3-Day Easy Detox Diet For Weight Loss 

SELF QUIZ: 11 Signs Your Body Needs A 3-Day Detox

Feeling a little sluggish and not quite like your usual self? Perhaps it's time to consider a detox. As you go through the questions below, keep track of how many times you answer yes.

1. Skin: Are you constantly dealing with acne, rashes, dry skin, or dull skin?
2. Headaches: Do you often get headaches or migraines?
3. Focus: Do you find it difficult to concentrate and often find your thoughts drifting?
4. Eyes: Does it feel like you constantly have puffy eyes?
5. Memory: Do you have a hard time remembering names, or things on your to-do list?
6. Fatigue: Do you wake up feeling sluggish even after a good eight hours or more of sleep?
7. Water: Do you find yourself rarely drinking water throughout the day or never drinking the recommended 73 ounces of water a day?
8. Gassy: Do you often feel bloated or uncomfortably full?
9. Constipation: Do you often feel constipated or have diarrhea?
10. Weight: Have you been trying to lose weight but can't seem to get over that plateau or have trouble keeping the weight off?
11. Immunity: Does it seem like you get sick more than anyone you know?

Pencils up - that's the end of the detox diet quiz. Did you answer yes to any of the questions? If so, that might be then that may be enough reason to give your body a break and try a detox diet.

Whether you answered just once or 11 times, don't stress about it - this guide will demystify detox diets once and for all, helping you plan every part of your 3-day detox diet.

Let's begin your journey by pulling back the curtains on cleansing diets.

What Is A 3-Day Cleansing Diet?

If you've decided a detox is for you, then you should understand the process before you get started.

A 3-day cleansing diet is a short-term diet plan that focuses on consuming whole and natural foods to help detoxify the body. It typically includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. Drinking plenty of water and herbal teas are important too, as they help to flush out toxins.

A cleansing diet can help boost energy levels, reduce inflammation in the body, and improve digestion, among many other benefits.

How Does A Detox Diet Work?

A detox diet works by helping your body rid itself of unwanted toxins. By eating healthy, whole foods and supplying your body with plenty of water throughout the day, you can help stimulate your metabolic system and cleanse the body of unwanted chemicals, metals, fats, and preservatives.

When on a detox diet, you typically focus on eating whole, unprocessed foods that are rich in nutrients and naturally detoxifying compounds.

Many people choose to add special supplements or herbal teas to their detox diet since some can further support the body's natural ability to eliminate toxins.

Can You Lose Weight On A 3-Day Detox?

Yes, it's possible to lose weight during a 3-day detox, but requires following a strict and healthy detox diet. This includes limiting caloric intake, staying hydrated throughout the day, eating whole, unprocessed foods, and avoiding processed snacks, sugars, and saturated fats.

However, many who complete the detox and experience weight loss after the 3 days struggle to keep the weight off due to lack of exercise and going back to unhealthy eating habits after the detox is over.

That's why 3-day detox diets should be viewed more as ways to kickstart healthier habits and metabolisms instead of being a 3-day break in unhealthy behaviors.

Exercise During a 3-Day Detox

Go easy on your body during a cleanse. You don't have to stop working out altogether, just make sure you're doing gentle, low-impact movements to help your lymphatic system expel toxins. Try walking, stretching, or light (not hot) yoga, but avoid any intense workouts like weight lifting and running.

Is It Good To Do A 3-Day Detox?

Yes, a 3-day detox can be beneficial for your health since it flushes toxins from the body and resupplies it with vital nutrients. The short duration of a 3-day detox is easier to follow and offers the same benefits as longer cleanses. However, any detox diet should be approved by your doctor first.

A successful 3-day detox jumpstarts healthier habits that should be continued after the detox. For example, eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and incorporating more exercise into your daily routine.

Always Consult Your Doctor About Detox Diets

It's worth reinforcing that detox diets aren't for everyone, and you should consult your doctor before beginning a detox diet; this is especially true if you take medication or have any ongoing medical conditions.

Your physician will be able to tell you if a detox is right for you, making sure that the diet won't aggravate any underlying medical conditions.

What Are the Side Effects of Cleansing Diets?

Cleansing diets can cause unwanted side effects such as headaches, nausea, chills, skin rashes, and even bad breath. Side effects typically mean your detox is working, since they can often be the unfortunate result of your body releasing built-up toxins.

Specifically, What Are The Health Benefits of Detox Diets? 

Sure, we've touched on boosted metabolism and weight loss, but you're probably wondering if there are any other health benefits. And the answer is yes! Here are just a few of the benefits of starting a detox.

• More energy 
• Better sleep 
• Fewer mood swings 
• Clearer thoughts 
• Fewer infections 
• Less bloating and stomachache issues 
• Clearer, healthier skin 
• Decrease in allergy symptoms 
• Less inflammation

Now that all the cleansing facts are out of the way, let's shift focus and talk about all the details of your 3-day detox, starting with what to eat and drink and what to avoid.

Best Ingredients for the Best Weight Loss Detox Results

Changing your diet overnight is challenging enough, so why make it any harder by eating food you don't enjoy? To be clear - great weight loss detox diets don't have to taste terrible - in fact, with the right combination of fruits and veggies they can be delicious.

You can be prescriptive with beetroot juice recipes or smoothies for weight loss, but for some variety, remembering just a few simple combinations of ingredients will make sure your detox is tasty and never boring.

Here are a few of SHEFIT's favorite combinations for detox juices:

• Carrot, broccoli, and a few dandelion leaves
• Tomato, fennel, and parsley
• Carrot, celery, lettuce, and coriander
• Alfalfa, mung beans, and beetroot
• Celery with a small onion and watercress
• Carrot, beetroot, spinach, and chives
• Carrot, celery, and radishes
• Tomato, beetroot, celery, and cucumber

The best part of juicing is how easy it is to prep. Simply throw the ingredients in your blender, power it on, then pour.

If you're looking for a more holistic recipe for your juicer, try both of these recipes during your detox - oh, and in case you're looking for directions on either of these, just follow the instructions above.

Green Detox Juice Recipe #1

• 2 cups packed spinach (4 ounces)
• 1 cucumber
• 1 celery stalk

Green Detox Juice Recipe #2

• 4 large cucumbers
• 5 large tomatoes
• 1/2 bunch of kale (or more to taste)
• 1 bunch of basil
• 1 garlic clove

For those keeping count, you've just hit detox juice gold! You're now the proud owner of 12 completely different juice ideas, including 8 new combinations of ingredients and 4 recipes that taste so good you'll forget you're on a cleanse.

Avoid These Foods and Drinks While Detoxing

When it comes to a detox diet, not all foods and drinks are created equally. Here are common things to avoid during your detox - this list is full of temptation, so do your best to look the other way throughout your detox and even a few days before.

• Caffeine
• Sugar
• Alcohol
• Wheat products
• Processed food
• Junk food
• Dairy

The 3-Day Detox Diet Plan

It's time to map out your entire detox diet. If this is your first detox, go slowly. Even though this specific plan was inspired by the great Dr. Christina Scott-Moncrieff and her book Complete Detox Workbook, it's always best to ease into your first cleanse.

That's the reason this plan starts the night before your first big day. Doing so helps avoid severe detox symptoms.

 The Night Before Your First Day of Juice Detox

 At dinner, do the following:

• Eat a small, light meal around 6 pm.
• Include a salad (dressed with olive oil and lemon juice) or lightly cooked vegetables, a baked sweet potato, or brown rice.
• Add some simple, fresh herbs for flavor.
• Finish your meal with some fruit and yogurt for dessert (avoid bananas).

Detox Juice Day 1:

Breakfast

• As soon as you wake up, have a glass or two of warm (not cold) water. 
• Drink a glass of fresh vegetable juice. 

Lunch

• Another glass of fresh vegetable juice. 

Afternoon Snack

• Have a glass of water or if you want something different, try a ginger and cinnamon drink like the one below: 

Ginger Cinnamon Drink Recipe

• Steep a few slices of fresh ginger root in a 6-8 ounce glass of water for 10 minutes. 
• Add a small pinch of cinnamon and stir.

Dinner

• Fill your plate with vegetables, at least four different types (either in a salad or steamed). 
• Use a simple homemade dressing of olive oil, lemon or lime juice, and crushed garlic. 
• For more flavor, add in a generous handful of fresh chopped herbs. 

Evening Snack

• Have another glass or two of warm water. 

Detox Day 2:

Detox day 2 follows the same routine as day 1, with a couple of exceptions: 

• In the afternoon, add 1-2 pieces of fruit to your snack. 
• For dinner, include a portion of brown rice or quinoa. For dessert, eat one or two pieces of fruit (avoid bananas).
• Optional: Sub out any food using the 4 recipes or 8 combinations in the previous section.

Detox Day 3:

Day 3 looks different than the first two days, and that's by design. It's meant to bridge your diet back to something more normal. This will ease your transition into something healthier, but also maintainable once the detox ends.

Breakfast

• For breakfast have two to three pieces of fruit. 
• If you find yourself quite hungry, you can have some oatmeal with yogurt or a smoothie. 

Lunch

• Choose between a baked sweet potato or brown rice.
• Include a salad with homemade dressing and a handful of seeds or nuts.

Dinner

• For dinner have a simple salad with homemade dressing or some lightly cooked vegetables, brown rice or quinoa, and a piece of grilled fish or organic chicken. 

And with that... Congratulations!

Kickstart Your Metabolism With A 3-Day Cleanse

To close out your detox diet, let's cover a few things that should extend well beyond 3 days.

A 3-day detox diet is a great way to help you lose a few pounds, but remember that it's the kickstarter to better habits and not the start and end of good behavior.

You've worked hard to get where you are, so do your best to continue your new clean-eating routine. As you know, completing a detox diet leaves you feeling instantly healthier, lighter, and dare we say cleansed.

To keep that feeling alive, you'll want to:

• Prep: Pack your meals with fresh and healthy ingredients.
• Avoid: Try to cut out, or at least limit the number of processed foods you eat.
• Moderation: By all means, have a glass of wine or coffee every once in a while – but just remember to keep everything in moderation! 
• Exercise: Add in daily exercise and you'll see your weight loss efforts continue to improve, for example, combining exercises like weight-lifting with cardio.

And since you've completed a challenging task, overcoming a truly taxing 72 hours, why not reward yourself with some great workout gear while you're at it?

Pick up the perfect sports bra like SHEFIT's Ultimate Sports Bra for a comfortable, fully supported, and custom fit to help you keep up with your exercise routine!