Final Day of Green Cleanse

Well I made it through the 5 days.
Today was another 'blah' kind of day as far as the cleanse goes.
I had pear for breakfast and then a little later made a smoothie of romaine lettuce, bananas and mango. It just didn't seem very satisfying.

Later I had another pear and a smoothie made of turnip greens and bananas. That combo was a little better.

My bowels seem to be congested.

My gluteus muscles are just the slightest bit sore but my thighs,calves, chest, and shoulders are fine despite the weight workout I did yesterday.

This evening I had a salad that my husband brought from the grocery store salad bar. It had eggs and imitation crab meat in it. Then I went ahead and had some store bought salsa with chips.

Not sure what to make of this 5 days. I didn't really lose any weight, my bowel movements aren't like I thought they would be, and I didn't have any real 'burst of energy' like so many others describe.

Green smoothies ARE something that I will continue but as a supplement to my regular raw foods and regular eating habits. I don't plan on going back to the SAD diet but I'm not sure where I'm heading diet-wise. I will continue educating myself and pressing forward in a healthy, nutritional direction as best as I can.

More Fruits Than Greens

Today was one of those days when I was in the car more than at home.
Consequently, I ate a bit more fruit than green smoothies.
This morning, I made the following combination:

5 or 6 leaves of escarole
5 or 6 leaves of romaine
3 bananas (1 which was frozen)
about 1 cup of frozen raspberries
2 soaked dates
about 2 cups of water

This blend was just ok. The escarole had a bit of a bitter taste to me and since I had added so much it was almost on the verge of overpowering the drink.
The more I drank though, it didn't bother me too much.

This evening was more romaine lettuce blended with 2 bananas about 1/4 cup of frozen raspberries and 1 1/2 cup of water.

Between these two smoothies, I had a cantaloupe, about 3 bananas, 1 apple, and a salad.

In a side note, as a reminder to myself, I used the leg press machine at the gym today and pressed 210lbs with both my whole legs as well as just using my toes so I could work my calves. I did 6 reps with my whole leg and about 10 focusing on my calves.
I am trying a bit of an experiment. I just started working out at the 1st of March. I was really sore the 1st two times I went. Lately, I have had NO soreness to my muscles, despite using what I feel are heavy weights and feeling burning sensations while working out. I am wondering if the green smoothies/increased raw food is healing my torn muscles so that I don't have the typical next day soreness.
I worked my muscles pretty good today so I will report tomorrow on how I feel.

Great tasting purple!

When I went to the grocery store yesterday I picked up some more greens and fruit.
I knew it would take a lot of produce to see me through the week but Oh, my gosh!

Anyway, I purchased what I thought was Kale but when I got home the little twist tie holding the bunch together said Curly Mustard - are those one in the same? I'll have to look it up. I also bought some Watercress, radishes with their greens attached, 2 different types of mangoes and some red tipped leaf lettuce.
Here's what I've had so far today:
2 smoothies made with-

1 bunch watercress
1 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
2 ripe bananas
1 soaked date
1 1/2 cup water

I made this recipe last night also but with 2 soaked dates. If I would have tasted the watercress before blending it I would have realized that they don't have a very heavy green taste and don't require much sweetening (at least to me - I have a high tolerence for the 'green' taste.) My husband liked this blend much better than some of my other, thicker, brighter greener concoctions. As a matter of fact, this drink was purple! I think I have a winner with this one, at least as far as getting him to drink it goes.
Also today I had a couple of tumblers (the tumblers hold about 3 cups worth)of:

5 red tipped lettuce leaves
2 cups of cubbed mangos
1 ripe banana
1 1/2 cup of water

This wasn't too bad. I like the taste of mangos by themselves but they seem to lose themselves in the drinks I have made. I think I need to add lots more of it if I really want to get that 'note' to strike strong.
The drink I enjoyed the most today was also not green but more magenta-y:
5 red tipped lettuce leaves
2 cups of cubbed mangos
1 ripe banana
1 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1 1/2 cup water

This really hit the spot for me! My 3yr old also seemed to like it as well (gasp!) so I will be making that again before the day/night is over.

Green Kids?

I wimped out with my kids.

It happened like this

We shared our green smoothie for the morning and the kids uninterestedly picked at the oranges i gave them afterwards.

No matter, I was intent on being the Rock of Gibralter with my kids.
"No you can't have ice cream", "No, Cheez-it's aren't a green food",
"No, NO cereal you guys!"

My 7yr old, who had been complaining of a stomach ache since he first woke up, then proceded to throw up his oranges an hour later.

I then walk in on my 3yr old who is standing in their bedroom with pants and underwear down and an almost tearful expression on his face.

"What's wrong?" I say.

He just hangs his head and says nothing

Then it hits me. "Did you have an accident?" He nodded his head yes.

I tell him to go to the bathroom and try to see if he has to go some more.
He had MAJOR diarrhea.

OK, my resolve is starting to weaken.
NO. Mean mommy, will NOT, let this phase her!

We get through the morning and afternoon with them barely taking any sips of the green smoothies I make and very little interest in fruit. I feel pretty blah about my smoothies/fruit as well.

I finish my workout at the the gym and as I'm picking up the kids from the daycare, the 3yr old asks for snack crackers from the women watching them. It's just a very small pack and I don't feel like making a scene in front of strangers.

As they walk to the car, each munching their own bag of crackers, the 1yr old begins screeching as if to say, "No you aren'tgoing to eat crackers without offering ME one!"

The other two are so ravenous that they start arguing over who is going to share one of their itty bitty crackers.

I've had it. I go to the grocery store salad bar and make all 3 a salad - with meat - and call it a day.

I've decided to follow Option B with my kids. Option B allows you to just replace 1 or 2 meals a day with a smoothie while eating normally the rest of the time. Well, it won't be completely normal - I'll only serve them salads for the other meals but with chicken or fish.
Not having to cook anything too elaborate will help me stay the path.
Here's looking for a better day tomorrow.

Bodily Functions

Well, day 2 has started on my Green Cleanse. I feel OK. I mean, I don't feel deprived or any worse for wear.

Yesterday I seemed to be peeing quite a bit but only 1 bowel movement(bm). I was expecting to have at least 2 since I am assuming this green cleanse is going to throw me into another detox.

I say another cause I have been modifying my diet since January 1st of this year and have already been experiencing detox systems of:

* about 4 small sores in mouth that lasted about 1 week;

* a runny nose with lots of mucus when I would blow - that lasted about a week and a half;

* coughing up mucus that was at first yellow tinged (infection?)-this has been happening pretty much since January although I have had a cough for a lot longer -I only cough mildy during my days now whereas before I would cough quite frequently. The mucus is now also white/clear;

* a bit of acne-3 bumps or so - occured this past Saturday...they all vanished except for one that remains on my right cheek;

* itchy skin, itchy eyes, itchy where the now vanished pimples were located.

All of these symptoms have disappeared except for the pimple and the mild cough.

For breakfast I had a green smoothie made of a handful of spinach leaves, a piece of cucumber aproximately 1 inch diameter and 1 inch long, 2 small bananas, and 1 1/2 cup water. I blended this all together in my Vitamix. It made about 3 1/2 cups. I let every have about 1 ounce since I didn't have time to make some for everyone.

First day of Green Cleanse

I am looking forward to the Green Smoothie Challenge. Frederic Patenaude and Victoria Boutenko are the 'sponsers' of this 7 day long challenge.

In a nutshell, those who are participating are to consume nothing but green smoothies.
Green smoothies are any greens such as spinach, mustard greens, celery, etc. that are blended with fruits like bananas or apples to make them more palatable. We can have a few fruits and vegetables as well but they will be more like light snacks outside of the actual smoothie meal.

So far, today has gone well. Our entire family is on the challenge.
Here is what I have had so far today:

My first meal was about 2 cups worth of turnip greens with 2 bananas a stalk of celery and 1 date that I had soaked overnight. It was pretty good!
I shared this with my 7year old, my 3 year old and my 1 year old.
The 7 year old said it was just 'ok', the 3 year old drank it partway and then didn't want any more. The 1 year old seemed to like it and drank it out of his sippy cup for most of the morning until it was gone.

Next we shared a bowl of red seedless grapes, which everyone liked. I wish I had grapes with the seeds. Although not as convenient to eat, I'm learning that fruit that has it's ability to reproduce is better for a person.

I'll give some more details on what other stuff we ate later.