What is the LDD?
This detox claims, among other things, to cleanse the body of toxins and help with weight loss. Instructions vary slightly depending on where you look, but in general all you're allowed is a mixture made up of 2 litres water, the juice of 4 lemons, 140mls pure maple syrup and 3 pinches of cayenne pepper. This daily dose can be supplemented with herbal teas and water. It is also recommended to start each day with a glass of warm salty water (for its laxative qualities) but I couldn't face this and chose alpine tea instead to serve the same purpose. This detox can last anywhere from 5 to 10+ days. Do not do this if you have a medical condition.
Pre-detox
My first thought was - how much bad food can I scoff before the deprivation starts? Then common sense prevailed, and I led into the detox plan by eating fruit and veges over a few days and avoided eggs, meat, alcohol, caffeine and concentrated fats and sugars. This also helped get me into the habit of saying no.
Day one
Am starting the detox on a Saturday so I can get through the first tough days away from other people and my temptation zone - the office. Other detoxers I've talked to say they're more tempted by food when they're at home, so it all depends on the person, I guess.
Have also decided that by sleeping late I'll minimise awake time and save some energy.
Once up, I have my first glass of the mix and, luckily, I like the taste (but I admit I have been a bit conservative with the cayenne pepper - only one pinch).
I keep getting the strange feeling that I'm forgetting to do something - eat! So far I'm not hungry so that feeling must just be habit.
Toughest part of day one? Watching the family eat fish and chips while I have a mug of peppermint tea and feel very hard done by. In saying that, have not really been tempted by anything yet and am not hungry. So far so good.
Day two
Woke up thirsty but otherwise fine and feeling quite light. This would be where I should drink the salt water but am just not going there.
Made the decision to leave the house and go Christmas shopping without an emergency dose of the mix. Bad move. Four hours later and I'm fading fast in The Warehouse. Silver or gold decorations? I can't decide!
Am not craving anything yet but keep getting in the path of eaters. I don't expect people to stop eating out of solidarity, but please, Dad, don't offer me a toffee pop again. It's fair to describe my mood as a little scratchy.
Am still not hungry but not satisfied either. I miss eating, especially the social side of it. Am feeling pretty proud of progress so far.
Day three
The novelty is well and truly over. Have been sleeping well apart from constant dreams about food, but am a bit headachy today. This is supposedly a good sign as it shows that the toxins are coming out. I'm also tired and dizzy so I have all the right symptoms.
Still enjoying the taste of the mix but my teeth feel furry all the time and even a little loose. Being back at work is hard and I've been faced with all kinds of foody temptations. A lot of people told me Christmas is a crazy time for detoxing and they're right! Poor me.
It's also much harder to concentrate than normal and my mood is all over the place.
I'm still not hungry, though am craving pies. Stopped for petrol at the BP in Mornington on the way home from work and there in front of me was this massive pie billboard. You know you want one, it reads. Yes, I know, but how did they?
Day four
Woke up light headed but motivated so added a pinch more cayenne to the day's batch just to shake things up a bit. This is the day I'm supposed to get the promised burst of energy, according to one of my friends who did the LDD. Still waiting on that one.
My mood is all over the place and I pity the fool who messes with me. Stressful situations seem even harder to deal with and today is definitely the toughest so far.
I'm not hungry but my sense of smell seems to have improved (at least for food) and I can smell a pie from across a crowded room. Everyone seems to be eating pies. Or hot chips.
Concentration and motivation are definitely down. And how to break up the working day? Normally I'd look forward to a tea break and dinner break. Now I only have a laxative tea and more of the mix to look forward to. I'm really starting to get sick of that mix.
Today has been the worst day so far and I just hope I can get through tomorrow.
Day five
Still alive! I'm starting to get excited about finishing this detox and eating again. I think I'm more excited about that than I am about Christmas.
I'm feeling much better today. This morning I was considering finishing at dinner time after my tough day yesterday but decided that would be caving in. I can even see now what they mean about things getting better after the first few days - not that I'm going to sign up for another five days!
Have just finished the last glass of the mix and will be very happy to not eat maple syrup again for a very long time.
Post-detox
First food? Fresh strawberries followed by a vegetable broth. Delicious. Easing out of the detox is just as important as easing in so I'll hold off on that pie for a little while longer. I probably wouldn't do this detox again but am happy to have done it once in my life, if just to prove to myself I could. I think my hair and skin look a bit better but I've only lost about 1kg so am glad I didn't do it to lose weight. I would consider doing shorter detox's that are more about healthy, balanced eating in the future. I know people do this one for longer, but for me five days was a long time to not eat anything. I'm happy to be back in the land of the living!