Turn off that phone for some down time
Grow-Out Challenge routine
Like Kim Coles, for me, the Grow-Out Challenge will encompass more than just hair. During this six-month journey, I will challenge myself to:
1. Compartmentalize my life and learn to be present.
2. Eat healthier, minimally processed foods, and resume my regular workout routine.
3. Achieve the BIGGEST hair I can—keeping more strands and retaining length.
Break, break down
Part 1. The blog has grown to monumental proportions, and while I greatly enjoy keeping you dolls abreast on all things curly, sometimes I find myself a bit distracted from real life. That, plus my psychotherapy career, managing a household, and living with a man who is currently dissertating (sweet baby Jesus give me strength”>… let’s just say the plate is full. Did I mention we’ll probably be relocating this year? Oh, and I still have to fulfill the renewal requirements for my therapy license. So yeah. Dayum.
I notice that even when I put the computer down and turn off my cell (which I HAVE to do or else I compulsively check it every 5 minutes”>, my mind is still on work. I can be out with Gene and Gia, or enjoying a stolen moment alone, and find myself stressing over that interview I haven’t transcribed yet, or worried if Ms. X really was suicidal yesterday. I’m juggling a lot, but I know that there must be some schedule, some routine that I can develop that will allow me to be successful at what I do, while enjoying the present. Still figuring it out…
Part 2. For the first time in my life, I’m truly thankful for my petite stature… my chicken legs. Thankful that I was predisposed to lose that baby weight, which I think was mostly water. However, according to the results of my last two physicals, my cholesterol is a teeny bit high. What can I say? I love bacon, it’s good for me.
While pregnant (out of fear of gaining excessively”>, I walked 3 miles daily, and ate rather healthfully… save for the occasional strawberry pancakes. I gained 40 pounds, and now, at 5 months post-partum, have lost 42 pounds. YAY! Now that I’m back down and feeling like Nikki, many of my old habits have returned. When I say old habits, I don’t mean habits from 2001. Long before I became preggers I had changed my lifestyle… eating whole grains, avoiding fried foods, sodas, sugary sweets, and drinking lots and lots of water. My problem is, I’ll go hard and jump on the wagon for 2 weeks, only to fall off head first.
