Tomorrow is June 1 and the beginning of a new challenge. But, first a recap of the Love Your Greens challenge....
I found this to be not really a challenge and I'm kind of mad at myself for doing it. I knew it was sort of lame when I started....after whole 30, eating some greens every day wasn't really a big deal. And I already eat a lot of greens, so I didn't really need to add any.
Recipes were sent each day for a new smoothie to try and, quite honestly, most of them were pretty gross. Some of them weren't even what I would consider a smoothie, but more just juice. Drinking a green juice drink wasn't very filling, and I'm of the mindset that juice is NOT all that good for you. It spikes your blood sugar and makes you hungrier. I sort of made up my own concoctions and drank them sometimes, but mostly I just ate greens.
I don't feel any different than I did when I started the month, and I haven't increased the amount of greens I'm eating. All in all, it was pretty much a bust of a challenge. Oh well....live and learn!!
Tomorrow starts the No Social Media challenge. I don't have Instagram and I don't ever use my Twitter account, so this will be mostly a Facebook and Pinterest fast. I will continue to blog and check email, so if you want to leave a message for me on my blog or email me at helengjones88@gmail.com you can reach me that way. I will be posting my thoughts on Facebook on July 1, so you can find me then.
Until we meet again on Facebook or you find me on Pinterest, I say to you.....Namaste....
Friday, May 31, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Day 28....it's almost over
Day 28 of this month's challenge...
This month's challenge has really bitten the dust the past week. I haven't been eating many greens and I totally gave up on the smoothies. It has been so cold here in the tundra and those smoothies freeze my body. I was sitting under a blanket, shivering after drinking my frozen concoction one morning and I thought, "This is dumb. I don't even like smoothies." I found the recipes that I was getting everyday to be pretty gross....I gagged drinking one of them. So, this challenge was a complete bust.
There are only a few days left in May, which requires a decision on the next challenge. I have decided that June will be a no social media challenge, meaning no Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. I will continue to blog, but if you want to read about how I'm doing, you will have to actually go to my blog everyday as I won't be posting to FB. I don't have an Instagram account and I never use my Twitter account, so it's really just Facebook and Pinterest that are my big time suckers.
It's really cold this morning....54 and damp. It poured down rain for a couple of hours, but now that damp cold is in the air....and it's May 28. I swear it feels like October. I have packed away all of the winter clothes and coats, but I'm thinking I need to bring them all back upstairs. Maybe if I did, it would warm up.
I'm going to a Bikram sequence hot yoga class this morning to try to warm up. Then I'm going to drink some hot coffee. And if that doesn't work, I'm chucking it all and moving to Phoenix.
This month's challenge has really bitten the dust the past week. I haven't been eating many greens and I totally gave up on the smoothies. It has been so cold here in the tundra and those smoothies freeze my body. I was sitting under a blanket, shivering after drinking my frozen concoction one morning and I thought, "This is dumb. I don't even like smoothies." I found the recipes that I was getting everyday to be pretty gross....I gagged drinking one of them. So, this challenge was a complete bust.
There are only a few days left in May, which requires a decision on the next challenge. I have decided that June will be a no social media challenge, meaning no Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. I will continue to blog, but if you want to read about how I'm doing, you will have to actually go to my blog everyday as I won't be posting to FB. I don't have an Instagram account and I never use my Twitter account, so it's really just Facebook and Pinterest that are my big time suckers.
It's really cold this morning....54 and damp. It poured down rain for a couple of hours, but now that damp cold is in the air....and it's May 28. I swear it feels like October. I have packed away all of the winter clothes and coats, but I'm thinking I need to bring them all back upstairs. Maybe if I did, it would warm up.
I'm going to a Bikram sequence hot yoga class this morning to try to warm up. Then I'm going to drink some hot coffee. And if that doesn't work, I'm chucking it all and moving to Phoenix.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Day 23 Junk is everywhere
Day 23 of loving my greens.
First, I have pretty much stopped the smoothies and am just eating the greens. The smoothie recipes have been more juice than anything else lately and don't do anything for me. I need real food in the morning; drinking the smoothies have just left me hungry.
It is FREEZING here in the tundra. The low tonight is to be in the upper THIRTIES. Yes, you read that right, it's the end of May and lows are to be around 37. The high Saturday is only going to be in the 50's. I may need to dig out the winter stuff again. It's so cold and rainy, which is another reason I don't want smoothies in the morning.
This morning I was thinking about all of this healthy eating and changing our diets and I realized that food is not the only junk in my life. Junk lurks everywhere....junk mail, junk TV, junk Internet sites, junk clothing, junk movies.....you name it. While purging the junk food out of the house, I think it's time to purge all of the junk. The junk clutters up bodies and lives and daily living, and zaps energy in different ways.
I would LOVE to start with purging the junk from our home and lives by dumping the cable TV. There is truly nothing decent on TV now and it's hard to justify spending over $100 a month on something that does nothing but allow us to waste time and clutter our minds with crap. The guys in my house are the biggest sports fanatics ever and I don't know that I can get them on board with cable-less living, especially during football season. If it weren't for sports, the cable would have been gone long ago.
The next thing that I would really love to get rid of is Facebook. It's not a necessity, but I'm not sure how to keep in touch with so many people in any other way in this day and age. Again, FB is a huge time waster and there is so much junk on it now! I do think a clean up and purge of my "Likes" and friends list is in order.
Lastly, there is just too much stuff in my house. We all need to get rid of stuff. Holding on to some of it for sentimental reasons is ridiculous; it's in boxes in my basement that no one has looked at in years, so none of it can be all that important. The summer long project here is to get rid of half of all of it.
Getting rid of the junk and clutter in my life has led me to my next challenge; for June, I'm going social media free for the month. Now, as I'm blogging about my challenges, I will continue to update via blogger (and hopefully be more motivated to keep it more up to date) and I have to keep up with email as most people communicate that way these days, especially the schools. But for June there will be no Facebook, Pinterest, or any other social media. (I have a Twitter account, but I never use it.) Maybe it will go so well that I will get rid of all the Internet junk!!
First, I have pretty much stopped the smoothies and am just eating the greens. The smoothie recipes have been more juice than anything else lately and don't do anything for me. I need real food in the morning; drinking the smoothies have just left me hungry.
It is FREEZING here in the tundra. The low tonight is to be in the upper THIRTIES. Yes, you read that right, it's the end of May and lows are to be around 37. The high Saturday is only going to be in the 50's. I may need to dig out the winter stuff again. It's so cold and rainy, which is another reason I don't want smoothies in the morning.
This morning I was thinking about all of this healthy eating and changing our diets and I realized that food is not the only junk in my life. Junk lurks everywhere....junk mail, junk TV, junk Internet sites, junk clothing, junk movies.....you name it. While purging the junk food out of the house, I think it's time to purge all of the junk. The junk clutters up bodies and lives and daily living, and zaps energy in different ways.
I would LOVE to start with purging the junk from our home and lives by dumping the cable TV. There is truly nothing decent on TV now and it's hard to justify spending over $100 a month on something that does nothing but allow us to waste time and clutter our minds with crap. The guys in my house are the biggest sports fanatics ever and I don't know that I can get them on board with cable-less living, especially during football season. If it weren't for sports, the cable would have been gone long ago.
The next thing that I would really love to get rid of is Facebook. It's not a necessity, but I'm not sure how to keep in touch with so many people in any other way in this day and age. Again, FB is a huge time waster and there is so much junk on it now! I do think a clean up and purge of my "Likes" and friends list is in order.
Lastly, there is just too much stuff in my house. We all need to get rid of stuff. Holding on to some of it for sentimental reasons is ridiculous; it's in boxes in my basement that no one has looked at in years, so none of it can be all that important. The summer long project here is to get rid of half of all of it.
Getting rid of the junk and clutter in my life has led me to my next challenge; for June, I'm going social media free for the month. Now, as I'm blogging about my challenges, I will continue to update via blogger (and hopefully be more motivated to keep it more up to date) and I have to keep up with email as most people communicate that way these days, especially the schools. But for June there will be no Facebook, Pinterest, or any other social media. (I have a Twitter account, but I never use it.) Maybe it will go so well that I will get rid of all the Internet junk!!
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Day 16 Greens times two and My Pintrest Addiction
Day 16
I had greens twice yesterday; once in my morning smoothie and then again for dinner last night. I almost always use spinach in smoothies because it blends better and is sweeter than other greens, so that was in the smoothie. Then I cooked kale for dinner last night using my favorite method and it was totally delish.....I would rather eat cooked greens than drink green smoothies any day!
Here is my basic recipe for kale and chard......
2 bunches of kale or chard, large stem removed and chopped (I always use organic greens)
4 or so pieces of bacon, diced
balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
Cook diced bacon in a large pan until beginning to crisp. Add greens and cook until wilted. Top with several shakes of balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper. Adjust seasonings according to your taste.
That's it! Very simple and oh so good! I have never tried other greens this way, but I suppose you could use them. Cooking times would vary, and I know that kale and chard cook quickly, so I always use those.
I have pretty much been following my own smoothie recipes for this challenge because so many of the recipes I've been sent have been disgusting. Either that or I have forgotten to get something at the store, so I just improvise. I'm looking forward to the end of the month so I don't have to drink a green smoothie every day anymore and can go back to some eggs or paleo pancakes.
Can I just bore you for a moment with my Pintrest addiction? OMG, why did I ever start visiting that site? I probably have thousands of different everything pinned already!! I have used some recipes that I found on there and a couple of craft ideas, but I probably will never get to everything I've pinned, and I just keep pinning. I feel like I need a support group, or maybe TLC can do a show on Pintrest addictions and I can be first up. I even pin really dumb things, like owl tattoos and pictures of wrinkled old people and memes with Grumpy Cat. Maybe I will do a 30 day no Pintrest challenge, although I might need therapy after about two days. I could probably spend an entire day just pinning crap and drinking tea and be completely satisfied. How sad......
And thus far, green smoothies have had no affect on the Pintrest problem. They do NOT solve everything.
I had greens twice yesterday; once in my morning smoothie and then again for dinner last night. I almost always use spinach in smoothies because it blends better and is sweeter than other greens, so that was in the smoothie. Then I cooked kale for dinner last night using my favorite method and it was totally delish.....I would rather eat cooked greens than drink green smoothies any day!
Here is my basic recipe for kale and chard......
2 bunches of kale or chard, large stem removed and chopped (I always use organic greens)
4 or so pieces of bacon, diced
balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
Cook diced bacon in a large pan until beginning to crisp. Add greens and cook until wilted. Top with several shakes of balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper. Adjust seasonings according to your taste.
That's it! Very simple and oh so good! I have never tried other greens this way, but I suppose you could use them. Cooking times would vary, and I know that kale and chard cook quickly, so I always use those.
I have pretty much been following my own smoothie recipes for this challenge because so many of the recipes I've been sent have been disgusting. Either that or I have forgotten to get something at the store, so I just improvise. I'm looking forward to the end of the month so I don't have to drink a green smoothie every day anymore and can go back to some eggs or paleo pancakes.
Can I just bore you for a moment with my Pintrest addiction? OMG, why did I ever start visiting that site? I probably have thousands of different everything pinned already!! I have used some recipes that I found on there and a couple of craft ideas, but I probably will never get to everything I've pinned, and I just keep pinning. I feel like I need a support group, or maybe TLC can do a show on Pintrest addictions and I can be first up. I even pin really dumb things, like owl tattoos and pictures of wrinkled old people and memes with Grumpy Cat. Maybe I will do a 30 day no Pintrest challenge, although I might need therapy after about two days. I could probably spend an entire day just pinning crap and drinking tea and be completely satisfied. How sad......
And thus far, green smoothies have had no affect on the Pintrest problem. They do NOT solve everything.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Day 14.....too many green smoothies?
Day 14....and more greens
I had a massage yesterday and I feel like a new person. To all of my Madison, WI area friends....go to Sacred Rhythms and get a massage. It's the best thing ever.
I got this greens dish yesterday at Whole Foods that was a bunch of different greens cooked in coconut milk and olive oil. It was one of the best greens dishes I have ever eaten! OMG, the greens were perfect - not too mushy and not too crunchy - and the flavor that the coconut milk gave them was divine. I'm going to have to play around at home and see if I can recreate them.
Yesterday there was quite the conversation on Facebook about green smoothies and if too many of them are good for you. Greens have oxalic acid which is what gives them their sort of bitter taste. Some greens, like chard and spinach, have so much oxalic acid that it interferes with calcium absorption. So, even though greens have a lot of calcium, the oxalic acid doesn't allow the body to absorb it. (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400344/Avoid-Vegetables-with-Oxalic-Acid.html)
When cooked, the oxalic acid breaks down and allows the absorption of calcium from other foods. So, greens are great when cooked. Also, when cooked with good fats, the body can absorb all of the other wonderful minerals and vitamins in greens. However, the body cannot readily absorb the good stuff when the greens are raw. (http://holisticsquid.com/are-green-smoothies-good-for-you/).
The question is...can one drink too many green smoothies? My answer would be yes. I don't think these 30 days of drinking them are going to really hurt me, and I do eat other greens which I always cook with either bacon or olive oil. I have never been a huge fan of raw greens, and after this month, I won't be having a green smoothie every day for sure.
This information just reminds me that any diet needs to be varied and that our bodies need fats. This whole low fat/no fat thing has probably caused more damage to our bodies than any other fad. Not only do the low fat/no fat products contain all kinds of weird ingredients that we wouldn't give our dogs, we need fats in our diets to be able to absorb all of the vitamins and minerals that make us work and heal and grow and move.
I am off to cut the grass now. Hahahaha...wonder how grass would be in a green smoothie?
I had a massage yesterday and I feel like a new person. To all of my Madison, WI area friends....go to Sacred Rhythms and get a massage. It's the best thing ever.
I got this greens dish yesterday at Whole Foods that was a bunch of different greens cooked in coconut milk and olive oil. It was one of the best greens dishes I have ever eaten! OMG, the greens were perfect - not too mushy and not too crunchy - and the flavor that the coconut milk gave them was divine. I'm going to have to play around at home and see if I can recreate them.
Yesterday there was quite the conversation on Facebook about green smoothies and if too many of them are good for you. Greens have oxalic acid which is what gives them their sort of bitter taste. Some greens, like chard and spinach, have so much oxalic acid that it interferes with calcium absorption. So, even though greens have a lot of calcium, the oxalic acid doesn't allow the body to absorb it. (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400344/Avoid-Vegetables-with-Oxalic-Acid.html)
When cooked, the oxalic acid breaks down and allows the absorption of calcium from other foods. So, greens are great when cooked. Also, when cooked with good fats, the body can absorb all of the other wonderful minerals and vitamins in greens. However, the body cannot readily absorb the good stuff when the greens are raw. (http://holisticsquid.com/are-green-smoothies-good-for-you/).
The question is...can one drink too many green smoothies? My answer would be yes. I don't think these 30 days of drinking them are going to really hurt me, and I do eat other greens which I always cook with either bacon or olive oil. I have never been a huge fan of raw greens, and after this month, I won't be having a green smoothie every day for sure.
This information just reminds me that any diet needs to be varied and that our bodies need fats. This whole low fat/no fat thing has probably caused more damage to our bodies than any other fad. Not only do the low fat/no fat products contain all kinds of weird ingredients that we wouldn't give our dogs, we need fats in our diets to be able to absorb all of the vitamins and minerals that make us work and heal and grow and move.
I am off to cut the grass now. Hahahaha...wonder how grass would be in a green smoothie?
Monday, May 13, 2013
Day 14....Where have you been, Helen?
I am a horrible blogger.
Well, that isn't completely true. During last month's challenge, I was right on top of that blog posting! I amazed myself with how often I updated. ("Pats self on back, cough, cough.")
This month I have not been as faithful and I think there are two reasons. One is that I have been much, much busier this month. Daughter two had her dance recital and daughter one was home for a weekend, the in-laws were here, I've had the carpets cleaned, and I've been trying to get the garden in. The second reason is that this Love Your Greens challenge hasn't really been much of one - a challenge, that is.
I loved greens before I began this, but I'm not a huge smoothie person. Sure, smoothies are good, and I've had my share of them. But drinking a smoothie every day isn't my thing. When I've made smoothies in the past, I pretty much always made them green with either spinach or kale, so adding greens to smoothies wasn't much a stretch for me.
But there are always lessons to be learned from anything, and thus far I have learned that I need something really challenging to keep me interested. Next month, I will up the ante and see how hard I can be on myself.
One of the many lessons I learned from the Whole30 challenge was to listen to my body. I know the cues of real hunger now, and when I need rest or water or something other than food. Since the month is over and I haven't been as strict when I've been out, I can tell when something has snuck into my food that I haven't been eating and it makes me feel horrible.
So here is my confession for the day; I have grown to hate running. I was forcing myself out that door every morning to get a run in and feeling very angry about it. It felt like a job and it was just painful to think about lacing up my shoes and forcing myself to go 5 or 8 or 10 miles. So, I listened to my body and I stopped.
I've been biking and walking and continuing with my first love, yoga, and running a quick 3 or 4 miles here and there and I feel so much better. I had decided to not do the half marathon coming up, but today I thought that I might like to walk it this time. I haven't decided yet, but it felt so freeing to know that I didn't HAVE to do it, that I don't HAVE to be out there training for it.
Oh, one other lesson from this month.....lime juice in smoothies is gross.
Well, that isn't completely true. During last month's challenge, I was right on top of that blog posting! I amazed myself with how often I updated. ("Pats self on back, cough, cough.")
This month I have not been as faithful and I think there are two reasons. One is that I have been much, much busier this month. Daughter two had her dance recital and daughter one was home for a weekend, the in-laws were here, I've had the carpets cleaned, and I've been trying to get the garden in. The second reason is that this Love Your Greens challenge hasn't really been much of one - a challenge, that is.
I loved greens before I began this, but I'm not a huge smoothie person. Sure, smoothies are good, and I've had my share of them. But drinking a smoothie every day isn't my thing. When I've made smoothies in the past, I pretty much always made them green with either spinach or kale, so adding greens to smoothies wasn't much a stretch for me.
But there are always lessons to be learned from anything, and thus far I have learned that I need something really challenging to keep me interested. Next month, I will up the ante and see how hard I can be on myself.
One of the many lessons I learned from the Whole30 challenge was to listen to my body. I know the cues of real hunger now, and when I need rest or water or something other than food. Since the month is over and I haven't been as strict when I've been out, I can tell when something has snuck into my food that I haven't been eating and it makes me feel horrible.
So here is my confession for the day; I have grown to hate running. I was forcing myself out that door every morning to get a run in and feeling very angry about it. It felt like a job and it was just painful to think about lacing up my shoes and forcing myself to go 5 or 8 or 10 miles. So, I listened to my body and I stopped.
I've been biking and walking and continuing with my first love, yoga, and running a quick 3 or 4 miles here and there and I feel so much better. I had decided to not do the half marathon coming up, but today I thought that I might like to walk it this time. I haven't decided yet, but it felt so freeing to know that I didn't HAVE to do it, that I don't HAVE to be out there training for it.
Oh, one other lesson from this month.....lime juice in smoothies is gross.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Day 5, or Cinco de Mayo
Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!
Does this mean I get tequila in my smoothie this morning?
The sun has made an appearance again, which means that I'm feeling energetic and ready to take on the day. Friday was horrible - it only managed to get to 40 and rained all day. I wanted to crawl into bed and not get out again. I had to keep telling myself that at least it wasn't snowing here and that I should be counting my blessings that I wasn't living a couple of hours north where the snow was falling at the rate of an inch an hour. Seriously.
I had a three day headache last week and felt like my insides were coming out yesterday. I don't know if it's the smoothies or the weather or if I had a "bug" of some sort. I feel much better today. Hopefully if it was some sort of green smoothie detox and it's over and now I'll feel amazing and lose 10 pounds!
Yesterday's smoothie was disgusting. The recipe called for water, greens, pineapple, ginger, the juice of half of a lime, and avocado. I substituted coconut water because I thought it would need something more than just water for flavor. The lime and ginger overpowered everything else and it was just gross. Cilantro was supposed to be in it as the super food, but mine had gone bad so I didn't use it and I'm glad I didn't; I think that would have made it worse. I did choke it down and vowed to never have that one again.
I have found that I'm not craving anything sweet with the smoothies. I usually want a banana or some raisins or something, but I haven't since this started. Other than that and the headache, I haven't noticed anything from drinking the green smoothies.
I also made Swiss chard for dinner last night. I love Swiss chard; actually, I love cooked greens, so adding more into my diet isn't hard. I would like to find some new ways to make them. I even planted some collards in my garden, although I noticed this morning that the rabbits have chewed them down to nubs. I need to get some fencing to put around the garden to keep those suckers out because I want to plant some chard and spinach, too.
As to the squats, yesterday was a rest day. I can't remember how many I'm supposed to do today. I rode my bike to yoga yesterday morning and my legs felt really strong, but I'm not sure that was from the squats or from spinning more or from running more.
Perhaps I'll save my smoothie for later and add a shot of tequila to celebrate the day. It's beautiful, so I can enjoy it on my patio later. While watching over my greens.
Does this mean I get tequila in my smoothie this morning?
The sun has made an appearance again, which means that I'm feeling energetic and ready to take on the day. Friday was horrible - it only managed to get to 40 and rained all day. I wanted to crawl into bed and not get out again. I had to keep telling myself that at least it wasn't snowing here and that I should be counting my blessings that I wasn't living a couple of hours north where the snow was falling at the rate of an inch an hour. Seriously.
I had a three day headache last week and felt like my insides were coming out yesterday. I don't know if it's the smoothies or the weather or if I had a "bug" of some sort. I feel much better today. Hopefully if it was some sort of green smoothie detox and it's over and now I'll feel amazing and lose 10 pounds!
Yesterday's smoothie was disgusting. The recipe called for water, greens, pineapple, ginger, the juice of half of a lime, and avocado. I substituted coconut water because I thought it would need something more than just water for flavor. The lime and ginger overpowered everything else and it was just gross. Cilantro was supposed to be in it as the super food, but mine had gone bad so I didn't use it and I'm glad I didn't; I think that would have made it worse. I did choke it down and vowed to never have that one again.
I have found that I'm not craving anything sweet with the smoothies. I usually want a banana or some raisins or something, but I haven't since this started. Other than that and the headache, I haven't noticed anything from drinking the green smoothies.
I also made Swiss chard for dinner last night. I love Swiss chard; actually, I love cooked greens, so adding more into my diet isn't hard. I would like to find some new ways to make them. I even planted some collards in my garden, although I noticed this morning that the rabbits have chewed them down to nubs. I need to get some fencing to put around the garden to keep those suckers out because I want to plant some chard and spinach, too.
As to the squats, yesterday was a rest day. I can't remember how many I'm supposed to do today. I rode my bike to yoga yesterday morning and my legs felt really strong, but I'm not sure that was from the squats or from spinning more or from running more.
Perhaps I'll save my smoothie for later and add a shot of tequila to celebrate the day. It's beautiful, so I can enjoy it on my patio later. While watching over my greens.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Day 3 - Love Your Greens!!
Day 3 - Orange Green Smoothie
So, I get an email every day with my green smoothie recipe in it and that is the smoothie of the day for me. I had neglected to pick up a couple of the items on my list the other day, so I had to have the same smoothie two days in a row. Not a big deal, of course, but I already feel like I failed this challenge! Today's smoothie has an orange in it. I've never put an orange in my smoothie, and I'm just wondering what the color is going to be like.
I'm definitely getting some protein powder for the smoothies today. I'll have to see if I can find some pea powder so it's paleo approved. I need more protein in my meals that I'm getting in the smoothie and I had a headache all day yesterday which I believe was from lack of protein. When I ate dinner, I felt so much better. My body must have adjusted to more protein last month and now I'm craving it.
The squats aren't really kicking in yet. I think because I do so much yoga and run, my legs are pretty strong and I haven't felt any difference. Yesterday was 55 and I'm not sure how many are today. I did a 100 squats a day challenge a couple of years ago and that wasn't too bad. I really tried to mix that one up with different types of squats and by the end of the month, I could knock out 100 squats like they were nothing.
After two beautiful days of warm temps and sun, we are back to rain and having the heat on. The high today is supposed to be 49....on May 3!!! Yikes!! I am soooooooo ready for this weather to be a distant memory. I think the feeling I had being out and about those two days must be similar to what it feels like to get out of prison. I had a 6 mile run and worked in my garden and got a sunburn. And I washed my sheets and hung them on the line to dry....heaven! Now we're hauling out the winter coats. At least it's not snow.....if we were a little farther north, we would be waking up to snow on the ground and I would be on a plane, heading for the sun and some fruity drinks. My drink wouldn't be a smoothie, but would probably contain something orange....:)
So, I get an email every day with my green smoothie recipe in it and that is the smoothie of the day for me. I had neglected to pick up a couple of the items on my list the other day, so I had to have the same smoothie two days in a row. Not a big deal, of course, but I already feel like I failed this challenge! Today's smoothie has an orange in it. I've never put an orange in my smoothie, and I'm just wondering what the color is going to be like.
I'm definitely getting some protein powder for the smoothies today. I'll have to see if I can find some pea powder so it's paleo approved. I need more protein in my meals that I'm getting in the smoothie and I had a headache all day yesterday which I believe was from lack of protein. When I ate dinner, I felt so much better. My body must have adjusted to more protein last month and now I'm craving it.
The squats aren't really kicking in yet. I think because I do so much yoga and run, my legs are pretty strong and I haven't felt any difference. Yesterday was 55 and I'm not sure how many are today. I did a 100 squats a day challenge a couple of years ago and that wasn't too bad. I really tried to mix that one up with different types of squats and by the end of the month, I could knock out 100 squats like they were nothing.
After two beautiful days of warm temps and sun, we are back to rain and having the heat on. The high today is supposed to be 49....on May 3!!! Yikes!! I am soooooooo ready for this weather to be a distant memory. I think the feeling I had being out and about those two days must be similar to what it feels like to get out of prison. I had a 6 mile run and worked in my garden and got a sunburn. And I washed my sheets and hung them on the line to dry....heaven! Now we're hauling out the winter coats. At least it's not snow.....if we were a little farther north, we would be waking up to snow on the ground and I would be on a plane, heading for the sun and some fruity drinks. My drink wouldn't be a smoothie, but would probably contain something orange....:)
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The end and the beginning
I DID IT!!!
The Whole30 is over and I did it! I made it through the month and I want to shout it to the world!
I unfortunately did not finish strong. This is picture week at the dance school where I work and trying to have any food for dinner has been impossible because it's non stop moving people and getting them changed and selling tights and selling shoes..... Last night I got to eat a banana and then came home and there was nothing prepared so I ate coconut, raisins, and nuts. Not the best, but not the worst.
So, what did the Whole30 teach me? How do I apply this to my life and my family's life in a positive way?
1) I need to eat a big, protein filled breakfast. When I do that, I eat way less during the day, and I don't crave anything sweet.
2) I need to be more organized and prepare food to have on hand for nights like last night.
3) We actually save money eating this way because we're not buying junk or eating out.
4) I am way more productive when I'm not having a nightly glass of wine.
5) I'm a pretty badass middle aged mom. :)
I'm not planning on reintroducing any new foods immediately. We have this health risk assessment at Mr. Helen's company in a couple of weeks. Plus, I feel so good, I don't want it to end!! If and when I do try something that was on the no list, I will let you know.
AND NOW, THE BEGINNING.....
Today begins the next challenge! And it is the Love Your Greens 30 day challenge.....ta da!!!!
For the next 30 days, I will have a green smoothie each day, and just eating more greens overall. Also, I am to try at least one new green this month. This challenge came to me via The Unconventional Kitchen via 100 Days of Real Food. I am joining some people from across the country who will be incorporating more greens into our diets this month.
I do love greens and we eat them often. I think the only green I haven't had are beet greens. Oh, and dandelion greens. Kale, chard, spinach, and bok choy are some of my favorites, and I've had mustard and collards.
Recipes for the smoothies come in my email every morning. I can have the smoothies at any time of the day, so I'm probably either going to do mine for lunch or dinner. Remember lesson number one from the last challenge? I need that protein for breakfast!!!
In addition to the Love Your Greens challenge, I'm also doing the Squat Challenge. It's just a series of squats every day. I'm running a half marathon at the end of the month and I'm hoping this helps my running. It's a two-fer month!
So join me now as I turn my family green and squat my way to better running.
The Whole30 is over and I did it! I made it through the month and I want to shout it to the world!
I unfortunately did not finish strong. This is picture week at the dance school where I work and trying to have any food for dinner has been impossible because it's non stop moving people and getting them changed and selling tights and selling shoes..... Last night I got to eat a banana and then came home and there was nothing prepared so I ate coconut, raisins, and nuts. Not the best, but not the worst.
So, what did the Whole30 teach me? How do I apply this to my life and my family's life in a positive way?
1) I need to eat a big, protein filled breakfast. When I do that, I eat way less during the day, and I don't crave anything sweet.
2) I need to be more organized and prepare food to have on hand for nights like last night.
3) We actually save money eating this way because we're not buying junk or eating out.
4) I am way more productive when I'm not having a nightly glass of wine.
5) I'm a pretty badass middle aged mom. :)
I'm not planning on reintroducing any new foods immediately. We have this health risk assessment at Mr. Helen's company in a couple of weeks. Plus, I feel so good, I don't want it to end!! If and when I do try something that was on the no list, I will let you know.
AND NOW, THE BEGINNING.....
Today begins the next challenge! And it is the Love Your Greens 30 day challenge.....ta da!!!!
For the next 30 days, I will have a green smoothie each day, and just eating more greens overall. Also, I am to try at least one new green this month. This challenge came to me via The Unconventional Kitchen via 100 Days of Real Food. I am joining some people from across the country who will be incorporating more greens into our diets this month.
I do love greens and we eat them often. I think the only green I haven't had are beet greens. Oh, and dandelion greens. Kale, chard, spinach, and bok choy are some of my favorites, and I've had mustard and collards.
Recipes for the smoothies come in my email every morning. I can have the smoothies at any time of the day, so I'm probably either going to do mine for lunch or dinner. Remember lesson number one from the last challenge? I need that protein for breakfast!!!
In addition to the Love Your Greens challenge, I'm also doing the Squat Challenge. It's just a series of squats every day. I'm running a half marathon at the end of the month and I'm hoping this helps my running. It's a two-fer month!
So join me now as I turn my family green and squat my way to better running.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)