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Lemonade Diet
The lemonade diet is a detoxification program written by the late Stanley Burroughs. The diet – called the “The Master Cleanser” was written in the 1940s and continues to be popular to this day. The current version was published in 1976 and is simply a 50 page booklet outlining the diet.
The Master Cleanser
This dietary regime is strictly a cleansing diet. Weight loss will occur, but it is not to be equated with fat loss. Much of the weight that is lost will be from fluid and water retention. Indeed, the book states that at least 1/2 the weight will come back on after completing the diet. Many people incorrectly use this for fast weight loss. This is not what the diet is intended for.
Detox diets such as the lemonade diet are not for the faint-hearted. They are difficult to follow – typically because we are so addicted to food. People experience varying degrees of success as their body begins to flush itself of toxins – but the first few days are hardest. Some only use the lemonade diet for 4-5 days, while others take it out to 2 weeks.
People report an enormous number of health benefits – relief of arthritic symptoms, infections, pain, gout, and many more.
A typical herbal detox will do the following:
- Dissolves and eliminates toxins that have formed in any part of the body
- Cleanse kidneys and digestive system
- Purifies the glands and cells
- Eliminate waste and hardened material in joints and muscles
- Relieves pressure and irritation in nerves, arteries and blood vessels
Lemonade Diet Sample
- 60 oz spring water per day (spread over 6 10 oz glasses)
- 12 tablespoons Organic Grade B Maple Syrup (or 2 tbsp. per glass)
- 12 tablespoons freshly squeezed organic lemon juice (or 2 tbsp. per glass)
- a little over half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper (or 1/10 tsp. per glass) or to taste
The only other foods consumed is a laxative tea (“Smooth Move”) twice a day, and a saline (sea salt) wash. The laxative may be required due to the lack of fiber in the diet that may lead to constipation.
Breaking the Fast
This must be done gently, by easing your way back into solid food. Vegetable soup is a good starter, and fruits and vegetables shouldn’t be started until the second day out of the juice fast.
Before doing the lemonade diet, Stanley Burroughs book (see below) is a must-read.
Try some of these light recipes when coming off the program.
See Also
The Master Cleanser – by Stanley Burroughs.
I am blown away by everyone’s inability to spell.
Started the diet today;but it is hard because of my love 4 food
How long can you continue to lose on this? I know you can go up to 40 days, but is it a solid weight loss or does it slow down???
I hadn’t expected to write so soon, but wanted to inform you all I am 3 pounds LESS than yesterday when I wrote the last post! I’m thrilled. I only could gag down 4 glasses (32 oz) of the lemonade drink yesterday so I’ll do the same today and see if that will still help me lose weight that fast as well as save me on money. I did have really bad feet and leg cramps last night…Any reason for that??? I’m still weak today but am sporting a smile…You all have NO idea how long I’ve been trying to lose…:) Be back soon!!!
I’m on my fifth day and have lost five pounds. I am not doing the salt water thing as I didn’t know about it nor do I have access to sea water? In any case, I’m starving. Sure, I miss food but I’m really hungry and quite often nauseated at times. I munch on ice chips. My teeth are aching so need to invest in some Sensodyne apparently. I’m 150 over weight. I intend on doing this for some time. My body feels achy as if when I’m sick. I urinate constantly like every commercial. I drink 5-6 glasses of the lemonade stuff a day. I could not afford the $10 bottle of maple syrup every other day if I did the recommended 10 glasses a day. I don’t know if i’m doing it right. I’m thrilled I lost the five pounds I have so far, and pray to continue losing. I feel tired and can’t fathom how people can actually have the strength to exercise on this thing. At this rate I could sleep forever as I’m so exhausted. I was 260lbs when I started and now am 255. I’ll keep you posted on my further weight loss…Thanks for this site…It’s hard to lose weight on your own let alone suffering ridicule from others. If exercising, watching my food portion and foods I eat were enough, I wouldn’t have a need for this. In any case, what I’ve been doing is swallowing a couple metamucil pills (you can get these knock off’s at Walmart or Target for 5 bucks) and two Migraine Exedrin in the morning and you’re good to go for the rest of the day…Good luck and again, will keep you posted…
Hi! Interesting to read everyone’s comments. I see different perspectives but one same need and wish everyone success.
I have done the cleanse a couple of times before for 7-10 days and did great. I then tried a couple of times and my body just gave me the hardest time and so I stopped. I am 255 lbs and hoping to clean my system and get my body ready to loose 100 lbs! Of course not with this, but I find this diet a perfect way to get motivated and healthy to start a change of eating habits for life. I used a protein-based diet before like Atkins and lost 40 lbs in 6 months but then I got stressed with my divorce and all and started eating in a mindless way. Today is day 2 and I have had terrible headaches all day, thank God I am not working or I just could not manage. I read that it is normal especially if you are releasing toxins. This morning I see my belly not as swollen and I dropped 3 lbs. of junk in my intestines! Will try one or two more days and if the awful headaches don’t leave then I will break the fast.
I started this today. Is it ok if I use grade A maple syrup?
and also, is it okay if I make one day’s lemonade last for tomorrow too? I don’t have much money, so.. yeah.
can you drink while you take this diet?
Heyyy!!! I started yesterday. This thing tastes sooo nasty. YUck! But I’m on my second day already, not really hungry, just thinking about food. jaja. Today I will do the sea salt flush, let’s see how that goes. We’ll I going all the way because I need to cleanse my body and I need ALL the energy I can get to deal with my new baby and also I NEED to fit into my clothes. OK So let me know how’s it going for you guys. Good luck to all.
For those who posted earlier and said they’s lost 20 pounds in the 10 days, I’m curious as to how much exercise they did? Could you please let me know?
You should do it. It’s awful but it’s the most effective method of cleansing the digestive tract and getting rid of the toxins and build up…
As happy as I am with peoples’ sucess, there are a few things people should realize. The lost weight is between water weight and impurities, undigested food in your colon. The digestive system is mostly affected by this diet, I am not sure if most of the people realize what the lemon, pepper, and water mean for this ‘diet’ which cannot be called a diet in that sense because everyone misunderstands it. This cleanse helps rid of food that your digestive track does not digest. The food being in your colon. Certain meats are the biggest factor or food that does not get digested, and even cause mucous build up.
Outside of doing this cleanse unless you make an effort to supply the body with the right amount of different food groups and vitamins, then you are lying to yourself when you call this cleanse. This is really a quick fix for you. One thing you should note is that LIGHT exercise is recommended. Organic maple syrup is the only provision of energy during this cleanse. When you work out your body uses the undigested food as energy, so it stays, and does not go away. I did not say this earlier, but so we can put this in prospective the colon can and does hold between 5 lbs to over 10 lbs of undigested food. I hope no one thinks they are losing 10 lbs of fat in a week, that is preposterous, and if it were actual fat then it is not impossible, just not practical or healthy because regardless of metabolism, normal HUMAN BODIES DONT WORK THAT WAY. If you don’t know talk to a doctor or personal trainer. Back to the maple syrup, it is energy but not enough for physical activities. The only example that I could give is that it is not possible to gain lean muscle mass and lose fat at the same time, in other words lose fat while improving maximal growth, because muscle needs fat. If you are fat and you lift heavy, then you get muscle under the fat, as the muscle feeds on the fat, but feeding on and burning fat are two different things. If you exercise hard, then instead of using the maple syrup and excreting the undigested food, with the laxative, your body keeps the food for energy so in that sense, you actually dont accomplish the cleanse correctly. If that was too confusing, then I give you a simple example. The reason why some kids in starving countries have large bellies is because the body eats away at itself, which cause it to deform in unhealthy ways.
I am starting the “maaster CLeanse” today. I am thrilled to start. Question? Do I really need to to the salt water flush. What is that good for? Would it make a difference if i don’t do it.?
Anyone?
Hey.Today is day 3 for Me!|
Its been pretty good.I really miss the food
But its Mind over Matter
I am 14 and hoping to lose 20 pounds
I am also doing it with my 12 year old sister.It is easier when u have someone by yourside:D
Day 1 – Time for change…
I am going to start the diet tomarrow,I know I can last with out eating, I am doing it for the toxins in my body I want to totally cleanse by body and get a new start and stay away from unheatly foods
I’m on day 6 of the Diet. I’ve lost 7 pds so far! Its honestly not that bad. I breezed through the 1st 2nd and 3rd day! My problem is my cycle started today and I’m craving for chocolates and sweets. I’m def gonna beat the cravings…4 more days n counting and 5 more pounds to lose! I def recommend it!
i habe been on the diet for 4 days and have not seen any changes–do you really have to drink salt –that is something to be desired–i though i would be using the rest room to do number? but have not seen that yet–do you have any answers
Can you eat anything and still lose weight?
I want to try this cleanse out to clear my body of toxins n help my skin out but I work as a server at a very busy restaurant and do not get breaks…my shifts are usually from 11am-6pm or 5pm-1am and I rarely get a chance to even take a sip of water til my shift is over…any suggestions??
Hi I currently have gained 25 pounds in matter of 7 months due to bad habits and lack of exercise. I’ve never been this over weight and use to being small athletic and fit….So I’ve decided to do this diet as a drastic measure to lose the weight I gained.My normal average weight is 130, and I am now up to 155 pounds. I start my cleansing process today and hope i can complete the process..I miss my old body and wanted it back asap! I have already begun my sports again and just want to lose the weight I brought upon me during that 7 month period…Wish me great success as I do for all of you!
I am 18 years old and i weigh 177 pds…i need to lose 20 pounds in 3 weeks for orientation and for myself…i work out daily, eat healthy, but my thighs and breasts are genetic…so i have a friend that lost 16 pounds in a week and hasnt gained it back… i will give this a try, and continue to eat my fruits, veggies, and salads after this…imma up my work out program just to make sure i keep the weight off…gonna post my progress!!!!!
Hey… I’m 20 years old and need a change. My mother has been doing the diet and she looks great, now its my turn. I’m 175 pounds, cant wait to know what I’ll be next week!
im 118, and i want to lose 10 pounds im starting tommorow wish me luckk =DD
This is my second time doing the detox diet. This fisrt time I detoxed I lost 7 lbs in 4 days, due to my lack of knowledge i gained the weight back really fast. I was very pleased with the results, so I’m going at it again tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Current weight: 130
Goal Weight: 110
Do you guys not understand? this diet is for DETOXING not to lose weight! You will lose weight but trust me it will all come back.. I had friends that did this diet and became very sick. If you want to lose weight, get out and exercise and eat healthy! 5 small healty meals a day. you will lose weight and it will not come back.
Well, now into day 5. Day 4 was somewhat tough…Felt like I was going to faint around 3 PM, but it passed. Headaches persist — but I have dropped another 2 pounds. I am exercising mildly now, and will restart weight training at the gym tomorrow morning.
Edema has left in my feet — though honestly I didn’t notice my feet were swollen before! Now, I know they were — as my shoes are loose.
Absolutely remarkable. I am a believer. I will likely break the fast this weekend — and proceed with one day of organic fruit juice with lots of purified water; then one day of mashed fruits with some organic vegetable broth — saving the vegetables for the next day. I intend to stay vegetarian for as long as it serves me well, and I will then do a cleanse (with normal nutritional meals) using a product called Colonix. I will use that for 30-60 days.
Today was my first day and I’m not hungry. I drank an herbal tea last night and drank the salt waer this morning. Th salt water is the worst part. I have thought about food more than usual but I am doing this cleanse to get the health results and of course looking forward to the weight lost. It’s really about changing your eating habits so when you come off the cleanse if you return to eating the same unhealthy foods you’ll be back at where you started. Read the info on the Master Cleanse by Stanley Burroughs.
hey well i spent two hours reading about this cleanse and i really want to do it, im going to start on a friday and do it for two weeks, im hoping i can have self control, i hear it taste nasty and that scares me lol. i also have a very low blood suger and i work, should i be worried about passing out at work or being so weak????
friday will be my firsy day wish me luck