Introduction

My name is Esther. I'm 32 y.o. and live with PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and associated Insulin Resistance Syndrome, alongside various related problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Non-Alcoholic Liver Impairment and abdominal fat.

Me and my mum.

I've struggled with my weight since puberty, but I was always a tall girl with a layer of 'puppy fat'. My father is Rotuman, which is a small island in the Pacific, and my mother is from Cumbria in the north of England and is a mix of English, Scots, Welsh and Irish. I mention my genetic heritage because it's possible my particular "storm" of endocrine disorders come from my Polynesian genes. Well, the PCOS as well as my awesome curly hair, so there is a bit of the good, a bit of the bad, so to speak.

Up until the onset of puberty I had no real health issues besides asthma, but once all those hormones were kickstarted into producing it seemed like I just kept collecting problems. Severely irregular periods, weight gain, increase of body hair and the onset of facial hair - for a young girl turning into a young woman these things can really tear down self-confidence. I developed a hate-relationship with my body in which I pretty much ignored its existence. I escaped into books and music, and yes, food. 

At that time it was the mid-1990's and I was stuck seeing bulk-billing GP's (General Practitioners) who had little time to devote to anything other than what illness you were presenting right at that moment. One doctor told me I "probably had PCOS" when I was 15 but that there really wasn't anything to be done about it. Thankfully there has been a great amount of research into PCOS by the medical community and now it is understood that there is a WHOLE LOT that can be done about it. But at that time, it sounded like a life-sentence, one that meant I was doomed to a life of struggle against these hormones I couldn't control.

When I was 29 I met a guy. We feel in love, you know, all the usual stuff. It took someone else caring about me for me to start caring about myself. So I started looking at getting my medical stuff in order. A lot of women find out that they have PCOS as a result of trying to have a baby and not being able to. That's not a part of my story. I had decided a long time before I met Carlos that I didn't want children, which doesn't mean I don't like children, or that I don't love the children in my life, it's just that I personally don't want to make that commitment. I mentioned this to Carlos on our first date, and with relief he said that he was also child-free. So we never began trying for babies; it was the other health stuff I wanted to get investigated and fixed. So at age 30 I started looking at finding the right doctors who could help me. 

I had an emotionally fraught next year or so trying out different medications and seeing different specialists, and now I'm at a place where my medications are doing their job, and it's time to focus on the things I have control over - namely my lifestyle, with a focus on food and exercise.

It wasn't until I was diagnosed with PCOS and Insulin Resistance that I came to understand the role hormones have to play in my life, and what is needed in order to gain a handle on them, so my life is not ruled by weight that wont shift and cravings that get out of hand.

This blog is an exercise in challenging my relationship with food. I've never had a structured, informed approach to food, and I've relied very heavily on starches and the wrong kind of carbs through my adolescence and earlier adult life. I need to change this, and I feel that it is a good idea to start a chronicle of my journey, so that I have a series of real-time, real-life experiential snap shots of my growth and education, and yes, even my failings.

I will be posting a lot of food-related stuff, including what I cook for dinners most nights. I'll be using photos and adding recipes for Low Glycemic Index (Low GI) meals as this form of eating is what's recommended for PCOS. I believe the food I aim to eat and share here will also be beneficial for someone with diabetes, as a real focus I aim to pursue is to avoid high spikes in insulin production. But do be aware, I am not a dietician, or a nutritionist, nor do I have a medical degree. Everything in these pages is a personal story anchored in my sharing of my experiments with whosoever is interested. 

If you are interested in learning more about the Glycemic Index you should search for books and information written by medical professionals with scientifically tested information. I would recommend anything from Jennie Brand-Miller and the University of Sydney's information portal at http://www.glycemicindex.com/

There are a number of different focused GI books such as gluten free, vegetarian, PCOS, Type 2 diabetes, pregnancy, and childhood diabetes. You can find a very extensive list here and I'd advise anyone interested to check with their local library to see if they have the books.

Thanks for reading,

Esther.

Me in the kitchen 2011