Thanks for all your New Orleans ideas and suggestions! I LOVE getting the inside scoop – where to go, when, secret lines, etc. Fab. Keep your ideas coming! 
Breakfast was soo refreshing today. Yesterday, one of my must-read blogs, Vitamin-G, featured a smoothie recipe that sounded so healthy and energizing, I knew I had to give it a try. Plus, I already had all the ingredients on hand – sweet! Based off of this recipe, I made a Blueberry Banana Smoothie.
In the mix:
- 2 servings Nasyoa silken tofu
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 banana
- 1/2 Tablespoon chia seeds
- 1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond breeze
- 1/2 Tablespoon agave nectar
Omg, if you would have asked me a year ago if I would have eaten 5 out of the 7 ingredients above, I would have given you googly eyes… Anyways – blend, blend, blend!
Blueberry Banana Smoothie!
I stashed this in the freezer last night and let it “thaw” in my car while I was working out this morning.
By the time I was showered and ready, so was my smoothie. (Not showered… just ready!)
Oooo, it was a good one! Thick, creamy and perfectly sweet. Mmm-mmm good and sure to keep me fueled until lunch time with so much staying power from the whey protein powder, tofu and chia seeds. Repeater!
Lunch is some faaabulous, leftover Jambalaya and Cornbread.
I just love the texture and big flavors in this dish. Dy-no-mite!
A modest amount of cornbread. You can’t really tell, but this half moon is about 1 inch thick and ohhh, 4 inches long. Man, I love this stuff!
So, this challenge I alluded to last night and in my post title? Well, every year for the period between Ash Wednesday (today) and Easter – Lent – I usually I give up the GOODS: sweets. If you know me even a little bit, you’d know that this is pure torture but obviously, worth it. This year I decided to go a little different route, though. Instead of giving something up, I’m issuing a challenge to myself:
40 Day Movement Challenge
The time of Lent is actually 46 days on the calendar, but we’ll call it 40 for ease. Highlights:
- Move for it least 20 minutes a day
- Can include weight lifting, workout DVDs or any form of cardio (walking, running, elliptical, classes)
- Doesn’t have to be all in one sitting (10 minutes free weights in the a.m., 10 minutes jump roping at night)
I respond really well to challenges and I feel like these next 40 days are going to be just that – a real challenge. By Day 20, I might be highly annoyed with myself for going on this journey, but I want to do it for Lent, and for myself. I’ll be creating a tab at the top of my site later today called “40 Days” to track my movement!
Care to join me? I’m extending the 40 Day challenge to each and every one of you! If you have a blog, create a “40 Days” page tracking your movement and link back to my page (I’ll give you the link tonight.) Let me know the URL of your page and I’ll add it to mine! If you don’t have a blog, create a chart to hang on your refrigerator, or somewhere highly visible so you won’t forget. We’ll be in it together. To success!
I kicked Day 1 of the challenge off with a kick-butt a.m. workout! Inspired by Jenna’s workout that she posted yesterday, I did the following circuit, 3 times in a row:
- 15 jumping jacks
- 30 push ups
- 30 dips
- 50 squats
- 40 crunches
Followed by 3 miles on the treadmill. Day 1: DONE! That circuit is killer, by the way! My legs and arms are JELL-O!
Alright buddies – I’m off to start my day. Have a GREAT one and let me know what you think about the 40 Day Movement Challenge!
~~~~~
If you participate in Lent, are you giving anything up this year?
Have you ever given anything up cold turkey? How’d it go?
Its funny, I don’t participate in Lent for religious reasons, since well, I’m Jewish, but I tend to end up giving stuff up or working out more because my friends do. I think I’ll join you in the movement challenge! Its actually in the 30s here, so i’ll be able to take walks!
I am going to try super hard to join in on this challenge! One of my New Year Resolutions was to become healthier and I’m sticking to that plan, so let’s see if I can’t stick to this as well!
I’ve tried to give up things cold turkey and it rarely works lol. But I think your challenge sounds great and you can def. do it!
I haven’t had cornbread in so long- I love the stuff!
Awesome idea!! I’m kinda already moving for 20mins a day though lol but I might join in anyway!
And HOORAY for blueberry banana smoothie – that’s my breakfast tomorrow
When I was little, I gave up GLITTER PENS (haha!) for lent – cold turkey – and never went back…I don’t miss them :s
Have an awesome day
I haven’t decided what I want to give up this year for lent (I probably should figure that out, huh?) but I like your 40 day challenge! Great idea! The last time I really gave something up for lent was a couple years ago. I gave up Sprite and after 40 days not only did I not crave it anymore, it made me sick to drink it! I gave it up and I never looked back : )
i am going to give up biting my nails! i did it two years ago with huge success, and then late last year i started biting again. no good!
i love your challenge – sometimes i think it is better to ADD something to our lives that is good for us than take away. have a great day my lady!
I used to give up diet soda or sweets but now that I can’t really eat them I’ve decided to add something.
I’m going to pray each morning and night. I pray everyday with Hunni but I need to do it on my own.
I like your idea for the challenge. I think I’ll join you. I need to be sure to get a little in each day and this is a good reason to do so.
I’ve given up sweets these past few years as well, and I’m doing it again this year. It’s tough, but I agree–worth it. I’m also going to try and put more effort into daily prayer.
Good luck on your 40 day challenge!
Corn bread looks great, yum! I have never made Jambalaya, will have to try it. Good luck with your 40 day challenge!
I am giving up lattes and machiattos. No more Starbucks and Amici for me. I’m also giving up fast food breakfasts. These are good for both my body and my wallet. Good luck with the 40 day challenge.
I’ve decided to give up sweets for Lent. Does it have to start today!??!
I already move/exercise 6 days a week for marathon training so I think I’ll stick with that. I’m just so tired of having to wear layers upon layers for a simple 6 mile run. I am really looking forward to spring. Have a great time in NO!
I think I will join you in this challenge! I have been really sporatic with my workouts lately and I think this just might help me keep going in one way or another.
I’m training for two half marathons, so I’ve got the movement part down. I am going to give up sweets for Lent, though! I haven’t given anything up for the last several years, but I have a REALLY bad habit I need to break. God gave me this body to take care of, so I need to be feeding it better food, especially when I ask it to do things like run 13.1 miles at a time!
For lent, I’m giving up preflavored soy products. Already I want a veggie burger for lunch. LOL. Can’t wait to see how this goes.
Overall, I’ve given up artificial sweeteners and ingredients cold turkey, and that’s gone well. It’s only tough while they’re things that are still present in your life. But out of site–out of mind
I have never given up anything for Lent, but I have tried the “Cold Turkey” thing and found it just DOES NOT WORK for me! =O I found through the years (and my 100+ pound weight loss) that I shouldn’t deprive myself of anything entirely or I would just want it more and more and eventually eat or have a lot of it. However, I think it is a good concept if done in moderation or for a short period of time.
I would love to do your 40 Day Challenge but it is so hard for me to hit the gym everyday or find time in my busy (working mom, wife, etc.) non-gym/running days for even 20 minutes……..unless you count “typing on my computer” or “cooking” or “running errands”!!! =O
GOOD LUCK WITH YOURS THOUGH, GREAT IDEA!!!
Loving the look of that jambalaya!! And good luck with your challenge. I don’t normally like giving things up as it just makes me frustrated with craving them but I do like a challenge! I’m currently doing the whittle my middle challenge (i know, so behind the times) and it’s kicking my butt!
the 40 day challenge sounds like just what i need! i’m in!
I’ve always liked the challenge idea too
I’m giving up sweets. I’ve done it in the past, and it can be done!! I’ve also given up soda and coffee creamer!
I am SO with you on the 40 day challenge! What I have decided to give up for lent this year was excuses. No excuses…just do what I need to do. That includes excercising, eating right, etc… Day one down…
I’ve been wanting to try making smoothies with silken tofu in them- you might have inspired me to finally do it! I love tofu but have never tried it that way.
I haven’t given Lent much thought this year but I have a friend who is giving up meat and is fasting until dinner on Fridays.
a little late but check out mothers resturant for its famous po boys
[...] also decided to join Iowa Girl Eats and her 40 day Challenge! I thought it would be a good way to keep me accountable and give me a goal to keep me moving [...]
And I was just worneding about that too!
Dang — 30 x 3 push-ups. You go, girl!
Great idea on the lent challenge – I’m definitely in! As for giving up things cold turkey – I gave up pop in I think… 7th grade? So many years ago, and I’ve probably had a total of less than 10 sodas since (guesstimation total of amount in mixed drinks from college… =)
I really find that I can’t give anything up cold turkey, but rather modify it. Like, instead of eating fast food everyday (something I did when I was 50 pounds heavier!) I’ve modified my diet and don’t even miss fast food. We still have healthy fast food (Subway, Sushi, healthy Mexican places), but now my husband and my palates have changed so we don’t crave the greasy stuff.
For Lent I’ve decided to only let myself have 100-150 calories worth of a dessert in an evening – if needed. If I’m not hungry, don’t have anything. Of course, this is stuff like banana soft serve, or some dry cereal, dried fruit and nuts – something to snack on in the evening. I’m counting calories right now, but have to learn to listen to my hunger signals as well. Instead, I was having way too much at night, thinking I had to reach some sort of calorie goal, when I’m sure by the end of the week it would all balance out.
Good luck with the 40 days of moving! I currently have a schedule where I workout 6 days a week and have a day off. I agree – the sweets thing would be hard!
K
I like this idea. I am trying to get into working out but having so much snow has put a damper on it for me. I will take the 40 day Challenge with you. I will also get my blog running so I can track my progress. Dusting off the treadmill and putting the Elliptical trainer up stairs should help. BTW 20 years ago I quit smoking cold turkey after smoking for 18 years. I think mentally I was ready for it to end. Put a pack of smokes in a basket told myself I could have them if I wanted, Never touched them. 6 years later I threw them out. I can’t figure how to do this with food. I can’t imagine the smell that would create!
Great Post, thanks for your useful Post. I will come back soon . Great tips also : stop picking
[...] am off to complete a Total Body Circuit then hit the hay by, fingers crossed, 9pm. I’ve had a persistent twitch in my left eye (I [...]
I know this is a post from last year but I came across your site because I starting a swimming routine today and I was looking for new shakes to take with the initiation of “my new lifestyle” and I really enjoy reading your blog. That being said I will take this challenge for this year’s lent starting today (even though lent is about 30 days away…) Just because I am weird like that
[...] Blueberry Smoothies [...]