...I was diagnosed with PCOS.
Dude, PCOS sucks. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome sucks.
It has all the least desirable symptoms as a woman and there's no cure. It's just "manageable." Great. Awesome. Wonderful.
My least favorite symptom is "trouble losing weight" because what woman wants it to be extra challenging to lose the extra pounds.
While my doctor suggested about a year ago that I had PCOS, after a conversation with my sister-in-law (my brother-in-law's wife), who was told that she'd never have kids and is now about to pop one out, she suggested that I have an ultrasound to officially check for cysts. She was told she had PCOS, but when they checked for cysts she didn't have any.
Here's my tip for anyone who needs to have a sonogram or ultrasound done vaginally....GO TO THE BATHROOM FIRST. I wish someone had told me that. I went in for my appointment and they sent me into the ultrasound room where they told me to disrobe from the waist down and then use the pink paper drape. Then they inserted the ultrasound wand.
Ultrasound wands and full bladders DO NOT MIX.
The ultrasound tech even remarked "Wow, your bladder is full."
All I could think was, "YEAH NO KIDDING YOU'RE PRESSING ON IT AND IT'S NOT HELPING."
So, if you have a vaginal ultrasound on deck, be sure to evacuate your bladder first.
Unfortunately, they did find cysts on my ovaries.
AWESOME. YAY. WOO HOO.
Said no one ever.
Now that we're officially trying, it just adds to the pot of complication.
But I'm not going to let this get me down!
24 Day Challenge: Day 4
The first three days of the 24 Day Challenge are pretty rough. Mostly because the first ten days are a cleanse. But not the starve yourself crazy cleanse. You get to eat while cleansing. WHAT?! That's awesome. Because I love to eat.
I also have a crazy sweet tooth. Like, I love Halloween candy. And brownies. And cookies. And cake. And almost anything with sugar in it. Except for maybe Candy Corn. I hate Candy Corn.
I thought that I would be a raging lunatic come the first couple of days because I had to cut out sugar (at least all that processed junk) and coffee. I'm also a huge Starbucks nut. Last week, before starting the cleanse, I took advantage of the buy one - get one holiday drink offer. Yeah. I drank both.
So here we are. Day 4. I'm feeling pretty good.
I'm thrilled I don't have to drink the Fiber Drink for four days.
Real talk. The Fiber Drink is like trying to drink liquid sand. Or imagine that you pulverized tree bark and mixed it with water. It's kind like that. And it kind of smells like pencil shavings. Needless to say, it's not a pleasant experience. I chugged it down and tried not to gag.
But I gagged. All three days. It's bad.
The good thing is that I have four days off of the Fiber Drink. Hallelujah!
I'm also really glad that my sister-in-law told me to chug it and to chase it with Spark. Spark, on the other hand, is sweet and delicious. It definitely helps to replace any sugar/sweet cravings. And it's an energy drink that helps with mental focus and sharpness, which is never a bad thing.
The thing that has helped me the most is the the little guide that comes with the 24-Day Challenge. It outlines what you should be taking and when. And I love the fact that I can eat fruit. For someone with a sweet tooth, it helps a lot with replacing the junk I would normally go for.
Also, another important thing is drinking enough water. I've been drinking 110oz water a day. Needless to say, I run to the bathroom a lot. But if it's flushing the toxins and bad gunk out of my system, I'm all for it. I've had more salads and veggies in the last couple of days than ever, but I guess that's a good thing.
She also told me to eat enough calories per day. She said that lots of people don't see results because they are not eating enough calories. While it seems a little counterintuitive, considering that she's done this before and lost weight (and built muscle), I trust what she says. So the funny thing is that when all you're eating is whole foods - proteins, fruits, veggies, and complex carbs - it takes A LOT of food to meet the calorie quota, even the lower side of the range!
Maybe I'm a little crazy for doing the 24-Day Challenge while it runs through Thanksgiving, but since we're not traveling to either side of the family and basically have to fend for ourselves, I think there will be a whole lot more self control. Plus, I'll be done with the cleanse by then!
Let's see how the rest of this cleanse phase goes....
I also have a crazy sweet tooth. Like, I love Halloween candy. And brownies. And cookies. And cake. And almost anything with sugar in it. Except for maybe Candy Corn. I hate Candy Corn.
I thought that I would be a raging lunatic come the first couple of days because I had to cut out sugar (at least all that processed junk) and coffee. I'm also a huge Starbucks nut. Last week, before starting the cleanse, I took advantage of the buy one - get one holiday drink offer. Yeah. I drank both.
So here we are. Day 4. I'm feeling pretty good.
I'm thrilled I don't have to drink the Fiber Drink for four days.
Real talk. The Fiber Drink is like trying to drink liquid sand. Or imagine that you pulverized tree bark and mixed it with water. It's kind like that. And it kind of smells like pencil shavings. Needless to say, it's not a pleasant experience. I chugged it down and tried not to gag.
But I gagged. All three days. It's bad.
The good thing is that I have four days off of the Fiber Drink. Hallelujah!
I'm also really glad that my sister-in-law told me to chug it and to chase it with Spark. Spark, on the other hand, is sweet and delicious. It definitely helps to replace any sugar/sweet cravings. And it's an energy drink that helps with mental focus and sharpness, which is never a bad thing.
The thing that has helped me the most is the the little guide that comes with the 24-Day Challenge. It outlines what you should be taking and when. And I love the fact that I can eat fruit. For someone with a sweet tooth, it helps a lot with replacing the junk I would normally go for.
Also, another important thing is drinking enough water. I've been drinking 110oz water a day. Needless to say, I run to the bathroom a lot. But if it's flushing the toxins and bad gunk out of my system, I'm all for it. I've had more salads and veggies in the last couple of days than ever, but I guess that's a good thing.
She also told me to eat enough calories per day. She said that lots of people don't see results because they are not eating enough calories. While it seems a little counterintuitive, considering that she's done this before and lost weight (and built muscle), I trust what she says. So the funny thing is that when all you're eating is whole foods - proteins, fruits, veggies, and complex carbs - it takes A LOT of food to meet the calorie quota, even the lower side of the range!
Maybe I'm a little crazy for doing the 24-Day Challenge while it runs through Thanksgiving, but since we're not traveling to either side of the family and basically have to fend for ourselves, I think there will be a whole lot more self control. Plus, I'll be done with the cleanse by then!
Let's see how the rest of this cleanse phase goes....
24 Day Challenge
Today, I started the 24-Day Challenge on Advocare.
I had been considering it for a long time, but it wasn't until I had a chat with my brother-in-law's wife (does that make her my sister-in-law?), that I finally felt the push to give it a go. What did I have to lose? At least a few pounds right?
I've been kind of stagnant in weight loss lately.
Although, from my highest weight ever which was in 2011, I've officially lost 25lbs! Yay! I never want to see that weight again. I just want the scale to keep going down.
This year has blown by so quickly that I just don't know where it has gone.
Over the summer, after we returned from a trip to Europe, I tried my hand at Pure Barre. It was great. The first couple of classes (and the soreness that followed) were kind of torturous, but after that I felt great. I liked it so much because while you're burning calories and toning all the major problem areas for women, you're not exerting crazy effort. Instead, it's all about the isometric holds and tucking.
A whole lot of tucking.
Right when I started going to Pure Barre classes, the studio had started a 30-day challenge. Attending at least 20 classes in 30 days. While that didn't sound too daunting before signing up, after looking at my schedule, I was really going to have to commit myself to it. Luckily, since it was summer, and no photo shoots lined up because it's freakishly hot outside, I was able to do it.
The gold stars didn't hurt either.
It's so weird and silly that a little thing like a gold star could help me along in the challenge. But I was determined to get those stars, dang it. And I did. I was thrilled to have completed the challenge and did not give up half way through or something.
I continued Pure Barre through August and issued myself another 30 Day Challenge.
But let's be honest, Pure Barre is not the cheapest workout on the block.
Come September, I decided to opt out of Pure Barre, since it's an expensive (though worth it if you can afford it) workout choice. I turned to my trusty Turbo Fire to get back into kickboxing and burning some major calories!
I've been doing a mix of Turbo Fire and P90X (but honestly, I've only done one P90X class since I've been super busy with photo shoots and ordering appointments).
So when my husband and I went back to Georgia a few weeks ago to hang out with his family, I talked to them about it. His brother and wife are Advocare distributors, and she is training for a bodybuilding competition (she has big biceps and is proud of it), so she talked me through the 24-Day Challenge which is the best introduction to Advocare products. She told me about her results and how her hormonal levels reset, and considering that we are built similarly, I thought that I could give it a try.
So I started it today. I plan on staying on track. Even with Thanksgiving next week.
It doesn't hurt that the little booklet had checkmarks.
Whatever works, right?
I had been considering it for a long time, but it wasn't until I had a chat with my brother-in-law's wife (does that make her my sister-in-law?), that I finally felt the push to give it a go. What did I have to lose? At least a few pounds right?
I've been kind of stagnant in weight loss lately.
Although, from my highest weight ever which was in 2011, I've officially lost 25lbs! Yay! I never want to see that weight again. I just want the scale to keep going down.
This year has blown by so quickly that I just don't know where it has gone.
Over the summer, after we returned from a trip to Europe, I tried my hand at Pure Barre. It was great. The first couple of classes (and the soreness that followed) were kind of torturous, but after that I felt great. I liked it so much because while you're burning calories and toning all the major problem areas for women, you're not exerting crazy effort. Instead, it's all about the isometric holds and tucking.
A whole lot of tucking.
Right when I started going to Pure Barre classes, the studio had started a 30-day challenge. Attending at least 20 classes in 30 days. While that didn't sound too daunting before signing up, after looking at my schedule, I was really going to have to commit myself to it. Luckily, since it was summer, and no photo shoots lined up because it's freakishly hot outside, I was able to do it.
The gold stars didn't hurt either.
It's so weird and silly that a little thing like a gold star could help me along in the challenge. But I was determined to get those stars, dang it. And I did. I was thrilled to have completed the challenge and did not give up half way through or something.
I continued Pure Barre through August and issued myself another 30 Day Challenge.
But let's be honest, Pure Barre is not the cheapest workout on the block.
Come September, I decided to opt out of Pure Barre, since it's an expensive (though worth it if you can afford it) workout choice. I turned to my trusty Turbo Fire to get back into kickboxing and burning some major calories!
I've been doing a mix of Turbo Fire and P90X (but honestly, I've only done one P90X class since I've been super busy with photo shoots and ordering appointments).
So when my husband and I went back to Georgia a few weeks ago to hang out with his family, I talked to them about it. His brother and wife are Advocare distributors, and she is training for a bodybuilding competition (she has big biceps and is proud of it), so she talked me through the 24-Day Challenge which is the best introduction to Advocare products. She told me about her results and how her hormonal levels reset, and considering that we are built similarly, I thought that I could give it a try.
So I started it today. I plan on staying on track. Even with Thanksgiving next week.
It doesn't hurt that the little booklet had checkmarks.
Whatever works, right?
Insulin Resistance...
...can suck it.
PCOS and insulin resistance go hand in hand it seems. They are like old chums.
My doctor put me on Metformin which is basically a medication for people with Type-2 Diabetes. I don't have Type-2 Diabetes, but I do have insulin resistance.
From WebMD.com:
It's not a huge deal to have to take it, but it does have some side effects. Like sometimes having to run to the bathroom suddenly. And when that happens it's an emergency, and I'm thankful that every time it's happened I've been at home or at least close enough to an accessible bathroom.
Think of that scene in Bridesmaids.
Yeah, it's bad.
But that's really the only side effect that I've experienced. It's not pretty. It could be worse right?
The Metformin is supposed to help with the PCOS so that I can ovulate properly. Lovely PCOS has contributed to my anovulation.
Rude.
What I find to be extra rude is that red tide still comes even if no ovulation has occurred? What? What's the point?!
Oh this adventure in infertility.
I feel like I'm one of those old timey explorers learning something new all the time.
I might start describing myself as they do animals in the wild...
PCOS and insulin resistance go hand in hand it seems. They are like old chums.
My doctor put me on Metformin which is basically a medication for people with Type-2 Diabetes. I don't have Type-2 Diabetes, but I do have insulin resistance.
From WebMD.com:
What Is Insulin Resistance?
Normally, food is absorbed into the bloodstream in the form of sugars such as glucose and other basic substances. The increase in sugar in the bloodstream signals the pancreas (an organ located behind the stomach) to increase the secretion of a hormone called insulin. This hormone attaches to cells, removing sugar from the bloodstream so that it can be used for energy.
In insulin resistance, the body's cells have a diminished ability to respond to the action of the insulin hormone. To compensate for the insulin resistance, the pancreas secretes more insulin.
People with this syndrome have insulin resistance and high levels of insulin in the blood as a marker of the disease rather than a cause.
Over time people with insulin resistance can develop high sugars or diabetes as the high insulin levels can no longer compensate for elevated sugars
Think of that scene in Bridesmaids.
Yeah, it's bad.
But that's really the only side effect that I've experienced. It's not pretty. It could be worse right?
The Metformin is supposed to help with the PCOS so that I can ovulate properly. Lovely PCOS has contributed to my anovulation.
Rude.
What I find to be extra rude is that red tide still comes even if no ovulation has occurred? What? What's the point?!
Oh this adventure in infertility.
I feel like I'm one of those old timey explorers learning something new all the time.
I might start describing myself as they do animals in the wild...
Getting Kettlebell Serious
Today I begin an experiment.
An experiment using kettlebells.
I've read and read about how awesome kettlebells are and how they can get you fit. I'm not a fan of running. I'm not a fan of working out in general. I am able to work out, for which I am thankful, but I don't particularly enjoy it. The easier that I can make the workout (less barriers to getting it done), the more likely I am to do it.
I've been reading 4-Hour Body on and off for the last 18 months. I tried the 4-Hour Body diet, and I did well for about a month. But then, after that, I gave up because there were barriers to eating on the plan. Cakes and sweets loomed just around the corner. And my self control? Not too good.
At the beginning of this year, with the plan of starting a family, my husband and I decided to start eating Paleo. At least mostly Paleo, while cutting out most grains and sugar. With a cheat day each week. I needed to lose weight. Well, I NEED to lose weight.
So we signed up for eMeals.com so that I wouldn't have to think about what to each eat evening for dinner. And I have to say that I LOVE eMeals, it's great and streamlines both cooking and going to the grocery store.
And then I hit this wall. I was working out. I was eating Paleo. And yet nothing was changing. Talk about frustration. I would lose about one pound, and then if I looked at a cookie, that pound would come right back.
A really frustrating and confusing part of this whole process was that last week, I didn't workout at all. I didn't modify my eating (so about 50/50 Paleo and regular) and I lost 3.5 lbs! While awesome, that did not motivate me at all to workout!
So today, I started something new. Today, I started working out with a kettlebell doing one move - the kettlebell swing.
Last week, I ordered a 35lb kettlebell from Amazon. I had tried out different sizes of kettlebells at Dick's Sport Authority to get an idea of what size I should get. I had read that I should purchase a kettlebell that I could grow into. I tried a couple - 20lbs, 25lbs, 30lbs, and 35lbs. 35lbs was the best for me to work into. I could swing it, but it was difficult.
I told my husband that I wanted to do an experiment. I wanted to try working out according to the 4 Hour Body plan of doing kettlebell swings twice a week.
I worked out this morning and it was great. The workout was hard (not nearly as taxing as doing tons of cardio), but I can feel my muscles. And it only took me ten minutes!
So I plan to document this experiment here and report my findings. I'm really interested to see what happens. I know that I'll really have to commit to eating clean, but for now, an 80/20 approach is working for me and I can stick to it.
An experiment using kettlebells.
I've read and read about how awesome kettlebells are and how they can get you fit. I'm not a fan of running. I'm not a fan of working out in general. I am able to work out, for which I am thankful, but I don't particularly enjoy it. The easier that I can make the workout (less barriers to getting it done), the more likely I am to do it.
I've been reading 4-Hour Body on and off for the last 18 months. I tried the 4-Hour Body diet, and I did well for about a month. But then, after that, I gave up because there were barriers to eating on the plan. Cakes and sweets loomed just around the corner. And my self control? Not too good.
At the beginning of this year, with the plan of starting a family, my husband and I decided to start eating Paleo. At least mostly Paleo, while cutting out most grains and sugar. With a cheat day each week. I needed to lose weight. Well, I NEED to lose weight.
So we signed up for eMeals.com so that I wouldn't have to think about what to each eat evening for dinner. And I have to say that I LOVE eMeals, it's great and streamlines both cooking and going to the grocery store.
And then I hit this wall. I was working out. I was eating Paleo. And yet nothing was changing. Talk about frustration. I would lose about one pound, and then if I looked at a cookie, that pound would come right back.
A really frustrating and confusing part of this whole process was that last week, I didn't workout at all. I didn't modify my eating (so about 50/50 Paleo and regular) and I lost 3.5 lbs! While awesome, that did not motivate me at all to workout!
So today, I started something new. Today, I started working out with a kettlebell doing one move - the kettlebell swing.
Last week, I ordered a 35lb kettlebell from Amazon. I had tried out different sizes of kettlebells at Dick's Sport Authority to get an idea of what size I should get. I had read that I should purchase a kettlebell that I could grow into. I tried a couple - 20lbs, 25lbs, 30lbs, and 35lbs. 35lbs was the best for me to work into. I could swing it, but it was difficult.
I told my husband that I wanted to do an experiment. I wanted to try working out according to the 4 Hour Body plan of doing kettlebell swings twice a week.
I worked out this morning and it was great. The workout was hard (not nearly as taxing as doing tons of cardio), but I can feel my muscles. And it only took me ten minutes!
So I plan to document this experiment here and report my findings. I'm really interested to see what happens. I know that I'll really have to commit to eating clean, but for now, an 80/20 approach is working for me and I can stick to it.
