Changing My Lifestyle with PCOS

Before I was diagnosed with Polycystic-Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), I never really imagined myself with children. However, upon my diagnosis, I found out that PCOS is a leading cause of infertility in women. I had watched my sister endure a miscarriage before and have her own difficulties conceiving, so learning that I may struggle with having children one day hit a place within me that I never knew I had. It was like a motherly instinct that had yet to arise was finally found within myself, and I felt really defeated and scared.

Then, there were other health risks that come from PCOS, like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, endometrial cancer, and hormonal issues. The doctor diagnosed me, read me a list of symptoms and risks like a robot reading from a script. My head was spinning and I felt alone. I felt like that freak who would battle her weight, self-esteem, and abnormal hair growth for the rest of her life. 

Even though nearly 1 in 10 women are diagnosed with PCOS, there is no cure. There are medications that can help treat symptoms, but all come with side effects and a slew of other medications to cope with said side effects. This diagnosis was heartbreaking. After all, I didn’t think I would be battling something like this at such a young age. 

Immediately, I went home and got on the internet. I found amazing Facebook groups full of supportive women who have the same diagnosis. The common factor among all of these women was that healthy lifestyle changes were at the core of their lives after being diagnosed. 

I slowly made the transition into a healthier lifestyle as well. 

My Lifestyle Changes

The most important thing I can do to manage my symptoms is to eat a healthy, PCOS friendly diet. However, I have found it important to not look at it as a diet and as a lifestyle change instead. Three things were suggested for my new eating habits are:

• Limit sugar
• Minimize carbs and only eat whole wheat carbs
• Eliminate dairy

I started with the easiest one - the carbs. I had always preferred whole wheat bread anyway, it was cutting back on it that I had to focus on. However, when you cut down on carbs, you get hungry. Therefore, I had to up my protein intake to keep myself feeling full. Once I was able to stave off hunger, I started to limit sugar by exchanging sweet treats with fresh berries and a dairy-free, sugar-free whipped cream. 

The hardest one was dairy. I love cheese and I think everything is better with cheese. Instead of cutting cheese out completely, I allow myself one meal each week that doesn’t meet these guidelines, and that carries me over long enough but also allows me to not be too hard on myself. In addition, I substituted milk with almond milk - and I surprisingly haven’t missed milk since. 

Once I adapted to my new eating habits, working out came next. I’ll never forget my first day hitting the gym. I was extremely uncomfortable and self-conscious because I was so out of shape. 

I stepped on the elliptical and found myself smiling a few minutes later. I was extremely proud of the fact that I was actually doing this thing - I was at the gym, taking action to get my health under control. Within a couple of weeks, I started losing inches, but I never stepped foot on the scale. 

Impacts on my Physical and Emotional Health

The physical and emotional benefits I gained from changing my lifestyle are invaluable. One of the reasons I went to the doctor in the first place was because my menstrual cycles had stopped. Fortunately, after only three weeks of intense cardio and some weights, my menstrual cycles came back and were regular. This was one of the first symptoms of PCOS that I saw improve. There were many more improvements to follow.

The biggest impacts on my health were emotional ones. Not only did I have more energy throughout the day and sleep better at night, but I had self-confidence for the first time. Sure - I didn’t look like one of those unrealistic models that you see on social media, but I looked happier and held myself with confidence. I stopped worrying about my weight and appearance because in my heart I knew that I was taking steps to better myself. Suddenly, my own view of myself was the only one that mattered. 

Lastly, I felt a great sense of accomplishment. I was finally taking control of my life rather than being a victim of circumstances.

Advocating For Others

One of my biggest struggles with changing my lifestyle came up in my career. I share an office with 9 co-workers, all of whom are young with a great metabolism. They can eat whatever they want and not gain weight, nor do they have health issues that require them to eat a certain way. Fast food, sweets, and pizza was a regular occurrence for lunch in our office. I wanted to not only remove the temptation but give them the tools to live healthier lives as well. After all, when my lifestyle changed, I had more energy and focus throughout the day, which noticeably improved my work ethic.

I ended up speaking with the owner of the company about starting a wellness initiative at our company. We talked about the benefits of corporate wellness, and since our company was small, we worked together to find low-cost ways to improve the health of our employees. We started having healthy snacks delivered to the office, promoting regular short breaks for walks around the block and started offering extra health benefits. Needless to say, everyone at work was happy with the changes and gladly took advantage of what was being offered. As a result, it became a lot easier to maintain my new lifestyle and have support from the people I spend 40 hours a week with!

Aside from work, I wanted to help other women with PCOS who were struggling to change their lifestyles. I found a Facebook group that was a support group for women with PCOS. However, I saw that many of them were struggling to stick to a clean diet and see real symptom improvement. I had already been experimenting with new recipes and seeing my own results, so I started sharing my recipes with the group and encouraging others to give my lifestyle a shot.

I never thought I would impact so many women, but every time I make a post, I see so many women thanking me for my help. Throughout this journey, the best part has been having the opportunity to help others and watch others better themselves. 

PCOS isn’t easy. In a sense, it can take away some of the things that make women feel like women. However, by taking control of my health, I found power in my condition and use that empowerment to help others. Sometimes, a little support from someone who understands is all that we need to succeed.