My 1st Juice Cleanse/Detox

So, as promised, I am chronicling my 1st juice cleanse/detox experience.

Disclosure: This is a non-sponsored post. I did not receive any monetary or other incentive(s) for reviewing this company or product. This is simply my account of my first juice cleanse.

I've been contemplating a juice cleanse for the last few months and I kept hearing about a local juice cleanse company by the name of Squeezed Online. At the time I started my cleanse (late December), they offered online ordering with limited delivery options, dates, and times, and very limited pick up times at a couple of area locations. As of the new year, they have opened a store front location that allows for pick up and delivery over more extended hours. Definitely a plus!

I decided to close my year out with a good detox and figured I'd give it a try. Squeezed Online offered a 10% winter discount and I opted for delivery (for an additional charge). I chose from their pre-selected cleanse options which consisted of 5 drinks per day, 3 "meal" drinks and 2 "snack" drinks (at $9 per drink). The "snack" drinks on the Squeezed option offer more fruit content, while the "meal" drinks contain a higher veggie based content. There is also the option to get the Super Squeezed, which offers higher veggie based options for the "snack" drinks as well as the "meal" drinks. I chose two days on the Squeezed and one day on the Super Squeezed. I can say with certainty that I am NOT a fan of the Super Squeezed drinks that came with my pre-selected options, particularly any of the green drinks that contain celery and chard. I struggled to get them down. I loved the fruit based options, though I was not fond of the snack drink with the coconut. It wasn't nearly as bad as the green drinks, but it left a strong coconut after taste. My husband tried the cleanse for one day with me and he was not a happy camper. He got through it but he claimed he was starving. Me, on the other hand, I was satisfied and had no cravings or desires to eat anything. The drinks were completely satisfying (if not always appealing). I was determined to get through it and surprisingly, it was not difficult at all. He says it's probably because of my smaller stomach that I felt satiated and that may be true, however, the point was to gauge how well I felt before, during, and after the cleanse. I can say with confidence, that this was quite a good experience and even with just three days on the cleanse, I was able to notice a difference in my energy levels. I also noticed a sense of clarity and focus that was out of the norm for me. It was a welcome change from my regular feeling of anxiety and lack of focus that tends to be a bit overwhelming at times. Another thing I noticed was that I slept better and was not as restless during the night. I felt a bit more rested and it was easier for me to get up and get going in the morning.

Over all, I'm looking forward to incorporating this into my nutrition and fitness plan in 2018. The only thing I would change, would be to order a la carte so that I am happy with all of my "meal" selections, and while I doubt hubby will try it again, for those concerned about the possibility of being hungry or if you are planning to continue your fitness regime while detoxing, they offer an option that includes Cashew Milk as a 6th, end of the day "meal/snack." This option is supposed to help curb the hunger and help the body rebuild after your workout. Detoxes and cleanses are designed to give your digestive system a much needed break and "reset" your metabolism and for that reason, you are not supposed to eat or drink anything but water (lots of water!). If you must eat, they recommend raw fruits and veggies only. I've planned to incorporate at least 5 days of cleansing/detoxing every 3 months for the rest of the year. I am curious to see the benefits over a longer period of time. Sign in to the forum and let me know about your experience, or what your thoughts are on the trend. I look forward to hearing from you and here's to a healthy and fitness filled year!