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Welcome to Mrs H’s Multi-Hyphen Life!

Hi! I’m Leanne — HR leader, mum, wife, dog wrangler, and long-time PCOS warrior. Welcome to my gloriously chaotic, multi-hyphenated life.

Get the history behind the Mrs H brand, in the first post I published: Where Do I Start?

Feel free to have a look around – the buttons below will help you navigate to specific topics, and all posts that reference additional support, specific products or further reading include links.

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  • The H’s went Crusing to Norway

    Cruising – A Family Holiday and Bucket List Tick

    In April this year the three of us embarked on a 7-day cruise from Southampton to Norway, on the beautiful P&O Iona. Right in between Mr H’s 40th and my 36th birthday, and a completely different holiday than we’re used to (think sun, beach, all inclusive and a plane!) we were all really excited. 

    I’ve done separate posts for tips and specific location information for the 4 ports – just click on the names of the places: Stavenger , Olden, Haugesund and Kristiansand

    Having booked ‘select fare’ we could choose from three perks pre boarding – parking at Southampton, return coach travel to Southampton (from the North West) or £150 onboard credit. We booked an advance return train ticket for the three of us for £113, booked a hotel the night before in Southampton (free thanks to Mr H’s hotels.com rewards) and bagged the extra money to spend on board – turns out it didn’t last long!

    If you’re ever in Southampton, I highly recommend the Coriander Lounge – food, service and value was amazing. 

    Embarking on departure day was surprisingly easy, and very very well organised. We had an arrival time of 3pm, but you can ‘bag drop’ any time from 11am – we grabbed a local taxi to the port from the hotel, dropped our bags and spent the early afternoon wandering around the port of Southampton, got some lunch and headed back to the departure terminal. 

    Pre-cruise you’re asked to print off your luggage labels and fasten them to suitcases using paper clips / sellotape – having stalked cruising pages on Facebook for a while a number of people recommended these luggage tags, which I found far easier and meant that the paper couldn’t be ripped / get wet.  

    Once onboard you must attend your muster station before heading to your cabin – your muster station is your emergency meeting point should there be an incident on the ship. Cabins were ready by the time we got on board, cruise cards and bags had been dropped off too! 

    We stayed in 11211 which is a port side, aft cabin with a balcony. 

    Cabin was a great size, perfect for the three of us, and was spotlessly clean – storage can be a little lacking, so I bought some magnetic hooks like these which we used for Cruise cards, bags, jackets and swimming things. 

    The onboard intranet is where you find all of your ship maps, booking system for restaurants, kids club, entertainment and where you can keep an eye on your spending. We decided not to pay for internet on Sea days (as a switch off was nice) nor did we buy the drinks packages as we just wouldn’t have gotten the value from them – MR H likes fish, but he doesn’t drink like one. 

    Food is everywhere on a cruise, all the time; it’s in buffets, a la carte restaurants, on deck, by the pool, in your cabin, on a ‘street’ at sea, in the steakhouse, in an ice cream parlour, a coffee shop, the atrium – if you’ve ever seen ‘Over the Hedge’ read that back in RJ’s voice. 

    Our absolute favourites on this ship were the street food kiosks – all three outlets were amazing (burgers, fish and chips, and asian inspired) – the Beachhouse (extra but so worth it) – the Keele and Cow (steakhouse, also extra) – Pearl and Aqua dining rooms (table service, a la carte menu, included in price). 

    The buffet restaurant was ok, food was usually hot and fresh, with lots of choices, it just felt very much like a canteen – and at peak times was very busy. 

    We didn’t try the Epicurean, The Olive Grove or Sindhu, but heard great reviews about all of them. 

    The Reef is the on board kids club, and they have three sessions running each Sea Day (morning, afternoon and evening) and two sessions running on port days (afternoon and evening) – children are signed in and out of each session, and the sessions are all free – unless you book and then cancel within 2 hours of the session starting, or don’t turn up at all – then you get billed £5. 

    Entertainment-wise in the Headliners Theatre we saw both shows of The Animal Guyz, who were brilliant, funny and informative; The Privateers (who sold out pre-sailing so make sure to book early and before you board if you really want to see something in particular!); and a West End inspired musical about a boy who makes a friend with his AI assistant (it’s quite sweet and funny). 

    We saw two shows (and attended two silent disco’s for Master H) in the Sky Dome – this is much more relaxed than the main theatre, and has two bars which is a definite plus, as well as panoramic views across each side out to the open ocean. 

    The ship itself has 6 small outdoor hot tubs on each side, enough to comfortably seat 4 people in each, two large hot tubs on the rear of the ship, an indoor pool in the sky dome, and outdoor plunge and infinity pools – there is another one in the adult only sanctuary – and plenty of bars dotted around. If you’re lucky enough you might even find a rubber duck or two! 

    The staff on board were wonderful, nothing was too much hard work, everyone seemed happy and genuinely pleased to be onboard. Our steward Amit was amazing – they really do work very hard, and long hours! 

    *If you choose to tip the crew (like we did) they;re grateful for anything, but we found that cash (rather than chocolates or gifts like some others leave) was received well – and can be used to purchase whatever they need. 

    It was a wonderful week of exploring the different ports around Norway, and I’d definitely recommend it if you’re into sight seeing. 7 days onboard was enough for us, and we’d definitely consider a cruise somewhere else in the future! 

  • Mean Grean Breakfast Smoothie

    🌞 Start your morning right with this delicious, nutritious breakfast smoothie – with chia seeds and oats contributing to managing those blood sugar levels and hunger pangs this’ll keep you going through till’ lunch!

    💚 376 calories

    💚 26.2g natural protein

    💚 10.8g fibre

    I used the frozen green mix from Aldi, and frozen Avocado chunks (as seen in a number of my other recipes) from Pack’d – which I buy in Sainbury’s.

    Blender-wise I used the first item i bought from Ninja, the amazingly powerful – slightly noisy – Ninja Blender with Auto IQ

  • It’s been a while….

    So, it’s been a minute since I last showed up here. Like so many of us, I’ve found that life has a way of filling itself to the brim with the important (and sometimes not-so-important) stuff. Between medical appointments, work deadlines, emotional ups and downs, and the daily joy/chaos of parenting a nine-year-old, my hobbies have politely shuffled themselves to the back of the queue.

    Throw in a diet that’s taken a bit of a hit (apparently biscuits do count as a food group), and Mr H battling both the highs and lows of work and the ongoing soap opera that is Morecambe FC’s ownership saga, and, well… hobbies didn’t stand a chance.

    And that’s okay. Because this space has always been just that — a hobby. A place for me to write, ramble, share, and connect. And if I’ve learned anything recently, it’s that we don’t have to be superhuman. It’s perfectly fine to let some things rest while we’re juggling the rest of life.

    So here I am, picking things back up, dusting off the blog, and remembering that sometimes hobbies are best enjoyed in fits and starts, when life makes a little room for them.

    Thanks for still being here — I’m looking forward to sharing more again, in my own imperfect, biscuit-fuelled, non-superhuman way.

  • Parenting Life

    Teacher Gifts: The End-of-Year Stress We Don’t Talk About

    Teacher gifts!! Every July in the UK, thousands of parents break into a sweat wandering supermarket aisles, clutching ‘Best Teacher’ mugs and half-melted chocolates, wondering: Is this tacky? Is it enough? Is it too much?

    The final week of term is already chaos. PE kits mysteriously vanish. Packed lunches become whatever’s left in the fridge. Uniform? Optional, apparently. And in the middle of it all, we’re expected to look Pinterest-perfect with the ideal gift for Miss Smith or Mr Jones, plus a card your child definitely didn’t scribble on the back of an old worksheet.

    Let’s be honest — the question of what to buy is a minefield. Do you risk the novelty mug that says ‘#1 Teacher’? Or the classic box of Heroes they’ll immediately re-gift to someone else? Maybe you bravely attempt something practical, like a new tote bag, a decent notebook or a voucher for a much-needed coffee. Or you splurge on a luxury candle or fancy hand cream they might actually keep for themselves.

    And then there’s the question nobody wants to ask out loud: Is wine appropriate? It’s tempting — if we need a glass at the end of term, imagine how they feel having had 30 of our little darlings all year. But not everyone drinks, and school policies vary wildly. If in doubt, a Costa voucher is probably safer — and maybe wrap it nicely to disguise the last-minute panic buy.

    The truth is, every teacher I know says the same thing: the gift doesn’t matter half as much as the thank-you that comes with it. A heartfelt card in your child’s handwriting is gold. If you want to add a small token, lovely — but don’t overthink it. They won’t judge the mug, the candle or the box of Celebrations. They’re too busy recovering from the madness that is the end of term.

    Over the years I’ve learned a few things: start earlier than the night before, don’t stress if you forget, and if you can, team up with other parents so you all chip in for one nice thing instead of twenty random bits. And if you do risk the wine — maybe pop it in a discreet gift bag, just in case.

    So, what’s your go-to teacher gift? Are you a posh candle parent or a big-bag-of-chocolates kind of person? Or are you the hero who always remembers the handmade thank-you card? Tell me below — because next July, I’ll probably need new ideas too.

  • Weekly Weight Loss Journey: Week 5 – Cinnamon Rolls and Spuds.

    Start Weight – 17st 6lbs 

    End Weight – 17st 5lbs

    Change – (-) 1lbs (Total loss 10.1lbs)

    Average daily calorie target – 2,300

    Average daily calorie intake – 2,234

    Average daily fibre – 38g

    Average daily protein – 129g

    Average daily steps – 12,572

    Week 5 started with homemade cinnamon rolls, made with wholemeal flour, greek yogurt, protein powder and real sugar (which you absolutely definitely can have, and no you do not need to substitute all sugar for that god-awful sweetener stuff!). You can find the full recipe on my recipe pages here.

    Cottage pie for tea on Sunday was a winner, at just 533 calories, 42g protein and 17g fibre (thanks to the added lentils and the combination of sweet and normal potatoes). Served with a side of broccoli gave a really well balanced meal – with enough leftovers for lunch on Monday and Tuesday!

    Midweek tea of jacket potato with cheese, beans and tuna (it’s a quirk of MR H’s but added a chunk of protein so we rolled with it) was a nice change – we usually keep jacket spuds for weekend lunches.

    MR H was away for a few days at the back end of the week, so easy air-fryer meals were the go to – we had fish and chips, chicken kebabs, and spaghetti and meatballs. Overall a good week, with another 1lb loss.

  • Overnight Oats – My go-to base recipe(s)

    Historically I hated overnight oats, they were stodgy, lacked taste and were generally just not pleasant – after I realised that the concept is great (cheap, quick, packed with essential macronutrients and great for your health) and that the problem was actually me and how i was making them, Overnight Oats are now my go-to breakfast. 

    I have three go-to overnight oats recipes when it comes to overnight oats; chocolate brownie, vanilla berry, and nectarine / peach nut granola. 

    All have the same base ingredients: 

    • Oats (25g) I use the ones with added oatbran from Sainbury’s, but any good quality oats will do, 
    • Chia seeds (15g), – these are far cheaper purchased in the World Foods aisles!
    • 5% Greek yogurt (125g), I get the proper greek yogurt, and not the 0% one because to me it’s thicker and creamier, and I don’t use milk, but to reduce calories you could use zero fat yogurt, or a milk of your choice. 
    • Pumpkin seeds (10g)

    I normally prep these the night before so the oats soak up the liquid without going too soggy. But you can make them the same morning — just give them at least two hours to chill in the fridge. I swear by using good jars: they’re easy to prep, store and clean – these ones are the ones I use. .

    Brownie additions are: 

    428 calories, 28.9g protein, 9.4g fibre

    • 15g Free Soul Protein Powder in chocolate. This is by far the best protein powder I have come across, it’s not powdery and there’s no chalky aftertaste. It’s possible to get on subscription, or through their Amazon shop here. 
    • 10g-12g of good quality dark chocolate chips – I tend to get the Sainsbury’s ones that you get down the home baking aisle, these are packed with protein and fibre, as well as being a decent size and adding a good crunch.

    Vanilla Berry additions include: 

    407 calories, 28.8g protein, 11.7g fibre (when made with 40g frozen raspberries)

    • 40g frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries or a mix of the three – even blackberries) – frozen berries I tend to find keep shape better when you stir them, but you can use fresh too. 
    • 15g Free Soul protein powder in vanilla. Again, the best vanilla protein powder I’ve found, it doesn;t have that artificially sweet vanilla taste, and used in the right quantities in recipes adds a hit of protein and a wonderful vanilla undertone. (I use this in my Cinnamon Rolls Recipe too!)

    Nectarine / Peach Nut additions: 

    425 calories, 18.2g protein, 11.1g fibre (the reduction in protein is due to not adding protein powder like the others, you could add it if you wish – just add 15g vanilla protein powder for an added 60 calories and 10g protein)

    • One whole fresh peach or nectarine (these are usually firmer than berries, so fresh is fine, if you choose to use frozen you may need to allow them to thaw first to chop them into smaller chunks). 
    • 6g of each pecan nuts and walnuts – crushed slightly into smaller chunks. 
    • 10g honey or maple syrup adds sweetness (this is optional). 

    TIP: Mix your base and add-ins the night before, seal the jar, and enjoy the next day — or prep in the morning and let it chill for at least two hours. Easy, filling, and zero fuss!

    Do you have a favourite Overnight Oats recipe? Or perhaps you have tried one of these above, pop back and let me know what you thought!

  • Weekly Weight Loss Journey: Week 4 – BBQ and Leftovers.

    Start Weight – 17st 8.9lbs 

    End Weight – 17st 6.1lbs

    Change – (-) 2.8lbs (Total loss 11.9lbs)

    Average daily calorie target – 2,300

    Average daily calorie intake – 2,152

    Average daily fibre – 32.5g

    Average daily protein – 127g

    Average daily steps – 13,669

    Resting Heart Rate – 67

    Week 4 – into a double digit loss, consitently tracked every day for over a month and made lots more meaty treats on the Ninja Wooodfire Grill !!

    Asian inspired Salmon, Broccoli and Sweet potato mash made an appearance on Thursday – the mash was super easy to make, just boiled some diced (skin on) sweet potatoes, then when fork tender added a splash of soy sauce, a tsp Chinese 5 spice, some fresh chilli, half a tsp of ginger paste and a tsp toasted sesame oil.

    I tossed the brocolli in soy sauce, sesame oil and
    Chinese 5 Spice before roasting in the air fryer.

    Breakfasts mid week were made up of overnight oats, with or without Lidl’s amazing protein pancakes, with the exception egg, bacon and hash brown barm cakes on Sunday.

    On Tuesday I attempted a recipe from one of my favourite cooking books, the Pinch of Nom Air Fryer Recipe book, which you can buy here. Unfortunately I did not manage to get a picture of the Madras Meatballs, but i can say they were absolutely delicious, made plenty for lunch the day after, and were surprising easy to make, even in the post work / post school chaos.

    My favourite meal of the week was our ‘mixed grill’ comprising of sausage, chicken, beef steak medallions, asparagus and mushrooms and chips with pepper sauce. The whole lot came to 865 calories, a whopping 87g protein and 8.8g fibre.

    The slow losses continued this week and the weather remained dry, warm and pleasant enough to keep my steps up.

  • Introducing … HRH Pudding

    Pudding, named after a character from one of Master H’s favourite TV shows (when he was 5!) although quite fitting considering this delinquent is as thick as pudding at times, is a standard (if you can call 30kg ‘standard’) first generation labradoodle. He has recently turned 3.

    Pudding, like most dogs, is expensive and likes to treat us to regular vet visits, refuses ‘normal’ dog food*, and will tell everyone and anyone who will listen that he is in charge.

    *Don’t worry he doesn’t starve because I lovingly make Pud’s food every week, because he’s a pampered prince who would rather starve than eat the off-the-shelf dog food.

    The smarts of a poodle, mixed with the daftness and stupidity of a labrador is not for the faint hearted – he knows how to sit, stay, leave and all the basics, however he will willingly run into walls and doors, fall over his own feet, bark at his reflection and generally is just a liability.

    But just look at that face.

  • Managing People – What it is to be a manager. 

    A couple of weeks ago I re-launched our internal Line Management Training Academy, a series of 6 full day sessions, across a 5-month period, built by me and my team to ensure that the ethos of the company is rooted into the messaging, ensuring alignment with our culture and expectations of our management teams. It helped that on session 1 we played with lego!

    **This lego model was a visualisation of the type of person this manager was nervous about managing – someone who always puts themselves first, and will fight over others to get to ‘the top’, someone who wasn’t a team player and who would put themselves on a pedastal.

    Designed to provide our existing, new and emerging line managers the tools to be able to identify how to empower their teams and unlock their potential, as well as what it means to be a manager (and all the responsibilities that come along with it), the sessions have been well-received and thought provoking – but what it does highlight is that actually, for many, managing people is the go-to progression for someone who is good at their job. 

    Being good at your day to day job doesn’t mean you have the immediate skills to manage other people, or even a team, who also do that same job. Being a manager of people is complex, time consuming, challenging, rewarding, frustrating, exciting, overwhelming and certainly not for everyone! 

    The skills needed to manage people are numerous, and very few are taught as part of a progression plan / step up – usually people are thrust into management positions with a quick overview of the ‘HR’ version of the HRIS (Human Resource Information System) and sent on their merry way – it’s no wonder so many people in management positions are struggling! 


    If you’d like any tips on how to manage tricky situations at work please pop a comment below and we’ll see if we can work through it (baring in mind any support or suggestions made do not constitute legal help or advice) otherwise if you’re a manager of people, I definitely recommend ‘Surrounded by Idiots’ as a starting point for learning to navigate the different types of people you might come across in your management career.

    Working closely with your HR partner isn’t just about ticking boxes — it’s about unlocking the full potential of your people and your business. Behind the scenes, HR is doing far more than handling rotas or contracts; we’re analysing costs, forecasting resourcing needs, navigating legal risks, resolving conflicts, and shaping a workplace where people can actually thrive.

    When managers and HR work together from the outset — whether it’s for hiring, change management, or team development — you get smarter decisions, faster progress, and fewer surprises. So don’t wait until there’s a problem to involve HR. Make us part of your strategy, not just your safety net.

  • Weekly Weight Loss Journey: Week 3 – Snacks.

    Start Weight – 17st 12.8lbs 

    End Weight – 17st 8.9lbs

    Change – (-) 3.9lbs (Total loss 9.1lbs)

    Average daily calorie target – 2,300

    Average daily calorie intake – 2,368

    Average daily fibre – 35g

    Average daily protein – 133g

    Average daily steps – 13,836

    Resting Heart Rate – 66

    Week 3 consisted of lots of testing the Ninja Woodfire Grill that I mentioned in last weeks’ post, and ended with a big loss, and hitting over and above my first half stone!

    The weather was warm, MR H had cut the grass and the garden is lovely to sit in, especially in the evening. So our al fresco culinary delights included steak with air-fryer corn on the cob, and chips; homemade smashed burgers, salmon noodles….

    …and lots of, no, ALL the snacks… Popcorn, chicken nuggets, KitKat, doughnut, ice lollies, yogurts, animal biscuits, time outs…. And a late night German Doner Kebab on Eurovision night. All fully tracked, and totally worth it – no restriction on ‘types’ of food necessary, just accountability and consistent tracking.

    Master H came home on Wednesday, and asked what was for tea. In response to “burgers” he told me they weren’t healthy and he needed healthy food. So after a lesson in what is healthy, and what the term moderation meant, he accepted that actually a home made (5% fat) smashed burger, in a wholemeal roll, with lighter cheese, salad and a small handful of chips is actually not a ‘bad’ meal. 

    By the way, Master H is very slim, eats like a sparrow and never stops moving, even in his sleep!

    Before I forget to share it, air fryer corn on the cob is amazing. I got the recipe from one of the team at work – super simple; olive oil, paprika, garlic granules brushed onto fresh corn cobs (or cobettes) and air fry for 20 minutes on 180 degrees (or 15 minutes for cobettes).

    This week was a tough one, work was hard, the weather was warm, hormones were all over and in general I just felt hungry. I over ate on average across the week, but still managed a great loss, so I was thrilled.

  • Weekly Weight Loss Journey: Week 2 – May the 4th be with you.

    Start Weight – 17st 12.8lbs 

    End Weight – 17st 11.4lbs

    Change – (-) 1.4lbs (Total loss 5.2lbs)

    Average daily calorie target – 2,300

    Average daily calorie intake – 2,163

    Average daily fibre – 35g

    Average daily protein – 130g

    Average daily steps – 11,280

    Resting Heart Rate – 67

    Another loss, another busy week. Not as many steps as last week, but my resting heart rate dropped by 6 points, which is amazing! 

    This week started with Hoof’s Christening, see previous post if you’re not sure who Hoof is. So naturally Auntie Lamb (again see last week’s post) took over at least one element of organising – and of course that was the food. 

    Saturday was filled with prep at Mothers, and when you’re making sandwiches, savoury trays, pizza, nuggets and basically a see of beige foods, the obligatory fruit and vegetable platters added a wonderful element of colour – so did the sweet cart fillings, but they’re not quite as nutritional. 

    We had a really wonderful day, Hoof was equally excited and overwhelmed, and the star of the show as always, and as Monday was a bank holiday (an excellent stroke of genius planning on my sister’s part) it meant I could take Monday to prep for the week ahead. 

    MR H’s new job seemed to have gotten off to a good start, and my full set of glass jars had arrived, so the overnight oat prep was strong this week. We took the opportunity to spend some time with Master H, and went to the cinema to see the new Marvel movie. I took breakfast with me – and stole Master H’s milky way (because I paid for the popcorn this was his ‘tax’). 

    These pancakes are from Lidl and are the protein ones, less than £2 for 4, they’re huge and very filling.

    Mid week we had pork sausages, sweet potato mash and caramelised onion gravy thanks to Hello Fresh and a 60% discount code (these are super easy to get hold of and makes a week’s worth of meals, delivered, for £35 a pretty good deal!)

    We had some glorious weather this weekend, and it was a wonderful excuse to test out our Ninja Woodfire Grill. We had a little ‘BBQ’ which Master H was quick to point out was actually a ‘fake’ BBQ as “you’re not really doing the cooking though are you mummy?”. 

    Didn’t stop him from stepping in and declaring that he was the ‘chef’ though…. 

    Positive week overall, feeling good, would have liked another 2lb loss if I’m honest but an average of over 2.5lbs a week will do for now. Onwards and downwards. 

  • Weekly Weight Loss Journey: Week One Breakdown

    Start Weight 18st 2.6lbs

    End Weight – 17st 12.8lbs

    Change – (-) 3.8lbs 

    Average daily calorie target – 2,300

    Average daily calorie intake – 2,137

    Average daily fibre – 37.5g

    Average daily protein – 124

    Average daily steps – 13,150

    Resting Heart Rate – 73

    Week one was a shock to the system to be honest, having been on a 7 day cruise in early April, and then factoring in Easter and all the lovely foods that come with it – not to mention the (9!!) Easter Eggs that Master H was gifted and bullied people into buying, I’m surprised I wasn’t the size of a small planet. 

    Sunday started as it always does, with great intentions, no plan, and me stealing a couple of my mums glass jars to try out whilst we waited for mine to arrive! 

    Lunch was new – I made Salmon fishcakes, using tinned salmon. I’d got the inspiration from a Tiktok video, and added my own Asian inspired twist. See below for the recipe. 

    Dinner was roast lamb and all the trimmings – it was delicious, very filling and exactly what was needed ahead of another busy work-week. MR H started his new job the following day so he was more up-tight and toddler-esque than usual. 

    The rest of the week passed by in a blur – breakfasts were mainly overnight oats, made and stored in these really wonderful glass jars. (Note: I tend to use glass where possible as plastic tupperwares etc can have higher chemical residue which isn’t great for PCOS) – you can get these ones here or the larger ones here.

    Lunch was left over lamb from Sunday, with pearl barley, red onion, tomatoes and cucumber, and a greek yogurt and mint dressing.

    On Wednesday I found myself at home on annual leave, I made an egg and avocado muffin with a side of hash brown. *I buy frozen avocado from Sainsbury’s (as it’s often 3 for 2) and it’s far easier than buying fresh – and remembering to use them in the 5.6 seconds that they are ‘perfectly ripe’. 

    Lunches were leftovers, easy rice and chicken concoctions or a cheap and easy protein heavy ready meal – both Lidl and Aldi do great frozen ones for under £2 each. 

    On Thursday we celebrated my smallest nephew, Hoof’s, first birthday with a McDonalds delivery and caterpillar cake. Note, his name isn’t actually Hoof  – all of our son’s (my sister has 2) are nicknamed after farm animals – we have Ham, Moo and Hoof – and to add to the ridiculousness, I’m Lamb, as that’s what my sister called me before she could master two syllables. 

    Pizza, Subway, Costa, popcorn and leftover Easter Egg all made appearances this week. Which just goes to show, you don’t need to restrict in order to lose fat.

  • My Lived PCOS Experience

    Grab a cuppa, and a biscuit, it’s story time.

    17, I was 17 years old when I was diagnosed with PCOS. I knew absolutely nothing about hormones, that they could be imbalanced, or that not having a regular period for 5-6 months at a time wasn’t normal.

    I’d been broad shouldered my whole life, but I piled on the weight, was a combination of Jekyll, Hyde and the anti-christ, and to be honest I feel like my parents just got a bit sick of my complaining – so off we went to th GP.

    “It’s Polysystic Ovarian Syndrome – unless you want to get pregnant, there’s nothing we can do. I’d recommend losing weight, sticking to low carb, low fat – oh and here’s the pill, it should regulate your periods” – My Consultant.

    So, for the next decade I just got on with it. Fast forward to meeting Mr H, knowing fertility might have been an issue – through my own research, nothing to do with any medical help or support I received – we decided to officially ‘try’ before we got married – at this point we were newly engaged, with the wedding 3 years away.

    Nothing. Nada. Zilch…… For 12 months.

    Thankfully back in 2014 I had a semi-decent GP who was quick to refer us to the local fertility / gynaecology team. Within about 8 weeks we had our first appointment – which lasted 8 minutes – the outcome of which included;

    • Reduce weight to below a BMI of 30 (at the time it was 34)
    • Quit smoking (which I dutifully did)
    • Semen analysis (Mr H obviously)
    • Blood tests for both me and Mr H

    Follow up appointment in 8 weeks – started well – semen analysis fine, blood tests not a cause for concern – weight dropping, BMI was 30.5. We discussed starting Clomiphene (or Clomid) which has been largely replaced by Letrozole since 2015.

    BMI was too high to be given Clomid. Come back in another 8 weeks. **Sigh**

    Side note: Like many other people in the UK, including a very large proportion of medical professionals, I do not agree in the BMI system in the UK. I know incredibly fit and healthy friends and colleagues who are considered overweight or even obese based on BMI calculations – simply because BMI does not factor in muscle.

    See also my posts on how I now manage my weight, which is still higher than ideal, by calorie counting.

    On our next appointment I was prescribed 6 months worth of Clomid (yay!) and told not to “get my hopes up”. Off I went with my tablets and a quick explanation of when to take them. This was March 2015.

    On father’s day 2015, we were 4 weeks pregnant. I’ll do another post on the pregnancy (although very straightforward until the day he was born!).

    Since having Master H, I’ve been far more aware of my symptoms, how they impact me, and how I can best manage them;

    Irregular Periods

    For a time pre-pregnancy I was like clockwork, every 35 days, for 5 days. Post-pregnancy, well, some years I’d have two or three, other years I’d have 15.

    More recently we’re down to one every 5 weeks, and I put that down to supplementing my diet with Myo-Innositol and a good quality broad spectrum multivitamin (see below).

    Myo-inositol can help improve hormone balance, regulate menstrual cycles, and boost ovulation and may also reduce hyperandrogenism (excess male hormones) and improve insulin sensitivity, which are common issues in PCOS. 

    Amazon currently have the Myo Inositol I take (which likely comes with next day delivery if you’re a Prime member) – find them here. The Female Multivitamins can also be found here.

    I get Myo-Inositol and Female Multivitamins made by Free Soul – you can get 15% off your first subscription through their website if you follow the link here

    Hirtuism

    Hirtuism is the medical term for excessive hair in places there usually isn’t and generally refers to women having hair on their faces (usually chin, sideburns and upper lip) as well as stomach, chest, and back.

    Feeling like part woman, part whale and part yeti can really mess with your ability to feel feminine or beautiful, and although I need to manage my facial hair a couple of times a week, I know so may who have to shave every single day.

    There are lots of ways to reduce hair growth and manage hirtuism – I tend to shave because it’s quicker. Although I have used an at home IPL machine like this one and I did see a difference at the time, remembering when to do it was just another thing to add to the ‘to-do’ list so it sits gathering dust in the cupboard.

    Others use waxing, threading, laser (which is a stronger version of IPL).

    Mood Swings

    Most days I feel like I can be fairly balanced – other days it’s like russian roulette, fluctuating between happy, sad, angry, jealous, anxious etc etc.

    I swear I’d give the cast of Inside Out a run for their money!

    Weight and Insulin Resistance

    I am overweight – obese in fact – and I’m not ashamed of that. I’m working on being ‘less fat’, and that takes time, commitment, consistency and the patience of a saint.

    As part of this blog / site / inner ramblings platform I will talk about some of my recipes, ways that I count calories and what I have found works for me – I’ve done all manner of diets, including slimming world, paloe, keto, juices, and the special K diet – always finding I throw myself spectacularly off the wagon just a few weeks in because they’re all too restrictive.

    By the way, YOU…CAN…EAT…CARBS with PCOS.

    Hair Loss / Thinning

    One of the really big PCOS symptoms for me more recently has been a noticeable thinning of my hair. I’ve always had ‘Hagrid-Stlye’ hair – thick, slightly curly, untameable and frizz….so much frizz.

    However, in the last 18 months I’ve noticed thinning spots on the crown of my head at the back of my parting, to a point where I actually cried at the CEO of the company I work for because he happened to ask me how my day was going – cue the cast of Inside Out – and I had just got over an awful experience of noticing my scalp, shiny and white, when I put my hair in a half and half ponytail.

    I’ve been using Waterman’s shampoo and conditioner, as well as switching to silk scrunchies and a micro-fibre towel, which does feel like it’s made a difference. many people swear by more medicated shampoo’s and conditioners such as Minoxodil (which until recently I thought was invented by Matt Groening for Homer!)

    Waterman’s shampoo sets can be found on Amazon here. The scrunchies I get are here. And these microfibre towels are great.

  • PCOS Myths and Facts

    First…the Facts

    Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS as it’s commonly known is an underdiagnosed and very common condition – affecting an estimated 1 in every 10 women in the UK.

    Symptoms of PCOS can often be overlooked and misdiagnosed as puberty, PMT, stress and lifestyle choices.

    To be diagnosed with PCOS the NHS in the UK typically look for:

    • Irregular periods
    • High levels of androgens (male hormones)
    • Polycystic ovaries on a scan

    (you need 2 of 3 to be diagnosed)

    There is no cure for PCOS, and no one is quite sure what causes it or who is more likely to have it (some studies suggest it is passed through the male side of the mother’s family – i.e grandad)

    There are many, many symptoms and side effects of PCOS, usually including, but not always limited to;

    • Insulin Resistance – this is explored more in my post here.
    • Hirtuism (excessive hair growth on face, stomach, chest)
    • Mood swings
    • Painful and Heavy, or non existent periods.
    • Lack of ovulation
    • Increase in mental health challenges – anxiety, depression, body image issues
    • Hair thinning and loss
    • Acne and other skin complaints
    • Fertility Concerns – lack of ovulation, hightened risk of miscarriage, inability to conceive

    I did a seperate post on my own personal symptoms that you can find here.

    Now for the PCOS Myths

    If you have PCOS you cannot get pregnant.

    People with PCOS absolutely can fall pregnant naturally (if that’s your aim), sometimes it can be a little bit more difficult, or take longer, but I know many PCOS sufferers who have had multiple healthy pregnancies.

    PCOS only affects people who are overweight.

    Another huge misconception is that PCOS only impacts those already overweight. PCOS affects women of all body types. While weight can exacerbate symptoms, lean PCOS is a recognised type — and sometimes even harder to diagnose.

    Taking the ‘Pill’ can cure PCOS

    The pill can help regulate periods and symptoms, but it doesn’t treat the underlying hormonal imbalance. It’s a management tool, not a cure. Side note: Quite often the Pill can have negative side effects for PCOS sufferers, such as increased mood swings.

    You caused your PCOS by eating badly or not exercising

    PCOS is a genetic and hormonal condition — not something you cause through lifestyle. That said, lifestyle changes can help manage some symptoms, but losing wieght is not the ‘secret’ to reversing PCOS – despite what many may say. See my other posts on my experiences managing weight with PCOS.

    PCOS Support and Further Research

    There are lots of well established and credible sources to read more about PCOS.

    NHS PCOS Overview

    Verity – UK PCOS Charity

    Tommy’s – PCOS and Pregnancy Info

    Amazon currently have the Myo Inositol I take (which likely comes with next day delivery if you’re a Prime member) – find them here.

    I manage my PCOS using supplements (Myo-Inositol and Female Multivitamins) from Free Soul – you can get 15% off your first subscription if you follow the link here

  • Where do I start?

    Hi! I’m Leanne — HR leader, mum, wife, dog wrangler, and long-time PCOS warrior. Welcome to my gloriously chaotic, multi-hyphenated life.

    Ok, where do I start? – I guess with the basics? I’m Leanne, 36 years old, mum to a 9 year old (by the way he is far more interesting than just a description of 9-year-old …. ohh look my first official ‘hyphen!’…… but I’ll tell you more about him later), wife to an angling-addicted Morecambe supporter, dog mum to a lunatic labradoodle, and Head of HR for a tech company – all based in the North West of England.

    I’ve created Mrs H as a space to share the chaos, curiosities, and challenges of my multi-hyphen life – I won’t be offended if no one ever reads anything, or if people think it’s just waffle – I’m just writting down my thoughts, opinions, ideas and experiences of life.

    So, why ‘Mrs H’? Well, it’s the first letter of my married name. (I came from a ‘G’, so maybe I’m alphabetically ambitious?) It’s also the ‘H’ in HR — yep, that’s Human Resources — my day job. Then there’s Hormones, thanks to PCOS, which I’ve been living with for 18 years. And finally, Hobbies — because yes, HR folk do have lives outside of policies and performance reviews! – Mine include cooking everything in my air fryer, throwing themed get-togethers, and spoiling a Labradoodle named after a dessert.

    I won’t be offended if no one reads a word of this — but if you do, I hope you find a spark of joy, some shared experience, or at the very least, a laugh at my expense.

    Here we go!