Category Archives: Lets Talk Fitness

Which Blender is Best for Green Smoothies?

Posted on by Allen Stern

The most popular that Smoothie a Day newsletter readers ask me is, “which is the best blender for making green smoothies?” I’d like to share my thoughts on which blender is the best and why the best blender might not be the one you think!

Which Blender is the Best for Making Green Smoothies?This month we took a look at the most popular questions from newsletter readers — Green Smoothie Detox vs. Green Juice Detox and How to Buy Superfoods Online. Questions about blenders are definitely the most popular by far. I know it’s very important that you have a great blender to help with your green smoothies for weight loss and for better overall health.

If you like smoothies, you’ve got to check out my smoothie board on Pinterest!

The first answer about green smoothie blenders is…if you already have a blender, USE IT! I am not a fan of running out and spending money (could be a lot) for a fancy new blender if you already have a blender. If you don’t have a high-speed blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec, here is my tip. Take the frozen fruit out of the freezer 30 minutes before blending your smoothie and leave it on your kitchen counter. It will soften up the fruit a touch which will help a regular blender combine everything together better.

If you don’t have a blender now, I think blenders fall into 3 categories:

  • personal blender (generally 16 ounce size cup, easily portable unit)
  • standard blender (similar power to the personal blender but a larger jar size (usually blending capacity of 36-40 ounces)
  • high-speed, power blender (these are the top end of the blender market and the two top brands are Vitamix and Blendtec)

Personal Blender

In the personal blender category, I own the Tribest 250. It was the blender I started with and it is now the blender I travel with. I think it is a great blender – the blender comes with a 16 ounce cup and a 24 ounce extra large cup is available as an add-on. This Hamilton Beach personal blender has high reviews from newsletter subscribers and is only $15! This blender is great as a gift, add in a few superfoods and you will be giving the gift of health.

High Speed Blenders

In the world of high-speed, high-end blenders there are two brands that battle just the same as Microsoft vs. Apple. Those blenders come from Blendtec and Vitamix. I will say straight away that both blenders are amazing and either one you buy, you will love. My suggestion is to find a Costco in your area and try to get a demo in-store so you can see the machines for yourself. I use a Blendtec and absolutely love it.

I think Vitamix has come a long way in terms of design in the past year. Their newest models have a lot of the features that made Blendtec popular…namely the pre-set buttons and the under counter design. If I was to buy a new blender today and had the cash to spare, I think I’d go for the newest model of the Vitamix, the Professional Series 750. This is the most expensive model at a whopping $600+. The most popular Vitamix is the basic model, has just the two knobs – and it is a great model you will love – it’s about $250 less than the 750.

Here is my general take on Blendtec vs. Vitamix. I very much suggest you check out John Kohler’s videos on YouTube. He has tons of blender videos and some direct comparison videos between the Blendtec and Vitamix.

I picked Blendtec because it is quieter, has a better jar design and the overall design is better than Vitamix. I like the square jar because it is WAY easier to clean. The pre-programmed buttons are nice but honestly I would be fine with the manual knobs.

The Vitamix is more popular with foodies and people in the health and nutrition field so you will score points when you post a photo on Instagram with a Vitamix :-P I also think the tamper that Vitamix is known for is the biggest winner for Vitamix. There are many times where my smoothie is so thick that it gets “cavitation” and I need to stop the blender and loosen up the mix and re-start. With the tamper, that would never happen.

Again, overall both the Vitamix and the Blendtec are amazing machines and you will love either of them and they will last for a long, long time. And if you go with the personal blenders I recommend, those are also awesome. The main key point is to get started :)

Check out my blender list for more blenders.

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Green Smoothie Detox or Green Juice Detox?

Posted on by Allen Stern

The second most popular question I have been asked on the newsletter is whether a Green Smoothie Detox or a Green Juice Detox is better for weight loss and cleansing the body. Here are my personal experiences drinking both juices and smoothies. Next week I will answer the most popular newsletter question!

Which is better - a Green Smoothie Detox or a Green Juice Detox?

Which is better – a Green Smoothie Detox or a Green Juice Detox?

Wikipedia notes, “Detoxification (detox for short) is the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances from a living organism, including, but not limited to, the human body…”

It seems like the word “detox” is the hot word these days. Last week I was listening to a radio station in Sydney, Australia while exercising and a commercial for a “coconut oil detox” program played. You can’t turn on the tv in the overnight without a commercial for some detox pills that will make you a perfect human being in 30 days or less.

Before I go on, I want to mention that I am not going to recommend any specific detox programs here – detoxing is a process that should be monitored by a professional – either a doctor or nutritionist. When I did several detox programs, I was monitored by Linda, the nutritionist I worked with. She just came out with a detox book and I know she believes in smoothies as a detox protocol.

I don’t call the daily green smoothie and the daily green juice I drink a detox but in certainly is. To me, detox means, “getting crap out of your body” and I still have a lot of crap up in there!

I drink my green juice in the evening and what I have found is that when I wake up in the morning, I am immediately ready for detoxing (I will leave out the TMI). As a test, for 2 weeks I tried not drinking the green juice once each week and then there was no detox in the morning. So in my view, the green juice is definitely getting into the right places while I sleep and is going to work to help with the detox and crap removal. It’s like Draino for the body :-P

I strongly believe that the biggest force in my weight loss has been my green smoothies that I drink every single morning for nearly a year now. I love how the smoothies give me tons of energy to get the day going and they definitely provide some detox benefits. It’s not as direct as the green juice I noted above, but it definitely is there. I think the smoothies are also helping detox my skin. While my skin has never been an issue, I think the smoothies have helped make my skin even smoother and “cleaner”.  I know this will sound crazy but I feel like my skin is able to breathe better since I began my healthy lifestyle journey. I attribute a lot of this to the juices and smoothies. Remember that detoxing happens both on the inside and on the outside.

I was at a networking event a few weeks ago and had a good discussion with Colon Hydrotherapist Juanita Watson. We were talking about how I am drinking juices and smoothies and the detox benefits I’ve noticed. She mentioned that doing a colon cleanse using a colon hydrotherapy machine would help kickstart the detox benefits of the juicing and smoothies. Doing the colon cleanse is something Linda had recommended during our sessions and it is something I want to eventually do as I am sure both Linda and Juanita are right – I think the machine will blast through some of the old junk still stuck inside my body – almost like a powerwasher on a house.

Overall my take is this…don’t worry about calling things detoxes, cleanses, feasts, fasts, etc. Just eat healthy, get some exercise, drink a smoothie and/or juice (preferably both) and let the food take care of cleaning your insides and making your outsides healthier looking!

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How to Buy Superfoods Online

Posted on by Allen Stern

Superfoods For Weight LossThis month I want to answer the most popular reader questions I get on the Smoothie a Day newsletter. I’ve had many people ask me about how to buy superfoods for their smoothies and for helping finding the best deals on superfoods. Here is my take on how to buy, where to buy and some deals I’ve found.

Superfoods can definitely be pricey and frankly I think if you are starting out with green smoothies, it is best to just start simple with the combo of fruit + greens. That’s what I did and am glad that I didn’t start with a boatload of superfoods. I think after a short bit of time, it’s great to add in some of the superfoods to your daily green smoothie. You are drinking a green smoothie every day, right?

One thing to remember is that while some of the superfoods can be pricey, the bags will last a very long time. I would guess they add about 10 cents a day to my smoothies.

It was last May that Linda introduced me to superfoods. She gave me a variety of samples from her stash including Maca, Chia, Acai, Colostrum and Spirulina. My regular routine today includes: Maca, Chia, Flax, Acai and Spirulina although the Spirulina I take as tablets before dinner. I find that they slightly change the taste of the smoothie so I would rather pop them as a tablet. My goal is to add as many superfoods as possible that don’t alter the taste of the smoothie. I’ve also started using Maqui and Lucuma.

My favorite brand of superfoods is Navitas Naturals. I find the quality of their product to be top notch and I had to call them with a question and the support person helped me in a very friendly manner especially since I am a total newb when it comes to being a healthy person.

Anther option is to buy a superfood combo powder like Amazing Grass or Miessence. These combo powders are easy to use because they have a ton of superfoods and greens in them so you get the power of a variety of items in one powder. Read my note at the bottom of this post to make sure you buy the right things to get the most health benefits.

The best deals I’ve found on superfoods is either from Amazon or from iHerb. What’s great about iHerb is that if you use my link, you will save $10 on a $40 order or $5 off a smaller order and they have free ship and no tax. It’s like almost getting a free bag of a superfood for free. I like both of these companies because they ship fast and have great customer service. If you decide to buy from Amazon, make sure to check if the items have a “subscribe and save” option – this will generally save you 5% on the superfood and you can cancel the subscription as soon as the item ships.

I setup two shopping carts at iHerb with a great superfood starter pack

  • Cart 1 – has acai powder, chia seeds, flax seeds and maca powder
  • Cart 2 – has cacao powder, chia seeds, flax seeds and maca powder

Here are the links to the best superfood deals on Amazon:

One note – be careful when buying the superfoods – I suggest making sure you get the actual powder. There are lots of products that you will see if you search for say Acai that have some acai in them but aren’t only acai and may have garbage added to them. So stay away from things like acai chews or gummies, acai drinks, etc. Buy the plain, simple powder and you will be good to go and be on your way to better health and weight loss!

Get a fresh smoothie each morning with my Smoothie a Day newsletter!

You Can Do This – An Awesome Weight Loss Story!

Posted on by Allen Stern

You Can Do ThisToday I’d like to share a story from one of our awesome community members. I’ve been messaging back and forth with her on Facebook for a few days and I asked if I could share her story and she said yes. We will call her “K” in this post. Even if you don’t read her entire story, please make sure to read the last line and read it to yourself every day.

K told me she has an infant daughter and wants to be healthy for her. K is in her early 20s – I told her this morning that I wish I had worked on my health in my 20s, I think my life would have been so much better. But you know what? I feel better today than I did at 18 and every day I drink a green smoothie, enjoy a green juice or a walk, I am getting younger. Much like K, I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. Especially the tired part.

Make sure to check out her HUGE weight loss in just 7 months. I agree with her that exercise improves my mood – it’s like if I am having a tough day, just walking on the treadmill for a bit immediately brings me back to the center.

Here is K’s story:

“I had galbladder surgery in July 2010. A combination of being unhappy and the surgery led me to gain about 80 lbs. I’ve always been overweight my entire life, trying every fad diet in the books. Lose 40 gain 60, lose 20 gain 25.

“So after the surgery I became really sick and everything I ate didn’t agree with me, since the galbladder metabolizes fat and I was without one and still eating like I used to, I gained a ton of weight.

“But eating unhealthy and being sedentary weren’t my only issues, I was in a 5 year mentally abusive relationship. I left July 2012, started gaining back my confidence and self esteem but was still pretty sick.

“I eventually got sick and tired of being sick and tired.

“So I slowly started cutting out things like takeout and cheese (self proclaimed cheese addict here lol) before I knew it I’d lost 35 lbs! I had more energy and wasn’t feeling so sick anymore. I started a vitamin regimen, I take L-tyrosene (for moods), B50, a combo of magnesium/D3/calcium and an omega 3-6-9. I figured out my triggers were meat, so I became a vegetarian, and cut out milk and cheese completely since they’re high in fat and tend to make me sluggish and sick.

“It’s now 7 months later, I’m incredibly happy and have lost 122lbs! The right way! I don’t restrict or starve, I eat 4 times a day (300-400 Cal meals). I do yoga, strength training and cardio 5-6 times a week, I just started working out with a friend about 1.5 months ago. She helps keep me motivated. Exercise has tremendously improved my mood. When I started at 380 lbs I couldn’t walk a block without stopping. I’m still heavy at 260 (I’m five foot 9) but I can jog for 20 minutes straight now, and love doing so.

“Never give up on your goals. Ever.”

Huge ♥ ♥ ♥ to K!

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Austin City Guide: Smoothies and Juices

Posted on by Allen Stern

Austin PostcardAs someone who is now totally into smoothies and juices (mostly green ones), I volunteered to write a city guide for Austin on where you can find juices and smoothies here in town.

What do I look for in a juice and/or smoothie shop? Friendly staff, wifi, a variety of smoothies and/or juices, options to add superfoods, fresh ingredients, short lines and a nice atmosphere. Most times when I am getting a smoothie out of the house, I want to enjoy my time with my juice or smoothie and it’s important that the shops I spend my money at provide a relaxing atmosphere.

My two favorite shops here in Austin are: Blenders and Bowls and Juiceland. I’ve also included a variety of other great shops here in town that are very much worth a try.

Blenders and Bowls

Blenders and Bowls LogoI have been going to Blenders & Bowls every Saturday morning for a couple of months now. Their main store is located in the Wanderlust yoga studio downtown directly across the street from the Austin Convention Center which makes it a perfect stop for a healthy drink during SXSW or any conference. They also have a mobile food truck that is currently stationed near the University of Texas.The owners are very friendly, they have a great selection of smoothies (they call them blenders) and also have acai bowls which are amazing.

They use lots of local ingredients including honey from the farmers market down the street. Their prices are reasonable and if you are new to smoothies or juices, ask them for help in selecting the perfect smoothie based on your tastes. I like all of their smoothies and definitely recommend the Founders Fave which has the awesome superfood Acai. Check out my full review of my first experience at Blenders & Bowls.

Juiceland

Juiceland Austin LogoJuiceland has 4 locations around central Austin and a wide variety of smoothies and juices on the menu. Their prices are excellent and the staff is very helpful and will work with you to find a juice or smoothie that meets your tastes and if you have any ills that need fixing. They have an add-ins bar with superfoods to wheatgrass and more. All of their locations have seating and the Deep Eddy location has outdoor seating near a water fountain that is very relaxing while enjoying your cup of health.

Juiceland also offers a Juice Cleanse program which provides all the juices you need for a great detox plan.

Other Austin Juice and Smoothie Shops

  • Whole Foods Downtown – I’ve bought many a green juice and smoothie at the Whole Foods downtown. They have a selection of both and can customize any drink whatever you would like. I like their large seating section, the free wifi and the large parking garage. It’s a great place to meet a friend for a drink as there is also a full salad bar and healthy kitchen if you (or your date) wants a full meal.
  • Central Market – I’ve purchased a few smoothies at the various Central Market locations around Austin. They have excellent prices on their smoothies – they are more limited in ingredients than the other shops on this list. They have a large seating section and good parking. I think Central Market is great if you need a smoothie on the go or if you are new and want a very basic, simple smoothie.
  • Snap Kitchen – I wrote up a full review of my first experience at Snap Kitchen. They have an excellent variety of cold-pressed juices although they are the most expensive in Austin. They have seating and a fresh, modern environment. If you call ahead, they will bring your drink to your car which is great if you are in a rush.
  • GonzoJuice – located at 45th and Airport, GonzoJuice is a food truck with a simple selection of juices and smoothies.

With all the top quality juice and smoothie shops here in town, there is never a reason to go to any of the smoothie chains – not juice because you want to support a local small business but also because many of these chains use additional garbage in their drinks.

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