The Diaries Of A Sweaty Girl

I express myself in many ways. 

I like to believe that deep down inside I have an artsy soul. 

Music, writing.. these all help me to express myself.

Well recently I have been pondering hyperhidrosis and had a negative thought. I began to think, "Man, if I just didn't have this condition life would be so much better." Haha the adversary knows me so well. However, I believe I have learned how to cope with these negative thoughts and so immediately what popped into my head was that "NO. This is partly what makes me me. And I want someone who loves me for all of me. We all deserve people who will adore us for who we are, and who encourage us to be better. Someone who is happy around us and we are happy around them. Otherwise, what's the point? 

The other day on my hike, I was having a great conversation with a man. We discussed how we have the opportunity every day to do something good, better, and to change... but often times we don't. He went on to tell me how he thought that part of the problem we have in society is not that we are evil or bad, but that we are lazy. He told me we have to reach a point where we accept where we are, be okay with that and then continually try to be better each day. 

So. Stop trying to be someone else. The only one you should compare yourself to is to who you were yesterday. 

Happy Wednesday! Be confident and have a great day!

xoxo,

Sweaty and Hawt  

Isn't life a beautiful thing?

Laughter, beauty, love, heartbreak, moving, failures, accomplishments.

It's beautiful. 

One of my favorite verses of scripture says, "there must needs be opposition in all things". 

How would we ever know what happiness felt like if we never experienced something sad?

How would we ever feel the sweetness of winning if we had never lost?

Isn't it funny how it feels the most rewarding to receive something that we have worked hard for?

How would we know love if we had never experienced heartbreak?

Well, today, I am grateful for change.

I am grateful for a moment of dry hands when they are constantly sweaty.

May we find joy in the little things. 

May we be thankful for the hard times, for they allow us to truly enjoy the good times. 

May we not only endure the hard times, but embrace and enjoy them.
May we be open to change, for it allows growth and a new beginnings.
How wonderful it is that every 24 hours we have a new day, an opportunity to rise with a new purpose, motivation, and a different start just as the sun does.

Thank GOODNESS it's Friday!

Thank goodness I'm sweaty, but still hawt. 

Thank goodness you are too:)

Have a wonderful day! 

Love,

Sweaty and Hawt. 

Recently, while talking to my mom, I realized a big problem that we have in our world today, specifically in this era. That is the fact that we are not truly living our lives. We are often consumed and living based on what other people think, receiving unsatisfying, and short lasting false senses of happiness. No, you may not think so -- but then again, either did I.

My Senior year of high school I was tired. Engulfed in a world of a million different things, people and ideas, I was "happy"-- but not truly happy. I realized that I was living my life at the will of other people and other things. Now I don't know if that is because of my own traits, things that happened in my life, or because of having hyperhidrosis, but I found that there was no one to blame but myself. I found that pleasing other people was making me despondent, without even realizing it. It wasn't until the end of that year, when I finally said, "no" to someone, that I realized I had been taken advantage of by others, but mostly by myself. My lifelong tendencies to please other people finally became recognizable, and I decided to make the most out of my life.

Coming out to college I developed more of a back bone, free to do what I wanted to do with my life, and what made me happy.

However, a few weeks ago, without realizing, I had fallen back into the trap. Dealing with the recent breakup was fine, but it wasn't until the other day that I contemplated my happiness and realized why I wasn't the happiest I could be: I was living my life for other people. Trying to gain a sense of "happiness"-- but it was fake, and unsatisfying. I decided then and there to make a change. 

Project: Happiness, I thought.

I began to write fiercely, sweat dripping down my palms, channeling my emotions into something good. Making myself better. I made a list. Goals, if you will. Things that make me truly happy. Things I want to accomplish here at the university, in my religion, with my family, my health, and with my friends. 

Then I made a schedule. I filled up my day with things that were just for me and my truest happiness and took out the things that weren't.

Instead of Facebook, I scheduled in reading a book or talking a walk. Spending just a little more time in my religious studies. Taking the time I would be watching TV or tweeting, to calling a friend or a family member, or writing a note and expressing my love for them. Importantly, I created spending more time on campus, learning, studying, growing. I began to leave my phone at home, simplifying my life, and call me old fashion but guess what? It has been SO nice. I have found I am able to focus more and be more in the moment with people and myself.

I realized in this life changing moment, that I could live for myself, and not for others. Now don't misunderstand. Living for others is different than living for yourself to then give of yourself to others. This is crucial to progress. We must be our own converts to happiness first.

I realized that everything we do in our lives is too often based on what other people think, trying to impress others, and creating this false sense of "happiness" that becomes a viscous cycle and actually binds us, not letting us live. Think about why we do the things we do, and why we say the things we say. Think about technology: why do we post on Facebook? To get recognized? Do we want to impress someone else? Or are we looking at other people's lives, comparing ourselves, and then feel the constant need to post about our own lives, to get the reaction or attention from the world. In breakups- are we trying to "bump into" our ex? Post on twitter to have them think we've "moved on" or that we are "so happy". We are living for something else. People involved deeply with drugs, alcohol, eating disorders-- these are all false senses of happiness, that never last.

These things do not bring us true happiness.

Today I challenge you all to do more of what makes you truly happy. If that's starting completely over, simply not bringing your phone to dinner, making more good use of your time, waking up a little earlier, make progress toward the things you REALLY want in life. After all, it's yours. And it can be GREAT. Don't let the world or other's tell you otherwise.

Today, I challenge you to live.

Thank you for reading.

Sweaty and Hawt.

No, I don't want to go mini golfing. 

And no I don't want to tie our hands together while we golf to "make things more interesting". 

I can't think of anything more tortureous than dripping wet hands tied to yours for an hour.

Let's keep it classy please... and not as awkward.

Can't we just talk about our feelings or something?

xoxo,

Sweaty and Hawt

In thinking of all that has happened recently in Boston, and to our Nation.

Hands: what can they be used for?

They can give a sweet handshake to a fellow bud.

They can clean up the gook and play around in mud.

Hands can be used to make the perfect cake.

Or to sip from a yummy mint milkshake.

Hands can be used to fight,

or to fill people's minds with words--to write. 

Hands can be used to mold,

or to warm another's that are shivering from cold. 

Hands are used at our will,

from a gesture of love to the power to kill.

Hands can take a life, 

or they can save, deliver, and carry one.

Whether they be sweaty, soft, or rough like wood-- 

Be grateful we have hands, and please, please use them for good.

Helen Keller once said, “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”

I have hands, and I refuse to not use them for only for good things. What will you use yours for?

xoxo,

The Girl With Sweaty--but don't be mistaken-- HANDS.

My heart is full today.

A few years ago I watched my mother train and finish this race. 

It hurts my heart to think of people who would do this to a person, an event, a town, and a nation.

My heart goes out to the people of Boston, and those who have trained and worked and traveled to finish this prestigious race. To those victims, families, and those involved in the race: may God be with you. 

I love you all.

YOU GUYS.

I'm bringing twitter back.

Follow me.

Name: Sweatyandhawt

Keep it classy.

--Sweaty and Hawt.

"Remember to just take off your coat, and leave it at the door", my mother would call out to me as I left to go out. "Pish posh", I thought. 

I have never fully understood what that meant until now.

You see, we all wear this coat, whether we like it or not. Within this coat contains our insecurities, doubts, fears, the things we don't like about ourselves, whatever negativity we can associate with ourselves-- it's in this coat, and we go out into the world with this coat on. 

Many of us don't even realize we have this coat on, and many others think that others don't have a coat like theirs;  however, we still wear this coat. So, in my insightful mother's words, "just take off your coat, and leave it at the door". 

But it sounds so simple! -- IT IS!

Now this may sound silly, but I challenge you to try it. If you can literally envision all of the negative things about yourself on a coat that you, yourself are wearing, accept that you have one, and then when you go somewhere or do something, envision taking that coat off-- it is incredible. It has helped me become more confident, happy, approachable, courageous, outgoing-- you name it! It is also important to remember that other people wear this coat as well-- one identical to the one you are wearing, but fashioned with different colors, ties, and pins. Then you can do the proper, chivalrous thing and help them remove their coat-- just by having yours removed!

So the next time you freak out about your hyperhidrosis, just remember-- "take off your coat, and leave it at the door". 

Happy Wednesday!

xoxo,

Sweaty and Hawt Girl

Dear Readers: 

SOOOO, so sorry to leave you hanging like that!! I promise, I still love you all! Life has just been super, SUPER hectic! I will finish my story, I PROMISE. But for now, can I please just tell you that I am HAPPY! Life is good. School has been insane, but I am oh so happy. 

And let me just say to you all: I hope and pray that you all are too! Please... be happy. And if you are having a sad day, take a moment to have a sad day. But be happy while you are doing it. Be happy to be sad and let that emotion out. 

OKAY.

Sooo you know I love you all but thank you to the dear reader who told me about Dehydral cream! I have been using it and have honestly never had this dry of hands before-- it's weird. Like what is dry?? I don't know. Haha I started using it because I had a hot date coming up, and guess what-- we actually held hands that night! I was sooo nervous that he would touch them and they would instantly start sweating, but the cream, mixed with the snowy, cold weather made it perfect! I ran home and told all my gal friends who were dying for gossip the deets, and then finished with, "And the best part of it all-- MY HANDS WERE DRY!!!" Gasps from all the girls were heard all around and then swooning over my dry hands was in order. I know, I know. It was a dream come true. Hahaha it's funny though cause now he thinks my hands are always so dry and like cracked-- the cream will leave your hands feeling like that. But I think it's better than sweaty! Little does he know that on the inside I am an insanely sweaty girl. Mwuahaha. Whatever, I'm still hawt right? Sweaty or crackily??

 However, they still sweat, especially during the day or when I am nervous, it is not nearly as bad. And I have also noticed my face has been sweating more... but it is still so nice! So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU reader! Please email me for more info if you want to know more. It's a foot cream, but I have been using it on my hands. 

I also used the baking soda method, which helped before the cream for up to a solid half hour. Guys, we are a unique, humorous people. I love that we can relate in this way! 

Love you all so much! Thanks for reading :)

Ps... Today I attended the "Festival of Colors"... what an amazing sight! To witness people of all religions, races, and ethnicities all come together and participate and show love to one another was incredible. We all come from different backgrounds, but we are all human going through life. Let us be kind and help one another!

I would love to help/talk to you! Email me!

Happy early Easter for those who are celebrating-- let me know your favorite traditions/memories!

xoxo,

Sweaty and Hawt

*This is a summary of events, some taken from my journal. Enjoy! Thanks for reading:)*

I had my whole summer planned out accordingly. I would leave to college in the fall, and this was my last summer before things got serious. We planned on having the surgery mid July, leaving just enough time for me to heal properly before I would make the trek to a new life. It was perfect. A new me. A new life. No more hot, sweaty Arizona summers for me. This was the summer I was going to get the life changing ETS surgery.

For those who may not be familiar with the ETS surgery, it is a so found "cure" for those with hyperhidrosis. However, although a minimally evasive surgery, it is still dangerous. They collapse your lungs, and clamp or clip the nerves in your spinal column that trigger the sweating in your hands, and sometimes can stop the sweating in your feet, too. For more information, look on the Mayo Clinic Website. 

For years I had wanted this surgery, and my mom always simply said, "no". She was anxious, as a mom would be, but I was distraught. I just wanted my life to be better-- and I thought that this surgery would be the solution. After many months of just coping, my mother finally agreed that I could go and get a consultation. Shedding tears with the doctor, my mother decided that for an early 18th birthday present, I could get this surgery. It was my life and what I wanted. I didn't even care about the side effects of the surgery. This trial of mine needed to end. 

That summer was a good one for me. Graduation, trips to the beach, getting tan, going up to the mountains, being with friends for the last time, country music, and my all-time favorite: the lake. Day time, nighttime, I love the lake! Lake Powell was different this year; the days were spent talking to my mother about the surgery and my family and I reminiscing about embarrassing stories. They were all excited for the new me.

Lake Powell. July 3. What a gorgeous place.

"The sun wakes me up early--- 6 am. I hike up the canyon alone, stopping to sit on what feels like the top of the world. I am an adventurer. An explorer. The lake stretches out for miles as smooth as glass, the hot sun bakes my body from the outside in. A cool breeze brushes against me, gently sweeping the hair around my face. It tickles. I smile and reach for my hair in an effort to brush it back. Then I feel it. A wet streak left on my face. I stare out at the beauty of the Earth and contemplate who I will be in a couple of weeks: a changed, better person, someone without this trial. My life will then be complete. My life will then be changed forever." Little did I know how right I was.

We left Lake Powell and made the journey back to Arizona. I just wanted it to be the day. I just wanted to be changed already.

Then it came. July 12, 2012.

"Welp, today I get surgery! Right now it's 4:45 am and about 10 minutes before I leave for surgery. I know that all will be well! God will protect me and take care of me. I am so excited for this day which will change my life... FOREVER. Well I'm off to the hospital. See ya when I'm sweat free!"

Sweat free? Or not?
...To be continued...

xoxo,

Sweaty and Hawt.

*Drop me a comment! Shoot me an email! I would love to hear your stories and feedback! Tune in for the rest of my story soon! :) Subscribe via email to be notified about my posts. Thanks for reading! Ps... you're all hawt.*

You guys, life can be hard.

Life: existence, spirit, living, being.

Why does life have to be hard?

It doesn't.

Life was hard.

Life is going to be hard.

But for the moment, life is not hard. 

You see, life is not just to be endured. 

Sure, when times are rough, it feels like we are the only person in the world and that know one understands.

The crying on the telephone to mom and dad, the hope for a better day, and a new tomorrow.

The pain in our hearts that if we just were different, if we just didn't have this problem, that LIFE--our  spirit, our existence-- would be so much better.

We are all humans.

Look around you, and I guarantee that those surrounding you in this life are struggling, dealing, coping, with trials.

Life is who we are. It makes us... who we are.

So let life be hard yesterday and struggle tomorrow. But for now, and every day, live this beautiful life.

You see, life...

Life... is to be enjoyed.

xoxo,

Sweaty and Hawt-- the girl who loves, well, life.

Pretty soon I will be sharing a day when I found myself. A day when my life was supposed to be changed to somehow be easier. But guess what? Life did not seem to have that in the cards for me. Please let me know if you would like to hear it and I would love to hear your feed back! 

We have all had that awkward conversation... you know, the "OMGOSH did you just wash your hands?? Why are they so wet!?" 

Like okay.. thank you! As if not everyone's hands are this wet. I mean if they're not, they wish their hands were this wet. Geeeez. It's something a little like:

"Oh, hello.

Yeah I know I am glistening.

I just went swimming. That's why my armpits look like this. And my hands feel like this. 

Yeah I know it's 20 degrees outside... it was an indoor pool okay?!

No I did not use a towel to dry off. 

Oh okay bye..."

Anyone watch the Bachelorette? Well Tiara says, "Nobody can take my sparkle away". Yeah, well join the club Tiara.

We're a beautiful people.

xoxo,

Sweaty, hawt and... awkward.

p.s... any good deodorants you guys like?? I like Secret 48 hour protection!

I'm just gonna make a shout out to those single ladies out there: ENJOY VALENTINE'S DAY.

It's a national holiday. Wait, did you hear that?? HOLIDAY.

I know, I know... Valentine's Day is all about being all cute with that special someone.. but hey, it's also about spreading the love. So don't lock yourself in a closet, post a status about how much you "hate this day", and don't call it single awareness day because you should be aware that your single February 13, as well as February 15. Stop whining, and BE HAPPY!

For my hyperhidrosis sistas... go get your nails done!! Who cares if you are a sweaty mess! Pretty nails always make you feel better :) I chose pink in honor of tomorrow.

Fact of the day: 

Vampires glisten in the sunlight... and so do people with hyperhidrosis. We're just that much closer to being immortal. So add your sparkle to Valentines Day!

Happy V-Day! Hope you fill it with love and happy things!

xoxo,

Sweaty and Hawt.

As you guys know, I was supposed to have the ETS Surgery to remove the sweating of my hands and hopefully help the sweating on my feet this past summer. However, the surgery was unexpectedly cancelled because of my insurance, which as some suffering for hyperhidrosis may know was devastating for me, especially because insurance classified the surgery as "cosmetic" surgery, which for those suffering from this know it most definitely is not. It is something I have been dealing with my whole life.

My uncle is a surgeon that deals with sweat glands, and knowing my disappointment and frustration offered to remove my arm pit sweat glands. It was a simple, easy surgery and recovery was quick!

Although the surgery reduced my under arm sweating, I still sweat dramatically at my arm pits. He told me about this new, exciting technology called "miraDry". I think the best part about miraDry is that it is not surgery!

He is opening up a clinic in Arizona in February, so hopefully I can make it down and try out this new treatment. I will let you know how it goes!

For the meantime, check out the website!!