20th Feb 2018
Are you sure you don’t have PCOS?
I once read somewhere… “If and only are as harmless as words can be. But, when they are placed together, they possess the power to haunt you for the rest of yo
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24 Aug 2015
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This is my own story of battling weight and PCOS. It feels great sharing it with females, some of whom are probably going through the same challenges as I did.
As a child, I was never skinny. I grew up being slightly overweight with a broad frame. Things suddenly started going very wrong once I hit my twenties. My periods became irregular and I started gaining weight. I did not notice it at first as ironically I was pursuing my master's in nutrition and super busy with studies.
When in just a year my weight ballooned to 64 kg from 56 kg, I realized something was wrong. After a few medical tests, I discovered I was suffering from PCOS and that along with poor eating habits, this was responsible for my weight gain.
I started studying it in detail and was convinced that weight loss and maintaining my weight to ideal levels was the only solution to having a healthy hormonal profile.
Also, being a dietitian myself, it was important to be well within my ideal weight limits.
The next barrier to excess weight and PCOS was when I was planning to have a child.
Infertility due to PCOS was very common.
I was very upset to hear I was suffering from infertility and that it would be tough to become a mom. It was very depressing to hear about fertility treatments and the side effects of the same made me very scared and depressed.
I did my research on diet plans for women with PCOS and started eating correctly, eating in the right portions and not giving in to junk food. I started losing weight and bounced back to 58 kg. I was very happy to conceive naturally (rare with PCOS) and had a very good pregnancy. During the 9 months, however, I put on 23 kg and was horrified to see myself at 78 kg after the birth of my child.
It was like a light switch went on. I immediately swung into action and actively chose and ate foods that were nourishing and not fattening and greasy. Moreover, since, I had been operated on for a slipped disc, heavy workouts were never an option for me. So, I would make time to go for short, but regular walks. post-pregnancy weight loss wasn’t easy, but with the right food and techniques, it all worked out.
After my child was 1 year old, I was 66 kg, and my PCOS symptoms disappeared. My cycles were very regular. I went a little more aggressive and continued with a more conscious effort to lose weight. This was not easy as I was taking care of the baby, working and taking care of my weight.
At times, I gave in to cravings and ate wrong but when calm, I would ask myself, was the big bar of chocolate worth it? To satisfy cravings, I would taste morsels of junk food but make meals of healthy food. After another year I was at 58 kg and today I am at 56 kg!
Going through weight gain. PCOS and post-pregnancy weight has been incredible learning for me as a nutritionist. My own experience has helped me with my modules on balance nutrition on eat-in portions, restaurant-guided weight loss plans for PCOS started withes, alcohol guides and what I call "The Celebrate Life Maintenance Guide".
I eat outside, have erratic meal times some days and also cheat a bit, but due to the maintenance, I know when to stop.
My biggest takeaway over the last few decades? No one can eat special diet foods all their life, a more practical and doable approach works best.
