Becoming Health

I cannot say enough about Marnie Northrop and Becoming Health. I found Marnie’s energy infectious and delightful, so I decided to try out a 4-​week cleanse she was hosting. The cleanse had the words «succulent» and «wild» in the title, which helped me get on board. Still, the thought of a «cleanse» can bring on thoughts of deprivation and just plain blandness, right? Not with Marnie at the helm! I have never been coached to adapt an attitude that is so delicious and charming toward my own body. I never once (no kidding) thought about what I couldn’t eat, have, or do. Marnie focuses on filling up in nourishing and succulent ways (hence the title). She also doesn’t have hard, rigid rules, and encourages each person to tune into and do what is not only right, but absolutely pleasure-​filled for their own body. After four short weeks, I noticed many results I didn’t expect, including smiling more, feeling more sensual and present, experiencing more of a feeling of calm and peace, I intuitively (without trying or forcing) began eating more slowly and savoring, and I just plain feel happier and more joyful. I had none of these expectations but Marnie has a magic that she works with her clients and I am so grateful.
Practically, Marnie is competent and professional. Her written information shows her extensive knowledge and expertise, while also being user-​friendly. She gave information in phases, so as not to overwhelm and I found her delivery to be the perfect balance of attention and encouragement, while giving me enough space to assimilate it all. I found Marnie’s responses to succulent, wild cleanse participants to be kind, on-​point and informative (no useless fluff here!). She is the real deal with true proficiency. It is clearly Marnie’s passion in life to guide others toward feeling more pleasure, health, and delight.

I recently completed the 4-​week Jumpstart to Juicy Living program with Marnie Northrop. For over three weeks I drank no coffee and ate no sugar. It was challenging but I DID IT! Marnie was so supportive. Not only did I learn what to eat … I learned HOW to eat. Not only did I get great recipes to fix healthy meals … I received shopping lists for all ingredients I would need.
Marnie’s program is unique. It is not a «diet» program. It is a «eat well and save your life program!»
I lost 5 pounds and am on a whole new eating régime. Marnie is the sweetest and most supportive coach anyone could hope for! I want to review the program because I loved Marnie’s support so much!
If you’re thinking of doing Jumpstart to Juicy … JUST DO IT! You will not be sorry!
Lakshmi Kerner
Oakland, CA

Becoming Health «Jumpstart» Cleanse was the best decision I ever made! It was such a positive experience and trust me I have done my share of cleanses. I have done the box cleanses you buy in the health foods store and take horse sized fiber pills (ouch) and make powder drinks that taste like chalk (ew). I have done the master cleanse (you know, lemon juice cayenne pepper, maple syrup, internal salt baths) and pretty sure almost died. I have also had really positive experiences from professional led cleanses including whole foods and simple home ritual instruction. But when it comes to the Becoming Health «Jumpstart» Cleanse led by nutritionist Marnie Northrop it is the best. I didn’t even know what to expect and I was blown away by the results I received. Marnie makes you feel held through the whole 4 weeks through conference call topics and question/​answer group discussions which make you feel connected to not only the nutritionist leading the cleanse but the other participants that made me feel like I wasn’t doing this alone. I was unsure if I could handle the daunting 4 week time line but surprisingly it was easy. Marnie gives you positive reinforcement and coaching before you start, encouraging you to weed out the energy sucking foods from your diet and then gently guides you into a more whole foods energy rich diet. My first week I felt instantly lighter and had more energy, letting go off coffee and transitioning to tea wasn’t as hard as I thought and I didn’t have a severe reaction such as headaches but I did feel a shift in my energy peaks. The second week I began to notice more changes, where I was feeling sluggish and like I couldn’t wake up in the morning and find time to exercise to naturally waking up, jumping on my bicycle and riding to work and finding time to walk the lake before heading into work which not only showed me energy was a result of the foods I was eating or not eating and improved my overall mood. By week three I felt like I was on meth. I had so much energy and even re-​joined the YMCA so I could swim before work! Marnie not only sent daily and weekly newsletters encouraging me the whole way, offered check-​ins for independent coaching and sent me care packages with green smoothie powder packs and emergency cacao for the sweet cravings (which I am sure saved my life in week 2. Week 4 was challenging for me but once the cleanse was complete I was happy to show that I not only let go of some body weight but I have maintained some of the healthy living goals given to me through this process. I have not drank a single diet coke since starting the cleanse, which I believe has changed my energy levels. I do not have the same relationship I had with coffee! And I LOVE coffee! I used to go to a coffee shop and immediately order the 16oz soy or almond latte with 3 shots «because I need it!!!» and now I don’t even feel like «I need it» and if I do decide to have a latte I get the smallest size and only one shot because I am aware of how it will affect my whole day. I strive to continue to live a healthy lifestyle and my only tools are the tools that grow in the earth and I am almost entirely convinced that water with lemon is more effective than a cup of coffee if I am feeling fatigue. And I am regularly swimming and now taking spin classes, Zumba, and even a bootcamp class (at 6am) when before I found it hard just to wake up and get out of bed. I even had a day last week where I did a spin class in the morning and then jogged after work around the lake (jogged!) just because I felt like I needed it. I owe all of these changes to putting my trust in Marnie’s hands. Marnie offers so much guidance and support through this experience and gives you encouraging quotes like «Progress not Perfection» and «What predicted a healthy diet more than anything else was the fact that the food was cooked by a human being. Not a corporation.» Becoming Health is in line with the way I want to live my life and I highly recommend you contact her if you are thinking your need a jumpstart on your diet and relationship with food.

A friend of mine recommended Marni and her Becoming Health cleanse. She felt that it changed her life and the way she eats. (Her review is right below this one!) I’ve done different food cleanses and I knew it was time for another. A couple of things about how Marni does hers that were different from other experiences I’ve had and that I feel contribute to creating significant change.
Marni has such simple and healthy recipes that you begin to realize how easy it can be to take control of your meals and what a difference it makes to stay home, cook dinner, light a candle (even if it’s just you & yourself for dinner) and get to bed early. It’s a whole routine of self care that encompasses much more than just your diet.
She also has a great attitude that this is not about being perfect. It’s about creating lasting change. «Progress not perfection» is what it’s all about. She has a great support system so you always feel like you can do it. There’s a gentle ramping up and transition time at the end.
Her support system includes creating a morning routine, pampering yourself while you’re on the cleanse and getting enough sleep and exercise. Basic things we all need to do and just don’t make the time for.
Thank you so much Marni for creating such a dependable program that we can all benefit from!

I contacted Marnie after a down to earth friend of mine, who is not prone to hyperbole, quietly declared that the Becoming Health cleanse changed her life. Well, I needed a new approach to food (and to life). So, I have now done two cleanses and worked with Marnie in between them. It’s so phenomenal, because it’s not just about the food, but also about energy, stress, sleep, attitude, priorities, movement, etc. The cleanse itself is great, with a week to ramp up, two weeks to focus on specific foods and practices, and the last week to transition to lifelong commitments. Marnie walks you all through it and provides so much support. I still struggle with my relationship with food, but it’s matured and I feel better than I ever have. My IBS is better. My psoriasis is less troublesome. My mood is better. Plus, this lifelong perfectionist has embraced a motto of «progress not perfection.» That is what changed my life.

I simply can not say enough about doing this cleanse with Marni! I did the cleanse with her in January and I’m STILL eating incredibly clean and maintaining the practices she recommended. And I feel great! I have much more energy, I feel more focused and while I don’t weigh myself, I know I have lost weight because my clothes are fitting VERY differently — and that feels good. :) People in my life have noticed. I have had many people say «wow, your skin looks great» or «I don’t know what you are doing, but you have such a clear, positive, radiant energy about you“or «have you lost weight?» or «you just seem to glow» so much recently!
So, here’s how it worked: we did one week to transition off of caffeine, alcohol, bread, sugar etc. I was a one-​cup-​of-​coffee-​a-​day drinker, so I started transitioning to decaf coffee, green tea, etc. I also pretty much just stopped drinking that week as well — that wasn’t that hard for me. As Marni says, it’s still going to be there for you when you are done with the cleanse! So the first week, Marni gives you some great recipes to try. I was feeling very inspired after even just one week of trying some new recipes & starting to shift my diet.
Then, into the 2 week cleanse. The first two days were tough for me. Mostly around the caffeine part. I had a pretty bad headache & was just very sleepy. But trust me, if you stick it through those couple of days — it is much easier after that (and I am still off of coffee, 70 days later! I think it’s going to stick for me. :)). I absolutely loved all of the recipes that Marni included in the program… in fact, I am still eating so many of the yummy recipes I learned while doing this cleanse.
Week 3 was the same as week 2 — just with more delicious recipes to try. And then week 4, was all about transitioning out of the cleanse. (which to be honest, didn’t even feel like a transition out that much because i wanted to keep eating pretty much the same way)
Making all of the food was definitely something that took time — but I REALLY enjoyed it. I loved the time in my kitchen knowing that I was doing something great for myself. It was very grounding.
Marni also encourages you to have a daily morning routine. That is also something that I have continued to do & I feel like it’s had enormous benefit for me. Every morning I write 5 things I’m grateful for, I meditate for 7 minutes, I scrape my tongue & I drink hot water with lemon. I feel like it just sets me on the right path for the day. And I think it’s another reason people have commented on how clear/​grounded/​etc I seem these days. (and again, I’m STILL doing this 70 days later!)
I have to say at the beginning I was a bit scared of being able to eliminate bread, cheese, sugar etc… and now that I’ve been through it & am living a much healthier lifestyle — I can tell you that it is SO worth it. I also wasn’t convinced that this was going to be life-​changing for me. I thought i would do this for a few weeks, lose some weight and feel better. But that it would probably go back to what I had been doing before. But as I’ve said a few times already in this post — not only am I still eating super healthy/​clean — but I truly feel like it’s changed my relationship to food forever. I LOVE eating & I feel like I now am always treating myself to healthy, delicious food that I truly savor. I am simply not tempted by chips, junk food, etc because I know that it doesn’t make me feel good. And hey, it’s not like I don’t dabble in some wine, or yummy cheese or other treats at times. It’s just that I am now choosing the healthier option now more often/​most of the time because it’s what I WANT — not just because it’s better for me.
If you are even slightly considering this program — you should just DO IT. You will be so glad that you did! :)
Marni — I really can’t thank you enough!!! You changed my life & I am forever grateful!!!

I’ve done many a cleanse over the years, but none have had as dramatic an effect on my overall lifestyle as Marnie’s 13 day Pura Vida Cleanse. I discovered so much about myself, my views on food (as an acupuncturist I thought I WAS eating clean!), my hygiene (I now only put clean products in AND on my body) and the world around me. This is a gift that keeps on giving.
I thought I could go it alone (as I said I’ve done many a cleanse in the past) but having that daily support was invaluable. Going 13 days gave my body the time it needed to create lasting changes. I lost five pounds, but more importantly I found joy in my life. Since she taught me how to stop and smell the flowers, to savor foods and flavors, I’ve found myself at least once every day noticing something beautiful around me. A new flower blooming on the sidewalk on my way to work, something about an old friend that I forgot I appreciated, etc. I even find myself taking more time away from the computer and tv and reading or just walking outdoors.
Thank you Marnie for your knowledge and passion, and for empowering me to propel myself into more joyful living!

If you are looking to live the best life you can, work with Marnie! Marnie’s Pure Vida Cleanse allowed me to shifts things in my life that I have wanted to do for years. I’m a corporate lawyer and always felt like I didn’t have time to take care of me, starting with eating well. After working with Marnie now for three months here is how my life has changed: I take care of me, I gave up caffeine, I went from a refrigerator filled with one beer and butter to a refrigerator stocked with greens, fruits, coconut water and almond milk, I went from being fine to being inspired, happy, fit, and glowing. I look the best that I have in years and I’m showing up in life with confidence, laughter, love, and happiness. We really are what we eat and Marnie teaches how to make simple meals that are AMAZING. I look forward to my next cleanse with Marnie and my continued work with her… life just keeps getting better as a result of her work!

Last week I completed the 13 day Pura Vida Cleanse with Marnie and Becoming Health, and I am amazed at the awareness I gained about food and what it does for my body in that period of time. Everyone knows if they are a healthy eater or not, and most of us could eat a lot better. But actually doing that, knowing how to find what foods work for you and how to realistically incorporate those practices into your daily life is a whole other ball of wax. Marnie’s method captures a wealth of nutrition knowledge and offers it to participants in a really welcoming way.
One of my new year’s resolutions was to become a more attentive cook. I have a staple of good dishes, but my connection to the food I eat is either
a) something thrown together in 30 minutes with a casual eye toward its healthiness
or
b) from a menu.
I know people hear the word cleanse and think its some weird spicy juice thing that celebrities drink for weeks to prepare for a movie role or the Oscars, but this is a whole food cleanse where you shop for, prepare and eat three meals a day. The experience is about replacing some of the toxic foods we eat far too often with healthier things, just to see what happens. Maybe your skin clears up or you realized those sinus issues are actually related to dairy consumption (both were true for me)
For me, the cleanse helped me reset my desire for bigger portions and showed me I can actually function quite well on less food. I also have greatly expanded my staple dishes with healthy smoothies, salads and whole grain dishes. The 8 pounds I lost and the fact that my skin is clearer and brighter than its probably ever been are happy side effects.
Marnie is also an incredibly genuine person. From our first meeting I got that she is guided by a desire to help people live healthier and happier lives. The support she offers during the cleanse and after is testament to that.

I am generally of the thinking that there is a book for everything. When I initially heard about Marnie’s Pura Vida Cleanse, I was intrigued as I had been thinking periodically about trying a cleanse out. I also thought… I’ll just got to the library, get myself a book, and do it on my own.
As fate would have it, I was gifted the Pura Vida Cleanse for Christmas. Fast forward three months forward to where I am now. I completed the Pura Vida cleanse approximately two weeks ago and cannot say enough about Marnie’s program. Her sub-​title for the cleanse is «A mini-​vacation from your normal routine» which sums it up nicely. Everything (except perhaps for the one day juice fast, which was more a personal goal, and is also optional) during the cleanse truly felt like a break for me mentally & physically. My energy and clarity of thought were noticeably improved with the foods that Marnie laid out for us in her daily menus. I tried all kinds of foods that I had not tried before and now feel excited about what I am cooking and putting into my body on a daily basis.
Suffice to say, there is no book that can provide this kind of experience. Marnie is a great source of information and inspiration. She boils down everything to a comprehensible & implementable level. I will say, that for me, timing was of the essence. I choose a time where I was able to slow down a little bit and be intentional with the experience. You will be cooking a lot and there will be a lot of dishes. But you will learn loads and your relationship with food and what you put into your body will very likely change immensely.
Two-​weeks post cleanse I am stil enjoying the recipes that Marnie shared, as well as improved energy levels and over all just feeling better. I am already looking forward to repeating the experience in the future.

Marnie is phenomenal and I cannot recommend her and her services highly enough.
I have worked with her privately as well as just completed her 13-​day ‘Pira Vita’ Cleanse.
This is hands down on of the most transformational and empowering things I have ever done for myself.
I literally used to drink 2 – 3 espresso or coffe drinks a day, as well as skip breakfast and eat the other meals either in my car or standing over the sink. I was exhausted, running on fumes all the time. I knew I needed to change and I desperately wanted more vitality in my life, yet I didn’t believe I had the time or energy to devote to creating the change I assumed was necessary to do a cleanse.
Imagine my surprise when here it is, a mere two weeks later and I am STILL sugar/​wheat/​soy/​caffeine/​dairy free and I have more energy, vitality, clarity and empowerment in my body then ever before!
I’ve even tried going back to coffee and sugar and I absolutely can’t stand the taste or the feel in my body. It is absolutely amazing.
If you are looking for an easy, doable, compassionate way to create massive change in your body and life, call Marnie now.
She is a phenomenal being and a gift to all who come into contact with her.

Since beginning to work with Marnie three months ago, I can hardly recognize myself in the mirror. I’ll admit, my lofty speeches about wanting to be healthier & eat better was really motivated by the bathroom scale & my reluctance to go shopping for the next size up.

But what I’ve, well, Become, is someone who has completely changed my relationship with food. I am still a San Francisco Foodie, but my approach to restaurant menus, farmers markets, and my own kitchen has gone from convenience, indulgence and guilt to mindfulness, gratitude and pleasure.
I kick-​started with her 13-​day Pura Vita cleanse. Marnie suggested I treat like a «vacation» from my regular routines, and that’s what it felt like. Her delicious recipes kept me satiated while reprogramming my taste buds & cravings. I never thought it would be as easy as it was, thanks to her detailed instructions and daily support. I kicked my sugar/​salt habits, and started celebrating as the pounds came off. What I didn’t expect was its profound effect on my insomnia, my complexion, my mental focus, my emotional happiness.
The Pura Vita cleanse was a sea change. Unlike other detox regimens I’ve done in the past, I’ve been able to maintain momentum. She’s helped me change my conscious and unconscious patterns. I have much more energy to sustain me through the days & make good choices. Her approach has affected other aspects of my life too. Now I pay attention to what my body looks like on the inside, not just the outside.
Other people have used the word «transformative» and I could not agree more. I am so blessed to have her in my life.
Marnie is a goddess because she is human. She «gets it» and her joie de vivre is infectious. She has encyclopedic knowledge and a wicked sense of humor. Working with her, there are no feelings of deprivation, no guilt, no cheating, no punishment, no calorie counting, no special formulas, no hidden agendas.
Her philosophy is «progress, not perfection», and she will meet you where you are — accommodating carnivores, caffeine addicts and those who don’t consider themselves health nuts. She can relate to everyone’s patterns with acceptance and grace.
If you’re thinking about the Pura Vita cleanse and (even better) her Coaching services, do it. It’s a great gift to yourself that can last a lifetime.

I participated in Becoming Health’s, «Whole Food» cleanse a few times now and each time I have learned new things about my body and techniques to feel my best. Because of my experience and education from founder, Marnie Northrop, I now incorporate daily green smoothies into my regimate in addition to other simple, daily activities. I am grateful for coming in contact with Marnie and her team and for the bountiful energy I feel when I use their food strategies i learned to feel my best and to eat in a more wholistic, e
nergetic way. Thank you!

The virtues that the Becoming Health 13-​day cleanse bestowed unto my life were many. Personally, I derived many health benefits immediately and was instilled with practices that will continue to inform the way I view, enjoy, and consume food for years to come. From the perspective of a health care practitioner, it reaffirmed my notion that diet ought to be our primary medicine and helped me embody the message that indeed, many forms of suffering are optional if we strive to find balance in our lifestyle.
A few key points for me:
* Raw foodism goes against a lot of the basic tenets of Chinese dietary therapy thus to experiment with it myself was going against health tenets I frequently advocate people adhere to. Via my own experience I found great vitality and enhanced awareness and can now see the role of punctuating ones life with a soundly structured partially raw foods cleanse such as the one Marnie will guide you on.
* Marnie does an excellent job providing support to participants in the form of daily messages about what different stages of the cleanse are providing your body with and about how to interpret, value, and possible endure some of the experiences one might have in their body during the process.
* What our society is in desperate need of is an integration of mindful eating practices and a focus on simple whole food nutrition. Marnie’s cleanse delivers this as a concentrated experience with techniques for food preparation and forming a new relationship with ones body that are accessible and will last a lifetime.
* The whole 13-​day structure is just long enough to be challenging and integrate the concepts and practices at the same time.

Marnie’s cleanse was amazing! I learned so much about my body, what it likes and does not when it comes to my eating patterns. I feared that it would have been too challenging but found it to be the opposite. The cleanse was very detailed, she gave us recipees to follow, grocery lists, and was open to going to the market with me if need be.
Every morning, the first thing I read was an email from marnie, with an explanation of what to expect from the day. I was constantly reminded that I was not in it alone and that there was plenty of support.
I have done the cleanse twice now and am looking forward to doing it again very soon.
Thank you so much Marnie, you’ve been great!

My experience with Marnie and her supported cleanse was an amazing transformative experience. My relationship with food in the past has been eating because I have to, or when out in a restaurant, eating whatever I want without giving it much thought. Both did not feel like good habits.
Marnie’s cleanse really made me see how the right energy going into our bodies makes a huge difference. I feel fantastic, lighter, healthier, stronger. I also noticed improvements to my digestion, which I thought was already good. And I even did lose some weight, an added bonus.
My main goal in the cleanse was to learn more about nutrition and connect more to what my body was telling me. With Marnie’s guidance, I can say, goal exceeded! Not only did she share so much knowledge about food and health, she also inspired me to take time for this journey and learn lessons from it. Her passion for wellness and for helping people is so clear, and I’m happy to have been able to experience it!
Besides my new-​found love for kale, my biggest gratitude is for Marnie’s support and encouragement. Many months later, my husband and I are still motivated together to keep this healthy eating habit, a true lifestyle change!

Understanding. That is the best word to describe the professional relationship Marnie has established with me and it was exactly what I needed. I have not done a cleanse, nor do I feel a need to. She guided me along the path that I needed to go, not one that is supposed to generically fit masses of people. Her understanding moved me to explore amazing new places in the world of nourishment. She taught me that nourishing my body was not denying it. Nourishing is offering myself
what I need most, which crosses the lines of body and mind.
I now have a rich tool chest full to use daily of forgiveness, nourishment, wholeness, greenery, vitality, and understanding. Through my own new understanding I am learning to make peace with my body.

«When you truly believe in something, and you carry it in your heart, you accept no excuses, only results.» — Ken Blanchard.
That’s the kind of passion that Marnie has for others. She guides you in realizing that you can eat healthy foods and still have them be yummy and delicious. My partner and I did Marnie’s cleanse for the second time for so many wonderful reasons. Most importantly, we have more energy. I use to be the type of person who needed to take naps in the middle of the day — no more! I realized during and after the cleanse that it’s not me, it’s the foods that I was consuming. After the cleanse I learned that I could still eat amazing and delicious foods but without feeling like a slob afterwards. We are now eating foods that we didn’t even know existed. We both lost weight with the cleanse which was a plus but the knowledge and support we received from Marnie is priceless. It’s been two months since our second cleanse and our refrigerator is still full of delicious healthy goods. No more foods that have labels that say the right things, but foods that are actually vigorous. We both continue to receive support from Marnie and we’re sustaining our health and weight that we lost. It’s amazing, powerful and life changing! We look forward to doing the cleanse once a year with Becoming Health and would introduce her to family and friends in a heartbeat. Thank you Marnie for being so amazing passionate about what you do.

Completing a two week detox with Marnie turned me into a firm believer that feeling good is closely tied to your health. I thought it was going to be extremely difficult to complete the detox, but with Marnie’s help and preparation it was easier than anticipated. Marnie planned out my meals for two weeks, helped me pick out my groceries, and checked in with me often for support and to see how things were going. I felt refreshed after the detox, and even lost 10 lbs. Several friends commented on how great my skin looked, it definitely gave me the jumpstart I needed. I was so pleased with the results of the detox that I completed Marnie’s 6-​month health counseling program.
I’ve now lost 25 pounds and make better eating choices and select nutrient dense foods. I feel better about myself and more confident and find I am taking more risks in life. Marnie is a great listener and very open minded. She was more than a health counselor, she was a life counselor.

In March I did a cleanse with Marni and I loved it! I thought it was going to be really hard but with Marni’s support, daily email, and delicious recipes, it was easy! Since the cleanse I have lost 18 pounds and have completely changed my way of eating. I have also been able to integrate «clean» food into my families meals and they have all had good responses. My kids have also learned a lot about eating healthy! It doesn’t get better than that.