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.
Jordan says
Too bad the juice cleanse didn't work out, but I'm glad you are starting to feel better!
Michelle says
Don't listen to the haters. I'm impressed that you lasted as long as you did. Anyone who knows me even a little bit knows that if I am even five minutes late eating lunch people are in danger of dying. How you lasted three days with no solid food is seriously beyond me. You're right...listen to your body. You're the one who has to live in it.
Leslie says
"Anyone who knows me even a little bit knows that if I am even five minutes late eating lunch people are in danger of dying. "
Ha! Soul sister.
Kiersten says
Ha! Yes, I get toddler-style cranky when I don't eat. I actually did feel really full on the cleanse--your belly is full of juice, but your brain still craves food. If that makes any sense!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
As we talked about, I am happy for you that you threw in the towel! There's a time to tough it out, and there's a time to use common sense and if you were that bad off, then by all means, you made the right call! I had some lowwwww low moments in mine. Like I wanted to quit and like you, my hubs was doing GREAT on it. Loved it. I stuck it out but it wasn't easy.
I feel like the emotional as well as life-perspective type realizations I have gained after the fact are good things for me and that I learned about myself and it helped put other things more in perspective. But to say oh I felt all bouncy and sunshine-ey and I was just vibrant and chipper, ummm, no. Didn't get those benefits, but I got other ones, less tangible if that makes sense. Rambling, sorry.
Thanks for being so honest and sharing your story!!
Kiersten says
Thank you for talking me through it! I'm so glad I quit too. I think if I had felt lethargic or headache-y or hungry, I would have stuck with it through the end, but as soon as the nausea started, I was over it. And when I got back to my normal eating, I felt a million times better.
Caroline says
I'm really sorry for you that you feel bad, BUT I'm so glad to hear than someone else quit a juice cleanse as well. I already felt like a total looser because apparently for everybody else a juice cleanse is a piece of cake. For me it wasn't and I don't eat junk food at all. I had the same feelings about quitting like you, the money, etc., but in the end you have to listen to your body and not to some health trends.
Kiersten says
Thank you for your comment--it's been encouraging to hear from other people who quit too! Before writing this, I was under the impression that cleanses were just a universally positive experience. Even the people who say they have headaches or felt hungry seem to get through all 3 days and afterwards, they're glad they did it. It's hard to find people who get so sick that they end up throwing in the towel.
Cassie | Bake Your Day says
I'm so sorry to hear you were sick. I'm hoping to try one soon!
Kiersten says
I hope your experience is better than mine!
Deb @ Vegie Project says
I know exactly how you feel. I have just recently gone on a smoothie/juice detox. It wasn't the greatest experience of my life, and I did get sick towards the end too. I think a juice detox is not for everyone. And I feel so jealous of people who feel amazing while doing it.
Kiersten says
Yes, I am jealous of those people too! Like my husband. He lost over 10 pounds, felt amazing, was working in the yard all weekend while running on juice, and said he could have lasted a few more days. It's weird how some people feel incredible and others feel like death, but everyone's body is different...
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
Shoot, any one of us in that same situation would have quit too. Cleansing via the puking method is just not where it's at. And it is written.
Kiersten says
Yeah, I was definitely purging toxins, just not the way the cleanse had intended. 🙂
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
I'm glad you shared this. I'm honestly kind of tired of all of these people saying it's the best thing they've ever done, it changed their lives, unicorns arrived at their doorsteps to carry them over rainbows, etc. The LIVER releases toxins from your body on its own so when you retch on a cleanse that's your body saying..."um yeah, we're done." LOL
It's not for everyone and I'm sorry it took praying to the porcelain gods to come to that conclusion. 😉
Liz says
LOL. This.
Susana K. says
Hello! I was about to say the same thing. I am a physician and nutritionist, and I have seen so many people talking wonderful things about these cleanses that you have to wonder if there is a psychological component to it or if its just an adrenaline peak due to low cal intake. Don't feel bad about quitting a cleanse! These juice cleanses are too extreme and, to be quite frankly, your body may not need it. If you are a healthy person (without liver, lung, kidney, skin or gi damage) your body makes all the work to eliminate toxins. If the toxins are too much, then you would be really sick (poisoned) and would need to be treated by a physician. Just keep eating whole foods, exercising and drinking water and your body will cleanse on its own 🙂
Kiersten says
Thank you for your comment! I was skeptical about the toxin cleansing part, but after reading how amazing so many people felt after fasting, I tried it hoping for that boost in energy, clear skin, etc. Unfortunately that was not the case for me!
Susana Kury says
I understand that there is so much info out there that it can get confusing. Also, remember that most cleansing programs are trying to sell you their stuff, so they use amazingly good marketing strategies! Anyways, here are a couple of good and easy to read articles on the subject, in case you want to read more on it:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=706
http://caloriecount.about.com/blog/partners/5-dos-donts-clean-eating-b600336
BTW, love your blog and recipes 🙂
Kiersten says
Thank you! 🙂
Kiersten says
I didn't do the cleanse for detoxing, but I was hoping for all the energy and enlightenment and after reading a few accounts of people's eczema clearing up on raw food and/or juice cleanses, I was reeeeeally hoping that would happen. No such luck for me. So it's back to moderation and lots and lots of hand cream.
Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? says
Oh yikes. That's terrible. I've never heard of puking during a detox/cleansing before. But pretty sure I'd stop right there, too.
Curious, did you check with the company and see what they had to say?
Kiersten says
No, I didn't. I thought about emailing them, but I think I was afraid they'd tell me to stick with it--ha!
Ania K says
Appreciate the honesty here -- it's hard to find someone to admit or share how a cleanse like this just didn't necessarily work for them. So sorry that you ended up so sick though!
Kiersten says
Yeah, I have no shame in the fact that I'm a failure. 😉
esther says
Good for you! Your body was telling you to stop and you should always listen to your body. 🙂
Kathryn says
This is definitely a refreshing post to read - I feel like all the cool kids are doing juice cleanses and maybe I'm not quite as healthy/cool/whatever as they are because I know it's not for me. I'm sorry for all the money that you wasted on the cleanse but at least it has provided you with some clarity around what your body does and doesn't need.
Kiersten says
Yes! These cleanses are all over the place right now and after reading so many glowing reviews, I figured it was worth a try. And I felt so lame that I didn't have a similar experience. Puking is definitely not as cool as mental clarity and glowing skin.
dixya@food, pleasure, and health says
im sorry friend but I am 100% with you when it comes to this juice cleanse thing. I tried to eat only fruits and vegetables and last 2 days and i will never do anything like that again. Its great that it works for some people but I am not one of those people - i love the clean eating approach and portion control.
Kiersten says
My mom pretty much only eats fruits and vegetables. I don't know how she does it! I love fruits and veggies, but I need something a little more substantive to keep me going.
Leslie says
Yeah, puking means you should stop, in my book. I could never do a juice fast for more than a day (and honestly, it would depend on the day). Some days I'm not that hungry (although those days are rare), but I do start to get headaches. I'm one of those people who is VERY CRANKY when I miss a meal.
Kiersten says
I also get really cranky when I don't eat at regular intervals. Traveling with me is a nightmare. 🙂 I figured that since the cleanse was only 300 calories less than I usually eat, I'd be fine. And it was weird, because I felt really really full the whole time, but I couldn't stop craving food. Even when I was so nauseous, I was thinking about saltines.
Amanda says
Love your honesty - seriously. I did the same cleanse and like you, I eat clean nearly every day and I was surprised at how my body reacted to the cleanse as well.... it was not easy. And I wanted to quit but as you said, this "moral" thing got into my head and I didn't quit. Thanks for letting me know it would have been okay 🙂
Kiersten says
I have heard from others who did this cleanse too and it was a struggle for them as well. Maybe this one is particularly tough? 🙂 Had I not been throwing up, I probably would have stuck with it even if I felt awful the whole time!
Christy says
You did the right thing. I have tried juice cleanses two times - once it was a 1-day deal and I stuck it out...and once it was a 3-day deal and I stopped after the first day. I felt horrible both times. Thousands of years of evolution has created a human body that does a pretty great job removing toxins without any special juice cleanses...
Kiersten says
I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one! I was prepared to feel some discomfort, but not this terrible. And really, why should we put ourselves through that kind of misery?!
Hazel says
Gosh, I am so glad you posted this and that there are commenters on the same page. I feel much better! I read so many good things about juice cleanses so I gave it a shot. It made me feel like death and I too became friends with my toilet. I felt so defeated, lame, weak and just like a total failure. Why can't I drink juice and be happy and glowing like all these other people?! Are these people real? I mean, what the heck! I eat fairly healthy so I was really frustrated. And the worst part is the money, to be honest. Like I just flushed it down the toilet while hugging it. UGH. I feel ya!
And I agree with your points at the end, especially not so much watching how much you eat, but WHAT you eat - to get more nutrient rich foods. Highfive for giving it a shot and a bigger highfive for listening to your body, it knows best.
Kiersten says
Yes, I felt the same way! Upset about wasting all that money (it was really a lot of money!), frustrated that everyone else seemed to do so well on the cleanses and I didn't, and completely, utterly sick. So, so sick.
Heather O. says
I'm a fairly new reader -- I found your website recently when I was looking for some new recipe inspiration. This post is incredibly brave for you to share and in my opinion, you're anything but week. The most important thing we can do is to listen to our bodies and you did just that. THANK YOU for your honesty and sharing this!
Kiersten says
Aw, thank you! 🙂
Tami Vigil says
hugs, I understand completely. I get very ill when I have tried to buy and do other peoples "detox" I very healthy too. With my allergies and health issues I find it better to do my own versions. You can still detox but at healthier pace for your system.
Kiersten says
I liked the convenience of the prepared cleanse, but I've heard from a few other people saying they had more success formulating their own...
BusyWorkingMama says
Yeah, I couldn't abide by the puking. I went through that horrible norovirus the other month and have never vomited so violently in all my life. It was horrible.
I'm sorry the cleanse didn't work. I can't believe how wonderful your husband felt. I completely agree - listen to your body!
Kiersten says
Yeah, that's kind of how I was puking too--violently. For a day afterwards, I felt like I had done a few hundred stomach crunches because my muscles were so sore! :/
andrea says
Thanks for your honesty--glad you're on the mend!
a barmy bookworm says
Hello! Sorry you had such a horrid experience. But well done for sharing. There's way too much pressure out there on what we should look like, how we should eat, who we should be, how we should feel. All individuals but should be all the same. Tosh. I used to feel such a failure for not fitting into the mould, not experiencing what others experience. But enough. I figure you're probably way too healthy to benefit from this kind of thing. Maybe you don't have enough toxins, ever thought of that??! :0)
Kiersten says
Yeah, I did let other people's (positive) experiences on the juice cleanse make me feel a little bit like something was wrong with me for having such a bad reaction. But let's just go with the theory that I was too healthy to begin with--ha! 🙂
Pam Kress Dunn says
There is no scientific evidence backing juice cleanses, or, actually, any kind of cleanse. Our bodies are made to cleanse themselves, and they do a wonderful job of it. Same thing goes for high colonics. Yuck -- and completely unnecessary. I'm so glad you listened to your body and went back to eating real food. Besides, don't we keep hearing that eating an orange is infinitely better for us than drinking orange juice? We do.
Take care of yourself. Well -- you already did.
Kiersten says
Thank you! I didn't buy into the whole cleansing toxins thing, but I had read that cleanses helped people with their eczema, so I figured maybe that big boost of extra vitamins would clear my skin up. So much for that. :/ My hands did get a little bit better, but I'm pretty sure it was because I wasn't cooking!
Val says
I have never understood the juice fasting concept--is there any thing more natural than eating? Of course, I am rather obsessed with eating vegetables, but eat a solid meal I must. If I skip a meal, I start to feel sick rather quickly. This could be what was happening to you. Now back to the good stuff--hope you are feeling better!
Kiersten says
I am feeling so much better now, thank you! All that energy and enlightenment my husband felt on the juice, I felt once I started eating again. 😀
Caitlin says
thank you for being honest. it's so refreshing. i would never even attempt to do a juice cleanse. i know it would probably kill me or make me incredibly ill. i'm glad you listened to your body and stopped.
Kiersten says
Yeah, don't do it! LOL.