Confession time: I’ve always been one to keep my personal battles private, especially those related to my weight.
The signs were there for years—weight gain that didn’t make sense, exhaustion that never went away, thinning hair, and sugar cravings that felt impossible to control.
But I just assumed it was aging. I was 69 and feeling it.
So many years after menopause, I thought the worst of the hormone issues were behind me. But my body had other plans.
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.
Sometimes, life just doesn’t go as planned.
I always thought I had my weight kinda under control, even with constant pain and tiredness.
I joked about how feeling tired and “off” had become my new normal.
But then, after I retired, it was like my body turned against me.
Out of nowhere, I started feeling more exhausted than ever. My weight started creeping up.
It was slow at first, then all at once—one day, I looked in the mirror and barely recognized myself.
Despite eating less and trying to stay active, I inexplicably gained 57 pounds over in a few months.
The weight just stuck to me, especially around my belly and arms.
My friends tried all sorts of diets and wellness routines, and it worked for them. But I felt like I was stuck.
But what scared me the most…
Was that I didn’t even realize what was the problem.
People say, ‘That’s just what happens when you get older.’
I get it. Our bodies change, and losing weight gets harder. Especially when you’re in the +60 bracket.
But how fast I was gaining weight… That just didn’t make sense to me.
I thought maybe I was doing something wrong. So, I started trying all kinds of things.
Low-carb, gluten-free… I even tried cooking different healthy meals for myself, but my energy was still drained, and my joints ached constantly.
I joined a walking group and met some nice people, but I ended up skipping more jogs than attending them because the pain and fatigue made it so hard.
And the scale hardly moved. The pain and sluggishness wouldn’t lift.
I’d joke, ‘If this was 20 years ago, I’d be back in shape and full of energy by now!’
Some days I felt a bit more energetic, but the tiredness was always lingering, and losing weight still felt impossible.
The only real joy I had was when my grandkids came to visit, but even then, I felt too drained to keep up with them.
It really hit me one day while playing with my grandchildren—I realized I was too out of breath and too stiff to keep up with them.
I brushed off the severe knee pain and swelling, thinking it was just a part of getting older. But my son noticed how much discomfort I was in and insisted on taking me to the doctor out of concern.
“Your blood sugar is high. Your cholesterol is climbing. And your bone density isn’t where we’d like it to be.”
Then she said something I never expected.
“Have you ever been tested for PCOS?”
I stared at her. No doctor had ever mentioned PCOS to me. Not when I was younger. Not when I struggled with weight my whole life. Not even when I hit menopause.
“But even if I had it… I’m past menopause,” I said. “Doesn’t PCOS go away?”
She shook her head. “PCOS doesn’t disappear—it shifts. And unfortunately, most women your age were never diagnosed because doctors only looked at it as a ‘fertility problem.’”
She then explained that PCOS doesn’t disappear after menopause—it shifts.
Even though I wasn’t dealing with irregular cycles anymore, the insulin resistance, androgens, and inflammation were still there, affecting everything from my metabolism to my joints.
It was a wake-up call—I needed to address this PCOS and make a serious lifestyle change if I wanted to be there for my family.
At that moment, I felt a deep sadness. I didn’t want to keep feeling this way—tired, sore, and missing out on precious moments with my grandchildren.
I thought, “This can’t be it.”
I didn’t want to keep going down this path.
I didn’t want to watch my body feel worse and feel powerless to stop it.
I knew I needed to change. Just accepting this wasn’t an option for me.
I went to meet a few friends from the walking group over coffee one day.
The oldest in our group, Andrea, somehow defied the age-related weight gain and health issues that seemed inevitable for the rest of us.
She wasn’t a gym fanatic or a strict dieter, but she radiated health. Always in a good mood even in her 70s.
She said, “For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. There was always something…
The pain, the bloating, the brain fog, the weight that just wouldn’t budge. It was like my body was fighting me, and I had no idea why.”
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…
“It’s got nothing to do with insane diets or living at the gym. It’s about understanding hormones.”
I already knew what was coming next. The doctor said the same thing to me.
She then explained how PCOS impacts everything—our hormones, our mood, even where we store fat…
“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—my diet, my sleep, even the everyday foods I relied on.
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…
Once I started this detox challenge, things began to shift.
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 cortisol—and supporting my body in the right way.
The meal prep was surprisingly easy and quick too. I found myself making quick meals just for myself and nice, healthy dishes that everyone in the family loved.
Cooking became a joy again. I felt happy knowing I was doing something good for myself and keeping my family happy too.
As days turned into weeks and the challenge came to an end, I noticed something amazing. This was working.
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…
✅ I started losing weight. Finally.
Currently, I’m over 50 lbs down.
I can’t explain how great that feels.
But more importantly—I gained strength.
I can walk longer without feeling winded. I can bend down to pick things up without my knees screaming.
And while I still have more to lose, I’m looking a lot more toned, especially the belly.
The meals in this challenge helped balance my insulin levels, which is something I didn’t realize was holding me back.
Plus completely stopped my crazy cravings.
Losing 50 pounds felt incredible, but what truly changed my life was getting my balance back, my mobility back, my confidence back.
✅ 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.
Now, I’m sleeping like a baby and wake up with incredible energy. Every. Single. Day!
✅ My exams are pristine.
I’m no longer dragging myself through the day. The bloating, stiffness, and fatigue that I once thought were just part of aging are gone.
And it helps that I’m not putting so much extra weight on my poor joints anymore. Moving feels easier, and I’m not as afraid of falling or losing my balance.
I went back to my doctor for a check-up, and the improvement was huge. My bloodwork looked better, my cholesterol had improved, and my blood sugar was finally under control.
Hearing her say, “Whatever you’re doing, keep going,” made me realize—I was finally in control of my health.
✅ My mind and body feel clearer.
The PCOS detox drastically reduced the brain fog, stress, anxiety… but more than that, it lifted a weight off my mind.
Before, I worried my memory was slipping. I’d forget what I walked into a room for. Lose my train of thought mid-sentence.
I assumed it was just old age, but my doctor told me that blood sugar issues—common in PCOS—are linked to dementia risk.
The tips on the app made me reach out to a therapist and be more open with my children about my mental health issues.
This brought us closer, and I’m feeling much better.
Balancing my hormones wasn’t just about weight loss. It was about keeping my brain sharp, my focus clear, and my independence intact.
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 hormonal 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 plan.
It’s risk-free — a simple PCOS challenge. I’m telling all my friends about it… Give it a try!
Thank you for your comment
Last year (2024)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 hormones.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.
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!
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!!