Image Source: 23 Year Old, Yarishna

They say the third time’s a charm, right? I’m not so sure about it though this go round. The first time doing this was a breeze. The second time was a little more difficult and this round I struggled to motivate myself. It actually took me a few months to figure out if I was going to start the cleanse. Procrastination is the killer of dreams. :-/

The previous year I’d committed myself to doing this cleanse on a yearly basis. I mean, I’d done it twice in one year, so what was I afraid of? Not sure if these words truly describe it, but The Master Cleanse ain’t for the faint of heart.

It was developed in the 1940s by Mr. Stanley Burrows. It has since been used to detoxify the body and remove excess fat. This cleanse can last anywhere from 10 to 40 days. It consists of 8 oz of water, 2 tablespoons of grade B organic maple syrup, 2 tablespoons of organic lemon or lime juice, with a pinch of cayenne pepper. At night you drink a laxative tea and in the morning a salt water bathe: 2 teaspoons of sea salt with 1 liter of water. This is a liquid only cleanse and according to Mr. Burrows, your body receives all the nutrients needed to sustain itself from these simple ingredients. Yes, liquids only.

For the most part, if you don’t already have control over what you consume, I wouldn’t recommend it. In actuality, this may be a daunting task for most. I think it’s more of a mind over matter situation.

I’ve been vegetarian, officially, a little over a year and a half. I cut all the flesh — yes, even seafood — out of my diet back in January of 2013 and I haven’t looked back since. So, the master cleanse, at least this time, should be a piece of cake, right?

I have officially started day 3 and I have to say things are looking up, but those first two days had me thinking otherwise. It’s not that I was hungry, but I think it was the situations I kept putting myself in. For instance, going out to eat with people and the only thing I would order is water … then I would occasionally sip on my “lemonade.” I don’t know what you call that, but I call it AWKWARD. Most people don’t believe me when I say I’m not eating or that I actually have that much self-control over my diet. I try to avoid situations like going out to drink or eat, but I’m a social person and sometimes I dread being cooped up indoors. It’s all about finding that balance.

Also, in finding balance, make sure you do your research before starting and committing to something such as The Master Cleanse. I took it upon myself to read the actual text and research some of what the author spoke about. For me, I found it to be informative and that there is fact to what he was saying. I am not opposed to other methods of detox, but this is what I found works best for myself.

As I’m writing, I find myself, a bit lifted. This journal is renewing my spirit. I am taking this 7-10 days moment by moment as I do most things in life. After today, May 4th, there are seven days and counting. Wish me luck.

August Rae, also known as ‘Kissa’, is a lifestyle blogger and a budding lifestyle and portrait photographer who travel so much that she often referred to as being, an urban nomad. She’s all about creating experiences, enjoying the moment, eating great food and meeting new people.