Smoothie / Exercise Post

A friend of mine recently told me about this smoothie and I've been hooked on it! In fact, any day that I can't have it for lunch, I just don't feel right... like I'm cheating on my "diet." LOL

I don't have A LOT of weight to lose, but I would love to lose 10 lbs and of course, tighten and firm my tummy. Having a small, nutritious breakfast of either a banana and half an orange or 2 kiwis and possibly a banana, followed by this smoothie for lunch, is helping me shed weight. I'm also going to the gym for 30-60 mins 4 times a week.

 

Here's what goes in the smoothie:

2 handfuls of spinach

1 apple

half an orange

1 banana

5 strawberries

1 cup of yogurt

 

I can't afford to eat organic all of the time, but I do try to buy it every other week. I also peel my apple about half the time, and just wash the skin really well the other half (all of the chemicals are absorbed by the skin BUT all of the nutrients are also in the skin). I am using fat-free yogurt, and I'm buying the tub, so I just scoop about 3 large tablespoons into my smoothie. Once I have all of my ingredients in the blender, I fill it with ice almost to the top, because I like it cold.

 

The length of time I spend at the gym just depends on how much time I have. I try to be there closer to an hour, but even when I can't stay long, I make sure to get my cardio in. If I am short on time, I jog for 10 mins. If I have a little more time to spare, I like to jog 2 miles to start my workout. I aim to keep my heart rate around 140, and that is more important to me than speed, so that's my purpose for jogging. After my jog, I focus on a muscle group (abs, arms, or legs). I spend the rest of my workout working on that area. For abs, I use the ab machine and do sit ups holding a medicine ball at my chest and over my head. For arms, I use free weights and a couple of machines. For legs, I use a few different machines. I LOVE working out!

 

One of the most important things about getting fit is drinking plenty of water. Remember never to drink your calories. You won't see any weight loss or notice a difference in your body if you drink sodas (diet or not), energy drinks, or any other sugary drinks. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, and absolutely stay hydrated while you're working out.

 

If you're unable to hit the gym, there is plenty to do at home. You can run outside or in place, and you can jump rope or do jumping jacks for indoor cardio. You can do sit ups, crunches, push ups, leg raises, etc. all in your home. You can also get a set of dumbells to work on those arms. :)

 

I hope this post has helped anyone who's looking to get fit, but doesn't know where to start!