JJ Smith Workout and Diet

Fitness Expert
Born: 1969

JJ Smith grew up in Virginia. She graduated college with a degree in Mathematics and also holds a certificate in Executive Management from the Wharton Business School. She is currently a vice president and partner at an IT consulting firm, and to date, she is the youngest African-American to become vice president in a Fortune 500 company. In 2013 while recovering from mercury poisoning due to a tooth filling she accidentally swallowed, she developed a diet cleanse program. After getting a positive response from friends and family members about her cleanse, she went back to school and became certified as a nutritionist and weight-management specialist, and then went on to write books, including the New York Times #1 best-selling 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse.She has been featured on several tv shows and magazines including Dr. Oz, Steve Harvey, The View and Ladies Home Journal. Smith has over a million followers on Facebook.

Known For:

JJ Smith’s Diet

Diet Summary

Smith says you can lose up to 15 lbs. in just 10 days by following her green smoothie cleanse plan. Her smoothies are made from raw, preferably organic, produce. Dark, leafy greens such as spinach, parsley and carrot tops are a must, and it is advised to vary the ingredients to avoid a build-up of harmful alkaloids. Fruit is also part of the plan. It can be fresh or frozen, but it is important to not go overboard as it contains a lot of sugar. Superfoods like açai berries are encouraged. For those who feel they need more protein, adding a non-dairy protein powder is allowed. In the full cleanse, only smoothies, vegetable ‘snacks,’ detox or green tea and water are consumed for 10 days. Starchy vegetables including sweet potatoes, carrots, beets and most vegetables that are not leafy are not part of the plan. Refined foods are out, as is meat, dairy, alcohol, caffeinated beverages and fried food. In the modified version of the cleanse, smoothies are on the menu for breakfast and lunch, followed by a healthy dinner. It is not recommended to exceed 14 days on the full cleanse.

Estimated Macros

  • Low Protein 20% 20%
  • Low-Medium Fat 20% 20%
  • High Carb 75% 75%

Diet Details

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Go Green

In the full cleanse, only green smoothies, tea and water are eaten for 10 days. You can have up to 60 oz. of smoothie per day, drinking some every 3-4 hours, and also ‘chewing’ the smoothie to reduce gas and/or bloating.

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Wholesome Snacks

Because it is not uncommon to feel hungry at first, snacking on protein such as peanut butter, raw unsalted nuts, seeds or hard-boiled eggs is permitted, along with Smith’s usual snacks of raw fruits and vegetables.

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Organic Rules

Smith recommends using organic produce only, but if you buy conventional fruit and vegetables, they should be washed and rinsed carefully to remove pesticides.

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Be Pure

Drinking plenty of clean, pure water with this cleanse is a must. A minimum of 8 glasses a day is recommended, although it should be consumed separate from meals. Smith advises the use of spring or purified water in the smoothie. Alkaline water is another option, while tap water is not recommended.

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Detoxification Dilemma

Smith warns the detoxification process can be uncomfortable, and potential symptoms include muscle and headaches, fatigue, rashes and irritability. To reduce these symptoms, you can start out with more fruit and fewer vegetables, gradually building to a higher percentage of veggies. You can also ease into the plan by having 1 smoothie the first day along with a light and healthy lunch and dinner, working your way up to smoothies only on day 3.

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Ease In

At the end of the cleanse, Smith says it is important to ease back into eating whole foods over a period of days. Eat lightly and start with salads. Sticking with a morning green smoothie permanently is also recommended.

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Naturally Sweet

If you want to sweeten your smoothie, Smith recommends using only natural, unrefined sweeteners, stevia in particular.

What to Eat

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Leafy greens

R

Spinach

R

Bok choy

R

Collard greens

R

Kale

R

Lettuce

R

Arugula

R

Watercress

R

Flaxseed

R

Maca

R

Acai

R

Fruit

R

Apples

R

Berries

R

Peanut butter

R

Hard-boiled eggs

R

Spring/purified/alkaline water

R

Detox tea

R

Nuts (in moderation)

R

Seeds (in moderation)

R

Stevia (if needed)

R

Protein powder (if needed)

What to Avoid

Q

Refined sugar

Q

Refined carbs

Q

Processed foods

Q

Meat

Q

Dairy

Q

Alcohol

Q

Junk food

Q

Fried food

Q

Starchy vegetables

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Smith On Detoxing

‘I was already an advocate of detoxing, so I knew I needed to rid my body of excess waste and toxins that had accumulated as a result of my bout with mercury poisoning.’

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Smith On Water

‘Water does an amazing job of detoxifying your body. The trick though is not to drink water with your meals. This will dilute your digestive juices and make digestion less efficient.’

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Smith On The Myth Of All Calories Being Equal

‘You can lose weight on 2,000 calories per day of clean, nutrient-rich foods and gain weight on 1,500 calories per day of junk food.’

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Smith On Attitude & Eating

‘The only way to attain a healthy relationship with food is to learn to love it and ensure that the food you put into your body loves you back.’

JJ Smith’s Workout Routine

Weekly Workout Routine

Focus on Detox

Smith says excess weight can simply be a problem of the body storing toxins, and that by flushing them, the excess weight can be let go.

Real Is Beautiful

Smith says that everybody is different, and just because your body doesn’t fit what is shown in the media doesn’t mean you aren’t beautiful and attractive just the way you are.

On Aging Gracefully

Smith says that graceful aging comes from embracing the process rather than fighting it, and caring for your body by eating wholesome foods and getting plenty of rest will work wonders.

Workout Style

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JJ Smith’s 10 Commandments for Looking Young & Feeling Great

1. Thou shalt love thyself.
2. Thou shalt take responsibility for thine own health and well-being.
3. Thou shalt sleep. Sleep and rest is the body’s way of recharging the system.
4. Thou shalt detoxify and cleanse the body.
5. Thou shalt remember that a healthy body is a sexy body.
6. Thou shalt eat natural foods.
7. Thou shalt embrace healthy aging.
8. Thou shalt commit to a lifestyle change.
9. Thou shalt embrace the journey.
10. Thou shalt live, love, and laugh.

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Smith On Real Bodies

‘Real women’s bodies look beautiful!’

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Smith On The Correlation Between Toxins & Weight

‘Releasing toxins releases weight.’

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Smith On The Myth Of A Certain Body Type As Desirable

‘It’s about getting healthy and having style and confidence and wearing clothes that match your body type.’

JJ Smith’s Supplements

Stevia

Stevia

If you want to sweeten your green smoothie, Smith recommends stevia. Because stevia is very low in calories, it can also help you lose weight. Stevia can also help control diabetes, regulate blood pressure and thanks to its high antioxidant content, it even has anti-cancer potential. Green leaf is the least processed version of stevia.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed

Smith recommends putting some ground flaxseed into your smoothie. Not only is it chock-full of nutrients like protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and healthy omega-3 fatty acids, it also contains lignans which can reduce the risk of cancer.

Protein Powder

Protein Powder

Adjusting to a vegan diet can be hard at first, even temporarily, so Smith recommends adding a non-dairy protein powder to your smoothie. Protein also helps stave off hunger.

Maca

Maca

Maca or Peruvian ginseng is a root that is highly nutritious, can improve mood, energy and sex drive, as well as reduce symptoms of menopause.

Açai

Açai

Açai berries are another nutrient-dense food recommended by Smith. They contain a lot of healthful plant compounds including antioxidants and anthocyanins which can boost brain function, reduce cancer risk and improve cholesterol levels.

Green Tea

Green Tea

Part of Smith’s cleansing plan includes tea, and green tea offers many other benefits including polyphenols which fight cancer, and improve brain function and fat burning.

Dandelion Root

Dandelion Root

Another detoxifying herb is dandelion root. All parts of the plant offer benefits in traditional medicine. The root in particular reduces inflammation, detoxifies the liver, aids in digestion and can reduce the risk of cancer.

Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle

The detoxifying compounds in milk thistle is the little-known silymarin and has been used in traditional medicine to detoxify the liver and remove environmental poisons.

Ginseng

Ginseng

Ginseng is a centuries old remedy used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It reduces inflammation, fights cancer, and boosts energy, mood and the immune system. It may also help regulate blood sugar levels.

Chamomile

Chamomile

Smith recommends chamomile which offers improved digestion, cancer protection, blood sugar control, and has a calming effect.

JJ Smith’s Lifestyle

The Power of Zzzs

Smith recommends getting plenty of quality sleep and rest at all times, but especially when you are doing her smoothie cleanse. It is the body’s way of repairing and recharging.

The Power of Social Media

Smith created a Facebook group and invited 100 friends and family members to try her cleanse. It was so popular, over 10,000 people had joined in just a few weeks after she set up the group.

Renaissance Woman

In addition to her day job as VP and partner in the Fortune 500 consulting firm Intact Technology and writing books, Smith deejays on the side for fun.

A Note On Mercury Poisoning

Forty percent of kids and 90% of adults have fillings in their teeth, and the amalgam or ‘silver’ type contains mercury. While mercury is toxic, swallowing a metal filling is not believed to cause poisoning as it passes through the digestive tract without being absorbed. Most mercury poisoning occurs as a result of inhalation.

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Smith On Sleep

‘Sleep is the easiest yet the the most underrated activity for healing the body.’

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Smith On Her ‘Aha’ Moment

‘I realized there were thousands of other people who were craving a simple solution to cleanse their systems, lessen cravings for unhealthy foods and lose weight. This book was a labor of love, written just for them.’

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Smith On Life

‘Live life with passion! Never give up on your dreams!’

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Smith On Cutting Yourself Some Slack

Be kind and supportive to yourself. Learn to applaud yourself for the smallest accomplishment.’

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Smith On Aging

‘The goal is not to stop the aging process but to embrace it.’

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Smith On Loving Oneself

‘Self-love is essential to survival.’

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