I Hate EXERCISING!!

I love the thought of exercising but actually I really hate doing it. In my head I am fit and active and I don’t need to exercise. I have Shallow Hal’s vision I look in the mirror and I look great, I am one of those people who get a Danish look out the window and watch them fools outside jogging thinking to myself Ha bet the wished they were fit and sexy like me...

Ok realistically I have PCOS so I have the typical big bloated stomach, I’m far from sexy and I am so out of shape and unfit its ridiculous. My resting heart rate was over 100 and the slightest movement would send my heart rate off the chart. I really want a family so I need to do something about my weight and generally just to get myself esteem back. I need to lose 3 stones to get back within my BMI!! Well that’s ridiculous I’m 5ft9 and I would look too thin so I think 2 stones should be enough.

So recently I went to visit my cousin in Germany for two weeks of torture. She decided that she would be the one to get me fit to her dismay. She lives in the country which is very hilly and a great place to do outdoorsy stuff. I really thank my cousin for persevering with my excuses and whining and pushing me to exercise. She made me go for long power walks, cycling through the hills (that was tough), gym, boot camp style training outdoors and she signed me up for a 3k run (which I have to honest I walked but I did it). Basically everyday for 14 days we did some kind of physical activity which was extremely painful.

So after two weeks of exercising surprisingly I have seen some great benefits that I think is important to share:-

• The first and most exciting benefit is that I have had the shortest menstrual cycle since my cycles changed. Normally my cycle is 150 – 60 – 40 - 150 – 60 days etc but this times instead of being 60 days it was 34 days and I felt the difference. I just knew that my body had reacted to the exercising.

• Secondly my resting heart rate has already changed from over 100bpm to 85bpm. I can defiantly do a lot more before I start panting and acting out the dying scene in Romeo and Juliet.

• Thirdly I have so much more energy, I am not lethargic and sloth like anymore. I am still tired to some degree but I have more energy to do more things and faster without getting tired.

• Finally, my body shape has changed slightly, my stomach is definitely a lot flatter (note the word flatter not flat!!) my calves look great my butt is tighter and my clothes are slightly looser.

What I am trying to hopefully show is that if there are anymore PCOS suffers like me who hate exercising or who lack motivation to exercise there are some huge benefits. I really want a kid and the doctor told me that if my cycles aren’t regular then I am losing my chances of conceiving (I mean come on it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out) so only I can do something about it. My point is if I can do it then anyone can do it. Exercising has already boosted my chances of conceiving and I feel great.

I have signed up to boot camp which I start in June 2011 not 2013 for 5 weeks and then I am going to sign up for a 10k run and train for it.

I would love to hear from others how exercising has benefited them???

Now I just need to work on my eating habits....

Womens hair loss - Geoffrey P Redmond, M D www.hormonehelpny.com

My hair is thinning and I'mm not happy, I dont want to go on birth control pills because I want to have a baby. I found this video and he also has a book which I am going to buy and read. Leave some comments about what you think!!

PLEA FOR A GET FIT BUDDY!!

I am officially looking for someone to be my Kick PCOS in the Ass Buddy who has all the intention but no motivation of eating properly and exercising. Virtual support is no good because as soon as I log off the computer my motivation switches off too. I need someone I can meet up with and we can exercise together. I am good at motivating others but not myself and I will make sure that I attend planned exercise

I like the gym, swimming, vibro plates, cycling and exercise classes. I hate running!! I wouldn’t mind trying that Zumba thing everyone is banging on about..

I want to lose weight for mental stability, that I am within my BMI, to be healthy and losing weight will increase my chances of conceiving. You see I have the right intention I just can’t motivate myself...

I am located in Erdington, Birmingham, UK if you are nearby and need a buddy please contact me!!

SS x

Uncontrollable Emotions!

My moods are out of control, it’s ridiculous!! I can’t tell good decisions from bad ones. It’s not until they are back to normal I realise what a nightmare I have been and then I have to go around apologising to everyone. It’s frustrating!!

I also seem to make up things in my head and act upon it. I could be sitting there minding my own business then a thought would enter my mind, the thought upsets me and then I take it out on the person that I am thinking about regardless as to whether they have done anything wrong. I’ve even reached the stage where my instincts tell me not to be happy and act upset without any justification or reason behind the mood that I am in.

Recently I took a phone call from an ignorant client, he wasn’t overly rude but he wound me up for some reason to the point where I saw red and put the phone down on him. I was suspended from work for a week with full pay, I knew it was my hormones and stress but I also know that they would not understand, especially with a male boss. They would be like oh another bloody woman blaming her actions on hormones!!. So I just took the punishment. Ordinarily I can deal with wankers on the phone in a calm and professional manner.

Right now I have dumped my boyfriend because I feel like it, I have decided that I am not happy in the relationship although last month it was the best relationship ever...WTF!! I’m not sure if he will take me back this time, I tend to dump him a lot and I am completely irrational and he said that he has had enough because I’m not doing anything about it...Whoops

The problem is when I am really hormonal, I have a very low self esteem and I think that I am fat and ugly and why is he with me. I am completely needy and I push everyone away. I don’t think I am capable of anything and I don’t want to do anything, just sit and be depressed. I think I have bought nearly every sad film available which is just pathetic but for some reason it makes me feel better.

In my head I want to diet and exercise but the thought is taken over by Hmmm MacDonald’s Big Mac with large fries with a large full fat coke. My fella said it’s like watching me self harm myself and he always says that I cut my nose off to spite my face.

How do you stop when you don’t even know you’re doing it???

So being the sad geek that I am I decided to look up mood swings and PCOS on the net, and this is what I found...

Understanding Mood Swings and PCOS

PCOS is the result of a misdirected endocrine system, a cascade of hormonal imbalances that have very real and very serious affects on the body as well as on the mind. Each and every cell of the body is a buzzing energy factory with numerous receptors or docking sites on its surface that allow hormones and other nutrients to latch on and perform their specialized tasks.

Our bodies require that specific levels of these hormones be maintained. In a complex response system, based in part on the amount of different hormones that successfully locate and latch on to their own receptor sites on the cell’s surface, the body monitors and adjusts the levels of hormones and other active constituents such as glucose.

If the body senses that a hormone level is too low, it will stimulate the production of more hormones. If it senses that it’s too high, it will stop production and possibly even send in another specific kind of molecule to remove the excess, as it does with excess glucose which is stored as fat. In the case of perfect health, our systems work well. However, because of disease, genetics and lifestyle factors such as nutrition, exercise and stress, this highly sensitive system is often thrown out of kilter. (This makes a lot of sense...hmmm)

How Can We Alter This Course?

Exercise is the single most important first step in the treatment of insulin resistance that we all can do on our own. Within days of starting a regular exercise program, our body’s systems begin to respond to the exertion of energy. Endorphins are released in the brain, stimulating the immune system and softening the strangle-hold on mood swings and depression. (Easier bloody said that done!!)

And it doesn’t have to cost a bundle. What is necessary, however, is that we approach a daily exercise regimen as if our lives depend on it…which they do. The problem is, it’s difficult – if not impossible – to get going if our mind is overwhelmed with thoughts of hopelessness and fear. This is when we need a support group, a group of walkers or a group of women with PCOS, who support us in motivating ourselves into taking that first walk and continue each day after that. (This is sooo true, if I had someone to help motivate me I would have lost the 2 stones I need to get back into my BMI by now as trying to do it alone is almost impossible, I am going to find me a GET FIT BUDDY!!)

Consulting with a health care provider is also important because, depending on your PCOS symptoms, you may still require medication. In the meantime, taking a few steps to improve your overall health will help support your progress. In addition to exercise, improving your diet and reducing your stress levels will help stabilize your insulin and glucose levels and improve hormonal balance.

It would be interesting to read how other PCOS suffers deal with these damn mood swings??

My New Avatar

Well I decided that I needed to express myself so I designed this new Avatar!! Let me know what you think??

PCOS Awareness Video

My Truth About PCOS Symptoms..

Well after some research everyone says that if you have PCOS you will suffer with the following, well I have added my own take on what they say and my truth about the symptoms:-

Early symptoms of PCOS include:

• Few or no menstrual periods. This can range from less than nine menstrual cycles in a year (more than 35 days between cycles) to no menstrual periods. Some women with PCOS have regular periods but are not ovulating every month. This means that their ovaries are not releasing an egg each month.

  This is no joke, some years I can have 2 cycles and other years I can have them every month. I have found that it is all linked to my weight if I put on a few pounds my periods stop if I lose a few pounds they come back. Also I have used supplements that have helped to bring my periods back, the best one was Pregnacare Prenatal Vitamins, I didn't like Agnus Cactus.

• Heavy, irregular vaginal bleeding. About 30% of women with PCOS have this symptom.

  Heavy is an understatement, for the first two days I have to wear tampons and pads and change them nearly every hour, its a joke and it costs a bomb. I used to get big clots too but lately they have been really small and I am only heavy for 1 day instead of two. Also there have been times where I have not had a period for so long that the blood is that old it comes out black, thick and sticky (yuk), if this happens to you don't freak out like I did...lol... it only lasts a couple of days.

• Hair loss from the scalp and hair growth (hirsutism) on the face, chest, back, stomach, thumbs, or toes. About 70% of women in the United States with PCOS complain of these hair problems caused by high androgen levels. Acne and oily skin, caused by high androgen levels.

  Okay this is a sore subject I officially have a beard, a moustache, hair round my nipples, a hairy belly, longer hair in my nose, hairy fingers and toes, hair everywhere expect on my damn head!!...WTF!! and these aren't fine hairs they are big thick black gigantic hairs that grow so fast. I am saving up for some laser treatment mainly for my facial hairs because I keep plucking them and I now have ingrowing hair bumps on my chin...Its not pretty :-(

• Acne and oily skin, caused by high androgen levels.

  I have been lucky with this symptom in that I get oily skin but its not bad and I don't have acne but some women have teenage spots their whole life along with a beard, moustache etc... I got off light here!!

• Depression or mood swings. Hormonal changes are a known cause of emotional symptoms.

  How can I describe my experience with this...hmmmm. Everyday I am generally happy, pissed off, angry, contempt, sad, crying, feeling sorry for myself, ecstatic, over the moon, hurt, hopeful, Joy, remorse... should I go on. This feelings probably change every 5 mins. It can be funny sometimes cause you over react to situations, you are either over angry or over happy if that makes sense..lol. Depression is the worse, its a constant battle everyday to wake up, be positive and to motivate myself from falling into a deep depression that I wont be able to get out of.

PCOS symptoms that may develop gradually include:

• Weight gain or upper body obesity (more around the abdomen than the hips). This is linked to high androgen levels.

  Weight gain is the key to PCOS and it doesn't matter if you are fat or slim. I was a size 8 (A Model..lol) when mine kicked in. I am just under 6 foot so I still look slimish but all my weight is in my stomach, arse, top of my arms, thighs and breasts. Everywhere else is virtually the same. The biggest problem is losing the weight. You can go on every diet under the sun and not lose a pound. Funnily enough the only time I managed to lose any weight was when I cut out sugar completely and wheat. I felt like a drug addict coming off sugar having the shakes and everything, further more I hate the taste of sweeteners. I know what to do to lose the weight but I seriously lack the motivation and self discipline to do it which frustrates the hell out of my boyfriend but typing this today I want to do something about it. Oh and before I forget a miracle vitamin or mineral is Chromium which helps to break down sugar and helps to boost the weight loss.

• Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair (alopecia). This is linked to high androgen levels.

  Yep I got this too, I know I am a sad case, I keep telling people I am falling apart..lol. Yep I just wear a wig and I look damn good too!! Seriously though its devastating but mine isn't that bad yet!! If its linked to Androgen levels then its going to be linked to weight and sugar will be the cure.

• Repeat miscarriages. The cause for this is not known. These miscarriages may be linked to high insulin levels, delayed ovulation, or other problems such as the quality of the egg or how the egg attaches to the uterus.

  I have only had a couple and I only know because of the feint lines on pregnancy tests but I haven't been pregnant long enough to experience a miscarriage say at 6, 10,15 weeks for example but I know that there is a high risk.

• Inability to become pregnant (infertility). This is because the ovaries are not releasing an egg (not ovulating).

  This is a sore subject and most of my blog will feature this topic mainly because I really want a child so badly. I actually think that I am ovulating and there are many ways too kick start ovulation. Lots of women with PCOS have kids so I have lots of hope it will happen for me too.

• Symptoms of too much insulin (hyperinsulinemia) and insulin resistance, which can include upper body weight gain and skin changes, such as skin tags or dark, velvety skin patches under the arm, on the neck, or in the groin and genital area.

  Right I have very thick, very dark, very velvety skin on the back of my neck, armpits and elbow which they say is a sign of IR. I also get skin tags a lot but they are harmful. As I said earlier to lose weight with IR I had to cut our sugar which is extremely hard. I have cut down dramatically. Also I should point out that both of my parents are diabetic and so is my fathers mother which they say is linked to the cause of PCOS.

• Breathing problems while sleeping (obstructive sleep apnea). This is linked to both obesity and insulin resistance.

  This is my favourite, I actually start snoring before I actually fall asleep and wake myself back up..he he he it does make me laugh especially the abuse I hear from my partner cursing me because I am so loud. Again weight loss is the cure.

• Pain in the lower abdomen and pelvis (chronic pelvic pain).

  Cramps in the morning, cramps during the day, cramps during the night, cramps every day, every week and all year. Sometimes very light sometimes excruciating just a lot of cramps!!

• High blood pressure may be more common in women with PCOS, especially if they are very overweight. Your doctor will check your blood pressure.

  My blood pressure is a joke I am on medication and have been for about 6 years. I currently take 10mg of Amlodipine and my readings are usually 150/100. The main problem is that I can’t get the bottom one down, the doctor increased my medication but it was my fault why it wasn't going down because I wasn't taking the medicine regularly enough. I am taking it more seriously now because it can lead to dementia in old age which is what my Nan is suffering with right now due to blood pressure and heart problems.

Well as you have read PCOS is not nice and I hate it!! but there are more symptoms that they don't tell you about and I will delve into those in my next blog..

SS x