21 June 2010

do something nice for yourself

I have been hard on my body lately. Eating stuff I shouldn't and telling myself I'll just run a billion miles to work it off, BUT I'm pretty sure that's not how good health works OR how we are supposed to treat the amazing gift that is our bodies and it can't be good for you in the long run. (unintentional pun. wha-whahhhhh)

Plus I have old lady feet and have been feeling the pins in my feet from surgeries in years past, so I am taking a running hiatus and swimming laps in the morning and I LOVE IT! Swimming is so gentle on the body while still being a huge workout. I already feel more toned. I don't know about looking more toned. But I feel good and I come home all energized to start my bright-and-early day with the family.

Swimming laps is the nicest thing I have done for myself in a while and we all deserve something nice don't we?

Another nice thing I've been treating myself to is a delicious green smoothie every morning. My dad was intrigued so I told him I'd post the recipe.

My cousin's cute wife posted this recipe on her blog a while ago and we started out doing the orange juice variation which was good, but one day I didn't have orange juice and so I tried the milk variation and have never looked back. It's like a tasty milkshake.

Here's my version:

1 cup milk
3 HUGE handfuls of spinach (fill up that blender!)

Blend until smooth.

Then add:
2 TBSP flaxseed (buy from costco. easy huh.)
2 heaping scoops of vanilla protein powder (Also from costco. You have no excuse. Get the purple and silver bag. Not the white container. TRUST ME.)
a frozen banana cut up (I buy 2 bunches at a time, peel them, throw them in a bag all together, and freeze them like that.)

Blend all that up together til it's nice and milkshake-y.


And that's it. And Thomas and I drink it, and the boys gulp some down too. Every morning and BAM you started your day with a HUGE green salad with calcium, protein, omega fatty acids, and a serving of fruit. You can add fresh or frozen berries...etc. if you want, but we keep it simple and it's totally delicious.

ENJOY!

13 comments:

Megan and Keli'i said...

Ummm...can I come and swim with you? Yes, please and pass the green smoothie! Lovely things you're doing for your body there. Yes-sir-ee.

Megan and Keli'i said...

PS- I noticed your lovely books in the corner of the smoothie photo. Can I just say that we are meant to be kindred spirits, so why is it so hard to get together?

Stephanie said...

i know for reals megan. come to the pool! 6am every manana!!!!! or let's just go to the beach with the kids or somethin :)

Rach said...

I love the do something for me. does it cost to swim in the morning, I'm guessing BYUH pool? I think I am going to try early morning ZUmba class....oooo can't wait. yeah for GREEN SHAKES!

sheila said...

that shake looks so delicious right now. I'm on a smoothie/shake/frozen drink craze right now. My body screams for them.

I now have a good reason to go to costco.

Josh and Laura said...

I'm glad you're liking the green smoothies! We're totally addicted. I'm glad you said hi on my blog. I know all the Hawkins cousins in Utah really well from all the showers and family parties, but I'm pretty unfamiliar with the out-of-Utah cousins. So hello!

boo face mcjones said...

yumma dum dum.

(that was in reference to both you and the smoothies, of course.)

melissa said...

two things.

nate's brother swims every other morning and i've really been wanting to try, but i don't know how to swim.

i've been drinking green smoothies lately, too. mine are 2 cups spinach, 1 frozen banana and 1/2 cup organic pineapple/coconut juice. it doesn't taste like grass. mmmmmm. yours sound a little healthier.

is that your swimsuit up there in the picture? it's cuuuute.

stef j. said...

swimming sounds nice. know anybody that would babysit at 6a?

pwah ahhahahaa!

and i'm excited to try me some green smoothie ASAP!

ashley said...

i really really wish i could come swim with you. i miss it so so much! glad you get to go though!
and i need to get me some spinach soon! i have been reading about green smoothies- some girls blog called green smoothie girl or something like that. i need to get on it and start making some!

B said...

Um guys, when did everyone get so healthy? I want to be healthy too. Have you all been secretly healthy all I long? And Mellie you saying you don't know how to swim made me laugh out loud (see i'm mean and not healthy. I'm too far behind. How will ever catch up)

melissa said...

bitty, i make up for being secretly healthy by eating a half a bowl of cookie dough every other day.

modestmuse said...

Scary, because that milkshake is what Neil makes and lives on every single day!! Sometimes with some variation (fruit; other veggies) but always either OJ or rice milk. I would suggest trying rice milk, it's tasty and a lot better for you than cow's milk (less fattening).