Green Smoothies

What to eat when you just can’t eat

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 22 Comments

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Hopefully this is the blog post you will never need, but if you do, I hope it’s helpful to you. Having stomach problems is never fun. You can either help or hinder your healing with the right foods.

The BRAT Diet
I got really familiar with this one last week — luckily I already knew about it. BRAT stands for:

  • Bananas
  • Rice (preferably white)
  • Applesauce
  • Toast

These are foods that are easy to digest and good for an upset stomach.

Usually I’m all about the brown rice, much to Mr. Judy’s chagrin, but when your stomach is upset, white rice is your friend. It’s just easier to digest. I won’t say Mr. Judy was actually happy I was sick, but he was happy he didn’t have to eat the dreaded brown rice. Soon, honey, soon.

Eggs
Unless you have a sensitivity or an allergy, eggs are generally an easily digestible protein. You’re probably less active, so you won’t need as much protein as usual, but if you don’t get any, your body is going to turn to your muscles for its protein.

You don’t want to lose your muscles, right?

A little immunity boost + much needed digestible protein

Bone Broth
I almost always have bone broth around. I don’t actually enjoy drinking it on its own; usually I use it as a base for soups. However, I drank a whole lotta bone broth while sick and while recovering. It’s another easily digestible source of protein, but if you believe the hype, it will cure anything that ails you.

Probably not, but it is soothing to the stomach in addition to an easy source of protein.

Potatoes
Rice is a little easier to digest than potatoes, but potatoes aren’t far behind. White or sweet, it’s all good.

Whipped topping + juice flavored gelatin for more soothing protein

Jello or Gelatin?
Jello got its reputation for stomach soothing sort of the same way bone broth did — it’s the gelatin. The problem with actual Jello is that it’s usually full of additives and sugar. It may soothe your stomach but it’s not doing a whole lot for your health.

Making home made? That’s a different story, and it’s really not that hard. There will still be a fair amount of sugar, but there will also be easily digestible protein — again. And let’s face it, unless you’re a vegetarian, jello is a nice sweet treat. I started craving sweets, no doubt because for a week I wasn’t eating a whole lot at all. Home made jello will soothe your stomach, provide you with easily digestible protein, and curb your cravings for sweets.

I used Vital Proteins Unflavored Beef Gelatin (Amazon Affiliate link here) — make sure you don’t buy the Collagen Peptides, as that won’t gel — although you can use that in cold or hot drinks for the same benefits, minus the sugar. Great Lakes is another commonly recommended brand.

Chocolate: for Medicinal Purposes Only
I’m not kidding! Okay, so chocolate isn’t necessarily good for an upset stomach — it’s high in both fat and sugar. Ginger, on the other hand, is a known tummy soother (as is peppermint — I drank a lot of ginger tea!). I prefer to get mine in the form of dark chocolate covered crystalized ginger. I have that on hand because I also like to use some for long runs & races.

I ate it several times a day while my stomach was still upset, and it did not upset it further. You can, of course, stick to the teas or use ginger candies or plain crystalized ginger or grind up ginger root in your smoothies.

Bland, easily digestible food for when you’re feeling better

When you’re feeling better
It’s time to start adding in some actual lean protein: chicken and fish are usually good choices.

Raw vegetables, unfortunately, are hard to digest when you’re not feeling good. I’m used to a lot of veggies and a high fiber diet, but I went pretty much a week with nary a vegetable.

When you’re feeling better, adding in some green smoothies is a great way to reintroduce veggies. Blending the veggies helps make them much easier to digest. I have a smoothie board on Pinterest here, and I added several smoothies that are good for upset stomachs and foods to eat for an upset stomach to it (some day maybe I’ll make that two boards).

  • What’s your go-to “cure” for an upset stomach?
  • What foods do you find to be easily digestible?
  • Have you had a green smoothie recently?

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Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner

This week I am also joining up with Running on Happy, Suzlyfe, Crazy Running Girl, and Coach Debbie Runs each week for the Coaches’ Corner linkup

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5 Ways to Outrun the Common Cold/Flu . . .

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 20 Comments

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. . . or what I use to stay healthy in cold season

Colds seem to be everywhere right now. And who has time for that? Or loves that stuffed up, can’t breath, I’m gonna hack up a long feeling?

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Today I am joining up with the  Friday Five 2.0  from Fairytales & Fitness and Rachel @ Running on Happy to share five things I do to keep colds at bay. Disclaimer: this post includes Amazon Affiliate links; you pay the same price, but I get a very small amount of money from your purchase.

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 A lot of tea helps keep me healthy

Tea & Soup. Lots & lots of it.
I drink tea year round, but when the temperatures dives, I drink a lot more tea than plain water. It’s just so soothing to hold a warm mug on a cold day. Truly most kinds of tea have some antioxidant properties, but when I’m feeling run down, here are a few I turn to:

I also turn from salads to soups as it gets colder (although I don’t abandon salads altogether). Matzo ball soup is my go-to if I’m actively sick, but I like to make a pot of soup most weeks. You can find a few recipes on my Pinterest soup board here.

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Green smoothies help, too

Green Smoothies
Have you picked up on a common theme here? Tea, soup, green smoothies . . . hydration, hydration, hydration. And not the overly sweet coffee drinks, either.

There are far fewer in season fresh fruits and vegetables available during the colder months. And especially if I’m feeling run down, I just may not crave my veggies. Smoothies are a great way to get in freggies, and you can add a lot of variety with frozen fruits and vegetables that are often frozen at their peak — the produce you find in the grocery store may have been picked before they were ripe and traveled many miles.

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Just an occasional indulgence

Limit Your Sugar
I’m not a grinch or the diet police. Of course you’re going to indulge in more than usual sugar this time of year (those coffee drinks, again!), but you don’t have to OD on the stuff.

Pick and choose what is really worth it to you. Get in that tea, regular coffee, the soup, and maybe try a smoothie. Then when there’s a cookie or a slice of pie really calling your name, enjoy every, single, ooey, gooey bite (especially with the knowledge that you’ve already gotten in those freggies).

And if it’s calling just a little too loudly, it’s totally cool to throw it out (or gift to someone else who might appreciate — like my husband’s coworkers). It’s not going to benefit starving children anywhere, and who wouldn’t like to end the year the same weight as they started it (or close to it)?

Zinc Lozenges
While there isn’t a lot of science to support the effects of echinacea on a cold, there is more science to support the effect of zinc. I take these Zinc Elderberry lozenges on a fairly frequently basis. Again, if I’m feeling run down, or if I know I’ve been around a lot of people with colds, or again, if I’m traveling.

Of course too much of a good thing isn’t good for you. And per this article from the Mayo clinic (read it here), I’d stay away from zinc sprays.

Oscillococcinum
Although truly meant to ward off the flu if you’ve already got symptoms, I find that if I’m feeling run down and feeling like I’m coming down with something, Oscillo often helps. I do have to take it for a few days before I feel better. I almost always travel with some.

Oscillo is a homeopathic remedy, and as such, most scientists would not support its use. Is it the placebo effect? All I know is that it seems to help me.

So let me know in the comments:

What’s the first thing you reach for when you’re feeling run down?

Any tried and true cold-busing recipes I should know about?

How’s that holiday shopping coming along — any great deals to share?

Let sleeping dogs lie . . . : Spilling over tea/coffee December 2017

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 20 Comments

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. . . sort of

Our weather — as usual — has been rather schizoid recently. Mostly cold — like February cold — and most days there is a lot of tea consumed in my house. But sometimes it’s a green smoothie — not often enough once the mercury dips, but you’ll have to read on to find out more about that.

Confessions of a Mother Runner

Pull up chair and mug with Coco and Deborah and me for the ultimate coffee tea date.

It was on him when he went to bed . . . 

If we were enjoying high tea . . .
I’d tell you that Bandit is still sleeping in bed with us. Lola sleeps curled up between us, Bandit starts curled up next to me, occasionally between my legs, but at some point during the night he burrows way down towards the foot of the bed. Mr. Judy really likes having him down there when his feet are cold. He isn’t velcroed to me all night the way Chester used to be — which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

When Mr.Judy was away for the weekend, I just left the dogs in the bedroom when I got up, and they both just stayed there until I came and got them.

When Mr. Judy is home, when I get up, about an hour later Bandit will get up and off the bed (which is still before Mr. Judy’s alarm).

We solved that by my simply taking him out with me when I got up a few times. And now he seems to understand that when I get up, it’s time for him to change beds (he just goes to his bed on the couch and curls up and goes back to sleep).

Oh, and that photo above? Bandit houdini’d his way out of his collar one night.

If we were enjoying high tea . . .
I’d tell you last month I was bemoaning the demise of yet another personal blender. The next one finally arrived. I’d read that the ones ordered via Amazon don’t last as long as the ones ordered directly via the company, so I ordered from the company. It seemed to take forever (about 10 days, maybe a bit longer) to arrive.

So far, so good. I’ve used it for salad dressings, for smoothies, to grind nuts . . . we’ll just see how long it actually lasts. It’s from Tribest, in case you were wondering, and you can get one here (not an affiliate link).

If we were enjoying high tea . . .
I’d tell you my mom never misses an opportunity to tell us how unhappy she is where she is living: a senior living community where they have their own apartment, not assisted living. She knows that there also aren’t any better options for them, since they can no longer drive and private care for both is prohibitively expensive. They have made new friends there . . . but it’s not home and it never will be.

As I was ruminating on that this week, the idea came to me to ask her what would make it better. If she has no suggestions, I can still listen to her and empathize, but I can also let it go, knowing we’ve done the best we could.

And speaking of home, the sale of their home fell through on the stupidest thing. Their neighbor built a shed about 10 years ago. Partially on my parents’ lot, as it turns out. He claims he had it surveyed and that it was on his land, but no, it wasn’t, and he basically wasn’t willing to do the right thing and move and/or demolish the damn thing. Actually, he was happy to have my parents pay to have it moved, but then dragged his feet until the buyers backed out. Over a shed!

If we were enjoying high tea . . .
I’d tell you I’m very glad Thanksgiving is over. Ultimately it was an enjoyable day, and my parents are always happy to escape the “asylum”, but now it’s time to relax a bit for a while.

Sort of, anyway. There’s still a potluck I’m hosting next week and my parents’ 70th anniversary party which takes place in the middle of the week, which was the date my brother chose, and now he may not even be able to come due to work . . . but still, neither of these things is the slog that Thanksgiving was!

I am always happy this time of year to watch the goys (that would be anyone not Jewish) scurry around while I relax.

If we were enjoying high tea . . .

Maybe my green smoothies just need more chocolate


I’d tell you it took about four days before I got back to fairly normal eating after Thanksgiving. I didn’t stuff myself, but I also enjoyed my meal . . . and kept enjoying it with those little mindless BLTs (bites, licks, and tastes) for days afterwards. Thankfully the damage wasn’t too bad when I got back to a Weight Watchers meeting.

I also finally got back to making the occasional smoothie this week. I don’t really crave smoothies when it’s cold outside, but I actually have found that having smoothies on a fairly regular basis is really beneficial to me. And even when it’s cold, once I make my smoothie, I enjoy it. It’s kind of like getting out for a run on a gray, cold day — it can take me a while to talk myself into it, but I always feel better when I actually do it!

Ok, that’s off my chest . . . for now.

Tea? Iced Tea? Coffee? Decaf? Green smoothie?

Smoothies in the winter — yay or nay?

Are you still enjoying those Thanksgiving leftovers?

Are you streaking (me, no, never, no thanks, it’s enough work getting out the door for scheduled runs)?

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Today I am also  joining up with the  Friday Five 2.0  from Fairytales & Fitness and Rachel @ Running on Happy.

November 2017: Did I pass?

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 29 Comments

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I ran two races in November, a 15k and a 3.5 mile Turkey Trot, and yes, much like last year in November, I PR’d them both. Clearly I need a half in November or December next year!

But PRs don’t tell the whole story. Let’s get the rest of the story.

Getting in scheduled runs
Finally! I’m not training for anything. Sure, there were those two races in November, and I knew I’d be racing hard, but there is no big goal race on the horizon. I don’t expect there to be for many months, actually..

But I felt well most of the month and there was no reason to skip a run. A few had to be shortened just because of busyness.

Grade Earned:  A

Recording my runs
A bit back and forth here. I really started the month off strong, but not surprisingly, things got hectic Thanksgiving week.

Grade Earned: B 

Dynamic Warmup
November was pretty busy, and it wasn’t always easy to take the time for a warmup, but even though I rushed through it a time or two it got done. Even on cold race mornings..

Grade Earned: A

Foam Rolling
I had one time, I think, that I skipped my foam rolling because I was tired. And I regretted it when I woke up a bit stiff the next day!

Grade Earned: A-

Respecting my body
I didn’t push myself to work out when I was exhausted even though I kind of wanted to sometimes — I really feel that strength training makes a huge difference. But it won’t help if you’re laid up because you pushed yourself too hard.

Stockadeathon also seemed to take a lot out of me, so I took an extra rest day — and was able to pick up where I’d left off.

Grade Earned: A-

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Why do you keep calling my name?

Nutrition
A few too many BLTs (bites, licks, and tastes). Especially those chips and appetizers on Thanksgiving (although they were lunch!). Lots of baking in preparation for Thanksgiving. I wasn’t horrible but I certainly wasn’t perfect, either.

Actually, I’m not chowing down on the desserts, but I’m still struggling to get back to my “normal” eating — has the winter chowdown begun — before winter?

Grade Earned: B

Support
I got my hair cut. Again! After months of skipping haircuts I got 2 in about 6 weeks. I thought about booking a massage many times . . . like after Stocakadeathon. But it never happened.

Grade Earned: B

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A hectic holiday week = not so much cross training

Cross Training
I didn’t do too badly with cross training until Thanksgiving week (although I did get that swim in). Yoga and strength training fell by the wayside Thanksgiving week. Lola’s dental and our trip to Bennington and Thanksgiving prep all combined into the perfect storm.

Grade Earned: B

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Still running together sometimes

November 2017 gets  . . . 
. . . an B+. Hardly shocking that November wasn’t the perfect month. For the most part, unlike everyone else, now I get to heave a sign of relief. Lola’s dental is done (but she still has a couple of follow-up visits). Being Jewish, December is pretty low key. Yes, there’s Hannukah, but it’s not an important holiday. We do have my parents’ 70th Anniversary celebration in December, though.

Which leads me to:

How I did on November Goals:

  • Do a short yoga sesh when I wake up early (always feel better afterwards) — Y some days
  • Try for 80/20 with clean eating — don’t go nuts baking for Thanksgiving! — Y mostly, again; I could have done better, of course, but I wasn’t horrible either. Of course I did skip my weigh in since it’s closed Thanksgiving day . . . 
  • Epsom salt soak — let’s try for one, shall we? — N, again!
  • See how a swim feels now that it’s getting colder — Y, with my hair up in a bun it stays mostly dry and swimming always feels good
  • Continue to research 2018 halfs — Y, not signed up for anything but a plan is slowly coming together
  • Although I don’t see a trail race in my future any time soon, continue to run on trails occasionally. It’s good for the body. And soon no doubt they won’t be runnable. — that would be a big, fat N

December Goals:

  • Do a short yoga sesh when I wake up early (always feel better afterwards). It makes such a difference — one day I definitely felt stiff when I woke up and after 20 minutes of yoga, the difference was amazing.
  • Maintain a running base of about 17-20 mpw
  • Epsom salt soak — let’s try for one, shall we? Again! It’s cold out there — this should feel good!
  • Swim if I have the time
  • Continue to research 2018 halfs
  • Although I will be the first to admit that a cold green smoothie isn’t as enticing when it’s cold out, much like getting out the door & running — I’m always glad I made & consumed one! And I think it might help me get back on track with eating. Doesn’t have to be daily — start with just one a week! See if it snowballs from there.

I’m linking up with with MCM Mama Runs, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and My No Guilt Life for the Tuesdays on the Run linkup.

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This week I am also joining up with Running on Happy, Suzlyfe, Crazy Running Girl, and Coach Debbie Runs each week for the Coaches’ Corner linkup

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