SheBeast Diva

[shebeast-diva]

A two mile hike with my pups, followed by an hour of krav maga. Today was a good day.

[shebeast-diva]

Meal prep under way. You know I gotta make my weekly supply of beans, one of the best foods on my meal plan. Carbs, fiber and protein on each yummy bite! I do soak my beans. Sometimes over night, sometimes just for a couple of hours. I usually use my pressure cooker for my beans, unless I want them to have a "creamier " consistency, and don't mind a longer cooking time.

[shebeast-diva]

My favorite, chilli! I would be lying if I said I didn't miss having warm cornbread with my chilli. But I do like having chilli on a bed of kale. I don't make small batches of chilli, so I will be having a lot of chilli this week.

[shebeast-diva]

The makings of a great breakfast.

[gradientlair]

These three screenshots are from Black Women’s Health Imperative and include statistics and information regarding Black women and breast cancer (though of course Black people who don’t identify as women but have breasts are still at risk for breast cancer).

It’s the second leading cause of death for Black women. Despite a lower incidence rate in comparison to White women, we’re more likely to die from it. Health disparities and and the manifestation of racism/classism in healthcare are factors. 

[thespeakingspook]

take care of yourselves as best you can, sisters

[incognegroscholar-blog]

My mother was diagnosed this week.  

[createnplate]

Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake - Raw Vegan & Gluten Free

[shebeast-diva]

It's Not Easy

I have PCOS, and I no longer keep it a secret. People do not understand what that entails. They see pics of me working out, staying active, eating clean, etc.  It is NOT easy! None of it is easy! I do it because I HAVE to, just in order to live a somewhat healthier existence.

My day starts at 3:30am. I get up, brush my teeth, wash my face, and make a protein shake. Lastly, I drag myself (some days) to the car, and drive to the gym. At the gym, I do both cardio and seriously heavy weight training. Especially since, I am so strong, and easily able to put on muscle. That's awesome for me because I am a bodybuilder, but also difficult, because the scale can be extra deceiving.

I get home by 6am, only to take my 3 dogs out for their first 1.5 to 2 mile walk. Get home again, and have my second meal of double fiber bread and peanut butter. Oh, and don't forget the cup of Cafe Bustelo. Depending on the day of the week, later in the day will be fighting through one to two hours of Krav Maga training.

All of this, and I am still over 200lbs at 5'9.5! I make no excuses, and I take no shorts. For those who ask why I get up so early, it is because I want to live! I am the worst case scenario with PCOS. I had endometrial cancer that I battled for 13 years, and finally won against it last year. But, there are so many other things that comes with PCOS. Diabetes, insulin resistance, excessive facial hair, the difficulty losing weight, higher rate of heart disease, the possibility that I will have to fight cancer again, etc.. The list goes on.

So I workout as hard as I can, eat as healthy as I can, and stay as positive as I can, because I have to. Why do I have to? Because there is so much more that I know about me. There is so much knowledge about this disease I have to share with other women. There is so much I have to live for.

So if you see me in the gym, please do not comment on the hair on my chin, the fact that I have a very obvious layer of fat covering my muscles, or the fact that my outfit does not match. Some days, I just do not give a fuck about your opinion of the version of me you are seeing! 

[shebeast-diva]

Cabbage & Sausage Hash

I was inspired to make this "hash" by @susieqfabmama on IG. She made one the other day that looked so Awesome I had to try one of my own. This one is: 2 cups chopped cabbage 1/3 can organic fire roasted tomatoes 1/4 cup each onion, green pepper, sweet potato chopped 2oz Turkey sausage 1 whole egg 2 egg whites 1/4 cup low fat mozzarella 450 cals 31g protein 36.5g carbs 7.5g fiber 13g fat It cost about $1.12 to make.

[ourpcos]

To see more of these PCOS Facts, check out 1-in-10’s Facebook page!

[themommymemoirs]

30 Interesting Facts About PCOS

1. Women with PCOS have higher rates of anxiety and depression than women without the syndrome. 2. Worldwide, PCOS affects 6% to 10% of women, making it the most common endocrinopathy in women of childbearing age. 3. Elevated insulin or insulin resistance are not part of the diagnostic criteria for PCOS but are seen in the majority of women with PCOS.  4. The diagnotic criteria for PCOS states that a women has PCOS if she has at least 2 of the following 3 criteria: a. Irregular or absent periods, b. blood tests or physical signs that show high androgens, c. Polycystic ovaries 5.The United States spends an estimated $4 billion annually to identify and manage PCOS. 6. Women with PCOS are at a higher risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea due to the influence of androgens affecting sleep receptors in the brain.  7. Women with PCOS can have monthly menstrual cycles and still have PCOS.  8. Despite its name, not all women with PCOS actually have cysts on their ovaries.  9. Characteristics of PCOS were first described in 1935 by researchers Stein and Leventhal.  10. There are at least 10 different phenotypes associated with PCOS

11. Both myo-inositol and n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) have been shown to improve fertility and metabolic aspects of PCOS.  12. PCOS is the most common cause of ovulatory infertility.  13. Know your numbers: women with PCOS have a 70% prevalence of elevated triglycerides and low HDL (“good” cholesterol). Changes to diet and lifestyle can improve levels.  14. In PCOS, there is a rapid conversion from impaired glucose tolerance to type 2 diabetes. For this reason, the Androgen Excess and PCOS Society recommends yearly blood screening.  15. Women with PCOS have more testosterone and can build muscle easier than women without the syndrome. 16. It is important if you are taking metformin or oral contraceptives to also take a B12 supplement as the drug can interfere with absorption of the vitamin. A lack of B12 can cause permanent and serious problems. 17. The cysts typically seen in PCOS are actually the result of a hormonal imbalance, not the cause of the syndrome.  18. One of the earliest signs of elevated androgens in adolescents with PCOS is acne.  19. There is a lack of evidence that supports a very low carb or gluten free diet as an effective eating plan over other diets for women with PCOS.  20. Fish oil improves almost every aspect of PCOS from improving hair quality to mood.  21. Eating protein and/or fat-containing foods every 3 to 5 hours throughout the day may help to stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent cravings in PCOS.  22. Regular exercise is an effective way to improve insulin levels in PCOS.  23. As women with PCOS get older, they are likely to experience more regular menstrual cycles. 24. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in women with PCOS at middle age is 6.8 times higher than that of the general female population. 25. A number of studies demonstrate that modest weight loss of 5-10% of initial body weight improves metabolic, physiological and psychological aspects of PCOS. 26. The optimal treatment for PCOS is a multifactorial approach involving diet and lifestyle modification and medications.  27. Women with PCOS have a higher incidence of gestational diabetes, miscarriages, preterm deliveries, and stillbirths. 28. It is estimated that 50-70% of women with PCOS have insulin resistance.  29. Vitamin D, a hormone and a vitamin, has been shown to play a role in insulin resistance and egg development.  30. If left untreated, PCOS can lead to numerous chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. With treatment, these conditions can be prevented.

Source

[shebeast-diva]

It is a very rare occasion that my clothes match in the gym (don't judge me, I here dressed at 3am in the dark), let alone match my shaker cup!

[shebeast-diva]

Hey #fitfam I didn't get a chance to go grocery shopping last week, so I had to go to @superkingmarkets today for a few items, and they had an awesome array of colored #cauliflower, for only $.69 a pound! my entire cart of food you see here was under $20!

[shebeast-diva]

Dinner's on! #Blackrice #leanbeef #beansprouts #carrots #broccoli #asparagus #onions

[shebeast-diva]

I got these awesome mini bell peppers from @superkingmarkets yesterday. Let's see what I can create with them.

[shebeast-diva]

#Grocery #shopping and #cardio at the same time.

[shebeast-diva]

Lunch! Kale, spinach stuffed whole wheat ravioli, 3oz 93% lean organic beef, mushrooms & a handful of cherry tomatoes crushed. All that's missing is a sprinkle of asiago.

[shebeast-diva]

There's actually egg whites and tuna in there somewhere. Eat your kale and other leafy greens!