18 best supplements for women

Read about them here!

Plate Percentages

I really liked these visuals I saw on Pinterest.    

I'm one of those "pinners" who pins a bunch of neat things here and there and then summer when I have more time I attempt to try what I've pinned.  

Prevention Magazine

The ladies in my weight loss group have been doing a month long healthy lifestyle challenge where we really just worked on stepping up our efforts.   One of the challenges we had was to purchase a health related magazine and then a reflection on some things we read.

I purchased Prevention magazine that I think is for an "older audience" but I still like it.   There is an article in there called "Surprising News about Anger" and it states that PEOPLE WHO REPRESSED THEIR ANGER HAD ELEVATED LEVELS OF THE STRESS HORMONE CORTISOL AND WERE 31% MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM HEART ATTACK, CANCER, OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.  The cancer part was a shocker to me but if there is anything I'm learning right now [and throughout this very trying school year] is that stress is no bueno on the body.   It really isn't.   When I'm stressed out it shows on the scale.    The article talks about the powers in venting whether it is on paper or verbally.   It also suggests punching something [not someone] as a physical release.

A second tid-bit in this magazine I enjoyed reading was about boosting your metabolism for people age 40+.   I really don't see why this couldn't work for us.   Basically, it's suggesting more protein and also recommended green tea.  However, it suggests VARYING the protein so pairing a low with a high.   And not eating the same thing each night.  

Low protein foods include avocado, asparagus, walnuts, almonds, spinach, quinoa and hemp seeds [eat, don't smoke] Medium protein foods include cheese and milk, black beans, chickpeas, edamame, tofu, eggs and cottage cheese.    High protein foods include tempeh, Greek yogurt [not blueberry though, right Jen?  ;)], Whey protein, fish, poultry, pork and leaner beef like bison.

And lastly there was an article on "the wild side" about choosing foods you can grow to help your body.   I loved the mentioning of garlic because Mark takes a garlic supplement for his blood pressure and cholesterol and his numbers have been phenomenal and no longer uses an actual Rx.   He takes garlic and ginger daily.    It even noted that when you microwave garlic you are destroying about 90% of the antioxidants.   

Abbreviations

I snagged this from soulcysters.net considering not all of my cyster readers are on that site [yet, lol]

Below you will find a list of common abbreviations in the PCOS world.   

AF- Aunt Flo
AFM- As For Me
AI- Artificial Insemination
AO-annovulation
ART-assisted reproduction technology
ASA- anti-sperm antibody
ASAP- as soon as possible
BB- bulletin board
BBL- be back later
BCP- birth control pills
BBT- basal body temperature
BD- baby dance
BETA= Beta = Beta HCG - it is a bloodtest to see if you are pregnant or not. A quanatative beta just let you now Yes or No. A Qualitative beta gives a number of how much HCG (The pregnancy hormone) is in your system. Most doctor's like to see this number double every 48 to 72 hours when you are pg.

BF- boyfriend or bestfriend
BFF- bestfriend (too)
BFN- big fat negative
BFP- big fat positive
BIL- brother in law
BMS- baby making sex
BRB- be right back
BTW- by the way
BV- bacterial vaginosis
BW- blood work
CB- cycle buddy
CD- cycle day
CF- cervical fluid
CIO- Crying it Out
CM- cervical mucous
D&C- dilation & curettage- A d&c is a procedure where the inside lining of the uterus is scraped. It is usually done when a woman has a missed miscarriage (baby is gone but the body isn't passing it) or an incomplete miscarriage (some tissue passed but not all). There are other instances where it is performed

D&E- dilation & evacuation
DE- donor eggs
DD- darling daughter
DH- darling husband
DI- donor insemination
DIUI- donor intrauterine insemination
DOST- direct oocyte sperm transfer
DPO- days post ovulation
DPR- days post retrieval
DPT- days post transfer
DR- doctor
DS- darling son
DTD- do the deed (sex)
DW- darling wife
DX- diagnosis
E2- estradiol
EA- endometrial ablation
ED- endometriosis
FAQ- frequently asked questions
FHR- fetal heart rate
EWCM- egg white cervical mucus
ET- embryo transfer
FE- frozen embryo
FET- frozen embryo transfer
FIL- father in law
FRER- first response early
FX- fingers crossed
GD- gestational diabetes
H/A- headaches (as suggested by websissy)
HPT- home pregnancy test
HSG- hysterosalpingogram
HTH- hope that helps
IC- incompotent cervix
IF- infertility
IR- insulin resistance
IUI- in uterine insemination
IYKWIM- if you know what I mean
IMHO- in my honest opinion
IMO- in my opinion
KWIM- know what I mean
LAP- laparoscopy
LMAO- laughing my a$$ off
LOL- laugh out loud or lots of love
LSP- low sperm count
LPD- luteal phase defect
MC- miscarriage
MIL- mother in law
M/S- morning sickness
MWC- married with children
NPC- natural progesterone cream
O- ovulate
OD- ovulation dysfunction
OHSS- ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome
OP- original poster (person that started the thread)
OPK- ovulation predictor kit
OT- off topic
OV- ovulated
PG- pregnant
PLS- please
POAS- pee on a stick
PUPO- pregnant until proven otherwise
RE- reproductive endocrinologist
SA- semen analysis
SAHD- stay at home dad
SAHM- stay at home mom
SC- sperm count
SO- significant other
STICKY- is a thread that the moderators want to stay at the top of a forum. MOst threads move down the forum when people stop replying. Stickies will always be at the top.
TCYOF-Taking Charge of Your Fertility (book by Toni Weschler)
TMI- too much info
TSH-thyroid stimulating hormone
TTC- trying to conceive
2WW- 2 week waiting period after O before PG test
TX- treatment
US- ultrasound

God's Love

I posted this before but felt the need to do it again....

1 John 4:8

God loves you not because of what you do, but because of who He is.
God is love (1 John 4:8). God doesn't have to pretend to love you; He can't not love you, because He is love.

In fact, the very actions of God exemplify what love is. The apostle John explains that this is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us (1 John 3:16). Only a few verses later, he further defines love: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:9).

Notice that God's love for you is independent of how you behave, who you are, or how you respond to that love.

Romans 5:6-8 reminds us that God loves us regardless of where we are: You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus represents God's love for us in what we now call the Parable of the Prodigal Son (see Luke 15:11-24). In that allegory, the father openly and lovingly receives his son even though the son had run away, squandered all of his money, and insulted the father. In the same way, God loves us unconditionally.

There is nothing you can do to get God to love you -- He already does. There is nothing you can do to deserve God's love, because, by sinning, you have turned your back on God and are fundamentally no different than the prodigal son. That parable is a clear reminder that God loves you not because of what you do, but because of who He is.

Hannah's prayer

"...Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord...'I have been praying here out of my great anguish...'" ~ 1 Samuel 1:10, 16 (NIV)

This organization is absolutely fabulous.     

I am struggling right now with something infertility related.   Several people have come to me regarding a mutual person in our lives and their struggle with infertility.   They've told this person, "Talk to LeLe!  She's been through it all!   She may be able to steer you in the right direction."     She has not come to me, but I continue to pray for her.

I urge my friends to please understand that I'm confident that "our story" is "out there" and when it comes to infertility the rule is - don't jump in.    The pain of infertility is heart wrenching.   It HURTS.   And depending on the day your mood can change.   I pray that this person finds peace and guidance.   I pray that they don't lose faith in the Lord and know that God is with them and God's plan is greater than our own and God truly does know the desires of our hearts.

The fact that I have Elliot still blows my mind - even 18 months later.    It just does.   I remember the story my husband tells me when Elliot came out.   I was waiting for it.  The sound.  That sound of his cry.   And as I waited lying there on the table my blood pressure went incredibly low, as did my pulse.   The nurses were all about me.   And then in an instant that cry.   That cry I waited so long for.   That cry that filled my heart and made my wounds turn to scars.    That cry of God's Grace.   As soon as I heard it my heart and blood pressure went back to normal.    And the first time I held him to my breast I thanked God with all my being for being patient with me and for giving me this precious gift.    I don't take one day for granted.   Ever.   Even when he's naughty and pulls the cats tail.   

Slimmer face :)

It's really difficult for me to see "progress" considering I see myself every day but I'm really noticing my face is slimmer in photos so I thought I'd share a pic of me [with the make up on].

Product Review

I am quite picky when it comes to choosing make-up.

I actually rarely wear it because of my skin issues [sensitive, sometimes oily] - I picked up this foundation and absolutely love it.   It's such a nice, light product.   There's no "line" from neck to chin/face and I don't feel as if I have mud shalacked on my face either.   It covers up my sun spots [read: I was dumb as a teen and didn't wear any SPF] and any discolorations/blemishes.  

On my journey to a smaller me, I've been working on all around health including skin care.  
I am also using Clinique's dark spot corrector and I'm a clinique gal for face washing as well.  Oh and I use this, too!  :)

I know it will take about 6-8 weeks to see a noticeable difference, but I feel like I see one now.
We shall see!   My hubby is too cute, he doesn't see any of these "Flaws" and I rarely ever wear make up so this is a bit of a change for him.   :)

How to Recognize Thyroid Issues

How to recognize thyroid issues.... Great visual.  

JOY

Stealing Joy

It's not our circumstances that steal our joy; it's our attitude during our circumstances.
It is easy to think "If I could just get a new car, a bigger house, a better job, or more money, then I'll be happy." We tend to view happiness as a commodity attainable by wealth. However, as the old saying goes, "money cannot buy happiness."

Indeed, no amount of money or things will ever give you lasting joy or contentment; that's because joy and contentment are not based on circumstances. Therefore, if you're not content with what you have, you won't be content with what you want.

Although at first it may seem difficult, it is very possible to be content even during harsh circumstances. Paul said, in Philippians 4:11-12, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

In those two verses, Paul is saying that he could be content—that is, have joy—regardless of his circumstances. Joy should not be dependent on circumstances; it should be present regardless of them.

When Paul said that he could be content "in any and every situation," he truly meant everything—even the tough times of testing. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, he lists some of the tough times that he has endured: "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked."

Even in all these things, Paul had "learned to be content." Clearly, it's not our circumstances that steal our joy. You, too, can learn "to be content whatever the circumstances."

Stop thinking that you will have joy after you buy a new house, after you get married (or have children), after you buy a better car, after your in-laws treat you right. Don't put off joy until after everything goes your way; decide to have joy now! For you can have joy whatever the circumstances!

Peace Out, Belly Fat

Belly fat is a huge issue for women with PCOS.    Pun intended.    I was reading this article on foods that help blast belly fat and I thought I'd share a few with you.   

Cherries!!!

You may surprise that those little tart cherries can help you to burn out your belly fat, doesn’t it?

In a study conducted by the University of Michigan, it was found that a diet containing tart cherries may help lower symptoms of heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a term used to refer to a group of symptoms which increase the risk of a host of heart diseases, diabetes and belly fat. In the study, the animal subjects had reduced cholesterol levels and a fat content of only 54 percent compared to the non-cherry fed group of 63 percent belly fat. Tart cherries have also been identified to have antioxidant properties.

 Apples!!!

I believe that you heard enough “one apple a day keeps the doctor away”. However, do you know apples can also help you to keep you in shape as well?

In a Brazilian weight study, subjects who ate three apples a day while dieting lost more weight than those who didn’t. This fruit contains pectin, a compound that is known to inhibit colon cancer. Apples are packed with nutrients and are a rich source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, dietary fiber, phytosterol, flavonoids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

 Avocados!!!

This fruit has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It contains the amino acid lecithin – which helps in preventing liver overload – and aids the memory and helps balance weight. In one study, it was discovered that people who ate a considerable amount of avocados showed clear improvement in health. It balances cholesterol levels and prevents heart attacks and strokes.

Watermelon!!!

In a study conducted by the University of Kentucky, watermelon was found to have a significant effect on artery plaque deposition because it altered blood lipids and lowered the risk of developing belly fat. The researchers in the study observed that animal subjects in the experiment who had diet-induced high cholesterol were given a supplement of watermelon juice while another group was given a typical diet with water. Eight weeks later, the animals given watermelon juice had lower body weight than those who were just given water. It appeared that there was no decrease in muscle mass and the weight loss was due to abdominal fat loss.

Celery!!!

Celery is a negative calorie food containing only eight calories. It is high in vitamin C, calcium and is best enjoyed raw. Enjoying fresh celery juice before a meal can even help you lose weight. It contains apigenin, an active compound that slashes the risk of ovarian cancer.

Bananas!!!

This is a fruit you can enjoy as a nutritious snack without ever worrying about gaining weight. Like apples, it contains a fiber called pectin that is known to inhibit colon cancer. It also contains vitamin A, C, E, B6 as well as potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Bananas, depending upon the size, contain calories between 75 calories to 135 calories only.

Coping with Infertility

A very well written article on coping with infertility

Passion flower and Cherries for anxiety

My husband's research findings on passion flower and cherries for anxiety:

http://www.naturalnews.com/036467_passion_flower_anxiety_pain_relief.html 

which states that "The leaves and roots of many passion flower varieties contain compounds called beta-carboline HARMALA ALKALOIDS. These alkaloids act as natural MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitors. MAO inhibitors aid in the metabolism of feel-good neurotransmitters serotonin and norephinephrine.

This produces a calm state of being as well as a sense of well being. It helps reduce feelings of anxiety and lessen the symptoms of stress by elevating the circulation of happiness-promoting chemicals. Passion flower has very few known side-effects which makes it a desirable, natural remedy for anxiety and occasional nervousness. It can also help induce and improve the quality of sleep."

I made the connection myself to this.....

http://www.livestrong.com/article/515736-cherries-fibromyalgia/

and this

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-passion-flower-herbs-8818.html

which both have ANTHOCYANINS as well. 

http://suite101.com/article/health-benefits-of-cherries-a160877

http://myhealingkitchen.com/medical-conditions/depression-medical-conditions/a-berry-good-way-of-beating-depression/

http://www.choosecherries.com/health/antioxidants.aspx

Passion flower for anxiety

Many women with PCOS deal with anxiety from time to time or even daily.

My husband is absolutely amazing.   He knows my body just as well as I do and after seeing a doctor about my on again off again anxiety, passion flower was confirmed as an amazing resource instead of a Rx considering my anxiety is not daily.  

Read more about passion flower!  

Lavendar and Tea Tree Oil...

For my cysters who struggle with Hirsutism - this may be of interest to you!

Amy Grant has a new album! "How Mercy Looks from Here"

Amy Grant has a new album out called 'How Mercy Looks From Here' and I was able to preview the songs on iTunes.   It's GORGEOUS!  I'm excited to purchase the album!   The song below really spoke to me.    

Amy Grant Don't Try So Hard Lyrics

Another Monday comes and I just wanna breathe

Cause it's a long,

long week for someone wired to please

I keep taking my aim, pushing it higher

Wanna shine bright, even brighter now

Wish I would tell myself

Don't try so hard

God gives you grace and you can't earn it

Don't think that you're not worth it

Because you are

He gave you His love and He's not leaving

Gave you His Son so you'd believe it

You're lovely even with your scars

Don't try so hard

Do you remember how the summers felt when we were kids

Oh we didn't think much about it,

we just lived

Taking our time,

beautiful leisure

When did we start,

trying to measure up

And all this time,

love has been trying to tell us

Don't try so hard

God gives you grace and you can't earn it

Don't think that you're not worth it

Because you are

He gave you His love and He's not leaving

Gave you His Son so you'd believe it

You're lovely even with your scars

Don't try so hard

God gives you grace

You can't earn it

Stop thinking you're not worth it

Because you are

He gave you His love and He's not leaving

Gave you His Son so you'd believe it

You're lovely even with your scars

Don't try so hard

Weight fluctuates!

I read this article on soulcysters.net and I thought it worthy enough to share!

Why the Scale Lies

We’ve been told over an over again that daily weighing is unnecessary, yet many of us can’t resist peeking at that number every morning. If you just can’t bring yourself to toss the scale in the trash, you should definitely familiarize yourself with the factors that influence it’s readings. From water retention to glycogen storage and changes in lean body mass, daily weight fluctuations are normal. They are not indicators of your success or failure. Once you understand how these mechanisms work, you can free yourself from the daily battle with the bathroom scale. 

Water makes up about 60% of total body mass. Normal fluctuations in the body’s water content can send scale-watchers into a tailspin if they don’t understand what’s happening. Two factors influencing water retention are water consumption and salt intake.Strange as it sounds, the less water you drink, the more of it your body retains. If you are even slightly dehydrated your body will hang onto it’s water supplies with a vengeance, possibly causing the number on the scale to inch upward. The solution is to drink plenty of water. 

Excess salt (sodium) can also play a big role in water retention. A single teaspoon of salt contains over 2,000 mg of sodium. Generally, we should only eat between 1,000 and 3,000 mg of sodium a day, so it’s easy to go overboard. Sodium is a sneaky substance. You would expect it to be most highly concentrated in salty chips, nuts, and crackers. However, a food doesn’t have to taste salty to be loaded with sodium. A half cup of instant pudding actually contains nearly four times as much sodium as an ounce of salted nuts, 460 mg in the pudding versus 123 mg in the nuts. The more highly processed a food is, the more likely it is to have a high sodium content. That’s why, when it comes to eating, it’s wise to stick mainly to the basics: fruits, vegetables, lean meat, beans, and whole grains. Be sure to read the labels on canned foods, boxed mixes, and frozen dinners. 

Women may also retain several pounds of water prior to menstruation. This is very common and the weight will likely disappear as quickly as it arrives. Pre-menstrual water-weight gain can be minimized by drinking plenty of water, maintaining an exercise program, and keeping high-sodium processed foods to a minimum. 

Another factor that can influence the scale is glycogen. Think of glycogen as a fuel tank full of stored carbohydrate. Some glycogen is stored in the liver and some is stored the muscles themselves. This energy reserve weighs more than a pound and it’s packaged with 3-4 pounds of water when it’s stored. Your glycogen supply will shrink during the day if you fail to take in enough carbohydrates. As the glycogen supply shrinks you will experience a small imperceptible increase in appetite and your body will restore this fuel reserve along with it’s associated water. It’s normal to experience glycogen and water weight shifts of up to 2 pounds per day even with no changes in your calorie intake or activity level. These fluctuations have nothing to do with fat loss, although they can make for some unnecessarily dramatic weigh-ins if you’re prone to obsessing over the number on the scale. 

Otherwise rational people also tend to forget about the actual weight of the food they eat. For this reason, it’s wise to weigh yourself first thing in the morning before you’ve had anything to eat or drink. Swallowing a bunch of food before you step on the scale is no different than putting a bunch of rocks in your pocket. The 5 pounds that you gain right after a huge dinner is not fat. It’s the actual weight of everything you’ve had to eat and drink. The added weight of the meal will be gone several hours later when you’ve finished digesting it. 

Exercise physiologists tell us that in order to store one pound of fat, you need to eat 3,500 calories more than your body is able to burn.In other words, to actually store the above dinner as 5 pounds of fat, it would have to contain a whopping 17,500 calories. This is not likely, in fact it’s not humanly possible. So when the scale goes up 3 or 4 pounds overnight, rest easy, it’s likely to be water, glycogen, and the weight of your dinner. Keep in mind that the 3,500 calorie rule works in reverse also. In order to lose one pound of fat you need to burn 3,500 calories more than you take in. Generally, it’s only possible to lose 1-2 pounds of fat per week. When you follow a very low calorie diet that causes your weight to drop 10 pounds in 7 days, it’s physically impossible for all of that to be fat. What you’re really losing is water, glycogen, and muscle. 

This brings us to the scale’s sneakiest attribute. It doesn’t just weigh fat. It weighs muscle, bone, water, internal organs and all. When you lose "weight," that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve lost fat. In fact, the scale has no way of telling you what you’ve lost (or gained). Losing muscle is nothing to celebrate. Muscle is a metabolically active tissue. The more muscle you have the more calories your body burns, even when you’re just sitting around. That’s one reason why a fit, active person is able to eat considerably more food than the dieter who is unwittingly destroying muscle tissue. 

Robin Landis, author of "Body Fueling," compares fat and muscles to feathers and gold. One pound of fat is like a big fluffy, lumpy bunch of feathers, and one pound of muscle is small and valuable like a piece of gold. Obviously, you want to lose the dumpy, bulky feathers and keep the sleek beautiful gold. The problem with the scale is that it doesn’t differentiate between the two. It can’t tell you how much of your total body weight is lean tissue and how much is fat. There are several other measuring techniques that can accomplish this, although they vary in convenience, accuracy, and cost. Skin-fold calipers pinch and measure fat folds at various locations on the body, hydrostatic (or underwater) weighing involves exhaling all of the air from your lungs before being lowered into a tank of water, and bioelectrical impedance measures the degree to which your body fat impedes a mild electrical current. 

If the thought of being pinched, dunked, or gently zapped just doesn’t appeal to you, don’t worry. The best measurement tool of all turns out to be your very own eyes. How do you look? How do you feel? How do your clothes fit? Are your rings looser? Do your muscles feel firmer? These are the true measurements of success. If you are exercising and eating right, don’t be discouraged by a small gain on the scale. Fluctuations are perfectly normal. Expect them to happen and take them in stride. It’s a matter of mind over scale. 
Source: http://primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/...ight/scale.htm

{Kat note: PRINT THIS OUT. STICK IT ON YOUR SCALE!!!!}

But first read THIS - It's ANOTHER great article on the scale: 

Why the Scale Lies (again)
http://www.soulcysters.net/showthrea...post1890896073

Insulin Sensitivity Article (soulcyster)

Exercise Improves Insulin Sensitivity for Women With PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome, exercise improves insulin sensitivity

Researchers of the Duke University Medical Center have shown that moderate exercise – without accompanying weight loss – can improve insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome( PCOS ), a group with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Polycystic ovary syndrome affects between six and 10 percent of women of child-bearing age in the U.S. -- more than four million people. Women with PCOS often have chronic weight problems.
While medical treatment is important for PCOS, women can also reduce their risk of developing diabetes and heart disease by following a sensible diet and exercise program, said Ann J. Brown, at Duke University Medical Center.

However, some women with PCOS have difficulty losing weight, said Brown, lead author of the study. "Weight is a huge problem for many of these women. We found that women can improve their insulin resistance just with moderate activity.
Even if you exercise and don't lose weight, you are still reaping very important health benefits." Brown said.

The research was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute ( NHLBI ) of the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ).

The Duke researchers examined how exercise influenced the way the body metabolized carbohydrates such as glucose in women with PCOS who had not yet developed diabetes, but were at high risk because they had insulin resistance.

"Anything that improves insulin sensitivity and decreases insulin resistance is going to help prevent diabetes in the long run," Brown said.

For the Duke study, nineteen sedentary women with PCOS were assigned randomly to either a control group that continued their sedentary lifestyle or a monitored exercise group. The women were between ages 22 and 41 years and were insulin resistant. The study group included ethnic minorities.

The exercise program was moderate in intensity, the equivalent of walking briskly for one hour four days per week. The women could talk easily while walking, Brown said. Participants were not allowed to change their diet or lose weight during the study, thereby enabling the researchers to focus solely on the role of exercise in insulin resistance.

There was a small but significant improvement in insulin resistance in the moderate exercise group. The group's insulin resistance improved by up to 25 percent, with the amount of improvement depending on the type of test used to measure insulin sensitivity.

The most common PCOS symptoms are irregular menstrual cycles, usually with fewer than 8 periods a year, acne and excess facial and body hair. The syndrome is caused by a hormonal imbalance -- too much androgen, or male hormone.

Source: Duke University Medical Center, 2005

http://www.xagena.it/news/medicinenews_net_news/47b4f1bfdf6d298682e610ad74b37dca.html

yes. Yes. YES!!!

I could not agree with this article more!

I am down 27 pounds since January.

Yes, it is MAY.   Yes, that's 27lbs in 4 months.  

But think.... 27lbs in 4 more months could be a total of 54 pounds lost by September if I really keep at it and keep my thyroid monitored as well.    AND if I really really REALLY work at it, I can be at 81lbs lost by January.    Now 81lbs is a pretty big goal and I only set my goals 5lbs at a time {prevents me from quitting} but imagine the possibilities!

Decision

Low Carb vs. No Carb

It's no secret that with having PCOS - many women have issues with their weight.   However, not all women with PCOS are considered overweight or obese... there are the exceptions.

Lately, it seems that the big debate in PCOS world is the difference between limiting your carbs and a low carb diet vs a no carb diet.

Carb counting is very successful.  A dear friend and cyster is having great success with this right now.  She recently began counting her carbs and her first week she lost 7 pounds!   Now, she is realistic and she knows she won't be losing 7lbs every week but she's feeling GREAT because she is LIMITING her carbs and she's not completely cutting them out.    I'm really excited for her on this journey.   

I personally do not count carbs [yet] but I eat low glycemic index paired with weight watchers.   It's actually not that tough.    What I did was I went online and I searched/researched the glycemic index/load and then made a list of low glycemic index foods that I enjoy.    I keep that list in my purse and when I go grocery shopping - those are foods I will definitely purchase.   

*On weight watchers you are "assigned" a certain amount of points which is determined by your age, height, sex, and weight.    Each food you eat has some sort of "points value" and you deduct that value from your daily allowance.   The "points value" is assigned with the help of your handy dandy calculator which uses a scientifically proven researched based formula that considers the fat, carbs, protein, and fiber of the food.   I know if a food has more than 5g of carbs I need to stay AWAY.   

I found the following on soulcysters and thought it was worth the read:

 PCOS & Weightloss: composition of the diet "really might not matter"

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: You're Not Alone

POSTED: 11:40 a.m. EST January 23, 2002

Terri Watson Brownlee, M.P.H., R.D., L.D.N.

You've had trouble shedding those extra pounds, struggle with acne and your menstrual cycle is sporadic.

These are just a few of the multiple symptoms associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal imbalance that effects 3-10 percent of premenopausal women. The jury is still out on the exact cause, but researchers do know that women with PCOS do not respond normally to insulin.

After eating, insulin usually works to move glucose into the cells for energy, but with PCOS, glucose remains in circulation, causing the body to produce more insulin in order to normalize the blood glucose level. Many researchers feel this excess insulin stimulates overproduction of sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone.

If untreated, women with PCOS are at a higher risk for infertility as well as longer-term complications such as diabetes or heart disease according to Dr. Samuel Thatcher, expert on the topic and author of PCOS, "The Hidden Epidemic."

Once diagnosed by your physician, the best treatment for PCOS is a multi-pronged approach that involves nutritional changes to promote weight loss as well as exercise and/or use of diabetic medications to help lessen the body's resistance to insulin. Weight loss is difficult, but not impossible, for women with PCOS and thus lies one of the biggest controversy in treating PCOS: which diet is best?

Popular diet books such as Atkins, Protein Power and The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet claim carbohydrate foods, such as breads, pastas and potatoes, cause excess insulin production and should be avoided in people with diabetes, obesity and now PCOS.

The truth according to Dr. Thatcher is composition of the diet "really might not matter." The trick is to find a nutrition plan that reduces calories without hunger. While a slight reduction in carbohydrate might be useful in reducing calories, elimination of these foods will not produce a sustainable way to eat and manage PCOS. In addition, these very low-carbohydrate diets cause the body to be in ketosis, which may be harmful if you are successful in becoming pregnant as the PCOS improves with weight loss.

So, the best advice is to work with your physician and dietitian. For a registered dietitian in your area, contact your local health care provider or use the locator service on the American Dietetic Association Web site, eatright.org.

The bottom line: If you have PCOS, you need specific dietary advice to meet your individual needs for calories, balance and a livable meal plan to control this syndrome for life!

Additional information is available from the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association Web site, PCOSupport.org/

Source: http://www.newsnet5.com/health/1202852/detail.html