Pumpkin Smoothie

Well, it’s true, every single food blog on the internet is talking about pumpkin. I knew I liked it in pie. I knew I liked it in bread. I wasn’t surprised that I loved it in oatmeal or cupcakes, but I’ve really been surprised by how obsessed into pumpkin I have become and it’s only September! I guess it’s all the reading of everyone else’s pumpkin foods. I’m kind of a follower 😉

Today I decided to try 2 new things

1) Pumpkin smoothie

2) Smoothie in a bowl

Every single blog I read, the put their smoothies in a bowl. I never understood why, but I figured it was worth a try.

Pros:

• TOPPINGS!
• Longer lasting
• Toppings
• Did I mention toppings?

Cons:

• Less portable (I like to take my smoothies to go)
• It made it harder to talk on the phone while enjoying my smoothie (I’m a multi tasker!)
• I missed sipping it

I would put it in a bowl again for the toppings, but not every time. I like to sip 🙂

Pumpkin Smoothie

yeild 1 big ole smoothie

• 1 ripe banana
• 1/2 cup non fat vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• 1/3 cup pumpkin
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 2 tbs oats
• Tons of ice-How much exactly? I can’t really say–about a big tall glass full. The more ice, the more volume, the more it feels like I get to eat!

Optional toppings:

• raisins
• low fat granola
• cereal
• nuts
• grain sweetened chocolate chips
• nut butter
• maple syrup

Directions:

1) BLEND!

I topped with raisins, granola, Fiber One cereal and honey sesame cashews (the best and worst thing I ever bought–sooo delicious! Make the same mistake as me at Trader Joes and I promise you will simultaneously regret it and no regret it!)

Work out:

I have never felt in better shape, or more positive about my work outs as I have since I started taking gym classes consistently.  I feel like I may have said that about 100x by now, but it’s just so true. Today was supposed to be cardio and yoga, but it was beautiful outside and so we settled for a nice walk outside pre-calss, which ended up being fine by me because class was HARD today! I was super sweaty and there were times where my body was starting to shake. Does it make me a freak if I love that feeling?

Yoga is a big challenge for me. Mentally and physically. If I don’t get my heart rate as high as I’m used to, I have a hard time not beating myself up about not doing more at the gym or not working harder, but the truth is, yoga pushes my body in a completely different way, and being well rounded is so important. Also, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m a little neurotic. As soon as the teacher says “Now leave any other thoughts and worries outside of this room”, I immediately start to think about everything I could possibly be concerned about. Sometimes I wonder if I’d have an easier time if she told me to worry AS MUCH as possible. Some reverse psychology haha. I just have a really challenging time finding a mental place of calm. It is totally not my style, but I’m hoping that the more I practice, that I will be able to gain as much mentally as I am physically, and maybe one day, I will be able to shut off my brain for a second.

The inner dialogue of Ari’s brain:

Teacher: Silence your thoughts

Ari’s brain: What do I need to get done today? What am I going to make for lunch? What time is it? What am I behind on? What will everyone think of my work? I have to pee. I’m hungry. What time is it? When can I move from this pose? I like my husband. He’s cute. SHHHH, she said SILENCE! I suck at this. I really have to pee. Oy.

Lastly, if I am going to keep up this practice, I am really going to have to invest in my own mat. The ones at the gym look like someone got hungry during class and took a bite out of it

They don’t feed her at Starbucks apparently 😉 Also, the mats smell like feet. Which is fine when you’re just doing abs on them in bodyworks, but when my face is planted on it during child’s pose, I don’t really appreciate the foot smell so much.

Ok, I’m off to get ready for work. Have a great day everyone!