MenoPause

I went to the Dr this week and she told me I am peri-menopausal. I was disappointed. I wanted to be in menopause and just get this whole thing over. But she said this could go on for 10 more years. I skipped my period in July (yes, I bough a pregnancy test, yes it freaked me out) and so I was hoping I was all done! My mom had her hysterectomy when she was about my age, 47, but the Dr said because it was a hysterectomy we don't know at what age she actually stopped menstruating so I could last a long time. She also said that changing my diet and lifestyle was awesome and most likely will help me avoid lots of the unpleasant parts of menopause (hot flashes, emotional ups and downs, foggy thinking, irritability, aches and pains). She was surprised and thrilled for me when i told her I rarely have hot flashes (maybe 8 in the last 6 years). The only hot flash I had since we started ETL last year was at Christmas (hello sugar!) and she agreed that a poor diet increases hot flashes. I can't imagine how terrible I would feel right now if I hadn't changed the way I eat! Most recently I quit the sugar (again). No sugar for a week now. I don't even think about sugar now. I do have to be careful with the peanut butter (I feel great affection for p-nut butter) and bananas. I have been eating lots of fresh peaches - ahhh. so good. anyways, the Dr cheered me on and told me she was proud of me. As she left the room she said, "I can't tell you how wonderful it is that you have made such a huge change! You have really made your life better. Good luck! Keep it up!" it was super satisfying. Later I heard her consulting with a patient in the hallway and tell her to eat more leafy dark greens. :) I get my blood/urine test results back this week and I am looking forward to seeing the changes and also wondering what my B12 results will look like because I have been kind of tired. The End.

5 Days A Week

I set a goal this week to attend 5 classes at our gym. Today is day 2 and so far, 2 classes done! Yesterday was yoga and it left me a little sore but not miserable. Today I did the barbell class where I learned how to do the clean and jerk just like you see on the Olympics! Well, ok, I probably didn't look Olympic-like mostly because my barbell weighed a massive 9 lbs. But I can tell I am going to be sore tomorrow. Really sore.

The ladies in the classes are friendly and nice (and use MUCH heavier weights), quick to introduce themselves and say a few encouraging words when I tell them it is my first time in the class. Some even invited me back to the next class and I am totally accepting that invitation.

I have a theory that exercise makes it easier to eat healthy. People say it is because they don't want to eat junk after working so hard, but I think it is because of the good endorphins released. I just feel happier and more in control after I exercise.

Tomorrow I plan to go to a Zumba class, it will leave me all sweaty for a meeting, but that's ok. Right? I'm also considering a spinning class. I went spinning years ago and didn't like it, but Kelly tells me I should go and she is usually right.

I think I will sleep well tonight!

Starting the UP

via pinterest

Ups and Downs.

When I started the healthy plant based diet last year I worried that like any diet, career, relationship, long term commitment, I would have ups and downs. But after 4 months I believed I would only have ups! I felt so great and only wanted super healthy food and I was sure I would never be tempted by food again! It was a glorious feeling. Definitely the highest up of the whole life style change experience. Then slowly, quietly, almost invisibly, I started flirting with sugar and that led to the up and down part of the experience. I was a little embarrassed to admit it on this blog. But my goal with this blog was to be real about the whole experience and being real includes the parts where it didn't go as well as I wanted it to.

I dusted off the key board, thought long and hard about what has happened, and realised that I am happier when I take care of myself and feed myself the good stuff. So. I am back. You know how when you make a decision to do something and you can tell that it is going to really happen? That's where I am!

After a summer filled with local and international travel I am finally home to stay, at least until Thursday when I will be in LA for the day, but otherwise I am HOME TO STAY for 6 weeks. And guess what? 6 weeks is how long Phase One of Eat to Live lasts. Coincidence? I think not!

I went to the farmer's market on Saturday and loaded up on fresh local veggies. Breakfast was a green smoothie (with beet greens and carrots and the usual stuff) and a small bowl of garbanzo beans (hey, I like them. A lot.) and there is a huge salad on the menu for lunch and tonight we are having burritos, roasted green beans and beets, and local sugar baby watermelon (it really is amazing that anyone can grow anything here).

Oh, and I am SO glad that I started last year. SO thankful. SO filled with gratitude for all those wonderful people who encouraged me and nudged me along.

Are you ready for this up?