50 lbs in 5 mo, Intro

I intend to get skinny. I'm approaching the age where one either gets old or dies and most of the old people I've observed have been skinny. In addition, most of those I know who make it with their original hips, knees, and teeth are skinny. I therefore will not only lose 50 pounds in the next 5 months, I will lose it through a lifestyle change such that it stays gone.

That is the what and why. the when and where are easy. When is now and where is irrelevant.

The how is simple to explain but it may become complex in the execution: I will fast 2 to 3 days each week until I reach my target. I want the process to take 5 months and will adjust my efforts to keep that (relatively slow) pace. In other words, I believe I could lose 50 pounds in 2 months but not with a sustainable lifestyle. by taking 5 months, I hope to make my lifestyle "normal"--a style of life I can continue for the rest of my life.

A secondary goal is to come up with a detailed Introduction to DetoX. Our current manual is basically the same one that was passed on to us. A straight forward procedure with little theoretical information. We need a philosophy of DetoX. We need to experiment with alternative suggestions for using the product as well as alternative methods of cleansing.

This blog will for the basis for an Introduction to DetoX. Each week I will perform a cleansing experiment using myself as the guinea pig. Each week I will attempt to come closer to an easy to understand explanation of cleansing and its benefits. I hope some of you will follow along and contribute.

Buddy

My first 2010 DetoX

This is the third day of what I intended to be a 1 day detox. Why the change? I weighed myself and found that I's gained 15 pounds over the course of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the loss of a loved one on Christmas Day.

My goal had been to lose 50 pounds over the first five months of 2010 but now I have to up it to 65 pounds--13 per month instead of 10. My goal is to weigh 165 by my birthday. That is about what I weighed when I was in the best shape of my life. I previously achieved that weight through vigorous exercise, now I will do it with moderate exercise and eating a lot less.

My weights thus far have been as follows

Day 1: 230, 230
Day 2: 226, 227
Day 3: 224, 222

I weigh myself before drinking DetoX the two times each day. The loss of eight pounds in 3 days is remarkable but I've been stuffing myself for the past two weeks.

Tomorrow I'm going to decide whether to continue. My dilemma is I had planned to do regular short fasts to test my ability to restrict my eating in-between fasts. Right now however, I feel so good that I hate to stop.

Buddy

10 pounds in 4 days

Hi Alva,
It's Sameerah Ferguson I just spoke you on the phone about the tea being delivered next week.
I also wanted to say that this tea has worked wonders for me and is the only liquid fast I can tolerate, in 10-09 I lost 10#'s in 4 days and plan to fast at least once every 2-3 months. The energy I obtain while on this fast is amazing!

weight loss as a by-product of calorie reduction

We've always described Detox as a traditional tea used by people who understand the benefits of cleansing. Substituting calorie reduction for cleansing in the above phrase is both more descriptive and more widely understood. What are the undisputed benefits of calorie reduction (sometimes referred to as calorie restriction)? Health, longevity, and weight loss.

Cleansing and calorie reduction are reciprocal concepts since:

1. people who cleanse, invariably reduce caloric intake
2. reduction of caloric intake invariably results in cleansing

Inspite of this connection, the literature on calorie reduction seldom mentions cleansing or detoxification as a goal. Instead the writers on calorie reduction focus on the big three: health, longevity, and weight loss. The release of toxins is cited as a caution--a reason to take it slow

Calorie Reduction explains benefits of cleansing

The rationale for calorie restriction (I prefer to call it calorie reduction) is fast becoming the way I explain the benefits of cleansing. In other words, DetoX works simply because it put you in position to drastically reduce calories. The benefits which accrue are attributable to the calorie reduction, not to DetoX itself.
I like the simplicity and easy acceptance of that explanation. People want to reduce calories. They resist admitting they are (or were) full if shit. The notion of calorie reduction is impersonal. It is as if we are not answering the door rather than expelling an invited (but now unwanted) guest.
The implications are profound. Consider the difference between the following two taglines:

1. weight loss is a by-product of cleansing
2. weight loss is a by-product of calorie reduction
   

We've used the first for 17 years. I feel like I've been looking for the second for 17 years.

Emily's testimony

Hi Alva!

I first ordered Detox in 2001. I had been feeling emotionally and physically drained for weeks. I drove nearly 3 hours total on my daily commute to work, I worked 6 days per week, and sometimes I worked more than 8 hours each day. I'd known the benefits of keeping up with the condition of my insides before--I used to juice and eat raw foods periodically. Got my first colonic years ago. But I had gotten off track because of my crowded life. I'd seen the Detox ad for years, and this divine time, I saw it in Essence or I saw a brochure somewhere. I knew I'd been picking up whatever I felt like eating, whenever I wanted to eat it. I ordered.

One day, it was all I could do to get to work. When I dragged in, even my supervisor looked at me at said, "You don't look like yourself. What's wrong?" I wound up at the nurse's office, and I was instructed to go home. I took 10 days off. On the 2nd day, Detox arrived in the mail. Each day, as I drank the tea, and drank the lemon/honey recipe you recommended, I read things that encouraged me--the Holy Bible, books on fasting (don't you have a list of recommended readings? I already had some of them), Sugar Blues, Quick Fasting, I prayed the Prayer, and I told the Lord I needed help...and I rested.

Seven days later, I had lost 17 pounds !!! I kept going, even after returning to work. I ate fruit, veggies, and light meats (tuna, salmon, etc.). People started running up to me asking what in the world had happened!!! My skin was like a baby's, even the whites of my eyes seemed whiter. My "bat wings" I'd developed under my upper arms were gone, and I mean it, I had energy, I was encouraged, inspired.

I sold a few packets back then as a result...I know that weight loss is just ONE of the benefits of ridding myself of the residue of processed food, junk, too much fried food, etc. I've been through a lot since then, and I need help again. I did a search to find you again...the word "detox" did not lead me to your site. But when I typed in "detox tea sold in Chicago", there you were---www.internalcleansing.com

Today, I ordered a case, I am looking forward to a new testimony. I've even taken pictures today in anticipation of the changes to come.

Thank you for all you and your husband and family do to educate and inform us getting down to basics of taking care of our insides....and the life-long benefits.

God Bless You!!!

Emily

I'm hungry, watermelon is out of season

You indicated eating watermelon to help with hunger. What can I replace watermelon with being that it isn’t watermelon season?
Honey dew, cantaloupe, apples, carrots, celery, veggie broth, anything unprocessed that is mostly water.
Great. Thanks.

Tyrie lost 14 pounds in 5 days

Alva
Thanks for shipping the product, I received it yesterday and here is my testimonial, as promised:
I have been using DetoX for quite some time but I followed the instructions to the T the last time and the results were amazing! After the first day I wasn't hungry and my stomach felt flatter. After 5 days, I weighed myself and had lost 14 pounds. My skin was clear, I looked 10 years younger, and felt so much better.
I have maintained the 14 pound weight loss but would like to take off another 20 pounds and I know of no better way then the detox way. I love detox and will use it until the product doesn't exist which I hope is never. Thanks Alva for keeping detox alive, I will always be a customer and would eventually like to sell it if at all possible. thanks
Tyrie, Baltimore, March, 2009

What is different about our DetoX

Julie asked:

Why is your detox program/ product different from the rest?

Dear Julie
I'm going to explain what I think is special about our DetoX:

1. The herbs areall-natural, unprocessed and consumed as a tea
• Processing herbs into pills, capsules, or tea bags requires powdering or pulverizing thereby destroying the herb's volatile oils. An instructive test is to put a handful of herbs in a blender and reduce to a powder. A strong aroma will fill the air and dissipate after about 1 minute. that aroma was the oils evaporating into the atmosphere.
• Unlike pills and capsules, you smell and then taste an herbal tea. Saliva mixes with the tea in your mouth. Aroma and taste are the beginning of digestion and the beginning of detoxification. With pills and capsules, your brain has no idea of what it is you swallowed
  
2. We recommend consumption during a juice fast
• fasting and detoxification go hand in hand
  
3. No hunger
• the fast is easy

I could go on and on but to understand requires giving DetoX a try.
Buddy

Anti-yeast/fungus fasting

I've had a periodic problem with eczema for the past few years. It is the only one of my health issues that is unaffected by detox. It turns out that the problem is probably caused by yeast or fungus and I am going to test 2 changes to my normal detox fast:

1. Sweeten the lemonade with stevia. (I usually use honey.)
   
2. Supplement the fast with a variety of anti-yeast and anti-fungus substances including coconut, pau d'arco tea, dandelion tea, and raw garlic.

This is going to be a six-week project and I will post updates from time to time

Shelf life?

Roslyn asked
Hello. I purchased a case of the tea some years ago. While cleaning out my pantry, I noticed i had box left. I would really like to start detoxing again. Is there a shelf life on your product?? I can't say exactly when it was purchased but I'm thinking it was sometime towards the end of 2003. Please let me know if it is still safe to use. I will be purchasing a case regardless but i would like to get started as soon as possible. Thank you.

Buddy answered
If you open the package and it smells and looks good it probably is good. I've used some that was over 5 years old and it was fine.

Can white people use DetoX?

Amanda asked:
I know this may seem like an odd question, but is Detox only for people of the African American descent? I am an overweight white female and I was just curious if my race would matter in the effects of the detox?

Buddy answered:
Wonderful question, seldom asked. We have any number of white customers but few if any pictures. After you use DetoX send us your picture and we will post it prominently.

cleansing interval

Wendy asks:

I was been on the master cleanse a few years ago and recently tried 2 other cleanses. The last one was from [name of product omitted] and was not good, I had to stop in the middle of it. I felt ill and had no energy. I was struggling with weight issues after the baby was born. She is 2 now and I am still 15 pounds overweight. I want to go on the master cleanse again in conjunction with your product, but am wondering if doing a cleanse after I just did one 2 weeks ago is healthy.

Buddy says:
Whether or not cleansing at a particular time is healthy is not a question we can answer for you. You should do it only if it feels right and, if you feel uncertain, you should probably consult with a health professional

Lemonade recipe

FF asked:
I went on your web page and read about your product. But what I was wondering in your article were you said some people use a honey lemonade drink to help with hunger. Is that just lemon juice and honey in it. If not could you tell me what it is made of. When I talk this over with my husband I think I am going to try your product.

Buddy answered:
2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice, 3 quarts distilled water (distilled preferred but you can use filtered, spring, or even tap water), and honey (preferably raw) to taste. The lemonade is more for cleansing than to curb hunger but it definitely helps with the hunger.

A nursing mom

Hello. I am interested in using this product because I desperately want to lose weight. I am actively nursing my baby and she does not drink from a bottle at all. Can I use this product? What do you recommend?

from Buddy
Wait until you've finished nursing. You can get a head start by drinking water, including lots of fruit and veggies in your diet and eliminating processed food. When it comes time to DetoX (after nursing) you will be amazed at the results.

Thank you for the input and advice. I will definitely keep the product in mind. Realistically I won't be done with nursing for another few months so by the grace of God my scale will have budged by then! Thanks.

Days 6, 7, & 8

On day 6 (weight 224 lbs) I traveled to Chicago and decided to suspend the fast for a few days. On Day 7 (224 lbs) I made a mistake by eating cooked food too quickly (including meat). It is now day 8 (no BMs, 225 lbs) and today I've had 2 salads and some sauteed veggies. I need to drink more water. Short term goal is to lose weight in between periods of DetoX.

Day 5

Another day when I didn't get around to the first 1/2 cup of DetoX. Managed to get through the day on lemonade and chamomile tea with some raw carrots around 8pm. 3 BM's which were less mucous but I attribute that to eating the fruit on Day 4. Weight 224.