So one of my closest girlfriends went on a crash diet last week in a last ditch attempt to get rid of 5 or so stubborn pounds that she wanted to lose. I think she looks fabulous now, but we all have our “preferred weight”. The crash diet consisted of little or no carbohydrates, lots of lean protein and supplements. Sounded a bit like Atkins if you ask me UGH. Now this particular friend has eaten far healthier then I have for years, she told me she knew she was ‘selling out’ and was desperate.
We were working out together at the gym doing our abs on the floor and we were discussing the diet. I had my Ipod in one ear and was listening to her with the other when I blurted out “Aren’t you Constipated!” I said it way too loud and everyone working out around us turned to stare. We laughed and rolled on the floor until we cried….. everything is funnier when it’s 5:30am and you are deliriously tired (The quiet answer later was “yes, I’m constipated!”)
The sad end to the story was that my dear friend instead of losing weight, ended up gaining weight even though she followed the plan to a letter.
I have lost over a pound a week since switching to a whole foods, plant based diet. This is while eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds with reckless abandon. I have NEVER felt hungry. I thought maybe if I revised my diet to cut out any excess calories, without starving and maximize greens and still provide our bodies with all the incredible nutrition that we need, that maybe her and I could turbo charge our weight loss, hence the Week-long Green Smoothie Challenge was hatched yesterday and commenced today. We all ready have 5 others joining us! Here are the details:
Weigh yourself on day one in the morning, before you shower and AFTER you go to the bathroom. This is your resting body weight.
What not to eat: No grains or potatoes or corn (starchy carbohydrates) of any kind, even the whole grain versions, No extra fruits except what is in your smoothie. No avocados, nuts or seeds this week (except flax or chia in the smoothies). No animal products: this means no meat, no dairy products of any kind and no eggs. DO NOT: use oil this week, do not use dips other than the homemade hummus for your veggies, do not add any sugars (artificial or natural) Stevia is okay. This is for the week challenge only, not long term.
Dinners: Giant green salad (5 cups organic baby greens or other lettuce of choice) with unlimited veggies of choice (above) serve with 1 Cup (1/2 can) of any of the following drained and rinsed canned low or no sodium beans: garbanzo, butter beans, lima beans, black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, navy beans, etc. you can even use frozen peas for a change of pace. Serve with the dressing below:
Here is the link to the recipe video for your big dinner salad, (or better yet, ) Use up to 4 T. of this recipe on your big dinner salad (1/4 C.) It will cover more greens and veggies if you toss your salad in big bowl with the dressing. The dressing thickens really nicely in the fridge and is very creamy. Almost like a creamy, not too sweet honey mustard dressing. Restrain yourself and don’t drink it from the jar, if you don’t fall in love with it immediately, it will grow on you until you can’t eat a salad without it! I LOVE IT and always have it in the fridge!
Here is a basic low-fat Hummus recipe
2 Cans low or no sodium Garbanzo Beans, drain 1 can, reserve the water from the other can
2 cloves minced garlic
1 t. ground cumin
1 t. smoked paprika
Add both cans garbanzo beans to your blender or food processor, add the liquid reserved from 1 can, add all other ingredients and blend or process until smooth.
Here are the stats for the following (typical day on the diet)
2 green smoothies, 1 C. carrots, 1 C. celery, 1 C. broccoli, 1 C. cauliflower, 1 C. cucumber, 2 roma tomatoes, 1/2 C. hummus, 5 C. earthbound farms organic baby spring mix, 4 T. House dressing, 1 C. garbanzo beans
1198 Calories, 233 grams carbs, 56 grams protein, 17 grams fat, 66 grams fiber. WOOHOO FIBER!!! No Constipation!
I told my friend that if she hasn’t lost 5 lbs by the end of the week (weigh in on Wednesday morning the 21st, and NO CHEATING) I will take her to cafe rio for lunch where we will eat veggie salads with whole wheat tortillas, black beans, hot salsa and lots of limes. No cheese, no dressing (only one of their dressings is vegan and it’s not tasty).
Wish us luck!
UPDATE: 3/15/12 Green smoothie diet is awesome. I tracked everything I ate on fitclick yesterday and couldn’t physically consume more than 950 calories. No wonder people lose crazy amounts of weight on the diet! (which is coming on it’s way to me from Amazon this week along with , so excited!) I was still providing my body with insanely good nutrition but I was so full I couldn’t possibly eat (or drink) any more green smoothies, salad, vegetables or beans. I had to force myself to eat half of the amount I had planned at dinner. Crazy. I’m all ready down 2 lbs since yesterday, but still feel awesome today and no hunger pangs or headaches or any of that crap! Watch for more posts with more recipes and ideas!
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