Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Getting Healthy from Lack of Sleep

I go through phases where I don't always sleep well at night. Every woman I know has had this problem at one time or another too and for some it's chronic. I'm a very light sleeper and I'm usually fine until something wakes me up, whether it's snoring or the dog whining to go out. Just about anything will wake me and once I am awake I often have a hard time falling back asleep. One night, a few weeks ago,  I woke up at 3:00 a.m. for no reason and could not get back to sleep. Instead of tossing and turning I went downstairs to make a cup of weak tea and watch TV, thinking it might help me to relax and eventually fall back asleep. It usually does the trick.
 
All that's on TV at 3:00 a.m. is infomercials. I got caught up in this one for the Nutribullet.  Have you seen it?


Transform ordinary foods into Superfoods and add years to your life!

It's not a blender! Not a juicer! The Nutribullet PULVERIZES your fruits and vegetables to make smoothies that are healthy and easier to digest (one of my weak points) so your body can absorb the nutrients better.  Juicers remove all the fiber (I need fiber) and blenders don't actually blend fruits and vegetables to a smooth consistency that well. Trust me, I've tried it.
 
Could this be for real? I was too tired to question it.  I remembered my son's energetic fifth-grade teacher telling me years ago that "juicing" changed his life. But did I listen? One woman in the infomercial said she finally had a good night's sleep the SAME night she started drinking the Nutriblast smoothies. Oh my gosh, that did it, LOL. (This must be why they put these commercials on at 3:00 a.m. when no one can sleep.) Who doesn't want to be healthy and sleep well too? If it sounds like a gimmick you're probably right. But, tired as I was at 3 a.m. it was one I could not resist. Hey, it could have been worse - I could have been taken in by that 40-ft flexible garden hose that's being advertised all over (sorry, Judy) or wound up with 8 fake suede jackets in all the colors of the rainbow.

I did not immediately rush to buy it over the phone in 3 easy installments, give me some credit. I resisted, did some research and then took my 20 %  off coupon and headed over to Bed, Bath & Beyond the next day.

 
Laugh if you will but I have to say, I haven't had so much fun with a new kitchen appliance since I bought my percolator . . . which is still working by the way.
 
 
This is a lot of fun. Easy to use, very easy to clean up. I should start feeling great and looking younger any day now . . . .
 
The recipe book calls for spinach or some other healthy greens as a base, then you add your fruit and water. Add nuts for protein if you like. I added a dollop of yogurt and a tiny bit of apple juice. I am thinking of buying some protein powder and adding that too. Frozen fruit gives it a nice cool texture.
 
 
My son the Nutrition Expert thought it was good and said - "Add more spinach to mine next time, I can't even taste it!"  When was the last time you heard your child say THAT?
 
 
I love this thing. The smoothie tasted great. I won't lie though - if you put in too much spinach it will be green. But I could not taste the spinach at all -  the whole thing was very, very fruity and smooth. Last evening after dinner, instead of bringing out the chips bag, I caught my husband grabbing the vanilla yogurt and cutting up some strawberries, bananas and frozen peaches and heading over to the Kitchen Smoothie Counter (from now on the KSC, if you will). Definitely the first time I have ever seen this happen.
 
 
This chip clip OINKS when you open the package. Someone bought it for someone else at my house. (No names.)
 
Vote now -  am I the only crazy one out there who was sucked into this??
 
 

29 comments:

barbara woods said...

it seems to be just a female problem because i have it and so does my 45 year old daughter. my husband never!!

Janet O. said...

I've not purchased one, but I have a child who has. We love the green smoothies--lots of spinach, lime and some white grape juice.
I hope you will post photos of your progression to youthfulness! : )

Quilting Babcia said...

Hmm, I may get sucked into buying this - if I could get hubby to give up the constant chips and crackers and all the other non-nutritious snacks and have smoothies in their place ...
We both have the sleep issues, and I've chalked it up to getting old(er). But no fun to fall asleep at 1 or 2 a.m. when the morning alarm goes off at 4 a.m.

Diane said...

You've convinced me! I do smoothies in the blender and we add flax seed as well. This looks much handier and easier to clean though!
Thanks for sharing.

Kathleen Tracy said...

Flax seed, grape juice, lime, oh those are all good too. Thanks! I've also tried seedless grapes. VERY easy to clean, only 2 parts.

krisgray said...

This is on my "wish list" for my birthday. After reading your review I'll give hubby another nudge. I've read other bloggers say they love their bullet - thanks.

Anonymous said...

A lot of people at my office juice, so I studied and bought a Breville juicer. I love experimenting with what I can make, but mostly just go for the carrot juice. I made a horrendous green one once and can still remember how horrible it was. Too much spinach or kale can ruin things.

Betsy said...

you did good Kathleen. I bought a juicer and I love making juice from fruit that would otherwise sit in my refridgerator too long.

Kathleen Tracy said...

Yes, that is a problem at our house too : )

Anonymous said...

I have sleep problems too. Did it work in the case of sleeping? If it did, I may find myself buying one too.

Trina

Dawn said...

We bought the Original Bullet and used it so much we replaced it when it died after much use. The new ones look very sleek and nice :) You'll love it. Does all kinds of things easily. My kids even use it regularly for protein shakes.

Kathleen Tracy said...

Trina - I have not noticed a change in my sleep patterns : (

Cathy said...

Looks good, sounds delicious. Will have to see about getting one. Hugs

Kindred Quilts said...

I don't need to watch the infomercials at 3AM... I just read your post and I'll be stopping at the Bed, Bath, and Beyond in my neighborhood soon! You sold me!

Tammy said...

Kathleen, yes, several of my friends have this and love it. I bought one of the Jack LaLane juicers not too long ago and it's great too. I don't see any connection however between that and sleeping. What has helped is is making sure I get exercise in early evening at least two hours before sleeping. Also, I take a calcium & magnesium supplement CalAbsorb. (http://greatamericanhealth.com/. Good luck.

Beth said...

I don't need to see the infomercial either. I think I will be getting one of those with my next trip To BBB.

Anonymous said...

Kathy, can you also add ice or do you use just frozen veggies and fruits? Sandi in San Angelo, Tx

Liz said...

Sounds like a good investment if it would help me get more sleep. The idea of only having to clean two parts appeals to me too.

Lynn Howell said...

I have the magic bullet version and have been mixing fruit(fresh and frozen) and protein powder, almond milk and ice cubes for my shakes. I drink them in the evening as a meal replacement and I have lost 17 pounds in the last 6 weeks. We really love our bullet.

moosecraft said...

I've actually never heard of this.... though you now have my attention! Especially with the frozen fruit... (the frozen stuff usually has better flavor than the fresh around here)... I just might be making a trip to BB&B soon!

quiltgrannie said...

Kathy, I bought a juicer at an estate sale a few months ago and love it. This bullet looks like it should come to visit me soon!! Karen/IL

Karen said...

Due to some health issues of my husbands', we've been having more smoothies using a blender. I tried the spinach, and no one liked it. My 11 year old has actually been asking to get the Bullet, so thanks, think I will try it now.

sandi s said...

I have had a magic bullet for several years and I think it is the greatest thing around. It has so many uses. Now all my kids have one too.

Char said...

Hi Kathy - looking at the pictures of the fruit for the smoothie in the making made my mouth water! I'm with you - I have nights where I wake up for no reason, wide awake and raring to go - unfortunately I can't do much except read or sometimes cross stitch - don't want to wake hubby up at 3:00 in the morning. I don't turn on the tv cuz I like the peace and quiet at that time of the day. And like everyone else - I'm thinking this might be gracing my kitchen counter soon!

Char

Pam in IL said...

Thanks for this post, Kathy. Hubby bought a juicer years ago and it just sits in the pantry collecting dust cuz it's such a pain to clean. Just might get one of these. I'm curious, what store do you buy your fruit from? It looks so good!

Anonymous said...

Actually, I LIKE the way spinach tastes.

Anonymous said...

This does seem like a good alternative for me, I am not a big fruit/vegtable eater, But juicing seemed so expensive and time consuming. I am going to look into this.
Love your posts Kathy, keep it up!
Pat in AZ

Ingrid said...

What a great new gadget! Might have to try this one.

Anonymous said...

Kathy, love my Bullet. Best feature is that it keeps all the fiber in the drink. This is an old post that I found so I hope you are loving your Bullet by now. Judy

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