Steam Energy Café’s 3-day juice cleanse intrigued me the day it came through my Instagram Feed. Having always wanted to do a cleanse, but being deterred by the idea of putting anything truly unnatural and/or chemical into my body, this seemed like the right choice. So when at lunch one day, a co-worker mentioned doing it, I immediately said, “I’m in,” and the rest is history!
I picked up my juices on Memorial Day – what better day to begin a cleanse but after a long weekend? The instructions recommend your own “cleanse” 2-7 days prior to preparing your body. This meant cutting out alcohol, caffeine, meat, dairy, and carbohydrates – basically all that is good in life. As I was away at a wedding all weekend, I decided that one day would have to suffice. My diet consisted of 2 eggs, raw broccoli, chicken, fresh strawberries, an apple, and carrots and hummus – truthfully, not too far from my normal diet minus some carbs and after dinner treats. I did not sleep well the night before – mostly in anticipation of the next three days.
I began day one with the Lemon/Turmeric Vitality Shot. I found it delicious and very refreshing first thing in the morning, especially ice cold from the fridge. I made the mistake of working out for an hour (despite the program’s warnings) and paid for this later in the day. My first juice went down around 8:00 AM. The juice was called, “We Got the Beet” a blend of beets, carrots, red apples, fennel, and lemon. The liquid was the shade of fresh beets and tasted sweeter than expected, but the consistency was thick and a little difficult to swallow so early in the morning. I experienced what I can only assume was a blood sugar crash just before 10:00AM – I was dizzy, lethargic, and cranky. The chocolate nut-milk was a delicious pick-me-up. Again, thick like a milkshake, but I relished the grittiness of the cashews. Overall, it was pleasant-enough and contained the protein and fats I needed to get me through the afternoon. My third juice break arrived around 12:15 PM. This was my favorite, ”It Ain’t Easy Being Green.” This was a savory juice mixed with kale, rainbow chard, parsley, cucumber, celery, and lemon. It reminded me of a summer gazpacho and I loved it! (I just had to get past its green color.) I was battling a headache and the need to chew following this drink, so I succumbed to a piece of sugar-free gum. My afternoon juice couldn’t come soon enough. At promptly 2:30 I opened “Steal My Sunshine,” a tangerine colored juice elixir drawn from oranges, red apples, sweet potatoes, lemons, and ginger. The ginger and lemon added brightness, but it was by far my least favorite juice – sweet, thick, and unpleasant.
At home, I met my biggest struggle as I prepared snacks and dinner for my husband and two sons. I was overcome by the urge to chew on something crunchy, so I ate a handful of mini, raw carrots. That did the trick! I drank my final juice around 4, WATERMELON WEATHER – a mix of watermelon, pineapple, cucumber, mint, and lime. The mint was overpowering, and I had a hard time with this one despite its attractive name. My evening Nut Mylk could not come soon enough. By this time, I was tired and grouchy, so while tubbying my kiddos, I sucked the vanilla down quickly. The Vanilla Nut Mylk was creamy and flavorful and left me feeling as if day one had gone well. I went to bed earlier than usual because I was hungry and lethargic. I put on Netflix, and drifted off to sleep.
Day 2 – I woke up feeling surprisingly rejuvenated and ready to tackle the day. My morning shot was equally as refreshing. I did not experience the dizziness and lethargy I had the previous day. My energy level was up and I was able to work with no headaches. I began my day with the “Steal My Sunshine” which tasted better in the early morning than it had the day before. The consistency was still hard to swallow (literally) but the flavor gave me a jolt of energy and satiated my hunger. My Chocolate Nut Mylk was also quite good and by this point in the day, I was hungry. I continued my day in the same order as day one and felt 100% better. I had energy, was less cranky, but still had the urge to chew something crunchy – so…I “cheated” with 10 mini carrots and went to bed early. This small snack took the edge off and I fell asleep quickly and slept like a rock.
Day 3 – I was excited for my final day, hoping to feel the same as I had the previous day – high energy, without headaches and dizziness. My morning shot tasted completely different from my two previous shots – almost like a mix of the ingredients and one of the juices –I barely choked it down. I still felt well throughout the day – spacing my juices and nut mylks as recommended by the program. By 4:00 I had a headache, and once again the urge to chew, so I consumed another handful of my coveted carrots and went to bed.
While I would like to say doing this cleanse had absolutely nothing to do with my vanity, that is not the case. As a mom of two, I was looking to drop a few pounds and flatten my tummy. I was pleasantly surprised with my results. I dropped 2.6 lbs and 2.5 inches off my stomach in just three days. I was hungry, but not as ravenous as I thought I might be. I wanted to ease my body back into solid foods, so my diet for the next few days consisted of plenty of eggs, fresh fruits, veggies, poultry, and fish. I ate very few carbs and stayed away from processed foods. Overall, I felt energized, cleansed, leaner with plenty of energy. I would definitely do this cleanse again and would recommend it to anyone looking to kick-start a diet or just detox for a few days.
