The moment you’ve all been waiting for! Here are the details… well, some of the basics. Somehow the writing below got a little serious- but just wanted to get all this inormation out and besides- cleansing is a seriously awesome endeavor!
Start Date: Sunday, April 19th
First Things First
For those of you who are new to my blog, allow me to introduce myself. The long story is here, and professional information here, but in short, I am a fully certified holistic nutritionist and natural nutrition coach. So basically, I have the education and experience to back up what I’m saying and to professionally coach you through this.
The Basics
There is no single cleanse or cleansing product that is just right for everyone. I do believe, however, that this here 3-day green smoothie cleanse is very balanced, very gentle and the absolute best way to ease yourself into a cleansing practice whether you are new to cleanses or fasts, have been doing them for years, or are overcoming or working on a health challenge. Only benefit can come from a cleansing regime that provides amazingly high nutrient density and sufficient caloric intake in a highly absorbable and easily digestible manner requiring minimal digestive energy.
What Is a Green Smoothie Cleanse?
For three days, all of your food intake will be in the form of a green smoothie. Simple simple. You will have a green smoothie for breakfast, one for lunch and one for dinner. If you get hungry, you might have one for a mid-morning or afternoon snack. If you are in a situation where you can’t make a smoothie, than a pureed veggie soup would be acceptable but we are aiming for raw smoothies. In between smoothies you can supplement with herbal cleansing teas, water, water with lemon, and coconut water if you like. Think of all the free time you’ll have !
Why Smoothies and not Juice?
The difference between a smoothie and juice is that juice has the fibre removed, where as a smoothie has the fibre left in. This means that in this cleanse you won’t necessarily experience the same hunger as you would with a juice cleanse and may also not experience the same lightheadedness, headaches or nausea that can come from more extreme juice or water fasts and cleanses.
Also- quality juicers are expensive and most people have blenders or access to a blender so it makes this cleanse more accessibly and viable to more people. All about inclusion!
And Green? You said Green Smoothie?
Yes! Green green green. Fruits are not green (well, not when they’re ripe) but vegetables sure are. In the coming days, I will be posting the benefits of greens from vitamin A, to chlorophyll, to heavy metal chelation and detoxing. In a green smoothie, there is maximum of one serving of fruit- whether it be one banana, one apple, one pear etc but mostly lots and lots of good whole greenness. These smoothies will not necessarily be sweet, so it may take a few to get used to the green taste of them. Some of the recipes I will provide will have things like dates or prunes to add a little sweetness but the bulk of the smoothie will be veggies.
Why Three Days
As this is our first cleanse together, I wanted to offer something that was realistic and manageable. Typically with cleanses, day 3 is the hardest. Depending on your lifestyle and constituion, you may find that after three days you want to keep going. Power to you! Three days, however is a realistic amount of time to request committment and is a great introduction to the practice of cleansing. And likely just enough time that may feel the energized floaty feeling that comes from being crisp and clean.
The Support
Over the next week, I will be blogging on the importance of green in our diets, the physical and spritual health connected to cleansing, the mighty liver and all that it does for us, the importance of fibre, the value in resting the digestive system, signs and symptoms of cleansing and detoxing, what to do in preparation for the cleanse, what makes a green smoothie and the acceptable fruits, veggies and protein sources. I will also be answering as many questions as I can that get posted. Further support is available if you want to be a Super Green Clean Particiapant (details below).
Who Should Not Do This Cleanse?
Diabetics, momma’s-to-be, severe hypoglycemics or anyone more than ten pounds underweight.
Share The Green Clean Love
The cost of being a part of this green smoothie cleanse is simply to share the love and the health (and to buy the veggies of course!).
I want as many people across this sweet blogging world, nutrition world, facebookers, twitterers etc. to cleanse with us. Now, obviously anyone is free to participate, as a lot of the information will be shared on my website, but I can’t post it all. If you want to be a Super Green Clean Participant you will receive the following sweet goodness:
- 3-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse e-Tutorial
- List of the green smoothie cleansing foods and main nutritional and health benefits
- List of the supportive green smoothie cleansing herbs and herbal teas
- 9 different green smoothie recipes that you can try out over the three days (of course you could always pick three and just rotate them)
- Information on further cleansing options- adding in enemas and psyllium for example
- A recommended daily Green Smoothie Schedule (when to prepare,, when to drink, including meditation suggestions, exercises etc.)
- Lifestyle recommendations to take into account during the cleanse.
- A complete Three-Day Green Cleanse Shopping list to help get your organized and ready
- The 3- Day Green-Smoothie Cleanse Community Phone Calls
- On Saturday April 18th at 12:00pm Eastern time (9:00 am Pacific) I will be leading a Q & A conference call. As a Super Green Clean Participant, you are invited and encouraged to join this call where you will have a chance to ask any questions you may have before the cleanse gets going. This allows you to speak to me directly have your questions answered as well as hear other people’s questions and concerns.
- On Tuesday, April 21st at 7:30p Eastern (4:30 PM pacific), we will have the wrap up call and enjoy our final Green Smoothie together (Well it might be the second last depending on what time zone you are in). This is like a green smoothie dinner party! Again you can ask question or simply share your experience. All you need to participate is a telephone or Skype.
- The Tutorial and conference call access number will be emailed out no later than Wednesday, April 15th
Be a Super Green Clean Participant! Register here for $12.00.
- And lastly, unless your questions are of a very personal nature, I request that you post them here so that everyone reading can benefit from the answers (and of course they can be left anonymously).
Here is the 3-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse Banner that can be added at the bottom of your blog posts or the badge to add as a widget. Please link to http://www.meghantelpnerblog.com
Be sure to check out my Morning Smoothie
And here are a couple vids to get you a little motivated to get on the 3-Day Green Cleanse!
I started adding green things (pea shoots) reducing the fruit/juice and increasing the water in my smoothies when you first mentioned this challenge. Thought it would be good to prepare a little if I was going to take part. I’m still in the “considering it” phase. I found out yesterday that my employment will change at about the time that the challenge is taking place. I’ve never done a cleanse before, and I’m not sure I can handle that much change at once. I’ll certainly mention you in my blog and post your banner whether I participate or not.
Off for more pondering…
I have been considering participating since you first mentioned the cleanse and I am almost at a definite “yes”. But first I would like to know: do I need a heavy-duty blender, or will my everyday one do? Since I have never used it to blend anything other than soft fruits or cooked vegetables for soups, I am not sure if it will be up to the task.
I think I am up for the challenge.
Then I’m in. *Gasp* I can’t believe I just said that.
Thanks Meghan
What a fabulous idea! Can’t wait to see it as it progresses. I’ll have to wait and see if I can participate (based on ingredients) while still on the ACD. Just a question. . . when you recommended who should do this, didn’t you mean anyone more than 10 pounds OVERweight? Or is it safe for someone already underweight to drink only smoothies for 3 days?
I’m in! Looking forward to joining with you and the others!
I’m in! Looking forward to joining with you and the others!
Can you explain how we can get the badge or banner to put on our blog? Thanks!
Count me in!
I’d also like to say thank you for sharing those videos. You say to get a little motivation but I felt A LOT of motivation after watching those.
I’m SO looking forward to this. I’ll go ahead and add the badge to my blog!!!
I’m in. I’ll be on vacation when you’re doing the cleanse, but I’m going to do it when I’m back.
Join me up.
Ok. So I really want to do this, but don’t think I am strong enough yet. Meghan, would it be possible for me to speak with you in more detail about my condition to hear your opinion on if this would be smart for me?
If anything, I think my husband is going to do it. So yay for that!
I’m considering doing this, though, I have adrenal fatigue. Would this be an issue?
Also I’m not a flax seed fan, so would there be other fat options?
This is a great idea! I am in the maybe group, but will check back for sure!
[...] The Green Smoothie Cleanse Introduction [...]
Hi Meghan,
Cheers!
I’ve noticed that in your section on “Who Should Not Do This Cleanse” you did not mention breast-feeding mothers. I was under the impression that they needed significantly higher calories. Is it because it is only for three days and may not have a huge impact on themselves and the baby? Just curious
[...] The Green Smoothie Cleanse Introduction [...]
Sherry- there is only one way to find out. Throw a couple pieces of celery into your blender with half a cup of water- add some cucumber and maybe a carrot and see what happens (and no this will not taste amazing by any means- you’re just testing the blender- add some apple or banana and more water if necessary).
Sham, Sari- happy to hear you are up for it!
Laurie- no need to stick with my dates. Don’t let the timing stop you!
I was listing should NOT to this cleanse. Anyone 10 pounds or more underweight should not do this cleanse.
And Ricki- given that it is mostly veg- would be very safe for you. Could always leave out any fruit and just use stevia is you need a little sweet, but at this point you would like be fine without the sweetness.
Thank you all for your awesome enthusiasm on this. Will be amazing to have each others support. I think I even got my momma on board and she never does this kind of thing. More info will be coming soon.
There will be other fat options but only people who have major health challenges or are under weight would need to supplement the veggies. In terms of your adrenal fatigue, there is nothing better you can do than eat these amazing loq glycemic veggies through out the day to maintain steady blood sugar levels.