The PCOS Diaries: Best Ways to Exercise

The next post in my PCOS Diaries series is about exercise. Many different food posts have been covered, but now it is onto other things that we can try to control and change. Because, as anyone with PCOS knows, there will be a struggle with your weight, especially if you have insulin-resistant PCOS.

When you have insulin-resistant PCOS, it means that your body can’t use the insulin as it normally would. When its not controlled, it means that you will have a higher blood sugar level. More insulin means more sugar from your blood going into the cells, even when it doesn’t even need to. The excess sugar converts to fat, when it would normally come out of your body when you have a wee.

So exercising with PCOS, as well as it just being good for blood pressure and general health, will help to reduce the excess fat, as well as help to reduce insulin levels. So it should be an important thing to have as part of your daily routine. Get your sportswear at the ready and you’ll be good to go!

^^Panasonic Wireless Sports Wings Headphones

Are some exercises better than others, though? The straight answer; no. There aren’t necessarily certain exercises that are better than others. When you do enough aerobic exercise, it burns calories. When you consume less calories than you burn, you will lose weight. But you should be careful about how much cardio you do. You shouldn’t only do cardio, as I’ll go into as it is important to mix it up. Something like spin is amazing for your cardiovascular, but isn’t necessarily the best to help you lose weight.

^^Nike Cape

^^Nike Legging

Running, and body weight cardio, is the best cardio that you can do really. Something like a cross trainer isn’t the best as you have to do it for much longer, to get the same result as going for a run would do. So unless you’ve got a lot of time on your hands, then get the same impact with something short and sweet like running.

Weight training is so important for any exercise routine. From my earlier life as a personal trainer, I know that women especially can be a bit reluctant to do lift weights. But it really is important for effective weight loss. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn just being sat still. It helps you to change your body shape too as you become more toned and lean. So think about including free weights, squats and lunges, kettle bells, pushups and sit-ups when you exercise.

Interval training is a great way to maximise fat loss. So it is a good idea to train in intervals when you are looking to shift some stored weight. So if you’re reading this and thinking that you can never go for a run, then work up to it by doing interval trainings. Interval training is working at different intensities to maximise heart rate and recovery. For running, it would be 5 minute run, 1 minute walk, 6 minute run, 30 sec walk and so on. Whatever level you need to be at. The same can be done for weight training too. So make sure you include it all in.

It might be time to rethink how you workout. Sitting on an exercise bike for half an hour a couple of days a week is going to do very little. If you’re serious about making changes, then push yourself and you’ll notice a difference sooner rather than later. I have changed up my workout recently and I feel so much fitter and stronger already.

What are your favourite ways to exercise?

*the listed items were gifted in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.