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Extremely vulnerable and personal post: My name is Bonnie, and I have PCOS. For those of you who don’t know, women with PCOS can really struggle to lose weight. In fact, over 38% of women with PCOS become overweight or obese. Women with PCOS also struggle more with anxiety and chronic stress, increasing the likelihood of emotional eating and weight gain. For years, I let PCOS define my body image. I thought losing weight would always be impossible. I let black and white thinking dictate my life. I developed digestive issues as a result of the inflammation from PCOS and weight gain. My periods became unbearable, to the point I would have to call out of work. I went to several doctors looking for answers and a quick fix. I was diagnosed with PMDD, which in itself is a huge health concern. I finally met with a doctor that saw my suffering, and he put me on birth control to stop my menstrual cycles altogether. I was very hesitant, but I was also desperate for relief. I have been treating my PCOS with bc for 3 years now. I still have some symptoms, but I am much better than I was. While this course of action may not be for everyone, it has certainly helped me, and it is a huge part of my story. I do plan on stopping the birth control soon, and I am optimistic that my cycles will not be as bad as they once were, since I have lost over 40 lbs since my biggest weight. When I first started to really try to lose weight, I would go through yo-yo diets, and I would do intense workouts with no routine. I had all the desire to lose weight, but no realistic plan of achieving my goals. When results didn’t come, I wanted to give up. I blamed the PCOS and accepted my weight gain as permanent. Finally, I reached a breaking point. My mental health was at an all time low. I had a light bulb moment where I told myself, “If I hate the way I feel THIS much, I can’t hate the way I look, too.” While losing weight is far deeper than body image, it really does suck to hate the way you look AND feel. I was sick of the self pity party, and I found a private coach. Making a change was no longer an option. I HAD to take action, and I knew I couldn’t do this alone. My coach held me accountable and helped me realize that losing weight comes from a mindset change. I started seeing results, and with each month’s progress photos, I became more motivated to keep going. In eight months, I lost 30 pounds. Food was no longer the best part of my day every day. I no longer needed to binge eat to feel comfort. My mindset around food was permanently changed. I share this in hopes to inspire women with PCOS to keep trying, even if it feels impossible. I also share this for the people who struggle to lose weight for other reasons. It’s okay to be vulnerable, and it’s okay to need help in losing weight. If you don’t know where to start, start with self awareness. Keep a food diary. Reflect on your eating habits. Then, go for a little walk every day. Start with 10 minutes a day. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise to reduce stress and inflammation. When you decide that even the tiniest daily habit matters, you will start to grow. If you need guidance and daily accountability, book a free consult or DM today to get started. 💖 Bonnie