Famefit

My New Years resolutions often involves broken commitments, so I rarely bother making them. But taking better care of myself has been on my mind for some time, and ringing in a new decade gave me the swift kick in the ass I needed to commit to some sort of change.

Ushering in 2010, I studied my photo albums and reminisced over the past ten years. When Y2K arrived, I was on a boat off the Gulf of Mexico enjoying the sand and surf. Since then my life has been full of exciting adventures and fabulous times, however looking over the photos it’s clear that my girlish figure is not what it once was. I could stand to loose a few pounds, but my main priority is overall good health. I love yoga, long walks and meditation, and feeling strong is the most important thing to me. Determined to start 2010 on the right foot, I signed up for a 3-day BluePrint Cleanse, which will arrive on my doorstep Tuesday morning. This is where the fun begins.

Considering that I am half Italian and half Greek, it’s obvious that food is a major part of my life. I’ve never been one to turn down a cookie, pasta Bolognese, or steak, and nothing makes me happier than the enjoyment of a good meal with a fine bottle of wine. Part of my family life has been spent in the kitchen, where we’d gather in droves to chat while filling our bellies with Mom’s delicious delights. So the thought of not consuming an ounce of food for the next 72-hours is pure crazy for someone like me.

My friend Amy turned me on to juice cleanses last year after she tried BluePrint Cleanse to jump-start her fitness regimen. As a testament to her happiness with the product, she started her third BluePrint Cleanse on New Years Day (brave girl). I’d read about Blueprint in a number of my favorite magazines (Vogue, US Weekly, People, Star, Time Out NY, and W to name a few) and had always been impressed by their devoted celebrity clientele such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Gossip Girl’s Jessica Szohr. Amy’s enthusiasm and positive feedback was all I needed to ease my concerns as I forked over $85 per day to rid my body of toxins.

I selected a Level 1, three day Renovation Cleanse, referred to as “a gateway cleanse,” which is ideal for beginners like myself. I’ve heard plenty of horror stories about cleanses with such severe side effects that friends would be locked in a bathroom for days, but the Renovation Cleanse is supposed to have just enough fat and calories to curb your side effects, while providing you with more energy, stable moods, increased productivity; normalized weight, clearer skin and fewer “detox” symptoms.

The daily menu consists of six juices that must be taken in this order:

1)      Green Juice (Not excited about this)

2)      Pineapple, Apple, Mint (Interesting)

3)      Green Juice (Again?)

4)      Spicy Lemonade (Hmmm)

5)      Carrot, Apple, Lemon, Ginger, Beet (I HATE beets)

6)      Cashew Nut Milk (Yummy)

Blueprint featured in US Weekly

The only suggestion made regarding when to consume the juice is to wait at least one hour between drinks and to finish the last beverage at least two hours before you sleep. Also recommended is a cup of room temperature or lukewarm filtered water, with fresh squeezed lemon to hydrate the body. In addition, I can as drink as much herbal tea and water as I like.

On Monday night I prepared myself for the cleanse, which meant cutting down on the delicious indulgences and phasing out the naughty things I eat daily. Preparation for me meant 2 large cups of coffee instead of my 1 regular cup, a BLT for lunch and a bowl of shredded wheat for dinner. As I savored each bite, it felt like the last supper and I had to keep reminding myself that it’s only three days. Three-long-days…

With my kitchen stocked with healthy food, and anything considered indulgent either hidden or thrown out, I settled into bed with a cup of herbal tea and a bottle of hibiscus juice. Just in case, I’ve cleared my calendar for the week if some type of unforeseen side effects do result, but the weird thing is I am actually excited.

I’ve heard great stories about individuals who complete a juice cleanse with a greater sense of energy, so I am hoping the end results will make it all worth it. I am not looking forward to the beet juice, but I am willing to suck it up in the name of fitness.

Check back everyday as I report on my experience with the BluePrint Cleanse. Be prepared for the good, bad, and ugly.