Oh, dieting; the endless cycle of torture I must do to keep my body from falling apart. I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOs). I’ve written an entire post about how I manage my PCOs and you can read that here. The supplements I talk about in that post are only part of the way I manage my PCOs, however. Diet plays a MAJOR role when it comes to managing this syndrome.

One of the super “fun” attributes of PCOs is the struggle to lose weight. Women with PCOs typically have slower metabolisms, frequent feelings of hunger due to hormones and insulin resistance. You can read more about all of that in this article from PCOs Diet Support.

I, fortunately, am not insulin resistant but I definitely still pack on the pounds way easier than I lose them. I have found a diet that works for me BUT I have to workout on a regular basis or I won’t lose a pound. I’ll talk more about my workout routine in another post. Before I get into my diet, I want to clarify that I am not a nutritionist, dietitian or any kind of medical professional. You need to do your own research before committing to any diet. I will be linking to credible articles so you can read them for yourself.

I follow a low carb diet. A low carb diet is low in carbohydrates, obviously. Carbs are mainly found in sugary foods, pasta and bread. A low carb diet consists mainly of veggies and protein filled meats and eggs. You can also have certain fruits, like berries, just in moderation. Typically on a low carb diet you want to consume between 50-100 carbs a day. If you’re wanting to eat Keto, you’ll need to consume at least less than 50 grams and typically less than 20 grams of carbs.

I eat low carb because it’s the only diet that has ever worked for me. I’m able to lose weight and feel full. There have been studies that have shown that low carb/keto diets are beneficial for women with PCOs and can help with ALL symptoms, not just weight loss. You can read more about that in this article. I know for me personally, losing fifteen pounds while eating low carb MAJORLY helped with getting my period and ovulation back on a regular cycle. I have gained ten pounds back because I stopped working out and eating strict low carb but I’m working to get back on track.

My husband and I both eat low carb/keto. Since we both eat the same way, meal planning is much easier. All of our meals focus on meats, such as: ground turkey, chicken, steak, sausage, bacon or fish. For side dishes we have some type of veggie, such as: green beans, baked okra breaded in almond flour, steamed broccoli and mashed cauliflower. We typically don’t have any kind of desserts but for snacks we liked boiled eggs, cottage cheese, turkey sticks and dark chocolate (in moderation). There are so many ways to modify typical recipes and make them either low carb or keto.

I thought I would share one of our favorite low carb recipes, Crock Pot Taco Soup. I do include a can of corn in my recipe but to make this recipe Keto just don’t add the corn. Of course, you can modify this to your liking.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds (give or take) of ground beef or ground turkey; I prefer ground turkey.
• 1 packet of Ranch Dressing Mix
• 1 packet of Taco Seasoning
• 8 ounces of Cream Cheese; most of the time I just use 4 ounces.
• 1- 15 ounce can of corn *Omit if Keto
• 2- 10 ounce cans of diced tomatoes
• Beef Broth
• Salt/Pepper

Directions:

1. Cook your meat until brown.
2. Add the meat and all of the ingredients into the crock pot and cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.

Eating a low carb diet has helped me so much and if you’re suffering with PCOs it might help you as well. I hope this gave you some helpful information! If you have PCOs, I’d love to know what diet you follow! I’m also including a devotional I read this month down below because I believe spiritual health is as important as physical health. Thank you for reading and have a great day!

Spiritual Health

Sometimes it can be hard to remember that God is in control, especially when we’re suffering with health issues like PCOs and infertility. I am definitely a control freak and I’m also impatient. At times, I struggle with waiting on God’s timing. I hope in 2019 that I’m able to work on this. I pray that if you’re waiting for something to happen, like I am, that it happens for you soon!