Meet Malika from NYC: Hormonal Hottie with PCOS
👋 Tell us about yourself! What is your name, age, location, & occupation?
Hi, I’m Mali a PCOS girly and self proclaimed hormone nerd. I’m passionate about hormone health, wellness and fitness. I was born and raised in Bombay and live in New York City. I enjoy running, lifting, pilates, yoga, cooking and making matcha. My 9-5 is working as a healthcare strategy consultant and my 5-9 is building a community on @healthwithmali.
How did you discover that you had PCOS? What symptoms, situations & resources led you to this diagnosis?
I have an older sister who was diagnosed with PCOS a few years before me. I started noticing similar symptoms with more fatigue, anxiety, facial hair, hormonal acne and painful periods before I got my official diagnosis in 2020. If it wasn't for my sister I would've been so lost and confused about what was happening to me. She really inspired me to take charge of my health and wellbeing! I lover her so much!
What are 3 things you want other people with PCOS or similar symptoms to know?
1- You are not alone! So many PCOS symptoms are socially "tabooed" and no one talks about them.
2- You will not be stuck forever. Yes, it takes some time to readjust your lifestyle to manage your symptoms but you will get better!
3- There will be flare ups but that does not mean you are starting from scratch.
At Aavia, we know that lifestyle modifications can help manage and reduce symptoms. What has been the most effective for you in managing PCOS?
Balancing my blood sugar! Prioritizing protein! Prioritizing sleep! It took me awhile to understand how all of these are interconnected. Eating to balance my blood sugar helped lessen my glucose spikes which was a game changer for my mood swings. More protein also helped me maintain my muscles which, in turn, helped keep my metabolism moving along. Regular and adequate sleep is so tough to maintain but when I'm able to get enough good quality sleep I am literally a different person! And when I'm able to focus on all 3 I am on top of the world.
What are your luteal phase must-haves/do’s to feel better?
I've been obsessed with the Biodance (Korean Skincare) Collagen facemask. I almost always breakout right before my period and this helps my skin stay hydrated! I'm even more of an introvert during my luteal phase so I love baking and having solo movie nights at home!
Where can our members find you?
IG: @healthwithmali
TikTok: @healthwithmali
Aavia is the daily hormone health app that helps you track, understand, and reduce symptoms with personalized recommendations to improve your life. Learn more on our Instagram and Tiktok.