PCOS and Hormone Imbalance Post Babies | Kick PCOS In The Face!

You guys, I'm struggling. I've been struggling for months. I'm exercising 5-6 days a week. I'm eating the best I have ever eaten in my life and I haven't lost a single pound in a year. I finally said, enough is enough. I went to my doctor and asked that I have blood tests done to confirm my suspicions that my PCOS was back. Let me tell you, there is not a ton of info about PCOS after babes. Because it directly affects having babies, but what about when you are done having babies. PCOS DOES NOT MAGICALLY GO AWAY! It's still there.

I had a feeling that the #1 thing my doc was going to recommend to me was to go on the pill to help my symptoms, but again, I'm not having anymore babies, and I don't want to be on a medication that's intended for one thing but for another reason. It didn't sit right and I honestly think the pill is what messed my hormones up worse in the first place...And I was right. My doc, bless him and just trying to help me but, the first thing he offered to help with symptoms was...THE PILL! After doing research I was right. I've been listening to Podcasts --- like the Model Health Show- (and he has a NEW BOOK coming out next April!!!! , and found this amazing book Beyond The Pill by Dr. Jolene Brighten to help me along the way.


PRE-ORDER THIS!

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What I’m currently listening to and let’s be real, to get books in I listen to them through the day so this is from my audible! #momlife and work life doesn’t let me sit down and curl up with a book these days! Back to the post- I First heard @drjolenebrighten on the @shawnmodel Model Health Show, episode 338, talking about hormonal Birth Control and how to go beyond it. I knew my doc was going to recommend the pill when I went and talked to him about what I suspected was my hormone issues and PCOS flaring up but I don’t want to be on the pill. And I was right. It was the first thing he said, “we could put you on the pill to regulate your cycle and it helps with hormones...” Guys...I’m NOT getting pregnant anytime soon since the husband got that taken care of and honestly It’s the very last option on the table at this point because I want to try to fix or at least learn how to balance my hormones Naturally. After listening to the show and now listening to this book I’m even more resolves to listen to my gut and try to help myself naturally. Because my problem is more than just irregular periods. It’s straight up miscommunication of hormones and a lack of them even working in my body and that is a serious thing. So...now I have more knowledge to take with me when taking the endo my ob is referring me to. Educate yourself. Do your research. Know all the facts because I didn’t. Now I’m learning and will continue to learn what I can do to help my body starting with my gut! Check out this book your guys if you struggle like I do! Get answers and #beyourownhealthadvocate #nextstep #myhealth #womansintuition #personaldevelopment #knowledge #educateyourself #actionispower

A post shared by Becky-Connect The Dots Ginger (@sunkissedbecky) on Oct 11, 2019 at 8:15am PDT

There is so much information out there. And I'm not saying go to Google to diagnose yourself but educate yourself on signs, symptoms, and how you can help your body and how to talk to your doctor to help yourself the best. Remember the docs, want to help you and sometimes it's through the fastest and easiest way. It's okay to go the hard way.

Know that you are you own health advocate. You get to call the shots on what tests are done and what medication you go on. Before you go on any medication, LEARN ABOUT IT. Ask the hard questions. The pill, would be like a bandaid. It wouldn't help to fix or regulate my hormones. It would turn them off completely. And that's not what I want. I want to live my healthiest life and optimal health. And the pill, was truly my last resort.

After getting my results back and learning that my hormones were way worse than we thought, I'm peri menopausal because my hormones were in the TANK. And my thyroid came back as "abnormal" so I'm being referred to a specialist to get it checked out further.

In the meantime, I'm working hard to heal my body, by cutting out the processed foods, eating a ton of veggies to help "detox" and heal my gut and I'll also be placed on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (which is a man made hormone similar to the one the body naturally produces) to help assist my hormones during this transition.

I'll be chronicling my journey along this because there isn't much info about how to deal with pcos after having babies. So be sure to bookmark connectthedotsginger.com and check back for updates!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK

Healthy Holiday Habits Challenge

It's the final countdown of the year and the DECADE! To end this year strong I've opened up my HEALTHY HOLIDAY HABITS CHALLENGE again this year! With daily challenge prompts to develop a healthier lifestyle to go along with your daily workouts and healthy nutrition!

What you get: 
Access to a complete fitness library with over 40 programs to choose from to complete! (I'll help you narrow it down to find the program to fit your life and help you get your results!)
Access to one of our COMPLETE Nutrition programs to learn what to eat, how much and the exact foods to eat
Superfood nutrition and top of the line supplements
Access to my exclusive virtual gym with daily accountability posts
1:1 coaching from me when you need it
Daily challenges to prompt healthy habits
LIVE WORKOUTS with others
Support and friends in our virtual gym!

READY TO JOIN US? CLICK HERE to get my TOP PICK COMPLETE BUNDLE KIT with everything you need to get started including our perfect portion nutrition program (Yes it is an investment in your whole health but it is EVERYTHING YOU NEED so you get that energy to get started and and anti-soreness drink so you can push play the next day) Or message me or email me to chat about budget friendly options available!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK

Fix Your Nutrition For Life Bootcamp | Nutrition Focused Group For Real And Sustainable Healthier Eating Habits

Simplicity is the name of the game you guys. Me, personally, I've got way too much going on in my life to have to really devote a ton of time in the kitchen, let alone cooking food every single night. I've got 2 rehearsals a week (at least) going on right now at night, plus a full teaching schedule I don't have the time to be tied up in the kitchen.

That's why I created and started my group, FIX YOUR NUTRITION FOR LIFE BOOTCAMP! Because I want you to realize how simple meal planning can be. How much time you can save by just following the simple steps that we work on weekly together.

What this group is about:

• Following either of the nutrition programs offered through Beachbody, because they were designed with science and keep it super simple! 
• Watching all the training videos included in the nutrition program (over 30!) 
• Join in on weekly meal planning calls to learn how to keep it super simple
• Complete weekly assignments for a chance to earn some SWAG
• Be active in our private chat group for accountability and support, posting pictures of your meals, support whatever you need. It's your direct access to me as your mentor and coach and the other members of the group too! 
• Access to an exclusive google drive with tools and our Bootcamp Ebook to get you started right and stay on track
• Oh and exercise is totally optional! 

We just had our first LIVE meal planning session yesterday! And it's not too late to join us! This is an open group right now. So if you have been struggling with what foods to eat, how much to eat and just feeling lost with meal planning or want to refine a bit more, this is the group for you! MESSAGE ME HERE to get more details or GET STARTED HERE! You must have either the Ultimate Portion Fix (with the containers) or 2B Mindset nutrition focused programs to join this group.

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK

Meal Planning? #1 Tip To Learn How To Meal Prep Like A Pro

*This post contains affiliate links.

I've been a coach for a long time, and this year, I've really been focusing on my nutrition journey and what I noticed, as I talked a lot with my customers about nutrition, was many of them found meal planning SO HARD! Just learning how to get started. So...I am making learning how to meal plan an integral part of my coaching now! From hosting meal planning sessions with my test groups for our new program and then opening it up once a month to all my customers so they can learn and improve!

Why is meal planning important? Because without a plan, you are flying by the seat of your pants. How many times have you gone out for dinner, or sent your hubs out to get food, because you didn't have any idea what to make for dinner and it was already to late to try and figure it out? ALL THE TIME unless I meal plan! When I meal plan, I've got that nagging feeling of, I've already bought all the ingredients and we already have a plan in place, might as well use what we have. Does this always work, of course not, but 9 times out of 10 it does. So, you want to learn how to get started right

#1 Tip to learning how to meal prep like a pro: 

START WITH PLANNING OUT all your meals for only 1 category of food (either dinner, lunch or breakfast). I plan all my dinners FIRST because that is the meal with our entire family, and it has to be something that they will all like. And because I'm a busy mom I pick 3 dinner recipes a week to make and make enough to have leftovers the next day. So I'm only cooking 3 nights a week and then just heating up the leftovers the next day.

So my schedule would look like this:

This is a great starting point to just get started with meal planning as a beginner. As a beginner, DO NOT PLAN OUT EVERY MEAL FOR THE WHOLE WEEK. It's totally intimidating and a huge thing to take on. Start small. 

For me, the way I plan my meals is I eat following the Ultimate Portion Fix Program. Meaning, I get a specific serving amount of veggies, protein, carbs, fruits and healthy fats in a day. I actually figure out the serving amounts in my dinners and then I'll plan out the rest of the day so I don't over eat on my containers and keep it super simple following my food lists. Plus with access to the healthy cooking show that goes along with it and it's even included in our online fitness library, it makes it easy to plan out meals. 

Or, aim to eat a veggie and protein at all my other meals, and having some carbs and fruits. Don't forget the healthy fats too! 

The goal is to keep it simple! Want more tips, be sure to follow me on Instagram or you can WORK WITH ME and send me an email to get started!  

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK

What's In My Gym Bag? Favorite Items To Fill My Travel Bag On The Go

Let me start by saying that this is NOT a sponsored post, but all items in the photo are part of a monthly subscription box I personally pay for, AND LOVE, every month! Want to learn more about the box, You can visit them at SWEAT AND SPARKLE BOX . Decide to order, get $5 off your first box with promo code: FITGINGER. Cause you all know I love to hook you up with awesome stuff and DISCOUNTS! 

A few weeks ago I traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana for a HUGE conference with 20,000 other health and fitness coaches. There were LOTS of trainings, and fun and since it was health and fitness, lots of ways to get sweaty! 

We worked out at Monument Circle TWICE, went to a American Ninja Warrior Training Gym and there were even workouts with our Super Trainers. And what did I do, I stayed at a hotel that was over 20 minutes away. With all the working out, and lack of shower I had to really get creative about how I was going to clean up after all the sweat sessions. Well, it kind of worked out well considering that EVERY SHIPMENT of my Sweat and Sparkle box, since I signed up for had something that I needed for on the go. From the Vooray Bag, to dry shampoo AND conditioner and even body wipes. Plus I was able to take my 12 week fit journal and pack snacks for a great post workout treat. And of course I had to have my EXTRA LARGE water bottle to keep my hydrated. 

Top 5 things you Need in your gym bag/ travel bag/go bag:

1) Change of clothes. if you are working out at a gym or on the go, you gotta remember to check to make sure you have a change of clothes especially socks and undies. Always change right after your workout so your bits are hanging out in a sweaty mess.

2) Dry Shampoo! It's a must to help me get styled faster. I personally have long, long hair and it takes forever to wash, dry and then style. Dry Shampoo has changed my life. Just spay it in and leave it or use the blow dryer to style but it at least cleans up my scalp a little from the sweat. And it adds extra texture to my hair and give it more volume! WIN for thin hair!

3) Body wipes, and face wipes too, if you don't have access to a shower after. I've gotten in the habit of rinsing off after working out. And to know I wasn't going to have that option I needed really good body wipes. I was looking everywhere on line deciding what to get and then I remembered, I got a whole box in my shipment! YAY! Gone are the days of baby wipes showers (it's a military thing!) These body wipes are big, thick and smell good and WORK!

4) WATER BOTTLE! Stay hydrated, Yo! Because being dehydrated sucks! So keep a bottle or 2 in your bag for when on the go and fill it up often!

5) Snacks! Have snacks in your bag so you have something to nosh on after your workout. If you are on the go you might not be able to get food right away. So have a snack in there so you don't get HANGRY!

Again, if you clicked on the links and saw the price of some of those items, I DID NOT PAY THAT! My Sweat and Sparkle Subscription Box comes filled with awesome items for fitness, health and beauty at a fraction of the item's prices! Want $5 off your first box? Enter FITGINGER at checkout in the promo code for the hookup!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK