Way out'ta whack.

Hi folks.  I'm back.  And I have a statement to make.  It seems I'm officially ~ahem~ middle aged.  How so?  Hot flashes.  Crazy, mind numbingly frustrating hot flashes.  Hot flashes and night sweats.  Hot flashes, night sweats and stupid mood swings, oh my.  How many years of this will I have to endure?  ~sigh~  Actually, the question should be how many years of this will my friends and family have to endure?  Eh... I was right the first time.  It's all about me, after all.  Uh HUH!  Is too!!!

I went on a fantastic hike last week.  We were out for 7 days, covered 70 miles.  I spent that week hiking 10 miles a day with 30'ish pounds on my back, eating high-carb, high-sugar, high-salt trail food.  Up at dawn, in my tent at sunset... sometimes sooner.  My theory is this very fun but very nutritionally imbalanced week gave my system a strong kick into the world of menopause.  Peri-menopause.  Whatever.  Psh.

Upon our return from the trail, I indulged in a plate or three of Chinese takeout.  And every evening has seen ice cream.  And my days include very sweet, high-octane tea, and cocoa w/ hazelnut creamer, bread and butter, toast and butter, crackers and butter... 

I really need to get a grip.  I've been saying that all week/month/year, but I believe I turned a subtle corner today and am making my way back to relative healthy choices.  I know; just words.  The proof is in the ... damn it ... pudding.  I like pudding.

I started a rough food journal today, more so to try to correlate certain foods with my hot flashes.  I'll keep you posted.  But really, it seems like it's not simply a matter of weight anymore.  My shape is changing, beyond what the extra poundage accounts for.  I'm losing my waist.  I'm becoming less of a pear and more of an apple.  Well, not an apple, more like a linebacker.

My plan, starting tomorrow, is to resume my quest towards whole foods, vegetarianism, and ultimately veganism.  Wish me luck.

Now where's that ice cream?

Trail lunch: crackers, cheese, Nutella and a Clif bar.

Trail breakfast: instant flavored oatmeal, cocoa.

Oh, and a very special thank you to my friend at work who turned me on to cups of double cocoa with shots of hazelnut creamer.   You are an evil genius.  Damn you.  ;-)