Gettin' Real About Big Boobs and Sugar

Let me begin by stating that I don't have anything against big boobs and sugar.
I think big boobs are fabulous on some people.
And.
It goes without saying that I LOVE sugar.
Always have.
Always will.
With that being said.

I seriously feel the need to get real about how big boobs and sugar are impacting my life at the moment. I've never had big boobs. I've never desired big boobs. When you're 5 foot tall and lead an active lifestyle, big boobs get in the way. In my younger years I never battled my tummy or my boobs. My problem areas have always been my thighs and booty. Let's get honest here. I had liposuction on my thighs when I was in my 20's. I loved the result. I'd do it again tomorrow. 

But back to big boobs and sugar.

Back in December 2011...right after spending my birthday weekend at Hotel Andra over in Seattle eating all kinds of happy~sugary~treats...I cut sugar completely out of my diet.
Marla from Family Fresh Cooking and I had been emailing back and forth about the benefits of eating/living sugar~free. I explained to Marla how I was feeling. Not just physically, but mentally. She totally related to all the symptoms I was describing. Marla advised me to get my hormones checked to see if they were balanced. She also explained that an intake of sugar has much to do with hormones and how you feel mentally and physically from day to day. It also has everything to do with how good you feel in jeans! Honestly. Marla is such and invaluable source for health and wellness. I am blessed to love her as a friend and grateful to have her on call as a health and fitness coach. 

Giving up sugar wasn't easy, especially around the holidays. Sugary treats symbolize traditions and happy occasions. Sugary treats are cute and fun and magic to eat. But when you lay in bed at night, wide eyed and jittery...feeling nervous and unbalanced...worried that you're not in control of what you're eating...whatever needs to change not to feel like that should happen. 

Within days after eliminating sugar and Splenda I felt like a new person. Within weeks I was new! Honestly. My mind was so clear. My body wasn't puffy for the first time in years. My clothes were fitting different...and this was just within a couple of weeks. 

One of the greatest joys was finally practicing yoga without the feeling of a puffy tummy in the way. It was so freeing to feel this way. Not having to worry about my body feeling so bloated and puffy freed my mind as I practiced yoga. I was able to experience yoga in a whole new light. 

Fast forward six months. 

I can't remember how or when but gradually sugar began to creep back in. A cookie here and a sweet treat there led to drifting away from eating/living sugar`free. 

Several weeks ago we took a road trip down to Carmel, CA. 

I'm not at all proud to say that every night we snuggled up in that big comfy bed at
The Vagabond's House Inn and ate Talenti Gelato. 

If you've never tried Talenti Gelato you haven't lived. Honestly. It's as smooth as silk and worth every calorie. It's the perfect way to splurge on a vacation. Especially if you get up every morning like we did and take a 2 hour walk before breakfast. I honestly don't know how people splurge on what I consider to be extravagant foods and don't get out and run or walk it off the next day. Maybe it's because I'm short that I've never been able to enjoy splurging without getting out and working it off.
After enjoying gelato in bed, seven straight nights in a row, it was time to head back up the West Coast.
The day before we left I happened to take a glance in the mirror at my boobs.
Do you ever do that? Get brave enough to look dead~on at your body? It takes courage believe me. Especially after you've spent seven nights in bed with gelato.
What I saw in the mirror was startling. I honestly didn't know who's boobs those were. I was like "WHAT! How did my boobs get so big?"
On the drive back I mentioned to Greg that I seriously thought I needed a BOOB reduction! Spending 17 hours in the car driving leads to these types of conversations. He said that was the craziest thing he had ever heard. I said "Well my boobs feel HUGE!" He said it was still crazy! So of course I couldn't resist. I asked the dreaded by all men question. "Do my boobs look BIG to you?" He said no.

At the time I didn't relate the HU~MONG~GUS boobs to the overdose of sugar. That was obvious when I continued to splurge on Hot Tamales and Animal Crackers along the way.
We've been home 3 weeks now. I've been struggling with sugar and BIG boobs since then. Problem with me is that once I allow myself to do strange and foreign things, like eat gelato in bed seven nights in a row, it kicks me into a "GOTTA HAVE SUGAR" mindset. Like it's an addiction of sorts. That's just how it is with me now. In the good~ole~days I could eat sugary things and stop at that. But now. It's like it gets into my system and things begin to spiral. And the boobs get bigger!
Bottom line here is this. 
I love sugar. I love fancy, sweet, things made with sugar. I'll always bake with sugar. I've got people in my life who love the things I make and bake with sugar. Sugar will always be in my pantry. And I'll always be sharing recipes with sugar on this blog.
But. I must listen to my body. I must respect what my body is trying to tell me as it ages.
I don't like BIG~puffy boobs...and a big poooooched out tummy! I don't! Carrying extra pooooooofy~ness in my boobs and abdomen area hinders me in life. I find myself not going to yoga.
And I miss it. I miss everything about it. I miss my yogi friends. My life is not whole without it.
The difference in going to hot yoga and taking a hike is...HELLO...the outfit and the challenging poses. I don't like to go to yoga when my boobs and tummy have been under the influence of SUGAR. That's the bottom line. The ironic thing about hot yoga is~it would be the absolute BEST thing for me.
Here's what I'm doing about this big boob~sugar problem.
For the next 28 days I'll be participating in a juice/raw foods cleanse. This is so foreign to me I've been having to goggle what the heck EATING RAW really is. Today is day one on the journey. I'll be cleansing with a group of dedicated ladies under the guidance of Stephanie who's a Health and Wellness Coach here on Bainbridge Island.
I'll be sharing lots more about the cleanse and Embrace Health and Wellness!
I've always wanted to participate in a 28 day cleanse.
It's the perfect time to do it!
BIG BOOBS be gone!
Have you ever gone on a 28 day cleanse?
Do you know what Eating Raw means?
Here's to living sugar~free!
Happy Day!
xo