This post is inspired by my Internet pal Jamie (inventor of the cauliflower pizza!), who decided to start crushing her goals ahead of time as well!
I haven't done a lot of posting here for the past few weeks because I caught a cold that turned into a massive ear infection. the Monday before Thanksgiving I bit the bullet and headed to the walk-in clinic because the mere act of swallowing was unbearable. I thought I had strep (nope!) but my right ear was so badly infected that the pain was traveling all the way down the right side of my head.
I really never run to the doctor with things like ear and sinus infections but I'm glad I did because the doctor said, no you can't wait this out. You need antibiotics. And sure enough after a couple days on the Z pack I started to feel better.
Now the antibiotic aftermath!
Between Thanksgiving leftovers and the antibiotics, I felt, for lack of a better word, polluted. And miraculously a book came in the mail.
It's The Shred Power Cleanse, the latest book by Dr. Ian K. Smith, one of my favorite TV docs. It's not a "get slim quick" diet -- it's a way to reboot your system with super clean, primarily plant-based foods. And, yes, there are LOADS of similar plans out there, but this one focuses on nutrient-packed smoothies, something that I absolutely love, and they don't taste disgusting like other plans I've tried.
The cornerstone of the plan is his Purple Power Detox Smoothie. There are lots of smoothie recipes in the book, which comes out Dec. 29, but you drink (or eat) this one at least once a day. And while you're waiting for the book to come out, here's the recipe:
Purple Power Detox Smoothie Recipe
1 cup cold-pressed apple juice (sub fresh if available)
1 cup frozen blueberries (fresh can be used, but if so, use 1 cup ice cubes to make smoothie immediately cold)
1 cup red Anjou pear (peeled, cored and sliced)
½ cup low-fat strawberry or plain yogurt
½ cup frozen sliced strawberries (substitute fresh if preferred)
½ cup loosely packed curly kale (stems removed)
2 tablespoons unfiltered organic flaxseed oil
Juice of ½ large lemon
Combine all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth.
This recipe makes 2 servings. Drink half and freeze the remainder for the next day.
Nutritional Information Per Single 12oz Serving:
300 cal., 15g fat, 2g sat. fat, 43g carb., 3g protein, 42mg sodium, 32g sugar, 6g fiber.
I'm only on day 4 of this plan, but my digestive system is feeling better.
Sure, you can wait until New Year's Day to turn things around but seeing how crappy I was feeling, I decided that NOW is the perfect time.
The plan is basically three smoothies a day, plus two snacks and either a big salad or a plate of roasted vegetables. Basically, it's loaded with nutrients and fiber, and it's easy on the digestive system. And so far every smoothie has been fantastic. I had a green smoothie made with mango, one that features peanut butter, and lots of the purple one. As far as "eating" your smoothies, if you want to work your jaws more, you can deconstruct your smoothie and simply eat the main ingredients.
Since it's all smoothies all the time up in here, I made some smoothie freezer packs with the non-liquid ingredients. That way I can whip out a bag and dump it in the blender with the liquid ingredients. Another plus is that each recipe makes two servings so I can stick a finished smoothie in the freezer and thaw it overnight in the fridge so it's ready to go the next day.
Exercise is also an integral part of the plan and I headed back to the gym on Monday after nearly two weeks of sick time. I switched things around and am focusing on cardio with strength training as "dessert."
The Thanksgiving leftovers were healthy and my kid took care of the excess desserts, but still there was more festive food sitting around than usual and portion control was a little out the window.
I'm hoping this straightens out my head and my gut and leads me back on a cleaner path.
