• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Oh My Veggies logo

  • Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegetarian Main Dishes
    • Vegetarian Appetizers
    • Vegetarian Breakfast Recipes
    • Vegetarian Side Dishes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Snack Recipes
    • Drinks
    • Sauces, Spreads and Condiments
    • Holiday Recipes
    • From our Readers
  • Cooking Tips & Hints
    • Cooking Tips
    • Plant-Based Nutrition
    • Product Reviews
  • Shop Cookbooks
  • About Us
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Find Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • About Us
  • Freebies!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Find Recipes
    • Cookbooks
    • About Us
    • Freebies!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Oh My Veggies » Plant Based Nutrition & Health

    Oh Yeah, I Totally Quit My Juice Cleanse

    Published: May 3, 2017 · by Nicole · Updated: Feb 10, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    juice cleanse
    You were probably expecting a triumphant post today about how amazing my juice cleanse was, but here I am writing about quitting. Because I am a quitting quitter who quits.

    I quit the juice cleanse.

    Which, honestly, kind of killed me a little bit. That cleanse was a lot of money. And aside from that, quitting felt like admitting defeat. This was especially difficult for me when it seems like everyone else feels crazy amazing on a juice fast. Chris had the whole mental clarity, glowing aura of health thing going on and couldn't stop talking about how much energy he had, how great he felt, how he could wrestle a grizzly bear. And I just had an aura of "I spent the whole morning hunched over the toilet puking." (Because I did spend the whole morning hunched over the toilet puking.) At first, I wanted to soldier on. Then I thought: really? Am I really thinking about sticking with this? When it's making me physically ill?

    So then I ate some saltines. And later, a falafel wrap. Because at that point, the thought of eating fruit or vegetables made me want to throw up even more.

    I mean, I expected headaches. Hunger, I could deal with. But throwing up? Not so much. I am not a good thrower-upper. And juice that doesn't taste so good going down tastes even worse the second time around.

    A lot of people say that when you get sick on a cleanse, it's your body releasing toxins. (I didn't really do the cleanse to release toxins--I'm not sure I believe that's a thing that happens, but I do believe that getting an insane amount of nutrients in juices for a few days can be beneficial.) But I eat pretty clean to begin with, so I really don't understand how my husband, who eats much more junk food than I do, could be feeling invincible, and I'd feel like jumping out of the window to end my misery. Especially after just coming off a 3-day raw cleanse that I felt fabulous on. I figured that, after a day and a half, I had given the 3-day juice cleanse a fair try, and since I felt progressively worse the whole time, it was time to throw in the towel. Something about those juices just did not agree with me--as soon as I'd start to feel a little bit better, I'd have another juice and feel terrible again.

    I feel really disappointed. I was hoping for all those wonderful things people say happen to them during their juice cleanses--glowing skin, cleared sinuses, renewed energy. And instead I got crazy, ridiculously sick. Am I weak? Probably. But also, I think these cleanses just don't work for everyone. And they clearly don't work for me. There seems to be a lot of pressure that, once you've started a cleanse, you should stick with it and see it through; if you don't, it's some kind of moral failing. No, it's not! Listen to your body, always. I know that by posting this, I'm going to attract a lot of drive-by commenters telling me my body must be super toxic, that I didn't give this a fair chance, that I suck at life, and really, you can have at it; my experience is my experience and I stand by it.

    So I'm sorry this post isn't super motivational. I guess I'm kind of being a bit of a downer today, huh? I'm not saying you shouldn't do a juice cleanse--my husband did well on it and so many other people have too. But know that it's not all sunshine and lollipops before you start, and maybe try a single day before you commit to three. Despite all this, I still got some positive takeaways from the whole raw food and juice cleanse thing:

    • I really enjoyed raw food and I felt good eating it. I'm planning on eating more raw desserts, eating sprouted nuts and seeds as snacks, and skipping the frozen convenience lunches (even if they're low cal and/or healthy!) for fresh fruits and veggies. I have spent so long focusing on eating less, when what I really should be focusing on is eating more--eating more nutrient-dense foods, rather than eating less calories.
    • I wondered if maybe, after doing this cleanse, I would want to make a dramatic change in my diet. I don't. A moderate approach is definitely the best for me, although, like I said, I will be replacing at least some of my weekend brownies and cupcakes with healthier raw desserts.
    • Since I know everyone's wondering, I did lose 5 pounds. Of course, throwing up your food (or juice) will do that to you. I gained back a pound and a half when I started eating again.
    « A Guide to Creating the Perfect Smoothie Bowl
    6 Ways to Increase the Flavor of Your Dishes »

    Plant Based Nutrition & Health juice

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Betta O’Brien says

      February 02, 2021 at 5:44 am

      Reading this on day 20 of a juice fast and throwing up/nausea on and off. I have a resistant fungal infection caused by antibiotics. The fasting is getting rid of it but it’s not fun. Good to read everyone’s experience. Thank you for posting yours.

      Reply
    2. Paula says

      July 02, 2021 at 8:55 pm

      I found this by conducting an internet search “juice cleanser makes me sick”. I have been puking all day and when I wasn’t puking I was dry heaving. I have the worst stomach pains. My husband begged to take me to urgent care. I’m on day three of my cleanse and it will be my last. This is the worst feeling ever.

      Reply
    3. Brandy says

      August 16, 2021 at 2:03 pm

      Maybe you over did the nutrients or are sensitive to a vegetable or fruit when you have so much of it.

      I just bought a 3-day cleanse and feel sick after drinking half of one 🤢. It definitely is a bummer to waste the money. I’m going to try again once I feel better bc I do normally feel great after cleanses.

      Another fear is that the date on the juice is wrong. I’m really hoping that’s not the case for me!

      Reply
    4. Nikiti RIDGEWAY says

      January 05, 2022 at 5:29 pm

      I had headaches for the 1st three days on juicing cleanse. Headaches went away after three days. I’m on day eight and feel horrible. Tired, very moody and Mind is in a haze. I’m about to give this up. On the up side: I don’t feel even a little hungry. 🤪

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Something to say? Leave a comment. Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    image of the author

    Nicole is a life long vegetarian and the author of the popular vegan cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. She loves sharing her recipes and showing the world just how easy and delicious meatless meals can be!
    Learn more here.

    signature of author

    get a free 5 day vegetarian meal plan

    shop our vegetarian and vegan cookbooks

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • Shop Cookbooks
    • About Us
    • Work with Me
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use

    Still hungry? Check out our delicious family of blogs.

    veg kitchen
    step away from the carbs
    all she cooks
    midlife rambler
    wandertooth logo

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Hook & Porter Media

    141 shares