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

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

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

Everyone could see the toll it was taking. I just pretended not to care.

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 constant pain and tiredness.

I joked about how feeling “off” and having crazy cravings had become my new normal.

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.

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

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

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

But then I realized… I was only 39. Could menopause really be starting this soon?

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?”

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 cravings were constant.

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

I had days when I felt a bit more pep in my step, but the burnout was real, 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. 

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

I went to meet a friend over coffee one day, Lilly.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Plus completely stopped 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.

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.

I feel I’m actually equipped to deal with menopause when it arrives too.

When I went to a new doctor for a check-up and a real diagnosis, 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’ve never felt more confident.

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 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!