Sunday Smoothie: Caribbean coffee for breakfast

OK, so you don’t need booze for this one. That’s why the gods created rum extract.

I wasn’t planning to post today, but when I made my morning smoothie today, I just had to share. Behold the simple ingredients for this smoothie:

(hits “Save Draft”…not taking any chances)

• ~ 1.5 cups of leftover coffee (I cut myself off at 2 or 10 cups roughly, then the rest has to go into a smoothie, as if it no longer counts as ‘coffee’)
• 1 scoop Chocolate flavored low-carb protein powder
• 1 T cocoa powder
• Squirt of stevia
• 1/2 tsp rum extract
• 1/4-1/2 tsp of xanthan gum
  1/2 tsp of guar gum.
• Mid-blend: a sprinkle more guar when I realized that the smoothie was thick enough but still had ice chunks…the xanthan seems to thicken, but the guar smoothes out the ice chunks. Don’t ask me why- I have no idea.

Edited to add: Stats? You want stats? Here are the stats:

Calories: 150 (yes for the whole Vitamix container...this is why you have plenty of calories left over for toppings-woot)
Protein: 22 g
Carbohydrate 6.5g
Fats 2.5g
Fiber 2.5g

The finished product:

For those of you who are not familiar with the size of a Vitamix, I have put a random-yet-accessible card on top for size comparison. The Vitamix is absolutely not a necessity unless you want to make protein ice cream. For this you need a tamper and a very high powered motor. Otherwise, any decent blender works perfectly well.

(Totally off topic: funky font, right? It’s called ‘Poor Richard’, which cracked me up…so I had to use it today).

Also next to the Vitamix is my little travel blender: The Back to Basics Blender Express. It leaves smoothies more icy than fluffy- sometimes that’s preferable.

FYI- you are witnessing about 10 cups or over 2 liters of gut-busting, air-and-ice-whipped smoothie fullness. I nurse this for the entire morning. Sometimes I tire of it before it’s finished and toss it or save it for the next day.

Crazy thickness- I eat this as above- with a spoon.

.(hits “save draft”)

Because I would go clinically insane without some carb-y crunch, I sprinkle on some delicious cereal as a ‘garnish.’ Here are some Heritage flakes-yum! There was also some of my favorite nut butter: Trader Joes’ Almond Butter with flax seeds. Run, don’t walk to procure some of this crack.

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Obviously a lazy morning as the clock shows 10:30am and there is no sign of a workout happening today…I sense a much-needed “Rest Day” in the works.

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Here is all of the bounty- I store some of the shake in my Back to Basics containers as they are so convenient. All of these go into the freezer and I stir them up every 15 minutes or so, until I’m ready to eat/drink them.

(hits “save draft” and thank goodness, as Windows Life Writer decided to take an unscheduled coffee break)

Someone else is having a “Rest Day” too. Oh wait, Every day is a rest day for Samantha.

Happy Sunday Folks!

Q: Do you like coffee drinks either with or without booze? Do you try to avoid caffeine?

The Playground Workout: Kids Optional

It’s 4:30 in the morning and I’ve already been on Windows Live Writer for about 40 minutes (don’t ask). All of a sudden, the entire post I wrote including about 204,547,572 love links just went “poof.” So... sadly, my first Wordless Wednesday post summarizing my California Road Trip will need to wait until next week. (Live writer is beginning to earn its place in the Hall of Shame next to Blogger…help…need coffee).

Instead, I offer up a workout for when you don’t feel like hitting the gym, but have a park nearby and want to get your sweat on.

I found this spot in Lompoc, California on the latter part of my road trip…

It’s basically an enclosed play area- about 25 feet for each “side” of the square. This will serve as your workout arena. Kids, are you ready to play?

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The gear: 20 lb Kettlebell, water, two 5-pound weights, jacket for rainy morning and backpack to carry emergency energy bars in case I should get hungry in the hour I’m away from the kitchen. Heaven forbid.

I did a circuit- doing about 15 minutes of cardio, then 15 minutes of strength training, then repeating the moves...total workout: about an hour. You’ll want to stretch afterward of course.

The Cardio: Kettlebell swings followed by one ‘lap’ around this square for each of the following moves:

• High Knees
• Walking lunges
• Butt-kicks
• Squat Frog jumps (sink into a squat, then jump forward a foot, repeat…I was sore for DAYS thanks to this maneuver).

The Strength (It was chest, delt and triceps day):

• lateral (delt) raises
• front (delt) raises
• bent-over side bent-arm (delt) raises
• overhead triceps extension
• pushups
• triceps dips
• bent-over triceps extension

.The Triceps Dip station above

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Yeah, the park rangers looked at me curiously, but hey, it’s my workout and I needed to hit the open road early once again.

Q: Do you prefer indoor or outdoor workouts? Any favorites to share?

Good, Bad & Funny Photos: Jenn, Allie, Tiff, Elizabeth, & Tamzin (OUR BIG WINNER!)

Welcome to the final installment of the Good, Bad & Funny photo series. I originally wrote this series to serve guest posts for an upcoming trip planned with Derek and my Dad on what was their favorite mode of travel: a transatlantic crossing. Here is a link to the last crossing that we did together as a gleesome threesome last October. As some of you know, we never got to take this last trip together, but I still needed the guest posts due to the events that transpired. So, this is the last of those posts. Personally, I love laughing at others, but I love laughing at myself even more. I guess it’s in my genes.


So without further ado, here my final ‘funny’ photo…

Well, this is highly embarrassing... I am wearing Mickey Mouse sunglasses while dawning a cammo jumpsuit. Translation: A “Onesy” for adults. A onesy for adults who go hunting.

Speaking of wearing Cammo, the first participant today actually knows how to rock the cammo look, particularly while she bangs out a few hundred KettleBell swings in the parking lots of various fast food establishments. Sounds intriguing? Meet Jenn…

Jenn from Girl Heroes:
I'm Jenn and I blog over at www.girl-heroes.com about my keeping my sanity (or not) on my quest for "insane" health. I love kettlebells, wearing water socks, and feeling self righteous about belonging to a CSA even though I end up throwing out a good part of my veggies every week. Most of all I like to celebrate women who change the world by choosing health.

Good:

"Naptime" One afternoon while I was gardening Nigel, my pug, decided that he shouldn't have to sleep on the ground while Noah got a recliner so he hopped on up and took a nap.

Bad:

"Puking in the Planter." This is a reenactment of a true event. I was really sick in India and while waiting for the elevator at a very nice hotel I suddenly had to throw up. One of my friends quickly suggested the planter and without thinking I took his advice.

Funny:

"Here honey have a chunk of chicken". Not sure what's funnier my husband's face or the fact that I had chicken strips at my wedding reception. Classy.

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Allie from Pimp My Protein Shake
www.pimpmyproteinshake.com
This is Allie from Pimp My Protein Shake, a blog specializing in plagiarizing content from Protein Hussy (also known as Smoothie Girl Eats Too). Deb blackmailed us to send us her our most funny and horrendous photos, OR ELSE she would post them on the web for all to see! Whew – dodged that bullet.
Good:

At Gold’s Gym

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Heavier, healthier and happier face of Allie (than in the upcoming “Bad” photo)…and in the back of a fire truck!!!!

Bad:

Competition or Competitive Dieting? I trained and ate salad for 6 months and all I got was this stupid rhinestone bikini?!

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Shock and Awe: OMG!

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Sleeping Beauty Meets Beauty and the Beast for a little siesta. Which one’s the beast? Incriminating photo taken by the husband, which is grounds for divorce in Idaho.

(Deb here again…just so everything is fair, I thought it was only fair to show you a “Good” photo of Allie’s bed-fellow, Chile Pepper:)

Good Chile Pepper:

No, seriously people, this IS his good photo- I promise! Honest, I wouldn’t lie to you! Let me repeat: THIS IS THE GOOOOOOOD PHOTO!

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Tiffany aka Carbzilla:

Blog: carbzilla.britehive.com

Carbzilla is a mixed bag blog but mostly about losing weight, working out even when you don't want to, other people's recipes that end up looking gross but taste delicious, and trying to take care of my husband and home while working full-time and studying Sustainable Business here in Seattle.

Good:

This was taken on a date with my then-boyfriend, now-husband in the spring of 1999. We were in the courtyard of the Brooklyn Museum of Art. I look young and happy and healthy in this picture, which is why I like it.

Bad:

I'm not sure how long I'd been dating my husband when I decided to break out this look (unshowered and possibly wearing pajamas) at his parents' house. I had a migraine and this was all I could muster. The dogs certainly didn't care. You can't tell but the poodle is wearing a t-shirt that says "Flea Market Attendant."

Funny:

Me pretending to be a knife-swallower at my Going Away party in LA at my max fitness (my trainer became my roommate, and we traded for rent). You may notice at max fitness I have no boobs. At the moment, I'm a 36D.

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Elizabeth from Cake or Death?

Blog: http://cake0rdeath.blogspot.com/

I'm a pastry chef, food writer, and ultramarathon runner based in LA. About 9 years ago I lost 100 lbs, caught the running bug, and haven't looked back. I now try to balance my healthy lifestyle and trail-running obsession with my job as a pastry chef and my extreme sweet tooth. My site, called Cake or Death?, features recipe and photos of desserts I make at home, but be warned: these are not healthy eats! View and drool at your own risk.
Good:

Along with giving me the illusion of cheekbones I only wish I had in real life, this photo also gives me a dashing mustache that would make Clark Gable himself jealous.

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Good/funny:

Leaping over the finish line at a recent trail race. I'd just run 32.5 miles and ascended 11,000 feet and was so, SO glad to be done.

Bad:

Every aspect of this photo is bad: the quality (taken with my computer webcam), the disheveled appearance (post-gym workout) and the gaping head wound (I bashed my head into the pigeon spikes on our balcony.)

Funny:

Not sure if it's cheating to have a pic that's not of me, but I took it, so maybe that counts, plus I think it's just hilarious. This is my brother visiting us in LA, posing in front of some crazy plants in Griffith Park, doing his best Dr. Seuss character imitation

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Tamzin from Salad and Sequins:

Blog: http://www.saladandsequins.com/

Hi my name is Tamzin and I write the blog Salad and Sequins. I decided to start my blog after reading some other foodie blogs and realized its exactly what I would love to do myself. My passion is health and fitness and I want to share my healthy recipes with others as well as adding some sparkle! I have also learnt so many wonderful things from all the fab blogs I read. Especially this lovely ladies. Debs thank you for bringing the guar + xanthan gum smoothie into my life! I hope you like my photos and they give you a giggle, if you get the time drop by to salad and sequins x x
Good:

This is a photo of me on my 28th birthday last year, I was in Barcelona with my best friend and I wore one of my favorite tea dresses, original 50's dress! It was a fabulous night with even more fabulous friends!
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Bad:

Ha ha ha this is from 2008, I went to the Bennicassim festival in Valencia this was my Courtney Love impression! Yes I used to be that blonde!!!!!!

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Funny:

I had a small obsession with the photo booth application on my Mac and this photo just makes me laugh so much. Whenever I feel sad I have a selection of photos like this that make me laugh till I cry! (this in particular I can't actually believe I'm sending to you, but if it makes you laugh I'll be happy!)

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Thank you to all of my wonderful participants! You've got cajones!

Q: When was the last time you laughed until you cried? What was the circumstance?

What happens when a gal runs out of Guar Gum?

This is a pop quiz:

A) She curses Whole Foods Market for not stocking it like Clark’s Nutrition does. And she curses herself for not buying more of it when she was last at Clark’s. By the way, Clark’s is the best health food store on the planet. Sadly there are only THREE stores in Southern California but they do have internet shopping. Think: all of the selection (and more) of Whole Foods without the crowds or the ridiculously high prices.

B) She feels compelled wear far too much makeup and put on a 60’s outfit for a secret project that will be revealed in due time. Hint: it was inspired by this special guy.

C) She contemplates giving her smoothies to her kitty because they separate and therefore become revolting and unfit for human consumption.

D) She decides to go on a little road-trip and find solace and kinship with wonderful blogger friends and watch her smart, kind & gorgeous cousin graduate from High School.

E) All of the Above.

I will show you some photos to give you hints.

Separation anxiety- look at that sad smoothie.

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Photographer hero, Jenn

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The lovely miss Michelle

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The incomparable Lara and Mr. Thinspired.

Fearsome Foursome

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Isn’t she lovely? My cousin…High School Grad, Sigrid with Mom, Kata.

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By the way, I have not forgotten about the last installment of my reader Good, Bad and Funny Photo posts. I will share that one next week. Trust me, there are some doozies. Let’s just say that some Protein Goddesses sleep with dogs.

Q: What do you do when you run out of a favorite must-have kitchen item? Do you stock up like it’s 1999 on your absolute faves/must-haves? Or do you just buy-as you go?