Healthier Living Support Group <3

[columbo91]

Not sure if this helps anyone, but if you find systems like WeightWatchers effective, a VERY inexpensive version I use is called iTrackbites. Typically, one week of WeightWatchers or WW is about thirteen dollars; iTrackbites is $36 for a year (only if you want access to certain brands without scanning, or do Keto). So this is twenty times less expensive than using those plans, while also taking into account the amount of sugar you are taking in as opposed to factoring in only caloric intake. Sugar Smart is by far the easiest one to use in my fiddling around with it.

Also, I probably sound like I'm trying to sell something but I just found it really useful and extremely cost-effective.

[Sweetintoxikation]

Thank you for the information columbo! :D

I know I've been neglectful of my personal health and I have tried (used/stopped using) WW in the past for a couple of reasons; price being the main one really. But it's nice to know there is a different app or system out there similar that could help others. Thank you for sharing it!

------------------------

I very recently joined a PCOS dieticians' group for her 'Get Pregnant with PCOS' course. It's a 6 week course that covers a LOT of the specialized 'need help with xyz' that I have run into with PCOS and Type II Diabetes.

I guess that's a change I haven't widely shared. But I was diagnosed with type II last year around July and have been battling to keep my sugar levels down/in line while trying to fight off weight gain after my sedentary job started and stress and and and.

Come to find out, all the things I've been struggling with aren't all my fault. (Don't get me wrong here, I know my eating habits are fully by choice and my fault) but some of the other chemical issues I had while using prescribed medications are actually common *gasp of shock* with PCOS and Type II Diabetes. Not that I learned that from my primary doctor from my health care provider.

Nah. They just told me 'eat less' and 'work out more'. Which, come to find out is actually not the solution for someone with my type of PCOS and body make-up. So, I guess this little tangent is just to say, I (HOPE) I have finally found someone who is licensed and who is knowledgeable enough to help me actually make the long-term and beneficial changes I need.

And here's hoping it helps me prepare my body in the best way possible for me to try IVF in 2022. :)

[Sweetintoxikation]

I should have also added, I would recommend this same lady to anyone in our community who feels they are struggling with PCOS or other dietary issues. She is in-fact licensed but happens to specialize. I've also been following her for months at this point before I was able to join her program.

She has two programs she runs. 1. PCOS Boss Lady group - general how to live 'healthier and manage your hormones/body/self love' for women with PCOS. 2. Get Pregnant with PCOS - a general group for women looking to manage their own PCOS and TTC (trying to conceive) goals. It helps some women naturally get pregnant with cycle monitoring and such. But also is very focused on just understanding how our individual bodies deal with PCOS.

For those who don't know but are curious, PCOS is the acronym for Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome. And it's not categorized but just cysts on the ovaries. It's fundamentally so much more. It's most often something you have because of genetics but can also be a temporary imbalance in your natural hormone production/cycles that leads to issues such as excess body hair, loss of hair, weight gain, irregular cycles, no cycles, and the aforementioned cysts on the ovaries. (These can be a whole other issue in and of themselves). I have also learned it comes with a whole host of "fun" brain chemistry differences and has actually begun to explain -a lot- about why I feel the ways I do.

This is not a blanket statement, this is just what I've been learning while following this dietician and her various information drops and Q/A sessions. Its sort of revolutionary for me on a personal level and I am sorry for the tangent.

I've had a few people ask IRL what PCOS is and that's the easiest way to explain it. SO, if anyone in the community is interested in reading more of her information please let me know and I will happily link it here. Even if you just wanted to learn more to help yourself, a family member, a spouse/partner, anything. Knowledge (from good reliable sources) is power. And I"m all about empowering ourselves to make good healthy changes in our lives. :)

[PookaWitch]

Mr. Pooka and I started intermittent fasting over the last few months. Without even changing our diet, just following the 16 hr fast a day method we've been losing weight. It's been slow but steady.

[Mr. Pooka]

I was going to add a note about fasting and our successful weight loss here but instead I made a bigger post to not derail more varied/general conversations, (-8

sphinxes.proboards.com/thread/986/diabetes-fasting-arthritis-weight-health