Curious about juice cleansing? Feel like your body needs a break from food? During the festive season, it’s common to lose sight of a healthy diet and overindulge. Nobody is perfect! But if you want to give yourself the gift of health this year, a juice cleanse is a great place to start. Our resident yoga teacher Steph Cusack just finished a 3 day juice cleanse with LA Cold Press, here’s how it went down:

WHY JUICE CLEANSE?

A few years ago, I did a 3 day green juice cleanse and loved it. It was a mental challenge as much as a physical one, and afterwards I felt lighter, revitalised and super hydrated - a friend had told me I literally smelt as fresh as a cucumber. This time, having just recovered from a physical injury and several weeks of (unavoidable) painkillers, I was ready to nourish my body with the vitamin-packed juices, to give my digestive system a break, and to reflect on a more mindful relationship with food. Plus, not having to grocery shop/prep/cook/wash up for three days is amazing when you have a busy schedule!

PRE-CLEANSE

The pre-cleanse tips: I was advised to eat clean, avoid refined sugar and animal products, wheat, caffeine, alcohol and nicotine for a few days before. This was mostly sorted since I’m already plant-based, caffeine-free, a non-smoker and barely drinking any alcohol at the moment… but I definitely broke the ‘clean eating’ with my favourite Lebkuchen over the weekend! Guilty pleasure.

TIPS FROM THE PROS:

When LA Cold Press founder Cindy dropped off my juices (service with a smile!) she gave me some expert tips:

Drink a juice every 2-3 hours, or when you feel hungry. Follow the recommended order, or use your intuition if you feel like mixing it up. Drink lots of water and herbal tea. Stay warm, as your body may feel colder while cleansing. Give yourself the space and time to rest. Taking a bath, being outdoors and doing light exercise or meditation are great ways to get the most out of your cleanse. Using other supportive tools such as oil pulling, tongue scraping, skin brushing and sweating to help to flush out all the toxins from your system. Keep your juices refrigerated to maintain the vitamins, vital trace minerals and crisp clean fresh taste for up to 3 days after being pressed. Celebrate aliveness!

THE CLEANSE: DAY 1

How I felt: Somewhat surprisingly, Day 1 was a breeze. I was up at 5.30am to open the BECYCLE studio, taught yoga at 10am, worked up until physiotherapy at 2pm and was asleep at 11.30pm. A very long, but typical Monday, with plenty of work and activity, so I was pleasantly surprised at how energised, clear-headed and balanced I felt throughout the day. And somewhat surprised at how little I was tempted to eat, even with food all around me.

How they tasted: The organic, cold-pressed juices and the nut milk were all delicious. Some of the juices with fruit were a little sweet for my taste, which probably slowed me down in drinking them.

THE CLEANSE: DAY 2

How I felt: I woke up feeling refreshed and ready for another big day. A morning photoshoot with Nike, followed by work from home, and teaching in the evening. I did feel colder than usual at the photoshoot and also at night… but wrapping up in warm layers, hot tea and doing some yoga helped. Work wise, I was feeling very productive. It’s incredible how much work you can get done when you don’t have to think about food!

What I added on: Other supportive practices such as oil pulling and tongue scraping, were helping to flush out toxins from my system. And using mindfulness techniques for the few times that I felt ‘hungry’ - I would listen to my body, and notice if I was instead just thirsty/cold/tired/bored/influenced by those around me - in fact, I never once felt truly hungry.

THE CLEANSE: DAY 3

How I felt: Empty!! I woke up feeling a little nervous as to what the third day would bring, but actually it wasn’t so bad. It was another fairly long day of teaching yoga, work, and a fun evening making DIY coffee scrubs and luxury bath salts with a friend - so for a little energy boost (and this was recommended by LA Cold Press), I added an avocado and a couple of nuts to the final green juice, giving it a creamier texture. So delicious.

What I’ve learnt: Mind over matter: believe you can do it and you will. Distraction also helps… so stay focused on activities that don’t involve food. And be kind to yourself - rest when you need to, enjoy spending time with friends, and follow your intuition.

POST-CLEANSE

What you put into your body after the cleanse is very important - it’s important to stay hydrated and focus on nourishing foods. I have never been so excited to eat a bowl of watery oats and berries for breakfast! The transition to food should be a gradual one, so I was staying hydrated with tea, water, soups and plenty of vegetables. It’s amazing how much my stomach had shrunk - and when you only need a little food to be satiated, you really decide carefully what you eat!

THE VERDICT

A juice cleanse is no easy feat, but it’s definitely worth a try - especially if you can feel your body craving one! If you’d like to find out more information and/or book a 1, 3 or 5 day cleanse, head to lacoldpress.com.

Article written by Stephanie Cusack

Behind the Scenes of a 3 Day Juice Cleanse