Invisalign: The Retainers

Hallelujah! I just picked up my retainers. I have been wearing the last set of my Invisalign aligners for literally two months, since my attachments were removed in December. They were in an awful shape. I was afraid that they were so loose from all the cracks and being chewed on - they were not supporting my teeth enough to prevent them from moving back to their original spots. So finally holding my retainers in my hot little hands was a cause for celebration. ;)  

2018 Monthly Challenge: January

The year of challenges and simplification has only started, but already proved to be a tough one for me. I have to admit - I did not do so well with my January challenge of getting rid of one thing a day every day of the month. While I did get rid of a couple of pairs of shoes, some clothing items, some duplicate kitchen utensils, a few beauty products, some purses and bags, etc., I stopped keeping track after about the 17th of the month, because I seriously have the hardest time getting rid of things just for the heck of getting rid of things. 

What to expect when you are getting ZOOM-ed

As I mentioned in my previous post, after having my Invisalign attachments removed, I opted for an in-office teeth whitening procedure Philips ZOOM!

Invisalign: Removal of the attachments

I have survived another appointment to have the attachments removed, to have my teeth cleaned and whitened. It took over 3 hours. 

Moving Forward

I am not usually the one to make New Year’s resolutions. To me they feel artificial and forced. Maybe that is the reason why only about 8% of resolutions are actually achieved.

However, I have always been a huge proponent of setting goals and taking action towards them. A year seems like a reasonable length of time to accomplish a realistic goal. Thus, this year I have decided to resolve. I have resolved to simplify. 

Randomness: Stay Strong

Feel as if your willpower is weakening? Make a fist to help boost it. Research shows that this simple tactic really works: Because we tend to unconsciously tighten our muscles when we need more physical or mental strength, our brains have learned to associate the act with greater self-control. Clenching your fist becomes a cue to renew your willpower whenever you need the resolve to choose an apple over a doughnut or to get to the gym when you’d rather sit on the couch.

      - Iris Hung, Ph.D., a professor of marketing at Fudan University in Shanghai and a coauthor of a study about how muscle contraction influences self-control.

Source: Shape magazine, September 2016. #bossofmybody

The Challenge of Invisalign: One Year Update

It has been about a year since I first put on my Invisalign aligners. Although I have already posted some of the less known aspects of the treatment, I would like to share a couple of other things that I have learned along the way. I know I would have welcomed this knowledge, when I was making the decision and would have loved to know all the details about the effects of the treatment and any additional expenses that may need to be incurred as the result of opting for Invisalign.

LASIK: One Last Update

It has been almost two years. And getting LASIK surgery is still one of the best decisions I've ever made. I am so grateful for the gift of clear vision. It was unbelievable to go from (-7.5) to perfect sight overnight. 

As of the last visit to the optometrist my vision checks in at 20/15. I do not have any bothersome side effects. It is amazingly liberating not having to put in the contacts or fumble around in the morning trying to find my glasses.

Bottom line: 

I would highly recommend LASIK surgery to anyone who is a candidate for it. It will make your life so much easier. 

Read all about my LASIK Journey here. 

The Challenge of Invisalign: What no one tells you

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, getting Invisalign is the end of your life as you know it. I am starting to think Invisalign is just as challenging as regular braces. Here is what my experiences have been so far.

Have You Ever Been to NYC?

Happy Thanksgiving! This year I am thankful that I live in LA. Russians have a saying - everything becomes known in comparison (everything is relative). The truth is I was so used to my perfect life that I was completely oblivious to how good I actually had it. I have always deemed Los Angeles to be my dream city and always enjoyed living here. However, I did not fully realize how much I love it, until I visited New York.