I will be leading the first group of cleansers this Monday through Friday, but (just like the winter cleanse), this cleanse will be available year round and you can start it and finish it whenever you’d like. I am always here for motivation and support, and am thrilled to help you through this process.

Quick breakdown:

What does the cleanse include?

1. The cleanse includes a total of 20 original recipes: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner & 1 juice per day along with food photos, full nutrition information, & a summary to go along with each recipe.
2. There are introductory pages that tell you what to expect before/during/after the cleanse, how to prepare, a grocery list, the benefits of this type of cleanse program, and of course a personal story about how this cleanse came to be.
3. If you do the cleanse next week or the first week of any month, you will be added to an email thread with myself and a group of others who are doing the cleanse at the same time as you. This is totally optional, but most people find that it’s very inspirational to have a group to report back to and gain motivation from.

Why cleanse?

–       Our bodies and digestive systems need a break once in a while from the Standard American Diet (or our “healthy” versions of the Standard American Diet) to be able to recharge and reboot.

–       Our systems work hard to process and digest the food we eat each day – especially meat, dairy and processed foods.

–       Cleanses aid in avoiding disease, firing up our metabolism and eliminating body stress.

–       Because we are ridding our bodies of built up toxins, we are able to relax and relieve ourselves of all sorts of things that make us feel nasty.

–       Detoxification, shedding unwanted pounds, feeling light and awesome, challenging ourselves in a healthy way, and finding the best version of ourselves

–       Unless you eliminate certain foods form your diet for a constrained period of time, you’ll never know what works for you and what does not work for you.

What is this cleanse all about?

–       The TBV 5-Day Cleanse is an entirely plant-based cleanse designed for people who want to detox their bodies without starving themselves. Yes, I am a fan of juice cleansing, but I am way more a fan of transitioning into a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. This program is based off of the cleanse I did one year ago that turned me vegan!

–       It includes fruits, veggies, grains, legumes & nuts. Why? Because I believe that a cleanse with proper nutrients, fiber, vitamins and minerals will promote a lasting lifestyle change so you can reap the benefits of cleansing far after the cleanse is over.

–       No alcohol, caffeine, gluten, refined sugar, meat or dairy.

Remember, it is not about a quick fix!!! This is not a crash diet. You are eating solid food throughout. Let’s stop making excuses for ourselves, stop waiting until tomorrow, and learn some awesome new recipes and be kind to our bodies. (And learn some fun and easy tips for transitioning into a plant-based diet.

Who’s ready?!?! The cleanse is available here !!!! EMAIL ME if you have any, any, any questions!

The cleanse is a new, summer-ized (yes, summer as in the season, not summarized as in made briefer… leave me alone, spell check!) version of my 5-Day Plant-based Winter Cleanse. It includes 20 original recipes, food photos, full nutrition information, a little blurb about each recipe (can’t help but wanna write a full blog post for each one!), directions/ingredients, grocery list, cleanse FAQ, what to expect and of course a full intro section.

It comes in the form of a PDF, and if you’re a visual person (like me!), you can basically envision an eBook with 20 recipes and all of the info that I stated above. Also, for all you visual peeps, I’ve ensured that the PDF is beeeautiful and super aesthetically pleasing (thanks to wonder-woman Jessica) because I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Now. What the heck is this cleanse all about? Let me tell you…

 TBV 5-Day Summer Cleanse:

The Food:

–       The cleanse includes recipes made from fruits, veggies, grains, legumes and nuts. That’s right, people! Grains and legumes are included in this cleanse (unlike my winter cleanse, which was purely fruits, veggies and nuts).

–       Why are grains and legumes included this time? Because I believe it is important to share with you what I have found works best for the widest array of people, and including grains and legumes on the cleanse helps us fuel our bodies and encourages us to stay active (a huge component when it comes to cleansing in my book!). You will experience fewer detox symptoms and will also be getting more protein in your diet. Lastly, I have found that weight loss and cleanse benefits are more lasting and sustainable when grains and legumes are included, because you are not going hungry or forcing your body to run off of less energy.

–       Why else? Because I have tried every cleanse in the book, from 10-day juice fasts to 30 days of raw and weeks of subsisting on fruits, veggies and nuts. For people with extreme personalities (like me! And maybe you, if you’re here in the first place), it is easy to go overboard with cleansing. This cleanse practices balance and moderation, two essential components of health. Want to maintain your cleanse benefits and pound shed-age?! Don’t fear the grains and legumes.

The Rules:

–       The cleanse packet itself goes into more detail about this, but to give you a brief rundown: No meat, unnatural sugar, refined grains, caffeine, dairy, eggs, soy, corn, or alcohol.

–       It is entirely plant-based, which means that you can eat any and all fruits, veggies, nuts, whole grains (quinoa, brown rice, and gluten-free oats – NOT processed breads or pastas), and whole legumes (lentils and beans, NOT processed canned crap).

–       You can use olive oil and balsamic vinegar for salad dressing and to roast your vegetables, but use them sparingly. (You can also use coconut oil and/or coconut aminos when roasting veggies…that’s what I use!)

–       Believe in what you’re doing, and enjoy it! This process is meant to be fun. There’s a reason you’re doing a solid food plant-based cleanse and not a juice fast.

The Girl:

–       In case you’re wondering what the heck kind of authority I have in creating a plant-based cleanse, I’ll lay it on ya: I am in school to become a board certified health coach, but with or without that certification I believe the best kind of experience is hands on experience, and as I have mentioned… I’ve tried every cleanse in the book. I know what works for me and what doesn’t work, and because I grew up with an extremely sensitive stomach and many food intolerances, I have learned that listening to your body is key – that’s what this cleanse is all about.

–       I have coached hundreds of people through my winter cleanse program, and I am here to help you adjust, modify and get through the cleanse. I am here for motivation and any/all questions, and to be your biggest cheerleader!

–       It is my mission to share the amazing benefits of living a plant-based lifestyle with all of YOU, and help you get to know your bodies and learn how to fuel them in the most healthy and sustainable way. I do not push vegan views on you, suggest that you eat the way that I eat in order to achieve optimal health, judge your choices or expect you to compromise your livelihood in order to eat a 110% clean diet.

–       I do want to help you find the healthiest version of yourself, and I am here to motivate and inspire you along the way – not to mention provide some tasty recipes and plant-based tips and tricks. 

The Benefits:

–       Your body and your digestive system need a rest once in a while. Our systems work hard to process and digest the food we eat each day. Imagine giving it a break for 5 days straight and letting it reboot and heal from the inside.

–       Cleanses aid in avoiding disease, firing up our metabolism and eliminating body stress. Because we are ridding our bodies of built up toxins, we are able to relax and relieve ourselves of all sorts of crap that makes us feel nasty.

–       Detoxification, shedding unwanted pounds, feeling light and awesome, challenging ourselves in a healthy way, and finding the best version of ourselves. Unless you eliminate certain foods from your diet, you’ll never know what works for you and what does not work for you.

Now… because I know you’ll all benefit from this cleanse and feel light, amazing, energized and connected to your bodies during and after participating, I am going to go ahead and share one of the recipes from the cleanse with you so you can get an idea of what you’ll be diving into!

Day 1: 

Breakfast: Creamy Oats & Stewed Berries

Yep, that’s right. We are starting out this cleanse with a filling, fueling, energizing & all around delicious meal! Who knew cleansing was this easy, right? Well let me give you a little glimpse into the health benefits of gluten-free steel cut oats: they are an excellent source of protein, soluble and insoluble fiber, iron, and some fab vitamins and minerals. Because of the way they are processed (passed through sharp, steel blades that cut them into tiny pieces), their fiber and protein is retained in a fuller capacity than rolled oats. They are chewy and yummy, too. Double score!

I always like to eat my oats with berries, because the combo is to die for. When I’m not cleansing, I also add a ton of other yummy plant-based goodness into my bowl, but this cleanse is about getting back to the BASICS! A.k.a: oats & berries will do. And stewing our berries = great for our digestion!

Ingredients:

½ cup dry gluten-free steel cut oats

1 cup water

½ cup fresh blackberries

½ cup fresh raspberries

Optional: a few good shakes of cinnamon

Directions:

1. Boil the oats in 1 cup of water over medium-high heat until they are fully cooked through. This should take about 15-20 minutes, as steel cut oats take their sweet time. Don’t stress! Sip on your warm lemon water in the meantime.

2. Stir in cinnamon if you so desire.

3. Combine ½ cup berries with 1/3 cup water and 1 tablespoon coconut oil in a saucepan. Lower the heat and cook uncovered over a medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes. The berries will be slightly cooked and the water/coconut oil will be slightly syrupy. Off the heat, stir in a few more berries to achieve desired taste.

3. Pour the oats into a bowl, top with stewed berries and enjoy!

How do I get in on this?!

If you think this cleanse sounds up your alley… shoot me an email at theblondevegan1 [at] gmail [dot] com, and I will add you to my list so that you’ll get an email notifying you when the link goes live to purchase this Thursday, June 12^th!

I am a fan of one to three day juice cleanses when they are done for the right reasons. The most common misconception about juice cleansing is that it’s a sustainable way to lose weight, and that is simply not the case. A juice cleanse should be done to give your body a clean slate, give your digestive system a rest for a few days, and to become more in tune with your body so that you can properly listen to the signals its giving you.

A juice cleanse should not be done as a quick fix, a way to lose weight or as a method of instilling self-control. The real self-control comes in when solid foods are reintroduced. Do you know how many people juice cleanse (miserably) for three days, obsess about finishing, pass the finish line and then gorge themselves on food (healthy or unhealthy food, gorging is never good) and all of the benefits are canceled out?

It makes me sad that there is so much confusion around juice cleansing. Many people dive into cleanses for the wrong reasons (and/or think that they are the #1 source of knowledge on health and fitness because they’ve had a few green juices), and others criticize and dislike cleanses for equally inaccurate reasons. If a juice cleanse is done in a mindful way, it can be a great tool to get back in tune with your body, get your digestion on track and to fuel your body with the nutrients of veggies and fruits.

Here are a few tips I have for determining which type of cleanse is right for you:

Where To Begin?!

A) If you’re looking to make a lifestyle change and transition into a healthier and/or vegan diet, I would suggest doing a cleanse that involves solid food. I sell a 5-day plant-based cleanse program on my site that includes 1 smoothie, 2 juices, and 2 solid food recipes per day. This type of cleanse is sustainable and it teaches you how to eat and prepare healthy, balanced meals. A lifestyle change is necessary if you are looking for a healthy and maintainable way to lose weight, eat healthier and feel better in a long term way.

B) If you already eat a very clean diet and you want to amp it up for a few days to get your digestion flowing or lose some bloat and water weight, a juice cleanse is the way to go. Sometimes one day can do the trick if you are looking for a little recharge, but usually three days is the perfect amount of time to see and feel a real change. By the end of the three day period, you will be able to better listen to your body, fuel it well and give it what it needs.

C) If you are feeling extremely out of balance and you aren’t sure whether a juice cleanse, a solid food cleanse or a gradual lifestyle change is the way to go, I would suggest beginning with a very clean diet regime (such as a solid food cleanse) from anywhere from one week to one month, and then following it up with a three-day juice cleanse once your body is adjusting to eating healthier foods. At the end of that period, you can reevaluate how you feel and decide which foods you want to reintroduce into your diet. The elimination of red meat, poultry, refined sugar, dairy products and wheat products is the best place to start.

When I’m feeling out of balance and I need a health boost I usually choose to do a one-day juice cleanse followed by a week or so of eating 100% clean. Since I already eat a very clean diet, this just amps it up for me and wipes my slate clean from anything I may have overindulged in (raw chocolate? Chocolatey steel cut oats? Raw vegan peanut butter cups? Yes, yes and yes.)

The juice I went with this week was a local NYC brand, Jus By Julie. Not only do their juices taste delicious, but they use raw and pure ingredients blended fresh daily to achieve the utmost health and deliciousness. Jus By Julie uses a “blended and not pressed” method so that all of the nutrients stay in tact in the juicing process – meaning that all of the natural vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants are flowing through your bod throughout the day.

Jus By Julie is based in Brooklyn, but they ship all over the US. If you’re looking for a yummy and sustainable company that combines greens with delicious fruity juices like “Chia Berry” and “Not So Chunky” peanut butter and banana combo, you should definitely pop over to their website.

My favorite juice by far was the “Choco-Nana” (you know I’m a chocoholic…) which is a combo of chocolate, banana and water. It seriously tasted like chocolate milk. I could hardly even handle it.

And, Jus by Julie has been kind enough to provide $40 off any order with a $100 minimum for all of YOU! The code is: VEGAN40JUS. Heck yeah, got my own vegan code because I love y’all so much

I was planning on doing a one-day juice cleanse today, but in the spirit of my #fallinlovewithyourself #tbvchallenge (read a few posts below for details!) I decided to totally listen to my body and spread the juices out over a three day period instead. I am eating somewhat of an 80/10/10 lifestyle right now, so the juices were the perfect in between-meal snacks for me this weekend.

Question of the day: What kind of cleanse do you most enjoy? Are you a juice-happy kinda cleanser, or do you need solid food to function best?

We have over 200 participants in the cleanse this week – woah!!! I am so unbelievably proud of everyone for choosing to dedicate their weeks to starting 2014 on a superbly positive and healthy note.

It has been fun to have the email thread going. We have corporate cleansers (people going into the office every day and prepping their juices, smoothies and meals ahead of time), mama cleansers and moms-to-be (yes, we have three pregnant cleansers!), couples cleansers (lots of boyfriend-girlfriend, husband-wife pairs), groups of friends (my friends and even my mom are on board) and student cleansers!

We even have someone prepping for their wedding this weekend by participating in The Blonde Vegan Cleanse this week! I can’t even tell you how thrilled I was when I heard that. She is going to be glowing, light, energized and feeling amazing at her wedding on Saturday.

On a personal note, this cleanse came at a great time for me. I will delve further into this in tomorrow’s post. After I sat down and started writing about this I realized I had a major story to tell – something I have been keeping to myself that I feel it is time to share with all of you.

To brief you a bit: My stomach problems have been starting to return over the past few months and I have been struggling with feeling out of balance and a bit unsatisfied with my diet. I knew I had fallen off the plant-based wagon, and every time I tried to get back on I caved and told myself I was being too rigid.

When I say plant-based I mean a diet consisting of fruits, veggies, nuts, grains and legumes. Nothing processed, no faux meats, no soy products, no oil, etc. I hardly eat processed food or even soy products as it is, but once I incorporate them into my diet at all they immediately start to mess with the way I feel and I start wondering if maybe I’m not on the perfect eating path after all.

Yesterday (Day 1 of the cleanse) was a bit difficult – I was super hungry, low energy, a bit irritable, and exhausted from my morning workout that usually leaves me feeling energized. But by late evening I started feeling better, and after a super good night’s sleep (thanks to the cleanse), I woke up feeling so great. My stomach felt totally calm, cleansed and light. My body felt in balance. I felt energized and excited to have my glass of warm water with lemon and my Naked smoothie.

More about that tomorrow. I am excited to share the full story with you.

For now, here is the Raw Green Avocado Soup from Day 1 of the cleanse. (Pictured above before I decided to add avocado!)

Ingredients:

1 cup romaine lettuce

1 cup kale

4 stalks celery

1 sliced tomato

½ avocado

1 big clove of garlic

1 cup water

¼ cup cilantro

juice from ¼ lemon

a few shakes of cumin

salt & pepper to taste

Topping:

¼ cup walnuts (or any nut of choice. Pine nuts would be good, too!)

Optional: 5 sliced cherry tomatoes

Directions:

Blend thoroughly. Add more water if necessary. Top with nuts and cherry tomatoes, and enjoy!

A)   It’s the first Sunday of the year. I can’t imagine more of a “clean state” kind of day than that. I hope you are relaxing, reflecting, and enjoying today as you should every Sunday!

B)   The Blonde Vegan 5-Day Cleanse Program starts tomorrow!

C)   My dad drank a full glass of one of my smoothies this morning for the first time and he loved it. He actually requested it after tasting the Banana Peanut Butter Orange Dream smoothie I made yesterday. This was a super exciting occurrence because despite my consistent attempts to turn my parents vegan, my dad is terribly stubborn and usually won’t even taste a smoothie or juice. Transitioning him to a “smoothie for breakfast” kind of guy is my newest goal!

I may or may not have cleared out Whole Foods today in preparation for the cleanse… think I am ready?!

I also want to answer a few questions I keep getting about the upcoming cleanse program:

Cleanse FAQ:

Q: Will the cleanse be available on the blog after this week (January 6^th – January 10^th?) Can I purchase it in the future and participate whenever is most convenient for me?

A: Absolutely yes. The cleanse will be available for purchase on the blog from now until the end of time (or until I create an updated version!) and once you purchase it you can do it whenever you’d like. I will always be available for questions and to provide inspiration. The email thread of all of this week’s cleansers (160+ and counting!) will not always be available, but if there are several people planning on cleansing on any certain week in the future I am happy to create another thread.

Q: Do I need a juicer to participate in this cleanse?

A: You do not need a juicer, but if you have one you will definitely be using it. If you don’t have one, you can easily make your juices in a blender. (That’s what I do, and the recipe pages in the cleanse will explain how to do so.) You also have the option of buying one or two juices per day at your local health food store or from Whole Foods to supplement the cleanse. If you do not want to juice yourself and you do not want to buy juices, you can also eat extra fruits and veggies throughout the day rather than juicing. So no, you do not need to buy a juicer for this cleanse.

Q: If I am hungry throughout the cleanse, what can I snack on?

A: You can snack on any fruits, veggies or nuts throughout the cleanse. If you are hungry you are encouraged to snack! This cleanse is not about going hungry. I would suggest having half a banana with a tablespoon of almond butter, a bowl of berries or some sliced carrots and homemade guacamole (just use avocado, cherry tomatoes, onion and fresh-squeezed lime!). Those are a few options of many.

Q: How do I join the email thread?

A: Once you have purchased the cleanse, you will automatically be on the list for the email thread. I will be sending out the first email tonight around 8 p.m. California time.

Q: How much will my groceries cost for the cleanse week?

A: It depends on where you shop, whether you buy organic (the cleanse program will explain which fruits and veggies are most important to buy organic) and exactly how much you buy of everything. My best estimate is that you will spend about $70 on groceries once you have purchased all of the fruits, veggies and nuts that you will need for the week. There are definitely ways to make that number lower and ways to make it higher.

Many other questions are addressed in the Cleanse FAQ, and any other questions can be emailed my way. I am so looking forward to doing this cleanse with all of you this week. This week marks my one year vegan anniversary, and there is no way I would rather spend it than by sharing this awesome healthy lifestyle I have found.

Especially after the holidays, being sick with tonsillitis, having a week of downtime because of my sickness, and a serious travel day from hell on Friday, this cleanse is exactly what I need. I am not just participating in the cleanse because I am leading it, I am participating in it because I fully believe in its benefits and I need this restart button just as much as everyone else.

I thought that was important to share because I think readers often have the conception that I feel perfectly wonderful all the time, and that is not the case. I still overindulge and have to work on my health and balance every day. A sugar-free, granola-free, dried-fruit-free, processed-food-free and entirely plant-based week could not be more necessary for me right now.

I am someone who needs to feel entirely balanced in order to feel fully alive and my very best, and I am so looking forward to feeling that way again after a few days of cleansing.

I am also thrilled to have my mom, several of my close friends and all of YOU on board this week. We are all in this together, and that is by far the best part. One more day… hope you are as excited as I am!

Without further ado… *drum roll please* you can purchase the cleanse here:

The Blonde Vegan 5-Day Cleanse Program

Recap Time:

What does the cleanse include?

1. The cleanse includes a total of 25 original recipes: 1 smoothie, 2 juices, 1 salad and 1 soup or roasted veggie meal per day along with food photos, full nutrition information, and mini-blog post style stories to go along with each recipe.
2. There are introductory pages that tell you what to expect before/during/after the cleanse, how to prepare, a grocery list, the benefits of this type of cleanse program, and of course a personal story about how this cleanse came to be.
3. You will be added to an email thread with me and a group of others who are doing the cleanse at the same time as you. (This is totally optional, but most people find that it’s very inspirational to have a group to report back to and gain motivation from!) I will be available to answer any and all questions all throughout the cleanse; before, during and after!

What is this cleanse all about?

–       The TBV 5-Day Cleanse is an entirely plant-based cleanse designed for people who want to detox their bodies without starving themselves. Yes, I am a fan of juice cleansing, but I am way more a fan of transitioning into a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. This program is based off of the cleanse I did one year ago that turned me vegan!

–       You will start each day with a smoothie for breakfast. You will have 2 juices throughout the day and solid food meals of fruits and veggies for lunch and dinner. You can have all the fruits and veggies you’d like when you get hungry. Dessert? Grab a banana, a bowl of berries, or a sweet potato drizzled in cinnamon.

–       Avocados and nuts are OK in small amounts if you feel like you need an extra boost. This cleanse will challenge you to avoid legumes, grains, dairy, eggs, meat, soy, corn, wheat and refined sugar for the 5 days. This will serve to detoxify your body, provide yourself with nutrient-rich properties from plant-based foods, boost your energy and aid in weight loss.

Why cleanse?

–       Your body and your digestive system need a rest once in a while. Our systems work hard to process and digest the food we eat each day. Imagine giving it a break for 5 days straight and letting it reboot and heal from the inside.

–       Cleanses aid in avoiding disease, firing up our metabolism and eliminating body stress. Because we are ridding our bodies of built up toxins, we are able to relax and relieve ourselves of all sorts of things that make us feel nasty.

–       Detoxification, shedding unwanted pounds, feeling light and awesome, challenging ourselves in a healthy way, and finding the best version of ourselves. Unless you eliminate certain foods from your diet, you’ll never know what works for you and what does not work for you.

Why this cleanse?

–       This cleanse is different from other cleanses on the market because a) you are eating solid foods throughout, b) it is not about a quick fix, it’s about finding balance and a lifestyle challenge, and c) you will have a motivated group of people to chat with during your cleanse, and you will have me to answer your questions!

Who is this cleanse perfect for?

–       This cleanse is perfect for all sorts of people. If you have never cleansed before, this is a great program for you because it will ease you into a plant-based diet and you can balance your cravings by eating nuts and solid fruits and veggies. If you are a hardcore vegan cleanse-lover, this cleanse is also great for you because it is entirely plant-based and will get you back down to the basics. In my experience, it worked for me when I was transitioning into veganism and worked equally well when I had been a full plant-based vegan for months. Both times I felt light, energized, amazing and lost weight.

–       It is also perfect for people who are looking to incorporate more plant-based recipes into their lives and get ideas for healthy meal/smoothie/juice ideas.

When do I do the cleanse?

–       Once you’ve downloaded the cleanse, you are free to start it whenever you’d like, and do it as often as you want to. I do an entirely plant-based cleanse the first week of every month. These recipes are completely reusable… whether or not you are cleansing! I will be participating in the cleanse the first week of the New Year, and that is when the first group email thread will take place. Who doesn’t love a good post-holiday cleanse to kick the year off to an amazingly healthy start?

How much does it cost? Why isn’t it free?

– The cleanse costs $25 per person. I wish I could provide this cleanse for free, but it costs a lot of time and money to compile a beautiful PDF, a list of worthy recipes, and to buy all of the ingredients. Most weeklong cleanses on the market begin at $300+, so consider this a steal.

I’m interested! What should I do now?

–       Download the cleanse at The Blonde Vegan 5-Day Cleanse Program!

–        Email me at www.theblondevegan1@gmail.com and I can put you on a list for the email thread. Also feel free to email me with questions about the cleanse, what to expect and any additional information. I am here to answer any & all questions!!!

–       Get EXCITED! It’s going to be fun, and you’re going to feel amazing.

How do you get the free cleanse? Repost this photo on Instagram, tag @theblondevegan and hashtag #theblondevegan and #theblondevegancleanse telling me why you’d like to do the 5-day cleanse and what your goals are. Each week I will pick a winner based on their caption and what their reasons are!

Go here to read about the cleanse in detail. So excited about it!

What does the cleanse include?

1. The cleanse will include a total of 25 original recipes: 1 smoothie, 2 juices, 1 salad and 1 soup or roasted veggie meal along with food photos, full nutrition information, and mini-blog post style stories to go along with each recipe.
2. There will be introductory pages that tell you what to expect before/during/after the cleanse, how to prepare, a grocery list, the benefits of this type of cleanse program, and of course a personal story about how this cleanse came to be.
3. You will be added to an email thread with me and a group of others who are doing the cleanse at the same time as you. (This is totally optional, but most people find that it’s very inspirational to have a group to report back to and gain motivation from!) I will be available to answer any and all questions all throughout the cleanse; before, during and after!

What is this cleanse all about?

–       The TBV 5-Day Cleanse is an entirely plant-based cleanse designed for people who want to detox their bodies without starving themselves. Yes, I am a fan of juice cleansing, but I am way more a fan of transitioning into a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. This program is based off of the cleanse I did one year ago that turned me vegan!

–       You will start each day with a smoothie for breakfast. You will have 2 juices throughout the day and solid food meals of fruits and veggies for lunch and dinner. You can have all the fruits and veggies you’d like when you get hungry. Dessert? Grab a banana, a bowl of berries, or a sweet potato drizzled in cinnamon.

–       Avocados and nuts are OK in small amounts if you feel like you need an extra boost. This cleanse will challenge you to avoid legumes, grains, dairy, eggs, meat, soy, corn, wheat and refined sugar for the 5 days. This will serve to detoxify your body, provide yourself with nutrient-rich properties from plant-based foods, boost your energy and aid in weight loss.

Why cleanse?

–       Your body and your digestive system need a rest once in a while. Our systems work hard to process and digest the food we eat each day. Imagine giving it a break for 5 days straight and letting it reboot and heal from the inside.

–       Cleanses aid in avoiding disease, firing up our metabolism and eliminating body stress. Because we are ridding our bodies of built up toxins, we are able to relax and relieve ourselves of all sorts of things that make us feel nasty.

–       Detoxification, shedding unwanted pounds, feeling light and awesome, challenging ourselves in a healthy way, and finding the best version of ourselves. Unless you eliminate certain foods from your diet, you’ll never know what works for you and what does not work for you.

Why this cleanse?

–       This cleanse is different from other cleanses on the market because a) you are eating solid foods throughout, b) it is not about a quick fix, it’s about finding balance and a lifestyle challenge, and c) you will have a motivated group of people to chat with during your cleanse, and you will have me to answer your questions!

Who is this cleanse perfect for?

–       This cleanse is perfect for all sorts of people. If you have never cleansed before, this is a great program for you because it will ease you into a plant-based diet and you can balance your cravings by eating nuts and solid fruits and veggies. If you are a hardcore vegan cleanse-lover, this cleanse is also great for you because it is entirely plant-based and will get you back down to the basics. In my experience, it worked for me when I was transitioning into veganism and worked equally well when I had been a full plant-based vegan for months. Both times I felt light, energized, amazing and lost weight.

–       It is also perfect for people who are looking to incorporate more plant-based recipes into their lives and get ideas for healthy meal/smoothie/juice ideas.

When does the cleanse come out?

–       It will be available for download off of my site on December 15^th. Once you’ve downloaded the cleanse, you are free to start it whenever you’d like, and do it as often as you want to. I do an entirely plant-based cleanse the first week of every month. These recipes are completely reusable… whether or not you are cleansing! I will be participating in the cleanse the first week of the New Year, and that is when the first group email thread will take place. Who doesn’t love a good post-holiday cleanse to kick the year off to an amazingly healthy start?

How much does it cost? Why isn’t it free?

– The cleanse will cost $25 per person. There will be promotional discounts given throughout the next month. I wish I could provide this cleanse for free, but it costs a lot of time and money to compile a beautiful PDF, a list of worthy recipes, and to buy all of the ingredients. Most weeklong cleanses on the market begin at $300+, so consider this a steal.

I’m interested! What should I do now?

–       Email me at www.theblondevegan1@gmail.com and I can put you on a list so that when the cleanse becomes available on December 15^th you will get an email with all of the sign-up info!

–       Keep your eyes on my Instagram, Facebook and blog over the next few weeks for promotional discounts and packages.

–       Get EXCITED! It’s going to be fun, and you’re going to feel amazing.