MC 2025: DAY 34!!

I did it! I completed something I had set out to do. I’ve finished the master cleanse at 34 days, 5 days before our annual trip.

I can’t believe it though... that I was able to do it without going mad for food.

A couple of things surprised me along the way:

1. The detox part wasn’t so bad as I remembered it. I’ve been drinking less coffee, and I haven’t been loading up on the chocolates like I used to.
2. I was able to workout – continuously. This is a big one. I did at least 2-3 intermediate pilates classes per week, sometimes I threw in a spin session. I also walked a lot more during this time.
3. My tongue didn’t turn fully pink at the end of it, but by week 4, I had a painful tongue.
4. I think I had a 2^nd round of detox around days 20-25 – sore throat and cough – but no fever. Usually when I have sore throat, fever follows, but not this time.
5. Weight loss didn’t adhere to the 1lb per day. I lost about 10.5kg (23.1lbs) in 34 days instead of 12-15kgs that I was expecting.
6. I didn’t have this emotional breakthrough, or aha moments, or clarity that could change my life.
7.  I had cravings more than real hunger. I thought I will be so hungry that I will not be able to complete it. But real hunger? I only felt it in the last 10days of the cleanse. And this with all the exercising!
8. I went to food court, Jollibee, McDo etc. see people eating in front of me, but I didn’t cave AND it wasn’t so hard. 
9. Since I can’t eat, I wanted to COOK! That’s new. :D

When I posted a pic of me, a friend of mine asked, "how did you do it?" It didn’t take me long to give him the answer: “MINDSET” because to be honest, that’s the main thing and then 2^nd is setting yourself up to win.

On the Mindset part:

1. I kept holding on to an image of how I would look and feel like at the end of the cleanse and whenever hunger or cravings come – I pull that out.
2. Cravings or hunger – I acknowledge it, I even say it out loud “oh, I want some fried chicken”, “that smells so good”, “I am so hungry”. But then that’s it.
3. Temptation – That’s endless, daily, and just there all the time. I reached this point because I kept giving in to it. And if I did, it would be another “failed” attempt at something. I cannot have that.
4. Think – its just a day, I can always have food on any other day.
5. Think – IT WILL ALL COME TO PASS – and you want to WIN at the end of the time that had passed.
6. PS: I want to stick it to someone. revenge weightloss.. I know.. im petty, but Im so annoyed.

Setting yourself up to win:

1. Always have all your lemonade servings with you – anywhere! Even if you must carry a cooler box with you – do it.
2. When you are hungry & craving – sip your lemonade – even though you are sick and tired of it.
3. Water – always have it with you.
4. Have a glass of lemonade, 30mins before the workout and immediately after. 
5. Listen to your body – if you feel tired to work out – then don’t.
6. Set your mind about your day – I didn’t really do this with the other aspects of my day, but I set my mind to thinking that today I will do “pilates and the stair master” or “pilates and sauna” or “pilates and treadmill”. For me, thinking about this early on, makes me want to deliver. It’s like not disappointing myself.

Now that I am on ease out period, I keep on thinking about the food I will be eating on day 3-4. I will have my first taste of resto food on Day 4.

TBH, I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep my losses. Gaining will be inevitable given that I will be travelling. And the 10kg buffer is not a lot, when you consider the water bloat. I have no access to a gym too for 17days.

I seriously don’t know how I’d behave when it comes to food when Im in South Africa.

And then when I come back, I plan to do this again to debloat before going home to PH. Can I do it again?