tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83428227495959264642024-03-13T11:35:12.699-07:00Smaller SarahSarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.comBlogger324125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-37014472135457737012013-12-13T09:59:00.000-08:002013-12-13T09:59:02.194-08:00To Bed, To BedHello dear readers. The time has come to officially put Smaller Sarah to bed. It has been a wonderful two and a half years and I have so appreciated your support and comments. I have a feeling that 2014 is going to be a big year for me and my little family and in order to simplify my life and spend my energies where they are most needed, I'm stepping away from this blog permentently.<br />
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This does not mean I will stop working towards my health goals. I am always finding ways to recommit to all I started back in June of 2011. I will certainly use the archives os Smaller Sarah to guide me as I move forward and I hope you will too.<br />
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I will always continue to blog at <a href="http://maisonboheme.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">La Maison Boheme</a> where I write daily posts about soulful living, interior design, art, motherhood, cuisine, literature, health, radical homemaking and modern bohemianism. If you haven't already, please hop over and become a follower. I'd love to have you along for the ride.<br />
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Thank you so much.<br />
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Yours fondly,<br />
Sarah GreenmanSarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-11588582814654030512013-12-01T09:57:00.001-08:002013-12-01T09:57:33.269-08:00Love yourself, and you're set.<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Love yourself, and you're set." </b></div>
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- Lady Gaga <i>Born This Way</i></div>
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December first. End of the year is upon us and I'm starting, as I always do, to take stock of what has passed. In August, I made an announcement that I would be running my first ever half marathon on February 23rd, 2014. I'm still on track with that goal, but it took me a month or two to really get into the swing of training for it. I guess that's why I set goals far in advance - I know in my heart of hearts that I'll need some time to wrap my head around what I'm doing. </div>
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Then, there comes a time when your wiser self chimes in and says, "Sarah, can it. Stop thinking and head out the door running." And that time is here. Although I took last Saturday through Thursday off for Thanksgiving, I've run the past three consecutive days. Nothing crazy mind you. A mile on Friday, a mile and a half with Charlie on Saturday and 4 miles today, again with Charlie. It feels good to be running again.</div>
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Some thoughts:</div>
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<b>RUNNING with CHARLIE</b></div>
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Charlie's new favorite game is "chase", which is funny for a kid who cannot walk. He scoots around, army style, while the chaser feigns running with heavy breathing and lots of loud footfall. Then Charlie inches his way around the house, looking back periodically, giggling all the while. He loves when I take him for a run, because it feels like a game of chase. He's out in front while I huff and puff - always just behind him. So he starts giggling uncontrollable while we're running and his legs kick in the air as if he's running away. It's the sweetest thing ever.</div>
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<b>LOVING YOURSELF</b></div>
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For me, running is not about speed or distance or time or competition or even getting thin or losing weight. It is about feeling free. When I feel free and in charge of the moment, I can't help but feel deep love and gratitude towards myself. And this feeling, this well of love and gratitude seeps out into every other part of my day. And it's a great reason to simply get up and get out the door. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On my run this morning with Charlie.</td></tr>
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Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-17223781975061374732013-11-11T20:05:00.001-08:002013-11-11T20:06:25.884-08:00Intentionality and My Ever-Changing ScheduleI love routine just as much as the next person. And if there is anything I've learned on the Smaller Sarah path, it's that I have to make time to do the hard work of exercising and eating healthfully. But the past 6 weeks of my life have been an experiment in flux and shift.<br />
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I have two more weeks left of my Tabata Bootcamp series at <a href="http://www.positivelyfitlakehighlands.com/" target="_blank">PFLH</a>. I'm of two minds about this process. The first is that I love the 30 minute workouts and I, of course, love being in class with Malory. The second is that the extra effort it takes to go online and do all of the little videos and update my food journal is too much for me at this point. I'm an in-person kind of gal and the online stuff, while interesting and helpful when I do it, just becomes another hanging task that makes me feel behind-the-ball and guilty. So, in these last two weeks, I'm going to be as present as I can in class and let the other stuff go.<br />
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As I said, this fall has been a game changer for my schedule, and one that I've been looking forward to for a while. With both of my boys finally in school, my mornings are productive and full. I am working, writing, painting and connecting with editors, clients, publishers and friends who are helping me launch my freelance career. These hours are very precious to me and I have been protective of that time. As for exercise, I seem to be having far more success right now just lacing up my shoes and heading out the door for a run. Its easy and freeing and I can do it whenever I have time during the day.<br />
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This isn't to say that I won't be taking group fitness classes as I move forward. I love them and can't go without them! Besides... I have a half marathon to run in three months! When the Tabata Bootcamp series is over, though, I'm probably going to re-tool my mornings so that my workouts don't cut into that precious time between 8-11am when my boys are in school and I am free to work from home. As always, my life is an experiment in "making it work".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQCo5naoedEonc8uWhfFEShKzYu6DFBm3Cb2mu32ejSR707jO3HtDEVrobXdtwzcrWXkiHg4IplwcaiD4isCHb-lXwb20Lva8iji9E3iKb0WauJyTr1k82k1EC-fvNkyvv8xksbjs7MtH/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-11-01+at+12.56.19+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQCo5naoedEonc8uWhfFEShKzYu6DFBm3Cb2mu32ejSR707jO3HtDEVrobXdtwzcrWXkiHg4IplwcaiD4isCHb-lXwb20Lva8iji9E3iKb0WauJyTr1k82k1EC-fvNkyvv8xksbjs7MtH/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-11-01+at+12.56.19+AM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mallory and I getting strong at Tabata Bootcamp Class!</td></tr>
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Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-88660483612508141022013-10-29T09:33:00.003-07:002013-10-29T09:33:52.902-07:00Thoughts on Seeing Results and Not Seeing Results<div style="text-align: center;">
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Today a video...<br />
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Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-45226368640855976672013-10-21T10:21:00.001-07:002013-10-21T10:21:30.639-07:00Cool Weather is Running WeatherI'm on day 22 of my Tabata Bootcamp project. It's slow going, but I'm feeling stronger and more balanced because of my workouts. After only 2 weeks of Tabata bootcamp, I lost a half inch off of my hips, waist and chest. My weight did not change, but my shape did! These classes are also helping me prepare my body for the half marathon I'm running in February!<br />
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This week I ran 6 miles and walked 5. I've been enjoying the cooler weather and hitting my neighborhood trails in the morning hours. My youngest son Charlie is also enjoying our run and walk routine in the jogging stroller. One of my favorite moments from the week: Charlie was screaming and unhappy for some reason. I laced up my running shoes, wrestled him into the stroller and head out the door for a run. Within moments, he was quiet, relaxed and happily watching the world go by. And so was I. Getting out for a run was a great way to break the crappy house-bound fits.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ecT9j7j2qr_UUb67ImTZX917ep6gP3DOhvJJhAtq3ELRTQIl2NL92GriYtevlmTdLrssoQAAMRE7Fi1k1eSj89oQJIMaWK5G-5OtHUZLeu7farS5hDTZI23Yvt4dky_onVJrUw9JTtdi/s1600/fd7ba5ef37bfed44073af0de1820a39a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ecT9j7j2qr_UUb67ImTZX917ep6gP3DOhvJJhAtq3ELRTQIl2NL92GriYtevlmTdLrssoQAAMRE7Fi1k1eSj89oQJIMaWK5G-5OtHUZLeu7farS5hDTZI23Yvt4dky_onVJrUw9JTtdi/s1600/fd7ba5ef37bfed44073af0de1820a39a.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><u>The "I Did It" List</u></b></div>
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ran 6 miles</div>
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walked 5 miles</div>
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improved in almost all categories at my Tabata Bootcamp fitness assessment</div>
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snacked on lots of fruit instead of chocolate</div>
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complete two paintings and started two more</div>
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went on a wedding anniversary date with my husband</div>
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hosted 13 graduate students from the theater department at SMU for lasagna dinner</div>
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<br />Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-85019268742479345752013-10-03T12:07:00.000-07:002013-10-03T12:12:21.288-07:00Tabata BootcampThis week, I've begun an eight week program called Tabata Bootcamp at <a href="http://positivelyfitlakehighlands.blogspot.com/p/home.html" target="_blank">Positively Fit Lake Highlands</a>. The instructors are Mallory Dubuclet and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PersonalTrainingWithAnnMarie" target="_blank">Ann Marie Sager</a>. These two women are so inspiring and dedicated to helping their clients make healthy choices. I love them.<br />
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Basically this eight week program is about helping me tone my body, re-energize my life and drop some weight. At the very least, it's a lot of fun. If you aren't familiar with the term "tabata", here is some quick info:<br />
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A Tabata is the name of a particular type of workout program that provides similar health benefits to that of cardio workouts, but Tabata has a bit more kick to it. Instead of hours upon hours of exercise, a Tabata can be completed in 4 minutes. Tabata falls under the category of high intensity training or high intensity interval training.<br />
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The basic outline of the Tabata training method are as follows:<br />
• 4 minutes long (whole Tabata Session)<br />
• 20 seconds of intense training<br />
• 10 seconds of rest<br />
• Total of 8 sessions or rounds
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There is a great article at Shape.com about Tabata workouts if you'd like more information. (Read it <a href="http://www.shape.com/fitness/cardio/4-minute-fat-burning-miracle-workout" target="_blank">HERE</a>.)<br />
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The program that I am participating in is called Tabata Bootcamp. It's an all inclusive eight week jump start that involves live classes with the instructors at Positively Fit Lake Highlands, online workout videos and motivational videos, as well as a website that keeps track of my progress, my workouts, my food, my stats and my success. This website can be accessed by me and also by the instructors who can interact with me throughout my day and help me stay on track. It's kind of awesome.<br />
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So this is what I'm doing in addition to my whole foods diet to feel better and get fit this fall. All of this will help me get in shape for my first ever half marathon in February. It will also help me combat the holiday food season, which usually involves me eating enough food to feed Libya. It's going to be a great eight weeks and I'll of course keep you posted about the pitfalls and progress!Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-3810815368198550462013-10-01T06:48:00.000-07:002013-10-02T05:59:04.084-07:00Grocery Store Tour with Megan Adams BrownThis Sunday, I had the pleasure of meeting up with nutritionist and health coach, <a href="http://meggsalad.com/" target="_blank">Megan Adams Brown</a> at my local Whole Foods grocery store. Megan and I met a last month when I covered <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16464917/list/My-Houzz--Elegant-Updates-for-a-Traditional-Dallas-House" target="_blank">her home</a> for Houzz.com. When I realized she as a food guru, I asked her to re-introduce me to my grocery store with fresh eyes.<br />
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Why do I need a health coach to show me around a store? Because I'm in a rut. I love to cook and I love to eat my raw meals as well. But after a while I find myself picking the same things to eat over and over again. I also am aware that I need to plan ahead for healthy fast food. With two children, a heavy work load and a house to keep in order, I frequently get caught with no time and no plan for food. I need a health coach to help me come up with some back up plans so I don't end up in the drive through at McDonalds.<br />
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Meet Megan... isn't she lovely?</div>
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I want to share a little bit about some of our time together. Of course, it was so comprehensive that I can't include it all here, but I can give you a little taste:<br />
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The first thing that Megan and I did was sit down and talk about my lifestyle, about my hopes for optimal health and the issues I'd like help with (all that stuff I just mentioned above). After a lovely chat, we headed to the produce section because that is where good health begins. More specifically we headed to what Megan called the "wall of greens". Has this section ever been intimidating to you? It is for me. I always grab some romaine and a bunch of kale and run away. Sometimes I venture into the world of chard, but usually I stick to my old habits. Try something new! Bring it home, cook it up and you just might make a new food friend. Here was my takeaway information from the "wall of greens".<br />
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1. Leafy green things = Awesome for your health</div>
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2. Greens are the building blocks of life</div>
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3. Get them into your diet EVERY DAY</div>
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<b><u>Cooking Tip:</u></b> if a recipe calls for a certain kind of green you can interchange it with any green.</div>
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<b><u>Shopping Tip:</u></b> There is always at least one dark leafy green on sale. Megan says she buys whats on sale to keep her budget in check. </div>
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Next, Megan took me to the bulk section. You know, it's the isle with all of the stuff in bins. Instead of getting stuck with big packages of nuts, baking products, grains and spices, you can come to this isle and just try out a little! Then if you like it you can come back and get more. I usually shop the bulk isle for nuts, but have never considered spices.<br />
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<b><u>Cooking Tip:</u></b> If you're in a cooking rut, ditch the salt and pepper and grab some Tumeric, Basil, Cumin, Cardamom or anything that sounds wonderful. If you don't know how to use it, hop online and search for recipes.<br />
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<b><u>Shopping Tip:</u></b> Don't buy your raw honey in jars, bring your own container and get local raw honey from the bulk section. You'll save packaging (less waste), it's cheaper and local honey will help you better defend against allergies than the stuff shipped in from elsewhere.<br />
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I came home with a lovely selection of fruits, vegetables and even some new additions to my grocery list like a probiotic supplement, Chia seeds, <a href="http://manitobaharvest.com/product/2/Hemp-Hearts-8oz.html" target="_blank">Hemp Hearts</a>, <a href="http://www.edenfoods.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=109330" target="_blank">Ume Plum Vinegar</a> and for a quick snack - <a href="http://www.marysgonecrackers.com/" target="_blank">Mary's Gone Crackers</a>. I also picked up a spaghetti squash and cooked it for dinner with a little help from <a href="http://meggsalad.com/2013/09/26/basil-broccoli-chicken-spaghetti-squash/" target="_blank">THIS</a> post on Megg's blog. It was delicious! </div>
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<b>About Megan:</b><br />
Megan received her training at the <a href="http://www.integrativenutrition.com/" target="_blank">Institute for Integrative Nutrition</a> in New York where she was trained in more than one hundred dietary theories and studied a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods. She also has a bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin. You can read more about Megan's offerings <a href="http://meggsalad.com/services/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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<b>In her words:</b><br />
<i>We all have to find the right balance that enables us to get what we want out of our days and our lives. As a holistic health coach, I work with people to help them find balance for themselves and achieve their own personal health goals. Whether it’s to have more energy, lose weight, prevent disease or learn to cook, I work with people to help them take small, manageable steps toward a happier and healthier life.</i><br />
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Megan elsewhere...</div>
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<a href="http://meggsalad.com/" target="_blank">website</a></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/MeganAdamsBrown" target="_blank">twitter</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/meggsaladcom/108955342474383?ref=search" target="_blank">facebook</a></div>
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Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-45605233148701216532013-09-30T08:51:00.000-07:002013-09-30T08:51:56.257-07:00Monday already?<div style="text-align: center;">
Today, a video blog. </div>
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Yes, this is me with no make-up in the morning. </div>
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What can I say... I trust my audience. </div>
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The "I Did It" List</div>
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photographed and wrote two articles for Houzz.com</div>
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painted in my studio in preparation for my show in November (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/594818440541477/?ref=br_tf" target="_blank">you're invited</a>)</div>
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went on two dates with my husband</div>
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bandaged a scraped elbow and then removed bandage without making my son cry</div>
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drank mimosas on Friday morning because I wanted to</div>
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spent lots of time writing for my own private projects</div>
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cleaned my house before a house cleaner came to clean (you know you do that too)</div>
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went on a grocery store tour with a food coach (more about this later)</div>
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cleaned all of the dirty clothes in the house</div>
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watched three episodes of "Call the Midwife" (my new favorite)</div>
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Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-27842785612340793332013-09-27T05:47:00.002-07:002013-09-27T05:47:40.205-07:00Detox SoupThis recipe comes via a friend who has been doing a lot of clean eating lately. It is delicious! So I'm sharing it with you. Go forth, make soup and be healthy!<br />
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<br />Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-51850327327027663912013-09-23T06:27:00.001-07:002013-09-23T06:55:11.757-07:00Secret WorldsEnvy. It's a strange emotion. The kicker is that the envy we feel is usually based on a story / lie we tell ourselves about the person or object we envy. It's so easy to look at another woman and think, "she has got it all together and she's adorable to boot." This is never true. She may be adorable, but she does not have it all together.<br />
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Unfortunately, the internet seems to be a breeding ground for this kind of emotion. Facebook is definitely one of the largest envy playing fields. But blogs are also a kind of envy-making machine. (I just read a great post about this by my friend Hilary - click <a href="http://ourstylestories.com/2013/09/17/perfectly-imperfect-thoughts-on-what-i-dont-want-to-do/" target="_blank">HERE</a> to read it.) I've been on both ends of this - feeling envious of the lives and homes of my fellow bloggers and also receiving emails from readers who have a singular view of my supposed "togetherness". But as I said before, none of these things are true.<br />
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While I was away this past week at an art and writing retreat, I came upon the quote below by Neil Gaimen. I immediately wrote it in my journal. (I think this is the first time I've ever shown anyone my journal!) Anyway, I think this is important... if we assume the "self" someone chooses to share on the internet is the whole store, then we are robbing ourselves of a deeper truth - "Everybody has a secret world inside of them." Every single person. And that secret world is far more faceted, unorthodox, quirky, astonishing and beautiful than anything that can be conveyed on Facebook. Don't sell your friends short and please, whatever you do, give yourself the credit you deserve. You are a walking, talking reflection of the earth's multitudinous gifts.<br />
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My "I Did It" lists, which I post every Monday, are a tool for me to look back and take stock of my week. Sometimes they are chocked full of amazing moments and sometimes they look like THIS. They remind me of a saying my Grandpa John used to recite: "Life is like a ketchup bottle, first comes none and then a lottle."<br />
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<b>The "I Did It" List</b></div>
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worked out on Wednesday (so sore)</div>
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signed up for the <a href="http://www.positivelyfitlakehighlands.blogspot.com/p/tabata-bootcamp.html" target="_blank">Tabata Bootcamp</a> series at Positively Fit Lake Highlands</div>
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attended the <a href="http://www.squamartworkshops.com/" target="_blank">Squam Art Workshops</a> in New Hampshire</div>
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went on two dates with my husband</div>
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knitted a cowl scarf</div>
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went to the theater and saw "A Raisin in the Sun"</div>
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did two photo shoots for Houzz.com</div>
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finalized the date and location for my <a href="http://sarahgreenman.tumblr.com/post/61502280305" target="_blank">solo art show</a></div>
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constructed a compost bin</div>
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hosted a baby shower</div>
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...and finally something secret that I can't share with you yet - but soon! </div>
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Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-31993548233403522712013-09-10T09:10:00.000-07:002013-09-10T09:10:32.770-07:00Wine DiversionsMy last post detailed my eating plan for the fall - basically, juice in the mornings and afternoons and then have a raw meal in the evenings. Already - only five days in - I've diverted. And this, my friends, is what they call being human.<br />
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I have still been juicing in the mornings and keeping my intake low in the early part of the day, but my evenings have included cooked meals and even a little wine. After sugar, wine is one of my favorite things to partake in. But the bottom line is that 1) I'm still on track and 2) I'm living in the moment - both healthy things. As my friend Jessica is always reminding me, "Whatever eating and exercise plan you adopt, it MUST be sustainable to you. We cannot pretend that we don't live in the world."<br />
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This week, I'm off for five days to New Hampshire. I'll be attending the <a href="http://www.squamartworkshops.com/" target="_blank">Squam Art Workshops</a> on Squam Lake with my mama! I'm so thrilled for the time away. I'll of course be checking back in when I return.<br />
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<b><u>The "I Did It" List</u></b></div>
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I drank lots of green juice</div>
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I drank lots of water</div>
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I stayed away from sugar - except for a sip of Sangria at a party, but I felt bad and ditched it</div>
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I met two writing deadlines </div>
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My home art studio was featured on Houzz (click <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16101965/list/Creative-Spaces--Once-a-Garage--Now-an-Art-Studio-and-Office" target="_blank">HERE</a> to see it)</div>
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I went on a wonderful date with my husband and mother-in-law</div>
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I hosted a gathering of fabulous women</div>
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I paid my mortgage and my car payment</div>
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<br />Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-55764552575864445452013-09-05T09:45:00.000-07:002013-09-05T10:42:33.479-07:00Refining my Eating Plan for FallI've been drinking green juice almost exclusively for 10 days. In that time I've successfully realigned my nutritional intake and dropped 11 pounds. It's so difficult for me (and for most people it seems) to leave refined sugar and preservatives behind and consume only fresh vegetable and fruit juices. It takes planning time and a little money for fresh produce and a juicer. It takes social strategy to avoid junk foods and pre-packaged food-like products. It takes a supportive family environment. It takes fortitude to press through those first difficult days of detoxification. But for me, it is totally worth it. And the results speak for themselves. I know that sounds kind of cocky, but the truth is that I feel great!<br />
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Today's juicing ingredients:</div>
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Moving forward, I'll continue juicing in the mornings and afternoons. The only change I'll be making is that I'll have a raw meal in the evenings. This can be <a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/2012/02/raw-dressings.html" target="_blank">salad</a> and <a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/2012/06/raw-sweet-corn-red-pepper-chowder.html" target="_blank">raw soup</a>, or any of the yummy dishes from my <a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/p/raw-recipes.html" target="_blank">raw recipes section</a> on the blog.<br />
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When I'm in the process of loosing weight and training for an athletic event as I am now, my eating plans are always very fluid. Of course I have my rules: 1) No refined sugar, 2) No processed meat, and 3) No simple carbohydrates. But beyond those rules I can eat a wide range of things as long as they are whole foods - meaning they are as close to their natural state as possible.<br />
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So this week, I'll begin adding evening meals back into my juicing routine. Fasting on only green juice for the past 10 days did it's job and I'm confident that I'll stay on track as I reintroduce solid food to my system! If, as the fall progresses, I need to modify my eating plan, I will. Thanks all for your supportive comments in these past two weeks. I love to hear from you!<br />
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<br />Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-30161140941364483392013-09-03T06:05:00.003-07:002013-09-03T06:05:37.588-07:00One Week of Juicing!<div style="text-align: center;">
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I've come to the end of a week of juicing and I don't want to stop.</div>
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I think this could be the beginning of something really wonderful. </div>
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So... another slightly out of sync video for you!</div>
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<br />Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-67553405302299206042013-09-02T07:09:00.000-07:002013-09-02T13:31:14.539-07:00It Makes Me HappyHappy Labor Day! It's been a big week, filled with sending my children off to school for the first time, hosting a second-hand sale at my house and of course juicing! The great thing about juicing is that I'm not in the kitchen for half of the day cooking and prepping food. Instead, I can do more of what makes me happy like reading, blogging, walking, playing with my kids, painting and thinking.<br />
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Here's one of the things that my new found time has allowed me to contemplate. "Do More of What Makes You Happy". To follow that creed you have to ask yourself a deep question, "What makes you happy?" I used to think that eating made me happy. I was so sure of this, that food was always my first stop when I wanted to create some happiness. But simply eating didn't make me happy - all it did was make me feel better... for a moment.<br />
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All the things listed above make me happy because they are deeply enriching activities. Eating just for eating's sake is not enriching or nourishing. It's a bad habit and it does not create happiness. But I do love good, beautifully prepared and well-paired food. I love flavor and texture. I love the social aspects of sharing good food. All of this is what really makes me happy - not eating just to fill the void.<br />
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To do more of what makes me happy, means that I have to be mindful of what makes me happy. And it's extremely important that I not confuse what makes me happy with what masks the feelings of unhappiness. That is ultimately the difference between what is a healthy choice and an unhealthy choice. And it can be applied to most everything in life - relationships, food, sex, drugs, work... all of it.<br />
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<b><u>The "I Did It" List</u></b></div>
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successful juice fast for six days</div>
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sent my children off to school without crying in front of them</div>
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met an article deadline at Houzz.com</div>
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hosted a home goods sale in my house and made some money</div>
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did a photo shoot for a family of four</div>
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took care of my children</div>
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made food for my family even when I wasn't eating any of it</div>
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made my bed almost everyday (except Friday)</div>
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Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-90812584450256692062013-09-01T17:51:00.000-07:002013-09-01T17:55:06.432-07:00The Ups and Downs of Juice FastingI've been on a green juice cleanse for the past six days. Three days in, I started my menstrual cycle (yippie!) and decided to throw in a few cups of Miso broth thrown in for flavor, protein and comfort. But otherwise, I'm drinking a diet of green juice.<br />
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<b>Why a juice fast?</b><br />
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I love juicing for lots of reasons, but the biggest by far is that I am able to cut caffeine and refined sugar out of my diet in one fell swoop. I'm a cold turkey kind of girl and a juice cleanse is a great way for me to quit sugar. I'm such an addict that if I allow myself little amounts, trying to slowly wean myself off of sugar, I'll start sneaking it in here and there and pretend I didn't eat it.<br />
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In my teens, I lived part-time in a house where snack food was always available. There was never a moment when you couldn't pop open a can of Pepsi, grab a bag of something salty and take it back to your room. In our home, it wasn't considered odd to find an empty half gallon ice cream container sitting on the floor next to a bed. Now in my adulthood, if I allow a little, I'll eat a lot. Sugar is my downfall. That's just how I'm built.<br />
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<b>Don't you feel bad when you eliminate solid food?</b><br />
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The first few days of a juice fast are always the hardest, even tortuous, for some people. If you're coming off of heavy caffeine and sugar consumption, as I was, you'll probably experience lethargy and head aches. I certainly felt my share of "ick" during the first few days. But now that I'm on day six of my fast, my body is adjusting to the juice.<br />
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<b>How does it benefit you?</b><br />
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Personally, I get a lot out of juicing. Physically, I feel lighter and more in tune with the needs of my body. Juicing helps me to re-train my brain not to expect huge dumps of food into my belly every three or four hours. Juicing allows my body to take it easy and heal from all the damage that sugar and excess food has caused. My skin, gums and hair are healthier. I feel more radiant and present.<br />
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Emotional benefits come as well. Once I'm through the first few difficult days I begin to think more clearly and engage in my life in a deeper way. I'm able to assess my real feelings without the added enhancement of sugar highs and lows.<br />
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<b>What's the hardest part of juicing?</b><br />
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So many of my life patterns are built around planning, acquiring, preparing, consuming and cleaning up after food. All of my social behaviors are centered around food and all of my free time is spent thinking about food. When I choose to juice fast, I have to be very mindful about my existing patterns. The most difficult part is remaining social and preparing meals for my husband and two sons, all of whom are still eating solids. It's a tall order. Luckily, I have a <a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/2012/05/guest-post-how-can-you-best-support.html" target="_blank">VERY supportive partner</a> who makes space for these juice fasts and even joins me on occasion.<br />
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All in all, I feel that juicing is a great fit for my personality and my needs. I've got weight to lose and I need to end some bad habits NOW. And juicing is a fabulous way for me to put on the brakes and get real about my eating habits.<br />
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As always, I welcome your comments, insights and questions in the "comments" section below!<br />
<br />Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-864475484278531832013-08-30T04:27:00.000-07:002013-08-30T04:27:39.609-07:00Fall Sponsorships Available<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-10457242758008480852013-08-29T06:54:00.003-07:002013-08-29T08:16:58.624-07:00Drink Your Greens - Juice Fast Day 3I'm on day three of a juice fast. I've had lots of questions about my plan and what program I'm following. The short answer is I have a plan, but there is no program. When I juice fast I allow my body and brain dictate the amount of juice I need. I drink as much of it as I need to stay energized and satiated.<br />
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What do I drink? I drink <a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/2011/08/raw-for-morning.html" target="_blank">green juice</a> all day long and allow myself a <a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-favorite-juice-recipes.html" target="_blank">special treat juice</a> in the afternoon, which is usually something a little sweet and zingy. I try to make sure that I have at least 75 percent of my juice comprised of vegetables and greens. I start my morning with a hot water concoction and end my day with herbal tea of some sort. And if I'm feeling really low energy or if I'm battling something like my period or a cold or I know I'm going to be doing a long run, I'll have a mug of Miso broth. But I usually just stick to juice and tea.<br />
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Another thing I wanted to note - I change up the contents of my green juice from day to day. I always included a head of romaine, a lemon, a little ginger and a couple apples. Then I throw in any number of the following: cucumber, celery, spinach, kale, green cabbage, zucchini, wheatgrass, and parsley.<br />
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<b><u>The breakdown:</u></b></div>
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<b>Morning:</b></div>
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hot water with lemon and ginger</div>
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<b>All day:</b></div>
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<a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/2011/08/raw-for-morning.html" target="_blank">green juice</a></div>
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<b>Afternoon:</b></div>
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<a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-favorite-juice-recipes.html" target="_blank">specialty juice</a></div>
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<b>All day:</b></div>
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green juice</div>
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<b>Evening:</b></div>
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herbal or green tea</div>
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Now that I'm over the hump of day two, which is notoriously icky, I'm feeling fresh and more alert. Yesterday, I just wanted to lie down and take a nap. I'm three pounds down, which is encouraging. I'm thinking of extending my 7-day fast to 10 days! We'll see how I feel a few days from now.<br />
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Drink Your Greens!</div>
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Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-24368291834176494652013-08-28T04:55:00.001-07:002013-08-28T06:23:03.371-07:00Juice Fast Day 2 - Early & Often<div style="text-align: center;">
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Day two on a juice fast is always the pits, but it's only a day (or two) and then you're back at it. Why does this happen and what can you do about it? You're coming off of sugar and caffeine and you need more juice! Plain and simple. </div>
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Drink more juice.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDuNwrUq-401u0rfffI3UcoK1_QrsVWqqNRunVlLUObrqqihWNnPv41158CAHueSUvqBQFSqlSpdebCwqCT9VKyHQkUXFTsdg9ClNZk86TMP6mfXGv8TiycpGZg4BKesfa_7f27ZywX_7/s1600/cfe35c4a7263f35d817b63d7f34e9408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDuNwrUq-401u0rfffI3UcoK1_QrsVWqqNRunVlLUObrqqihWNnPv41158CAHueSUvqBQFSqlSpdebCwqCT9VKyHQkUXFTsdg9ClNZk86TMP6mfXGv8TiycpGZg4BKesfa_7f27ZywX_7/s640/cfe35c4a7263f35d817b63d7f34e9408.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jonandbecki.com/?p=278&preview=true" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-22831913368042556992013-08-27T05:10:00.000-07:002013-08-27T10:36:12.625-07:00Juice Fast Day 1<div style="text-align: center;">
Here we go! Day one of a 7-day juice fast!</div>
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On the menu? <a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/2011/08/raw-for-morning.html" target="_blank">Green juice</a> of course... </div>
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Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-40305621147089172142013-08-26T07:17:00.001-07:002013-08-26T07:17:31.083-07:00JumpToday was the first day of kindergarten for my oldest son and the first day of preschool for my youngest. It's a huge leap of faith sending your little ones out into the world, especially for my youngest who because of his stroke and cerebral palsy condition cannot walk or talk. There will be no conversations at the dinner table about what he did at school today. I will be a vigilant mother, but ultimately I'll have to trust that school went well and that he is enjoying himself and learning new ways of being in the world.<br />
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Also tomorrow, I begin a 7-day juice fast. I'm saying goodbye to solid food in exchange for a clean, green, power-packed diet of green juice. Everything today seems to be a big leap. A free falling life jump.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuokGmT0aHPI6uxj6C33IKi_IzPmFuhkKzkzOKPSj65t8YFdfto8GPV11mhSPRuVOQTIBOAeL0x6xacGsTkmcItve6SlphiFe1q5cRDhaLUyUC425mQr9U7csiSU6Ipyi-LO403BJialmq/s1600/76aa348d9ac27af19a90130cdf5dae20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuokGmT0aHPI6uxj6C33IKi_IzPmFuhkKzkzOKPSj65t8YFdfto8GPV11mhSPRuVOQTIBOAeL0x6xacGsTkmcItve6SlphiFe1q5cRDhaLUyUC425mQr9U7csiSU6Ipyi-LO403BJialmq/s1600/76aa348d9ac27af19a90130cdf5dae20.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><u>The "I Did It" List</u></b></div>
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sent my babies to school for the first time ever</div>
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ate fewer calories and the calories I did eat were high quality</div>
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cut out meat for the past three days</div>
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drank less coffee and replaced it with water</div>
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met a writing deadline for Houzz</div>
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stepped on a scale for the first time since August 6th only to find that I've lost 5 pounds</div>
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<br />Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-35472754898642853872013-08-24T04:56:00.002-07:002013-08-24T07:17:37.792-07:003-Day Count Down to my Juice FastIn the three days leading up to a juice fast I like to prepare my body and brain. I've tried going cold turkey before. Yes, I'm that stupid lady who tried In n' Out Burger the night before and then strait to liquids the following day. It doesn't work. <a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-first-10-days.html" target="_blank">Take it from me</a>.<br />
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This time I'm making some different choices and I thought I'd share what I'm doing to dial down my complex solid food intake before going all liquid. Here's what my Saturday, Sunday and Monday will look like:<br />
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<b><u>3-Day Count Down</u></b></div>
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<b>Saturday:</b> Eliminate meat, alcohol and dairy. (I can eat anything else.)<br />
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<b>Sunday:</b> White flour and white sugar join the elimination list. (I can eat anything else.)<br />
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<b>Monday:</b> Grains, nuts and carbs join the elimination list, which means only veggies and fruit for the last day. But I can eat as much of it as I like.<br />
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<b><u>Then What?</u></b></div>
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Then, I start a 7-day juice fast on Tuesday. I'll mostly be drinking green juice throughout the day. I usually <a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-favorite-juice-recipes.html" target="_blank">change up the menu</a> for my afternoon juice to something else, but then return to the green juice in the evening. I drink as much green juice as I want during the day. At night, sometimes I treat myself to a warm mug of plain green tea. And that is it!<br />
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Here's a meatless meal to kick off my countdown:</div>
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<b>Sweet Potato, Onion and Kale Tacos:</b> This is one of my favorite cooked meals and its perfect for day one of my 3-day count down. I start with a hearty vegetable / starch as a base such as chopped sweet potato (my favorite), portobello mushrooms, brown rice or quinoa. I sauté the veggies in a little olive oil until semi-soft. Then I toss them in a tortilla and serve. I like to add my favorite salsa for a little kick. So good!<br />
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I threw in some quinoa at the last minute to stretch it out and feed my husband. </div>
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The count down begins!</div>
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Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-5994552051446685652013-08-23T05:58:00.000-07:002013-08-23T06:08:24.640-07:00The Next 6 MonthsSix months from today, I will be running my first half marathon. Its a tall order, but I know I can do it. So what will transpire between today and February 23rd? What's the plan? There's nothing new in the plan and there never is. A plan to get healthy and lose excess weight is always the same. <b><a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/2011/06/so-whats-plan.html" target="_blank">Eat less crap and get some exercise</a>.</b> There's actually real comfort in that, don't you think? There are a million diet books out there... countless weight loss theories and diet books. And they all manage to rearrange "eat less crap and exercise" into a 280 page best seller. So that's my plan. <br />
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You still want a few more details? Sure... I understand. Here's my some specifics: <br />
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1. Work out two to three times a week at Positively Fit Lake Highlands. These workouts will include high intensity weight bearing activity mixed with cardiovascular work. <br />
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2. Limit sugar. Period. No seriously... Sarah, <a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/2011/07/girl-vs-sugar.html" target="_blank">stop eating sugar</a>.<br />
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3. Eat mainly whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains.<br />
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4. In preparation for my 1/2 marathon, I'll run at least once a week - starting with shorter distances 2-3 miles and work my way up as the months wear on. When the half draws closer, I'll ramp up how many runs I take a week. <br />
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That's it.</div>
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To kick off my new challenge, I'm starting with a 7 day juice fast. If you'll remember from previous posts, I love doing juice fasts. I don't know about all the cleansing claims - I'm not a doctor or a nutritionist. But I do know that I feel GREAT when I fast, my skin looks amazing, I have more energy and I lose weight. I'm starting on Tuesday, August 27th and write about it here at Smaller Sarah. I have a friend who is going to do the fast with me, so that will be lovely. We can support each other along the way!<br />
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If you'd like to read my past posts about juice fasting, click <a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/search/label/Juice%20Fast" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </div>
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<br />Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-43235861651871781022013-08-19T06:42:00.002-07:002013-08-19T06:42:47.995-07:00Say Yes and Figure It Out LaterIt's a new week and I'm off to bootcamp this morning. My goal this week is to attend a few fitness classes and get out on my own for at least one run. This weekend <a href="http://smaller-sarah.blogspot.com/2013/08/run-sarah-run.html" target="_blank">I registered for my first half marathon</a> (yikes!) and while I'm nervous about running such a long distance, I'm excited about the prospect of training for such an event. What will I do to train? Run, I guess. I haven't even begun looking into training programs, but I'm sure that will come soon enough. The key is to say yes, set the goal and <i>then</i> figure out how you're going to get there.<br />
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<b><u>The "I Did It" List</u></b></div>
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went running this weekend for the first time in over two months</div>
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attended a killer work out at Positively Fit Lake Highlands</div>
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registered for my first half marathon (Feb. 23rd)</div>
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had a date with my husband</div>
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didn't finish my pancake breakfast on Sunday because I was full</div>
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photographed two homes for Houzz.com</div>
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weeded my front yard (long overdue)</div>
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showered at a friend's house because our hot water heater is on the fritz</div>
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<br />Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-62503090273222552482013-08-17T10:15:00.002-07:002013-08-23T05:58:37.778-07:00Run Sarah RunIt was 69 degrees this morning in Dallas - SIXTY NINE DEGREES! My family and I took full advantage of the unusual cool weather and visited White Rock Lake for a spin on the walking trail. My five-year-old brought his bike and I laced up my running shoes.<br />
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I haven't been running since mid-June and am horribly out of practice. Much to my surprise and pleasure, I was able to keep up with my kid and run with ease for about a mile. I'm looking forward to getting back into running shape. And to make a pledge of my seriousness, I am going to run a half marathon in February. What? Yes. I am running my first ever <a href="http://cowtownmarathon.org/" target="_blank">half marathon in Fort Worth</a> on February 23rd! </div>
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I want to tell you a little story. When I started my Smaller Sarah year in June of 2011, two dear Dallas-based friends followed along and cheered my efforts. That spring both of these women, inspired by my weight loss and healthy goals, began running. They both are now race-hounds, attending 5 and 15Ks all over - one of them has already run two half marathons. Then when life got too busy this spring, I fell off the wagon, stopped eating right and discontinued my work-outs. My two darling friends and I have now switched positions. It is <i><b>they</b></i> who are inspiring <i><b>me</b></i> to start running again. They've invited me to join them for a half marathon in February, so I'm going to do it! </div>
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Thank you Alison and Meighan! </div>
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Here is a photo of me and my little cyclist pace-setter at White Rock Lake today:</div>
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Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342822749595926464.post-85964725669621766412013-08-14T07:48:00.003-07:002013-08-14T10:00:36.246-07:00Building the NewToday, after more than three months without real continuous exercise, I returned to class at <a href="http://www.positivelyfitlakehighlands.blogspot.com/p/home.html" target="_blank">Positively Fit Lake Highlands</a>. Dragging myself out of bed was tough, but rummaging through my closet for workout clothes that still fit was the hardest and most humiliating part of the process. I was feeling defeated and embarrassed because I've allowed so much weight to creep back over the past season. I was feeling angry at having to start over. I was feeling stupid for having thrown away all of my "fat" jeans. I was feeling resentful of my children for requiring so much of my time that my own needs have slipped into seventh or eighth place in the family line-up. I was feeling sorry and exasperated and weak and all of the things that come with my special form of self-loathing.<br />
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Stop. Breathe. Stop fighting old thoughts. It's time to rebuild.</div>
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Yes, class was difficult. I was winded and out of sorts. But I was happy to be with Mallory (friend and class instructor), working out and talking about strength training, energy stores, family vacations, musical theater and open-hearted children. She said, "You're not beginning again, you are continuing." She's right. I've had a few months off. But in the course of what I hope is a long life, what's a few months? It's time to press on. I'm not a beginner anymore, I'm a continuer.<br />
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<br />Sarah Greenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11996115971325480478noreply@blogger.com2