What Does It Mean to "Manage" Your PCOS?

Popping a pill won't fix it. Over exercising won't erase it. Ignoring it definitely isn't the answer. The truth is PCOS doesn't go away and managing it means keeping as many symptoms at bay while thriving at life. Eating a strict diet that keeps you hangry and feeling deprived is NOT thriving. Finding the sweet spot is what I strive for in my life and same goes for my clients, too.

Find A Routine:

Most of us thrive on a schedule. Getting up and completing tasks we set out to do for the day makes us feel accomplished...and for good reason. Each little habit we create keeps away the out of control feeling of chaos that otherwise might creep in. Many PCOS sufferers know too well the monster that is anxiety or depression. So habits such as packing our lunch the night before, setting out our workout clothes, or going to bed every night by 10 PM will keep us busy and diminish pesky symptoms the more we stick to it. The cool thing about making one healthy habit so ingrained is that it gives you room to continue to layer on new healthy habits. We all have the capacity to begin new habits... go ahead and get started.

Yearly Blood Work:

Sometimes when we live a healthy lifestyle for a long time we forget why we do it in the first place or wonder if it's even making a difference. This is why it's good to have yearly blood markers tell us to keep at it and that we are doing a good job (or tell us what we need to continue to work on). Think of it like a report card; but remember we can only compare our report card to our previous ones (not our neighbor's). PCOS looks different for many women and comparing numbers with others may make us feel defeated without justification.

Set New Goals:

Surely, there is always something we want to improve about ourselves. Always striving for more by setting new goals keeps us motivated. Setting goals helps us take charge of our life instead of the other way around. Personally, feeling stagnant in life without working toward something makes me feel lost, anxious, and unfocused. When feeling discouraged, don't forget that as long as we are making progress (even if very slowly), we are still headed in the right direction and moving forward. Keep at it!

If you're confused about how to manage your PCOS and ready to learn, schedule a free phone call with me here. Can't wait to chat!

~Beth

Beth Benesh is owner of Beth Benesh Nutrition, specializing in nutrition counseling for women with PCOS. She's an avid runner who loves movies, mornings, coffee, and her high-energy toddler...not necessarily in that order.