Green smoothies: they’re just a first step!
This is for you, whether you’re
*a newbie to GSG trying to kick the SAD (standard American diet) or
*you’ve been here plugging along since the start almost two years ago, or
*you’re a lifelong die-hard earthy-crunchy who already knew everything I teach since before I was born
If all you ever did was green smoothies, I could die happy. If you’re drinking a quart a day, you’re doing better, nutritionally speaking, than 99 percent of Americans. (If I’m honest, I’d have to guess you’d probably be doing better than 97 percent with just a pint! Just don’t take that as a free pass for slacking!)
But in my reading of copious emails (I get about 200 a day, and I’m so very sorry that I can’t always respond to all of them, though I do try), I learn this interesting fact.
Once you start with Step 1, you don’t want to stop. Many people, anyway. You tune in, especially if you’re DOCUMENTING YOUR HEALTH as a real, live experiment, to what your body is telling you. You realize that you have more energy, you’re thinner, you have better skin and nails and hair, you crave empty calories less than before, maybe you even have more sexual energy.
So you want to move on to Step 2.
I just want to ask how many of you are STUCK ON STEP 1.
No shame in that. I’m not here to guilt trip anybody and never will be.
But I just want to give you the gentlest nudge in the booty, if you just answered yes, to get started on Step 2.
See, I’m ambitious. Born that way. Even if I’m thrilled with your fabulous green smoothie experiment, I want to see you replacing low-quality foods with high-quality ones.
So, are you ready to move on? If you’ve been on Step 1 for more than a month, what’s holding you up? Dig deep now, to answer that question.
Is it lack of time? Content with the progress you’ve already made? Afraid you’ll be required to give up addictions and that’s scary? What else?
Posted in: 12 Steps To Whole Food, Green Smoothies
man I’ll be honest–I was doing MAny of the steps–and THEN I trialed gluten for 6 weeks (since we found out my son has celiac disease) I can’t even explain the craving I feel when on gluten-(I had been off for 5 months)-the pain in my body and the headaches and lack of energy–i gotta get back going–I hopefully take the blood test this week and then I gotta go through the withdrawals for a couple days and then I’ll be doing better. excuses- ya- why did i do the trial? I dunno-the tests will probably be negative since it’s only been a short time.
For me–the very last step to being better was doing all of your steps AND getting off gluten–just wanted to share since gluten intolerance is upposedly supposed to be so common. i was finally able to lose 20lb after doing smoothies for about a year.(and at that point I was only having bread or pasta a couple servings a week whole wheat).
I’m not content where I am right now–I feel sick–and yet–I keep doing this. (eating wheat)-
I’m also having a hard time deciding what i need to do about allergies–my kids have allergies which makes me think i need to lessen up guidelines so they get what they need nutrient wise (a little more meat, etc)-
I KNOW it’s not a willpower thing to do all the steps–I KNOW that as soon as I’m off gluten and I DRINK my smoothies–the rest seems to follow- I start craving more raw foods and healthy foods and salads! smoothies are the key! (I’m addicted to hot pink smoothie which is hard since I don’t want 2 meals as smoothies) enough ramble…
I’ll be honest. I’m stuck on step one. I love my green smoothies, but I’m a slacker. Why haven’t I moved on? Well, I guess its because:
1. I hate being in the kitchen. I don’t enjoy food prep, grocery shopping, cooking, etc. Also, my kitchen is a nightmare, there is no room to work.
2. I’m ALWAYS running late.
3. Its just easier to eat out.
4. I constantly give in to my cravings. Even if I do make a salad or a veggie wrap to take to lunch with me, it never sounds good when that time rolls around, and then I go eat out anyway.
5. My sweet tooth is the worst in the whole United States, I swear. I can live on dessert alone. I don’t have that thing in your jab that says “STOP! TOO SWEET, YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH”!
6. My staple food is cheese. I can’t (ok I can, but I don’t want to) live without it. Actually, I would love to live without it, it just makes everything taste so much better.
So, I guess you can boil my excuses down to laziness 🙁 Sad but true.
I am a vegetarian, and I stick to that no matter what the circumstances, but that doesn’t mean I’m healthy…by far the opposite. I have a long way to go.
But I do want to say that I have learned SO MUCH from your site and videos. I make your granola and green smoothies all the time. So I’m on the right track, I just need to keep moving!
Admitting this was good for me, I’m going to make more of an effort I promise GSG!
Hello again:
I think I had taken it for granted–that once I embarked on a health journey, I’d never go back to my old ways or those habits that lead me to feel sick and awful to begin with. My experience has shown that the addictions we are required to deal with are so real that if we don’t address them, we are easily lead back to where we started. And it’s easy to slip up if you don’t acknowledge and understand why you want to make healthy changes. It also doesn’t help that we’re very hard on ourselves for not being ‘perfect,’ or whatever that means. When I had truly and wholeheartedly made the decision to eat plant based foods removing all processed foods from my diet, I intially struggled with it for the first two or three weeks, the first week being the hardest. When my taste buds started to change, I just couldn’t tolerate the idea of even putting something I considered detrimental to my health, in my mouth. It just didn’t have the same appeal. When I started to take note of the changes–weight loss, blemished skin disappearing, better vision, sharper mental focus, increased physical energy, a deeper sense of my own personal power and connection with spirit–past temptations had no hold on me anymore, literally. They didn’t entice or call me in–artificially bringing me up only to let me down and hard. . . That pressure had lifted and it vanished from my psyche. If I’m out with family or at a restaurant, I do the best I can with the menu at hand understanding that if I make a slight compromise, I’m fine with it. My life is a process. If I had made little compromises in the past, I probably would have gone back to my old ways but my consistency with eating well each and every day affords me the imperfections I deal with on occasion. And like I said, I’m fine with that. Green smoothies have become a part of my life and not just something I drink during a cleanse. But it’s a conscious decision I make to include at least one green smoothie each day. Eventually, it will become habitual, like brushing and flossing my teeth–automatic, something I won’t think about. Once a healthy habit is formed, that foundation which you have helped build for yourself will carry you through. Old, thick layers start to shed creating a new person and I know for myself, that has been absolutely true. The Grace of three years ago is not the Grace now and I am forever grateful. It’s hard work but things get easier and the rewards are just too good to pass up.
Jenni, I have had some interesting experiences the past few weeks related to people who are not completely honest. So, how refreshing was THAT to read! I laughed right on OUT LOUD.
Like Grace said . . . it’s a journey, a process. I’m not perfect either. I was born with the world’s worst sweet tooth (I thought, but maybe you and I could compete for that honor), so Ch. 11 is key for me, having nutritious treats on hand. Sometimes I can go many days with no treats, but I mostly want one every day, sometimes twice!
What Jenni said basically tells my story too — I am lazy! I used to be so good about the green smoothies and was pretty much a raw foodist for many months. I felt AMAZING. I felt like I have never felt before on any “eating program” or “diet”. So, what did I do…or continue to do? Sabotage myself and let the laziness set in.
I have slowly began to get back into the groove of things the past few days. I feel so horrible when I see the toll taken out on my kids when they have dairy (eczema, rashes..etc) and wheat/gluten (cravings, bloating..etc) and decided to “grow up” and take care of myself and my family. I know it’s going to be a heck of a week for all of us making the switch back to healthy foods but it will be so worth it. Life is worth it 🙂
I love green smoothies. But I have a Bosch mixer that’s just not cutting it (no pun intended). I have no mula for a Blendtec yet. So, I have not progressed. I am waiting to get your 12 STeps with the Blendtec whenever I’m able to afford it.
I, too, have celiac and have been trying to compare and contrast juicing to smoothies. I was told that the juicing is more healing and soothing to an irritated bowel. So, that has thrown me off the smoothie bangwagon for 2 weeks now. But I MISS the smoothies.
Any info would be great!
Betty
I am actually having the most trouble with Step 1. I have incorporated some of the other steps here and there. When I make green smoothies, I nearly always like them, but I can’t seem to keep on top of it more than a week at a time. Of course, ‘can’t seem’ just means I’m being lazy, not that there are any actual obstacles 🙂
My real struggle is commercial treats/refined sugars. I’ll think I’m eating well, and then I’ll track what I eat for a day and be astounded at the amount of sugary treats I’m eating.
There are so many food choices! Sadly, a lot of us make the wrong choices; some out of ignorance, what taste good, what makes us feel good, what we think is good for us and etc… There are so many of us who are sick because of the lack of good nutrition. There is so much information out there about nutrition that it may be mind boggling. I have often heard, when you learn better, you have the opportunity (choice) to do better”. On this site, I feel that the information can be trusted because Robyn has done extensive research and she practices what she teaches! I am presently reading one of her book recommendations, The China Study. It is so INFORMATIVE! I also read pH Miracle. If you haven’t read them, you should soon!
My husband and I have decided to live a healthier lifestyle! With the wholesome Green Smoothie, I feel that you can’t go wrong -unless you decide not to drink it! We have been drinking them since December ’08. Together, we have lost 63.5 pounds (husband 30, and I 33.5). My husband is diabetic and was taken off of one of his prescriptions and one was reduced to half dosage! We have more energy, we sleep better, my allergies are improving, elimination is improving, his arthritic knee has improved, my desire for junk food has diminished, etc… There are many other good things that can be said, but I am sure you have heard them before. There have been many to ask what we’re doing because they see a change in us. We tell them about the GREEN SMOOTHIE and I always recommend this site.
To help us with the green smoothie expense, we planted a summer vegetable garden with collards, swiss chard, arugula, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash and are planning to replant a variety of green leafies for the fall/winter garden.
This month (July ’09), I am reading and began implementing more of Robyn’s 12 Steps. We do want a good change in our diet. We think this is a great way!
One of my favorite passages of scripture, I believe, can help us do better is by transforming and renewing the mind.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1,2
We need to be as healthy as we can be to be able to fulfill our purpose. We always say that however long we live, we want it to be in good health! If we want the same results, just keep doing the same old things we’ve been doing, but if we want different results, we must do something differently.
Beginning the 12 Steps program is a great way to get positive results!
Be blessed!