I survived the 3 day Shakeology cleanse and actually had amazing results — I lost 8 pounds!! I was away from home the week of Thanksgiving, and although I planned carefully beforehand, I kind of had a vacation mentality and ate more than I should have. When I got home, I had a group of friends who were doing a three day cleanse and invited me to participate.
The Science Behind the Cleanse
The point of the Shakeology cleanse is not calorie restriction — it’s nutrient efficiency. The aim is to get the most nutrients possible into the fewest number of calories. The goal is to rid your body of undigested food and toxins and stabilize your hydration levels. The point of the cleanse is not necessarily weight loss, although it’s a nice benefit. The real goal is to make your body run more efficiently.
Each meal is designed to have a proper balance of protein, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber. Even though you’re not eating as much food as you’d normally eat, your calorie-to-nutrient ratio is very high. You consume so much fiber, along with the enzymes and digestive aids that are in Shakeology, that your body will be able to flush excess food quickly. Those with a lot of undigested gunk in their systems will lose weight as it’s flushed out. If you’re already properly hydrated and eat well, you’re less likely to lose as much weight.
What the Cleanse Involves
My Experience & Results
I’ve tried other cleanses before and have never been able to stick with them — usually because they involved drinking some disgusting liquid I could hardly gag down. I normally drink my Shakeology with almond milk and a banana or berries, so drinking them made only with water was a bit of a change, but it still tasted good, just a little stronger. I ended up blending them with water and ice, and the ice improved the texture a lot.
The fruit is optional on the cleanse, but I did end up eating it all three days. The first day I ate berries and an orange, but on day 2, I started to feel weak so I ate a banana since it naturally has more sugar. That helped, but day two was definitely the hardest for me.
I started with a mild headache on the evening of day one and by midday on day 2, the headache was worse. I’m sure it was a reaction to my body getting rid of toxins. My coach suggested drinking more water to help flush the toxins, and that seemed to help. On day two, I also split my salad in half and ate part of it earlier in the day and the other half at dinner. On the 2nd and 3rd day, I also saved my third shake for after dinner to eliminate the hunger pangs I had felt in the evening of day one.
Overall, it was a good experience for me. It wasn’t easy, and I did feel hungry, but I feel well hydrated and more lean, especially in my stomach area. I weighed myself before and after on my Eatsmart Precision Body Fat Scale. It weighs body fat, total body water, and muscle mass. In addition to losing 7 pounds, I lost a little bit of body fat and increased my percentage of body water and muscle mass. That means all the weight I lost was not just water, like on traditional cleanses. I’m hoping I lost some of the sludge in my digestive tract.
What’s in Shakeology?
A lot of people think Shakeology is just another protein powder, but it’s much more than that!
It has more than 70 super-nutritious ingredients.
- Proteins, Vitamins, and Minerals – to help reduce hunger and food cravings.
- Antioxidants and Phytonutrients – to help detoxify and protect the body against free radical damage.
- Adaptogen Herbs – to help increase energy and combat stress.
- Prebiotics, Probiotics, Fiber, and Digestive Enzymes – to aid digestion and promote regularity.
I think I’m going to repeat the Shakeology Cleanse every 3 or 4 months. For now, it got me over my Thanksgiving slump and put me on a path to finishing out the year strong!
Have you ever tried a cleanse? If so, did you feel like it was beneficial, and would you ever want to do one again?
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