As I write this, my arms a bit on the sore side, and my hands are shaking just the tiniest bit. You see, I just completed my customized workout designed for me and my specific body and all its issues by the western hemisphere's best personal trainer. (I was afraid if I said "best personal trainer in the known universe" that might sound hypey.)
Yes, just like many people this time of year, I'm working on getting healthy. I had some excellent excuses for getting to be completely in the worst shape of my life that go far beyond working too much while sitting on my previously-growing-by-the-day butt (I definitely do that), or my Mommy-baby weight (my youngest just turned 10 years old, so I guess I have to be done with that excuse). Two years ago I was diagnosed with -- and completely cured of! - lung cancer. But to get better I had open lung surgery (if you're into fancy medical terms it was a thoracotomy), and they removed a big chunk of my right lung. Because they had to cut through several layers of skin and muscle to do that, well, to this day, even after physical therapy my back still isn't fully recovered.
So two years ago this very month, after coming through that surgery, I decided I would get extra healthy and started doing the green smoothie thing.
That turned out to be a big mistake and ended up giving me kidney stones a few months later (I described why in this post), which sent me back to the hospital for two more surgeries. Seriously. That was a heckuva crappy year!
Now, more educated about healthy foods, I'm fully focused on getting into the best, most-rockin', HOT shape of my life. That is a tall order, considering in my 20s I wore size 4 clothing and worked out up to 6 days a week. But that was before I was married to the best trainer ever, and before I knew about GMOs, understood why organic food is crucial, and a whole host of other things.
So, here's today's post work-out smoothie recipe.
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Healthy Green Smoothie - Kale, Pineapple, Grape - Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free
3-4 Tablespoons filtered water
1 cup rough chopped pineapple
1 cup packed curly kale
1 cup frozen red grapes (no stems)
1-inch piece frozen ginger
1 Tablespoon flax seeds
1 scoop unflavored, unsweetened protein powder of choice
Toss all ingredients into Vitamix or other high-powered blender, gradually increase speed from low to high, and blend on high for about one minute, tamping down anything into the blades that isn't getting pulled down right away. Enjoy immediately!
