I was chatting with a friend yesterday who decided to let me in on her goals for 2012. She mentioned that in a few months (unspecified amount of time), she intended to quit her junk food habits (which are alive and well on a daily basis) cold turkey and clean up her diet completely. She also mentioned the plan to introduce intense daily exercise into her life.

Did it sound fantastic? Yes, of course it did! Was I an encouraging friend? Yes, I was. Yet I immediately saw the flaws in this approach. The reality is that most people don’t manage to turn things around overnight and that is totally normal and acceptable. It’s unrealistic to expect a turn around of bad habits all in one sitting. As I  tell my clients who expect a magic bullet approach, it’s taken many years, sometimes close to a lifetime for the health issue or unhealthy thought pattern to arise, so it ain’t gonna disappear overnight! Things take time, and in order to make sustainable and long lasting changes, that idea must be accepted and embraced.

So I had a better suggestion for her… I recommended she start someplace green. I encouraged her to make a commitment to herself to drink one green smoothie a day. Sounds simple, right? Well in practice, a shift is needed. You need to get that old blender out of the dusty cupboard, cut up your fruit and adjust to the idea of having leafy greens for breakfast. All incredibly positive changes of course and the taste is truly fantastic. Once the seed of success begins to grow, the plants of motivation and determination will flourish from that seed and healthy habits will eventually become a part of the easy routine you can’t live without.

Why start with a green smoothie?
Well for a few reasons: You can target several birds with just one stone. That’s mean, right? Well don’t take it too seriously.

Wanna improve poor digestion?
One green smoothie at a time

Wanna lose weight and optimize your ph balance?
One green smoothie at a time

Wanna experience increased energy?
One green smoothie at a time

Wanna get more nutrients into your body?
One green smoothie at a time

One green smoothie at a time allows for the consumption of several healthy foods at one time, liquefied and more digestible of course.

So what am I getting at, you ask?
Well, the green smoothie stands for change. Sustainable changes are made one step at a time. Likewise, long lasting lifestyle improvements are made one at a time.

Integrating Manageable phases
This is why my clients and I work together as a team, reaching goals through the implementation of realistic and manageable phases. Eager as a beaver, I started off my practice sharing everything I knew with my clients! I’m pretty sure I overwhelmed some of them, sorry guys and gals, I got a bit too excited there. But my system has become more than refined. In understanding the human need to gulp down one bite size morsel at a time, you can expect a personalized health program encompassing just that concept.

Nutrient Station Green Smoothie

• 1.5 cups coconut water
• 3 cups Purslane- a leafy green rich in Omega 3-Essential fatty acids
• 1 large pear
• 1 cup organic blueberries
• 1 tsp Chia seeds
• 3 dates
• 2 cups filtered water

Method: Blend well, fill er’ up and enjoy the wholesome nutrition!

“Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.” – Author Unknown