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OCTOPUS AND PCOS

I love seafood. I am slightly obsessed with seafood actually. It might be the southern Italian in me, but if there's something on a menu that looks like something from 20 leagues under the sea, I'll jump on it. Not to mention, I've found it's the best source of protein for my PCOS diet. Venturing out into other seafood has opened my horizons with flavors and dishes I can create - we can only eat salmon for so long before I lose the taste for it! 

Oscar's Mexican Seafood is a staple in San Diego, Ca and now that there's one near my work I'm in a lot of trouble. They have smoked fish, stews, soups, ceviche, etc... and it's all made by the owner and his cooks. It's a family business and they work so hard to get the freshest fish and veggies for their meals. Not to mention, the food is beyond amazing. You can really taste the effort put into each dish. I cannot recommend them enough if you're in San Diego! 

I'm sure some of you might say... "OCTOPUS? Nope. No thanks. Hard Pass." But I urge you to give it a go! Octopus kind of perfect for those of us on a low carb diet and it's really tasty. It has low fat content and an incredible amount of protein. It does have a bit more cholesterol, but as long as you don't eat it everyday you should be fine. It  also has lots of vitamin B-12, iron, selenium, and it relatively easy to cook. 

It's used in so many different cultures as an added ingredient, so there are plenty of options on how to cook it and which flavors to pair with it. Southern Italian dishes, Japanese, Mexican, etc... it goes on. So give it a go! See if you can find it in a restaurant first before you cook it yourself. I really love it grilled with raw onion, tomato, cilantro, and avocado. Little lime squeezed on top adds a nice kick. I've also had it with miso broth, and in a marina sauce. All tasted wonderful. 

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DRAGON FRUIT and PCOS

Dragon Fruit, or Pitaya, is a strange little beauty. It tastes like a sweet squash had mad passionate sex with a kiwi and a cactus fruit, and out popped this dramatic juicy delight. I’ve only recently really taken to eating these pink spotted eye candies because I had no idea how to tell if they were ripe or not. My local grocery store had them out to taste,so I gave it a go and now I’m totally hooked.

I think dragon fruit has a weird stigma in the “health” world because so many juice/electrolyte drinks that contain dragon fruit are overly sweet and almost artificial tasting - which is probably closer to the truth than not.

What I didn’t realize was that the Pitaya actually comes in three different colors: Bright red outer skin with white flesh or bright magenta flesh, and a yellow skinned fruit with white flesh. The pink fleshed Pitaya, the one I’ve been loving, has a bit of a sour bite at first taste, but then leaves the sweetest aftertaste.

It’s super high in vitamin C and fiber. It has a little bit of fat in it due to the amount of seeds, but it’s not the kind of fat that you need to worry about. If anything, it helps fill you up if you plan on eating one as an afternoon snack. However, I wouldn’t go to town on these as they can help relieve constipation. But a few a week won’t hurt you or your butt. It also contains a good amount of iron if you’re feeling fatigued in the afternoon, this could be the new snack for you.

Apparently, for those that have PCOS or type 2 diabetes, eating dried dragon fruit after a meal will actually assist in lowering your blood sugar slowly after a meal, meaning you won’t have to deal with as much insulin resistance as normal.

I will say - if you like a little bit of a kick in your fruit, squeeze fresh lemon juice on the dragon fruit to change it up a bit. It adds more flavor and flair to the fruit. It’s nice to do this in a bowl if you’re adding the Pitaya to a salad.

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CARRY ON ESSENTIALS FOR PCOS

When it comes to the shit I’m carrying on the plane I want to bring as little as possible. When I was living abroad I had the tendency to carry half my luggage in my carry-on because I am an anxious little bunny. Nowadays, I’m groovy as long as my wallet, passport, laptop, and phone are on my person.

Traveling with PCOS comes with it’s own type of baggage. I’m having to plan out each snack and meal, then back ups. Don’t get me started on airplane food. Overall, I don’t mind it, but it’s mostly reheated, overly processed food which will not only send my sugar levels rising and me crashing later on, but I won’t feel full no matter what I do. It’s essential for me to keep not only my skin hydrated, but my body hydrated. I know it might seem strange, but I keep a few tea bags of herbal tea with me and ask for hot water when the flight attendants come around. It not only gives a little comfort to an uncomfortable situation, but it keeps me hydrated while also feeding some nutrients to my body. I like taking spearmint and a green tea with turmeric - both are extremely beneficial for those with PCOS. The spearmint can help balance your blood sugar a bit while you’re on that weird eating schedule, and the turmeric is a natural anti inflammatory agent that will help with digestion.

When it comes to snacks I lean towards fats and proteins. I would love to say I take nuts and trail mix, but that’s not true. If you’re a good person and are better at staying healthy, then good on ya. Get that fruit and nut mix. For me, I’ll stick to peanut butter and apples, usually some kind of dark chocolate (I mean come on.. You’re in a flying metal bird. Gotta have chocolate), and usually a protein box from starbucks. I love hard-boiled eggs with some salt and pepper and chewy bread.

I try not to drink too much caffeine while I’m flying because it’ll make me poop (gross I know, but I hate pooping on planes) and it dehydrates me too quickly. I’ll have green tea halfway through my journey, but I have to be sure to map out my sleeping schedule too.

This is what I mean when I say traveling with PCOS has it’s own kind of baggage and struggles. We have such a delicate system that we have to maintain some kind of consistency with stress, sleeping, and eating. Keeping yourself hydrated is a key factor in this case, but also making sure you’re not pushing your stress levels up too much. That can encourage a blood sugar drop and start a whole anxiety attack. It ain’t fun.

So, to break it down, this is what I’d take:

Reusable water bottle (if you can get an insulated one for hot and cold drinks it’ll help in the long run). I take mine empty and fill it up after I cross security, or hand it to the flight attendant with my seat number when I board the plane.

Bag of nuts mixed with fruit, or small dark chocolate pieces.

Dark chocolate!

Herbal tea bags

Peanut butter (almond butter) - I like those Justin’s packets

Some kind of fruit. I like apples since they’re sturdy and won’t get squished too easily.

Gum

I like to keep myself clean and semi decent on the plane. I don’t like looking like a slob when I’m traveling and I don’t like feeling like a crusty creature when I land in a new place. I love taking water wipes, or feminine wipes when I travel. They’re both perfect for a quick “shower” to help you feel a little lighter and brighter! I take on basic make up if I can. I love It Cosmetics CC+ foundation because of the intense hydration, and some mascara and eyeliner, so I look a little less grey. If I’m fancy I’ll sneak in my bronzer for a little warming up.

Here is my list of necessities:

An extreme moisturizer

Hand lotion ( I like something that has a calming scent - Aveda has a few soft scents that I won’t knock your neighbors out.)

Basic make-up for landing

Dry shampoo or a texturizing spray

iPod (duh)

Scarf (I like the big blanket ones)

Magazine

My last time would be to ask for a hot moist towel when on your last flight to rehydrate your sinuses and pores. It’s perfect right before you put on moisturizer before you settle in for a long sleep, or right before you put on your makeup. A flight attendant told me about this on one of my long haul flights. She said to hold it under your nose breathe in the steam and moisture from the towel. If they don’t offer that kind of service a cup of hot water (herbal tea) will do the same trick. It helps reset your body from breathing in that recycled air for hours.

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PCOS and IUDS: PART ONE

I’ve got a lot to say about IUDs and different methods of hormone regulation for women with PCOS, so I’m going to break this up into sections. I don’t want to overwhelm anyone!

I’m not entirely sure why, but I’m nervous to write this post. I made the decision to have an IUD put in because Donald Trump was elected president and I instantly feared what was going to happen to my free birth control. I, fortunately, live in California where I feel I’ll mostly be covered in the same manner as I have been over the last three years, but nonetheless I wanted some kind of guarantee that I would always have some progesterone flowing in my system. For women with hormonal disorders, the attack on Planned Parenthood and Roe v. Wade is extremely serious. If I wasn’t on some form of hormonal birth control I would be in a completely different state, much worse than I am now. There’s still a ridiculous stigma attached to birth control, being that it’s used only for protection against pregnancy. I suppose that’s only fueled by calling it birth control. In reality it’s hormonal regulation supplements that help manage extreme pain, balance weight, and acne. A perk is also family planning!

But back to the IUD. I had the Mirena put in, which is the one with hormones built in. I have talked to multiple doctors about what kind of complications would affect my PCOS, if there were any, how the change in the amount of progesterone would affect me, and I received a different answer each time. One doctor was completely against the idea because she said it would cause me to gain an extreme amount weight, another said it would destroy any chances of me getting pregnant (more on this ridiculous bias later), and another said it simply wouldn’t work for me. None of the answers really sat well with me. Not because it wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but because each doctor kept giving me odd reasons why it wouldn’t work, and they were never the same reasons.

Ultimately, the IUD is going to affect each person differently. Before I went in for the insertion I went on Youtube and watched a bunch of different women’s reactions from what it was like to have it inserted, how it was going three weeks to three months later on. It was helpful in the sense that I was terrified about the procedure going in, but it didn’t help me figure out how it would affect my PCOS.

The doctor I ended up working with was the more forward thinking woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. She was very accepting to the fact that I never want children, and wanted to work with me to help manage my PCOS. She said no matter what I do there are going to be unfortunate side effects whether I decided to get the IUD or stay on the pills. That was what I needed to hear. It wasn’t going to destroy my chances if I ever changed my mind about bearing children (definitely not happening after having my cervix cranked open...never ever never), and I’m going to gain weight and lose weight no matter what because I have a surge of androgens and there’s not much we can do about that.

Basically, not much will change.

Or so, that’s what I thought at the time.

As of now I have the IUD in and I have had some different side effects from what was described to me, I’m also still taking my birth control pills on top of the Mirena. I was able to talk my doctor into letting me give that a go in case the lower dose of progesterone wasn’t enough for me, turns out it’s actually helping the different side effects I’ve been experiencing. I’ll be doing a full post on what my experience was during the insertion, after, and what I’ve learned after having it in for a few weeks.

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WORK LIFE vs. LIFE-LIFE

I have a hard time separating work life from my real life and I’ve realized recently that I’ve lost my interest in actually living a life. What I mean is that I tend to put my all into my work life, but not a lot of energy into my own enjoyment of life. I don’t travel as much anymore, and I feel guilt whenever I think of asking for time off to enjoy what I’ve worked so hard for. Afterall, what am I working towards?

I know that part of the reason I do this is because I like to see a good job done. I don’t like to see half-assed efforts as an end result. However, because that’s my approach to my day job my own passions take a side step because I am not a super woman with the power to put her all into multiple aspects of her life. I definitely see this in the way my health has deteriorated and how my friendships are almost non-existent (obviously more reason that just being overworked, but I digress).

Being able to adapt is a quality I think any person who comes from a low income home, and who has had to do things they have no desire to do in order survive holds quite dear to themselves. I try to make what I’ve given my own in whatever way I can, but that eventually means more responsibility on my behalf. Sometimes more responsibility isn’t entirely a bad thing, but it can also cement you further into that thing you don’t want to be a permanent part of for longer than expected.

As of right now I’m entering my 30th year, the year everyone marks as a time to make those final decisions as a “young adult” before entering the “serious years.” I have a few personal goals, which, if achieved, I’ll go into them at a later point. I think personal, deep rooted goals should be kept to the individual. Not out of shame, but as a way of protecting your own path to achievement. I don’t want someone giving me constant advice about something deeply rooted in my desires without my consent. Goals can be a short term or a life changing thing, it just depends on how serious you want to involve others.

However, that brings me back to my original point - sorting out my work life and life-life. I do want to travel more, I want to increase my income, and I want to start my own business at some point, but I’m quickly realizing I can’t do that if I continue to make sacrifices for someone else’s dream. It doesn’t mean I’m going to slack off my job, or quit, but I’m not going to give more time than what is designated to me. I won’t volunteer for external responsibilities. I will continue to harden the wall between personal and professional in order to leave my work agenda at work. I don’t want to think about work until I lock the door to open shop.

My health, happiness, and future completely depend on my taking these steps. I know that it’ll be a struggle for me, there’s not doubt there. Putting my all into one area is a comforting place. I know what to expect, and I know I’m good at what I do, but it’s time to start putting a little more confidence in my own contribution to my future and my life.

If you’re like me and tend to put your all into what is supposed to be a day job, take a moment to think about what it is you actually want to do with the rest of your life. Make it work living. That can be anything from creating a business, taking part in activism, or doing absolutely nothing. Even if all you want to do is sit and read all day, make that your goal. Find a way to live that life!

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Jo March in Little Women (1994)        For sophoes ♥

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SHORTBREAD COOKIES with LAVENDER LIME GLAZE

I was hanging out with two lovely friends and we all got a craving for flaky, soft shortbread cookies. I happened to bring over a jar of French blue lavender when I was visiting, so I thought that would make a really yummy glaze to go on top - woo boy, was I ever correct.

However, while we had the craving, the lazy afternoon mood kept us from wanting to take on a huge task, so I looked up a three ingredient shortbread cookie recipe and was not disappointed.

I found this recipe on The Comfort of Cooking, who originally adapted the idea from Dine and Dish. I would say that I then adapted it from Comfort of Cooking, because I needed to add about another ½ to ¾ cup of flour to the mix. I also used cake flour instead of all-purpose to give it a little extra fluffiness. Here is my adapted recipe:

Ingredients for Shortbread Cookies:

2 sticks of butter

¾ cup of powdered sugar - sifted

2 ¾ cups of cake flour

Ingredients for Lime and Lavender Glaze:

¼ cup of blue lavender buds (make sure they’re edible)

The juice from two whole limes

¼ cup of powdered (or more if you want a sweeter taste)

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F if it’s a slower heat, 350 degrees F if your oven cooks a bit faster. If you’re at a higher altitude, make sure to lower by 25 degrees F and use regular all-purpose flour. Otherwise you’ll have weird scones on your hands, and not delicious cookies.

Soften the butter in the microwave in 10 second intervals so it’s soft, but not melted. Add a stick at a time while mixing in the powdered sugar - or you will have a snowapocoplyse in your kitchen.

Start adding the flour in at this point. I would start with two cups and then add until you’re able to form a ball in your hands without it sticking too much. Wrap the ball of dough in plastic wrap, or in a ziplock bag and put it in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes to let it set. If you’re in a hurry chuck it in the freezer for 10 minutes.

After it’s chilled for a bit, sprinkle a generous amount of powdered sugar, not flour, on  flat surface so you can roll the dough out to about ¼ of an inch thick. If you have a biscuit cutter, go ahead and use that, I found a water cup that did the job just fine.

Make sure to line your baking sheets with parchment before placing these little uncooked delights on them. You can use a fancy Silpat, or just straight up parchment paper.

Cook these puppies in the oven for about 15 to 25 minutes. Again, it’ll depend on your oven. I will say, don’t depend on the tops of these guys to tell you when they’re done. At 15 minutes take a spatula and lift one up to check the bottom. The top tends to stay a beautiful light butter color.

Let them completely cool before adding the glaze. While they do that, let’s make the glaze!

To make the glaze, get a small sauce pan and place it on a low heat. (Prepare for your whole kitchen to smell amazing). Put the lime juice in the sauce pan with the lavender buds and allow to slightly heat up. Keeping the pan on a very very low heat, slowly add in the powdered sugar while whisking continuously. Make sure to get out any clumps of sugar. It should have the consistency of a slightly less viscous syrup.

Allow the glaze to cool for about 5 minutes, unless it’s freezing where you are. You don’t want it to be boiling hot when you dribble it on top of the shortbread basically, nor do you want it to solidify! It ain’t frosting.

I use a little spoon to add a very thin layer of the glaze on top of each cookie. The glaze should be a really pretty pink to lilac color - making you feel super fancy. I recommend earl grey tea with these, or a really lovely lemon balm tea.

I hope you enjoy!! Tag me in pictures on instagram and twitter if you give these a go!

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