Marcy's Cleanse Blog
Marcy’s Cleanse Blog
Isagenix™ 9-Day Cleanse with Two PreCleanse Days
October 2 – October 13, 2007
Lost: 10 pounds and 16.5 inches!
UPDATE: As of November 8, 2007, I've lost 12 pounds and 22.5 inches!
My before and after -- just of my face (with my hair pulled back)
PreCleanse, Day 1
Determined. That would be the best word to describe how I feel this morning. As I stood in the shower psyching myself up, I realized I was washing away my doubts about completing the Isagenix program. I can do this. I’m determined!
I began with my weigh and measure. I’m only 5’1”, which means weight is quick to show on my frame. Five pounds can be an entire pant size for me. According to my
To get to a
OK. First step is water. Quite frankly, actually drinking enough water is my biggest concern here. My entire adult life I’ve heard you should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Everyone should. I’ve NEVER been able to do it.
So here’s my plan: I take a glass pitcher that I have and fill it with 64 ounces of water. The water goes all the way to the top of the pitcher! Now, I’ll drink from the pitcher all day until the pitcher is gone. No counting glasses, no chugging, no getting up and down to refill. Best of all, I’ll have the sense of accomplishment as the water level in the pitcher keeps going down. This might actually work!
I start with my first glass of water, watch the water level drop in my pitcher, and smile.
Next, my first Isagenix shake. You definitely must use the blender – there are a lot of proteins in there and a simple stir does not cut it. I throw in a hefty handful of ice cubes to boot. The end result is a frothy chocolate shake. Pretty good. Kind of malty tasting.
By the time I’m ready to leave for work I’ve gone through another glass of water. I mark the level on my pitcher, dump it out and head to work. Once there, I fill the pitcher back up to my mark and plant the pitcher on the end of my desk.
As lunchtime approaches, my pitcher is about 1/3 gone – this strategy is really working! Hunger is definitely hitting, so I load up a HUGE salad with roasted chicken strips (Tyson Shortcuts) and other veggies. I must have some carbs, so I also have a slice of all natural, fresh-baked bread I picked up. I estimate 600 calories worth of all the ingredients, including plenty of low-cal dressing, and dig in. I only make it through about 2/3 of the salad, but ate all of my bread. I’m stuffed.
More water through the afternoon, but I feel pretty satisfied. It didn’t help that someone brought in Dunkin Donuts this morning and now people are walking around with them for their afternoon snack. But I ignore them and stay deteremined!
By the time I get the kids and get home, I’m pretty starved. That shake is sounding really good right now!! I head straight to the blender and get myself taken care of. This shake tastes even better than this morning’s. I down it pretty quickly and feel much better. I brought my pitcher back home, after marking my water level before leaving the office. Turns out I only have one glassfull to go. By 7:30, all the water is gone. For the first time in my life, I drank all the water. The pitcher system worked – yay!
The only really hard point I have today is cooking the kids’ dinner. I never realized how often I would nibble here and there while cooking and then cleaning up. Sometimes cleaning up also meant finishing what they left on their plate. I catch myself reaching for their plates many times, but stop myself just before I blow it. I’m determined!
Next problem is when the traditional evening snacking binge habit starts to hit. I say habit, because I’m not really craving anything in particular – that’s a switch. I just feel the urge to eat because it’s evening. But, no! I’m determined. I head to the bedroom and pick up a book. And then, lights out. Day One PreCleanse is complete.
PreCleanse, Day 2
My first shock of the day comes when I found out that I had completely slept through the alarm clock. I am usually one of those annoying morning people almost everyone else hates. I pretty much wake up before the alarm clock. I was dumbfounded and had to be reassured several times by my husband that I was indeed ‘out cold.’ But I feel great!
The second shock of the day comes when I get on the scale. Three pounds!! That’s right, three pounds down. I am grinning from ear to ear. I can do this!
Off to the kitchen to fill my pitcher, have some water and my morning shake. Take the pitcher to work and blow everyone away when I walk in. Three of my co-workers literally walk around me, looking me up and down, commenting on how I actually look like I’ve noticeably lost weight. They are shocked at the three pounds loss in just one day. I’m not sure I believe them, but I’m grinning again!
Same routine until lunch. Another big salad, except not as big as yesterday’s, and a slice of the amazing bread at my desk. I’m starving as I start eating and anticipate plowing through the meal. Except about 5 minutes into it I get a little head rush, some dizziness. I think it’s just the blood rushing to my stomach to digest some actual food. I focus on the bread and the chicken for more substance. A couple minutes later the dizziness passes. Half an hour later, I am still working on the salad. I haven’t eaten half of it, but I’m feeling like I can’t eat any more. Very weird. I give my coach a call and describe what I’m going through. He says some people actually lose their hunger. Try to eat as much as I can even if it takes over an hour or more. I follow his advice and get about 2/3 down. I worry I’ll be ravenous by dinner as a result, but make it through the rest of the afternoon without any problems.
I’m actually happy to be starving by the time I get home with the kids. I get my shake down quickly and without any of the problems I had at lunch. I feel satisfied. My pitcher method is still working, and I’m again down to only one glass of water for the day. Another yay! Knowing how last night went, I get the kids fed and their food out of the way as quickly as possible.
As night time hits, the hunger pangs are starting up. I’m now paying the price for too small a lunch. Nothing to do about it now. I won’t have another chance at that salad for two more days. Yikes! But I’m still determined!! I go to sleep early in anticipation of starting my first Isagenix Cleanse Day tomorrow.
Cleanse, Day 1
I woke up this morning feeling very excited
I decide to go with the straight IsaCleanse on ice, instead of diluting into a full glass of water. It’s called Tropical flavor, but honestly, it tastes a lot like fruity cough syrup. Not so great, but I gulp it down and follow it with a cold water chaser. OK, I can do this!
I put together my baggie full of snacks and almonds, get ready for work and, with my pitcher and bottle of IsaCleanse, head out the door. My choice of doing cleanse days on a work day was strategic so that I wouldn’t be around my kitchen at home all day.
When I walk in the door, my co-workers again walk around me commenting on how I am actually looking even thinner. I grin as I go through my day, popping snacks and almonds any time a hunger pain hits. At first, everyone else tiptoed around me. The reason? I am notoriously cranky when I get hungry. Everyone was afraid I would be a complete bear. Amazingly, I make it through the day without any crankiness and very little hunger pangs. The only side effect is feeling a little bit weak and a touch ‘fuzzy’ on my thinking. But for the most part, really not a problem.
As I head home, I’m anticipating a problem with having to cook the kids dinner. Thankfully, my husband steps up and takes care of everything. I keep up with snacks and almonds pretty much once an hour or so, which keeps the hunger pangs at bay. Once I get in bed, I realize I made it – Cleanse Day One is done!
Cleanse, Day 2
I wake up testing out how I feel. Actually, really good! Although I am fantasizing about going in the kitchen and blending up a shake. But, I’m determined! I practically run to the scale (after emptying a very full bladder) to see what kind of benefit I got from yesterday’s cleanse. I am down 6.5 pounds! What a great incentive to get through this second day!
Today goes pretty much the same as yesterday – no crankiness whatsoever (to everyone else’s relief) and a slight feeling of weakness. This morning I do get a little light headedness around 10:00. I decide I don’t need to be so hard core about everything and munch down a couple of organic baby carrots along with my snack and almonds. The dizziness passes within a few minutes and I’m good to go. The feeling comes back again around 4:00, so I eat another couple of carrots with my snack and almonds.
My husband again takes charge of dinner. I’m realizing how much easier this would be if he and I were doing our programs together. But he’s traveling next week so has to wait until he gets back. Anyway, he gets the boys handled so I can go out of food scent range. But around 8:00 my evening eating habit kicks in. I decide again not to be so hard on myself and have a half of an apple. This is best tasting apple I have ever had! Amazingly, the apple completely fills me up and holds me over until I go to sleep.
Shake Day, Day 1
I’m definitely a little weaker this morning, but I’m elated at the thought of being able to eat today! Today is also my first official weigh and measure day. I know I keep saying I’m amazed, but I have now lost EIGHT POUNDS and 10.5 INCHES! Wow! I am a third of the way to my target weight in only four days. I can do this!
I get myself into the kitchen for my shake. I can’t wait! Amazingly, half way through the shake I am really full. I actually have to force myself to finish. I’m actually relieved that I didn’t feel the need to gorge on everything in sight. I am truly stuffed.
Today, I am actually deviating from the program because of social plans. I’m supposed to have a regular meal for lunch, like on my Pre Cleanse Days, but I want to be able to eat with friends over dinner. I call my coach to get his input on it. He told me to go and enjoy, but understand I may not lose anything more today because I am deviating from the plan. It’s worth it to me to be able to join in with everyone tonight, so I stick to my plan. Shake for lunch it is!
I stay with my Isagenix snacks and almonds to make it to dinner. I’m feeling really good about myself as I get ready for my night out. I’m meeting up with friends from my office, who all saw me yesterday afternoon. But they all comment on how great I look and even skinnier again today. I even got hit on by a very cute guy while on a bathroom run! This program is great for the ego!
For dinner, I order a chicken Caesar salad and substitute a vinaigrette dressing on the side. The salad is delicious, but I only finish about 3/4 of it. I concentrate on the chicken to keep my protein level up. I realize this is my first real food in three days. I’m really doing it!
By the time dinner is over, it’s very late and we head home. At this point, I’m wondering how my body will react to the food in my system.
Shake Day, Day 2
I slept really hard last night and wake up feeling almost still full. I realize I need to get back on track with the program timing, so I will be by the book today. After my shake, which I have to really work to get all of it down, I am feeling incredibly full. And then I feel my bowels finally start to kick into action.
I haven’t ‘gone’ since my first IsaCleanse drink three mornings ago. This morning, I again experience a lot of volume, this time everything is almost a black color. (Sorry to be so graphic.) I feel good knowing that this is probably a lot of the very old, impacted stuff making its way out of my colon. I feel much better afterwards and get on with my day. I keep up with my water and snacks, but don’t eat the optional almonds. I don’t need to because I feel so full!
I eat a normal lunch today, trying out an organic burrito and a small spinach salad with grilled chicken. I’m a little worried I’m eating too much starch, but we’ll see what happens. I am again getting very full, but make myself eat it all.
This afternoon, I am feeling kind of queasy in the gut area. I think my intestines are trying to figure out what to do with food in there! I persevere, though, and continue with my water and snacks with no other symptoms. The queasiness passes after about an hour or so.
I’m feeling good and hungry at dinnertime, but again feel very full after my evening shake. Lots of water and another snack an hour later. By 10:00 pm I am more than ready for bed!
Shake Day, Day 3
Today proceeds almost identical to yesterday. I feel pretty old hat at the program right now. I’ve even started coaching someone else through the program. Look at me, the expert!
The big difference today is that I am greeted at the office door with a major computer issue that keeps me away from my desk much of the day. That means I am away from my trusty pitcher of water and baggie full of snacks, too.
I realize by 3:00 that I have not had nearly as much to drink at this point as I have the previous days. I’m also starting to feel kind of gurgly in the gut. I figure that’s a good sign things are working the way they’re supposed to. I knew it was only a matter of time that I would see an intestinal response. Now I feel like a ticking time bomb!
I remember that the best way to stave off bad symptoms is to drink a lot of water to keep the toxins diluted as much as possible. I start drinking!
By the time I get home, the queasiness is at a low grumble but definitely manageable. I have no trouble getting the boys fed while I slowly drink my shake. I laugh thinking that on the PreCleanse Days I was guzzling the shakes down in one big gulp. Now, I am actually watching the clock to make sure I drink it all in under 10 minutes to keep the enzymes active. What a difference a few days makes!
I keep going on the water, also realizing that my trips to the bathroom to relieve my bladder have also gotten less frequent. My body is definitely adjusting. I still try to taper off toward bed time to avoid any trips during the night. We’ll see how the gut feels in the morning…
Shake Day, Day 4
I’ll call this hump day. While I’ve woken up every other morning feeling skinny and great, I wake up today to the gurgle. I also feel pretty bloated and a little down. But I give myself a little pep talk, reminding myself of how far I’ve come. I’m still at the 8 pound mark, which is still awesome for six days. I remind myself that I recently finished 6 WEEKS of an intense morning video and calorie restricted diet, losing only 2 pounds. And that came immediately back as soon as I stopped working out daily.
I feel a little better, but the euphoria is definitely gone. Then I get dressed. My pants are literally hanging on me. Cautiously, I head to the extra closet where I have stashed all those clothes I’ll ‘never fit into again.’ I pull out a pair – low and behold, they fit! And not only do they fit, but they fit well!! The euphoria is back!!
But so is the gurgle. I try a little water, and within five minutes I’m hitting the bathroom. It’s not horrible in the least, but I let go of way more than I ate at lunch yesterday and also get rid of that horrible bloated feeling. I feel better until I drink my shake, again making sure I get it all down within 10 minutes. Five minutes later, I’m back in the bathroom. The colon cleanse is finally here.
Once at the office, I have three more rounds in the bathroom throughout the morning. I’m finally done and feel much, much better. Lunch is not a problem at all, even after I’m done eating. Yay!
I take stock on my progress so far and realize I am definitely feeling much healthier, not to mention definitely thinner. I go online and order my maintenance kit. I figure I will try the maintenance for a month, get back to my exercise routine, and see how I do. If I still want to lose more in a month, I’ll do another cleanse cycle. For now, though, I’m just focused on this 9-Day finish line!
By the time I’m ready for my evening shake I am hungry but not starving. I even cook the boys’ dinner without any issues. Although their homemade chicken tenders smelled mighty good! The shake goes down well, but by 8:00 I am really starving! I remember that an appetite is a good sign that my metabolism is still going strong. Well, mine is raging. I go for half an apple, which satisfies me to an extent. I could easily have the other half, but I resist for another hour and get myself to bed.
Shake Day, Day 5
This morning I wake up feeling much better and with a lot of energy. No gurgles so far, thank goodness. I also have that skinny feeling back, but I’m holding steady at 8 pounds down. I actually consider doing a workout, but I got chastised by my coach to keep exercise to a minimum so my body can devote all its energy to rebuilding my insides. OK, no workout.
Things are really feeling old hat now, and totally manageable. The day goes by pretty well, with a little bit of queasiness late morning. Not really a problem though. I do have to rush through my lunch so I can give someone a ride to the airport. It’s on the way back that I realize I just rushed through my last real meal for three days! Oh well…
By dinner, I’m hungry but not really interested in food. I’m almost looking forward to my Cleanse Day tomorrow so I don’t have to worry about eating. I can’t believe those words just came out of my mouth! Still, I try to enjoy that last shake as it goes down. As cavalier as I’m feeling right now, I know I’ll be missing food tomorrow!
The hunger pangs hit again at bedtime, and I’m starting to second guess my actual desire to not eat tomorrow. I remember that I got through the first two Cleanse Days without any difficulty at all. I’m sure I’ll be fine. Right?
Cleanse Again, Day 1Alright - I’m in the home stretch!! While I was nervous when starting my first Cleanse a week ago, I’m going into today feeling pretty excited. Still at 8 pounds, but I know that will change for sure after these next two days. Also, no gurgle at all. Yay!
I have my first IsaCleanse drink and expect the same laxative effect as the first time, but I am totally fine. I guess the past few days took care of that!
I follow protocol for today without any problem. The biggest difference I notice between my first Cleanse Day and today is that I have no weakness whatsoever. I feel awesome! And, even though the scale hasn’t moved in the past few days, I am still looking and feeling thinner. My husband commented that the ‘cottage cheese’ in my thighs is practically gone!
By dinnertime I am able to cook for the boys and handle it OK. The smells are tempting, but resistable. My hunger pangs are a little sharper now, so I grab a few apple slices when I feed the kids and another couple of slices an hour later. But at bedtime I am starving! Then I realize I forgot my last IsaCleanse drink. I race to the kitchen and guzzle that down. The hunger pangs completely disappear, thank goodness!
Cleanse Again, Day 2Last Day!!! I wake up today feeling really good. I remember last week feeling kind of weak when I woke up. This morning, I feel the urge to go for a run! That feeling, combined with the knowledge that this is my last day, and then getting on the scale to see another pound gone gives me a great start to the day!!
As I drive to work, I am again struck by how great I feel. It’s almost like a runner’s high. I literally have a strong urge to go do something physical. I tell myself that after today it’s back to my workout routine. Now we’ll see what kind of results I get!!
Based on my results, my husband, sister and two other co-workers started on their own 9-Day Cleanse. Today is Cleanse Day 1 for them. I am greeted at the office door with news of how great they feel and how surprised they are that they aren’t hungry. Across the board, they are down an average of 3-4 pounds just from their PreCleanses. I’m so relieved that my experience is being repeated with them.
Today goes well, but I snack a little bit on some carrot sticks mid-afternoon. I am actually fantasizing about what I will eat tomorrow. The truly hardest part is ‘dinner’ at my mother-in-laws. She didn’t put any food out on the table in consideration of both my and my husband’s cleanse day, but the wonderful smell of food filled the house. Knowing we just had to make it through a short evening made it possible. That and half an apple!
Once home, I take my last drink of IsaCleanse, which takes care of any remaining hunger pangs. Thankfully, I have already gotten the maintenance kit for the next month, so I am good to go from a long-term standpoint starting tomorrow. Plus, I get to eat AND get my final tally on weight and inches!
Maintenance, Day 1 – Final Cleanse Results
I wake up feeling full of energy, realizing last week I woke up feeling very weak. Final tally on pounds and inches is:
10 pounds, 16.5 inches! Amazing!
Now to keep it all going – I head to the kitchen for my shake, accelerator, multi-vitamin and antioxidants. And for lunch and dinner ... whatever I want!!
VIDEO: Dr. Natrajan, MD, explains more
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Want more information? Explore the Isagenix website or contact Marcy directly at 443-253-9837 or Marcy@HQChiro.com to find out how you can get started on your new life -- today!
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