Girl why are you losing the hair on your head but growing it everywhere else? Why do you gain 20 pounds every time you pass a bakery?

For years, I have been steadily gaining weight, losing more hair on my head but oddly enough growing it great on my chin, chest and stomach (fair more than could ever be considered a ‘happy trail’. Oh and getting my period? Might as well block the calendar off, I’ll be down for the count.

When I met with a variety of different doctors for these concerns I received the following advice,

‘Lose weight!’ ‘Try water aerobics!’ ‘Women’s Rogaine or this Med Spa my friend owns’ ‘You just aren’t try hard enough’ ‘You aren’t the only woman to have a painful period’.

I wish I was kidding. And the kicker was, I worked with doctors! I both advocated helped patients advocate for themselves but also advocated for them. Giving myself the same courtesy? Nah. I was far more concerned with ‘causing waves’ in the same building I worked in. I didn’t want anyone saying I was difficult or that I was a former patient of Doctor Google (yes, we saw lots of them!)

I finally found a doctor in late 2023 that took my concerns seriously and diagnosed me with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. One of my main symptoms to combat was insulin resistance. She prescribed Metformin and recommended some dietary changes.

I immediately dove head into doing research on how to optimize beginning to manage my health. One of the biggest changes I made was looking at the food I was eating as a trigger for my health or a trigger against it. This little shift is mindset has been huge. I ask myself all the time ‘Is this helping me or hurting me?’

I’ve cut out a refined sugar, heavy carbs and greasy foods, which I shouldn’t have been eating to begin since I also do not have a gallbladder. I also really cut back on my caffeine intake (the coffees I use to get were over 700 calories a cup!) and alcohol.

Now does that mean I don’t indulge in ice cream, cupcakes or the occasional spicy margarita? Of course not. Balance is everything. I always have found lots of hacks to satisfy those cravings without having the actual thing.

In January of this year, I met with my doctor again and mentioned I was frustrated that the scale still wasn’t moving. She offered to prescribe Phentermine a weight loss stimulant to help with my weight loss. It ended up helping the weight fall off in combination with Metformin, my supplements, walking and maintaining an insulin resistant friendly plate (I actually hate the word diet).

I am now weaning off my weight loss medication but staying on the rest of my treatment plan. I want to share the good, the bad and the crampy!