1-Day Power-Up Protein Shake ~ from The Overnight Diet Book

I can't help but grab a magazine to look at as I'm waiting in the checkout line to pay for my groceries.  The stores all know we get bored while standing there, there are rows and rows of magazines to browse, and they all look so colorful and enticing... Yup, I bought one.

I picked up this Woman's World (with the date of 4/29/13 on the cover) and was intrigued by the article on the new book ~ The Overnight Diet.  It sounds like a pretty simple diet, I've already got all the basic ingredients they call for, I need to drop a few pounds before I go on vacation in June...so, here I go.

As I gather from the article and the website, your week starts off with a 1-Day Power-Up (all 3 of your meals are protein shakes) then the next six days are called 6-Day Fuel Up, and in all caps it say ~ NO FOOD IS OFF LIMITS.  OK, I'm game.  The diet seems to be pretty straight forward, nothing fancy-schmancy and not difficult to follow.  The reasoning behind the diet is in the article and the website, it made for interesting reading that sounds like it would work.  I made this first shake to start me off, I followed the recipe in the magazine, adding some cocoa powder (listed as optional fun stuff, OK the article said chocolate syrup but I'm sure unsweetened cocoa powder would be fine, too) and green tea (listed as an unlimited freebee).  Here are some sample recipes from their website for the shakes and for sample recipes for the Fuel Up portion of the diet, if you're interested. You might still be able to find the magazine in the newsstands if you hurry, or just check out the book's website.  (of course, before starting any diet, you should discuss it with your own doctor first)  I'll let you know how it goes.   :)

1-Day Power-Up Green Tea & Cocoa Protein Shake 
~following The Overnight Diet guidelines
serves one

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain fat free Greek Yogurt
• 1 cup chilled green tea
• 2 cups frozen strawberries (no sugar added)
• 1/2 cup fat free milk
• 1/2 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 packets Equal
• 5 ice cubes

Directions
Throw all ingredients into a blender and whirl away until smooth and frosty.