Just the ticket for a hot afternoon or a quick breakfast on the run! If you haven't discovered the "incredibly filling" quality of glucomannan powder yet, you will be astounded at how full you are after having a smoothie or pudding made with it. It's a bit pricey, but as it is used in very small amounts, a 1# bag of this stuff lasts a very long time. Today I tried my first smoothie with it. Mmmmm it sure was good. Gave me a sense of being full from breakfast right up until lunchtime. As it thickens things up, it makes your usual smoothie quite a bit thicker.

I’m watching my calories now as well as carbs, in order to get my last 17 lbs. off. Low carbing alone just isn’t working to do that, as I was stalled at the same weight for two full years! No amount of tweaking of Atkins was getting my last 25# off. Every other day now, I restrict my total caloric intake drastically (500-600 calories); then every other day, I increase my caloric intake to 1600-1700 calories. I’m hoping that will keep my metabolic set point so confused it can’t implement countermeasures to hang on to the last 25# I need to lose. In a sense, what I’m doing is very much like Intermittent Fasting, so I hopefully reap many of the benefits one gets with that approach to eating. But my attempts at IF last year didn’t suit my hunger needs nor our daily routines and schedule.

With a lot of help from glucomannan powder (from the Konjac tuber), which is virtually a pure fiber, zero value food, I am able to make smoothies and puddings that are extremely filling for those low-calorie days. I’ve even been known to have a glucomannan powder smoothie on my higher calorie days, as they are so satisfying and filling. Glucomannan or Konjac is the very same substance that shirataki noodles are made from, if you are familiar with those. Today’s smoothie took the place of breakfast and easily got me to lunch without any intervening mid-morning hunger pangs. These would also be very refreshing on a hot summer afternoon. This recipe isn’t suitable until Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) berries and nuts level.

INGREDIENTS:

1 c. unsweetened frozen raspberries (I buy Great Value brand at Walmart)
1 pkt. stevia
4 drops liquid Splenda
7 ice cubes
1½ c. cold water
3/4 tsp. glucomannan powder


DIRECTIONS: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend a couple minutes until nice and smooth. Pour into a serving glass and ENJOY!

VARIATIONS: You can add 1-2 T. protein powder if you like, or a splash of cream, but those variations are not calculated in the stats below. Of course, other berries can be used as well. When you get to the higher fruits level, you can make these with seeded watermelon or peaches.

NUTRITIONAL INFO: Makes 1 very large serving containing:

70 calories
1.6 g fat
32 g carbs, 18.4 g fiber, 13.6 g NET CARBS (using fewer raspberries will lower carbs)
3 g protein
13 mg sodium
343 mg potassium
61% RDA Vitamin C, 14% E, 26% copper, 22% iron, 18% magnesium, 93% manganese, 11% niacin, 10% phosphorous, 13% zinc