I received notice yesterday that a new omega-3 product has hit the market. It's called"New Harvest", and it caught my eye because it is a vegetarian source of essential fatty acids. We have a lot of vegetarians reading our blog so I wanted to know more. This is what I learned by going to their website.
1. The manufacturer is Dupont Chemical. 2. The omega-3's are produced by using a specific type of yeast, Yarrowia lipolytica, to turn corn sugar into fat.
I do like the fact that companies are working to find alternatives for humans that do not involve depleting the world's fish supplies. And I do like the fact that this has potential to help vegetarians.
My problem with this product is that it appears to be a product of genetic engineering. I'm not convinced that this is a completely risk-free technology. And, given the fact that a very high percentage of our readers are either trying to conceive or are pregnant, I have to remember that any food or supplement choice we encourage here has the potential to affect at least two lives, only one of which has a choice in what they are exposed to.
I'm in the process of deciding for myself about genetic engineering. It is a relatively new technology and I don't believe it's been around long enough for us to be 100% confident that it is 100% safe. Each of you has your own opinion about whether or not you wish to incorporate these foods into your diets. It took enough work for me to find the answers to simple questions I had about this product, that I decided to simplify the process for anyone else who might have similar questions.
I also wish, instead of marketing their product as"yeast-based", DuPont had been more forthcoming about the fact that it's more accurately positioned as"corn-based".
I wanted to post a testimonial from a client. He volunteered to do this, I did not ask him for it. My sincere hope, in training inCYST professionals, is that this is the experience each and every woman has when reaching out and asking for help. We understand that you are not just patients or lab values, but rather individuals with your own sets of experiences, anxieties, and hopes, that must be respected and accommodated in our work together. The photo is of me at this baby's baptism.
B, thank you for the testimonial. I am not sure who benefitted most from our time together, as I learned an incredible amount from this collaboration! Being asked to come to the hospital to see baby Brianna, and to attend her baptism, was such an honor. I will never forget how it felt to look at her, and hold her, and tangibly experience the value of this work.
I have asked the other members of inCYST's network to share testimonials as well. They do wonderful work, and I want to use this forum to share their passions and how they benefit those who work with them for better health. I look forward to sharing their stories! Monika
It was two years ago when we first met Monika. I remember it like yesterday. We were desperate but also tired of the empty promises.
In the previous 18 months, my wife and I had been on an emotional rollercoaster. My wife had been tested for thyroid issues, infertility, hormone imbalances. Each doctor was confident they knew what was wrong and it was a simple fix. Take this prescription and diet. When that did not work it was go to this specialist or that one. Even at the mighty Mayo Clinic we were disappointed. During this time we had our first miscarriage. I remember the night vividly. We went to the emergency room knowing something was wrong. We were first triaged by an RN, she ordered a pregnancy test, a UA, ultrasound and every blood test she could think of. After six hours we were scared to death and still had not seen the ER physician. My wife’s pain was increasing. My wife started to bleed. We were reassured the doctor would be with us soon. She ended up miscarrying in the restroom of the ER. We finally had the ultrasound. We finally saw that doctor; he was abrupt and in a hurry. He spent five minutes with us explaining that we had miscarried and gave us a booklet for grieving. We were also to follow up with our OB/gyn for a D&C. In addition to a 3,000 dollar bill.
It took a few days for my wife’s physical pains to subside, but the emotional ones were just beginning. It almost tore us apart. She had the feeling that she was broken and tried to push me away. Everything reminded us of our loss. It is amazing how many sad stories you see about abused or abandoned children when you can not have one. Several months had passed and our OB diagnosed my wife with PCOS. Though the ultrasound showed no cysts, all the other symptoms were there. My wife was placed on metformin. This was to stabilize her insulin. She started the medication but her mood swings and frustration increased. She exercised two to four hours every day for four months. She was obsessed with losing weight and returning to “normal”. The weight did not come off and she was giving up. I decided to spend my spare time researching PCOS. The research was inconclusive as to the correct treatment course. Most suggested controlling insulin through diet and medication. There were several online programs and institutes which promised to have the answer. We were sucked in and for another few months we tried some different approaches. None seemed to be very effective. We had given up on the idea of having children and I just wanted my wife back. With every new promise was a disappointment. Unfortunately my wife was becoming frustrated with herself. We stopped spending time with friends and calling family. The thing most people do not understand is that it is not just your disappointment as a couple, but explaining to your friends and families that is devastating. I decided to continue my diligence with my research and found several dieticians and nutritionists who were publishing and focusing on PCOS. This is how we came to know Monika Woolsey. I did not even tell my wife about Monika at first. I did not want another false hope. Once I hung up the phone with Monika, I felt that she might be able to help. She did not promise results of pregnancy or a magic pill to fix everything. She said simply that every woman is different as is the approach. She continued to ask question after question. Throughout this entire rollercoaster I finally felt we found someone who is sincerely interested in helping us. We were not just another case. I did not know Monika’s intentions or if her ideas would work but we had a glimmer of hope. Monika surprised us a little when she wanted to visit our home. I did not understand but we agreed. When Monika arrived she was not what I expected she was “down to earth” and seemed very easy to talk with. She also was very knowledgeable about the disease process. I found her caring and very sensitive to what we have gone through. Though she was very nice I was not looking for a friend but a knowledgeable professional. I was put in my place very quickly after challenging her on a few topics. She had read all that I have and more. She has done her homework. She described this as a journey of trials and seeing what works because each woman is different and has different symptoms. Though our time was up she was truly invested and stayed an additional two hours. Till the time our questions were answered.
My wife started with fish oil and flaxseed oil in addition to a session of acupuncture. We also were educated on reading labels and identifying pure foods. I am in the medical field and did not put much stock in this approach. To put it mildly I was a skeptic. However after spending two months on the program my wife was getting back to her typical self and feeling much better. Some evenings we would call or e-mail Monika with questions. She was never to busy to take time for us. We were perfectly content with our changes. My wife’s moods were stabilizing and her menstruations were becoming more regular. Out of the blue we found out that we were pregnant. This was not expected or planned. Monika never promised or led us to believe that pregnancy would be the result. Her plan was simple. Make my wife feel better and regain control.
When Monika found out she was very happy for us but she did not seem to be surprised. She mentioned that this has happened with several couples that were told they would never have children. I can say that my wife will always have PCOS but at least we have the knowledge to control it. We had our beautiful daughter on July 21 2009. It was an amazing day. We have included a picture of Monika and our daughter Brianna. God gives us trials in life and we have had our fair share. In saying that I would not change a thing.
Just a few weeks ago, I was talking with my husband about the amount of money I spend buying healthy food every month. I often wonder why the foods that are the most damaging to our nutrition are so much less expensive than foods that protect and nourish our bodies in so many different beneficial ways. Then again, when I wander through specialty organic grocery stores, I wonder why some of the prices are so outrageous; however, every once in a while you stumble upon a food item that you just can’t resist trying, even if it more than you usually spend on good nutrition.
Since watching my weight is my third “full time job,” I’m always looking for foods to add to my list of staples, as well as adding some variety to my vegetable and protein intake. I’ve never been one to experiment with exotic foods, but in the last two months, I’ve found myself drawn to organic nut, seed, and coconut oil based products. With this new quest, I came across a wonderful product, Pistachio Pesto, made by Living Tree Community Foods. You’ve probably read on this very blog about the health benefits of pistachios, a powerful and protective nut that is a great addition to your diet. Check out the following link if you want to read up on the pistachio. http://www.incyst.com/2009/04/food-of-week-pistachio-nuts.html
While I’ve never been a fan of pesto, I couldn’t resist giving the Pistachio Pesto a try, particularly after reading the list of all organic ingredients, which includes sun-dried tomatoes, sun-dried black olives, raw sesame, and olive oil. So far I have tried the pesto on a high fiber cracker, which was delicious, and I’m sure I’ll experiment with this as a topping for vegetables very soon. If you would like more information on this product, you can visit http://www.livingtreecommunity.com/.
Stacey Frattinger, RD, CHFS Owner of Formula FUEL http://www.formulafitt.com/ Contact me @ formulafuel@hotmail.com
So many of you women with PCOS also have problems with your thyroids…I decided it was time for all of us to learn more about the issue. I asked Dr. John O'Dea to participate in our professional training, and he is going to talk about the topic.
John O'Dea, MD, was born in the south of Ireland. He was raised and educated in Dublin, where he received his undergraduate and medical education at the National University of Ireland. Upon graduation from medical school, he moved to the US. He served his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at St. Luke's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. He then went on to receive full training in Endocrinology and Metabolism through a NIH fellowship at Case Western Reserve University. Following the completion of this two-year endocrine fellowship, which involved both clinical and research experience, he moved to the Los Angeles area, where he is in private practice.
I met Dr. O'Dea through a client, who shared that after visiting many, many physicians, he was the one who finally helped her get back into balance. After meeting with him personally, I was excited to know someone was out there who could help the women of inCYST.
The webinar will be broadcast live on Friday, May 19, 2010, at 6 pm Eastern Daylight Time. If you cannot attend, we will be recording the presentation and that recording will be available for sale as well.
You may participate in this activity only, or if you register for the complete inCYST Professional PCOS Training, this lecture is included in the package. Early registration discounts are available for both options.
I recently had a client ask me if she needed to avoid "tropical" fruits for better health. The woman was told by a friend, who's doctor told her, to stay away from any "tropical" fruits because of the "palm" fruit oil that they contain, and that they would raise her blood cholesterol. I assured the woman that"tropical" fruits do not contain oils and would not raise her blood cholesterol. I wondered to myself, how did this doctor come up with something like this? Today I read an article that may help explain the misinformation.
"Both palm and palm kernel oil come from palm plants (often called “oil palms”) and are categorized as “tropical oils”. These two types of oils come from different parts of the palm plant. Palm oil, which is sometimes called “palm fruit oil,” comes from the fruit; palm kernel oil comes from the seed (a.k.a. the kernel)." The words "tropical oils" and "palm fruit oil". Could it be that the doctor simply assumed this meant"tropical fruit"? Please read on to better understand more about palm oil.
Green Mountain at Fox Run, host of PCOS week twice a year, has a great blog, http://www.aweightlifted.com/. It covers a lot of topics, but one of my favorites is Thursday's Healthy Eating feature. If you've considered coming to PCOS week, and are curious about the food they serve, this gives you a great idea. One of the things I am fond of when I visit is the variety of homemade vinaigrettes they serve with their salads. Today Chef Lisa writes about pomegranate vinaigrette…check it out!
And if you're interested in coming to join me and the Green Mountain at Fox Run staff, we'll all be together in Vermont March 8 — 12, 2010.
It was bound to happen. Food manufacturers saw people like me hyping omega-3 fatty acids and people like you following advice…and they decided to do what they always do…put it into something chocolate and sweet. For more information on this omega-3 supplemented, chocolate-flavored infant formula, which by the way I DO NOT recommend or endorse, please visit Marion Nestle's blog.
And we wonder why our kids are fat. We teach them how to be every time we feed them!
Oh, and while I'm at it, I'm sharing my personal Top Ten List of Foods that should not be in your anti-inflammatory diet. If you ever see any of these, anywhere, remember that the likelihood that a cold front has passed through the devil's front yard is about 1,000 times greater than any of them actually helping your overall well-being.
If you're a fan of Gretchen Kubacky, PsyD, you know she's educational and great listening. If you're not, here's your opportunity to change that!
Dr. Gretchen's upcoming webinar contents and registration information include: --screening clients for PCOS and other health and endocrine disorders --physical and psychological presentations of PCOS --common comorbidities --how PCOS-prevalent hormones affect the brain and the development of mood disorders --why coordination of care is so critical --preferred treatment methods --what to expect during the course of treatment --psychotherapist self-care --additional resources
In addition to her psychology training, Gretchen lives with both PCOS and diabetes; her first hand experience helps bring a compassionate perspective to this challenging and often overlooked aspect of PCOS.
You may listen to this webinar separately, or register for the entire PCOS professional training. Information can be found either on our Facebook page, or at www.afterthediet.com/AftertheDietWorkshop.htm.
Nonprofessionals are more than welcome to participate!
I've been getting a lot of questions about juicing lately, so it's clearly a popular trend right now. I love the fact that juicing gets more vegetables into people who normally wouldn't get them. However, there are some important things to know about juicing if your intent is to use it for a healthier diet.
1. Juice contains calories! Ounce for ounce, juice and soda are similar calorie-wise. 8 ounces of either is about 120 calories. Some of the sweeter juices are even more calorically dense. Don't get caught up in the false assumption that because it's juice, it's lower in calories, or that unlimited quantities are permissible.
2. When you juice your vegetables, you remove the fiber. In researching this blog post, I learned that many juicer companies actually sell this point, claiming that without the fiber, the nutrients that are left are more easily absorbed. The fiber itself is an important nutrient! Especially if you're someone who has trouble regulating energy or blood glucose levels. If you're counting on your juice as your source of all of your vegetables, you could be cutting yourself short on fiber.
3. If carrots are what you're juicing, be aware that you can overdose on vitamin A. I've seen this actually happen, it's not just a myth. If the pads of your hands and feet start to get an orange-ish tinge, and you've recently fallen in love with juicing carrots, you might want to think about the connection. Be sure to vary your juice ingredients.
4. Spinach, another common vegetable to juice, eaten in high quantities, is high in oxalates. This compound can prevent the absorption of iron, calcium, and magnesium. It can also promote the development of kidney stones. Oxalates leach out of spinach when it is cooked, but if you're using the juicer for convenience, this extra step may not be useful. Other foods high in oxalates, in case you're using them in your juicer, include rhubarb, beets and sorrel.
5. Juice contains little to no protein. You may find that when you switch to a juice-heavy diet, your craving for sweets increases. What I recommend to people who ask about juicing, is to make a smaller amount of juice and blend it in with milk, yogurt, or protein powder. I actually like to use 1 cup of plain yogurt, a ripe banana, one other piece of a different fruit, plus a handful of veggies and some ground flaxseed. I always vary the fruit and the vegetable to be sure I don't overload on any one food. And I keep the fiber and protein in my breakfast.
If you make those simple adjustments, the possibilities and combinations are endless. Enjoy!
I recently blogged about Greek yogurt, and how most major brands contain no vitamin D. Given the realities that many women consider yogurt to be a nutritional equivalent to milk, and vitamin D is increasingly being recognized as a factor in PCOS and other health issues, this is a really important thing to know. I have become increasingly frustrated with the amount of nutritional advice encouraging Greek yogurt consumption without mentioning this.
Last night I noticed that Yoplait has come out with its own Greek yogurt, containing twice the protein of regular yogurt and 20% of the recommended Daily Value for vitamin D. I would strongly recommend going with the plain version and adding fruit to sweeten it, to avoid excessive added sugar, but otherwise, it's probably the best Greek yogurt out there for anyone who is concerned about their vitamin D levels.
If you go to the link above, you can get a coupon you can use when you try it, too!
Last night, I came across a post by Kate Harding* on her Shapely Prose blog that made me stop and really think for a bit about my own hard-wired reactions to compliments from people. Once in a while, I see, read, or hear something that makes a lasting impact and changes the way I live my life, moving forward from that point. Reading Kate's blog last night had that kind of impact on the way I accept a compliment from now on.
In the blog post in question, here, Kate points out how rarely we accept a compliment and just say,"Yeah, I'm pretty awesome." or"I worked hard for that!" or"I'm good at it!" or simply,"Thank you! I agree!"
We always find a way to downplay ourselves, saying how someone else is better, or how we could have done better, or how the person giving the compliment is crazy. But we never really take credit for whatever it is that the compliment is given. She makes a really good point about how we are programmed to think that if a woman acknowledges she is good at something, she is self-centered, egotistical, narcissistic, etc. Even if we just told her how great she is at xyz! If she says,"I know! Thanks!" Our gut reaction is commonly to think,"Wow, what a self-absorbed b*tch! Who does she think she is?!" And think about it. How many times have you received a compliment, where you know the person giving it is totally right. You gave a great presentation, you baked a phenomenal batch of oatmeal cookies, you sang an amazing rendition of Black Velvet at karaoke — whatever. And you knew it. Instead you guarded yourself and deflected the compliment so they wouldn't think you were stuck up. Right? Right? I know you did.
We're just used to that. Or maybe it's me. But I have a feeling it's not just me.
The comments from readers are priceless, and really take this from being just another blog post, to a great big celebration of our collective awesomeness. She encouraged her readers to post why they rock, and every time I finished reading a comment, I thought,"HECK YEAH!" I went in there and added a comment myself — and could have kept going!
I encourage every woman reading this blog post to read that blog post. And even if you don't add to the comments, take some time to think about all the things you're great at, all the things you've worked hard to accomplish, all the big and small things you dominate every day, all the things you know you totally own. And then go ahead and from today, going forward, give yourself permission to unapologetically take full credit for it and tell yourself out loud how awesome you are.
* Kate Harding is the co-author of Lessons from the Fat-O-Sphere: Quit Dieting and Declare a Truce with Your Body (with Marian Kirby who blogs at The Rotund). She is also a contributor on Salon.com's Broadsheet. Her writing mostly covers size acceptance and feminist issues with other things here and there.
Most of you reading this blog have some sort of sleep disorder. Sleep apnea shows up quite often with PCOS…and with it, comes a prescription for a noisy fighter pilot mask contraption called a CPAP machine.
I have yet to hear anyone say that a CPAP actually improves quality of life, as it requires trading one discomfort for another.
So I was more than interested when a Google ad recently popped up, in which it was reported that regular didgeridoo playing helped to lessen the symptoms of sleep apnea. If you're not a music geek, a didgeridoo is an instrument traditionally played by native Australians. (I'm including a video with a sample of the music below, you may recognize its unique sound once you listen.)
Apparently, the muscles that are strengthened with didgeridoo playing, are the ones that are weak in people with sleep apnea. In the study referenced below, with 25 minutes of playing a day, 6 days a week, study participants experienced significantly less daytime sleepiness. And their sleep partners reported improved quality of sleep as well!
If you're musically inclined, or adventurous, it is certainly worth a shot to see if it helps your condition! If you're a sleep-deprived sleep apnea significant other…you may just have found your perfect birthday/anniversary gift for that person who has everything.
If you live in the Los Angeles area, and you have sleep apnea, whether or not you have PCOS, we're hoping to collaborate with a small business over there specializing in didgeridoo crafting. We think a beach front class in how to play this interesting instrument could be a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon! If you're interested in knowing more, please contact me at marika@google.com.
If you're interested in the instrument, but can't get yourself to LA, please visit our new friends' website, http://www.laoutback.com/. Be sure to tell them where you heard of their instruments.
Puhan MA, Suarez A, Lo Cascio C, Zahn A, Heitz M, Braendli O Didgeridoo playing as alternative treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2006 Feb 4;332(7536):266-70. Epub 2005 Dec 23.
inCYSTer Ivonne Ward tweeted this yesterday. Apparently FOX and ABC declined to air the lingerie ad posted below.
Do these networks just not understand just how many of you (practically everyone reading this blog) they offend with such a decision?
You've got a couple of choices you can make. You can let them know what you think. You can flip the channel. Even if it means missing the final episodes of Dancing With The Stars and American Idol.
I certainly hope you patronize Lane Bryant. They are advocating for you. And they clearly believe that all of you are beautiful.: )
The findings in this study are probably not news to you if you have PCOS, but it's nice to see your emotional PCOS finally validated with a scientific study.
480 women with PCOS participated in the psychological evaluation portion of this study.
Women who were not menstruating were more likely to have lower self-esteem, and to have a greater fear of being negatively viewed with regard to their appearance. These women also appeared to have an earlier onset of maturity.
High androgen levels and acne were associated with poorer body satisfaction. The greater the degree of hirsutism and BMI (body size), the lower the scores on psychological tests.
The obvious social explanations for these findings have been covered elsewhere. I believe that hormones have a huge part to play in these tendencies…I've worked in eating disorders and I've seen literally thousands of women lose the weight and remove the hair…and STILL be unhappy. Women with PCOS need help in understanding how hormones affect mood (and that hormones ARE mood) and to have access to qualified professionals who can help with that aspect of PCOS.
It's why I'm so happy Gretchen Kubacky and Anna Ahlborn are in the inCYST Network. They are here to help us better understand these conditions and what can be done to minimize any potentially negative influence they may have on your quality of life.: )
de Niet JE, de Koning CM, Pastoor H, Duivenvoorden HJ, Valkenburg O, Ramakers MJ, Passchier J, de Klerk C, Laven JS. Psychological well-being and sexarche in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod. 2010 Mar 31. [Epub ahead of print]
Not long ago I created a webinar about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. I found a great graphic that explains something most people have not considered when it comes to reproductive hormone health. Many of the hormones that we need for proper function of our reproductive systems (whether we're trying to conceive or slow down aging), are made out of cholesterol. Just look at this picture below!
As you can see, we need a decent supply of cholesterol in the body in order to even make progesterone and estrogen! However, we've become very obsessed with the idea that cholesterol is a"bad" thing. So much so that in 2001 the National Cholesterol Education Program lowered the level of ideal cholesterol so much that the number of people who ideally should be on cholesterol-lowering medications…tripled. This may be more pertinent to women with PCOS, approaching menopause, who are more likely to be placed on statin medications than younger women who are trying to conceive. However, I just wonder, a lot, if it's not really a coincidence that as we focus on cholesterol and getting it out of our bodies, we also seem to be developing more problems related to hormone imbalances…infertility, early menopause, even Alzheimer's, which is starting to be recognized as a consequence of insulin resistance, which is associated with PCOS. Bottom line: Eat well, and be careful of obnoxiously high cholesterol levels, but try to avoid an obsession with a"lower is better" mentality. Cholesterol is an essential compound, and not to be feared.
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Long ago, I had a client who needed me to help her stay on course in the grocery store. Most of the time she did well, but one day, as we were wrapping up the trip, she accidentally zeroed out her calculator (which was her indicator she was staying within budget), just as she had three items left to put in her cart. The next series of behaviors humbled me as her dietitian, because I saw just how useless it is for anyone helping someone with an eating disorder to assume that there is any kind of logical/rational thinking when a person encounters a stress.
My client broke out into a profuse sweat. She removed all of the planned menu items from her shopping list and proceeded to the frozen food section, where she loaded up on ice cream, pizza, chicken wings, you name it. She was in such a zone that I couldn't get her attention.
I learned from this, that waiting until you're stressed out, to implement stress management behaviors, doesn't work. By that time, too many hormones and too much momentum are headed in the wrong direction for there to be much of a chance to think your way out of the problem. The same thing happens with anxiety and sleep medications. If you're taking them on an"as needed" basis, by the time you realize you need them, you've got far more momentum to overcome than you would if you implemented proactive stress management behaviors.
One of my favorite proactive remedies is lavender. It's an herb whose essential oil has repeatedly been observed to have powerful anti-anxiety, antidepressive, sleep-enhancing qualities. I was reminded of lavender this morning when I ran across a new study suggesting that lavender essential oil has the potential to be as potent as lorazepam (Ativan) for anxiety management, without thhe addictive potential. The beauty of this essential oil is that you can apply it throughout the day on your wrists, helping to keep anxiety at bay before it becomes overwhelming. Lavender sprays and pot pourris can be helpful as well. Of course, they will be more useful when used regularly and proactively than if you wait until you're completely freaked out (when you may not remember to use it, anyway).
Lavender is also an herb that can be used in cooking! Here's a link with some interesting recipes, including lavender scrambled eggs and lavender oatmeal.
I think Mother Nature is the most incredible pharmacist. I hope this is an option with potential for at least some of you with anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders that intensify your PCOS.
Kritsidima M, Newton T, Asimakopoulou K. The effects of lavender scent on dental patient anxiety levels: a cluster randomised-controlled trial. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2010 Feb;38(1):83-7. Epub 2009 Nov 23.
Woelk H, Schläfke S. A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder. Phytomedicine. 2010 Feb;17(2):94-9. Epub 2009 Dec 3.
I recently wrote about how much more attention horses get with regards to nutrition's importance in fertility than we humans do. Since so many of my inCYST friends also seem to be cat lovers, I thought I'd share some pertinent wisdom from the feline world.
You may already know my friend Kate, whose blog http://www.moderncat.net/ is famous world-wide for its information about stylish kitty accessories.
Today Kate has posted some information about handmade pottery dishes for cats. If you've ever had a cat with acne, you've probably been told to switch from plastic dishes to clay ones. The reason for this is that acne-causeing bacteria can grow on the plastic dishes.
Humans don't do so well with plastic, either. Not only is there a risk for bacteria, but some plastics can mimic estrogens. They're not really the kind of estrogen our body likes to use, and it confuses our feedback systems to have the wrong kind of estrogen floating around the body.
As it gets warmer, and we tend to carry water bottles around to stay hydrated, we have to be aware of how we transport that water. Plastic bottles left in purses, cars, etc, are simply not a good idea. Be sure you look for a metal bottle. You can find them in most stores these days, but if you're having trouble in your area, here's one I found at amazon.com: Eco-Friendly Wide Mouth 25 oz, 750 ml Stainless Steel Sports Water Bottle — BPA Free
Now you can keep kitty healthy, yourself healthy, and by keeping all those plastics out of landfills, you are keeping our planet healthy as well. A great and easy way to celebrate Earth Month!
…and I'm guessing it is, since our own research has shown that most women with PCOS simply do not get enough sleep…
…consider joining us in Los Angeles this July to learn more about how to change that.
Poor sleep can worsen insulin resistance, trigger carbohydrate cravings, promote weight gain, and, well…just make you crabby.
I've been working on a project with colleague Nancy Carballo, that is designed to give you some ideas for how to improve your sleep, hopefully eliminating the need for that godawful and totally unromantic CPAP machine that's all the rage in some circles. We decided to make it fun and interactive, because, well, when you're sleep-deprived, why the heck would you come out on a beautiful Saturday to fall asleep during a bunch of dry medical lectures?
We have a Facebook group if you'd like to learn more and be updated on our event details; you can find us at"Insomniacfest".
Please consider joining us! After all, there's no point losing sleep over your PCOS, your weight, your infertility…or your insomnia.
The following blog post was written by a woman with PCOS. I know many of you feel this way. My response is at the bottom.
Dear (trainer) Kevin, Mamavation moms, Bookieboo, and (dietitian) Monika,
I did not work out today as intended. I meant to, I swear.
I’ve been doing great! Hour long walks to train for March for Babies, grueling sessions with pilates at home, and a killer interval-training session at the gym that actually made me cry when I hit muscle failure.
But see, when I woke up I had just enough time to get Buttercup to her first swim class. Which required me to keep her 33lbs afloat for 45 minutes. Which seriously, is probably why my arms are currently feeling like Jello.
If Jello hurts, that is.
But back to the crazy day and my really good excuse(s) for not getting to that 20-minute pilates DVD I promised I was going to do today. After swim class, I carried Buttercup’s sleeping self into bed where she enjoyed a 3.5 hour nap. During my break from motherhood, I meant to work out. I really was going to. But first I had to make the brownies. And the cupcakes. And the fudge. After I went to the grocery store, of course, for the crap on my list I meant to buy yesterday and we really don’t need to get into that whole mess.
So after I successfully escaped from the special hell that is a major grocery store the day before any holiday, I came home. And then I made the brownies. And the cupcakes. And the fudge.
Then it was dinner time. Then we had to clean up after dinner time.
And then it was time to dye the Easter eggs and carefully explain to Buttercup that no, the eggs we were dying do not contain baby birdies that will hatch after the Easter Bunny comes which makes me think tomorrow is really going to be interesting and I might need to start looking for a therapist for my daughter on Monday.
Okay, so that’s when I was going to work out. After all, things were done now, right? Right?
Almost.
Because see, we’re grilling tomorrow. A nice Easter lunch barbecue with rib-eye and veggie kabobs and a very real need for a filled propane tank. Which I didn’t realize we already had until I got to the Quickmart with the so-obviously-heavy-I-should-have-known-it-was-full-tank and the kind cashier gently informed me that I could have my $26 back.
And then I got home (again) and it was time to help my mom with the kitchen and then of course, at 8:30, I took Buttercup up to bed. Where, I should point out, she normally passes out after one book. I should also point out she normally does not take 3.5 hour naps.
And after two books and 65 renditions of “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” (thanks to the lyrics I had pulled up on my blackberry which I always keep in my bra) she finally did pass out. At 10 p.m.
So I sneaked out and headed downstairs, grateful to find The Husband had managed to nuke the dinner I forgot to mention I prepared for him and ate it all on his own! But I still had to do my nightly Mexican June Cleaver routine and prep his cooler with a sammich and goodies for his midnight shift. And after I finished that, I sat down to prep Buttercup’s Easter basket. The old one, mind you. Her new Elmo Bunny basket is the one going to church with us so we don’t have to worry about any hip-checking incidents like last year during the Easter egg hunt.
And then I kissed The Husband good-bye and, like, totally planned on working out then.
But the kitchen floor was gross. So mom vacuumed. And then I steam mopped. And then we both realized that the fridge was nasty inside and our guests will think we’re cave people and we had no room for all the goodies I baked, so we emptied, cleaned, and rearranged.
And then I looked at the clock and thought I was a fucking lunatic if I was even going to attempt to do pilates at 12:30 a.m. when I had church the next day.
So I sat down to blog instead.
Sincerely,
Pauline
Dear Pauline,
I think you had a marvelous day. You spent it with Buttercup. You spent it with your mother. You spent it with your husband. And it was filled with love.
You created memories. You took the time to record those memories so they would never be forgotten.
And, for the record, just because lifting a 33 pound child in her swim class enough times to turn your arms to jello isn't something you see in Jillian Michaels' videos, doesn't mean you didn't get exercise.
Give yourself credit for being surrounded with all that Easter goodie stuff without eating any of it.
And enjoy the grilled food you made for Easter dinner!
There's more than enough guilt in the world to go around. Any trainer who would fault you for the day you prioritized above doesn't understand something very important. If you eat perfectly and work out perfectly, but your life is emotionally and spiritually empty, it doesn't really matter. Fill your spiritual and emotional cups, and somehow the rest will usually fall into place. Life is not about being perfect, it is about being fulfilled.
Keep the blog posts coming. You always put a smile on my face.
Sincerely,
Monika
Pauline's blog can be found atwww.aspiringmama.com
