PCOS Challenge – I Tried The Best Weight Loss Solution for Menopause

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

The signs were all there—irregular periods, constant cravings, skin breakouts like a teenager—but I never connected the dots.

Feeling lonely and isolated because of my weight made it even worse. I felt self-conscious 24/7.

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

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 the challenges of menopause and the constant demands of my teaching job.

I’ve always been on the thinner side, so I never worried too much about what I ate. But then, the weight started to pile on, and I found myself in unfamiliar territory.

At first, I joked about how feeling tired and “off” had become my new normal. Joint pain and I were best friends at this point.

But then, as the demands of my job grew and I started navigating the dating world again, it was like my body began to betray me.

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 arms.

My friends tried all sorts of diets and wellness routines, and it worked for them. But I felt like I was stuck.

I thought maybe I was just eating too much, so I cut back even more—smaller portions, no snacks, no carbs. But instead of losing weight, I felt worse. 

The cravings were unbearable, and the scale didn’t budge.

But what freaked me out the most…

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

“You’re old, and you have a demanding job. It’s just life.”

People say, ‘That’s just the combo of menopause and a demanding job.’

I get it. The stress and long hours make it challenging, and losing weight gets harder. Especially when you’re riding the menopause wave.

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

And it wasn’t just the weight. 

My skin was horrible. I was breaking out like a teenager.

Some days, I’d feel fine. Other days, I’d snap at my husband over nothing, then cry an hour later. 

I couldn’t tell if this was hormones, stress, or if I was just losing my mind.

I finally went to my doctor, hoping for answers.

That appointment left me more frustrated than before.

“You’re fine. Just eat better and exercise more,” my doctor said dismissively.

I felt brushed off, like I was overreacting. But if I was fine, then why did I feel like a completely different person?”

Even though my schedule wasn’t crazy, taking care of myself felt overwhelming. And with the extra weight, it seemed almost impossible.

And dating? That was another story. Hurtful messages and ghosting on dating apps shattered my confidence.

I often found myself eating my sorrows while binge-watching TV, feeling more isolated and self-conscious.

Being judged because of my weight was something I faced everywhere—at work, with friends, at the doctor’s office.

I had days when I felt a little better, but the burnout was real, and losing weight still felt impossible.

The one thing that almost pushed me over the edge…

The one thing that almost pushed me over the edge…

It really hit me one day after a particularly rough day at school.

I was already feeling down when I received a notification from one of my dating app. Excited, I opened it, but… 

“Maybe you’d get more matches if you lost some weight.”

Normally, I would have brushed it off or laughed it away. But not that day.

The words stung, and I felt tears welling up. The comment was just the tip of the iceberg. It brought back all the other hurtful messages and ghosting I had experienced.

As I sat there, trying to compose myself, it hit me. This wasn’t really about the comment or my appearance.

More than the aches, the tiredness… I felt trapped in someone else’s body, embarrassed to even look in the mirror.

Buying clothes a size up, struggling with simple things at work, hearing the students laugh… it became my new normal, and it was anything but okay.

People were mean to me because of my size, and it was starting to take a toll on my mental health.

There was this moment when I thought, “This can’t be it.”

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

I went to meet a few friends for coffee one day.

One of my friends, Lilly, looked completely different.

We hadn’t seen each other in a while, and to be fair, she used to be the heaviest of our group… but now…

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

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.” 

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.

Turns out, I wasn’t eating too much—I was eating wrong for my hormones. PCOS had thrown my insulin off balance, and my body was holding onto fat for dear life.

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

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 learned how to plan my meals around my teaching schedule, making sure I always had a healthy lunch and snacks for the busiest days.

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… 

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.

I’m starting to see myself as I was a few years ago, before menopause took over my life.

The challenge offered tips and tricks on how to deal with menopause and the insane cravings that come with it. I am actually sleeping 8 hours a day now!

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

✅ I’m not in constant pain anymore.

The bloating, joint stiffness, and lingering discomfort I used to live with are finally gone. 

At first, I thought the joint pain was just aging, but I later found out PCOS women are at higher risk for bone loss. 

My new doctor warned me that if I didn’t work on my strength and kept managing hormones, I’d be at risk for fractures and mobility issues later on.

Also, my digestion feels calmer, my movements are easier and pain-free, and I no longer wake up feeling like I’ve been hit by a truck.

Losing weight was great—but getting rid of the daily aches and exhaustion? That’s life-changing.

✅ My energy levels went up and my exams are pristine.

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

But no—fixing my PCOS changed everything.

Now, I wake up refreshed and energized. No more mid-afternoon crashes, no more dragging myself through the day.

And the best part? I’m finally sleeping through the night. No tossing and turning, no waking up drenched in sweat. Just deep, restorative rest—every single night.

Instead of following up with dismissive doctors, I tried a new one. She validated my worries about PCOS, and checked my bloodwork.

Then she said something that really stuck with me:

“You’re no longer in the high-risk category for diabetes. Whatever you’re doing, keep going.”

For the first time in years, I felt like I wasn’t just surviving—I was thriving through it.

✅ I’ve never felt more confident.

This journey has done more for me than just help me lose weight—it’s helped me find myself again.

For years, I felt like my body was out of sync. The mood swings, brain fog, and low energy made me feel like a different person.

Now, my mind feels clearer, my emotions feel steadier, and for the first time in years, I feel like me again.

My time at the school may be “lost”, but the rest of my days now give me plenty of time to exercise, prep meals, meditate, spend time with friends and family… even go out and meet new people.

Losing weight was one thing, but gaining this kind of 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 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!