Sippin on Gin and Juice. Sans Gin. For 3 days. Yep.

Fact: on a daily basis the majority of us treat our bodies like crap. Sure we work out, we (try) to eat healthy, we pour over the latest health magazines and shell out dough for cute workout gear. But there is nothing healthy about an existence made up of 3 hours of sleep; daily Venti Americanos; and too many weekends filled with booze, late night pizza and drunkity drunk dip, to keep count.

By Jill

And yet we wonder why our skin is broken out, our energy is low and why we have that extra layer of bloat that’s keeping us from feeling anything but skinny in those damn skinny jeans. Then we ponder said issues with our friends on a hungover Sunday brunch that obviously consists of eggs, cheese, bagels and giant pot of coffee.

So when I heard about the Blue Print Cleanse, I was immediately enticed. Giving my body a much needed 3-day vacation sounded great. I was ready to make like that rapper who sips on Gin and Juice… only minus the Gin. So in efforts to see if this really works I swore off food for 3 whole days and kept a journal of my moods for you fine ladies.

Day One
I woke up already hungry. Not a good sign. There really is nothing like looking at six bottles of juice and thinking this is ALL I will be eating today (even if it does come in pretty packaging with a bright green lunch bag).

I started off the morning with some hot water as recommended and a green juice that was actually pretty good. Hunger pangs disappeared and I had plenty of energy.

I whizzed past lunch time sipping on a DELSIH juice of pineapple, apple and mint. (Seriously this juice would be great mixed with vodka. A thought I admit I felt guilty for thinking…) So tasty was this juice, that I totally ignored the fact that my friends were chowing down on grilled cheese, French fries and tomato soup right in front of me. And by totally ignored, I obviously mean I was giving their food the awkward stare that the creepy boy at the bar gives while wiping drool from my chin. Have you ever smelled grilled cheese and tomato soup? Sure this juice is good but c’mon, people.

3pm rolled around and I thought I was in the great famine of 1774. Was there actually a great famine in 1774? I don’t know, because I just made that sentence up; but if there was one, trust me, I know what they were feeling. And I’m pretty sure they weren’t thinking, “Boy, I wish I could have a juice made of all green things like Kale and Parsley.”

But I drank it anyways and it not only curbed my hunger and left me buzzing with energy, but I felt like my grandma would be proud. And if that wasn’t enough emotional hunger to get me through the next few hours, well, then I don’t know what would.

I’m not going to lie to you, dear readers, by the third green juice of the day I was ready to throw in the towel. Or eat it. What was yummy before became a bit hard to stomach, but for the sake of being “clean and green” I drank it down and really did feel great after.

The cashew milk was a delightful treat for the night. I would like to buy this in large quantities as an alternative to milk, soy, almond milk and all that other crap we put in our bodies. It was really and truly delish. Was it because I was drinking 5 other bottles of juice that this was so appealing? Maybe. But even post cleanse I find myself craving that cashew/cinnamon/agave/vanilla bean heaven.

Days 2 and Day 3
Once you pass day one, the final 2 days are a blur. I felt energized and have never peed more in my entire life. TMI, perhaps, but also a very true story. Sure you have moments where you would like to eat, but it’s not because you are HUNGRY (the juices still give you a sufficient amount of calories) – it’s because you are so used to the act of eating.

The whole experience made me realize how often we all talk and think about food. And more importantly, how often we reach for food (usually that’s bad for us) in moments when we aren’t even hungry. Like clockwork, when 4pm rolls around I usually reach for a snack. On the cleanse I knew that wasn’t an option and I realized I wasn’t even hungry for it! It made me think back to all those other 4pm come-arounds where I wasn’t hungry for a snack but ate it because I was bored/stressed/tired/a snack at 4 sounds like the right thing to do.

At the end of the cleanse, I felt like I could go for another 3 days if I wanted to. Did that stop me from eating part of a chocolate chip muffin in celebration of completing? Hell no. But do I feel great and would I do it again? Yes.

A side benefit: I lost 4lbs. I didn’t set out on this journey to drop the lbs and I’m not sure if that will come back the second I start eating any food that hasn’t been juiced, but it does feel good to have a little extra room in my pants. But what feels even better is the fact that I gave my body a much needed rest to get back on track. My skin is glowing, I woke up and didn’t want to kill the world, I didn’t miss coffee (gasp! I know!), and I look really good in my clothes.

Despite what some people say about cleanses, after months of pouring vodka and beer down your throat,  I highly recommend sipping on the juice (sans gin). It’s just for 3 days and your body will thank you!

You can check out all things Blue Print Cleanse here!