Healing PCOS. Amy Medling

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СКАЧАТЬ path to becoming a PCOS Diva was long and winding. In high school and college, I struggled with hair loss, abnormal hair growth, stress, acne, insulin resistance, weight-loss resistance, and irregular menstrual cycles. I binge-ate and then punished myself with exercise. I could never get a straight answer from health-care professionals about the root cause of my symptoms or how to resolve them. I grew frustrated and hopeless.

      It took me fifteen years to get a diagnosis of PCOS and years more to develop a holistic lifestyle plan that’s easy, effective, and enjoyable. Today, at age forty-six, I feel stronger, healthier, and more hopeful than ever before. What’s more, despite the common misconception that PCOS causes irreversible infertility, I have given birth to three beautiful children, the last conceived naturally after adopting the PCOS Diva lifestyle.

      And I’m not alone. Thousands of other women who have followed my programs can attest to my approach’s effectiveness. By following an anti-inflammatory diet that’s rich in whole foods and mindful indulgences, prioritizing moderate exercise and self-care, and building a support system inside and outside the home, we’ve learned how to thrive, not just survive, with PCOS.

      Congratulations! You have taken the first step toward becoming a PCOS Diva. Knowledge is power, and this book will help you develop a diet and lifestyle that work specifically for you. Soon you will be a PCOS Diva too.

       The PCOS Diva Difference

      The Healing PCOS 21-Day Plan is not a diet plan. If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, then your doctor has likely told you to exercise and lose weight. He or she may have prescribed a pharmaceutical or two as well and sent you on your way. For most women, this approach to treating PCOS doesn’t create true, sustainable healing, and there is a good reason for that. It isn’t that simple.

      Sustainable healing with PCOS cannot be achieved by taking a pill, adopting a low-carb diet, and going to the gym. Healing takes so much more. We need to connect with our bodies and ourselves in a more loving way and learn to think like a PCOS Diva. Only then will we be able to willingly and joyfully make the small, day-to-day diet and lifestyle choices that heal our bodies and our minds and souls for a lifetime.

      Healing from the inside out is the heart of the PCOS Diva difference. We thrive as a result of self-love and gratitude, not as a result of a trendy, temporary, and unsustainable diet.

       Week One: Discover Your PCOS Diva

      In Week One, you will discover your PCOS Diva by exploring the foundation of the 21-Day Plan—the way you think about your body, PCOS, and the way you eat. You will discover exactly what works for you. No two PCOS Divas are exactly alike, so you will learn to translate your body’s unique signals and work in partnership with it.

       THINK LIKE A PCOS DIVA

      We will begin by changing the way you think about PCOS and your body. Surprised? Many of my clients are shocked that the first thing we do isn’t talking about their diet. They expect lists of foods to eat and not to eat right out of the gate. Here’s the thing: until you think like a PCOS Diva, you cannot live like a PCOS Diva. You may make changes that last a few weeks. You may even start to feel a little better. But until you upgrade your thinking, nothing will stick.

      In the long run, no drug, diet, or exercise will help you until you take this step. For many women, this is the biggest challenge. It may be easier to pass up a bagel than to look in the mirror and say something nice or prioritize your well-being over someone else’s wants.

      So we begin by establishing your PCOS Diva mindset and practicing mindfulness. We will work together to develop a perspective that will drive every decision you make, from what to eat to how to deal with stress. Finally, you will learn how to use gratitude to fuel your journey. Over the next 21 days, we will cultivate these elements of your upgraded mindset:

      Control: By the end of this transformative 21-day plan, you will have the tools you need to take control of your symptoms and environment instead of playing the role of helpless victim.

      Partnering: Your body is not betraying you; it is calling for help. You will learn how to stop fighting your body and instead work in partnership with it to recognize its signals and respond in a loving and nurturing way.

      “With PCOS Diva, I learned how important it is to care for me. I realized that if one of my children or my husband had PCOS, I would have been doing this program long ago. I would tirelessly research what was good for them, and I would do everything I could to help them live their best lives. Why wasn’t I willing to do that for me? I thought I was being selfish by taking care of myself. I now know the opposite is true. I was being selfish by not taking care of myself. My family needs me. Now they have a healthy mama, and wife who is energetic and engaged. They love the food I make from the meal plans and are moving with me.”

       —EMMY DARDICK

      Abundance: You will celebrate the abundance in your life. Instead of blaming situations on items you lack or imperfections in yourself and others, you will approach each day with gratitude. The positivity this brings will give you the strength to make the right choices for you.

      Progress: You will work toward progress, not perfection. No one is perfect. You will set reasonable goals and celebrate the small wins.

      Mindfulness: Truly savoring and being present in a moment will become a habit that will change your perspective on the world and how you move, eat, and love.

      Nurturing: Caring for yourself is not selfish, and it is about to change your life. When you approach your body from a place of self-love and compassion, you are better able to hear the messages it is sending to you. You will respond to those messages in a kind and nurturing way, because you understand that you are worth the investment. You are a priority and deserve to feel good.

      Please do not skip straight to the 21-Day Plan. There is important information in Part One! For example, you must read and internalize Chapter 3, “Think like a PCOS Diva.” It is the key to changing your life, controlling your PCOS, and thriving!

       EAT LIKE A PCOS DIVA

      During Week One, you’ll also think about what you use to fuel your body. I love the expression, “Nothing tastes as good as feeling good feels.” Although I believe that to be true, eating like a PCOS Diva is no sacrifice. We heal and nurture our bodies with nourishing foods without denying ourselves pleasure. You will discover that:

      Food is medicine. Much of what you need to balance your hormones and soothe your PCOS symptoms can be found in the produce section of your grocery store or farmers’ market. You will learn which foods heal you and which foods exacerbate your symptoms.

      Your body is sending you messages. Your body is telling you what it needs. Those cravings signal something. You will learn how to partner with your body to translate those signals and give it the nutrients it is asking for. There is no one-size-fits-all СКАЧАТЬ