This post has been highly requested, and I understand why…it’s something that so many of us face, and yet there’s so much about it that is often left unsaid. So, I’m gonna say it. For you, for me, and for the millions of women who might feel like they are alone on this journey. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormone imbalance disorder for women of childbearing age.
I was just 19 years old when I was diagnosed with PCOS. After several months, multiple rounds of bloodwork, many confused doctors, a lot of punting, more bloodwork and finally an ultrasound…that was the prognosis. It took a lot to even get to that point. I was gaining weight, only having a period every three to six months, and exhausted ALL the time.
And once the diagnosis was rendered, what was I given? The pill. I was told that it would “regulate” my cycle, and that everything else should “fall into place.” But here’s what was left unsaid:
I wouldn’t have a real cycle on the pill, but rather just a withdrawal bleed.
It wouldn’t fix the fact that my body wasn’t ovulating.
Oh yeah, and what if I wanted to have kids someday?
Fortunately, I got off the pill just three months later and never looked back. After a couple of months of things being pretty “normal,” my fingers suddenly swelled so badly that I couldn’t put my rings on, and I was riding an emotional rollercoaster…all day, every day.
No big deal, right?
Despite being told that I just needed a different version of the same thing, I knew it wasn’t for me. I knew there had to be a better way. About six months after stopping my prescription, I was finally starting to feel like myself again. I was still exhausted and overweight, but at least my hulk hands deflated, and I didn’t cry a dozen times a day.
And now, looking back, I’m so grateful that I had a reaction that prompted me to change course. Because had I stayed on the pill, my healing journey likely would’ve been much longer and much harder. I could do an entire blog post on that tiny pill, but I’ll refrain because this post is about PCOS and I promise you, I do have some hope and encouragement to deliver.
It’s been well over a decade since all of this happened, and I can honestly say I’m in the best health of my life: mentally, emotionally, and physically. I’ve lost the weight and kept it off, I have regular monthly periods, stable emotions, and tons of energy [read: I’m frequently referred to as the “energizer bunny”]. It took a lot to get here. But, unlike how this journey first started, it has been so worth it.
In addition to what was left unsaid about the pill, there were a few other things that were left unsaid, including:
My PCOS could be treated and managed with holistic remedies and a focus on healing my body, instead of just trying to suppress my symptoms.
Yup. Now we’re getting to the good stuff. The hopeful stuff.
I’m gonna lay out what I’ve learned over the years and what has worked for me. But before I do, just a reminder that I am not a doctor. This is simply a summary of what I’ve found works for me…based off the advice and guidance of some brilliant doctors and providers (all of whom happen to be fierce females, many of whom have faced and overcome major health struggles of their own).
Alright, here we go…
1. Diet
This is the queen of healing. What we feed our bodies is usually the most important piece of any wellness puzzle. Not all foods are created equal and not all bodies are the same. Finding out what foods to avoid (maybe not permanently, but at least for awhile so your body can recover) is paramount. I cannot emphasize this enough. An anti-inflammatory diet is a MUST.
Not sure where to start? I highly recommend an elimination diet to figure out what foods just don’t sit right with you. There is a lot of good info out there, and you should always check with your trusted provider.
Here’s what’s made a difference for me: my body is not a fan of grains, and it thrives off fruits and veggies (organic! This is so, so important!) and meats (the real stuff…free range chicken, 100% grass fed beef, wild caught fish, etc.). Also, for hormone balance, soy is a total no-go.
Now, in case anyone is worried: this doesn’t mean that I never eat grains. This girl loves pizza and pasta. I just make sure that when I indulge, I choose the highest quality version possible (think real ingredients instead of the processed stuff), and I generally stick to an 80/20 lifestyle so I can make sure my body is getting what makes it happy most of the time (and indulging without any guilt or concern the other part of the time).
2. Ditch & Switch
What you put on your body is almost as important as what you put in it. We’re gonna hit some of the big-ticket items that harbor endocrine disruptors (AKA make your hormones go cray-cray) and put your body in an uphill battle, so you can swap them out for cleaner options.
Cosmetics: this is the biggest culprit category, ladies! The average woman applies more than 100 different chemicals just while getting ready for her day! *GASP*
- Fragrance. Chances are your perfume is loaded with stuff that is really messing with your hormones. “Fragrance” is one of the biggest offenders…mostly because that one word can hide more than 3600 different chemicals (no, I’m not kidding!).
- Skincare. Feel like you just keep aging faster, despite being super diligent about your skincare routine? It’s not you, it’s those toxins living in your products, darling.
- Lotions. Seriously, ever tried to read the back of your lotion bottle and ended up tongue-tied? Your skin is your biggest organ, and chances are you’re slathering on stuff that is making your hormones super unhappy.
- Hair care. Thinning hair and hair loss are often associated with hormone imbalances. Just saying. Not to mention most products on the market continue to coat your hair with buildup, which makes it harder and harder to style and manage.
- Makeup. The ingredients in your makeup will dictate how much of it you need to wear in the long run. But really.
Don’t worry, darling, I’m not just gonna leave you hanging. CLICK HERE to let me know you want my Clean Queen Better Beauty Guide, and I’ll be happy to send it straight to your inbox. It has the full breakdown so you can see all my favorite recs in one place, and it’ll make your biggest ditch and switch process so easy! You’re welcome 😉
3. Exercise
If you’re dealing with PCOS, cardio is probably not your friend. In fact, high impact exercise can aggravate the condition. When I started gaining weight way back when, I started hitting the gym like it was my job. I thought I just had to “work it off,” but what I was really doing was making it worse. Much worse. Instead of burning fat, I further provoked the problem that caused my body to hang on to more of it. *facepalm*
I highly recommend trading intense workouts for moderate-level strength training. During law school, I found Pure Barre, and it was love at first tuck (iykyk). It’s low impact but effective, and instead of sending my body into a tizzy, it helps me build lean muscle (which is the holy grail of healing insulin resistance).
If you want to take it to the next level, and really honor your body, I recommend exercising in sync with your cycle. Did you know your monthly cycle has four difference phases to it? Yes darling, you’re literally FOUR different types of superhero every single month. But each version of her likes something a little different.
Even if you’re not having regular periods, you can still figure out what phase you’re in and track it. What your hormones need in the way of physical activity is going to vary throughout the month. This is an amazing way to promote healing and honor the epic female design. Plus, it’ll help speed along results!
These are some of the things that I’m grateful someone told me about PCOS. And I wanted to tell you, too. Because we should have ALL the information.
And no matter what, I hope you know you’re not alone. I know how isolating conditions like this can be…because the fact that millions of women are dealing with it also often goes unsaid.
If you have any questions, or I can offer any support, please shoot me an email and let’s chat. When it comes to achieving optimal wellness so you can live your best life, I am in your corner, darling!
Here’s to healing, health, and happy hormones 🙂
XOXO,
Carrie
