Update: The Master Cleanse, is it all Hype?

(Below is the detox stage I’m in)

Stage 2 (Day 3 To Day 7)
“Fats, composed of transformed fatty acids, are broken down to release glycerol from the gliceride molecules and are converted to glucose. The skin may become oily as rancid oils are purged from the body. People with problem-free skin may have a few days of pimples or even a boil. A pallid complexion is also a sign of waste in the blood. Ketones are formed by the incomplete oxidation of fats. It is suspected that the ketones in the blood suppress the appetite by affecting the food-satiety center in the hypothalamus. You may feel hungry for the first few days of the fast. This effect is temporary. The desire to eat will disappear. Lack of hunger may last 40 to 60 days, depending on whether you are on water or juice.

The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing and healing. White blood cell and immune system activity increases. You may feel pain in your lungs. The cleansing organs and the lungs are in the process of being repaired. Periodically, the lymphatic system expels mucoid matter through the nose or throat. The volume excreted of this yellow-colored mucus can be shocking. The sinuses go through periods of being clogged, then will totally clear. The breath is still foul and the tongue coated. Within the intestine, the colon is being repaired and impacted feces on the intestinal wall start to loosen.”-therawfoodsite

Journal Update-Day 3:

My husband and I have just about had it with this fast.  We’re starving!  Although I’m not terribly weak, I know I really want some food…and any food will suffice!  Reading skeptical information about cleanses and how they don’t really work makes me all the more want to break this cleanse.  But then I’ll always wonder, right?  Hopefully I’ll keep up the discipline and be able to tell you first hand from a Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferer if it made a difference.  Along with that of course is we’re all so addicted to eating.  We eat out of boredom, out of frustration, out of every emotion there is.  We’re addicted to the chemicals released when we eat food like endorphins, and we’re addicted to the sensations of food itself.  We also use food as a social event. I could have gone to lunch today with co-workers and I’m sure I would have had a great time, but I had to pass.  If I had gone out, normally speaking, I would have ended up eating very fatty foods to a point where I was full.  So I do think it’s a good thing that I’m teaching myself not to be addicted to food for all the wrong reasons.  I hope the lessons learned are here to stay….that is if I can just get through this cleanse!

I did not take Serracor-NK last night, but went ahead and drank the smooth move.  I read again how important it is when taking the Master Cleanse to drink it at night, and that when it comes to side effects of the fast, if you’re having any trouble it will probably resolve itself in a day.  So my husband and I decided to go ahead and give it another shot, saving the tea back for tonight as well because we don’t want to have to go out and by more smooth move tea.

Well, last night I was regretting the choice again because my stomach was acidic and I woke up with abdominal cramps needing to have another BM…twice.  Sure this Master Cleanse is cleaning me out, but I didn’t plan on loosing sleep over it.  Again I woke up tired.  I went ahead and took Tums last night to give me a small amount of relief and this morning I popped a Zantac which is an antacid pill.  I’m guessing I’m not allowed to do these things, but come on, I have to.

I realize too that when it comes to the fast, if I end up cheating even a little that at least I got through the ten days.  If cheating means I gave it my best shot, well then that’s the best I can do.  Some people think the fast won’t work even if you cheat a tiny bit but I know that raw fruits and vegetables also detoxes you, only much more slowly.  I have not cheated thus far, but I am certainly on edge and feeling the need to have something, even if it’s only romaine lettuce.  We’ll see if I can take another day of this.  Wish me luck!!