The Lemonade Experiment

Round Two

2009-05-05T14:03:00.002-05:00

So, I'm going to give it another try. This time I'm not sure how long I'll actually go for, but I'm going to try it until I feel it's too unhealthy to continue. Or you know, if I slice open another finger I'll probably wimp out again and eat some pie.

Starting tomorrow: Wednesday May 6, 2009.

DAY FIVE

2008-11-14T11:23:00.001-06:00

11:35AM: Class at noon- not dressed! BLOG AFTER.

DAY FOUR

2008-11-13T09:50:00.006-06:00

Here we go again!

9:52AM : Doubled herbal laxative mix and first glass of lemonade. Weighed myself and I have lost one pound since yesterday, so a total of I believe so far seven pounds.

10:47AM : I still have the black bowel movements but it was a bit more substance this time due to eating that little bit last night. I'm also feeling sort of light-headed and strange this morning. Had a touch dizziness when I stood up a couple minutes ago. I guess this is to be expected though.

Also just had my army roommate look at my finger and he has reassured me that it looks like it's doing fine. It's just deep so it will take a bit longer to heal. SUCKS.

6:52PM : Whew! Long day at school then shadowing at Halliburton in Carrollton. Poor time management on my part with the lemonade, have still only had one glass today. Now going to chug down some glasses to catch up.

Surprisingly I still don't feel very hungry.

7:41PM : Third glass going down!

10:29PM : So, I've had four glasses total today. I had a friend squeeze some lemons for me (with the cut finger it's kind of hard to work the lemon now, but I'm working it out). It's looking like I will actually get to six glasses today, which is good. I hate to think I'm actually just starving myself- with the lemonade it's an actual experiment, not anorexia.

Feeling a little empty and fatigued but nothing dramatic. So far I wouldn't say this diet/cleanse is that hard to do physically. Just need some will power and determination (and maybe a blog!).

DAY THREE

2008-11-12T11:10:00.006-06:00

Yay! Day three is here! Have adhered to strict diet as planned! I did only have three glasses yesterday... probably not a great idea, but I just couldn't find enough time to drink the last three. I felt fine though. I still feel fine. Feeling a bit more hopeful of making it the full ten days today. Morale is up, hunger is down.

11:13AM : Herbal mix and first glass of lemonade for the day.

6:00PM : Second glass for the day down the hatch. I've hit the black-bowels stage of the diet. I read that this is all the gross stuff accumulated in your colon making its way out of your system. NEAT.

8:00PM : While preparing my third glass of the day, I was using this new lemon squeezer contraption I bought and I must have squeezed with so much momentum that I slammed into the glass below. Shattering it and slicing the hell out of my finger, I've got a deep cut on my hands with a lot of blood coming out initially. I was eventually talked out of the idea that I needed stitches. It just seemed so deep!

I guess it's safe to say that I freaked out quite a bit. When you haven't eaten in three days, you tend to get reasonably light headed at the sight of blood. I also had a good case of the shakes for a bit just by being so upset.

Worrying it may not be the best time to have a completely empty stomach, I ate a peanut butter sandwich. And OK, I also had a piece of apple pie that my roommate (excited to see me eating solid food) offered me. Nothing over the top, I don't think. Looking back I wish I hadn't eaten the pie, but I feel the sandwich is justified. I was just so angry with the lemons that I indulged in the opportunity to say yes to a piece of pie. I regret it and felt immediately guilty.

For a short while I contemplated calling the experiment off due to the unexpected but somewhat necessary cheating, but I've come to the decision to keep going. I've got seven days left; more ahead of me than behind, I can still do this.

11:52 PM Officially decided to keep on going with a plan of action to:

DOUBLE THE HERBAL LAXATIVE MIX TONIGHT AND MORNING OF DAY FOUR.
START BACK ON LEMONADE TOMORROW MORNING.
SQUEEZE LEMONS WITH MY OWN BARE HANDS FROM NOW ON- NO ADDITIONAL HELP NEEDED.

DAY TWO

2008-11-11T08:55:00.010-06:00

Though my mind is really starting to rationalize how silly, unhealthy and extreme this diet is, I'm still determined to hit ten days. I did have quite a bit of anxiety last night as I lay in bed thinking of how I could just get up, get in my car and go to Whataburger. But I didn't, so here we are.

^that's not my hand though I would like it to be.

8:20AM : Herbal laxative dry on tongue with glass of water then 10 ounces of lemonade. I am running out of supplies already and will have to buy more today. I used my roommate's lemon juice in a bottle and am considering doing that rather than hand squeezing two lemons per glass.

2:24PM : Still have had only one glass of lemonade today, am about to drink second and possibly third to catch up. I am feeling slightly weak and a bit shakey. I just bought a scale though to keep up with weight loss.

Looks like I've lost two pounds in the first day.

4:43PM : Have drank three glasses total today and also have ran out of lemons and maple syrup! I have drank an entire bottle of maple syrup in a day! WEIRD.

10:34PM : Still have only drank three glasses all day. Not feeling awful at the moment however. Will attempt to drink three more before bed though to keep experiment consistent.

I bought new lemons- two bag fulls this time! AND I've opted to buy a less expensive alternative to the maple syrup due to budgeting. I can't buy a bottle of maple syrup every day! Poor college students can't afford that sort of diet.

SO I've purchased pure cane syrup for less than half the price originally spent on maple syrup. The contents label on the bottle seem to match up with the pure maple syrup so I'm trying it.

The color of the cane syrup (which tastes like brown sugar!) has changed the color of the lemonade and slightly the taste but not by much, if anything it's sweeter.

The Cane Syrup was $3.76 (I bought two!) and the large bags of lemons were $2.98 a piece.

A total cost of $13.48.

DAY ONE

2008-11-10T01:47:00.013-06:00

I began this experiment on Monday November 10, 2008 at 12AM.

I drank my first cup of herbal tea at midnight and with wonderful surprise-- it tasted great! Might be one of my favorite teas to date. The instructions on the box say to put 1TSP. on your tongue and swallow with water or your favorite juice.

The product is just a loose leaf herb mix so I put it in a loose leaf tea ball and made hot tea with it. Then after thinking maybe I should have just followed the directions on the box, I put another half teaspoon on my tongue and washed it down with some water. We'll mostly likely see if this was a mistake in the morning!

8AM : Laxative herb mix first thing this morning. Then I downed my first glass of lemonade! It took me 1.5 lemons to get the 2TBS. of juice needed.

I really had expected it to be awful, but really, I could drink this anytime. It's almost a strange bastardized version of a holiday drink I would say.

I warmed up the water in a tea kettle so it was a hot drink. The website I'm referring to instructed medium to hot water. I woke up very cold this morning and put on my big fuzzy white robe, but shortly after drinking this- with the heat of the water and the cayenne- I warmed right up!

One warning right off the bat, I think the laxative herb mix definitely gives you really foul smelling gas. God, I hope this passes before class.

9AM : 2nd glass!

Slightly interrupted by trip to the bathroom. I must say, I have taken pill laxatives before and this herbal mix is taking their lunch. No bloating, no cramping, no sense of urgency- simply a normal feeling and a (sort of) normal movement. Nicely done, SWISS KRISS. I think I'll use you even if I'm not on a crazy diet.

Still oh-so happy about the taste. It's like a Lemonhead candy juiced and all dressed up in a fancy cayenne suit that gives sweet maple kisses before he leaves. I like it.

1:25PM : OK, having a bit of cramping from the herbal tea mixture, but nothing severe. Finding it not so difficult to avoid food considering the strict plan is easy to follow. Going to make my next glass of lemonade right now.

7:47 PM : Still holding strong with little to no hunger pangs. Four glasses down, two more to go. I've been staggering water in between all glasses of lemonade to keep some variety and hydration in the mix.

Also, cayenne pepper is spicier going out than it is coming in. It's kind of nice to flush out your system though, I'm enjoying that aspect quite a bit.

10:27 PM : Thinking the first day is the hardest. Now I'm struggling with not having solid food. I just want to munch. Munch on that delicious looking casserole my roommate made, or biscuits, or candy, or popcorn, or a hot dog. ANYTHING. I will not though. Cannot break the first day. First day must be the hardest. Five glasses down, I don't know if I'll make it to six tonight. Going to take my laxative herb mix and go to bed.

10:36 PM : I'm going to drink another glass as said in beginning of experiment. Six glasses. A day. Sixth glass starts now. Then herb mix and bed.

THE COST

2008-11-10T01:22:00.003-06:00

I bought SWISS KRISS from The Cupboard in Denton, TX for $4.99.

I bought ten lemons for $2.00, one bottle of 100% maple syrup for $6.19 and one little container full of pepper for $4.85.

A total cost of $18.03.

BEFORE I BEGIN

2008-11-10T00:49:00.004-06:00

I will post these photos to give an idea to the pre-lemonade body. About a week ago I weighed around 145lbs. I am 5'3 (maybe 5'4 on a good day.)

WHAT AM I DOING?

2008-11-10T00:06:00.000-06:00

I'm going on an adventure. An adventure that involves lemons, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water. I will drink 6-12 glasses of this concoction a day for a trial of ten days. If at the ten day mark I feel like extending the experiment, I will do so.

This "Lemonade Diet" promises:

To dissolve and eliminate toxins and congestion that have formed in any part of the body.
To cleanse the kidneys and the digestive system.
To purify the glands and cells throughout the entire body.
To eliminate all unusable waste and hardened material in the joints and muscles.
To relieve pressure and irritation in the nerves, arteries, and blood vessels.
To build a healthy blood stream.
To keep youth and elasticity regardless of our years.
To lose a shit ton of weight.

OK, so I added that last bullet point. I have heard that you lose a considerable amount of weight though so we will see if it lives up to its hype.

Along with the 6-12 glasses of spicy and syrupy lemonade, I will be drinking an herbal laxative tea first thing in the morning and before bed at night. The laxative tea is aiding the elimination of toxins in my body.

I will also be photographing myself every few days to show results.

Let the adventure begin!