Taking Control of PCOS

     I am not a doctor. I am not attempting to diagnosis or prescribe anything to anyone. I am simply giving my results of what has worked for me and my PCOS. Please talk to your health care provider before making any changes in your diet and lifestyle. 




     I assume if you are reading this, you already know what PCOS is. In case you don't know, PCOS is Polycycstic Ovarian Syndrom. It doesn't necessarily mean that someone diagnosed with PCOS has cysts on their ovaries. But just know that it sucks.
     This blog really isn't about what PCOS is, so I'm not going to spend a lot of time explaining it. What I am going to tell you is how I have finally taken control over my PCOS.
    My husband and began to try to get pregnant back in November 2017. I was extremely naive to the idea that getting pregnant was easy. So many people I knew and was seeing through social media were getting pregnant with ease. I just knew I would be pregnant in probably three months.
    However, that wasn't the case. I had longer periods, cramps that even Satan wouldn't would think were too harsh, weight gain like I was an elephant, and the feeling of defeat. It wasn't until 9 months later that I learned I had PCOS. Though the diagnosis explained a lot of about my body from the last 16 years, I now was clueless on where to begin to treat this.
     So through a lot of trial and error, I can now confidently say that I feel in control of my PCOS, and here is how I did it:

1. First, accept the diagnosis.

I know that a lot of you reading this right now are skipping over this first point because you want to know what to do or what pill to take. But this is honestly the most important thing you can do to treat your PCOS. Even though I understood my diagnosis, I wasn't fully coming to terms with it because I didn't want it, and I knew that getting pregnant was going to be hard. Once I realized that this is part of me now, I accepted it. This acceptance allowed me to begin taking the steps that I needed to treat and learn to live with my PCOS.

2. Start a Healthy Lifestyle

You've always been told to eat right and exercise. And yes, that is exactly what we need to do. However, we need to do a little more than choosing salad over the baked potato. This change needs to be with almost every aspect of your life. From your lotions, medications, food, and mind set. I'll talk more on what all of this entails, but know that this isn't some quick diet or 2 week cleanse. This is a life change. With that being said, it doesn't all have to be at once. But once I took this step, I have honestly felt better about my self than I ever have (even when I was a toothpick in college). Don't get me wrong, I'm not near as small as I once was, but I'm healthier than I've ever been- and that's the goal here. 

3. Ditch the Harmful Chemicals

One of the first things I really looked into was the chemicals in my body wash, lotion, shampoo, detergent, etc. So many of these products contain Parabens which are estrogen mimickers. As someone with PCOS, the last thing you need is to have false hormones, or too much of a hormone that you don't need. I know it may seem like a small amount, but when you consider how much of these products you're putting on you and the number of times a week you use these products, that small amount really adds up. The easiest way for me to make the switch was with two resources: the Think Dirty app and Young Living products and oils. If you would like to check out some of these products, just visit bit.ly/jessicavick  Switching these products have given me such a piece of mind. 

4. Eat the Right Foods

     So when I was first diagnosed, I began to eat "better," but I was no where near where I needed to be. And looking back, I still didn't eat terribly, but I didn't eat great either. So I'm going to break it down for you bluntly: no gluten, no wheat, no soy, no sugar, no whey, no dairy.  Now, I know you're thinking, "so what do I eat?" And that's exactly what I thought at first. However, I have discovered that I can eat steak every morning for breakfast, and it's good for me! I've also discovered a lot more too, but that's one of my favorites. Keep in mind, it's going to be hard to take all of these things out at one time, and I don't recommend it. But a slow transition with a strong will to succeed and get better will get you where you need to be. I'll be writing more on what foods are best, but for now, focus on meat and veggies. 

5. Really Try to Exercise

     This is the hardest thing for me. And it's not because I don't like working out, it's because I don't have time. However, any physical activity you can do really helps. Whether that's doing squats while you're cooking supper, yoga during a movie, or unloading the groceries one bag at a time. The more you can do, the better it certainly is. Don't go crazy, but a moderate workout will really help with your stress levels and hormones. Again, this isn't something I'm great at, but I continue to work on it every day. 

6. Get Control of Your Emotions

     This is one thing that has probably been one of the hardest, but the most necessary. The more stress and anxiety you put on yourself, the lower your progesterone levels will be. For me, I need more progesterone. So obviously stress and anxiety are not too good for me. Find ways to help deal with your emotions. For me, that has been more prayer, breathing exercises, and yes, essential oils. Oils may not be for you, but they have certainly worked for me. Find a way to control your emotions. The more natural, the better. 

7. Focus on Your Health, Not the Struggles

     This may not apply to all of you, but it certainly applied, and still does, to me. When I was first diagnosed, all I could focus on was the fact that every month I was not getting pregnant. This not only effected me so much emotionally, mentally, and physically. I was taking almost 20 vitamins a day, looking for quick fix pills, and crying myself to sleep every night. None of this was helping me get pregnant, and it certainly wasn't helping me get healthier. Once I turned my attention to getting healthier and not getting pregnant, that's when I saw the biggest change. My cramps stopped, I lost weight, the bloating was gone, and I finally got positive ovulation tests. I'm hoping to update this with a pregnancy one day, whether that's on my own or through IVF. Regardless, I know that I have made improvements, and that has made the biggest difference. 

Regardless of where you are at in your PCOS journey, it's good to remind yourself that you're not alone. It's also good to remind yourself that you're going to fail, but you can certainly pick yourself back up. If you need help, support, or have questions, feel free to comment below so I can reach out. You've got this!