Smoothies are a great way to increase your daily intake of vegetables and fruits and can be a healthy addition to your diet. Here are a couple of things to remember when adding smoothies to your daily routine:

•  Use 2 vegetables to every fruit.
•  Use whole fruits and vegetables instead of fruit or vegetable juices.
•  Use unsweetened liquids to control sugar content in your smoothies.
•  Use unsweetened almond or coconut milk  as an alternative to milk.
•  Add pitted dates or honey for sweetness but taste before using specified amounts.  Many recipes call for too much  sweetness.
•  Serving size should be 6 - 8 oz if accompanying a meal. 
•  Smoothies can be a meal replacement if adding a good source of protein .....
•  Serving size should be 12 - 16 oz if substituting for a meal.
•  Lime is a great addition to green smoothies.  It softens the green aftertaste when using spinach or kale.
•  Add nuts or avocado, chia or flax seed  as a fat source because some vitamins require fats for maximum nutrient  absorption.
•  Avocado adds a nice velvety texture
• Adding a banana can soften a heavy vegetable flavor.
• Instead of adding extra water, try adding fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, or celery 
• Plan your smoothies around seasonal availability but if you have an out of season craving, frozen vegetables and fruits are a great substitute.
• Freeze ingredients such as kale, ginger root, spinach, bananas, etc. to extend life and use directly from frozen.

There are many ingredients that can be added to enhance your smoothie and pack it with super nutrients. Try adding one or more of these ingredients to your basic smoothie recipe. Remember, if you make something less than tasty, freeze it and use small amounts in future blends. 

Matcha Green Tea *Ground cinnamon *Fresh Ginger *Powdered Cayenne *Powdered Tumeric* 

Enjoy your power packed smoothies!

Sponsored by Wind River Cancer Wellness Retreats and Cheryl Lecroy of Creative Juices Consulting

I'm humbled by the comments "Your amazing"  from a recent facebook post.

While, I'm not necessarily amazing, I am perhaps inspiring. The truth is that training for this marathon has been. Hard. In fact, right now I'm not allowed to run until the marathon so that i can nurse my shin splint. I'm not a stranger to my sciatic nerve, or my peritoneal tendinitis. There have been very few blissful runs recently. 2 days after my 20 mile run, I said goodbye to my precious grandmother and I've had a bucket load of other challenges.

I was often comparing my performance to that of 5 years ago when I ran my first marathon, pre cancer. I ran 9.5 minute miles, I had more energy. I was thinner. I was younger. I was healthier. (was I?)  I was you-name-it. And maybe it is like childbirth, where we forget the pain and only remember the prize.  If the day to day challenges are not easy then why push myself?  Why not listen to my own advice to find joy in the present moment.  There were some moments of pure NOT joy!

I coach other survivors on the importance of living for the moment, and seeking the things that bring joy. So why did I sometimes feel like a contradiction?

But then there were the times after the run.  When the pain eased.  When the goal had been accomplished. The feeling of being a part of something bigger than myself or my present circumstances.  And a satisfaction that the work was making me stronger and better and feeling more alive than ever. And there were the miles I spent with other survivors who could not run. Who SO wanted to be able to run.  Miles with Mollie, Miles with Mary Lou, Miles with Sally, Miles with Dorothy.  Miles with Sue. Miles with Cassandra.  And harnessing strength from my time with these precious spirits. 

So not unlike life where there are moments of NOT joy, no matter how much we say JUST BE HAPPY because the truth is, that it is not that simple.  But what we do have is our attitude, to know that we are part of something larger and beautiful, to know that our story is filled with joy and NOT joy.  And that together it paints a picture..We are the canvas....but our attitude determines the colors.  I choose bright rainbow colors..

In the end, even if there are moments of pain, the sum parts of running do indeed bring me joy. And I now know that I am AGAIN an athlete but perhaps by different, newer standards.  Not standards of minutes per mile or by overall stamina, or a ripped tight body, but by the measure of  being dedicated to the hard parts to reach the joy.

I remember now. ! Running is 85% attitude. (and 15% stretching)   If you show up for the job, that is most of the success.  Show up and let your body do the rest.  Trust the schedule, Trust your body. Trust the journey.

I'm honored to run 26.2 for Wind River.  
grouprev.com/cherylsparismarathon2016

This is where this decision to run another marathon began.  Now, I'm 7 months into training and 12 days from my marathon.  Nice perspective from this space in time

(archive: September 2015.) 

My cancer journey has given me a "new normal" My journey continues.  My last surgery was 6 weeks ago.  My new normal includes. Following my heart.  Making decisions based on joy and...seeking happiness. I'm doing this for me. Let's see what this body can do.

This nice notice from MapMyFitness was in my inbox this morning:


This email may cause spontaneous fist pumps!

Congrats on your 350th workout!

You've logged 350 workouts since you joined MapMyFitness.

We think that's pretty epic, and you should too.

Keep up the great work.


THAT feels good, but there is more work to do.  I'm going to commit to my second marathon.  My FIRST marathon since before being diagnosed with breast cancer.  It seems that I had forgotten what it feels like to be an athlete during the last 4 years, I've been taking it easy.  Still running but "accepting my new normal" of nursing my body...of a 12+ minute mile instead of a 9.5 minute mile.  The "new normal" of re adjusting my expectations of what my body can do.  And even though I ran several times a month, I have not  really felt like a "runner" .....not felt like myself......during the last 4 years.

Time for all of that to change.

My new message from MapMyFitness should say:

30 weeks to train!


Only 150 workouts to go! 

Only 566 miles left to log!

Set your eyes on the goal!

YOU can do it!


I signed up for the PARIS Marathon exactly 3 weeks ago and have 25 miles complete.  Onward!!!!!

January 2010 after completing the Disney Marathon.  Average pace 10 min miles.