I love this boat! And the mocha money vaccuum...

I am so much better now. This is going to be a relaxing trip. I kinda had a crazy first hour here (an Italian construction worker stalked me) but I reported it, the boat supervisor talked to the whole construction group and not the individual, and they are not leaving with the ship anyway. I was so excited coming on the boat, then during lunch dude kept looking in my direction. I finished, walked to deck staircase, and he started 'wandering' over. I got to the next level and boom, he's at the bottom of the staircase. I cross over to the other side, walk up the next flight of stairs, and there he is right below me again. I glare at him, he looks away, then I fly to the lobby, bursting in tears (embarrassing I know, but I was freaked out. That's how I get. Plus I'm PMSing BAD). I felt kinda stupid but I was really creeped out. The supervisor explained that he's ITALIAN. We both laughed. Oh, THAT explains it. So yeah, situation over. I feel better. Actually I had the best three hours of this trip: Pedicure, facial, thermal spa that included showers, under water lounge chairs, and picture the tea cup ride with jets. It's more than that cool.

Iced mochas are evil for two reasons. A: They are $5, and B: They last 30 seconds. Nuff said. I better stick to water and $1.20 iced coffees. Yeah I'm in the boat's internet cafe right now. It's pretty righteous! Did I mention that I'm PMSing? I guess it's better than the Depo Provera mood-swings eh? Oy.

Breakfast: Grapefruit juice, small croissant, and blood orange jam. Lots of water in-between that and lunch: Big-ol salad on the boat. Dinner: Beautiful cold veggie salads like a fennel and artichoke, corn and red bell pepper, and 3-bean with a rosemary veggie entree. That was at 6. At 8 I had a slice of margharita pizza. The food is all-inclusive so I just need to be careful.

Tai chi tomorrow at 8am!

Love,

Smobergirl

I mean per text, and calls per min.

Leaving on a jet plane.

Dunno when I can post pictures next. The trip starts at 9 am in Venice. I have butterflies and I am ready to relax. I started worrying about alcohol and thieves, then I remembered the yoga gesture for no fear. Doing that now.

Namaste,

Smobergirl
Day 402

25!

I thought going from a 28 to a 27 waist was exciting. I was also the queen of denim, and I consigned all of my 27s and 28s. So I went from about 12 pairs to 0. I just tried on jeans today and tried 26s. nope. Twenty-five. (doing the 25 dance) I don't remember being a 25. Maybe when I was 15. The clean eating (and I confess I do have my cheat days) and weights seem to do the trick, as well as not boozing it up. I'm a little scared for the trip because well, it's Europe, but I am getting back on the antabuse (I'm not going to be happy I think. Or I can just drink their fancy water and lemonade) I had a fierce crave last night and I was ornery for about 20 minutes, then the feeling just went away like it always does. I lived, of course, and I think there may be a god after all. An example of that is a wedding I went to outdoors on Sunday, the day it poured. By the wedding the rain stopped, but it was still cloudy. Then the second, and I swear I have about 60 witnesses, that the bride stopped at the alter, rays of sun went through the trees onto the couple. Then it was gone at the end again. How does that happen? Funny thing, same thing happened with Bob Dylan.

This quinoa doesn't look appetizing but it was indeed fantastic. I added hummus, red pepper flake, and pumpkin seeds. It was weirdly amazing. Then I ate a few olives and an Almond Dream bar and called it good.



Smobergirl

Also...Day 400!!

Lucky 13!

Thanks to a buddy for coming up with "Lucky". Je suis 13 moins ajhourdui. Verdad? I am still shrinking. Reno's program seems to be pretty effective, and I eat 99% of my meals at home. I however had a salmon steak, tomatoes, and 1 ounce of polenta at a cafe this morning with a friend and I am having romaine leaves with muhammara and a steamed vegetable dish at a Middle Eastern restaurant for dinner. Lunch was raw stuffing, raw cashew pudding with raspberry juice, and 5 ounces of yesterday's smoothie. I did my yoga and walked for 20 minutes, and does lifting DJ equipment count?

Smobergirl

"Lucky" 13 months!

It's a raw raw raw raw day.

Man, did I ever tell you that raw foodists love their nuts? And rightfully so. They make a good filler or meat substitute; like 'ground beef' made out of walnuts and nama shoyu or cashews blended with water for pudding. They also fill you up pretty quickly. I had a goal today which I made for the week. Eat out the pantry and fridge before my vaca and 'appreciate what I have', trying not to go grocery shopping. I used shredded coconut that has been sitting here for at least 4 months untouched for the pudding with frozen strawberries. I also wiped out my pepitas and cashews, and went through 1/4 of my sunflower seeds for a raw stuffing (Rawvolution). I was so happy, I had all the ingredients for it. Onion, mushrooms, celery, nama shoyu (raw soy sauce), and dried thyme. It's pretty decent! Then for dinner I finished the rest of the raw marinara with leftover zucchini, garlic, and the only thing cooked: Quinoa. Delicious. Breakfast was a cucumber~mint~melon smoothie with flax, kale, and whey vanilla protein powder. I think it's my tastiest one yet.

Workout: NOTHING>>>>>AAAAAAHHHHHHHRRRGGGGHHH>>>> Okay so I did do laundry and cleaned out the floor of the pantry, because I had a dream about it! I discovered a long-lost duster and honey on the floor. Ew. I plan to mop that sucker up tonight. And my friend, my token kitty-sitter, I want to impress. She'll be living here when I'm gone. I can't believe it's only a week away! The butterflies are getting bigger. Time to practice the Italiano. Also after I digest this pudding I'll do my pm. yoga.

Smobergirl

Day 395

Movie and a dinner.

It's been a while since I've been to a movie. I saw Kung Fu Panda 2 and loved it! Animation just keeps getting more realistic. It was pretty amazing, and so funny. Then I had zucchini 'noodles' in raw marinara and greens from my planter. I made a nice little salad with balsamic vinegar.

No llores. Don't cry. I'm watching a Spanish soap opera. It's very entertaining. I'm brushing up on my Spanish for the trip. Before this I watched an Espanol game show, which was even more entertaining. It was called Que No Puedes! I wish I knew how to type accents. Anybody?

Buenos tardes,

Smoberchica

Food today.

Breakfast: Kale and mixed berry smoothie. Delicious.

Lunch: Awesome! Zucchini 'noodles' peeled (my spiral slicer broke) over spinach; with olives, red onion, avocado, hummus, red pepper flake, and lime juice. Leftover ceviche. Cucumber 'chips' with cracked sea salt and tumeric. Drinking lots of water.

I feel better and I'm embracing my looks. Heyyyelll, I'm healthy! I'm also 40, well almost. I saw a new photo of me on the FB I was tagged in and I'm pretty cute. I didn't know it was taken and it's me BEAMING! I was smiling at something and my eyes are so lit up. You know, I blame the fashion magazines too. They can do a number on your self-esteem. It's not very fair. Plus most of those are airbrushed, even double chins and freckles. My journey is not over. I notice positive changes all the time. I smoked and drank for so long, and maybe I can even look better after a year. I know my liver will. :)

Smobergirl

The issues.

I watched an episode of Extreme Makeover last night where a man went from 498 to about 203 pounds in a year with the help from the TV show's personal trainer and a clean diet. He could eat meat, just flank steak instead of fattier meats, no sugar, and of course tons of veggies. He did slip back into fast food and soda after losing about 100 pounds, and the trainer asked him what issues he had. I believe most of us abuse a substance because we are very unhappy about something. He said he was abused as a child sexually, and later he opened up to say he is homosexual. This man was obese most of his life and said the last time he was 200 pounds was in 6th grade. It got me thinking that when I crave for my wine and cigs that I am usually lonely or upset that I've been a part-time celeb instead of full-time and that I'm not good enough. It is so sad how we don't know how to love ourselves. I'm having an emotional day from watching that and I learned a lesson and it opened my eyes again. I don't consider myself being over my issues. I lost this 25 pounds then I see a picture of myself from last week and I thought I looked fat, to be honest with you. I'm 5'6 and 130 pounds. I want to be healthy and not abuse my body to be skinny. I am walking more, and I feel I do have weeks where I'm not walking on the treadmill at all. I just need to get to those Zumba classes or sign up for something else that I enjoy. My sadness is leading to procrastination. But when I crave I stop and say, "What do you think you are thinking?" and list other things to do right then, healthfully or fun, to make me happy. Calling someone is a good one. Funny movies, baths, iced coffee or tea, dancing, and window shopping are good ones. Or reading on the treadmill, or Gilad. I wasn't abused but I have a few childhood issues. Even Lady Gaga said on national TV weeks ago that she's still scarred from being bullied as a kid. I admire her for opening up and being an inspiration to tons of people. She is a 'mamma'. She calls herself "mamma" or "mother monster". Why is it so hard to let go of stuff like that? It's really crappy. Mine are similar to Gaga's scenario. And it's big to me. I couldn't shake that since I was 6 that I was "stupid". Even when I got my first long-term (part-time) radio job in my 20s I was teased behind my back, and in front. I remember my boss saying, "You're not stupid, but on the air...". Yeah. But I am good at what I like to do which back then was commercials. I'm an actress and I rocked my commercials. That's only what I should had been doing. Then I tried getting them through agents but Utah doesn't seem to have a lot of opportunity in that department. I would love to do voiceovers full-time, or cartoon voices. Dream job! I only liked being a DJ for the fame, and when I played music I liked, like local bands. I love having them come on my show and play live. So that is my message. Do only what you love, or try. So here is a summary of my issues. I know, I'm brave, but if I can get over these then I'd like to be an inspiration:

Feeling stupid
Feeling fat
Feeling white (ha ha)
Feeling stupid

Did I say feeling stupid? I wanted to make sure. I'm laughing and feeling better already. I'm actually realistically almost over that hump. The fat one I need to slap myself around a bit. If it takes weight lifting and running and dancing until I'm satisfied, so be it. It's like I want to put all of my aggression into being a working out maniac. And I can.

I may have said it here but I remember clearly how this feeling stupid thing came about, and there are several instances. I was apparently a genius as a baby. I read the paper when I was two and I was just this brainiac. Then, this is my mom's story, I went to the dentist when I was 6 and got the laughing gas. She said I spasmed and "Everything went downhill from there." Exact words. Great, now I'm shaking and crying. I said it was an emotional day. My grades plummeted in first grade, and I remember going out to recess and asked two girls if I could play jump rope with them. They said no. This was a pretty big deal to me. Kids then started making fun of how I looked. Sometimes my mom, bless her heart, would dress me up really nicely when I just wanted to wear jeans and shorts like the other kids. I'm sure I looked really pretty and she has a great knack for fashion. She just sent me some beautiful lace shorts, a cover up, and a lace slip for my birthday trip. I love my mother and she is a fantastic role model. But that blunt truth about the dentist killed me. I'm like really? I could have been on the cover of Forbes if that didn't happen? However I am pretty danged creative and talented. I am not a moron. I think I turned out okay. So back to first to fifth grade. I had one friend basically. And she was kind of an outcast too. She is now married and also normal! We hooked up on the FB of course after a hiatus. First grade was tough, like I had to stay after school to write a report on a bird I didn't finish and I cried the whole time. In second grade I was caught by my teacher for calling my mom at the front desk because I wanted to go home. In fourth grade I specifically remember a day when a teacher held me back from a special lunch because I was slow on a project. In fifth grade my friend and I got teased on a tire swing and a boy spat on me because he thought I was a rich snob. I never showed any attitude, in fact I pretty much avoided everyone as much as possible. Then the acting bug happened and all of the sudden I had friends. Again, doing what I wanted to do. We had to do a book report and I found a book on plays. I asked my 5th grade teacher if I could put on Pippy Longstocking. Of course I starred and directed it, I was an awesome director, :) My mom made the best red braids in a clothes hanger and outfits for everyone. I was a superstar and then I switched schools!

I was switched to a private school and the teasing and mediocre to bad grades started all over again. A boy threw a baby-sized snowball on me and said, "Here's your baby". Nice. And I sucked at tag. I hated tag. I had three friends this time, which blossomed to about six, and they were misfit toys too and the biggest nerds, but we had the best times ever. We created a Dr. Who club (Tom Baker series) and we had a party where we dressed up. I was the tardis and I had the coolest painted refrigerator box ever. We would draw our own tardises that were actually our school lockers. We had swimming pools in them and they were basically bad-ass mansions. Good times.

I could go on and on. This is why I started this blog. It's my journal and my therapist. And it's free! I don't mind sharing it with you and it makes me feel a ton better, especially if I can inspire you. You are okay. I am okay. Life is what you make it. You know how crazy lucky we are to be here? Food grows for us! And it makes us healthy and strong. We only manipulate it to make it otherwise. We have pets! There are animals made for us to be our loving companions. My cat is a freaking miracle! He found me and never left. He is my special therapy as well. We can dress up! We can share. Life for others can be up to us! I want to share with you. And now I'm crying tears of joy. If I am slow and dumb fine. I am human I'd rather say. We come in all forms. I know I am beautiful inside and out. I'd rather make people happy than be rudely drunk. No one owes me anything, and I am not a victim like I thought I was. But I do know the reason behind my madness. I was so so sad. This sounds diabolical, and it is, but I would drink and smoke then get the crappiest hangover the next day. By the afternoon after crying I would coddle myself and say, "It's okay, I love you, and we will never do this again." Then I'd feel euphoric like I was going to make a new start, then I'd do it all over again. Vicious cycle indeed. Kids can be mean. Teachers can be strict. Mothers can dress you funny. We are all just human. I love you. And I love me too, sober and smoke-free.

Smobergirl

Day 393

L, Limone.

I'm catching up on my Italian for the trip. I love citrus. I just got a lemongrass lotion at the "Park Silly" market in Park City today. The farmer's market downtown also started yesterday. It sure is a mood booster. You know I also like guava so much. Like I said before, I think most water-based fruits and veg like cucumber can give you a lift once you cut into them and get a whiff. The Food Network inspired me (Thank you Tyler Florence) to make this drink that looked like a blueberry mojito. It's muddled blueberries, mint, and lime juice; with a ginger simple syrup (I cooked agave instead of sugar) and mineral water. No I didn't put anything else in it. ;)

I felt a little guilty and started eating local tart cherry preserves alone with a spoon. About 30 minutes later I'm bouncing off the walls, but in the way that I wanted to do yoga for another 30 minutes and dance on my toes! It got to the point that I could balance on one ball of my foot. I think this diet and weight lifting is working. I'm also doing more abs, and speaking of I did about 30 leg raises on the floor tonight just because I was on this pectin/cherry high. Mon dieu! It was cool. My abs are showing through more and my waist is smaller. But I don't condone eating cherry jam on a regular basis. I meant the clean-eating is working. I made Reno's shrimp ceviche in an avocado shell for lunch and it was amazing. For dinner I just had quinoa with Matt Amsden's Raw marinara which I made. Today was another 6-small meal day, which Reno recommends.

Workout: 1-hour walk up and down Park City's Main Street. 30 minutes yoga. A million ab exercises. Okay maybe 60 but still!!

Smobergirl

Morning.........

You want me to teach yoga at what time? ;)

6 am. It happens. However I'm not complaining at all because it's yoga for one, it's a teaching gig for me, and it was at a swanky hotel. Oh yeah the pay wasn't bad either. Six girls out of 15 employees showed up (I think they had a late night) and they liked the class, yay! I did basic Hatha yoga stretches both standing and sitting. I thought it was good for only my fifth class teaching. My father, the business man, suggested I make cards and take them to other hotels. Not a bad idea. Have I been up for 8 hours already? I got up at 4. Had a Luna bar and water with green powder. I felt a little heavy. I definitely feel better having a smoothie in the morning. Then I had a tofu scramble with new potatoes at 8 am at the bakery where my art is hanging. I felt good, but I'm concerned if there is a lot of salt in it or not. I didn't ask questions. And that should be the healthy person's rule! Now it's almost noon and I made a salad of farmer's market spinach, Thai basil, red onion, avocado, raw portobello mushroom, mint hummus, basil, quinoa, lemon juice, and mango. Then I had dessert of farmer's market tart cherry preserves and a honey brick with mango. Awesome!

To sleep or not to sleep. I read that you can't make up for sleep, and when I nap I usually feel groggier, but boy am I tired. I also have an evening commitment tonight at 9:30. I do have coffee in the french press. I think I'll lie down though. Great day so far, don't get me wrong!

Smobergirl

Day 390

Lunch

I LOVE persian cucumbers! You can get them in packages at the grocery store, or singly at some places like Liberty Heights Fresh and Asian markets. They are known as 'pickling cucumbers' and are small and skinny. I slice them up and put them in a pitcher of water, or eat them like this with cracked sea salt or cayenne salt. They are a great alternative to chips. You get your crunchy salty fix. I made quinoa with radish sprouts, 1/2 avocado, cherry tomatoes, basil, moroccan olives, and hummus. I had so much energy after breakfast, but now I'm kinda sleepy. More detox? It's not the food, I was tired before lunch. Hmmm.... I'm still happy, don't get me wrong.

Errand time and then I'll come back to put a yoga class plan together and paint, play guitar, and get on the tramp if the cat finishes his nap on it. Awwww......

Tropical breakfast

When I was in Hawaii for my brother's wedding we ate pineapple and papayas every morning. I'm sure Hawaii helped, but the fruit increased dopamine levels or something. I told you that citrus is a natural anti-depressant, and I believe all or most fruits can elevate your mood. I keep making Tosca Reno's Take Me On Vacation Oatmeal because it just makes me feel so good!

1/2 cup rolled oats
1 mango, peeled and diced (sometimes I use pineapple)
1 tsp flaxseed
2 tbsp chopped cashews (sometimes I use slivered almonds)
1 tbsp flaked coconut
1 cup almond milk (sometimes I use coconut water)
1/4 cup protein powder (optional)
1/2 oat bran (I use buckwheat instead)
A pinch of sea salt
(and I added dried cranberries and pomegranate seeds my mom gave me from Trader Joe's. I have tons!)

Reno cooks the oats, oat bran, and salt first, but I just throw everything together raw. Unless there is some scientific evidence that you have to cook oats or it's more nutritional, I find that they soften up and taste just as good in cold liquid. I discovered this when my father would squish a peach over raw oats and eat that. I want to remind you that I lose more weight quicker by eating oats too. Plus it's cancer-fighting, lowers bad cholesterol, and has vitamin E and magnesium. Speaking of vacation, the butterflies are getting bigger!

I have to thank a good friend for asking me if I wanted to come to a free outdoor yoga class up in Deer Valley yesterday. It was the perfect setting for a class. Talk about elevating! Afterwards we had a nice dinner and I met some really cool girls as well as seeing someone I knew from a long time ago. It was a really nice time. I'm teaching that 6am class tomorrow so it was good to get a challenging workout in right before. I'm in a good mind-set. Plus this group mainly wants to do light stretches so it will be nice and relaxing.

So, my arms are looking better! This weight lifting thing and no processed foods/sugar/heavy sodium dealy-bob seems to be working. I have had the occasional bread slices but I have cut down a lot and my new love is marinara over brown rice instead of pasta. I could have been more of a nazi last night and ate hummus with a fork instead of eating 2 pita bread triangles. And I had 2 toast points with mussels. The pita eating was an excuse because everyone else was digging in (oh the peer pressure! ;) and I was just starving in general after that good workout. Plus I have been so or more than good on Reno's diet, and I ate the bread in moderation EVEN THOUGH YES, THE GOAL WAS TO FOLLOW THIS DIET TO A T. Whoops caps. Well there's a statement. This is a good example of depriving yourself then giving in. Extreme diets do not work. But Reno eats hearty and healthier breads, it's not something you would find in a restaurant. That's why she eats almost everything at home. I do feel fine with it because I'm at a great weight and I know how to eat occasionally and in moderation when it comes to processed and baked goods now. Long-term foods will show up in your body, and I eat mostly water-based fibrous foods to look and feel good. So change of plans, I'll eat at home as much as I can to save and eat clean, but if I'm invited out again I won't say no, order smartly, and have a taste of a treat if I'm offered. Portion size. Or as I like to say, "Portia size". Ha ha.

I find what tones my middle the most is dance (like the Zumba classes). And power yoga tones under my armpits and back, as well as strengthens my thighs, helps me reach the top shelf, pick things off the floor, keeps me flexible, calms my mind, etc. (you know I adore yoga already). However for my arms the resistance training is definitely working. I keep a kettle bell in the living room to swing around too. If things are in my view I am more likely to use them. Shoot, now I better put my rebounder (mini-tramp) back in the living room. Okay done. :)

Smobergirl
Day 389

Morning!

Karma keeps flowing in. I was at Carlucci's Bakery yesterday and the owner asked if I had art ready (I was going to show last year but it ended up just not happening) because the last artist took his stuff out early. So voila! Farmer's Market starts this Saturday too at Pioneer Park across the street so that's a huge bonus. The place gets a line out the door during the market. Woo hoo! It's really nice to be me lately. :)

Breakfast: Leftover pineapple cilantro shake and a bowl of oatmeal, buckwheat groats, slivered almonds, chia seeds, pineapple, coconut shavings, and coconut water. Tropical bowl of deliciousness!

Love,

Smobergirl

Favorite Shirt

There was an old 80s song called "Favorite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)" by Haircut 100 which is now stuck in my head. For about ten years honestly I've been looking for the perfect button-down oxford, and with my daily $30-$60 wine and cig money I found one I like at Urban Outfitters for $39. It will be trip-worthy too. :)

Breakfast: Pineapple Cilantro Shake

Lunch: Uh, kitchen sink salad? Leftover Trio mixed greens and olives with raw taco 'meat' (walnuts, cumin, coriander, and nama shoyu), a torn portobello mushroom, and radish sprouts. Pretty tasty.

Smobergirl

Day 387

Day 386

Workout: 20 minutes fast walk on the treadmill, biceps, back (pulled resistance band on my back door), and yoga.

Lunch: I had a salad at Trio that was so pretty I can't believe I didn't take a picture! Mixed greens with oranges, beets, and pistachios. Side of Mediterranean olives.

Speaking of the Mediterranean, I leave in two weeks! I ran into a friend today who just got back from Spain and he gave me some great tips and made me even more exited.

I got a birthday coupon for Cactus and Tropicals, so I got a small orchid to go with my other one, which I got about two months ago with another coupon. I was really hungry two hours after lunch, and Reno eats about every 2, so I had a hard-boiled egg and oats, buckwheat groats, honey, maca, and chia seeds in coconut water.

David Rocco's DOlce Vita is an Italian cooking show on Cooking Channel. He made two simple orange salads I want to try:

Orange Salad With Oregano

4 oranges
20 kalamata olives
1/4 cup/58 ml extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Dried oregano

Slice the skin off each orange, removing both the peel and white skin or pith. Coarsely chop the oranges. Place the chopped oranges and olives in a salad bowl. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano. Toss well and serve.

Orange Salad With Anchovies

4 oranges
10 anchovy fillets, coarsely chopped
1 red onion, chopped
20 kalamata olives
Bunch fresh basil leaves, torn
1/4 cup/58 ml extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Slice the skin off each orange, removing both the peel and the white skin or pith. Coarsely chop the oranges and reserve the juices. Place the chopped oranges, orange juice, anchovies, onion, olives, and basil leaves in a salad bowl. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss well and serve.

Smobergirl

Bikinis!

I sure feel more comfortable in them now. The cool thing about going on a cruise is wearing wild swimwear and hopefully no one will snicker. If they do, they don't know you anyway. It's like you're in a movie and you are a glamorous star in your fancy bikini. Well that's how I'm gonna act. Wine and cig money went to a gold one from Express (about $28 total on sale online) and a crazy neon pink one from Armani Exchange, also on sale, and around $30. Yeah, there are bottoms too! :) I'm the swim bargain hunter. No one in their right mind should pay triple digits for little triangles. :)

I feel awesome. The arms are getting tighter. I'm more confident. Diet's good. I just made an interesting concoction of mixed brown rice, marinara, and cooked egg whites on top with basil and red pepper flake. It was pretty good. Then I cooked some sweet potato baked fries. I'm still drinking plenty of water.

I'm watching a PBS program with Dr. Neal Barnard called Kick Start Your Health. He's talking about if you avoid animal fat and cholesterol then your arteries will open up, and it doesn't matter how old you are. He even said to avoid fish because about 15% is omega 3s but the rest of the fat is saturated. Hmm. Need to do research. This also includes dairy. In a nutshell he advocates a vegan diet. He also advises to quit smoking and avoid aluminum. No sugar. I talked to a girlfriend the other day and she suggested to rename my blog "My own guinea pig". The diet I felt the greatest on was vegan. I felt more energized, lost weight, felt lighter. Saved money.

Smobergirl

Day 385

Whole foods

And I mean food, not the grocery store. I just had the best dried fig in my life. It was so much better than those cookies too. Three dried figs have 100 calories, 0 fat, tons of fiber, and have calcium. Not smoking brought my taste back, and it's really exiting. I can taste! Lunch was raw tacos, brown rice, a carrot, and a glass of almond milk. Pending on my mood I'll either make a grilled halibut or egg white frittata for dinner. I did yoga this morning and 20 push-ups.

I got Instant Immersion Italian at Costco yesterday. All I think about is this trip!


Arrivederci!

Smobergirl

Day 383

Ch-ch-ch-changes

So this clean-eating is working, and I'm not missing anything. I don't want any alcohol and like Reno says, it's all sugar anyway and not part of clean-eating. Clean eating is cutting out all processed foods, white flour/breads/rice, sugar, sugar substitutes, alcohol, too much salt, and anti-foods like chemicals and stuff you basically can't pronounce or identify. For lunch with my girlfriend I had a soba noodle salad with leafy greens, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, tempeh, and red onion. It may have been too salty for the diet so I drank extra water. I also had a tea of echinacea, lemongrass, and dandelion (the liver tonic ingredient). For a snack I had the rest of my morning smoothie. What I WANTED was the chocolate chocolate chip vegan cookie in my pantry. I had the smoothie instead, and like my other craves, I forgot about the cookie after 5 minutes. Honestly some vegan baked goods have put a pit in my stomach. It's all about mind control, and little changes. Like pasta...

I discovered 'zucchini noodles' about 6 years ago and you can use a vegetable peeler or a spiral slicer. For a super-easy meal you can use a jar of marinara or pesto, or make a healthy pasta sauce. Some raw books have an 'alfredo' using cashews. I like the texture of the zucchini as noodles, and I don't miss the dough.

It's also about paying attention to what the food is doing to your body. I want to eat for energy and feel good. I also want to look good, not just my shape but the condition of my skin.

Speaking of snacks, stay tuned when I make Sunny Anderson's (from Food Network) MANGO ON A STICK!

Rock 'N Roll,

Smobergirl

Light

Stylin' and profilin'. I'd say I feel dynamic, but my allergies have been terrible the last week. That sore throat/stuffy nose/cough thing I have is kinda going away but not completely. I still don't know if it's the weather or the diet, the latter I'm still following and I feel lighter, like when I went vegan about four years ago for lent. This diet also has no cheese and minimal dairy like egg whites, skim milk, and yogurt. I'm just eating the egg whites out of the three. I had an almond milk, strawberry, and mango shake this morning. I'm meeting a friend for lunch at a vegan cafe. Reno however believes that vegetarians would take longer to lose the weight because of starchy vegetables, so I am being aware of those and staying away from 'wheat meat' and other processed vegan foods. No processing, remember? It's working, I'm staying at 130 for now. I have been fluctuating from 130-135 since month 8 smober.

Strawberry-Mango Pray For Sun Shake:

5 strawberries
1/2 mango
1 kale leaf
1 tsp coconut oil
1/2-1 cup almond milk
1 cup ice
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tsp hemp protein
1 tsp flax seeds

Blend on high in a high-speed blender.

Smobergirl

Day 381

WOOOOOO!!!!!!

Woah this is potent. Wheatgrassyness!

1 cup water
1/2 cup wheatgrass
3 strawberries
1 orange, peeled
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tsp flax seeds
1 cup ice


Oooooooh! I watching Jaime Oliver on the tele and he made this avocado salsa:

2 roma tomatoes seeded and chopped
3 jalepenos: one red, one yellow, and one green
Finely chopped cucumber peeled
a bit of chopped cilantro
Squeeze of lime
1 avocado chopped
A bit of olive oil

Smobergirl

A wheatgrass smoothie

I found this on the Vita-Mix site.

Wheat Grass Cocktail
Yield: 2 cups (480 ml)

1/2 cup (120 ml) water
1 cup (160 g) grapes
1/2 cup (75 g) pineapple
1/2 cup wheat grass
1 cup (240 ml) ice cubes

1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
2. Select Variable 1.
3. Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.
4. Blend for 1 minute or until desired consistency is reached.
Health Classification: Low Fat, Low Sodium, Low Cholesterol, Heart Healthy, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw

Meal Type: Green Smoothies, 5 Ingredients or less, Beverages

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup (240 ml)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 85

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 0g

Saturated Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 2mg

Potassium 186mg

Total Carbohydrate 21g

Dietary Fiber 1g

Sugars 16g

Protein 1g

Vitamin A 1%
Vitamin C 33%

Calcium 1%
Iron 0%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on you calorie needs:
Calories: 2000 2500

Total Fat Less than 65g 80g
Sat Fat Less than 20g 25g
Cholesterol Less than 300mg 300mg
Sodium Less than 2,400mg 2,400mg
Total Carbohydrate 300g 375g
Dietary Fiber 25g 30g

Calories per gram:
Fat 9
Carbohydrate 4
Protein 4


http://www.vitamix.com

A good example

I can't tell you enough how rewarding it is to quit your bad habits and sharing. I ran into someone from junior high school who read my article yesterday, and I had lunch with a friend who bought chia seeds just because of me and she's making smoothies. People keep saying, "Look at you!", and today I got an offer to teach a private yoga class at a hotel for good money. It's really amazing what's happening in my life. I am truly blessed!

Wheatgrass. The Vita-Mix sufficiently breaks it down so I don't need a juicer. I am going to try some smoothies with it and post them here. For lunch I had two raw tacos and a corn cob with lime juice, olive oil, a touch of sea salt, and chili powder.

Smobergirl
Day 380