PCOS Explained

So, you're making these lifestyle changes and may be wondering, "When will I start to see the results?" The answer to that depends on your symptoms and the severity of their drivers.

The more important question is how do I know I'm on track? Depending on what is causing these symptoms, you're likely to start feeling better internally before you see some physical results. This means sleeping better, having more energy, feeling less bloated, and losing the brain fog!

We view PCOS as a continuum, and you may be somewhere along this spectrum. Therefore, to see results, we need to start making "towards" moves – steps that have a positive impact on your body and mind.

In this episode, we cover:

• How long it can take to see improvements in different symptoms
• Why it's important to be consistent and not lose motivation if you don't see immediate results
• An approximate/estimate timeline for periods, fertility, weight, acne, hirsutism and hair loss

This episode is for you if:

• You've tried diets or strict plans without seeing long-term results
• You want a better understanding of the underlying reasons for your symptoms
• You're interested in signing up for Ovie and want to learn more about how it can work for your PCOS

Podcast references:

• Lily Kate's Testimonial: More lifestyle changes doesn’t always mean better results for your PCOS — and figuring out what your ‘high impact’ PCOS changes are
• Jaimee's Testimonial: How she lost 30kg!
• Daisy's Testimonial: How a food blogger successfully managers her insulin resistance PCOS and habit changes without restriction
• Kelly's Testimonial: Natural fertility with PCOS - YES, it's possible

Take the questionnaire & start your journey today.

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Have you ever tried to make several lifestyle changes all at once, only for it to become so intense that you end up getting burnt out within the first week? We've been there too.

At Ovie, our focus is on developing long-term, sustainable habits that genuinely impact your lifestyle. We guide you to make 'towards' moves, leading to a better life in an attainable and achievable manner. This approach prevents you from becoming overwhelmed and feeling like you've failed when making multiple changes at once. We provide you with the tools to make these changes while also teaching you the psychology behind them, so you understand exactly what you're doing even when life throws you curveballs.

In this episode we cover:

• How to manage your feelings around habits and challenges
• Compounding habits over time
• How long it may take for you to see results with Ovie when creating new habits and why
• and much more!
  
  

This episode is for you if:

• You need some help to get back on track and want to know how you can start implementing some habits into your life
• You want know how we work in Ovie and how we can make long-term changes to your life

Referenced episodes:

Jaimee's Story: Losing 30 kg - Her Incredible Journey!

Take the Ovie questionnaire & start your journey today. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trends, you can't avoid them nowadays. They're often started via social media and can go viral within hours. This week, we are discussing current popular trends such as "Girl Plate Dinner" and "What I Eat in a Day" through a critical lens. We will uncover the positives, such as displaying creativity and forming good habits. However, we also emphasize that they can have adverse effects, setting unrealistic expectations that lead to comparison anxiety, and even promote dangerous habits.

We encourage listeners to approach these trends with a balanced perspective and remind you that what you see on social media is merely a snapshot of someone's life, often cherry-picked to present an idealized version.

In this episode we cover:

• The latest trends we've seen on social media
• The positives and negatives of such trends and how some can be great for inspiration whilst others lead to comparison anxiety
• The psychology of creating long-lasting, sustainable habits over quick fixes

This episode is for you if: 

• You've experienced being sucked into a trend and felt guilty about your lifestyle
• You want to listen to a balanced debate about the latest trends and how you can positively interpret some and what not to follow

Want to find out what is driving your PCOS? Click here to take the Ovie questionnaire.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s an exciting week at The PCOS Nutritionist as we launch our new PCOS management app, Ovie!

Ovie helps people with PCOS improve their symptoms and prevent the long-term complications of PCOS by providing them with hyper-personalized health advice based on their specific symptoms.

Today, we chat about how Ovie can help you discover those main drivers and have a better understanding about your PCOS. Everyone is different, what works for you might not work for someone else, and that is probably down to your drivers.

In this episode, we cover:

• What could be driving your PCOS
• How the Ovie questionnaire can help you understand your PCOS
• How the Ovie app works in creating long-lasting results
• Setting your specific goals for what you want to achieve from Ovie
• ...and so much more!

This episode is for you if:

• You know you have PCOS but need support in managing it
• You want to learn more about what could be driving your PCOS
• You feel overwhelmed with all the different messages online and want to know what changes you can make specifically for you.

Click here to take the Ovie questionnaire.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You've probably come across numerous discussions about Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy lately, whether on TikTok, in the news, or even on the latest reality TV shows. The popularity of these weight-loss drugs has soared, making them a topic of significant interest.

This week, Clare and our senior nutritionist, Emma, delve deeply into the world of these drugs and similar medications. We explore everything from the latest celebrity crazes to addressing weight-related issues in pursuit of a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Listen in for a comprehensive analysis of the pros and cons, as well as an outline of the reasons why some individuals may choose to use them while others might prefer alternative approaches. It's essential to emphasize that we are continuously learning about these drugs, and we're eager to share our knowledge with you so that you can make the most informed decision for your own lifestyle.

In this episode, we cover:

• Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy's purpose, and how they work.
• A balanced discussion of the reasons both for and against considering these drugs as a weight-loss option.
• The misuse of weight-loss drugs amongst celebrities.
• What to expect when starting to use weight-loss drugs and what happens when discontinuing its use.

This episode is for you if:

• You are contemplating the use of  Ozempic, Mounjaro or Wegovy for weight loss and want to make an informed decision.
• You have been tirelessly searching for information about these drugs but still can't find a clear answer.
• You are curious to learn more about these drug, their effects, and potential benefits for your health journey.

Take the Ovie questionnaire & start your journey to reversing your PCOS for life!

This week, we asked our Instagram audience to send in their questions to be answered. 

In this episode we cover:

• What to do when you come off hormonal birth control.
• Cysts on your ovaries and PCOS - do you need to have them to be diagnosed?
• Knowing what to do when you have low energy levels and long periods.
• Eating more and getting better results - how it works!
• Finding your balance as a new parent and tips on how to better manage your sleep.

Thank you to everyone who sent in their questions. We really wanted to deep dive into these questions and provide you with valuable advice that you can start implementing in your life today. Unfortunately, we couldn't get around to answering them all, but we will be doing more of these in the future, so keep an eye out and stay tuned!

References:

• Jaimee's Story: Losing 30kg – Her Incredible Journey!
  
  

Take the Ovie questionnaire & start your journey to reversing your PCOS for life!

On this week's podcast, we spoke to Tess. Tess dove into the Protocol, giving it her all. She was seeking a more sustainable way to handle her diet after becoming a 'slave to sugar' and experiencing serious hangry attacks, as well as unexplainably gaining weight.

After her doctors told her to just halve her quantities for all the foods she ate, as an active sportswoman, this left her constantly hungry and having little to no energy. She thought there had to be a better way, and she was right.

Tess began to realise at university that she wasn't the only one experiencing these symptoms and started connecting the dots between her drivers and symptoms. While following the Protocol, Tess noticed considerable differences in her mood, cravings, acne, and so much more. Now she can live freely and be aware of what causes these symptoms to flare up and understands them on a much deeper level.

In this episode, we cover:

• Tess's personal experience of being diagnosed at such a young age and how the Protocol helped manage her PCOS
• How to sustainably maintain your eating habits and exercise
• Acknowledging stress and managing it with PCOS

This episode is for you if:

• You're thinking about signing up for the PCOS Protocol and want to hear a Protocoler's experience
• You believe stress is one of your drivers and want to manage it better
• You're struggling with unexplainable weight gain
• You want to have more control over cravings and your diet.

Take the Ovie questionnaire & start your journey to reversing your PCOS for life!

Have you ever been in a situation where your doctor insisted that the pill is the only solution for managing PCOS? Or have you felt hesitant about trying it due to scary stories you've heard on social media? It can often feel like you're stuck between two extremes, but we're here to let you know that there are other options available.

The truth is, different forms of contraception can have significant benefits for some people, while others may prefer a more natural approach. Whatever path you choose, it's important to remember that there's no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed about how you decide to manage your hormones.

In this week's episode, we're going to break down the pros and cons of both hormonal and non-hormonal birth control methods, specifically in the context of PCOS. We'll dive into some real-life cases and share insights on why certain options might work better than others. We want you to feel confident and supported throughout your PCOS journey so you know what is the right option for you.

In this episode we cover:

• What is hormonal birth control?
• The different birth control available: hormonal and non-hormonal options
• The benefits and downfalls of hormonal birth control (PCOS specific and general)
• Risk factors and positives relating to cancer with birth control
• Emergency contraception options

This episode is for you if:

• You’re wondering if you’re birth control is suited to you
• You’re on birth control and want to understand more about how it works
• You have PCOS and weighing up your birth control options

Take the Ovie questionnaire & start your journey to reversing your PCOS for life!

References:

Does the contraceptive pill alter mate choice in humans?

Bariatric surgery is still a taboo topic in most circles. Weight gain and obesity is still portrayed as something that we should have control over and therefore if you need bariatric surgery, you are a failure. Or you’re taking the easy way out. 

But this isn’t the case at all. Weight gain and obesity is a really complex condition, especially in PCOS. Our body's email system, our hormones, are sending messages to our body to store more fat. And make it much harder for us to burn fat. This then leads into a spiral - we might become less active because it’s harder or more painful to move. We might start severely restricting what we eat, which leads to binge eating and a host of other factors that lead to spiralling weight gain. Most of us are doing the best we can, but our body is just sending the wrong emails.

For most people, bariatric surgery is no more your fault or quality of life improving, than needing a hip replacement!

So I wanted to break down the taboo of bariatric surgery and open up this discussion.  Because contrary to popular belief, this isn’t taking the easy way out.  Bariatric surgery requires a lot of hard work, not just in the initial weight loss phase, but as my guest today, Aimee, speaks about, 3 years post surgery.

This is the time that the surgeons and the patients know, is when they are at greatest risk of weight regain. 

In this episode we cover:

• Breaking down the taboo of bariatric surgery
• The challenges of living in a bigger body 
• The before and after work
• How bariatric surgery actually works (spoiler- it’s not just weight loss!)
• The different types of surgery and what’s best for PCOS (and long term weight loss)
• The psychological side of bariatric surgery 
• Maintaining weight loss 3 years post surgery 

This episode is for you if:

• You’re thinking about bariatric surgery, or just interested to know actually how it works
• You’ve recently had bariatric surgery- you need this wonder woman’s wisdom! 
• You’ve had a lap-band and are wondering why it might not have worked for you
• Or for those who think that weight loss surgery is people taking the easy way out!

Take the Ovie questionnaire & start your journey to reversing your PCOS for life!

Do you hear me bleat on in the podcast about eating vegetables (or even growing my own), and think “all very well for you Clare, but I personally hate vegetables”?

I get it.  I was recently speaking to one of our PCOS Protocolers in our weekly group consult and she said to me, “I grew up in mid-west America in the 80s and 90s, vegetables just weren’t a big thing on the menu in my family.  Especially where there were so many more convenient and tasty foods.  So now, I just find vegetables really tasteless or bitter.” and she is dead right! 

Vegetables can be really bitter and/or flavourless, and the textures can also be really off putting, especially if you’ve grown up eating hyper-palatable pop-tarts and packet mac n cheese. No matter where you grew up, if vegetables weren’t on the menu in your childhood, or they were but always cooked terribly, then you’re probably not going to like them much now.   

So what do we do about it?  That is exactly what this podcast explores.

In this episode we cover:  

• Do you really need to eat vegetables? 
• How to prepare and cook vegetables so they taste GREAT (or so you can’t taste them at all)
• And more! 

This episode is for you if:

• If you don’t like or consume many vegetables
• You want to increase your vegetable intake 
• You want to learn some new ways to cook and prepare your veg 
• You’ve grown up not eating many (or any!) vegetables
  
  
  

Take the Ovie questionnaire & start your journey to reversing your PCOS for life!