There usually one reaction when you tell someone you're undertaking a 3 day juice cleanse. Why the hell would you do that?!
Great question.
I did it anyway and I want to tell you all about it. The good. The bad. And, especially, the ugly.
So let's start with the first question - why the hell are you doing a juice cleanse?
The long and the short of it is that I've been having many hormone issues in the last few months (oh the joys of being a woman...). These changes left me with significant weight gain (despite not changing my diet and still exercising as much as I always had been). The thing that was really getting me down though was the bloating. Every time I ate anything or drank anything, I'd end up soo bloated. Uncomfortably so.
Despite doing all the right things, cutting back my food, drinking more water, getting my steps in, nothing would change. So I figured I needed a physical reset.
Enter: the juice cleanse.
Now, being in Canberra, there are next to no places that will deliver a juice cleanse. However, I came across Sol Cleanse who deliver fresh juices once a month to Canberra. What I liked about them is that it's a holistic approach to cleansing, not the old school 'I want to cleanse to lose weight fast', which is not what I wanted.
Sol Cleanse was built on a simple but powerful belief: that real, whole-food nutrition should be easy, accessible and genuinely nourishing. They offer organic juice cleanses, whole-food meal packs and wellness-focused products designed to help people reset, nourish and reconnect with their bodies. Sustainability is at the heart of their mission using plastic-free packaging, partnering with local organic farmers and a glass-jar return programme. Their goal isn’t just to promote short-term detox, but to help people build long-term healthy habits, rooted in wholesome food, community and respect for the earth.
I decided to undertake the level 2 cleanse, which is designed for someone who is already living a relatively ‘clean' lifestyle and is here to take their vitality to the next level.
Each day you consume six products, a mix of organic cold-pressed juice, nut milks and green smoothies. The cleanse also coming with a Booster pack, containing a comprehensive Cleanse Guide, Enlighten Detox Tea (which you can consume as much as you want each day) and an Eliminate Fibre Supplement to help you start the day feeling full.
For those in Canberra thinking about the cleanse, the juices are made morning of and delivered the same day between 3 and 10pm. It is recommended that you then consume the juices within the next three days.
Day 1:
I was really excited about this cleanse until day of. When I woke up and the reality set in of what I was about to do, the 'what the hell am I doing' finally set in.
To start each day I had an Eliminate Fibre (a teaspoon mixed in with water), which was mostly tasteless and easy to consume, and the Energise juice (lemon and cayenne pepper, another very easy to consume juice).
Day one was by far the hardest mentally. I didn't realise how food motivated I had become until suddenly I had that taken away from me. As soon as I got to work, all I could think about was the fact that I was just consuming juices. I wasn't hungry, but time has never gone slower than it did this morning. I did add a few almonds between juices to help curve that sense. But, I won't lie, it was seriously tough. My partner and friends received the messages all day about how much I was struggling. And while I know the cleanse would be beneficial, I know it would be disingenuous of me to not highlight that I really struggled through the early phases of this cleanse.
The juices themselves weren't too bad. I knew this was going to be another challenge for me because, and I hate to admit this, I can be funny about textures and certain flavours. I don't love bananas or beetroots (both core ingredients in a couple of the juices). However, the flavour of them wasn't too bad.
Now the hangry definitely set in by the time I was getting ready for bed. I was not a happy camper, and my poor partner copped the brunt of it. You are in a significant calorie deficit on a cleanse and I was feeling it by the end of the day.
Day 2:
This is the day that I probably have the least to say about. It can be easily summarised by saying I was just flat. Which was 100% to be expected. Day 2 is where your body is really starting to kick into cleansing.
In preparation of the cleanse, I had pulled back on my exercise. Over the three days I just did some light walking and stretching. And on day 2, I did next to nothing and I didn't want to.
Thankfully (well done past Laura) I had planned a fairly low key day today. I was working from home, after a bigger week, so just had a few bits to catch up on, but it meant that I could have a slower day without impacting on the rest of my team. Which I was very grateful for.
I know some of you have asked about caffeine withdrawals, which would absolutely be kicking in by now, however I don't drink coffee or actively consume drinks with caffeine in them, so I didn't have issues with this.
It was early for bed today too.
Day 3, the last hurrah (finally!)
By day 3 I was honestly feeling pretty used to the juices. By this point I was definitely ready for some real foods, I was a bit over the juices themselves and ready for a change. However, my body had gotten used to the lower calories and just accepted it was what it was.
What I did notice on day 3 was definitely the physical change in my body. It was the first day in literal months that I hadn't woken up feeling bloated. I felt like my body was feeling refreshed and the water retention I'd been battling was flushing its way out. The best way to describe it is that I felt light.
Coming off the cleanse
Once you complete the cleanse it is recommended that you gently go back into regular eating, starting with simple foods first. Did I follow that...? Not completely no. I didn't have a big breakfast with the works, because I think that would've just made me feel horrific, but I did have some carbs amongst the fruit and veggies, which is totally acceptable.
The biggest wins for me was that I had noticed a drop in my sugar cravings by now too, which definitely carried on out of the cleanse to. I have a serious sweet too, but I am still finding, a couple of weeks on, that I struggle with anything too sweet. I actually don't want to sit and eat a whole block of chocolate, I am happy with one or two squares.
I also found myself having a renewed appreciation of my body, something which I'd struggled with for the last few months. Bearing my soul a little bit here - I was really struggling with my self identity and the fact that my body had had some significant changes for the first time in a long time. Pushing through the challenges made me realise that my body is capable of so much more than I sometimes give it credit for, and I should really appreciate it for that.
And I know a lot of you will ask - was it worth it and would I do it again? Which I have separate answers for.
It was definitely worth it, but I would encourage you to think deeply about it before going in. Don't do it for weight loss or because you are hating who you are, that isn't what this cleanse is about, and while you will lose some water weight in the three days, it is not going to stay off. Go into it because you want to reset your mindset. For me, I wanted to reset my food fixation and I definitely feel like it helped with that.
But would I do it again? Yes, but probably not three days. Unless I was back to where I was prior to starting this cleanse, I don't think a three day cleanse is needed for me. I would consider a one day reset once a month, to keep myself feeling balanced, but I think a three day takes a lot more forethought and planning when I could manage with one.
If you have any questions about the cleanse that I didn't cover, please drop them in the comments!
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