Juice cleanses have been ALL the rage for years and years but are they really worth it? If you’re curious about trying one for yourself, you’re in the right place. From experiencing fatigue to boosts of unexplainable energy and enjoying the taste and missing solid food, I experienced it all. I will say right off the bat if your sole purpose to do a juice cleanse is weight loss — don’t do it! A cleanse is supposed to be exactly that — a cleanse — not a quick way to drop a few pounds by undereating and being restrictive.
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Why do a juice cleanse?
To some, the idea of a liquid diet for three days may sound a little unappealing but doing a juice cleanse feels like a complete reset. If you’ve been eating unhealthy foods, feeling unmotivated or groggy then doing a cleanse is a great idea. Not only will it leave you feeling proud and reset, but it will also encourage you to make good, healthy decisions after the cleanse is over! After committing to a cleanse for three days, you won’t want to order UberEats at midnight because you’ll want to maintain the clean feeling you developed over the cleanse. Think of a juice cleanse as an opportunity to take a step back from your previous lifestyle and develop new habits.
*If you aren’t sure a juice cleanse is right for you, consult a doctor and always listen to your body.*
The Deep Dive
ELXR, Toronto’s favourite juice bar, has two cleanse options and I did “The Deep Dive”. It claimed to be made for someone looking to decrease inflammation, improve liver and kidney function, develop glowing skin and improved cognition- so I thought WHY NOT? As a vegan, I’ve been around the block with juices and have never been a huge green juice fan but I gave ELXR a shot and WOW. ELXR even offers home delivery across the GTA so it was super convenient to start the cleanse! It arrived at my doorstep at 9 a.m. and I was ready to get my juice on.
The cleanse consisted of the following: four 16oz juices, two 1oz boosters, one 16oz water, and one 16oz “mylk”
- Rise & Shine – Toxic Flush & Turmeric
- Morning Sipper – Second Base
- Pre-Lunch Booster – Ginger
- Lunch – BPM
- Afternoon Sipper – Pina Vida
- Dinner – Third Base
- All-Day Sipper – Chaga Fix
My personal favourites were the Chaga Fix (a rich, creamy “mylk” that literally tastes like the holidays in a bottle) and the Toxic Flush (the perfect start to the morning — I’m actually going to buy this bad boy for my day-to-day!).
Day one
I had been told that day one would be the hardest and I have to disagree. On day one I woke up so excited and ready to conquer the challenge. I worked out like normal, drank a lot of water and had fun experiencing each new drink. By the end of the day, it was definitely hard not to get out of bed and just eat something but the willpower and excitement allowed me to stay motivated.
Day two
Now, THIS was the hardest day for sure. The excitement started to fade away, and I started to miss the feeling of chewing food. I was surprised to have actually woken up with a lot of energy but by the end of the day, I definitely wanted to eat. I didn’t actually feel hungry, I think I just missed the feeling of eating and because of this, I pushed through.
Day three
The final stretch! This was the day I really started feeling a positive change in my body. When I woke up, I felt energized again and wasn’t missing the sensation of chewing anymore! I felt light, awake and eager to seize the day. I do have to admit that the lunch drink “BPM” was not my fave by this day but other than that, I pushed through! After getting through day two, there was nothing that was going to stop me from finishing!
My takeaways:
It’s been a few days since I completed the 3-day cleanse and I can now say that the experience extended much further than day three! I continued to feel energized and ready to make healthy choices. After experiencing such a clean and recharged sensation, I haven’t wanted to make choices that would take that feeling away. Overall, if you’re trying to make healthy choices but are struggling to commit, I think doing a juice cleanse is the exact push you need.
Feature Image: ELXR Juice
