Showing posts tagged redcarpet123
Oh hell yes.
I’m not cleansing, but ordered a bag of Red Carpet Cleanse juices (at media discount price) because I have been CRAVING this lemonade and the smootie!! Plus, green juice from the smootie places just don’t compare to September’s recipe. Because I’m not cleansing, one bag of 6 juices will last 2 days.
Ok, now the dogs are staring at me wondering why we aren’t walking.
The Red Carpet Cleanses - Los Angeles, CA
(My Official Review)
As I wrote in my thank you note to September Death, the founder of Red Carpet, her 3-5 day juice cleanse and raw food menu is one of the most thoughtful I have come across in a while.
Additionally, to tailor the cleanse to your taste, she offers you ingredient lists for the juices and foods so you can opt not to have things you HATE excluded from your personal delivery. By making the menu enjoyable for you, RCC makes it easy to stay on track!
Everyday you have 6 delicious juices delivered to your doorstep by 6am. When you roll out of bed, your eye-opener is the electrolyte lemonade that puts coffee to shame. In the recipe, September uses flax oil to react with the sulpher in the lemon and pears to provide you with that burst of energy.
As with all cleanses, there is a re-occurring green juice component to ensure you get all of the vitamins and nutrients you need while not eating. In fact, you get more than if you were on your normal diet. Green juice is always my least favorite because they use celery and (more importantly for your digestion) parsley. So of course I said, “out with the celery!” Plus she adds probiotics to help restore healthy bacteria in your system after you get a colonic.
The wonderfully sweet protein offerings - a midday banana smoothie and evening cashew milk - come right in the nick of time to keep you smiling in the midst of the tart veggies.
New to me was the “Red Juice” that is mostly composed of carrot juice. I’ve always tried to incorporate carrot juice into my diet because of the benefits for your skin, but unfortunately it hasn’t become a staple. After 4 days of the red juice, I saw a drastic change in my coloring and pores. As one friend said, “you’re glowing!”
Overall, I love the variety and nutritional value of the menu. But more importantly, I was only hungry 1 out of the 4 days I juiced. The combo of veggies, proteins, and superfoods in the mixtures kept me more than satisfied!
I completed 2 days of raw food after a 4 day juice cleanse to ease myself back into eating whole foods without shocking my digestive system.
The menu consists of 3 meals and 3 juices that more than fill you up for the day.
Honestly, I can tell you I would have no idea these were raw and ridiculously healthy meals if I wasn’t told so beforehand. September’s experience in the kitchen really shines in her wraps, salads, and even sweets. Although some don’t look appetizing, I can tell you the actual wrap pictured above is delicious!
If you’re afraid cleanse with straight juice or just need to get your diet back on track, I would highly suggest trying this out for a good detox.
Supplementing Your Cleanse
In order to fully cleanse out your system, I believe it’s important to exercise lightly (yoga is especially helpful for deep cleansing and blood flow), sleep at least 8 hours a night, schedule a colonic, and if possible get a massage.
I know you’re hesitant to do the colonic, but it really goes hand-in-hand with a cleanse. The juices release the toxins you store in intestines but can’t fully push them out without the fiber. You also could be storing parasites (especially you sushi lovers), which is not a pretty thought.
For a look at my first experience and reaction to a colonic, watch this video. I’ll be posting a new one soon to introduce you to “the open method,” which I find to be even more gentle. In LA, I went to Healing Waters for this treatment and found it to be very helpful.
In the future, RCC will be offering a package that includes options for colonics at Healing Waters and home massages from Julia (who has remarkably healing hands).
CLEANSE COMPARISON
Last week I completed a 4 day juice cleanse followed by 2 days of raw food all provided by Red Carpet Cleanses.
As you know, last year I detoxed with a 3 day “Foundation” juice cleanse from BluePrint and the 5 day L.O.V.E. Fast (Live. Organic. Vegan. Experience.) cleanse from Organic Avenue.
So you probably want to know, what’s the difference, which is the best, is one of them easier?
OVERVIEW
First, review a basic breakdown of the three cleanses. All three use fresh ingredients that only last a couple of days. Deliveries for RCC and OA come daily, BPC can drop off 3 days worth of juice at a time.
(BPC = BluePrint, RCC = RedCarpet, OA = Organic Avenue)
- BPC 3 day “Foundation” - 6 juices = 3 green juices, 2 fruit juices, 1 cashew milk
- RCC juice cleanse - 6 juices = electrolyte lemonade, 2 green juices, 1 carrot juice, 1 banana smoothie, 1 cashew milk
- OA L.O.V.E. Fast- 1 elixir, 1 fruit juice, 1 green juice, 1 smoothie, 1 soup, 1 small salad, 1 coconut milk/water
(All three companies offer other cleanses as well.)
WHY?
You also need to know my goals in cleansing:
- Detox my organs
- Repair my diet
- Restore a normal appetite
- Decrease cravings for processed sugar
SO WHAT DO I THINK?
Following are my conclusions on the three cleanses.
- DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY
While OA has the most hearty offerings, it incorporates many veggies I really can’t stand. However, there is no way I could ever finish all of the stuff they sent for one day because it was so substantial. So if you’re a veggie lover, this would be the easiest cleanse by far because it’s closest to a normal diet.
BPC and RCC both offer 6 juices a day. RCC is a little easier because like OA it offers a sweet smoothie mid-day that is delicious. That boost in energy and moral keeps you motivated until your nighttime cashew milk. OA’s smoothies are by far the best because they offer a variety that often includes chocolate.
Both OA and RCC (soon BPC) offer raw food cleanses as well if you are fearful of going to straight juice on your first attempt.
- THE GREEN FACTOR
Obviously green juice is the a big component of the cleanses.
Hands down OA’s is the worst, but you only have to drink it once a day (and it’s followed by the smoothie).
Most people would say BPC offers the best green juice because it’s sweetened with green apple. I like it as well, but the celery sometimes gets to me.
RCC gives me the option to exclude ingredients like celery in all of their juices so it was more enjoyable.
Out of the 6 juices offered by BPC and RCC, I usually only drank 5 because the green juice twice in RCC and three times in BPC per day became redundant.
- COST
OA L.O.V.E Fast = $450/week ($90/day) including delivery in NYC
BPC = $65/day (for 3+ days including delivery in NYC), $85/day including overnight shipping to anywhere in the US
RCC = $90/day (including shipping in LA)
Honestly, if you’re serious about cleansing and getting your diet back on track, I think it’s worth the investment. You receive juices and recipes you can’t replicate on your own, the support of a nutritionist, and everything you need for the day so you don’t have to think about what to do next.
- PORTABILITY
BPC is by far the easiest if you’re on the go. They have a cute travel bag with a little ice pack to keep all of your juice cool. RCC offers a cooler tote, but it’s a lot more cumbersome.
OA comes in glass bottles so it’s not easy to throw in your purse (although I have).
- THE GOOD STUFF
There is always one juice in a cleanse that I crave months later. In OA, I love the smoothies so much that I go buy them separately when I’m in NYC. They have chocolate, mint chocolate chip, goji berry, and blueberry flavors for these nutrient-packed mixtures. Delicious!
Both BPC and RCC offer cashew milk at the end of each day. Such a treat after a long day of veggie juices. I prefer BPC’s - it’s like a vanilla milkshake. RCC’s is good as well, but not as thick.
RCC’s midday smoothie tastes the best, but I feel like the electrolyte lemonade you drink first is the most notable. According to September, the combination of the flax oil with the sulpher in the lemons and pears energizes you instantly. RCC also uses hexagonally structured water and adds probiotics to the green juice to generate good bacteria in your body.
- SHIPPING
At this point BPC is only one that ships, although I believe OA will do upon request. RCC should be shipping soon!
- DIY CLEANSING
My first attempt at cleansing I tried to do it myself and it didn’t work at all. I was starving and had no idea how to nourish myself properly despite the fact I was following a menu I found online.
As I stated before, I think it’s important to have the support of a nutritionist to help explain your body’s reaction and how to cope with hunger. September from RCC will be offering coaching soon so you can do it yourself with assistance.
- BOTTOM LINE
I enjoy them all for different reasons. When experiencing each, I received the positive effects of cleansing and felt rejuvenated by the end.
If I had to choose ONE - I think for me RCC would be my favorite because I like all of the juices they provide in the day, and I need the midday smoothie and the evening cashew milk to keep me mentally satisfied.
You need to asses what your goals are and then review the menus to see which will help you accomplish them. On any cleanse, I suggest getting a colonic and maintaining a light exercise regimen to fully detox your body.
You’ll find there are so many benefits to cleansing. Notable improvements will occur in your health, skin, emotional well-being, stress level, and sleep schedule.
**Full Disclosure: BPC and RCC were provided for free. I received a 10% media discount for Organic Avenue.
“Holy Hell Does This Look Amazing!”
“Holy hell does this look amazing!! I’ve been wanting to do a cleanse.. but there aren’t any vendors in Michigan :( I checked out Blueprint and it’s so expensive to ship.. just not in my budget at the moment.
Mary - any shipping friendly suggestions!? or places you know of?” — Blogger Kristin
Unfortunately cleanses are expensive. There’s really no way around it. But let me explain what you pay for:
- A guarantee you are getting all of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs when not eating food.
- Delicious juice that isn’t thick. If you’ve ever tried to make a tasty green juice, it’s not that easy. They also have special machines that cold press the fruit so you get just the juice with all the nutrients without the pulp.
- You don’t have to THINK about what comes next. There is a set schedule to keep you on course because at times you will want to deviate.
- After you buy all of the ingredients that goes into these juices, it probably would cost about the same. All of the fruits and veggies are pesticide-free and organic.
- Nut milk, which isn’t the easiest thing to make, is very necessary on a cleanse so you get protein and fat.
- Personal Support. In each of these cleanses, I have always been able to reach out to a nutritionist in the company to ask questions and get advice on how my body reacts to the cleanse. This is priceless! (And if you’ve ever been to see a nutritionist, you know their service is expensive!)
At this point, BluePrint is the only one of the cleanses that ships. (They offer free shipping to one state per month. Right now it’s Illinois. And if you get a group, the rate per day decreases as well.) Organic Avenue says they can, but I haven’t tried it that way yet. For first time cleansers, I would definitely make the call to investigate. September from Red Carpet has been taking meetings to get shipping started ASAP.
In the meantime, September will be starting cleanse coaching packages so you CAN do this on your own. She is also very attentive and always reachable via email to answer questions and offer support.
Although I make cleansing seem easy, it takes strength of mind to complete. And you really need a schedule and counselor to support you.
Ok Andy, today is the LAST day of my Red Carpet 3 day juice cleanse!
You’re probably thinking, but today would be day 4, right? And you would would be correct.
I was feeling SO GOOD on Tuesday I requested a 4th day of juice to be followed by 2 days of raw food instead of just 3 days of raw food. As you know, yesterday was a bit frustrating so this simple change became a mental challenge.
Mentally, I only prepared for 3 days. But I found increased energy and strength, as I often do in a workout, on Day 2. So I figured I’d go for it!
While I’m sure I could have convinced September to send over the raw food instead, I decided to stick to my guns, and break through the mental road block I set up for myself.
As I sit here typing, I’m not at all hungry or feeling sluggish, just missing food in general (especially after blogging about Italian food and reading Sarah’s cupcake post).
I’m actually thankful to have the fourth day because it wasn’t until I woke up this morning that I felt refreshed.
Let the final day begin!
Day 2 of my Red Carpet 3 day juice cleanse. Here are my thoughts in under 3 minutes.
(Please excuse the lack of makeup. I rarely wear it unless I have to. And last week I went through more applications than I do in a month!)
Red Carpet 3 Day Juice Cleanse
As you know I’m a huge fan of the BluePrint juices and Organic Avenue smoothies - for a cleanse, or just daily drinking. Although both offer shipping, I wanted to find a West Coast option for us to enjoy.
Via Vital Juice (which if you aren’t on their mailing list, click the link asap!), I found Red Carpet Cleanses which offers a 3 day juice cleanse and a 5 day raw food diet cleanse. SCORE! They offer the best of both worlds: juices, smoothies, and complete meals.
Actually, this is my first cleanse of the year. Where has the time gone??!
As I want to completely hit the restart button to refresh my eating habits and fitness program, I am choosing the 3 day juice cleanse followed by 3 days of raw food.
This will help me do several things:
- Cleanse out all of the crap I’ve been consuming during the summer
- Decrease my appetite back to normal (I eat enough for a small village these days)
- Curb my sugar craving (when you only eat natural sugars, processed sugar tastes too sweet and almost unappetizing. Notice I said ALMOST.)
- Cut back on bread and eat more whole grains
Like BluePrint, there are 6 freshly squeezed juices for one day. Here’s a sample menu:
- Electrolyte Lemonade (water, lemon, pear, sea salt, flax oil)
- Ace of Blades Green Juice (cucumber, kale, apple, cilantro, super foods and probiotics)
- RawStar Smoothie (soaked almonds, banana, kale, mango, almond butter, cinnamon, sea salt, water)
- Some-Tang (carrot, lemon, apple, bee pollen)
- Ace of Blades
- Liquid Churro (water, cashew milk, coco oil, cinnamon, maca, lucuma, sea salt)
Usually the green juices have celery in them, but September (the founder of RC), kindly removed it. You see before you start a RC cleanse, they ask you to fill out a questionnaire for your personal tastes and medical status. They want to make sure that each cleanse is tailored to your needs. Very cool!
Thus far, I’ve tried the lemonade and it’s really good. There seems to be ginger in it as well, which definitely helped open my eyes this morning.
I’ll keep you updated on the flavors and effects. September is also referring me to a spa for a colonic as well (it’s part of the process!).
**Red Carpet is providing juice cleanse gratis. I am not obligated to write about it, but of course I will!
BluePrint Update!
I’m in love with this Blueprint Cleanse #6 gifted to me by Mary. Deliciousness in a bottle.
The cashew milk tastes like a vanilla milkshake!
Seeing this post on Sarah’s blog, I thought I’d give you an update on the new things happening at Blueprint.
Putting Food On The Table
Zoe and Erica, founders of the BluePrint Cleanse, are sponsors of Robert Verdi’s Survival of the Chicest gifting suite so they stock the fridge full of juice. This year, as I blogged earlier, they brought their new line of raw food (that should launch soon). It’s so good, if you didn’t know it was raw and healthy, you wouldn’t even ask.
Free Shipping!
Many of you wonder about shipping BPC. They do ship, but it can get pricey. Now every month, they choose a specific state and ship there for free. This month it’s Illinois. Plus, if you do it with a group of people you can receive a group discount. So if you’re looking for a summer detox and live in Illinois, now is the time to give it a shot!
West Coast Comparison
Now that I’m living on the West coast, I will be exploring more resources available out here instead of shipping in my favorite stuff from NYC.
I’ll be starting my first cleanse of 2009 on Monday with the 3 day juice cleanse from Red Carpet Cleanses. Constructed by September Death (pronounced “deeth”), It’s similar to BluePrint offering green juices and nut milks but with different recipes. I’ll provide a full breakdown on Monday.
**Both Blueprint and Red Carpet cleanses are free for me to review. Erica and Zoe of BPC are personal friends, but that does not have any bearing on my comments. As always, you will get my honest opinion without persuasion of any kind.
