'GREEN' SMOOTHIE!

Ok!  Here we go!  It's New Year's Eve 2012 so I'm posting a delicious Smoothie Recipe to start your New Year off right!!  Now I decided to start with a Smoothie Recipe for a few reasons.  If you are going to ease into this and substitute ANY meal, substitute it with a Green Smoothie!  It might not sound so delicious, but just you wait.  With the fruit you chose in this smoothie, you will not even taste the handful of greens you'll be putting in, but your body will notice!!  Trust me.  They are delicious, easy, inexpensive, and take less than 5 minutes to make!  How's that for all you hard working Mommas?  (and Daddys... or just anybody for that matter!)

Equipment you will need: Blender

Ingredients:

2 bananas, peeled
1 apple, cut (leave skins on!)
1 handful of fresh greens (spinach leaves and/or kale), rinsed
'milk' of your choice (almond or coconut milk)

~Place bananas, apples, greens in blender.  Fill a little less than half way with 'milk'... (adjust the liquid to your preferred consistency. Add less for thicker smoothies.)

~Blend for about 1 minute.

~Drink it!  :)

*Now if you're like me, you don't like to waste food.  If you have Cow's milk you need to use up, go ahead!  Just from now on, buy almond or coconut milk.  They even have an AlmondCoconut milk if you can't decide between the two!  They are much better for you and are very delicious!

*Last but not least, PLEASE add ANY fruit you'd like!  Have fun!  The above recipe is just a basic one.  Add frozen berries, pineapple, mango, strawberries... ADD ANY FRUIT!  The bananas will give it the 'creamy' texture.  Try to use bananas (and any fruit for that matter) that are very ripe.  Not going bad, but are ripened to their full flavor!  Have fun with this recipe!  The possibilities are ENDLESS!!!  :)

P.s... I've noticed when I start the day off with a Green Smoothie, I will eat better throughout my entire day.  I think it's because I started my day off right, and got my mind right!  It may even be a little psychological... but whatever works, right?! 

INTRODUCTION!

Hey Everyone!  So it's that time of year for weight loss resolutions... let's make that work this time!  I know it's hard.  It takes a huge amount of motivation and determination.  But always remember... it's not a time to start a 'diet'.. let's be real.  A 'diet' doesn't last.  It's a time to make a lifestyle change.  Now going into this Raw Food experience doesn't have to be a drastic change.  Ease into it.  Start slow by substituting at least one meal a day AND eliminating nasty processed snacks.  That is where the weight comes from.  Empty calories that fill you up temporarily, leaving you hungry again an hour later.  Filling up on Raw foods that are packed with nutrients fill you up more and longer than unhealthy snacks that are packed with calories.  You will begin to notice that eating a small Raw meal actually FILLS YOU UP!  It's because it's nutrient dense.  Your stomach will also begin to shrink.  Also, by eliminating heat/cooking of the food, you are able to consume the food's enzymes that help you digest and make your body function to it's full potential.  Cooking food destroys those enzymes.  It makes food hard to digest and makes your body work overtime.  You will notice you have more energy.  You may become more alert and focused.  You may also notice it helping your mood.  The acne should start to vanish, the bloating gone, your hair and skin become shinier and healthier, and most of all, the weight will come off!

Now to be on the Raw Food 'Diet' (Lifestyle Change), you don't have to eat 100% Raw.  Gabe and I eat about 85% Raw.  We cook beans, sweet potatoes, drink coffee.... You may wish to occasionally add some grilled/baked chicken into a Raw Wrap for protein and B12.  If possible, just try to make the meat you eat come from Organic Fed animals.  That way, you are not getting all the hormones and artificial junk they give the animals.  Organic Fed animals are generally treated more humanely and cage free.  They are allowed to roam in their natural environment.  If you do occasionally add meat, do so about once or twice a week.  We eat WAY too much meat as a nation.  It's completely unnecessary!  Everyone thinks meat is essential at dinner to 'balance' it out.  Not true.  But point being, eat as much food as you can Raw.  Eating the majority of your food Raw, is considered Raw 'Diet'...

Now I am no means a Nutritionist or anything.  I take a Calcium + Vitamin D supplement, and about once a week a B12 supplement.  You may want to research what you need.  I suppose it all depends on how much of a Raw 'Diet' you are going to do!  

Lastly, I would love to hear feedback and your success stories after 30 days of doing this!  Of course, the more Raw fruits and veggies you eat, the quicker you will see results!  Don't be afraid to have some fun with this and add your own twist on these recipes.  These are just some recipes I've tried and liked, or just made up!  I really hope I help people to become healthy and lose weight.  I feel so passionate about this!  I've personally lost 30lbs in 10 weeks.  I also do a Jillian Michaels workout DVD 5 to 6 times a week.  It only take about 30 mins.  So good luck and here's to a HEALTHY 2013!  Let's make your 2012 New Year's Resolution to lose weight, your LAST weight loss resolution EVER!  :)

Tomorrow I'll post my first recipe. It will be easy and delicious! I just wanted to do an Introduction in case people didn't understand the concept. Ok, let the fun begin!!