The founder of View the Vibe has officially entered her 40s and with knowledge and determination she plans on staying young on both the inside and out. Nicki’s Pick is a weekly beauty column that features Nicki’s favourite beauty products and latest discoveries for women in their 40s. These products are tried and tested by Miss Nicki, and if she lists it here you can trust that this is how she is staying young in mind, body, and spirit…
Everyone should try to cleanse at least once or twice a year. As you get older it definitely helps in “resetting” the system. However, nobody ever said it was easy – and bloody hell, it’s not. I don’t like cleanses. Never have. I used to do the Master Cleanse once a year for 7 days. OMG. Most difficult cleanse ever. I actually had to take time off work when I did it. Now, at 40 and more confident than I ever have been, I could honestly never do that cleanse again. I like food far too much and I’m not afraid to say it. But I do believe cleanses help the system reset, and when you eat and drink too much (because summer does that) a cleanse is exactly what the body needs to get back on track.
So last week I decided to do a 5-day Belmonte Raw Juice Cleanse, because while I feel happy with my body and shape, my summer belly seemed to be growing a little too much for my liking (damned wine habit!). Knowing I was leaving for a Grecian beach vacation also helped my motivation. So I ordered the Belmonte Raw Juice Cleanse – but this one included a salad to be had at 3:30pm everyday. Well, let me tell you… this makes the cleanse way easier. The day’s menu includes four juices, one exilicar boost shot, and a raw salad. I did it for five days, and while it was still difficult – because breaking those summer habits just is – it was easier than just straight juicing and the results were the same, if not better.
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The key that makes this cleanse awesome is that you’re not starving because of that midday salad. I find when I juice, I crave chewing. The “liquid only” diet kills me and that’s ultimately what makes me grumpy and unhappy. On this cleanse, you have your first green juice at 8:30am, another at 10:30am, the energy shot an hour later, a lemonade at about 1:30pm, the salad at 3:30pm, and then the last green juice at 6pm. From 6pm on, it’s only liver detox tea and that is probably the hardest part because my body is used to enjoying great dinners…
Last year I did a 3-day juice only cleanse, and in comparison I was much happier and felt a lot better on the Belmonte one. I found in last year’s there was too much sugar from the fruit juices, and the cashew drink bloated me to the point of needing to lie down due to discomfort. Most of all, I was totally miserable. The Belmonte Raw Cleanse didn’t bloat me and I found it far easier to live “normally.”
So here were my results: I started on a Sunday and finished on a Thursday. In total I lost 6 pounds, my skin is glowing, and overall I feel so much better. I was able to workout (no cardio) three days out of the five, which I love because on the liquid only cleanses I can’t work out. I loved this cleanse so much I am actually thinking about trying to do it three days a month – just to clean out my system and maintain a healthy lifestyle. That’s how easy it is…
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All in all, I would recommend this cleanse to anyone who hates juice cleanses but wants to feel better, or anyone who is scared of a juice cleanse. This one will be difficult, but it won’t kick you in the butt as much as traditional juicing.
What are some successful cleanses that you’ve tried and tested? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.
