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Juice Cleanse, is it for You?

2017-05-25 ShanghaiWOWeng

I literally received the same dumb-founded look a million times when I’d told people I was planning on doing a smoothie cleanse. People often tend to assume that a smoothie cleanse is mainly for weight loss. However, this was not my goal. I heard the same few questions over and over, skeptics and non-skeptics alike asking why I would put myself through a 72-hour liquid diet. Well, this is why. 



Lizzy’s All-Natural, a small business owned and operated by American Elizabeth Schieffelin organizes group cleanses between 5-7 days for people curious or crazy enough to give up solid food in exchange for liquid fruits and vegetables. Fortunately, Lizzy was kind enough to coordinate a 3-day cleanse for some of the ladies of GGI – Girl Gone International Shanghai. 



I was ready to rumble, this was my second time around doing a juice/smoothie cleanse. Last year I did it with farmhouse juice and was pleasantly surprised at how my body reacted and felt after. It was a refresher for my tummy and my skin which I desperately need due to being exposed to the pollution here in good ol China. 



While I was ready, I had a feeling this time would be different and it certainly was. Myself and 17 other girls embarked on a 3-day roller coaster of emotions and physical changes that no one could have prepared us for. Thank goodness it was only 72 hours. 

In preparation for the 3-day group cleanse, I formed a group chat where we could divulge our deep dark digestive secrets. One cleanser (let me know if you need names) admitted she was accustomed to six servings of coffee a day, a day! She was trying to cut back in order to not have severe caffeine withdrawals which are a common side effect of cleansing.  This same cleanser was “cautiously optimistic but apprehensive about missing” her beloved coffee. Uh oh. 



Most of us were excited yet scared to get started and shared our worries in the group chat. We all had different motivations for participating in the cleanse, from weight loss, fast food addiction and wanting to have healthy eating habits to genuine curiosity. It was the first time for a good portion of the girls and they openly expressed doing it with a group would make it “helpful and motivating” and “nice.” 


Day 1 



Monday morning, 6:30a.m. I pop the top off my first smoothie. I snap a BEFORE selfie and send it into the group chat. A few more girls continue the selfie train grinning and eager to begin. We are all surprised by how filling and tasty that first green smoothie was. For the cleanse, each of us had to choose between six types of detox programs; Signature, Energy, Intensive, Active, Slim & Cut or Beauty. While we each had chosen a different line-up of smoothies, each program set had elixir shots, functional teas and super powders. A green smoothie was always the first one of the day. 



The morning began positive with happy remarks of the first few smoothies. By mid-day most girls including myself started feeling a bit spacey and WEIRD. It was a light-headedness as no one had had any sugar or coffee to keep us mentally sharp. We started experimenting with the little elixirs and powders…even though we had not a clue what was in these little brightly-colored brews. 



We started to collectively suffer after lunch as we all missed having solid food and hunger was starting to set in. Luckily, we weren’t suffering alone and we all remind each other to stay busy at work because the worst is yet to come. Nighttime! What were we supposed to do? We couldn’t cook…workout, and we couldn’t go out for happy hour with our friends. While yes doing a cleanse during the work week is a smart idea in essence, we were all still left to our own devices after work. Luckily, most of us had little to no energy by 6pm as our bodies were acclimating to the liquid diet. 



As the sun was setting so were our caffeine-less ailments; to name but a few, we experiences headaches, dizziness and fatigue, and hunger. Fortunately I had a late meeting that first night and so I set up shop with my smoothies, shots and powders and tried to stay focused on the meeting highlights versus the damn pu-pu platters of food everyone was consuming. I did hover over the food smelling the food like a puppy that could look but not touch. Whatever. The night goes on.



After some more banter in our group chat about excessive bathroom breaks, the poor logistics happening behind the scenes at Lizzy’s shops of picking up our next day smoothies. (I went to pick mine up at 5pm and they were not ready so had to get a last minute delivery to my home). We all finally hit the hay. Very early. 


Day 2



Day 2 commenced with a weigh-in of weight loss. Most of the ladies were down a few hundred grams to their surprise. We again began the day with optimism as we dove into a different green smoothie number one. By lunch, energy lessens and people try to engage in physical activity to little luck and immediate headaches. People feel bouts of dizziness throughout the day, as well as hunger pains, stomach pains and strangely dirty plaquey filled teeth. 



One cleanser drank a black tea and experienced extreme nausea , we all console her hoping she starts to feel better soon. Lizzy had recommended to us that we stay away from all caffeine or processed sugar as it wouldn’t hit our bodies the same way anymore and she was right. Lizzy also sent us daily e-mails with expectations of how our bodies might react and recommendations on how to spend our evenings. 


For the second night, Lizzy encouraged us to get a lymphatic massage aka a “boob massage” and a few of the girls went to experience it first-hand and were pleasantly surprised. I personally didn’t go as I was exhausted most of day 2, taking cat naps at every opportunity. By 6pm, I could’ve easily fallen asleep for the whole night but I put on some TV and waited it out as best I could.



By the end of the day, no one had caved and eaten solid food…yet. That night, some of us picked up our smoothies for day 3 while others got it delivered…only to find out that day 3 was pretty much the same as day 1 or 2 smoothies. The feeling of boredom and repetition starts to set in and so does the complaining. Luckily, our wechat group keeps us motivated and we start to play a guessing game of “what's in these damn elixir shots?”  


Day 3


YES!!! We almost doneeee! 



Our last day of six smoothies, tiny shots or “witch’s potions” and disgusting super powders are coming to an end. By the way the super powders should DEFINITELY be mixed into the smoothies as I made the mistake of drinking it only with water and I almost threw it back up. They are strong and pungent, mix em into the smoothie! 



Ok so day 3, we can taste the finish line. Solid food in t-minus 24 hours. The day starts again with another green smoothie. In my case the best one by far, basil drop which has coconut milk and avocado making it extra delicious, could just be the Mexican in me though.


The general consensus of the day is enthusiasm to finish. We were all craving solid and savory food and the insomnia some of us experienced and sleepiness is at a high. We continue to express positive remarks to each other, “stay strong,” “think positive,” and “we can do this,” goes on for the morning. Unfortunately, one cleanser never received her day 3 smoothies so she’s done already and mildly disappointed at again, the poor logistics of the cleanse from Lizzy’s side. Shit happens, we know, especially in China. After all, bottling and packing that many freshly made smoothies daily for a group of twenty or so women can’t be an easy task. 



The rest of us go on with day 3 and discuss what’s the plan for after? What will be our first meal? I immediately text CHEESE, while others girls just miss chewing! Personally, I am feeling the pangs of digestion depression. We also begin reflecting on our fave smoothies. It was the fruity ones for most of us; Pink Punk, Skin Savior and The Skinny get a good amount of votes while the liver detox super powders which tasted of black licorice and vomit was the least fave and had to be literally “choked down” by most of us. Like I said before, mix it into the smoothies! They are healthy and should be drunk but proceed with caution. 


After the cleanse – Day 4



Some noticeable changes as we finish up our cleanse and slowly move back into solid food. 

-Coffee dependency has decreased

-Dairy and starchy carbs intolerances are heightened

-Palate sensitivity to oily, sugary and salty food

-Digestive issues, backwards and forwards haha

-Skin has changed slightly, some more pimples while others less

The group cleanse was one of the best experience I have had in a while, commiserating but also discussing what’s the goal and what’s the plan for after? 


Afterwards, we were all ready and willing to take a more proactive approach to healthy living including portion control, implementing more vegetables into our diet, and exercise. While it was a tough 3 days and most of us faced some type of struggle, the struggle together is what kept us looking forward to what was next for us. Some girls started making their own smoothies, while others (me) immediately went back on the booze. The cleanse changed my palate and my tolerance for salty and sugary food changed too. A few other ladies discussed that they wanted to continue and do it for a few more days. Most of us were all happy it was over but one thing is it really did was make us realize how our bodies react to food, moreso than we ever could’ve imagined. What you put into your bodies is a direct reflection of how you are going to feel that day, and it was true, most definitely. By the end our energy levels were up and our bodies were acclimating to the healthy lifestyle and our bodies need for a  proper detoxification. 


I look forward to doing it again in the fall, as it definitely refreshes my body and helps my digestion. I know that the other girls will do it too whether alone or with a group as the experience was a great one especially since we did it together. 


COURT



What was your weight before & after cleanse?

 I don't have a scale. 

What are the big differences after the cleanse?

Taste in foods. No need for daily coffee. Better sleep.   

Would you do it again?  

Yes, if I had a support system again


ROSE



What was your weight before & after cleanse?

 I lost 2-3 kg. 

What are the big differences after the cleanse?

The cleanse recalibrated my cravings and I'm very happy with this! I'm on vacation in the states right now and I'm eating 2-3 green salads every day. I eat much less meat and I no longer need coffee! 

Would you do it again?  

Absolutely - I can't wait!


MICHELLE IBARRA



What was your weight before & after cleanse?

I don't have a scale but I definitely lost some weight.

What are the big differences after the cleanse?

Reset my palate and my digestion. 

Would you do it again?  

Yes, I will do it again in the fall, or at least a 1-day cleanse every few months. 


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