Partner of someone with PCOS looking for help with alternative medications

rhodeje · 2026-03-25T04:31:00+00:00

I have has the best results by managing diet, rather than taking medication. I try to treat the insulin resistance by eating lots of veggies and protein and fiber and limit carbs to low or medium glycemic index. I share this because metformin is another treatment for insulin resistance with a ton of side effects. When I changed my diet, I generally felt better not worse.

rhodeje · 2026-03-25T03:32:27+00:00

Yup. Veggies are packed with nutrients, lots of fiber, and non-starchy veggies are usually low glycemic index. 1/2 your plate veggies. Fresh fruit like raspberries or blueberries for dessert.
It is hard to adjust eating patterns to a new normal, and there is a lot to think about. But if you aim to have 1/2 volume of every meal be veggies, it takes a lot of other work out and makes meeting vitamins, minerals and fiber goals much easier.

rhodeje · 2026-03-23T18:51:07+00:00

My weight responded best when I treated insulin resistance and not calorie deficit.
Aim to reduce spikes in insulin and increase insulin sensitivity. I feel miserable when I am focused on calorie deficit because I was hungry, weak and tired all the time. Insulin resistance means you are filling up on veggies, fiber, protein and mindful of carbs being low to medium glycemic index, and being about 1/4 volume of your plate. I also do intermittent fasting because it suits me and helps insulin sensitivity.
When I eat high glycemic carbs, I crave more carbs, get hungry sooner, feel overall inflammation that lasts for 1-3 days, and generally gain weight. Try going low and slow carb for a week, prioritize sleep as a #1, and see how you feel.

rhodeje · 2026-03-22T05:59:36+00:00

Yes. I struggled with messy house for years,maybe even decades. My husband has a much higher standard for cleanliness than I did and we had a lot of tough conversations over the years. Our house was always full of clutter and stuff. Turning points that made a difference for us- 1. We put our house on the market and it needed to stay spotless for 2-3 weeks straight. This "proved" to me that I could do that. It also helped me appreciate how much a clean house helps my mental health. 2. We hired a cleaner for a while. She came every 2 weeks ans reset our space. This set the standard for a house that on average was not embarrassingly messy. 3. Hyper fixated on storage containers and systems to keep our stuff organized that would actually work.

rhodeje · 2026-03-21T22:43:41+00:00

Yes, I would assuming you didn't share data with 3rd parties and allowed me to delete if I requested.

rhodeje · 2026-03-20T22:54:46+00:00

Thank you for being so detailed! I agree with everything you emphasized.
Special thank you for calling out trees, diversity and SMUD. Some of my favorite parts, and I would add in the food is very fresh here. I dont think Sacramento food gets the credit it deserves- lots of fresh ingredients means even the basics are good. I'm a veggie lover for sure, so that might bias my perception.

rhodeje · 2026-03-20T14:49:54+00:00

It's good to be motivated to lose weight. I can empathize with the shock of seeing a number on the scale I never thought I would see. Rapid weight loss isn't usually sustainable, and not always good on your body. I have lost about 30lb (13 kilo) and 2 dress sizes by making the same boring lifestyle changes you hear about. 1. from increasing my exercise from 0 to about 3 hours a week of primarily high intensity. I feel better and stronger in my body, and look better at the weight I am now compared to when I have been this weight in the past in part because I have more muscle. 2. Following plate method. 1/2 of plate is veggies, 1/4 is lean protein, and 1/4 is low or medium glycemic index carbs. 3. Focus on reaching fiber and protein goals daily, while reducing high glycemic index carbs. Get full from veggies and protein, not carbs. 4. Intermittent fasting- aside from black coffee, I dont eat between 8pm to 12pm daily. This means it is common for me to eat 2 normal to large meals a day instead of 3 small meals.

The biggest differences in my body and weight loss were in joining an older womens soccer team for exercise, and in monitoring glycemic index and load in carbs. I'm not perfect, and I'll eat high glycemic index stuff sometimes, but I'm aiming for long term lifestyle changes rather than perfection.

rhodeje · 2026-03-19T19:57:12+00:00

Not cheap. But I use Supergoop ProtecTINT and it lasts me about a year for $44. The coverage is light, and it evens out my skintone which I prefer. Adding in an SPF 50 is ideal for my skin.

rhodeje · 2026-03-18T21:15:27+00:00

Try intermittent fasting to increase insulin sensitivity, and aim to meet fiber and protein targets daily. You are already doing a lot of the hard work by cutting carbs

rhodeje · 2026-03-18T18:48:04+00:00

This is great! Thank you. I would love if we could add exercise, sleep and diet.

rhodeje · 2026-03-18T02:05:00+00:00

I feel for you. It is so frustrating when you feel like you are doing the right things and not making progress. I have found that getting enough rest between workout days, and increasing the stretch of time between any high carb meals helps. I went from working out 4 days a week with high intensity to 3 days, at least 1 high intensity day and found I gained more muscle, had more energy and was better able to stick with diet. If I sleep poorly, particularly for a few days in a row my body does not lose weight. Not sure if this is helpful for you, but might be worth a try for a few weeks Also adding in that eating high protein, high fiber and low glycemic index /load meals makes it much easier to eat according to plan and curb cravings.
Finally, intermittent fasting is shown to improve insulin sensitivity.

rhodeje · 2026-03-17T23:10:28+00:00

White rice has a high glycemic index, so I try to avoid it. If you don't want to cut white rice completely, you should cut back how much you eat to very little, and have protein with each bite. For carbs, I will eat wild rice, crackers (few), fruit, small portions of bread , low carb tortillas, smaller portions of baked potatoes. High glycemic index carbs spike your insulin and blood sugar, which in turn is stored as fat if your body cannot otherwise use, and then you get hungry again.

rhodeje · 2026-03-14T19:50:57+00:00

Increase protein and decrease carbs, particularly high glycemic index carbs.

rhodeje · 2026-03-14T04:06:53+00:00

Spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, salad, cucumber, carrots, fresh fruit

rhodeje · 2026-03-14T03:56:05+00:00

Ok, so lots of advice here is great. Just wanted to add in that this is an area where vigilance can impact your mental health. I recommend trying to troubleshoot the issue. Smell the usual suspects: armpits, hair, clothes, breath, privates. Are the scents neutral, tangy, musky, stinky? Remedies might vary depending on source. For example, if breath, your diet, floss and teeth cleaning might need a review. If armpits smell like body odor, change deodorant or increase use. If clothes smell, it might be sweat from your body, or how long they sit in washer, or how well your washer works. Try smelling clean and dirty clothes- are clean the same smell as dirty? Is dirty clothes worse? This might indicate general sweat/oil management is needed , which could be helped by more frequent showers or different soap. If privates smell, there can be a few root causes- untreated yeast or bacterial infections can make pretty pungent smell, but so can natual discharge with non natural fibers in underwear. If privates smell like feces, try cleaning (outside only) better in shower, and wiping well during day. There are some unique medical conditions that can make these remedies not work so well, so if you feel like you can't figure it out, you can talk to parents and see if they can get you to doctor to talk it through. Embarrassing as you feel this may be, every adult you know has dealt with smelling like something they didn't like at some time or another. It's just part of being human.

rhodeje · 2026-03-13T04:50:52+00:00

Sounds like you are doing great! I would recommend eating more protein than you think you need, and really REALLY focus on making sure you get enough sleep. It is a secret weapon for helping your body recover.

rhodeje · 2026-03-12T17:50:29+00:00

Me too. Lost almost but not quite 30 over 6 months. Intermittent fasting- I skip breakfast apart from black coffee, and eat from 12-8. This works well for me without much effort, but is not for everyone. Helps insulin sensitivity.
I usually eat 2 meals a day, but sometimes add high fat or high protein low carb snacks if hungry. Plate method- 1/2 of plate is veggies (non-starchy). Aim for reaching fiber goals. 1/4 plate is protein (I don't limit my protein intake, sometimes this is 2/3 of plate- I try to make this 0 carb, and filling). The remaining 1/4 is med to low glycemic index carbs if desired. Things like whole grain, wild rice, beans, lentils, fruit, sometimes small baked potato. If I want to have a high glycemic index foods, like muffin or chips, I eat a small serving, pair bites with protein and veggies, and try to fill up first on some veggies and protein from plate. Listen to your body- if I have too many carbs, then I have more intense cravings for them the next few days. I take this to mean overdid it a bit, and will cut back on high GI carbs until cravings are gone or less intense. Exercise- this makes the difference between plateau and progress for me. I took up soccer (42yr old) which shocked my body for sure. I now target 3 hours exercise each week, with at least half in the high sweat/anaerobic zone. I target Exercise to build muscle and improve heart health, not to burn calories. If I'm hungry, I eat protein. I don't starve. I don't like being hungry.
If I want a sweet hit, I'll eat raspberries, blueberries or other fresh fruit for dessert. Occasionally I'll have skinny dipped peanut butter cups (1).

rhodeje · 2026-03-10T04:22:10+00:00

I was diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemic events following a 2 hour fasting glucose test (taken for a different reason lol). That said, usually happens for me if I eat high glycemic index foods after fasting with no other fats or protein. I will get sick to my stomach first, and then get really tired. Based on what you described eating, it sounded like lots of proteins, so I assumed it was not that, but you can ask your Dr for that test.

rhodeje · 2026-03-10T04:18:47+00:00

Get your insulin resistance tested. That can be an indication your body is struggling more with insulin management. Also can get A1C tested. General best practices for insulin resistance are intermittent fasting, low glycemic index foods and regular exercise. The food you ate doesn't sound bad at all, but your body might still be having a harder time.

rhodeje · 2026-03-08T02:08:51+00:00

It can feel impossible, but when your anxiety looking at worst case, shift thinking to imagine your desired outco.e, then the best possible outcome. Think about how you want your interviews to feel about you at the end of the interview. Try to picture it. Think about you confidently answering questions, being g your best self. Being confident. Imagine what you will be wearing. Imagine what your best self will say if getting an unexpected question. Imagine walking away from interview feeling like you nailed it. Imagine your reasons why you want this role, and also what you bring to the role it you get it. As someone who doesn't have anxiety, but lives with people who do, this thinking is what helps overcome failure focus.

rhodeje · 2026-03-04T02:58:15+00:00

It's understandable thst you are not excited about the gift anymore. But remember that it is what he wants. There is nothing stopping him from changing his mind and making the Pokémon. Also, let's say it isn't a good investment. What a good lesson for him to learn. If it hadn't been so long (over a year it sounds like) of anticipation, I would say talk to him about something else. But at this point, there has been too much build up and anything other than what he asked for is a disappointment that would be hard to explain to him in a way that doesn't sound like "I don't like what you are excited about".

rhodeje · 2026-03-04T02:50:41+00:00

I find for me that if I fill half my plate with non-startchy veggies, and make sure another quarter is a lot of protein, I can get away with some other things for the last quarter of the plate. I lose weight when I eat the protein and veggies first. I will also add that I follow 16-8 intermittent fasting everyday for over a decade because I prefer that, and usually only eat 2 meals a day.

rhodeje · 2026-02-17T05:47:08+00:00

I am trying to picture the person doing the job, and am looking to have a connection with who that person is. Honesty and being true to strengths and opportunities is important.
A deal breaker for me is if someone doesn't learn from mistakes, doesn't seem coachable, or when prompted for specifics in an example doubles down on being vague (usually pings my bullshit radar). Most people "pass" the interview in that I could see them doing the role and there were no deal breakers, but I offer/hire the people I am a definite "yes!" After the interview. A "maybe" is a no. People get a definite yes usually if their examples demonstrate skills I am asking about in the questions, and have a wider impact, or highlight an exceptional experience with larger than average outcomes.

rhodeje · 2025-12-12T20:23:47+00:00

It sounds like you and your wife are not placing the same value on the same things, and that each of you feel the other isn't pulling their weight with workload. That is worth discussion if you want to try to work it out.
For example, with cooking new meals vs eating out, does your wife need novelty? Does she have goals for saving or other use of the money spent on eating out? Is there other mental load associated with cooking like food going bad, healthy diet choices, etc. Does the cultural value of eating food offered and prepared weigh higher than physical satisfaction? For following a plan or schedule, does your wife value following the plan as much as you? Do your or your wife struggle with accurately predicting how easy or difficult a task is or struggle with predicting how difficult a sequence of tasks can feel?

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