4.19.2011

The Green Girl's Arbonne 7-Day Body Cleanse Review

The Green Girl decided to give the Arbonne Essentials 7-Day Body Cleanse a try.

The cleanse consists of a concentrate that is mixed with 32 ounces of water and then consumed throughout the day along with a normal, healthy diet.

Ingredients in the Arbonne 7-Day Body Cleanse include:

     Astragalus root extract improves immune function
     Astragalus Fucoidan extract improves immune function
     Milk thistle protects liver from toxins
     Aloe vera relieves digestive issues
     Nettle leaf detoxification of chemicals
     Cascara sagrada natural laxative
     Buckthorn colon cleanser
     Slipperly elm bark relieves inflammatory bowel conditions
     Meadowsweet natural antacid
     Agave natural sweetener
     Inulin promotes colon health
     Chlorella broken cell removes toxins
     Blue green algae antioxidants
     Spirulina whole cell algae vitamins, minerals, amino acids
     Nori-sea weed vitamins
     Red marine algae boosts immune system
     Senna leaf extract natural laxative
     Cascara sagrada bark natural laxative
     Rhubarb natural laxative
     Psyllium natural laxative

According to the manufacturer, Arbonne, the supplement cleanses and detoxifies your system, supports the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and assists with the gentle elimination of toxins.

This was my first experience with a cleanse or detox so I was worried about 'accidents'. My Arbonne consultant, Jessica, assured me it wouldn't be that bad but I still had my concerns.

Sunday
I strategically started the cleanse Sunday afternoon so I could stay at home and close to the bathroom. I opened the little bottle and gingerly sniffed the dark brown liquid. It smelled like a bottle of vitamins. I poured it into a 33 ounce bottle of water and shook it up. It tasted vaguely of watery date water. The rest of my Sunday was uneventful.

Monday
I woke up at 4 am having to go to the bathroom. Instead of the usual solid consistency, it was watery. I kickboxed in the morning without any problems but I was a little nervous when we had to do crunch after crunch and then reverse crunches in between. I started the cleanse after my breakfast. It tasted exactly the same as it did the day before - vaguely of watery date water. I was ravenous and ate more than usual all day long. I had two more soft bowel movements in the afternoon and one more in the evening.

Tuesday
This time, I woke up at my normal time having to go to the bathroom. Again, it was a much softer consistency. I drank the cleanse after breakfast again. It tasted a little less like watery date water - or maybe I was just getting accustomed to the flavor. I was hungrier than usual but nothing like the day before. I didn't experience any cramping on Monday but I did get cramp indicators which led to two more soft bowel movements in the afternoon and one more in the evening.

Wednesday
It was another waking up at normal time and then going to the bathroom morning before I kickboxed. I drank it after breakfast and it tasted even less like watery date water. I had read about all the weight loss so I weighed myself on the scale at work. I had gained three pounds and wondered if it had anything to do with my Monday binging. So much for that. The bowel movements were proceeded by slight cramping, still soft, and at about the same frequency.

Thursday
Another uneventful morning. The cleanse tasted more like water than watery date. I had read a lot of people weren't hungry during the cleanse but my appetite had not decreased. And after working way too many hours, I had a hard time measuring my energy levels. One reviewer had mentioned she was able to work out harder and longer with no muscle fatigue or soreness. After work, I went for a run but my chronically tight calves were well, tight. I had the usual slight cramping which alerted me to the upcoming soft bowel movements.

Friday
My crazy work week completely threw me off schedule. In the back of my head I wondered if this cleanse was the one thing keeping me healthy on so little sleep during such a stressful week. I didn't get to drink the cleanse until lunchtime. I was relieved to see I was back down from the three pounds I'd gained. In the evening, I started cramping and I had several slightly more solid bowel movements. I couldn't believe I only had one more day left - the 7 days went much quicker than I'd expected.

Saturday
I went for a short run in the morning and then started drinking my final cleanse with my breakfast. Then, I did a half hour of TurboFire and another half hour of P90X. Saturday was uneventful until the evening - I had about five bowel movements - all semi-solid. Surprisingly enough, Saturday ended up being my roughest day.

Sunday, the day after, I had to visit the bathroom a few times in the morning but I was fine the rest of the day. I weighed myself on Monday and I had gained back the three pounds that I had hoped I'd lost for good.

Two days post-detox, it's hard for me to say with certainty if I feel more energetic. After all those trips to the bathroom, I feel like I must be 'cleaned out' but I can't say for sure.

29 comments:

  1. Am I reading this correctly - you lost no weight during the 7 days? If so, that's a shame. Sounds like it wasn't worth it, huh?

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  2. When I started to read I thought maybe I would try it myself but now that I finished, I don't think so.

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  3. Well at least you tried it. A clean diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fiber is cleansing to begin with.

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  4. I suppose cleansing is not about weight loss. I've never been a fan of cleansing products and rather try to stay "clean" from day to day.

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  5. graphic and good review :) I wondered about their cleanse before. i have tried one that includes things like this and agree that i generally felt cleaned out, but the only other thing I noticed was better skin

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  6. I've always wanted to try a cleanse, but never knew anyone who did it. Sounds like this one was pretty gentle.

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  7. You are actually supposed to drink the cleanse throughout the day to somewhat subdue hunger and make it gentler on the body. Probably would have lost weight if done this way. I am doing this cleanse now, it's not bad...but I also just use 1/2 the bottle daily to save money.

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  8. I have completed 5 days of this Detox cleanse, and have completely eliminated gluten, dairy, alcohol, and caffeine from my diet. I have had softer bowel movements, but no running to the bathroom type of deal. My complaint is feeling bloated all week (no I'm not on my period) and have extreme abdominal cramping. Today was supposed to be day 6 but I gave myself a break. Perhaps I will resume tomorrow and finish my last 2 days.

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  9. I am starting the cleanse today. My skin has been pretty bad this winter. I heard it is great for the skin. I am also hoping to rid my body of toxins. I have done other cleanses (in the forms of pills), but was excited to try a liquid cleanse. Planning on sipping throughout the day and eating a healthy diet sans alcohol and caffeine. I have already stepped down from caffeine this past week to prepare. I, of course, am hoping to drop some lbs, but won't be disappointed if I don't lose any weight. I just really want to feel better and have better skin.

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  10. This cleanse is different for everyone. Your body's reaction to the cleanse has a lot to do with the condition of your body when you start. Think about your toxic load. If you're already eating pretty clean and living a healthy lifestyle, it's going to be more mellow. BUT if you eat a lot of junk food, preservatives, fast food, processed foods, etc., it's more likely to be more noticeable impact on your system.

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  11. This is my 2nd day using the detox no unusual bowel movements, I was told to drink the liquid all at once the first 4 days. My only concern is,"HEADACHES" everytime I drink it, my head hurts. I don't know if I should continue throughout the week or stop taking it, oh, my appetite is greater than it was before I started. The only thing I'm running to the bathroom doing is urinating

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    1. I get headaches which is my main reason for doing a cleanse. In the past I start out with more headaches than normal for the first few days, but they are less frequent after the cleanse than before.

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  12. I'm sorry to hear you are struggling with headaches. Are you drinking enough water?

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  13. I'm on day 3 and I'm miserable. I'm tired, I'm cramping, I feel nauseous, bathroom issues and I've now developed a massive headache. I'm gonna push through it do I finish the 7 day. I just wished I didn't have to work this week. I almost fell down the stairs cause I'm so weak.

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  14. I just started the cleanse but I'm doing the 30 days to feeling fit and have already lost 5 lbs. This is my 14th day. I feel great! It was my understanding to do the 30 days and start after 2 weeks.

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  15. The cleanse is meant to be a part of a 30 Healthy Living program which consist of eliminating possible inflammatory or toxic food, eating whole foods,and supplementing with Arbonne's Vegan,dairy and soy free protein shakes. It is a disservice to yourself and the product to not do them correctly and post . As an RN I know there is no shortcuts to a healthy detoxed body. I have done the Arbonne program and lost 15 pounds and now I do it yearly with healthy eating habits and avoiding toxins such as all organic and antibiotic free foods the rest of the time and I have kept the weight off. Thanks!

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  16. Just started this yesterday....and not sure I'm doing it right. Definitely been having "watery" bowel movements...and visiting the bathroom to go #2 more than usual :\ Any input on this??

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  17. Thought I would share my experience. The first time I used the 7 Day cleanse I was instructed to eat normally, but eliminate fatty foods - no donuts, french fries, etc. One day I did eat a piece of birthday cake, as I recall. I drank my cleanse solution in the morning, mixed with 32 oz of water - with a goal of finishing by noon to get my next 32 oz of water in. All went fine except the day I ate cake, and one time I had to make a bee line for the restroom. The rest of the time I did not have any instances. Urination increased in the evenings, and BMs were more soft and productive. I did not have a scale at the time.
    Six mo. later I decided to do the 7 day cleanse again after the new year, as a part of the Arbonne 30 Days to Feeling Fit program. I had already lost 62 lbs at this point by changing my eating lifestyle to a more green/whole food approach (eliminating most processed foods, and no more bread/refined flour products except weekends); using the Prolief transdermal progesterone cream to help rebalance my hormones, and having an Arbonne Essentials vegan protein shake with fiber for breakfast. I already felt I ate pretty clean and did not know what the 7 day cleanse/30 day clean eating program would do for me at this point. My husband joined me. In the period of 30 days we both lost 16 lbs. Which was evidence to me that I was not losing only water weight. My husband's joints felt considerably better and he had clarity of mind. Because I had changed my eating lifestyle already, I did not feel any additional physical benefits in regards to more energy, but my knees stopped creaking in the morning - probably due to less weight on them. Because I have read a lot about the toxins that build up in our system and am on mission to prevent cancer due to family history, I feel good in knowing that this cleanse is detoxifying the organs that filter everything in my body, plus I learned from a Dr. Mercola newsletter that chlorella is the only detox ingredient that can remove mercury from dental amalgam fillings -and this is a key ingredient in the Arbonne detox. I guess you don't always see/feel physical results -but it gives me peace of mind to remove toxins several times a year and plan to do this cleanse 2-3 times a year.

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  18. I am on my second round of this i 1 year. First time I only did it for 4 days. The few things I have been advised is to drink it throughout the day and everytime you sip the cleanse, take a sip of your other 32 of water. Additionally, if you are a customer, try adding a "fizzy tab" or now they are "fizzy pack", to the cleanse mixture, make it much more palatable. I am feeling the bloating, make more trips to the rest room but mostly because my bladder is going to burst!

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  19. This product is horrible ... Everyone is crampy and nauseous. I was the same way and it caused to me pass out, fall on my face, and my friends had an ambulance on the way. All I can say is do your research. Most of us have the same symptoms. I am a pretty healthy individual which makes this beyond scary.

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  20. I Love this Cleanse. I like to do the cleanse a week before my menstral cycle. I drink it during the course of the day usual completed my early evening, however I also am drinking an additional 32oz of water during that time. I eliminate alcohol an caffeine an I eat my normal clean diet.
    BMs are soft an a few times during the day. It totally takes away my hunger an I don't get the usual menstral bloating an irritability an weight gain I would have if I didn't do it. I never have to fly to the restroom. My experience is that it is gentle.

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  21. i did the seven day cleanse also. day one was uneventful for me but days two and three were different. i experienced more "potty action" as i call it but without cramps and having to run to the restroom. day five was about the same. i lost two pounds. i felt great and energized but i have been eating clean, working out and taking better care of my self since before the cleanse. to make it taste a little better, i added a fizz stick to it. i will try it again in another month. i didn't have any horrible experiences with it at all.

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  22. I did day 3 yesterday and have felt fine with minimal bowel action until last night. Had a heavy buttery dinner and then went for a brisk long walk right after--not a good idea. I've probably been on the toilet about 8times since, and I've been feeling poorly, like my bowels are irritated. I'm taking a break till I feel better.
    It sounds like some people who commented may be experiencing problems with the chlorella ingredient. Some people are just intolerant to it, and it can cause severe reactions. Not clear if the reactions are due to detoxing a lot of heavy metals or just an intolerance. Pushing through would not be a good idea if you are feeling very ill!

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  23. I did this and I have to say it was pretty gentle. I did lose weight, I do have tons of energy and I'm excited to do it again in 6 months.

    I will recommend--you can spread this out if you're nervous about any side effects. To me it did not cause any "need to go now" kind of problems. I did it two days last week, I'll do it three days this week, and two days next week. If you're "regular" or if you are relatively healthy I suggest spreading it out over time instead of 7 days.

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  24. I just completed this cleanse. I drank an equal 32 oz of water along with the 32 oz mix throughout the day. I don't think it works unless you eliminate alcohol,caffeine, sugar, bread & pasta (toxins) and add more veggies, fruits.I only ate chicken & fish at lunch and dinner .. not hard to do for 7 days. I lost 4.5 lbs and feel great. I was in the bathroom more, but I expected to be as this IS a cleanse. Plan to do at least twice a year and will continue to eat "clean" most of the time.

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  25. I tried this cleanser, yes I got the cramping I though I was going to die, the toilet became my best friend. By the end I lost five lbs. I will not try this one again

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  26. I lost 36 lbs doing the Arbonne cleanse.
    I never got crampy.
    I honestly just did the shakes with fiber, and then ate clean.
    I'M ACTUALLY starting back up today.

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    1. That's awesome that you lost 36 lbs!

      Good luck starting up again.

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  27. It is so interesting to read everyone's posts, and the different experiences people had while trying the Arbonne 7-day cleanse.
    When doing only the 7-day cleanse (not in conjunction with the 30 Day Arbonne Clean Eating Challenge) the results are not as dramatic, however if done properly I believe that you can do this cleanse without experiencing some of the side-effects that were reported (headaches, cramps, nausea).
    First of all, the cleanse liquid needs to be added to 32 oz of water and sipped throughout the entire day, along with an additional 32 ounces of water. I tell all of my clients to begin sipping it at around 9, and to force themselves not to finish until 5. When done this way, the headaches and nausea will be much less noticeable, if at all.
    It is also highly recommended that you eliminate foods that are considered "toxic" or cause inflammation. For example, caffeine from COFFEE (caffeine from green tea is okay, and caffeine is proven to boost your metabolism, in fact I highly recommend ordering the Arbonne Fizz Sticks along with the cleanse as they are a good, clean source of caffeine and they taste amazing); gluten; alcohol; sugar; and dairy. Supplement with as many organic products as possible.
    Finally, you may find that it isn't until the second or third day AFTER the cleanse that you begin to feel *awesome* and even shed a few pounds. Remember, you are drinking a LOT of liquids during that 7 days, which can have an adverse effect on your weight loss.
    I believe that the 7-day cleanse works the very best when you join an Arbonne Clean Eating Group, as it is only a small piece of a very large puzzle which is clearly defined and laid out for all participants!
    If you have an Arbonne consultant, you should definitely speak with her or him about this. If not, please don't hesitate to contact me as I would be more than happy to serve you and guide you to making the best decision for yourself and your health!
    Leigh Ann Lawrentz: 719-424-5683 *text is ok!
    Green Girl, I love that you started this blog and hope that you are continuing to experience awesome success :)

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