Too Many Chips Yesterday? You Need a BluePrint Cleanse.

Update: BluePrint Cleanse is no longer in business. Try Pressed Juicery instead.

I agreed to try a 3-day BluePrint Cleanse during the holidays, when both my body and mind were feeling less than stellar. This post is timely as I’m willing to bet that most of you ate too many chips and drank a few beers yesterday while watching the Super Bowl. A juice cleanse just might set you straight.

I’m going to break down my experience into sections because I did not realize that a 3-day juice cleanse is actually an almost 9-day commitment.

I say almost because I was not as strict in the days prior or after as I should have been. And, therefore, I probably cheated myself out of some benefits.

Why You Should Juice Cleanse

I’ll let BluePrint Cleanse founder Zoe Sakoutis, CNC tell you why you should cleanse, “As the result of the pollutants in the air we breathe and chemicals in the food and water we consume, the body accumulates “toxins.” Every once in while the body needs to rid itself of these toxins. When the tissues release these materials, they enter into the bloodstream, which is the cause of all those “detox symptoms.”

BluePrint Cleanse is a nutritional cleanse that is effective in helping the body detoxify itself and move through this “low” or detox cycle faster and with fewer symptoms.

Cleansing is recommended for many illnesses, as it gives the body the rest it needs to recover. Take away the work of digesting food and one allows the system to rid itself of old toxins while facilitating healing.”

Juice Cleanse Nerves

My start date was after the new year and I could not wait. I put on a few extra pounds during the holiday season. I suspected any weight loss might be temporary, however, I was more intrigued by detoxification benefits.

I placed my order for the Renovation Cleanse, which is for juice cleanse newbies. I would highly recommend you cleanse with a friend because it helps to compare notes.

How to Prepare for a Juice Cleanse

BluePrint Cleanse gives you clear and very witty instructions regarding how to prepare for your cleanse. Prep should really start three days prior, but here’s what I did. On Monday, I started my new habit of drinking lemon water in the morning. I also cut out meat, sugar, and Diet Coke. I ate only fruit and vegetables on Tuesday, but couldn’t resist a little pasta with dinner. For me, prep was harder than the actual cleanse, because I had to think about what I was going to make myself and I was bummed that my options were so limited. I did have a few “what have I done?” moments.

Day 1 (Wednesday):  My juice cleanse didn’t arrive until about 11 a.m., so per BluePrint Cleanse instructions, I ate a mango for breakfast with some green tea.

I decided to go to boot camp. This isn’t an easy boot camp and I thought I was going to die. My energy levels were way down, but I’m used to eating a more substantial breakfast prior. Maybe it was mental.

Either way, I recommend you keep your exercise moderate during your cleanse. I started juice 1 as soon as I got home and easily progressed through the rest of the delicious juices.

Around 3 p.m. I started feeling weak. The kind folks at BluePrint Cleanse provided a cheat sheet for people like me, who they suspect might deviate. Just kidding, everyone gets it, but I was grateful. I inhaled 1/4 of an “allowed” avocado and felt much better. The last drink of the day is delicious cashew milk with cinnamon and agave.

Day 2 (Thursday):  I drank my juice and “cheated” again with 1/4 of an avocado. I wasn’t hungry and though I wasn’t energetic enough for a run, I felt fine.

I didn’t have any complaints. However, it was difficult to prepare dinner for the family when all I could “eat” was juice.

Day 3 (Friday): I attended a preschool field trip to the San Diego Zoo. I brought two of the juices to get me through the outing. I should have brought or bought water because I was extremely dehydrated when I got home. You are supposed to also drink a lot of water during your BluePrint Cleanse.

Because it was Friday, I started feeling a little agitated. My friends were headed out for drinks and I wanted to be there. They told me to show up and drink juice, but I knew it would be too hard. I was pretty tired by the end of the day, which totally overwhelmed my desire to be social. Make sure to have a totally clear social calendar during your cleanse.

The days after:  You are supposed to ease back into eating food. The day after my cleanse ended, I ate fruit and salad until dinner time.

That is until we decided to go to a local restaurant. I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal since I usually order a salad. Then the amazing duck tacos arrived. I took a bite. Then I took another and before I knew it, the entire taco was in my newly detoxed body.

About an hour later, I felt like I had gravel rolling around in my stomach. Not a good idea. Eat what BluePrint Cleanse recommends after your juice cleanse.

The result: I am not very good about weighing myself, but did make a point of stepping on the scale on Wednesday and then again on Saturday. There was a 3 lb difference, which is within my normal fluctuation. However, my pants fit better.

It’s been two weeks since my juice cleanse and the inches are still gone. I should have taken measurements rather than use my bathroom scale as a guide.

Also, the cleanse wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. I’m not sure I could have cleansed for longer than three days, however, a longer cleanse is obviously more beneficial.

*Disclaimer:  BluePrintCleanse provided my juices complimentary.