Learning about PCOS

After the baby, I saw all of my friends drop the baby weight and I struggled so much with mine. I couldn't get it to budge. I was no longer on metformin. I started getting weekly migraines. And this is where my PCOS journey really kicks off. This is where I was when I started this blog. I started searching online for information, gathering what I could to try to get back on track. It had been a year since I had that beautiful baby girl, but I hadn't lost more than 1 or 2 pounds.

After researching, I asked my doctor to put me back on metformin. I am still breastfeeding  so she was hesitant, but agreed to put me on a low dose to see if I could lose some weight and start combating the migraines.

I found a blog, pcosdiva.com, and started incorporating some of her advice. I am pleased to say, I have now lost a total of 15+ pounds of the pregnancy weight, but I still have quite a bit to go.

I would like to start sharing recipes and tips I found that have helped me so far. If you have any sage advice, please chime in!!

1) I don't eat after 7 pm
2) EAT BREAKFAST
3) Avoid soy- it increases your already high estrogen levels (I know this is hard as it is used in so much and is a big dairy substitute on shabbat)
4) Eat a snack mid morning and mid afternoon
5) Have a light dinner
6) Drink at least 8 cups of water every day and avoid caffeinated/sugary drinks
7) Stay away from artificial sweeteners
8) Treat your body like a diabetic's- I am trying to learn what to do to keep my blood sugar stable
9) Stay away from refined sugars and carbs (I break this rule for shabbat)
10) Don't beat yourself up if you fall off the bandwagon a bit!
11) I have started avoiding most dairy products due to the high levels of hormones pumped into the cows
12) Find a workout, any workout, you can get yourself to do. I tried Jill Michaels 30 day shred. It is only about 30 min a day, but it has an end, something I can look forward to and see results by.

I still weigh myself every day to learn how what I am eating (and how the exercise/ my sleep habits)affects my weight. An example day for me would be:

breakfast: 

steel cut oatmeal with protein powder, wheat germ, cinnamon, ground flax seed, coconut oil, maple syrup, and berries

morning snack: 

home made "larabar"- these are easy and awesome! you can find tons of recipes online (or make your own! I have found a ratio of 2 Cups nuts/seeds : 2 Cups dates : 1 Cup other dried fruit works well, it makes about 16 bars- you can also add a splash of lemon juice, vanilla, chai seeds, cinnamon  nutmeg, etc.- let your mind run wild), make ahead and keep them in the freezer to grab in the morning

lunch:  

salad: spinach and/or kale, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, avocado, craisins, half a baked boneless skinless chicken breast, and a hard boiled egg (only half the yoke) I dress it with a bit of light basalmic vinegar

afternoon snack: 

apple and 1 tablespoon of almond butter

dinner: 

egg white omelet with veggies or some home made veggie soup

What do you think? I'm still learning, but see in the next post why I think this might by working for me.