Tera Warner

Leah Jacobson: Kicking Coffee, Getting Green, and Making Choices – Part 1

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– by Leah Jacobson

kick coffee naturally

I used to be concerned that people would think I’m a granola type.

But that was before I learned to really cherish my health.  After having three boys in three years, I was seriously seeking some energy.

I sought it all right, but in all the wrong places: coffee, chocolate and carbs.

In retrospect my blood sugar probably yo-yoed for years.  I just didn’t have any energy, and I was nervous from all the caffeine.  Only I didn’t know that I could do without it.  

One afternoon I had the kids in the car, I got so dizzy, I sent my son in for a cup of coffee, “Decaf light with skim no sugar,” needing it with such intensity, I would’ve passed out without it.  I knew I had to make a change.  I wanted off the Dunkin Donuts ride.

When the boys were little I took them to day camp in the summer, driving 40 minutes twice a day.  I’d bring my workout clothes and stay in the town where the camp was.  I can’t tell you how many afternoons I went looking for salad… sometimes I ended up doing Stop and Shop’s salad bar, other times it would be a Greek salad with ice berg lettuce and Feta cheese from the local pizzeria.

It was a huge time waster, but I didn’t know any better.

Then I learned about Green Smoothies. I started reading… I read Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko from Boston to New Jersey.  I felt like I’d just read the Bible.

Protein?  In greens?

I was blown out of the water!  The highest quality amino acids on the planet?!  Who knew?  How come I was never told?

By the time I reached my parents’ home, I was reaching in their cupboards for a blender, it didn’t matter what kind.  I made my first smoothie that day: mango, parsley and water.  I could not believe how tasty it was.

When I arrived home in MA, I started the next morning by feeding my three sons, then 4, 6, 8, while literally blending my smoothie, running back and forth from the table.  In the midst of all the chaos, the business, I took two minutes to flick the switch on my blender, pour it in my bottle then put it in a cooler with an ice pack.

I just made a choice.

I didn’t do it because anyone else was doing it.  I just tried something different that seemed to appeal to my rational side.

leah-jacobsonAfter just a few days, my life started to change. Goodbye were the days spent in “search” of healthy food.  Instead of searching for the perfect lunch, I would drink my smoothie and then spend my time running around the lake.  I even doubled my running from 3.5 mi to 7 miles!  I couldn’t get over the difference in energy level.

That summer taught me that no matter how busy I am, I always have two minutes to blend a green smoothie.

(…to be continued!)

ENTER TO WIN A FREE DETOX:

Let’s talk green!  From now until the start of our spring 21-Day Green Smoothie Detox, you can win a chance to join our LIVE, Full-Support program featuring Victoria Boutenko, just by contributing your thoughts to one of our “Green Buzz” suggestions on the blog. (Be sure to include a valid name and e-mail address with your blog comment so that we can contact you). We’ll select a winner who shares a thoughtful comment on any new GSQ blog post between Feb. 28th and March 19th, 2011.  All comments will be approved before appearing.  (Attention Facebook/Twitter readers: Comments must be made on the GSQ blog site to be entered in the draw!)

TODAY’S “GREEN BUZZ” TOPICS

  • What’s your best method for getting off of coffee?
  • Are you a Green for Life reader?  How did it affect you?
  • When did you first discover green smoothies?