8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS: A Proven Program to Reset Your Hormones, Repair Your Metabolism, and Restore Your Fertility

As a woman who is studying to become a midwife, I find this book full of great information with many great research articles and books to back it all up. I am excited to put this newfound knowledge to use in my future as a midwife.

I bought this book because I saw a YouTube video of Dr. Fiona as a guest on a PCOS podcast. I was specifically looking for info on natural ways of dealing with PCOS and perimenopause and I saw that this book had a section on that so I got it.It's the book I wish I would have had 30 years ago. I've been trying to treat my PCOS naturally for just about that long. Back when you couldn't even buy Myo or D-chiro inositol and had to eat buckwheat and cantaloupe to get it, BUT were trying to limit carbs.In the past 6 months, without knowing this book existed, I've implement 90% of what is in this book because my numbers (A1C, insulin, testosterone, etc.) started looking scarier than ever. I do natural treatments, so through research, I was able to get a regimen down and have been vigilant for 6 months, as opposed to skating by for the past 20 years.The same week I bought this book, I had my numbers tested again. As I read each chapter and checked off the things I'd changed (almost everything she suggests. I do eat more beef than she recommends -but locally raised, grass fed, and I still do dairy -but raw and only cheese and cream), my results started trickling in. A1C well within normal limits, fasting insulin down to normal, testosterone from extremely high to normal. It all confirmed that this is the right track for me. I've lost 75lbs, 45 of that in the past 5 months. I've gone from size 28 to 18.I still have a long way to go and this book showed me where I can improve. Even though my iron is "lab normal" she recommends getting it to optimal (above 70) to stop and reverse hair loss. And there are a couple of supplements I didn't think were super important, but she does a great job of explaining why they are, so I'll start those.The section on menopause was helpful and I'd love to see her write a whole book on that!If you have PCOS and are looking for results, GET THIS BOOK and implement the recommendations. Especially if you're naturally minded.

I love how clearly my condition is explained and it was written in such a way that is easy to understand and follow. I feel like I will be able to easily explain when people ask me about it.I'm looking forward to implementing the suggestions. After reading the new whole 30 book, I realize how similar the two eating patterns are with the exception of insulin counting as recommended in this publication. I will definitely be keeping the recommendations bookmarked and downloaded for easy access. I'm hoping this was exactly what I need to reverse my PCOS. 🙌

I decided to get serious about dealing with my rampant PCOS when I decided to get serious about having kids. In addition to reading this book, I regularly search Google Scholar and have started seeing a local nutritionist/OB-GYN. My goal is to go from a size 14 (Walmart pants) to a size 6 on this diet while monitoring my blood. I currently have iron-deficiency anemia, low vitamin D, high estrogen, low progesterone, normal testosterone, normal thyroid, low PM cortisol, high inflammation, and about 20 cysts/ovary.About two weeks before meeting with my nutritionist, I decided to give the recommendations in this book a try. I cut gluten, dairy, added sugars, unhealthy fats, alcohol, and processed foods. I ordered a dozen vitamins and supplements.I noticed a difference about three days into my new regimine. I'm not kidding.Bloating? Massive decrease. Dry skin? Gone. About two weeks in, when I took a shower, there was almost no hair in the drain catch—I've been losing handfuls for years now during every wash. My scalp doesn't itch like crazy any more, either! I assume it's because my sebbhoriac dermatitis is calming down.Oh, and I've had absolutely zero food cravings. This has never happened to me. I ALWAYS have cravings. And when I say this, I mean that an uncontrollable monster takes me over and goes on the hunt for carbs. Heaven help the fool that gets in my way.So, why is now so different? Is it the diet? The vitamins and supplements? I'm really not sure. I do still eat small portions of potatoes, rice, oats, and chips. Maybe that small amount keeps me from going crazy. Keto just was NOT sustainable for me, ugh.I'm astonished at just how fast this diet is affecting me. I feel good. Like, really good. It's been about three weeks now. I've started a real period (first in about six months, and it's lasting awhile, but still seems like progress) and lost over 10lbs of bloating awfulness. I'm sleeping through the night, not waking up a half dozen times to go to the bathroom.The only reason I didn't rate this book higher is the ambiguity in supplements and diet. There are a lot of options on what to take to address inflammation, hormones, etc. It's up to the reader to do individual research (which I guess is actually a good thing, but I can see that making it overwhelming).Also, it takes a serious amount of time and monetary investment to make these changes. For example, I spent about $500 on supplements and healthier food replacements, like vegan protein powder and Primal Kitchen brand condiments and avocado oil. I did not have to change my kitchenware to glassware because I have been convinced for a long time that plastic is poison. Ditto on household cleaners.I spend significant time researching, planning, preparing, and logging my meals. It's like having a part-time job. I think the time needed will decrease with practice, but I also have a smart scale that tells me the nutritional value of a specific food, like bananas or Brussels sprouts. If I had to look that all up on my phone, it would be even worse!So, this book is not meant for the faint of heart or light of wallet. But if you do take it on, the reward seems pretty substantial just in terms of quality of life.I'll update if I manage to get pregnant without fertility treatment—although I just started taking metformin, and that might be considered a fertility treatment, I guess.Update (09/16/2020):So, I stopped taking metformin in favor of Myo-inositol. I ended up getting a crazy heavy period on this, which was dealt with almost instantly by a daily dose of Indole-3-carbinol. I only took the I3C for about three weeks to flush out the extra estrogen in my body, and so far my cycle has been laughably normal. It's surreal. I can even feel myself ovulate, no lie. Only downside is I had a dip in libido and now it seems to change with my cycle vs. being consistently high.I have lost about 30lbs now and dropped about two pants sizes. Still sticking to the diet. Not logging religiously any more, but I still add up macros to figure out portion size.Foods that helped me stick to it: Primal Kitchen condiments and sauces, Siete brand chips and tortillas, Maya Keimal curries, Hu Grain-Free Cookies, Desert Pepper Trading Company Black Bean Dip, Snyder's Gluten Free Pretzels, Tres Latin Foods' Frozen Vegan Papusas, Lucky Habanero Salsa, Orgain protein powder, Paleo Puffs "No Cheese" Cheesiness, Lays Original Potato Chips, Lays Dill Pickle Potato Chips, Chomps beef jerky sticks, Cup4Cup Wholesome Blend Flour Replacement, Sambal Oelek Chili Paste by Huy Fong, Maille gherkins, Beard Brothers Fruit Bars, No Cow Protein Bars, Seven Sundays Muesli, Three Wishes Unsweetened Chickpea Cereal, So Delicious Sugar Free Ice Cream, O'My! Dairy Free Gelato, Perfectly Cooked Frozen Meatballs, Mikey's Frozen Pepperoni Pockets, Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers, Mary's Gone Crackers, Lily's Dark Chocolate Baking Chips, Lily's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Knox Gelatin in bulk, Applegate No Sugar Added sausage and deli meats, Chicken Bone Broth (more likely to have no sugar added), La Croix, Starbucks Unsweetened Nitro Cold Brew, Barilla Red Lentil Pasta, and Swerve.Fast food options: Qdoba (burrito bowl with lean meats, mild sauces, fresh veggies, guacamole), 5 Guys (bunless, no grilled veggies or cheese, mustard only), Chik-fil-A (sadly, only the breakfast bowl with grilled chicken, egg whites, salsa, and no cheese), Taco Bell (customized burrito bowl with no sauce or cheese), and Mod Pizza (GF dough, regular tomato sauce, TRUST ME when I say no cheese is better than their dairy-free cheese, any mild/unpickled topping, basic meats like chicken but avoid pepperoni, unfortunately).Darn good recipes to discover (not in this book that I recall): coconut panna cotta with fresh fruit, coconut caramel sauce (try making a Snickers Sundae by drizzling it over So Delicious sugar free chocolate ice cream with crushed GF pretzels, peanuts, and a dollop of whipped coconut cream), gluten free naan, oat flour + gluten free flour muffins, sugar fee and vegan Lemon Lavendar cookies, basic breakfast hash, chocolate chia pudding with berries, chili, soups, stir fry, and curries.Update (11/19/20):Just wanted to drop in a quick word about my blood test results.My inflammation markers have virtually disappeared, and almost every single category has improved. I'm still on the low end of vitamin D, iron, and progesterone (in reviewing about ten years of my history, I've never, ever gotten a high progesterone result—based on this and my history of absent or dangerously heavy periods, I think it's safe to say I have chronically low progesterone/high estrogen).I've now lost 40lbs and have started a meal subscription with SunBasket to help keep things simple. I also understand what it means to get a stomach ache from too much sugar—makes it even easier to avoid because of it.I have started to take a low dose of DIM daily, and I may have to go on a low dose of progesterone soon.Still feeling great, and a bonus side effect is my husband has also lost 30lbs just because of the change in foods we eat together. Overall, very satisfied with the results of the information in this book.Update (2/11/21): I've lost about 55lbs, now. I'm a size 8--so close to my goal! Ahh!I'm adding in a Vitamin C supplement because, even though my iron levels are normal, I still bruise like crazy from nothing. And those bruises take like a month to heal. I also have red bumps on my upper arms and thighs (keratosis pilaris) and painfully dry hands, which could mean a deficiency. Plus, Vitamin C is also used to make progesterone, right? And that's still low.I was taking Vit C for the first month of the diet, but then I seriously almost choked and died on a tablet—and it's an acid, so you know that hurt like a mofo. I'm a pro at taking pills now, though. I can practically swallow a fistful at a time.Also, when I stop taking my vitamins and amino acids, my weight loss stops. Like, completely. I took a break for two weeks (on a normal routine and my diet didn't change), and the scale didn't move. I've been losing about 1-2lbs a week since I started this diet, so it was really noticeable. Even though they're kind of expensive, all these bajillion pills seem to make a real difference.For the record, in the mornings I take about 50-75% DV of NAC, Myo-inositol, Iron (high absorption type), B Complex, and Tyrosine (amino acid). At lunch, I take 100% DV of Vitamin D, Zinc, Copper, and Omega 3s. At night, I take 50% DV Calcium/Magnesium Chloride, Leucine (amino acid), and Myo-inositol. I take DIM periodically, usually when I feel bloated or extra hormonal. I am on a low-dose Progesterone for now. The extra amino acids were recommended by my nutritionist.(Update 4/16/21):So, it is possible to take too much myo-inositol. I switched to a powder that I mix into my tea, and because of insomnia, I was drinking a lot more tea than normal—and consuming like 15-25g Myo-inositol a day instead of 4g. Whoops!I started having spotting and frequent periods (every two weeks). Probably something to do with the FSH cycle.I did more blood work (because of course), and everything was still great. I have even finally begun to show actual progesterone levels in my blood! Gasp!After cutting back on the Myo-inositol, my irregular bleeding stopped after a few days. Some random breakouts that I was having on my stomach and ribcage have also gone away since then.Will begin trying for a baby in the next two months!!(6/13/21)New HSG showed both fallopian tubes are open! Fertility doctor put my in thyroid meds because my TSH was high (2.62). BBT shows I may be ovulating on my own. So exciting!(9/16/21)We did it!!! Pregnant after one round of IUI with a trigger shot and progesterone and estrogen. My husband had kind of low sperm count for the procedure at 5.2–but it was enough! Praying for a healthy pregnancy, with a baby due by 5/22. It feels unreal. Positive vibes, everybody.(9/10/22)So, my first pregnancy ended up being chemical. I took one month off and began to supplement with Vitamin A retinol (animal form, not vegetable) because I read a deficiency can equal bad quality eggs, and I figured it couldn't hurt to do it for a little bit. However, I took too high off a dose (which makes your bones temporarily prone to breaking) and broke my toe. Ouch! I now take half a 5000mg chewable pill and don't have that problem (and now only take them like twice a month).Did my next IUI with my foot in a boot. Got pregnant again on my second round, and this one stuck! I was on progesterone for several weeks at the beginning because my doctor just does that for all his IUI and IVF patients. Had an amazingly easy pregnancy, kept doing light workouts the whole time, did 10 hours of unmedicated labor with 3 pushes, and I now have my squishy, wonderful, beautiful 6 week old baby girl.Breastfeeding wth PCOS has been challenging. Didn't even know that could be a problem, but it can be, so look out for that. I produce just enough milk for my daughter, and that's with tons of skin to skin, nonstop feeding, pumping, and the help of an IBC lactation consultant. The first couple weeks were incredibly painful and frustrating, and even still I'm only breastfeeding 70% of the time and taking 30% of feedings off to pump and give one of my breasts a break because my baby hasn't quite learned how to feed from it without causing blisters and scabbing (the other side is completely comfortable). Got my period back at 5 weeks postpartum and am back on Myo-inositol. Gained 50lbs during pregnancy but my baby was a little small, so what's up with that, body? I've lost half of it so far, hopefully with the rest to follow soon.It's been wild! Hopefully, I'll be able to do it all again soon without needing the assistance of a fertility clinic. Good luck, everybody!