Living Well: Learning to Thrive with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
One in 10 women suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome. Yet it can take months or years to get a proper diagnosis and there are conflicting views about the best treatments. Most physicians do agree that lifestyle changes can help patients manage their PCOS and promote overall health. This fall, as part of a partnership with inCYST Programs for Women with PCOS, Green Mountain at Fox Run is offering our first-ever lifestyle program dedicated to women with PCOS.
Ludlow, VT (PRWEB) August 1, 2009 -- At least one in 10 women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), an endocrine disorder that can cause infertility and weight gain among other symptoms. But many women still have to wade through murky medical advice before receiving a diagnosis and even then, very little support exists to help them understand and manage their condition.
That's why the healthy weight loss pioneers at Green Mountain at Fox Run have teamed up with inCYST Programs for Women with PCOS to create our first-ever healthy lifestyle program specifically designed to help women manage PCOS (
http://www.fitwoman.com/pcos-treatme...et-program.htm).
After nearly 40 years of helping women develop a healthy relationship with food with our proven non-diet philosophy, Green Mountain at Fox Run is taking its mission a step further. By focusing on women with hormonal imbalances such as PCOS, we acknowledge that the biological realities of being a woman can make healthful weight loss and maintenance a challenge.
Encouraged by the enthusiastic response to our popular diabetes management program (
http://www.fitwoman.com/type-2-diabetes-program.htm), this fall we are offering two in-depth programs dedicated to PCOS: November 8 - 14, 2009 and November 15 - 21, 2009.
Workshops will be led by Monika Woolsey, MS, RD, a nationally recognized registered dietitian/exercise physiologist who specializes in PCOS. We'll introduce women to a 'take-home' integrated lifestyle approach for mastering the symptoms associated with PCOS. The program can be taken as two one-week sessions or one two-week session.
"When I got my PCOS diagnosis - after 25 years of problems - I kept wanting someone to listen and help," says Green Mountain participant Gina V. "Green Mountain helped me figure out that the best help would come from me. I found that small changes make a big difference in my quality of life."
Dr. Alan Wayler, executive director of Green Mountain at Fox Run, agrees. "With this new PCOS program, we're helping women take charge of their own health -- not just giving them a quick fix."
Recent studies have shown that lifestyle changes such as regular exercise can help manage the symptoms of PCOS. Here at Green Mountain, we've known for years that practical lifestyle changes can make huge improvements in women's stress levels, self esteem and help manage weight. We've also seen lifestyle greatly improve the symptoms of chronic conditions such as PCOS or diabetes.
Learning to take care of yourself is imperative to a healthier, happier you. "By actively working on all aspects of lifestyle change at the same time in a safe environment," says Wayler, "participants will be better equipped to succeed after returning home."
This Living Well program is open to women with PCOS. The goal of the program is to:
* Bring together women with similar issues to support each other
Help women to understand their diagnosis and wade through murky medical advice
* Teach nutrition and lifestyle strategies for managing symptoms Improve other PCOS-related symptoms (high cholesterol, sleep problems, emotional eating, carbohydrate cravings)
Motivate women to create positive changes in themselves
* Jump-start a fitness routine and healthy eating
Minimize hormonal fluctuations that interfere with mood, appetite, relationships, and energy
* Learn how eating rather than dieting can help better manage weight
Return home with a personalized plan to take charge of health and improve quality of life.
Register for the Living Well PCOS workshop, interested women may call Green Mountain at Fox Run at (800) 448-8106 (outside the U.S., call (802) 228-8885) or visit Green Mountain at Fox Run (
http://www.fitwoman.com) or PCOS treatment program (
http://www.fitwoman.com/pcos-treatme...et-program.htm).
For interviews, please contact Alan H. Wayler, PhD at (802) 228-8885.
About Green Mountain at Fox Run
We've been helping women develop a healthy relationship with food, eating, and body image for nearly 40 years. We're not a fat farm (
http://www.fitwoman.com/fat-farm.htm) or typical adult weight loss camp (
http://www.fitwoman.com/adult-weight-loss-camp.htm). No other program approaches long-term healthy weights the way we do, with our mindful focus on taking care of ourselves. Over the years, we've worked with thousands of women who have come to understand that living well is more than a number on a scale, and whose lives have improved immeasurably as a result.
About InCYST
InCYST is a network of professionals dedicated to providing evidence-based information on nutrition, activity, and lifestyle for managing PCOS. We'll be incorporating their research and experience into our program designed specifically
PCOS Wellness Camp: Nov 8-14 & Nov 15-12 
