Friday, January 17, 2014

Insulite Labs Week 1

I've been taking the Insulite pills for a week now, and here is what little I have found:

I started to break out a little around my mouth and chin, which are typical spots to break out when your hormones are imbalanced. It wasn't bad, but it was more than normal.

My cravings for carbs has gone down and sugar has gone down a little bit. I still want them but it doesn't feel like a NEEEEED!

I was exhaustively tired all week. I think today was the first day it felt just a tad easier to peel myself out of bed. (Also, I hate mornings. It has always been hard for me to get up, so this is not a huge surprise!) My motivation and energy levels were definitely down though.

It has been easier than I thought to take 18 pills a day. Plus I drink more water! The first two days I read the pills wrong and had only taken half of what I was supposed to, and then yesterday I forgot to take part of them. The main thing is just making it a priority and a habit I think.

I think those were the main things that happened, and I haven't weighed myself yet to see if I have gained or lost any weight, but I am not as worried about that as I am about balancing hormones. There were also other factors that could have played in to create these side effects as well: school started, got less sleep, haven't been exercising like I need to. I admit this last week I was a bit unfocused on my health as other things have started up and have taken precedence over exercise... but now that the first week of school is over I should be able to settle down and get into a better routine again.

Do I feel like it is working? Not really yet, but it has also only been a week! The website says that most people typically start to notice things near the end of the first month, but most of the changes happen between 6-12 months. It also noted that if it has been awhile since your last period, you may experience weight gain and other PMS symptoms at first. Its hard to say within just one week if what is happening is supposed to happen or not! I imagine that since it probably took awhile for the hormones to become unbalanced that it will take awhile to get them back where they need to be. I am not expecting instant results! I'll probably update again at the end of the month, unless something significant happens.


Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Getting Ready for Month 1 of Insulite Labs

I have talked about Insulite Labs in some of my previous posts and I have said that I wanted to try it. I finally ordered a month's worth to try and see how it goes. It is pretty expensive stuff, but if you were to buy all the vitamins suggested for PCOS you'd probably be spending close to the same amount. It is about $100 a month, and there are 4 different pills that all have different ingredients to help with literally just about everything! From acne, to hair loss to excess hair to insulin resistance to regulating hormones and menstruation. There are 18 pills to take everyday, at various times of the day. That is the part that makes me nervous. I am not a very organized person and I have a feeling it is going to be hard to remember to take them all! I know, it sounds like a lot too. I have never taken that many pills in my life!

If you are anything like me, you want to know exactly what are in all of those pills! All of the information I give to you next is taken directly from the Insulite Labs PCOS website, which you can (and should) also find what each ingredient's function is. I advise you to visit the website because it will go into much more detail.

PolyPlus is formulated to help balance testosterone and estrogen levels to help regulate menstruation and promote healthy skin and hair. Ingredients include Saw Palmetto, Vitex, Stinging Nettle, Flax seed, and Milk thistle extract.

InsulX is designed to help mostly with insulin resistance and to help your cells be more sensitive to insulin, accepting glucose more easily. Ingredients include Vanadyl Sulfate, Chromium, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Magnesium, Zinc, L-Carnitine, Copper, Calcium, Biotin, Manganese, Pancreatic Tissue, Adrenal Tissue, and a Vegetarian Enzyme blend. 

RejuvaPlus will help repair the damage cause to your cells and the interior lining of blood cells cause by having insulin resistance. Ingredients include Vitamin C, CoQ10, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Quercitin, Bilberry Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Thiamin, Vitamin D, and Cinnamon.

GlucX will help with the absorption of glucose, reducing insulin spikes. Ingredients include Hydrolyzed Guar Gum, Apple Pectin, and Fenugreek. 

If you have done any sort of research on what supplements to take for PCOS, you'll recognize many of the supplements! The program also includes guidelines for nutrition, exercise, and support in order to be successful. One of the things I love about Insulite Labs is they explain very well what is happening inside your body and why it has a hard time absorbing and using glucose, which in turn effects hormones and menstruation. I highly recommend looking into this program further. I haven't actually used the product yet, it should be shipped any day here but I will let you know how my body responds to it. 

Right now I am mostly mentally preparing myself to make small changes. Oh! That reminds me, another thing I found to be awesome about this is that they actually tell you to go easy on yourself. If you completely cut off all carbs and sugars, your body will go into shock and try to hold onto your weight even more. So they recommend a gradual decrease by 5% of carbs each week to give your body time to adjust, and if you slip up for a day or a week to just come back to it. Persistence, not perfection is key! I think that is something I can handle! :)