The Green Monster has got me.....

Spinach...in a smoothie....really?  Yup!  And it works!!! 

Reading through these awesome blogs I have been seeing so much about "Green Monsters" that I had to check it out for myself.  So, I went on over to http://greenmonstermovement.com/  and after looking at lots of interesting recipes for smoothies with Spinach (or Kale) in them...I decided to give it a go!

Yesterday was my first attempt...it was as follows:

Approximately 2 cups of Spinach
1 1/4 cups of Skim Milk
1 Tbsp Flax
1 Banana
1 cup frozen Blueberries
Ice
...and after taste testing...I added:
a drop of Vanilla
a dash of Honey

It was actually pretty good!  I didn't take a picture yesterday...but it was kind of an ugly grey color!!!  Didn't look so pretty, but tasted pretty good!

For today's "Green Monster", I made the following:

1/4 cup Greek Yogurt
1 cup Spinach
1/2 cup Skim Milk
1 1/3 cup frozen Summer Berries
1 Tbsp Natural Wheat Bran

Pretty tasty I must say!

Here is a picture of todays conconction:

It doesn't look very green today...it was more of a pale green.  I would probably add more spinach next time I make this one, but was trying for a smaller serving size today!

All in all I would have to say I'm a fan of "Green Monsters"...who'd a thought it!!  If anyone out there has been thinking about trying one of these....go for it!  I think you will be pleasantly surprised! 

Now what will the next one be....??  If anyone out there is reading this, please tell me your favorite "Green Monster" conconction!

Vita-Yum!!

Reading through these blogs I am discovering lots of interesting & tasty new foods....as well as lots of stuff that looks great but can't get around here!  More rants on that another time!

The newest one well worthy of mention are VitaMuffins & VitaTops - YUM!   I was lucky enough to find the VitaMuffins at our local Sobeys stores in Cran Bran & Blue Bran flavours - they are both pretty tasty but I do prefer the Cran Bran.  They also carry the Chocolate Muffins, but all local stores (yes I checked ALL local stores!) have been out of stock so far...can't wait to find some!  Did I mention they were chocolate???!!

I did find the Deep Chocolate VitaTops at Costco the other day....OMG!!  These things are a little piece of 100 cal, 1.5 g fat, 5g fiber HEAVEN!!!  They are the perfect treat for those of us watching what we eat.  If you haven't tried these....do yourself a favor & TRY THEM.  You won't regret it!

I would love to try the others...but so far these are all I have been able to locate locally...but I'll keep trying!

X-Weighted Fitness Test....

Ouch!!  I still hurt!  On a good note....it only hurts when I move!

X-WEIGHTED!

Ok...I did it!  I signed up for the X-Weighted Challenge!  I am hoping for success!  Duh!  Sorry...I know that one is a no-brainer!

As far as the Fitness Test goes...lets just say that one of my goals now is to FINISH the fitness test!  lol...not good!  But since I haven't exercised for probably at least 2 years...what could I expect really!

Wish me luck and hope that I at least see some success from this!

Not Happy....

Day 4 - starts out being UP 1.5 LBS!!!   I was very good yesterday & stayed under my 1500 calories...1314 to be exact!  I did my exercise & didn't go out for supper.  None of my calories were junk food...and the lovely scale tells me this morning I am UP 1.5 LBS!  Grrrrrrrrrr.........

Here is a photo of my lovely friend, the scale, he may not be around long!!  Not sure why it's sideways..& don't know how to fix it ...but you get the idea.

Day 3 of Healthy Eating!

Finally 3 days ago I got my head around this Healthy Eating & Weight Loss thing...again.  I have to be mentally ready to do it or there is no sense even trying because, as the past has taught me, it won't work!!  So...I am mentally ready...& I have made it, kicking & screaming pretty much unscathed, to Day 3!!!  Yay me!  Lol...it's baby steps they say!

I am trying to keep my calories to around 1500 per day.  Wow!  I didn't realize how quickly that adds up!  I can't even begin to imagine how many calories I was eating before.  I'd like to know, but would be really scared to find out!  Did I mention that I love Junk Food!!!!  I mean I LOVE VEGGIES!  GO VEGGIES!  ugh!

So tonight I actually took a picture of my food...yeah wow!  Glad hubby wasn't home...but he already thinks I'm crazy so I'm sure he would just shake his head & move on!  I'll add it if I can figure out how to do that!  This blogging thing is new to me..

So, I trudge through this searching for tips & hints to make this Weight Loss/Eating Better thing easier.  I have been reading lots of blogs & find them to be quite motivating & I am getting lots of good ideas!  Thanks for that!! 

Here is a recap of my start so far:

Day 1 - Made the commitment to myself to "Do This" Healthy Eating & Weight Loss thing!  Was invited to go out for WINGS!  Noooooooooooooo!  Don't they know that I would have to live on water alone for like 3 days for 1 night of Wings??????  OMG!  Calories for the day - 1486.

Day 2 - Pretty much uneventful.  Stopped at the grocery store on the way home & picked up some more healthy choices.  Went out to a friends house....fatty cheese ball & artichoke dip were served.  Had only a few pieces...but planned that they may have food there before I went so saved some calories..total calories for the day - 1539 (oh yeah...the Martini...that's what put me over!!!)

Day 3 - Not a bad day.  We usually go out for supper with friends on Saturday nights so I was trying to keep that in mind as I ate & did my exercises!  We didn't end up going so that was good.  Made some sort of Chicken Taco concoction (pictured below).  Calories, so far, today - 1214 but will probably have a snack before going to bed.  I am suspecting that Saturdays are probably going to be my worst days normally so this was a good one!

Ok...now to try to add the photo...

Yay!  It worked!

I made this with:

1/2 cup chopped up chicken

1/4 cup kidney beans

1/4 cup salsa

About 1 cup of cut of red & green peppers & red onion

Taco Spice

Cumin

Garlic

Body Wise Flour Tortillas

I added a bit more salsa on the Flour Tortilla before I put the mixture on.  You could also add a bit of cheese or sour cream...depending on how many calories you have to spare!!  It was quite tasty!

2010...A New Year...A New Decade...A New Start!

Ok..time to refresh & restart all those "goals".  I have a long list of goals for this year that I am still working on getting together..keeping them reasonable  &writing them down.  Of course losing weight & eating healthier are at the top of the list...again! 

Last year was a busy year & I didn't have much time or energy to accomplish last years "goals".  Soooo now I have a lot of catching up to do!  Oh well, a new year...a new fresh start!  No use dwelling on the past!

I do hope to start Blogging a little more...it's kinda nice to sit & write stuff down.  I do find it hard to actually say what I feel or open up about anything...so we'll see how that goes!

Welcome 2010....let's see what this year brings!