I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2017, and was able to get to a healthy weight and maintain it for over two years. I tried Keto, birth control and metformin to manage my PCOS. To best manage PCOS you need to actively adopt a mind-body approach, this will be a holistic approach, this will be a lifestyle change.
The scale can be saddening and depressing to look at sometimes, trust me, I know, I still panic sometimes before I weigh myself. When my hirsutism (excessive hair growth caused by excessive amounts of androgen hormones) "acts" up, I know my hormones are out of whack, meaning I need to focus on reducing the androgen production in my body. Take stock of your recent activities, reflect, and proceed.
Women with PCOS are more prone to having an eating disorder. Whatever type of eating disorder it might be, I personally have and sometimes still have my moments where I either binge eat or restrictive food intake disorder. As I was saying, you are not alone in your food struggle. One of my ideas behind why I picked the name "Eating with PCOS" is to remind myself and in-turn inspire women and remind them that we are not alone in our daily battle with PCOS.
When I was first diagnosed with PCOS, I started Keto, which is extremely restrictive and is not sustainable, and not meant for women with PCOS. Women with PCOS have to maintain a low to moderate Carb lifestyle, women with PCOS have to adopt a mind-body-soul approach to managing PCOS, women with PCOS can truly live and thrive by following a holistic approach.
My heaviest weight was 190lbs, I also got the excessive restrictive eating where I would workout twice a day and didn't consume more than 1300 calories, at that point I was 134lbs. At 134, I got sick easily, constantly felt depleted and weak, I even once ended up in the ER and needed saline. At my skinniest, some days I wouldn't even consume 1000 calories, then I would have my 3000 calorie days, I would just binge and binge and binge eat until I felt sick. But I was thin, so I felt that was the ideal, that is what society wants, I wasn't happy nor was that healthy. Trust me I get the keto appeal but it is not sustainable.
I was even vegan and then later pescatarian, I tried many different things over the years, and that's how I have been able to come to the conclusion that women with PCOS have to maintain a low to moderate Carb lifestyle, women with PCOS have to adopt a mind-body-soul approach to managing PCOS, women with PCOS can truly live and thrive by following a holistic approach.
It took me time to love my body, skin has texture, I have a FUPA, I have rolls when I sit, I don't need to essentially see my ribcage to be happy and healthy, you breakout sometimes. Naturally looking at yourself, you can't look like airbrushed and photoshopped images. Food nourishes us, that is why when eating with PCOS we have to ensure we eat wholesome foods, real food, good for this vessel of ours food. Food that is good for our body and food that is also good for our soul.
Have FRIED CHICKEN and don't feel guilty about it.
There will be moments when you need to take stock and ask yourself, am I having too much food which contributes to aggravating my PCOS symptoms? I have said and will always say, it is a lifestyle, and some days will feel like a daily battle that is normal. This is why it is important to live by following a holistic approach, follow the 80/20 approach when it comes to food.
Do not be scared to step on the scale, nor let the number get to you, how do you feel? Is your cycle regulated? How's your energy level?
When you start to think you are doing something wrong by living, and enjoying "treat" foods from time to time, remind yourself you aren't doing anything wrong, there is no need nor cause to feel guilty. ENJOY LIFE! TREAT YOURSELF! TAKE CARE OF YOUR MIND AND SOUL!
It is just as important as taking care of your body.
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