From Confusion To Control: A Dietitian’s Guide To PCOS, Training, And Everyday Choices | Ep 105

The Driven Athlete

PCOS can feel like a maze of mixed advice, quick fixes, and symptoms that never quite add up. We bring in registered dietitian and PCOS coach Courtney Meinant to cut through the noise with an approach that’s personal, evidence-led, and actually doable. From first-hand experiences to client wins, we unpack what puts symptoms into remission and how to build a plan you can live with.
We start by clarifying what PCOS is—and isn’t. The diagnosis doesn’t vanish, but the drivers behind irregular cycles, acne, fatigue, or weight changes are modifiable. Courtney breaks down the role of insulin resistance and why stabilizing blood sugar transforms energy, sleep, and hormones. You’ll hear exactly which labs matter, when to test them in your cycle, and how functional gut insights sometimes explain stubborn breakouts or androgen swings. We get practical on breakfast timing, protein-forward, fiber-rich meals, and why most intermittent fasting advice wasn’t designed for women with PCOS.
Food choices don’t have to be all-or-nothing. We look at who benefits from full-fat dairy, when gluten limits make sense, and how to approach alcohol so your liver isn’t too busy to clear hormones. On the training side, we make the case for a balanced week: cardio for heart health, strength to improve insulin sensitivity, and restorative work to calm cortisol. Mental health gets real attention—PCOS can strain body image and mood—so we talk about building the right support team and checking nutrients like vitamin D, B12, iron, and folate.
We wrap with supplement standards and travel-proof strategies. Inositol blends have strong research behind them; third-party testing like NSF and GMP keeps you safe. For holidays and flights, think protein-and-fiber pairings: roasted edamame, low-sugar jerky, eggs, nuts, or egg bites. Small changes compound fast. If you’re ready to move from confusion to control, subscribe, share this with a friend who needs clarity, and leave a review telling us the one habit you’ll start this week.

Fejezetek

1. Welcome And Guest Introductions (00:00:00)

2. Personal Journeys With PCOS (00:02:12)

3. Choosing Careers In Care And Coaching (00:05:40)

4. Is PCOS Reversible Or Remissible (00:09:56)

5. Testing That Actually Guides Treatment (00:13:02)

6. Insulin Resistance, Diabetes Risk, And Misconceptions (00:18:12)

7. Birth Control, Diagnosis Paths, And Fertility (00:22:40)

8. Daily Wins: Energy, Sleep, And Symptom Relief (00:27:40)

9. First Steps Without Labs: Balance Blood Sugar (00:31:10)

10. Intermittent Fasting, Meals, And Cortisol (00:35:10)

11. Dairy, Gluten, And Inflammation Nuance (00:39:20)

12. Alcohol Choices And Hormone Detox (00:43:08)

13. Exercise Mix: Cardio, Strength, Restore (00:46:20)

14. Mental Health, Body Image, And Support Teams (00:50:24)