I'm so proud of myself. Why do you say? Well, because I have been exercising a good 2 hours a day the last week....and I'm really feeling the addiction. Before I had my cervical spine surgery just a little more than a year ago, I was a runner. I loved to run. I was addicted to running.Unfortunately, my neck injury put a stop to my running. I was given the go ahead quite some time ago to go back to my normal exercise routine, but well, you know how it is when you get "unused" to something. It is pretty hard to get "used" to it again.
This week I got back into the rhythm of exercise by staying off my computer in the morning. I logged in to check my mail and made myself get off within 10 minutes of turning it on. If I had enough time to do that. By 5:30 I had to be ready to exercise. I've been using the Wii fit. Let me tell you, that boxing really gets a sweat worked up - and I can burn off 70 calories in just 10 minutes with the boxing alone! Of course, another thing I love about the Wii is there is free run. YeeHaw! lol. Since my house is too small to house my treadmill, I no longer have it here. Instead, my Mom benefits from my treadmill. 🙂 I have been working out for an hour on the Wii and taking an hour walk at my lunch break - every day. Rain or shine. I just grab my umbrella and go. I'm feeling great (for the most part) and I know the exercise is contributing.
I also gave up Coffee. Gasp. Yeah. I can't believe it myself. However, I was addicted to some high test awesome coffee - Jernabi Coffee if your interested 🙂 - and with our situation not really being the best financially here, I decided I had to give it up. No matter if I wanted to or not. Maybe in the future, I may go in for some decaf, but that is going to be it. My body doesn't need that caffeine
So this brings me to my smoothie addiction. Yup. I gave up one to create another. However, I think the exercise combined with my smoothie addiction is a healthy thing. Don't you think?
HoneyB's Blueberry Smoothie
½ cup frozen blueberries
½ cup vanilla flavored fat free yogurt (I use Stonyfield)
½ cup 1% milk (or more if needed to loosen smoothie up a little)
2 packets Splenda sweetener - feel free to sweeten to your taste with your favorite sweetener
2 teaspoons flax meal
Put ingredients all together in blender and blend until smooth. Or, if like me, you gave your blender to your youngest so they could make their own drinks....use a hand held immersion blender. They are awesome.
Barbara Bakes
Sounds like a great addiction to me. I need to get back to better eating soon!
Nan
My favorite flavor of smoothie! Although I use a rice or grain beverage, so thicken it up with a dash of liquid creamer. The flax meal is a great idea!
NikiTheo
Congrats on the changes you've made in your life!!! I've also recently been making some changes. I joined a gym, got a personal trainer and have changed my eating habits. (I really need to blog about bit sometime soon, I've learned A LOT I'd like to share).
You should head over to GNC sometime and pick up some protein. Not the meal replacement stuff and not soy protein (not good for you). But you can add it to your smoothies and it in all honesty, isn't horrible! I make a protein smoothie after every workout, to help strengthen my muscles. Especially after a strenuous one, it's so important. Also, during those hour walks at work, it would help burn a bit more if you do some intervals in walking, like speed walk for 2 minutes, then normal pace for a minute, speed walk for 2, normal for 1, etc. That helps burn a bit more calories and fat w/out burning protein and it keeps your body guessing so it doesn't get used to the same thing. It basically keeps your body from making it harder on you to burn the calories and fat.
I have soooo many things I could share with you! I've really dived into this and consulted nutritionists, personal trainers, dietitians, etc. Thankfully, I have a lot of friends who do this stuff! 🙂 Good luck!
Cookin' Canuck
Congratulations on the changes you have made in your life. I'd imagine you are feeling fantastic. This smoothie looks like the perfect thing to go along with your healthy lifestyle.
Kate Morgan Jackson
What a great way to use blueberries! I'm a blueberry FANATIC and can't wait to give this a try. 🙂
girlichef
Good for you!! I wish I had the self control to limit my computer time. I did for a while and now it seems to have taken over again. And coffee. Sheesh, how do you do it!? Although, a smoothie may help...YUM, looks great =)
pigpigscorner
Very delicious and healthy!
theUngourmet
I'm really trying to help my daughter with her weight. We just picked up the new Wii Active. It's a great workout. She really loves smoothies for breakfast. I'll have to make this for her. 🙂 Good for you for sticking with your fitness routine. It's tough sometimes!
Patsyk
Good for you! I just took up running at the beginning of June and am starting to see why people keep doing it... once you get past the first few weeks, it does get easier! Love that smoothie, keep those healthy recipes coming!
megan
So what I hear you saying is, dust off the wii and look for the immersion blender. I can do that! As soon as I get up off the couch. 😉
megan
So what I hear you saying is, dust off the wii and look for the immersion blender. I can do that! As soon as I get up off the couch. 😉
pegasuslegend
fabulous healthy and so pretty too!
Mags
I need to become addicted to exercise and smoothies too. I just typed this after eating a bowl of ice cream that I posted about yesterday. *sigh*
Joanne
Go you! This smoothie looks fantastic and it sounds like you're going about all this the right way!
Cristine
You are doing awesome! Wish we were closer and we could be workout buddies! Not many people like to do it first thing in the morning. 🙂
The smoothie looks great! Keep up the great work!
bellini valli
That's wonderful Shelby. I am inspired to get started myself.
baking.serendipity
It is so difficult to bounce back from an injury and get into a regular routine. I always get frustrated that I can't perform as well as I used to and have to fight through my high expectations for myself to set realistic goals. Congrats on getting back into your own routine! I have been wanting to buy a Wii for a while, but couldn't justify the extra money. 70 calories in 10 minutes is a pretty good justification though 🙂
JuneBug
Hey! If you use juice instead of milk you can skip the splenda and save your body of the extra chemicals... Peach juice would be nice with blueberries, but we usually just add OJ...
Helene
Congratulations for getting back into the habit of exercising. We should have a 'virtual support group'. I have to go back to it too. I injured my leg right now but in 6 wks I should be good to go. So let me know if you want us to do a 'email virtual group' supporting each other. 🙂
KAREN
Thanks for THIS newsletter.....I have also been trying to get back into the exercise habit and have been contemplating buying the Wii fit for our unit. I use the Wii for my netflix addiction and need to get up of the couch at night. I think I will go buy it tonight after work and start getting fit!
PS...the smoothie looks awesome!