I'm sure that somewhere, on some blog that I started ages ago or recently, I have posted some variation of the phrase "I'm a terrible blogger".
I always lead myself on with good intentions. It starts out with just a few blog posts here and there. Then I lose motivation and creativity. At some point in my absence I'm sure I've had a few ideas that I never wrote down or wished that I was back into writing again.
It's been a while since I last wrote on this blog. I have since started another one recently about my wanting to go Natural. But my wanting to go Natural has a PCOS tie in as well. It mainly has a lot to do with feminine products and the symptoms that I've been having that just haven't been letting up. (yes, I really need to make a DR's appointment)
Part of my reason for wanting to go Natural was the fact that I'm tired of certain products. I want to find less irritating and natural alternatives that can also save some money (who doesn't like to save?).
It will be a long process. Income is limited right now and I can only do a few things at a time. I can't just go out and buy all of the ingredients or products and report back.
I will more than likely express my ideas and post links to pages I found to be inspiring. I hope to report back with my own version and feedback/review on how something worked (or didn't) for me.
I need something to get into and I always thought blogging was the way I'd go. I'd be able to add in a little bit of photography here and there (another interest of mine). I've had a few things hold me back. Life definitely does happen and it is something we can't always control. I've tried using a tablet to write posts on, but I'm limited and can't seem to let my thoughts flow freely using a touchscreen.
We recently got a laptop and that's what I've been using (happy dance). I've been able to do a lot of brainstorming since having this new freedom.
I feel like this post is a little all over the place, but I'm just keeping it real. The Real Talk tab is where I want to keep any posts that are a little bit more down to earth about certain lady issues and life stuff. I may refer to posts on my other blog(s). I have a few because..for whatever reason it makes me seem a little bit more organized. Maybe it looks a bit chaotic instead, but so far it works for me!
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Sunday, August 2, 2015
I LOVE CHIA (and flax meal)
So along with my research I've made a new discovery.. With the help of Pinterest and a few recipes shared by my mom I have found my GO TO breakfast / snack type meal.
LOW CARB "Oatmeal"
It thickens like the classic hot breakfast cereal. It fills you up like it is filled with carbs. It is just as easy as instant! SUPER quick and you don't need a TON of ingredients!
For mine I use:
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2 tablespoons ground flax meal
1/3 cup - 1/2 cup hot water
cinnamon, pumpkin pie spices, cocoa powder - to taste
sweetener, 1 packet - to taste
2 tablespoons of heavy cream (whipped or liquid)
1/2 cup of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Coconut milk
Turns out to be barely a carb (depending on your sweetener and toppings).
You can add whipped cream, berries, nuts (coconut, almonds, pecans, walnuts)..more whipped cream.
It is super filling and easy to make.
Add the dry ingredients together and mix.
Add the hot water and let it sit about 2-3 minutes. It will thicken A LOT. You can then add either more water or the heavy cream and Almond milk.
I'm terrible at writing recipes. But there ya go!
LOW CARB "Oatmeal"
It thickens like the classic hot breakfast cereal. It fills you up like it is filled with carbs. It is just as easy as instant! SUPER quick and you don't need a TON of ingredients!
For mine I use:
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2 tablespoons ground flax meal
1/3 cup - 1/2 cup hot water
cinnamon, pumpkin pie spices, cocoa powder - to taste
sweetener, 1 packet - to taste
2 tablespoons of heavy cream (whipped or liquid)
1/2 cup of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Coconut milk
Turns out to be barely a carb (depending on your sweetener and toppings).
You can add whipped cream, berries, nuts (coconut, almonds, pecans, walnuts)..more whipped cream.
It is super filling and easy to make.
Add the dry ingredients together and mix.
Add the hot water and let it sit about 2-3 minutes. It will thicken A LOT. You can then add either more water or the heavy cream and Almond milk.
I'm terrible at writing recipes. But there ya go!
"Jambalaya" & Cauli-Rice
* I apologize ahead of time for this recipe. I have never had authentic Jambalaya, Gumbo, Creole or Cajun cooking. Not even the pre-made packets from the store. I don't exactly call it Jambalaya, but we can call it a Creole seasoned Stoup (stew/soup).
Our neighbor raved about this local meat shop in town and how they had great Andouille sausage. We never had it and wanted to give it a try - jambalaya style.
It turned out to be a great Cauli-Rice dish!
Our neighbor raved about this local meat shop in town and how they had great Andouille sausage. We never had it and wanted to give it a try - jambalaya style.
It turned out to be a great Cauli-Rice dish!
Ingredients
1 package (rougly a pound) of Andouille Sausage, cut in rounds
2 medium green bell peppers, diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 chicken breasts, boneless/skinless & cut in pieces
small bag of shrimp, thawed from frozen or fresh (roughly a pound)
2 chipotle peppers in adobo, sliced & to taste (spicy/optional)
Creole Seasoning, to taste
3 beef bouillon cubes in 2 cups of water (roughly)
1 can of diced tomatoes (with or without green chilies)
small can of plain tomato sauce (about 1/2 cup)
1-2 tablespoons of fresh thyme
1 head of cauliflower, raw & riced
Directions
Chop the head of cauliflower into florets, place in a blender & cover with water. Pulse a few times until it resembles a rice-like consistency. Set aside. Keep raw.
Saute garlic, green peppers, onion and a few tablespoons of fresh thyme, in olive oil and seasoned with some Creole Seasoning. Add to the a bowl with the contents of a small can of plain tomato sauce.
Chop the chicken and the andouille sausage. Cook until brown and tender. You can boil the shrimp separately in a small pot with some Creole Seasoning.
(leaving the shrimp to be added at the very end or in your bowl)
Add in the tomato sauce mixture, canned diced tomatoes, cauliflower (raw) and cook until cauliflower is tender and all meat is cooked through/sauce heated. I add in the beef bouillon after I add the cauli-rice to get a certain consistency. It is up to you.
Serving Size: makes ROUGHLY 8 1-cup servings
Nutritional Info
- Servings Per Recipe: 8
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories: 250.9
- Total Fat: 11.6 g
- Cholesterol: 90.4 mg
- Sodium: 889.5 mg
- Total Carbs: 12.0 g
- Dietary Fiber: 3.1 g
- Net Carbs: 8.9 g
- Protein: 24.0 g
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Just got done doing the dishes after this amazing-ly simple meal. It is my first time ever making Rice-d Cauli(flower). For us it was a total success! My hubby couldn't even tell there wasn't any rice! It was also SUPER filling and there are a TON of leftovers.
I honestly didn't measure out the serving exactly. But I would guess my bowl had about 1 cup or so in it and I didn't even finish it! I added Queso Fresco (crumbled) and homemade guacamole with a dollop of sour cream on top of mine. Hubby put his on a tortilla (he isn't entirely Low-Carb). I will have an ingredient list and Net Carb count for the guacamole and other toppings along with the main dish recipe.
The flavor was SPOT on. The texture was too.
As a kid my mom and grandma would make Spanish Rice using Rice-A-Roni and browned ground beef + some stewed or diced tomatoes.
I wanted to make something similar but MUCH lower in carbs. I think I did pretty good!
Ingredients:
1 head of Cauliflower (raw)
2 pounds of ground meat (optional - or chunks of meat), I used ground turkey.
cumin (couple teaspoons or more to taste)
chili powder (couple teaspoons or more to taste)
garlic powder (teaspoon)
garlic pepper (teaspoon)
dash of salt and pepper
1 medium onion chopped
2 medium green bell peppers
garlic, minced (couple tablespoons)
diced tomatoes (I used a small can with green chilies), plus 1/3 cup of water
1/3 cup of plain tomato sauce (puree)
I added some mushrooms, diced (optional)
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
half of a lime, juiced
Toppings:
Guacamole ROUGHLY 3.4 g Net Carbs per 8 servings, 3 tablespoons
Sour Cream ROUGHLY 1.5 g Net Carbs for 3 tablespoons
Crumbled Queso Fresco 0 g Net Carbs per serving
Shredded Cheddar Cheese 0 g Net Carbs per serving
TIP:
You can easily cut this recipe in half. The seasonings are all to taste. The veggies are to your liking. You can use half of the cauliflower, 1 pound of meat (of your choice/optional).
For a vegetarian friendly recipe you can season Tofu with your own Taco Seasoning (sugar free, I like Chili Powder and Cumin together). And when cooking the Rice-d Cauliflower you can use vegetable bouillon.
DIRECTIONS:
Cut up and blend Cauliflower pieces with water (to cover in blender) until it is a Rice-like consistency - a few pulses.
Add to a large pot of water (1/4 full, couple cups worth) with a 2 beef or vegetable bouillon cubes and cook on medium heat until boiling. Once boiling add rice-d cauliflower and cook for 5-10 minutes or until the tenderness you'd like (not mushy).
Drain in a mesh strainer and press out the liquid OR once cooled you can scoop into a cheese cloth to squeeze out the extra water.
Brown/cook meat in a couple tablespoons of jalapeno flavored oil (jalapeno flavoring optional).
For flavored oil: *this is where the jalapeno comes in*
couple tablespoons of olive oil, half of a seeded jalapeno and heat until pepper is soft.
Let cool slightly and add in the other seasonings - cumin (couple teaspoons or more to taste), chili powder (couple teaspoons or more to taste) garlic powder (teaspoon), garlic pepper (teaspoon), dash of salt and pepper and heat it slightly before adding the meat.
Chop your veggies.
Remove meat, set aside.
Leave the remaining oil (you can drain) and add the Rice-d Cauliflower. Cook until the flavored oil is absorbed.
Remove and set aside.
Add a couple more teaspoons-tablespoons of olive oil. Saute the other veggies.
Once the veggies are cooked, combine all of the ingredients (you may need to use a large pot for this).
Add in the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes, plus a little bit of water.
Add the lime juice and cilantro.
You can add shredded cheddar at this point if you'd like.
Add your toppings of choice.
Serving Size: makes roughly 8 1-cup servings
I honestly didn't measure out the serving exactly. But I would guess my bowl had about 1 cup or so in it and I didn't even finish it! I added Queso Fresco (crumbled) and homemade guacamole with a dollop of sour cream on top of mine. Hubby put his on a tortilla (he isn't entirely Low-Carb). I will have an ingredient list and Net Carb count for the guacamole and other toppings along with the main dish recipe.
The flavor was SPOT on. The texture was too.
As a kid my mom and grandma would make Spanish Rice using Rice-A-Roni and browned ground beef + some stewed or diced tomatoes.
I wanted to make something similar but MUCH lower in carbs. I think I did pretty good!
 |
| Not the prettiest picture, but yummy Spanish Rice-d Cauliflower. |
Ingredients:
1 head of Cauliflower (raw)
2 pounds of ground meat (optional - or chunks of meat), I used ground turkey.
cumin (couple teaspoons or more to taste)
chili powder (couple teaspoons or more to taste)
garlic powder (teaspoon)
garlic pepper (teaspoon)
dash of salt and pepper
1 medium onion chopped
2 medium green bell peppers
garlic, minced (couple tablespoons)
diced tomatoes (I used a small can with green chilies), plus 1/3 cup of water
1/3 cup of plain tomato sauce (puree)
I added some mushrooms, diced (optional)
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
half of a lime, juiced
Toppings:
Guacamole ROUGHLY 3.4 g Net Carbs per 8 servings, 3 tablespoons
Sour Cream ROUGHLY 1.5 g Net Carbs for 3 tablespoons
Crumbled Queso Fresco 0 g Net Carbs per serving
Shredded Cheddar Cheese 0 g Net Carbs per serving
TIP:
You can easily cut this recipe in half. The seasonings are all to taste. The veggies are to your liking. You can use half of the cauliflower, 1 pound of meat (of your choice/optional).
For a vegetarian friendly recipe you can season Tofu with your own Taco Seasoning (sugar free, I like Chili Powder and Cumin together). And when cooking the Rice-d Cauliflower you can use vegetable bouillon.
DIRECTIONS:
Cut up and blend Cauliflower pieces with water (to cover in blender) until it is a Rice-like consistency - a few pulses.
Add to a large pot of water (1/4 full, couple cups worth) with a 2 beef or vegetable bouillon cubes and cook on medium heat until boiling. Once boiling add rice-d cauliflower and cook for 5-10 minutes or until the tenderness you'd like (not mushy).
Drain in a mesh strainer and press out the liquid OR once cooled you can scoop into a cheese cloth to squeeze out the extra water.
Brown/cook meat in a couple tablespoons of jalapeno flavored oil (jalapeno flavoring optional).
For flavored oil: *this is where the jalapeno comes in*
couple tablespoons of olive oil, half of a seeded jalapeno and heat until pepper is soft.
Let cool slightly and add in the other seasonings - cumin (couple teaspoons or more to taste), chili powder (couple teaspoons or more to taste) garlic powder (teaspoon), garlic pepper (teaspoon), dash of salt and pepper and heat it slightly before adding the meat.
Chop your veggies.
Remove meat, set aside.
Leave the remaining oil (you can drain) and add the Rice-d Cauliflower. Cook until the flavored oil is absorbed.
Remove and set aside.
Add a couple more teaspoons-tablespoons of olive oil. Saute the other veggies.
Once the veggies are cooked, combine all of the ingredients (you may need to use a large pot for this).
Add in the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes, plus a little bit of water.
Add the lime juice and cilantro.
You can add shredded cheddar at this point if you'd like.
Add your toppings of choice.
Serving Size: makes roughly 8 1-cup servings
Nutritional Info
- Servings Per Recipe: 8 1-cup servings
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories: 271.7
- Total Fat: 15.0 g
- Cholesterol: 80.0 mg
- Sodium: 160.1 mg
- Total Carbs: 9.3 g
- Dietary Fiber: 3.2 g
- Net Carbs: 6.1 g
- Protein: 25.4 g
Guacamole:
2-3 Avocado
1/4 Onion
1 Teaspoon Chili Powder (more or less to taste)
Half of a Lime, Juiced (zest is optional)
1/4 Bunch of Cilantro, chopped
2-3 Medium Tomatoes
1/2 Jalapeno (optional)
1 Teaspoon Garlic, minced
1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
Salt & Pepper to taste
Monday, July 20, 2015
What is Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome?
The big question for many women (and curious men) : What is PCOS? And also, what can effect it?
I provided a link in my first post - if you click the first "PCOS" you will find the Google Search with many articles and a short summary as to what it is. But here is some of the breakdown.
*Disclaimer: I am NOT a medical professional. I only researched the following information.
First of all, what does PCOS stand for?
I provided a link in my first post - if you click the first "PCOS" you will find the Google Search with many articles and a short summary as to what it is. But here is some of the breakdown.
*Disclaimer: I am NOT a medical professional. I only researched the following information.
First of all, what does PCOS stand for?
Polycystic Ovarian (Ovary) Syndrome
A female hormonal imbalance that can cause the following symptoms:
- Cysts on the Ovaries (untreated CAN cause Ovarian cancer)
- Irregular Menstrual Cycles
- High Testosterone Levels plus Male symptoms such as
- Male Pattern Baldness/Hair loss
- Acne
- Facial/Unwanted hair growth (hirsutism)
- Stop ovulating
- Weight Gain/Hard to lose
- Insulin Resistance (body produces too much insulin that the body can not absorb), which can lead to Type 2 diabetes
- Fertility problems
- Depression
Sound familiar? See your DR if you have any symptoms or concerns.
Many DRs think they are taking the easy route to regulate our menstrual cycle by putting us on the Pill or some type of birth control. But in all actuality birth control - especially the Pill - gives you a fake period. Obviously because you don't ovulate while on the Pill, you also do not lose your lining naturally.
Many other drugs and supplements have been prescribed to many women - too many to name and many I have never heard of. I was on the Pill at 13-14 years old. Metformin around 17, but I didn't stay on any medication for very long.
I have read several articles about supplements that can aid PCOS symptoms. Articles leading to information about being vitamin deficient (magnesium, B vitamin, calcium/D vitamin - for example).
Cutting caffeine, cutting carbs, adding Omega-3, Cinnamon, B-Complex (B vitamins), magnesium, Calcium/D vitamin and some others have been linked to help PCOS, or rather the Insulin Resistance part of it.
* * I tried linking an article search for each so that you can pick which article you'd like to read first!
Many DRs think they are taking the easy route to regulate our menstrual cycle by putting us on the Pill or some type of birth control. But in all actuality birth control - especially the Pill - gives you a fake period. Obviously because you don't ovulate while on the Pill, you also do not lose your lining naturally.
Many other drugs and supplements have been prescribed to many women - too many to name and many I have never heard of. I was on the Pill at 13-14 years old. Metformin around 17, but I didn't stay on any medication for very long.
I have read several articles about supplements that can aid PCOS symptoms. Articles leading to information about being vitamin deficient (magnesium, B vitamin, calcium/D vitamin - for example).
Cutting caffeine, cutting carbs, adding Omega-3, Cinnamon, B-Complex (B vitamins), magnesium, Calcium/D vitamin and some others have been linked to help PCOS, or rather the Insulin Resistance part of it.
* * I tried linking an article search for each so that you can pick which article you'd like to read first!
Monday, July 13, 2015
My Journey
** 08/01/2015 Edit: This BLOG is more geared towards my PCOS Journey, what I plan on doing for treatment in the future, information/articles that I find, my thoughts and feelings, recipes that are Low Carb and fit my new lifestyle. It is called PCOS Mommy because I have PCOS and I am a Mommy.
I do, however, have another blog that is more Mommy/Baby related. You can find it here, or in my Blog List to the side. There you will find Mommy Recomendations, Mommy DIY ideas, Mommy Recipes (more Child friendly) and more to come!
This may be a long post, but bear with me..
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was about 13 or 14, via blood test. But many of the symptoms were pretty obvious. I was experiencing irregular periods, hirsutism, high testosterone, insulin resistance..I can't remember what my ovaries looked like, but I had just about every symptom they knew about at the time.
I remember being put on Metformin and the Pill at one point. Stopped taking everything because it just wasn't right for me.
I was told I would have a very hard time having kids ever, if at all. And it definitely affected my dating choices. Fast forward to about 20 and if I had kids or didn't have kids, I was okay with either.
22 years old and I was a little more regular with cycles. I had them monthly for a few months. About as regular as it got for me. A few months on, a few months off. Some lasted weeks. Some lasted a few days to a week. Pretty much always SUPER heavy flow. To the point that SUPER PLUS wasn't even cutting it.
In August/September of 2012 I began a cycle. I missed in November 2012, but didn't thing much of it. I thought I was going back to my "normal" on-again, off-again. January 2013 I had the most painful bloody experience I ever had up until that point. I honestly wasn't sure if I had a miscarriage or not. I was pretty sick for a while and bled heavy for the whole length of time (couple weeks).
After that episode, though, I had a period until June 2013. I didn't have any sign the whole month. Although a few months prior, I was experiencing other symptoms I never did before and during a cycle. The same kinds of symptoms that are very similar to pregnancy symptoms. Around this time I was taking a multi-vitamin (gummy) and eating more Low Carb. I lost about 11 pounds and a few inches around my waist. Then no period in June had me testing like crazy. I bought several pregnancy tests and tested the last 10 days or so in the month. With PCOS it is hard to determine when your "missed period" might be, so testing is always hit and miss. I was not Trying To Conceive, so I wasn't seeing any specialist or DR. But if I didn't get a period then I was going to see a DR any way.
July 1st 2013, I took my last digital test and it was positive! I only had one incident during pregnancy that worried me. I was about 7 weeks along and started bleeding at work. No cramps, but the blood worried me. I remember drinking several energy drinks BEFORE I got the positive test. So the WHOLE first month I drank several caffeinated drinks. The sac was peeling away, barely hanging onto the wall where it needed to stay attached. There was a 50/50 shot. My cervix was closed and my daughter is now 16 months old. She is so much more than a blessing, she is my little miracle.
From all of that negative discouragement, came positive. And I am looking for more positive in this journey.
I haven't been Low Carb in a while. I haven't taken anything to keep any of the PCOS under control.
What I have been doing recently is research. I have been reading articles and finding out what hinders and helps insulin resistance. I've been taking notes about what vitamins to look into taking, what foods to eat and drinks to cut out.
There are SO many factors that can cause and effect this unfeminine "disease" that plagues me. It haunts me some days. I feel so, gross sometimes. But I pull through each day.
I have a plan. Goals. But it will take time and discipline to stay focused and on the right track.
I will write other posts discussing my plan and the benefits of those that I've researched.
Also, what is PCOS?
I do, however, have another blog that is more Mommy/Baby related. You can find it here, or in my Blog List to the side. There you will find Mommy Recomendations, Mommy DIY ideas, Mommy Recipes (more Child friendly) and more to come!
This may be a long post, but bear with me..
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was about 13 or 14, via blood test. But many of the symptoms were pretty obvious. I was experiencing irregular periods, hirsutism, high testosterone, insulin resistance..I can't remember what my ovaries looked like, but I had just about every symptom they knew about at the time.
I remember being put on Metformin and the Pill at one point. Stopped taking everything because it just wasn't right for me.
I was told I would have a very hard time having kids ever, if at all. And it definitely affected my dating choices. Fast forward to about 20 and if I had kids or didn't have kids, I was okay with either.
22 years old and I was a little more regular with cycles. I had them monthly for a few months. About as regular as it got for me. A few months on, a few months off. Some lasted weeks. Some lasted a few days to a week. Pretty much always SUPER heavy flow. To the point that SUPER PLUS wasn't even cutting it.
In August/September of 2012 I began a cycle. I missed in November 2012, but didn't thing much of it. I thought I was going back to my "normal" on-again, off-again. January 2013 I had the most painful bloody experience I ever had up until that point. I honestly wasn't sure if I had a miscarriage or not. I was pretty sick for a while and bled heavy for the whole length of time (couple weeks).
After that episode, though, I had a period until June 2013. I didn't have any sign the whole month. Although a few months prior, I was experiencing other symptoms I never did before and during a cycle. The same kinds of symptoms that are very similar to pregnancy symptoms. Around this time I was taking a multi-vitamin (gummy) and eating more Low Carb. I lost about 11 pounds and a few inches around my waist. Then no period in June had me testing like crazy. I bought several pregnancy tests and tested the last 10 days or so in the month. With PCOS it is hard to determine when your "missed period" might be, so testing is always hit and miss. I was not Trying To Conceive, so I wasn't seeing any specialist or DR. But if I didn't get a period then I was going to see a DR any way.
July 1st 2013, I took my last digital test and it was positive! I only had one incident during pregnancy that worried me. I was about 7 weeks along and started bleeding at work. No cramps, but the blood worried me. I remember drinking several energy drinks BEFORE I got the positive test. So the WHOLE first month I drank several caffeinated drinks. The sac was peeling away, barely hanging onto the wall where it needed to stay attached. There was a 50/50 shot. My cervix was closed and my daughter is now 16 months old. She is so much more than a blessing, she is my little miracle.
From all of that negative discouragement, came positive. And I am looking for more positive in this journey.
I haven't been Low Carb in a while. I haven't taken anything to keep any of the PCOS under control.
What I have been doing recently is research. I have been reading articles and finding out what hinders and helps insulin resistance. I've been taking notes about what vitamins to look into taking, what foods to eat and drinks to cut out.
There are SO many factors that can cause and effect this unfeminine "disease" that plagues me. It haunts me some days. I feel so, gross sometimes. But I pull through each day.
I have a plan. Goals. But it will take time and discipline to stay focused and on the right track.
I will write other posts discussing my plan and the benefits of those that I've researched.
Also, what is PCOS?
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