The Boys' Breakfast ...

The boys' old breakfast regimen: their pick from Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Reese Puffs ...

In Momma's defense - they said whole grain!
 I know, I know - not very healthy.

Their new breakfast: a smoothie. A green one at that, they just don't know it ;)

I have had so many people ask me what it is I add to the boys' breakfast smoothie.
Here you go ...

 

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 cup filtered water

1/2 bunch of spinach with stems

 

Mix these together first. Mix very well.

 

1 cup frozen berries

2 bananas

1 spoonful of almond butter

 

Mix berries with green mixture first, then add bananas and almond butter and mix more.  

 

I also add a handful of ice at the very end just to appease them :)

If I could describe this smoothie, I would say it tastes like a PB&J. That's what the boys call it ... their PB&J Smoothie :)

My First Update ...

Nineteen days.

 

That's how long it has been since I posted about and began a new lifestyle. If you haven't read that post yet, you should - it'll give you a little insight to this one.

 

So here is what has happened so far.

 

First, let me pat myself on the back by saying I have only missed one morning in having my Glowing Green Smoothies. Having this for breakfast has become such a habit and I actually crave this drink. Crazy, I know! At first the texture was a little hard for me to deal with, but I have learned the perfect amount of blending and the texture has vastly improved since my first go at it.

 

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am obtaining my info from The Beauty Detox Solution by Kimberly Snyder. I was only half way thru when I began this journey and have since made more changes than just my breakfast. Some of the most important points I took from the first half of her book were:

 

Drink a small glass of hot water and the juice from 1/2 of a lemon. This will jumpstart your digstion for the day. And the lemon is amazing for your liver.

 

Always eat fruit on an empty stomach. Never after meals. This causes bloating.

 

Eat something raw and green before each meal. My favorites and easiest to get to are green bell peppers and cucumbers. This coats your digestive tract in fiber which will allow your meal to digest much more quickly.

 

Always eat the heaviest meal of the day at dinner.

 

Now. Does this mean I have done all of this? Everyday? Well, heck no. I started off doing great, following each one without fail for about the first week. I could tell such a difference in the way I felt after each meal and not nearly exhausted as days before. But life is life and I totally slacked off. I did keep up my Glowing Green Smoothie, lemon juice every morning and eating fruit on an empty stomach. The last two just sort went out the window ...

 

In the last week or so I have got into the second part of her book. I have been appalled at the statistics and facts about animal protein, dairy and peanuts. Yes, peanuts. Since learning the newest information, I have dramatically cut out the intake of these things for myself and the family. We have switched to almond milk, almond butter and are having many more veggies at dinner (sometimes replacing meat, but not every night).

 

I believe my biggest hurdle has been re-teaching my kiddies healthy habits. Junk and processed foods are EVERYWHERE WE GO! From their grandparent's house to church to Great Clips. I have struggled with 'Well, it's just one ...' about one million times. Just one sucker at Great Clips, just one M&M for Kruzer going potty, just one bag of chips from the kids' church groups, just one cupcake at a birthday party. All of these just ones in one day! That's where I struggle. Junk is constantly given to my children, sometimes by me and sometimes by others. I have yet to find the happy medium ... 

 

If you are wondering about my physical changes, I have lost a total of nine pounds as off last Thursday. The first time I weighed myself was only five days after I started and I was down five pounds. I weighed myself one week later, which was the following Thursday, and I had lost an additional four pounds. I can tell the biggest difference in my lower stomach and thighs. I plan to weigh again tomorrow.

 

I started back today with eating a raw, green something before each meal and am saving my heaviest meal for dinner tonight. I am most looking forward to the changes in my skin, hair and nails, which the author says will come after a few weeks of detoxing your body.

 

I'll keep you posted. Till then -

 

...

A New Lifestyle ...

I refuse to say I am dieting.

I am so not a dieter. I do not do well with calorie counting, drinking Diet Coke or rice cakes. I will say though, that our family is committing to a new lifestyle with our eating habits. And I am stoked about it!

 In the past few months I have started researching processed foods and their harmful effects. I was astonished at the chemicals, preservatives and downright horrifying things I was putting into my body and feeding to my children. Seemed like cutting out places like McDonald's just wasn't good enough. 

It has become such a realization to me that I am starting habits that my kids will pass on to their families, so on and so forth. The boys only know the habits I show them. They see what is in my cup, what is on my plate, what is in my grocery cart. I am thankful they are still at an age where they can be taught about foods that aren't frozen or in a box.

I began most of my research by following Lisa Leake at 100 Days of Real Food. Her consistency amazes me and we have adopted a ton of her recipes into our weekly menu. Some of our favorites have become her Homemade Chicken Nuggets, PB & J Smoothie and her Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. I would say our family has cut out about 70% of processed foods from following Lisa's advice. 

Although I know this change in itself is great for our health in the long run, it seems like our everyday life has remained the same. By life I mean Travis and I still wake up exhausted and rely on coffee for energy. We still feel bloated. I am very discouraged by cellulite and a tummy that pooches out more than I see fit. We still have headaches, acne and back aches. 

 So okay, we removed most of the processed junk - why aren't we feeling better? 

(Insert more research)

I found this awesome book called The Beauty Detox Solution by Kimberly Snyder. When I first read the title, I was thinking 'Awesome, this chick is going to give me a great 7 day cleanse and I am going to rid myself of the ickiness ... I'll feel better. Then what I eat on a daily basis won't seem so bloating ...'. Boy - was I ever wrong. I will not recite the crazy details, but in short I learned I consumed WAY too much animal protein, not near enough leafy stuff or raw veggies and I was pretty much jacking up my entire day starting with my first steps into the kitchen. On top of those things, the most important info I read was that I have no energy because my body is using it all to digest all the meats, cheeses, eggs, etc I am putting in there. I know what you think I am about to say and no-

I am not becoming a vegan!

I am however going to constrain the amount of animal protein I intake and also work on my food pairing. Yep, I have a long journey ahead of me. And it starts today. Right now. 

This morning. 

I've convinced Travis to join me (he agreed to only 7 days - men!) I hope he will see a big difference though and will want to continue with me on this lifestyle change.

 I will let you know our progress ...

For now, Happy Saturday to you! I'm off to drink my Glowing Green Smoothie :)