Fresh & Fit: Green Smoothies

I've been gathering a few healthy smoothie recipes lately and I thought I'd share one of the green smoothies I made over the weekend. Green smoothies are all the rage these days and with me doing my Herbalife protein shakes I wanted to switch up my daily routine. 

Green smoothies are wonderful for your body as they help incorporate valuable nutrients far more than just eating a serving of veggies daily. They are high in amino acids which help support your muscles, while giving you energy but low in calories. You feel full but because they contain high amounts of water and fiber, while helping you stay hydrated. 

The particular green smoothie recipe I made is from The Ranch at Live Oak Malibu that I found via Daily Candy. 


TRY IT FOR YOURSELF

Makes three cups

Ingredients
1/2 c. almond milk
1/2 c. avocado
Juice of 1 lemon
1 c. kale**
1/2 c. spinach leaves
1/2 c. pineapple
1 tbsp. ginger, minced***
1 c. ice cubes

1: Place all ingredients into a blender in order listed, except for ice, secure lid.
2: Blend well then add your ice
3: Blend until smooth

I must say this smoothie was really delicious despite the color, I was able to taste all the ingredients but still had a really smooth taste. 


* AVOCADO: good fat, helps prevent heart disease, promotes healthy skin and eyes.
**KALE: high in fiber, packed with vitamin minerals and cancer fighting phytonutrients
***GINGER: circulatory stimulant, increases blod flow, promotes sweating, good digestive health

Find more Daily Candy juice and green smoothie recipes here. 

A Heart Story…

I surely believe in fate, some how it brings people together for the right reasons. Yesterday, I received an email from a young woman named Rachel who had wrote to tell how much she loved this particular Flourish Sacred Heart necklace and the story behind it. Later I found out her story, she has heart failure and will soon have surgery to correct it. She has always been drawn to anything in the shape of a heart, at the time she was even wearing five various heart-shaped pendants. We got to talking about custom necklace for her, and I had the perfect answer for her: Tin Man's Heart, for it truly fits her heart story.

It is quite a mystery to me, the body is a fascinating machine, muscles and organs working in rhythm like cogs of a clock. The idea of the heart beating perpetually is but a dream, man is mortal, with but a single thump stopping our body would cease. We are but fragile creatures, never knowing when death will become our companion.

After such eerie words said; I am truly thrilled to be creating the Tin Man's Heart for her. I was interested to find out that hearts are truly significant to her as well as healing stones such as lepidolite, rose quartz and tourmaline. Lepidolite actually aids muscles, improves circulation, helps balance mood due to the high lithium content and helps to express ones inner light and joy. I am eager to find out more about such healing stones/materials and look forward to sharing the creation process, for her story has really struck my soul. I am honored to create such a necklace for a woman who is in search of a healing heart herself; truly fate has brought us together.

TOP IMAGE: Custom / Commission Original 5x7 - Star Map Heart by artist Shannon Rankin of Selflesh.

Self  |  One's own person as distinct from all others.

Flesh  |  The body as distinct from the soul.

Her work combines the connections among geography, anatomy and botany, by combining the visual elements of maps, anatomical illustrations and natural forms to explore themes of travel, healing and time.

Weight Watchers Update: Week 8

It is my eighth week on Weight Watchers, and I'm feeling good today because I had my weigh in last night on the Wii Fit and today I got measured after a whole month. The past month has definitely been much harder to loose weight, but the results have paid off.

To date, I've lost 9 lbs, that is -2 from last week. You say "Oh well that isn't much over a 2 month period". I agree, but I've lost inches too. I am afraid if I loose the weight at a faster pace then I will gain it back even faster. I don't really find that the diet tricks or quick fixes work, plus it isn't good for your body to just drop 15 pounds in like two weeks; it's just not healthy. I have a friend who just started the South Beach diet, the first week you cut out carbs, especially white flour, like rice, bread and pasta. Now she could of been exaggerating, but she said she lost 10 lbs in one week! I was like wow that is alot, doesn't seem healthy. I think going at a moderate pace of dieting and exercise is the right way.

For exercise, I am still continuing to do the Wii Fit but I finally made it back to the YMCA! I am a huge fan of the elliptical machine; gosh and I can't get enough of those 2 month old celebrity gossip magazines they have there too. I am looking forward to this weekend, because my parents are moving, so plenty of working muscles I look forward too.

T H E    S T A T S   T O   D A T E:

Right Upper Arm: -.5"

Waist: -3"

Hips: -1.5"

Right Thigh: -1.5"

Bust: -1.5"

TOTAL Inches Lost: 8"

For exercise, I am still continuing to do the Wii Fit but I finally made it back to the YMCA! I am a huge fan of the elliptical machine; gosh and I can't get enough of those 2 month old celebrity gossip magazines they have there too.

Originally my goal was to loose 20 pounds every two months; this would be ideal if I was on "The Biggest Loser" or could workout 24/7, and I would love that too but hey not enough time in the day. My body is going at a slower rate than expected, plus I may have slipped up and ate a couple cookies here at there. I have pushed to loose 20 pounds by end of March, I really have to work harder to reach my end goal weight of 165. 

H E A L T H   T I P S:
~ My new favorite sweet treat is Cherry Pomegranate Crystal Light On the Go packs for bottled water. These give boring bottled water a refreshing taste plus it suites your sweet tooth. 10 Calories, 0 WW points

~ I also just started eating South Beach diet Fiber Fit S'mores Bars. If you aren't a big fruit person these are great because they are 36% of your daily fiber intake. The cool thing about these fiber bars is that they have a fiber rating system that can slowly help you build your fiber intake. These bars are actually level 2-3, just watch out cause the more fiber, the more farts. 120 Calories, 2 WW points

~ When you need a little kick in the butt / motivation when your on your last 5 mins of the treadmill, I would suggest adding "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from "Rocky) by Bill Conti or Eye of the Tiger to your playlist, need I say more. 

Weight Watchers Update: 1 Month

It is my fourth week on Weight Watchers, and I'm seeing results I tell you. Lately I have been motivated and sticking with the plan, I even look forward to going home and playing the Wii Fit at night. I surprised myself last Friday when I ran for a straight 10 mins on the treadmill and finished it off by a fast pass stride. 

I try and stick to a routine each week, by eating similar foods each day. I'm a fan of Lean Cuisines because they have the WW points on the box, plus they are cheaper than Smart Ones meals. I work out three to four times a week, usually from a half hour to 45 mins. It is great too because I always vary what I do, this way I work alot of different areas of my body, however I try to focus on a more cardio workout verses yoga or strength training.

To date, I've lost 7 lbs and today I took measurements of my body and I've lost and also gained.

WAIST: -.5" 

HIPS: -.5"

RIGHT ARM: +.75" but I think it is cause I have more muscle, not sure.

RIGHT THIGH: +1" which is weird, but again maybe it is more muscle I have added.

BUST: -.5"

I did end up picking up the My Fitness Coach Wii game I was talking about a couple of weeks ago; which is awesome by the way. There are so many workouts you can do from easy to difficult, my personal favorite is the cardio workout where you do various aerobics. The game even has excersises with weights, a aerobics board and a balance ball if you have it. I totally recommend this game and I recommend you have alot of space to do it in (I always have to move my coffee table). Funny story, when I went to pick up this game at Game Stop, I found out about a new Wii game that is suppose to be as big as the Wii Fit board. I believe it is called EAU Active, it is a game that focuses more on strength training and burning fat that uses a resistance band during the workout; it comes out in May, and I put $5 down on the game (I'm such a nerd).

My end goal weight is to get to 165. My short goals are to loose 20 pounds every 2 months. I need to loose 13 more pounds by end of February to make my first goal. Wish me luck everyone, I'm going to need it.

H E A L T H   T I P S:
~ The Super Bowl is only days away, and I know I am dreading going to a party where there are tons of fatty foods, chips, wings. One tip that might help you keep off the pounds is stay away from bright colored plates and cups. Red, oranges and yellows screams more more, eat more! Think of all the fast food restaurants like McDonalds, Burger King and Taco Bell, that use these bright screaming colors in their logos; and you wonder why your getting the super size!

If you are having a party I would recommend blues or greens, those colors are much more soothing and relaxing therefore making you eat slower and in the end might help you to realize when you are full. 

~ Also drink a glass of water or milk before you start a meal: these liquids naturally need space in your belly, so therefore you will feel fuller without having to starve yourself.

Weight Watchers Update

It is my second week on Weight Watchers, and I'm feeling the burn and feeling healthier. I feel like it is easier this time around and I am more motivated. Last night we were already making plans for our vacation at the beach in July, can't wait.

To date, I've lost 3 lbs, and I am even seeing results in the smoothness of my skin and slimming of waist and arms. I've been doing my Wii Fit, twice a week. I love the flexibility of the different exercises that the Wii Fit offers, you can focus on yoga, step aerobics, boxing, strength training, hula hooping or even jogging. Plus there are alot of fun games that focus on your balance. Another Wii Fit game I am starting to like more and more is Julian Michael's Fitness Ultimatum 2009, boy does it hurt! It is basically like a boot camp for your body; it focuses on motion fitness of toning and cardio with workouts like monkey bars, tire jumping, jogging, canoeing and ladder climb are some of my favorites. This new game I just heard about is My Fitness Coach, which has a virtual personal trainer that demonstrates over 500 exercises for flexibility, cardio fitness, strength training and even lets you custom your environment, track your training on a calendar and lets you set personal goals. I think I am going to buy it tomorrow, now that I got paid, whoot whoot!

My end goal weight is to get to 165. My is to loose 20 pounds every 2 months. The ideal time for this is 6 months to loose, but in reality I am going to add another 1.5 months, since my body might plateau. 

H E A L T H    T I P:

~ Adding lemon juice to your glass of water can help break down toxins in your body. This is a lovely tip that I learned from my friend Rose, who is a nutritionist.