Why are you so damn moody all the time???

PCOS, or PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome. It is a bitch of a disease. Just a few of the symptoms include:

Acne
Sudden weight gain
Moodiness
Irritability
Impossible weight loss
Erratic insulin production levels
Erratic periods or lack of period
Hair growing where it shouldn't be
Hair falling out from where it should be
Cramping
Hiatal hernias
Heartburn
Infertility

There are more but this is just a portion of the symptoms. Sounds fun doesn't it?

Not everyone who has PCOS has all of these symptoms. In fact, some don't have cysts on their ovaries as the name would imply. (The syndrome name is currently under review for this reason)

One of the main issues with PCOS is a hormone imbalance. This is the source of the acne, weight gain, hair growth, and erratic periods.

There is no cure or even solid treatment for this disease. Some do well being on birth control as the hormones are able to be regulated. Some are put on Metformin, which helps keep their blood sugar and insulin levels even and can sometimes help to lose weight. But if you can't take either of those like I can't, what else is there? They give you a list of foods that you should stay away from when you have PCOS, but the list of things that are okay to eat seems to grow shorter and shorter every day. No carbs, no processed flour or sugar, no gluten, no sweetener, no dairy. What is left? That's right, not
much.

I was diagnosed with PCOS about three years ago after a cyst on my ovary burst. Ay treatment I have gone through has been unsuccessful in helping any of the symptoms. I have had most of the symptoms I have now since I was a teen, but they finally just figured hit what the cause of it all was.

So how can I get better if there is no treatment plan out there? Doctors and the public need to be better educated on this disease so that hopefully someday there will be a cure or at least a treatment plan for people like me, but who knows.

PCOS is a big pat of the reason I am a fat girl in a skinny world.

More to come. It is time to educate.

I'm baaaaaaaack

After being away for a while, I am back. This time I am trying to make some money off of this blog. Lol. I have signed up for some pay per post sites in hopes that I can generate at least a little cash for doing this, and who knows, maybe help some people along the way.

With that said, I must post this sentence: a quaff swims like a trash can

What does it mean? It means that I own this blog man! Lol

So, lately I have been down because I fell off the wagon. Again. I quit Weight Watchers because it was too expensive and I have the tools to count points on my own. I was doing really well, but then I just stopped counting points because even though I had been following the program the way I was supposed to, I gained every pound back that I had lost. I was discouraged and pissed off, so I quit. However, for some mysterious reason, the weight is gone again. I chalk it up to the PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), because your weight can be so up and down with it and it makes it very hard to lose weight when you are trying.

I am not motivated enough in the winter to get out and exercise. It's just too damn cold. So I have been able to keep myself somewhat active in the house by doing DDP Yoga. It has definitely helped my back pain, and feels pretty good after, not like I just did an intense workout. I can't wait until it is warm out so that I can start walking Cody to and from school again because that adds up to 3 miles per day which I am sure would help!

So I guess that is my update for now, but I think I am going to start gearing this blog not so much towards my weight loss trials and failures, but towards educating people on PCOS, what it is and what it means. Not many people know about it, but it affects many women and messes our bodies up so badly.

Until then, adios.

I am thankful that I managed to stay on track!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend!

I am proud of myself, I managed to stay on track and under my daily points, but was full after dinner. I had a lot of veggies, and stayed away from the desserts other than the soda cake that I made and brought with me. There were a lot of different and really tempting desserts, but I did not touch. Go me!

I snacked on chips and salsa while at my grandmother's house over the weekend, and had a turkey sandwich on oatmeal bread with squash and cranberry sauce on it for a leftover lunch. Didn't touch a dessert all weekend other than my cake and a couple of my grandmother's chocolate marshmallow cookies (because it is NOT a holiday without those!).

I weighed myself this morning even though I have really been trying not to weigh myself until my meetings, but I was happy to see that the scale said I had dropped another 3.8 pounds. Hopefully it will stay that way for my meeting tomorrow!

Today I had a cheat day as I haven't allowed myself one for a bit. I had pizza for lunch. When I was done eating it and calculating the points I realized that it really wasn't worth it to eat a big portion like I used to. One slice is 8 points. To me that is a lot, so if I have a cheat day, it's going to be that one day and that's it! I have yet to use my weekly points and my activity points however, so I do still have those to use if I wish. I had a dinner of grilled sirloin steak and broccoli to make up for lunch. :)

I am thinking of starting up slowly with a yoga routine at home to inch my way into some exercise. Yoga seems relatively harmless, and I could use a little toning if I am going to be losing weight. I am not sure if yoga will help me to lose weight since it doesn't seem like something that really gets your heart rate going, but I think it will be something good to work into my routine. Hopefully I can get to Zumba this week as well.

Wish me luck on my weigh-in tomorrow, I am hoping for my third weigh-in in a row with a loss!

Yikes

Woooo boy today was not a good day food-wise. I was just not that hungry except for lunch. I had a little over half a box of Velveeta and that was it. Then I had a corn dog for supper, followed by a Smirnoff Ice and chips with salsa at the club I went to after. I barely touched the chips though. I came in with 11 points left for the day and after looking at the small amount on my food log can't believe how little food I actually had for a decent amount of points. Eating healthier is definitely better and more satisfying. Although last night was my splurge night, I had pepperoni pizza and man was it good. Lol

I did manage to restrain myself tonight and drink water other than the one drink out at the club. Usually I will have a few mudslides or Dirty Girlscouts (Chocolate milk with creme de menthe, tastes like a Thin Mint).

Tomorrow I am at home and working for a good portion of the day so fortunately I won't be going anywhere, don't want to spend the money on delivery and all the Velveeta and unhealthy stuff is now out of the house, so I should have a better day tomorrow!!

It's all about the points values baby

I noticed something when I went to the grocery store today. I completely skipped all the aisles that I normally go to, such as the snack aisle and the ice cream aisle. I had my phone with me and was using my scanner app on everything that I was thinking of getting. When I found out what the points were, I debated on whether that tiny little granola bar, or those 2 cookies were really worth the points they would tack on, and for the most part put a lot of stuff right back on the shelf. I am wondering if I am being too conscious about it though.

I think I am most worried that if I cut out all the yummy foods like ice cream or cookies, that should I happen to have a sweet treat at some point, I am going to go on a binge. I really wanted to get some cookies from the bakery, but I stopped myself because I knew that 2 cookies would probably not be enough and I would end up eating more than I want to. I am glad that I have the sense to know when I will not have the self control to portion, but it worries me that I may not be able to keep that control if I completely deprive myself of anything that I think tastes good. I ended up walking out of the store with turkey burgers, olive oil, fat and sugar free cool whip, water, seltzer, and a 2 liter of diet pepsi.

I was starving when I left the store, and almost hit up the Burger King on the way home but went right on by because I know the points weren't worth it. I am enjoying the restraint that I seem to have, but hope that it lasts and that I don't give up once the weight loss starts slowing down. I did not weigh myself today, I am trying really hard not to do it every day so that when it fluctuates I don't get discouraged and go on a binge. Right now I am sitting down to some low fat cottage cheese instead of BK. Granted it doesn't taste nearly as good as a burger would but sacrifices have to be made if I want to lose the weight!

Could have done a little better today!

I completely skipped food until 5pm. Of course, I was sleeping for most of the day since I didn't have my son today, but still. Not good. I ended up having a big dinner. I am still under my points and had a power food for supper so I guess it's not that bad.

I am getting hungry again, but bought Special K with strawberries just for night time snacks during work.

Tomorrow I am going to Zumba class for an hour, that should get me some good activity points! I am saving my extra points for dinner on Saturday, going to Buffalo Wild Wings for the first time, but I am still going to try and eat the best that I can. It appears that they have a grilled chicken sandwich that you can build with your own toppings so I should be able to eat something a little healthy.

I am trying not to weigh myself every day, but I am getting excited that this is actually working. I am down a total of 5.1 pounds in 5 days so far. I know that after the first week it will slow down and I will only lose one or two pounds per week after that but I am still pretty happy. I even managed to look at myself in the mirror tonight and think "I am not that terrible looking". That is the first time in a long time I have been able to think that. So not only is this going to give me a physical makeover, but a mental makeover as well. I have always been the chunky girl and have always had self-esteem issues. I would love to get some of that back!

Cheers to a new sense of self!

Congrats to the 44th President for another four years!

So happy for Obama!

And now my political rant is over. Lol

Feeling great again today. Lost another pound today. That is 3.7 pounds in four days. Awesome! I know the rapid weight loss will stop soon, but for now I am going to enjoy it because it is a great motivator.

Today I had a six inch turkey sub on flatbread with veggies, mustard, and light cheddar cheese for lunch, along with a bag of Baked Lays and low fat milk from Subway. For dinner, a delicious bowl of penne pasta with veggie sauce and steamed broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. I have also had an ice cream sandwich and a bag of popcorn. I still have five points left. I may eat a bit of cottage cheese before I go to bed since that is low points and will fill me up without giving me heartburn.

I am feeling really good and very excited to see what this program has in store for me.