Top 7 Most Common Master Cleanse and Lemonade Diet Mistakes and How to Avoid them

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Top 7 Most Common Mistakes

Posted on 02. Mar, 2008 by Mike in Blog, The Master Cleanse

1 – Fearing Misconceptions
2 – Misunderstanding Cravings and Hunger
3 -Buying low grade Maple Syrup
4 – Running out of Lemons or Syrup
5 – Eating other foods
6 – Not inducing Movements
7 – Breaking the fast too fast

There are a few pitfalls to beware of when doing The Master Cleanse. The most common Master Cleanse mistakes, while understandable, are avoidable. Experience will help to identify and eliminate the problem areas that people often fall into when doing the Master Cleanse for the first time.

Many Master Cleanse mistakes revolve around the preparation of the ingredients, materials and equipment needed during the cleanse. All are avoidable, but don’t worry if you find yourself making them; every time we try something new, there is a learning curve. By the time you are done your first successful Master Cleanse experience, you will be able to post your comments and communicate your results to help new first-timers.

If you have anything to contribute to this list, please provide it in the comments section at the bottom of the page. To the right, there is a list you can click on in order to jump to the part of the page dealing with each specific common mistake. These mistakes are common, but keep these tips in mind to reduce your chances of making them, and increase your chances of a smooth, successful experience.

Master Cleanse Mistake 1: Fearing Misconceptions

The misconceptions listed here are simply unfounded beliefs held by people, usually instilled by an ignorant population, parents, friends and rumors. Our lives are filled with these misconceptions, sometimes known as wives tales.

Master Cleanse Mistake 2:

Understanding Cravings

It is important to understand the different kind of cravings we have. It is true that there is a physical desire to eat, an instinct as strong as flight from danger or procreation. What isn’t necessarily true, however, is that every sensation of hunger is related to that life-or-death instinct. Psychological cravings can be a part of our response. As we age, we begin to associate good or bad situations with eating. These associations – situations, smells, colors – are attached to emotions (good and bad), and then to eating. When scenarios arise that carry these messages, we feel a craving to eat, in the manner of Pavlov’s Dog. In fact, almost all hunger pangs or cravings are psychological. You should not, however, ignore true hunger, which is difficult to describe other than to say: you’ll know it when you feel it. As you progress on the Cleanse, you will understand more clearly your limits and the messages your body is sending – which ones are real, and which ones make you eat with the fridge door open in your underwear at 11pm because your girlfriend just hung up on you.

Master Cleanse Mistake 3:

Buying Low Grade Maple Syrup

Don’t be cheap or lazy here. There is PURE, unrefined, maple syrup available somewhere nearby. The real stuff contains all the nutrients natural to the product, the “blood” of a tree. These nutrients are used directly by your body, and are combined and converted with the nutrients and vitamins from the cayenne and lemon juice to provide your essential requirements.

Master Cleanse Mistake 4:

Running out of Lemons or Maple Syrup

This happens easier than you would think, especially if you are being strict and only using organic lemons. Many organic stores are closed on Saturday or Sunday. And sometimes there is no store open at all. If you find yourself without lemons, just drink the maple syrup. If you are out of both, and are feeling low on energy, find a natural, sugar-based liquid. You want to treat your body like a living IV – intravenous. Just get some calories in there without disturbing your resting system.

Master Cleanse Mistake 5:

Eating other Foods and Cheating

You may think a little cheating doesn’t hurt. Well, it does, if it causes you to fail. Once you get your mind/body thinking more about other foods, your desires will increase. Nothing with make that happen more quickly than eating other foods. This cleanse is a difficult challenge, and I’ll admit to a few tricks. On days when it feels more difficult, I drink a herbal tea in the evening with a little maple syrup in it. A small glass of pure, freshly squeezed orange juice can do wonders for the psyche. Just remember to wash it down with a lot of water.

Master Cleanse Mistake 6:

Not Inducing Movements, Laxative and the SWF

Everyone Poops. I love the name of that book. And everyone must poop. You eliminate toxins by having bowel movements. Make it happen everyday, or at least every 18 hours. I would do it every morning. I like the sea salt internal bath (see instructions). You can alternate evening one day, miss a day and go morning next, then miss a day and go evening next. Make a habit out of seeing how much cleaner your movements become every day.

Master Cleanse Mistake 1:

Breaking too Fast or No Ease-Out

Most information out there ends at this sentence: Make sure you don’t break your fast too early. Hello? Not enough information. And others have the nerve to add: “Or serious injury can occur”. Thanks for that! It is probably common sense that on day 10 of your cleanse you don’t eat a Veggie sandwich from Burger King – although I witnessed a friend do just that. He was fine, however; maybe a little constipated for a few days. I also don’t have much more information on this, but please post comments with your experiences. This area of the Cleanse may be construed as medical advice. You should note, I KNOW nothing more than the understanding my experience provides. However, I can at least safely state this: just ease yourself back in. If you have to eat NOW, then choose something smart like an orange. Be careful about constipation. Moving back to solids will require a lot of water to keep you smooth.

Tags: Common Mistakes, The Master Cleanse

250 Responses to “Common Mistakes”

Christina

26. Feb, 2010

My friend wants to do the diet but she says she can’t drink OJ to come off diet. I don’t know why but I was wondering if there is anything else she can drink? Thanks

Reply to this comment
kevin

09. Feb, 2010

I transitioned off the master cleanse wrong 4 months ago and ended up in a magical land…

if you really want to know more, e-mail.

Reply to this comment
- Tanishs
  
  15. Feb, 2010
  
  What happened?!?
  
  Reply to this comment
- avmoalna
  
  04. Mar, 2010
  
  I am thinking of doing the cleanse. What did you mean when you ended up in a magical place?
  
  Reply to this comment
- Michelle
  
  05. Mar, 2010
  
  ok.. so how do i email you to find out?
  
  :)
  
  Reply to this comment
RITA

07. Feb, 2010

I just start the master cleanse today and just had the SWF,but just realised that I didnt warm the water,should I drink again one liter more of hot water mixed with with the organic salt or is it ok if I just drunk it with roon temperature water?

Reply to this comment
- pablo
  
  02. Mar, 2010
  
  I have used both warm and cold water. The laxative affect is based on the salinity of the water, not the temp.
  
  Reply to this comment
Nadia

06. Feb, 2010

I am on day three of the cleanse and I haven’t had a movement at all….can anyone tell me why? I’m taking the laxative tea and drinking the lemonade religiously. I can’t drink the saltwater flush, it just won’t go down. Is this the reason?

Reply to this comment
- Rhion
  
  01. Mar, 2010
  
  You’re not supposed to drink the saltwater flush, it’s supposed to be an enema.
  
  Reply to this comment
- pablo
  
  02. Mar, 2010
  
  You do drink the SWF. 2 teaspoons (important) to 1 qt of tepid or warm water. If it doesn’t work, you can add more salt. Your body could be absorbing needed trace minerals from the SWF.
  
  Reply to this comment
Sean Conn

03. Feb, 2010

I’m on day 3 and I was wondering is it safe to work out wiles doing it? I train very hard normally and I worked out on day 2 and felt great! My next workout would be on day 4. Should I keep working out through out the diet?

Reply to this comment
dqb

02. Feb, 2010

I just started the cleanse today and am unsure about the Maple Syrup I’m using. The bottle says, Pure Grade A dark amber, but I recall reading that Grade D is better, but I couldn’t find any in Whole Foods. They had Grade B, which I bought, but I can’t see the syrup because the jug is grey plastic so for now I’m using the Grade A that I already happened to have.
Does Maple Syrup lose it’s nutrient rich properties if it’s been opened for a while and not refrigerated? Good question… should it be refrigerated once opened?
Next question is about tea. How do you know if a tea is naturally decaffeinated?

Reply to this comment
- Maggie
  
  12. Feb, 2010
  
  Grade B is what you are supposed to use… so you should buy that!
  
  Reply to this comment
mimi

28. Jan, 2010

I’m finishing off day 3 of the cleanse, and my usual perfect skin is experiencing its first ever pimples!! oh no!! is this normal to get spotty during the cleanse?? Will it last long? Other than that, i’ve lost alot of weight, and am not really feeling very hungry at all. :o)

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Rekha

24. Jan, 2010

Hello, I did the mastercleanse 2yrs ago for 7 days. It was hard but, I felt amazing afterwards. I’m hoping I can last the 10 days this time and really see and feel the benefits of the cleanse. I am a foody but I am also a performer, so I am constantly fighting with my body:)

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anna

18. Jan, 2010

The worst post-cleanse experience I had was after my first cleanse. I wish I’d known about the importance of probiotics back then. When I resumed eating again my digestion took weeks to normalise itself again. Natural sources of probiotics include kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, pickles (non-vinegar) and yoghurt, but probiotics in capsule form are also a good idea.

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Ksmyles

14. Jan, 2010

I have done a cleanse quite a few years ago, I am doing it again. Has anyone experienced dehydration? I know that is odd because we are drinking so much water, but I feel dehydrated, my lips are dry and I feel like I want a gallon of just ice water? Any thoughts?

Reply to this comment
- Evita
  
  14. Jan, 2010
  
  Hi there, if you’re feeling thirsty then drink some water. Remember that you drink half of your weight in ounces of water ON TOP of the lemonade you have. Chapped lips are common and I think of that as more detox but it also could be from the acidity of the drink and the SWF going across your lips. I use Berts Bee’s lip balm LIBERALLY day and night. I got chapped lips my last cleanse. One way to test for dehydration is to pick the skin up between your thumb and index figure pinch it a little and see if it goes right back to normal of if it takes a few seconds. That’s one way to check for dehydration. What does your pee look like? Is it clear or is it darker? Again, drink as much water as feels good for you. The lemonade can also make your mouth dry because of the mixture. Best to you
  
  Reply to this comment
- KB
  
  25. Jan, 2010
  
  I’m on day 7 of detox and I noticed a few days ago that I feel dehydrated only after the SWF, which I would assume is to be expected, but when I drink water to remedy that feeling, it’s slightly repulsive to me and I have to force it down. I love water and before going on the detox diet, that’s all I would drink so it feels weird not to really want water. I drink it anyway, though.
  
  My lips are also chapped and even crack/split on some days. I use pure raw Shea butter and Palmer’s cocoa butter formula chap stick to help with that, (liberally!) depending on what’s most handy at the time.
  
  Reply to this comment

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