It didn't turn out bad after all

See? I'm smiling!

This, my friends, is a green smoothie. It is so darn delicious!

Here's what's in it:

• 1 kale leaf


• 4 romaine lettuce leaves


• big handful of spinach


• 1 small cucumber


• 1 banana


• 1/2 avocado


• 1 large tsp of chia meal


• leftover pineapple juice from this morning (about 4 oz)


• splash of peach nectar

I bet you are wondering where I got this combination of veggies. I got it from Cindy! I asked her for a good green smoothie and she suggested this combination of greens to start with. You can make this and if you don't like the flavors, then change it to something you do like. There is no set recipe, really. Just put in what you like.

I made this juice and it was all I could do to keep myself from gulping it down. It was my lunch and I wanted to savor it for a couple of reasons. By gulping, you don't taste what it is you're drinking. Those great flavors don't have time to sit on your tongue if you gulp. So I sipped it. Took me about an hour to drink that glass of smoothie. Can you see how happy it made me? Totally changed my outlook for the day, I'd say. I felt more energetic and more alert.

I felt so good I went to group tonight. I brought along the rest of the smoothie to share. They liked it! I think the more I talk about juicing and smoothies, the more converts I get. They want to know what juicer I have, what veggies go together, etc. I guess I'd better become more knowledgeable about combinations of veggies for particular health reasons. I depend a lot on Cindy for that, but I need to learn for myself. For instance, I know that lettuce and cucumber are soothing drinks. Soothing to your stomach and soothing to your well-being. Besides, it's just darn delicious. Yes, mix them together. You'll love it!

I'll share one of my thoughts from group tonight and it's this: I said that since I've been juicing, I've been off my sugar train. Boy, oh boy, can I ride that train, too. I've been staying away from packaged foods and prepared foods in any way, including fast foods. There is just too much fat, salt and sugar in those foods. (More on that later in another post.) I feel so much better physically, but here's the greatest thing: I don't compulsively eat. The food I'm eating fills me in the right way nutritionally, that I don't feel the desire to snack on bad things. If I do get a little hungry, I grab some almonds, or snow peas or fruit and I really am satisfied. Now if you told me I would be eating this way 3-4 months ago, I would've said "yeah right", but I am doing it and I feel so good.

I know I can be successful with the gastric bypass now. I know what foods are good for me and what they can do for me to help me heal. I can do this!