It Makes Me Happy

Happy 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.

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.

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.

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.

The "I Did It" List

successful juice fast for six days

sent my children off to school without crying in front of them

met an article deadline at Houzz.com

hosted a home goods sale in my house and made some money

did a photo shoot for a family of four

took care of my children

made food for my family even when I wasn't eating any of it

made my bed almost everyday (except Friday)

Building the New

Today, after more than three months without real continuous exercise, I returned to class at Positively Fit Lake Highlands. 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.

Stop.   Breathe.   Stop fighting old thoughts.   It's time to rebuild.

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.

Kayaking Up Stream

I have just returned from a three day weekend in Las Vegas where I was teaching an art and writing workshop at Selah - an art salon in the Fremont district. I had a marvelous time with the six participants who joined the class and loved working with the women who own and operate Selah. If you're ever in the Las Vegas area looking for something creative and uplifting, please check out their workshop calendar!  Here are some photos from our class, where everyone created a self portrait:

This is my last full week in Utah before heading home to Dallas! The time has flown. I've been thrilled with the quiet, the open space and the time to be with my little family. It's such a boon to run away every summer, peel off the daily appointments, medical meetings and hassles and live each day for itself.

After my last post, where I was feeling defeated and generally lost at sea, I received a few poignant emails from friends and readers. One in particular offered a beautiful message. I don't think she'll mind if I post it here, because it will benefit you just as much as it benefited me.

"I'm thinking more about the general struggle of it all (weight loss, health, etc). Here's what I think: its like swimming upstream. You can do it for a while, but it is exhausting and overwhelming and never ending. And eventually you tire and get pushed back downstream. But I think there is another way. When I was a kid my dad taught me how to cross a river in a kayak. You don't paddle straight there, you aim your boat in a diagonal so that the current helps propel you across. I'm sure there's a term for it. This is sticking in my head as a good metaphor for what I am trying to do."

I love this idea of allowing the river to help propel you in the direction of your goal rather than risking a full capsize by steering directly in the direction of you goal. My life right now is such that I cannot give 100 percent of my attention to weight loss. This, however, doesn't mean that I can't make healthy choices as I move towards my goal.

I am juicing. I am walking. I am resting well. I am creating art. I am writing. I am working. I am mothering my children. I am cooking at home. I am traveling. And I am following three or four other dreams as well. Through all of this, my weight is holding steady. I am going to let the river help propel me forward. Like my brilliant friend wrote above - "there is another way" than steadfast focus on weight loss.

The "I Did It" List

taught an art and writing workshop 

painted a self portrait

sold some artwork

visited with dear friends who I haven't seen in years

went on a date with my mother and shared a bottle of wine

drank green juice most mornings

cut down on my coffee intake

ate some lovely fresh food

drank lots of water

took a long walk

took my son to swim lessons

had a casting meeting with an artistic director of a theater

answered some important emails

got a raise with one of my freelance writing jobs

helped someone else's baby fall asleep

hugged a bunch of people

Weigh In - Week 54

It's been a crazy wonderful week. I've had a lot of personal victories that seem, at first, to have nothing to do with my Smaller Sarah journey. But the more I contemplate this past year and the events leading up to this week, the more I can see the connection to my Smaller Sarah choices. So here is my new-to-me-but-I-already-knew-it, age-old, the-Buddhists-have-been-telling-us-for-eons discovery: everything you do affects everything you do. Once I decided to treat my body better, eat healthier food and get some exercise, other avenues of creativity and authentic living opened their doors to me.

My time in Utah is coming to a close. I travel back home to Dallas this weekend for the Kenna Cup, a golf tournament benefiting my son, Charlie. My husband's annual theater gig in Cedar City is always such fun, but I'm ready to return to the comforts of my home. One of the things I did NOT bring with me on this trip was a scale. I've been taking undercover reconnaissance missions to the bath isle at Walmart to weigh myself on their collection of scales. This involves taking the scale out of the box without damaging the packaging, placing it on the floor and standing on it before an employee asks, "Can I help you" - the subtext being, "What the hell are you doing?"

I'm still holding steady with a 75 pound loss. I used to get bummed out when my weight loss would stall or even out. I'd watch the weeks tick by without a loss and think, "What am I doing wrong?" But not any more. I've become more comfortable with the ups and downs of weight loss. The body is a living breathing organism affected by thousands of influences. Some weeks I lose and some weeks I don't.  As long as I'm making authentic choices that are in line with my needs, then its all good. Besides, I'll be back to my boot camp routine starting June 25th and reunited with my juicer on the 22nd!

Pounds lost this week: 0 

Pounds lost overall: 75

The "I Did It" List

ran 2 miles on Thursday

attended a yoga class on Wednesday night

did four sets of push-ups and sit-ups while watching cartoons with my son

made some lovely raw soups, smoothies and salads

submitted my first paid article to Houzz.com as a freelance contributor

enjoyed seeing my own home showcased on Houzz.com

received multiple inquires from buyers interested in owning prints of my art work

surprised myself by taking off in a dead sprint after a frisbee gone astray without getting winded

P.S.  Mallory at Positively Fit Lake Highlands has made a fantastic offer to Smaller Sarah fans on Facebook. Kick start your fitness plan with two free classes in the month of July! This offer is for new clients. How do you redeem your two free classes? Become a fan of PFLH on Facebook by clicking "like"in the upper right hand corner.  Then send PFLH a message saying "Hi, I'm from Smaller Sarah and blah blah blah..."  So if you're not already a Smaller Sarah fan on Facebook, click HERE.  Then become a fan of Positively Fit Lake Highlands by clicking HERE and get your two free classes!

Gratitude

To all of you who have commented, emailed, texted, Facebooked and otherwise contacted me with messages of congratulations and support, Thank you! I am overwhelmed by the response from my last post and more motivated than ever to continue my work here at Smaller Sarah.

As you know, I spent the past four days celebrating the end of my Smaller Sarah year in Zion National Park. It was a fantastic journey and a much needed mental respite. I was able to recharge and make some plans for the second half of 2012, which I will be sharing with you shortly.  Until then, I wanted to share some of my Zion journey with you with this little video I made. I hope you enjoy it!

Thank you again for all your support this year.

I could not have done it without you!

The Year Is Over!

Moment of truth, dear readers! A year ago today, I set a goal to lose 75 pounds in 12 months. And I'm over-the-moon, pee-my-pants excited to announce that I did it! This has been one of the most difficult, thrilling years of my life. This journey has changed everything about my life that needed changing and emphasized all the wonderful things in my life worth celebrating. Its been a spectacular ride.

Okay - so how about some before and after photos just for fun?

A little back story, for the new readers...

In August 2009, 20 months after the birth of my first child, I tipped the scales at 300 pounds. I was happy and satisfied with most everything in my life except my weight. But I was a busy mom with a toddler. I thought I lacked the time and the will power to get healthy.

 Fast forward to to June 2011...

 My body had been through another pregnancy and I was not only caring for my three-year-old, but my 10 month old baby who was dealing with a host of medical issues. I had lost a few pounds, but it wasn't enough. I was feeling lethargic and less than present with my husband and children. I was experiencing low grade head aches, breathlessness, huge energy dips throughout the day and a general malaise of ick. On June 1, after reading an inspiring weight loss blog and eating an overly large breakfast, I decided that I was done being unhealthy - missing out on the beautiful life I had created for myself. I decided to change my ways. And that's just what I did.

So what happens when a 6 foot woman loses 75 pounds?
Here are the stats:

                   June 1, 2011                                                       June 1, 2012

                   288 lbs.                                                               213 lbs.
                   Size 24/26                                                           Size 14/16

                   Waist 48 inches                                                   Waist 36 inches

                   Body Mass Index 39.1                                        BMI 29.2

                   Body Fat Percentage 34.31%                              BFP 25.39%

And the other big loser in all of this is my husband, Jack. Jack has adopted many of my menu changes by virtue of the fact that I'm the one who prepares meals in our household. He did not do anything else except eat less sugar and more veggies. He dropped 30 pounds and has maintained that loss for four months.  Here is a shot of us from June 2011 and another from last night. Together, we've dropped a total of 105 pounds.

Thank you to all of you who have supported me along the way. I am forever grateful. I've had so much fun this year, that I'm going to continue blogging. Next week I'll weigh in as usual and announce my new goal. But this weekend, I'm going to take some time to celebrate the close of my Smaller Sarah year and my 75 pound loss. Thanks again, everyone!

Looking in the mirror while naked?

This post is part of a reader Q&A.  I'm more than happy to answer your questions about my weight loss process (or anything).  My email button is on the sidebar.  Just please remember that I am not a doctor, dietitian or a nutritionist.  These answers are absolutely specific to me and my personal journey.


Question: Of course the spiritual, mental, and emotional payoffs must be amazing, but I want to know what, when you look in the mirror now with no clothes on, makes you grin from ear to ear?

This is a really sweet question and I'm definitely in favor of celebrating the boons of my hard work. Yes, when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror naked, I'm very happy to see that I am smaller and more toned. It's thrilling to see my shape change so drastically. But that's where it ends. Like many women, I have a hard time looking at myself in the mirror while naked. The first look is always fine. But upon closer inspection, I start noticing the extensive map of stretch marks on my stomach and thighs. My breasts, which have nursed two children, look like dishtowels with buttons. My hips, which have birthed two babies, are genetically predisposed to look like tater-tot casseroles. But honestly none of this really brings me down. Why? Because most people never see me naked, including me. My kids see me naked once in a blue moon, and they don't care what I look like. Jack sees me naked, but he generally doesn't care because he loves me unconditionally and gets to have sex with me.

The thing that makes me "smile from ear to ear" is how I look clothed! I love to see my workout clothing fit nicely. I love to wear a pair of jeans that fit well and aren't composed entirely of spandex. I love going to a clothing store, knowing that whatever I try on is probably going to fit. Its such fun to expand my closet to include tailored blouses, skirts and even a pair of heels. Most plus sized women are trapped by the fashion industry. There is really very little available to them, much less something stylish and inexpensive. Until now, I hated walking into a clothing store. Now, I look forward to it!

For Christmas, my husband gave me a turquoise, long-sleeved running shirt. Even though it didn't quite fit at first, I loved it. And as the months pass, it fits better and better. It's such fun to grow out of my old wardrobe and into an entirely new one. Here I am in my running shirt - the first photo taken in February and the other taken this morning after my run.

And just for fun, here's my four-year-old giving me snuggles after my run!

Planning a Retreat to Zion

I am one month away from finishing my Smaller Sarah year.  I've been thinking a lot about honoring the one year anniversary with a mini-retreat.  On June 1st, I will be in Cedar City, Utah where my husband is working for part of the summer.  If you recall, I began Smaller Sarah while I was there last year!  I read somewhere that the best place to start a new habit was while traveling or away from home.  

So I've decided to finish up my year with a retreat in Zion National Park.  The park is very close to Cedar City and my mother-in-law has lovingly agreed to kid-wrangle while I'm gone.  I've secured a place to stay for three nights and will fill my days with camping, hiking, green food, journaling and other retreat-like activity.  I haven't had any real time to myself in years and I am looking forward to this retreat more than I can say.  Every woman needs a little vision quest every once in a while, don't you think?

So now, I'm compiling ideas for my retreat to Zion.  Guided journal questions, massage studios in Springdale (the town at the base of Zion), outdoor yoga classes, trail rides, etc.  If you have any thoughts or ideas about how YOU would spend four days in Zion - comment below and let me know!  I'm all ears. 

Duh - Muscle Weighs More Than Fat

Good Lord, I am sore today.  Warrior Dash is catching up with me.  All of my connective tissue and joints are screaming.  Oye.  I'll be doing a little tub soak tonight and begging my husband to rub my poor bruised achy body. 

So to make my self feel better, I thought I'd look at some before and after photos from just the past two months.  From February 16 to March 3, I lost 11 pounds because of a 10 day juice fast and exercise.  And from March 3 to April 22 after some big losses and gains, I lost another 3 pounds overall.  I've been "stuck" for the past couple of weeks with no real weight loss.  However, I've lost a dress size (or two depending on the clothing) and have never felt fitter.  Take a look at the photos:

The adage that muscle weighs more than fat is true and I'm proof!

There is only a 3 lb. difference between the two shots on the right, but it looks like more.

And just for fun, here is my current before and after 

from Day One of the Smaller Sarah journey to now.

Can you believe there are only 37 days until the end of my Smaller Sarah year?

I'm going to make this last month count BIG TIME!

Size 16

Big milestone today.  I bought a pair of cropped jeans for the warmer months ahead.  Last year at this time I bought a similar pair in a size 24.  Today, I bought a size 16.  I haven't worn a size 16 since I was 18 years old.  Even at my thinnest in college, I wore an 18.  And since I promised myself that I wouldn't buy a lot of new "in-between" clothing, I went to a local consignment store for these new jeans.  The price?  Fourteen dollars.  14 bucks for a size 16.  Pretty good deal if you ask me.

Weigh In - Week 43

I'm not going to lie - while this week has been lovely in so many ways, it has also been super stressful.  Why?  My husband is out of town again.  He's been gone all week and won't be home for another week or so.  I'm going a little crazy without him. However, I'm proud of myself because with all of the stuff on my plate right now, I still managed to attend two boot camp classes and prepare some healthy meals.

On Tuesday, I had an hour alone with my 20 month old, so I did a little window shopping.  The Gap was having a sale.  I usually don't shop there because they don't have plus sizes and nothing ever fits.  But I found two tee shirts I really liked.  They were 40 percent off of their sale price - so I bought them, one large and one extra-large, off the rack without trying them on.  This is something that I have not done since I was 19 years old: see something I like, feel confident that it will fit and buy it without trying it on.  The shirts are super cute and fit like a glove.  What a feeling!

For the coming week, I've undertaken a push-up challenge set forth by my boot camp instructor.  My plan is to do 1000 push ups in one week.  As of this evening, I've already done 250.  I'll probably regret it tomorrow when I can't lift my baby into his highchair.  But so far, I'm feeling good.

Pounds lost this week: 0

Total pounds lost: 65

The "I Did It" List

2 boot camp classes

prepared and ate healthy meals

made some raw fruit and nut snacks

bought two shirts off the rack at Gap
took a relaxing bath - sure is different experience when your rear fits in the tub

Something has changed.

Yes.  Something has changed.  For a while I wasn't sure, but now I know for certain.  Something has definitely changed.  What is it, you ask?  Well, at the risk of sounding crass... my ass.  You know... my booty.  My caboose.  My milk shake.  Its smaller than it used to be.

Last night I drew a bath - the first in well over a year - and sat in some warm steamy water to rest my bones and relax my mind.  I have one of those terrible, low, standard-sized tubs that starts wider at the spigot and narrows at the back.  It's totally utilitarian and is only useful for foot soaks or bathing children.  It's too small for luxuriating but big enough for drowning.  I usually don't soak in it because frankly, my butt gets stuck.  Seriously.  My side to side rear-end clearance is such that I become literally wedged in the tub.  Well, it used to.

Last night, however, I drew a bath and sat in my tub for the first time since July 30th, 2010.  (Yes, that really is the last time I sat in my tub.  I was pregnant with Charlie and desperate for some relief from that pesky round ligament pain.  I spent 20 minutes just trying to get out and upright.  Another wrung in the long parade of indignities called "pregnancy".)  This time, I sat in the water, enjoyed a hot soak and did NOT get stuck, lodged, jammed or otherwise wedged in the tub.  My bottom fits in my crappy bath tub!  It's time to celebrate, people.

So, here is my thought for the day:

Experience the World

It's Saturday.  The weekend.  A time to rest and relax and enjoy my family.  My plan is to hit the trail at White Rock Lake for a 5K before the weekend is over, but until then, I'll breathe deeply and experience the world.  Here is a video of my son doing just that. 

My next weigh-in is on Monday.  We'll see if my trip to Jack in the Box and a few doughnuts through me off my horse.  Have a great weekend everyone and as always, thank you for being here and supporting my weight-loss journey!

Impossible Things

When I embarked on this journey last June, I wondered if it was even possible.  At times, I was sure my dream of being smaller was, in fact, NOT possible, a wild hair, a shot in the dark that resided just outside the realm of possibility.  My dream was reserved for women with resources and means and time and will power and a magic wand and beauty (or at least what I perceived as "beauty").

Now, seven and a half months into my Smaller Sarah year, everything has changed.  I am seeing real results.  And while these results haven't come easily, it certainly didn't take an act of sorcery to make it happen.  Now, I'm believing all sorts of impossible things.  I wake up in the morning, stretch out, look at my smaller self and think of all the good work I'm going to do that day and the wonderful nourishment I'm going to give my body. Then I vision forward to a time when I can walk into a clothing store and buy something off the rack.  I see myself on an airplane, comfortably seated in coach with room on each side of my hips.  I think of sliding around the back of a dining chair without having to ask my guest to scoot forward.  I dream about running and swimming and diving and dancing and singing and splashing and enjoying the multitude of gifts that come from a healthy body.  The more I engage in a full physical life, the clearer and more expressive I become.   And isn't that the body's ultimate purpose?  Expression?

source

Getting Better All the Time

On my very first day of boot camp (November 6, I think) I was lead through a series of physical assessments.  Every test was like a mini-nightmare of amalgamated junior high PE classes.  We ran the the mile, did push ups, sit-ups, jumped rope, hung from a bar - you get the idea.  Basically, I was thinking, "What in the world am I doing?  I'm a grown, fat, happy woman.  There is no need for all of this macho nonsense.  Just go home, dive into a double pumpkin pie latte frap and forgetaboutit."  Thank God I didn't.  As you know, I returned for more and more and more.

Here were the results of my first assessment back in November

NOVEMBER:

Situp – 17 in a minute
Pushup – 14 (modified on knees) in a minute
Jump Rope – 51 in a minute
Plank – 1:19 modified (we hold this as long as we can, then collapse into a heap of heavy breathing)
Hang time – 6 secs (don't laugh, this shit is hard)
1 mile – 15:10
Waist measurement: 42"
Hip measurement: 53.5 "

Today, I did the same physical assessment that was given two months ago. Drum roll please.... here are the results:

JANUARY:

Situp – 23 in a minute
Pushup – 27 (4 military) in a minute
Rope – 87 in a minute
Plank – 28/1:33 total (again, holding the position as long as you can)
Hang – 8 secs
1 mile – 12:10
Waist measurement: 41.5 "
Hip measurement: 52.5 "

I am so pumped about taking 3 minutes off of my mile!  That, for me, is the biggest and most compelling gain so far.  Well, that and taking an inch and a half off my waist.  That's pretty great too!  So today, I'm celebrating.  My body is healthy and my heart is glad.

Weigh In - Week 29

New Year.  New Me.

I hope you all had a safe and happy New Year.  2011 was an enormous year for me and my little family.  Years from now, when I look back at 2011, there will be two dates that come to mind.  The first is August 1st, Charlie's craniofacial surgery - the day I handed my baby over to a team of surgeons who would completely transform Charlie's body and his life.  The second date I'll remember years from now is May 31st, the day I began this blog.  Without any forethought whatsoever, I decided that enough was enough - it was time to get healthy.  I began a journey that would ultimately transform my body and my life.

However, the most unexpected surprise of 2011 was starting boot camp classes.  A friend mentioned Mallory's classes to me and again, without any forethought, I joined up.  I thought I'd go to a class or two just for fun - something to switch up my routine.  I had no idea that Mallory and her classes would change my life for the second time in one year!  I have never felt stronger, more confident or more hopeful about what lies ahead.  And I believe that my recent mental shift is directly related to my classes with Mallory at Positively Fit Lake Highlands.  Boot camp has made me positively fit, positively happy and positively beautiful inside and out.

Today I have a raging ear infection, which has landed me in bed with nausea and some wicked dizzy spells.  So, I missed my boot camp class this morning.  But up until the ear ache, I had a great week.  I attended three days of boot camp, ran a two miles on Tuesday and 3.4 miles on Saturday.  I ate lots of greens and other healthy food as well.  You'd think with a week like this, I'd lose a few pounds.  But to my great surprise, I didn't.  I'm still the same weight as I was last week.  I know that I'm gaining lots of muscle because I can feel it.  I look more toned and my clothes seem a bit baggier this week.  So I guess the old "muscle weighs more than fat" thing is true.  

Pounds lost this week: 0

Total pounds lost: 43

The "I Did It" List

3 days of boot camp

jogged 5K for the first time ever!

bought a pair of real jogging shoes (ASICS)

registered for my 5K in March

committed to run the Warrior Dash in April

the hubby and I rang in the new year with dinner at home and "Roman Holiday"

Six Months / Half Way

Today, I'm half way between the beginning and the end of my one year journey to lose 75 pounds.  I had no idea how important this journey would be to me when I began June.  It seems simple, right?  Eat less, exercise more and loose weight.  In six short months, those three seemingly simple things have changed every aspect of my world.  There are obvious and visible changes, like dropping 40 pounds, a healthier complexion and more energy.  However, the most astonishing change is not an external shift, but rather an internal one.  My mental and emotional state is calm, clear, focused and acutely aware of the possibilities that lie ahead.  So far, the greatest gift from my weight loss journey is a renewed sense of self worth and a re-invigorated joyful spirit.  I am so excited to embark on the second half of this amazing year.

My bras don't fit...

...and I'm so happy!  

I've cinched the hook and eye closures one, two and then three times.  I've pulled the shoulder buckle tighter and tighter.  Now, the cup is starting to bag on top, leaving little scrunch lines under my shirt.  I wore all of these bras for the past four years, while pregnant and then while nursing two babies.  They have always fit and been very comfortable.  But now, 36 pounds lighter, I may require some new under-gear!  I'm so excited.  I haven't been bra shopping in a billion years.  Sure, I've bought a bra here and there, but I always just walk in and say "This is the size I need and this is the style I need."  I don't even try them on.  So, I'm saving my pennies for a few new bras.  Maybe I'll grab some pretty panties to go with them.

Between Clothes

I've lost 30 some odd pounds in the past few months and I'm ecstatic!  My body is definitely changing shape and there is a marked difference in my appearance and attitude.  So, naturally my existing wardrobe is starting to become a little obsolete.  The blouses and sweaters and tops are fine and will work for the next few months, but my pants and skirts all look pretty baggy and even silly now.

I'm at an impasse.  I don't want to invest in clothing to fit my current body shape, because I'm going to keep losing.  My goal is to make my clothing work through the winter and spring so that in the summer, when I've reached the end of my weight loss year I can go shopping for clothes to suit my new shape.

Yesterday I bought a cheap pair of sale jeans from Lane Bryant to take me through the winter.  I'm thinking of altering my winter skirts (an easy project) and sticking with my sale jeans for the cold season.  I've got lots of sun dresses and stuff for spring and they'll fit no matter what size I am.  There is also a plus sized consignment store near my home called "Larger Than Life" that I'll try for some cheap cross over clothes.  For those of you who lost a lot of weight, what did you do for this in between period when it came to your wardrobe? 

Chewing My Nails

I know, I know.  Gross, right?  I've been chewing my nails ever since I can remember.  But when I started eating mostly raw meals and juicing in the mornings, a strange thing happened.  I stopped biting my nails.  I don't know why, but I just stopped for a few days.  Then another strange thing happened.  My formerly weak, splitting, flimsy, paper thin nails grew in strong and thick and white.  It's been about a month since the last time I chewed my nails.  In fact, Charlie's surgery date was the last time I caught myself biting.  This new diet is really good at curbing my mood swings and stabilizing my stress levels.  I think this plays a huge factor in why I haven't had the urge to chew.  The other component is that all the phyto-nutrients, minerals, vitamins and enzyme consumption is improving my cellular quality.  This allows my cells to produce more quality tissue.  I'll let you know how it pans out.  I'd love to call nail biting a thing of the past!