Master Cleanse

[geo]

I know a few folks on here have used this product. Interested in any effects it had- not weight loss but overall energy levels etc.

[aaron dae]

I know a few folks on here have used this product. Interested in any effects it had- not weight loss but overall energy levels etc.

I've only heard great things about this. I have multiple friends that do it.

[kara]

i'm about to spend the next 48 hours doing the "red wine" cleanse!

[Mz. Nicky]

i'm about to spend the next 48 hours doing the "red wine" cleanse!

[boxmusic]

i did it cause my girl wanted try it. figured i would to. read up on the science and came to the conclusion that it's bullshit re actually "cleansing" you out.

but i did it anyway, and am glad i did. i still think it's bullshit re the cleanising, but it has a different great effect. i started noticing how often i was eating "just to eat"....not really if i was hungry, but wanting to eat to eat. i don't know if i'm gonna be able to explain all of this properly, but it helped to realize that. and for a while after you're off the cleanse, your eating habits will be much better. eventually i returned to my old ways, but the memory of the cleanse helped me be not "as bad" if that makes any sense.

another thing that happens is your stomach kinda shrinks...not really weight loss, though you may have a little bit of that too. when you come off the cleanse you realize you don't really need to eat as much as you did before to be full. again, this wears off, but i'm still not nearly as bad as i was before.

as far as energy, it's weird....there will be times where mentally you feel down because you realize you've been consuming nothing but spicy lemonade for days. but at the same time, being so light because of not having any food in you also makes you feel like you have increased energy.

i think maybe the first time you do it you'll just have to see how it hits you. for me, the lack of food had no real impact on my life (other than the psychological strangeness of breaking old habits). my girl though was miserable all the time and quit after 7 days. but she (we) were convinced to do it after hearing about many times from marques wyatt and mark grant, both of who were doing it couple times a year i think. and marques was still doing yoga and other stuff while on it, and mark was still going to the gym etc....so it didn't affect them either.

another thing is you end up having lots of extra time. you don't realize how much time is spent getting and eating food, until you no longer have to do it. strange feeling.

in the end though, i still think the idea that it really "cleans" you out is bullshit. haven't seen any real science suggesting otherwise.

funny thing was right after we finsihed doing the cleanse, Penn & Teller's show (Bullshit) did an episode about cleanses, and how it's all nonsense.

i may actually do it again though...my eating habits are starting to get out of control again. but this time i think i'd modify the program to include soup, and maybe vitamins. if i don't really believe the "cleanse" part, then i don't see why i couldn't add things like this and still be fine.

good luck with it.

K.

[Tim Martinez]

I completed my first cleanse in Feb 08. I did 14 days.

My experience with it was a positive one. I felt lighter, thought clearer and learned a great deal about myself. I must admit that the first 3 days was the hardest. STAY AWAY FROM TV!! Every other commercial was a food commercial.

I remember when I posted my thread last year on the cleanse. A lot of folks were disputing it's benefits and how it wasn't good for my body...etc, etc. Read up on it and try it...good luck.

[Armento]

i just successfully talked my girl out of it by showing her SCIENTIFIC reasons why this is complete BS.

GEO.

You CANNOT have higher energy levels through starvation. And regarding detoxing... that's what the kidney, liver and spleen is for. And they do an amazing job and are NOT helped by cayenne, sugar and lemon

cut the bs

[boxmusic]

I completed my first cleanse in Feb 08. I did 14 days.

My experience with it was a positive one. I felt lighter, thought clearer and learned a great deal about myself. I must admit that the first 3 days was the hardest. STAY AWAY FROM TV!! Every other commercial was a food commercial.

I remember when I posted my thread last year on the cleanse. A lot of folks were disputing it's benefits and how it wasn't good for my body...etc, etc. Read up on it and try it...good luck.

ditto that TV comment....there's food EVERYWHERE on tv and i never really noticed it (or maybe i noticed it but didn't care) until being on that cleanse. but after a while you'll be fine. like Tim said, the first few days are the hardest. after that i even wen to lunch with friends and was able to watch them eat while i drank my lemonade.

i still don't think it's good for the body though....but i don't think it does any real damage either.

K.

[Armento]

just read this

http://deephousepage.com/forums/show...ighlight=detox

[Tim Martinez]

ditto that TV comment....there's food EVERYWHERE on tv and i never really noticed it (or maybe i noticed it but didn't care) until being on that cleanse. but after a while you'll be fine. like Tim said, the first few days are the hardest. after that i even wen to lunch with friends and was able to watch them eat while i drank my lemonade.

i still don't think it's good for the body though....but i don't think it does any real damage either.

K.

I was able to cook for my family and didn't have a craving to eat or cheat.

I agree with it didn't hurt my body...no real signs of great improvement either.

[Armento]

I agree with it didn't hurt my body...no real signs of great improvement either.

how was your brain function during the fasting? do you have a day job?

[Tim Martinez]

how was your brain function during the fasting? do you have a day job?

I wasn't working at the time. I could see this being VERY difficult at the gig though.

[travy]

do a 3-5 day juice fast instead. it still gives your digestive system a break and clears out your digestive track while still providing you with calories to get through the day. get a colonic before and after too...

[KBig]

I did it ... and Im doing it again March 1st!


I have horrible sinus problems.... Mucus was out of my system, I was sleeping like a baby ..the best sleep I have EVER had.

My nrg levels were thru the roof.


Its hard the first 3-4 days then the rest was a cake walk!

[boxmusic]

how was your brain function during the fasting? do you have a day job?

didn't seem to affect me at all. the only drawbacks really are psychological i think.

but unlike one of the posts above, i don't think "cleanses" are legit. i don't think your digestive system needs a break, or that colonics do anything beneficial at all. not dissing other's beliefs, i just don't see any real science to support those beliefs.

i don't take this as my only science, but i think you'll enjoy it:



K.

[travy]

didn't seem to affect me at all. the only drawbacks really are psychological i think.

but unlike one of the posts above, i don't think "cleanses" are legit. i don't think your digestive system needs a break, or that colonics do anything beneficial at all. not dissing other's beliefs, i just don't see any real science to support those beliefs.

when you give your digestive system a break it frees up that energy for other purposes giving you the clarity that people speak of. and colonics are beneficial in clearing out mucus, gas and undigested food that accumulates in your large intestine making you feel light and loose in your mid section. perhaps not for everyone but don't knock it until you've tried it.

here's the one i do once a year that has many devotees:

http://www.jillpettijohn.com/cleanse.html

[boxmusic]

when you give your digestive system a break it frees up that energy for other purposes giving you the clarity that people speak of. and colonics are beneficial in clearing out mucus, gas and undigested food that accumulates in your large intestine making you feel light and loose in your mid section. perhaps not for everyone but don't knock it until you've tried it.

here's the one i do once a year that has many devotees:

http://www.jillpettijohn.com/cleanse.html

tried it and did feel lighter. til the next day. all of the scioence seems to support that the colonic just "forced" out what would've naturally come out a day or two later. again, not dismissing anyone's beliefs, but i have yet to see real science supporting it.

did you watch that penn & teller episode? remember i'm not saying that's all i base my beliefs on...just thought it's a great episode.

K.

[kara]

for real! if you've ever drank a ton of red wine, you'd know how funny it is i'm suggesting this for a "cleanse" (think mud pooh!)

[travy]

tried it and did feel lighter. til the next day. all of the scioence seems to support that the colonic just "forced" out what would've naturally come out a day or two later. again, not dismissing anyone's beliefs, but i have yet to see real science supporting it.

did you watch that penn & teller episode? remember i'm not saying that's all i base my beliefs on...just thought it's a great episode.

K.

so you're basically calling the millions of people who get colonics fools? does this make you feel smart to dismiss the real experiences of all these people? trust me, the stuff that comes out of you in a colonic doesn't come out a couple days later. whether or not it's necessary to clean it all out is another debate, but this stuff isn't coming out on its own.

and i'm not taking health advice from an asshole magician.

[Armento]

didn't seem to affect me at all. .

that's what you think.

[boxmusic]

so you're basically calling the millions of people who get colonics fools? does this make you feel smart to dismiss the real experiences of all these people? trust me, the stuff that comes out of you in a colonic doesn't come out a couple days later. whether or not it's necessary to clean it all out is another debate, but this stuff isn't coming out on its own.

and i'm not taking health advice from an asshole magician.

i'm not calling anyone a fool. i think i went out of my way to say i wasn't dismissing anyone's opinions or beliefs, but that for me, i don't see the science to support it.

i also went out of my way to say that i wasn't relying on that video as my science...just something enjoyable to watch.

when i was getting ready to do the cleanse i did a lot of research on my own to see if it would be harmful....in the end i detrmined it wouldn't be, but at the same time, determined the "cleanse" aspect appeared to have zero scientific support. this is from wikipedia....and while i know wikipedia is not a scientific journal, it does specifically site numerous legitimate scientific journals for the information in this article.

___

Colon cleansing (colon therapy) encompasses a number of alternative medical therapies intended to remove fecal waste and unidentified toxins from the colon and intestinal tract. Colon cleansing may take the form of colon hydrotherapy (also called colonics or colonic irrigation) or oral cleansing regimens.

Colon hydrotherapy uses enemas to inject water, sometimes mixed with herbs, or other liquids, into the colon using special equipment. Oral cleaning uses dietary fiber, herbs, dietary supplements or laxatives.[1] Practitioners believe colon cleansing removes accumulations of feces from the walls of the large intestine which are believed to putrefy, harbour parasites or pathogenic gut flora to cause nonspecific symptoms and general ill-health (referred to as "autointoxication"), a hypothesis based on medical beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks that was discredited in the early 20th century.[2]

No scientific evidence supports the alleged benefits of colon cleansing.[2] The bowel itself is not dirty and barring drugs or disease, cleans itself naturally without need for assistance.[3] Some types of colon cleansing present potential hazards; the equipment used during colon cleansing has caused damage to the rectum in a small number of individuals, and caused amoebiasis when improperly sterilized. Certain enema preparations have been associated with heart attacks and electrolyte imbalances. Frequent colon cleansing may interfere with the proper functioning of the colon and can lead to dependence on laxatives or enemas to defecate. Some herbs used may also interact with or reduce the effectiveness of prescription drugs.[4]
History

The efficacy of colon cleansing is based on the concept of "auto-intoxication", the idea that food enters the intestine and rots, an idea that originated in Ancient Egypt.[5][6] The ancient Egyptians believed that toxins formed as a result of decomposition within the intestines, and moved from there into the circulatory system causing fever and the development of pus. The Ancient Greeks adopted and expanded the idea, applying their belief in the four humours. In the 19th century, studies in biochemistry and microbiology seemed to support the autointoxication hypothesis, and mainstream physicians promoted the idea.[7] The idea was promoted most strongly by Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov, who thought that these toxins could shorten the lifespan. Over time, the concept broadened to "auto-intoxication" where the body cannot fully dispose of its waste products and toxins, which accumulate in the intestine.[6] This was part of orthodox medical doctrine up to the end of the 19th century,[5] as were the purported benefits of colon cleansing.[citation needed] In some cases, the concept led to radical surgeries to remove the colon for unrelated symptoms.[8]

A 1919 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association[9] marked the beginning of the rejection of the autointoxication hypothesis by the medical community.[7] In the early 20th century, the auto-intoxication hypothesis was discredited as advances in science failed to support its claims.[6][10][11] Despite this, the discredited idea still persists in the public imagination, and colon cleansing has undergone a resurgence in the alternative medical community, supported by beliefs about autointoxication and promoted by manufacturers of colon cleansing products.[6] The health claims of colon cleansing advocates have been criticized as relying on the discredited science of the previous century, as well as testimonials and anecdotal rather than scientific evidence.[10]

[edit] Relationship to medical symptoms

The symptoms that are attributed to autointoxication—headache, fatigue, loss of appetite and irritability—are actually caused by mechanical distention within the bowel rather than toxins from putrefying food.[7][12][5] The benefits anecdotally attributed to colon cleansing are vague and the claims made by manufacturers and practitioners, in addition to being based on a flawed understanding of the body, have never been scientifically validated.[13] There is little evidence of actual benefit to the procedure, and no evidence that it can alleviate the symptoms that are attributed to the theories of colon cleansing.[11] No surgeries, autopsies or other observations of colons have discovered any evidence of compacted feces or other evidence to support the theory of autointoxication or the need for colon cleansing.[7][5] There is no evidence that frequent bowel movements result in better health or longer life.[7][13]

[edit] Complications and risks

Colon cleansing is generally unnecessary as the body naturally removes waste material.[14][3] Colon cleansing may disrupt the balance between bacteria and natural chemicals in the bowel, and may interfere with the colon's ability to shed dead cells.[15] Other rare but serious complications have included a number of cases of gastrointestinal perforation,[16][17] and a well documented case of amoebic infection from poorly sterilised equipment.[18] Some colon cleansing programs disrupt fluid and electrolyte balance which may lead to dehydration and salt depletion, whilst prolonged or excessive cleansing programs can lead to anemia and malnutrition.[14] Excessive use of enemas have also been associated with cardiac problems such as heart failure,[14] and heart attacks related to electrolyte imbalances when combined with coffee as an ingredient.[19] The frequent use of enemas or other colon cleansing tools may lead to dependence and an inability to defecate without assistance or withdrawal symptoms.[4][5] Herbs that are consumed for colon cleansing and taken as oral preparations may also interfere with drug absorption and effectiveness.[4]

[boxmusic]

just a reminder though, i'm still glad i did the cleanse for the pyschological benefits of getting me to eat less and only when i'm hungry....though if you discipline you can probably do that without the cleanse.

and not having food for ten days definitely made me lighter, which felt great.

but the "cleanse" part...i don't believe it to be true at all.

K.

[travy]

just a reminder though, i'm still glad i did the cleanse for the pyschological benefits of getting me to eat less and only when i'm hungry....though if you discipline you can probably do that without the cleanse.

and not having food for ten days definitely made me lighter, which felt great.

but the "cleanse" part...i don't believe it to be true at all.

K.

just to be clear, i'm not into the "master cleanse" because i can't go that long without nourishment which is why i do a juice fast where you drink various juices and soups six times a day for a week. i'm also a little dubious about claims about removing toxins and stuff and stuff like that.

for me, giving the digestive system a break from solid food seems like a good idea and i do feel the benefits from it. however, i do start missing solid food after a few days, so it's still a bit of a challenge to go too long, but probably not as hard as master cleanse--which would kill me, i think.

as far as colonics, lots of people swear by them and have different beliefs about what they do. everyone is different and i'm sure they don't work for everyone and i don't think anyone absolutely 'needs' them, but i think they can be quite beneficial for lots of people.

like i said, i do it all together once a year and feel fantastic when i finish. but that's just me. ymmv...

[KragShot]

When I was training and more active in Sanshou competition, my sifu suggested that I try a cleanse. Another of my instructors went on one and it resulted in him becoming a vegetarian. He suggested Dr. Richard Anderson's "Cleanse Thyself Program."

I tried it and went for ten weeks...two weeks preparation, six weeks on the actual cleanse and two weeks coming down from it.

While it did clean out my colon, reduced my allergic reactions, and I experienced a certain "clarity of thought," because of my particular biological makeup, my energy levels were seriously depleted. While sparring, while I was not tired out from the activity, the amount of power I was able to apply against my opponent was significantly diminished.

I'm an omnivore with carnivorous leanings. Like most carnivores, I required the high caloric content that meat provided to achieve the highest level of physical performance, especially when fighting.

I'm tempted to try it again, now that I lead a more "sedentary lifestyle."