Cleansing my system

After a tough weekend, I'm up a few lbs. from all the extra food. This is discouraging to me, so I am thinking of taking a day to drink a lot of water and clean out my system. My question is, is one day of a "cleanse" long enough? I hope so, because I don't know how long I can go without food!

Anyone else out there done a system cleanse?

I noticed in your profile that you have a race coming up soon.  You should be eating with that in mind.  Keep you body strong, feed it well so you can develope those legs that you need to run,

Have a healthy food day.  It will be better for your body in the long run.

You are not serious, right?

Your profile says you want to overcome eating issues and eventually stop calorie counting. Punishing yourself with starving just because you ate a bit more than usual for a weekend is not the way to go.

Your system will clean itself of the water weight pretty soon if you don't send it into shock. Walk an extra mile, drink two extra glasses of water, eat normally, and you'll be fine. Act like a healthy person, and you will become one. No need to obsess about food, it's not worth it.

I also saw that you are an athlete - I am surprised you don't know better than me how harmful and counter-productive it is to starve yourself.

Hi..

My gastroenterologist suggested hot water w/balsamic vinegar (+ honey if you can't tolerate the taste alone). This works really well for me. I have certain days where I just feel terribly bloated. I drink this and I eat foods that are natural "movers" (if you know what I mean) like prunes etc, and things are pretty well "cleansed" in no time. Obviously, drink plain water too.

But you need to eat...just choose the right foods.

hope that helps..

I read alot about this. A cleanse should be at least 3 days to work.  I also heard that in the AM having warm water w 1/2 a lemon squeezed into it does wonders for our system. I have also started taking digestive enzymes. (GNC multi enzyme formula.) 2 pills before each meal.  It doesnt make you run to the bathroom all the time, not to be gross but when you do go...its alot more. it  assists in the breakdown of foods. I feel that after i have gone to the bathroom, I have  truly eliminated ALL the contents. i really feel better taking it. I feel lighter and my tummy is flatter!!! isnt that really all that counts!! LOL  i really hope this helps you. i hope i wasnt too descriptive....let me know how your doing or any tips you may have for me.    Stephanie

Um, no disc... I didn't say I wanted to starve myself. You act as if I plan to go on a month long fast. Not even close. If I wanted to starve myself, I wouldn't come on here asking for advice. Starving yourself is pretty self-explanatory. I'm looking for advice for a ONE DAY self cleanse. A healthy cleanse. Nowhere did I even come close to saying I wanted to starve myself. I mentioned a day of drinking a lot of water... did I even mention what I planned to eat? Nope. Sure, I may have worded my last sentence wrong by saying I didn't know how long I could go without food. I plan on eating fruits and veggies with fiber to help the cleanse.

I have already overcome my eating issues - 3 years ago! I currently eat 1500 calories a day. One cleansing day is not starvation.

Sheesh.

Everyone else, thanks for your unput. I'm not sure I can do a 3 day cleanse as I have a half-marathon race coming up in a week and a half and I need to fuel my body. I'll take tomorrow and cleanse and see what the outcome of that is. Otherwise, I'll get back to my normal routine and work on the cleanse later.

That might have been the problem, nowhere in your post did you mention eating food.

Members that see just the cleanse part and jump to conclusions because we do not have the whole story.

You can not be surprised that members thought you were only going to drink water for 24 hours.

Here is a list of foods that naturally detox.

Fruit
Fresh or frozen fruit.

Vegetables
All fresh vegetables. Vegetables thought to be particularly good detox foods include broccoli, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts, onions, garlic, artichokes, beets, red and green vegetables.

Rice
All forms of rice, including rice cakes, rice crackers and rice pasta. Brown rice is typically preferred.

Other Grains
Quinoa, amaranth, millet, and buckwheat can be used instead of rice. They can be purchased at a health food store or in some grocery stores.

Beans
Split yellow and green peas and lentils are easiest to digest and require the least soaking time. Other good options include kidney beans, pinto beans, mung beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and adzuki beans.

Nuts and Seeds
Unsalted nuts or seeds can be sprinkled over salads or eaten as a snack. Good options include flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews and walnuts. Nut butters are permitted. Peanuts and peanut butter are usually not recommended.

Oil
Extra-virgin olive oil is a preferred oil.

Condiments
Vegetable salt, sea salt, vinegar, soy sauce or tamari, all herbs or spices.

Tea
Herbal teas, green tea.

Other Beverages
Water, lemon water, pure unsweetened fruit and vegetable juices, rice milk

Daily Detox Do's
Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day, warm or room temperature.

Take the time to chew food well, especially grains.

Original Post by bbfxvtub:

I am thinking of taking a day to drink a lot of water and clean out my system. My question is, is one day of a "cleanse" long enough? I hope so, because I don't know how long I can go without food!

 

 I must speak as I find, and this is all what you have let us know about your idea of a "cleanse".

But even in the light of what you said later, I can only repeat that unless you have food poinsoning or a very upset stomach, there is no need to "clean out" your system because it was made in a way to do it by itself. Instead of shocking it by "cleansing", help it with extra walking and water, no need for anything drastic unless you are really sick.

Bbfxvtub:  Try a sea salt cleanse.  Mix 1 tablespoon of sea salt with 1 quart of water and drink it as fast as you can.  If you can't stand the taste add some lemon.  Be sure you are home for at least 5 to 6 hours after you do this because you'll be using the restroom a lot.  For the rest of the day drink lots of water and eat healthy, light, fiber-filled foods.  You'll feel absolutely WONDERFUL afterwards.  If you look up the sea salt cleanse on the internet it will tell you to double the salt and water I mentioned above.  Since you don't weigh a whole lot, that is why I only gave you half of the "recipe."  It's what I used (I'm about 118 lbs) and it worked great for me.

I enjoyed reading your bio.  How did you lose the 20 lbs in 4 months and what are you doing now to tone your legs and butt?  If I take up running do you think I'll be able to tone my legs and butt or do you think I'll need more than that?

Have fun with your cleanse. 

Diana

Original Post by bbfxvtub:

After a tough weekend, I'm up a few lbs. from all the extra food. This is discouraging to me, so I am thinking of taking a day to drink a lot of water and clean out my system. My question is, is one day of a "cleanse" long enough? I hope so, because I don't know how long I can go without food!

Anyone else out there done a system cleanse?

I have done it, I recommend it and it does wonders for me.  I don't see it as depriving yourself since it is a one day thing. Nutritionists advice it. You might read what Don Colbert says in his book. It is also recommended as the most natural way and to do it at least once a week. I have sort of fallen out of the routine. I once saw a guy (a nutritionist doctor) who said it was one of his secrets to staying healthy. He was 75 but he didn't look a day over 45. I know CC is all about eating and not depriving yourself and I don't want to say they are wrong (because they are not) but there are other ways that work and if you are comfortable with it, go for it.

 

fresh, raw veggies & water, herbal teas & juices using a masticating juicer, not those citrus juicers.  i agree, a short fast occasionally is not a bad thing if you are reasonably healthy.  another thing i have not heard anything about in here is cleansing the other end, your colon.  i'd recommend some research on that.  an organic, high quality, fresh coffee enema can really help tonify the colon, but be careful, the colon absorbs things much faster than the small intestines.  it will definitely put a zing in your step.  though, do the research on it first.  if you have hemorrhoids or any other colon/bowel disorders, check with a doctor first.  also, colonics with probiotics and distilled water are good.  if a cleanse is what you want, colonic irrigation may be the way to go and up the raw veggies for more fiber to help push what's in the top part of your GI down.  juices are great sources of nutrients while fasting. 

My weight spikes up on the weekends too. I generally eat more on the weekends for some reason... I usually will just hit the gym hard the next day or add a few more miles to my biking routine. Ive been doing 15-20-30 miles a day on my bike after I get home from work. I think "cleansing" your system is best done thru exerting extra effort in your workouts to shed the extra consumed calories.

 

MF'er Out