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PCOS Challenge – I Tried It So You Don’t Have To (But Maybe You Should)

Written By
Marina Oliver
|
Nutrition
Last update: Dec 27
comments4
views31061
reading-time8 min

Confession time: I’ve always been one to keep my personal battles private, especially those related to my periods, my energy, and especially my weight.

The signs were all there—irregular periods, constant cravings, skin breakouts that no product could fix—but I never connected the dots.

I tried to laugh it off or ignore it. 

But deep down, it was like my body was giving me signals I refused to listen to.

This shadow had been trailing me for as long as I can remember, dictating my happiness and self-esteem…

Yet, here I am. This was something I HAD to share.

If my story can help even one person out there… It’s worth it to me.

Life throws you curveballs just when you think you have everything figured out

Sometimes, life just doesn’t go as planned.

I always thought I had my weight kinda under control, even with my weird cycles and constant fatigue.

I’d joke about how cravings and I were best friends at this point.

But things began to feel like too much. 

Out of nowhere, I started to feel sad, or angry. My weight started to creep up. 

It was slow at first, then all at once, it felt like I woke up heavier.

Despite eating less and trying my best to keep an exercise routine, I inexplicably gained 57 pounds over a few months.

The weight just stuck to me, especially around my belly and thighs.

Meanwhile, my friends were trying new diets or routines and seeing great results. But for me? Nothing worked. I felt completely stuck.

But what freaked me out the most…

Was that I didn’t even realize what was the problem.

“You’re not 20 anymore. It’s just what happens at your age.”

People say, ‘That’s just what happens when you get older.’

I get it. Our bodies change and losing weight gets harder.

But how fast I was gaining weight… That just didn’t make sense to me.

And it wasn’t just the weight. 

I was breaking out like a teenager, even though I hadn’t had acne in years. 

My periods were a complete mystery—sometimes they’d show up, sometimes they wouldn’t. Is this premature menopause? 

And waking up tired, no matter how much I slept became my new normal.

I thought maybe I was doing something wrong. So, I started trying all kinds of things.

Low-carb, fasting, gluten-free… you name it. I even pushed myself to exercise more, but with how exhausted I felt, it was like running on empty.

The scale barely moved. The acne kept popping up. The cravings were constant.

I’d say, ‘If this was 10 years ago, I’d be back in shape and full of energy by now!’

I didn’t give up, though. I tried natural remedies, herbs, acupuncture—anything that promised to help me feel like myself again.

Some days, I’d get a small glimmer of hope. But the burnout was real, my symptoms weren’t going away, and losing weight still felt impossible.

The one thing that almost pushed me over the edge…

It really hit me one day during lunch with my coworkers.

A coworker jokingly commented on my skin—something about how I was “breaking out like a teenager again.”

Normally, I would’ve laughed it off or played along, but not that day.

Instead, I froze. My cheeks burned, and I could feel the tears welling up. I wanted to shout, to explain that it wasn’t just acne, but I couldn’t find the words.

I excused myself and spent the rest of the day replaying the moment in my head. It wasn’t really about the comment—it was about how I felt in my own body.

I was exhausted from avoiding mirrors, struggling to button my jeans, and feeling like my body wasn’t mine anymore. 

My period hadn’t shown up in months, my cravings were out of control, and every day felt like an uphill battle.

That moment at lunch made me think… “This can’t be it.”

I didn’t want to keep going down this path, watching the numbers on the scale go up and feeling powerless.

I don’t want to down this path.

My mind was clear: just accepting this wasn’t an option for me.

Finding a solution for women like me

She’s older than me, yet somehow defied everything I was struggling with—no weight gain, glowing skin, and confident energy.

She wasn’t a gym fanatic or a strict dieter, but she radiated health. Always in a good mood.

She said, “It’s got nothing to do with insane diets or living at the gym. It’s about understanding hormones.” 

She then explained how PCOS impacts everything—our hormones, our mood, even where we store fat…

That hit me hard.  I’d been blaming myself for years, thinking I just didn’t have enough willpower or discipline. But it really wasn’t my fault…

“Managing my PCOS symptoms changed everything for me,” she explained. “And I started by following a PCOS challenge.”

She helped me take a hard look at my life—what I was eating, how I was moving, even my sleep and stress levels. 

It shocked me. I realized that even my so-called “healthy” habits weren’t helping my hormones.

Inspired, I decided it was time to tackle my PCOS. Not with fad diets or pills, but with simple, natural changes tailored to my body.

So then I started the challenge she recommended…

Experiencing change – and loving it

But I’ll admit it. At first, I was a little bit concerned. 

The meals looked good, but I worried about eating too much.

Three meals and two snacks a day? That sounded like a lot. 

Don’t I need to eat LESS to lose weight?

But this challenge was different. It wasn’t about starving myself or following impossible rules. It was about balancing my hormones—especially insulin—and supporting my body in the right way.

The meal prep was surprisingly easy and quick too. Most meals took just 15 to 20 minutes to prepare.

And every step of the challenge was designed to make life easier. Cooking became a way to unwind, not just another stressor.

As days turned into weeks and the challenge came to an end, I noticed something amazing. This was working.

It wasn’t just about eating less or trying harder—it was about eating the right foods for my body. Meals that kept me full and helped reduce my cravings.

When the challenge was over, only 21 days later, I had lost over 36 lbs. 

That’s because I am eating foods that actually work for my body, not against it… 

Here’s what happened to my body after starting the challenge

✅ I started losing weight. Finally.

Currently, I’m over 50 lbs down. 

I can’t explain how great that feels. 

My clothes fit me again, and I don’t feel guilty eating carbs anymore… 

And while I still have a few more pounds to lose, I’m looking a lot more toned.

The meals in this challenge helped balance my insulin levels, which is something I didn’t realize was holding me back. 

Plus completely stopping my crazy cravings.

But more than the numbers, it’s the tone in my thighs and belly and strength I’ve gained that excite me.

✅ My energy levels went up. 

I am not dragging myself through the day anymore.

I used to think being exhausted all the time was just part of life. 

But no. Eating the right foods for my PCOS gave me a steady, lasting energy I hadn’t felt in years.

Also managing my cravings for sweets helped a lot with those sugar crashes.

Now, I’m sleeping like a baby and wake up with incredible energy. Every. Single. Day! 

✅ Regular periods and perfect health.

For the first time in years, my cycles are like clockwork. No more guessing games or feeling like my body is out of sync.

When I went to the doctor for a follow-up, I told her about the challenge, and she was thrilled with my progress. 

She even said my bloodwork and exams were exactly where they should be. 

Hearing her say, “You’re on the right track,” just motivated me even more!

✅ I feel like myself again.

There’s been a noticeable shift in my mood and overall mental health. I’m more myself than I’ve been in years!

This has been about so much more than just weight loss, or clear skin.

I’m not as tired anymore and low spirits have lifted, replaced by a steady stream of positivity and energy.

This journey has done wonders for my self-esteem. Losing the weight is one thing, but gaining confidence? That’s priceless.

How and why this PCOS diet challenge helped me start losing weight successfully: 

Initially, I filled out a quiz to start the PCOS challenge.

This quiz was the key to unlocking a plan crafted just for me, removing all the guesswork from my diet and focusing on my PCOS issues.

After that, I finished the challenge and decided to keep my personalized diet plan, as my weight loss goals were greater than 40 lbs.

And here’s what I’ve learned: my journey is mine alone. We all have different battles with body issues, weight, health, and, in my case, PCOS.

That’s why finding a path that’s uniquely yours is so vital.

I just hope that you allow yourself this chance… You deserve the transformation that comes with this PCOS diet challenge.

It’s risk-free — a simple PCOS challenge. I’m telling all my friends about it… Give it a try!

Take This Quiz and Start The PCOS DETOX
Take the Quiz Now
Results may vary due to personal features.

Comments (4)

  1. avatar
    Lucy K M
    27 Dec, 2024 at 10:21 am

    just wanna say I I saw this pcos challenge 3-4 months ago and went from feeling like shit 24/7 to literally a different person. But naturally you know. I’ve been trying to lose weight and ba;ance hormones and it’s helped a lot. Over the past months I’ve dropped down from 250 pounds to just now hitting 179 (6’2 F)! I feel really good about myself and I’m not done yet, but I just wanna say thank you for sharing, this has helped a lot with my weight loss journey!

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  2. avatar
    Patricia Benson
    24 Dec, 2024 at 9:01 am

    It’s day 3 for me and the improvement in my energy level is INSANE… literally INSANE. I can’t believe it! I never want to let PCOS control my life again if that’s how drained and miserable it makes me feel!!

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    Show all replies (1)
  3. avatar
    Megan Lopez
    22 Dec, 2024 at 12:24 pm

    Last year my doctor said I was showing signs of PCOS, so I gave this challenge a try and started to cut out foods and habits that were triggering my body’s response.Now I’m eating better, moving more, and noticing what really helps my body feel balanced. My cravings have calmed down, I’ve lost a lot of weight, and my skin and mood are soooo much better. I feel like I finally understand my body now.

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