Marie Weihs opted for the I·DO Bio Balance juice cleanse and shared her experience with us. She describes her juice cleanse as "the start of a more conscious approach to nutrition." Marie is 29, a yoga teacher and market researcher from Munich. By consciously abstaining from solid food, she rediscovered her mental and physical balance. In her report, she shares what was most challenging during the juice cleanse and what she learned from it.
Why did I do a juice cleanse?
The five-day juice cleanse with I·DO was the starting point for incorporating two aspects – mindfulness and self-exploration – into my diet and health. My digestive problems, combined with my seemingly insatiable appetite, were the deciding factor in this decision. I was snacking two to three times a day, which was too much for me in the long run, even though I was often consuming "healthy" snacks.
Why did I decide to do a juice cleanse with I·DO?
I chose to do the juice cleanse with I·DO because I was impressed by the gentle production process and the organic quality of the juices. I also love the flexibility of choosing how many days you want to fast and the ability to customize the number and type of juices to your individual needs. This allowed me to order the perfect juice package for me.
My first three days of the juice cleanse
For the first three days, I felt very comfortable and connected to myself. I knew I was doing something good for myself, and my body coped surprisingly well with the break from solid food. It really helped that the I·DO juices were so delicious and varied. Since this was my first time doing a juice cleanse, it was a very gentle introduction. The consistent rhythm and the prescribed order in which I consumed the juices gave me the necessary confidence that I was doing everything right.
What helped me most was starting on Friday, allowing myself plenty of rest and relaxation, combined with significantly reduced caffeine and sugar consumption before the juice cleanse. This helped me avoid cravings and headaches from caffeine withdrawal.
The biggest difficulties with the juice cleanse for me
In fact, it was very difficult for me to find alternatives to eating with friends. I experienced more clearly than ever how much eating is seen as a social activity, especially on weekends (I started my juice cleanse on Friday).
As someone who is very active both physically and mentally, it was a new experience and good practice to incorporate more breaks and allow myself to slow down during the juice cleanse. This was very beneficial for me.
What did I learn from the juice cleanse?
I've learned to question my approach to rules and give myself the freedom to adapt them to me and my needs. Generally, I'm someone who likes rules because they provide structure and security. However, the juice cleanse showed me that I tend to prioritize following rules over my own needs and push myself beyond my limits.
It was very difficult for me to break the juice cleanse on the evening of the fourth day and listen to my body, which was no longer responding well to fasting. This allowed me to learn how to find a path to greater balance – to utilize the benefits of the rules in a loving and kind way, while simultaneously accepting my physical limitations. Therefore, I adapted the juice cleanse to my body. Initially, I only consumed solid food for dinner and drank juice for the rest of the day. Over the following days, I gradually increased the proportion of solid food.
What long-term changes resulted from the juice cleanse?
Besides the mental growth, I was able to change my attitude towards food in the long term. I was able to relearn the difference between appetite and hunger. So now I know when to stop eating because I'm full. I was also able to break the habit of frequent snacking, as I realized I often did it out of boredom or as a reward.
I have a conscious and healthy relationship with food: I notice which foods are truly good for me and now eat less sweets and almost no coffee. Because I reduced both before the juice cleanse, I feel their effect on my body more clearly again: They energize me, but in a very unsettling way. You can imagine me running around like a startled chicken. Of course, I don't completely abstain from either, but I know when and in what measure.
Finally, I was able to give my digestion a welcome break, which allowed it to regenerate and feel lighter. At the same time, it was also a good reminder to myself of how important breaks are – especially under constant stress.
Want to learn more about Marie Weihs or listen to her meditation podcast? Then visit her website and follow her on Instagram.
