
I will not deprive you any longer of The Story Of The Green Monster. It should have been told many moons ago…
Early in January 2009, I sustained a pelvic injury that took me out of my marathon training. In addition to this, I was also experiencing chronic stress in my job that seemed to be getting worse and worse. In fact, it was at an all time high. As you may have read in my A Year Can Change A Lot series, during this time I was going through a really tough emotional time even though I could not talk about it on the blog.
The stress was eating away at me.
I lost my glow, my hair and nails were dry, and my eating disorder was starting to resurface. I consider myself to be recovered from my eating disorder, however, from time to time, my disordered eating behaviours resurface when the stress got to be too much. Off and on in December and January, I started restricting my food intake and counting calories which I had not done in months.
This really scared me.
I hated what the stress was doing to me. I felt so empty inside and some days so…dead. I felt so torn. I had Oh She Glows that gave me such an inner peace and happiness, but I felt like I couldn’t fully enjoy it because my full-time gig was casting a dark storm cloud over my entire life.
You probably don’t realize this, but the reason I started making green monsters was because of this void I felt in my life early in 2009. I had no energy. I was often up late at night until 3 or 4 in the morning worrying about work. I dragged all day long and I was turning into someone I didn’t recognize anymore.
After reading Kris Carr’s Crazy Sexy Cancer book for the third time, I was inspired by her Goddess juices that she made. If Kris was drinking green juice, then so would I.
I love that girl. Ever since the first time I saw her on the Crazy Sexy Cancer series on TLC.
So much in fact, I ended up interviewing her on OSG back in March 2009!!! The first celebrity on OSG, aside from Sketchie of course…;)
Back to the story…
It was a frigid, yet sunny day on January 20th 2009. Despite the cool and crisp weather outside, my disposition was not very sunny on the inside…
However, on this day, the Green Monster as we know it was born.
Determined to feel alive once again, I crammed the healthiest foods into my blender and I blended my little heart out. Of course, the first few attempts looked horrific and they tasted no better. But, I didn’t care. I drank every last drop of those green monsters before I made the long commute to work each morning. The green monster not only gave me energy, but it represented something much deeper than that- inner peace and self-love. I knew that the stress I had put myself through over the past few years was nothing short of damaging to every cell in my body. I created the Green Monsters as a way to take time out for my health. Even if I knew it was going to be a hellish day, getting in my Green Monster in the morning provided me with a sense of calm in my life.
This was one of my first concoctions:

No almond milk, nothing. Just veggies. ;)
Many of you were super grossed out. I had to be strong for all of us…

Trust me, I had attempts way worse than that…

Classic Blueberry Gelification, right there folks…
Things at work got worse, until I had reached my limit one day.
On January 26, 2009, I gave my two weeks notice at my job. It was a very, very bad week. I drank those green monsters every single morning despite everything going on. I imagined that I was Popeye with superhuman strength. And boy did I need it.
Here is what I blogged about that night when I got home:
“I did it guys. It took every ounce of courage inside me and every ounce of strength and nerve, but I did it.
I gave my two weeks notice today.
I know, I still can’t believe it. I was in shock before, during, and after. I think my body knew something big was happening because I haven’t slept in the past few days and this morning I felt so sick to my stomach before leaving for work. I knew what I needed to do. I was at my breaking point and I knew that I finally, finally needed to put my happiness first after a long and hard year.
I feel relieved, I really do. I want to be doing something that I feel fulfilled in. I think we all want that. I have heard so many of your stories over the past few months and you all gave me hope. Why do I, or anyone else, deserve to be miserable in a job? We don’t, and the fact is, we can take steps to get there one way or another. I now have hope that I will find something that is my true calling. My passions have been awakened with this website and it has really made me realize that I come alive when I am helping others with respect to well-being, health, nutrition, fitness, and self-esteem. It makes me get up in the morning so to speak. And I need to find that in a job as well.
It was scary as hell today and I’m still not quite sure how I mustered up the courage. Sometimes we surprise ourselves and sometimes our own bodies tell us when enough is enough. We all know when we have personally hit out ‘limit’. I truly do feel like a million pounds have been lifted off my shoulder though.
My last day is Feb 6th- only 9 working days away! Here is to a less stressful and happier time ahead!!!!
We only get one crack at this life- why waste it being unhappy???
I know that I am going to look back on this time in my life and see it as a big turning point.
Wow…I can’t read that without crying because I remember how scared and afraid I felt that night.
This is the quote that I left in that post on January 26th:
“Today is not yesterday: we ourselves change; how can our works and thoughts, if they are always to be the fittest, continue always the same? Change, indeed is painful; yet ever needful; and if memory have its force and worth, so also has hope.”
~Thomas Carlyle
So as you can see the Green Monster is not just a drink that I have every morning.
It represents strength, self-confidence, inner peace, and a healthy glow.
It taught me to stop and breathe and to remember that there is only one ME and I had to take care of me…or no one else would.
It represents a new beginning.

Each morning when I drink my Green Monster, I feel like it is a fresh start. A new day filled with many possibilities.
It represents health and self-love.
I no longer starve myself or skip breakfast in the morning. I don’t count calories or look in the mirror and cringe.

It represents the journey and not the destination.
What’s your Green Monster story?

The green monster story is beautiful, and makes you even more inspiring than you already are. :)
great story chick!!!!! yes in this crazy world filled with uncertainties we need to take control of the things that we have control over!!!!! The green monster is one step in the right direction
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That is quite the story. So glad you found the Green Monster, and the strength to quit the job you hated. You’re one brave/strong chick!
I had to laugh looking at your blueberry GM. I did the same thing this summer, tried to take a sip, and the whole thing came out in a big glob onto my face!
I have been slacking on my GM drinking and my skin is back to being awful! It took about a month, but ever since May my skin has been perfect. Must get back into this great habit!
I love it. Thanks for sharing. You are truly an inspiration. :)
I had no idea this kind of story was behind such a nutritious beverage. Thank you for telling this story and I will definitely be trying my hand at a green monster in the very near future!
Thank you for sharing such an important story!
I have no story, but my SO does make fun of me for drinking my “lawn bag”.
You’re such an inspiration Ang! Hope you know that lady!
I love reading your blog and appreciate your honesty everyday!
I was wondering when it was that you created a “green monster” that actually tasted good? What was that AH Ha moment and what was in it?
Just curious, maybe I missed it above. . .
it was adding the almond milk….make it less sludgy!
What great timing for this post! I’ve been super stressed at work lately and my mantra has been “carbs, carbs, carbs”! It’s starting to really take it’s toll on me. Just tonight I went to the store to stock up on spinach and produce to start making green monsters for breakfast again!
such a touching story. And you’ve made it into such a huge thing for so many people. i love having my GM’s after a work out in the morning, makes me feel energized and it makes me feel good that i am putting something good into my body.
I am glad you found yourself and didnt get stuck in a deep rut, we can all relate!
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for creating those first GM’s. I remember thinking, I’d never drink that, the first day you made one. Then, as you started adding almond milk and bananas I got up my own courage. I’ve been drinking them since February and wouldn’t have it any other way :)
In fact, your GM’s were an inspiration for some recent projects I’ve been doing for grad school. I’ll send them your way when I’m finished!!
No wonder you always put your Green Monster in a fancy glass-it deserves nothing less :)
Now when I drink my Green Monsters, I will think about what they really represent!
Thanks for writing this up – I was inspired! I’ve been having a rough time at work this month so I might try these to perk back up.
Thanks for introducing me to GMs!!!! I love them and start every day with one :)
Cheers!
You are amazing! What an inspiring story… :)
You go girl.. you have inspired so many people!!
YAY YOU!!
Thanks for writing about this! I just did a post today about my Green Monster obsession :-)
I was inspired to try one quite a while ago, because of your blog. I haven’t had a single mishap yet – and I have mixed a variety of concoctions (*Knocks on wood*).
So what is your “usual” everyday recipe for the Green Monster?
The usual for me is the following:
1 cup hemp milk
3 cups cooked kale or spinach
1/3 frozen banana
1 scoop wheatgrass powder
Kyolic garlic (couple drops)
1 T peanut or almond butter
1 T chia seeds
3-4 ice cubes
Perfecto!!!!
Do you taste the garlic at all?
I use 1 whole banana … when you use 1/3 do you taste the spinach or kale?
This is great, Angela! I love drinking green monsters in front of people who have never even thought about putting veggies in a smoothie, let alone tried one before. They look so grossed out but intrigued at the same time. If only they knew the power!! ha ha
I love it! So inspirational!
I haven’t had a GM in so long!
I definitely started making them right when you introduced them on your blog! I remember introducing them to my friends and they were so hesitant to try them but now they make them all the time too!
What a great story. Thank you for sharing :)
Maybe you will get a book deal too? You are one inspiring chica :)