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)

Run Away!

I went to bed on Friday night with the intention of rising early on Saturday to hoof it through the Undy 5000 5K I registered for a few weeks back.  That was my intention.  Instead, I caught up on some much needed sleep while my sainted husband took the kiddies.

This morning, I made up for my Saturday absence by attending my first ever run class at Positively Fit. I ran a little under 3.5 miles - and at 6am to boot. It was grueling, but it was also wonderful. I can hear you saying, "Wonderful? Right! What's so wonderful about that?" But it really was and here's why:

My life at home with Charlie (my darling Charlie who is battling tooth and nail against the effects of his cerebral palsy and epilepsy) is really shitty right now.  He is frustrated and needy and the only way he feels he can communicate with us is by squealing.  Its that same high pitched screaming piglet-style squeal that he's been doing since the beginning of September.  It sucks all of the oxygen out of the room and leaves everyone in its wake with tears and a migraine.  His screaming has me crying at every turn.  I cried through boot camp class on Monday. I spent 15 minutes in the shower on Tuesday crying into a towel. I fell apart on my Chiropractor's table today. I'm just at a complete loss. So when I went running this morning, I was able to treat myself to a cool November breeze, the soft sound of foot fall and a quiet conversation with a running partner.  My legs were killing me, but my world was quiet. For a brilliant 55 minutes, I had a little peace.

Inspiration Exists, But It Has to Find You Working

I've just finished my first week on my experimental schedule, which entails waking up at 4:30am and in bed by 9:30.  For the most part it is working really well - far better than I expected, in fact.  Last night I was out until 10:30 at a social gathering, so I feel a bit groggy today.  But generally, I'm very pleased with the week and my level of productivity.  I worked on my manuscript and finished two new paintings (which you can see HERE and HERE if you like.)

This morning, I'm off to my HIIT class at Positively Fit. I still take boot camp classes on Mondays and Wednesdays but due to Charlie's therapy schedule, I had to pick a different class on Fridays.  HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training and its only a 30 minute class.  I love it!

Check In - Week 70

Hi.

How was your week?
(seriously, tell me about your week in the comment section below)

Mine was good.

I've been brainstorming about how to buy myself a little more time in my studio.  My usual pattern is to start a big project at night and then peter out in the wee hours with nothing really to show for it by morning.  Because of that, I'm getting poor sleep and my artistic output is happening when I'm at my most groggy.  After a full day of kids and appointments and meals and driving and school, day's end is not the time to bring my A-game.

So last night I was asleep by 9pm with an alarm clock set and ready.  By 4:45am, I was in my studio painting and writing. My plan for the week is to try out this new schedule.  Up and at 'em at 4:30am. Work in the studio until 7am. Then, have my day as usual.  But instead of staying up 'til all hours trying to eek out something creative, go to sleep by 9:30pm.

Wish me luck!

The "I Did It" List

attended two boot camp classes

spent some quality time with friends

stayed in my PJs all day on Sunday

watched my son, Charlie, have some amazing break through moments

5 loads of laundry

my bell pepper and broccoli plants are finally fruiting!

Do you count calories?

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 for that matter). 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: Do you count calories?
Nope. When I began looking into eating plans I quickly became overwhelmed with the point systems and calorie calculators and good calories vs. bad calories stuff.  I realize that these programs have merit and have worked beautifully for some people. But I knew early on that if I was going to stick with a healthy eating plan, counting calories was out. As I write this, the little voice inside my head is saying, "But Sarah, the only way to lose weight is to burn more calories that you consume! How do you expect to stay on top of your consumption if you have no idea how much you're eating?"

Honestly, I don't know how many calories I'm consuming. And I really don't care. I'm only concerned with one simple question: "Is this food a nutritious, healthy choice?" I didn't get fat by eating avocado sandwiches on sprouted grain bread. I didn't get fat eating fistfuls of raw nuts. I didn't get fat because I went overboard on the olive oil and almond butter. I got fat eating refined sugars, and refined carbs.  But I can't tell you how many diet books I've read that warn against the fat content of raw nuts, avocados and olive oil and offer instead a list of low fat food items laced with artificial sweeteners and preservatives. Weird, right? It just doesn't make intuitive sense to me.

Question: Do you write down everything you eat?
Nope. But I think its a great habit for some people. I am an avid journaler, and while I don't write down every morsel of food that touches my lips, I do write how I feel about what I'm eating. I'm more concerned with eating well and feeling well and that's what I write about. I also write down my gratitudes and accomplishments for the day. When I write about these things in an integrated way, I find that I am better able to integrate them in my life.

healthy food + active body + good thoughts + grateful heart = smaller sarah

If I were forced to write down my weight loss plan, it would be the equation above. I know when I've consumed good healthy food because I feel light and energized. And I know when I've had junk because I fell like ass in a bucket. For me, I equate writing down each bite with punishment. The only reason to write it down is if you ate something "off plan". I don't need a piece of paper staring back at me that says, "17 Oreo cookies and a Red Bull". I find it far more useful to address the emotional side affects of my food consumption in journal form. That's why instead of counting calories, I count the good feelings that came from the good food that allowed me to enjoy the good moments.

Positively Fit

As most of you know, I attend boot camp classes at Positively Fit Lake Highlands in Dallas, TX.  Its a back yard style boot camp taught by Mallory Mansour Doubuclet. As you can tell from my previous posts, I love attending these classes and count Mallory's amazing work-outs as one of the key factors in my recent weight loss.

Mallory just sent her clients the new summer schedule with some exciting new additions.  Since so many of you Dallas-area readers have inquired about my exercise routine, I thought I'd post Mallory's note and her new schedule. PFLH is a fantastic investment and with the free child care co-op and variety of class times, there are no more excuses. Come join me as I endeavour to work off my last 25 pounds!

Note from Mallory:

Hi Friends!
 
I’m excited to announce the addition of three new instructors bringing their classes to Positively Fit Lake Highlands: 

You asked for an early morning boot camp, and you’ve got it! LHAECPTA mom Ann Marie Sager will begin teaching boot camp as an intern on July 2.  Her classes will be from 5:45-6:40 AM Mondays and Wednesdays. Your workouts will be a collaborative effort between the two of us as she trains to be a group exercise and Pilates instructor. 

Lake Highlands mom, trainer, and yoga instructor Christi Jiannino will begin teaching Power Yoga in the studio every Tuesday and Thursday from 6-7 AM beginning July 3. 

Lake Highlands mom and yoga instructor Julie Upton will teach Yoga Flow every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 AM – 12 PM beginning THIS Tuesday, June 19. This Tuesday’s class is FREE, and I have a parent volunteer in the childcare co-op who can watch your kids, also for free.  If you’ve never tried a class with me, come for boot camp at 10 for a FREE trial class and stay for yoga! 

Please fill out the informed consent forms from my website at www.positivelyfitlakehighlands.com, shoot me an email if you get the chance to let me know you are coming (optional), and show up with yoga mat and water, ready to burn some calories! 

Men and Women and Young Adults over the age of 14 with parental consent are welcome! 

Positively Fit Lake Highlands Summer Schedule

For more information 

visit Positively Fit Lake Highlands on Facebook.

A book?

As you know, this blog began as an accountability tool. But over the course of the year, it has become so much more. Its now a community that reaches far beyond my own imagining. This weekend following my One Year post, I received many requests for support, coaching, direction and suggestions about how to go about losing weight and keeping it off. Everyone is looking for, as I was at the beginning of my journey, a tailor-made action plan. The two most common questions seem to be "What do I do?" and "How do I stick with it?" These two questions are difficult to answer in a quick email or phone call and the answer is different for everyone.  I am making a focused attempt to thoughtfully answer all your emails - so if you haven't heard from me, you will soon!  But I am also finding that answering your questions in a longer form may ultimately be more effective.

Through my work over the past year, I have developed what I think is an effective line of inquiry to answer "What do I do?" and "How do I stick with it?" Its a series of questions, a little self-experimentation and some grounded information that will lead you to an actionable and sustainable weight-loss plan. I'm not a doctor or a nutritionist, but I have real world experience. After trying many avenues and asking lots of questions, I've ultimately found an authentic path to healthy weight loss, a renewed spirit, emotional ease and a vibrant life. So here is my question to you, dear reader: Would you be interested enough in my ideas to pay for a book or private coaching?

I've already begun the process of writing a practical, intuitive guide to slimming down and getting healthy. The goal? A funny, breezy but honest, no-nonsense book filled with simple tools to help the reader create and maintain a tailor-made plan to get healthy. Part memoir, part work book, part self-help; a humorous, down-to-earth book that would address the real issues most working and stay-at-home mother's deal with when trying to face-off with their old habits. What do you think?

Why do you blog?

This post is part of a reader Q&A. I'm always 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: I'd be embarrassed to write about myself. Why did you decide to blog about your process?

There are lots of reasons I started the blog as my first step towards losing the weight. One of the main things that inspired me to start this journey was reading another weight loss blog. I was feeling bad about myself and then read about another woman's success and thought, "Why not me?" So I wanted to give back by charting my own progress with a blog.

I was already an avid journaler and blogger, so starting a blog was a logical step for me. It helps me to stay accountable and clearly work through the tougher moments along the way. Sure, its embarrassing at times, but we have to be willing to look foolish if we want to be bold and create something new. And as a reader, I want the "real deal". I don't want anything sugar-coated. I want the writer to trust me and reveal the essence of who they are - and I assume that you want the same. It seems that when I write about the more difficult or humiliating portions of this journey, the reader response is more engaged. And the support I have received from my readers cannot be overestimated. Sometimes the only reason I stuck to the plan, or went to a work-out I didn't want to attend was because I knew I would have to report back here for my Monday weigh-in.

Another reason to share is to create solidarity. Most everything marvelous that has ever happened to me was at the hands of a group of supportive, compassionate women. Women must buoy and help each other. We need to speak with honesty, fearlessness and compassion about our trials and tribulations. I wanted to add a voice of reason and humor to the emotional struggle of losing weight.

What do you do when you get discouraged?

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: What was the most discouraging time or event for you and what did you do to push through?
All of my discouraging moments, be they small or big, were at my own hands. My most discouraging moments were when I displayed old behavior patterns concerning food. I'd go a few months without binge eating and think, "Yay, I'm cured!" Then a tough week followed by a killer menstrual period, Mercury in retrograde, or a terrible hospital visit for Charlie or other normal life event would catapult me back into a bowl of ice cream or four.

When I was spiraling, my first step was to ask myself only one question. "What do I really need right now?" The answer was never four bowls of ice cream. The answer was always something else: some fresh air to clear my head, better sleep, a hug, a phone conversation with my mom, etc.  Step two was always to go get the thing I really need. But step two is difficult, because it usually involved asking someone for help, which for most people (especially women who are pretending to be supermom - that's me) is very difficult.

Eating an entire pint (or before the smaller sarah year - a 1/2 gallon) of mint chip alone after the kids have gone to bed is easy and immediate. No one has to see and I don't have to ask for help.  Asking my husband for an extra hour to myself or for a friend to watch my kids for 30 minutes is difficult and takes forethought.

So how do you bridge the time between the impulse to binge (or other vice) and the relief of a planned respite? That's tough. This might not work for everyone, but here is the usual progression for me:

1. Feel the discouraging moment.
2. Feel the impulse to eat something bad for me.
3. Answer the question, "What do I really need right now".
4. Immediately make a plan to get what I need.

Making a plan to get what I need is usually two-fold.  I journal most every day, so I sit down and write about how I am feeling and what I need.  Then I make a phone call (during the daylight hours) or write an email (if it was a midnight attack of the munchies) asking for help. This is why it is SO important to participate in a supportive community. No one has ever responded with an outright "no". If they can't help immediately by having a cup of coffe with me or watching my kids for a spell, they usually offer something else at a different time.  Knowing that relief is coming makes the discouraging moments more manageable.  Does this mean I never falter because I have my "trusty" system in place?  No, of course not.  But those moments are far and few in between.  And in the process of asking for help, I've solidified and strengthened my relationships. And I have been able to return the favor for them!  That reciprocal energy boosts my mood and makes me feel great and means I experience fewer discouraging moments in the long run.

Raw and Whole Food on a Limited Budget

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: How can I eat raw and whole foods on a limited budget?
This is a great question and I've had quite a few inquiries about this topic.  As many of you know, my son Charlie has medical bills out the wazu and my husband is the only employed member of our family so that I can stay home and take care of our boys.  We, like most American families, have to spend our dollars wisely. So here are some of my thoughts in no particular order:

1. It only appears that you are spending more on your food.  When I shifted my diet to include higher quality whole foods I paid more for the food, but I bought less.  It all came out in the wash. You can spend $2.50 on a bag of potato chips or your can spend $4.00 on a bag of organic Gala apples.  The upfront cost is more, yes.  I don't know about you, but I can put away a big bag of chips in one sitting.  It's a lot harder for me to eat five apples all at once.  So for a little more money, I get a better quality snack that lasts longer and makes me feel great.

2. Eating cheap junk food will cost you more money in the long run.  Heart attacks, diabetes, and worse are really expensive. And sometimes they cost you your life.  I'd rather fork over a little more money now and stay out of the hospital later.  The pay off of good nutrition is a life time of better quality years and more of them!

3. Plan your meals and pay less.  I wanted to save money on my grocery bill so I read a book called America's Cheapest Family: Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half.  The book is not geared towards organic whole foods, but you can apply most all of the concepts to whatever you're interested in buying.  This book has helped me serve nutritious, raw and healthy cooked meals and snacks to my family for about 400 - 425 dollars a month.  Not bad for a family of four.  If you want more details, you can read about it HERE and HERE.

4. Invest in good quality kitchen tools.  Yes, they are expensive and they are absolutely worth it.  I bought a cheap juicer at first and blew it out in six weeks.  Luckily I purchased it at Bed, Bath and Beyond and they have a fantastic return policy. I also had a very generous family member with a Costco card who bought me a Vitamix for my wedding anniversary. So if you have something on your wish list, share it with family!

5. Prepare only one serving per person.  I have cultivated a habit of preparing just enough food so that everyone has one healthy serving. This has saved our family lots of money.  It also has the added benefit of cutting back on portions, "seconds" and food waste. Americans waste far more food than we are aware of. The other benefit is that our family takes more time at the table to enjoy our meal and our conversation.  No one has ever gone to bed hungry.

6. Buy cheaper produce.  I know this sounds like a no-brainer.  Last February, I bought a beautiful mango for 4 dollars.  Once I got it home, I thought "I am an idiot".  So don't be silly and buy out of season tropical fruit.  Buy the inexpensive stuff.  Here is my list of go-to produce and raw snacks.  I always have these items on hand and have learned to make a bunch of different delicious meals using these basic ingredients.

Bananas (I can get them for about 44 cents a pound)
Apples (by the bag is cheaper than by the pound)
Carrots (whole, not in little weird baggies)
Romaine Lettuce
Celery (again, buy it whole and not pre-chopped)
Avocados (I get these at the Mexican food market "Fiesta" - 3 for a dollar)
Sweet potatoes
Almonds (raw and in the bulk section is cheapest)
Walnuts (raw and in the bulk section is cheapest)
Dates (not the fancy kind - just plain dates)
Raisins
Sprouted Grain Breads
Brown Rice and Quinoa

When I began eating this way, I explained to my husband that our grocery bill was going to go up a bit.  Without missing a beat he asked, "How much money would you pay to lose 75 pounds by next year?"  I shrugged my shoulders.  Then he said, "I bet you'd pay a lot more than you're going to spend on better groceries."  When ever I get down about the cost of pesticide-free lettuce or wince at the price of raw almond butter, I remember his words. If you are serious about getting healthy and losing weight, you'll need to make a little investment. Cut back on other expenses if you have to, but start to make your health and well-being a priority.

Still taking small steps...

Even at the end of my Smaller Sarah year, I'm still taking small manageable steps.  I've realized that there are no big sweeping decisions, no overwhelming seismic shifts that catapult you through the day to day process of losing weight and getting healthy.  No matter where you are on your journey, whether just starting out or on your 9th year of maintaining, you still need to take small steps.

One small step this week was to locate and purchase a set of circle resistance bands.  I use these every once in a while at boot camp and really like them.  Big impact, but small enough to stash in a purse.  Since I'm leaving for a few weeks, I wanted to have something to maintain my strength training.  I found this set of three at Target for $9.98.

Another small step is to eat raw meals whenever I can manage it.  If there is a raw meal available, that is what I eat.  And tonight, it was an Arugula and mixed green salad with tomatos and a raw dressing.  My sweet neighbor and walking partner, Jessica, dropped off an enormous bag of Arugula greens fresh from her garden.  Delicious!  I've included the raw dressing below for you.

Walker (4 years old) was my dinner date tonight! 

He thought the arugula was a bit spicy, but ate it all the same.

A Zesty "Go With Everything" Raw Salad Dressing

1 cup cold pressed olive oil

3-4 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 heaping teaspoons of raw honey

juice from 1/2 lemon

optional: a bit of crushed garlic

Put all ingredients in a lidded jar and shake the shit out of it.

Pour on salad and store the rest in the fridge for up to a week.

Food Documentaries

How does the old saying go?  "There is no one more evangelical than the recently converted".  Well, hold on to your hats and please excuse my enthusiasm.  Food politics has made its way to Smaller Sarah...

Over the past year, I've slowly been making my way through a prolific crop of food documentaries that reveal the dark underbelly of the industrialization of food.  Corporations have genetically modified so much of our food that as consumers, we really don't know what we're eating.  And the fact of the matter is that the standard American food supply is killing us.  This last sentence is not an overstatement or the words of a conspiracy theorist sending out an alarmist message.  Our food is killing us.  Sometimes its fast and sometimes its slow, but either way you slice it, we must change the system that provides our food.

After watching all of these documentaries, some of which can be difficult at times to watch, I've come to a simple and easy solution.  Its something you can do starting right now.  Make different choices about the food you buy.  That's it.  Once you are an informed consumer, you can vote with your dollars.  I know that this can sometimes be a hardship, but so is dying young from heart disease and diabetes.  I know that this can sometimes cost more than the packaged "convenience" foods, but so are the hidden costs that show up later in the form of expensive medication to control your poor health, mounting medical bills, not to mention the environmental, cultural and social dammage of corporate "farming".

These documentaries have helped me open my eyes.  They have led me to ask more questions, read more about the food I buy and consume and to make different choices.  It was easier than I thought.  The most enlightening part of this process has been the discovery that the food epidemic can change on an individual level when we spend our dollars (votes) on better quality food.  Does it mean we have to buy less?  Yes.  Will it cost more?  In the beginning, yes.  Once we demand safe, organic, whole food at the cash register, corporations will have to change the way they do business.

Food Matters (2008)

Food, Inc. (2008)

King Corn (2007)

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead (2010)

The Gerson Miracle (2004)

Forks Over Knives (2011)

Killer At Large (2008)

Food Fight (2008)

200th Post

That's right!  This is my 200th post at Smaller Sarah.  Who knew I had so much to say and share!  When I started this blog back in June, I wasn't sure what would fill these 'pages'.  I wanted the blog to be an accountability tool, but it has turned into so much more.  And here we are 200 posts later and one month away from the one year mark!  What have I learned in these past 11 months?  The same thing everyone learns when they set a goal just outside their reach:

Everything you can imagine is possible. 

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. 

What Matters Most?

I've been taking a lot of shortcuts lately, using the excuse of lack of time and stress to justify my actions.  This post is just a little reminder to myself that as I move forward this week I want to bring more awareness to my actions - whether its a meal or a parenting moment or a conversation.  The things that matter most deserve my full attention.

Joy

The thing about joy is that it is always available to you, it is unlimited and all you have to do is choose it.  I forget this from time to time.  I get down on myself, or feel sorry for my circumstances, or think that I'm in a rut.  But those are just thoughts.  And thoughts can quickly be dispersed and replaced with joy if I so choose.  So today - JOY.   Won't you join me?

Don't Feed the Bad Wolf

I know that negative self talk is no good for me.  I know this in my heart and yet, I still have to consciously walk away from it and find positive ways of moving through my day.  Where did it come from?  I don't know.  I had a great childhood - no more difficult than most.  I had some hard knocks in love and marriage before I found my true path - but it was no more difficult than most.  Its so hard to silence the ego - especially when the self talk becomes cruel.  Why do I keep posting about negative self talk?  Because it takes time, repetition and stamina to overcome.  One post just isn't enough.

So, how about a story...

An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life… He said to them, “A fight is going on inside me, it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil—he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, competition, superiority, and ego. The other is good—he is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.” They thought about it for a minute, and then one child asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win, Grandfather?” The Elder simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Slow and Sure

I know I'm not the only one who feels like a tortoise sometimes.  This weight loss journey tends to be of the "speed up - slow down" style.  Some weeks I lose a bunch of weight and eat like a lean green machine.  Other weeks, I feel lethargic slogging through work outs and finishing each evening with popcorn and a glass of Pinot Gris.  But whatever, right?  That is how most things progress.  Fast and then slow.  Two steps forward - one step back. 

The trick for me is finding a centered place to inhabit where I don't perceive the amazing dramatic results as "the norm" and I don't perceive the blobby doldrums as "failure".  There has to be a middle ground where I can stay grounded, focused and forgiving.  Its a tough balancing act that I have yet to master.  Any ideas, dear readers?

Juice Cleanse - Day 5

Hello everyone!  Its day five of my juice cleanse and so far its going very well.  I'm feeling centered, calm and clear in the head.  I also have enough energy to take care of two little ones and attend boot camp classes and go to Charlie's medical and therapy appointments and all of the other things required of me during the day.  I'm not having any big energy dips or mood swings either.  I haven't murdered a child or held up a Krispy Kreme at gunpoint yet, so I'd say I've had a successful cleanse thus far.  However, I'm only half way through, so stay tuned!

I wanted to check in about a few questions I've had from readers and friends.  The first is "Why are you doing this?"  This is a totally fair question.  I am doing this because I was inspired by a documentary.  (Of course, this is the last thing a mother wants to hear... "I did it because I saw it on TV".)  It was called "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead" and documented a man's journey to cure an autonomic immune disease and lose some weight.  He did a 60 day juice cleanse and it worked.  I was inspired, looked into it and that's why I'm doing it.

The second question that has come up is why juice?  Why not smoothies or herbs or eat a big box of veggies every morning?  The goal of a cleanse is to give your digestive system a break so that your body can focus its energies on other things - like healing damaged tissues, restoring the efficiency of your eliminitive organs, and clear older more impacted waste.  "Isn't it true that your body can heal itself AND digest at the same time?"  Yes.  It can.  Your body is always doing both at one time.  Except when you sleep.  When you sleep, your body has a little digestive break and kicks into high gear.  When you sleep, your body grows more hair, more cells, knits up muscle damage from the day and a host of other amazing things.  By juicing, I am giving my body a flood of nutrients and live enzymes, while allowing my digestive system to skip all the fiber and roughage that slows down my body's healing process.  And by juicing, my body can restore itself 24 hours a day instead of the small window at night, which for me is about 2 hours because I'm up at night with babies.  (Another reason for me to be cleansing right now.)

The last question that comes up a lot is "Aren't you hungry?"  The answer is "no" and "yes".  When I am living my normal eating life I eat solid food.  Then after a while I get hungry and I eat more food.  Its a pretty simple process.  Its the same when juicing.  I drink water when I'm thirsty and I drink juice when I'm hungry.  If I find that my belly is grumbling, I drink more juice.  The juice, just like the solid food, fills me up for a while until I need more.  I'm averaging about four 24oz glasses of green juice a day.  Sometimes its more, sometimes its less.  It depends entirely on how hungry I am. 

When I initiated this cleanse, my plan was to have some raw green evening meals in the middle of my cleanse.  But  I've been feeling so well that I've decided to skip the nightly meal.  I planned for the meals to help me get through the 9 days with success, but I find now that I don't need them.  So I'm currently on my fifth day of green juice only.  My plan now is to continue with only green juice through the 6th of March.

Thank you for reading Smaller Sarah, staying connected with the blog and asking such great questions!  Your inquiries always help me gain more clarity and specificity about my choices.  Thank you so much!

Fortune Favors the Brave

I've recently received a few emails asking "how do I search this blog to find recipes?" and "where can I find specific weekly weigh-ins?" and "where are your 'before' photos?", etc.  Thank you, dear readers, for your notes and helping me awaken to the fact that this is a public forum.  I now realize that Smaller Sarah needs a higher level of organization and accessibility.  I've heard the call!

It's time to be brave and put it all out there!  As you can see, I've already made some cosmetic changes to my blog.   I've changed the banner, added a current photo in the side bar, and included a search engine just above the "pounds lost" count.  I have been reluctant (and nervous and embarrassed) to do this, but you can now find my 'before' photo (gasp!) in the Photos tab in the tool bar at the top of the page.  You'll also find two new tabs, Recipes and Weigh-Ins, in the tool bar above.  Those are currently under construction and will soon have working links to the recipes I've tried out and loved as well as links to the weekly weigh-ins.  I hope that you like the new look.  Please please comment below and let me know what you think.  I want to hear exactly what you like and, just as important, what you don't like.  Thanks as always for being such wonderful readers and participants on this crazy journey.  Becoming a smaller version of myself has been made easier and more fun because of YOU!  I so appreciate it!