Welcome to my mind. Stay a while and let me share some delicious and nutritious (for the most part) smoothie recipes as well as some of my favorite exercise routines and fitness tips. I don't subscribe to the “summer is almost here” mindset. It’s always summer somewhere, so take care of yourself all year round.
Here’s a post-workout smoothie that might as well be a dessert because it’s so ridiculously delicious. It’s kinda like Chunky Monkey Ice Cream, except drinking this smoothie won’t turn you into a Chunky Lardass. Enjoy!
1 Banana
2 Tablespoons Raw Cacao Nibs
1 Scoop Soy Free Vegetable Protein
1/4 Cup Steel Cut Organic Oats
1 Tablespoon Sunflower Seed Butter
1 & 1/2 Cups Dark Chocolate Almond Milk
Food Key
– Banana: vitamin B6 and potassium
– Oats: fiber and protein
– Cacao: protein, copper, potassium, vitamin B12, fiber and iron (STACKED!!)
Maca powder tastes pretty gross by itself, but if you mix into a smoothie with some better tasting ingredients, you get to reap the amazing benefits of maca without wanting to gag. I found this delicious recipe on Healthy Smoothie Headquarters that mixes maca with bananas and cacao (two of my favorite smoothie staples), as well as chia, honey and protein powder. This is a great pot-workout smoothie. Enjoy.
1 Chopped, Frozen Banana
1 Tablespoon Organic Maca Powder
2 Tablespoons Cacao Nibs
1 Scoop Soy-Free Vegetable Protein
1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 & 1/2 Cups Vanilla Almond Milk
Food Key
– Bananas: vitamin B6 and potassium
– Maca: Vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, C & E, calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and amino acids (MEGA- STACKED!!). Also a libido booster (OH YEAH!!)
– Cacao: protein, copper, potassium, vitamin B12, fiber and iron (STACKED!!)
I wrap up my Double Feature series with 1, 2 combo from Fitness Blender that’ll tone up those arms and legs as we head into tank top and shorts season. The arm video requires dumbbells. Choose whatever weights suit your goals. The leg routine is 100 squats – 10 sets of 10 different variations, all bodyweight. Do it.
My Double Feature continues with 2 killer routines from Mike Chang (Six Pack Shortcuts). We start with a functional cardio workout, and then really focus on blasting the abs in the second. It’s the prefect combo since killer abs are pointless if covered with killer flab.
Mmm, Broccoli!!!! No one’s ever said that, but that’s about to change :). I found this great recipe on Tasty-Yummies.com for a Banana Broccoli Smoothie, and then I tweaked it my liking with some almonds and pitted dates for extra sweetness. Check it out.
1 Banana
1 Cup Broccoli Florets
1 Handful Raw Almonds
3 Pitted Dates
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon Raw Honey
Food Key
– Bananas: vitamin B6 and potassium
– Broccoli: vitamins C & A, potassium, folic acid, magnesium, iron, beta-carotenes and phosphorus (STACKED!!)
– Raw Almonds: magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, riboflavin, copper, niacin and zinc (STACKED!!)
– Dates: fiber, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants
– Cinnamon: fiber, calcium, good for digestion
– Honey: less calories than sugar, source of good carbs for strength and energy, good for digestion
Double Feature Week continues with 2 great routines from Mr. “Plank or Die” himself, Sean Vigue. The first routine is a great core workout that starts slowly and picks up the intensity towards the end. The second video is one of the more advanced yoga routines I’ve tried from him. Nothing crazy, but he definitely turns it up a notch from the previous yoga practices he’s posted on his YouTube channel.
Today I bring you another Yoga Double-Feature, this time from Tyler McCoy. I checked out Tyler’s YouTube page based on the advice of a neighbor and I owe her a thank you. From all the different exercises, accidents, running and martial arts I’ve done over the years, my hips and back are tight pretty much all the time. Anyone with lower back issue knows what I’m talking about. This first routine focuses on loosening up the hips, and I felt a noticeable difference after the first time I tried it. The second routine is a little advanced in parts (if you aren’t Plastic Man), so you may have modify or just sit and watch like I did. Don’t sweat it, though, just try to get a little deeper next the next time you do the routine. 🙂
This tastes better than most milk shakes I’ve had and it’s chock-full of great stuff. Have it for breakfast, have it for dessert. Whatever floats your boat.
1 Chopped Banana
1 Handful Organic Walnut Pieces
1 Scoop Soy-Free Vegetable Protein
1/4 Cup Steel Cut Oats
2 Tablespoons Raw Cacao Nibs
1 Cup Dark Chocolate Almond Milk
Food Key
– Bananas: vitamin B6 and potassium
– Walnuts: omega-3 fats, copper, manganese and biotin
– Oats: fiber and protein
– Cacao: protein, copper, potassium, vitamin B12, fiber and iron (STACKED!!)
Here’s a Yoga Double Feature from my favorite YouTube Yogi and fellow Brooklynite, Sadie Nardini. I did a bunch of HIIT and high impact training last week, so I thought all-yoga workout would do my body good. These two practices are great by themselves and even better, in my opinion, when done back to back. A perfect way to start your day.
Sincerely Yours, The Smoothie Operator 
