TWO SPOONS 3 Day Cleanse

The reason for doing this cleanse was NOT for weight loss. It was because I was feeling tired and sluggish, with bad cravings I couldn’t quit. Ever since the holidays I’ve been feeling a bit “blah.”

Despite daily workouts and eating healthy I noticed that I was constantly lacking energy in my workouts, and mid-afternoon. I also noticed that my cravings for sweet treats and caffeine were getting a bit out of control. Especially in the afternoon when my fatigue started to kick in. Reaching for a sweet treat or a second coffee was becoming a bit too comfortable.

This cleanse really helped to get me back on the health train, and to kick those bad habits in the butt! In general, I like to do this cleanse when I’m feeling sluggish, and in need of a health reboot.

Each time I’ve done this cleanse I’ve seen the benefits both mentally and physically. I’ve felt re-energized, and my digestive system has certainly thanked me for it. (I will get more into the results to come).

How does the cleanse work?

This cleanse is inspired by Danette May’s 30 Day Meal Plan. Her plan starts with a 3 Day cleanse. Hers was not vegan, so I modified the meals for a completely vegan and gluten-free cleanse. I also changed some of the recipes to make them more to my taste preference. (I’m a food blogger after all, so I couldn’t resist). In addition I’ve offered a few healthy “cheat snack” in case you find the limited three meals a day too challenging. (I know I needed some “cheat snacks” on Day 1).

What to expect:

On this 3 Day Cleanse you are drinking mostly smoothies. With a couple of solid meals on Day 2 and Day 3. As well as my metabolism boost drink (a citrus and water mix), and drinking tons of water throughout the day.

The pros: since the recipes are mostly smoothies it’s really easy to do. You’re basically just throwing all your ingredients into a mixer and blending. As for the solid meals, they are easy to prepare. And should take no longer than 20 minutes of your time.

Cons: If you’re someone who likes to chew their food instead of sip it, this cleanse is going to be challenging. Just know that you’re not alone! I love to chew my food over drink it, so I can totally relate. A couple of times I wanted nothing more than to sink my teeth into a crisp apple or carrot, but try your best to follow the cleanse.

Look at the glass half full: the detox is ONLY 3 days! And we can do anything for three days. But as I’ve already admitted I did have a couple “cheat snacks” on this cleanse. So I’ve provided some healthy snack ideas if you feel the meals are not enough to get you through. (This especially was helpful for me on Day 1).

The results

There are lots of “claims” that a cleanse will help you lose weight and get you into your favourite teeny bikini. And I do not want this cleanse to support false promises and unhealthy ideals. This cleanse is NOT about weight loss.

I’m a firm believer that there is no quick-fix to being healthy. It’s something you have to live every day! And doing a 3 day cleanse is not going to get you to your “goal weight.” However, if you are looking for a cleanse to feel more energized, refreshed and to reboot your digestive system than this cleanse is for you.

More energy and no bloat!

I cannot tell you just how good I felt both mentally and physically after this 3 day cleanse. I had so much energy! In fact, I would wake up before my alarm feeling so rested. My between meal hunger pangs I often get were completely gone. I didn’t experience that typical crash mid-day. (Where I reach for coffee or a sweet treat to pick-me-up). And I stopped craving sugary foods altogether.

The cleanse really opened my eyes to how much sugar and caffeine I rely on in the afternoons. And how much snacking I do between meals! Which don’t get me wrong, it’s important to eat when you’re actually hungry, but boy did it show me how often I reach for a snack, or open the fridge unconsciously and out of boredom.

Another bonus was that I had ZERO bloat! This is something I’ve always struggled with, especially in the evenings. (One of the lovely symptoms of having IBS, I suppose). I couldn’t believe how flat my belly was, with no bloat or gas at-all. For me, this was the biggest indicator that my digestive system needed a break from all the food I was asking it to digest. It was a well needed reset for my digestive tract, which I know it appreciated. Although my flat belly was only temporary (probably lasted about a week) it was certainly a great bonus!! And my digestion altogether has been better ever since, with less IBS flare-ups.

It gets easier as you go!

To get into the nitty gritty – Day 1 was definitely the hardest for me. In fact, it was terrible! I felt SO hungry and my head felt like a big hazy cloud. I felt SO tired and lethargic. Surely I wouldn’t be able to continue, I thought. I also had a few “cheat snacks” on Day 1. Well, I can’t believe I’m admitting this – but I ate a banana chocolate muffin in desperation! haha. (For you, I’m offering some much healthier snack options, which came in handy after my relapse, in case you too are finding the detox a struggle).

But don’t let this deter you because Day 2 and Day 3 get SO much better. For me it was a 180 degree switch! I had SO much energy on these days, no foggy head, no fatigue, no hunger between meals, and no cheat snacks.

I would even start my morning with cardio workouts, and wake up BEFORE my alarm because my sleeps were so well rested. The evenings were bliss because I had NO bloat which is something I normally suffer from. I felt energized and incredible. So if you can push just push through Day 1, it gets much much better. (At least for me it did)

The recipes:

Now, here is the breakdown of recipes on this 3 day detox. I’ve laid them out with clickable links. The good news is that the recipes are really straight forward, so it won’t require too much effort to participate.

I’ve also included some healthy snack ideas at the bottom, in case you are finding that you’re too hungry and need to divert from the cleanse a bit. I’m not going to lie, I had a few struggles myself. Keep in mind this is a cleanse, so it’s going to be hard, and feel more restrictive than your normal eating habits. But, it’s most important to listen to our bodies. So if at any point you need a little more sustenance to get through the cleanse than have a snack! It’s better to divert a little from the cleanse than quitting altogether.

DOWNLOAD THE SHOPPING LIST

DAY 1: (*Be sure to drink 1 gallon (3.7 L.) of water throughout the day)

Breakfast:

• Start with: Morning Metabolism Boost Drink
• 1 cup green tea with juice of 1/2 lemon
• Purple Nourish Smoothie

Lunch:

• Green Cleanse Smoothie
• 1 hour later: Metabolism Boost Drink

Dinner:

• Chocolate Avocado Smoothie
• Before bed: Metabolism Boost Drink

DAY 2: (*Be sure to drink 1 gallon (3.7 L.) of water throughout the day)

Breakfast:

• Start with: Morning Metabolism Boost Drink
• 1 cup green tea with juice of 1/2 lemon
• Flight Therapy Smoothie

Lunch:

• Green Goddess Smoothie

Dinner:

• Quick Quinoa Veggie Bowl
• Before bed: Metabolism Boost Drink

DAY 3: (*Be sure to drink 1 gallon (3.7 L.) of water throughout the day)

Breakfast:

• Start with: Morning Metabolism Boost Drink
• 1 cup green tea with juice of 1/2 lemon
• Green Cleanse Smoothie

Lunch:

• Mango Coconut Quinoa Bowl

Dinner:

• Banana Chocolate Smoothie

Snack ideas:

If you are finding the cleanse too restrictive, and you need to take a few “cheat” snacks, here is what I like to have. All are healthy, vegan and gluten-free:

• hummus with raw vegetables
• seedy crackers with hummus, avocado or almond butter
• 2 rice cakes with 1/2 avocado
• banana with 1 tbsp almond butter

DOWNLOAD THE SHOPPING LIST

So now that you know all the details of the cleanse I hope you’ll give it a try the next time you need a reboot! And if you do try this cleanse please let me know in the comments below how it went! And of course, tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to hear from you. Good luck, and good on you for trying the cleanse!

Disclaimer: This 3 Day Cleanse is not a substitute for direct, personal, professional medical care and diagnosis. Consult your physician or health care provider before starting. If you are pregnant or nursing, consult your physician before starting. The information contained within is not intended to provide specific physical or mental health advice, or any other advice whatsoever, for any individual or company and should not be relied upon in that regard. It is based on my personal experience and opinion. I am not a medical professional, and nothing in this 3 Day Cleanse or my website should be misconstrued to mean otherwise.