We’ve heard over and over again that weight loss is important in managing PCOS and that diet and exercise are more effective than medications in improving your PCOS symptoms. Previously, we’ve focused a lot on the importance of diet and the kind of diet we should all be following. But, we haven’t really tackled the topic of exercise and just about every day I get emails asking me about what exercise we should be doing and how much. So, I think it’s time to have a closer look at exercise and it’s importance in managing our symptoms. My own relationship with exercise is a bit hit and miss. Before getting married, I went to the gym about 5 times a [...]

I recently came across a piece of research that made me SO excited and I just have to share it with you as it could completely transform how you manage your PCOS. Now this research is a gem, a treasure to be looked after and worn close to your heart. It confirms that you don’t have to be a victim of PCOS but that you do have some power and control over what happens with your body. Are you ready for this? The Gem Diet and lifestyle changes are more effective than Clomid and Metformin in managing PCOS (1). I have always firmly believed this but to see it in black and white, evidenced in medical and scientific journals, validates [...]

We’ve all been there: we’re desperate to lose some weight and decide that it’s time. We start off really well, being really “good” about what we eat and how regularly we exercise. But slowly our motivation begins to wane and we start to let things go, indulging in a treat here, skipping an exercise class there. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? The thing is, when we fall off the wagon, our PCOS symptoms go haywire: the weight piles on, our skin breaks out and our self esteem plummets. We know that a PCOS diet and lifestyle is crucial to managing PCOS but we struggle to make the lasting changes we so desperately need to make. Lifestyle Changes Most Effective Way to [...]

Since writing about PCOS and Acupuncture, I have had some wonderful feedback and comments from those of you that are in the process of doing some acupuncture treatments or who have tried it already. And I have to say, it all sounds really promising. The overwhelming thing that stands out for me is how relaxed everyone feels after a session. So, with all of that positive feedback and anecdotal evidence, let’s have a look at what the research says about acupuncture and PCOS. Sketchy Picture I guess the first thing to say is that research seems to be a bit sketchy in this area. In doing my research for previous articles, I normally find loads of research and articles to [...]

Print Mixed Berry Smoothie Rating: 51 Prep Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 5 minutes 1 Serving Calories per serving: 297 Fat per serving: 8g Ingredients 100ml (1/2 cup) x Almond Milk 1 x Medium Banana 80g (3 oz) x Frozen Mixed Berries 1 x scoop Hemp or Whey Protein 1 x Cup Spinach Water as needed Instructions Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth If your smoothie is too thick, add water until the desired consistency is reached. Quick and easy – Enjoy Notes This is a quick and easy breakfast for when you’re on the run. The protein powder helps to balance the carbohydrates from the fruit. It has a Glycemic Load of 13 [...]

I was recently asked by one lovely lady to look into the benefits of using acupuncture with PCOS. Now, this strays a little bit away from my usual PCOS Diet posts but I have to say that I was intrigued and decided it was worth investigating. You see, I have a medical background and have been well-trained to look for the evidence and reasoning behind things. In my Westernised, medical mind, acupuncture has never been on my radar. So when I was asked to do some research, I couldn’t help myself. I needed to know the ins and outs of why acupuncture could be beneficial for PCOS and whether I have been missing out on something that could help me. [...]

Well, I’m not really sure how it happened but suddenly we’re in March and it’s time to do my February progress report. Where did the time go?! I have started doing these monthly reports because I think that it is important to track my progress, not only to ensure that I meet my health and PCOS  goals, but to make sure that what I am doing to manage my symptoms is working and that I am still on track. Before I get into the detail of my progress, I just want to let you know that I am an intensely private person by nature. I don’t easily share my feelings or my PCOS struggles with the people around me. The [...]

Since writing the Honest, Hairy Truth articles, I’ve had a lot of questions and feedback from many of you wanting more information on Inositol. For some of those who have tried it, the results have been dramatic, with one woman losing 21 pounds in a month since taking it. I have to say that my results have not been as dramatic but I have seen a slight improvement in my weight and hirsutism. Could combining Inositol with a good PCOS diet be effective in managing our PCOS symptoms and if Inositol is able to produce some improvements, not matter how big or small, I think it’s worth having a closer look at it. Don’t you? What is Inositol? Inositol is [...]

Since starting PCOS Diet Support, I have had the privilege of connecting with so many women with PCOS, all of them with stories different to my own, but with so many common threads. One of the topics that seems to keep raising is head is “PCOS and Depression”. So, I thought that this week we could tackle the topic of Depression and work out if a PCOS diet can also help with this more hidden and sneaky symptom. Before we all get too depressed (excuse the pun!) with this topic, let me suggest a cup of spearmint tea to raise your spirits and lower your testosterone. We are going to find the silver lining so bear with me. As you [...]

Well, it’s the end of the first month of 2013. 11 more to go… I often wonder how much I will accomplish in the year if I accomplish as much as I did in January every month for the next 11 months. It’s a bit of a scary thought, really! I have a confession to make. I did not make any New Year’s resolutions at the beginning of this year. But, I did have a good think about what I hope to achieve in 2013, particularly with regard to my PCOS and my PCOS Diet. Here are my goals: I think that it is important to track my progress, not only to ensure that I meet these goals, but to [...]