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I have been pretty silent through the Weight Loss Challenge check ins and post. So I decided to share the rough week I have had. Weight is something I have been struggling with for a while. I am not extremely overweight but have suffered from fluctuation of weight. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) about 10 years ago. Symptoms of PCOS are: significant weight gain (weight usually accumulates around the middle), Insulin resistance, very irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, depression, and the list goes on and on!! You can read about PCOS at Womentowomen.com.
I did not eat completely unhealthy but was not totally healthy either. My BIGGEST vice was soft drinks! Mainly Dr Pepper, Mt Dew, and Pepsi! I love soft drinks and I was drinking about 5 or more a day! Of course, I stockpiled soft drinks! I also loved Big Macs!! I am not a burger eater usually but I do love Big Macs! So when Melissa and I decided to live healthier lifestyles I really had to say GOODBYE to a lot of things I truly loved!
I suffered from irritability, hunger, massive caffeine headaches, loss of energy, and I have realized I have been grinding my teeth. Not in my sleep but while I am awake! It is insane the affect caffeine and sugar have on your body! I have really been suffering. I know I have been irritable but I have not been choosy. I have been irritable with everyone!
I decided to start exercising more. I walked a lot anyway and my kids are always on the go so it was not a major change for me. I just needed to add more exercise. I think this is why I am not majorly overweight. I am very active. Now I have started running, walking, hitting Wii dance party with my 4 year old (and I sweat like crazy), and Wii Fit/Jillian Michaels. It is going pretty well but is still very hard. So far, I have lost 6.5 lbs and have decided to take to another level and try to train for a marathon. I will update you on that one!
So what does this have to do with Stockpiling you may ask? Well, I had to purge my stockpile. I when through my stockpile and donated/or gave to a friend the following:
- 5 boxes of brownies
- 6 bags of cookie mix
- 4 cake or brownie frosting
- 2 Honey Mustard dipping sauces
- 2 boxes of Pop Tarts
- 4 cake mixes
- 2 boxes of Cookie Crisp (My favorite! I could not keep it for the kids because I can not resist it!)
- 6 boxes of Movie Theater Heavy Butter Pop Corn
I could not keep this stuff if I wanted to hang with all of you participating in the Weight Loss Challenge. So now I have a challenge for you! How can you purge your stockpile to benefit your weight loss?
If you are not participating in the Weight Loss Challenge you can purge your stockpile for charity! Visit your local food bank, homeless shelter, or other non profit association. Most of the things I gave away did not cost me much, if anything at all! To better my life I had to get rid of it. In the future, when I am stronger in my weight loss and diet, I will purchase those things for donations again. Right now, I am just taking care of me.
Disclaimer: I am not a health care professional and I am not providing medical advise. Always consult with a medical professional before you change your diet or implement a weight loss strategy.
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I also have PCOS and am significantly overweight. I can’t seem to lose it no matter what I do…except when I’m pregnant and have gestational diabetes…haha! Good luck to you! My husband would kill me if I gave away his cakes and brownies. He is also significantly overweight. He cracks me up sometimes because if he drops below 300 lbs. he’ll act all like he’s malnourished or something.
I also have PCOS and am overweight. The only way I lose is my removing carbohydrates out of my diet. I feel so much better when I do too!
Thanks Shelley for this AWESOME post!
Melissa
Yes, if only I could make myself do the GD (constant carb) diet all the time!!!
I purged my stockpile before I had my weight loss surgery. I gave my church’s pantry 8 bags of stuff! I feel so much better with all of that junk out of the house.
I can totally relate to this! I am excited that you are getting PCOS out there. I was diagnosed with it about 5 years ago during an ultrasound before undergoing infertility treatments. I didn’t have any symptoms at that time. Slowly the symptoms came on…irregular cycles, PMS symptoms I had never experienced…and then the weight. I gained nearly 35 lbs in 6 months and hadn’t changed a thing. I always eat pretty well and I was walking/running 3miles a day, plus walking with a coworker during lunch. I was told by a family doctor that I was just getting older and there was no magic cure for the weight. I couldn’t even get her to acknowledge my previous diagnosis of PCOS as a cause. I have sense done major research and started some medication and really amped up my exercise routine. I have lost every bit of that 35lbs. The good news is that exercise actually helps with the insulin resistance. Same thing with weight loss. I seem to find that although it is very hard to lose weight at first, as I get that first 5-10 lbs off, my symptoms decrease and I start to lose weight pretty easily. (Unfortunately, just a few months of negligence and it starts to creep back up…a vicious cycle). But please know it is possible and you are not alone!! And the more you do the better it gets!! Good Luck!!
I was diagnosed shortly after I got married, 8 years ago. My husband always said that I didn’t eat enough to weigh what I do, and I repeated this comment to a brand new to me doctor that I had gone to for my “yearly.” (Oh, joy!!!) He put me on metformin right away and I have been on it almost continuously since that time. I can definately tell the difference when I am off of it! That same doctor (who I now LOVE) has moved on, and I went without a doctor for several months after my last baby (he’s 19 months now). Due to no insurance, no doctor, I didn’t have metformin for a handful of months, and my new doctor started me out at a lower dose a few months ago, but now that I’m back up to 2000mg/day, I think I have maybe lost a little again. I had gained 20+ lbs. while I was without it.
Thank you for all the wonderful comments! Although, I do not wish this disease on anyone, it is nice not to be alone! It is very hard to understand at times and even harder to explain. Just know you are not alone! Thanks for reading and being a part of this important post!
I also have pcos. Weight loss has always been a battle. I am now doing Weigh Watchers, very slow going but it is helping me eat healthier and slowing losing weight. Best of luck to you.