{"id":2638,"date":"2026-02-21T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/?p=2638"},"modified":"2026-02-25T15:32:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T15:32:44","slug":"i-have-pcos-people-tell-me-to-just-lose-weight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/21\/i-have-pcos-people-tell-me-to-just-lose-weight\/","title":{"rendered":"I have PCOS \u2013 people tell me to \u2018just lose weight\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"Simone\t<\/div>
The effortless version of femininity I thought I was supposed to represent, always eluded me (Picture: Simone Margett)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018This isn\u2019t what girls are supposed to look like.\u2019 <\/strong><\/p>\n

That was what I told myself, every single morning, when I looked in the mirror. <\/p>\n

I\u2019d then spend the next 10-15 minutes tugging at my skin, tweezing, covering and concealing the faint dark hairs<\/a> that would shadow my chin.<\/p>\n

I would tilt my head to the mirror, desperate to find an angle where I looked softer, prettier, more like the women I saw online or in magazines.<\/p>\n

But that effortless version of femininity I thought I was supposed to represent, always eluded me.<\/p>\n

When I was 18, following numerous scans and blood tests I was diagnosed with \u200bPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)<\/a> \u2013 a chronic hormonal condition that affects 1 in 8 women in the UK.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t{“@context”:”https:\/\/schema.org”,”@type”:”VideoObject”,”name”:”Woman with PCOS decides to grow out her beard – and doesn’t care what trolls say”,”duration”:”T1M23S”,”thumbnailUrl”:”https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/07\/12\/09\/73120693-0-image-a-10_1689152317760.jpg”,”uploadDate”:”2023-07-12T09:55:01+0100″,”description”:”An influencer suffering from PCOS is determined to fight back against beauty standards.nnBecca Wilks, from Birmingham, has been dealing with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) since the age of 14.nnBut after years of suffering, she has decided to accept her beard and has become a social media star with over 72,000 followers across TikTok (@_theali.house).”,”contentUrl”:”https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2023\/07\/12\/2610168039700843216\/480x270_MP4_2610168039700843216.mp4″,”height”:270,”width”:480}<\/p>\n

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It took away the version of womanhood I thought I was supposed to embody.<\/p>\n<p>Society told me to look a certain way, and knowing I had PCOS didn\u2019t make it any easier to realise that I failed to meet that impossible standard. <\/p>\n<p>A diagnosis didn\u2019t mean people now saw my struggles with oily hair, the clumps that fell out, or the fact I sought out out every supplement I could. I was still alone.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"413\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-26998394 lazyload\" alt=\"Simone Margett - PCOS made me question everything I thought I knew about being feminine\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_285840856-916f.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>I\u2019d wake up already exhausted, drag myself through the day in a fog (Picture: Simone Margett)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>From the moment I started puberty, I struggled with the changes my body went through.<\/p>\n<p>My skin was constantly breaking out, particularly along my jawline, and each day brought another dark chin hair. <\/p>\n<p>Then came the fatigue. I\u2019d wake up already exhausted, drag myself through the day in a fog. I would later collapse into bed feeling guilty for not being more productive, more energetic, more together.<\/p>\n<p>All the while, I was fighting a constant battle with <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/05\/22\/started-period-11-heavy-bleeding-cost-months-school-23221413\/\">heavy periods<\/a>, unexplained weight gain and excess body hair.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I felt lazy, broken, and unreliable <\/p>\n<p><title>Quote<\/title><title>Quote<\/title><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Frustratingly, I seemed to be the only one I knew that was dealing with PCOS or puberty struggles. So I was often met with insensitive comments.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve had people make jokes about my <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2022\/10\/09\/woman-with-pcos-embraces-facial-hair-and-vows-never-to-shave-it-17531415\/\">facial hair<\/a>, or tell me to \u2018just lose weight\u2019 \u2013 as if that would magically cure everything. I felt low, insecure and wanted to hide away. <\/p>\n<p>It was as if I had become just someone to poke fun at. <\/p>\n<p>I adapted my skincare based on the seasons, I tried using cleaner products and cleansing my skin better \u2013 anything to look as \u2018feminine\u2019 as possible. But nothing seemed to work. <\/p>\n<section class=\"metro-comment-cta\">\n<div class=\"metro-comment-cta__inner\"><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text-wrap\"><title>Comment now<\/title><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text\">Do you have any experiences of living with PCOS? Share your experiences below<\/span><\/span><a class=\"metro-comment-cta__button\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\">Comment Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>I would still receive the same comments \u2018Oh, you\u2019ve put on weight,\u2019 or \u2018You look bloated\u2019. <\/p>\n<p>Even wearing loose-fitting jumpers and leggings, in an attempt to mask my stomach,  couldn\u2019t stop the cutting remarks. <\/p>\n<p>But then, I started following women online with PCOS. They showed their facial hair proudly, spoke openly about weight fluctuations, <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2023\/05\/22\/how-to-tell-if-your-acne-is-actually-this-common-skin-condition-18820081\/\">hormonal acne<\/a>, and highlighted the brutal exhaustion.<\/p>\n<p>I realised that everyone\u2019s PCOS journey isn\u2019t the same.<\/p>\n<p>One creator in particular, posted unfiltered photos of her \u2018PCOS skin\u2019 and shared honestly about struggling with her skin, changed something in me.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"485\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-26998395 lazyload\" alt=\"Simone Margett - PCOS made me question everything I thought I knew about being feminine\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_285840853-240f.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>I became proud of who I was (Picture: Simone Margett)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I thought she looked radiant, not because she was conventionally flawless, but because she was unapologetically herself.<\/p>\n<p>Seeing people online reclaim their bodies helped me start to feel comfortable in mine too. I stopped seeing my symptoms as shameful, and started seeing them as proof that my body was just doing its best.<\/p>\n<p>I became proud of who I was, not ashamed of who I wasn\u2019t. <\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tPolycystic ovary syndrome \t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>PCOS is a common condition that affects how ovaries work. Symptoms of PCOS can include:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>irregular periods or no periods at all<\/li>\n<li>difficulty getting pregnant as a result of irregular ovulation or no ovulation<\/li>\n<li>excessive hair growth (hirsutism) \u2013 usually on the face, chest, back or buttocks<\/li>\n<li>weight gain, thinning hair and hair loss from the head, oily skin or acne<\/li>\n<li>For more information and guidance visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos\/\">https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I\u2019m learning to see the beauty beyond my facial hair, oily skin and everything in between. I\u2019ve learnt to just be kinder to myself especially on the flare up days.<\/p>\n<p>Sadly, PCOS is still misunderstood. It is more than just weight gain or missed periods. I still feel unseen in my struggles, such as the fatigue that makes climbing a flight of stairs feel like a marathon<\/p>\n<p>It puts a huge emotional toll as it affects nearly every part of my physical and mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n<p>But my self-confidence has made strides. Now I know femininity means different things, embracing our flaws and not comparing ourselves to an AI version or heavily filtered picture. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"368\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-26998396 lazyload\" alt=\"Simone Margett - PCOS made me question everything I thought I knew about being feminine\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_285840812-9e2d-e1771516670240.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Finally, at 30, I have learned that my body never needed fixing (Picture: Simone Margett)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Because that’s not reality. <\/p>\n<p>When I look in the mirror now, I still see the same hairs, the same scars, the same dark circles under my eyes. But I no longer flinch or feel the urge to prod myself into invisibility.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, I see someone who has learned that femininity isn\u2019t fragile or universal. It\u2019s messy, hormonal, imperfect, tired, and real.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, at 30, I have learned that my body never needed fixing.<\/p>\n<p>Rather the idealised image of femininity needed to evolve. <\/p>\n<p>I just wish I had been able to realise that sooner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing <a href=\"mailto:jess.austin@metro.co.uk\">M.Navarrogriffiths@metro.co.uk<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Share your views in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\"><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-comments\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span><title>Comment now<\/title><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-preferred-source\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The effortless version of femininity I thought I was supposed to represent, always eluded me (Picture: Simone Margett) \u2018This isn\u2019t what girls are supposed to look like.\u2019  That was what I told myself, every single morning, when I looked in the mirror.  I\u2019d then spend the next 10-15 minutes tugging at my skin, tweezing, covering and concealing the faint dark […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2640,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2638"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2645,"href":"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638\/revisions\/2645"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/naturallywoodcreations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}