your skin could use some TLC right about now in the thick of winter, and because I’m just nice like that, you can win this Face Kit from Health & Swellness!

The Face Kit (valued at $99) contains the Ultra Moisturizing Organic Face Cream, Organic Foaming Face Wash, Ultra Firming Organic Eye Cream, and Ultra Moisturizing Organic Lip Conditioner (which I keep in my handbag at all times).

There are three ways you can enter (do all three to increase your chances of winning!):

(1) Email your name, address and phone number to healthandswellness@gmail.com (please put “Consonant Body” in the subject line).

(2) Leave a comment on this post about any detoxes you’ve tried, and/or why you’d love to win this Healthy Skin Detox for Face Kit.

(3) Tweet a link to this giveaway (you must include the @healthswellness handle, though, so that I am sure to see it!).

This giveaway closes 12PM January 24, 2011. Must be Canadian resident. The winner of this Consonant Body Healthy Skin Detox for Face Kit (valued at $99) will be randomly chosen and notified by email.

Good luck!

22 Comments January 14, 2011