making smoothies in a care facility

This photo is of the end product of making my own delicious smoothies in my room at the Care Center, here I'm located....yummy!!!!

I wanted to post a video (couldn't get it to post correctly, so it's pictures instead, sorry) on how I make smoothies in a care center (nursing home). If you haven't read my prior posts, let me take a minute to explain how I got here and why I'll be here the next few months. Feb 8, 2014 horrific back pain brought me to the hospital for the third time in as many months. This time they admitted me and found out the I had Stenois of the back and a bad infection in the bone. After two months on antibiotics, the infection was gone. But, I had lost my ability to walk with my cane anymore and therefore, I had to have a total knee replacement done before, I could be released to go home again. Home which is a mere 8 blocks away, but requires that I walk up two flights of stairs (18 steps) and in need of 24 hour care, until I'm able to walk with  the cane again. But, alas, there will no more cane for me but, a total knee replacement, coming soon to this beautiful body.

I now walk with a walker a distance of 150 feet, but, still with the wheelchair following behind me and yes,I do rest while completing the 150 foot route.But, I'm making progress.when I got here, I was in so much pain you could not touch me without me screaming in pain. God really has blessed my body. I now get out of bed by myself and transfer into the wheelchair.

So here I am in a nice care facility, with great people looking after me as I go about losing the mandated 35 pounds that I need to lose. I've already lost15 pounds in the last 6 weeks.My daughter has been bringing me green juice and cut up fruit. But, I decided to take a break from the green juice and commit to fruits smoothies and eat only fresh fruit and green tea with coconut oil.

This has not been easy but, I realized that you can be in a care center and still restore your health. I'm a firm believer that God answers prayer. I prayed that God reveal to me how to lose this weight, while in a wheelchair and getting almost no form of exercise.I decided to exercise every morning on the side of my bed. I was doing it but my diaper kept slipping down and Lord knows that I needed that diaper on my body.

 So then i decided to exercise after I transferred from the bed with my walker to the wheelchair. That's working better. I move like I'm walking and then mix in an assortment of other exercises.

Then came the how to to make smoothies in my room. I got my granddaughter to bring some things of mine from home, the next time the family came to visit. She brought my $15.45 mini blender, I purchased from Wal-Mart, my flaxseeds, my Hemp protein powder, chia seed, coffee grinder( to grind the whole flaxseeds), my cacoa powder and coconut oil. She brought the items that I needed. I purchased almond milk, frozen fruit and plastic storage bags from the Aldi located right next door from the care facility. The facility allows me to go out to Aldi with an escort.

A fiend sent me birthday money,so I went online to Amazon and got some terrific deals. I got 96 ounces (6) pounds of whole flaxseed for $17.99, 2 pounds of cacoa for $19.99 and 2 pounds of chia seeds for $13.99. I was so happy, had been  purchasing 10 ounces of chia seeds for $10.99, 1 pound flaxseed for $9.99 and 8 ounces of cacao for $12.00 at various health food stores. Glad that I became an informed consumer.

In the pictures,you see the smaller bags of chia seeds and cacao, that I used to purchase, I keep refilling these bags, since they're easier to use. I keep the newly purchased larger containers, in my closet to maintain freshness. The ground flaxseed is the plastic cup you see in the pictures. I keep a larger package of flaxseeds in the refrigerator. As needed, I grind enough flaxseeds to to fill a bag and stick it in the refrigerator and only keep 1-2 days worth in a small plastic container in my room in a dark, cool place.

After a while I realized that I could save some money by getting items from the facility for free. So, I started requesting bananas, yogurt, fresh fruits with my meals. The fresh fruit and bananas I cut up and froze for use later. I got styrofoam cups with lids to store my smoothies in. I also noticed that they had liquid protein that they gave to patients with wounds. I requested some and the informed me that I needed a doctors request to get it. So they called my doctor and explained my purpose for wanting the liquid protein. My request was granted. They are getting me hemp protein powder, just what I wanted.

Below is a photo of my set up as I prepare the smoothies.

Smoothie ingredients:

1/2 cup to 1 cup of frozen fruit
1/2 banana
1 scoop Hemp protein powder
1-2  teaspoonful Chia seed
1 tablespoonful ground flaxseed
1 teaspoonful Cacoa powder
2 packets Stevia
8 ounces Almond milk
 I mix in blender and enjoy one container for now and the other container I pour into cups and place in the freezer for 4-6 hours to eat like a frozen treat later in the day.

I added another picture to show you how the chia seeds look in the little cups of water.  They are in the little black looking cups and they expand in the cups and they make you feel fuller longer.

you can also add something green like spinach, kale, romaine or anything green to make it a green smoothie.

So, you see there is no excuse that you or a loved one cannot add to their health in a care center. I wish you the best in your recovery!!!