The master cleanse, also known as the lemon diet is a very popular and controversial approach to weight loss, mainly due to people wondering if it does work and if it’s safe.
As someone who has done it twice, I’d like to share with you if it’s worth trying and if there’s better alternatives.
- The first time I did this cleanse, I lost about 5+ pounds in 3-4 days.
- The second time around, I lost about 14 pounds.
I’ll be giving you my experiences with this method of dieting, if it’s really something you should do and if there’s dangers to it (sometimes there can be).
Contents
How does the Master Cleanse work?
For about 10 days, you go through a cleanse where you can’t eat anything and must drink the following:
1) Lemon juice which is prepared manually by you. It combines water, lemons, maple B syrup and cayenne pepper. You just drink about 2 liters of this every single day.
2) Warm water with sea salt (or cleansing tea) every morning and the tea can be taken at night.
The lemon juice helps break down undigested foods in your small/large intestines and the warm water + sea salt helps flush it out of your body.
Does it get results?
Yes. When I did it the first time like I said above, in the first 3 days of doing this cleanse, I lost about 5 pounds, and after doing it for 5 days, I went down even more (my master cleanse experience). People who fully complete this cleanse can lose about a pound a day, sometimes more. If you do the cleanse, you will lose weight, no doubt about it.
My second time doing it, I didn’t get the same kinds of results, but I did lose about 10 pounds in 5 days but here are my documented details when I was on it.
Overall, most people who do this cleanse lose about 5-10 pounds in that time. It also varies on how much undigested food/fat you have to lose.
How long should it be?
Usually 10 days, but I’ve known people who go beyond that. If you’re a first timer, I would say no more than 10 days, but even then the main question that arises is…
Is it safe?
This is a tricky question because it varies based on who you are and what your condition/s is. If you are totally healthy and don’t have any medical conditions or aren’t taking any sort of prescriptions, then the cleanse will most likely be safe for you to do.
If you are taking any sort of medication, you should definitely consult with your doctor before trying this cleanse out.
The other things I noticed after doing the cleanse:
I only did this cleanse for 5 days the first time around but I felt it was more than enough as I only did it for experiment’s sake.
The first 3 days were VERY difficult. You are basically not eating anything whatsoever and the hunger does set in very quickly. After day 3 however, it became surprisingly easy.
Apparently there is a 3 day period for which you have to go through a detox. After the detox, you will feel much better and the cleanse will become much easier to handle. In my case, this is exactly what happened. Additionally:
Here were the benefits I noticed:
- My skin became clearer.
- I lost more than 5 pounds.
- My cravings for unhealthy foods pretty much vanished. In fact even thinking about them made me feel sick.
- I had a lot more energy than before.
- My cravings for healthy foods lasted for a few months.
Typically results do vary, but for the most part the same things I experienced is what most people who do the master cleanse see. It works, but I would again urge you to be careful and consult a doctor before trying it out.
What I also did was use a specific guide to help me get through it. The guide is good for beginners to the master cleanse because it’ll help you cheat the diet (somewhat) by providing you with tips and even some foods that you’ll be able to eat without damaging your results.
Pros:
- Very fast weight loss results.
- Long term weight loss results.
- Gets rid of cravings for unhealthy foods.
- Helps you get clearer skin.
- More energy.
- Cleanses/detoxes the body of unhealthy substances.
Cons:
- Not easy to complete.
- Not flexible.
- May not be suitable for everyone. Consult with a doctor if you have doubts.
The Master Cleanse Score:
3.5 stars out of 5. It definitely works and can provide a ton of major health/weight loss benefits. But it’s not easy or for everyone. This guide will help.
Conclusions on the Master Cleanse:
Out of all the diets I’ve seen, the master cleanse is probably the one which works the fastest and deliver the biggest health benefits. But it doesn’t come easy as it’s difficult (at first) to deal with the process. It’s basically fasting and the detox period can be difficult to deal with for many people.
A personal journey through the master cleanse!
There are ways to “cheat” the cleanse. I would recommend a guide such as this one. It’s what I personally used and it made the process easier to handle.
If you have no health issues, but want to get your health under control as well as lose weight, the master cleanse is definitely going to work. If you are uncertain about any kind of conditions you may have or are taking any prescriptions, you should definitely consult with a doctor before trying this out.
I was personally very happy with my results. It is recommended to do this cleanse at least 4 times a year for most people to maintain results. This will keep flushing out the bad substances in your body which accumulate over time like undigested foods/fat and allow your body to function better. A better functioning body = a better you.
If you decide not to try the master cleanse and are looking for alternatives, you can also try one of the highest rated diets on this website as it is much more convenient for just about everyone, provides as much weight loss results as the master cleanse, but is very flexible. It is up to you though.
What do you think of the Master cleanse? Please share your opinions below!
Tried this cleanse back in the 90s. Found it relatively easy. Encouraged my husband who was someone who had an executive life style to join me. At one point I did wonder what it had done to him. However day 8 he started to say that it was the healthiest he had felt in a long time
I have always looked on it as a cleanse rather than a diet. The originator offered as that. If there is any associated long term weight loss, great but feel it shouldn’t be used as the primary purpose.
End of Day 3: starting to feel really good. Short swim and run daily.
Nice! I would always consult with a doctor about this. When you’re young, you may be able to get away with doing this easier, but for me, I’ve come to find that gradual changes in diet and long term focus on health is a better thing.