Last week I read about this "green monster" and tried it for the first time. I used to juice a while back - but I love doing this in the blender - it's fabulous!! Anyway I see a lot of you have different variations etc. I have been making this all weekend (whenever I had power anyway!) And i found variation I love. I see that a lot of you use zucchini or cucumber in yours, which are much loewr in carbs. I know we are not counting carbs on SB but just wondered if this was overdoing it .....

I have been using a cup of swiss chard, 1 cup of organic spinach and 1 cup of kale, i throw in 1/4 to 1/2 a banana OR a couple of strawberries (ive decided to go on P2) and a cup of almond milk and a tsp of organic all natural peanut butter.

Today I decided to put this combo in fitday and its giving me net 26 g of carb. That was more than i was eating per day prior to starting SBD. But I have been feeling amazing and losing. I just wonder is it going to catch up all the carbs or should I go for it. I like using these darker greens because i think they are more nutritious and it really perks me up...can i just overlook these carbs? And the fact that my husband is calling it....the kermit!

Sounds nutritious- I do about the same but no PB... not saying you shouldn't. I think that you answered the question in your first paragraph... we're not counting carbs. Everyone is different. Its about listening to your body-Its all trial and adjustment! If its working stick with it... and it sounds like your body is liking it!

We don't count carbs. There is no sugars and the greens are great for you (lots of carbs in greens/banana remember). And if it makes you feel awesome, starts no cravings, then go with it!

we don't count carbs because not all carbs are created equal! if they are carbs loaded with nutritional value, such as from those yummy vegetables, then they are perfect and i don't count them as any but vegetables! carbohydrates are what gives your body the energy it needs to perform and if you don't have the energy to exercise, then what's the point in eliminating those foods?! "carbs" only count when you are looking at ones that provide little or no nutritional value, like sugars, alcohols, and white starches. I say load right up on those veggies!

^^^ Katie makes some great points!

It so funny but I never even thought about the carbohydrate content of cucumbers. For me, if I am adding them, it is because we have a garden full of them and a girl can only eat so many pickles . It's either my smoothie or the compost bin... I consider them nutritionally negligible but they do add a nice fresh quality to the smoothie. I never put them in at the expense of a dark leafy green - usually spinach but recently kale or some kind of dense lettuce (again, the garden decides).

Kale only has ~7 g carbs per cup and spinach & chard 1 gram each. Even if you were counting carbs I wouldn't leave these out. A cup of cucumber has 3 g carbs... The banana is your biggest culprit, even 1/2 of one has ~14 g carbs [OK, I know we don't count carbs but I am curious about this ] I often don't include banana really just because I think it used to be on the banned list and I got used to not eating them. But now I throw 1/2 of one in occasionally when they are sitting around in my house.

Enjoy your green smoothies - yours sound quite healthy with 3 cups of greens in there!

Great stuff! thanks, i can continue guilt-free! I cant imagine that it really does taste soooo good and is so healthy.

Katie, you are so right. When i was low on the carbs before SBD I really was running out of energy and couldnt finish work outs at some points. I had that green monster this morning and about 1/2 hour after I was full of energy and it really helped me have a much stronger and productive workout.

I think part of the "issue" with banana is that it may be higher in sugars and calories than some other fruits, but what makes it so great is that if you add a half a frozen banana to your smoothies/green monsters, there is no need to add any other sweetener and it makes a nice thick creamy consistency! bananas also have a decent amount of magnesium and potassium which is good for your muscles (gives them energy and reduces cramping).

Yep, that's why I put the banana in... a friend who is into body building suggested I tried to incorporate itto my diet occasionally. I was working out hard for a few days and muscles ached he suggested the bananas help to take that "sting" out just like you said. But after reading this here I might just alternate - I have the SF torini i can (and did the other day) put a tablespoon in of that in as need be just so im not overdoing it on the bananas. Im getting in the mood for another one now! lol

Cucumber is one of the best natural diuretics! I put a chunk in every single day, even when I'm buying them (organic of course!).

I'd personally agree with RDW, regarding not adding the PB. My reason would be that the nut butters are super great snack options , and I just wouldn't waste the calories in a smoothie. But the great thing about the smoothies is that we can each make them the way we want.

I suppose you've gotten the message...we don't count carbs. Kale is probably the #1 green veg as far as nutrition is concerned. If anything, I'd be thinking about adding MORE.

Best wishes!

Thanks Debbie! I am adding the PB because I read someplace that it is a good idea to have protein with your carb, it slows the release of insulin or something to that effect??? So much to learn, i just thought it would be a good thing. You are so right though about saving it for a real snack. I am not big on peanut butter flavored things and would rather have the pb saved for a sate sauce with shrimp for dinner or even with some cucumber as a snack. As i have also seemed to work through the pain of this new elipitical i should be good iwthout the banana! I am going to try a few days with a less sugary fruit and use blackberries or strawberries (luv them all anyway)and then leave out the PB...I know i have been doing okay with this I'm sure a less sugary fruit would be even better! This board is great thanks!

It's true about - I never use any sweetener when I throw half a banana in! (tho mine doesn't dance...)

And I'm really glad I randomly decided to throw in a cucumber one day. Those have been a very nice addition and maybe I'll continue even after my garden stops cranking them out.

Oh - another thing I discovered here is peanut flour! I add it sometimes to a chocolate smoothie to get the PB flavor. I just looked it up - 1 oz (which I think is actually a lot for this) is 96 cal with 15 g protein & 4 g fiber. I'm going to dig mine out again. I forgot about it until now

Also sometimes I use plain protein powder if I am not using Greek yogurt to boost the protein content... lots of vegan options available if you want to keep it vegan.

yay, anilom007, green smoothies are good stuff!!

It is because of 3fc that I ever tried a smoothie at home in the first place, not to mention ones with veggies in them. So , SBers!

I finally tried my first green monster smoothie this morning. The very basic recipe: 1 cup almond milk, 1 tablespoon flax, 1 handful spinach, 1 packet nsa hot chocolate, 3 ice cubes. YOU'VE MADE A BELIEVER OUT OF ME!!! It was so delicious I couldn't believe it! And its fresh and there's greens in there! Why oh why did it take me so long to get with the green monster program!

Furn! I know, right! I saw several people posting on their menu and thought I had to try it! There are so many wonderful variations -they are all really delicious! I saw someone here post about the cheescake smoothie (or something to that effect) today. It didnt have the greens if I remember right but it sounded really good and a nice alternative once in a while, or even for an evening snack! I'm loving SB!

I'm drinking my first green monster this morning. I'm not sure if it qualifies as an actual monster but it certainly tastes like one. I'm going to try it again tomorrow using something different. I just used what I had on hand.

1 small zucchini
a couple small handfuls romaine
small handful of broccoli slaw
1 scoop whey protein chocolate powder
1 T peanut butter
1/2 cup greek yogurt
just enough ff milk to blend