Healing PCOS: A 21-Day Plan for Reclaiming Your Health and Life with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – The Proven Guide to Treating Symptoms and Root Causes Naturally

by Amy Medling

A proven 21-day diet and lifestyle plan to help women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) take back control of their health and resolve their symptoms from a certified health coach and founder of the large PCOS Diva online community. PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disorders, and the most common cause of female infertility, affecting roughly five million American women. Because it’s symptoms are widespread—including stubborn weight gain, acne, mood swings, abnormal hair loss or growth, and irregular menstrual cycles—women suffering from PCOS are often misdiagnosed and treated with "Band-Aid" pharmaceuticals with uncomfortable side effects that only mask PCOS’s root causes. While there is no cure for PCOS, women can learn to control their symptoms naturally. In this welcome guide, Amy Medling shows how to combine an anti-inflammatory and hormone-balancing diet, daily movement, and stress-reducing self-care to successfully treat their PCOS. Grounded in the latest medical research and filled with the knowledge she’s acquired dealing with PCOS herself and working with thousands of women, Healing PCOS offers women small, manageable steps that help alleviate their symptoms and control the inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and insulin resistance that underlie the condition. Amy’s revolutionary program consists Amy has helped tens of thousands of women with PCOS take back control of their health and their lives through lasting, healing, and sustainable lifestyle change. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have struggled with PCOS, her revolutionary program can now work for you.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Reference, Medical, Audiobook, Science

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Amy Medling is a certified health coach and author of Healing PCOS. She specializes in working with women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, who are frustrated and have lost all hope when the only solution their doctors offer is to lose weight, take a pill and live with their symptoms. In response, Amy founded PCOS Diva and developed a proven protocol of supplements, diet and lifestyle programs that offer women tools to help gain control of their PCOS and regain their fertility, femininity, health and happiness.

Reviews

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's refreshing to know that there are books specifically geared toward helping women with PCOS. This book has a lot of tips and can be very empowering at times. One of my biggest beefs with health-centric books is that they are often sales pitches, aimed at convincing readers that in order to be healthy and follow the prescribed lifestyle, they must invest in hundreds of dollars worth of pills and supplements, and this is no exception.

It would help if authors would provide actual healthcare advice and skip the sales pitch.

[cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the overview of new PCOS research, the concept of food as medicine, and the general mindset of being enough at any stage in your life (and more than your PCOS), and at the exact same time, found the whole thing a bit like a giant infomercial for the author's vitamins, supplements, and protein powders side gig. Too much rah, rah, rah for my slightly skeptical soul.

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the book is pushing the supplements she sells. The actual information is an abridged summary of Clare Goodwin’s PCOS and pregnancy book.

While I appreciate books written for specific medical issues, it bothers me when authors overlook their access and privilege... this author/book comes across as saying if can’t afford the GOOP lifestyle eg you can’t to spend hundreds if not thousands revamping your home/cosmetics/work, buying the most expensive organic food, and dropping 💰 on her supplements there is little hope for you... I certainly hope that isn’t the case.

[Isabel Hinen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I didn't end up finishing it because I decided I didn't want to go through a 21-day diet, but I tried to gather as much information as I could from the first portion of the book. There was plenty of helpful education on PCOS, the drugs they usually prescribe for it, and natural ways to manage it. But to be honest it felt like a guidebook for Karens. From insights to become a "PCOS Diva" to Amy's constant negative outlook, it started to get ridiculous. I don't want you to tell me that just because I have PCOS, that makes me 10 times more susceptible to every single kind of disease and cancer you can possibly think of. Talk about cultivating a "woe is me" mentality! I don't want to live in fear of what kind of health issues I may or may not be "extra sensitive" to. I want to take care of my health the best that I can, and draw the line there. I strongly disliked Amy's "PCOS Diva" branding. Not only is it tacky as all get out (this is 2022 people) but it sounds a whole lot like an excuse to be high-maintenance beyond reasonability. I'm all about standing firm in taking care of yourself, but let's not take self-care a step too far, because then we're traveling into entitlement territory. And that's what this book felt like. She literally talked about haggling with a waitress over wanting to turn her baked potato into a completely different menu item, and when her husband told her she had become a diva, she just flat-out owned it and was PROUD of it. Are you kidding me?? This ain't it folks. The ONLY thing I took away from this was the natural supplements that are recommended for women with PCOS due to deficiencies. Sorry to be so hard on this book but I just wasn't impressed.

[Fatemeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good enough for people who are only beginning to learn about PCOS. It didn't really have anything new to add to the things I already knew, as I have read other books regarding PCOS before.

I only had one small problem:
► Many of the recipes didn't really work for me due to the inaccessibility of ingredients in my country.

[Leann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The information in the first few chapters is fantastic. Ultimately though the diet is super expensive and isn't possible if you're not wealthy or upper middle class.

[Dee Sagun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I binge read this book in 1 day. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 15. I was never given much information, 2 prescriptions and sent on my way. At 32 years old, I decided to educate myself. I am so glad I did. I absolutely loved this book. I have so many symptoms of PCOS now and throughout my life and I didn’t know were related to PCOS going back to 7th grade, as far as I can remember.
I haven’t started the 21 day plan yet, I ordered some supplements, so I will review after the 21 days. However I am so happy with the wealth of information in this book.
2 months ago I already changed my diet to keto, heavy on a vegetable focus, and I already feel better and have lost some weight. With some small tweaks and supplements to nourish my body with things that it’s lacking, I’m very hopeful I’ll get the results I desire (not weight related).
Don’t let the negative reviews of an expensive life style stray you away from this book. You only have one body. Learn about your body. What is your body telling you? What do your cravings really mean? What is your body thirsting for? Listen to your body. Take care of your body. Love your body. Cherish your body. NOURISH your body. It truly is the best gift you can give yourself. I’m a believer is a health and active life style. This books is very informative! I recommend to anyone ready to learn about PCOS.

[Samantha H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following Amy's work for a few years now, so to say that I was excited when I found out she was being published is an understatement. This book is an excellent compilation of all her best guidance with a few new nuggets of wisdom for us veterans. Not only does Amy give you the tools you need to control your PCOS symptoms, but she reminds you why you're worth the effort. If you are struggling with your PCOS symptoms, this book is an excellent start not only to give you real-world tips and tricks, but also to give you the motivation you need to use them. Managing any chronic condition is hard work, but Amy's words will put you at ease and show you that you can thrive with this condition. I love that the PCOS Diva motto is "progress, not perfection" because truly, we're all just works in progress. Thanks, Amy, for spreading your healing words!

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an okay introductory read on PCOS. I really liked the emphasis on a mindset-first approach. But it could have benefited from better explanations about the biological aspects of the condition – perhaps diagrams and analogies wherever possible. Also, I did not appreciate the inclusion of tips (such as dry brushing) that are scientifically sketchy.

The real gem in this for me, however, was the final chapter around the upsides of PCOS… it was refreshing and inspiring, and it gave me a new outlook on the condition and the implications on lifestyle.

Unfortunately, this book tried to market some supplements under the Diva brand. This was not tastefully done and it cheapened the read and the “Diva” mindset for me, personally. I also did not appreciate the anecdotes about her husband – they just rubbed me wrong (the way he talked to her). Apart from this, this book seemed to targeted family-oriented women – not a younger and/or single career-oriented group. Also, being from a developing country in the tropics, many of the ingredients for the recipes are not easily accessible to me. It would have been better if the author outlined a more generic 21-day plan – emphasising the nutrition benchmarks and types of food required, as opposed to highly specific recipes and diet plans.

Overall, it was informative and had the right idea… but it fell short in quite a few ways.

Final note: why does almost every book on PCOS read like a self-published alternative medicine e-book? This is a problem.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the advice offered in this book but most of it had either already do or had tried in the past. I think the book could be very helpful to someone just starting out.

[Camilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. It didn't have a whole lot of biologic information about PCOS, but focused instead on the emotional and mental health aspects of the disorder. Since women with PCOS tend to have perpetually elevated levels of cortisol, symptoms of anxiety or depression, and struggle with getting regular sleep, Medling concentrated this book on providing advice to mitigate those problems or to alleviate the complications that result from those problems. There were plenty of suggestions for what to eat and how to schedule your life around your needs, but the primary focus and my main takeaway from the book was how to incorporate an attitude of self care to your daily routine. Moving your body throughout the day, stopping in the afternoon for a 20-minute tea break, soothing your stresses and preparing your nights for satisfying sleep were all suggestions Medling promoted. I find myself intrigued by the idea that I can not only control the quality of the food I eat, but also the quality of the sleep I get, the quality of the exercise I enact, and the quality of the relaxation I plan and provide for myself to give my whole body and soul the opportunity to survive and thrive with PCOS. I'll certainly be experimenting with some of her suggestions in the coming days. This book left me with plenty to ponder.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good as a starting point but being from the UK and its written by an Amercian it was hard to relate to some things and especially hard when it came to food. I won't be following the diet plan but it was good to look at what supplements help with what and what are better foods for PCOS. I am not interested in creating motos and finding things to be grateful for everyday. I am also not interested in completely overhauling my diet and changing almost everything about it. Maybe this might be useful for someone with more symptoms than me but it's very drastic. I will take small bits of advice from it and do more reading about it.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was full of very helpful information that I'm going to incorporate into my lifestyle. Also had some hopeful positives to the disorder to look on the bright side. The only thing I didn't really need was the lengthy amount of time spent on how to prep food, but I understand why it's there because not everyone is used to doing the prep work, for me it was redundant. My biggest takeaway was how to approach body movement.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blessed to receive a review copy of this book from Amy and I can honestly say this is the best book about PCOS that I have read since I was diagnosed over 20 years ago (and I've read most of them). This is both educational and practical and shows women with PCOS how to create a healthy, holistic lifestyle for themselves in which they can thrive, not merely survive.

[Brigid Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half of this i was like wow this is great stuff to know about how my body works, and the other half i was like please stop trying to sell me your products and be for real

[Hope Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a very helpful book on understanding root causes of PCOS symptoms. Highly recommend if you are first diagnosed and not sure where to start with explanations of your diagnosis.

[Lily Hammer-Beerends · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! very step by step plan helpful for people needing a guide. Lost one star as there is a heavy encouragement for authors supplements. Very good science based health advice.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Amy Medling’s new book, Healing PCOS: A 21-Day Plan for Reclaiming Your Health and Life with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It is just the 300 page pep talk I have always needed! Amy doesn’t pull any punches. She tells us exactly what we need to do to optimize our health with PCOS — and it’s not for the faint of heart. For most of of us, living like a PCOS Diva requires major lifestyle changes. However, alongside the tough truth she presents us with every tool we will need for success, and somehow throughout each chapter she communicates that she believes in our ability to heal enough for all of us to achieve our goals. Her smart, savvy, compassionate coaching runs throughout the book, and it is undergirded by the grit and determination it took to heal herself and to stop identifying as victim. Her path to healing is truly inspiring.

I have been on a healing journey with PCOS for almost two decades, but I have never delved so deeply into the way my mindset affects my success as I did while reading this book. Amy addresses so many of the mental barriers that stand between women with PCOS and our wellness. Her coaching in the book doesn’t feel condescending, patronizing, or filled with false promises. She is gifting us out of pure love with every insight she has gained along her path from sickness to health with PCOS, and it is an absolute treasure trove of hard earned wisdom with the practical advice to put it all into practice!

[Rachel Rosenthal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m on board with the positive thinking and self-care aspects here. But with most of the rest…it just doesn’t have to be this hard, y’all. For one thing, we need to let go of this blanket “gluten- and dairy-free for all PCOS patients” trope once and for all. It is not evidence-based and it is not a cure. For another thing, when it comes to research outcomes, correlation and causation are two different things and it is damaging to treat them as though they are equivalent. Diet Coke, my dear friends, does not cause depression. Also, there’s a lot about this plan that will be fraught with barriers for a lot of women, whether it’s that many of the recommended foods and supplements are cost-prohibitive, or they have other things to occupy their time than twice-weekly grocery trips, etc. Overall, I just believe that balance is possible and one doesn’t have to take leave of the real world (and go flat broke) in order to manage our disease.

[Carrie Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I appreciated the first few chapters about how important it is to change your mindset first before undertaking a huge overhaul in your lifestyle, in order to make it sustainable. However, her proposal for a dietary plan is not feasible for me, and i imagine, not for for many other women. If you follow everything, you will be popping supplement pills morning, noon, and night. Which is expensive, and no, I don't want to do that. Being able to meal prep the way she talked about was very overwhelming and not feasible for a busy mum with little kids.

[Lindsay Kittell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was diagnosed about 12 years ago. I have read many books on the subject most suggesting Metformin and good luck. This book has great healthy ideas that can be used to naturally improve symptoms. I can't wait to put some new habits into practice. This book will stay out as a regular reference guide.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a TON from this book. The best resource on PCOS I've found yet!

[Rebekah P]

This book gave me hope

Finished this book today, so now I'm a PCOS Diva and I feel healthier than before, I feel good and I feel armed with knowledge to fight and heal my pcos. I feel positive, and empowered for the first time to make some more informed choices for my health. I felt that there was soooo much information in this book. I was using it like a bible while doing the 21 day program within it, to flip through and read up again on supplements and many different things. It felt like this was the routine I needed in my life right now, especially during covid and isolation so that has really helped me so much. I did feel a bit like there were a lot of things and steps to keep up with so I probably would like to go over and do it again to keep myself on track and pick things up more easily...I didnt use the recipes except one but followed the food reccomendations, shopping for pcos friendly foods, I cut gluten and dairy as well as bought supplements and teas and did the pcos diva essential oils short course and bought some oils, I also did dry body brushing. Because I started buying these things while going through the book and program I guess they would be more effective if I was to do it over again as I'd get more time to use them. I also incorporated the yoga, the walking and meditation but some days I didn't get all the diva do and daily tasks done with work etc so would love to go back again and do those :)

After reading this book:

Mentally:
I feel strong
Positive
Empowered
Educated
Happy
Self loved
Enlightened

Physically:
improved hirsutism
I lost 2kg
Lost cms from my waist
More energy
Brighter eyes
Nicer skin
More flexible

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I love the pcos diva website too, it was the first thing i had ever found after my diagnosis eight years ago. I was frustrated with my doctors and myself before i found pcos diva. And this book is icing on the cake! It takes all her great info and organizes it into an easy to read plan to help you thrive like a diva! She breaks everything down into small, managable steps to build you up to making healthy choices, and im not just talking about food. Self care is the main theme of this book, food is the medicine. The book really focuses on becoming self aware about what foods trigger symptoms and how to be your own health advocate. I know that there are women out there that are newly diagnosed and that the only thing the doctor said was to lose weight and eat better, gave them the pill and metformin and sent them on their way. I know how you feel, overwhelmed, frustrated, and in general pretty lousy because, well, pcos right? I've been there and ive read different books and I've tried different plans. I always come back to the PCOS Diva and recenter. And I'm so excited to have this book! With everything neatly laid out and a specific plan its something easy for me to grab and reference or skim again when i need a reminder that i am worth healing and that pcos is not something that has to slow me down. If you have pcos, do yourself a favor and buy this book!

[Farhana Faruq · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book for all women. Basically be kind to yourself, eat well, move, and uplift your spirit.

Those with PCOS, it is very informative. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I'm happy to have listened to it. The audio book is approximately 7 hours long. It takes in to consideration that everyone with PCOS is different. So the information is broad based - not black and white. I honestly don't know if following all this will cure anything - but you'll feel better if you're eating better (following an anti-inflammatory eating plan), if you're moving more (and it doesn't have to be exercise) and if you're around positive people and de-stressing.

If you don't have time to read/listen to the book, check out the website: pcosdiva.com. There's a free PCOS 101 guide, it's a rough summary of the book. They are supplements she sells too, and mentioned in the book (power greens, reds, protein powder, fiber) - but you don't need to buy that brand. Ideally try and get your nutrients from whole foods if possible.

If you plan to follow her 21 day plan, which is to just get you started on a life journey, you need the book. The audio book with recipes read out, etc. just doesn't work well.

[Alisha Radloff · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you feel like all of your personal avenues are exhausted and you have "nobody" to talk to who can relate to you, that is where this book comes in to play. You feel as though you are sitting down for a relaxing conversation with a good friend who is able to provide inspirational insight and that "Me, too!" feeling. This book could not have come across my path at a more perfect time. I had been feeling overwhelmed by many aspects in life and this book has helped me slow down, be mindful of myself and move forward in a positive way.

No matter where you are in your PCOS journey, regardless of age, there are many aspects of this book that have the overall message of a common goal for everyone reading this book: helping you to personally achieve your best self. This book is not singular in trying to start a family, strict dieting, etc. It is about finding out what works for you and how you can go about to achieve that plan at a pace that feels right for you. The overall feeling of the book is that anything you do for your Diva self is about progress, not perfection.

[Sara ✨ Next Book Review Blog ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

************* AUDIOBOOK REVIEW *************

I’ve started to spend some more time researching PCOS. I’ve been living with so many side effects since the age of 16 that I’d really like to get a good grasp of the disorder and what I can do to help myself. This book is a great resource. The author really breaks it down and gives you an easy plan to follow with recipes.

I removed a star for 2 reasons, one this is not s book that should be made into an audiobook. It just doesn’t work to have recipes read out to you like this or meal plans listed out. This is better as s print book, yes an ebook would work but I’d prefer the print copy personally. The second item is that some of the items on the meals are difficult to find and some are a wee bit pricey.

I was relieved that when I downloaded the audiobook I was also gifted a PDF copy of the book which means I have a print out now! This book will be a great resource for women trying to get a hold of their PCOS and trying to tame it, step by step.

[Maddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pros:
- Easy to read
- Some solid advice, mostly regarding basic healthy lifestyle habits
- Optimistic tone

Cons:
- Author pushing her own brand and supplements throughout
- I don't resonate with being a "diva". The opening scene of her pretty much subbing out her entire meal at a restaurant was annoying.
- Almost overly holistic i.e. a lot of the tips not really relevant to PCOS directly and limited medical information. For example, talks a lot about dry brushing and essential oils.
- Not vegan/vegetarian friendly (author does recommend lot of plant-based foods but also explicitly says she doesn't support veg diets and thinks not manageable when you have PCOS. As such the diet plans were of no value to me.
- Referencing is not great. Yes there is a list of references by chapter at the end but hard to know which one goes to which claim. Makes it hard to sift through what is strongly scientifically backed and what is not (have a feeling there was a lot of the latter)

[Katharine Strange · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked up this book after coming across the author's podcast. The book begins with an anecdote about having to make a million substitutions at a restaurant (but don't worry, it's *actually* super empowering to avoid potatoes!) I probably should've stopped reading there, but there was just enough actual science mixed in with the gobs of pseudoscience to keep me going.

And then we got to the meal plan. The author's rules are both nonsensical (don't buy anything with more than 5 ingredients but stock up on Worcestershire sauce, farmer's markets are cheaper than grocery store produce) AND incredibly rigid. I threw the book across the room when I got to the part about starting your day with a glass of hot water, cayenne, and lemon juice. Oh, and did I mention the time she spends hawking her supplement line? For all her talk about curing disease and learning self-worth, this is just a bad fad diet.

[Toni Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve been trying to follow this plan for a week and it’s... hard. It’s not even the eating that’s the problem. It’s all the things you have to do throughout the day. As a college student with a demanding schedule, it’s hard to follow the daily regimen without skimping on sleep and to be honest, I’m not sure it would fit well for working women either. May continue to try to the best of my abilities because so many women have said they’ve seen good results.

Other than that, the book is a very good resource for understanding PCOS, its causes and its triggers. I just wish the self-care parts were a little more flexible and less time-consuming.

Pro tip: don’t invest in the supplements she recommends until you’ve tried the plan and know you can stick to it. I’m so glad I didn’t drop $200 on supplements I probably never would’ve taken