17 Days of Transformation: My Cleansing Journey
As I sit here, reflecting on the past 17 days of my life, I feel a profound sense of accomplishment and clarity. This journey has been both challenging and enlightening, and I am thrilled to share my experiences with you.
The Journey Begins: 14-Day Moon Dance Cleanse
For the past four years, my body has been dedicated to pregnancy and nursing, so the timing was never right for a juice cleanse. I’ve done the 14-day cleanse several times and have always wanted to follow it up with a 3-day juice cleanse. This time, with my husband out of town and a few relaxed days planned with my daughters, the stars finally aligned. I decided to dive into a juice cleanse right after completing my 14-day Moon Dance Cleanse, a holistic regimen designed to detoxify and rejuvenate both body and mind. I felt ready—my body and mind were already in a cleansing state, so I figured the juice cleanse wouldn’t be too much of a shock. I’m happy to report it was perfect timing.
A New Challenge: 3-Day Juice Cleanse
As I neared the end of my Moon Dance Cleanse, I felt a strong urge to take it a step further. The idea of a 3-day juice cleanse had always intrigued me, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to give it a try. I thought, "Why not? Let's do this, Mandee." Throughout my life, I’ve always embraced challenging tasks to test my limits—I always take the stairs, walk whenever possible, and once gave up fried food for an entire year. These personal challenges have been my way of discovering what I'm truly capable of. The night before starting the juice cleanse, I was filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. Little did I know just how transformative the next three days would be.
Day 1: Riding the Waves of Hunger
The first day was all about staying busy. I noticed that hunger came in waves, and more often than not, it was due to boredom rather than actual hunger. Whenever I felt the pangs, I sipped on juice and reminded myself, "Just get to this time tomorrow." By keeping myself occupied, I managed to navigate through the day without too much difficulty.
Day 2: Finding Solace in Breathwork and Meditation
The second day was similar in terms of hunger waves. When the cravings hit hard, I turned to breathwork and meditation. The nights were particularly tough, as I craved my usual snacks after putting my girls to bed. Instead, I immersed myself in a long yin yoga practice followed by yoga nidra, filling my evenings with intentional, soothing activities. Mornings were invigorated with kundalini yoga, replacing my usual caffeine kick and giving me the energy I needed.
Day 3: Temptations and Triumphs
Day three brought a new challenge—my husband came home. Preparing dinner for my family was tough; the aromas and sights of the food were tantalizing. My husband’s reminder, "You're doing this to yourself," was a truth I needed to hear. This challenge was a path to growth. I even baked cookies and focaccia bread, resisting the urge to indulge in my favorite peanut butter bites.
Reflections and Revelations
Completing the 3-day juice cleanse felt like a significant milestone. Surprisingly, I wasn't as hungry as I had anticipated. The hunger was often a mask for boredom, and I discovered more intuitive activities to replace it. This cleanse revealed that my search for food was, in reality, a search for connection. By turning inward and connecting with myself, I experienced a profound sense of fulfillment.
I also realized that I could overcome my sugar and nut addiction. Ayurveda encourages an 80/20 lifestyle, and I feel confident in my ability to maintain this balance. Traditionally, Ayurveda advises against consuming cold drinks, but I adapted to my environment—90-degree days in Nebraska called for refreshing juices. This flexibility aligns with my non-fundamentalist approach to Ayurveda.
The Ayurvedic Perspective
In Ayurveda, cleansing is a way to reset and balance the body's doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. While juice cleanses are not typically recommended due to their cold nature, I found that timing and personal intuition are key. Cooling juices during hot summer days can be beneficial, while winter months call for warm, grounding foods and drinks.
The Aftermath: Sattva
Post-cleanse, I feel lean, clean, less bloated, clear, focused, creative, and strong. In Sanskrit, this state of purity and clarity is called sattva. Tasting a cookie after the cleanse was underwhelming, a sign that my taste buds and cravings have shifted. This journey has reshaped my relationship with food and my body, fostering a version of myself that I am incredibly proud of.
A New Chapter
As someone with a history of addiction, cutting out alcohol and unhealthy foods has been liberating. I now know that I can enjoy life, my children, and my friends without the crutches of unhealthy habits. This breakthrough has shown me that health and happiness are not mutually exclusive.
If you're ready to reclaim your health and life, book a free discovery call with me. Let’s embark on this warrior’s journey together. It's not for the faint of heart, but the view from up here is absolutely worth it. Your future self will thank you.
