my first green monster

Over the past few months, I have really become reenergized when it comes to health and fitness. I have been revamping my diet, adding in more exercise and general daily activity. I have to say that I am really feeling better.

I think I say that every time I get into the groove health and fitness wise, but something happens and I fall of the wagon. I really don’t want to fall of the wagon this time, so I am focusing on taking things step by step. No crazy dieting or restrictions - just the intention of eating a balanced diet that keeps my metabolism fueled, exercising to keep energized and taking every opportunity to move forward in my life.

One thing that keeps me on track, helps me learn new things and inspires me every single day is reading health and fitness blogs. Just like crafty blogs, health and fitness blogs are inspirational and insightful – both add to my to do list and make me feel part of a bigger, like-minded group.

Here are a few blogs I find interesting. You may or may not - I find that a lot of finding blogs you like is in the tone of voice, the picture taking or even the design of the blog. A lot is very subjective, but for some reason, the blogs below draw me in – probably mostly because of their journeys.

For a long while now, these blogs have been daily reads:

Roni’s Weigh
Green Lite Bites
Kath Eats Real Food  

More recently, I have found these:

Eat Live Run
Oh She Glows
Catapult Fitness

I think most of these came from guest posts on Kath Eats Real Food or from links on other blogs.

One of the things the new blogs have introduced me to is a smoothie called the Green Monster.  A green monster is a smoothie with fruit and some sort of green, like spinach. Honestly I was a bit nervous to try one, but after reading how amazing people thought they tasted, how great they made them feel, not to mention how glowy it made their skin, I had to.

I picked up the ingredients for a basic green monster at the grocery on Friday – spinach, unsweetened vanilla almond milk and berries (I already had a nice stash of bananas in my freezer). Many people add other things like flax or protein powder, but this was my first attempt, so I decided to keep it very simple. Out came the blender on Sunday morning and in went the ingredients. My green monster didn’t turn out as green as I have seen, probably because I used a few berries and a whole banana, and it wasn’t quite as smooth as I expected (blame my blender), but it was SOOOO yummy (much, much yummier than it looks).

I made another for breakfast this morning and am planning the ingredients for my next variation! I dare you to try one  : )

Next up on my health and fitness journey is this. More on that later – I plan to start on next Monday.

Comments

[Philippine Real Estate]

ahmmm.. i thinks i should try this one also.. :-)

[Tory]

Thanks so much for posting this. I consider myself pretty health conscious but sometimes I find myself slipping and the more I slip the harder it is to get back into a healthy routine. I'm going to check out some of your links and hopefully connect with some daily inspiration to keep me on track!

[Colleen]

I love a green monster but have traditionally called it my fiber drink - this name is so much better! For a crazy blue-green color and health benefits galore, add some spirulina powder.

[Zarah]

Hmm... I'm still not sure about the green shake, but if you say it's good, I'll give it a try.

[amber]

thanks! I'll have to try this, I'm up for anything that's yummy and good for you! :)

[kristin]

On the texture: try blending everything except the greens and then stopping the blender, adding the greens and giving it another whirl.

[Rachael]

Thanks for the hundred pushups link. I'm going to join you! I'm also as into fitness as I am into creating, but I don't blog about it (really, because I don't think anyone else cares about how tight my calves feel or how grueling my 6 AM sculpting class is).