Here are the deets on how I lost 5 lbs and 2 inches around my waist, after doing Isagenix’s 10-Day Cleanse. The cleanse program is actually supposed to be nine days but my coach recommended adding the extra day just because. I had a shake for breakfast every day and alternated a shake or healthy meal for my lunch or dinner. This diet worked for me because it allowed me to snack.

Getting started

I feel the best way to commit to anything is by getting it down on paper or for the sake of something that’s time-related, put it in your calendar. So that’s exactly what I did! I took a look at any upcoming family BBQs and other social obligations that would make it difficult for me to stay on a diet, and I picked my ten days far enough in advance that I would have no excuses to put it off. Because ten days is such a short amount of time, it didn’t feel like I was following some strict diet or starving myself. In fact, it actually took the added stress away from my workday because I didn’t have to worry about what to cook for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I just followed my schedule and enjoyed my shakes and bars, while the ten days just flew by. Another recommendation… Take before and after pictures, so that you can really see if the products made a difference for you. And weigh yourself before and after the cleanse, so you can see the real numbers behind your weight-loss. Your starter kit usually comes with a tape measure and shaker bottle.

Here’s my shake & cleanse schedule

Shake Days

Essentially, a “shake day” just means that you are replacing any two of your three meals for the day with shakes. And you can still have one meal, but should try to make it a healthy one — something I like to call a “Lean & Green Meal.” For me, this was chicken or fish and vegetables, but more often than not just a salad with chicken from Sweet Green.

I found that these shakes are super filling, which probably has to do with those 24 grams of protein. But in case, hunger kicks in, Isagenix provides “calorie-conscious snacks” to help you stick to the plan.

Cleanse Days

These days are basically a day of intermittent fasting and allowing your body to detox. It’s only drinking the Cleanse for Life throughout the day and enjoying snacks as needed, to help stay on track with your weight loss goals and kick any cravings that may come along. I actually discovered that there are three ways to cleanse. I did the “1 Cleanse Day Per Week” schedule that involves a day of intermittent fasting. However, there’s also the option of “Back-to-Back Cleanse Days” where you’re schedule includes two consecutive cleanse days. And another option is to drink the Cleanse for Life daily either in the morning or at night.

I’ll let you in on a little secret… Out of the ten-day cleanse program, only two of them are real “cleanse days.” Just a pro tip for cleansing… Isagenix recommends two to five Shake Days before your first Deep Cleanse Day. My recommendation is that you make sure you’re in for the day to see how your body reacts to the cleanse. It’s uncomfortable to have tummy issues and be out running around all day looking for a bathroom.

Here’s a break down of each product I used

The cleansing kit comes with all of the basics, including a little bit of everything else (like the snacks and booster add-ons), so it’s a good opportunity to try a lot of the products for the first time. Now going forward, I know what my preferences are on flavors and snack options. For example, I think I can do without those wafers next time I order a cleanse kit from Isagenix. The IsaLean Shakes are pretty tasty compared to most protein shakes I’ve tried that taste like cardboard. A meal replacement shake contains 240 calories with high levels of protein, which is great for my active lifestyle, but I did experience lots of bloating. Twenty-four grams of protein is a lot and I think it’s good to burn through that by going for long walks and running every day, but that’s just my opinion. I really enjoyed the chocolate and strawberry flavored shakes, but the vanilla was exactly what you’d suspect… Plain jane vanilla. Birthday Cake is the next flavor on my list of products to try. Drinking the Cleanse for Life (a plant-based supplement) daily during intermittent fasting helps eliminate stubborn fat and support your body’s metabolism. The Ionix Supreme is a nutrient-rich tonic that helps cleanse your body without any laxative ingredients that can cause dehydration. I think the berry flavor tastes sort of like prune juice. Lots of cleansing beverages cause upset stomachs and similar symptoms, but I didn’t experience that with this cleanse. Cleansing products should contain ingredients that soothe your stomach during a cleanse, like ashwagandha and aloe vera. The Natural Accelerator is a dietary supplement that should be taken daily, as it helps to support something called “thermogenesis” by using natural ingredients like cayenne, green tea, and cocoa seed. The IsaFlush tastes okay, but it’s not the best flavor. It’s basically a gentle cleansing beverage that doesn’t use harsh laxatives. If you love snacking, this cleanse should be easy for you to follow because Isagenix Snacks come in all different flavors and varieties, whether it be chips, bars, etc. that are high in fiber to help keep you feeling full longer. One of the snack options that came with my weight loss kit was these small Chocolate chewable wafers, which weren’t much, but they helped keep me from snacking on chips or other junk foods. I also tried the e+, which is a small energy shot, in Apple Pomegranate flavored and it was a great boost around 5 PM when I’m done working and need a little pick-me-up to get me through my long evening walks. And I didn’t experience any jitters because it only uses plant-based caffeine and isn’t loaded with sugar. The AMPED Hydrate Lemon Lime was a great addition to the bottle of water I take on my morning walks.

Don’t forget to get some exercise in!