32: If I’m doing what my doctor is telling me to help my PCOS - why is it not working?

After being told that you “don’t look like the kind of person that has PCOS”, actually getting the diagnosis can feel like a bit of relief amongst the chaos of confusing, awful symptoms.But when you ask what to do next, being told “well, you just need to exercise more, eat better and lose some weight” when you’ve been bending over backwards doing that, is a HUGE slap in the face.The post-diagnosis plan you receive from a lot of doctors is unfortunately usually something like the scenario above. You may be offered birth control in addition to help regulate your cycles, ovulation and keep acne at bay. It often goes along the lines of “eat better, exercise more, lose weight, go on the Pill and come back when you want to have children.”If PCOS affected approximately 20% of females, why is this all we’re being told and why is it not making much difference - if any - in our symptoms?Most medical students get minimal training and information at university on PCOS and how it’s treated than what you’ve read above.Like many of you, Kellie-Anne faced this struggle. She was working out every day and eating well to tackle her symptoms but with little shift in her weight, fatigue cravings and fertility. But she was getting minimal direction on what to do next from her doctors. While her doctors are great at general practice, they aren’t PCOS specialists. They couldn’t help her identify what was driving her PCOS but instead give her band-aid solutions and general advice that didn’t take into account other factors that were causing her symptoms. Advocating for yourself, your health and seeking out a wide range of information is so important when tackling a ‘modern-day disease’ like PCOS. That’s exactly what Kellie-Anne did and is how she managed to get where she is now.I know that so many of you have been or are in this situation, which is why I brought Kellie-Anne onto The PCOS Nutritionist Podcast. After being diagnosed and not getting any real direction it can be hard to know where to start, so hearing from someone who actually gets it and has found a way to sustainably manage her PCOS, can help give you the guidance you need to figure out the root of YOUR PCOS.This episode is for you if:Weight is one of your main symptoms.Your doctor has just told you to change your exercise and diet - but you’re already eating well and exercising regularly.You think (or you know) you have insulin resistance.You’re thinking of or actively trying to get pregnant.You can’t control your sugar cravings and you don’t know how to address this.Your hormones (specifically testosterone and DHEA-S) are in the lab range but you’re still getting PCOS-like symptoms.Some things we cover in this episode:The ‘Sugarcoaster’ - why you can’t stop your sugar cravings.Kellie-Anne’s story from wildly irregular cycles, weight issues, fertility issues and hangry attacks to managing her cravings, sustainable weight loss and pregnancy.Why you might see changes on the low GI (glycemic index) diet but why it isn’t optimal for insulin resistance.Miscarriage, pregnancy complications and why women with PCOS may have a higher risk.The dieting cycle.The physiology behind why you aren’t losing weight if you have PCOS - even if you’re working out twice a day!The importance of checking your partner's reproductive health and when to do it.Social media and self-esteem