I was married in October 2014 but quickly fell into an unhealthy post-wedding rut: I developed terrible eating habits, gained weight, and lost energy, motivation, and much happiness. Then summer rolled around and I took a hard look at my life. I wanted my life to change, but in order to do that, I realized I had to change. I threw out my old Excuses Handbook and stepped up. As a result, these last few months have been some of the most rewarding of my life.
My husband and I decided to start our new lives with a 30-day cleanse. It seemed a like fitting way to transition into a more permanent healthy lifestyle, and it created the kind of results that catalyze motivation. Bound by strict eating schedules and food limitations, we both lost a significant amount of weight—more than either of us had ever lost before. We also developed a host of new habits that we didn’t expect: we learned how to cook meals together, how to keep our kitchen clean, how to buy healthy groceries, how to portion our food, how to thrive without caffeine, and so much more. Most importantly, we learned how good it feels to take control of our lives.
We finished that first month feeling a strong sense of accomplishment and excited to use our newly-developed habits to keep pushing forward toward health and vitality. However, without the strict rules of the cleanse, we weren’t sure how maintain a forward momentum. I started doing research about diets, but I didn’t want to diet; I wanted to transform. A co-worker introduced me to Kimberly Snyder’s book The Beauty Detox Solution, and its message has truly transformed the way I view and consume food.
In a nutshell, The Beauty Detox Solution tells the story of food through the lens of human physiology. Learning what happens to food once I eat it has been an incredibly eye-opening experience and has created the foundation of my new relationship with food. Though I still make exceptions every now and then, I am much more aware of what I am using to fuel my body and I make conscious choices about what that fuel should be.
An excellent source of fuel that’s been popular in recent years, and is lauded by Kimberly Snyder, is the green smoothie. I’ve been drinking Snyder’s Glowing Green Smoothie® (recipe can be found at: http://kimberlysnyder.com/blog/ggs/) every day for weeks now, and I can’t express what an amazing difference it has already made for me. I’ve had more energy and fewer cravings throughout the day, and I feel good knowing I am doing my body justice.
It’s no surprise that green smoothies feel good to drink. According to Snyder, the dark, leafy greens contained in them provide more valuable nutrients than any other food group. Blending helps break down the plant’s cells to release the nutrients encased within them for easier absorption into the body. With the right combination of leafy greens, veggies, and fruits, these drinks can be incredibly tasty. They are filling, healthy, and convenient. They are easy to make in large batches and they freeze well for later use. I like to make eight batches at once so I have smoothies available for over a week. I recently forced my skeptical husband to taste one and he admitted to liking more than he expected. Now it looks like I’ll be blending for two!
Green smoothies are only one of the many fairly simple ways that any person can improve their diet and their quality of life. For me, smoothies are just one more stepping stone on the path to true health. I can’t wait to keep discovering more ways to live a healthy life, and, ultimately, live the life I always wanted but never felt capable of achieving.
– Jessica Bridger, JETPUBS Inc.