Thanks Thin Chick :D You're doing so good! I'm so proud of you! I'm ready to be back on track. I don't want to be diabetic like my mom and aunt. I know I do have to work harder than other people. I need to quit resenting it and just do it. This week I'm going to increase my exercise from 3 days to 4. I have an ultimate goal of 5 days a week, hopefully I can be there very soon since I've already had the 3 days exercise down for a year. NO more sodas. NO sugar. More veggies. Hope everyones doing good. So...do u think we're going to extend our goal again? Or are you all getting close? Take care - Amy

Shoequeen! Welcome back! :grouphug:

Re: the summer challenge....it is ending all to soon (haven't reached my goal yet either :rolleyes: ) but I was thinking of starting a new challenge when that one is over if anyone is interested.....

If anyone has any suggestions or anything they would like incorporated into the new challenge then let me know :)

Thanks Mauvaisroux! ;) I went to the YMCA last night to get a new membership card because I lost my old one. So I got all dolled up, eye shadow, eye liner, thinking I would get a new photo right? Wrong. They just re-print the old ugly one! I was so disappointed! My face has really changed a lot since last year. When I lose all the weight I'm going to insist on a new card! I did 30 minutes on the treadmill and some arm weights. I'm a little sore today. So what scale should I believe? The one at the Y said 200 and the one at home said 195. And this a.m. the one at home said 192. Right now I'm favoring the one at home :D I think it is pretty accurate though. I've weighed myself on it after a doctor visit to compare and its pretty right on. So is it better to go by the evening weight-after a day of eating compared to the morning when I haven't eaten yet?

You can do it Amy! If you have PCOS, diet and exercise are both so very important! Please don't wait until you get a medical wake-up call, or until you start to go bald, like I did! If you get this under control now, you can lead a normal life, if you don't, it tends to spiral out of control, and gets to a point where it's difficult, if not impossible, to reverse. And once PCOS is entrenched, you could be looking at "follow on" diseases, not just diabetes but heart disease and ovarian cancer. I'm not trying to scare you, I just want you to really come to grips with this: PCOS can kill you. Please stick with your program, you won't regret it.

Oh yes Mauvais, i really need a new challenge, i bombed out on this one. but thank god i didn't gain back all the weight i had lost since last year( well 10 pounds). will have to think what things to incorporate into a new challenge.

Seek, i have been putting off going to the Dr. since my last one insisted that it was all in my head. but i have been fairly certain that i have PCOS for a while. hairy chin, and moustache, really erratic periods. super heavy bleeding skipping 3 months at a time, spare tire around my waist where i carry all my weight. anyhoo i was curious what kinds of things you eat to help . would you mind posting a day in the diet of for me?

Sure, Heather. But promise me you'll go to the DR. and get tested for PCOS. Noodles (Angel) has stickies on this on the PCOS sub-forum.

Also, I must warn you I'm no nutritionist. I've just pieced this together from different sources, including Covert Bailey, a book called "The New Glycemic Revolution" and "Syndrome X." Anyway, here's a typical day:

BREAKFAST
coffee with skim milk, no sugar
1 cup Uncle Sam's cereal, Special K, or All-Bran (low G.I.)
1 cup strawberries, blueberries, nectarines, banana, or other fruit on cereal.

MIDMORNING SNACK (if hungry)

1 piece low-fat string cheese
1 apple

LUNCH

2 cups mixed dark lettuces and herbs
Sliced green pepper, red pepper, onion, cukes, tomato, etc.
3 - 6 oz. protein, generally chicken, tuna, beans, or hard-boiled eggs(remove 3 of every 4 yolks)
Dressing with 1 tablespoon olive oil, no added sugars

ALTERNATIVE LUNCH

2 pieces low G.I. bread
2 pieces fat-free cheese
2 - 3 pieces low-fat deli meat, such as turkey, beef, or ham
1 tablespoon low-fat mayo, + 1 tablespoon mustard + horseradish
1/2 cup lettuces
1 tomato
1 cup mixed sour pickles, no added sugar
1 cup V-8

AFTERNOON SNACK (if hungry)
1/4 cup hummus
1/2 cup cucumber, carrots, or other veggies for dipping

DINNER

4 - 10 oz. lean chicken, fish, beef, pork, lamb, organ meat
1/2 - 1 cup pasta, or brown rice, or beans, or small potato
1 - 3 cups steamed, boiled, or grilled vegetables, or salad
fruit

I also use cider vinegar a lot, not that I think it's magic, just to add zing and slow down the digestive process. I also watch out for added sugars in condiments of all kinds, like mayo, catsup, salsa, etc. I may have to learn to make my own.

Lately I've gotten the idea that synthetic hormones and steroids can't be good for someone with PCOS, which is largely an endocrine disorder. Specifically I think the testosterone-like substances in beef and milk might raise testosterone levels in the human body. I can't prove this, but there's no downside to going organic. And if it helps the body hair, or helps me get off my meds, I'm down with that. Good Luck!

Heather - you should really see a doctor about this if you think you have PCOS - it may be that or something else and you should really check with a professional before doing anything- and don't let them brush you off! There have been studies done that revealed that some doctors rush their female and/or elderly patients through their appointments, don't pay attention to what they say and prescribe drugs when they are not really needed. Make sure your doctor listens and does something for you.

Some doctors are now recommending dietary changes to help manage health problems and allergies so I would ask your doctor about this as well.

Changing topics now....:)

Would any of you like to start a new challenge on Monday?

What date would all of you like? 1 month, 2 months - a particular day? I think we are a bit late starting a July 4th but is there a date in August or September.

I think I need a little motivational boost too.

Seek, ( and Mauvais) yes i know i need to see a dr. and i will. :)
but seek thanks for posting, i have a hard time actually figuring out menus for certain diets, i need menus. and really was just curious what kind of foods someone who was trying to use diet to help would eat. so thanks, ( and yes i realize your not a nutritionist <sp?> but it was helpful. i h ave been peeking my head in the PCOS but don't feel right posting until i get to the dr.

Mauvais, what about going for one month mini goals? i always seem to have a hard time with the longer challenges. guess i lose my way somewhere in all that time to do bad. :p

Yes I think a one month mini challenge would be a good idea...

Re- PCOS- your doctor can probably refer you to a nutritionist to help make a plan that is suitable. In the meantime it can't hurt to read up on PCOS and seek's menu looks pretty good even if you are just trying to reduce your sugar intake or do lower-carb. I am currently doing a lower carb version of Weight Watchers and it is amazing how many "hidden sugars" you find in food products :yikes:

I have found that by watching my sugar intake and eating wholegrain bread products such as bread, high fibre cereal, whole wheat pastas and brown rice that I am losing weight and feeling a lot healthier. I find that white flour products and processed food (dougnuts, packaged cookies etc.) give me headaches or make me feel sleepy and unfocused at work. Suprisingly once you stop eating these things for a while I find I don't miss them and don't crave them anymore.

There are several different plans out there like Sugar Busters, plans for diabetics, South Beach Diet and I have also seen books on the glycemic index. Check out your local library and do some research to see what is a good fit for you. :)

Also here is a page from one of my menus - it runs along the same line as seeks except I have one daily coffee with real cream and real sugar - must have it! :coffee:

Week 1 - Day 3-Wednesday *based on 22 pts/day

Breakfast:
6 oz vegetable cocktail 1 pt
1/2 egg 1 pt
2 slices Canadian bacon 2 pts
1 cup coffee with 2 tbs cream and 1 tsp sugar 1 pt

Snack:
1 stalk of celery 0 pts
1 wedge Laughing Cow light cheese 1 pt

Lunch:
Chef’s salad- mixed greens with 1 oz each 4 pts
Ham or turkey and low fat cheese, tomato wedges
2 tbsps low- sugar dressing 2 pts
sugar free jello 0 pts

Snack:
2 turkey rollups 2 pts

Dinner:
Broiled steak (4 oz) 4 pts
broccoli
tossed salad (greens, peppers, tomatoes) 0 pts
2 tbsp balsamic vinagraitte dressing 2 pts

Dessert or snack:
14 cashews 2 pts
1- 8oz glass of Crystal light, diet soda or water 0 pts

TOTAL POINTS FOR THE DAY 22 pts

–––––– water (8 oz glasses) – exercise at least ½ hour

Hope seek and my suggestions help you. :)

Closing this thread to start the new challenge.

Heather- if you have any other questions or need menu ideas just let us know! :)