Lemonade Clense/ Diet????

[MichelleCarmen]

Well after reading all this I think I'm just going to go buy a juicer and do a juice cleanse. While yes I want to loose weight I like the idea of a cleanse to help restart your metabolism first. Plus I just feel sluggish lately. I hear a good detox makes you feel fantastic afterwards.

Your best option is a high-quality blender, not a juicer. That is what we got. It turns everything into a drinkable juice but it doesn't have any waste matter so you still ingesting the pulp and fiber. It actually is great for people who normally do not eat a lot of fruit/veggies as you can make a yummy drink and include it w/your meals. For example, before my kids would eat just cereal for breakfast. There is no way they would have the motivation to have an orange and an apple also, so I tossed those with 200 ML of water into the blender and set the speed to turn that into a frothy drink and they LOVED it and drank it on down.

 

[lin_ny]

Lin, ny, That is similar to the low carb diet my husband did and wow did we feel so much better afterwards. Dairy never really agreed with me and I would love to try the almond milk but I have been so unlucky at finding a dairy substitute so far. I wouldn't know what brand to try. My DH says I spend a ton of money on testing. LOL

Yeah, you're actually still consuming lots of carbs though - just really healthy, low-glycemic grains! It's so, so good for you!!

Re: Almond milk - there's an "Earth's Own Almond Fresh" one that is decent. (http://frenchfriestoflaxseeds.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/food3644.jpg). If you're doing low-sugar, they have an unsweetened version but it's pretty bland. It's passable for having with cereal though! They also make a sweetened and a vanilla (oh, and chocolate which I REALLY wanna try!! )

Remember to keep in mind... it will NEVER be a substitute for milk, really. It'll never be the same. But if you think of how much better it is for you, sometimes I can forget that it doesn't always taste quite right.

THIS. Its how we should all live. I do drink cows milk in addition to soya milk and I must have porridge in the winter to survive!

They make gluten-free oats, if you're ever interested.

Just to add, I did a low-carb, entirely whole food diet for six weeks and had more energy and felt better than I had ever in my life. I also followed the food-combining rules (fruits alone. Grains/veggies/fats. Veggies/fats/proteins.) No starches & proteins together. I've found the less carbs I eat, the more energy I have...but it's difficult with cravings!

Lin, which probiotic did you use? I have one now but haven't been taking it.

Yes, food-combining. That's a good tip for digestion/absorption.

Right now I'm taking New Roots AcidophilusUltra (http://www.newrootsherbal.com/product/view/id/940). It was recommended by a guy at the health food store I go to. It's refrigerated which is important (lets you know the bacteria are likely still alive), and enteric coated so the bacteria actually get to the small intestine alive!

 

[tuffyluvr]

I'm not a vegan or a raw foodie or a juice fast fanatic--it's just something I happen to have been looking into recently Just a disclaimer!

I *DO* frequently have fresh fruit-only smoothies for meals (just fresh fruit with a bit of water or fresh juice if it needs watering down. I take a couple Glucomannan fiber w/apple pectin pills and a glass of water when I have a smoothie as a meal replacement. It is soluable fiber, which absorbs water and the pectin "gels" everything. Since everything is thickened, it takes longer to move from your stomach. It makes you feel full longer and helps that "sloshy" feeling Bella mentioned ALSO--it helps to regulate insulin surges so you don't have sudden sugar "crashes".

 

[tuffyluvr]

Well after reading all this I think I'm just going to go buy a juicer and do a juice cleanse. While yes I want to loose weight I like the idea of a cleanse to help restart your metabolism first. Plus I just feel sluggish lately. I hear a good detox makes you feel fantastic afterwards.

Your best option is a high-quality blender, not a juicer. That is what we got. It turns everything into a drinkable juice but it doesn't have any waste matter so you still ingesting the pulp and fiber. It actually is great for people who normally do not eat a lot of fruit/veggies as you can make a yummy drink and include it w/your meals. For example, before my kids would eat just cereal for breakfast. There is no way they would have the motivation to have an orange and an apple also, so I tossed those with 200 ML of water into the blender and set the speed to turn that into a frothy drink and they LOVED it and drank it on down.

YES!!!! 100%! I really want a VitaMix... So pricey, though!

 

[cygnet]

Check out the ketogenic diet. I have been on it since Christmas and it is going great! I have never felt better! My DH has lost 10 lbs and he's been on it just over a month, so it's not just water weight.

The best part is that when I eat the right proportions I don't get that extreme hunger that I did on a higher carb diet---huge bonus for me as my stomach is very growly when I get that lol.

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS.

The nutritionist in me is HORRIFIED by the lemonade diet posted in the OP. It's a terrible idea. I personally follow a primal diet (essentially no grains, no processed food, no sugar) and I feel healthiest when my diet is fully ketogenic. I was a little more lax over the holidays what with family and traveling and all, but I am transitioning back to keto now. I lost 40 pounds last year and plan to lose the remaining 20 over the next few months. Not only did my asthma disappear (something I struggled with even when I was thin!) but my acne cleared up for the first time in my life and I stopped having blood sugar issues and actually felt healthy for the first time in my life (I've always struggled with kind of a failure to thrive-- just general malaise). Keto is more of a lifestyle choice than a fad diet, but it does work well for people who choose to lose weight in the short term as long as they choose to keep a relatively primal diet afterward. It is the best thing I ever could have done for my health.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Well after reading all this I think I'm just going to go buy a juicer and do a juice cleanse. While yes I want to loose weight I like the idea of a cleanse to help restart your metabolism first. Plus I just feel sluggish lately. I hear a good detox makes you feel fantastic afterwards.

Your best option is a high-quality blender, not a juicer. That is what we got. It turns everything into a drinkable juice but it doesn't have any waste matter so you still ingesting the pulp and fiber. It actually is great for people who normally do not eat a lot of fruit/veggies as you can make a yummy drink and include it w/your meals. For example, before my kids would eat just cereal for breakfast. There is no way they would have the motivation to have an orange and an apple also, so I tossed those with 200 ML of water into the blender and set the speed to turn that into a frothy drink and they LOVED it and drank it on down.

YES!!!! 100%! I really want a VitaMix... So pricey, though!

Yeah, we just got something similar to that. Another brand, very pricey, but it works great.

ETA - have you tried plain coconut milk with your fruit smoothies? So yummy! Adds a bit more calories, which actually probably is needed if a person is going to go only fruit for a few days.

I won't do an all juice cleanse, but today, for example, I tossed two organic tomatoes in my new blender and it was a nice addition to my lunch. A bit of extra nutrients!

 

[cygnet]

Oh, and no matter how you decide to adjust your diet, be sure you are drinking at least 2-3 liters of water a day. I cannot stress this enough.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Oh, and no matter how you decide to adjust your diet, be sure you are drinking at least 2-3 liters of water a day. I cannot stress this enough.

Can water increase metabolism? Just curious. I have been drinking about 8 glasses of water a day, but started drinking fizzy mineral water because it's more fun. I'm trying to quit drinking diet colas. I stopped the beer but I am having a hard time giving up the diet soda! What is up with that?

 

[cygnet]

Oh, and no matter how you decide to adjust your diet, be sure you are drinking at least 2-3 liters of water a day. I cannot stress this enough.

Can water increase metabolism? Just curious. I have been drinking about 8 glasses of water a day, but started drinking fizzy mineral water because it's more fun. I'm trying to quit drinking diet colas. I stopped the beer but I am having a hard time giving up the diet soda! What is up with that?

Can water increase metabolism? Essentially, yes. Water is a vital contributor to the metabolic reactions happening in your body, so yes, getting adequate water intake increases metabolic efficiency.

I found that as I gave up sugars, I started appreciating water more. I have a glass of tea every now and again, but water is pretty much my preferred drink-- I actually like it now. I used to go months without drinking water (ugh, I was terrible about it when I was younger), but now that I drink it regularly, I actively enjoy it.

 

[JulieN]

Sounds awful, how about a juice diet? Juice (mostly) veggies and (some) fruits, it's the only thing you consume but you can do it whenever you want.

 

[GemFever]

MMmm I love the juice diet. Though I never actually dieted on it, just made the juices to replace some meals. I love adding a bit of fresh beet and ginger to a mostly carrot/green apple juice base... it's like a power drink! Good stuff.

 

[madelise]

Oh, and no matter how you decide to adjust your diet, be sure you are drinking at least 2-3 liters of water a day. I cannot stress this enough.

Not if you're butt-peeing! 2-3 liters of water won't help You need an IV drip for that!

Those all vegetable/juicing diet fad thing freaks me out, too. How can one go without protein? I pee my salads away and get starving within a few short hours, so I don't understand how anyone can only juice. A lot of people I know do that juicing thing since watching Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead on Netflix.

 

[packrat]

Check out the ketogenic diet. I have been on it since Christmas and it is going great! I have never felt better! My DH has lost 10 lbs and he's been on it just over a month, so it's not just water weight.

The best part is that when I eat the right proportions I don't get that extreme hunger that I did on a higher carb diet---huge bonus for me as my stomach is very growly when I get that lol.

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS.

The nutritionist in me is HORRIFIED by the lemonade diet posted in the OP. It's a terrible idea. I personally follow a primal diet (essentially no grains, no processed food, no sugar) and I feel healthiest when my diet is fully ketogenic. I was a little more lax over the holidays what with family and traveling and all, but I am transitioning back to keto now. I lost 40 pounds last year and plan to lose the remaining 20 over the next few months. Not only did my asthma disappear (something I struggled with even when I was thin!) but my acne cleared up for the first time in my life and I stopped having blood sugar issues and actually felt healthy for the first time in my life (I've always struggled with kind of a failure to thrive-- just general malaise). Keto is more of a lifestyle choice than a fad diet, but it does work well for people who choose to lose weight in the short term as long as they choose to keep a relatively primal diet afterward. It is the best thing I ever could have done for my health.

YES. No cleanses. I've lost 26# since last Christmas and didn't have to do anything insane to do it. The first couple days of eating GOOD sucked, headachey and whatnot as the sugar etc was moving out of my system. I used to have crazy blood sugar issues but they're all gone now. I can tell when I have a lot of sugar or wheat-ish things-my face breaks out and I bloat. I've had horrid cystic acne (4 rounds of Accutane never solved it) since I was 11-I'm 38 now and this is the only way it cleared.

Eat right and exercise. Tons of water. Tosca Reno has books on eating clean. Lots of places to go for info on the right way to do things w/out cleansing and other dangerous things.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Oh, and no matter how you decide to adjust your diet, be sure you are drinking at least 2-3 liters of water a day. I cannot stress this enough.

Not if you're butt-peeing! 2-3 liters of water won't help You need an IV drip for that!

Those all vegetable/juicing diet fad thing freaks me out, too. How can one go without protein? I pee my salads away and get starving within a few short hours, so I don't understand how anyone can only juice. A lot of people I know do that juicing thing since watching Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead on Netflix.

That is how I am too! I have to have meat w/every meal! That is why it makes sense to just eat as is, but try and add in a few fruit/veggy drinks and possibly take out the pasta from one meal or one other carb and see what happens after a month. No need to do anything drastic.

And, last night, I was on the ipad surfing around and found a lot of ideas for how to loose weight by just changing up small habits. Simply not eating a couple of bites of food while cooking, not eating a couple of samples at the grocery store, and a grabbing a quick handful of crackers from the pantry when in the kitchen can reduce calories by a couple hundred per day and result in significant weight loss over a year. A LOT of calories come from those tiny bits of food we stuff in our faces and forget all about - this is what I am guilty of doing.... like if I make my kids a snack, I take a bite! (I think it was last summer, I made a HUGE effort not to do that and a couple pounds dropped right off, then I forgot and started sampling again!)

 

[JuneRose]

Definitely don't do this... I tried it when I was 18 and after 4 days I woke up one morning unable to move with a white bumpy rash all over my face and an extremely high temperature
I was living in student accommodation at the time so I had locked my bedroom door -it took me 1/2 and hour to reach my phone (right next to me, on the bed side table) and call my flatmate, but then she couldn't get to me because my door was locked from the inside! Thank god I eventually managed to stand up to open the door but then I fainted. The doctor thought I had meningitis!! A truly horrendous experience...

 

[House Cat]

http://whole9life.com/2012/12/january-2013-whole30/

The best "detox" I've ever done is called a whole 30. The link I provided gives you all of the info you will need. Basically, you eliminate grain, dairy, every type of sugar and fake sugar, legumes, and a few other things for 30 days. But you CAN eat, constantly if you want. When my husband and I did it, we felt incredible, fatigue due to foods gone, hypoglycemia gone, we both lost weight. He lost 25 pounds, I lost 10.