PCOS

I know there are a few people who read my blog (thank you for your support)! I wanted to know if anyone out there has been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)?

I've had PCOS since college (maybe sooner, but that is when it was diagnosed), and I know for a fact that the condition can make it a little harder to lose weight. However, if the weight is lost it can greatly reduce your risk for the side effects of PCOS which are diabetes and heart disease. For those of you who don't know much about PCOS here is a quick definition from the Mayo Clinic:

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition characterized by irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth and obesity, though it can affect women in a variety of ways.

The exact cause of polycystic ovary syndrome is unknown, but the condition stems from a disruption in the monthly reproductive cycle. The name polycystic ovary syndrome comes from the appearance of the ovaries in some women with the disorder — large and studded with numerous cysts (polycystic).

Polycystic ovary syndrome affects about one in 10 women in the United States and is the leading cause of infertility in women. Early diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome can help reduce the risk of long-term complications, which include diabetes and heart disease.

One thing I have learned from doctors and dieticians alike is that a low glycemic index diet has been found successful in helping PCOS patients lose weight and prevent diabetes. That is another reason why I chose to use the South Beach Diet as my dietary guideline for weighloss.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the glycemic index it is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood glucose levels. Carbohydrates that break down rapidly during digestion releasing glucose rapidly into the bloodstream have a high GI; carbohydrates that break down slowly, releasing glucose gradually into the bloodstream, have a low GI. The South Beach diet seems to promote eating foods that have a low GI, such a vegetables and whole grains. Since many PCOS patients are "pre-diabetic" or insulin resistant a diet that consists of lean proteins and low GI foods are very important not only for weightloss, but also for preventing diabetes.

After having PCOS for almost 10 years I am just starting to get this (duh).

So, I wanted to know if any of you have PCOS:

1)Have you experienced weight-loss struggles?

2)What methods, tools, etc do you find successful in acheiving your weight-loss/health goals?

Rules Are Made to Be Broken...or Something Like That

I knew I was going to be eating my words when I made my "rules." I need to make a few adjustments...particularily to #4 & #6.

#4: 10pm bedtime - Well, unfotunately it is necessary for the survival of our family that I work a night job. This means that I usually don't get home until 10pm on most nights. Therefore, I think an 11pm bedtime will be more appropriate. I'm violating that right now as I type this post, but going forward I will make it my goal to be in bed by 11pm.

#6: Food Journal - My food journaling has been beneficial. It makes me conscious of everything that goes into my mouth because I know I have to write it down. However, with a household to run and a night job and a 14 month old and student husband to take care of...something has got to give. I am still going to keep a food journal, but not the elaborate food journal I have going on right now. I am going to just buy a little notebook and write down what I eat...no nutritional info. I think that is what took so much time...trying to figure out all of the calories, fat, carbs, proteins, etc. I've done this in the past, and it takes very little time, yet is very beneficial for me.

Which leads me to my #1 Rule: Eat to Live. I've done well for myself (accept for that oopsie a few days ago) watching what I eat. I've been prompted by a few friends to check out the South Beach Diet. I've never had much interest because I figured it's a fad diet similar to Atkins. However, I finally decided to at least read into it (well, the book that is), and have found that the eating lifestyle of the South Beach Diet is very similar to what I'm trying to do now.

So, my husband and I are on day two of Phase I of the S.B.D. I will say that neither of us are a big fan of this 2 week Phase I, but I like the idea that it is almost "cleansing" and "preparing" the body for a new start. So...onward and upward!