Island Girl with PCOS

You are probably wondering what the heck is PCOS. Well, that's what I thought when I first came across this acronym. This blog is specifically for ladies who are dealing with reproductive and hormonal issues. If you think you fall under this category or you're just curious to read, please keep on reading...

And let me just first say, you are looking LOVELY today :)

So what is PCOS? PCOS is polycystic ovary syndrome. It is a condition in which the ovaries are affected and causes hormonal imbalance according to clevelandclinic.org. This syndrome isn't understood well today as far as what causes it or if it's genetic. You can research more about it to learn more since I will only be speaking about my experience having PCOS.

What are SYMPTOMS or SIGNS? Everyone is different but common signs are irregular periods, excess body hair including facial hair, weight gain especially in abdominal area, infertility and jaw line acne to name a few. These are actually the symptoms I have that lead me to research more about it.

I was told it is "NORMAL"

“It's normal to have irregular periods. Don't overthink it."

One thing that having PCOS is all too common for me is getting gaslighted by almost all conventional doctors out there. It took me a while to get diagnosed with PCOS because I felt like doctors don't consider it as a real issue. I've also learned that conventional doctors don't really take into consideration the hormones of a person. Well, I can't speak on all of them but at least the ones I sought advice from.

First they advised me to lose weight, which didn't make sense to me at the time because I would eat a salad and gain like 2 pounds. Then they tried to give me birth control but I didn't want to because my husband and I are actually trying to conceive.

It's all about the HORMONES

I took it upon my own hands to find out exactly what was wrong with me. So I started researching until I found out exactly what I had, PCOS. Ok great! Now what? I started following people who are wellness coaches specifically targeting women with PCOS and I also started watching testimonials of women with PCOS losing weight and all the problems they faces. Suddenly, I felt understood and not so alone anymore.

The more I read about PCOS, the more I understood that it is all about the hormones. My reproductive system is basically operating based on what my body tells it to do and hormones being the "messengers". The hormones a.k.a "messengers" are imbalanced! Why? I don't know yet. A lot of doctors don't know yet. BUT, this is a game changer. I now know what to target and that is to BALANCE my HORMONES.

Ever told you were LAZY?

“I'm not lazy, it's just my PCOS"

Honestly, I believe conventional doctors who are guys will never UNDERSTAND having PCOS. Just like how they will never know what actual childbirth feels like. If you've ever been told you were lazy, blame it on having PCOS because it's TRUE! Hormonal imbalance affects your body so much! You'll have indescribable fatigue and some days you'll find yourself battling with depression and anxiety.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

So here's what I did...

Balancing hormones is not easy. It requires a whole change in lifestyle. Sometimes I envy people who can afford to eat whatever they want and not face instant consequence. But actually, I am grateful. Without having this condition, I probably would still be very careless about health. Having PCOS is what shifted my mindset to live mindfully and intentionally.

Food. Eat whole foods meaning food that are not processed and full of fiber. (I'm looking at you island girls! I know we love our spam, ramen, tuna and corn beef but processed food is the worst for us! I know it is near impossible to let them go <sigh> but... we must for the sake of our reproductive health) Ladies with PCOS tend to be very sensitive to dairy, gluten and refined sugar. Just a little of those can offset your hormones and start reserving calories and storing them as fat.

Stress. You want to control your stress levels. Ladies with PCOS are sensitive to stress as well. Take time to breathe and meditate daily to help control stress levels. Journaling is a great way to control stress level because it allows you to release your thoughts and feelings through writing. This is my go to!

Movement. Movement is different from exercise. Movement throughout the day is very helpful for ladies with PCOS because it keeps heart rate level constant. High intensity exercise can trigger stress levels which will not be helpful for you. Just increase movement like walking or chores around the house. I started walking in the morning and I noticed an instant change!

Swap Coffee with Herbal Tea. This one is a daily struggle for me. Coffee is life, right? Unfortunately, wrong. Herbal teas are much healthier and it took me while to get used to herbal tea but I promise if you do it long enough, you'll feel the difference. You health is worth so much more than that few hours of caffeine fix in the morning.

Monk Fruit Sweetener. Refined sugar is out and monk fruit sweetener is in! This product is great because it doesn't affect your blood sugar. Keeping your blood sugar down can help reduce symptoms of PCOS.

Vitamins & Supplements. Inositol & prenatal vitamins work very well for me in maintaining my blood sugar at a healthy level and supply my body with all the vitamins and minerals I need to keep my reproductive system healthy. (Disclaimer: The supplements I take works for me, doesn't necessarily mean it will work for you. Please consult your doctor before you take anything. I'm just sharing what works for me.)

Unfortunately, PCOS cannot be cured. However, we can manage our symptoms. Having PCOS is a daily struggle but the key to overcoming it is setting a healthy routine and be consistent. I, too, struggle EVERYDAY to be consistent in my daily healthy habits but remember that consistency is better than perfection. As long as you keep going going, your body will adjust and adapt to the healthy habits you're trying to set.

Set reachable goals and don't be too hard on yourself, otherwise you'll be disappointed and it could ruin or hinder your progress. Baby steps will bring you to your goal eventually!

I'm rooting for you! Let's get it!

🧡Sincerely, Balie