PCOS, Insulin Resistance, and Why Diet & Exercise Didn’t Work
Why PCOS Made Weight Loss Feel Impossible…And What I’ve Learned Now That I’m Finally Getting Results
A PCOS + insulin resistance perspective on why “doing everything right” didn’t work…and how metabolic support, nervous system safety, and sustainable tools changed my results.
What’s Supporting Me Right Now
Some of the products I share here are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only ever share what I personally use, love, and find genuinely helpful in my own life. This content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your medication, nutrition, or exercise routine.
My Oura Ring — Rose Gold
This little ring has quietly transformed the way I understand my body. Instead of guessing whether I slept well or wondering why my energy feels different from one day to the next, I can actually see patterns in my deep sleep, heart rate variability, recovery readiness, and subtle temperature shifts that reflect hormonal changes.
During this GLP-1 season, it’s helped me recognize when my body needs rest instead of pushing harder. When my readiness score dips, I adjust. When my sleep improves, I notice how hunger and cravings stabilize. It hasn’t made me obsessive — it’s made me attentive. And that distinction has been powerful.
Smart Fitness Scale
For years, the scale felt like judgment. Now it feels like information. This smart fitness scale tracks far more than weight — it shows trends in body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, visceral fat, and hydration levels. It helps me zoom out instead of reacting emotionally to a single number.
Using this alongside AI to analyze weekly trends has completely changed my relationship with data. I’m no longer measuring my worth by gravity. I’m observing composition, consistency, and progress in a calmer, more sustainable way.
FlavCity Protein Powder
If you’ve followed my journey, you know I’ve struggled with bloating and digestive discomfort for years. This is the only protein powder I’ve found that gives me zero gas, zero heaviness, and zero regret. The ingredient quality is incredibly clean — no artificial fillers, no inflammatory oils, no questionable additives.
On GLP-1 especially, hitting protein targets matters for muscle preservation and metabolic protection. When a full meal feels like too much, this has been my safety net. It supports consistency without digestive stress — and that’s everything.
Try the FlavCity Protein Powder →
Greens Powder
There are seasons when my fruit and vegetable intake is beautiful and abundant — and seasons when it’s just not. This greens powder gives me peace of mind. It helps bridge the nutritional gaps on busier days and supports my micronutrient intake when meals aren’t perfectly balanced.
It’s not a replacement for whole foods, but it’s a helpful support tool. Especially during a phase where appetite is shifting, knowing I’m still nourishing my body deeply gives me relief.
Explore the Greens Powder here →
Fiber Gummies
Fiber has been one of the trickier macros for me to consistently hit. Between appetite shifts and smaller meals, it’s easy to fall short. These fiber gummies help me close that gap gently and consistently.
They’re not dramatic. They’re not extreme. They’re simply supportive. And sometimes support — not perfection — is what allows progress to continue.
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Why “Doing Everything Right” Still Didn’t Work for Me
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you choose to purchase through them. I only recommend products I personally use and trust.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before beginning any medication, nutrition, or exercise program.
For years, I thought my body was resisting me.
I was working out.
Counting macros.
Tracking protein.
Walking miles.
Drinking the water.
Buying the programs.
From the outside, I looked disciplined.
From the inside, I was exhausted.
There is a very specific kind of heartbreak that happens when you are doing everything you were told would work… and it doesn’t. You don’t blame the system. You blame yourself.
The PCOS Reality No One Explains Clearly
PCOS is not just a reproductive condition.
It is a metabolic condition.
For many women — including me — it comes with insulin resistance. That means your body does not process glucose efficiently. Insulin stays elevated longer. Fat storage becomes easier. Fat loss becomes harder.
You can eat in a calorie deficit.
You can lift weights.
You can do “everything right.”
And if insulin is chronically elevated and cortisol is high, your body will hold on. Not because you lack willpower. Because your hormonal environment is different.
That understanding alone softened something inside me. I wasn’t broken. I was metabolically dysregulated.
If you haven’t read the first post yet, start here for the full context: GLP-1 Weight Loss Without War: When My Body Finally Felt Safe .
When Discipline Backfires
I pushed harder.
More cardio.
Lower calories.
Higher protein.
More tracking.
But chronic stress — especially in women with PCOS — can elevate cortisol. Elevated cortisol can worsen insulin resistance. And insulin resistance makes fat loss feel like pushing against a locked door.
The harder I pushed, the more inflamed I felt. The scale didn’t move the way it “should.” So I assumed I wasn’t enough. That belief was heavier than any number.
The Research Phase
Choosing GLP-1 wasn’t impulsive.
It was researched.
I studied how GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic a natural hormone that:
- Improves insulin sensitivity
- Slows gastric emptying
- Regulates appetite signaling
- Supports blood sugar stability
For someone with insulin resistance, that mechanism isn’t cosmetic. It’s physiological support.
I wasn’t looking for an escape from effort. I was looking for alignment with my biology. That distinction changed everything.
The Beginning of the Truce
The first few weeks weren’t dramatic.
They were calm.
Appetite felt regulated instead of chaotic.
Inflammation eased.
My thoughts softened.
The effort was still there — strength training, protein, hydration — but it no longer felt like fighting. It felt like partnership. That’s the difference.
What’s Supporting Me in This Season
I’m not outsourcing my health.
I’m supporting it intentionally.
One of the tools that has helped me zoom out emotionally is a smart fitness scale. Instead of obsessing over daily weight, I track weekly trends in muscle mass, body fat percentage, and visceral fat. It reminds me that healing is more than gravity.
When appetite is lower, I lean on gut-friendly protein shakes to protect muscle and maintain consistency without forcing heavy meals. And hydration — especially with electrolytes — has been non-negotiable for stabilizing energy.
These aren’t hacks.
They’re guardrails.
For the Woman Doing Everything Right
If you have PCOS…
If you’ve counted macros and lifted weights and still felt stuck…
If you’ve cried because your body wouldn’t respond the way everyone said it would…
You are not failing.
You may just need support that aligns with your physiology. There is no trophy for suffering. There is only sustainability. And this series is about that — building health without war.
Continue the Series
If you’re reading this and thinking, “This is me”…I wrote the next pieces for you. Start where your heart needs the most support.
