Good morning and happy (Raw) Wednesday!
For those of you that watched the season finale of The Biggest Loser last night, could you ever believe it?! Everyone looked GREAT and I couldn’t get over the three finalists. It just proves that you can do anything you set your mind to. It IS possible to lose weight and get healthy but it take a lot of hard work and dedication. I’m pretty sure all those people gave it 115% every day and that’s how they saw results. Amazing.
This morning to kick off Raw Wednesday, I made a raw protein shake for breakfast! I used all of the below:
Sun warrior protein powder, frozen banana, mango, ground flax and raw almond butter….blended all up in Vita Mix with 1 cup water and a few ice cubes to produce this:
It was okay. I’m mad it wasn’t awesome but this mango was on its waaay last leg and I was about to throw it today because its been sitting in the fridge for, um, 2 weeks. I know, I know…..oh well, at least I didn’t waste food! It was pretty filling because of the protein powder and almond butter so we shall see if it does its job and keeps me full!
The only problem with smoothies and shakes is that they make me really really COLD. I’m naturally a cold person (always wearing sweatshirts in the grocery store) and right now I’m bundled up in my super soft robe and drinking this peppermint tea to warm up—
Don’t you love my cute Anthro saucer?! I do.
Today is officially my “rest day” from working out and I know my body needs it after so many days of running, spinning and yoga. I have to remind myself to rest these days because I have the TIME to exercise and it helps take my mind off things. Today instead I am writing, grocery shopping, making the fabulous raw lunch I’ve had planned and going to the grief counselor. Woohoo.
Hope everyone has a great morning—see you in a bit!
magicanderson
May 13, 2009 at 6:25 amSmoothies make my 5 year old son so cold (he’d always freezing) that he always drinks them in front of the fireplace! Even in the middle of summer on a hot July day that’s where he sits to drink them, and then he asks to take a morning bath to warm up!
Congrats on the new writing gig! I’ll be checking in!
~Lisa
Jen
May 13, 2009 at 6:28 amI’ve noticed that smoothies make me super cold too, but it’s been fine since I stopped using ice (which just makes them kind of watered down as the ice melts, so it’s better anyway!). I hope I can think up a proper meal & snack for Raw Wednesday. 🙂
Have a good rest day, Jenna!
Red Head, Yellow Dog
May 13, 2009 at 6:43 amI’m going through the same “cold” thing right now. I brought a smoothie to work and now I’m wrapped up in my fleece while everyone else is in short sleeves haha. Ah well what can ya do.
I love that saucer! so cute.
brandi
May 13, 2009 at 6:49 amthat smoothie is a cool color.
I hope you have a great rest day and a good session with the counselor
Mara @ What's For Dinner?
May 13, 2009 at 6:57 amI absolutely love the anthro saucer…and I’m proud to tell you I had a raw (well, darn close to it with what I had) breakfast!! A green smoothie w/strawberries, spinach, a banana, milk, and some PB2. I know its not TOTALLY raw, but its a start!
Meg
May 13, 2009 at 7:06 amYour smoothie looks great and I do love your saucer!
Kati
May 13, 2009 at 7:12 ammmm…my b-fast smoothie this morning was: 1 banana, 4 strawberries, cashew butter, almond breeze, vanilla, 1 T. wheat germ, 1 T. flax, 1 heaping T. chocolate protein powder, crushed ice…YUM!!! And fun to drink 🙂
weight and meditate
May 13, 2009 at 7:15 amYes, it was CRAZY how much weight the “biggest losers” had freed themselves from, amazing!
Shannon
May 13, 2009 at 7:15 amI hope you have a good day Jenna.
Just a question…what makes that a ‘raw’ smoothie? It seems pretty normal except for the raw butter? Am I missing something?
jenna
May 13, 2009 at 7:17 amShannon,
Well I didn’t use milk or soymilk, which is not raw. And I didn’t use whey or soy protein powder…I used raw brown rice protein powder.
Courtney (The Hungry Yogini)
May 13, 2009 at 7:18 amMan oh man I need a vita-mix!! My raw breakfast wasn’t that great either, but I think I know how to tweak it.
I’m always cold too! I sleep in sweatpants and a sweatshirt with tons of blankets!
Hope your rest day is great!
LauraECU
May 13, 2009 at 7:20 amI have a question about coconut water. I just bought one of the bigger cartons, but I noticed that it says that it must be consumed within 2 days of opening. Does it really go bad in 2 days? I don’t think I can drink it all in 2 days. Thanks
Amelia
May 13, 2009 at 7:26 amThat saucer is seriously adorable. I’m glad to find other people who share my obsession with Anthro! Too bad it’s so expensive. 🙁
Jenna
May 13, 2009 at 7:28 amYour saucer is so cute! 🙂
Danielle
May 13, 2009 at 7:31 amI love smoothies for breakfast but they always make me super cold as well.
K
May 13, 2009 at 7:36 amThat saucer is adorable! I love the little bear on the edge!! Smoothies always make me too cold as well. It bums be out because they’re so good but I freeze!!
Tyler (Raspberry Runner)
May 13, 2009 at 7:37 amcute mug! i’d love to deck out my whole kitchen in anthropology stuff :). you will have to try to make that smoothie again with fresh mangos b/c it sounds like a great combo!
Emily L.
May 13, 2009 at 7:38 amI also started raw wednesday with a protein shake. Had an exam @ 8:00 so i needed all the brain power I could muster.
Hope you warm up!
Melissa @ For the Love of Health
May 13, 2009 at 7:39 amThat’s too bad the mango had no value-add to your drink 🙂 I love the banana though! Yum!
I am always naturally cold too! I wear sweaters during the summer at work because they keep the air way too cold! Tea is a wonderful way to warm up!
Enjoy your rest day!
Anais
May 13, 2009 at 7:44 amI’m noticing that with raw foods, my brain simply thinks that whatever is cold is raw. Then I have to think about it! I know it’s stupid. So now, I’m unsure: is cottage cheese raw? :S Also, how do you make raw oats? I’ve been dying to do some but I have no idea how…
Oh, and I was shocked by the finale. I was pretty sure who would win what, but what completely wrong!
foodiegettingfit
May 13, 2009 at 7:45 amI totally had a raw breakfast consisting of spinach, and a banana and milk and protein powder. Does the protein powder take way from the raw-ness? I’m unclear on that part. Can’t wait to check back later with you 😀
Run Sarah
May 13, 2009 at 7:58 amI am always cold too and find smoothies make it worse, I’ll often have to put on a sweater after!
Moran (The Running Addict)
May 13, 2009 at 8:01 amHi Jenna, happy Wednesday! Enjoy your day off from working out!
Christina
May 13, 2009 at 8:04 amI had my raw meal this morning 🙂 I soaked my oats overnight and added a mashed banana, raw coconut butter, and macadamia nuts. It was great!
Enjoy your rest day!!
Alison
May 13, 2009 at 8:11 amGood job for taking a day off from working out. I always find that I feel so much better after resting my body. My husband never takes a day off from strenuous exercising b/c he hates missing the “runner’s high.” I worry that over-exercising will cause injuries.
runeatrepeat
May 13, 2009 at 8:12 amI’m giving Raw Wednesday another go this week!
Rachel
May 13, 2009 at 8:17 amAnthropologie has the cutest stuff…I love that place.
Have a good day Jenna!! 🙂
Kristi (sweetcheeks)
May 13, 2009 at 8:21 amSorry your smoothie wasn’t amazing! I hate it when that happens!
Enjoy your rest day and relax!:)
Megan (The Runner's Kitchen)
May 13, 2009 at 8:29 amI tried PB2 for the first time last night! I mixed 2 Tbs in some plain chobani and added some berries. It was delish! Thanks for alerting me to the peanut butter mousse combo 🙂
RunToFinish
May 13, 2009 at 8:50 amI made a shake for my raw breakfast too! I am trying to incorporate lots of veggies in mine though… hoping that my dinner can be raw as well!
Carrie H
May 13, 2009 at 8:56 amI posted this on yesterday’s post by accident … Ignore it there, please! 😉
I’m trying to do the raw Wednesday challenge too … But I have a couple questions. Are Quaker oats from the big tub raw? Obviously, I mean before I cook them to make hot oatmeal. I mixed them with a 1/2 c. nonfat plain yogurt, water and berries for breakfast thinking that was a good raw breakfast, but then I realized that I don’t know if the yogurt qualifies as raw either! Just cause I don’t cook it doesn’t mean it’s raw, I guess! But I am trying … hehe.
Angelea
May 13, 2009 at 9:01 amI had a similar breakfast for Raw Wednesday! I’m on the road today, so I wanted my morning meal to be raw to make sure I got it in. I’ve got my raw snacks in my purse!
Fitzalan
May 13, 2009 at 9:03 amAnthropology is a black hole for me. I go in, spend hours and come out much, much poorer. My husband’s sister-in-law (who is an engineer) ended up being a housewife up in New York. Anyway, she shopped so much at Anthro that her husband made her get a part time job there so she could support the habit and get a discount. Just found that sort of amusing.
So do you keep reminding yourself during the day that it is your rest day and that you need to enjoy it or do you really think about it throughout the day?
Happiness Awaits
Stephanie
May 13, 2009 at 9:15 amSo, I decided to try out raw Wednesday by making overnight oats for breakfast. I think it was a mistake to use plain, rather than flavored, yogurt. So often, flavored yogurt is too sweet for me. But the plain yogurt in the overnight oats was far too SOUR – yuck… I am trying not to be discouraged, but I don’t think this will be a raw day… Maybe next week…need to try out the breakfast cookie next.
SnowKat
May 13, 2009 at 9:30 amJenna, Yesterday I made a raw protein shake (1 scoop sun warrior – choc, almond milk, 1/2 banana & ice) after a 5 mile walk & was hoping it would keep me full…. NOPE ! Was hungry in an hour =/ did your shake keep you full for longer ?
I went onto the daily loaf yesterday (loved your post!)… I think if you blog here about your posts on there… I would be happy to link over and increase your ‘page views’ ! 😀
I wish I could get paid for writing ! I have been working on my own cook book for a few years now & have this dream I will some day have a website like 101cookbooks ^^
Caitlin
May 13, 2009 at 9:33 amlove the saucer!
Judy
May 13, 2009 at 9:48 amHi Jenna, I’m a newcomer to your blog, been reading for about 6 weeks. Want to let you know how much I enjoy it. I’m in Tampa too, so it is fun to look up the places you mention.
Good luck with your race. I’ve done 2 Half Marathons at Disney. You will have so much fun and feel so proud when you are finished! Prior to training for my races I had never gone farther then 4 miles!
Congrats on your new life with Ryan! 🙂
Becky@ I Heart Running & Food
May 13, 2009 at 9:51 amHave fun on your rest day! It seems you have been balls to the wall. The saucer is adorable!
Kailey (SnackFace)
May 13, 2009 at 9:51 amThat saucer really is adorable! I love that little guy on there. I started my day completely the opposite of raw–stovetop oatbran. I needed the warmth! 😉 Have a good afternoon!
Fancy
May 13, 2009 at 9:52 amHi Jenna!
How do you store your flaxseed? I have that same kind…and I fold over the top and put it in a ziplock baggie in the fridge…how do you do it?
I actually like the Hodgson Mills Milled Flaxseed so much better….better texture. That one comes in a box where I keep it in the fridge (again, with the inner bag folded over). Is that right way to keep it?
I hope you have a great day, Jenna 🙂
jenna
May 13, 2009 at 10:53 amFancy,
I store it in the freezer…..the bag twisted close with a hair band 😉
Michelle Hisae
May 13, 2009 at 9:53 amI’m ALWAYS cold, too. Except now, I have to get ready for a super hot, humid summer, so we’ll see how long this cold thing lasts!
Sarah (lovINmytummy)
May 13, 2009 at 10:00 amI love that little bear perched on your saucer.
I think its a great idea to coincide your rest day with counseling days. Grief takes a lot out of you. I’ve been there.
Have a great RAW Wednesday!
Jess
May 13, 2009 at 10:17 amI’m not a smoothie person myself. The only time I make them is after my long runs when I need to refuel right away but don’t want to eat a full breakfast while I’m all sweaty.
Hallie
May 13, 2009 at 10:32 amI’ve been having smoothies for breakfast the past two days and I haven’t been that cold…I think the trick is not to put too much ice in it, haha, and also have a cup of coffee beforehand while you’re prepping the smoothie. I’m ALWAYS cold but it’s been a nice change of pace from oatmeal…and we’ve got “May Gray” going on so it isn’t even warm out! I used frozen mango chunks from Trader Joe’s this morning and it came out really yummy!
Matt
May 13, 2009 at 11:41 amToday is my rest day too! I am going insane!
Meredith (Pursuing Balance)
May 13, 2009 at 11:44 amI started watching The Biggest Loser last night but had to cut out early (9:30!) because I had a 5:45AM wake up today. Who won? Was it the 64 year old? I seriously cry during that show, all the time. It’s just so inspirational.
brianna
May 13, 2009 at 2:57 pmThat saucer is adorable! Yay for not wasting food!
Brynn
May 13, 2009 at 7:44 pmMy raw snack was Ani’s raw Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. So good! I’m a chocolate chip girl but these are delish.
Christine
May 13, 2009 at 9:30 pmToday I bought TempuRAW (from Whole Foods) for supper and had raw hummus (I sprouted my own chickpeas!) and carrots for a snack. Heres my post about it:
http://kitchenpanda.wordpress.com/2009/05/13/even-more-exhausted/