Simplified a Bit

I'm a big believer in keeping things as simple as possible. As I was making myself a smoothie today, I was thinking about how I've simplified that whole process. I know myself...if it ain't simple, it ain't gonna happen. At least not for long. I am much more apt to stick it out and keep doing something if the process to make it happen isn't complicated. Can you relate?

Case in point--the smoothie. When I first started drinking green smoothies, I put different powders and things in them. I chopped. I sliced. Now I ascribe to the KISS method when I throw my smoothies together in the Vitamix...Keep It Simple, Stupid.  (Click here to see my earlier post on green smoothies.)  By uncomplicating the process, there is an even greater likelihood that I won't skip it. 

In case you are wondering, making a smoothie now goes something like this:

-In the Vitamix, dump in a couple of tablespoons or so of chia seeds, pour in some homemade coconut milk. Let it sit while I do something else. Ideally this something else would be a workout, but it could also be reading a book.

-After my workout (or book reading), I grab greens out of the fridge and fill up the mixer with them. This part is fast since I usually do try to prewash the greens as I'm not fond of this step and would rather do it all at once as opposed to every single day.  So I suppose a part of simplifying is planning ahead.

-This is it, usually. Easy, fast, simple. If I want to add more to the smoothie, I do. If not, that's good, too.

When I do add other things, it is usually fruit, like blueberries or a banana, or possibly kefir. Sprouts are also a great addition, as is avocado or beets. I'm not a fan of most protein powders, since most of them contain colors, sweeteners, GMOs, etc.  However, if you do use protein powder here's couple of brands that I personally think are great...Sun Warrior and Raw Power.  Both of these are vegan, organic and non GMO, which is nice. (Don't forget that the point here is that you can add other things, but you don't have to. It can be easy and simple when it needs to be, more complicated when you feel like it or have time.)

What do you think?  Do you have the same struggle?  Do you ever start strong, with every intention of continuing, then life gets hectic and you get tired and all you really want to do is pour a glass of wine or a mug of coffee and eat an entire bar of dark chocolate?  To be honest, there are days when I might do just that.  In fact, I must confess to you that my dinner this past Friday night was 4 Newman O's, a glass of red wine, and a documentary on Netflix.  Don't judge me--Shelby and Jay were out of town, Kyra was working, and Maddy was hanging out with a friend. I was NOT going to cook.  Okay...so maybe cookies and wine weren't the best choice, but I did enjoy them.  AND I did have a green smoothie earlier in the day. I'm pretty sure that cancels out the wine and cookies. Doesn't it?   I think this proves my point, actually!  Had I not simplified the smoothie making process, I likely wouldn't have made one and well, my lunch could very possibly have been similar to my dinner.  Saved by the prewashing of the greens!  Whew!

Remember to KISS and carry on! 

A little experiment...on myself

A few months ago I wrote a blog post extolling the virtues of green smoothies.  I am a big believer in getting the nutrition your body needs from the foods you consume rather than from supplements you buy in a bottle.  While I recognize that there are times when supplementation is important and necessary, it is not a substitute for good, whole foods. This is why I drink smoothies. In July I decided to forgo my morning smoothies and see if I noticed any difference in how I felt. I went without for about 5 weeks.

The biggest change I noticed after a while was a serious decrease in energy.  Every afternoon I would get sooooo tired and unmotivated.  Added to the lack of energy was a craving for sugar and other "bad for me" foods.  I found myself opening the fridge to find something to eat, even when I wasn't hungry.  This brought on another rather obvious problem...5 extra pounds.  Yep, I gained 5 pounds in those 5 weeks!  Let me tell you, when you are 5'2" tall (or short :), 5 added pounds is glaringly obvious!!!  Not good.

There were a few other changes I noticed as well, including a skin break out, flagging moods, and just general grumpiness. Workouts and runs were a drudgery.  I didn't seem to handle stress well at all, which was not a good thing with everything that was going on in the Pierson world.  All in all, quite interesting.

I am back to my usual routine now.  The extra 5 pounds are gone (thank goodness!!!) and I can actually run without feeling like I want to stop and lie down in the middle of the road.  I don't have the dip in energy in the afternoons and my cravings are gone. My skin has cleared up and seems less dry.

My conclusion?  Nothing is a substitute for good nutrition and smoothies are a great way to get it.  My plan is to keep on drinking the green stuff.  It is worth every penny.

Green in the morning...or any time of day

I truly believe the adage "you are what you eat." As a mom, I am forever trying to find ways to include more healthy foods into our diets at home. At times it can be a bit discouraging. Life gets crazy sometimes and good nutrition can take a back seat when the family is running around in survival mode.  I do try to make home cooked dinners a priority in our house, but life happens. So I decided to look for ways to get more of the "good stuff" in all of our diets.  I've found green smoothies to be the easiest and best way to do just that.

For me personally, drinking green smoothies every morning after a workout makes a huge difference in how I feel all day.  It's an easy way to get lots of the greens, vitamins, etc, that can be so lacking in our diets. I make sure every smoothie includes protein, omega 3s, greens, probiotics and coconut oil.  (I finally caved and bought a Magic Bullet http://www.buythebullet.com/, which my friend, Becky, told me about several years ago but I never wanted to spend the money.  Sooooo worth the money, seriously!!!!)  I've found that I don't get sugar cravings like I used to and I don't have the blood sugar drops mid-morning or in the afternoon.  It really, truly makes a big difference in how I feel on a daily basis. Plus, the protein I use has lots of fiber...but we don't have to talk about the benefits of that :-).

Here is a pic of the basic things we use to make smoothies.  Each of us has our own little "recipe" that we like, so what is in each smoothie is pretty much a matter of preference.  One thing that isn't in the picture is fruit, which we all do use.  My girls love to use frozen fruits like berries and peaches. Kyra and I like to use the Kefir, while Maddy prefers the cultured coconut milk.  Either one is great...full of probiotics that we all need for our digestive systems.  I also include coconut oil in mine which has so many health benefits. The possibilities are endless for smoothies...all kinds of green veggies and fruits.  It's all just a matter of taste.