Ah Yes!! I'll be having the PCOS special, Thank you!

I've made a decision to try to adhere to a PCOS friendly diet.  I had absolutely NO idea what I was getting myself into!!  Sure, I figured I would have to cut back my calories, but I didn't realize that I would have to cut back SO much!  I'm a southern girl, as a matter of fact a BIG southern girl... growing up, my family's idea of eating healthy was vegtables slow cooked in animal fat LOL.  I am used to cooking and eating food to please the palate, and not approaching it to just eat to survive.  How do you go from a lifestyle of food bringing you comfort, a hobby to cook it, and a centerpeice to family gatherings or outings with friend,  to simply eating just to sustain life???  This is going to be a complete overhaul on how I look at food, and it will surely take a LOT of motivation.  So the first thing I had to do is get a better idea as to what it meant to eat PCOS friendly.  To sum it all up it is eating low, calorie, low carbohydrate, high in fiber, and low glycemic.  So, no white bread, potatoes, minimal amount of rice, GEEZE there is half of what is in my cupboards right now!  I think the hardest thing that I will have to endure is no pineapple, undeniably one of my absolute favorites!!!  The next hardest thing??  Eating S-I-X times a day... yes you read it right 1....2....3....4....5....SIX!  I barely have time to sit and cook 2 meals a day, and now I have to cook 3 meals and prepare or cook 3 additional snacks!  So I went with my husband today on a hunt for a book I had found online, The PCOS Diet Cookbook.  Of course it would have been to easy if they had it at the bookstore, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  When I came home to look for it on Amazon, I read that it got mostly bad reviews.    So I had to start again using my hand dandy Google search. (I google EVERYTHING! Hah!) So I am learning the things I can and can not eat.  Maybe this will give someone the idea to make some changes in their eating habits to, and help in that motivational department with me. :))  All the same, I thought I would share what I have found. I got all of this info on this handy website. 

Low GI: 55 or less

Medium GI = 56 - 69

High GI = 70 or more

Breakfast Cereals

• 
  
  Low: All-bran 50, Oat bran 50, Rolled Oats 51, Natural Muesli 40, Porridge 58.
• 
  
  Medium: Mini Wheats 58 (NOT the frosted ones NICE try LOL), Nutrigrain 66, Shredded Wheat 67, and Special K (Plain) 69.
• 
  
  High: Cornflakes 80, Branflakes 74, Coco Puffs 77, Puffed Wheat 80, Total 76, Cheerios 74, and Rice Krispies 82

Bread

• 
  
  Low:  Wholegrain Pumpernickel 46, Heavy Mixed Grain 45, Whole Wheat 49, Sourdough Rye 48 & Sourdough Wheat 54
• 
  
  Medium:  Croissant 67, Hamburger bun 61, Pita, white 57, & Wholemeal Rye 62.
• 
  
  High:  White 71, Bagel 72 & French Baguette 95.

Vegetables

• 
  
  Low:  Frozen Green Peas 39, Frozen Sweet Corn 47, Raw Carrots 16, Boiled Carrots 41, Eggplant/Aubergine 15, Broccoli 10, Cauliflower 15, Cabbage 10, Mushrooms 10, Tomatoes 15, Chillies 10, Lettuce 10, Green Beans 15, Red Peppers 10, & Onions 10.
• 
  
  Medium:  Beetroot 64
• 
  
  High:  Pumkin 75, & Parsnips 97.

Snacks & Sweet Treats

(My personal favorite LOL)

• 
  
  Low:  Slim-Fast meal replacement 27, Snickers Bar (high fat) 41, Nut & Seed Muesli Bar 49, Sponge Cake 46, Nutella 33, Milk Chocolate 42, Hummus 6, Peanuts 13, Walnuts 15, Cashew Nuts 25, Nuts and Raisins 21, Jam 51, Corn Chips 42, & Oatmeal Crackers 55.
• 
  
  Medium:  Blueberry muffin 59, & Honey 58.
• 
  
  High:  Pretzels 83, Water Crackers 78, Rice cakes 87, Puffed Crispbread 81, Donuts 76, Scones 92, & Maple flavored syrup 68.  

These are just a few examples!  I encourage you to check out my link to the website and get a lot more information on it.  It is crazy to think that some of the food that you would assume are healthy impacts your bloodsugar so much!  I hope this helps!!  Well, I am off to bed, it has been an eventful day!  God Bless!!!

~Janice.

Why am I doing this??

I am doing this because there are young women out there that may be experiencing some of the same symptoms that I did at a young age. That maybe if I reach one person for them to see that this is worth checking into and save them from the heartache I go through, then it is worth EVERYTHING. I can not even begin to describe the struggles this condition brings on the heart. I've noticed people that have no issues with conceiving dismiss this and blow it off. I am not writing this for them, I am writing this to give courage and empowerment to women suffering from this condition. Had I known as a teenager, what I know now... I would not be struggling in the ways that I am to have a child. Making a difference in other peoples lives means more to me than a none believers stamp of approval. So with that being said, I am standing up and marching forward. I am going to do everything I can to help others know and understand more about what it is like to live with this condition that burdens our bodies, and our hearts!

Facebook has everything but the kitchen sink!

Playing around on Facebook is fun, at least for me. It is a great way to keep intouch with everyone and still keep up with the chaos of everyday life. I hae also figured out that it is a great way to support different businesses and causes. So I, of course, looked up some really neat support groups for PCOS. Like I said before support is way important!! Even if you don't have PCOS yourself, but you know someone who does I can't even begin to describe how encouraging it is to know that there are people that support you, and what you are fighting for. So I thought I would share them with ya, and if you or someone you know has PCOS I would be thrilled you even checked them out. :)

[PCOS Support Group]
[PCOS Awareness]
[PRETTY with PCOS]

Hope ya like them, and be sure and comment back and let me know what ya think!

Have a BLESSED day!
Janice.

Implementing Designism: The Amazing Amanda Kohn

It's late, and surprise surprise I can not sleep. What else should I do but more research!! And boy oh boy I found something so cool!

[Implementing Designism]

I really suggest checking out this amazing website by Amanda Kohn!

I am on the look out for cool things to share with others with this condition, like beauty tips, plus size shopping, and hopefully ideas for living a healthier lifestyle. I am venturing out and taking a forward step in that direction. Lord knows I am addicted to my comfort foods. I have made the decision that having a baby is much more important to me than Granny's Homemade Banana Pudding... although her pudding is pretty fabulous. Maybe this is a way to set my priorities straight, but it is something that I seriously need to do. I can sit around and eat the same number of calories every single day and continue to gain weight leaps and bounds or I can get up and do something about it! Motivation is key, and DH isn't too keen on the idea of healthy cooking LOL. BUT we will do this. One step at a time!

Have a GREAT day everyone!

Janice

Dear PCOS, you won't tear me down!

I have learned to not wear my heart on my sleeve when people ask me when we will have children. I really never thought about sharing my condition with other people, but the older I get the more questions I get asked. The most popular is when I meet new people. They always ask me if I have any children, you know the normal making small talk routine. I wish I could take pictures of people faces when I say no. People are completely caught off guard, because who now days doesn't have children?!? I mean even Brad and Angelina have 27 kids right?? The next question I get is asked is, "Why??" The funny thing is that the inflection that is implied like I don't want children. SO I finally just decided to explain rather than just giving the old reliable answer that God hasn't blessed me with any. I have not met a single person since I was diagnosed that knew about the condition, so it turns into a health class lecture LOL. So I think that this has ultimately pushed me to making this blog, because there are so many people out there that have no idea PCOS even exists. Even more so, there are a lot of people that overlook and dismiss this condition as well. I was talking to one of my best friends on the phone earlier. We were talking about our conditions (bless her heart she is wanting a baby so bad as well please pray for her also) and I was thinking that as long as I can remember I have been at least a little bigger than other girls my age. It wasn't until I hit puberty that I really started to gain a lot more weight. We all know that kids in school are cruel, and that was no exception for me. But knowing now what caused it makes me feel a lot better about it. Me being overweight in school really didn't make much sense. I played sports religiously, loved lifting weights, and I was very active even when I was home. I would spend hours outside shooting basketball, or go hiking through our woods. At one point I was so conflicted about my weight, I only allowed myself to eat Tuna fish every single day. I did lose a little weight but as soon as I stopped that routine it all flooded back. People look at overweight people in a different light. They rarely look past their waistline to see the inner beauty or even the facial beauty. I was very blessed to find a man that saw both, and has stuck right by my side. People often dismiss medical conditions that cause weight gain or even the prevention of weight loss because they think it is just an excuse. I promise if the shoes were on their feet, they would whistle a different tune. PCOS is a real condition, and it is a life altering condition. The most important thing I have learned to have is faith, faith that one day I will hold my very own child, faith that God has his reasons for all of this, and faith that one day there will be a cure.

I mentioned earlier that I had a nice phone conversation with a very dear friend today. This reminds me of another very important thing I have learned. Support. I can not even describe how important it is to have those family and friends that are there for you and support you. If it were not for these people, who knows where I would be. I will be honest, I dive down the occasional "woe is me" spiral of depression. Stop for a moment, look your child in the face and then stop and think about what if you could never have them. It's a bad feeling isn't it? Something more than half of you do not even want to imagine. It really brings things into perspective when you faced challenges. PCOS is no different. So with that being said I ask anyone who follws this, reads this, or passes this on to others... please support PCOS aawareness.

Thanks a million!! <33

Janice.

Here we go...

As a child I had always dreamed of the day I would hold my baby in my arms. I always envisioned it being a moment that I would be overcome with tears of joy and my heart so warm and overflowing with so much love. It was my greatest fear to never be able to become a mother. Being diagnosed with PCOS has been my nightmare come true. After anxiously staring at countless pregnancy test control windows, praying and begging God for a postive sign, it has made it a reoccuring nightmare. Jumping through all the medicinal hoops has not been easy for me. There are good days and there are bad days. Ultimately, it will all be SO worth it in the end, but from where I am standing, I am not seeing a light at the end of this tunnel. I try to be optimistic, and be positive. We have even settled on names, which is amazing because our tastes are polar opposites LOL. i.e. his pick -Jenny & my pick - Harlow or Margo. LOL. Complete opposites. But we have settled on the perfect names for our angels and we can not wait for the day that we get the news that they are on their way!

As of right now I am having to rely completely on medications since mother nature is on a permanent vacation. I am currently taking Provera (Medroxyprogesterone). Medroxyprogesterone is a progestin (a form of progesterone), a female hormone that helps regulate ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary) and menstrual periods.

I am also taking Clomid (clomiphene). Clomid stimulates the release of hormones necessary for ovulation to occur. It is mainly used for treating female infertility.

Clomid is used to stimulate ovulation (the release of an egg) when a woman's ovaries can produce a follicle but hormonal stimulation is deficient. (all imformation obtained from www.drugs.com) I am scheduled to have an ultrasound done this month as well to ensure that my ovaries are reacting properly to the medication and if need be I will receive an hCG shot to help boost the ability to push an egg out. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone that supports the normal development of an egg in a woman's ovary, and stimulates the release of the egg during ovulation.(www.drugs.com)

So I pray that with all of this, that April will be the month!!! We could use a lot of prayers!!!!!

P.C.O.S. defined.

[P.C.O.S]is, according to MayoClinic.com, Polycystic ovary syndrome, the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age. The name of the condition comes from the appearance of the ovaries in most, but not all, women with the disorder — enlarged and containing numerous small cysts located along the outer edge of each ovary (polycystic appearance).

Infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne and obesity can all occur in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Menstrual abnormality may signal the condition in adolescence, or PCOS may become apparent later following weight gain or difficulty becoming pregnant.

The exact cause of polycystic ovary syndrome is unknown. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome may have trouble becoming pregnant due to infrequent or lack of ovulation. Early diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome can help reduce the risk of long-term complications, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

(http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/DS00423)

Symptoms:

Polycystic ovary syndrome signs and symptoms often begin soon after you first begin having periods (menarche). In some cases, PCOS develops later on during your reproductive years, for instance, in response to substantial weight gain.

Signs and symptoms vary from person to person, in both type and severity. To be diagnosed with the condition, your doctor looks for at least two of the following:

■Menstrual abnormality. This is the most common characteristic. Examples of menstrual abnormality include menstrual intervals longer than 35 days; fewer than eight menstrual cycles a year; failure to menstruate for four months or longer; and prolonged periods that may be scant or heavy.

■Excess androgen. Elevated levels of male hormones (androgens) may result in physical signs, such as excess facial and body hair (hirsutism); adult acne or severe adolescent acne; and male-pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia). However, the physical signs of androgen excess vary with ethnicity, so depending on your ethnic background you may or may not show signs of excess androgen. For instance, women of Northern European or Asian descent may not be affected.

■Polycystic ovaries. Enlarged ovaries containing numerous small cysts can be detected by ultrasound. Despite the condition's name, polycystic ovaries alone do not confirm the diagnosis. To be diagnosed with PCOS, you must also have abnormal menstrual cycles or signs of androgen excess. Some women with polycystic ovaries may not have PCOS, while a few women with the condition have ovaries that appear normal.

Other conditions associated with PCOS

■Infertility. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome may have trouble becoming pregnant because they experience infrequent ovulation or a lack of ovulation. PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility.

■Obesity. About half the women with polycystic ovary syndrome are obese. Compared with women of a similar age who don't have polycystic ovary syndrome, women with PCOS are more likely to be overweight or obese.

■Prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Many women with polycystic ovary syndrome are insulin resistant, which impairs the body's ability to use insulin effectively to regulate blood sugar. This can result in high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes is also called impaired glucose tolerance.

■Acanthosis nigricans. This is the medical term for darkened, velvety skin on the nape of your neck, armpits, inner thighs, vulva or under your breasts. This skin condition is a sign of insulin resistance.

(http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/DS00423/DSECTION=symptoms)