I have had this book for…2 years now and am finally comitting to the 3 weeks. I am only on Day two. I am a mother of twins and received this book back when they were babies and my head in a spin. My nanny borrowed it for 24 hours and kept talking about the Lentil soup. She lost 30 pounds in 3 weeks and 35lbs overall! I was jealous! But, back when I first received it, my life was too crazy. Everyone around me who tried it was dropping weight including my husband, an avid cookie eater. He’s now trim and slim and cheats here and there but ultimately follows the 10 basic rules and he maintains the weight staying off. (THE BOOK SAYS HOW YOU CAN CHEAT HERE AND THERE-I plan not to)

I have only tried to follow the 10 rules for about 7 days straight and then would get a cold and with twin babies…it was too hard. Although, I slowly lost weight by knowing those 10 rules and being conscious of what I chose to eat each time I put something in my mouth. I think that is the most important lesson of this book for me is to be informed of how food makes me feel & look and how to fix that. i.e. I get a bloated back and it’s because I am eating too much bread, pasta and sugar. When I lay off for a week, following the rules I am fine again.

So, just in the last couple of years I have been frustrated how magical this book has been to those around me but I just couldn’t commit to the 3 weeks. BUT now, I’ve had it with not losing the final baby weight at last. I suppose I’ll write again to see how much I actually lose to nail down the 3 weeks vs. the 1 I have been doing here and there.

I must admit though, I am a patient of Joshi’s over the years, long before the books and he saw my eyes (iridology?) and cupped my back and quickly gave me an assesment of what foods I needed to avoid. The biggest one was the deadly nightshade family. I had no idea. I eat tomatos out of guilt ’cause my mother always tells me to eat them for health. Same with pasta with red sauce. I cringe and so does my stomach. Ever since I stopped with the tomatos and all the other nightshade family vegetables. ( I will occasionaly have eggplant as I do love it in the Asian restaurants) I have felt so much better! No more acidy stomach, I have also avoided mushrooms and other fermenting things, but because I am from a Japanese diet there are many things that make this book trying, like avoiding white rice. The bowl of white rice and sushi rolls I already miss, but today not the bowl of rice. I have, in the last 2 years, grown to love brown rice and his recipes in the back are really really delicious! It’s like good wholesome clean wine country food that is made and grown locally. The Lentil Pilaf was Great with the Sea Bass recipe and the Porridge this morning was surprisingly edible!( I did add soy milk and some honey) Everything I have had so far is so filling I am always feeling full.

I read the previous messages and I agree I got confused on what you can and cannot have. There is the detox no-nos and then there is the other stuff that is in moderation in the maintenance programme. I have had breakfast with Joshi and he orders a bowl of fresh fruit and yogurt. There’s all kinds of berries and what not and he does eat it. I think MAYBE he avoids the oranges? But this book attunes you to your body and it’s needs and cravings. Once you detox, (only some in my case) you can honestly trust what your body needs and not what your eyes envy.

I agree, it’s like you wanna join somewhere to chat about this. I am doing the 21 day detox with a friend, we call eachother and rant and complain about missing coffee and what not. THE GOOD NEWS is, Joshi is currently or already has opened his office in New York now too. Every other weekend, I believe he’ll be in New York, if you wanna see him. AND I highly recc. it! There’s a magic to what he does for people holistically and medically. There is no one like him.

Also, get the new 21 day DETOX kit of vitamins and pills. (I just saw him 3 weeks ago in London and I got one) It’s new and has everything your body will need while on the 21 days. For the most part over the years we’ve taken his Metabolic Detox pills and those alone are amazing. This book and his wisdom is definately a lifestyle change. BUT it is Easily Maintainable. The recipes def. make it enjoyable…I don’t feel like I am on a diet because everything is so delicious and fresh! I’ll admit I had a curious craving for a Mc Donald’s cheesburger earlier but perhaps that was the kid at the playground eating one. but writing it now makes me sick to my stomach, to think of putting it into my body. My biggest challenge will be the fact that I am a foodie! We’ll see what happens! I do feel really tired although never got the headaches for not having coffee surprisingly. But really, what is 3 weeks, how many 3 weeks have flown by me in the last 2 years. I could’ve been done!

Most of all, if you try this, best wishes to you! It’s taken me a long time to DETOX all the way.