Health and Fitness Challenge

It’s a New Year and a great time to kick start some new ways….

I thought about going green again, it’s a powerful way to cleanse your body and shed some extra pounds, QUICKLY. I did it last year and many people in the MM and Twitter community joined me. It’s very simple. You can eat anything and everything that is green, with the exception of green M&Ms and green tortilla chips! LOL! Your shopping list would look something like this:

Avocados, split pea soup, melons, edamame, cucumbers, celery, zucchini, different shades of lettuce, herbs for seasoning, green olives, olive oil, limes, snap peas, cabbage, leeks, green tea, mint, and any green veggies that you can find. I never skimp on flavor, so adding olive oil, salt, seasonings, garlic and lots of herbs are recommended.

I did this plan for a week, but I added fish and grilled chicken for dinner on the evening of day three. My goal was not to lose weight, but to rid my body of all unnecessary crap and to give myself an energy boost. It was a great experience and not that difficult because the decisions are so easy, just eat GREEN.

David is training for a TV show he will start in several weeks, so he is working out like crazy, trying to pack on some extra pounds of muscle, and he is doing it in a SUPER healthy way. So, in joining him I am tweaking my GREEN plan a bit, but I think this is a great option.
I will begin my day with a shake filled with healthy powders, protein, oils, etc (I’ve never been a believer in powders, but I am experimenting), the base is either coconut water or almond milk which has about ½ the calories of regular milk, a good protein powder, ½ frozen banana and some extras that have been recommended. Then I will eat raw fresh foods for my next two meals during the day. In the evening if I feel the need I will add a piece of grilled fish or chicken, along with any veggies of choice. I will make a big pot of cabbage, leek, and veggie soup that I can eat any time.

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GREEN SOUP recipe

In a large sauce pan boil one finely chopped onion, 3-5 cloves of chopped
garlic, 3 bay leafs, handful of chopped parsley and one parsnip for 30
minutes.

Add 3 chopped leeks, 1/2 head of chopped green cabbage, 4 chopped zucchinis,
and several cubes of chicken or vegetable bouillons.

Salt and pepper to taste.
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I’ll drink lots of water with lemon all day long. I love to boil ginger root and drink that hot or cold, it makes a great tea and gives you lots of energy. Green tea is a must and is an anti-oxidant. I also enjoy boiling fresh mint for tea. My biggest challenge will be to skip my am coffee, but it’s not a must. I don’t believe in killing yourself, any unhealthy meals that you can replace with better choices are going to make a difference. Try to drink a tall glass of lemon water before meals and you will be less hungry.

Look at this meal plan as an opportunity to challenge yourself. It can be fun, it’s definitely yummy and will make you feel GREAT! Listen to your body, commit, and find combos that you can enjoy. I love to eat, and starving is not an option for me. The best way to lose weight is to EAT more often. Make your meals healthy, fresh and frequent, every 3-4 hrs is ideal. I will start tweeting my meals, and I will also set up a daily log right here. Join me if you dare, it will be FUN! I totally understand how tough eating healthy can be, especially if you are feeding a whole family like me. That’s why I have tweaked the GREEN diet to make it a bit easier. I have to teach my family how to eat healthy during their younger years, because it will set them up right for life. They know they need to eat as many colors of the rainbow as possible, but if I can offer them healthy choices that they can enjoy, they will make it a habit. I will still serve rice, whole wheat bread, pasta, and dessert after a good meal for them, but I will be skipping the starches and sugar. It takes a lot of determination, but what great things in life don’t?

BTW, exercise is a BIG part of being healthy whether you want to lose weight or not. I do it to feel good, release stress and to ensure that I get my “me time” in every day. Health and fitness is a two-part plan. I believe that 90% of getting and staying fit is what you eat, but exercising is going to take you to the next level.

My fitness plan is coming tomorrow. If you tackle this little by little, you can join me and we can get into the best shape of our lives this year.

Go to the market!!!