Big rain storm today! Lovin' it. I have lost a couple of pounds. Either I'm fluctuating or it could be that I'm only eating goat and mozzerella for dairy, and not that much. I really notice a big difference on my appearance and weight on how much cheese I eat. It also could be the lack of coffee? Maybe by cortisol levels were up and now they are down. The body is so complex, man, and I'm learning a lot of freaky stuff through my nutrition class. Last night I had mussels and salmon with white beans, lunch was a huge seasonal veggie salad from Sage's and a cup of vegan corn chowder. I'm a soup monster btw, and colder weather means more soup time! Right now I'm at a new pizza place downtown called Vinto, and I just ordered a cheeseless pizza with arugula and fruit.

Stay dry,

~Smobergirl
Day 2

Chapter 7:

I was so lonely and crazy in la cabeza last night that I broke down and drank rose while watching Dancing With The Stars. I specially bought non-alcoholic drinks at Caputo's for these situations, but I wasn't having any of that last night. But I am not stopping the blog. I definitely need more plan Bs for when I freak out. I'm still off the coffee. I had a mint iced tea this morning. I feel lighter without the coffee and much calmer. I still getting caffiene from tea but about 50% less. I feel great. I still think about coffee and sometimes I think I need one but I just don't do it. Now if I can only do that with wine and cigs. I'm freaking Bridget Jones. Something that might help is a chapter coming up in my nutrition school book. It's all about alcohol. I should just read it now. :)

Have a wonderful Tuesday. This may be the last Summer day in Utah so enjoy!

~Smobergirl

I'm still here!! I've been cramming for my first nutrition assignment. No craves this weekend or over eating. I made a fabulous veg skillet this morning with a sunnyside egg. Lunch I made a guacamole wrap. Now having risotto, a little naughty and cheesy.

Big day.

I made a healthy lunch at noon of arugula, Dad's tomatoes, Caputo's mozzarella, red onion from Cook's Farms, cucumber, and flax seed salad with lemon juice, balsamic, and cracked sea salt. Farmer's market corn with olive oil and cayenne salt.

I emceed a local band show at The Gallavan Center from 2-10 today. I had two vegan hot dogs with fresh white onion and jalepenos. One 16 oz iced coffee and 3 liters of water for the day. The Gallivan is a huge venue, but I would guess only 80 people max showed up, and 30 pounds of food for the benefit for The Utah Food Bank. We wanted 500 pounds and just as many people. I have been in radio for 14 years, and my guess is that people don't care or know about local bands, and the sad truth is that if they had a national headliner we would have made our goal and then some. Like if EWR spent an extra grand or two for a national act who would play for that, they would have done so much better. This is the fourth annual event for this company, and every year only friends and family attend for the bands. It does make sense. And this year I saw posters for the event on every inch of Salt Lake City, but it didn't matter. If we got a popular indie band like Vampire Weekend, Sea Wolf, Deer Tick, or Blitzen Trapper; maybe even Buddhist Michael Franti would have played for $1000. I will put the bug in EWR for next year. I'm putting this on my music blog.

Sweet dreams!

~Smobergirl

One week smober!

Instead of purple stains on my lips from red wine, I woke up with peaches on my breath! Two medium peaches, five ice cubes, 1/4 cup plain goat's milk yogurt (from the farmer's market), and one t vanilla extract.

An addict has the classic angel and devil on each shoulder. You just need to make sure that the angel is more convincing. I'm home now from a movie with no vices but about 1/2 cup of leftover amazing Caputo's pasta. I think I'll practice a little guitar, do some nutrition reading, take a hot bath, and go to bed.

Sweet dreams,

~Smobergirl

The day is off to an awesome start. I did one hour of power yoga, had a bowl of goat yogurt and fruit for breakfast, now having 1/2 hummus and cucumer sammy with tomato basil soup. It's a gorgeous day out. I'm not coughing, and I have a ton of energy and a sence of well being. I have to write everything down I eat today for a class assignment, so I'm trying to be good, but realistic also.

Day 5 summary.

Time does fly. I not only barely remember day 1 again like it was yesterday, but day one when it was about a month ago! August 18 to be exact. I'm not beating myself up, but that's one more motivation. Relapsing is a cheap thrill and not worth stunting my transformation and healthy goals. I calculated this today on a nutrition website: I drank 6-8 4 oz. glasses of red wine per night 2-3 days a week. That's about 21 a week, and 6,500 calories a month approximately. That's more than 1,000 extra calories a week, which is actually a big deal. I also read that I can lose one pound a month if I omitted 500 cals a week. I ALSO calculated for my nutrition class that I probably ingest 2100 calories a day, and I should be eating 1395-1800 per day, depending on how much weight I want to lose. So there's some nutrition learnin' for ya. If you want to know how many calories you are drinking, go here: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/CollegeStudents/calculator/alcoholcalc.aspx

Okay so I had two dinners tonight and a snack, or it sounds better if I said "small meals 3, 4, and 5 later in the evening". Sometimes I do that within in my first week of quitting, if I lasted a week. I first went to Tin Angel Cafe and had three tapas (small plates): One square of seared tuna over spicy sprouts, a pan-fried risotto cake with marinara, and crusty bread with blue cheese and spiced almonds. Kinda fattening, but really small. That was at 5:30. At 9 I went to the vegan cafe Sage's and had a polenta with fresh corn and heirloom tomatoes, honeybunch herbal tea, and 1/4 of a frozen soy shake. Then at midnight I had a 3-inch square of herb crusty bread from Crumb Brothers dipped in basil-infused oilive oil which I made myself. Now I just need to up the ante on my workouts!

~Smobergirl

One week is just around the corner!

I'm getting off the coffee today. I will put the rest of my Top Pot coffee from Seattle in a mason jar with olive oil and use it as a shower scrub. Wish me luck! I bought some non-alcoholic beverages at Caputo's: An effervescent tea, and grape must which is grape juice from the peel of the grape. I had a caprese salad at 10, and I'm having lunch with a friend a little later. I did my lab test and I am indeed 150 pounds and my BMI is 24. Just above average. I can work on that and like I said, if no alcohol and no coffee can be a starting point, I'll definitely be happy with that!

~Smobergirl

I feel more refreshed this morning. Breakfast was goat yogurt with farmer's market green grapes. I have my lab test today at 11:15. Wish me luck!

69 posts!

Wow. Time flies, eh? Post # 70 here, and more "stuff" came out at 6 pm tonight. I had a wonderful day and ate healthfully. I walked over to a local sushi joint at 5:40 and ordered some sashimi and a spicy veggie roll I like. After 20 minutes (6 pm) I was still waiting and started to get really hungry. At 6:25 I get my food, which was delicious, but found it difficult to slow down. When I left at 6:35 I ate a 1/2 of a chocolate-coated green foods bar in my bag. I wanted a whole thing of tempura or a basket of fries due to my irritability, but I was being good. Any of my friends can tell you that I usually have the patience of a rock, but my withdrawals really had me squirming in my restaurant chair. I was really pleasant to my server, then I saw the comment card. Great! I ranked everything top notch, and just put that the service was slow. I got over it when I got home, now I'm here. Nonetheless I'm not surprised I got emotional. I also didn't do any of my nutrition assignment or reading. I magnified last night to myself that I'd "never know how to find the nutrient content in what I'll eat on my one day I have to record the calories I assume as one of my assignments due on Monday. I'm freaking out for no reason. Okay now I feel like crying. I also questioned myself yesterday if I should just have faith in the universe and do what I'm really passionate about and what I do well and if I fail school I fail school, or I should drop out of college. But then I think that's silly and I really love my classes. I just preferred practicing my guitar, going out to eat, and shopping for candles.

Maybe I'm such a slacker because part of me is already unhappy and I see school as 'painful' sometimes because I'm not in a classroom where there's teacher interaction and sometimes I have questions I can't ask. Well I can and I did, and the teach emailed me back saying that the answer was in my book. Oops. No more internet courses for me I think. But I'll muscle through this. I think I'm making mountains out of anthills, and I think the withdrawal irritation has something to do with it. See? I'll me a much nicer person after I quit drinking and smoking long-term! :)

Breakfast: I woke up at 12:30 today (!) so I had an iced coffee, 16 oz, and lunch at The Wild Grape. I had a marinated portobello cap with a roasted bell pepper and romaine. Okay it was a sandwich, but I took the bread off. It also came with home made....*fries*...but I counted six and shoved the plate away. Then I had their house salad with red grapes, walnuts, and red onions. Everything was $10. It's part of their $10 lunches competing with Dine O' Round this year. :)

After my guitar lesson (I'm doing awesome!) I went home and had a big fruit salad (honeydew, pomegranate seeds, peaches, flax seed, and goat yogurt). Then I had that sushi a few hours later.

Exercise: 30 minutes incline treadmill. Namaste Yoga.

Okay, I'll read a chapter in my nutrition book! :) After I practice my guitar. ;)

~Smobergirl

Day 4 over.

Dear Diary,

I am done with day three. Yippee. I didn't have one crave this evening. LOL I was too worried not finding a calculation to do for my first nutrition assignment due next Monday. Then I calmed down and I'm going to go through my book again, then maybe email the question to my teacher or get a tutor. Since I'm in the "Adult's Club" or I think the correct term is Returning Adult Students, I get tuition discounts. Yippee.

I was really good not drinking coffee today! I had a 10 ouncer mid-day, then I made a mix of 1/4 Top Pot Coffee with 3/4 Java flavor Teechino this evening. For Dinner I went to one of my favorite places, Eva, for their brussels sprouts with toasted hazelnuts; and shrimp with grits, mushrooms, goat cheese, and a poached egg. I read in my nutrition book that for a female my age I should be drinking 2.7 liters of H2o a day. Today I had about 2. I really like my online class, but I think it's definitely tougher not having any teacher reaction. Right now I have to read about carbs, proteins, and fats.

Exercise: 3 hours of housework (hey I read about it and it counts! :), brushing the cat, Namaste Yoga Triangle Series.

Feelings: Happier, a little antsy about my upcoming assignment for school. Digestion felt normal. I felt light and happy all day (okay the salty pancetta and maybe the mayo did a little number on my stomach for ten minutes).

I am going to start a Utah music blog on Blogger, so I will give you that info soon if interested.

~Smobergirl

Day 3 done.

Day three is going well! Had a stupid craving last night but made some tea and brought home a small cupcake instead watching Dancing With The Stars. Donny Osmond might win but I'm rooting for the snowboarder.

I had an iced tea this morning. I know! At 11 I had heirloom tomatoes with sea salt and olive oil, and an evil flatbread Sammy with sun dried tomatoes 'crispy' (uh oh) pancetta and basil mayo (double uuuh ohhh). I did a ton of thorough house cleaning and found cigarette ash by my computer, which I've barely used for six months. That was gross. Then I brushed the cat for 15 minutes. He loves that. Then I did some yoga and made a yummy small meal. Caprese salad (with only the daily recommended amount of mozzerella. I was good!) and a guacamole wrap. I make the best guacamole ever I think I have mentioned before. Today I put bell pepper, lemon juice, sea salt, purple onion, jalepeno, GAHLIC, green tomato, tomatillo, chives, and cilantro in it. Then I put it all in a gluten-free tortilla (thanks Steve for those!). If that doesn't clean out my body then what will? And I am officially going to turn into a tomato by the end of the month.

~Smobergirl

The last day 2 summary.

Lunch: Whole wheat pasta, 1/2 cup, with home made tomato sauce, raw satanic farmer's market garlic! (I must be a vampire, because I almost combusted), purple and yellow/red bell peppers, and basil; caprese salad.

Dinner: Bad- Tin Angel risotto. Good: Tin angel spiced almonds.

Workout: Gilad's Total Body Sculpt and 20 minutes of yoga.

See you manana!

~Smobergirl

Day two over

Good morning! I made eating out at Eggs in The City healthy by choosing the Mama (egg white whole wheat burrito with peppers and avo) asking for no cheese or sour cream. It comes with berries on the side. My spirits feel lofted by the fruit, and I feel an all-over satisfaction.

I listened to a quit smoking hypnosis app on my iPhone, another spirit lifter. Going to get an oil change, work out, and play DJ! Show today from 3-6 MT on www.utahfm.org

The last. Day one. Ever.

If I break it, I am quitting this blog. That is my promise to you and to myself.

The day was a wonderful one. I took my milk thistle and nasty dandelion tea, I didn't feel sick or hung over all day, I played my guitar at my dad's which was fun and Rico was immediately accepted into the family, and I ate fairly well and had plenty of energy. I think because of my nutrition class I'll start to follow the recommended dietary intakes.

I just had one iced coffee this morning. I had about 2 liters of water (drinking the lovely spa water now). One 16 oz Teechino. One 8 oz Perrier at my Dad's. I love visiting him and my step-mom. I went up there at 5 today and Juli made a really healthy tomato torte from their garden tomatoes (and my cute dad picked a whole bunch for me to take home, see photo) with fresh cut basil on top and she made pesto out of arugula leaves. Arugula has a lot of vitamins and has a peppery taste. I did have a 4 oz. steak, the size of a deck of cards as the recommended protein. I have not eaten a steak for at least six months. She served it with sauteed chantarelle mushrooms, which I got her hooked on. I have many mushroom adventures (not the magic kind) since my married friends opened a mushroom stand at the farmer's market. I had my first taste of chicken in the woods. That's a mushroom. Guess what? Yes and so delicious. I just pan fry it in olive oil, coriander, and sea salt. They are a bit tough, so I need to google it or ask my 'shroom buddies how they use it. Every time I get something new they just throw out the 'sauté' word. So yeah dinner was excellent, followed by guitar and piano playing, and watching the new episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, and Bored To Death. Now I'm back home enjoying a cat at the foot of the bed, and I'm al tucked in. I promise to keep it smober from here on out. That's what this post is all about!

Day one finished,

~Smobergirl

GAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this tea. It's also a liver tonic: Dandelion Root. That's all it is. It's like drinking your weeds! It's so strong, but ironically it's one of the best foods for your body. Drink up!

P.S. I am a fan of agave nectar, so that is highly recommended to add to this tea.

My spirits have just been lifted! I went to this lovely cafe called Marmalade in the pride center right near my condo where they have brunch every Sunday. I got a small iced coffee, a beautiful tomato onion and dill salad from farmer's market veggies, and a scrumptious pear onion and goat cheese tort. I told you about the goat cheese guy from the downtown farmer's market. It's his cheese. This lovely lady just made the tort up and you could tell a lot of love went into it. I felt really cozy there eating the fresh local fare. I just wanna be loved is that so wrong? :) I should had taken a picture. Next time.

Day one again. Still in the rut. It was 6:30 just after a healthy dinner and I "didn't know what else to do". That is usually the case, like I said before, loneliness and bordom are big culprits. I have to stay on my feet this time. When I crave, maybe I'll just come on here and freak out. ;)

Meal at 1 pm: Soft veggie tacos (just ate one whole one and the insides out of the other) at Chubasco; con pepitas, sebollas, tomates, lechuga, frijoles, salsa de arbol, y (sour cream). Only one word I didn't know in Spanish. In fact I don't think I ever learned that one.

Good morning!

The weather was perfect for the farmer's market today. I got arugula, corn, purple onions, chicken of the woods mushrooms, and cilantro. I also grabbed a bowl of vegan chili verde for breakfast. I got my iced coffee but it wasn't too satisfying (but I'm quitting that in a few days so that's a good sign?). I had some Gardenburgers in the freezer and soy cheese in the fridge. For lunch I whipped up a folate rich meal in a skillet with Asian greens, lemon verbena, arugula, cherry tomatoes, the mushrooms, and the burger with a slice of fake cheese and whole grain mustard. I also had 12 oz of spa water (home made in the fridge with sprigs of rosemary and mint, and lemon slices).

The bitter-sweet story is that my nutrition class is influencing me to avoid all fried foods and refined sugars. At Este last night my dinner came with tiny doughnut holes in cinnamon sugar with a honey sauce. I couldn't do it. Not even one. I did dip my finger in the sauce once, but that's all I could do. I can't even get one tiny cupcake at Carlucci's. I just picture these things going through my body and being stored as fat, and what the sugar will do to my brain; not to mention the dangerous carbon from the frying. So I know what you are thinking. Brain needs to work on that. I know I've been a hypocrite. There was something in chapter three that said most organs can rebuild cells, but the brain cannot. I really forget things after a night of bingeing. Believe me work is no picnic if I give in the night before. Then there's the cig chemicals. I already have broken-down skin and tiny lines on my upper lip that no one seems to notice but me. But they could get worse if I don't stop! Gee that lunch was yummy. Okay so I need to be just as frightened of wine and cigs as dessert.

Yum. Giada is making a lemon chicken soup on the TV.

Okay I think I'll drive up to PC. I bet the air is a bit crisp up there. it's definitely clean, I can tell you. Ooh I have my in-line skates in the car too. That or I gotta do some kind of workout this afternoon. There is a yoga class at 5:30.

So I am still taking St. John's Wort and the Smoke-free tablets. I ran out of Kudzu so I think I'll get more milk thistle. I have a vitamin B complex under my tongue.

After or before a workout I think I'll find a movie to watch. Gotta get my guitar practice in too. Maybe I'll start chapter four (the different kinds of carbohydrate) in my nutrition school book.

Love,

~Smobergirl

Day deux

Emotions are coming up. Part of the detox effect. So sad, but at Tin Angel enjoying soup and live music by Rob Alvord. Google him. I had a pleasant evening discovering all of the local hip eateries open on Main Street. Maybe I don't have to move to Portland anymore. ;) I have it pretty good. I really do. I just
Need to be a big girl and plow through this quit. I also need to have more faith in myself, because I think I've missed opportunities by putting my self down or procrastinating. I really have an awesome radio show, I'm actually a good painter and mosaic artist, I am a lovely friend. The only time I'm obnoxious is when I wine up. I have two awesome cats. I'm picking up the classical guitar pretty well. I have a huge imagination. I love my butt. I have pretty eyes. I look younger than I actually am. I have a generous and tight family. My friends are already coming to me with nutrition questions, I aced my first test. Dating life is good. Oh I need to text that guy back! Gotta go.

Love,

~Smobergirl

Feeling better still. I'm a broken record, I have been for seven years. Okay so I'm actually melancholy. Doing it alone can really blow. I a pretty popular DJ in Utah but I feel like one of the lonliest people here. That's what the wino thing is all about. Lonliness. A little playing the victim and not thinking I'm a better person could have something to do with it. I'm trying to break out of those habits and I know I can be the person I want with a different lifestyle, and putting food in my body that makes me feel
Good. Like this awesome salad from Este Pizza.

Oh and go see my friend Judy at the Murray Nordstrom at the Chanel counter. I go once a year for their event and support her. Also an excuse to buy makeup. So I'm all dolled up
today. That made me feel a bit better as well.

~Smobergirl

One thing I do notice, is that the morning after a binge of wine and cigarettes, I get "verbal abuse" in my head, just angry thoughts towards others. I think in the past I have been playing the victim in so many situations, and that's an issue I definitely need to get over. The more I stay quit the happier I actually become and the issues disappear. An holistic therapist told me that the anger comes from the chemicals from the wine and cigs coming out of my body and that my liver is "talking". She could have something there. Toxic body, toxic mind?

Day one again. Man I was on a wino roll there. Last night I did have a healthy dinner at Sage's: cold melon and mint soup, and heirloom tomato and raw corn linguini. And I sailed through my nutrition class. But despite the alcohol facts in my textbook, I gave in. What was wrong with me this week?

Back on the wagon! No more lapses! Power to the Smobergirl! I may just be quizzed on
Lapses and habits during my first nutrition test today. I feel about 80% ready. However I have six more hours of study time.

Breakfast was 3 oz granola, one cup of fruit, and 3 oz yogurt. Lunch is brussels sprouts and vegan orzo from Eva. I feel pretty cool because already four people have asked me nutrition questions since I told them I'm taking a class. I knew two, which was good for the 'ol ego, and the others I googled, but learned something myself. Kay lunch is here.

Feeling better! Ate pretty healthfully and took my suppliments. Studied for my first nutrition test. There's actually a bit about alcohol. I'm beat but I will elaborate tomorrow.

~Smobergirl
Day uno.

Breakfast: leftover angel hair pasta from Michalangelo's. Still in bed and I want to die here.

Sigh. Day one again. Bugger.

Lunchy lunch

Oh ho ho. Well I made that marinated portabello with mushroom gravy from Ani's book, but I have a lot of veggies in the fridge and some whole wheat hamburger buns. So I made it a 'burger' with red onion, Armenian cucumber, avocado, tomato, and mixed greens. So delicious! I also had a corn cob with olive oil, cayenne salt and cracked pepper.

Now off to school!

~Smobergirl

Drinking H20 with green powder. I think that will balance out my heavy starch, egg, and cheese breakfast. I am currently marinating a potabello for a mushroom "steak" lunch. Recipie by Ani Phyo. www.aniphyo.com. I'm still taking the same supplements as well.

Day 2...coffee cravings...

I've had plenty already! However I'm keeping my promise to quit a month from when I started my smober quit. That's 11 days from today. I know I am able to do it. I'm already feeling a little edgy and uncomfortable from the 1 and 1/4 iced coffees I've had already. I went to Carlucci's to study for my first nutrition test (I love my class, by the way). I ate the inside of a breakfast burrito (new potatoes, eggs, and melted cheddar) with fresh salsa. Like watching TV or a movie, it's easy to engage in mindless eating, in this case drinking iced coffee from a straw. That was easy to suck down during study time. I know when I stop drinking the stuff I'll feel so much better, even lighter. I've done it before for a month, and I actually felt lighter.

Make it a great Tuesday!

~Smobergirl

The experiment works!

Of course it does, but I didn't know that the 'cloud' over me would disappear so quickly by not drinking and smoking. I also lost weight in my hips and my upper stomach area, and my back toned up. I sure feel the difference! Today I have a headache, feel blue, stomach hurts, I crave bad stuff. It's really night and day, especially the long-term effects. My eyes got really white in that dry spell too. I just felt the transformation happening, and that was exciting to me.

Oh I have to tell you a funny story. I went to a local cafe for lunch (Dine O' Round is happening at 31 restaurants until the 27th. www.dineoround.com) and I have some friends who work there. I didn't tell them that I relapsed but I said that I didn't drink for 17 days and the plan is to stay quit. Immediately this cute girl I know who serves there had this wash of guilt on her face. The last story she told me was her and some friends having a wild time at a hot springs, and today she talked about a wild time at her house recently; both scenarios she didn't seem too happy about. It did make me feel good that maybe I could be an influence on her. When I said 17 days it seemed that the girls thought that was a very long time. I felt pretty darn proud of myself despite the relapse.

I have to thank the first commenter from my last post and she is right, I am human. I'm having fun on this journey no matter what.

Okay here's my food intake (some naughty) for the day so far:

Breakfast: Daddy's dried peaches, 14 oz. iced coffee, and a shitload of water.

Supplements: I got a new one. Herbal Medicinals Smoke Free which also helps heal the respiratory and digestive systems as well as curb cravings. it has lobelia, oat seed, osha root, licorice root (I love taking licorice root), passionflower herb tip, pleurisy root, grendelia flower, mullein leaf, and ginger root. I also still have St. John's Wort and Kudzu.

Lunch: 11:00 am. $10 Dine O' Round special! Good with the bad. Shredded local beef sammy (I ate 1/2) with Italian peppers, onions, and provolone. Mixed green salad with grape tomatoes and a blackberry dressing. 3 bites of a decadent house-made chocolate torte with one raspberry and a raspberry reduction.

Right now: The other 1/2 of the sandwich sans bread adding 1/2 avocado.

My radio show is today on www.utahfm.org. Three hours of Utah bands and artists. I have two coming in today, Jesus Rides a Rik'sha and The Fully Blown. 3-6 today MT.

Thanks,

~Smobergirl

17 day summary.

I had another bad craving, and gave in this time. This post is supposed to be about my progress. Please stay with me. Day one will begin tomorrow. Addiction's a bitch and the purpose of this is to stay controlled and show you my progress. Now I'm questioning myself. How can I KTQ? (keep the quit)

Breakfast: 12 oz. Iced coffee/Teechino, 1/2 cup blueberries and Dad's dried peaches.

Lunch: Black bean, rice, peppers, and mango-chipoltle salsa burrito at Park Silly Market.

Supplements: 2 St. John's Wort tablets, six kudzu capsules.

Dinner: Fresh corn, roasted red bell pepper, and mushroom risotto (1/2 cup), and 6 oz tomato basil soup at The Wild Grape.

Red Zinfadel: 4 units of 6 oz. 10 Nat Sherman cigarettes.

Water: 3 liters.

Stupid-ass shame in the morning: Priceless.

Day one starts again tomorrow.

Emailing or texting mean, drunken emotions: None thank God.

~Soon to be Smobergirl once again

Psych Furs....FINALLY.

Steve Marsing, I forgive you. Steve is my high school swim team coach who wouldn't let me stay in Utah during The Psychedelic Furs' 1989 stop to SLC when the team played regional water polo in San Francisco. It wasn't like I was the star player, in fact, I sucked pretty badly. I think I told him that he wouldn't miss me at all, but I guess it was school regulations or something. I've had a grudge ever since, and even talked about it on the air every time "Pretty In Pink" was on the playlist. Until tonight. Club Sound, 200 people, and one of the best shows I have seen in my life. What made me appreciate it the most was Richard Butler just beaming and having the time of his life. I have to say he wasn't being a cocky rockstar at all. He was freaking adorable! I said it. He was just gushingly personable and having the best time, which made the rest of us do the same. And that's a life lesson in itself.

Breakfast: Iced chai with a pinto bean and pepper whole wheat quesadilla (no cheese) at the annual Avenues Street Fair.

Lunch: Greek Fest with my brother, his fiance and my friend, and a few other buds from Park City. I had a bite of this cheese pie that was to die for but you didn't hear that from me, Greek salad, green beans in tomato sauce, and chicken souvlaki.

Snack: A small bowl of Juli's soup (Did I tell you that she made a ton?) and a caprese salad I made from the last of my dad's tomatoes.

Dinner: Garlic broccoli, kung pao shrimp, one foil-wrapped chicken piece, and a cup of chrysanthemum tea.

Snack: 1/2 gyro at the Greek fest in-between Happy Mondays and The Psychedelic Furs' sets.

Water: 2 liters, 1/2 with green powder. Iced coffee: 16 oz.

Exercise: Namaste Yoga on FitTV, and dancing my ass off!

I have to crash I'm so wiped. It was a good day indeed.

~Smobergirl

16 days smober

A sunnier look, smoother lips, and hip eyes.

I honestly had a happier outlook on life for the first time in a long, long while. I'm more interested in hobbies, I love school, and I'm being much more aware of what and how I eat. I noticed this morning that since probably June that my lips weren't parched or chapping. They were smooth and soft. I'd like to perhaps thank my quit for this. Also when I DJed my friend's wedding I loved a pair of turquoise Electric Velveteen glasses one of the stylists from the salon she works in (and which I go to) was wearing. They come in different colors and each stylist at that salon has a different color. I received a generous tip that night, so I went online and ordered some jazzy purple ones tonight. On top of that, so far I have saved about $200 in cig and wine money.

Breakfast: 1/2 of a not-so pleasant tasting hemp energy bar, one large O.J., and 14 oz. of black iced coffee.

Noon snack: A bowl of step-mum's chicken noodle soup and 12 oz. water

More water: a 1/2 liter of Volvic with wheatgrass powder

2 pm snack: A 3-raspberry cluster covered in dark chocolate

Late Lunch at 3: French Picnic salad- Mixed greens with grilled asparagus, sliced roasted chicken (3 oz.), brie (1-inch cube), and a 2-oz piece of baguette.

Dinner: Iggy's Sports Grill, second choice to a vegan calzone which I wish I'd have at Este, but a friend I was with wasn't in the mood and wanted to do the Dine O' Round which Este was suppossed to have, but the owner kinda spaced it, and Iggy's was participating (it's a 3-course meal on the cheap for two weeks at 30 restaurants). Iggy's is not the healthiest, but I thought I did a good job- Mixed green salad with dried cranberries and a lime "vinaigrette" (which was creamy) on the side. 5 bow tie pastas and 1 oz chicken (boy it was chicken day today!) with parmesan cheese. 2 oz of an enormous hot fudge sundae (hey, it came with the Dine O' Round dinner). I promise to make better restaurant choices in the future when I'm with friends.

Milk thistle update: I just ran out so I went to get more, then I remembered kudzu, a Japanese root sold in capsules which is also a liver tonic and helps with alcohol cravings. I also got St. John's Wort at Whole Foods, which may have contributed to may happy mood, except I got pretty irritable with my friend this evening. I ended up driving all over town running his errands and I wanted to do other stuff. But it turned out alright. No blood was drawn.

Have a great weekend. I have a fun Saturday planned ahead!

~Smobergirl

15 days smober!

TWO Weeks!

This is almost a record for me. I think 19 is the longest I've gone smober in 2009. Not in the 20's, definitely not. I haven't lost weight I think, but I definitely don't feel bloated anymore. My stomach feels 'normal', tighter even.

So day 15 is tomorrow, and that means I have 1/2 a month left until I quit the coffee for good. It's been up and down for the last 2 weeks. Some days I'll have none and some days I'll have three (um, and not post it due to embarrassment). Today I had 1 1/2 which for me would be 24. Wow. 16 + 16= 32. That's a lot. I received an email newsletter from Dr. Oz about 6 months ago, and HE SAYS that your body produces cortisol, the fat hormone, when you drink acid (A.K.A. coffee). The Skinny Bitch authors also agree that you can get fat because of this theory that the body produces fat to protect the preccccccious organs. Dr. "Oprah's Doctor" Oz also said in the email that if you substitute tea for coffee, you'll lose 10 pounds. Also, a Glamour Magazine editor quit drinking alcohol one Summer ago and said she lost 15 pounds in 9 weeks, and she said she was a weekend drinker and didn't think she drank that much. I am used to 3-5 bottles a week. That's approximately 500-800 cals a bottle. So I could save at least 1000 calories a week. That sounds pretty peachy keen to me. I just have to watch other cravings and try to keep my diet the same or healthier. Heck a 25 pound weight loss sounds pretty good to me. But is it realistic? I'll tell you in 8-9 weeks. I haven't had dairy since I was sick. I feel pretty good about that. But then I had a lot of noodles. Noodle soup has noodles in it. Nooooooooodly noooodles. Yummy, slurpy, delicious noodly goodness.

I had a lot more energy since Saturday but still coughing up gunk. It's a nice, wet cough (mmmmmmm) opposed to a dry 'barking' cough, so they didn't hurt and hopefully I'm getting rid of the last of it. I just can't wait to go gung-ho back into the yoga and Gilad again.

Breakfast was 16 oz. Iced coffee and a handful of Dad's dried peaches. I woke up at 10 today. At 12:45 I met a friend for lunch at The Wild Grape. I had their home made black bean and sweet potato veggie burger and tore off most of the bun. It came with a mixed green salad. I had 12 oz of water with a lemon wedge. I order lemon every time I get a water at a restaurant. Dinner was at The Greek Festival. I had a small salad with feta and two kalmata olives, a 2-inch square of spanikopita, a spinach and cheese pie wrapped in filo dough, and 4 Greek fries ( oven fries dredged in herbs and crumbled feta). That was at 5:20. At 8 I had another small bowl of step-mum's noodle soup.

So I'm not out of the woods yet, but I have a pret-ty good feeling that this is the tail end of the cold. Yay.

Heck week has come and gone!

~Smobergirl

Do cravings suck or blow?

I had a fierce one around 7 pm. so I jumped in the bath. Then I had another one about 45 minutes ago. Again the main reason I didn't give in is that I can't breathe and I have a hacking cough. When I feel better and this happens, I'll need a new game plan! Make a phone call, go to a movie, buy a candle, do yoga, get a slice of evil raspberry mousse cake at SL RoCo and just eat the top? I'm not a big dessert person so sometimes I'll do that, just eat the berries and frosting, and be left satisfied. I'm a nutrition minor, so I try to shun refined sugar as much as I can.

Dinner: Spicy vegan rice noodle soup at Cafe Trang. 12 oz. water

Drink: NOT a bottle of wine, not even a glass. I had that natural herb-lemon hot drink for the respiritory system that's similar to Thera Flu. Or is it TheraFlu?

Good night everyone. I know it's not even nine but my only choice was to hop in bed due to the craves, and the fact that I still want to take my head off and drain it. OH speaking of, I fixed the disposal problem. A friend of mine told me to press the reset button on the bottom. Haha. I let my sink go gross for three days and I didn't know about the stinkin' reset button.

Bon nuit,

~Smobergirl

Lucky number 13 days smober!

Now I hate being sick but like I said....

.....it's keeping me from smoking and drinking! Fer sure. *cough cough*. I however am frustrated because I wanted to study, practice guitar, and do yoga today. But I am taking care of myself and I can always read my nutrition online book for school like I did last night. I am also relaxing, which my body wants to do.

Breakfast: Juli's chicken noodle soup from last night. 16 oz iced coffee from Carlucci's.

1/4 gallon of O.J.

2 drinks of this natural stuff that's like Thera Flu. I'd go up and get it but I'm stuck in this Love Sac rocker.

Lunch: Spaghetti squash with raw marinara. Melon gazpacho I made from A Lyon In The Kitchen (TV show). I feel like I have vitaminized (like I said, Colbert watch out) my body. The gazpacho is amazing. I happened to have everything in my fridge and I just blended it all. Purple onion, bell peppers, tomatoes, melon, cucumber, hot peppers, wine vinegar. Nathan Lyon uses watermelon and I had honey melon, but it tasted great. *cough* I'm not as phlegmy today but I sure is a coughin'!

Steve is taking me out to dinner at 6. He insisted. I'm watching Craig Fergeson reruns now. Laughter is good medicine, so I hear.

~Smobergirl

Therapy in a pot.

My step-mother kicks ass. This afternoon I left a vm for my dad telling him that I'm sorry I haven't called lately because I have some kind of goomba. He told my cute step-mom about it and she called about two hours ago saying that she can make me a soup and bring it over, she was going to be in my neck of the woods anyway. (P.S. No one in my family knows about this blog nor that I was still an alcoholic and a smoker in the past year.) So then she comes by with a huge stock pot of hot, home made chicken noodle soup. I swear it had at least three different herbs in there along with cherry tomatoes (from their garden), onions, these fat cannelloni pasta shells, some kind of oil, shredded chicken legs, and love. The pot was still so hot that I grabbed a towel and....covered the backside of my head with it as I breathed the steam out of the pot. After 5 minutes, I poured myself a bowl and drank it...from the bowl. It was so herby and oily and hot and delicious!

Now I'm back in bed. Still with a cough, but all warm and fuzzy. I definitely feel loved. It's rare when I see her and my dad so this was a special treat. I am so happy.

Water: 3 liters

O.J. 1/4 gallon

12 days down, two weeks in two days. Can you believe it. This is a big deal to me. And I do have to thank my cold being a part of my quit.

~Smobergirl

Cough, hack.

I'm not out of the woods yet. I woke up coughing up gunk, and feeling sleepy. I finally got out of bed and got a large O.J. and tomato basil soup from Carlucci's. Okay I got an iced coffee also. Then I got some draino for my kitchen sink. My disposal died yesterday and the sink is all clogged. I had a licorice tea with my soup, and two hours later I had part of a Green SuperFood bar. Get the kind coated in chocolate. You'll thank yourself. One bar is 230 cals and 9 grams of fat. In my nutrition class I'll have to break down everything I eat into protein, fat, sugar, and vitamins and minerals. I cheated on this one by reading the label, but I'll have to learn sooner or later.

I put 1/2 of an avocado and 1 tbs of honey on my face. Oh come on, it's fun. I also picked up a really handsomely modern tea pot from the Tea Grotto in Sugarhouse because mine broke from last Christmas. Boo. Everything is breaking! My disposal, my DVD player, my immune system.... At least I had the funds to get a nice, new teapot. It's the little things in life that make me happy.

Later germinaters,

~Smobergirl

Day 11 Summary.

I did my show Just fine and I just so love doing it. I'd rather go in and tease that I have swine flu than stay at home. I had a delicious vegan split pea soup from Whole Foods and a spinach, pecan, blueberry, and blue cheese (still had a craving. So the 'no cheese except for goat' is just denial for now) salad. I also had 24 oz of water with Emergen-C. For Dinner I got a vegan rice noodle soup from Cafe Trang with carrots, broccoli, cabbage, garlic, mushrooms, and snap peas. That's one thing vegetarians should question Asian restaurants: some of them use chicken broth in their vegetarian dishes. The restaurant would believe that as long as there is no actual meat in the dish, they can call it vegetarian.

I'm still miserable, but I am trying to nurse myself. I'm so happy I have that Throat Coat tea that I'll probably drink some later. And I really have to thank being sick because I have not had a craving until tonight. Even then I couldn't give in because my throat is hurting, I have a 'barking' cough, and all I want to do is lie down. So that has been a blessing in disguise.

Have a beautiful night,

~Smobergirl

11 days smober

Sicker.

Ugh. It hit me full-blown today. So I'm in watching the Dance Your Ass Off marathon today. When I do get sick, the last thing on my mind is boozing up and smoking. I do have my radio show today, but It will b relaxing and I'll bring a blanky and some soup. Speaking of, luckily I had some of that home made tomato and white bean soup in the fridge. I also had about 24 oz water, two Teechinos with 1/4 coffee, and zucchini 'noodles' made in my spiral slicer with baby shiitake mushrooms and pumpkin seed pesto. The only 'bad' food I had was about 4 oz of that Park Silly Market pumpkin seed and pesto bread. Before work I'll see if Whole Foods is open this Labor Day and get some soup at their salad bar. Heck, maybe I'll get a salad too. My OJ in the fridge is four weeks old and fermented, so that's on my list too. ;)

If you can listen to my show today, it's three hours of Utah bands and artists every Monday afternoon from 3-6 MT on www.utahfm.org.

~Smobergirl

Day 10 Summary.

I felt like I ate a lot, but I didn't feel sick at all. That's a pun, I'm already sick. I can't tell if I'm beating this cold or if it will get worse in the morning. I took some 'food remedies' that have helped me in the past: tea, garlic, tomatoes, and lots of water. They say feed a cold, right? I did eat about 12 fingerling potatoes roasted in olive oil, sea salt and pepper, garlic, and parsley. It was The Neely's garlic fingerling potatoes that can be found on www.foodtv.com. I am honestly a slave to that channel. I did also eat the rest of the gouda, luckily a 1-inch cube. But then I downed three chocolate almonds. It was a lot of little stuff that I ate throughout the day. Is that good or bad? In my nutrition class I'm taking in college, I will have to do an assignment recording everything I eat in a day and breaking it down into protein, sugar, fat, calcium, vitamin A, Vitamin C, and iron. So we shall see if my plan is working. However, I had more craves today so I felt like I ate more than I usually do, but because I was sick I also drank a lot of liquids.

Hey and more importantly, I made it to day 10!!!! Woot.

~Smobergirl

I'm sick!

Yesterday morning I had a sore throat and felt pretty groggy, which was 10:30 am! I did not make a smoothie or oatmeal, but went to the downtown farmer's market on my bicycle and had a Sunbridge Farm open-faced pesto sandwich. I'm so addicted to those and they make everything on the sammy, even the bread. I also had an iced mint lime tea. I started feeling a little better after an hour.

Steve came over after 1 to help me plug in my macbook to my DJ system. He's a tech-savvy saint. I made 1/4 cup of quinoa and put the dregs of Caputo's pesto from 2 weeks ago into it. I eventually ate the whole thing in a span of 3 hours. I really wasn't hungry. My throat was burning and I was nervous about not feeling well for the wedding I was about to DJ. I did discover some Boiron sinus tablets and Emergen-C packets. I also made a drink out of Acai/green tea powder. So actually most of the day I had liquids.

My adrenaline went up when I arrived at the reception area and my nerves just turned into excitement. These are my friends and I was ready to show them a good time, especially since I had problems with my system and I was immensely freaked out until Steve fixed everything. Dinner was crudites (that's a fancy name for raw veggies), 1/4 cup fruit, about 9 cold shrimp with cocktail sauce, 4 glasses of 8 oz water (one with Emergen-C), and about 1/4 cup of gouda cheese (No, not goat. I went a little bad,) at the party in a span of four hours. Spreading these out, I felt satisfied and kept my energy up. I guess I also got my appetite back. I got home and realized I had some Throat Coat tea. It's amazing and helped me fall asleep.

This morning I woke up at 10:30 again, this time sans sore throat, but I was still so so stuffy. I went up to the Park Silly market, Teechino in tow (with 1 t of Top Pot Coffee from Seattle added). At the Market (P.S. which is every Sunday 10-4 until September 27) I had sushi nachos from The Flying Sumo. That's three FRIED (nooooooooooooooo) wonton skins 3' in diameter with raw tuna, a dollop of guacamole, and wasabi dressing. There could have been mayo in that dressing. Sorry, I felt like being a bit naughty this morning. Then I went home and here I'm staying nursing my nose. I made a huge pot of that Giada's tomato soup. I had that at 3 pm with some Park Silly bread (sourdough with pumpkin seeds and pesto) dipped in the same company's pumpkin seed pesto! As you can probably tell right now, I really hate pesto. I may have been overdoing the bread and cheese lately due to withdrawls. I'm really trying to be good. I've felt fine all weekend, not too over-stuffed. However, I don't think the queso has helped my sinuses. No more cheese except goat from here on out, I promise.

Okay now for a relaxing bath and then guitar practice and some reading for school. Maybe I'll do my reading in the bath. Brilliant!

~Smobergirl

Working on day 10!

Day 8 Summary.

I did pretty well. Dinner was baked tilapia and mushroom orzo. I did have a cheese craving and had blue cheese with almonds. I had one coffee today, two Teechinos, and 3 liters of water. I got a new guitar today and it is gorgeous! It's an early Christmas gift from mum. It's the Fiesta model from Orpheus Valley Guitars.

Tomorrow I am DJing a good friend's wedding. I am particularly stoked because A: I don't have to play any new country, and B: The only 'special dance' will be the groom breakdancing to me playing Beastie Boys' "Brass Monkey". Yes ladies, and gentlemen, I'm getting paid to do this.

I still have 5 peaches and about ten tomatoes left from my father's garden, So I think breakfast will be a peach and OJ smoothie (Speaking of OJ, he's not doing so well, but what I have seen, I think he needs the tough love and I just hope he comes out of this a better person. I saw a movie where in India they teach yoga to prisoners, and they and the guards end up hugging each other. I only could hope that prisons all over the globe can practice love, education, and something like yoga and meditation to educate those who have done wrong to make them better people when they are released) with oatmeal.

~Smobergirl

Day 8 OVAH!

Day 7 Summary, and Heck week starts today.

Last night my buddy Steve came over and brought roasted red bell pepper hummus and low carb tortillas. I made a delicious tomato soup I got on "Everyday Italian" on Food TV. We also dipped the tortillas in my famous (well, yet to be famous) guacamole. Avocados are a goldmine of minerals and keep your hair and skin soft. When I went to a Baron Baptiste yoga bootcamp three years ago (www.baronbaptiste.com), each student ate about four a day. We also were on a strict yet gourmet vegan diet and sweat twice a day for a total of four to six hours. The food and exercise made us glow and I had a ton of energy. This is why my diet is mostly vegan. I really notice a difference when I eat lighter or heavier foods, dairy or non dairy especially. I think cheese is definitely a culprit for me.

This morning I had a blackberry and peach smoothie and an iced coffee. For lunch I finished the guac and soup, and had another tortilla with hummus.

~Smobergirl

One week.....

.....will be over this evening! Woo.

It's a beautiful morning. I had breakfast with my mom today at the vegan cafe Vertical Diner. I had a Vertical burrito, not eating most of the whole wheat tortilla. It had portabello mushrooms, onions, bell pepper, black beans, and marinara. Yummy.

Iced Coffee" 12 oz.

Water: 12 oz.

Make it a great Thursday!

~Smobergirl

Day 6 Summary.

Dinner, 5 pm: Danger, Dr. Smith!! It was my mom's my last day visiting and she wanted to go to a fancy restaurant. New Yorker. The butter and steak capitol of Utah. Me: Granny Smith apple and radicchio salad with honey dressing, and buffalo shrimp over blue cheese cole slaw. Mom: Lobster appetizer with twice baked potatoes. I had two bites. They were the lesser of the other menu items.

Water: 2 liters for the day.

One week smober tomorrow biotches!

~Smobergirl

Day 5 summary, Hell week ends tomorrow!

I haven't had meat for a while as planned. I'm on this ethical trip right now and I have been eating more veggie-based meals and fruit smoothies lately. But I still dabble in the goat cheese and eggs. Plus I've been hanging out with an old beau lately who has been on a healthy diet himself so we've been eating pretty clean. last night I made us zucchini 'noodles' from that spiral slicer I found online. (It's about $23 bucks) I also made a mixed green salad with Moroccan olives, mozzarella (the good kind from Italy), string beans, balsamic vinegar, and sea salt. We had green walnut tea to drink. However, later we had coffees before a hot date with Modest Mouse (apparently the acid scare wore off ) But I'm not feeling as lonely. Score.

Breakfast: 16 oz. iced coffee, new potatoes, and tofu scramble with mushrooms and zucchini.

Lunch: More zucchini noodles with raw marinara and sauteed portabello. Three dark chocolate covered cashews, 12 oz. iced green walnut tea.

Water: 16 oz. so far.

~Smobergirl

Workin' on day 6!

The most fabulous healthy spaghetti, and more stuff coming out.

Before I get into it, I want to mention that I am taking 2 milk thistle capsules 3x a day for my liver. I recommend this for any drinker or for those who have just stopped drinking. It really helps to heal the liver.

Emotions first. I had a groggy morning, waking up at 9 and having breakfast with my mom. Then I went to an audio shop where my friends work to get some advice and maybe new equipment for a wedding that I'm DJing for on Sunday. I ended up having a frustrated conversation with one of the sales-dudes and I felt that my questions were not being answered. It also seemed that he thought my questions were not realistic. Then I started questioning myself, then I just gave up. I did go home with a $6 cable and some 'better' blank CDs he threw in for free, but I think he wanted me to buy a $650 box for a computer system that I didn't seem too jazzed about. I mean, was I being suckered into something here, or was I a moron not to see that I needed this system? Sigh, I'll never know. Then I asked for a CD player that does not have a problem with burned CDs like mine do, and this guy laughed at me. He told me to not burn CDs. I don't want to get into it. But in a nutshell, I really wanted to hit something on my way home.

Diet is 110% better than my audio store experience however! I only made the best lunch and I feel joyous and satisfied.

Breakfast: 1 cup of fruit and an english muffin. 2 oz of iced coffee. I stopped after that because I had a convo with a buddy about how coffee is just acid. So that extremely helped be drastically cut down this morning. Perhaps, just perhaps that talk has made me stop for good.

Lunch: 1/2 cup whole wheat fettucini and 1/2 cup zucchini 'noodles' made in a spiral slicer. Raw marinara made from the Rawvolution cook book. I have a boatload of tomatoes and peaches from my dad's house, so I'm trying to get creative before they go bad. I think before my Communications class I'll make a peach and blackberry smoothie to go. If I turn an orangy-red by next week, I will know the cause.

Water so far: 20 oz.

~Smobergirl

Calm for now going on day 5.