Happy Monday! It feels like fall here in good ole' Vancouver, WA - so I was inspired to try a smoothie out of one of my new books. This is called "Dumpkin" - don't let the color/name scare you... it's sooo good and full of antioxidants. My skin is already thanking me. I woke up thinking I wanted... yep, you guessed it; coffee. I also considered oatmeal or some other kind of warm porridge like breakfast. I spent 10 minutes conversing with myself silently, trying to justify why I should not have a smoothie - then I decided to make a smoothie that sounded decadent. I cannot wait for warmer weather when my body will want something cold in the morning... Until then, I will puuuusssh my way through. This smoothie tastes like fall dessert - yum! In the (Vita)mix: -2 cups Spinach - 2Tbsp almond butter -1banana -1cup blueberries -1cup pumpkin -cinnamon to taste, water as needed. This tulip looked so inviting on my walk... I LOVE the hope that Spring brings...
It's also a reminder that I really need to start planning the little garden I want to plant. We have a long(narrow) plot that doesn't get much sun - just a few hours in the morning, so I was thinking greens and herbs might do well! I am going through some serious spinach right now... I know I need to branch out the greens too. When I weighed less, and was in really good physical shape - I loved to garden. At this size, the thought of bending, squatting, and kneeling is daunting to say the least. But I'm doing it anyway.
Speaking of bending, I forgot to notice another change I've seen in one week; my joints are mostly free of pain! My right knee hurt so bad I could barely bend it to put on my sock, but now I can bend it without any pain. People often assume you need to lose the weight to see physical benefits, but I assure you it can be as simple as changing what you are eating... Things like sugar, flour, excess sodium, processed, and fast foods cause inflammation in your body. Our bodies function so much more effectively with the right kind of fuel; fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, nuts, legumes, lean proteins. Finding the right balance of those things can heal what ails you. If you think you may want to try exploring a different way of eating in you life, but you don't know where to start - contact me to set up a FREE 30-minute initial consultation. Perhaps you are thinking, "yeah right, I'll eat a diet of mostly fruits and vegetables when pigs fly!" Well then, today is your lucky day... 
Cheers to your health!
