Day 9 Love Your Greens

We have been dared to try dandelion greens but I am going to wait till I can get to LifeSource because I know for sure they have chia seeds and they are having a food fair on Saturday.  What a great excuse to get out of the house! 

For those of you who may be curious LifeSource is a locally owned health food store in Salem, OR.  It is probably comparable to Whole Foods but a little smaller.  I use to work next door to it- at the party supply store.  I wish now that I would have taken time to learn more about health and nutrition but alas I was a very poor college student who lived off of Top Ramen and bummed food off of friends which was usually pizza or spaghetti or burritos. 

Any way, on to the challenge.  Today will be a short post.  I thought I had run out of pineapple and was seriously thinking of going into the nearest town to get a fresh one, but I could justify the gas.  So to the dinky Aumsville Market I went for some canned stuff only to come home and realize I put the pineapple  in the box I keep the next day smoothies in.  Silly me- being all prepared.  The kids liked having extra pineapple any way.  The smoothie today was called Tropical Orange Heaven.  Here is the recipe- water, spinach and kale mix, 1 mango, half cup of pineapple, and the juice of 2 oranges plus I went a little off the recipe and added 5 slices of frozen oranges.  Very yummy!  After butchering the mango I had to Youtube how to cut one up.  I felt like an idiot because that is how my mom cut them up all the time.  I just didn't realize there was a reason- there is a huge pit inside!  I also looked up how to cut a pineapple whenever I decide to get a fresh one.  For right now I will stick the with the canned or frozen in the bag variety. 

Oh I will post this just because:
Weight- 146.5

Day 8 Love Your Greens

A big dose of honest- I do NOT want to weigh myself today and I am not going to.  I had a little bit of a set back today.  I didn't binge on carbs and sweets but I know I over did it in the fatty meats department.  I was cooking a pork roast today and the crunchy fatty bits said, "Eat us!  We are deee-lii-cious!"  It was torture.  I was so hungry.  The roast took 4 hours to cook.  I ate the fatty bits.  They were good, but now I regret it and feel yucky.  It is time to start the ab challenge along with the greens challenge.  When there are days like this when I don't even feel like this is my body, I need a change.  

I ran across this today on Facebook.  I think it could be something I could do that would not require my medication.  I will let you know how this goes too.

Well update on the original challenge- The novelty of making smoothies has worn off for Ariana.  She didn't want to help make one today even though Hermione wasn't here to hog up all the helping- not that she does but sometimes there are fights.  But Ariana did drink this one and it was a pretty neon green color a lot like the first one we made.  I have been waiting to try this particular smoothie after I saw it posted on Unconventional Kitchen.  It is called Pineapple Bliss- 1 cup of water, 1 cup of coconut milk (my first time with this ingredient!), spinach, 1/2 cup of pineapple, frozen pear pieces (hoping for at least 2 small pears worth), and 1 banana.  Even though this one had banana I could barely taste it.  It was yum and I had 2 because- surprise, surprise- my husband asked for one for lunch!  We will get some greens in his diet yet!  I also made extra for Hermione as a snack for after school.  I still love making and preparing the smoothies even if one of kids doesn't show interest.  But now I am out of pineapple.  I hate making special trips just for one item but I want to do this challenge right so I will probably be off to the store tomorrow trying to find a pineapple and dandelion leaves (we were challenged to add those- I could probably get them at Lifesource but that is downtown, hum, the only other options are Safeway and Roth's- let the hunt begin!). 

Well after all that greasy meat I need a shower and a good show to unwind my day and maybe some crunches, though I think I would feel better if I started that tomorrow. 

Day 7 Love Your Greens- one whole week!

One whole week of green smoothies every day!  I love it.  I could do this every day if I could spend that much.  Still trying to figure out the costs.  We will have to see how this month goes then reevaluate.  Speaking of cost I definitely had to get more produce today especially now that the kids are on board.  Strawberries seem to be a big hit so they disappear as soon as you turn around.  I need to look for U-Pick place soon.  Here is the evaluation of today's smoothie-

Weight- 147 BMI-28.7
Feeling: not loosing weight is not so much fun but I guess since I am not working out I shouldn't be too surprised, but I do feel energized and I feel like I am doing something good for my body

I honestly didn't expect to loose weight so that is okay, but I thought just MAYBE I could be wrong.  It's okay.  I like how I feel so far.  My sugar and carbs cravings have really gone down.  I spit out chocolate frosting today.  The only reason that was even available to me was because a lady at the store was giving them to my kids ad I was trying to decrease the mess that the baby would make so I thought I would just eat the frosting off the top.  Oh!  It was so gross, ladies and gentlemen.  I am not a huge frosting fan to begin with but I can't even keep it in my mouth let alone eat it.  It also helps when I don't keep any junk in the house either.

I needed to go to the store for today's smoothie.  We were really low on strawberries, bananas, and limes and of course the most important ingredient- the GREENS!  Today was Zippy Lime Smoothie with water, kale and spinach mix, 1/4 cup of lime juice, 2 tsp. of zest (that took way too long to grate), 1 banana, and 10 strawberries.  This was by far the thinnest smoothie we have made probably because some of the strawberries were not frozen.  Since I enjoy them a little more thick I added a few scoops of Greek yogurt and since it was quite tart I added some honey.  It was yummy, refreshing, and light.  Ariana abandoned her smoothie and ate the rest of the container of strawberries instead.  I have heard the next smoothie is really good so maybe she will try the next one.  I am excited to use coconut milk.  Tomorrow I will try to add up some of the costs.  I know I spent a little over $100 on groceries this week but I feel like I am okay with that.  I am determined to make this work.  

Day 6 Love Your Greens

Weight- 148 (yikes! I think I am eating too many fatty nuts from all the granola) BMI- 28.9

Well the weight is not so encouraging.  I better get up and try some Pilates tomorrow.  I am feeling pretty tired from a 3:30am emergency last night.  Don't worry!  Everyone is okay.  I just don't function well on too little sleep. 

Today was also a fail.  Someone did not want to try the smoothie today.  It was the 3 year old.  She was turned off by the color.  This was my first "green" smoothie that was more of a brown muddy color.  I forgot to warn her that the berries would turn the smoothie very dark- almost black.  The recipe for today: the Berrylicious Smoothie or Berry Green Smoothie- water, mix of kale and spinach, 2 big handfuls of raspberries, 3 big handfuls of strawberry slices, 2 bananas, and 1/2 cup of sprouted cashews.  This was the first time I sprouted something.  Which in this case was just soaking nuts overnight.  They blended much better than the last time.  Hermione was almost put off by the color so I let her taste it before pouring it.  She said, "Yum, tastes like bananas."  Baby Lucy loved it.  She seems to love anything through a straw.  Since Ariana would not touch it I was able to give my husband his own.  Hermione took a picture of him.  Will get it up soon.  I thought it was very good.  I did taste the tart raspberries even though many of these recipes have tasted like banana.  Bananas are strong.  It has taken me a long time to even tolerate bananas.  I am hoping that the nutrients I am receiving from them will really help my body in the long run.

I am running really low on ingredients so to the store I go tomorrow especially for lime.  I do enjoy the limes.  I pray that I can keep this week's budget under $100.   

Day 5 Love Your Greens

Weight- 146  BMI-28
Feeling: a little sore throat but feeling good, sugar cravings have gone WAY down today,  I walked past a tray of cookies and was not tempted to eat even one.  Also I couldn't even stomach a roll made with white flour and HFC.  I spit it out!  How crazy is that! 

Today we tried the Lime Sublime Smoothie.  We mixed water, kale and spinach, 2 cups of frozen green grapes, the zest of a lime, and 1 cup of pineapple.  It was  a lot like yesterdays without the cilantro-y taste.  Yummy limeade goodness!  Lucy got to try some this time.  Drank it all up.  I have got to share how crazy this is next time I have free time. 

Day 4 Love Your Greens

I am spending this evening downloading many MANY ebooks from the Ultimate Homemaking ebook bundle- sorry the deal expired tonight- I waited till practically the last minute as to whether I wanted it or not.  There are at least 3 books in the pack I REALLY wanted so I figure it might actually be worth it plus it was a great deal (95% off).  I know that has nothing to do with the challenge I just have to keep explaining why my posts are always shorter than I would like them to be. 

Weight- 145 BMI-28
Feeling:  good, a little sore from I am not sure what, my throat hurts a little and my ears seem stuffy but I don't feel bad

Today's smoothie was so interesting.  It was different because it didn't have banana.  This one was called Delicious Detox smoothie.  This was what we used for the recipe: water, kale and spinach mix, the juice of one lime, 2 cups of canned pineapple that had been frozen, a frozen avocado, a few shakes of ginger from the spice rack (it called for fresh but I don't think I am ready to spring for that yet), and cilantro (I put in 1/3 cup).  Thank goodness we all like cilantro.  It does not taste like soap to us.  In fact, Hermione said she couldn't taste it.  She said it tasted like pineapple.  I was worried because of the avocado.  I don't like avocado but I heard that mixing it in a smoothie just makes it creamy and you can't taste it.  Good thing because it was great.  I thought it tasted like a healthy lemonade.  I might actually use lemon juice next time.  It was tart but I got use to it after a few sips.  The baby didn't get this one.  She was napping and I was a little worried about the detox side affects.  So far there does not seem to be anyone having any side affects so I think we are good. 

Oh!  I also went out and bought new smoothie cups from the Dollar Store.  Check them out!

New Smoothie Cups

Hermione and Delicious Detox Smoothie

Me

Ariana-age 3

Hi!

I love this one!

Day 3 Love Your Greens

This is another short post.  I have a women's brunch to prep for- making 6 pounds of homemade granola and have to finish the crafts for the kids.  It will be a long night.

Well slipped off the whole foods wagon for tonight because of business.  My husband got some fried chicken, potato chips, and soda.  It was still good and I hope I ate in moderation.

Weight- 145 BMI-28
Feeling: Good, energetic, rested, still a little heavy but working on it, also mad at my hair (that has nothing to do with the challenge just thought I should mention that), I think some of the sugar cravings have gone down, but it could all be in my head. 

Today's smoothie was Strawberry Orange Green Smoothie.  I used water, kale and spinach mix, 2 oranges, 1 banana, a few handfuls of sliced frozen strawberries, and a few TBS of cashews.  We almost substituted almonds for the cashews because we were waiting for Daddy to come home with them.  Hermione did not want to make it with almonds.  She insisted we have to make it by the rules.  She is my first born for sure!  I probably would have said the same thing at her age.  But we got the cashews just in time.  This is the first smoothie we had to sweeten with honey because it came out a little tart.  I think the oranges weren't as sweet as the first ones we used.  This one was a big hit, though, it was a little grainy because of the poor blender.  We even made enough for Daddy.  He tried one.  He said, "Not bad."  So far so good.