I enjoyed the fresh flavors of the raw foods and decided to take a stab at a raw food detox that I found at The Raw Divas. This will only be seven days, but I am committing to following through with boldness. That means that I am CHOOSING to give up coffee for that week and am already beginning the weaning process by drinking hot tea instead.

This new journey corresponds with my reading of “Made to Crave.” I know that there is more. God made me for more. More opportunities exist than I ever imagined. My choices hinder my purpose, my path and my plans.

Think of a detox as a chance to train for better choices. Seven days (or 21 if you are going to do the Green Smoothie Detox from the Smoothie Queens) to begin to discover the potential of you.

The more I think about the possibilities the more exited I get about this detox. I want more and now my willingness to take the step to DO more is making that desire a reality.

Two weeks of the Green Smoothie Detox (and three weeks with the concept). I weighed this morning and two more pounds have been removed from the body.

The best part for me is that the Green Smoothie Queens do not try to force me into their box. They are using the tools at their disposal, the recipes and encouraging emails, to help me make better decisions.

That means that eating a veggie sandwich when I am out with my mom causes no guilt. Grabbing a few pieces of chocolate covered popcorn while playing cards with our friends does not make me feel like I have failed. Best of all, for me, is that eating celery or spinach or drinking a green smoothie has not become a chore.

The variety that is offered up through the Green Smoothie Detox recipes keeps me interested (and keeps my taste buds happy). It has helped me reconnect with what I know are the right eating habits for my body. I am listening again, and sometimes the difference between where I am and where I want to be is in that moment when I will be still and listen.

Three weeks and nine pounds is a good thing. I know that there are probably ways I could enhance the weight loss (through exercise mainly), but for now I am content to take it one step at a time.

This down turn for my weight began because I ate outside of the way my body required. The journey back to the place of balance must also start back at that beginning. Recognizing my stumbles and struggles are key to my recovery.

I received an email yesterday and since I had two people contact me in the 24 hours prior to the email about green smoothies, I thought I would make myself a guinea pig and give it a try. Consider this a test drive of sorts. Ask me questions about what I am doing, feeling or thinking. Give me some suggestions on any personal experiences you have had with the program.

This morning was my first weigh in. Although I am not quite to the place where I want to confess the actual number, I will say that it is MUCH higher than t needs to be at this time in my life. The weight will be monitored, along with my general feelings and look. For the record, my husband walked in early and said “you look tired” so I should have no place to go but up from here.

On the Menu Today

Breakfast: Green Smoothie (although technically mine are more of a purple shade) 12 oz

Lunch: Green salad w/ baked potato (with butter, salt and pepper) – I used fresh lemon to squeeze on my salad as the dressing (it really is good)

Snack: Green Smoothie 12 oz

Dinner: pasta with broccoli and spinach

I did not measure out the smoothie. I just poured some into a glass and it turns out that glass holds 12 oz.

The ladies over at the Green Smoothie Queen website have some great tips and suggestions for going green. The program includes a menu. There are three boys that have to be feed in this house (a teenage, preteen and five year old) so it will be interesting to see how they take to the menu or if I have to make separate meals for my own personal consumption. They LOVE the smoothies. Either way I am excited about where this 21 day journey will take me.

Several months back I was introduced to the Green Smoothie. At the very basic, it is raw green vegetables blended into a smoothie. I have taken the idea and added my own little twist. Nothing is measured out, which is how I cook most things, so there are no details. All I really do is combine some fresh fruits and all-natural fruit juice to make a breakfast smoothie that even the boys want to drink – adding even more of a twist by throwing in the occasional raw vegetable now and then.

Breakfast Smoothie Recipe
(The one we had yesterday anyway)

Start with one whole banana broken into two or more pieces
Add about two cups of frozen, all natural fruit
Add two handfuls of raw baby spinach
Add about ¼ cup all natural fruit juice
Blend until smooth

Some days I skip the spinach and add more banana and fruit to make a fruit smoothie. Any that I have left over I use as a snack when my tummy starts growling between meals. The kids enjoy experimenting with different fruits to see what colors they can create.

The best way to be sure that you eat healthy and that your children develop healthy eating habits is to experiment with foods. Fruit smoothies and veggie smoothies are great alternatives to carrot sticks and green salads. See what fun ways you and your family can discover together to enjoy all the great foods available today.