| I hate roller coasters. The big kind, the small kind, and | | | | keep in mind that females of normal weight and lean |
| everything in between. But most of all, I hate the | | | | women can also have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome |
| weight loss roller coaster. This is probably because I | | | | and insulin resistance. |
| can never seem to get off of it. Up and down, round | | | | - Exercise is a main component of dealing with the |
| and round I go… where I’ll stop nobody seems | | | | symptoms of PCOS. Exercise increases the sensitivity |
| to know. That’s the biggest problem: while the | | | | of your cell walls to insulin for the vital conversion of |
| man-made kind only lasts a few minutes, the weight | | | | glucose to energy; it boosts metabolism, burns |
| loss kind seems to last forever. | | | | calories and helps to level out the production of insulin |
| So why can’t I lose the weight permanently? | | | | the pancreas. |
| Some would chalk it up to lack of self control. I’d | | | | - Choose a balanced, healthy diet that doesn’t |
| go with that explanation except that I seem to have | | | | include refined carbohydrates, like bread, pasta, rice, |
| extreme self control in other parts of my life. | | | | potatoes, corn and refined sugars. Avoid artificial |
| I’m not an excessive shopper. I stick to my | | | | sweeteners which can raise insulin levels. |
| budget every month. My house is fairly clean. I rarely | | | | - Avoid stimulants like caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. |
| drink. So lack of self control doesn’t seem to | | | | Even over-the-counter cold medications can contain |
| jive with other areas of my life. | | | | stimulants, causing spikes in insulin production and |
| Irritated with myself, I decided to go to the doctor. | | | | release. |
| When she told me I had a medical issue, Polycystic | | | | - Your doctor may need to address collateral issues |
| Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) that causes me to be | | | | such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol issue |
| more at risk of gaining weight I thought “Great! | | | | with medication until they come under control |
| Now I can take a pill to get over it.” Wrong. | | | | naturally with your weight loss and healthier lifestyle. |
| There is no cure for PCOS. Rather the solution is to | | | | - Find a PCOS support group to chat with women |
| find a new way of living that allows my body to | | | | who are going through the same experience as you |
| operate in the most efficient way it can. Lucky for | | | | are as it can be frustrating to find common ground |
| me, the doctor had some information for me to read | | | | with others around you who can lose weight and/or |
| on the subject. I also went home and did additional | | | | maintain it more easily. |
| research. One of the best places I’ve found for | | | | So the bottom line is that I have to go farther than |
| information on PCOS is at Here’s what I learned | | | | most people to keep the weight in check. I need to |
| from them: | | | | crave discipline in diet and exercise, not carbs. I need |
| - Women with PCOS suffer from a condition known | | | | to seek balance in my life, not in junk food. And |
| as insulin resistance which causes the body to | | | | most of all, after all of the self reflection and |
| produce inadequate amounts of insulin to effectively | | | | research, I’ve learned that I actually am in |
| convert food to energy. One side effect is the body | | | | control of this roller coaster ride. I just needed a little |
| craves carbs which can lead to weight gain. | | | | extra training in amusement park operations to find |
| - A low-carb diet has proved to be effective not | | | | out how to get off of it with my confidence and |
| only in weight loss programs but also in helping to | | | | self-esteem firmly in place. |
| control the production of insulin in the pancreas. But | | | | |