Good morning everyone! Can you believe it’s already Wednesday?! Where does the time go, I ask you!? 
After a small hiatus…Green Monsters are back!
Today’s isn’t just any green monster though, this is a green monster with Pumpkin!
As soon as she spotted an open pumpkin can on the blog, reader Tracy emailed to tell me that I MUST try a green monster with pumpkin in it, so I reserved some from earlier this week, and added it in today!
In the mix:
- 2 big handfuls spinach
- 3/4 cup skim milk
- 1 T almond butter
- 1/2 cup pumpkin
- 1 low-fat raspberry yogo
- 1 frozen banana
- 2 handfuls ice
Blend all ingredients through the yogurt, then add in the banana and ice. Blend again and ENJOY! I know I did 
What a fab addition Tracy! Not only was my green monster soooo creamy and smooth – I got bonus fiber and vitamins from the pumpkin – sweet!
Lunch will be my spectacular Lemon Pasta with Chicken:
Ben proclaimed this “best chicken ever” last night.
I also packed a Braeburn apple. Thanks for all your Honeycrisp sightings and tips on where to buy them in my area!! I actually have planned a very special fall activity for this weekend to take care of my allllll my Honeycrisp woes
So last night while watching The Biggest Loser, I heard Jillian say something that just knocked my socks off. It’s a mantra that is so simple, but made such a big impression on me.
How is this choice going to get me closer to my goal?
What are your goals?
- Run a marathon?
- Lose weight?
- Save more money?
- Exercise more in the morning?
- Be a better spouse/partner?
- Go back to school?
- Eat less at night?
- Be a better friend?
- Get a promotion at work?
- Worry less?
How are your choices getting you closer to reaching them?
- Are you sticking to your training program when it’d be easier to skip a couple of days?
- Are you saying no to eating that Snickers bar when you know it’s sabotaging your weight loss efforts?
- Are you putting an extra $100 into savings instead of buying that outfit you don’t really need?
- Are you getting out of bed instead of hitting the snooze button every morning?
- Are you compromising more and being stubborn less?
- Are you willing to give up your free time to learn a new skill/trade/profession that you love and will make you happier in the long run?
- Are you “closing” the kitchen after dinner and/or having one planned nightly snack?
- Are you listening more and talking less?
- Are you staying late to help get a big project done?
- Are you giving your life to God knowing that He will provide?
We are solely responsible and reap the consequences, both good and bad, for each and every decision we make.
Are your choices helping or hindering you from achieving your goals?
I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard Jillian’s comment. She is so right on. I go thru phases where I make all the right choices to reach my goal of losing 100lbs but then there are times that I totally sabotage myself and know I am doing it but keep on screwing things up!
I wrote down the mantra and posted it on my fridge to remind myself!
I loved the biggest loser last night and this comment of Jillian’s. She is so right. Becca is from Des Moines and was at a local bar last night watching it with family and friends – and Daniel. They are totally dating!
I haven’t watched the new episode yet, but that is an amazing phrase. I know for myself that lately my choices have not been good (regarding my training schedule for my half) being overwhelmed with school and stuff has made it hard, but i know that in the end i’ll be just fine! I think we should list out our goals from time to time to see where we stand! super awesome post girl!
Gosh, everything you eat always looks SO good.
Thats a great quote from Jillian, really makes you think about what you’re doing in life right now. My goal is to run a marathon, but I’m also trying to get a career going, buy a house and go back to school. I need t oset priorities and make some goals for them!
Awesome green monster with pumpkin, did you get your pumpkin @ Hy-Vee because I can’t find pumpkin on this side of Iowa anywhere??
Lovely green monstah my dear! Pumpkin is probably sooooo good in it! I’ll have to try that.
If your going apple picking this weekend so am I!!! Can’t wait I’ve never done that before.
My choices are helping me achieve my goals, but my goals aren’t coming fast enough!!! I’m getting impatient.
I love that question – in fact I just wrote it on a post it note and hung it on my computer screen.
I have been feeling so tired lately and starting to eat more cookies, candy, etc. How is that going to help me run 7.3 miles this weekend or a half-marathon in January – its not. I am going to really focus on that question – hopefully it will help me make some better choices!
I love the last question because that is KEY! God DOES provide what we need – he just asks for our hearts in return! I read about your morning walks with your mom and am sometimes jealous because my mom and I have the same relationship but live 30 minutes from each other so it doesn’t work out, but we do share one common thing and that is to read from our one year bibles every morning and share with each other what God taught us that day.
You have such a great gift and you are using it! Don’t stop because God has blessed you with the gift of encouragement. Don’t ever question that – you are a great encouragement to me every day! Thanks for sharing!
Yay! I’m so glad you tried the pumpkin!! Next time be sure to add cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice!
That’s a really good question. I was letting my hip injury just be an excuse to not exercise because I couldn’t exercise the way I want to. But today I made an appointment for PT starting tuesday to strengthen it and to get back to my running.
And for my money I’ve avoided buying stuff I want because I don’t need it and I need to save instead.
I really like this question and will have to think about it more.
I felt like a man yelling at football last night because that was what I was doing last night watching BL. I was yelling right and left at Tracy and her shady gaming. I wish she would worry about the REAL reason she is there. TO LOSE WEIGHT. Jeez!
Most of the time I think Jillian is a bit ridiculous and harsh, but last night she was RIGHT ON!!
that quote definitely struck me too! lately, i feel like my choices are hindering my long term goals. i am finding it sooooo easy to justify the choice in the short term, but almost immediately after making the choice i realize how it has negatively affected my long term goal. at that point, i tell myself that the next time another choice presents itself that can either bring me closer or further away from my goal, i will remind myself of this time where i justified the choice in the short term even though it brings me further from my goal in the long term. and more than half the time i STILL make the choice that brings me further away from my goal.
so today, i’m going to write down my goals and each time i have a decision to make, i’m going to glance over that list and think about how nice it would feel to actually reach that goal, and then make my decision.
Such a great post. I truly believe we have to be reminded of our goals regularly to live them. It’s not easy, but if you want something bad enough, it can be done!
Oh wow. That is a really good question to ask yourself… Thanks for sharing! Its made me think this morning
priorities are weird for me.
What a great post and that is such an amazing mantra – I’m definitely going to start using it when I want an extra serving of food that I DON’T need or want to overeat or NOT workout!
Great post! I’m going to say that to myself. I feel like since my figure contest, it’s hard to keep in mind that the instant that was done, I had to work toward the next goal. Getting back on track has been harder than staying on track!
Last season on the show someone was saying to Jillian that they were going to fall of the treadmill. She told them, “You might fall off, but you are not going to die.” It sounds pretty cut and dry, but I’ve told myself that so many times since then. I really could fall, but I’ll get up!
Yay for pumpkin! And that’s a really great quote. I’ll have to remember that. Thanks for sharing
I thought the same thing when Jillian said that….but thanks for the reminder!
That green monster looks so intriguing! I’m loving all the pumpkin recipes, keep em coming!
Great mantra, I’m putting that up on my inspiration wall [yeah, wall not board : ) ] There are several goals you listed I am working towards that I feel like I am making 99% of all my choices to reach those goals. It’s always good to check in with myself to make sure I am going in the right direction, and also to remind myself what all the hard work is for. Thank you for sharing!