Have you ever felt confused about whether or not you have insulin resistance?

This is a common concern with PCOS, especially if you’re newly diagnosed or didn’t get the best information when you were diagnosed.

In today’s episode of the podcast, Sam is helping you understand how insulin resistance is diagnosed so that you can feel more comfortable with your plan for managing PCOS and speaking to your care team. 

Sam begins the episode by discussing how insulin resistance impacts most people with PCOS. She shares some statistics around this and also discusses how weight, nutrition, and lifestyle don’t cause insulin resistance per the research that we have.

In this episode, Sam also discusses the following:

• Physical signs of insulin resistance
• Lab recommendations for diagnosing insulin resistance
• New guidance from the updated PCOS guidelines
• Whether you need to check your actual insulin levels

Sam ends the episode by sharing her personal opinion on when it’s worthwhile to pursue labs.

Disclaimer: This episode is not medical advice. It is just educational information to help facilitate conversations with your healthcare team. 

✨ Resources & Links ✨

🎉 Join the waitlist for Nourished with PCOS. Registration will open in mid-September! https://pcosnutritionco.com/nourished-waitlist/

Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcos.nutritionist/

Have you been wondering if you could possibly have PCOS? With an increase in PCOS awareness and education, more and more folks are recognizing symptoms like irregular periods, acne, hirsutism, and hair loss, asking their doctor to be screened for PCOS.

It can be frustrating if you think you may have PCOS and your concerns are dismissed. On today’s episode of the podcast, Sam is discussing how PCOS is diagnosed so that you can have more information and a better understanding of the diagnostic process if you do pursue a diagnosis with your doctor. 

Sam begins the episode with a reminder that PCOS is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that other medical conditions with symptoms that overlap with PCOS usually need to be ruled out first prior to being diagnosed with PCOS.

Sam then goes on to share the three different pieces of diagnostic criteria and the specifics of each one. 

In this episode, Sam discusses:

• The formal criteria for diagnosing PCOS
• Why you don’t necessarily need labs or an ultrasound for a diagnosis
• Other medical conditions that share PCOS symptoms
• Tips for communicating with your doctor if you’d like to be screened for PCOS

Sam ends the episode by discussing two medical conditions that she sometimes see in practice that are misdiagnosed with PCOS.

✨ Resources & Links ✨

🎉 Join the waitlist for Nourished with PCOS. Registration will open in mid-September! https://pcosnutritionco.com/nourished-waitlist/

Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcos.nutritionist/

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the world of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.

Sam is joined by guest Dr. Asher Larmie (he/they), a transmasculine general practitioner and expert in weight stigma.  Sam and Asher tackle the complexities and nuances surrounding these popular medications. 

They explore their impact on weight loss, management of type 2 diabetes, and the long-term relationship with our health. Asher brings up concerns over the use of these drugs in nondiabetic individuals, the risks that accompany their benefits, and the importance of informed consent in medical treatment.

Today’s conversation isn’t just about medication—it’s about empowerment, offering personal insights, and the right to autonomy in medical decisions. We’ll discuss the unforeseen consequences of pathologizing weight and how a history of weight stigma has led to delayed diagnoses and a plethora of physical and mental health challenges.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Asher became a weight-inclusive physician
• When a GLP-1 agonist may be beneficial for PCOS
• The risks and side effects of these medications
• What the research says about Wegovy and weight loss
• Tips for talking to your doctor about semaglutide

So, listeners, sit back, open your hearts and minds, and let’s get nourished with the knowledge and experiences shared in our discussion with Asher Larmie on Ozempic, Wegovy, and their use for weight loss.

Please visit our podcast page for the show notes, study information, and Asher’s contact information.

✨ Resources & Links ✨

🎉 Join the waitlist for Nourished with PCOS. Registration will open in mid-September! https://pcosnutritionco.com/nourished-waitlist/

Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcos.nutritionist/

Have you ever felt conflicted about wanting to let go of dieting but also caring about your health?

This is a common concern for anyone wanting food freedom or to embrace intuitive eating with PCOS. In this episode of "Nourished with PCOS” Podcast, Sam gives advice about the struggle of wanting to ditch diets but still caring about PCOS symptoms and long-term health. 

Since we’re surrounded by diet talk and diet culture, we internalize that dieting means we’re improving your health. But diet culture is a multi-billion dollar industry that profits when you stay stuck in the diet cycle. You can definitely give this cycle the middle finger and still have health goals!

In this episode, Sam discusses:

• The fears around what letting go of dieting will mean
• Practical tips for redefining what health means to you
• The statistics about dieting and health outcomes
• Why you should trust your personal experiences

Sam's down-to-earth approach will resonate with anyone looking for a non-diet approach to managing their PCOS. So grab a cup of tea and tune in!

✨ Resources & Links ✨

🎉 Join the waitlist for Nourished with PCOS. Registration will open in mid-September! https://pcosnutritionco.com/nourished-waitlist/

Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcos.nutritionist/

Today's episode is a game-changer because we're diving into the most impactful nutrition strategy for managing PCOS - balancing blood sugar. 

Sam explains what insulin resistance is and how it impacts PCOS symptoms. She sheds light on how balancing blood sugar can be a game-changer in managing insulin resistance, leading to an overall improvement in how we feel with PCOS.

The best part? Sam talks extensively about how to approach blood sugar balance from a non-diet perspective, incorporating the principles of intuitive eating to prioritize well-being while managing PCOS symptoms. She emphasizes that managing PCOS isn't about weight loss and that there are sustainable, balanced approaches to nutrition that can make a significant difference in symptoms and how we feel with PCOS.

In this episode, Sam discusses:

• How insulin resistance plays a role in PCOS symptoms
• Why balancing blood sugar is a tool for PCOS management
• Why Sam doesn’t recommend trying to go low carb
• How insulin resistance isn’t all about weight
• Tips for taking a non-diet approach to blood sugar balance

But wait, there's more exciting news! Sam is hosting a free live masterclass where she'll expand on blood sugar balance strategies, and you definitely don't want to miss out on that. So, grab your favorite drink, get comfy, and join us as we explore the world of blood sugar balance and PCOS management. Let's nourish our bodies and minds together!

✨ Resources & Links ✨

🎉 Join the waitlist for Nourished with PCOS. Registration will open in mid-September! https://pcosnutritionco.com/nourished-waitlist/

Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcos.nutritionist/

Happy New Year! Welcome to Season 2 of the podcast!

Are you someone who likes making new year’s resolutions or setting intentions?

Or maybe you like the idea of it even if you don’t plan anything concrete?

If you answered yes then today’s episode is for you!

And even if you aren’t into this in the new year, you’re still going to want to listen in because this episode is going to give you some great things to think about when you're thinking about how to approach health and wellness in general.

Sam begins the episode by reflecting on how the loss of her grandmother has reminded her what is important in life and has reaffirmed why non-diet nutrition work is so important.

She then moves in to talking about 5 questions you can ask yourself to create new year’s intentions and goals that really last!

Did you know that only 9% of people complete their new year’s resolutions, 23% quit within the first week, and 43% quit by the end of January? In this episode, Sam teaches you how you can avoid being one of these statistics.

Sam discusses:

• How diet culture negatively influences how we approach setting goals
• Why knowing your values key when creating new habits
• How your PCOS support team is an important consideration
• Why making sure your goals are realistic is the most important part of setting goals and creating new habits

✨ Resources & Links ✨

🎉 Join the waitlist for Nourished with PCOS. Registration will open in mid-September! https://pcosnutritionco.com/nourished-waitlist/

Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcos.nutritionist/

✨ Resources & Links ✨

🎉 Join the waitlist for Nourished with PCOS. Registration will open in mid-September! https://pcosnutritionco.com/nourished-waitlist/

Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcos.nutritionist/

Want to know all about the new PCOS guidelines? This episode has you covered!

In this episode, Sam discusses the newest version of the Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of PCOS. Sam was able to review the guidelines in advance and give feedback while they were in the editing stages.

Sam begins the episode talking about how the diagnostic criteria was updated to include AMH in the diagnostic framework. She also discusses how there are more clear recommendations around evaluating and assessing insulin resistance in folks with PCOS. If you’ve ever been told that you don’t have insulin resistance because your A1c or fasting blood sugar is normal then you’re going to want to tune in to this part!

Sam then discusses how the guidelines are striving to be more weight-inclusive and take into account the increased risk of eating disorders with PCOS. She shares her thoughts about what specifically was changed about the document, and where she thinks these guidelines missed the mark.

In this episode, we Sam also discusses:

• Updated lab and diagnostic recommendations for PCOS
• Nutrition and exercise recommendations
• How weight bias is being addresses
• Her personal thoughts on the document as a non-diet dietitian

✨ Resources & Links ✨

🎉 Join the waitlist for Nourished with PCOS. Registration will open in mid-September! https://pcosnutritionco.com/nourished-waitlist/

Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcos.nutritionist/

How are you doing with your New Year’s intentions and resolutions?

We’re getting ready to head into the holiday season, which is actually a season that plays a big role in the yo-yo diet cycle.

We see a lot of the “last supper” mentality during the months of November and December with the hope that you will “start over” in January. This plays a role in the yo-yo diet cycle because a majority of New Year’s resolutions don’t stick past the first few weeks in December.

As I was brainstorming podcast ideas for the New Year’s (hint: there will be one about how to set New Year’s intentions that stick), this actually made me think about my *own* New Year’s resolutions.

I know how people like to get a sneak peak into someone’s life, so I thought it would be fun to share my own reflections on New Year’s intentions and how they’ve been going so far this year!

In this episode, I discuss:

• How I personally go about setting new year’s intentions
• Why mental health is central to wellness goals
• Decreasing my alcohol intake this year
• My journey with physical health, long COVID, and plantar fasciitis

✨ Resources & Links ✨

🎉 Join the waitlist for Nourished with PCOS. Registration will open in mid-September! https://pcosnutritionco.com/nourished-waitlist/

Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcos.nutritionist/

Have you ever heard that plant-based diets are bad for PCOS, especially with insulin resistance?

On this episode of the podcast, Sam is joined by Dr. Dylan Cutler to break down everything you need to know about plant-based diets and PCOS. 

Dr. Cutler is a scientist and has her PhD in obstetrics and gynecology. She is passionate about empowering people with PCOS to support their hormonal health, regular periods, enhance fertility, improve mood, and gain body confidence.

Sam and Dr. Cutler begin the episode by discussing Dr. Cutler’s own history with PCOS and her journey to becoming a scientist. They discuss some of the research Dr. Dylan has participated in, including her findings around body image distress and PCOS.

In this episode, we also discuss:

• The truth about PCOS and calories
• Whether plant-based diets are okay for hormones and PCOS
• How Dr. Cutler feels about fruit intake with PCOS
• What to be aware of when following a plant-based diet with PCOS

Connect with Dr. Cutler @dr.dylancutler on Instagram or her website  www.phruitfuldish.com

✨ Resources & Links ✨

🎉 Join the waitlist for Nourished with PCOS. Registration will open in mid-September! https://pcosnutritionco.com/nourished-waitlist/

Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcos.nutritionist/