Life energy makes a huge difference in how I tackle challenges. Back in 2014, I tried a 3-day DIY juice cleanse twice and failed both times. The first time I quit was halfway through day 3. The second time, I quit halfway through day 2. Both times I went to get In-N-Out burgers. It was worth it.
This time around, I’m in a better mental space. I feel more positive and focused, as well as physically and mentally healthy. So although I was apprehensive about going into this cleanse for the third time, I was more confident I’d finish.
View My Interactive 3-Day DIY Juice Cleanse Recipe Below
What This Is and What This Isn’t
This DIY juice cleanse isn’t going to detox all the harmful chemicals that have been lingering in my body for years. And it isn't meant to help me lose weight, even though I'll probably lose a few pounds.
This cleanse is about giving my body a break. Just like meditating and pausing is essential for balancing my day, the occasional juice cleanse is necessary for balancing my body. Most of my meals during the day include meats, poultry, grain, and produce. My body needs an occasional break.
This juice cleanse allows my entire body to slow down and focus on getting rid of what’s been lingering in my intestines for, who knows how long. Without heavy good to break down and trigger my body's digestive system, my body gets to refocus and clean out a little of the buildup.
Additionally, cleanses help improve my relationship with food a bit better. I know my limitations, I understand what my body needs to function, and after doing the cleanse, my eating habits are different. Going three days with the bare minimum teaches me to slow down and stop stuffing. The cleanse helps with reprogramming and conditioning!
I ended this cleanse, feeling more connected with myself, as well as more focused. The alarms gave me order, and every day, I took juice #4 outside with me for a 20-minute break from work. It was refreshing.
Going Through The Juice Cleanse Days
Day one seems to be the easiest and day two the toughest. The excitement of going through the schedule and embracing the flavors on day one gave me a positive outlook on enjoying the cleanse.
On day two, I woke up hungry, but that quickly dissipated.
Daily DIY Juice Cleanse Schedule
An essential part of juicing is spreading out when I drink. I want a good balance between the day, so I never get too hangry. Since I wake up at 7 a.m., usually, I decided to start my first drink at 9 a.m. This gives me time to enjoy some of my morning rituals like stretching, catching up on the news, and going for a walk.
Here’s my daily juice schedule.
Juice #1: 9 a.m.
Juice #2: 11 a.m.
Juice #3: 1 a.m.
Juice #4: 3 p.m.
Juice #5: 6 p.m.
Juice #6: 8 p.m.
Every two hours, I get to consume something. The only large window is between juice four and five. It’s a 3 -hour gap. On day two, I was going crazy from hunger around 7 p.m., and once 8 p.m. hit, I ran to the fridge to close out the day with the delicious dessert juice/smoothie.
3-Day Juice Cleanse Shopping List
Everything was easy to find and affordable by my standards, mostly because a lot of the produce was on sale. I did have to buy a juicer, which was the most challenging thing to find. I purchased an inexpensive juicer for around $40. It does the job, but I’m sure a more high-end juicer would yield more juice and nutrients. I buy organic when I can.
- 13 organic green apples ($.54 each/ $7)
- 7 kiwis ($.50 each/$3.50) Kiwis have thick skin so buying organic isn’t really necessary)
- 1 bag/bunch of organic kale ($1.49 a bunch)
- 1 bag/container of spinach ($3.49 a container)
- 2 organic cucumbers ($1.25 each)
- 13 organic red apples ($.54 each/$7)
- 9 bananas ($.21 each/$2)
- 4 organic carrots ($1.69 a bunch)
- 4 organic beets ($1.99 a bunch)
- 1 whole Pineapple ($1)
- 3 lemons ($.50 each/$1.50)
- 3 cups/24 oz raw cashews ($20 for two 1lb bags)
- 6 16oz+ mason jars ($9 for 12-pack)
Total: $53
Making the DIY Juice Cleanse
Here are the juices with their respective ingredients.
Green Juice (#1 and #3)
Juice the following:
1 kiwi, peeled
2 Granny Smith apples
Blend the following:
1 banana
1 handful of kale
1 handful of spinach
Juice of apple and kiwi
Apple Cucumber Pineapple (PAC) Juice (#2)
Juice the following:
5-6 pieces of pineapple, with skin/leaves removed (I cut into quarters then, just slice the skin off and cut into 1-inch) wedges
2 red apples
1/2 cucumber
Spicy Lemonade (# 4)
Fill the mason jar 2/5 with filtered water. Add the following ingredients and shake:
Juice of 1 Lemon
1 teaspoon Honey
1 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
Carrot Apple Beet Juice (# 5)
Juice the following:
1 red beet
1 carrot
2 red apples
*After filling the mason jars with their respective juices, I add 1/2 cup of filtered water and stir the jar to mix everything. For the green juice, after blending, I added the filtered water into the blender cup, closed the lid, shook the water around to get all the leftover residue, and then poured it into the mason jar and mixed.
Banana-Cashew ‘Dessert’ Smoothie (# 6)
Blend all of the following ingredients:
1 cup raw whole cashews, soaked in water for 2 hours
1 banana
1 cup of filtered water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
*For this smoothie, I used the water the cashews were soaking in first before I grabbed more from the water filter. This gives it additional flavor and taste.
Additional Notes To Consider
- Choose three days that don’t require much. The less I have to do during the day, the fewer calories I’ll burn, and the less hungry I’ll feel.
- I always prep a day ahead. Around 5/6 p.m., I started cutting up fruit and juicing and blending.
- It’s helpful to have someone else help out. I made the cleanse for my fiance and myself. On the first night, she juiced while I worked on cutting up produce. The next two nights, I did it solo.
- When doing the DIY juice cleanse solo, grab a cutting board and some bowls. Cut everything in advance, place items together in or around the bowl, and once prep work was done, I started juicing. This saved me A LOT of time.
- For day three, I went a bit heavier on juice content because I didn’t want to relive the hanger from day two. I added one apple to each juice, an additional kiwi to juices one and three, and some additional pineapple pieces to juice 2.
- Stay hydrated! I always use my Simple DIY 2-Ingredient Daily Water Detox.
- Embody other ways to practice self-care. I oil-pulled every morning and still did my usual morning routine of walking, stretching, and checking in with myself.
- I knew I couldn't over-exert myself with exercise. On day two, I woke up and went to the park for a workout. I did my usual routine and knew that was the cause of most of my hangriness. I wasn’t replenishing the calories I burned through, so be mindful!
- Have fun, and stay focused!
