Tag: #PCOS

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When Trying to be Healthy Feels Like a Full-Time Job

The Pressure to Always Be On

There’s this pressure, spoken or not, to always be doing the most when it comes to your health. Show up to the gym, eat clean, get your steps in, drink the water, take the supplements, regulate your blood sugar, balance your hormones, sleep well, repeat. And when you’re doing it all for weeks or months, it starts to feel like you should be used to it by now. That it should come naturally. That if you’re tired, it must be something you’re doing wrong.

But here’s the truth: sometimes, trying to do everything right is just plain exhausting.

Especially when your body is already working against you.

When the Baseline Is Already Hard

Living with PCOS means that no matter how well I eat or how consistently I move, my body still throws curveballs. Chronic fatigue makes even simple tasks feel like they’re being done underwater some days. And I know I’m not the only one. So many people are dealing with invisible conditions. Autoimmune disorders. Mental health struggles. Endocrine issues. Chronic pain. It’s not just about doing the work. It’s about doing the work while your body resists every step.

You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just carrying more than most people see.

The Perfection Trap

There’s a lie that creeps in when you’re trying to get healthy, that if you just stay consistent, you’ll feel better and better and better. And maybe that’s true for some people. But for those of us with long-term health struggles, it’s rarely that linear.

Sometimes, the most consistent thing you can do is rest.

And I don’t mean that in a cute, wellness-influencer kind of way. I mean that when your body is shot and your brain is foggy and everything hurts, it’s okay to take the day off. It’s okay to nap instead of lift. It’s okay to eat the thing. It’s okay to just exist.

You are not required to earn your rest.

Grace Over Guilt

One of the hardest parts of living with chronic health issues is the guilt that sneaks in. You know what to do. You’ve done it before. And yet today, you can’t. So you beat yourself up. You feel like a failure.

Stop.

Give yourself some grace. Real, honest grace. Not the kind where you “rest” and then punish yourself with two extra workouts later. Not the kind where you eat a snack and then spend hours trying to undo it.

The kind of grace that says, “I trust myself enough to know that taking care of me looks different every day.”

The Watchful Eyes (and the Hypocrisy)

There’s another layer to all this that no one really prepares you for. The spectators. Once people know you’re working on your health, it’s like they’re waiting for you to slip up. You mention you’re doing keto, and suddenly everyone’s a nutritionist. You eat one non-keto thing and it’s, “I thought you weren’t eating that anymore?”

Meanwhile, these same people are drinking soda for breakfast and haven’t had a vegetable in three days. But sure, let’s judge the girl with PCOS for eating a granola bar.

Here’s what I’ve learned. Most of the people who point fingers aren’t actually doing the work themselves. They just feel more comfortable when you’re struggling because it lets them off the hook.

Let them talk. Let them side-eye. Let them whisper. You don’t owe anyone perfection.

You’re allowed to change your mind, shift your plan, take breaks, and figure it out as you go. You are allowed to do what works for you. Because in the end, their opinions won’t get you through the hard days. You will.

It’s Not a Linear Path

Some days will be full of momentum and motivation. You’ll hit your macros, lift heavy, and feel like you’re making progress. And then there will be days where just getting out of bed takes everything you’ve got. That’s not failure. That’s life with a body that doesn’t always cooperate.

Health isn’t a straight line. It’s not a before and after photo. It’s a thousand tiny choices made over time, layered with rest, setbacks, and reminders that your worth has never been tied to your productivity.

So if today is one of the hard ones, you’re allowed to rest. You’re allowed to feel tired. You’re allowed to not be okay.

And you’re still on the path.

xoxo
-S

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Keto Chronicles: Finding Hope in a Plate of Bacon

Hey there, fellow travelers on the winding road of weight loss! Today, I come to you from the trenches of the dieting battlefield, armed with nothing but a spoon and a fierce determination to conquer my nemesis: the dreaded sweet tooth. Yes, you heard me right. I’m that person who can’t walk past a bakery without salivating uncontrollably, who has a secret stash of chocolate hidden in the back of the pantry, and who dreams of swimming in a pool of ice cream. But fear not, dear readers, for amidst the chaos of calorie counting and carb cravings, I’ve stumbled upon a beacon of hope: the keto diet.

Now, don’t get me wrong – when the keto diet first started gaining popularity around 2017-ish, I thought it was ridiculous. I refused to have anything to do with it, and I felt like it was a fad. And dangerous! But, as with anything, educating one-self is the most important tool in our wheelhouse! Over the years I have learned a lot and proven myself wrong. I’m not nutritionist, I’ve simply gotten my degree from YouTube University. While some professionals may disagree, I’m here to share what has personally worked for me, what I can stick with, and what genuinely makes me feel better physically.

Let me take you on my journey thus far. Recently I was diagnosed with PCOS. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, often involves insulin resistance, where cells have difficulty responding to insulin, leading to elevated insulin levels. This can cause major problems with weight loss for the women affected. The ketogenic diet, which focuses on low-carb, high-fat foods, has shown promise in managing PCOS by reducing insulin levels, promoting weight loss, and improving hormonal balance, thus helping to alleviate symptoms. So now we jump to me, as a woman with PCOS bravely navigating the treacherous waters of weight loss while fending off relentless attacks from her insatiable sweet tooth. Armed with nothing but steely resolve and a healthy dose of skepticism, I embarked on my keto adventure. Honestly I’d dabbled previously for a week or two at a time, but really had trouble sticking to it. Then, in December, I reconnected with a dear old friend who’d been keto for several years at that point, and she really inspired me to be dedicated. That being said, I have not been perfect, but, oh boy, what an adventure it’s been!

First off, let’s address the elephant in the room: bacon. Yes, you heard me right. Bacon, that crispy, salty slice of heaven, is not only allowed on the keto diet but encouraged. I know, I know, it sounds too good to be true. But trust me, there’s nothing quite like starting your day with a sizzling skillet of bacon and eggs. It’s like a breakfast symphony for your taste buds. Warning, however, too much bacon will make you feel ICKY. This as well as a few other foods, is not a something I would have chosen to eat on purpose previously. But is definitely welcome on my plate anymore. That being said, I don’t typically eat breakfast, as I attempt to intermittent fast, which I will discuss further on.

The wonders of keto extend far beyond the realm of bacon! You see, the beauty of this diet lies in its focus on fats and proteins rather than pesky carbs – and let me tell you, there’s something strangely liberating about slathering your veggies in butter and smothering your steak in cheese. It’s like a delicious rebellion against conventional dieting wisdom.

Back to that intermittent fasting I mentioned – again, I initially doubted the idea of voluntarily depriving myself of food for extended periods of time, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and so I gave it a shot. Do you know what? It’s not as bad as it sounds. Sure, the first few days were a bit rough, but once I got into the swing of things, I found that intermittent fasting actually helped curb my cravings and gave me a newfound sense of discipline; and truly, I’m not typically a big breakfast eater anyway. There’s some thoughts floating around out there that women should mix up how they fast and not stay to the same regimented schedule every day, and I find that if I sometimes have a shake at lunch, but sometimes have a bigger lunch, that I feel better and can handle the fasting times easier.

But here’s the thing about weight loss: It’s not always a linear journey. There are ups and downs, victories and setbacks. And as someone who’s struggled with her weight her whole life, I know just how disheartening it can be when you’re not seeing the results you want. But here’s the silver lining: every day is a new opportunity to make healthier choices, to recommit to your goals, and to remind yourself that progress, no matter how small, is still progress.

Temptation seems to be a four letter word. Oh, how it loves to rear its head at the most inconvenient times. Picture this: you’re cruising along on your keto journey, feeling like a champion, when suddenly, out of nowhere, you remember the way a banana taffy tasted when you were eleven and you can’t get it out of your head, or maybe it’s for that sugary donut staring at you from across the office break room, (that we have in our office on a nearly daily basis!) or perhaps it’s for a heaping plate of pasta calling your name from your favorite Italian restaurant. Whatever form it takes, temptation can be a formidable foe.

And let’s be real here; we’ve all been there. We’ve all had those moments of weakness when we’ve succumbed to the siren song of carbs and sugar. But, and here’s the thing: one slip-up does not define your entire journey, and if you let it, you will never succeed. So you had a momentary lapse in judgment and indulged in that forbidden treat. It happens. The important thing is how you respond to it.

So you fell off the keto wagon. Big deal. Dust yourself off, forgive yourself, and get right back on track. Remember, it’s not about being perfect all the time; it’s about consistency and perseverance. It’s about making the conscious decision to keep moving forward, even when the road ahead seems daunting.

And trust me, I speak from experience when I say that setbacks are just part of the journey. I’ve had my fair share of failed attempts at sticking to the keto diet, or any diet, really. There have been days when I’ve thrown in the towel and drowned my sorrows in a pint of ice cream. But you know what? I’ve also had days when I’ve picked myself back up, brushed off the crumbs, and made a renewed commitment to my health and well-being.

So the next time temptation comes knocking, remember this: you are stronger than you think. You have the power to overcome any obstacle that stands in your way. And even if you stumble and fall, know that is not the measure of who you are. Sometimes you have to go down to go up.

So here’s to embracing the ups and downs of the keto journey, to facing temptation head-on, and to never giving up, no matter how many times you fall. Because in the end, it’s not about how many times you fail; it’s about how many times you get back up and keep going. And trust me, you’ve got this.

Tell me below – would you try keto? Have you tried keto? What concerns you about that diet?

xoxo
-S