In addition to proper diet and supplementation, exercise is the best defense against PCOS and its symptoms. Insulin resistance can be eased by a lifelong commitment to an exercise regimen. After learning that a sedentary lifestyle may have attributed to their PCOS, many women embrace exercise and attempt to make it an everyday part of their life. You can go overboard with exercise. Remember, your body needs time to heal and rest in between workouts.

It is very important that you listen to your body at all times. If your body is saying, “I’m exhausted,” then don’t attempt a strenuous workout. Consider swapping your tired day with a scheduled off day. It’s ok to change your plans. You will get so much more out of your work out if you give your body the rest it is asking for rather than straining yourself. You can recharge your battery and give your next work out your all when you approach it with a refreshed and energized body. Fatigue is a common symptom of PCOS, making it even more difficult to motivate on low energy days.

If exhaustion is common, you might want to explore the reasons why. Are you getting enough sleep at night? Aim for between 7 and 8 hours per night so that you have the physical stamina to complete your workouts. Are you eating frequently to maintain proper blood sugar? Are you under abnormal levels of stress? Many factors can attribute to an exhausted feeling.

Many women experience a sense of failure when opting out of their daily exercise routine. Do you feel like you are cheating by giving up or swapping out a planned day of exercise? While you shouldn’t beat yourself up over it, feeling badly about skipping a day is a testament to your hard work and dedication to your health.

Even if you feel like you are running on empty, you may still be able to do a light intensity activity. You could do something different like taking a leisurely walk in the park or a short bike ride to help rejuvenate your body. Try not to feel guilty for listening to your inner voice when it expresses the need to take it easy. Instead of working out, try studying up on some of the latest research relating to PCOS or connecting with other women who have the same condition. Building a support network for your emotional body is just as important as exercising your physical body. Blogs can be a good source of information for understanding your disease and connecting with other women who understand your issues.

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Sometimes light intensity activity helps to give you more energy once you start moving. You might even try some light stretching or breathing exercises to help you feel better. If you are having a tired day, try this:

First determine if it is your mind or body that is tired. Close your eyes and run your mind around your different body parts. Begin thinking about your feet, run your mind up your body to your calves, knees, thighs, keep moving your awareness upward until you reach the crown of your head. When noticing your different body parts, did you feel that they were tired or sore? If so, maybe it is a good idea to just take a day to rest and rejuvenate. Perhaps take a leisurely walk to keep from getting stiff in times of inactivity.

Or are you just feeling unmotivated and lethargic for some other reason?

If you think you might just be experiencing a case of the blahs, the best medicine for you is movement. Start slowly. Make an agreement with yourself to just start to walk. Maybe get in a pool and walk in the shallow end. Take a short leisurely bike ride. Usually, with a case of the blahs, the hardest part is starting for the day. Once you do, you are likely to wonder what the motivational problem was in the first place. You may just finish or even exceed your exercise goals for the day.

Energy levels fluctuate, especially in women with PCOS. Remember to be kind to yourself, just because you were able to perform to your maximum potential one day, may not mean that you have the energy or stamina to do so all the time. Keeping in mind that proper rest is as important to your body as exercise is a good way to get rid of exercise guilt.

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