One of the reasons I got into the health and fitness industry wasn’t just because I liked exercise. I was really intrigued with how the effects of exercise could benefit me, my hormones, my wellbeing and my health.

At the age of 14 I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). This meant inconsistency of periods or complete loss of them. PCOS can affect 1 in 3 women causing weight gain, hair growth and depression. There is quite a lot of controversy over the definition of PCOS and why it occurs. The human body, in particular a woman’s body, is a very finely tuned instrument. Some women are more sensitive than others with their hormone balance – cortisol, adrenaline, progesterone, oestrogen. The thyroid plays a massive role in your hormones and if something is not right then this can really throw things! Personally, I’m extremely sensitive to very minor things affecting my menstrual cycle.

When I was diagnosed with PCOS, I had just gone through some stressful points in my life. I hadn’t had a period for over 2 years. My weight was very much up and down, as was my nutrition. Food had become a managing strategy for my stress and it clearly had a profound effect on my health which is why I suffered with loss of periods.

The loss of periods is not healthy for many reasons including:

• joint health
• sex drive
• healthy weight
• fertility
• mental health

After seeing a consultant around the age of 17, I was told I wouldn’t be able to conceive naturally. Straight away I become really interested in my hormone health. I was determined NOT to let it determine my future. Don’t let anyone tell you your future – I didn’t actually have an issue getting pregnant at all!

PCOS affects everyone differently

I am not a doctor and can only speak from my personal experience, knowledge and the research I have done. I found the solution from every GP that I saw was to go on the pill. For me, this just seemed to mask the issue and didn’t solve anything. I personally felt they were not very helpful and quite reluctant to investigate further.

When I was told I wouldn’t conceive naturally, my focus was to try and get my periods restarted naturally. At this point it had been nearly 3 years and I hadn’t had one period!

Tackling my PCOS – what I did…

• Tracking how I felt
  • Hormones play a massive role in your mental health! Keep track
• Taking evening primrose oil, vitamins and essential fatty acids
• Eating frequently
  • Periods link very closely to blood sugars
• Limiting my refined sugars
  • Opting for more natural based sugars such as Agave
• Ensuring I was eating enough
  • If you aren’t your body cannot function!
• Being mindful of how hard I was pushing myself physically
  • However, I did make sure I was exercising consistently
• Cut out diary
  • This is a big one that I really found benefitted me. I eliminated cow’s milk and moved to oat milk. Lactose can line the stomach which can stop absorption of other nutrients and cow’s milk contains other hormones which can affect your balance
• Drinking lots of water
• Ensuring my weight didn’t fluctuate too much
  • We all do naturally as women which is ok but I was fluctuating between 10lbs and 1stone regularly – this isn’t healthy.

After 12 months of working on this, my periods resumed. They weren’t monthly but enough for me to feel healthy. It was very satisfying! To this day all those factors play a massive role in my hormone health. If I’m missing one, I know why I feel out of sorts.

We all need balance, consistency and an understanding that our bodies will not function or work if you have something missing.

PCOS is one of the biggest reasons of infertility. I have to disagree when I hear someone say it can’t be changed or they were born with it. Yes, some of us may be more likely to develop it. Yes, it may be more challenging to change some bad habits that may be worsening your PCOS BUT it is not something you have to live with. It can get better and you can help this.

Three simple things to work on if you have PCOS: 

• healthy weight
• regular exercise
• cut down sugar

Do these things consistently but remember it took me 12 whole months to benefit. I’d be very surprised if you don’t see any improvement with your PCOS symptoms.

Please note: Severe PCOS may need medical intervention. Metformin, a diabetic drug has been proven to work wonders. I’ve also heard ovarian cyst drilling has great success too.

This blog is from my own journey with PCOS. If I can help one person suffering with it to improve their symptoms, I’m doing my job!

Natalie Bhangal is a personal trainer who has a passion for health, fitness and strength training. She trains beginners, athletes, pregnant and postnatal women, those with injuries and injury prone clients. For more information email natalie@graftfitness.co.uk