Do green smoothies actually work? Any tips appreciated :)

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Replies

  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Caffeine holds on to fat? Is that why it's constantly sold as a weight loss supplement?
    tigerpalm.jpg

    A green smoothie won't help with weight loss. A calorie deficit will.
  • pawprints86
    pawprints86 Posts: 59 Member
    Thanks again for all the great support from everyone who has been positive and had really great tips :) Today was my first day of the smoothies, and I feel really great. Not even hungry, which is surprising - I'm always hungry! lol I'm going to eventually switch around my recipe for it, just to try new things. I liked everyone's ideas for different powders and ingredients to try. (Ginger? Who'd have thought!) :D
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    I don't think you're going to lose more weight having green smoothies. Just a good way to get your nutrients from your greens.

    Exactly. When the original poster asks, "Do they work?" Work for what? Smoothies are a food item and no different than eating each component separately. Log it like you would every other calorie. Smoothies will help you lose weight faster as much as eating yogurt will. Or chicken. Or salads. You get the drift. The only thing that will help you lose weight is eating in a calorie deficit and increasing muscle. However, green smoothies are an excellent way to get some extra vegetables in your diet.
  • pawprints86
    pawprints86 Posts: 59 Member
    Since I posted this - what with busy-ness at work and school and the like, I'd actually stopped using the site for awhile. I'm back now, and happy to say the 2-3 weeks I used the smoothies continuously I really felt really great. Can't believe I got out of the habit of drinking them in the mornings. I understand, they are just as good as the individual ingredients you put in them - I'm not looking for some miracle "cure" or anything for weight loss. That takes hard work and change. ;) Was more looking for some boost to what I was already doing.

    I'm sure it was at least partly the spinach leaves I put in it, but regardless, whatever it was, it was helping. Planning on putting these back in my diet this week ASAP, as soon as I pick up the items at the store again on Monday. Loved them!! Helped with excess hunger through the day, too, which to me was fantastic. Took all of 5 minutes when I woke up to make, and after that I felt like a million bucks the rest of the day. Somehow they motivated me to "stick with" my healthy eating the rest of the day. If it helped that? They are worth it to me! =D
  • Amberonamission
    Amberonamission Posts: 836 Member
    Not sure if it helps me lose weight BUT... I know it makes my skin smooth as silk. It keeps me hydrated and I have not had so much as a sniffle since starting.

    My recipe.

    1 scoop Swansons Green Max Powder It has spirullina and broken cell wall chlorella (Blue green alge)
    1 Tbsp Chia seeds
    1 Tbsp Hersheys dark cocoa powder
    1 scoop vanilla protein powder
    1tsp cinnamon
    1 tsp potassium gluconate ( i am always low in potassium)
    1 cup unsweetened Almond milk
    A splash of coffee


    Looks like baby poop. Doesn't taste much better. BUT.. It fuels my long workouts and keeps me full through lunch.
  • FitzyFitzpatrick
    FitzyFitzpatrick Posts: 188 Member
    I drink smoothies for breakfast about 4 out of 7 mornings. To help keep me full, I add a 1/4 c of old fashioned oat meal. It adds a great creamy texture to it too. I do not use any milk or yogurt generally, but make mine with ice, water, chia, fresh or frozen fruit, spinach, flax, and wheat germ. YUM!
  • pawprints86
    pawprints86 Posts: 59 Member
    Not sure if it helps me lose weight BUT... I know it makes my skin smooth as silk. It keeps me hydrated and I have not had so much as a sniffle since starting.

    My recipe.

    1 scoop Swansons Green Max Powder It has spirullina and broken cell wall chlorella (Blue green alge)
    1 Tbsp Chia seeds
    1 Tbsp Hersheys dark cocoa powder
    1 scoop vanilla protein powder
    1tsp cinnamon
    1 tsp potassium gluconate ( i am always low in potassium)
    1 cup unsweetened Almond milk
    A splash of coffee


    Looks like baby poop. Doesn't taste much better. BUT.. It fuels my long workouts and keeps me full through lunch.

    That sounds great, actually. I'll have to try that out sometime.
  • pawprints86
    pawprints86 Posts: 59 Member
    I drink smoothies for breakfast about 4 out of 7 mornings. To help keep me full, I add a 1/4 c of old fashioned oat meal. It adds a great creamy texture to it too. I do not use any milk or yogurt generally, but make mine with ice, water, chia, fresh or frozen fruit, spinach, flax, and wheat germ. YUM!

    When you use oatmeal is it...just like, uncooked? Sorry if that was a dumb question, I just don't know about that part. ;)

    I'll have to check this Chia stuff out that I keep hearing about!
  • marshallexi
    marshallexi Posts: 162 Member
    I think it's the simplicity of green smoothies that makes it a great addition to my diet. Mine tend to top out at around 300 cals. I'm rubbish at eating lunch when I'm at work, so a big green smoothie made the night before, put it into a big jar and then store it in the fridge at work - works perfectly for my lunch.

    I don't think it's made my weight loss any faster, but it's made eating all my fruit & vegetables less of a chore (I get so bored of fruit, I could eat vegetables all day but fruit is such a struggle for me) and it's negated the problem I had about lunches, so i'm less likely to eat junk at work.

    I have found they improved my energy, my sugar cravings are near non-existent for the first time ever and people do comment on my complexion a lot now, I look a lot healthier!
  • beachgod
    beachgod Posts: 567 Member
    I make green smoothies from my vitamix recipe book and they are delicious. I am currently doing the Ultimate Reset from Beachbody and have lost 10.4 pounds in 18 days. My daughter is 18, started at 139 to support me and lost 12 pounds! I wasn't really hungry on it but it is very difficult to do in that it is all fresh foods you buy and cook and the last two weeks are vegan and there are a ton of supplements. We have 4 days to go. It is an alkalizing cleanse/detox/reset that is designed to reset your metabolism. I basically signed up for it because I am a coach and I wanted to know what it was about if people asked me about it, and I have to say that I am very pleasantly surprised at the results. But it is quite difficult to do and the purpose is to improve you health by eating fresh whole foods and they are tasty and filling but this week it is tough getting enough calories. It really isn't a weight loss thing but we lost weight and we weren't hungry because whole foods don't have alot of calories and they are filling. Here is the site if you are interested. www.myultimatereset.com/diannejean. I hope I am allowed to post that. You just seemed to really need suggestions so I will take a chance. Good luck with whatever you choose. I do believe that it is a combo of diet and exercise. I also went cold turkey off a big coffee habit and that might have contributed to my weight loss because caffiene is supposed to hold on to fat.

    I do believe you are correct.
  • allysteven880
    allysteven880 Posts: 75
    If you are taking in limit then everything is fine. But if you are eating limitless, you will definitely gain your weight.
  • kenyaponder20
    kenyaponder20 Posts: 1
    Green smoothies are awesome !!! i have been drinkinng them now every morning for almost over a month my first couple of pounds lost were from drinking green smoothies ????... if you like to get your self started join a 30 day challenge.thats what i did when i first started .they are the best because they give support as well as recipes and great information on what to eat what not to eat and how to make delicious green smoothies . simplegreensmoothies.com and incrediblegreensmoothies.com are awesome websites for begginers .. happy drinking .. and good luck in your path to healthy ????
  • jim180155
    jim180155 Posts: 769 Member
    I don't think green smoothies are going to make you lose weight any faster than just eating yogurt, spinach, and fruit separately. I actually find I don't really like smoothies for weight loss purposes, because my mind processes it as a drink and therefore as no filling, meaning it leaves me still hungry. I eat smoothies mainly when I need a boost in calories (like after a long run) or when I want something fast. Other than that, there aren't really any advantages to them other than maybe disguising the taste of the vegetables you might not like.

    I agree. Green smoothies are just food. If you put good stuff in, the smoothie will be good for you, but I find it more satisfying to eat all the veggies and fruit in a huge salad. Then again, smoothies are a good way to add protein powder, chia, flax and hemp seeds.

    If you look at my diary you'll see that some days, like today, most of my food is in the form of smoothies. That's not because smoothies are better or help you lose weight, but because they're convenient. I can spend my 30 minute lunch break walking and then drink my lunch afterward at my desk without anyone complaining.

    Note: My smoothies aren't low-cal. I think today's lunch smoothie was over 850 calories.
  • montana_girl
    montana_girl Posts: 1,403 Member
    I use green smoothies to get my daily does of veggies and protein. Plus they tend to keep me full longer than most meals, so if I know I'm not going to be eating for awhile (road trips, whatever), it's a great way to stay full and satisfied. As for losing weight, not sure it helps me much in that respect since my smoothies tend to be 350 to 700 calories! LOL
  • momtoeric
    momtoeric Posts: 33 Member
    These recipes sound great. Do I need a special juicer or will my typical blender and/or food processor work?
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    No special food or smoothie is "good for weight loss" or "works". The only thing that works is a calorie deficit. If people have lost weight taking green smoothies, it is only because they encourage you to eat less by being filling, thus creating the deficit.
  • kmclauchlanquinn
    kmclauchlanquinn Posts: 31 Member
    For reducing calories: I like to blend up a large amount of kale and/or spinach, cucumber with a small amount of berries and pineapple (bananas are v high calorie), with about 200 mls of coconut water, a little ginger and a squeeze of lemon. A good tip for keeping it weight-loss friendly: green vegies to fruit ratio should be at least 4:1. It's pretty easy when making it this way to keep it under or around 100 cals.
    If you use frozen fruit it makes the xmoothie icy and delicious :)
  • kmclauchlanquinn
    kmclauchlanquinn Posts: 31 Member
    For reducing calories: I like to blend up a large amount of kale and/or spinach, cucumber with a small amount of berries and pineapple (bananas are v high calorie), with about 200 mls of coconut water, a little ginger and a squeeze of lemon. A good tip for keeping it weight-loss friendly: green vegies to fruit ratio should be at least 4:1. It's pretty easy when making it this way to keep it under or around 100 cals.
    If you use frozen fruit it makes the xmoothie icy and delicious :)

    Whoops, I meant 100 mls coconut water :)
  • mestiza91
    mestiza91 Posts: 51
    I usually chuck in some green to my smoothie.. the ones that dont make a difference to the flavour. as i cannot pysically enjoy drinking veg like celery! itmakes me gag! I would rather just eat it the way it is.

    My typical smoothie is an apple, bananana, strawberries, grape, kiwi.. You could count the apple grape and kiwi as green, then i just chuck in a handful or 2 of spinach or kale. it makes no difference to the taste but the added nutrition is there. I also use soy/almond/skimmed milk and a bit of water to thin down the thickness!
  • chuconto
    chuconto Posts: 1
    Hello, I'm new to green smoothies and I have been drinking one for breakfast and on some days for lunch as well. Usually 32 oz. per shake made up of about 50/50 fruits and greens, I add chia seeds and sometimes whey protein. A little about myself, I am a man of just below average height with a stocky build. It's pretty easy for me to put on muscle but difficult for me to lose fat. I am looking to lose weight so I'm wondering how to make my smoothie filling without adding too many calories? I used to pack a lot of food because I got hungry usually every two hours. Also, what are the best sources of protein/fat? Any help is appreciated!
  • shellzbellz
    shellzbellz Posts: 38 Member
    Hi Everyone, I have been using Green Smoothies for a couple weeks now and have been feeling great. I make them in my Vita-mix, have asked friends who are successful in losing weight and keeping it off what ingredients they used in their smoothies and here is what they recommend:
    Kelp...lots
    Coconut Water
    Chia Seeds
    any other raw vegs
    any other raw fruits
    I researched different green foods and decided that hemp powder would work for me and I like it.
    I also add ginger. I sweeten with stevia if necessary. I count all the calories and each drink is about 200.
    So... I make enough for 2, freeze one for the next day and take one to work, it is very filling and makes me not think of food at all (I am a restaurant manager with chef husband) throughout my busy day! Smoothies have also given me energy to start exercising again and counting my steps too! Started reading a book about green smoothies meeting the 5:2 program, looks very interesting although I have not actually started that plan but have been able to keep my calorie intake on the lower side without feeling deprived or hungry. Hope this helps!

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