PCOS is not a Lazy Fat Girl Condition.
I am 1 in 10 of the women in the world who battle a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). I am one of the many women who was first misdiagnosed and who has left a Doctor’s office frustrated, annoyed, confused, and embarrassed after being accused of sitting around eating fast food, and gaining “unexplainable” weight for my assumed poor lifestyle choices.
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that looks different on every woman. According to a study published in the American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, Latina women with PCOS have the most severe phenotype, both in terms of hyperandrogenism and metabolic criteria. Common signs and symptoms are Irregular periods, polycystic ovaries, heavy bleeding, weight gain, acne, depression, anxiety, mood swings, hair growth, and it is one of the leading causes of infertility.
PCOS can sometimes feel like being diagnosed with a condition where nobody believes you. This feeling began when I was diagnosed in 2012 and eight years later, that feeling continues when I go to the doctor for follow-ups.
I had a poor experience recently at a new Doctor’s office due to my weight. I left there feeling frustrated of being accused of making poor food choices, even after explaining the opposite.
I explained that as a Chiropractor, wellness means so much to me, and yet my professional credentials and my word seemed invisible.
At the beginning of my PCOS journey it took several Doctor visits to get to the root of it. Every doctor visit I left uncomfortable and was constantly reminded of my obesity, until I had a transvaginal ultrasound and additional lab tests that lead to the diagnosis of it.
Fatphobia can occur with medicine when diagnosing PCOS, and many women experience this due to the lack of awareness, resources, and people including doctors having more of an open mind to health.
Some Doctors have preconceived thoughts that fat people who walk into their office may be lacking discipline in maintaining their ideal BMI weight, while completely disregarding cultural or genetic factors, and exploring more tests and treatment options from the beginning.
For many women, especially women of color, it can take years to get to the right diagnosis.
You could sit there and explain to your Doc that you eat healthy, work out, and still gain weight; but additional lab tests won’t get ordered until months or years later.
PCOS is hard enough and overwhelming.
September is National PCOS Awareness month. In honor of this month, I wanted to share my tips with you:
- Focus on the basics first. Before deciding to go on a gluten-free diet or keto diet, or any other diet out there or lifestyle you feel the pressure to try, try incorporating more veggies, especially green leafy vegetables like kale, cilantro, and spinach and eating good quality protein, reducing processed foods, reducing dairy, high sugars, and focusing on moving and loving your body.
- Instead of stressing over how many minutes of cardio or having to do a HIIT class, try simply going for a simple walk 4-5 days a week and you will see how sometimes doing less can be more effective. Exercise is always good for you. However, sometimes stressing over it or doing too much HIIT can actually increase your cortisol levels. Incorporating low intensity exercises and slowing down can help keep your hormone balance better.
- If you’ve had a bad experience at a Doctor’s office. Don’t give up. Find another Doctor that you can connect with, build a positive relationship, and explore other options that might be better for you.
- Find your PCOS supporters. Follow positive social media accounts, organizations, and cysters who understand the struggle and can support you. When you surround yourself with people who make you feel welcome regardless of where you are in your fitness journey, you will most likely feel more motivated to keep on moving. Some Instagram accounts you can follow are @pcos.weightloss, @pcoschallenge, and @latinasrunning.
Remember: You only have 1 body. Own it. Love it. Protect it