Misty's Coconut Milk, Whey Protein and Blueberry Smoothie (Can be used for Weight Loss)

by Linda  

   I am elated to report, that after weighing in at my acupuncturist's office yesterday, I lost another 10 pounds on my new healthy eating plan. This brings my total weight loss to just over 20 pounds since embarking on my new way of eating on January 23rd of this year. My weight loss has begun to generate interest among my co-workers, and several of us have gone gluten and sugar-free with me in the last few weeks. They too are experiencing rapid weight loss. I want to make sure to clarify that this is not a low-carb diet. It is a diet that is low in refined carbohydrates. I am still eating plenty of carbohydrates from berries, vegetables, squash, sweet potatoes and a small amount of white rice. I allow myself a "splurge" day once per week when I may include potato, corn, beans or a surprisingly delicious gluten-free pizza. However, splurge day never includes wheat and rarely includes any sugar. My diet is abundant in high-quality fats and protein, so I feel sated and have plenty of energy. This has never been the case when I embarked on one of the many diets that I have used in the past to lose weight (all low-fat plans). On the low-fat plans, after losing the weight,  I would return to the way I like to eat normally. Then the pounds would creep back on.

   This time it feels like I have a plan that I can live with permanently, and in time, after I achieve my weight loss goals, I may choose to eat sourdough bread made from sprouted grains at a holiday meal, but the bread that I have known and loved (and have been addicted to) will never be a part of my diet again. It is with sadness in my heart that I make that statement. I love bread. However, I don't love bread enough to stay overweight and develop diabetes and heart disease. Both of which are prevalent in our family. My last blood work showed that my blood sugar was in the "high normal" range, and my doctor told me that any higher would mean that I would most likely develop diabetes. Talk about food for thought.


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   I finally began this radical overhaul of my diet after the New Year with the support and encouragement from Misty Humphrey. She is the Nutrition Educator at the Whole Foods Market that I work in. Misty lost 85 pounds twelve years ago and has managed to sustain that loss all these years. In the process of losing the weight, she also healed herself from some serious health issues from which she was previously suffering. Once I had sufficient information to convince me that drinking a fat-laden coconut shake everyday was not going to cause me to gain even more weight (a prospect that terrified me), I decided to make the dietary changes. I am so glad that I did. I am 20 pounds lighter after a month and a half, and have not spent a single day feeling hungry and crabby. And I have not cheated... this regimen is easy to stay on. Once I got past the first week, when the beautiful loaves of artisan bread were literally calling to me from the mouth-watering displays at my store, my craving for wheat has gradually subsided. The hardest part is just developing new habits. A sandwich, burrito or a pizza slice are no longer my "go-to" lunch items. I have learned to plan ahead and bring my own food. The smoothie being the foundation of my day has made this easy. This practice has also saved me money.

   Misty recommended that I make up her Coconut and Blueberry Smoothie in the morning. I drink half and pour half into my Thermos. This has become my new and easy routine. Then when I get hungry at work, I grab a couple of hard-boiled eggs, or I bring a grass-fed ground beef patty or similar protein from home, and I usually include leftover vegetables or a salad. In the afternoon I drink the rest of the shake which has also eliminated the sugar cravings that I often experience in the latter part of the day. Dinner is whatever I want, minus of course, wheat or sugar. I even have rice pasta every now and then. Last night I had marinated lamb chops, artichokes with homemade aioli, and asparagus roasted with olive oil and lemon. I also enjoy having a glass of wine with dinner. No counting points or worrying about portion size.

 So without further ado, here is the recipe for the smoothie that has become the foundation of my diet plan. It takes me five minutes in the morning to make it in my Vitamix. It travels well and satisfies, and has helped me to lose twenty pounds in 43 days.

Misty's Coconut, Whey Protein and Blueberry Smoothie

   Place the ingredients below in the blender in order. Blend the ingredients until smooth and drink immediately. The recipe makes two servings. By the way, there are many, many reasons to eat kale. Read about those here.

Ingredients:
1 cup full fat coconut milk ( I use 365 Organic in a 13.5 oz can)
1 cup frozen blueberries (any berries can be used)
2 scoops of Tera's Whey~BourbonVanilla Organic Whey Protein
4 large leaves of fresh kale torn from the ribs ( I prefer the taste of purple kale but any kind can be used)
1/2 cup coconut water or water (I use Harmless Harvest)
1 tsp maca root powder (optional- I recommend Maca Magic)
2 Tbsps extra-virgin cold-pressed coconut oil (chopped into small chunks if cold, or preferably, melted and poured into the smoothie while blending)
3 Brazil nuts- can be eaten on the side or blended into the smoothie (they are a great source of selenium)