First you should buy The Body Reset Diet. Okay, just borrow it from your public library. Or, you could do it alone because there are scads of smoothie recipes out there on the internet. But you might not actually reset your body like you might actually want to, right? That's kind of the point. I lured you in with the whole smoothie addiction thang. You really want to reset your body and lose weight by drinking smoothies because they're awesome, filling, and somewhat trouble-free. More about that, later.
So tip two is buy a big-ass blender. One that cranks at more than 500 watts. Anything less won't cut it. When you blend your fruits and veggies you keep all that fibery-goodness in your cup and it goes into your body. So you don't peel apples, pears, grapes, etc. You do peel oranges and bananas. And all that orange pulp at the bottom of your smoothie? Think of it as the worm at the bottom of Mezcal. It's the best part. Cooking in a blender is cheap. It keeps you out of restaurants. If you wash and rinse after use, then you're ready to go for your next meal. There's very little planning time or "cooking time" to worry with. Super easy. But, if you have family and they're not riding the smoothie train with you, then arranging their meals may be a consideration. Also, eating out with family and at special events is a pain.
Remember, you gotta shop for fruit and veggies, that's the third thing. I flip flop between going totally organic and not, depending on monthly finances. Pasternak provides a working grocery list to start you on your first week. Lots of awesome goodies on that list like grapes, apples, frozen fruits and berries, kale, avocado, and bananas. You're getting protein via soy, milk, greek yogurt, protein powder mixed in with the smoothie, also nuts (I substituted Bob's Red Mill almond meal) and flax seeds. Then you have a plethora of options for snacks which are a blend of protein and fruit or protein and vegetable with a high fiber cracker like Kavli or Wasa.
The Body Reset Diet is three meals of smoothies, plus two snacks. If you didn't love smoothies before, you will after re-setting your body on this diet. Pasternak has refined this process while working with regular people and celebs so that you get the most bang for your buck. He knows that you need the five to ten pound weight loss within a week or ten days so that you get results fast and leverage those results to stick with your commitments to moving your body and eating healthier.
Consuming my smoothie in the evening for dinner was great because that's when I crave something cold and sugary, like ice cream. Thus, the smoothie solved that craving. I rarely felt hungry and often couldn't finish the smoothie because there was so much to drink, at least eight ounces. Pasternack gives two recipes, one for those who are a "regular" weight and those who are over 175, so the heavies get a few ounces more berries, protein powder, etc. Adding cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and other spices to the smoothies ramped up their flavor for me, especially one of Penzy's special cinnamon blends I keep on hand.
Last and fifth point, the "diet" works amazingly well. I lost six pounds in about eight days. The variety of smoothie recipes and their rotation appeals to most anyone. My favorites were the berry-based ones with blueberries & raspberries and consuming the grape & apple-based kind of turned me off. Likewise, loved the idea of the avocado, spinach, and kale smoothies, but perhaps it was the other blend of ingredients that made me turn my nose at 'em. Maybe it was just the lack of flavor? Okay, this time, I'll add some Tabasco, fire it up. The savory smoothies lack something? Smoke flavor? Bacon flavor? I know, I'm taking it too far, now.
But, there are smoothies with peaches, tropical fruits, kiwis; you name it. Plus, undoubtedly, once you master smoothie making, you can concoct your own recipes. Pasternak gradually reduces the number of smoothies you drink and adds a meal in so that you're maintaining, but also suggests that you "reset yourself" anytime that you need to do so.
I'm at the reset point again. A knee injury threw me off my running and smoothie regimen and I up and quit like the quitter I am, went whole hog and have indulged in frozen custards several times a week, donuts, gravy biscuits for breakfast and um... eating out a lot. So it's time to reverse all that.
Despite the whole "being on a diet" thing that I hate. The restrictiveness of any diet, I truly love not feeling hungry when I awake each morning. I love that I never experienced heartburn or indigestion on the diet. My (TMI, sorry!) bowel movements were regular. And the psychosomatic effects were good, too: I felt as though I was truly caring for my body with such a high fiber diet.
Ironically, prior to starting this diet I read an article about smoothie addiction in a major women's magazine. Can't recall which one, or who wrote it now though. I read Elle, Vogue, Marie Claire, so it was one of those. Anyway, it talked about women dealing with smoothie addiction. Seriously. I think they were more the regular spa-circuit crowd. Maybe the liquid diet is so addictive that people find eating solid food difficult again?
Smoothies are truly addictive and pricey when you pay $4 or $5 for them. When I had them at Smoothie King or Keva, I liked them okay, but didn't realize they were meal replacement, so all those extra calories went where they shouldn't. Making smoothies at home as a meal substitute is sustainable for our household budget and for my diet. Bet it is for yours, too. If you're struggling with a food addiction, consult this resource for more information.