The 21 Day Green Smoothie Detox ended with me having dropped nine pounds. Additional benefits including the first time in my post-puberty life that I have gone through a month without cramps – that alone would have been worth it. I also learned to eat new foods, enjoy new tastes and dare to experiment.
Taking that journey through three weeks (four if you count the prep week) of sticking to mostly raw foods reminded me that food can be enjoyed and not control my life. Great flavors can come from fresh ingredients instead of artificial substitutes. And most importantly, I have rediscovered that eating is NOT what causes my weight issues.
Yesterday I began stepping back into my life without diets.
3 Keys to a Life without Diets
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1. Waiting until my stomach growls is tougher when I am doing NOTHING. Sitting around watching television and being completely passive makes my head want to eat. I have to find ways to get my head to line up with my stomach. Taking a walk, doing some cleaning or organizing, and even some writing all help me to take my mind off the food and make it easier to wait for actual hunger to set in.
2. Eating healthy can be more exciting than eating stuff. I have found that I am just as quick to crave the amazing flavors that fresh vegetables and herbs offer as I used to be for craving fries. I have a confession to make – in the last month I have not eaten a single French fry (and I survived).
3. My food choices reflect back on my family. Teaching them now to make better choices when it comes to fueling their bodies will help them all throughout their lives. Helping them see that food is one more tool in that success will allow them to avoid the issues I have had with weight and food most of my life.
I know that I am nowhere near my end destination. I also know that I need more support and encouragement on the rest of my journey. This site will be one of those places as I continue to share my path with all those that stop by. The rest is still a work in progress, but your suggestions are greatly appreciated.
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I’ve been reading your blog for around two weeks now and a love it. The honesty, positivity and simplicity of it is very refreshing. I don’t believe that things happen by accident, so I thank God for finding your blod while searching for green smoothie recipes. I’ve been drinking green smoothies pretty consistently for a few weeks now and immediately felt a difference mentally and physically. I usually drink one or two blenderfuls a day and I’m to the point where I would rather drink a delicious than eat processed food. My body feels out of whack if I miss a green smoothie and even more out of whack if I eat “regular” food. I feel I’m nearing a raw lifestyle and I’m interested in doing the prep and detox you spoke of. Can you give me any info or point me to where I can find it? Thanks!
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Hey April – I have been AMAZED at the difference in my body from these few weeks of going green. I was telling my husband this morning that I can tell a huge difference in how my body is acting – just like you said.
The detox program I used was from the Green Smoothie Queen. They offer some great recipes, but the daily emails really topped it off for me.
My goal is to get my whole family drinking at least one green smoothie per day.
Hey Kathryn, I found your post while doing a search for a green smoothie diet/detox. I see that you used the Green Smoothie Queen’s program. Can you tell me how you liked the meal planner and shopping guide? Did this detox really help? I had been drinking green smoothies for a while, but I have fallen off the healthy eating wagon, and would like to hop back on. I have been reading the Green Smoothie Queen website off and on, but didn’t know if it would be worth the money for the 21 day detox. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Hey Charity – FOR ME (and I say that because I think the Green Smoothie Queens are big on your individual journey – at least that is what I got) the list of recipes made it easier for me to experiment and stay on target than if I had just tried to do it on my own. I liked their approach to green eating – that it should be to your own tastes. The daily emails were GREAT encouragement.
I was a little concerned about the price myself, but can say with sincerity that it was worth it. I have new inspiration for eating better and getting healthy AND creative ways to introduce my children to some of the same.
Does that help any?
Thank you Kathryn for your review and opinion about their detox. I think I will try to do it after I get some bills paid. I definitely want a guide with recipes. Some of the smoothies I have tried to create on my own have not turned out so well.
Thanks again,
Charity
I TOTALLY understand the mishaps in smoothie creation. There have been some that I made that I seriously considered flushing – yes, they were that bad! You have inspired a post for this week – I will be listing some of the ingredients I use most and what they do to the flavors of the drink. Maybe that will give you some more inspiration while you are waiting to sign up.
Oh – and you might want to do their free three day course. At least that will get you started on your journey.
Thanks for post Kathryn! When you said something about flushing them..that reminded me of a time where I did put one down the sink. It was awful! Apparently, I learned the hard way that you have to peel a beet. I know..I know..but I thought I rinsed it good enough, but the whole smoothie just tasted like DIRT! LOL! So a post about your smoothie recipes would be greatly appreciated! Glad I could be some inspiration for a post! I need to update my own blog…hmmm. Well I hope I brought a smile to your face with my beet mishap, and have a great weekend!
I confess that there were one or two where I had to gulp them down to get them down.
although I am not sure I would be able to deal with the dirt issue! I learned a few lessons myself and included them in the post I wrote about Smoothie Flavors. I have also started posting some things that I am doing with family meals that incorporates some of the green smoothie ideas.
I had a bad experience with a beet diet in junior high and have skipped over most of the recipes that include them – maybe it’s time to give beets a chance.