What do Victoria Beckham, Jillian Michaels, Emma Thompson, Dara Torres and I have in common? We all have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

PCOS is one of the most common metabolic disorders among women. It is difficult to diagnose because of the wide span of symptoms, which include acne, irregular menstrual cycles, elevated hormone levels, ovarian cysts, unwanted hair growth, hair loss, anxiety, and depression. If a woman is on birth control, it will suppress the symptoms of PCOS. Once a woman goes off of birth control, symptoms of PCOS will present themselves. Often, this is how women are diagnosed when symptoms appear, or when they’re unsuccessful at trying to conceive. Unfortunately, it is not yet known what the root cause of PCOS is. What we do know now is how to manage it.

Like most with PCOS, it took many years before I was diagnosed. It wasn’t until my husband and I tried to start a family. My symptoms did not appear until after I retired from competing and went off birth control as we were attempting to start a family. After eight months, we found out we were pregnant. At 12 weeks, I went in for an ultrasound and was devastated to find out there was no heartbeat. I was completely heartbroken and crushed. I couldn’t figure out why it had happened. I asked myself, “Did I cause this? What did I do wrong?”

It was frustrating, to say the least. I was in great shape, competed at the Olympics, and aside from my unexplainable high cholesterol, had always been healthy...and there I was, unable to get pregnant. I was given the label “unexplained infertility.” When you’re given a diagnosis that has the word “unexplained” in it, and you have the drive and determination of an athlete, you don’t accept “unexplained.” You want answers.

After nine months of various medications under the guidance of an OBGYN, I was referred to the Colorado Center of Reproductive Medicine (CCRM), in Denver, Colorado. It was a 62-mile drive that I would become very familiar with over the next several years. My first appointment was with Dr. Eric Surrey to go over my blood work and discuss options. It was at that meeting I was officially diagnosed with PCOS. I could have done cartwheels out of the office. Someone was finally able to tell me why I had hypothyroidism, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, anovulation, hypoglycemia and ruptured cysts (I once had a cyst rupture when I was doing Snatches off the blocks…talk about painful). After being diagnosed with PCOS, with the care of CCRM, I have had two successful pregnancies and am the proud mother to a seven-year-old daughter, Camille, and a four-year-old son, Alexander.

When I was diagnosed, I was 5’1, 138lbs, and 12% body fat. I learned that PCOS comes in all shapes and sizes. When someone says they have PCOS, don’t be quick to judge a book by its cover. Often there are no external symptoms. Other times, the external symptoms are very noticeable—think facial hair, chest hair, and even back hair.

There is no cure for PCOS, but there are things you can do to manage the symptoms. Once I was diagnosed, I learned that the two most important tools that I can use to manage my PCOS are exercise and food.

The food you put into your body is critical to managing it. Regardless if you have PCOS or not, what you eat fuels your body. I once had a coach that said, “If your body was a Lamborghini, would you put cheap gas in it? NO!” I also had another coach that was a bit blunter. He said, “If you eat like crap, you train like crap.” I tested this out a few times, and he was right. Eating half a large pizza did not help my squat go up.

There are several dietary recommendations for women with PCOS: low glycemic index/load/low carb/high protein and high fat/gluten-free/dairy-free. Notice I didn’t call any of them ‘diets’ because they are truly a lifestyle. I have found that my body and symptoms best respond to a high protein, low glycemic index regimen. For those with PCOS, what you consume has to become the norm, your lifestyle, if you want to manage your condition.

One of the symptoms that I have from PCOS is that I am insulin resistant. This is why the food component is incredibly important to me. If I eat a high carb, high sugar diet, my blood glucose levels spike up, then plummet down (which would sometimes leave me in an anxious/panic attack state). A normal person’s body will regulate the sugar intake and slowly bring the body’s blood sugar level down. Mine crashes. When insulin resistance is not managed through dietary changes, it can result in Type 2 Diabetes. A common medication prescribed to women with PCOS is Metformin. This is not an end-all fix-all medication. It should be taken in conjunction with lifestyle changes (food and exercise). Signs of insulin resistance are dark patches on the back of your neck, underarms, elbows and thigh area, elevated A1C levels and high glucose levels, among many other symptoms. If you think you may be insulin resistant, check with your doctor about having a fasting blood glucose test and having your A1C checked. If your doctor suspects you might have PCOS, you will also be sent for an ultrasound to see if you have cysts on your ovaries.

I have come to accept that I will always have PCOS. This is who I am, this is how my body works, and I just need to figure out the best way to work with it so I can feel the best that I can. I have been following a low carb, high protein lifestyle since 2012. I feel much better, have minimized my PCOS symptoms and no longer have to eat every hour because my body feels like it is starving. I would love to be able to sit and eat an entire box of cheesy bread, but I know that it’s not what my body needs and my blood sugar will be sky high in about 10 minutes. I am thankful for Pinterest and Google as I have found many recipes that have been altered so I can indulge in the foods I loved before being diagnosed with PCOS. I won’t lie, I do fall off the wagon now and then, but I am human!

As athletes, we work out hard. We also believe that we can eat whatever, whenever we want. NOT TRUE. If you have PCOS or think you may have it and you’re eating poorly, your performance is affected by your dietary choices. Make the necessary changes, not just for your athletic performance, but for a healthy lifestyle and your life after sport! Take a strong look at what you eat. Track your meals so you can see exactly what you’re fueling your body with. I guarantee you’ll be surprised. I was eating high amounts of carbohydrates when I did my tracking. My cholesterol, triglycerides, A1C, and body weight have all come down following this lifestyle change. I work out three times a week varying cardio, HIIT, and lifting weights. Though I am an Olympian, I do not work out like I am training for the Olympics. My workouts are about living a healthy lifestyle and quality of life.

If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS or think you may have it, there are great resources available that can assist you in this journey. You’re not alone!