What if after drinking that concoction you would drop major pounds, cleanse and detox your entire body from waste that’s been accumulating over the years, gain a stronger handle on your appetite, and build energy? Would you drink it then?

If you’ve like most, you’ve probably heard of The Lemonade Diet. If not, I’ll catch you up.

It’s been called The Master Cleanse, the 10 Day Diet, and the Lemonade Diet. Whatever you call it, it’s all right. The ingredients are listed above. That’s all it takes and depending on your weight, you should drink 6-12 servings a day.

I tried this detox recently after I saw the great results my friend was experiencing. I’m a healthy eater, but I also know the importance of cleansing the body once or twice a year. In Ayurveda, it’s actually preferred to cleanse the body each season. Ooops. There’s a first time for everything.

I had plans set for a friend’s birthday dinner the weekend following the day I began the Lemonade Diet. It was perfect. I would cleanse my body, shed a couple pounds, feel great and look great for the dinner.

Day 1

It actually doesn’t taste as bad as I had imagined. Of course I had to get the measurements right because my throat nearly closed in on itself the time I got carried away with the cayenne pepper. You can actually take cayenne pepper pills rather than mixing it in with the water.

Will you be hungry? Probably. Will it be hard? Maybe. In the original book, it’s recommended you drink more water when you’re hungry. I found an e-book that gives you a few foods you may eat that won’t ruin all your efforts. I don’t like strict guidelines, and I’m sure you don’t either.

Day 3

I made it to Day 3 and I’m already noticing a difference in my waistline. I was a bit lethargic on Day 2, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I know in the long run it’s worth it. It’s said the first three days are the hardest because you’re eliminating the toxins from the body.

Interesting Fact: Some people pass gallstones, which are hardened cholesterol balls, which can be fatal if not removed.

Depending on your current diet, how often you cleanse, and how often your normal elimination cycle is, you may have many pounds of waste that needs to be released.

Day 5

Halfway through! I’m feeling great and I surprisingly experienced no cravings. Your mind eventually becomes comfortable with the idea you’re cleansing and you don’t crave foods.

More Facts: The Master Cleanse Diet restores vital glands and boosts your cells. Originally the main purpose for the Lemonade Diet was to cleanse the body. Weight loss was a nice side effect. Most people lose a couple pounds a day! That’s a pretty nice side effect.

In this e-book, you get information to follow The Lemonade Diet specifically for weight loss. The difference is, you’re keeping your metabolism high.

Day 10

Day 10 came in a flash! After drinking only water for 10 days, you ease into eating. If I had to do over, I would have followed this e-book from the beginning. It’s more detailed than the original book. This author is upfront with the side effects you’ll experience and gives you advice on how to overcome the hump. With this book, you’ll surely be successful. I did it the hard way.

Oh, and when it came time for my friend’s birthday dinner celebration, I didn’t crave one bite of junk food!

If you have yet to detox your body from all the toxins you encounter on a daily basis, do the Lemonade Diet for 10 days. You get much more benefit for the bit of hard work required. Not to mention, you can download this book instantly and begin today!

I should also add, if you should double check with your doctor to make sure this diet is safe for you.

Do you feel empowered? Below are a few questions to reflect on. By discovering the root of a problem, you’re able to tackle it and begin healing.

1. Do you easily make decisions in your life and feel good about your choices?
2. Do you believe you’re deserving of good things in life?
3. Do you trust your ability to reach your goals and dreams?
4. Are you in control of your life? (This includes mental and physical health, relationships with others, and your spiritual wellness.)

Making the change toward self empowerment!

Digging for the Root Cause

If you need nurturing in some of these areas, begin by figuring out where you need a boost. Dig deeper to determine the root cause of your self doubt so you can make a change. Ask yourself a series of questions and continue to answer them as you dig deeper. Preface the questions with: What’s the worst thing that would happen if…

Example: A man determines he doesn’t easily make decisions in his life.

He asks himself: Why do I have a hard time making decisions?

• Answer:Because I’m afraid I’ll make the wrong choice.

He asks: What is the worst thing that would happen if I make the wrong choice?

• Answer: I’ll make the situation worse.

He asks: What’s the worst thing that would happen if I worsen the situation?

• Answer: I’ll be a failure.

He asks: What’s the worst thing that would happen if I failed?

• Answer: I’ll never be able to get back up.

Continue digging until you get to the very bottom. In this example, the person may ultimately fear scorn and abandonment from others if he fails. The fear of making the wrong decisions, which he believes will result in failure, paralyzes the man from decision making.

Developing self empowerment is a result of letting go of opposing beliefs and instilling healthier ones. If you’re asked to walk into a lit room and remove an object, you’re able to accomplish that. If you’re asked to walk into a dark room and remove the darkness, you’re not able to do that, unless you fill the room with light.

Instilling beliefs with the use of mantras. A mantra is a sentence or phrase you repeat to yourself until you believe it. It’s been said it takes 21 days for a new habit to be formed. Of course everyone is different and you may require less or more time.

Choose a mantra that’s believable to you. If you don’t believe the mantra, I’m a success, begin with, I’m inviting success into my life. This creates an open environment to bring in what you desire.

Stop. Release. Substitute. As soon as a self-sabotaging thought enters your mind immediately stop the thought from continuing, release it from your mind, and substitute it with the opposite more positive thought. If you think, I’m not going to be hired at this job. I’m not going to apply… Stop! Let that thought float out of your mind then think, I’m capable, deserving, and I’m giving it my all. Some things in life are out of your control, but you don’t know until you make an attempt.

Build Data. Remember all the accomplishments in your life including the little things. Try observing other successful people and put yourself in their shoes. Feel what it’s like to be at their level. We’re all derived from the same energy source. If they experience success, you can experience it. Bare in mind, your idea of reaching your full potential is different than somebody else’s. We all have individual paths in life to travel. You must create your own.

Continue to Collect Data. Focus on the positive situations you’re now bringing into your life. Keep a journal of your new accomplishments. Doing this builds your confidence and self empowerment.

Spiritual Fulfillment

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Be more compassionate. Look at the world through your heart, not from your head. Everyone is living day to day trying to survive. Just as you are concerned with feeding yourself, paying your bills, and staying healthy, others are hoping for the same.

Be grateful. Life is better and more fulfilling when we’re appreciative of what we have. Be happy for the things big and small. With the proper attitude, life becomes a journey to the treasure chest with a trail of gold coins along the way.

Be aware of the spirits inside of others. Because all life is the same, remembering that others are spiritual beings is a reminder that we are the same. We’ll see life in a different and more forgiving way.

Watch nature. Be free flowing like a flower swaying in the breeze. Spend time to connect with nature.

Be mindful. Don’t rush through life. Pay attention to what you’re doing at the moment. Worry about tomorrow when it comes.

Allow for change. Let your intuition guide you. Your higher self knows more than your conscious mind. Be open for messages you receive.

Be loving. Love yourself and each other. Have respect for one another and wish them well on their personal journey.

Read spiritual books for guidance or spend time in spiritual stores. Many Paths Bookstore offers books, CD’s, and much more to guide you in your journey. Take a look at what the store has to offer in this video.

Spiritually Balanced

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A great way to meditate is to lay in bed for a few minutes after your morning alarms sounds. Focus on the breath and the pay attention to the rise and fall of the stomach. Note: If you find that you fall asleep, set a second alarm to sound 10-15 minutes after the first. Also, do the meditation with your eyes partially open. You don’t want to be late for work!

As you unwind from the day, ending your evening with meditation is also wonderful.

Watch this video below as Ex-Buddhist monk, Nim Chaichana, explains, four ways you can incorporate meditation into your life.

Read about Mindful Meditation

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I spoke with The Barefoot Doctor, whose years of studying the Tao and martial arts, inspired him to make the ancient practice accessible to contemporary living. He points out three main centers we should focus on in our daily living to be spiritually balanced: the center of the brain, the heart, and the solar plexus.

The Center of the Brain/Third Eye

The third eye originates in the center of the brain which Taoists refer to as The Crystal Palace. The opening of the third eye is located above the center of the eyebrows. As you practice, you’ll become accustomed to centering your mind here. This area includes the pineal, hypothalamus, thalamus, and pituitary glands. Put your tongue to the roof of the mouth and imagine that space above. Also try moving your head slightly forward and back and feel that sensation.

When you place your focus here, your power of manifestation is much stronger and you can experience enlightenment. Your intuition will be more heightened and your mental chatter will decrease.

The Heart

Keep your heart open. People will respond to you differently when they sense your welcoming approach and you’ll learn to see the world differently and have a greater appreciation. It’s astounding what the miracle of love can accomplish.

The Solar Plexus

You’ll remain grounded when you place your attention in the center of the abdomen. When you find yourself becoming intertwined with conflict or your ego is taking over you, center yourself there.

3 Keys to Becoming Spiritually Balanced

The Barefoot Doctor explained three key aspects to maintaining harmony in your life: breath, self acceptance, and caring for others.

Breath

Keep your breath free flowing. Tense breath causes tense muscles and raises stress levels. If your breath flows freely, life flows freely.

Self Acceptance

Accept yourself for who you are. When you fight who you are, you cause resistance. Resistance keeps you from moving forward and experiencing harmony.

Caring for Others

Develop a natural caring for others. Respect others for who they are and understand we’re all doing the best we can as we travel through life.

Clear out Your Chakras

We have seven major chakra centers in the body. Keeping any of them out of balance can cause physical or emotional dis-ease. It’s beneficial to clear out the chakras each day or whenever you feel out of balance. To see where your main chakras are click here.

To clear them out, bring your focus to each chakra and visualize it opening and releasing any negative energy it has. Then see it spinning strongly and vibrantly the color that is associated with it. Do this beginning with the root chakra and move up to the crown chakra.

Brief Chakra Overview

Root Chakra
Located at the base of the spine and is represented by red.

Sacral Chakra
Located below the belly button and is represented by orange.

Solar Plexus
Located in the center of the stomach where we feel that “gut” feeling. Its color is yellow.

Heart Chakra
Located in the breast bone area. You can use green or pink. I prefer to use pink.

Throat
Visualize blue in the center of the throat.

Third Eye
The opening is slightly above the space where the two eyebrows meet. Its center is located in the center of the brain. Indigo is the color it glows.

Crown Chakra
Located at the top of the head, this chakra is white.

Watch the full video with The Barefoot Doctor about the way to keep balanced.

The purpose of mindfulness is to quiet the mind of the anger, stress, fear, doubt, etc., that fills our minds with chatter. It’s the chatter that rules our emotions and by quieting the mind, we live in a constant state of peace and bliss.

One of the most important things to understand is that thoughts themselves are independent and unrelated. As soon as one thought enters the mind, it leaves and is quickly substituted by another thought. We have become in the habit of connecting our thoughts and creating what we believe to be a truth. When we realize thoughts themselves are not concrete, we can learn to stop connecting them and live in the moment rather than in our heads. We give our thoughts too much power and as a result they take over our emotions and happiness.

As we connect negative thoughts, our mood changes and we become upset or angry. When we connect pleasing thoughts, our moods become happier until we think of something else that ends that emotion and takes us to another negative state. When we are able to be mindful, we live in the moment and cease becoming a slave to the mind.

Many of our thoughts are a result of the ego. The natural state of being is to allow the thoughts to enter and leave without becoming attached. Your ego will convince you otherwise and keep you wrapped up in thoughts. With practice you’ll be unattached to your thoughts.

Practicing Mindful Meditation

It’s best to begin your day with a meditation. If that’s not possible, it’s more important for you to incorporate a practice in your life so pick a time that works best for you.

Find a comfortable place free of distractions. Light incense, music, or candles if you prefer. Setting the ambiance is only necessary if it enhances your experience. Meditation can occur anytime and any place without outside tools.

Become an observer. Witness your thoughts and don’t connect them. Other meditations suggest focusing on breath, a candle light, repeating mantras, or taking a journey mediation. Mindful meditation takes a bit more practice because you’re not focusing on anything to distract yourself from your thoughts. You’re simply becoming aware.

The longer you sit, the easier it gets. Keep relaxed, don’t judge yourself, and don’t have expectations. Realize that taking time out of your day to sit calmly is doing wonders for you.

It’s during these times you may receive an important message about your life! When your mind is free from interference of your conscious mind, your subconscious mind comes to light. It was during meditation I came up with my next path in life!

Here are some more articles you may enjoy

Journey Meditation

How to Meditate

Manifesting Wealth

Return from Mindful Meditation to Spiritual and Alternative Healing

Try these activities to better enjoy life!

• Do what you love. What is it that really makes you happy and brings a smile to your face? Many people have put aside their passions and have fallen into a routine of work, chores, taking care of the kids…etc. Inside lies the creative part of you that’s eager to be let out. Use that creative energy and put it to good use.

Do you like painting? Pull out the paintbrushes or buy a new set and paint a picture.

Write a poem or a short story.

Do you enjoy helping others? Volunteer with a non-profit organization.


• Spend time with friends or family. Make a date with the girls and watch a movie. Gather the guys and watch a game. Laughing is a good release and you’ll feel much better after you enjoy a fun evening of jokes and laughter.
• Put on your favorite CD and start dancing! Head out to a nightclub. If that’s not your cup of tea, then dance in your room! Better yet, start off in your room and dance your way through the house! It’s good exercise and it’s fun too.
• Relax. The alarm goes off, you’re hit the snooze button and dread going to work. Instead, start your day with a few simple stretches for 10-15 minutes. Stretching maintains your overall flexibility, keeps your muscles loose, helps with circulation, and reduces the risk of muscle and tendon injuries. It’s a natural way to boost your energy and get your morning started a little brighter.
• Try out a new recipe. Experiment a little and if it doesn’t end up the way you had hoped, shrug it off and eat it anyway. You’ll do better next time.
• Set goals. If your life has become mundane and you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, set a goal to accomplish a new project. Have you been putting something off because you don’t think you have the time? Start working a little each day and before you know it, you’ll have another experience under your belt!
• Be optimistic. Focusing on the positives in life rather than the negatives is much healthier. You’ll find that you’ll enjoy life more when you maintain the right attitude. More than one point of view exists for each situation. Take on the positive outlook rather than the negative. Things will always work out in the end.
• Do or learn something new. Take on a new hobby or interest. Try something you’ve never done before even if you think it may be too difficult to learn. Try yoga or a different exercise class at the gym. Learn a new language. You never know when you may get a chance to visit Italy!
• Travel. Explore the world and learn of the different cultures. Put aside money from each paycheck towards a trip. Travel within the country or explore abroad. If that isn’t feasible, then travel to a different city! Enjoy a mini-vacation.
• Exercise and eat well. Exercising and a proper diet reduces stress and improves your mood, it helps you get better sleep, and manages weight. All of which help you enjoy life a bit more!

Here are some more articles you may enjoy

Return from Enjoy Life toSpiritual and Alternative Healing

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Find local stores that offer products related to metaphysics or mysticism. Many of these stores offer books to encourage you on your path towards spiritual guidance. You’ll be exposed to others who share in the same interests and make new friends! Join meditation groups or other classes.

During a meditative state, your brainwaves lower and allow you to connect with your subconscious mind with less interference from the conscious mind. Anybody can meditate, but some require more practice than others. Audio CDs have been created to make the process easier and allow you to lower your brainwaves quicker.

Expand your exercise regimen by trying different activities like Qigong, Yoga, or Tai Chi. Take a mini vacation and go on a spiritual retreat.

Where are your weaknesses?

Get a piece of paper and a pen. Rate yourself on a scale of 1-5 with the statements below. 1 is false and 5 is true.

Example: You are unhappy in your life.

A score of 1 indicates that statement is false and that you are happy in your life.

A score of 5 indicates the statement is true and you are unhappy in your life.

Mind

1. Your mind is full of negative self-talk.
2. You’re quick to criticize and beat yourself up over making a mistake.
3. You don’t think you’re worthy of a happy life. Click here for tips on finding happiness.

Body

1. It’s difficult to get up in the morning. You hit the snooze button more than once.
2. You have low energy throughout the day.
3. You are out of shape. Click here to learn about the proper diet and lifestyle for your body with Ayurveda.

Spirit

1. You feel isolated from the world.
2. You feel disconnected from yourself.
3. You don’t love yourself as much as you should. Click here for help on loving yourself more.

Add up your scores in each group.

Which group did you score the highest? Those are simply areas that could use more work. If you scored low in areas, that’s wonderful! You’re off to a great start. No matter what level you’re in, everyone has room for improvement and areas to grow.

Mind: Remind yourself everyday of your positive traits.

Body: Get more sleep, eat a healthier diet and remember to exercise. Listen to your body and eat the foods which are in harmony with the earth and in tuned with your body’s needs. This ebook gives you the way to become healthier in 30 days.

Ayurveda breaks down the types of foods that work best for your specific body. Ayurveda also recommends to cleanse your body each season. Look for different approaches and find one that works best for you. You may try The Master Cleanse which rids your body of toxins, revitalizes, and eliminates fat.

Spirit: Recognize you’re a spiritual being inside of a body. Take up meditation. You may have an enlightening moment.

Find ideas below improving on your spiritual wellness.

Gets tips on developing clairvoyance

Reiki Therapy

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Health Benefits of Relaxation Techniques:

• More energy.
• Lowered blood pressure.
• Reduction of stress related illnesses.
• Slower breathing.
• Better concentration.
• Better able to tackle life!

Let’s start some relaxation techniques!

Try Yoga. Buy a yoga DVD, try out a local studio, or take classes in your gym. Simple stretching is just as beneficial. Start slow so you don’t injure yourself. Stretching loosens up muscles, helps prevent injury, and improves circulation.

Check out this yoga training course you can do online. Become an expert yogi!

Meditation is a wonderful tool for relaxation. With a full-time job or a busy schedule, taking a vacation isn’t always possible. Although through journey meditation, which is a combination of visualization and meditation, you can go on a relaxing vacation anywhere you’d like!

• Sit or lie in a comfortable and quiet place and take a few deep breaths.
• Release the tension from your feet. Feel them drop and become heavy.
• Bring your attention to your calves and thighs. Feel them become heavier and relaxed.
• Feel your abdomen and back release tension. Allow your stomach to rise and fall comfortably with each breath.
• Drop your shoulders and release the tension from your neck.
• Soften your eyelids and breathe.
• Visualize yourself in a place that makes you feel relaxed. Some people prefer sitting under the warm sun at the beach while others prefer sitting under a shady tree in the mountains. When you feel your mind start to wander, bring yourself back to your relaxing destination.
• Meditate here for 10-15 minutes. If you’re at the beach, hear the crash of the waves and feel the sand beneath your body.
• If you’re visualizing yourself in the mountains, hear the rustling of the trees and the chirping of the birds.

Dedicate time for you. Make it a priority to schedule yourself at least 15 minutes out of your day to relax. Go for a walk, sit outside, read a book or take a bath. Relaxing is as necessary for your wellbeing as eating a healthy meal.

Prioritize your tasks. Pressuring yourself to complete a long list of demands within an impossible deadline is adding stress into your life that you don’t need. Don’t do it. Instead ease the pressure off yourself and prioritize. If possible, delegate tasks.

Just breathe. No matter where you are and what you’re doing, take a few breaths. Breathe from the stomach not the chest. You should see the stomach rise and fall and your shoulders should be dropped and relaxed. Inhale and exhale through the nose, pausing after each in and out breath. Breathing this way increases oxygen to every cell of the body and calms the mind.

The purpose of meditation is to calm the mind and become more peaceful. Eventually you’ll always maintain a level of peacefulness and happiness. With a regular meditation practice, you’ll be more in control of your mind. Outside circumstances have a strong influence on the untrained mind. Our relationships end and we’re heartbroken. We meet somebody new and we become excited again. With regular meditation, you’ll find an inner peace and won’t be so readily influenced by outer situations including your mean boss!

Meditation is also known to lower blood pressure, raise levels of serotonin, and enhances the immune system.

It can be done anywhere and doesn’t require you to sit cross-legged until your legs numb while you wait hours for enlightenment (unless that’s your goal, in which case go for it!). You can practice different types of meditations for different results including visualization techniques, chakra meditation, and journey meditation.

• The first rule when it comes to learning how to meditate, is to not become frustrated! You’re still benefiting from being still.
• Find a comfortable and quiet location. Turn off your cell phone. Tell the kids, spouse, or roommates to keep themselves entertained for a while. You’re having you time.
• Sit comfortably.
• Put a pillow on the ground and sit comfortably, or sit in a chair if you prefer. Laying down will usually make you fall asleep which is not the point of meditation!
• Focus on the breath. To calm the mind from thoughts, focus on something else like the breath. Pay attention to your breath entering and leaving your nostrils. Yes, you will have many thoughts entering your mind and it may seem like you’re thinking more than ever! Really, you’re just becoming aware of the many thoughts you normally experience. Keep focusing on the breath and the thoughts will slow until you actually have a blank mind! Allow the thoughts to enter your mind, notice them and watch them leave.

Tip: If you find yourself falling asleep with your eyes closed, keep them partially open.

Tip: Another way to calm the mind is to focus your attention on a candle flame. Try these different variations and see which you prefer: Place the candle about 3-6 feet away from you and gaze at it. When you find your mind wandering, bring your attention to the candle flame.

The second variation is to gaze at the flame for a couple minutes, close your eyes and maintain the image of the flickering candle in your mind. Bring your attention back to the dancing flame whenever you find yourself thinking.

I learned additional techniques on overcoming common obstacles when meditating in this ebook. It is written by a yogi with over 30 years experience in teaching meditation.

• Don’t resist. When first learning how to meditate, you may become frustrated because you can’t quiet the mind. The harder you resist having thoughts, the more frustrated you’ll become and it will seem as if you’re not succeeding. Just flow with the process. With patience, practice, and trust you’ll notice a clear, peaceful, and happy feeling.




• Start slow. With even 10-15 minutes a day, you’ll see an improvement. If you’d like, gradually add more time to your meditation regimen until you feel satisfied.

Make meditation a daily practice and you’ll soon recognize the health benefits of learning how to meditate!

To get into a deeper meditation try the Deep Zen meditation audio program. Get into a state of calm and peace in faster time.

Here are some more articles you may enjoy

Finding Peace

How to Be Happy

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