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I tried the master cleanse about 3 years back, but only for 4 days (due to some life circumstances) Those 4 days were actually quite helpful, and kickstarted my weightloss and physical activity.
I was fairly sedentary (though I walked to and from work every day, about 1 mile each way) and had some poor eating habits.
After the cleanse, I had more energy, and began going to the gym, and eventually went from (6'2") 230 pounds, to 198... I've slacked off on the gym slightly since then, but maintained most of the eating habits, and currently I'm 210... It's probably not for everyone, but I did find that it helped, even for such a short duration. The energy increase was the biggest benefit I found.

@chiff: AMEN! Having been zaftig my entire life, I have tried literally every diet on the market. The gods saved me by my getting pregnant with my daughter, I swear. Not only did I only gain 15 lbs. during pregnancy (understand, those of you who are inclined to disbelieve, I started at 185 lbs.), but I felt amazing (once the morning sickness dissipated). Reason being, I was eating fresh, organic-mostly, local and healthful meals...3 regular and two small per day. I contined said diet while nursing and just haven't stopped. Daughter is now three. I credit pregnancy for awakening my latent desire to nuture through good food. And, although I may never be thin--I like cheese and dislike vigorous exercise far too much for that--my weight is balanced, my skin is clear, my hair is shiny and I have the energy of a size six woman at a size sixteen.
Really, it works, folks...just cultivate a healthy and respectful relationship with what you put in your body and all will be well.

@ original poster: Maybe it'd be better to just eat "clean foods". Lots of raw vegetables and fruits. Rice, clear soups, organic salmon (simply cooked).

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I've had a few friends who have done the Master Cleanse, and every single one of them swears by it. A lot of them don't do it for the weight loss, but more for the fact that it makes them feel great afterwards. They feel "purified."

I'm no medical expert, but I have the sneaking suspicion that the reason they feel so great is because after literally starving yourself for 7-21 days, your body gets its first taste of sweet, sweet food, and it feels euphoric. Well, folks, that has nothing to do with "detoxing" your body. There have been studies that show that during periods of semi-starvation, your body becomes preoccupied with food -- a natural survival instinct.

But I'm not going to completely knock the idea of Master Cleanse. The act of fasting has been around for centuries, and it holds a lot of symbolism in the idea of the power of mind over body.

Just don't do it to lose weight. It won't work in the long run. For a healthy body, moderation and exercise are best. And if you want to "detox" your colon, eat LOTS of fibrous foods: whole grains, fruits with skins, leafy greens and lots of nuts and legumes. Your poo will thank you.

Other than 3 hours of Atkins about five years ago

@blackolive - I lasted four days! And to corroborate the above statement about it not being fun for those around me - Bingo.

I'd love to say Atkins is the worst of the worst of fad diets. But there was another one - Fit For Life. OMG. How lame. This diet touted "food combining" as nirvana and tried to explain to people that consuming a lean turkey sandwich on whole grain bread with mustard, lettuce and tomato was bad for you - because you ate bread with your meat; oftentimes referred to as "flesh." Way to trick people into vegetarianism! Under cover of "food combining."

When you embark on a mission to lose weight, cutting down on fat and bad carbs, watching portion control and increasing water intake, you usually experience a "first week weight loss" that will register on the scale and in your mood. (It's a real shot in the arm when you want to see results.) Sure, a quick, all liquid jolt to jump start a diet plan makes sense in theory but as long as you lose weight by doing something you can't maintain or adopt as your "normal way of life," the results will quickly reverse themselves. This is the dictionary definition of a "fad diet," the magic bullet, a quick fix to a problem that can be remedied by replacing a lethargic lifestyle with moderate exercise and eating better food in sensible quantities.

I tried everything. Alli (does the term "anal leakage" mean anything to you?); Weight Watchers (points? When I want to do math, I'll balance my checkbook); Jenny Craig (OMG. This stuff is food "colored" but WTF is it??); Hydroxycut (jittery? WHO ME?) - short of the cabbage soup diet. When I made a conscious effort to watch portion control and upped my exercise, I started to like what I saw on the scale and in the mirror a lot better. This doesn't even take into account that I felt much better and performed lots of strength-based tasks whenever opportunities to do so presented themselves.

When you do things to honor your body, it's a whole new 'tude.

All things in moderation.

I did the cleanse for 19 days. I felt great by about the 3rd day, amazing energy, good sleep, clearer mentally and really good workouts. I did speak with a doctor after I had done it and the general feeling is that it isn't healthy. It can affect your metabolism and cause something called fatty liver.

It's recommended that you also drink a laxative tea at night and a saline flush in the am with the lemon drink during the day. You do lose weight, but it is water weight. As soon as you eat, you go back to your normal weight. I am a healthy eater, so I didn't have any ill affects from lack of caffeine, nicotine or sugar. In the end, all it really proved to be was a test of willpower and discipline. As other posters have mentioned, a balanced diet with exercise will achieve better results in the long term.

perhaps try later in the evening when the oven is hotter.

Ed--I urge you to give Luzzo's a second chance. I actually do not go that often, as I swear my allegiance to Vinny Vincenz, but Luzzo's offers something a little different. The crust does not blow me away. I don't think it packs in a whole lot of flavor, but the pies I have tasted were both light and moist with some great burn spots. (Though that pie looks a little dense to me.)

Anyway, not every great pizzeria is always on point. The last time i had Frank Pepe's, it was rather flat (and the garlic in the clam pie did not taste all that fresh). I still love Frank Pepe's, maybe I picked a bad day to go.

You guys have got to cross the river and check out A Mano in Ridgewood NJ!!

Blue Ribbon in Arlington, MA if I'm anywhere north of Tennessee. Otherwise, I just can't pick.

But I LOVED both Kreuz Market and the Salt Lick. Mmmmm

Big W's Roadside BBQ in Pawling, NY