I feel many who are considering or have just started the MC/Lemonade Diet may have some misconceptions or simply may be a bit naive about the cleanse and/or about how their body will react.
 
You may need to be motivated or "kick started", or you might just need some tips on how to prepare and what to expect.
 
I am going to post this thread as a work in progress, adding to it as information comes to mind or as prompted by your responses.

*NOTE: Pregnant or breastfeeding women, growing children, those recovering from surgery and radiation and/or chemotherapy patients should not attempt this cleanse!

First let me start by saying that obtaining the Master Cleanser Booklet and familiarizing yourself with it's contents is of utmost importance. This booklet should be your companion, the equivalent of your "bible" before and during your cleansing experience. This site is based on this booklet, it's detailed instructions and it's information as penned by Stanley Burroughs, and if anyone posting on this board decides to alter the Master Cleanser/Lemonade Diet to suit their own personal preferences, let it be known from the outset that they are not following the Master Cleanse but a modified version of that cleanse. To encourage others to follow their particular individual modification will not be tolerated and such posts will be subject to editing and/or deletion.

Proper preparation for this cleanse includes a willingness to comply completely with the instructions in the Master Cleanse booklet and the mental/emotional readiness to commit to at least 10 days of totally abstaining from solid food.

It is extremely helpful for you to insure in advance that you have sufficient supplies (lemons, maple syrup, cayenne, pure water, herbal laxative tea and sea salt) to carry you through to the end...It's also good to include as much fruit and raw veggies in the diet for a week or so prior to starting, which will help immensely in reducing the intensity of the initial detox symptoms; as will eliminating processed foods, refined sugars, hydrogenated fats, meats and concentrated proteins as much as possible. 

Of primary significance is the realization that this cleanse will be made much easier if you are willing and able to change your way of thinking. If you think you'll fail, you will probably fail and the reverse is also true; if you think you'll succeed your chances of successfully completing this cleanse will greatly improve. Think thin, not fat; think strong, not weak. By remaining positive you will prove to yourself and to others that you are a victor, not a victim. Post notes throughout your house and workplace stating "I CAN DO IT!"

Your relationship with food will be seriously challenged while doing the MC/Lemonade Diet, so be prepared for that. Learn to distinguish between real physical hunger and emotional/mental appetites and cravings. When tempted to cheat, just say NO! then have a sip of lemonade, busy yourself with some positive task, go for a walk, anything to take your mind off eating solid food. AND, rest assured the lemonade formula supplies all your nutritional needs throughout the course of this cleanse. So it really boils down to a "mind over matter" thing.

The first 3 days are usually the hardest. Your body will protest the fact that it is not allowed solid food, and the initial phase of detox can be quite a shock to your system until you're able to make the necessary adjustments and get used to the truth that you're not starving, although your body will try it's best to convince you otherwise. The symptoms of this 3 day period can be minimized significantly if you keep you bowels as clear as possible by drinking the herbal laxative tea each night and the SWF (salt water flush) on an empty stomach, the first thing in the morning.

The body will tend to detox in cycles, so some days will be heavier detox days than other. This varies with each individual, and is subject to all sorts of conditions, depending on the shape you're in. For those wishing to read more about the stages of detox and what to expect during the MC or a general juice fast , click on: Detox Stages: take a look

Emotions are often stirred up along with the toxins, be patient with yourself and allow time and space to express these feelings, but refrain as much as possible from taking any short tempered "crankiness" out on others, especially those you love. Remember, you need their loving support, not an angry reaction. Don't fall prey to entirely trusting your emotions during this cleanse, instead exercise authority over them and you will find you gain strength and self-esteem.

During the MC, there may be times when you seem to be soaring high in the clouds of exhilaration and suddenly, without warning, plunge head first, landing unexpectedly in a state of physical fragility and unstable feelings. It takes strength and courage to find emotional stability during these times, be determined to stay the course. Ask for help, support and encouragement if you need it.

You may feel exceptionally cold during this cleanse, this is normal and to be expected, especially during heavy detox days. Compensate by spending time in the sun, taking a warm bath, dressing warmly, drinking a cup of hot mint tea or adding extra cayenne to your lemonade. Add an extra blanket to your bedding at night.

Many people wonder about prescription medications on the MC/Lemonade Diet. In his booklet, Stanley Burroughs says not to take vitamins or supplements while on the cleanse. He also talks about increased health from the Master Cleanse and eating a healthy vegetarian diet as reducing or eliminating the need for medicines, hospitals and/or nursing homes. He does not say don't take any prescription medications while on the Master Cleanse. According to Peter Glickman (present day advocate of the Master Cleanser):

There is however, one precaution to be taken when prescription medications (including oral birth control) are used; wait at least one hour after finishing the SWF to take them.

While doing the MC/Lemonade Diet expect to find your tongue will have a "fuzzy" coating. Mr. Burroughs mentions this coating in the original Master Cleanser booklet, where he says, "One of the best signals of the completed diet is when the formerly coated and fuzzy tongue is clear pink and clean looking. During the diet it becomes very badly coated".  I have done this cleanse numerous times and have, on occasion had my tongue clear, only to have it coat back up again when another round of detox kicks in. On my longest cleanse it cleared about the 20th day and stayed that way until I completed 28 days. On my last cleanse it was mostly clear by the 14th day. (only a tiny streak of coating remained).

Those who are extremely overweight or feel they might be severely toxic (due to bad diet, drugs or other indulgences) need to be cautious. This cleanse will break loose and mobilize toxins stored in fat cells, organs and other tissues at an alarming rate, and if these toxins are not eliminated at the rate they are circulated in the bodily systems, you will feel terrible and will likely fall ill. If excessive discomfort from the symptoms of detox don't disappear or at least lessen with the next day's eliminations it would be best to discontinue this cleanse and prepare with a less extreme method before attempting the MC/Lemonade Diet again.

Some methods for helping the elimination along are drinking plenty of pure water in addition to the lemonade, hot soaking Epsom salt baths followed by a shower, brisk walks outdoors while deep breathing fresh air (weather permitting), mild exercises or hatha yoga, therapeutic or foot massage and taking a sauna or a steam bath, and of course drinking the herbal laxative tea and the SWF as recommended.

Remember the importance of carefully following the instructions for breaking the cleanse. This is where many cleansers make the mistake of introducing solid food too soon, see this web page, click on: Coming off the MC/Lemonade Detox Diet.

And a bit about the acronyms (abreviations) used on this forum...

• MC = Master Cleanse
• MS = maple syrup
• SWF = salt water flush
• LD = Lemonade Diet
• OJ = orange juice
• BM = bowel movement