At the start of this Summer, I was not loving how I looked or felt. My midsection was less defined, more than a bit bloated, and dangerously veering into muffin top territory. I felt sluggish and slow, especially when hiking or working out. And let’s not even discuss having to put on a bathing suit! So it was time to take action. And when a post from Dr. Oz popped up on my Facebook feed, I took it as a sign to check out his 28 Day Shrink Your Stomach Challenge.
I’ll confess it looked less than appetizing and more than a bit challenging. What? No wine?? But for me the structure and routine were just what the “Dr.” ordered. The results? With some cheats, I lost 9 pounds and 1 1/2 inches on my waist. Bloat was banished, my clothes fit better, my energy levels were upped. And doing a 3 minute plank is now, well, easy.
That said, I did some tinkering with his recipes. I’ve been a breakfast smoothie fan for decades but my old version relied on milk and yogurt. Since dairy was a no no, I had to get creative. My favorite version turned out to be the recipe below, and now I start every day with it. It’s really delicious and keeps me going until lunch. So even if you don’t try the 28 Day Challenge, I hope you’ll try this!
Sunshine Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 cup Non-dairy Milk (I like So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk)
1/2 Avocado (Yes it’s fat but good fat!)
1/2 Banana (I slice up a 2-3 ripe bananas at a time and store in a ziploc in the freezer)
1/4 cup Mango/Pineapple Chunks (I keep bags of frozen organic ones on hand)
(Alternative fruit option to mango/pineapple chunks: 1/2 cup mixed berries. You’ll enjoy a purple smoothie instead of a green one!)
2 tbsp Bran/Chia/Flaxseed Mix (I premix all 3 and store in a big mason jar)
Add ingredients in order of recipe into your blender, from milk to bran mix. I could not live without my Ninja. It’s fast, pretty quiet, and tackles anything. Whir away, then pour into a tall glass and enjoy!
I got my Ninja Blender at Bed Bath and Beyond. They always offer coupons, plus it’s now on sale.
So, what is your bran, chia, flaxseed mix, what proportion of each?
No real science. Basically 1/3 proportion of each mixed into whatever container you have handy. Since Chia Seeds become really sticky when they absorb liquids, I’m now trying ground ones.