Pharmaceuticals VS Supplements

            Most people that are not educated on supplements think they are a farce.  As a woman with PCOS, I was fed up with the pharmaceuticals that the doctors prescribed to me.  Birth control pills, Clomid, Metformin, just to name a few that I had been prescribed and found out the hard way that none really worked for me.  Birth control pills caused me to hemorrhage and made me very sick.  After having a maximum dosage of Clomid I found that it did not work.  Years later I was informed that Clomid only works if you are under 190 pounds.  I was on and off Metformin for years and it made me extremely sick each time I was on it.  Some or all of these may work for some women with PCOS, but from my perspective they did not work for me.

            I did lots and lots of research on natural supplements and found the one that works for me is the Insulite Labs PCOS system, which is an all natural supplement system that is reversing the effects of my PCOS.  Holy Basil, L-Theanine, and Natural Calm have all helped me tremendously with my anxiety, depression and many other things.  Occasionally, pharmaceuticals treat the symptoms and not the underlying cause of the illness.  Most sicknesses are due to a lack of some vitamin or mineral in our body. 

            I hope this helps you in knowing that there are alternatives out there that are all natural.  So, in my opinion supplements are definitely not a farce and they are hands down the champion in the battle with pharmaceuticals. ~ Tammy 

           

           

PCOS and Ningxia

I have been reading a lot of status updates lately where women with PCOS are extremely fatigued, have no energy and are just flat out exhausted. A couple of our PCOS Angels are dealing with this right now. One of the energy boosters that is taken by our PCOS Angel is NingXia Red. So I decided to do some research and share it with all of you.

Let me know what you think. Have you taken it before? Does it work for you? I want to hear all about it if you have taken it or know someone who has :).

NingXia Red
- It is a nutrient infused drink
- It consists of wolfberries, blueberries, raspberries, red grapes, lemon and orange oils, pomegranate juices.
- Contains fiber, protein, and a variety of  minerals and vitamins

What does it provide?
- Wolfberries provide health, energy and longevity
- Blueberries and Pomegranate juices provide antioxidants
- Lemon and Orange essential oils provide D-Limonene which promotes health liver function
-S-ORAC helps support immune function, cardiovascular health, and nourishes the eyes.

How do you use it?
- Drink 1 to 2 ounces daily

After reading up on this product and doing the research I am interested and thinking about trying it myself. Just an fyi this stuff is expensive to buy, but it sounds like it may be well worth it in the end.

Resources:
http://www.ningxiared.com/ningxia-red/index.html

For more information on PCOS and the effects it has on your body you can go to
www.pcos.insulitelabs.com

For a support group and information learning you can join the PCOS Angels on facebook. We are the ones with the Teal PCOS Ribbon as our picture, you can also join the " Inspiration Hour, Connect-Motivate-Learn" at:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/inspiration-hour.php

Thank you for reading my posts!
Tabitha

Fatigued Much?

I find myself sitting here wondering where the energy is going to come from that will get me through my day. It is like one day I have all the energy in the world and the next there is nothing.  As a women with PCOS, this is by far the worst thing I deal with.  I can deal with the emotional roller coaster, the lack of cycles and all the other stuff that goes along with PCOS, but the lack of energy is very frustrating.  I just want to be able to get through my day without having this huge fight inside myself. My brain tries to shout of all these things it wants me to do, but my body just wont cooperate. The famous words from the doctors are get moving, exercise, etc. They forget to tell us where this energy is going to come from. I have learned to live my life day to day and on the days I am not all there I fake it.  I have got to do what I have got to do.  One this is for sure though, the days that I have no energy really make me appreciate the few that I have energy.  ~ Tammy

Ravenous

I have always suffered from occasions of binge eating and from what I understand it is both linked mentally to my stress responses to events and still due to PCOS dealing with unhelpful carb cravings after long months of denying myself certain foods. It is a hard thing to face alone and asks that we be true to ourselves about portion sizes and how much food should a person eat in one sitting. The article covers meal planning and making sure we have only healthy choices in the house.

“A binge is defined as eating (within a two hour period of time) an amount of food that isdefinitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances, and having a sense of lack of control during the

episode.”

This article details some of the things people suffering from regular episodes of binge eating can do to help minimize those events. The article mentions that it is important to find support through some type of counselor because these binges can be an unhealthy way of coping with intense feelings. I resonated with the article intensely as I do have this problem. It is great to read a logical and neutral response to this disorder that has practical steps to making a change in my life.

My goal is to start packing my own bento-style lunches for my 10 hours school days this summer. I am hoping by having lots of healthy fun choices I won't go wild at restaurants on the way home.- Amy

http://www.pcosnutrition.com/index.php?pID=35

PCOS, Depression and EMPower Plus

It was brought to my attention by my cousin that there was an all natural supplement that she was taking to help with Depression and other symptoms of PCOS. So I decided to take a look at it and share the information with you.

EMPower Plus
What is it?
   A natural supplement that is proven through studies to help with depression, anxiety, Bipolar 1&2, Panic disorder, ADD, and ADHD.


Why is it so effective?
- Serotonin plays a critical role in mood regulation
- The EMPower Plus helps keep the mood-balancing serotonin working in the brain longer by blocking its re-absorption into the body.


Normally I would list out a bunch of information about the supplement and how it works, but this supplement is specific to what disorder you are dealing with. If you are dealing with Anxiety, and panic it does one thing for you and the program is different then if you suffer from Bipolar. So instead of listing out all the different ways that it helps you I suggest you go to the web page, click on the link that shows what you are suffering with and decide if this is something for you.

My cousin takes it and says it has greatly helped her out. I hope that it is able to help you out as well. Lots of warm wishes through your journey with PCOS.


http://www.truehope.com/depression_disorders/depression.aspx




As always I am here if you have any comments, concerns or questions!

Thank you
Tabitha

Marathon Runner

Exercise, the word that we all hate with a passion.  One of the side effects that I struggle with in having PCOS is having no energy.  I take some natural supplements that help give me energy, but some days it just does not feel like enough.  We all know that exercise should be a very important part of your fight against PCOS, but this is much easier said than done.  I have been up to the gym and lifted weights, used the treadmill, and even used that elliptical that makes your legs burn, yeah you know what I'm talking about.  Half way through my workout I get this second wind, this adrenaline that kicks in and it feels great.  In reality though it is very, very difficult to get motivated and energetic enough to get out and exercise. 

            My journey with PCOS is kind of like a marathon.  Some days I am sprinting and other days I am crawling, but the point is I am always moving in the direction of the finish line.  So, fellow marathon runners keep your chin up and know that it is a marathon and you don't need to sprint everyday.  We will get to the finish line together one way or another.  ~Tammy

It's Time to Let the Stress and Anxiety Go

Infertility is very common for women with PCOS.  As a woman with PCOS, I struggle daily with the fact that I may never have a child.  I think having a child is one of if not the biggest thing in a women's life that makes them feel like a complete woman.  I feel that I have so much love overflowing inside of me and I want to share it with a child.  My husband and I have been married for 16 years and throughout those 16 years we have had doctor upon doctor tell us that having a child is probably not in the cards, but none of them knew why.  I finally stumbled upon the Insulite system.  This is an all natural way to reverse the affects of PCOS. 

            Since I have been on the Insulite system I have started having regular monthly cycles and I also started ovulating regularly.  My cycles have not been regular since I was in my early twenties and I had never ovulated until now.  My biological clock has been screaming at me for several years now.  I am forty years old now and that lingering negative thought in the back of my head is getting stronger and stronger.  The most difficult part of infertility is accepting the fact that I may never have a baby.  I know there are other options out there, such as adoption, foster parenting and even surrogacy, but none of those are near the same as having your own bundle of joy in your arms.  The best parts of me and my husband.  A physical representation of all the love we have for each other.

            I have learned that when women that are trying to have a baby and cannot accept the fact that they may not have one, then they have one.  It is when we lay the stress and anxiety down of trying to have a baby that we actually have a baby.  I don't know my future, but I know God does.  Its in his hands now.   ~ Tammy

Inspiration to Success

Inspiration! Success

I just wanted to comment how enjoyable it was to join the group for the Insulite PCOS Inspiration Hour conference call on June 19th.  Not only did I get to hear from other women with PCOS and their stories, but I also got a personalize list of suggestions from Katie Humphrey.  

She went over a three step process towards motivation which included finding our most compelling goal toward recovery, addressing our motivations, and then preparing ourselves by immersing our lives in the good things we need to see and the motivating images, sounds, smells, and tastes we need to be sucessful.

I am currently working on a collage of all my motivations to heal my PCOS symptoms (esp. my weight issues.)  And that is to help me have a visual reminder every day why I am making all the small good choices to improve my health.

So far I have cut out images of nature, some pictures of normal healthy women doing really amazing yoga poses, and pictures of my ideal new house.   As well I have a picture of the Tibetan wheel of life and things to encourage my own pursuit of mindfulness in my life.

I'd encourage anyone with PCOS out there to break the silence and join up for the next call event.  Reaching out and becoming a part of a community both helps us learn more and immerse ourselves in the process of getting well.

We as PCOS Angels are sponsored by Insulite Labs which is a company that supports women with PCOS using a system that includes potent nutraceuticals (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and botanicals formulated to address specific conditions), an exercise plan, and coaching by healthcare professional with the goal of reversing Insulin Resistance. They also have several other support options for women with PCOS, we encourage you to check it out and help support our cause. You can access more information about the company, PCOS and their support options please visit, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/ and http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/inspiration-hour.php 

We hope this post was meaningful and useful to you. The time we have available to support you, the women dealing with PCOS, is sponsored by Insulite Labs, and the Insulite Labs Inspiration Hour. Please feel free to check them out at: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/ and http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/inspiration-hour.php.

Sugar is Toxic? How Sugar Effects the Human Body.

PCOS and our sugar intake are tightly interwoven.  Sugars are refined concentrated carbohydrates.  And in its pure form sugar causes women with PCOS to initiate a insulin reaction caused by our insulin resistance.  This reaction is one of the causes of weight gain in PCOS and also the feeling of fatigue among others.


These are two excerpts from the news show, “60 Minutes.” Each are well worth watching and a good reason to reassess your relationship with sugar and your families relationship with sugar.

To paraphrase, in the natural world no food with fructose is poisonous. Fruits were good for a basic human being to eat and the only source of sugar they could find outside of honey for thousands of years.

But back then sugar was not injected into our meats, sauces, yogurts, and so forth. For example, McDonalds Hamburgers contains corn syrup sweetener in the meat portion. And so called healthy foods like flavored yogurts, vitamin waters, and energy bars contain sugar and corn syrups.

Thus body-wise and insulin-wise the video suggests there is no difference between corn syrup and cane sugar when it comes to insulin reactions. As well the brain responds to extra sweetness by releasing dopamine (a happy neuro-chemical) when you eat sugar.  And like a drug, if you eat sugars, you develop a sensitivity and you need more and more to feel satisfied.

As part of the Insulite program I am eating a low-glycemic diet to address the insulin resistance and hypoglycemia that has troubled me since childhood. 


Every day is a challenge. And even though I mess up sometimes, I find it takes me about two weeks of reducing/fasting from processed sugar items to get my body to stop craving processed sugars and back to loving plain low-carb fruits like blueberries at face value. It is a tough road but a rewarding one nonetheless.

Take five minutes and enjoy these videos. Though they tend toward being dramatic, there is some good quality data in there to glean out and inform your nutritional choices.

"Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on new research showing that beyond weight gain, sugar can take a serious toll on your health, worsening conditions ranging from heart disease to cancer.”

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7403942n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBox

"We at Overtime couldn't believe our ears when we heard this report. We knew sugar was bad, but a "toxin"? We give our kids that stuff! We weren't quite sure how to apply the new science in the 60 Minutes report to the challenges of everyday family life, so we sat down with Dr. Sanjay Gupta for some practical advice. Both a doctor and a father of three, Dr. Gupta offers his take on how a typical American family should think about the sugar in their diet."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_162-57407203-10391709/sugar-and-kids-the-toxic-truth/?tag=segementExtraScroller;housing

-Amy

We as PCOS Angels are sponsored by Insulite Labs which is a company that supports women with PCOS using a system that includes potent nutraceuticals (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and botanicals formulated to address specific conditions), an exercise plan, and coaching by healthcare professional with the goal of reversing Insulin Resistance. They also have several other support options for women with PCOS, we encourage you to check it out and help support our cause. You can access more information about the company, PCOS and their support options please visit, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/ and http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/inspiration-hour.php 

We hope this post was meaningful and useful to you. The time we have available to support you, the women dealing with PCOS, is sponsored by Insulite Labs, and the Insulite Labs Inspiration Hour. Please feel free to check them out at: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/ and http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/inspiration-hour.php.

Berries are Low-Carb! Hooray!

Berries are Low-Carb! Hooray!

(also full of fiber and antioxidants)

Nothing says summer like a nice berry cobbler or a berry parfait with a drizzle of honey and yogurt. My local love affair is with berries and it is one of the reasons I moved to the northwest. I love to snack while I walk on the fresh blackberries that line the roads here in Olympia in the late summer. 


And I like to pick buckets of blueberries in a nature preserve that had previously been a blueberry farm. After a brisk washing and de-spidering I have five or six quart bags of thumb-tip sized blueberries to put up in the freezer. And from there the sky is the limit. Blueberries go great in smoothies, eaten solo like ice cream, into sorbets, and my personal favorite as a crackly blue glaze for Alaskan salmon fillets.

(As a side note most people I found who don't like fruitssuffered from being presented improperly ripe, overripe, or non-organic produce. I would challenge anyone to get some help from a produce professional to pick your fruits and if you can, try organic, especially if you can get something fresh and local.)

 For example Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share can present you with a fresh box of produce every week as long as the season lasts so you don't even need to shop. Berry picking is also something you can do on pick-your-own farms and often have the freshest berries already picked for you to purchase.

Thus fresh berries are a great replacement for sweets. Part of the process of getting sugar cravings out of the system is to learn to taste “sweet” again. Corn syrup tastes much sweeter than regular sugar and both are much sweeter than fruit. So jaded taste buds can be brought back around by learning to experience fruit again, properly ripe fruit, naked of sweeteners and delicious.

The best way I've found to do that is to take a fast from sodas, sweet foods, and corn syrup sweetened foods, then after a week start eating fruit when I get a craving for a cookie. It is one of those tough mindful things. 

 I will be sitting here writing and my brain will say “COOKIE! WE WANT COOKIES!” and I will start looking for the car keys to go buy one IF I wasn't being mindful.  So I go get an organic apple, slice it with the apple slicer, and it is wonderful! It was just what I needed. My thoughts just happened to think cookie instead.  So as I go through the process of learning mindful eating, I will be going for the blueberries, not the ice cream, and making these lawful exchanges for healthy things instead of constant indulgences.

So try berries today!

Berry Carbs: (¼ cup unless noted)

acai berry (1oz) - 5g
blackberries - 2.7g
blueberries - 4.1g
boysenberries - 13g
cranberries - 2.0g
currant - 4g
elderberries - 4g
goji berry (5 Tbsp) - 21g
gooseberries - 9g
huckleberries (100g) - 8g
loganberry (100g) – 8g
raspberries - 1.5g
salmonberry (100g) – 8g
strawberries - 1.8g

Salalberry/Blueberry Crusted Salmon

This works well with Blueberries or Blackberries but autumn Salal berries with their deep purple juice and piney taste provide one of those one of kind dishes you only get around Washington.

I cup of Salal Berries (picked in August/September) locally or Blueberries

¼ cup of honey

olive oil or butter

1 nice pan sized fillet of wild caught salmon

Wash the “sand” from the Salal berries and pick off any stamens or fluff on each one. Press the berries in a sauce pan, sautéing them in butter, freeing the dark purple juice. Then reduce it to a sticky sauce.

Take your fillet of wild salmon, set fish down into the sticky berry sauce, and poach, then turning it to a high heat to get a nice caramelized purple berry crust on the fish side.

Serve with steamed red potatoes and dill, sour cream, and a nice pear cider.

“All For One” Low Carb Blueberry Cobbler (just one serving)

Ingredients

2 teaspoons xylitol (you could probably sub honey or agave nectar)

3/4 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

1 Tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut (I used reduced fat when I made it and calculated the calories)

1 1/2 Tablespoon almond meal (ground up almonds)

1 teaspoon applesauce

pinch salt

splash vanilla extract

sweetener, to taste (I used 1/2 a packet of stevia, and probably would not use any more.)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400F.

In a small skillet, melt xylitol. When xylitol has completely dissolved, add in blueberries and cook, stirring frequently, for a few minutes, or until they are liquidy but still retain some of their shape, and remove from heat.

Meanwhile, combine shredded coconut, almond meal, applesauce, salt, vanilla extract, and sweeter in a small bowl and mix well. The applesauce should coat all the other ingredients to the point where they can stick together, but not be too moist. Place the cooked blueberry mixture in a greased ramekin (about 6-8 ounces), and sprinkle the coconut mixture in small bits over the blueberries. Bake in the oven at 400F for about 20 minutes, or until the top is cooked, crisp, and slightly browned. Let cool until it won’t burn your mouth, and dig in!

Low-Carb Cobbler: http://www.foodiefiasco.com/?p=2157

The Story of Corn Syrup: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/18/FDGS24VKMH1.DTL&type=printable

CSA Shares: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

Local Food Cooperatives: http://www.localharvest.org/food-coops/list.jsp

We as PCOS Angels are sponsored by Insulite Labs which is a company that supports women with PCOS using a system that includes potent nutraceuticals (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and botanicals formulated to address specific conditions), an exercise plan, and coaching by healthcare professional with the goal of reversing Insulin Resistance. They also have several other support options for women with PCOS, we encourage you to check it out and help support our cause. You can access more information about the company, PCOS and their support options please visit, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/ and http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/inspiration-hour.php 

We hope this post was meaningful and useful to you. The time we have available to support you, the women dealing with PCOS, is sponsored by Insulite Labs, and the Insulite Labs Inspiration Hour. Please feel free to check them out at: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/ and http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/inspiration-hour.php.

PCOS Inspiration Hour

It is finally here! Insulite labs is hosting the first "Inspiration Hour Connect-Learn-Motivate".

Please join us for this call. You will have the chance to ask questions, tell your story and connect with other women who are on the same journey you are. Its a support network to get information, share information and find more women like you, and here what has or has not worked for them.

Just call the phone number below and you can join right in. They do ask that you sign up for it on their website at: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/inspiration-hour.php.

The call takes place tonight at 6:00pm EST. I will be posting more about the call after it takes place as well as getting the times and what the next call is going to be about. I look forward to hearing from each of you on the call!

3 Simple Steps for Lasting Motivation

Do you ever feel like quitting or giving up because it can seem to challenging to get results with PCOS? If so, you're not alone. Many of us can lose our motivation and easily get discouraged when dealing with PCOS. On this week's "PCOS Inspiration Hour" call, you will learn "3 Simple Steps for Lasting Motivation," from author and women's empowerment coach, Katie Humphrey. You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions, get support and share your story. Join us on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at 6:00pm ET (5:00pm CST, 4:00pm Mountain, 3:00pm PST) for the "PCOS Inspiration Hour"! Call in information:At the time of the call, dial (877) 273-4202 Enter access code: 6835430 Thank you!! Tabitha

Knowledge is Power

Knowledge is Power

It would be easy to say that PCOS has been a very rare condition in the past.  Lately, we are hearing about so many new cases, but in reality PCOS has always been around.  Its just that so many more people are becoming educated about it.  From my experience over the last ten years doctors really had no idea what PCOS was much less how to treat it.  Many women went undiagnosed or misdiagnosed because of the lack of knowledge on the condition.

I feel it is very, very important that we educate ourselves on PCOS, but even more important than that its is also important that our loved ones are educated on PCOS as well.  This can be a very peculiar condition and sometimes very hard to understand.  That is why education and research on PCOS is so important.  From my perspective my family really didn't know me or know what I went through on a daily basis until they fully understood the condition of PCOS.  There are many resources at your disposal to gain much needed knowledge about PCOS.  Obviously, the internet is a very reliable resource, but even better than that is communicating with other like minded individuals with PCOS.  We can learn so much from the daily experiences of each other. ~ Tammy

Fast Food: In a hurry? No chance to cook? What to do?

Summertime is here and full of road trips to various destinations unknown. I am going to be taking a lot of field trips this summer for school so I have to be prepared for these eventualities of the road and dealing my PCOS related dietary needs. In the best case scenario I will be making a series of healthy lunches all neatly packed into eco-concious reusable bento boxes. But I also know myself a little better than that.

Sure maybe me on a good day...

In my family fast food was a special reward or reserved for when we traveled. And as an adult it set the precedent (along with PCOS related food cravings) for me using fast food as an all too ready reward in my past. The worst thing I did was not be mindful about my purchases and then I decided there was no path but abstinence entirely from road foods.

Thus over the last three years I have developed a system of moderation which is constantly changing and growing. Fast foods are full of processed foods and preservatives so I limit how much I eat out each week and I try to focus on mindfulness of what I really want.

It tastes just as good...

1. “Small” Size It: Store cashiers will always ask “do you want that medium size or super size or biggie size?” 
    But pretty much all of them have their meals advertised in small size with the small size price. Its just a trick of the tongue to get an impatient person to order more food and spend faster.  Still the smallest versions of the things you really want will give you the flavors you crave. A good example is a Whopper vs a Whopper Jr. In that case you loose 290 calories and 20 carbs and it is still less than a regular cheeseburger.
   1. Which I note is part of the dollar/value menu trap. Simply by my research dollar menu foods have the same calories as the regular menu if not more and in fact people will buy more of them and consume 2-4 times more calories than a regular combo. Still some menus provide yogurt parfaits, small side salads, and other small servings.
      =
      
      
2. Unsweetened Beverages: Once you buy a sweetened soda or sweetened coffee or ice cream drink you are faced with the straight carbs from corn syrup sweetener. One soda can have up to 130 carbs and 300 calories in a medium sized cup. And diet sodas can still leave your insulin in a lurch because sweet tasting things still create an insulin reaction when you drink them. Thus insofar plain iced tea seems to be the only unsweetened beverage you can order that does not have any sugar or sugar emulating substances. Plus you can control if you put in just a teaspoon of sugar instead of six to twelve tablespoons in a Coca-Cola.
3.  OR 
   Some places, like Wendys, give you a choice or four different healthy items instead of fries that include two different salads, chili, baked potato, and/or apple slices. So it is easy to have a full meal with healthy choices aplenty. 

Still the bottom line is you don't have to have fries at all or any other element of a meal. Just get the one thing you really want and just that. And reading the menu can save you even then. You can always ask for the nutrition menu or look those menus up on your phone/computer to pre-plan what is safe for you.

For example I found out that my favorite burger had 1000 calories on its own, which is a little more than half of my personal daily limit. So it is no longer my favorite burger and I had to find a healthier alternative. 

 Healthy moderation brings us the ability to enjoy small amounts without the feeling of punishment. And it is a step forward in mindfulness of our dietary moods and choices.

http://www.wendys.com/food/nutritious-options.jsp

Diet Soda: http://news.menshealth.com/the-truth-about-diet-soda/2011/07/07/

New Pregnitude Supplement and the Inositols

“A new non-prescription Reproductive Support Dietary Supplement, Pregnitude™, which contains Myo-Inositol (2 g), plus Folic acid (200 mcg), is now available for women who are having difficulty conceiving, Everett Laboratories announced today. In clinical studies, Pregnitude has been shown to help support ovulation function and menstrual cycle regularity as well as support the quality of a woman's eggs.”

Tabitha turned me on to this new supplement called Pregnitude ™ and I dug into it a bit to see how it works. It turns out it is a formulation of Myo-Inositol and Folic Acid, two supplements women have been taking for helping with PCOS and fertility as reported on the Soulcysters.org forums. Pregnitude's website and company does have the benefit of proven clinical trails of their formulation helping women get pregnant so it may be well worth a try to work with them.

I personally picked up D-Chiro-Inositol (which is a converted form of Myo-Inositol) on advice from those forums over a year ago and have been taking small doses regularly (via Swanson's supplements.)

It has helped me with cravings as when I don't take it, I have more and more intense cravings for sugars. And it is interesting to me as I also benefit from taking Inositol (via Source Naturals) to help with my depression and moods. How I know Inositol has really helped me because I do notice a marked balancing effects on my moods. Plus Myo, D-Chiro, and Inositol are naturally occurring substances in foods like carob, melons, and buckwheat but have been chemically derived for a stronger dose.

-Amy

Sources:

http://www.pregnitude.com/

Video on Pregnituide:

http://www.wpbf.com/news/health/Natural-supplement-helps-Polycystic-Ovarian-Syndrome-patients/-/8788734/14806750/-/le99dgz/-/index.html#.T9kgxmZZHsI.google_plusone_share

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-reproductive-support-dietary-supplement-pregnitude-now-available-for-women-having-difficulty-conceiving-150425005.html

http://www.soulcysters.net/showthread.php/318509-Myo-Inositol-vs-D-Chiro-Inositol

The Low-Glycemic and Delicious Sweet Potato

With more that one restaurant and now fast food places embracing Sweet Potato Fries, I thought i'd give you the skinny on them.

Sweet Potatoes and Yams are a great low-glycemic substitution for potatoes in nearly every dish from stir-frys to soups. For me I find them a great substitute for sweet baked goods, mashed potatoes, and french fries.  

While they may need to be used more sparingly for certain people, they measure up as better for you than potato french fries.  This is because they have 1/2 the amount of calories than potato fries which also have 63.4 carbs vs 24 carbs per serving from sweet potatoes.  Thusly a 3 oz serving of sweet potato fries has 71 calories, 0 fat, and 16 grams of carbohydrates..

As well they are a complex carbohydrate which is why they are low-glycemic because they digest slowly and release sugars steadily into the blood stream. And they are rich in antioxidants and provide 22% of your daily Vitamin A.

There is one major caveat.  During the process of deep fat frying sweet potato fries take on some oil-rich calories. This still puts their calories per serving lower than fries, but it is important to remember with PCOS there is no free pass.  So I recommend small servings or cutting and oven baking your own.

Recipe: Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Herbed Olive Oil

 Or you can try my simple recipe for caramelized slow baked sweet potatoes or yams.  Just take a sweet potato (organic if possible), wash it up, slice into thick wide slices and place on a baking sheet.  Then roast at 375 degrees till soft and squishy or a knife goes in easily.  I do this in a toaster oven and it takes about 45-60 minutes and the result is a self-caramelized sweet dense treat with delicious chewy skin that can be eaten with a teaspoon of butter or just plain.

Bon Appetit!

Amy

Sources:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/271877-sweet-potato-fries-nutrition/
http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/foods/sweet-potato-fries-2

The Carbohydrate Monster

Like so many women that are suffering with PCOS  I was no stranger to the weight gain. I had a massive weight gain before I found out I had PCOS.  I went from 120 pounds to 350 pounds in a year and a half. The cravings for carbohydrates consumed my thinking about food. I am not satisfied with a meal unless I  had my share of carbohydrates to tame the carbohydrate monster that lives inside me.  I know that as soon as I eat the foods that I want to I am going to be sick from them. Does it stop me?   No, because I need my fix. I know it sounds like I am talking like an addict, but that is exactly what I am. Its just that my drug of choice is carbohydrates.  Living with PCOS, I know that I have to maintain a low carbohydrate lifestyle.  This is extremely difficult.  They say that there are many foods out there that are low in carbohydrates and can be substituted for the high carbohydrate foods I love, but it is very challenging to find these foods. With lots of research and dedication I can find many alternative low carbohydrate foods.  I have lost 65 pounds now and it has been a struggle every day.  There are many days that I slip up and eat the carbohydrates that I am addicted to.  Shortly after I eat on these days I am extremely sick and know that I messed up. They say the longer you go without carbohydrates the less you crave them.  I have to disagree with this.  This is an every day battle for me, but I am embracing the challenge to discover a new healthy lifestyle. ~ Tammy

PCOS and the Amylose Diet

I have been watching feeds on a couple of different sites and have seen information on a diet called the Low Amylose diet. So I decided to do some digging and find out what it is all about.

This is what I have found:

What is Amylose?
- Amylose is one of two chemicals that make up starchy foods.
- The other chemical is Amylopectin is the other chemical
- Amylopectin when it is entered into the body turns into glucose  

So the simple answer to what Amylose is that I understand  it is the chemical in starchy food that breaks down easier in your system and slowly increases your blood sugar levels. The amylopectin is harder to digest and floods your system with glucose. 

From what I have read with this women with PCOS would benefit from the Low Amylose diet because it helps regulate your blood sugar levels and helps with the Insulin Resistance. 

Wat are the rules of the Low Amylose diet?
1. Avoid all simple sugars such:
 - Candy
- soda
- Cakes
- Pies
- Ice Cream
- Juics
- Canned fruits
-Yougurt
-Condiments
-pretzels
- rice cakes
-rice crispies
- corn chex
-rice chex
- instant mashed potatoes
- corn flakes
-baked potato
- instant rice
- frozen tofu
- watermelon
- grapes
-dates
And the list can go on and on. These are the main foods to stay away from.

2. Avoid veggies that are grown under the grown, corn and bananas, as well as foods enriched with maltodectrins or corn syrup .

3. Avoid wheat, rice, rye, barley, and oats, including cereal,oatmeal, breads, pastas etc.

4. Eat a minimum of  3 servings each of above ground- veggies and fruits daily.

5. Eat at least 6 ounces of protein every day.

Ok reading all that information all I got out of it was you cant eat this or that and you have to stick to this and that. There are days that I read things like this and I want to scream, all I want to do is live my life and enjoy it. How can you enjoy it when you have so many rules and regulations that you have to follow. Here is my answer to that, if you truly want something out of life you have to make sacrifices. When you make sacrifices you have to find a fun way to make them work. Instead of looking at all the information and the rules and getting discouraged, get excited, you have new recipes to try.  There are new things out there for you to enjoy. So have fun with it and dont get so wound up in what you cant do.

On a positive note here is some things that I found that you can eat.
-artichoke
- asparagus
-avocado
-broccoli
-cauliflower
-celery
-cucumber
-eggplant
-green beans
-lettuce
-low fat yogurt
-and peanuts

There are so many websites out there have recipes that follow this diet. Try them out and enjoy!!!


If you have any questions or comments please feel free to let me know. 

www.ehow.com/way_5399798_low-amylose-diet-foods.html
Low Amylose diet foods

www.livestrong.com/article/236338-low-amylose-diet-foods/

www.babyallmine.blogspot.com/2012/low-amylose-diet.html

Thank you 
Tabitha   

PCOS and Diet: A Medical Perspective

This is a medical perspective from OB/GYN.net about how insulin resistance works but also features at the end a breakdown of carb and calorie reductions.  It covers how to avoid ketosis, known from extremely low-carb diets and how to reduce calories sensibly.  This is from a medical perspective so it might lack in some mentions for natural and holistic methods. I do personally believe medical treatments and products like Insulite's PCOS supplements can go hand in hand to help treat PCOS.

"it is believed that diet can help reduce insulin resistance, which can not only help erratic menses, hirsutism and acne, but may decrease the risk of heart disease and diabetes as well. This article will discuss the role of diet in PCOS and give practical suggestions for meal planning."

http://hcp.obgyn.net/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/content/article/1760982/1986117

-Amy

Anxiety and Depression

We know that depression and anxiety are just a couple of the many things we suffer with when we have PCOS. I know this all to well.  I want to take a minute and tell you a little bit about mine. I have always been shy and kind of backwards and I knew my hormones were messed up.  I knew something was not right when I started having panic attacks about going anywhere by myself. I was depressed about my weight gain and I think it all snowballed from there. I ended up having to quit working because I would have really bad panic attacks about having to go that I would become hysterical thinking about it.  I knew I was in real trouble because I could not function outside of my house by myself anymore. I was just so full of different emotions that I had no idea how to deal with them. I felt out of control and feeling that made my OCD worse. My doctor at the time referred me to a psychiatrist.  I was told I had severe anxiety, depression and OCD. Well isn't this just great lets keep adding to the list of things wrong with me. He asked me what I wanted from all this I told him I just wanted to feel normal again.  I felt like a stranger in my own body. Well through the years I have been on several different medicines and I had diffent reactions to each one.  Some made me shake really bad and Zoloft caused me to gain forty pounds.  Well I didn't need that I was already depressed about the massive amount of weight I gained because of my PCOS.  The only thing they all had in common was making me into a zombie.  I knew I didn't want to live my life like this so I set out to find a natural way to take care of it.  I went off all of the other medicines  to clear my mind so I could think again. I have found supplements that have really been helping me.  So please know that there is a natural way to control the anxiety and depression besides going on  medicines that have a lot of side effects.   ~ Tammy

PCOS and Clomid

I have never used this drug or talked to my doctors about using Clomid. Today's information is research that I have done on it, because I have heard so many women who are either on it or have questions about it. If you have any information on it I would love to hear about it.

What is Clomid?
- Clomid is an oral medication used to treat infertility
- It is given to women with PCOS to help with ovulation and sometimes to get a period started again

How does Clomid work?
- Clomid tricks the brain into thinking that the body is low on estrogen.
- It attaches its self to the estrogen receptors in the brain, blocking the ability of estrogen to bind to them.
- By doing this the brain registers that the estrogen levels are low, thus causing the body to produce more FSH.

When should you take clomid?
- It is started early in the menstrual cycle and is taken for 5 days.
- It can be taken cycle days 3-7 or 5-9 ( I have not found any evidence that shows its better to take it one set of days or the other.)
- The beginning dosage is normally 1 pill a day of 50 mg. If this does not bring ovulation around then the dosage can be raised to 100mg or 150 mg.
- It is shown in studies that does over 200 mg are not effective and can cause even more side effects.

Clomid and Ovulation
- Most women will ovulate 8 to 10 days after completeing the 5 day course of clomid.
- If you are taking it during cycle days 5-9 then you should ovulate days 16-20.
- While taking Clomid it is a common thing for women to not ovulate until 2 weeks after the last dosage of Clomid is taken.

Side effects and issues to be aware of
- If you weight more then 190lbs Clomid will not work for you. 
- Clomid can cause mood swings, psychological/emotional side effects
- Hot flashes
- Abdominal discomfort
- Visual disturbances
- Ovarian cyst formation
- Nausea
- Thinning of the uterine endometrial lining
- Reduced production of the cervical mucous

So now that I have done my research, read blog posts, read doctors thoughts on it and so on, I am not sold. For me this would not be a drug that would work. I weigh to much for one and for two the side effects of Clomid are going to aggravate the different symptoms that I have with my PCOS. So for me the questions is why would I add to the discomfort and symptoms I already have. My answer for that is easy, I wont. This may not be the answer that you have for that questions, and that's ok. What you chose to do for you is your choice, if Clomid works for you then that is great! 

Please make sure that you talk to your doctors about the side effects of Clomid, please make sure you have all the facts before you start taking any type of drug.

Again if you have information on this that I do not have or even success stories from taking clomid and getting pregnant, please feel free to share them.


Resources:
www.healthline.com/goldcontent/clomiphene
www.advancedfertility.com/clomid-pcos-treatment.htm
PCOS and Clomid Fertility Treatment and Pregnancy
www.advancedfertility.com/clomid-side-effects.htm
 Side Effects and adverse effects of Clomid, Clomiphene citrate, fertility drug
www.infertility.about.com/od/clomid/a/clomidovulation.htm
Clomid Basics

Thank you for reading this, Best wishes!!!
Tabitha