Jumpstarting 2015 with a healthier diet.
That’s the first week of #Jumpstart15 complete. For those new to this healthy challenge here’s the low-down:
A group of us food bloggers, organized by the lovely Scottish vegetarian blogger Jacqueline over at Tinned Tomatoes, got chatting about how we could put our juicers and blenders to the best use to help us shift the post-festive-food-indulgence feeling and maybe lose a few pounds as well. After much discussion we came up with Jumpstart 2015, a plan to include more fresh vegetable loaded juices, soups and smoothies in our diets and share the recipes and results on our food blogs through the month of January, and maybe even beyond.
This challenge isn’t about calorie counting or deprivation, it’s all about increasing the amount of lovely vegetables in our diet, satisfying our appetites with them instead of what we might normally reach for; to form new healthy eating habits and reap the benefits.
JUMPSTART 2015: THE RULES
- Enjoy a freshly made smoothie or juice (made of mostly vegetables) for breakfast and lunch
- Drink more water (I’m terribly guilty of not drinking enough water, unless coffee counts?)
- No alcohol (optional, but I think the majority of my weight gain last year came from wine calories so it’s teetotal 2015 for me!)
- Eat more soups – chunky or smooth as long as they are loaded with vegetables!
- Normal meal in the evening (In my case, on days where I manage to complete a P90X exercise workout this meal will be rich in protein with a generous serving of vegetables and small serving of carbohydrates)
So, over the last week of #Jumpstart15 here are some of the lovely recipes I’ve enjoyed!!
I also have a confession to make. Days 1 and 2 I stuck with the #Jumpstart15 challenge completely, but my digestive system really, really didn’t like it. Too much liquid in = too much liquid out, if you get what I’m saying! I’ve adjusted the challenge slightly by either having only one soup, juice or smoothie per day, or having them alongside a solid meal. I don’t know if I had a bit of a tummy bug on those days, but I’m cautious now.
Measurements this week:
Weight loss: 1.32 lbs (9.26 lbs in total)
1 inch lost around waist (4 inches in total)
1 inch lost around hips (1.5 inches in total)
1 inch lost around each thigh (2.5 inches in total)
1 inch lost around bust (2 inches in total)
0.5 inches lost around each upper arm (1 inch in total)
If you’d like to read about my P90X fitness journey, you can find the first update here.
OTHER BLOGGERS TAKING PART IN JUMPSTART 2015
- Tinned Tomatoes
- Fuss Free Flavours
- Ren Behan
- Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
- Smarter Fitter
- An Easy 3-Day Juice Feast to Jumpstart 2015
- Utterly Scrummy Food for Families
- Veggie Desserts
- Franglais Kitchen
- London Unattached (focusing on soups)
YOU! – If you would like to join in too, tweet me @TangoRaindrop your photos and recipe tips using the hashtag #Jumpstart15 and I will retweet all that I see. I’d love to try out your tried and tested recipes, and, if you like, I could even feature them on my blog (duly credited, of course!).
Bookmark or use Bloglovin to track what my Jumpstart 2015 blogging friends are up to – their recipes, tips and progress!
Follow Jacqueline Meldrum’s board Jumpstart 2015 on Pinterest.
Linking up with Weight Loss Wednesday (Week 2) by Sim’s Life and The Musing Housewife.
If you want to be kept up to date on my recipes, occasional craft tutorials, adventure stories and giveaways then please subscribe to my weekly newsletter; it gets sent out every Monday morning if there is new content. Your email address won’t be passed on to anyone, you will never be spammed and you are free to unsubscribe at any time, no questions asked. Make sure you confirm your subscription or you won’t receive the newsletter – if it hasn’t arrived check your junk mail folder.
[wysija_form id=”1″]
Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary uses the Froothie Optimum 9400 blender, and the Froothie Optimum 600 slow juicer to make her juices, soups and smoothies. These are affiliate links, meaning if you buy a blender or juicer through them we will earn a small commission. This is not a paid post and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Loves bikes. Calls Shetland home.
Emily @amummytoo says
I love the look, sound but most of all the name of your Heart Beet smoothie!
Beth - The Musing Housewife says
Wow! They look gorgeous! I love the sound of the heart beet smoothie! The soups sound yummy too!
Thank you for linking up with #WeightLossWednesday!
Stuart Vettese says
Oh my goodness I love the look of all your smoothies! Your Heart Beet looks lovely. Loving beetroot in my drinks at the moment.
Alison says
Great idea, some of these look really tasty and I will have to give them a try
Food Glorious Foodx says
I’m loving the selection of smoothies and juices 🙂 x
Sally - My Custard Pie says
I think you’re amazing – especially sharing your vital statistics!. Really enjoying Jumpstart. It’s the first time I’ve followed any kind of structured eating plan ever!
kellie@foodtoglow says
Looks like you have embraced the challenge with gusto, Elizabeth. I like that you have incorporated the recipes into the images too. My own efforts have been thwarted by a bug I picked up travelling, with the result that I haven’t had any significant solid or liquid food since Sunday! Today I managed a smoothie but weight is obviously dropping off. Nausea and fever will do that, I guess. 😉 Like you (in normal circumstances) I need something solid with my liquids, esp if I am physically active. Good luck with the rest of the challenge and with the P90X.
Tracey Peach says
I’m loving the look of Peachy Keen! Bet it tastes delicious
Pam Francis Gregory says
I love the look of the Blackcurrant Grape Refresher. Bet it would taste wonderful
Laura Pearson-Smith says
The Peachy Keen looks delicious. I’m going to try this tomorrow- thanks x
Laura | A Life With Frills
vanessa holburn says
I love a soup at lunchtime – and have been known to peruse the reduced section in the supermarket for ready-chopped veggies at a ridiculously low price so I can just cook ’em up with some stock the next day! The hand blender I got for weaning my first born gets more of a workout now than it ever did!! #WeightLossWednesday
Elizabeth says
That’s a great idea! I won a hand blender in a baby magazine website before my eldest was born, and it’s still going strong! The eldest will be 15 this year!
Camilla @FabFood4All says
Keep up the good work Elizabeth you’re doing so well. My mouth is watering at all those healthy smoothies:-)
Elizabeth says
Thanks Camilla – it’s such slow going, but all in the right direction!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
The chocolate and kale smoothie looks amazing! Congrats on the weight loss so far 🙂
Elizabeth says
Thanks Becca – I had to make a few batches of that recipe in one go as the family all wanted some too!
Kristina says
Wow these are all so healthy and yummy! Will definitely take notes and make them myself!
Elizabeth says
Thank you! 🙂
Cheryl - Madhouse Family Reviews says
I saw you talking about this challenge back at the start of the year. Definitely a great idea but I haven’t got a juicer. The soup recipes are very tempting though and you’re doing fabulously. Thanks for linking up on the Sunday weigh-in linkie xx
Elizabeth says
I learned recently that you can make juice in a blender – whiz everything up and then let it drip through a cheesecloth! 🙂 Thank you for your positive feedback, it’s much appreciated 🙂
Tinuke says
That sounds like such a fantastic idea! I don’t use my juicer anywhere near as much as I should but always feel the better for it when I do. Great challenge and some really lovely recipes in this post.
Elizabeth says
I thought it was a rather good idea too – I’ve got my juicer on my kitchen counter instead of hidden in a cupboard like my old one – having it there encourages me to use it more! Glad you like my recipe inspiration 🙂
Sim @ SimsLife.co.uk says
I really like the look of the Heart Beet smoothie and the Slow Roasted Tomato and Garlic Soup they look delicious! I understand where you are coming from, I guess it was your body’s way of getting used to something new… albeit, that is a lot of liquid type food to digest… your body definitely needs ruffage!
I love the idea of Jumpstart – my food processor and blender are hidden away somewhere as I never particularly use them, maybe this is the time to start using them – definitely for that soup, perfect excuse!
Thank you for linking up with #WeightLossWednesday and for promoting our badge! Sim xx
Elizabeth says
Thanks Sim 🙂 It’s not an easy journey, but small steps like these definitely give improvements.