This post and photos may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase something through any link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. All opinions are my own.
I debated whether to write this post. But in the end, I want to keep it real. Here goes nothing…
This winter was very long. I mean, really, really really long. It snowed every other day and it we were stuck in the house most of the winter. I have three little boys that keep me very busy. All. The. Time. I love them dearly, but their energy is endless. I only wish that same energy was contagious.
So back to the winter. We had so many days off from school which meant I couldn’t exercise. And what are you supposed to do when you are snowed in? Even if your not a food blogger like me, you want to cook and bake, right? Well that’s what I did. All winter. And being the responsible recipe developer that I am, I HAD to taste (almost) everything to make sure all of my recipes were delicious. And they were (thank goodness).
And now brings on the confession… I ate a lot this winter. No, I wasn’t eating Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets (gasp). I was eating healthy foods, just too much. I started to emotionally eat when I was stressed (which was a lot).
Stress…everyone gets stressed at times. My family went through an incredibly stressful and difficult time. My husband got laid off quite unexpectedly. You hear about it all the time. But when it happens to you, you are never really prepared for it. My kids were 2, 5 and 7 at the time and we were scared out of our minds. One thing you should know about us (really my husband, I tend to enjoy shopping 😉 ) is that we are savers. We were fortunate to save a good amount of money, but little did we know it would 2 years before my husband landed a permanent job again. So yes, we had money saved, but it was stressful. Like pull-your-hair-out-and cry-stressful. In those two years I also wrote two cookbooks (under ridiculous deadlines) and had no help with my kids. It was hard. And I turned into the person that I counseled my clients about. The Emotional Eater.
Like I said, I was still eating healthy foods, but just too much of it. And the winter was long. WAY. TOO. LONG.
I am a runner by nature, and it has been a huge stress reliever for me. I also take my beloved Bar Method classes where I have the privilege of working as their nutritionist. The Bar Method in Montclair, NJ is my happy place. I get to work with these amazing women (all of which are my friends) at this beautiful studio and have an insanely hard (and awesome) workout. Running and Bar Method make me happy and help me to forget about all the worries I have at home.
One day, on one of my long runs, the back of my knee started to hurt a little bit. Seriously, just a title bit. About 2 minutes later, I felt something pop and my leg gave out on me. I had to limp all the way home. I knew something was wrong. It took me a few weeks to admit that I had to call a doctor. I had stopped running and taking Bar Method classes cold turkey. And it was difficult for me. The stress relievers that I relied on and looked forward to were stolen from me.
I took 2 months off of exercising. That’s a lot for me. I exercised during all of my pregnancies and this was probably the longest I’d taken off in years. So I was stressed out but had no way to release it. It wasn’t easy. I had to start working more than I ever wanted to since my husband wasn’t working full time AND take care of my 3 (very busy) kids with no help. I was burnt out. I went to the doctor and was waiting to get my MRI on my knee to see if I needed surgery, when all of a sudden I got the best phone call of my life. My husband got a job! We were THRILLED and life started to feel normal again. My MRI results came back and I don’t need surgery! Life was good and there really was a light at the end of this very, very long tunnel.
I picked myself up (both literally and figuratively) and started my Bar Method classes again and started to run (ok, slowly jog) again with the green light from my doctor. I stopped all of that emotional eating (damn homemade granola!) and I am back on track. It felt great. And life is back to normal. My perspective has changed. And I can finally take that deep exhale that I waited two years to take. It feels amazing.
I thought it would be appropriate to share one of my favorite smoothies that always helps get me back on track. I make this every day around 3:30 most days when my kids are snacking and doing their homework. It helps prevent me from wanting to eat my kids’ snacks or the whole entire container of homemade granola. And it tastes great too.
My Favorite Smoothie
Ingredients
- 4 large handfuls of organic baby spinach
- 2 large handfuls of organic kale
- 1/2 cup vanilla unsweetened almond milk
- 1 scoop protein powder I use Sunwarrior or Vega
- 1 sliced green apple
- 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
Instructions
-
Place all of the ingredients in blender in the order listed above. Blend until smooth.
Thanks for listening to my very long story. I am one of the lucky ones whose family’s story has a happy ending. I appreciate every single one of you and thank you all for your support. Count your blessings.
Lauren,
So happy to hear all of your happy news! Congrats! You & Steve deserve it!! And yes I will try your green smoothie when my kids are snacking-thank you for the inspiration!
Luv
Megan
Thank you so much Megan!! I hope to see you soon! XO
Thanks so much for opening your heart to all your readers! We are in the midst of tough financial times, and I am also fighting chronic illness and have a busy 2 year old boy. And we moved 100 miles away. I do still exercise, probably pushing myself too hard with illness, but man does it relieve the stress!! I haven’t turned to emotional eating (I am actually underweight from medical treatment) but actually found a wonderful nutritionist and learned how to intuitively eat for the first time in my life. I’m not at my goal weight yet, but did gain 12 pounds! Although we haven’t reached our happy ending yet, the hard times make us count the blessings. It could always be worse! Thanks again for sharing, love reading your recipes!
Yes, we all need to count our blessings Jennifer. I hope you start to feel better and enjoy your time with your little boy! Thank you so much!
2 months off…i can’t even begin to imagine that.
It wasn’t easy! But onto bigger and better things now 🙂
Wow, so glad things have turned around for you guys! This smoothie looks like the perfect afternoon pick me up!
Thank you so much Stephanie!
I’m a runner, too. Ran in high school and college and now run in the mornings. I think, once a runner, always a runner, but there’s no question it’s not exactly the best on the joints. I wish I had a pool! Smoothies are my life – love this one!
Yes, Amy, I totally agree! Some people don’t understand when you’ve been running forever, it’s hard to just stop (even though I am getting older and seem to be falling apart 😉 ) Thanks for stopping by!
I agree, the winter was WAY too long!!! It kept me exercising indoors at the gym all the time! And I can only imagine having 3 kids and working, and exercising! Whew! I am so happy to hear it is looking up now! I hope your knee heals soon so you can get back to what you love! And the smoothie looks fantastic! I usually stick with one leafy green in mine but two…I must try this. 🙂
Thanks so much Amanda! I hope you like it 🙂
Thank you for sharing your story with us, Lauren. I alternate between running and swimming and after exercise, I crave smoothies like this! Perfection!
Thank you Lora!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing all of that with us!! I’m glad you got through such a difficult time in your life…and glad it was only temporary 🙂 I love green smoothies when they are made right. I’m sure this one is delicious!
Thank you so much Ashley! XO
You aren’t alone. The lbs I wished to shed before the summer are still comfortably snug to my body. At least you are juicing which for some reason I can’t bring myself to do. Maybe this beautiful green in your smote will encourage me to jump start a new trend in my life. 🙂
I also debated about writing my “emotional eating post”, too. lol! So glad to hear about all your great turnarounds for you and your family. Congrats to your hubby on his new job. Keep up the great work!
xo,
Lauren
I’m so happy to hear that things are finally looking up!
Yay for things looking up- thanks for sharing…and this smoothie looks delish!
Thank you Elizabeth!!
Thanks so much for sharing your story…and smoothie. I reaaaallly need this smoothie to get me back on track!
Thanks Marjory 🙂
Sounds wonderful. Love the fruit mixed inside!
Thank you Ginny!! 🙂
Lauren! I had no idea your husband was out of work for so long! My husband was also laid off unexpectedly last year. His unemployment wasn’t as long, but it was still a challenging time for everyone, so I can totally relate to what you’re saying about stress eating. So glad your family is back on track!! P.S. I take barre classes, too. Holy crap, they are hard. My face looks nothing like “happy” when I’m there. 🙂
LOL Anna! Yes, they are so hard! But I love the feeling after it’s over 😉 Thanks for stopping by! XO
I’m so happy to hear your husband landed another job! That is so exciting for you and your family 🙂 I don’t think I realized you were in Montclair! I used to live in Roseland but now my husband and I live up in New York. We should meet up sometime. We go to Newark a lot for hockey games and always stop for dinner before the game.
No way Brandi, I didn’t realize you were so close! I would love to meet up 🙂
Awesome post! Sharing with the Girlfriends, I know many will relate to your stressful winter. I’m glad you’re back on track and so happy hubby got a job! Hugs!
Thank so much Barb!
Due to stress I also became an emotional eater, putting on a whopping 20 pounds in 2 years. I’ve dropped 6 of those pounds, and slowly but surely will drop them all. Sometimes you don’t realize you’re an emotional eater until you really can’t button the jeans you purchased when you first began to put on weight. I’m glad things turned around for you guys, and you’re able to exercise again! Now, I really love this smoothie. I love the flavor of pineapple in smoothies.
Thank you Angela! I always add pineapple to my smoothies t
Hi Lauren! I’m glad that you opened up! I love knowing that you are a REAL person with a REAL life! It was a long winter in Iowa too! I love your recipes! Thanks!
Thank you SO much Deb! 🙂
Thanks for sharing, I’ve been off track for about 3 weeks, events in life can contribute to this…just today I said that I need to pick myself up and start all over again. This recipe is one that I will surely put in my “Bullet”
Thank you Cynthia! Sometimes we all need reminders to get back on track! Have a great weekend!
I was a fake runner for awhile 🙂 I ran for about 4 years and did 2 half marathons, but I don’t really enjoy it. Unless I have someone to run with, I pretty much hate it. So I am back to my Insanity and DVD’s. Would love to try a bar class though, need to look into that. Loved meeting you, so glad your story has a happy ending!
Thanks so much Erin! It was so nice meeting you too! I hope we can hang out again soon 🙂
Oh, I know all about stress eating. Mine happens when I have to spend too much time in front of the computer trying to meet deadlines, though there was some stress eating last year during two federal government furloughs and shutdowns, which left my husband minus paychecks while I was going through cancer treatment. I’m so happy your husband got a new job and that you are on the mend. Exercise is wonderful for dealing with stress.
Thank you so much Andrea! I hope you are recovering well! XO
I’m a big stress eater, but trying so hard to get that in check, and even if most of the food is on the healthier side. I wish I enjoyed running more, but every morning it’s a …do I have to, maybe someday that will change, but the smoothie looks amazing
Thank you Heather!
Lauren, my dear, I know exactly how you feel. Well, minus the husband-laid-off part. But the running injury/no exercise part I am completely on the same page. I still haven’t managed to get back to Crossfit but I am running again and it feels so good!
At least I comfort myself with what a crappy winter we had and how hard it would have been to run outside anyway! Love ya!
Thanks Carolyn! I know we have talked about this before. It’s so hard to go through and I am so glad it’s over, for both of us!! XO
Lauren, thank you for sharing your story. Any reader will take something good away from your experience with all its bravery and perseverance. Now that you’re on the other side of it, may your future continue to be bright.
Thank you so much Brooks. I thought so many people could relate to this. Thanks for the kind words!
Great post Lauren. I know there are a lot of people out there walking in those same shoes. You will definitely inspire others with your story. I am so glad that everything is working out for you and your family. I hope that your husband is enjoying his new job. Now you can relax and enjoy those sweet boys this summer! xo~
Thank you so much Amee!! XO
Congratulations on the good news! I am so happy to hear that things are looking up for your family. And the smoothie sounds tasty!
Thank you Sarah!!