Customer Reviews

The PCOS Workbook: Your Guide to Complete Physical and Emotional Health

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the 5th book on PCOS I've purchased on Amazon.com since being diagnosed in May 2009, and it's the first one I felt compelled to review. It is absolutely the best purchase I've made regarding my health. The workbook format is so much more useful for keeping track of my specific levels, what to ask my endocrinologist, and documenting my progress. I love the worksheet for documenting lab results - so useful! For someone who does not come from a clinical background, all this information can be really overwhelming. The author explains everything in detail, but still makes it easy to comprehend. The other books I've read made me more anxious after reading them, while this one made me feel empowered. I love it and have now ordered her other book as well, can't wait for it to arrive.

No two women with PCOS have the same experience with the syndrome. However,there is one universal truth about PCOS that all women facing it share - it will affect their nutrition, ability to control stress, fertility, body image, and emotions. Enter Angela Grassi and Stephanie Mattei. Grassi, who previously wrote "The Dietician's Guide to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" partnered with Stephanie Mattei to write "The PCOS Workbook" to help women explore and "challenge specific difficulties" of living with PCOS. One of the greatest pieces of information in the early pages of "The PCOS Workbook" is the simple entry entitled "How to Use The PCOS Workbook." In these few short pages, Grassi and Mattei outline what you will be experiencing in the book, chapter by chapter. The first chapter, "Connecting the Dots: Understanding Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" is followed by chapters focused on nutrition, stress, the issue of body image, mindful eating, coping with infertility, and finally the management of PCOS to prevent further medical complications. This book is a treasure-trove of information. Here's what's truly great about this book: Throughout each chapter, Grassi and Mattei have developed questions and lists relevant to each topic, with areas for you to write what is relevant to your PCOS experience. This is a WORKbook in every sense of the word. For example, you turn to page 101, in the Body Image and PCOS chapter, and you're asked to actually challenge your own myths about body image. The authors ask you to think about your environment, what you consider to be "truth" and "rules," and how you might self-blame. Then you're asked to think about what you were thinking about body image as you were going through the process of answering the previous questions. This book gets down to the nitty-gritty and helps you work through it all. "The PCOS Workbook" asks you to truly analyze your eating and exercise outines
and patterns, while at the same time providing more-than-enough detailed information about everything you will need to know about the disorder to be well-armed
when talking with your healthcare professionals. The charts Grassi and Mattei use help break the information down into easy-to swallow (no pun intended) bites
of PCOS knowledge. "The PCOS Workbook" is a resource I would recommend to any woman who wants to learn as much as possible about the syndrome, and about
themselves through the process. But be prepared, the Workbook will ask you to dig deep. In the back of the book a glossary is provided, as well as forms to
help you track your lab results, a food journal, online resources, a suggested PCOS food list, and even sample menus. The only addition to this book that would make it an even better resource would be more illustrations. As a publisher, I know that artwork, photos, etc., are pleasing to the eye and provide our reading
eyes a break occasionally. Grassi and Mattei have provided a thorough resource I think all women with PCOS should read.

I've read several books on PCOS. This one I felt is the most helpful for someone with PCOS. Not only does it offer information about the disorder that a regular person can understand, but the written exercises helped challenge my thinking and helped me take control over my PCOS. I lost 5 pounds in the first month I started reading and feel that my exercise and eating habits are finally on track.

This book is the perfect choice for someone ready to make the lifestyle changes necessary to have a positive impact on their PCOS symptoms.

I have read at least a dozen books about PCOS over the last 5 years and would highly recommend "The PCOS Workbook." This book has basic information about PCOS, but is not meant to be a comprehensive resource. Instead, it is a workbook that takes you through written exercises that really get you thinking about your lifestyle and the impact your habits have on your PCOS symptoms. There are many books out there that give info on PCOS, but this is the only one I've found that guided me through the necessary work I needed to do to really start making changes.

I was diagnosed with PCOS April 2011, the doctor that diagnosed me didn't explain the condition and was more interested in explaining the affects it had on me (The insulin resistance mostly). I was very confused and heartbroken at the prospect of having a condition that was considered "Infertility" and every website I checked made it sound as though having kids and losing weight was a lost cause.

My husband ordered this book for me and I'm extremely glad he did. I highly recommend it to anyone who's confused or scared or just needs comfort and hope. The author explains the condition in an easy to understand and comforting way, they make it clear just because you have PCOS doesn't mean the world is going to end. The book is full of diagrams and helpful information such as charts to keep track of your diets and what foods you should eat to lose weight, as well as the medication that your doctor could possibly put you on and what they do and what side affects are possible.

It was a great comfort to know that the symptoms I've felt and couldn't understand were a normal part of having PCOS and that I wasn't alone when it came to pain, hypoglycemia and jealousy and explained why when I dieted I gained weight instead of losing it.

I recommend this book to any woman with PCOS! You aren't alone and you shouldn't suffer alone.

I am happy beyond words that I bought this book! It's worth what I paid for it and more!

Let me start by saying that I am in no way the type of person that enjoys this type of book. I do not have the ability to endure entire chapters devoted to explaining medical terms which tend to be repetative and often appear contradictary in the end. THIS BOOK IS NOT LIKE THAT! In a few paragraphs, it has given me more insight into this illness than a solid month of dilligent search of several other PCOS books.

I was a little resistant to the 'workbook' part of it. I am disinclined to do jounaling type activities, but this wasn't that bad. The questions it had you ask yourself made sense. It wasn't just "talk about your feelings" mumbo jumbo...it was logical.

I wish I could put a giant flashing neon sign that says BUY THIS BOOK in this review. It surpasses every other PCOS book I have gotten my hands on. They should hand this out in the doctor's office and then let me burn the other PCOS books I wasted my time on!

Being recently diagnosed with PCOS, I have been looking for information about the syndrome. My doctor is not well versed in this area, but she gave me some websites to go to for more info. I haven't read many books on PCOS< but I have done a lot of internet research. There is something about having to process your thoughts and write them down in a workbook that just helps you internalize the information provided. Though I'm still having a hard time dealing with all the complications and such, I'm glad this book was recommended to me. Excellent way to deal with your emotions while getting some wonderful information.

I'm still working my way through this book, but so far, it has been very helpful. There are many great resource books out there on PCOS, but this is the first one I've purchased that actually helped me think through how I was practically going to apply what I was learning, or thinking through obstacles, etc. Dr Grassi is a well-known dietician for PCOS, and I've listened to interviews with her, etc and she's very knowledgeable.

I feel more empowered since starting this book and I haven't even finished yet! Highly recommend.

I have always struggled with my weight, and the medical problems that come along with having PCOS, and this book truely has saved me. I dont feel lost anymore, and for the first time in my entire life, I am losing weight.
I recomend this book to everyone with PCOS. this is my 3rd book, and this one actually helps.

Finally a resource workbook written for women with PCOS to better understand exactly what PCOS is, how to understand the hormone changes that accompany PCOS and tools to equip the reader for diet, emotional helps and therapies. PCOS is a commonly missed diagnosis in young women with menstrual disorders and this book clearly explains and illustrates the physiological and psychological changes that accompany PCOS.

I highly recommend it for any woman with PCOS wanting to take control of her health - for weight loss, hormone stabilization, or fertility issues. A road map that illustrates many helps towards health and happiness with PCOS.