A NUTRITIONIST'S STORY OF BATTLING PCOS, WEIGHT GAIN & INFERTILITY

This is my own story of battling weight and PCOS. It feels great sharing it with females, some of whom are probably going through the same challenges as I did.

As a child, I was never skinny. I grew up to be slightly overweight with a broad frame. Things suddenly started going very wrong once I hit the twenties. My periods became irregular and I started gaining weight. I did not notice it at first as ironically I was pursuing my masters in nutrition and super busy with studies.

When in just a year my weight ballooned to 64 kg from 56 kg, I clearly realized something was wrong. After a few medical tests, I discovered I was suffering from PCOS and that along with poor eating habits , this was responsible for my weight gain.

I started studying about it in detail and was convinced that weight loss and maintaining my weight to ideal levels was the only solution to have a healthy hormonal profile.
Also, being a dietitian myself, it was important to be well within my ideal weight limits.

The next barrier to excess weight and PCOS was when I was planning to have a child.

Infertility due to pcos was very common.

I was very upset to hear I was suffering from infertility and it would be tough to become a mom. It was very depressing to hear about fertility treatments and the side effects of the same made me very scared and depressed.

I did my research on a diet plan for women with PCOS and started eating correctly, eating in right portions and not giving in to junk food. I started losing weight and bounced back to 58 kg. I was very happy to conceive naturally (rare with PCOS) and had a very good pregnancy . During the 9 months, however, I put on 23 kg and was horrified to see myself at 78 kg after the birth of my child.

It was like a light switch went on. I immediately swung into action and actively chose and ate foods that were nourishing and not fattening and greasy. Moreover, since, I had been operated for a slipped disc, heavy workouts were never an option for me. So, I would make time to go for short, but regular walks. Post pregnancy , weight loss wasn’t easy, but with the right food and techniques it all worked out.

After my child was 1 year old, I was 66 kg, and my PCOS symptoms disappeared. My cycles were very regular. I went a little more aggressive and continued with a more conscious effort to losing weight. This was not easy as I was taking care of the baby, working and taking care of my weight.

At times, I gave in to cravings, ate wrong but when calm, I would ask myself, was the big bar of chocolate worth it? To satisfy cravings, I would taste morsels of junk food but make meals of healthy food. After another year I was at 58 kg and today I am at 56 kg!

Going through weight gain. PCOS and post-pregnancy weight has been incredible learning for me as a nutritionist. My own experience has helped me with my modules on balance nutrition on eat-in portions, restaurant guides weight loss plan for PCOS started withes, alcohol guides and what I call "The Celebrate Life Maintenance Guide".

I eat outside, have erratic meal times some days and also cheat a bit, but due to the maintenance, I know when to stop.

My biggest take-away over the last few decades? No one can eat special diet foods all their life, a more practical and doable approach works best.