In 2006 I had my first confrontation with hot flashes. At first I didn’t know what the heck was going on. It couldn’t have been hot flashes, I was way too young (or so I thought).

After coming to the shocking realization that I was actually having hot flashes, I started doing some research on how to fight the dreaded condition. My research brought me to the wonderful green drink Green Vibrance. For the past 10 years, Green Vibrance and I have been enjoying an on again off again relationship. It’s on when I remember to drink it and off when I forget.

All it takes is a couple of hot flashes to remind me that I’ve not taken my Green Vibrance in the past week or so.

Hot Flash Round 2

Now, years later, I’ve gotten very lax in a number of areas in my life. Not only have I been forgetting to drink my Green Vibrance, I’ve taken to eating really, really bad foods. I noticed that more and more processed foods have crept into my diet; a little pasta here, a slice of cake there.

In addition to my dietary slip ups, I’ve been speslip-upso much time in front of the computer and not getting any exercise. Although I still fit in my clothes, I usually have to slather a generous portion of lotions and oils in order to slide into them. Apparel with buttons and zippers are a thing of the past, everything has elastic waists and pull over tops (no sense in inadvertently injuring someone with a high velocity button flying off of my shirt).

To top it all off, I felt horrible. For the first time in my life I looked at my hubby and said, “I feel old.” My knees hurt, my back hurt, I felt out of shape and just plain bad (probably because I hadn’t been to the chiropractor in months).

Breeding Ground for Flashes

My decline into ill health is all those pesky little hot flashes needed to grab a hold of me again. One night when I least suspected it, I was rudely awakened. I thought the thermostat for the furnace was malfunctioning. I was awakened by intense heat only to realize that it was my internal furnace that was in overdrive. Of course, to compensate for the extreme heat, my body let the floodgates of sweat flow. I was hot and drenched! Not a pretty sight.

After enduring these beastly hot flashes every hour on the hour for a day or so I realized that I had to take control again. It’s now 10 years later, I’m in the worst shape of my life. To top it off, I’ve got to find the strength to put up a good fight if I want to beat these hot flashes.

Strategy for Fighting Hot Flashes

Immediately, I went to the health store and purchased my beloved Green Vibrance. I started taking it twice a day instead of the recommended one time a day.

Expecting to feel the results in the usual 4 to 5 days, imagine my surprise when all I did was reduce the frequency (and the intensity), but they didn’t stop.

Round 2:

Now I had to up the ante. I cut out the processed stuff. If the food was not grown from the ground or if it didn’t have a Mom and Dad, then I wasn’t eating it. I know for a fact that a Twinkie doesn’t have a Mom or a Dad and sure as shootin’ wasn’t grown from the ground.

I was back to eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish and chicken. It’s amazing how within the first week of modifying my diet, I lost a few pounds. Losing the initial weight is just what I needed to make my knees stop hurting. I think they were angry because they had additional weight to carry.

Round 3

With my knees no longer angry, I was able to begin an exercise program; nothing too strenuous (at first), just walking a few miles a day. The winter storms did much to create a homemade gym. Between cutting tree branches, raking and cleaning up the debris, I was getting a very productive workout.

Turning Down the Thermostat

By making the above changes, I’ve noticed a drastic decrease in my hot flashes. As a matter of fact, its only 3 weeks into my dietary/exercise changes and the flashes have not only reduced in frequency (maybe one a day), but the intensity has also decreased. No longer do I get those warning tingles before the furnace dials itself to the max.

At this point in the game, the hot flashes are infrequent and mild. I’m sticking with my program until they’re totally gone (and I know they will be gone). After all, I went several years without having to suffer with them, why start now.

Hot flashes, when you stop to think of it, are really my friend. They’re my not so subtle reminder that it’s time to get back into health.