INGREDIENTS:

-2 tablespoons of Grade B (or A) maple syrup
-2 tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice
-¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
-10 oz of water

Day One: Friday

The drink is awful. I hate the taste and as of 3 p.m. had a headache that was killing me. I decided to go out with some friends to a concert in Scottsdale but I had to leave at 11 p.m. because my head hurt so badly and I felt so tired. I passed an In-n-Out and nearly stopped, but then I thought about having to tell my editor that I didn’t make it past day one and decided to keep driving.

Day Two: Saturday

I eat the least in the mornings so I feel fine when I wake up, but I have to shoot a concert in Phoenix tonight and I’m worried about feeling exhausted and not doing a good job. The smells of the food at the concert were torture!

But it went fine and after the concert I collapsed at home and slept for nearly ten hours.

Day Three: Sunday

Today was much better, but I had a soccer game at 2:45 p.m. We were down players, so I had to play the whole game. At the end, I felt like I might pass out on the field, but within an hour I was fine. The drink doesn’t taste bad at all anymore.

Day Four: Monday

First day of classes! I’m walking around with a nalgene full of my cleanser. I miss the social activity of food. I can’t invite friends to go grab a bite or even a cup of coffee and they feel guilty eating in front of me, but I feel lighter and more in control of my body.

Day Five: Tuesday

I was walking on campus and a strong breeze blew over the smell of Indian food (one of my favorites) and my stomach was grumbling. I’ve started to realize how much of this diet is about willpower. At a certain point, it becomes a challenge, a need to push your body and control it.

Day Six: Wednesday

I had an iced tea . . . it has caffeine, but I think it’s okay. I needed another taste in my mouth. I also picked up my friend’s plate of noodles today and stirred the fork around, realizing that it’s been nearly a week since I touched a fork.

Day Seven: Thursday

One week!!! I never thought I’d be able to last! I have surpassed the amount of days many of my friends lasted, but I really miss being able to go out and eat or drink with my friends.

Day Eight: Friday

Pool party tonight for a friend and it’s his birthday. I’m bummed I can’t drink with everyone or enjoy some of the birthday cake, but the good thing is food isn’t the object of my desires like it was on day one or two.

Day Nine: Saturday
My family had a barbeque today and even though I don’t eat meat, it smelled wonderful. The smells are probably the only thing that trigger my stomach anymore.

On another note, I have saved over $80 on food for the week!

Day Ten: Sunday

I’m debating whether to stop at day ten. It’s a good length but then my mind starts thinking “You could last the full fourteen days . . . only four more days.” But I do feel kind of tired all the time and I’d like to have the energy to start working out. It’s clear to me, at least ,that this is much more about control than cleansing.

It’s rare that a diet’s title says it all. Southbeach? Atkins? The fancy name is hiding the true facts about what the diet entails. But for those that speak of the “lemon and maple-syrup” diet, they are saying just about all there is to this cleanse.

Created by Stanley Burroughs in 1941, the idea was to remove harmful toxins as well as jumpstart weight loss. The diet consists of only three ingredients: lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper mixed in water. On top of this, all food, smoking and caffeine are banned. The sugar from the syrup is natural and a source of energy, while the lemon juice provides vitamin C and the cayenne pepper helps you feel full.

After my sister, roommates and friends had raved about the master cleanser, I decided I wanted to try it. I automatically documented my experience along the way. So, after saying goodbye to food Thursday evening with some fries from Wendy’s and a chocolate frosty, I began the master cleanse.

I’ve realized that by day five that this is about control. You feel powerful and in control when you can tell your body what to do. Every day you go without food, it is a sense of accomplishment and power. This isn’t healthy at all.

I asked the Director of Campus Health Services, Dr. Alan Markus, about what the diet provides and what it neglects.

“I’m not sure what you get from that mixture. There is really no scientific basis or studies that have proven to show that this is a good diet,” Markus says.

“You are missing protein and basic vitamins that are essential for growth.”

Would I tell others to do this? Well it’s an experience. You realize the immense role food plays in your everyday life. You know that phrase “Do you live to eat or eat to live?” This is a good way to evaluate for yourself the role food plays in your own life.