Happy Monday! Let’s make this week a good one, okay? 
When the alarm went off this morning, I immediately thought to myself, “Wow, I slept for three more hours yesterday.” Ooph.
Even though I didn’t get to sleep in today, my day did begin in a good way with a great workout.
Before taking my usual Monday morning BodyPump class, I did 20 minutes of cardio with Ryan while we chatted about the upcoming week.
BodyPump was decent, but I think I may have tweaked my back a little. It hurts a bit to bend over and I’m crossing my fingers that it’s something minor because back pain is no joke.
Walk + Breakfast
After our respective workouts were done, Ryan and I walked home and I took Sadie on a 20-minute walk while Ryan showered and headed off to work (he gets into work a good hour before I do because he works 9-hour days and gets every other Friday off).
Once Sadie and I arrived home, I quickly showered, threw my greasy hair up into a pony tail and headed into the kitchen to make breakfast.
I put the Vitamix to good use and whirred up a smoothie bowl!
In this bowl:
- 1 c. frozen strawberries
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
- 1 handful fresh spinach
- 1 c. almond milk
- 1 pinch xanthan gum (for thickening)
This creation reminded me of a more chocolaty version of my chocolate covered strawberry smoothie.
This smoothie bowl was super thick!
One thing I love about the Vitamix blender is that it allows you to blend and blend and blend without adding more milk or water to get things moving. This (along with the xanthan gum) allows me to create super-thick smoothie bowls!
I’m so glad the weather is warm again so smoothies can be integrated into my morning meal again. Woo!
Gotta get to work. See ya fo’ lunch!
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I love that you are so active in the AM! You go girl. You’ve inspired me to start makin’ more smoothies. Happy Monday 🙂
Maybe the adding the xanthum gum is the trick I’m been missing. I never find smoothies filling enough for breakfast but I’ll have to give it a try bec they’re great for summertime and on the go! 🙂
Super-thick smoothies are just one of the many reasons I want a Vita. They’re so cool! Fingers crossed your back is okay!
Smoothies in a bowl are THE best! Yum.
Oh vita-mix… it;s on my ‘someday’ list! But in the meantime, I need to pick up some zanthum gum to try before summer smoothie season hits!
I really need to start making smoothies again, you make these look so good!!! Does that gum stuff have any nutirtional value, or does it just make it thicker!
just makes it thicker.
Vita-Mix is the best thing EVER!!! I am loving mine too!! More smoothies for me since I got one!!
That smoothie looks so good! Vita-mixes are the best 🙂
Hope your back feels better! You’re making me crave warm weather and smoothies, all these shakes/ice creams/smoothies…ahhh!
Happy Monday!
I am super jealous of Ryan’s schedule — I would love to work a little extra and get every other Friday off! Although 9 hour days are awfully long 🙁
Where can I buy the xanthum gum ?
i found some at publix! you can also order it online. just google “bob’s red mill xanthan gum.”
Thanks Julie I will check at publix. One more question what protein powder do you use for your morning smoothies? I have been using Gold Standard Casein protein but I am open to trying new ones.
I’ve noticed that my protein powders have xanthan gum in them already and I get really thick smoothies just from using the powder only with the other ingrediants (fruit, crushed ice, etc)!
oh i knew i would like this post just from the title!! THICK smoothie-success! hope your back feels better!
Gotta love the vitamix! That smoothie sounds awesome!
I really hope the back pain is not serious!
I love your nice springy napkin ring!! I hope your back is feeling better soon. 🙂
I really want a vitamix, especially since the summer is comming up! Hope your back is ok!
Thick smoothies are where it’s at! I need to invest in some Xantham Gum!
I love your greeting today, too! Let’s make this week a good one, indeed! 😀
Right now I use my immersion blender for all my smoothie needs (though I don’t really like ice ground up in mine, I like to serve my smoothies over ice) and it rocks! Though I am seriously debating getting a Vitamix since I make a smoothie almost every day!
Yet another smoothie that looks amazing. I wish I could find the time to make them in the morning 🙁 I don’t know how you do it – but it sure does inspire me!
That VitaMix is awesome!!! 😀
Hope you have a great Monday and that your back feels better!
That smoothie looks so good! One reason why I really want a VitaMix is because I hate having to add too much liquid to my smoothies just to make everything blend up. Hm, perhaps I will tell my parents that I would like one for graduation. 🙂
As much as I love my Magic Bullet, it definitely needs a good amount of liquid to get it going. You might make me a convert to the Vitamix world.
Oh yum! I bought a few new protein powder samplers to try for smoothies… I found a pina colada one!!!
Only problem is, my hubby dropped the blender and the glas broke… seriously. I hopped online and ordered another part asap. I have the cuisineart dual (food processor and blender) and I am pretty pleased with it.
Happy Monday blogger world =)
I’m definitely going to be buying some xanthum gum in the near future! Although I don’t have a Vita-mix (darn) my blender does a pretty decent job but I think the gum will totally help with the thickness! 🙂
Do you buys yours in a store or order it online? I’m just wondering because it’s quite expensive at Whole Foods, the only place I have seen it! 🙁
xantham**
i buy it at publix… it is expensive but i’ve had my same package for more than a year! it last FOREVER b/c you only need like a pinch at a time.
Thanks Julie, that’s good to know 🙂
It has officially been added to my grocery list this week!
It’s finally starting to warm up in Memphis too, so I can start making my chocolate/pb2/banana smoothies!! Have a great Monday!! 🙂
I hope your back is ok! I tweaked mine last year and it was miserable 🙁
I’m happy the weather is warming up also – love yogurt bowls & smoothies for breakfast…and here I am making steel cut oats this morning! In my defense, I won them in a giveaway and was too excited to use them! 🙂
Im excited for warm weather for cold oatmeal and smoothies as well!!!
ahh so excited for warm weather and cold smoothies like you posted!! love your blog girl! xo happy monday!
Can I just say that I love how much time y’all spend together? I would be thrilled to spend so much one on one time with my husband!
That smoothie looks amazing!
Hey so high five to you for my morning break….I took Friday off so I had a blogtastic amount of entries to catch up on as far as your life goes haha. Side note: was watching the animal planet (don’t judge, there was nothing on) and they had Vizsla’s on Doggie 101, I started smacking my boyfriends leg saying “that’s Julie’s dog! that’s Julie’s dog!” all I got back is a confused face followed by – what are you talking about, who is Julie, crazy?! hahahah good stuff
i love that show but i’ve never seen them feature vizslas!!! i’m sad i missed it!
Xanthan gum has been my smoothie savior! Frozen fruits help but nothing like xanthan gum to really make it into pudding 🙂
I need to start eating/drinking mine out of a bowl! It just seems so much smoother and creamier!
I never did a smoothie in a bowl but sometimes it is hard to get it through a straw. i will have to try it out. Cute headband
A Vitamix is one of the top five “my fingers are sooo crossed” items on our wedding registry 🙂
I love your headband!!
I am such a big fan of xanthan gum in smoothies.
I have tried adding xanthan gum to my smoothies, but it never seems to make them smoother. But oh my gosh, I was at BBB yesterday dreaming about the VitaMix. My husband saw the price tag and steered me far way toward a land of $1 items 🙂
*I mean never seems to make them thicker.
really??? that seriously surprises me. how much are you using? i find that a little bit goes a long way and REALLY thickens up my smoothies. maybe the brand you tried was not so good?
Yeah! Mine gets super thick from it!!
I used Bob’s Red Mill xanthan gum. But it might be because I make my smoothies in a magic bullet and I have to add quite a bit of liquid in order for it to work!
Okay so your gonna think I’m crazy! I have NO CLUE in the world why but last night I had a dream that there was a Julie@ PBfingers BARBIE DOLL!! Ya know how like tSwift has a barbie doll? Well I had a dream you had onE! I can’t remember the rest of the dream but I do know that!! haha
I bought some xantham gum that is being delivered tomorrow. I am so excited to make a super thick smoothie!
Which Vitamix do you have Julie? I know there are super and deluxe versions too and some are $400. I am in the market for one.
Also, is using xanthan gum like adding gelatin?
I have to get some xantham gum for thickening- great idea for it in a bowl!
I really need to try adding xanthan gum to my smoothies. Your smoothies always look so thick and delicious.
I hope by you saying you threw your hair up in a pony — it means you don’t wash it everyday? I workout daily, and seriously CANNOT wash my hair everyday! It would fall out! So, I only wash it about 2-3 times a week (and use dry shampoo daily).. is that gross lol lol?
you got that right! i only wash it on days when i do lots of cardio. 🙂
Hi, I’ve been dying to know what protein powder you use! Please let me know, love your blog, only visit it about 37 times a day.
hi emily! i use all the whey brand protein powder and purchase it from nutraplanet.com. i also like gold standard chocolate casein protein powder.
When you say a “pinch” of xanthan gum, what measure do you think this might be close to… 1/16 tsp?? I have never tried or worked with the stuff before, so I have no idea just how much thickening power it has.