The fancy one is almost $500 at costco. It is REALLY worth that much? And if so, please tell me why. What can it do that a good Oster blender or food processor can't do? And if it is worth it, how had it helped postop.

Thanks!!

From what I understand it turns anything and everthing to liquid. I read about a guy liquifying an avocado pit. I'm thinking about using one to make some "green" protein shakes, to get some nutrients that I can't get from chicken, beef and cheese (which makes up alot of what I eat).

For $500? That's a lot. I am enjoying homemade 'smoothies' though. Let me know how your search for chopping & drinking 'greenies' goes.

It emulsifies anything you put in it. I had purchased one and ended up selling it. I'm one year out and still cannot drink ANYTHING mixed in a blender/emulsifier because of the added air. I take 3 drinks and I'm done!!! The other downside is that it's so much bigger than a blender!!!! I just couldn't give up the amount of counter space it took up.

Thanks Lisa !

I've had my vitamix for nearly 4 years now...I LOVE it, it is seriously my most used/appreciated kitchen tool.

I make curries, Soups, smoothies, nut butters...so much with it. In my opinion in those 4 years it has more than paid for itself.

Before my vitamix we went through 3 $100 dollar Oster and Hamilton Beach blenders. The motors would wear out and they couldn't even break up ice. I've never had a problem blending ice with my vitamix.

I think the best way to decide if you need one is to look at how much you use your blender now. Do you use it everyday? Or only once in a while? If you use it daily, the vitamix may be a great investment!

I've had two VitaMixes - one for ten years. I think it's worthy the money. It does outlast other blenders - and it has more power than regular blenders. I do see advertisements for other powerful blenders at lower cost (can't remember the name at the moment). So there certainly are alternatives. I'm sticking with Vitamix. I'm also purchasing a masticating juicer so that I can extract nutrition from greens without all of the fiber. It will sit alongside my Vitamix.

Thanks to all of you who responded- you guys made some good points. I don't know if I'd use it often enough to justify the price tag. I think I need to wait a few months and then see how I'm eating and if it's worth getting

I appreciate your help!

Judy, I am going to get one after the first of the year and start making green shakes every day. I need more veggies and that's the only way I'm going to take them in.

Got it. This thing is huge. You can see the roll of paper towels in the background. But it works. This thing would blend up a truck bumper. I made my first green shake this morning. I definitely need to fine tune my recipe. It tastes kinda like mixed berries and fresh mowed grass. Too much kale. I do feel better getting in more greens though. No way would I be able to eat this many greens.

My favorite green smoothie from my raw vegan days is blueberry, banana spinach. That's it. So good!! Not big on kale. I eat kale as chips. Google kale chips.

All that said, I don't know if that stuff is permitted for sleevers.

Awesome!! I'd say that everything is bigger in Texas, but they sell Vitamixs elsewhere too...

Don't make yourself sick!!

My favorite green smoothie from my raw vegan days is blueberry' date=' banana spinach. That's it. So good!! Not big on kale. I eat kale as chips. Google kale chips.

All that said, I don't know if that stuff is permitted for sleevers.[/quote']

Everything is "permitted." During healing there are things you are best off avoiding.

Although I should stipulate....permissible is one thing. Advisable is another.

My favorite green smoothie from my raw vegan days is blueberry, banana spinach. That's it. So good!! Not big on kale. I eat kale as chips. Google kale chips.

All that said, I don't know if that stuff is permitted for sleevers.

After a few weeks crunchy things tend to go down pretty well for most people. I reckon if your kale chips are the dehydrated kind, or cooked some other way w/o fat they'd be great.

Deano

PS - this thread is going to cost me money. These things look great - but $700+ down here in Australia!